Searching with face recognition and social networking profiles

Abstract

Methods for performing on-line searching, and particularly, to searching with face recognition and social networking profiles. In one example, one or more methods may be provided with regard to searching with face recognition and social networking profiles.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for interacting with a social networking service using a mobile device, wherein the social networking service has associated therewith a plurality of member profiles corresponding to a respective plurality of members, wherein each of the member profiles includes at least one member descriptor associated with a respective member, wherein each of the member profiles includes at least one member image associated with a respective member, wherein each member image includes a representation of a face of the respective member, and wherein the mobile device includes at least a camera and a screen, the method comprising:
 receiving at a search service, from the mobile device, at least one search term and at least one source image, wherein the source image includes a plurality of representations of a plurality of faces;   comparing, using the search service, the search term to at least some of the member descriptors;   comparing, using the search service, at least one of the representations of the faces in the source image to at least some of the representations of the faces in the member images; and   sending back to the mobile device, from the search service, at least one result identifying at least one member who has: (a) a member descriptor that is a match to the search term; and (b) a member image including a representation of a face that is a match to a representation of a face in the source image;   wherein the result that is sent back to the mobile device is used to display on the screen of the mobile device an augmented source image with at least one indicium identifying the at least one member who has: (a) a member descriptor that is a match to the search term; and (b) a member image including a representation of a face that is a match to a representation of a face in the source image.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mobile device produces the augmented source image based upon the source image and the result that is sent back to the mobile device. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the result that is sent back to the mobile device includes the augmented source image from the search service. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the steps are carried out in the order recited.