| Patent application number | Description | Published |
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| 20090103784 | EFFECTIVE RED EYE REMOVAL IN DIGITAL IMAGES WITHOUT FACE DETECTION - Methods and apparatuses for detecting and correcting red-eye in an image are provided. In one aspect, red-eye can be detected without detecting faces. Red-eye candidates are identified and eliminated by evaluating a series of statistics, including color, size, shape, distance, etc. A plurality of regions, including an eye region, a pupil region, an iris region, and a sclera region can be associated with each red-eye candidate. Color distribution statistics are computed with respect to the presence of target color, glint, skin, or other-color pixels in the plurality of regions. Red-eye candidates may be paired with other red-eye candidates for further processing. Further statistics may be computed based on the location of the red-eye candidates in the image, and the location of each red-eye candidate relative to other red-eye candidates. Pixels associated with selected red-eye candidates may be color adjusted. | 04-23-2009 |
| 20090174674 | APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR A TOUCH USER INTERFACE USING AN IMAGE SENSOR - Apparatus and methods are presented for a touch user interface using an image sensor. A method for processing image-based input commands for a user interface includes receiving image frames from a sensor, determining when the sensor enters a cover state, determining, from subsequent image frames, when the sensor enters a de-cover state, analyzing information based upon the subsequent image frames to interpret a user command, and issuing the user command to a user interface. An apparatus having an image-based user interface includes an image sensor, and a processor connected to a memory, where the processor is configured with logic to receive image frames from the image sensor, to determine when the image sensor enters a cover state, determine, from subsequent image frames, when the image sensor enters a de-cover state, to analyze information based upon the subsequent image frames to interpret a user command, and to issue the user command to a user interface. | 07-09-2009 |
| 20100033617 | SYSTEM AND METHOD TO GENERATE DEPTH DATA USING EDGE DETECTION - Systems and methods of generating depth data using edge detection are disclosed. In a particular embodiment, first image data is received corresponding to a scene recorded by an image capture device at a first focus position at a first distance. Second image data is received corresponding to a second focus position at a second distance that is greater than the first distance. Edge detection generates first edge data corresponding to at least a first portion of the first image data and to generate second edge data corresponding to at least a second portion of the second image data. The edge detection detects presence or absence of an edge at each location of the first portion and the second portion to identify each detected edge as a hard or soft edge. Depth data is generated based on the edge data generated for the first and second focus positions. | 02-11-2010 |
| 20100034481 | BAD PIXEL CLUSTER DETECTION - Systems and methods of bad pixel cluster detection are disclosed. In a particular embodiment, a system is disclosed that includes a bad pixel correction module coupled to receive image data and adapted to perform a bad pixel cluster detection process. The bad pixel correction module includes logic to determine whether two test pixels have values that exceed a representative value of a group of surrounding pixels by more than a threshold amount. The threshold amount is determined via a table lookup. | 02-11-2010 |
| 20100158363 | SYSTEM AND METHOD TO DETECT SKIN COLOR IN AN IMAGE - In a particular embodiment, a method is disclosed that includes performing a first test using a first pixel value of a pixel to determine whether the pixel is outside a skin color region of a color space. The method includes, when the first test does not identify the pixel as outside the skin color region, performing a second test using a second pixel value of the pixel to determine whether the pixel is outside the skin color region of the color space. The method further includes, when the second test does not identify the pixel as outside the skin color region, performing a third test using a third pixel value of the pixel to determine whether the pixel is outside the skin color region of the color space. | 06-24-2010 |
| 20100232706 | RESPONSE TO DETECTION OF BLUR IN AN IMAGE - A system and method to respond to detection of blurry regions of interest in an image are disclosed. One embodiment includes a region locator to locate one or more regions of interest in an image captured by a digital image capturing device. The embodiment also includes a blurry region detector for detecting whether a region of interest is blurry. A blurry region indicator indicates to a user when a blurry region has been detected. When a blurry region is detected, a display interface provides an enlarged image of the detected blurry region. Some embodiments provide recommendations on how to capture the scene again with improved results. | 09-16-2010 |
| 20100259561 | VIRTUAL KEYPAD GENERATOR WITH LEARNING CAPABILITIES - Methods and systems enable defining customized virtual keyboards on a touch sensitive surface, such as a touchscreen. Using learning algorithms, a computing device may learn the typing patterns of a user and “morph” the keys of a virtual keyboard into locations, sizes, and orientations that are comfortable for the user and which may reduce typing errors. A user may create a custom keypad layout by performing a series of key strokes on a touch sensitive surface. The computing device may correlate the touch locations to particular keys and generate keypad layout data that can be used to display the virtual keyboard and interpret touches on the touch sensitive surface. The computing device may monitor user typing activity and refine the keypad layout data based on detected or corrected typing errors. Keypad layout data may be exported to other devices to enable users to take their virtual keyboards with them. | 10-14-2010 |
| 20100271393 | IMAGE SELECTION AND COMBINATION METHOD AND DEVICE - A method is disclosed that includes receiving multiple sequential images captured by an image capture device. The method includes selecting a subset of the multiple sequential images that are aligned to each other. The method further includes averaging pixel values from each image in the subset of the multiple sequential images to produce a combined image. | 10-28-2010 |
| 20100273443 | CONTEXT-BASED MESSAGING FOR WIRELESS COMMUNICATION - This disclosure describes techniques for providing a wireless communication device with context-based voicemail messaging. In reply to a call, a wireless communication device may select a message based on a context. As an example, a wireless communication system may detect a call directed to a wireless communication device from a caller, generate one of a plurality of reply messages for the caller based on a context of the wireless communication device derived from input information received by at least one input of the wireless communication device, and transmit the generated reply message to the caller. In some cases, the message may be selected based on both context and caller identity. In addition, the message may be selected based at least in part on analysis of a pattern of usage or user activity with respect to the wireless communication device. | 10-28-2010 |
| 20100281400 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING PORTIONED WEB PAGES IN A GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE - Methods and devices enable displaying selected portions of one or more webpages in user defined view windows presented on a computing device display desktop. A selected webpage may be rendered into a full-sized render buffer in order for a rendering engine to render all the elements properly. One or more view windows are created on the display desktop that show user selected portions of the render buffer. In this manner users can select portions of one or more websites for presentation on their computing device desktop, position the selected portions at their preferred locations. | 11-04-2010 |
| 20110050576 | PRESSURE SENSITIVE USER INTERFACE FOR MOBILE DEVICES - Virtual keypads are provided which determine an intended user key entry based upon location of keystrokes as well as other keystroke characteristics such as keystroke shape and/or pressure. Virtual keypad layouts which include overlapping or multi-character keys may be used to reduce typing errors on small pressure sensing touch screens. Keystrokes on overlapping or multi-character keys may be disambiguated using measured pressures applied to the pressure sensing touch screen as well as other keystroke characteristics such as keystroke shape. Additional user interfaces are provided which exploit pressure sensing touch screen capable of discriminating magnitudes of pressure exerted upon the touch screen surface. | 03-03-2011 |
| 20110065376 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR GENERATING A SELECTIVE DISTRIBUTION OF MEDIA CONTENT FEEDS - Aspects relate to systems and methods for generating a selective distribution of media content feeds. A content server can identify a set of mobile video cameras or other sources for delivery to a mobile device, based on a state of motion or orientation of the mobile device. Media content can be collected from video-equipped cellular devices capable of reporting their position, bearing, speed, and other sensor data. In one aspect, the position, bearing, and speed of the mobile device along with similar data for the media sources can be taken into account to generate a media envelope, or included set of media devices, to make available to the user. In one aspect, the selected content can be based on the compass orientation of a sensor in the mobile device. In one implementation, user preferences along with other access criteria can be used to further select content feeds. | 03-17-2011 |
| 20110066971 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING APPLICATION INTERFACE PORTIONS ON PERIPHERAL COMPUTING DEVICES - The methods and devices enable displaying image portions generated on a first computing device on a second computing device. A master helper app on the first device receives user content selections and computes bounding boxes on each. The master helper app may expand the system frame buffer to hold the selected content and cause the windows manager to direct applications to draw contents into the expanded frame buffer. The master helper app may invoke a slave helper app on the second device to receive the frame buffer contents. The slave helper app stores the received display data in a frame buffer so the image is displayed. Resizing, blending and partitioning processing of display content can be accomplished on either the first or second devices or on a third proxy device. Keystrokes on the second device can be translated into commands executed on the first device. | 03-17-2011 |
| 20110081923 | DEVICE MOVEMENT USER INTERFACE GESTURES FOR FILE SHARING FUNCTIONALITY - Methods and devices provide a gesture activated file sharing functionality enabling users to share files with other nearby computing devices. The file sharing functionality may include establishing wireless links with nearby devices and determine their relative locations. The computing device may detect a file sharing motion of the computing device from accelerometers and transmit files to or request files from a nearby device in response. Base on motion parameters, e.g., direction, speed and/or shape, the computing device may identify a targeted device to which a file may be transmitted or from which a file may be requested. The computing device may request user verification of the identified device and send a request to transmit files to the targeted device. The computing devices may transmit files using networks and addresses provided over the device-to-device communication links. | 04-07-2011 |
| 20110083111 | USER INTERFACE GESTURES AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING FILE SHARING FUNCTIONALITY - Methods and devices provide a gesture activated file sharing functionality enabling users to share files with other nearby computing devices. The file sharing functionality may include establishing wireless links with nearby devices and determine their relative locations. The computing device may detect a file sharing gesture and transmit files to or request files from a nearby device in response to the gesture. Base on gesture parameters, e.g., direction, speed and shape, and computing device attitude parameters, e.g., tilt angle and pointing direction, the computing device may identify a targeted device to which a file may be transmitted. The computing device may request user verification of the identified device and send a request to transmit files to the targeted device. The computing devices may transmit files using networks and addresses provided over the device-to-device communication links. | 04-07-2011 |
| 20110119258 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR MANAGING ELECTRONIC MESSAGES - Methods and systems provide tools that enable users to manage electronic messages by obtaining additional information about senders, receivers or entities mentioned in messages. A computing device may identify a sender or recipient of an electronic message and search a database to obtain additional data about the sender or recipient. The additional data may be displayed with the electronic message. The additional data may also be used to calculate importance values that the computing device can use to highlight, preferentially display, or sort the electronic messages. The importance values may be calculated by applying sorting algorithms to the retrieved additional data based on user defined criteria. Importance values may also be based upon information obtained from messages. A graphical user interface may be implemented to enable users to specify criteria and weighting factors to apply in sorting electronic messages. | 05-19-2011 |
| 20110119638 | USER INTERFACE METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR PROVIDING GESTURING ON PROJECTED IMAGES - Methods and systems enable a user to interact with a computing device by tracing a gesture on a surface with a laser beam. The computing device may be equipped with or coupled to a projector and a digital camera. The projector may project an image generated on the computing device on a projection surface which the camera images. Location and movement of a laser spot on the projection surface may be detected within received camera images. The projected image and the received camera image may be correlated so that the computing device can determine the location of a laser spot within the projected image. Movements of the laser spot may be correlated to predefined laser gestures which may be associated to particular functions that the computing device may implement. The functions may be similar to other user interface functionality. The function results may be displayed and projected. | 05-19-2011 |
| 20110167391 | USER INTERFACE METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR PROVIDING FORCE-SENSITIVE INPUT - Methods and systems implement touch sensors or force sensitive materials disposed on the case of a computing device in order to enable user input gestures to be performed on portions of the device case. The force sensitive elements may generate an electrical signal in response to a gesture, such as a tap, squeeze, swipe or twist. The properties of the generated electrical signal may be compared to various reference templates to recognize particular input gestures. The force sensitive elements may operate in conjunction with more traditional input methods, such as touch-screen display and electromechanical buttons. By enabling user input gestures on the case of computing devices, the various aspects permit one hand operation of the devices including intuitive gestures that do not require the users focused attention to accomplish. Thus the various aspects may enable users to utilize their computing devices in situations not suitable to conventional user input technologies. | 07-07-2011 |
