Multi-level face tracking for estimating human head orientation in video sequences

Abstract

We propose a hierarchical scheme of tracking facial regions in video sequences. The hierarchy uses the face structure, facial regions and their components, such as eyes and mouth, to achieve improved robustness against structural deformations and the temporal loss of image components due to, e.g., self-occlusion. The temporal deformation of facial eye regions is mapped to estimate the head orientation around the yaw axis. The performance of the algorithm is demonstrated for free head motions. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2006.