50th week of 2008 patent applcation highlights part 29 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20080304648 | Context identifying aspects - One aspect relates to attempting to establish a communication with at least one identifiable person and/or identifiable communication device based at least in part on an at least one context designated destination relating at least partially to at least one context of the at least one identifiable person and/or identifiable communication device. Another aspect relates to altering an at least one transmitted data between a relatively ambiguous specification and a relatively precise specification at least partially based on an at least one context relating to communications with an at least one identifiable person and/or identifiable communication device. | 2008-12-11 |
20080304649 | CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE REQUESTS - Information is shared between an agent and a user. Information for a communications service is provided to the user. Information for a related service that relates to the communications service is retrieved. The related service is described to the user. The related service is activated for the user when the agent confirms that the related service has been described to the user. | 2008-12-11 |
20080304650 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATIC CALL FLOW DETECTION - A method and exploration engine for automatically detecting a call flow path of a voice application having a plurality of dialog states, the method comprising the steps of: identifying, in an automated manner, the plurality of dialog states of the voice application through execution of the voice application; and identifying at least one relationship between the plurality of dialog states. The method may further comprise some of the following steps: creating a unique identifier (ID) for one of the plurality of dialog states, wherein the unique ID is based on information received when executing the voice application, wherein the information comprises attributes associated with one of the plurality of dialog states; storing the unique ID and other information associated with the dialog state; and graphically illustrating a call flow path of the voice application based on the unique ID and other information stored in the database. | 2008-12-11 |
20080304651 | System and method for overcoming dual tone multi frequency (DTMF) signal attenuation in analog and packet based networks - A telephone may include a transmitter configured to transmit signals over a network a receiver configured to receive signals from the network a DTMF signal generator configured to generate DTMF signals, a DTMF gain adjustment module, and an amplifier module in communication with the DTMF signal generator and the DTMF gain selection module, where the amplifier module may be configured to amplify the DTMF signals. In one embodiment, the amplifier modules causes the DTMF signals to increase power by 10 dB so that DTMF signals being communicated over a network, possibly multiple packet networks, may be amplified if the DTMF signals are attenuated over the network and a remotely accessed telecommunications system, such as a voicemail system, cannot communicate with the telephone due to the attenuated DTMF signals. | 2008-12-11 |
20080304652 | System and method for amplifying attenuated DTMF signals in a packet based network - A network interface device may include an I/O unit configured to receive data packets from a packet network. A processing unit may be in communication with the I/O unit and be configured to identify data packets including data representative of DTMF signals, convert the data in the data packets into analog DTMF tone signals, and determine if power of the analog DTMF tone signals is below a threshold value. A digital to analog converter may be in communication with the processing unit and be configured to generate the analog DTMF tone signals based on the data in the data packets. A DTMF amplifier may be in communication with the processing unit and the digital to analog converter, where the processing unit may cause the DTMF amplifier to amplify the power of the analog DTMF tone signals in response to determining that the power of the analog DTMF tone signals are below the threshold value. | 2008-12-11 |
20080304653 | Acoustic echo cancellation solution for video conferencing - Echo cancellation for audio/video conferencing uses an inaudible tone added at an originating conference site to the transmitted voice signal, for echo cancellation. The tone, upon receipt with the voice signal at a remote conferencing site and retransmission back to the originating site, is used to determine both the round trip delay of the conferencing link and the acoustic characteristics of the remote site, so as generate an echo cancellation signal for better audio performance. | 2008-12-11 |
20080304654 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CLEAR SIGNAL CAPTURE - A method and system for clear signal capture comprehend several individual aspects that address specific problems in improved ways. In addition, the method and system also comprehend a hands-free implementation that is a practical solution to a very complex problem. Individual aspects comprehended related to echo and noise reduction, and divergence control. | 2008-12-11 |
20080304655 | Interruption Device for a Data Communication Line - An interruption device arranged in a communication line including first and second cables in series, each including a first group of wires for the transmission of computer data and a second group of wires independent of the computer data, includes: a box provided with first and second input/output sockets with which the first and second cables, respectively, are connected; interrupters each connected between the first and second input/output sockets inside the box and actuable from outside the box, these interrupters being associated respectively with the wires of the first group; and transmission elements not including an interrupter and each connected between the first and second input/output sockets inside the box, these transmission elements being associated respectively with the wires of the second group. In a variant, the second input/output socket is replaced by two sockets associated with the interrupters and the transmission elements, respectively. | 2008-12-11 |
20080304656 | SPLITTER WALL PLATES FOR DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER LINE (DSL) COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS TO USE THE SAME - Splitter wall plates for digital subscriber line (DSL) communication systems and methods to use the same are disclosed. An example apparatus comprises a splitter to separate a digital subscriber line (DSL) signal from a plain old telephone signal (POTS) signal, and a switch to selectively couple a VoIP signal received via a first jack or the POTS signal to a second jack. | 2008-12-11 |
20080304657 | Secure Threshold Decryption Protocol Computation - The present invention relates to a method of converting an encrypted data set into an encryption of individual bits representing the data set. Further, the invention relates to a system for converting an encrypted data set into an encryption of individual bits representing the data set. A basic idea of the present invention is to provide a protocol in which it is possible to divide an encryption of a data set in the form of e.g. a biometric feature, such as a number x, where xε{0, 1, . . . , n−1}, into an encryption of respective bits x | 2008-12-11 |
20080304658 | Wireless Communication Apparatus and Wireless Communication Method - An inventive wireless communication apparatus that, in a wireless communication system to which a secret key scheme is applied, can generate a secret key, which is different from a secret key generated by a third party, even if a wireless signal is intercepted by the third part having an approximate propagation path environment to a receiving wireless communication apparatus. In the inventive apparatus, an eigenvalue selecting part ( | 2008-12-11 |
20080304659 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR EXPANSION KEY GENERATION FOR BLOCK CIPHERS - A key scheduler performs a key-expansion to generate round keys for AES encryption and decryption just-in-time for each AES round. The key scheduler pre-computes slow operations in a current clock cycle to reduce the critical delay path for computing the round key for a next AES round. | 2008-12-11 |
20080304660 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS ALLOWING EASY MANAGEMENT RELATING TO USER'S USAGE | 2008-12-11 |
20080304661 | CONTENT DISTRIBUTION/BROWSING SYSTEM, CONTENT DISTRIBUTION APPARATUS, CONTENT BROWSING APPARATUS AND PROGRAM - A content distribution/browsing system is disclosed. First to (m−1)th encrypted content items E(K | 2008-12-11 |
20080304662 | GROUP KEY EXCHANGES WITH FAILURES - A method for generating a session key on demand in a network among participating network devices, including choosing a private and public key according to a public key encryption scheme, and broadcasting the public key to each other participating network device; choosing a local contribution value from a multiplicative group of size q; encrypting the local contribution value under the received public key to an encrypted contribution value and sending the encrypted contribution value; receiving encrypted contribution values and deriving decrypted contribution values by applying the private key; deriving a blinded session key from the decrypted contribution values and the local contribution value; agreeing on one of the blinded session keys by using an agreement protocol; and deriving the session key from the agreed-on blinded session key by applying one of the decrypted contribution values and the contribution value A corresponding computer program element, computer program product, and computer device. | 2008-12-11 |
20080304663 | System and Method for the Anonymisation of Sensitive Personal Data and Method of Obtaining Such Data - A system for managing sensitive personal data (DD_A) includes two databases ( | 2008-12-11 |
20080304664 | SYSTEM AND A METHOD FOR SECURING INFORMATION - A system for securing information is disclosed. The system includes a key, a sub-key generator, and an encryptor/decryptor. The sub-key generator includes a first security module. The encryptor/decryptor includes a second security module. At least a portion of the key is an input to the sub-key generator, and a sub-key is an output. At least a portion of the sub-key is an input to the encryptor/decryptor, and a cipher text or a plain text, depending on the operational, is an output. In an aspect, the first security module and the second security module are substantially the same. | 2008-12-11 |
20080304665 | Method and Device for Rights Management - A method of rights management in a first device connected to digital data content, said first device comprising a right for accessing said digital data content and available state information for reflecting the state of use of said digital data content, said method comprising the steps of: —receiving by said first device a request for a state information from a second device; —comparing the content of said request with said available state information; —selecting said requested state information in said available state information according to the result of said comparing step; —transferring said requested state information to said second device via a communication channel; and—duplicating said fight to said second device. | 2008-12-11 |
20080304666 | Spread Spectrum Communications System and Method Utilizing Chaotic Sequence - A method is provided for generating a coherent chaotic sequence spread spectrum communications system. The method includes phase modulating a carrier with information symbols. The method also includes generating a string of discrete time chaotic samples. The method further includes modulating the carrier in a chaotic manner using the string of discrete time chaotic samples. Each of the discrete time chaotic samples has a shorter sample time interval than the duration of the information symbols. The generating step includes selecting a plurality of polynomial equations. The generating step also includes using residue number system (RNS) arithmetic operations to respectively determine solutions for the polynomial equations. The solutions are iteratively computed and expressed as RNS residue values. The generating step further includes determining a series of digits in the weighted number system based on the RNS residue values. The method further includes synchronizing the chaos generated at the receiver with that generated at the transmitter without periodic transfer of state update information. | 2008-12-11 |
20080304667 | Method and Apparatus For Cellular Automata Based Generation of Pseudorandom Sequences With Controllable Period - A compact apparatus for generation of desired pseudorandom sequences with controllable period. The apparatus includes two-dimensional cellular automata for generating a first sequence, 2-by-L cellular automata for generating a second sequence, adders for performing bit-to-bit mod2 sum of the first sequences and the second sequences, and a buffer for buffering the resultant sequences from the adders. | 2008-12-11 |
20080304668 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR LOST DATA DESTRUCTION OF ELECTRONIC DATA STORED ON A PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE USING A SECURITY INTERVAL - A data security system and method protects stored data from unauthorized access. According to one aspect of the invention, a client computing device communicates periodically with a server. If communications is not established between the client and the server for a selected activation interval and a subsequent grace period, the data is determined to be lost, and programmed security rules are automatically executed. | 2008-12-11 |
20080304669 | RECIPIENT-SIGNED ENCRYPTION CERTIFICATES FOR A PUBLIC KEY INFRASTRUCTURE - In accordance with various embodiments, methods, apparatuses, and articles of manufacture for generating and signing, by a potential recipient, a digital encryption certificate are described herein. In some embodiments, the digital encryption certificate may include a encryption key of an encryption key pair, and may be signed by the potential recipient with a signing key of a signing key pair. The signing key pair may have a second, publicly-accessible signing key associated with a digital signing certificate issued by a party trusted by the potential recipient and one or more potential senders. In various embodiments, potential senders may verify the digital encryption certificate and use the encryption key to encrypt and send digital messages to the potential recipient. | 2008-12-11 |
20080304670 | Method of and a Device for Generating 3d Sound | 2008-12-11 |
20080304671 | Audio Signal Processing - An audio system for processing two channels of audio input to provide more than two output channels. The input may be conventional stereo material or compressed audio signal data. The audio processing includes separating the input signals into frequency bands and processing the frequency bands according to processes which may differ from band to band. The audio processing includes no processing of L-R signals. | 2008-12-11 |
20080304672 | Target sound analysis apparatus, target sound analysis method and target sound analysis program - A target sound analysis apparatus capable of distinguishing between a sound having the same fundamental period as a target sound but which differs therefrom and the target sound and analyzing whether or not the target sound is contained in an evaluation sound is an target sound analysis apparatus that analyzes whether or not a target sound is included in an evaluation sound, and includes: a target sound preparation unit that prepares a target sound that is an analysis waveform to be used for analyzing a fundamental period; an evaluation sound preparation unit that prepares an evaluation sound that is an analyzed waveform in which its fundamental period will be analyzed; and an analysis unit that temporally shifts the target sound with respect to the evaluation sound to sequentially calculate differential values of the evaluation sound and the target sound at corresponding points in time, calculate an iterative interval between the points in time where the differential value is equal to or lower than a predetermined threshold value, and judge whether or not the target sound exists in the evaluation sound based on a period of the iterative interval and the fundamental period of the target sound. | 2008-12-11 |
20080304673 | Multipoint communication apparatus - According to an aspect of an embodiment, a multipoint communication apparatus comprises: a receiving unit for receiving a plurality of signals containing voice signal elements and noise signal elements from the plurality of other communication apparatuses, respectively; a noise estimating unit for estimating the plurality of noise signal elements in the plurality of received signals, respectively; a gain control unit for adjusting gains of the plurality of signals passing therethrough so as to equalize the levels of the plurality of noise signal elements outputted from the gain element on the basis of the estimated levels of the noise signal elements ; a combining unit for combining the plurality of signals passed through the gain control unit; and an output unit for outputting a sound signal on the basis of the a combined signal by the combining unit. | 2008-12-11 |
20080304674 | Hearing device test adapter - A hearing device test adapter is provided in order to connect a hearing device output to a test microphone in a soundproof manner. The hearing device test adapter has an expandable first section for enclosing one section of a hearing device shell or an earmold piece in a soundproof manner such that the sound output of the hearing device shell or of the earmold piece points to the tip of the first section. In addition, the hearing device test adapter has an expandable second section for enclosing a section of the test microphone in a soundproof manner, with the tip of the first section directly connecting to the second section and both being connected to one another via a sound transmission. | 2008-12-11 |
20080304675 | Acoustic Echo Canceller - An acoustic echo cancellation device ( | 2008-12-11 |
20080304676 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CLEAR SIGNAL CAPTURE - A method and system for clear signal capture comprehend several individual aspects that address specific problems in improved ways. In addition, the method and system also comprehend a hands-free implementation that is a practical solution to a very complex problem. Individual aspects comprehended related to echo and noise reduction, and divergence control. | 2008-12-11 |
20080304677 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR NOISE CANCELLATION WITH MOTION TRACKING CAPABILITY - A system and method for noise cancellation is disclosed herein generally having at least one microphone, a processor, and a speaker array. The processor may contain an adaptive filtering feature, to separate desirable sound from undesirable sound. The undesirable sound may be suppressed by the processor by creating a canceling waveform and transmitting the canceling waveform to the user's head via a speaker array. The desirable sound may be enhanced by increasing the amplitude of the waveform and transmitting the amplified waveform to the user's head via a speaker array. The sound transmitted to the user's head by the system may be localized using an image tracking subsystem and speaker array. The image tracking system may track the actual visible image or alternatively a heat (e.g. infrared) image of the user's head. | 2008-12-11 |
20080304678 | AUDIO TIME SCALE MODIFICATION ALGORITHM FOR DYNAMIC PLAYBACK SPEED CONTROL - A modified synchronized overlap add (SOLA) algorithm for performing high-quality, low-complexity audio time scale modification (TSM) is described. The algorithm produces good output audio quality with a very low complexity and without producing additional audible distortion during dynamic change of the audio playback speed. The algorithm may achieve complexity reduction by performing the maximization of normalized cross-correlation using decimated signals. By updating the input buffer and the output buffer in a precise sequence with careful checking of the appropriate array bounds, the algorithm may also achieve seamless audio playback during dynamic speed change with a minimal requirement on memory usage. | 2008-12-11 |
20080304679 | SYSTEM FOR PROCESSING AN ACOUSTIC INPUT SIGNAL TO PROVIDE AN OUTPUT SIGNAL WITH REDUCED NOISE - An apparatus processes an acoustic input signal to provide an output signal with reduced noise. The apparatus weights the input signal based on a frequency-dependent weighting function. A frequency-dependent threshold function bounds the weighting function from below. | 2008-12-11 |
20080304680 | Sound Generating Device - A sound generating device for transforming an object into a loudspeaker is includes an exciter module adapted for receiving audio signals from an audio source and a mounting device connected to the exciter module for removably connecting the exciter module to an object such that the object is transformed into a loudspeaker when the exciter module is energized by the audio source. | 2008-12-11 |
20080304681 | Microphone with Aligned Apertures - A MEMS microphone has a backplate with a given backplate aperture, and a diaphragm having a diaphragm aperture. The given backplate aperture is substantially aligned with the diaphragm aperture. | 2008-12-11 |
20080304682 | BASEBALL-STYLE CAP WITH AMPLIFIED STEREO SPEAKERS - An embodiment of a baseball style cap and stereo combination having a crown, a brim/bill, a sweatband, and two amplified stereo speakers concealed within the brim/bill is disclosed. The baseball-style cap combination further includes a battery holder/forehead cushion housing a battery holder concealed within an inner surface of the baseball-style cap combination by a flap. Also included are wires connecting the battery holder to an amplifier concealed within the sweatband and wires connecting the amplifier to the speakers. A stereophonic music generator sends a music signal which is provided to the amplifier by any suitable means of communication, like an audio cord or wireless by means of infrared or Bluetooth wireless technology. | 2008-12-11 |
20080304683 | Stereo Sound Image Forward Headphone - A stereo sound image forward headphone is provided. The stereo sound image forward headphone utilizes a speaker provided on the ear hanger, which is spaced apart from a user's ear by a distance, such that sound from the speaker is on the front side of the user's ear. The stereo sound image forward headphone not only creates a natural impression of sound heard from various directions as in natural hearing, but also protects the user's ear from hearing loss which might otherwise result from long use of a headphone. | 2008-12-11 |
20080304684 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR A HEARING ASSISTANCE SYSTEM WITH ADAPTIVE BULK DELAY - A hearing assistance system having adjustable bulk delay for cancellation of a time varying acoustic feedback path. The hearing assistance system including an FIR filter, coefficient update module, and delay rules module for programmable adaptive filtering. The hearing assistance system adjustable for continuous bulk delay adjustments. The hearing assistance system providing a number of coefficient update routines, including, but not limited to an LMS coefficient update process and a normalized LMS coefficient update process. | 2008-12-11 |
20080304685 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MODULAR HEARING AID - A method and apparatus for a modular hearing aid for a user having a hearing canal, including a housing adapted to fit within at least a portion of the hearing canal, and having at least one access port, a cover adapted for at least partially covering the at least one access port, and signal processing electronics connected to a microphone and a power supply. In various examples, a microphone housing is adapted to mount to the housing and to fit within the at least one access port, and to connect to the microphone, the signal processing electronics and the power supply. In one variant, the apparatus includes a receiver connected to the signal processing electronics, and a fastener as a unitary connector of the cover and microphone housing to the housing. Other variations are presented herein. | 2008-12-11 |
20080304686 | BEHIND-THE-EAR (BTE) PROSTHETIC DEVICE WITH ANTENNA - A BTE prosthetic device for use in a medical system or prosthesis comprises a connector configured to mechanically attach an auxiliary device of the system to the BTE prosthetic device. The connector is electrically connected to an transceiver of the BTE prosthetic device. The connector operates as an electromagnetic antenna for transmitting and/or receiving signals between the BTE prosthetic and other components of the medical system. | 2008-12-11 |
20080304687 | Ergonomic Support and Control Harness for Boom Pole Operation - This invention relates generally to film and television production. It is designed to easily control and support a boom pole for long periods of time while allowing the operator to maintain comfortable ergonomic positioning and movement of the head, arm and hands during operation. It achieves this by means of a simple machine. The basic embodiment of the invention consists of five (5) main components. 1. An ergonomically positioned control handle which the operator grips; the boom pole itself (or a holder to which may be fastened in position an existing boom pole), which is rigidly connected to the control handles. 3. A means for pivoting (the fulcrum), or other machine means for transferring force, mounted to a harness, and to which is attached the connecting segment, allowing the boom to rotate and move when force is applied to the control handles. 4. Counterweights which can be fastened to the connecting segment at the farthest point possible opposite the fulcrum from the extended end of the boom pole, and/or mechanisms for fastening such weights. 5. A wearable harness including shoulder straps which can be connected in front, and optionally including a belt around the waist where additional support is required, and to which is mounted, on the back, the pivoting assembly, and the rest of the apparatus. By applying force to the control handle, the operator is able to move the boom pole up and down, side to side, or to rotate it. | 2008-12-11 |
20080304688 | DOCKING DISPLAY STATION WITH DOCKING PORT FOR RETAINING A HANDS-FREE HEADSET THEREIN - A display unit having at least one docking port for receiving and retaining a complementary hands-free headset therein. The docking port comprises a recessed slot formed in the display unit housing. The headset preferably is frictionally retained within the docking port. The docking port is provided with a power jack connector that matingly engages a complementary power jack on the headset when docked, thereby recharging the rechargeable power supply in the headset. | 2008-12-11 |
20080304689 | Mount For an Acoustic Device - A headset ( | 2008-12-11 |
20080304690 | MOUTH SHIELD FOR MICROPHONES - A mouth shield ( | 2008-12-11 |
20080304691 | SLEEP AID SYSTEM AND METHOD - A sleep aid system, including a band adapted for surrounding a person's head, the band including an inside fabric layer and an outside fabric layer, two speakers between the fabric layers, the speakers positioned substantially opposite to one another, and an audio input for receiving audio from an audio player. | 2008-12-11 |
20080304692 | Portable Speaker Device and Portable Audio Device Player - A portable speaker device that includes a frame configured to receive a portable audio device and at least two speakers that are slidably-connected to the frame. The speakers have a first position for providing a substantially extended configuration and a second position for providing a substantially retracted configuration. The portable speaker device also includes a flush hinged sub-assembly that includes a contoured element and arcuate arms extending from a support and rotatably coupled to the frame at the distal ends of the arcuate arms. | 2008-12-11 |
20080304693 | Flat panel speaker mounting system - An apparatus for mounting two speakers to a flat panel display device is disclosed wherein the device, utilizing standardized mounting plates provided in such flat panel display devices, enables the mounting of two speakers while providing the ability to change speaker position in regards to six different position parameters. The apparatus may be utilized in conjunction with flat panel mounting devices, such as pedestal, wall or ceiling mounts, or utilized independently thereof. More specifically, the device further provides independent adjustment of the position of each speaker mounted thereby in regard to height, fore/aft and depth position, as well as rotation about an X, Y and Z axis. The device enables one to make changes in—regard to the position of a speaker—or other peripheral devices mounted thereon—relative to one or more of the aforementioned movements without altering other aspects of speaker position, if desired. | 2008-12-11 |
20080304694 | Speaker - A speaker includes: a heat sink disposed at the front of a bobbin; and a coupler disposed between the front of the heat sink and the rear of a diaphragm, wherein the heat sink includes: a base portion having an outer circumferential wall and disposed inside the bobbin; and a flange portion extending axially outwardly from the forefront of the outer circumferential wall and having its rear face disposed in contact with the front of the bobbin, and the coupler includes: a diaphragm supporting portion disposed at the rear of the diaphragm; and inner and outer annular walls disposed at the diaphragm supporting portion, and wherein the heat sink is connected to the coupler such that the base portion and the flange portion of the heat sink are connected respectively to the inner annular wall and the outer annular wall of the coupler. | 2008-12-11 |
20080304695 | Method that Improves Human Interpretation of Color Images with Limited Spectral Content - The present invention relates to image processing in general and more specifically to methods and means facilitating the human detection of physical object representations in colour images with a wide range of applications such as aviation and air transport, land transportation, shipping, submarine work, underwater inspections, medical investigations, marine archaeology, land archaeology, agriculture, surveillance and security, food safety, energy systems and forestry. The invention achieves this by providing an image processing method for a colour image representation, I | 2008-12-11 |
20080304696 | INFRARED ENCODING FOR EMBEDDING MULTIPLE VARIABLE DATA INFORMATION COLLOCATED IN PRINTED DOCUMENTS - The teachings as provided herein relate to a watermark embedded in an image that has the property of being relatively indecipherable under normal light by including a distraction pattern, and yet remains decipherable under infrared illumination when viewed by a suitable infrared sensitive instrument. This infrared mark comprises, a substrate reflective to infrared radiation, a foreground colorant mixture printed as an image upon the substrate, a background colorant mixture and a distraction colorant mixture. The foreground colorant mixture layer in connection with the substrate has a property of strongly reflecting infrared illumination, as well as a property of low contrast under normal illumination against the background colorant mixture as printed in close spatial proximity to the foreground colorant mixture pattern. A distraction colorant mixture is selected to have a substantially negligent effect on the infrared response of the foreground and background color mixtures, but as having a substantially noticeable effect of the visual response of the foreground and background color mixtures when provided as a distraction pattern, such that a resultant collocated image rendered substrate suitably exposed to an infrared illumination, will yield a discernable image evident as a infrared mark to a suitable infrared sensitive device, but remain undecipherable under normal ambient light. | 2008-12-11 |
20080304697 | APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR INTERFACING REPROGRAPHIC AND IMAGING SYSTEMS WITH MULTIPLE SET FINISHING DEVICES - Reprographic or imaging systems and methods issue a command to place multiple finishing devices into an alternating delivery mode such that consecutive sets are sent to different finishing devices, rather than to the same finishing device. | 2008-12-11 |
20080304698 | Selection of Regions Within an Image - Apparatus having corresponding methods and computer-readable media comprise a first input circuit to receive first data describing a first region of an image, the first region identified based on user markups of the image; a second input circuit to receive second data describing at least one of a second region of the image, the second region identified by an analysis of the image, and a third region of the image, the third region identified by an analysis of an environment that produced the image; and a synthesizer to identify a fourth region of the image based on the first data and the second data. | 2008-12-11 |
20080304699 | FACE FEATURE POINT DETECTION APPARATUS AND METHOD OF THE SAME - An image input unit configured to enter a face image, a search area and scale setting unit configured to set a search area and a scale, an image feature point detection unit configured to detect image feature points selected from local image information of respective points, a first dictionary storing coordinates of the relative position between the image feature points and a target feature point in association with peripheral patterns of the image feature points, a first pattern matching unit configured to match the first dictionary and the peripheral patterns of the image feature points, a target feature point candidate position estimating unit configured to estimate candidates of the position of the target feature point, a second dictionary, a second pattern matching unit configured to match the second dictionary and a peripheral pattern of the target feature point and a determination unit configured to obtain the position of the target feature point. | 2008-12-11 |
20080304700 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF IMAGE FORMING - An apparatus for and a method of image forming which embeds digital watermark information into an image data of a document and outputs the image data that includes determining the page of the document in which the digital watermark information is to be embedded based on a predetermined condition, the predetermined condition corresponding to whether the document is composed of two or more pages, embedding the digital watermark information into the page of the document determined by the above described determination and outputting the image data which is embedded in the digital watermark information by the above described embedding. | 2008-12-11 |
20080304701 | Image processing apparatus - An image processing apparatus in which a specific image including regulation information and a specific image including trace information are attached so that the specific images are different from each other is provided. An image processing apparatus | 2008-12-11 |
20080304702 | Blind Detection for Digital Cinema - The invention relates to embedding in, as well as to extracting a payload from a motion image signal. Furthermore, the invention relates to a motion image signal. A payload is embedded in the motion image signal by the following steps. A first and an at least second watermark are represented by at least a first sequence of watermark samples, and a first and at least a second global property of an image of the signal are determined. Subsequently, the first and the at least second watermark are embedded in the signal, so that a shift of the at least second watermark with respect to the first watermark represents the payload. The first and the at least second watermarks are embedded by modifying the first and the at least second global property in the image in accordance with the corresponding watermark samples. The first and second global properties may be the mean luminance and the mean color saturation of the pixels constituting the image. | 2008-12-11 |
20080304703 | Image reading apparatus capable of reading infrared and visible images - An image reading apparatus includes a light source with a first luminescent portion that outputs light with a first wavelength range and a second luminescent portion that outputs light with a second wavelength range, the wavelength ranges being different from each other; a light-receiving portion that receives light reflected from an original irradiated by the light source; a scanning portion that shifts a reading position of the original in a vertical scanning direction by changing a relative position between the original and the light-receiving portion; a switching portion that alternately turns on the first and second luminescent portions when the scanning portion shifts the reading position, wherein a vertical scanning resolution for a first data obtained when the first luminescent portion is turned on is independently set from a vertical scanning resolution for a second data obtained when the second luminescent portion is turned on. | 2008-12-11 |
20080304704 | SYSTEM FOR VIRTUALLY DISTRIBUTING MAILPIECES - A method of enabling mailpieces to be distributed and consulted in electronic form, said method comprising the following steps:
| 2008-12-11 |
20080304705 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SIDE VISION DETECTION OF OBSTACLES FOR VEHICLES - This invention provides a system and method for object detection and collision avoidance for objects and vehicles located behind the cab or front section of an elongated, and possibly tandem, vehicle. Through the use of narrow-baseline stereo vision that can be vertically oriented relative to the ground/road surface, the system and method can employ relatively inexpensive cameras, in a stereo relationship, on a low-profile mounting, to perform reliable detection with good range discrimination. The field of detection is sufficiently behind and aside the rear area to assure an adequate safety zone in most instances. Moreover, this system and method allows all equipment to be maintained on the cab of a tandem vehicle, rather than the interchangeable, and more-prone-to-damage cargo section and/or trailer. One or more cameras can be mounted on, or within, the mirror on each side, on aerodynamic fairings or other exposed locations of the vehicle. Image signals received from each camera can be conditioned before they are matched and compared for disparities viewed above the ground surface, and according to predetermined disparity criteria. | 2008-12-11 |
20080304706 | INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS AND INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD - There is provided an information processing apparatus, comprising: an obtaining unit which obtains video data captured by an image capturing apparatus disposed in a monitored space, location information regarding a location of a moving object in the monitored space, and existence information regarding a capturing period of the moving object in the video data; and a display processing unit which processes a display of a trajectory of the moving object in the monitored space based on the location information, the display processing unit processing a display of the trajectory so that the portion of the trajectory that corresponds to the capturing period is distinguishable from the other portions of the trajectory, based on the existence information. | 2008-12-11 |
20080304707 | Information Processing Apparatus, Information Processing Method, and Computer Program - An information processing apparatus that executes processing for creating an environmental map includes a camera that photographs an image, a self-position detecting unit that detects a position and a posture of the camera on the basis of the image, an image-recognition processing unit that detects an object from the image, a data constructing unit that is inputted with information concerning the position and the posture of the camera and information concerning the object and executes processing for creating or updating the environmental map, and a dictionary-data storing unit having stored therein dictionary data in which object information is registered. The image-recognition processing unit executes processing for detecting an object from the image acquired by the camera with reference to the dictionary data. The data constructing unit applies the three-dimensional shape data registered in the dictionary data to the environmental map and executes object arrangement on the environmental map. | 2008-12-11 |
20080304708 | Device and Method for Creating a Saliency Map of an Image - The invention concerns a method for creating a saliency map of an image. It comprises the steps of an image comprising the step of hierarchical decomposition of the image into frequential sub-bands, According to the invention, the method comprises the steps of | 2008-12-11 |
20080304709 | IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD FOR A TFT LCD - Image compression, decompression and motion detection methods are described. Two temporally adjacent frame images, a previous time frame and a current time frame, are compressed in round-off and averaging techniques. Next, according to the compressed data of two corresponding pixels of the two frame images, whether or not the pixel of the current time frame image is of a motion picture is detected. If the pixel is of a motion picture, the compressed pixel data of the previous time frame image is decompressed, and an overdrive process is performed on the decompressed pixel data and the original pixel data of the current time frame image to produce an overdrive output. If the pixel is not of a motion picture, an overdrive process is not performed. | 2008-12-11 |
20080304710 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING IMAGE OF AT LEAST ONE SEEDLING - In one embodiment, a method of processing a source image of at least one seedling may include: a) segmenting the source image into at least a foreground portion and a background portion to form a segmented image, b) skeletonizing the segmented image to form a skeletonized image, the skeletonized image including a skeleton, c) dividing the skeleton into a plurality of segments, d) identifying alternate separations of the skeleton, each alternate separation including at least two groups, each group including at least one segment and potentially relating to a individual seedling, and e) evaluating a plurality of the alternate separations as a function of at least one of: 1) individual angles defined by connecting segments of corresponding groups, 2) combined angles defined by connecting segments of corresponding groups, 3) length defined by connecting segments of corresponding groups, and 4) unused segments. | 2008-12-11 |
20080304711 | METHOD OF PREDICTING CROP YIELD LOSS DUE TO N-DEFICIENCY - A method for determining the yield loss of a crop using remote sensor data is described. The yield loss is determined using the reflectivity of green light by the crop canopy measured from remote sensor data such as an aerial photograph that is digitized and spatially referenced to the field's longitude and latitude. Green pixel values from the aerial photograph, expressed relative to green pixel values from well-fertilized areas of the field, are transformed to yield losses using a linear transformation that was developed using empirical data. A similar method is described to determine recommended nitrogen fertilization rates for the crop fields. The yield loss data is useful for nitrogen fertilization management, as it allows a producer of crops to weigh the expense of fertilization against the loss of revenue due to yield loss. | 2008-12-11 |
20080304712 | APPARATUS AND METHOD OF BIOMETRIC DETERMINATION USING SPECIALIZED OPTICAL SPECTROSCOPY SYSTEMS - Methods and apparatuses for performing biometric determinations using optical spectroscopy of tissue. The biometric determinations that are disclosed include determination or verifications of identity, estimation of age, estimation of sex, determination of sample liveness and sample authenticity. The apparatuses disclosed are based upon discrete light sources such as light emitting diodes, laser diodes, vertical cavity surface emitting lasers, and broadband sources with multiple narrow-band optical filters. The multiple light sources are encoded in a manner that the tissue response for each source can be efficiently measured. The light sources are spaced at multiple distances from a detector to contribute differing information to the biometric determination task as do light sources with different wavelength characteristics. Apparatuses are disclosed that incorporate a spectral biometric sensor with a personal electronic device such as cellular telephones, personal digital assistants, wristwatches, electronic fobs for the purpose of providing secure biometric access to protected property. | 2008-12-11 |
20080304713 | Image display method and system thereof - The present invention relates to an image display method and system thereof. When displaying an image, a picture is captured. A calculated number of human eyes is determined from the picture to quantify the attraction of the image for the crowd. And then, a reasonable charged fee is calculated. | 2008-12-11 |
20080304714 | Pairwise Feature Learning With Boosting For Use In Face Detection - Systems and methods for training an AdaBoost based classifier for detecting symmetric objects, such as human faces, in a digital image. In one example embodiment, such a method includes first selecting a sub-window of a digital image. Next, the AdaBoost based classifier extracts multiple sets of two symmetric scalar features from the sub-window, one being in the right half side and one being in the left half side of the sub-window. Then, the AdaBoost based classifier minimizes the joint error of the two symmetric features for each set of two symmetric scalar features. Next, the AdaBoost based classifier selects one of the features from the set of two symmetric scalar features for each set of two symmetric scalar features. Finally, the AdaBoost based classifier linearly combines multiple weak classifiers, each of which corresponds to one of the selected features, into a stronger classifier. | 2008-12-11 |
20080304715 | INDIVIDUAL-IDENTIFYING COMMUNICATION SYSTEM AND PROGRAM EXECUTED IN INDIVIDUAL-IDENTIFYING COMMUNICATION SYSTEM - An individual-identifying communication system of the present invention comprises an imaging device; a display device capable of displaying an image based on image data obtained by said imaging device; a selection device for selecting a predetermined area within the displayed image; a storage device storing plural standard face information data and plural identification information data for specifying a mobile terminal to communicate with, each of the identification information data being associated with each standard face information data; an acquisition device acquiring acquisition face information data from image data; a standard face information data determination device determining the standard face information data corresponding to the acquisition face information data, based on the acquisition face information data acquired from selection area image data and plural standard face information data; and a communication device communicating with a mobile terminal assigned with identification information data corresponding to the standard face information data. | 2008-12-11 |
20080304716 | FACE RECOGNITION DEVICE - A face recognition device of the present invention comprises a plurality of imaging devices capable of simultaneously capturing the face of a person from directions different from one another, and a storage device, the device further comprising: a depression/protrusion data determination device determining data indicating difference of areas of portions in a predetermined color, as depression/protrusion data indicating facial depression/protrusion features of the person, by calculating the difference of the areas based on comparison of images including the face captured from two directions, the images being simultaneously captured using the plurality of imaging devices; and an identification device identifying the person by comparing the depression/protrusion data of the person determined by the depression/protrusion data determination device with individual identification data previously stored in the storage device to be the reference of comparison with the depression/protrusion data. | 2008-12-11 |
20080304717 | INDIVIDUAL IDENTIFICATION DATA REGISTER - The individual identification data register of the present invention includes: a storage device storing projection matrix data showing a projection matrix generated from plural image data showing plural persons' faces and individual identification data showing a component value indicating a registered person's facial feature; and an arithmetic processing device executing the processing of calculating a component value showing the person's facial feature based on image data showing the person's face obtained by a camera and the projection matrix data stored in the storage device, determining whether or not individual identification data showing a component value generating an error smaller than a predetermined threshold value when compared with the calculated component value is stored in the storage device, and storing component value data showing the calculated component value into the storage device, as individual identification data, when determining that the individual identification data is not stored in the storage device. | 2008-12-11 |
20080304718 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR CREATING PHOTO ALBUM - A device for automatically creating a photo album is disclosed. A face detection unit detects faces from an inputted image, an inclination determining unit determines an inclination of the inputted image based on inclinations of the faces, a temporary trimming reference area determining unit determines a trimming reference area containing one or more of the faces, a temporary trimming reference point determining unit determines a trimming reference point in the trimming reference area, an image rotating unit rotates the inputted image depending on the inclination of the inputted image, a trimming unit sets in the inputted image a layout frame of an image insertion area of a photo album template such that the layout reference point is positioned on the trimming reference point and the trimming reference area is contained within the layout frame and carries out trimming, and a template composition unit combines the trimmed area with the template. | 2008-12-11 |
20080304719 | Bi-directional handwriting insertion and correction - Various technologies and techniques are disclosed for providing bi-handwriting directional handwriting recognition and correction. A combined handwriting recognizer is provided that supports left-to-right and right-to-left language recognition by using a combined dictionary. The combined dictionary includes a dictionary from a language in a first direction, along with a backwards version of a dictionary from a language in a second direction. The combined recognizer is used with the combined dictionary to generate a most likely recognition result for mixed direction hand written input received from a user. Character by character correction is provided for mixed left-to-right and right-to-left text. The most likely recognition result is displayed in a visual order. The user can correct a particular character to a different character. When recognized text needs to be sent to a separate application, an inverse bi-directional process is performed to convert the ext from the visual order to the logical order. | 2008-12-11 |
20080304720 | Channel Apparatus for Focusing a Fluid Flow - Disclosed is a focusing channel device which focuses fluid containing micro particles so that the micro particles flow in a line. The channel device comprises a nozzle formed by left and right walls each of which comprises an inclination surface. The cross sectional area in vertical direction decreases from the entrance of the nozzle toward the exit of the nozzle. The shape of cross sectional view in horizontal direction is asymmetric for the central line in the length direction. Using the focus channel device of the invention, the micro particles in the fluid are not combined with each other and passed through the channel one by one. Thus, blockage of the channel or combination and movement of two particles together does not occur. | 2008-12-11 |
20080304721 | IMAGE DETECTION METHOD FOR DIAGNOSTIC PLATES - The present invention relates to an image detection method for diagnostic plates, which detects the changes of signal lines in multiple assay regions at the same time, and promotes the detection efficiency remarkably. The diagnostic plates in the present invention may comprise Radio frequency identification (RFID) tags, and comprise at least one assay region, and at least one signal line within the assay region. This image detection method for diagnostic plates according to the present invention comprises: reading the parameters from the RFID tags of the diagnostic plates directly, or reading the alternative RFID tags provided with an RFID reader, or downloading the parameters from external files of computer; detecting the changes of the images whether reaches the stable state; analyzing and measuring the color of signal lines and the background in the image of the diagnostic plates after the images are stabilized; calculating the color intensity difference between the images of the signal line and the corresponding background; and determining the result of the signal lines in the assay region based on the difference in intensity. | 2008-12-11 |
20080304722 | System and Method for Assessing Image Interpretability in Anatomic Pathology - A portion of imagery data is obtained from a digital slide and a protocol of image analysis/diagnostic tasks is performed on the portion of imagery data by a pathologist or an image analysis module. The result of each task (e.g., success or no success) is recorded and a score is determined for the portion of the imagery data. Multiple portions of imagery data from the digital slide are analyzed and scored and the various scores from the multiple portions of imagery data are calculated to determine an overall score for the digital slide. Regions of the digital slide can be scored separately. Multiple rounds of scoring (by different pathologists and/or different image analysis algorithms) may be employed to increase the accuracy of the score for a digital slide or region thereof. | 2008-12-11 |
20080304723 | BIO-READER DEVICE WITH TICKET IDENTIFICATION - A method and device for determining a concentration of a biological target. The method and device include: capturing an image of a ticket including the biological target and information about the ticket; selecting pre-determined data corresponding to the ticket and the target responsive to the read information about the ticket; and determining the concentration of the biological target according to the pre-determined data. The method and device may further comprise selecting calibration data corresponding to the ticket, responsive to the read information about the ticket; and determining the concentration of the biological target according to the pre-determined data and the calibration data. | 2008-12-11 |
20080304724 | ENDOSCOPIC IMAGE VIEWING PROGRAM AND METHOD - A computer is caused to perform a process for displaying an endoscopic image, including displaying an endoscopic image on a display, displaying overlay information on the displayed endoscopic image, and changing a position of the displayed overlay information in accordance with a change in the displaying of the endoscopic image. | 2008-12-11 |
20080304725 | Method and device for preparing an implant from an implant material - A method and device for preparing an implant from an implant material are provided. A defect image of the defect which has a defect contour is made available, in which a first calibration member arranged in or adjacent to the defect is displayed. A second calibration member is arranged on or adjacent to the implant material to be processed, this second calibration member corresponding to the first calibration member. A real-time image of the implant material is displayed on a display device. The defect image is displayed on the display device and superimposed on the real-time image so that the first and the second calibration members are displayed one on top of the other. A processing tool is displayed on the display device in the real-time image and moved over the implant material so that it follows the defect contour displayed in the defect image. | 2008-12-11 |
20080304726 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR IMPROVING SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL RESOLUTION OF COMPUTED IMAGES OF MOVING OBJECTS - A method of improving a resolution of an image using image reconstruction is provided. The method includes acquiring scan data of an object and forward projecting a current image estimate of the scan data to generate calculated projection data. The method also includes applying a data-fit term and a regularization term to the scan data and the calculated projection data and modifying at least one of the data fit term and the regularization term to accommodate spatio-temporal information to form a reconstructed image from the scan data and the calculated projection data. | 2008-12-11 |
20080304727 | Method and apparatus for forming an image with dynamic projective data - An apparatus for forming an image of a body of a patient. The apparatus comprises an energy source which emits energy that passes through the body or which causes the body to emit energy. The apparatus comprises at least one detector element which receives the energy which has pass through, or originated within the body. The apparatus comprises a computer with a memory in communication with the detector element which stores in the memory angular and timing information relative to the body regarding the energy. The apparatus comprises means for obtaining additional angular and timing information relative to the body regarding the information including the computer-generated steps from a computable readable medium of: acquiring time resolved projective data, either in a sparse manner or in a highly sampled manner, depending on which acquisition aspect of the patient is to be reduced; interpolating either along a circumferential direction or along a temporal direction sparsely sampled data, the interpolation direction being determined by a relative k-space sampling density; applying data filtering either along the circumferential direction or along the temporal direction for highly sampled data, the filtering direction being determined by the relative k-space sampling density; compiling a full radial sampling set from the filtered or interpolated data; and submitting the sampling set for reconstruction. A method for forming an image of a patient. | 2008-12-11 |
20080304728 | Method and system for performing high temporal resolution bolus detection using CT image projection data - A method of evaluating changes in contrast of an image using a diagnostic imaging system is provided. The method provides acquiring raw image data of an organ or tissue, calculating a baseline of data based on the raw image data acquired before arrival of an agent, and determining changes in a signal intensity of the agent based on changes in the raw image data compared to the baseline. The agent may be an imaging agent, a contrast agent, a biomedical agent, a needle, a catheter, a biomedical device, and the like. | 2008-12-11 |
20080304729 | Method and Apparatus for Continuous Imaging by Ultrasound Transducer System - A low profile large aperture matrix based ultrasound transducer fixably attached to the human body by a disposable pad and is used to image the human anatomy. The image tuning and field of view is controlled remotely by inputs to the ultrasound imaging system. | 2008-12-11 |
20080304730 | ULTRASONIC IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PROCESSING ULTRASONIC IMAGE - A contour detector detects the contour of a specific tissue based on ultrasonic image data having been acquired in a predetermined time phase. A contour tracking part obtains the position of each of points composing the contour of a specific tissue in ultrasonic image data having been acquired in each time phase, by pattern matching for each time phase. A computing part obtains motion information indicating the motion state of a specific tissue in each time phase, based on the position of each of points composing the contour in each time phase. A display controller controls a display to display an ultrasonic image based on ultrasonic image data having been acquired in each time phase, for each time phase. Furthermore, the display controller controls the display to display the motion information in each time phase, on each occasion of each time phase. | 2008-12-11 |
20080304731 | Data processing apparatus, medical diagnostic apparatus, data processing method and medical diagnostic method - A data processing apparatus includes a SNR distribution data generating unit, a filter processing unit, a weighting function generating unit and a corrected data generating unit. The SNR distribution data generating unit generates SNR distribution data of processing target data based on the processing target data. The filter processing unit generates filter processed data obtained by performing filter processing to the processing target data to improve a SNR of the processing target data. The weighting function generating unit generates a weighting function based on the SNR distribution data. The corrected data generating unit generates corrected data by performing weighted calculation between the processing target data and the filter processed data using the weighting function. | 2008-12-11 |
20080304732 | AUTOMATIC CHARACTERIZATION OF CELLULAR MOTION - The present techniques provide for the evaluation of cellular motion and/or cellular properties based on an analysis of motion. In an exemplary technique, images of one or more cells are acquired and motion data for the one or more cells is derived from the images. The motion data is decomposed to generate one or more motion components. The one or more motion components can be used to evaluate cellular properties and/or cellular motion properties. | 2008-12-11 |
20080304733 | Apparatus and Methods for Automated Assessment of Tissue Pathology - Methods and apparatus for assessing tissue pathology involve computing an index having a value based upon measures of a plurality of morphological features of cell nuclei in the tissue. The methods may be performed completely automatically or semi-automatically. The index value can be predictive of outcome. The index value may be determined by computing discriminant scores for the cell nuclei based upon values of the measures of morphological features and classifying the nuclei into bins based upon the discriminant score values. The index may be based upon proportions of the nuclei classified in different ones of the bins. | 2008-12-11 |
20080304734 | Alignment correction prio to image sampling in inspection systems - A method and apparatus, and variations of each, for inspecting a wafer defining at least one die thereon is disclosed. The present invention first obtains the electronic image equivalent of two die, and then determines the x and y offset between those electronic images. Prior to inspection for defects, those two electronic images are aligned by adjusting the x and y positions of one electronic image of one die with respect to the electronic image of the other die. Once that is accomplished, the those electronic images are compared to detect any defects that may exist on one of the die. | 2008-12-11 |
20080304735 | Learning object cutout from a single example - Systems and methods are described for learning visual object cutout from a single example. In one implementation, an exemplary system determines the color context near each block in a model image to create an appearance model. The system also learns color sequences that occur across visual edges in the model image to create an edge profile model. The exemplary system then infers segmentation boundaries in unknown images based on the appearance model and edge profile model. In one implementation, the exemplary system minimizes the energy in a graph-cut model where the appearance model is used for data energy and the edge profile is used to modulate edges. The system is not limited to images with nearly identical foregrounds or backgrounds. Some variations in scale, rotation, and viewpoint are allowed. | 2008-12-11 |
20080304736 | METHOD OF ESTIMATING A VISUAL EVALUATION VALUE OF SKIN BEAUTY - A method of estimating a visual evaluation value of beauty of a skin, and a device and a program for calculating a visual evaluation value of beauty of a skin are provided. Anybody can easily estimate a visual evaluation value of beauty of a skin objectively and quantitatively. A visual evaluation value of beauty of the skin is estimated by using a correlation between a visual evaluation value of beauty of the skin and a fractal dimension of a distribution of a color system signal of an image of the skin or a 3-dimensional skin surface relief value of a skin surface. | 2008-12-11 |
20080304737 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - If a pixel of interest on a line of interest is located in an attribute region different from that in which a pixel immediately preceding the pixel of interest is located, the luminance value and color difference values of the pixel of interest are recorded in this order adjacent to data recorded in a data packet set for the line of interest (S | 2008-12-11 |
20080304738 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR IMAGE COMPRESSION AND DECOMPRESSION USING GRAPHICS PROCESSING UNIT (GPU) - The invention provides, in some aspects, methods for image compression that utilize the central processing unit (CPU) of a digital data processor and its associated graphics processing unit (GPU), together, in order to compress an image. In related aspects of the invention, the GPU is adapted to render at least a portion of an image to an associated texture buffer (i.e., a texture buffer of the GPU) and to transform the resulting image values in that texture buffer to a frequency-based representation. The GPU can, further, order coefficients comprising that frequency-based representation and transfer at least a portion of those coefficients to the associated CPU. That CPU can, in turn, effect transfer of the downloaded coefficients to another digital data processor (or image processing apparatus). Still other aspects of the invention provide methods of image decompression that utilize the central processing unit (CPU) of a digital data processor and its associated graphics processing unit (GPU), together, in order to decompress an image. These methods parallel the compression methods discussed above, albeit in substantially reversed order. Other aspects of the invention provide digital data processing apparatus for image compression, decompression and/or remote image display operating in accord with the methods described above. | 2008-12-11 |
20080304739 | Color adjustment apparatus and computer-readable medium - A color adjustment apparatus includes a subspace setting unit, a non-adjustment region setting unit and a color adjustment unit. The subspace setting unit sets a subspace in a color space. The subspace includes an adjustment subject color, which is an adjustment source, and a target color representing an adjustment destination. The non-adjustment region setting unit sets a non-adjustment region in the color space. A color adjustment is not performed in the non-adjustment region. The color adjustment unit performs the color adjustment for colors in the subspace set by the subspace setting unit, based on a reference vector directing from the adjustment subject color to the target color. | 2008-12-11 |
20080304740 | Salient Object Detection - Methods for detecting a salient object in an input image are described. For this, the salient object in an image may be defined using a set of local, regional, and global features including multi-scale contrast, center-surround histogram, and color spatial distribution. These features are optimally combined through conditional random field learning. The learned conditional random field is then used to locate the salient object in the image. The methods can also use image segmentation, where the salient object is separated from the image background. | 2008-12-11 |
20080304741 | Automatic detection of calibration charts in images - Methods and apparatuses for locating an embedded color chart in an image are described. In one exemplary method, an image that includes an embedded color chart is located without the intervention of the user. The embedded color chart is verified and used to create a color profile of the image. Furthermore, the orientation angle of the color chart is determined and the image orientation is fixed based on this angle. | 2008-12-11 |
20080304742 | COMBINING MULTIPLE CUES IN A VISUAL OBJECT DETECTION SYSTEM - Systems and methods for detecting visual objects by employing multiple cues include statistically combining information from multiple sources into a saliency map, wherein the information may include color, texture and/or motion in an image where an object is to be detected or background determined. The statistically combined information is thresholded to make decisions with respect to foreground/background pixels. | 2008-12-11 |
20080304743 | ACTIVE SEGMENTATION FOR GROUPS OF IMAGES - Systems and methods of segmenting images are disclosed herein. The similarity of images in a set of images is compared. A group of images is selected from the set of images. The images in the group of images are selected based on compared similarities among the images. An informative image is selected from the group of images. User-defined semantic information of the informative image is received. The group of images as a graph is modeled as a graph. Each image in the group of images denotes a node in the graph. Edges of the graph denote a foreground relationship between images or a background relationship between images. One or more images in the group of images are automatically segmented by propagating the semantic information of the informative image to images in the group of images having a corresponding graph node that is related to a graph node corresponding to the informative image. Segmentation results can be refined according to user provided image semantics. | 2008-12-11 |
20080304744 | Method for Facilitating Post-Processing of Images Using Deformable Meshes - Method and system for facilitating post-processing of images using deformable meshes in which a deformable mesh model of an object such as an organ is extended by attaching information thereon in order to simplify and/or facilitate a desired post-processing task so that the post-processing task effected when the mesh is applied to the same object in an additional image can expeditiously use this information. The information may be attached to the mesh after its creation, for example, upon segmentation of the same object in some training image. The post-processing task can therefore be performed automatically without user interaction upon segmentation of the object in the additional image. Information is encoded on the mesh by enumerating a list of triangles or vertices of the mesh which have to be considered in the subsequent, post-processing task and by optionally providing additional parameters defining the precise post-processing algorithm(s) to be used. | 2008-12-11 |
20080304745 | IMAGE DISPLAY APPARATUS, IMAGE DISPLAY METHOD, AND RECORDING MEDIUM CONTAINING AN IMAGE-DISPLAY-METHOD PROGRAM - An image display apparatus includes a main portion detecting unit configured to perform detection of a main portion of at least one still image from the still image, a cutout unit configured to cut out the main portion from the still image on the basis of a result of the detection by the main portion detecting unit, and a display unit configured to display at least one main portion image based on the main portion cut out by the cutout unit. | 2008-12-11 |
20080304746 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CHARACTER STRING RECOGNITION - To provide a method and apparatus for character string recognition that enables improvement in accuracy of character recognition while maintaining high-speed operation performance in character recognition. | 2008-12-11 |
20080304747 | IDENTIFIERS FOR DIGITAL MEDIA - A computer-implemented method includes receiving a piece of content, wherein the piece of content comprises a machine-readable identifier, identifying the machine-readable identifier in the piece of content, and associating the machine-readable identifier to the piece of media content. | 2008-12-11 |