A method of the invention comprises the steps of sequentially selecting a predetermined area within the image G to be searched and then generating an image feature vector for the selection area, inputting the image feature vector into a support vector machine 30 which has learned beforehand the image feature vectors for a plurality of sample images for learning, and deciding whether or not a face image exists in the selection area based on a positional relation with a discrimination hyper-plane. Thereby, it is possible to search an area where a face image exists with high possibility from the image G to be searched at high speed and precisely.
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