Method for sharing emotions through the creation of three-dimensional avatars and their interaction

Abstract

A two-dimensional image is transformed into at least one portion of a human or animal body into a three-dimensional model. An image is acquired that includes the at least one portion of the human or animal body. An identification is made of the at least one portion within the image. Searches are made for features indicative of the at least one portion of the human or animal body within the at least one portion. One or more identifications are made of a set of landmarks corresponding to the features. An alignment is a deformable mask including the set of landmarks. The deformable mask includes a number of meshes corresponding to the at least one portion of the human or animal body. The 3D model is animated by dividing it into concentric rings, quasi rings and applying different degrees of rotation to each ring.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising transforming facial features in at least one first image that comprises at least a portion of a face, the method comprising:
 detecting a plurality of landmarks in the at least one image corresponding to respective features of the face;   generating a three-dimensional model of the face based, at least in part, on the plurality of detected landmarks;   transforming the three-dimensional model in response to a request for modification; and   generating at least one modified image, based at least in part on the transformed three-dimensional model, comprising      
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein generating the at least one modified image comprises mapping pixels from the at least one source image to the at least one modified image based, at least in part, on the transformed three-dimensional model. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the three-dimensional model comprises a deformable model. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the request for modification includes a request to display at least one object in the at least one modified image not present in the at least one first image. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein transforming the three-dimensional model comprising including a model of the at least one object, and wherein generating the at one modified image comprises generating at least one modified 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one object comprises at least one of a hat, a wig, glasses, 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the request for modification comprises a request to express at least one emotion. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the transformation modifies the face so as to express the at least one emotion.