Entries |
Document | Title | Date |
20080199040 | COPY PROTECTED INFORMATION DISTRIBUTION - A device may capture an image in a portable device, embed a watermark into the image in the portable device, and transmit the watermarked image through a wireless interface of the portable device. | 08-21-2008 |
20080199041 | Shaping Classification Boundaries In Template Protection Systems - The invention relates to a method of authentication of a physical object and an apparatus applying said method. The method uses a helper data (W | 08-21-2008 |
20080199042 | TARGETED MARKETING SYSTEM AND METHOD - A computer-implemented method for targeting marketing content to an online user, includes the steps of collecting data describing the user or the user's ownership item in a user profile, comparing the user profile with a target profile and presenting the user with content based on the comparison. The user profile includes a photographic likeness of the user or the user's ownership item, as well as information derived from the photographic likeness. Certain content may be dynamically created for the user based on the user profile and that content may include the photographic likeness, which may be altered to incorporate a portion of the content into the photographic likeness. In this manner, personalized advertisements for cosmetics, jewelry, clothing, cosmetic procedures, home improvement products, and other products or services may be created. The user profile also includes data describing the user's browsing habits and responses to context-specific survey questions. In one embodiment, metrics are assigned to the user profile data, and a data index identifying the user's preferences and purchasing habits is calculated for the user based on the assigned metrics. Each metric may also have an associated confidence factor, which causes the metric value to decay over time. | 08-21-2008 |
20080205692 | Method and Kit for Determining Consumer Preferences - A method and kit for determining consumer preferences and desires for a product line or service, utilizing images which symbolize archetypes and/or represent emotional drivers of human behavior. Images are used to determine consumer preferences for product lines or services by examining Respondents' psychological framework to reveal the “must have” emotional components for a product or service. Since the Respondent typically is not able to explain exactly what their preferences are as consumers, the use of the present invention provides symbology to allow them to reveal their inarticulable preferences for a product or service. | 08-28-2008 |
20080205693 | MONITORING AND OPERATION IMAGE INTEGRATING SYSTEM OF PLANTS AND MONITORING AND OPERATION IMAGE INTEGRATING METHOD - A monitoring and operation image integrating system include: a display signal synthesizing unit to which a display signal from a plurality of safety equipments and that from non-safety equipment are inputted, and which synthesizes a display signal from the plural safety equipments and a display signal from the non-safety equipment; display signal switching unit to which a state signal showing an operation state of whether or not each monitoring and operation screen image of the plural safety equipments displays an operating device of the equipment, is inputted, and which switches a display signal from a safety equipment to be synthesized by the display signal synthesizing unit based on the inputted state signals; and an integrated monitoring and operation screen display that displays a display signal synthesized by the display signal synthesizing unit as an integrated monitoring and operation screen of a plant. | 08-28-2008 |
20080205694 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CREATING DIGITAL COLLAGE - A method and apparatus for creating a digital collage, the apparatus including a sending/receiving unit and a creating unit, the sending/receiving unit receiving contents from a plurality of slave devices, and the creating unit merging the received contents in a predetermined form to create the digital collage. | 08-28-2008 |
20080205695 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM - The image processing apparatus is provided with: an acquisition unit that acquires disaster information obtained based on the occurrence of a disaster; a form generation unit that generates an information registration form describing items for registering information on a disaster to be collected based on the disaster information acquired by the acquisition unit; and an output unit that outputs the information registration form generated by the form generation unit. | 08-28-2008 |
20080205696 | System and method for obtaining and utilizing maintenance information - A system for obtaining, recording, displaying, storing, transmitting and receiving maintenance and other information is provided. The system, which may include an electronic maintenance apparatus that may be in the form of a hand-held digital computer, allows a user to capture and store images, sound, and/or error codes and related text or voice data and other information concerning the system or object being maintained. The information can be stored locally and/or transmitted to remote locations. Retrieval of the images and other data at a later date provides an historical perspective of the object, enabling one using the maintenance apparatus to compare and contrast the condition of the object over time. Instruction on how to accomplish a job at hand, diagnostic information and/or support information may also be transmitted to and from the maintenance apparatus. | 08-28-2008 |
20080205697 | IMAGE-PROCESSING DEVICE AND IMAGE-PROCESSING METHOD - For facilitating detecting the position of additional information embedded in image information shown on a printed matter, an input unit configured to input image information and an embedding unit configured to embed a plurality of code patterns in the image information according to additional information are provided. The additional information includes direction-determination information used to detect the direction in which the additional information is embedded in the image information. When one of the code patterns is rotated, the rotated code pattern corresponds to one of the code patterns that are not yet rotated. | 08-28-2008 |
20080205698 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - In image processing for embedding additional information in an image, degradation of image quality due to consecution of the same code is suppressed. Hence, determination whether or not the same code consecutively appears in additional information is performed, an embedding condition for embedding a code in an image controlled based on the code consecution, and the additional information is embedded in the image in accordance with the embedding condition. | 08-28-2008 |
20080205699 | DIGITAL WATERMARK EMBEDDING AND DETECTION - Provided is a digital watermarking technology for embedding digital watermark information in text data thereby to generate a digitally watermarked image. The technology includes a digital watermarking program, a digital watermarking device and a digital watermarking method, in which digital watermark information can be embedded in document in such a way as not to be easily detected visually and be stably detected even after being printed out, copied or scanned by detecting the features of a character as data to be digitally watermarked, such as the direction and thickness of a line composing the character as the features thereof and embedding the digital watermark information in the character on the basis of the detected features. | 08-28-2008 |
20080212824 | Protecting images with an image watermark - A robust means of watermarking a digitized image with a highly random sequence of pixel brightness multipliers is presented. The random sequence is formed from ‘robust-watermarking-parameters’ selected and known only by the marker and/or the marking entity. A watermarking plane is generated which has an element array with one-to-one element correspondence to the pixels of the digitized image being marked. Each element of the watermarking plane is assigned a random value dependent upon a robust random sequence and a specified brightness modulation strength. The so generated watermarking plane is imparted onto the digitized image by multiplying the brightness value or values of each pixel by its corresponding element value in the watermarking plane. The resulting modified brightness values impart the random and relatively invisible watermark onto the digitized image. Brightness alteration is the essence of watermark imparting. Detection of an imparted watermark requires knowing the watermarking plane with which the watermark was imparted. Regeneration of the watermarking plane requires knowledge of the robust-marking-parameters used in its formulation. This is generally only known to the marker and/or marking entity. Once regenerated the watermarking plane is used together with a verifying image located in a ‘visualizer’ to demonstrate the existence of the watermark. | 09-04-2008 |
20080212825 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ELECTRONICALLY COMBINING IMAGES TAKEN BY TWO OR MORE ADJACENT IMAGE SENSORS - An apparatus comprising two or more adjacent wide angle cameras, such as CMOS cameras, for imaging a document, and methods for combining corresponding images into one image while correcting radial, scale, rotation, translation and other linear or nonlinear deformations. | 09-04-2008 |
20080212826 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, CONTROLLING UNIT, IMAGE FORMING METHOD AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM - The image forming apparatus is provided with: an image forming unit that forms an image on a medium; a speed changing unit that changes an image forming speed of the image forming unit; a detecting unit that detects a state quantity indicating a state of the image on the medium formed by the image forming unit; and an adjusting unit that adjusts an image forming condition set by the image forming unit according to a detection result of the state quantity detected by the detecting unit and a target value for the state quantity. The adjusting unit changes the target value for the state quantity according to the state quantity detected by the detecting unit after the speed changing unit changes the image forming speed. | 09-04-2008 |
20080212827 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR, AND CONTROL PROGRAM - An image processing apparatus which is capable of extracting embedded information from the back side of a printed document without causing degradation of reading efficiency. A scanner unit reads an image on a first side of a sheet. An encoded information processing section extracts embedded information embedded in the image read by the scanner unit. When embedded information indicating that embedded information is embedded in an image on a second side of the sheet is extracted by the encoded information processing section, an automatic second-side reading section reads the image on the second side of the sheet, and the encoded information processing section extracts the embedded information embedded in the image read by the automatic second-side reading section. | 09-04-2008 |
20080212828 | Device, program, and method for determining sleepiness - A sleep prevention system captures a facial image of a driver, determines a sleepiness level from the facial image and operates warning devices including neck air conditioner, seatbelt vibrator, and brake controller if necessary based on the sleepiness determination. A sleepiness determination device determines sleepiness from facial expression information such as distances between corners of a mouth, distance between an eyebrow and eye, tilt angle of a head, and other facial feature distances. The facial distances are calculated from captured images and from reference information gather during wakefulness. The sleepiness degree is determined based on the determination results including combinations thereof. | 09-04-2008 |
20080212829 | BEAM LIGHT SCANNING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS USING SAME - A beam light scanning device includes an image data processing unit operable to output image-processed data of neighboring pixels in such a way that the data is divided for distribution into first pixel data and second pixel data. The scanner also includes a synchronizer circuit that receives the first and second pixel data as output from the image data processor and outputs these pixel data while letting them be synchronized with clocks as synchronized based on a horizontal synchronous signal. The scanner further includes a couple of pulse width modulators or “PWMs”, a synthetic circuit, and a laser diode module. The PWMs are for adjustment of the pulse widths of the first and second pixel data as output from the synchronizer circuit respectively. The synthetic circuit combines together the pulse width-adjusted first and second pixel data. The LD emits a light beam indicative of the resultant combined pixel data. | 09-04-2008 |
20080219493 | Image Processing System - An image processing system is described which is arranged to highlight information in image displays by selectively blurring less important areas of an image. By generating such displays comprising areas which are in focus and areas which are out of focus, a viewer's attention is preferentially drawn towards those areas of an image which appear sharp. By having a display system which is arranged to generate such images a means is provided to direct a viewer's attention towards considering the sharp areas of the image display first. Further the selective blurring portions of an image reduces rather than increases the amount of information presented to a viewer and hence reduces the likelihood that a viewer will become overloaded with information. Display systems of this type are therefore especially applicable to complex control environments as means of directing viewer's attention. | 09-11-2008 |
20080219494 | Method and System For Watermark Embedding in a Multimedia System-On -Chip - Methods and systems for watermark embedding in a multimedia system-on-chip are disclosed and may comprise decrypting an encrypted and signed watermarking signal using a security processor integrated within the system-on-chip and embedding a watermark into a multimedia signal utilizing the decrypted watermarking signal, which may comprise an embedding key, a message to be embedded, and embedding parameters. The encrypted and signed watermarking signal may be received from an external memory via a host CPU within the system-on-chip or a secure server. The decrypted watermarking signal may be verified utilizing a signature, a public key and a random number generated locally. The verified watermarking signal may be stored on a non-volatile memory within the system-on-chip, or re-encrypted and re-signed before storing on a non-volatile memory that is external to the system-on-chip. The watermarking signal may be retrieved from the external non-volatile memory and re-decrypted and re-verified within the system-on-chip. | 09-11-2008 |
20080219495 | Image Comparison - Image comparison techniques are described to compare an image with a database of image information. In an implementation, an image is converted to normalized intensity pixels which are shingled to determine individual shingle hash values. Interesting shingle hash values may be implemented as a fingerprint for comparison with fingerprints of known images. Further, the image fingerprint may be hashed to extract a hash table for use in identifying the acceptability of the image. In implementations, the techniques may be used to identify the acceptability of the image in order to flag or block image transfer. | 09-11-2008 |
20080219496 | Embedding data in and detecting embedded data from video objects - Methods for embedding data, such as digital watermarks, in video objects segmented from video frames. Watermarks are embedded such that they move with the object in the video frames. Interframe motion of video objects is estimated and used to modify the watermark accordingly. Methods for detecting embedded data from video objects are also disclosed. | 09-11-2008 |
20080219497 | IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICE, RECORDING MEDIUM, AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - An image processing device for embedding digital watermarking data into image data of a manuscript includes a storage device that stores digital watermarking data, a margin area detecting device that detects a margin area that is different from an object on which printing is performed, a margin size calculating device that calculates the size of the margin area, a data amount calculating device that calculates the data amount of the digital watermarking data that is allowed to be embedded within the size of the margin area, an extracting device that extracts digital watermarking data from a plurality of sets of digital watermarking data stored in the storage device according to the extraction priority order based on the data amount calculated by the data amount calculating device, and an embedding device that embeds the digital watermarking extracted by the extracting device into the margin area. | 09-11-2008 |
20080219498 | VISUAL DISCRIMINATION MODEL FOR SINGLE IMAGE APPLICATIONS - A computer implemented method for applying a visual discrimination model for single image applications includes receiving an image, defining a plurality of regions of interest in the image including a first region located to contain a feature or object to be detected and a second region located to encompass a background, determining metrics for visibility of the feature or object, wherein the metrics are determined by generating channel Just-Noticeable Difference (JND) maps for the single image determining JND summary metrics for the plurality of regions, and determining a difference in JND metrics between the plurality of regions, and adjusting parameters of the JND metrics to increase a visibility of the feature or object in the image. | 09-11-2008 |
20080219499 | Method for reading test strips - There is provided a method for identifying the color intensities of red lines on a white test strip, comprising the steps of
| 09-11-2008 |
20080219500 | SHREDDING DEVICE WITH A DECODER AND TRANSMITTER - A shredding device which includes a feed mechanism configured to feed a substrate having identity data encoded thereon, said identity data identifying information printed on said substrate. Also included are sensors arranged adjacent said feed mechanism and configured to sense the identity data, as well as a decoder and transmitter arranged in communication with the sensors and configured to respectively decode and transmit the identity data to a network system. The shredding device also includes a shredding mechanism configured to shred the substrate received from the feed mechanism on receipt of instructions from the network system. | 09-11-2008 |
20080226117 | Visual Watermark in Both Data Area and Inner-Ring of Record Carrier - The invention relates to a record carrier comprising a data area for storing data in the form of marks, in which the data is encoded by means of a channel code, wherein a parameter of the channel code is controlled so as to introduce a predetermined run length distribution in the marks on the record carrier, thereby introducing first information relating to a watermark, and a non-data area comprising second information relating to a watermark, the first and the second information forming the watermark. This watermark, extending over both the data-area and the inner-ring area and/or the outer-ring area, can be used for checking the authenticity of the record carrier and/or the recordings made on this record carrier. The invention also relates to a method of providing a watermark on such a record carrier. | 09-18-2008 |
20080226118 | System and method for watermarking data - System and method for digitally watermarking data. A preferred embodiment comprises a quantizer to limit a data value provided by a signal input to a set of values, a rounder unit coupled to the quantizer, a control unit coupled to the rounder unit and to a watermark input, and a multiplexer having a first input coupled to the rounder unit and a control input coupled to the control unit. The rounder unit rounds a quantized data value to a nearest integer, the control unit provides a control signal based on the rounded, quantized data value and a parity of a watermark provided by the watermark input, and the multiplexer selects between an output of the rounder unit, an incremented output of the counter unit, and a decremented output of the counter unit, based on the control signal provided by the control unit. | 09-18-2008 |
20080226119 | Content image search - An embodiment of the present invention includes a search technique for image query. A region of interest (ROI) containing an image in a scene of a displayed content is captured. The ROI is analyzed locally or remotely to search for related content associated with the image. The related content is received. | 09-18-2008 |
20080226120 | Video Watermarking Using Temporal Analysis - Methods of embedding and detecting watermarks in video use temporal analysis to compute temporal components of video from which the watermarks are embedded and detected. Temporal analysis, such as a temporal wavelet, is used to compute representations of static and dynamic portions of the video. For embedding, watermarks are computed from and/or adapted to the temporal components. For detecting, temporal properties are exploited to detect watermarks in the static and/or dynamic components. Temporal analysis also enables plural watermarks to be embedded at different levels of temporal resolution. | 09-18-2008 |
20080226121 | Watermarking Using Multiple Watermarks and Keys, Including Keys Dependent on the Host Signal - A method of embedding a watermarking in a host signal computes a first watermark depending on a particular party and computes a second watermark depending on the host signal. The method embeds the first and second watermarks in the host signal. At least one of the watermarks is embedded using a key derived from the host signal. In particular, one of the watermarks is embedded with a key derived from the host signal. | 09-18-2008 |
20080226122 | Methods, apparatuses, and systems for image-based measurement and inspection of pre-engineered structural components - Methods, apparatuses, and systems for image-based measurement and inspection of pre-engineered structural components, such as building trusses and wall panels. A system can include: a light source; a camera; a first memory storage; a second memory storage; and a processing unit configured to (i) detect a characteristic of the structural component, (ii) compare the characteristic to a corresponding characteristic of at least one reference data, and (iii) indicate a result of the comparison. A method can include: causing a light source to illuminate a portion of the structural component, receiving a reflection of the light source from the illuminated portion of the structural component, and storing data corresponding to the intensity of the reflection; comparing the stored data to at least one reference data; and indicating a result of the comparison. | 09-18-2008 |
20080226123 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR FILLING OCCLUDED INFORMATION FOR 2-D TO 3-D CONVERSION - The present invention is directed to systems and methods for processing 2-D to 3-D image conversion. The system and method includes erode filling when an object has been removed from an image. In one embodiment, a target binary t image mask of the removed object is used for comparison with a binary source mask of the image. In an iterative process, color differences between pixels in the target mask and pixels in the source mask are identified and the pixels in the target mask are changed working from the periphery of the target mask to the center of the mask. Color noise is eliminated in the filled region of the target mask and, if desired, random color noise is added to the filled target mask. | 09-18-2008 |
20080226124 | Method For Inserting and Extracting Multi-Bit Fingerprint Based on Wavelet - A method for inserting and extracting a fingerprint based on a wavelet is disclosed. The method includes: a) decomposing an original image into a first sub-band image having low frequency band columns and rows, a second sub-band image having high frequency band columns and low frequency band rows, a third sub-band image having low frequency band columns and high frequency band rows and a fourth sub-band image having high frequency band columns and rows by performing an n-level discrete wavelet transformation on an original image; b) obtaining a human visual system model from the first sub-band image; c) generating an N×N fingerprint basic block by performing a message modulation on a multi-bit fingerprint signal with a security key and adding a synch pattern to the modulated signal; d) repeatedly inserting the fingerprint basic block in to the second, the third and the fourth sub-band images with reference to the human visual system model; and e) generating a fingerprint inserted image by performing an inverse discrete wavelet transformation on the first sub-band image and the fingerprint basic block inserted second, third and fourth sub-band images. | 09-18-2008 |
20080226125 | Method of Embedding Data in an Information Signal - This invention relates to a watermarking scheme that is robust to general distortions such as scaling and rotation of multimedia content (audio, video, images). This is achieved by embedding a watermark in a first component of the host signal and a transformed version of the same watermark in a second component. For example, a watermark is embedded in the luminance component (Y) and a cyclically shifted version thereof in the chrominance component (UV) of a video signal. The detector correlates ( | 09-18-2008 |
20080232637 | Appliance for Controlling Transparent or Reflective Elements - The invention relates to an appliance for measuring or controlling an optical element ( | 09-25-2008 |
20080232638 | Method for developing three dimensional surface patterns for a papermaking belt - A process for making an image for a papermaking belt wherein the image is the product of (a) providing an image; and (b) performing at least one image modification algorithm thereon, one of the at least one image modification algorithms being a beta image modification algorithm and the beta image modification algorithm being a three-dimensional image modification algorithm to provide a resultant image. | 09-25-2008 |
20080232639 | Apparatus, method, and computer product for image processing - An image processing apparatus includes an obtaining unit, an area setting unit, and an adding unit. The obtaining unit obtains an adding method by which additional information is to be added to image data containing content information. The area setting unit sets an additional-information area to which the additional information is to be added based on the adding method and the content information. The adding unit adds the additional information to the additional-information area by the adding method. | 09-25-2008 |
20080232640 | Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and program product - An image processing apparatus configured to embed embedment information in image data includes an embedment information acquisition unit configured to acquire embedment information to be embedded in the image data, an information embedment manner determination unit configured to determine an information embedment manner to embed the embedment information according to one of the acquired embedment information and image data to be generated by embedding the acquired embedment information in the image data, and an information embedment unit configured to embed the acquired embedment information in image data according to the information embedment manner determined by the information embedment manner determination unit. | 09-25-2008 |
20080240489 | Feature Change Image Creation Method, Feature Change Image Creation Device, and Feature Change Image Creation Program - A technique for applying a feature of a side attribute to an original image while keeping a principal feature. An image accumulating unit stores images classified into categories per the age or sex. A merging unit selects a category in accordance with an input category. A matching unit matches the input image and each of images included in the selected category with each other, and selects the image having highest degree of similarity. The merging unit merges the input image and the selected image by carrying out the weighted average and so on, and generates and outputs a merged image. | 10-02-2008 |
20080240490 | SOURCE AUTHENTICATION AND USAGE TRACKING OF VIDEO - A video at a host is authenticated using a watermark in the video, wherein the watermark includes metadata related to the video, wherein authenticating the video includes comparing metadata in the watermark to unwatermarked metadata attached to the video. Watermarked host-related information is added to the video by the host. | 10-02-2008 |
20080240491 | Instrumentation endoscope apparatus - A reference point-designating section | 10-02-2008 |
20080240492 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING SYSTEM, AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - A storage process section stores, into an exceptional reference image list, discrimination information for discriminating a reference image which permits image processing and a reference image which forbids or restricts image processing. In case where a maximum value of a similarity calculated by a voting process section is not less than a threshold value, a control section determines whether a reference image having a maximum similarity is the reference image which permits image processing or a reference image which forbids or restricts image processing and determines whether or not it is necessary to forbid or restrict image processing with respect to input image data in accordance with a result of the determination. This makes it possible to prevent erroneous determination from forbidding execution of image processing based on input image data or to prevent erroneous determination from allowing execution of image processing based on input image data. | 10-02-2008 |
20080240493 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, IMAGE MANAGING APPARATUS, IMAGE MANAGING METHOD, COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT, AND IMAGE ORDER SHEET - An image processing apparatus is provided that can quickly provide an image in which a main portion has a high image quality. The image processing apparatus includes an original image acquiring section that acquires an original image; a characteristic region judging section that makes a judgment as to whether a characteristic region is present in the original image captured by the original image acquiring section; an image adjusting section that, in a case where the characteristic region judging section makes a judgment that the characteristic region is present, adjusts an image of the characteristic region in the original image acquired by the original image acquiring section based on optical characteristics of an image capturing apparatus that captured the original image; and an image output section that, in a case where the characteristic region judging section makes a judgment that the characteristic region is present, outputs an image obtained through the adjustment by the image adjusting section and, in a case where the characteristic region judging section makes a judgment that the characteristic region is not present, outputs the original image acquired by the original image acquiring section. | 10-02-2008 |
20080240494 | CASE IMAGE SEARCH APPARATUS AND SYSTEM - An arbitrary cross-sectional image (MPR image) is used as an image for searching a case DB which has registered case images for a case image similar to an image to be diagnosed. A user terminal produces an axial image with reference to a diseased site in the MPR image, the axial image containing the diseased site, calculates a feature value (first feature value) of the diseased site contained in the axial image, and sends the feature value to the case DB. A case image server compares the received first feature value with a feature value (second feature value) for each case registered in a feature value DB, searches the case DB for a case image having a second feature value similar to the first feature value based on the comparison result, and sends the searched case image to the user terminal. | 10-02-2008 |
20080240495 | Image processing device, image processing method, program, and recording medium - An image processing device including an area generation unit configured to generate a supplemental data-embedded area in image data having content data separate from an area occupied by the content data, and a data embedding unit configured to embed supplemental data in the supplemental data-embedded area. | 10-02-2008 |
20080247596 | Apparatus and Method For Detecting Objects - An apparatus for detecting an object is provided which detects the pitching of a vehicle, and detects the presence of an object the front of the vehicle itself with the pitching being taken into consideration. The apparatus includes a microcomputer that performs image processing for the image of the object to compute the velocity and acceleration of the object present in the picked-up image, and based on the computed acceleration of the object, to determine whether the image was captured when the vehicle itself was balanced. If the image is judged to be an image captured when the vehicle itself was not balanced, then the position of the object present in the picked-up image is computed based on another picked-up image that was captured when the vehicle itself was balanced. | 10-09-2008 |
20080247597 | DEVICE FOR DETECTING DIGITAL WATERMARK - A device includes: a reception unit that receives video image; an extraction unit that extracts the watermark patterns from the video image; a storage unit that stores an accumulated information pieces and a number of accumulation times; a calculation unit that calculates degrees of correlation between the accumulated information pieces and the watermark patterns; an accumulation unit that accumulates the watermark patterns in one of the accumulated information pieces having the degree of correlation that is larger than a threshold value and is the largest among the calculated degrees of correlation; a selection unit that selects a top N-pieces of the accumulated information pieces stored in the storage unit having largest number of the accumulation times, where N is a positive integer; and a watermark value calculation unit that obtains a digital watermark value from the accumulated information pieces selected by the selection unit. | 10-09-2008 |
20080247598 | Weak hypothesis generation apparatus and method, learning apparatus and method, detection apparatus and method, facial expression learning apparatus and method, facial expression recognition apparatus and method, and robot apparatus - A facial expression recognition system that uses a face detection apparatus realizing efficient learning and high-speed detection processing based on ensemble learning when detecting an area representing a detection target and that is robust against shifts of face position included in images and capable of highly accurate expression recognition, and a learning method for the system, are provided. When learning data to be used by the face detection apparatus by Adaboost, processing to select high-performance weak hypotheses from all weak hypotheses, then generate new weak hypotheses from these high-performance weak hypotheses on the basis of statistical characteristics, and select one weak hypothesis having the highest discrimination performance from these weak hypotheses, is repeated to sequentially generate a weak hypothesis, and a final hypothesis is thus acquired. In detection, using an abort threshold value that has been learned in advance, whether provided data can be obviously judged as a non-face is determined every time one weak hypothesis outputs the result of discrimination. If it can be judged so, processing is aborted. A predetermined Gabor filter is selected from the detected face image by an Adaboost technique, and a support vector for only a feature quantity extracted by the selected filter is learned, thus performing expression recognition. | 10-09-2008 |
20080253606 | Plane Detector and Detecting Method - A rotation matrix and a translation vector between a basic camera ( | 10-16-2008 |
20080253607 | LINE POSITION CALCULATING METHOD, CORRECTION VALUE OBTAINING METHOD, AND STORAGE MEDIUM HAVING PROGRAM STORED THEREON - A line position calculating method is a method for calculating a position, in a second direction, of a line along a first direction in an image, based on image data of the image constituted by a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix form in the first direction and in the second direction, the method obtains pixel data of each of a plurality of pixels arranged in the first direction, calculates an extent of unevenness of each tone value indicating the pixel data of each of the plurality of pixels arranged in the first direction, sets a threshold value according to the extent of unevenness, sets a range based on the threshold value, detects a defective pixel in which the tone value indicating the pixel data is out of the range, calculates a representative value indicating a tone value of a pixel row, based on the pixel data of the pixels other than the defective pixel of the plurality of pixels constituting the pixel row, and calculates a position, in the second direction, of the line, based on the representative value of each pixel row. | 10-16-2008 |
20080253608 | Systems, Devices, and/or Methods for Managing Images - Certain exemplary embodiments can provide a method comprising, responsive to a determination that a machine-readable two-dimensional code has been identified in a first image, said first image comprising a first plurality of pixels defining said machine-readable two-dimensional code and second plurality of pixels defining a non-code zone, automatically causing a saving or displaying of a second image that comprises said machine-readable two-dimensional code or a representation of said machine-readable two-dimensional code and that excludes said non-code zone. | 10-16-2008 |
20080260199 | Authenticity Verification Methods, Products and Apparatuses - A method and apparatus for determining a class signature from an article made of paper or cardboard in order to identify a generic type of class to which the article belongs. An optical beam illuminates the article and a detector arrangement collects data points from light scattered from many different parts of the article as the article is scanned by the beam. The class signature derives from intrinsic properties imparted to the paper/cardboard during manufacture by, it is believed, the screen used during dewatering of paper pulp. Detection of the class signature allows the manufacturer or the particular paper making machine that made the paper to be identified. | 10-23-2008 |
20080260200 | Image Processing Method and Image Processing Device - This invention provides an image processing method and image processing device capable of detecting a falsification with high accuracy. A watermarked image inputting part | 10-23-2008 |
20080260201 | Digital Watermarking Apparatus and Methods - The present invention relates to various digital watermarking methods and systems. In one embodiment, monetary objects can be watermarked to signify currency denomination information. The information, once extracted, is used to provide feedback regarding the currency denomination. An audio signal or Braille output can be provided as feedback. In another embodiment, a document management system can be based on watermarks. Embedded watermarks can be used to track document history, determine document version information, and enhance overall security. Handheld computing devices can be advantageously employed with these embodiments. Of course, other embodiments are provided and claimed as well. | 10-23-2008 |
20080260202 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONSTRUCTING PHOTOREALISTIC MOSAICS - Systems and methods for constructing photorealistic mosaics are described. One embodiment of the invention includes capturing an image of a sheet that includes a plurality of pieces of material, determining the location of each piece of material on the sheet from the captured image, extracting images of each piece of material on the sheet from the captured image, storing an image of each piece of material and information concerning the location of the piece of material in a database and using the images in the database and the target image to identify pieces of material to be used in the construction of the photorealistic mosaic. | 10-23-2008 |
20080260203 | System and apparatus for evaluating the reliability of a watermarking technique for a video sequence - A system and apparatus for evaluating the reliability of a watermarking technique for a video sequence, said system and apparatus comprising:
| 10-23-2008 |
20080260204 | Apparatus For and Method of Measuring Image - An image measuring apparatus for enhancing an accuracy of an image captured by an optical system and a method thereof are disclosed. The apparatus includes a CCD camera for capturing the object and outputting the captured image, a lamp for generating white light to illuminate a capturing area of the object, an illumination controller for controlling the lamp to be turned on, a piezoelectric actuator for controlling a minute height of the optical system with respect to the object, an image capturing device for acquiring the image captured by the CCD camera, a driving signal generator for outputting a driving signal to the illumination controller and the piezoelectric actuator when an enable signal is generated from the CCD camera, and an image signal processor for estimating height information of the object from data transmitted from the image capturing unit. | 10-23-2008 |
20080267441 | Automatic Illuminating System for a Contactlessly Measuring Automobile Service Device - Automatic illuminating and image recording system for an automobile service device, combined illuminating and image recording unit and method for automatic measured value-dependent setting of the image recording and exposure for an automobile service device having contactless measuring capability. Comprises at least one camera ( | 10-30-2008 |
20080267442 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PREDICTING VIDEO LOCATION OF ATTENTION FOCUS PROBABILITY TRAJECTORIES DUE TO DISTRACTIONS - A method is provided to predict the location of attention focus probability trajectories due to distractions in a test video. A peripheral sensitivity probability map is created base upon a nominal measurement map, and an attention probability map, which are both based on a test video input. A focus of attention probability map with distraction is produced based upon the peripheral sensitivity map, the nominal measurement map, the attention probability map and a distractibility control input. | 10-30-2008 |
20080267443 | Method, System and Computer Program Product for Automatic and Semi-Automatic Modification of Digital Images of Faces - The present invention is directed at modifying digital images of faces automatically or semi-automatically. In one aspect, a method of detecting faces in digital images and matching and replacing features within the digital images is provided. Techniques for blending, recoloring, shifting and resizing of portions of digital images are disclosed. In other aspects, methods of virtual “face lifts” and methods of detecting faces within digital image are provided. Advantageously, the detection and localization of faces and facial features, such as the eyes, nose, lips and hair, can be achieved on an automated or semi-automated basis. User feedback and adjustment enables fine tuning of modified images. A variety of systems for matching and replacing features within digital images and detection of faces in digital images is also provided, including implementation as a website, through mobile phones, handheld computers, or a kiosk. Related computer program products are also disclosed. | 10-30-2008 |
20080267444 | Modifying a Person's Eating and Activity Habits - A system for managing the food intake of a person comprises means for collecting information about food consumed by the subject, and means for providing feedback to the subject regarding the food consumed. It further comprises a sensor ( | 10-30-2008 |
20080267445 | CHEMISTRY STRIP READER AND METHOD - A chemistry strip reader and method for analyzing chemistry strips. A conveyor moves chemical strips through different imaging positions at discrete points in lime across the field of view of a camera, which captures images of each chemistry strip at different discrete times. A processor determines reflectance values for each of the chemical strips from the captured images at the discrete points in time. Calibration targets adjacent the chemistry strips can be used to adjust the determined reflectance values. The light source can sequentially illuminate each chemistry strip with three different wavelengths of light, where the processor calculates a concentration determination associated with the chemistry strip by calculating different chromaticity coordinates for the different wavelengths of light, and comparing them to known chromaticity coordinates for known analyte concentrations. | 10-30-2008 |
20080267446 | CHEMISTRY STRIP READER AND METHOD - A chemistry strip reader and method for analyzing chemistry strips. A conveyor moves chemical strips through different imaging positions at discrete points in time across the field of view of a camera, which captures images of each chemistry strip at different discrete times. A processor determines reflectance values for each of the chemical strips from the captured images at the discrete points in time. Calibration targets adjacent the chemistry strips can be used to adjust the determined reflectance values. The light source can sequentially illuminate each chemistry strip with three different wavelengths of light, where the processor calculates a concentration determination associated with the chemistry strip by calculating different chromaticity coordinates for the different wavelengths of light, and comparing them to known chromaticity coordinates for known analyte concentrations. | 10-30-2008 |
20080267447 | Mobile Video-Based Therapy - Mobile video-based therapy, using a portable therapy device that includes a camera, a therapy application database, a processor, and a display. The camera is configured to generate images of a user, and the therapy application database is configured to store therapy applications. The processor is configured to select, from the therapy application database, a therapy application appropriate for assisting in physical or cognitive rehabilitation or therapy of the user, to invoke the therapy application, to recognize a gesture of the user from the generated images, and to control the invoked therapy application based on the recognized gesture. The display is configured to display an output of the controlled therapy application. | 10-30-2008 |
20080267448 | SECURITY DOCUMENT HAVING INTEGRATED COPY-VOID AND VALIDATION SECURITY FEATURES - Documents for minimizing and detecting fraudulent activity are provided. The document comprises a printable substrate, a first security feature that forms a latent copy-void warning message that visually appears on an electronically printed reproduction of the document original, and a second security feature that forms a latent validation message that visually appears on a digital reproduction of the document original. This arrangement allows a possessor of the printed document reproduction to quickly identify it as a counterfeit by virtue of the presence of the copy-void warning message on the document original, and allows an inspector of a digital document reproduction to quickly identify it as an authentic digital reproduction of the document original by virtue of the presence and exactness of the validation message. The second security feature is at least partially embedded, and can be completely embedded, within the first security feature. In this manner, a criminal who attempts to circumvent the first security feature by removing the latent copy-void warning message, will inadvertently remove the latent validation message. As a result, any document generated from such fraudulent activity will not contain the validation message, thereby indicating to an inspector of the digital image that it was not generated from the document original. | 10-30-2008 |
20080273741 | Electronic Watermark Embedding Method, Electronic Watermark Detecting Method, Electronic Watermark Detecting Apparatus and Program - An electronic image into which an electronic watermark is to be embedded is divided into a plurality of image regions spatially, and pixels each having a property of being difficult to visually recognize a variation in a pixel value are extracted as adaptive pixels from each of the plurality of image regions. A variation between the pixel values of the adaptive pixels in one of the plurality of image regions and those of the adaptive pixels in an adjacent one of the plurality of image regions is produced, and the pixel values of the adaptive pixels of the plurality of image regions are varied in a time direction according to the value of an embedded bit set of the electronic watermark. An electronic-watermark-embedded image is then generated by making the variation in the pixel values of the adaptive pixels vary step by step at a boundary between the two of the plurality of image regions and/or in the time direction so that the variation makes a slow transition. | 11-06-2008 |
20080273742 | Watermark Embedding - Disclosed are methods and systems for embedding watermarks in information signals to obtain a watermarked information signal. The method of embedding a watermark comprises the steps of determining a predetermined first property of a first part of the information signal, said predetermined first property being indicative of whether at least a predetermined first part of the watermark signal is detectable in the first part of the information signal; embedding the at least first part of the watermark in the first part of the information signal to obtain the watermarked information signal, if the at least first part of the watermark signal is determined not to be detectable in the first part of the information signal; otherwise generating the watermarked information signal to include the first part of the information signal. | 11-06-2008 |
20080273743 | Synthesis of databases of realistic, biologically-based 2-D images - A method and computer program product to create an unlimited number of synthetic but realistic, biologically-based, 2-D images like irises and magnetic resonance images (MRIs), as well as other images is presented. New metrics for measuring the mathematical distance of such synthetic images from a source (original) image have also been proposed. These metrics and the synthesis procedure are applicable to the development of image retrieval systems. The presented method can be extended to synthetic images of non-biological origins too. | 11-06-2008 |
20080273744 | DIGITAL WATERMARKING METHOD AND APPARATUS - A digital watermark embedding apparatus including a first scaling unit to scale an input image signal to one of enlargement and reduction, an extraction unit extracting a specific frequency component signal from the scaled image signal, a digital watermark signal generator to generate a digital watermark signal based on the specific frequency component signal and watermark information, a second scaling unit to scale the digital watermark signal to the other of the enlargement and reduction, and a compositor to combine the scaled digital watermark signal with the input image signal to generate a watermarked image signal. | 11-06-2008 |
20080273745 | Device including a lens array - An evaluation device includes more than three images showing at least two different appearances of keratinous materials, each of the images including an identifier; and an optical system that is configured to make the different images appear in succession as a result of a change in the angle of observation of the device. | 11-06-2008 |
20080273746 | Image Processing Apparatus - An image processing apparatus which is able to make a copy whose character information is clearly readable for a predetermined document registered as a special document is provided. A fixed-format document including the character information written in a predetermined format is determined as the special document and the special document identification information for identifying the special document is stored. An original document determining unit compares document color distribution information (color distribution information relating to a sample area of a special document) retained as the special document identification information with original document color distribution information (color distribution information of an area corresponding to the sample area of the special document) and, when the both of them match, the original document is determined to be a special original document. When the original document corresponds to the special document, image data acquired by reading out the original document is converted into monochrome image data and is recorded on a recording sheet. | 11-06-2008 |
20080273747 | Controlling Use of Audio or Image Content - The present invention relates generally to controlling use of audio or image content (e.g., which may comprise video). In one claim, a method is provided including: receiving information, the information having been obtained from analyzing data representing audio elements or image picture elements to derive the information there from, accessing a database with the information to obtain permitted usage rights for audio or image content associated with the data; and providing the information to a remote device to allow control of the audio or image content in accordance with the permitted usage rights. Of course, other combinations are provided and claimed as well. | 11-06-2008 |
20080273748 | Image And Part Recognition Technology - A system and method for recognition of images may include the use of alignment markers. The image recognized may be a pattern from an array, a character, a number, a shape, and/or irregular shapes. The pattern may be formed by elements in an array such as an identification marking and/or a sensor array. More particularly, the system and method relate to discriminating between images by accounting for the orientation of the image. The size and/or location of alignment markers may provide information about the orientation of an image. Information about the orientation of an image may reduce false recognitions. The system and method of image recognition may be used with identification markings, biosensors, micro-fluidic arrays, and/or optical character recognition systems. | 11-06-2008 |
20080279416 | PRINT MATCHING METHOD AND SYSTEM USING PHASE CORRELATION - A system includes an interface receiving a search and file print and a processing device. The processing device performs a method that includes: performing at least one of a first comparison of quality of the search and file prints to a quality threshold, a second comparison of a minutiae matching score for the search and file prints to a minutiae matching score threshold, and a third comparison of a ridge distance of the search and file prints to a ridge distance threshold; determining that a phase correlation between the search and file prints is to be performed based on results of the at least one of the first, second and third comparisons; aligning the search and file prints and performing the phase correlation to calculate a phase correlation score; and modifying the minutiae matching score based on the calculated phase correlation score. | 11-13-2008 |
20080279417 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR EMBEDDING AN IMAGE INTO TWO OTHER IMAGES - A method and system embeds an image into two images by performing a digital halftoning process on a Cartesian product of color spaces. | 11-13-2008 |
20080279418 | FRAGMENTED DATA FILE FORENSIC RECOVERY SYSTEM AND METHOD - A system and method of reassembly a file from fragmented data written onto digital storage media are disclosed. The data reassembling system and method is particularly useful for image data reconstruction, and in forensic data recovery. More particularly, the inventive concept allows for reassembling out-of-sequence data fragments. | 11-13-2008 |
20080279419 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DETERMINING ATTRACTION IN ONLINE COMMUNITIES - The pairing of members in the online community based on at least physical preferences and displaying to a person advertisements depicting people whom that specific person is attracted are provided. The invention can provide face similarity technology to match a member with people they will find attractive based on preference data from the user. For example, profiles of people who look similar to other people that the member has indicated to be attractive can be provided to the member. Additionally, using mutual attraction criteria, the invention can answer the age old ‘Does she/he even like me?’ question before users even sit down on the first date, thus enabling users to enjoy high quality and compatible dates knowing the feeling of attraction is mutual. The face similarity technology can also be used to provide advertisements depicting people that a person finds attractive. | 11-13-2008 |
20080285789 | Information Processing Apparatus and Information Processing Method - An information processing apparatus includes an additional information conversion means for converting a text of related information into additional information and outputting this additional information, and for outputting an amount of additional information for each point of interest, an embedding region allocating means for outputting region management information including the amount of additional information, for allocating an embedding region for the additional information in an original digital input image on the basis of image size information and the amount of additional information, and for outputting information on the embedding region as region information, and an information embedding means for embedding the region management information in a predetermined region in the original digital input image, and also embedding the additional information in the original digital input image on the basis of the region information to generate and output a watermarked image. | 11-20-2008 |
20080285790 | GENERALIZED LOSSLESS DATA HIDING USING MULTIPLE PREDICTORS - A system and methodology for encoding or decoding hidden data, such as a digital watermark, in visual raster media is provided. The lossless data hiding methodology uses multiple predictors to choose an embedding location to be either a low variance region or a high variance region. Bijective mirror mapping is used to encode hidden data at an embedding location and bijective pixel value shifting is performed to ensure reversibility back to the original image without additional information. The system and methodology can be used either in the spatial domain or the wavelet domain. The Peak Signal to Noise Ratio and the payload capacity are relatively high with the methodology. | 11-20-2008 |
20080285791 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD FOR SAME - A person is detected as a subject from an image obtained by image capture, and information, for example, the number of such subjects, is obtained as subject-related information. Then, the greater the number of subjects, the more a setting of a condition that the subjects should satisfy is relaxed. As a result, in an image processing apparatus having a function that identifies a subject state, the usability of that function that identifies the subjects can be improved even in a case in which multiple subjects are present. | 11-20-2008 |
20080285792 | Form Data Extraction Without Customization - A form processing method for extracting data items from a form previously digitized in the form of a digital image, the method comprising prompting a user to indicate a location of one or more physical fields each physical field relating to a data item of specific type; receiving one or more indications provided by the user on the location of the physical fields; and identifying content and location of the data items of the physical fields using related data formats. | 11-20-2008 |
20080285793 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR LOSSLESS DATA HIDING - Methods and apparatus are provided for subjecting an original, pixel domain image to an Integer Wavelet Transform (IWT) to obtain a matrix of wavelet coefficients; selecting at least one bit plane between a least significant bit plane and a most significant bit plane of the matrix of wavelet coefficients; compressing the at least one selected bit plane to produce free space in the at least one selected bit plane; embedding hidden data in the free space of the at least one compressed bit plane; and subjecting the at least one embedded bit plane to an Inverse IWT to produce a marked pixel domain image. Methods and apparatus are also provided for reversing this process. | 11-20-2008 |
20080285794 | Watermark signal generating apparatus, watermark signal generating method, computer-executable program for performing the same method and computer-readable storage medium in which the same program is stored, digital watermark embedding apparatus, as well as digital television apparatus including the same digital watermark embedding apparatus - An apparatus | 11-20-2008 |
20080285795 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ACQUIRING DIGITAL MICROSCOPE IMAGES - A method and apparatus for acquiring digital microscope images is disclosed, in which a plurality of magnified images of a specimen are captured for tiling together to provide an overall composite image of the specimen. In accordance with the described method, the specimen is moved relative to an imaging system comprising a microscope and camera in a predetermined path whilst the plurality of magnified images are captured. In a preferred embodiment, the specimen, contained on a slide, is mounted on a movable microscope stage, and is moved beneath the microscope in the predetermined path. The velocity of the movement of the stage and the shutter speed of the camera is computer controlled to capture overlapping, clear images. | 11-20-2008 |
20080285796 | Method to ensure temporal synchronization and reduce complexity in the detection of temporal watermarks - A method and/or apparatus for embedding and detecting a watermark among a plurality of frames of data is disclosed, where the watermark is correlated with a plurality of noise blocks, and the noise blocks are summed over a plurality of respective video frames. Each noise block is preferably subjected to a fade function with another noise block over the plurality of respective video frames to make the embedded watermark resistant to changes in data frame rate or other temporal distortions in the frames of data. Detection and recovery of such an embedded watermark and its fade function is also provided. | 11-20-2008 |
20080292129 | EMBEDDING INFORMATION IN DOCUMENT BLANK SPACE - A method for embedding information in a document includes encoding information as a plurality of data carrying dot patterns. For each of a plurality of blocks of a document page to be rendered, the method includes determining whether the block is blank. Each of the plurality of data carrying dot patterns is embedded in a respective one of the blank blocks. The document with the embedded data carrying dot patterns is rendered. | 11-27-2008 |
20080292130 | Preserving scanner signature using MRC technology - Systems and methods are described that facilitate encrypting document status information into a scanned image of a document using a mixed raster content document parsing protocol, in accordance with various features described herein. A text string comprising status information can be imaged into a mask layer that overlays the scanned image. Additionally or alternatively, the text string can be encrypted into a binary image that is encoded into the mask layer and overlaid on the image. The image itself is parsed into a background layer and one or more mask layers comprising different portions of the document. The encrypted mask layer comprising the text string and/or binary image can be generated using the same color as the background layer, such that the document status information is invisible and does not cause unwanted artifacts during printing or conversion of the document between formats. The document status information can be scanner signature information, scan-to-file authentication information, object metadata, etc. | 11-27-2008 |
20080292131 | IMAGE CAPTURE ENVIRONMENT CALIBRATION METHOD AND INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS - In a method of calibrating an image capture environment based on a captured image obtained by capturing an image of a physical space by an image capturing unit that captures the image of the physical space, an image of the physical space is captured using the image capturing unit, an index serving as a reference for calibration is detected from the captured image of the physical space, the position and orientation of the image capturing unit are calculated from the detected index, and image capturing unit unique information, geometric information associated with the physical space, or the relationship between the image capturing unit and the physical space is calibrated using the obtained data. | 11-27-2008 |
20080292132 | Method And System For Inserting Software Processing In A Hardware Image Sensor Pipeline - Image data may be processed via one or more stages by a hardware image sensor pipeline (ISP) wherein one or more software processing steps may be inserted at any point within the hardware ISP. Output from any stage of the hardware ISP may be stored in memory. Stored hardware ISP output may be retrieved from memory and processed via one or more software processes. Results from the one or more software processes may be stored in memory and communicated to any stage of the hardware ISP for additional processing. In this regard, the hardware ISP and one or more processors may simultaneously process portions of image data. In addition, the hardware ISP and the one or more processors may be integrated within a chip. | 11-27-2008 |
20080292133 | Image Watermarking | 11-27-2008 |
20080292134 | Wavelet Domain Watermarks - A wavelet domain watermark encoder and decoder embed and detect auxiliary signals in a media signal, such as a still image, video or audio signal. The watermark encoders and decoders employ techniques that take advantage of processing plural levels of resolution of the signal to embed and detect auxiliary information in the media signal. | 11-27-2008 |
20080292135 | Method and Device For Reconstructing Images - A method for reconstruction of an image function (r), which represents an object function (f) of an object ( | 11-27-2008 |
20080292136 | Data Processing System And Method - Embodiments of the invention provide a method of authenticating a physical document, comprising obtaining an electronic representation of at least part of the physical document; extracting at least one error detection code from the electronic representation; and using the at least one error detection code to detect errors in image data within the electronic representation. Embodiments of the invention also provide a method of securing a physical document, comprising obtaining an electronic representation of at least part of the physical document; determining at least one error detection code for image data within the electronic representation; and producing a secure physical document comprising the electronic representation and a machine readable marking including the at least one error detection code. | 11-27-2008 |
20080292137 | Methods and Systems for Interacting with Physical Objects - A user detects data from a physical object (e.g., a poster) using a handheld appliance. The appliance then contacts a remote computer based on the data obtained from the object, and can perform any of a variety of functions, such as purchasing tickets to a concert or movie, or downloading music. The data can be obtained from the object in various ways, such as by optical sensing or by electromagnetic detection. | 11-27-2008 |
20080292138 | Image processing device and storage medium storing image processing program - A storage unit stores a plurality of pieces of image information and a plurality of pieces of position information corresponding to respective ones of the plurality of images individually. The storage unit correlates the plurality of pieces of image information with respective ones of the plurality of pieces of position information individually. The plurality of images is displayed on the display based on the plurality of pieces of image information and the plurality of pieces of position information, respectively. An image selection unit selects at least a first image and a second image from the plurality of images. An information interchange unit interchanges first image information of the first image with second image information of the second image, or interchanges first position information of the first image with second position information of the second image. The storage unit stores and correlates the first image information and the second position information, and stores and correlates the second image information and the first position information. A display controlling unit controls the display to display one image based on the first image information and the second position information, and another image based on the second image information and the first position information. | 11-27-2008 |
20080292139 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR APPLYING WATERMARKS - A system and method for selectively inserting a digital watermark into a visual rendering by an image processing device. The image processing device receives an image processing request including image data of an associated document. The request is then analyzed to determine if a watermark is to be inserted into a visual rendering of the associated document. When required, the selected watermark is then retrieved from associated memory containing a watermark repository, based upon the image processing request. The visual rendering of the associated document, incorporating the watermark, is then generated. | 11-27-2008 |
20080298631 | COMPUTER-READABLE MEDIUM STORING INFORMATION PROCESSING PROGRAM, INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD AND INFORMATION PROCESSING SYSTEM - An information processing system includes an image output unit, an image reception unit, and a determination unit. The image output unit outputs an image to a document to include first and second images. The first image includes at least one of a character and a symbol which represent at least part of a pair of an attribute name and an attribute value which are included in electronic data. The second image includes a first information image representing at least part of the attribute value, or a second information image representing a storage location of the electronic data. The image reception unit receives the output image of the document and an image of a paper document. The determination unit determines as to whether or not allowing the image of the paper document to be registered. | 12-04-2008 |
20080298632 | CORRECTING IMAGE CAPTURE DISTORTION - The present invention relates generally to improving readability of machine-readable information, despite signal capture distortion. One claim recites a method including: obtaining input data; altering a digital watermark or a digital watermarking process to pre-distort a digital watermark signal, wherein the altering is intended to counteract or compensate for expected distortion enabling machine-based detection of an embedded, pre-distorted digital watermark signal despite the expected distortion, the expected distortion includes distortion associated with optical capture of the input data and embedding the pre-distorted digital watermark signal in the input data. Another claim recites a method including: obtaining input data, the input data representing imagery captured with at least an optical lens, the input data comprising test data and a machine-readable signal; evaluating characteristics associated with the test data to determine information regarding lens blurring of the input data associated with the optical lens; adjusting the input data to compensate for or to correct the lens blurring based at least in part on the information; analyzing the compensated for or corrected input data to obtain the machine-readable signal. Of course, other methods and combinations are provided as well. | 12-04-2008 |
20080298633 | Anti-Counterfeit Measures - A conventional cigarette packet in a transparent film of bi-axially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) with a tear tape for removing the film adhered to the inside of the film. The tear tape bears an indicium which is either hidden or which changes according to the viewing angle when the image is viewed through the film. The image on the tear tape may be scrambled or coded. The overwrap film includes a descrambling or decoding region which reveals the hidden image or renders the image visible when viewed through the overwrap portion, or creates the visual effect of changing the image according to the viewing angle. The descrambling or decoding region typically comprises a diffraction structure, such as a grating, the characteristics of which, such as its pitch, are complementary with the scrambled or coded image and/or with the pitch of any grid or matrix from which the image is composed. | 12-04-2008 |
20080298634 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME - To provide a technique of embedding information in a document image containing character strings, photos, and graphics, an image processing apparatus for inputting a document image and embedding watermark information by controlling the line spacing between character strings in the document image includes an input unit which inputs a document image as image data, an image reduction unit which generates reduced image data from the image data, a determination unit which determines reduced objects corresponding to character strings in the image data, a specifying unit which specifies the position of each character string in the image data based on the positions of the reduced objects in the reduced image data, and an embedding unit which embeds the watermark information in the image data by moving the positions of a plurality of specified character strings in the image data based on a preset line spacing correspondence relationship. | 12-04-2008 |
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 | 12-11-2008 |
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. | 12-11-2008 |
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. | 12-11-2008 |
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. | 12-11-2008 |
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. | 12-11-2008 |
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. | 12-11-2008 |
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 | 12-11-2008 |
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. | 12-11-2008 |
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. | 12-11-2008 |
20080310672 | EMBEDDING AND DETECTING HIDDEN INFORMATION - A novel method is disclosed for embedding hidden information in a document comprising characters, including: determining hidden information to be embedded in each class of layout transformation respectively; acquiring a code sequence for each class of layout transformation by coding the hidden information to be embedded in the class of layout transformation; performing layout transformation on characters from the document according to the acquired code sequence for each class of layout transformation respectively. | 12-18-2008 |
20080310673 | System reactions to the detection of embedded watermarks in a digital host content - Methods for adapting the operation of a system in response to the detection of embedded watermarks from a digital host content are provided. A digital host content is received and examined for the presence of watermarks. In response to the detection of embedded watermarks and in accordance with the value, type, density or spacing of the detected watermarks, one or more system reactions may take place. These reactions include conditionally allowing the system to resume its normal operation, prohibiting the system from resuming its normal operation, degrading the quality of the digital host content or changing the security status of the digital host content. In response to the extraction of weak watermarks that do not meet the desired system requirements, the extraction operation may be modified or extended to enable the detection of strong watermarks. | 12-18-2008 |
20080310674 | SEED SORTER - The present disclosure provides systems and methods for sorting seeds based on identified phenotypes of the seeds. In various embodiments, the system includes an optics and controller station structured and operable to collect image data of a top portion, a bottom portion and a plurality of side portions of each respective seed in a set of seeds, and to analyze the collected image data to determine whether each seed exhibits a desired phenotype. The system further includes a seed loading, transporting and sorting station structured and operable to singulate each seed of the set of seeds from a plurality of seeds in a bulk seed hopper, transport the set of seeds to the optics and controller station, and selectively sort each seed to a respective one of a plurality of seed repositories based on whether each respective seed exhibits the desired phenotype. | 12-18-2008 |
20080310675 | Faux-Transparency method and device - A method and a device for producing faux-transparency of an object are disclosed and claimed wherein an ikon display device (IDD) is interposed between a viewer and object, which obstructs a background view from the viewer, and wherein an ikon acquiring device (IAD) acquires an ikon of the background, and wherein the ikon of the background is displayed by the IDD. The invention includes means and methods for editing the background ikon to produce an occluding background icon (OBI), which is a representation of the portion of the background view obstructed by the object, wherein the OBI is displayed by the IDD and the viewer sees the OBI instead of the object. | 12-18-2008 |
20080317277 | SPATIAL BANDWIDTH IMAGING OF STRUCTURAL INTERIORS - Spatial bandwidth imaging of the interior spaces and elements of a structure by transmission of low frequency, continuous-wave, narrow band signal or signals through the structure, measurement of the electric and magnetic components of the received signal received by narrow band Doppler or focused synthetic aperture methods over a range of signal paths extending from the transmitter and through the structure, and imaging of the effects of the interior space on the electric and magnetic components of the received signal. | 12-25-2008 |
20080317278 | Method for Computing a Fingerprint of a Video Sequence - The invention concerns a method for computing a fingerprint of a video sequence. The method comprises the steps of—Computation of a visual digest for each frame of the video, —Computation of the distance between the visual digest of each frame of the video in order to detect shots, —Detection, for each detected shot of the video, of a frame, called stable frame, having the smallest content variation of the shot, —Calculation of a local fingerprint for said stable frame. | 12-25-2008 |
20080317279 | AUTOMATED HIGH-THROUGHPUT SEED SAMPLER AND METHODS OF SAMPLING, TESTING AND BULKING SEEDS - In various embodiments, the present disclosure provides an automated seed sampling and sorting system. The system includes an imaging station for collecting image data of a set of seeds and a seed orientation station for independently positioning each seed in the set in a desired orientation based on the collected image data. The system further includes a seed sample and sort station for extracting a sample from each seed in the set, sorting each sample to a sample tray and sorting each sampled seed to a seed tray. | 12-25-2008 |
20080317280 | METHOD OF AUTHENTICATING SECURITY DOCUMENTS - Provided is an interactive system for use with coded data printed on an item with infrared ink to define a hyperlabel. The interacting system includes at least one hyperlabel reading device configured to scan said hyperlabel from the item and to transmit information about such hyperlabel, as well as a receiver configured to receive the transmitted information and to relay the information. The system also includes an application server configured to receive the relayed information and to generate a logical link between the hyperlabel and a specific data element. | 12-25-2008 |
20090003646 | LOSSLESS VISIBLE WATERMARKING - Systems and methodologies for lossless visible watermarking of images are provided herein. The provided systems and methodologies can utilize a Pixel Value Mapping Algorithm (PVMA), wherein a watermark can be embedded into an image by transforming respective intensities of areas of the image corresponding to the watermark using a bijective mapping function. Additionally and/or alternatively, a Pixel Position Shift Algorithm (PPSA) can be used to embed a watermark into an image by shifting the position of pixels in the image corresponding to the watermark over a specified shift distance. Further, provided systems and methodologies can facilitate enhanced watermarking security by embedding a visible watermark into an image based on a secret key. | 01-01-2009 |
20090003647 | Method for Acquiring Reserved Block in Holographic Storage System - A method is provided for acquiring a reserved block in a holographic storage system. A symmetrical reference table is defined according to the characteristics of a known reference reserved block. Then, the differences between respective unit blocks and the reference reserved block are calculated according to the symmetrical reference table so as to determine total match scores for respective unit blocks. Consequently, the unit block having the highest match score is deemed as the reserved block. | 01-01-2009 |
20090003648 | Color Image or Video Processing - The present invention relates generally to color image processing. One claim recites a method of color masking an image including: reading color values of an image sample and a corresponding change of an attribute of the image sample; and based on the color values of the image sample, mapping the change in the image sample attribute to a change in color components of the image sample that is equivalent to the change in the image sample attribute, yet reduces visibility of the change in the image sample attribute for the specific color values of the image sample. Another claim recites a method including: obtaining data representing digital imagery or video; analyzing at least a portion of the data to determine one or more color characteristics associated with the at least a portion of the data, said act of analyzing yielding a result; based at least in part on the result, generating a key; and embedding auxiliary data in the data representing digital imagery or video using the key. Still another claim recites a user interface method for use with a watermark encoder, including: presenting a user interface to enable a user to control strength of a watermark to be encoded in a specified color or color region; based on user input, controlling strength of a watermark encoded in the specified color or color region. Of course other claims and combinations are provided as well. | 01-01-2009 |
20090003649 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME - In an image processing apparatus, monochrome image data is printed onto a sheet and a user makes a mark in the sheet in order to specify an area. The marked sheet is scanned by a scanner. The mark is extracted from data generated by scanning. Registration is performed based on coordinates of the scanned data and the monochrome data. Based on the result of the registration, the extracted mark is represented in original image data. Accordingly, a complicated area can be easily specified so that the user can make a mark by hand. | 01-01-2009 |
20090003650 | Method for selecting image pixels to watermark and watermarking method using this selection - This invention relates to a method to select, in an input image, pixels that can be watermarked by replacing their colour by a metameric colour. It comprises the following steps:
| 01-01-2009 |
20090010482 | Diagrammatizing Apparatus - A diagrammatizing apparatus ( | 01-08-2009 |
20090010483 | BLOCK-BASED LOSSLESS DATA HIDING IN THE DELTA DOMAIN - A system and methodology for encoding or decoding hidden data, such as a digital watermark, in raster media is provided in delta domain, a domain that creates a high-pass version of the raster media. Hidden data, such as a watermark, can be embedded in the general smooth region (low variance region) while a strong edge is preserved. A Mean-Square Error (MSE) reduction can be obtained by embedding the watermark in the delta domain. Using checkerboard-pattern watermark sequences and the delta domain, at least half of the total pixels in the image remain unchanged after watermark embedding. In order to recover the hidden data, some side information can be conveyed, in-band or out-of-band, to a decoder, such as various parameters used when performing the method. If protection from attacks, such as a JPEG encoding attack is desired, a location map can be provided to assist with hidden data recovery. | 01-08-2009 |
20090010484 | Apparatus and method for capturing information during asset inspections in a processing or other environment - An asset information collection device can be used during inspections of assets in a processing, production, or other system. The asset information collection device includes at least one image capture unit configured to capture images of assets, such as a video capture unit and a photo capture unit. The asset information collection device also includes a sound capture unit configured to capture audio information associated with the assets, such as oral notes made by an inspector. The asset information collection device further includes a controller configured to associate the captured images and audio information with particular ones of the assets. In addition, the asset information collection device includes at least one interface, such as a wireless transceiver, configured to wirelessly transmit the captured images and audio information and information identifying the associations to an external destination. | 01-08-2009 |
20090010485 | Video communication system and method - A method of capturing an image from a video call between a first user and a remote user over a communication network. The method includes receiving video data from the remote user at a client executed at a user terminal of the first user, the video data comprising a sequence of frames; the client capturing a frame of the video data responsive to a command from the first user; the client extracting image data from the frame; the client converting the image data to an image file and embedding a communication identity of the remote user in the image file, wherein the communication identity is suitable for initiating a communication event with the remote user; and storing the image file on a storage means of the user terminal. | 01-08-2009 |
20090010486 | Modifying Software To Cope With Changing Machinery - A method for adapting a detection algorithm developed for usage with data generated by a first system to data generated with a second system, the algorithm for fail safe diagnosis of irregularities including a first procedure of detecting irregularities with minimal type I errors and a second procedure of filtering out type II errors; the data generated including values for selected features characterizing the irregularities; the method including applying an intermediate step of linearly transposing the values of each selected feature generated by the first procedure, prior to applying the second procedure to those values. | 01-08-2009 |
20090010487 | Processor and method for processing image to update information embedded unreadably in a printed document - In a watermark processing system, a watermark detector detects first information represented by a watermark from an image, a watermark encoder decodes and error-corrects the first information and re-encodes it to second information, and a watermark eraser identifies the position of the tint-block pattern included in the watermark according to the second information and produces a watermark-erased image from which the watermark is erased. | 01-08-2009 |
20090010488 | DRIVING SUPPORT APPARATUS, METHOD AND PROGRAM - To improve a safety of a driving by a person of advanced age without imposing a burden on the driver. | 01-08-2009 |
20090010489 | Method for comparison of 3D computer model and as-built situation of an industrial plant - Method for carrying out comparison between the as-built state of an industrial plant and the associated CAD planning model, characterized in that the comparison is achieved by superimposition of unreliable components of the CAD model (see FIG. | 01-08-2009 |
20090016564 | Information Retrieval Using Invisible Junctions and Geometric Constraints - The present invention uses invisible junctions which are a set of local features unique to every page of the electronic document to match the captured image to a part of an electronic document. The present invention includes: an image capture device, a feature extraction and recognition system and database. When an electronic document is printed, the feature extraction and recognition system captures an image of the document page. The features in the captured image are then extracted, indexed and stored in the database. Given a query image, usually a small patch of some document page captured by a low resolution image capture device, the features in the query image are extracted and compared against those stored in the database to identify the query image. The present invention advantageously uses geometric estimation to reduce the query results to a single one or a few candidate matches. In one embodiment, the two separate geometric estimations are used to rank and verify matching candidates. | 01-15-2009 |
20090016565 | Image analysis - Digital image data generated by an image capture device is analyzed in an example to identify the image capture device. A characteristic of the digital image data is identified, and used to provide suggestion information describing how the image capture device can be configured to improve subsequently-generated images. | 01-15-2009 |
20090016566 | Apparatus for processing images, and method and computer program product for detecting image updates - The address calculating unit calculates a virtual address of a page for each pixel of a rectangular region of a predetermined size that is included in a screen. The acquiring unit acquires a physical address in correspondence with the virtual address of each pixel of the image information for which writing is requested, in accordance with a conversion table. The writing unit writes the image information for which writing is requested at the acquired physical address. The detecting unit detects an updated portion of the image information the content of which does not match before and after the writing, in units of pages. The compressing unit compresses the image information of the updated portion that is detected. | 01-15-2009 |
20090016567 | Image Display Apparatus, Image Display Method, and Program - An image display apparatus displays a digital image on a confirmation screen. The image display apparatus includes a blur variance value acquisition unit that acquires a blur variance value, which is an index relating to a difference in amount of blur between images obtained when the digital image is printed out and when the digital image is displayed on the confirmation screen, a blur amount variance correction unit that corrects the difference in amount of blur for the digital image displayed on the confirmation screen according to the blur variance value with respect to the digital image printed out, and an image display unit that displays the digital image for which the difference in amount of blur has been corrected on the confirmation screen. | 01-15-2009 |
20090016568 | APPARATUS FOR OBSERVING AND CAPTURING LATENT IMAGES ON OBJECTS, AND METHOD FOR USING SAME - An apparatus for easily shooting an invisible image (such as an invisible two-dimensional bar code) latent on an object. The operation of the apparatus is made intuitive and simple and may be incorporated into cameras peripheral to computers and mobile telephones. A novel framing and focusing system is also disclosed. | 01-15-2009 |
20090016569 | Method of Controlling the Flow of Adjuvant for the Casting of a Molten Metal - According to this method, the adjuvant is delivered from a supply means ( | 01-15-2009 |
20090022357 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MAKING PRESENTATIONS OF IMAGES MORE ENJOYABLE - A method and a system for storing metadata with a digital image, wherein the metadata is associated with the condition at the moment of capturing the image. The metadata is then used by an image viewer for choosing the best image effect when the image is displayed. | 01-22-2009 |
20090022358 | Method of Digital Watermark and the Corresponding Device, and Digital Camera Which Can Append Watermark - A digital camera comprising a watermark-adding device, which comprises a device for obtaining the signal values of digital signals, a bits dividing device, an altered regions initializing device, an eigenvalue calculating device, an encrypting device and a watermark embedding device. The bits dividing device divides the data recording each pixel point of the digital image, on the basis of bit, into bits for calculating the eigenvalue of the image, bits for hiding the watermark and bits for locating altered regions. The altered regions initializing device can set all the data of the bits for locating altered regions to 0 or 1. The eigenvalue calculating device can calculate the eigenvalue of digital signals. The encryption device encrypts the calculated eigenvalue. The watermark embedding device embeds the eigenvalue information in the digital signals. | 01-22-2009 |
20090022359 | Vegetation index image generation methods and systems - Methods and systems for generating a vegetation index image of a geographic region are disclosed by the present invention. The vegetation index image is generated by identifying one or more obscured locations within the geographic region, determining a vegetation index value for each location within the geographic region, replacing the determined vegetation index value for each obscured location with a predetermined replacement value for that location, and generating a vegetation index image based on the predetermined replacement values for the obscured locations and the determined vegetation index values for the non-obscured locations. | 01-22-2009 |
20090022360 | Quantization-Based Data Embedding in Mapped Data - Novel methods and systems for quantization based data embedding and reading in host signals, such as image, audio and video signals. To embed auxiliary data in a host signal, an embedder maps the host signal from a first domain into a mapped signal in a second domain. The embedder performs quantization based embedding of auxiliary data into the host signal using quantizers. The quantizers are adapted such that the relationship between corresponding quantizers in the first and second domains satisfies a predetermined constraint. The mapping improves the robustness of the data embedding method by increasing the chances that the embedded data can be recovered by an auxiliary data reader after modifications. A related embedding method projects the mapped signal unto a vector, and specifically, a pseudorandom vector. It performs quantization based embedding on the projected signal. The use of this projection provides added robustness of the embedded data to noise and other forms of distortion. | 01-22-2009 |
20090022361 | Audio content digital watermark detection - Digital watermark detection apparatus including detection units which calculate detected values of watermark signals by use of keys for PCM data of channels of audio content, a plurality of units which add the detected values corresponding to each of the channels and each of the keys for each possible combination of the respective channels and the respective keys, and a unit which selects and outputs one adding result from the respective adding results by the plurality of detected value adding units. Moreover, it includes units which accumulate the detected values in accumulation cycles different from one another to restore messages embedded as digital watermarks from the accumulated detected values, and perform boundary detection of the audio contents to detect the audio contents in which the digital watermarks are embedded, and a detection result output unit which synthesizes and outputs respective processing results by the message restoration units. | 01-22-2009 |
20090022362 | APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR VIDEO ALARM VERIFICATION - A method for verification of alarms is disclosed. The method involves receiving an alarm signal trigger associated with an alarm signal, receiving video data from a premise associated with the alarm signal, rapidly analyzing the video data to test for the existence a significant event, and when a significant event exists, sending a representation of a segment of interest of the video data, the segment of interest being associated with the significant event, to a user. | 01-22-2009 |
20090022363 | WATERMARKING AND TRANSFERRING MATERIAL - A client device for use in a system having a server, the client device including: a receiving device configured to receive information material from the server, the information material containing a reversible modification providing a perceptible disturbing effect to the information material, and to receive identifying information that distinguishes the information material from other information material available from the server and condition information which defines a predetermined condition that should be met in order for the reversible modification to be reversed; a transmission device which, in response to a user input providing enabling data which satisfies the predetermined condition, configured to transmit the identifying information and the enabling data to the server, wherein in response to the transmission of the enabling data and the identifying information, the receiving device is configured to receive a key and removing data defining an algorithm for removing the perceptible effect, the removing data being useable by a reversing device to reverse the perceptible effect; and a storage device configured to store the information material that has had the perceptible effect reversed. | 01-22-2009 |
20090028379 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR IDENTIFICATION OF FIREARMS - A system and method for identifying, test firing, marking, and imaging firearm cartridge cases and firearms for use by firearm manufactures. The system and method includes five subsystems, which work in the following sequence: a firearm serial number recognition sub-system; a cartridge case recovery sub-system; a cartridge case sorting sub-system; a cartridge case marking sub-system; and an image acquisition sub-system ( | 01-29-2009 |
20090028380 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REALISTIC SIMULATION OF WRINKLE AGING AND DE-AGING - Methods and systems are disclosed to realistically simulate facial wrinkle aging of a person using a neutral state (natural look) image and one or more expression images (e.g., smile, frown, pout, wink) that induce wrinkles. The neutral and expression images are processed to simulate wrinkle aging by registering the wrinkles that are visible in the expression image onto the neutral image, thereby generating a wrinkle-aged simulated image. Advantageously, a person's own wrinkle histological data is utilized, hence providing an accurate and realistic wrinkle aging simulation. Similarly, the neutral image is processed to eliminate all visible wrinkles thereby generating a wrinkle de-aged simulation image. Additionally, blending of a neutral image with an aged or de-aged simulation image is disclosed, where the degree of blending is based on statistical modeling of skin condition with age and/or expected outcome of a particular type of treatment. The methods and systems disclosed have wide applicability, including, for example, areas such as dermatology, cosmetics and computer animation, among others. | 01-29-2009 |
20090028381 | DEVICE CAPABLE OF ADJUSTING TWO-DIMENSIONAL CODE - An image forming device is provided which embeds a decodable two-dimensional code when embedding (printing) a two-dimensional code in an original document. The image forming device represents additional information by associating virtual points with dots in one-to-one correspondence and arranges dots in positions deviated from virtual points associated with the dots. The image forming device includes a determining unit for determining intervals between the virtual points and virtual points adjacent to the virtual points and determining sizes of the dots, and an arranging unit for arranging dots having the determined sizes to respective virtual points having the determined intervals. The determining unit may determine dots to have sizes other than sizes proportional to the determined intervals. | 01-29-2009 |
20090028382 | Techniques for positioning images in electronic documents - Techniques for positioning images in an electronic document. The images may encode information that can be decoded by devices configured to read the images. An area within the electronic document for positioning the image and a set of one or more colors to be used for the image are determined. The determined area and set of colors are such that the image when positioned in the electronic document blends in with the contents of the electronic document while still being clearly visible for reading by reader devices that are configured read and decode the information encoded by the image. | 01-29-2009 |
20090034781 | Method and Computer Program Product for Providing Object Information - A method for generating object information, the method includes: acquiring a representation of an object; acquiring contextual information; and processing the representation of the object and the contextual information to provide object information that includes indexing information. | 02-05-2009 |
20090034782 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR SELECTING AN IMAGE APPLICATION BASED ON IMAGE CONTENT - Certain embodiments of the present invention provide methods and systems for selecting an application for processing an electronic image file based upon the content of the image file. Certain embodiments provide an image selector selecting an image from an image storage device, an identification module providing a label to the image based on the content of the image, an application selector choosing at least one application from a plurality of applications to process the image, and a learning unit maintaining a record of image labels and the applications presently and previously processing the images. | 02-05-2009 |
20090034783 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SOLVING THE BIRTHDAY PROBLEM WITH WATERMARKING - A system and method are provided for facilitating the playing of a watermarked video having the “birthday problem”. Consumers send the problem disc to an authorization center where the disc is analyzed to determine if it is a legitimate disc. The authorization center generates a digital certificate uniquely associated with the disc and with the video and embeds the digital certificate into the disc. The digital certificate will cause a video player to play the video without checking for the watermark. | 02-05-2009 |
20090034784 | Methods, systems, and products for indexing scenes in digital media - Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for indexing a digital scene in digital media. The digital media is stored in memory and a uniform resource locator is assigned to a digital scene within the digital media. The uniform resource locator uniquely identifies a resource from which the digital scene may be retrieved, and the uniform resource locator also uniquely identifies the digital scene from other scenes in the digital media. When a query is received for the uniform resource locator, then the digital scene is retrieved from the memory. | 02-05-2009 |
20090034785 | System and Method for Solving the "Birthday Problem" with Watermarking - A system and method are provided for facilitating the playing of a watermarked video having the “birthday problem”. Consumers send the problem disc to an authorization center where the disc is analyzed to determine if it is a legitimate disc. The authorization center generates a digital certificate uniquely associated with the disc and with the video and embeds the digital certificate into the disc. The digital certificate will cause a video player to play the video without checking for the watermark. | 02-05-2009 |
20090034786 | Application for Non-Display of Images Having Adverse Content Categorizations - Disclosed herein are databases that contain image context categorizations, those categorizations identifying the context of an image based on a computed fingerprint. Also disclosed herein are applications of such a database, including a viewing application that blocks the rendering of images with undesirable content noted by a content categorization, and a scanning application that locates images in a corpus or repository of images having certain content noted by content categorization, such as unlawful images. Such blocking may be through an obfuscation technique, such as blurring, distorting an image, or may be through a replacement of image material. A categorization tool may include obfuscation with an aperture tool for clarifying portions of blocked images. Detailed information on various example embodiments of the inventions are provided in the Detailed Description below, and the inventions are defined by the appended claims. | 02-05-2009 |
20090034787 | IMAGE PROCESSING FOR REPRODUCING CODE IMAGE FROM ORIGINAL INFORMATION - It is determined whether an error detecting rate, when original information is extracted from a code image in a read image obtained by reading a sheet on which the code image is formed, is not smaller than a predetermined value. When it is not smaller than a predetermined value, a code image is reproduced from the extracted original information and the code image in the read image is replaced therewith. A barcode, which is a damaged code image, is reproduced. | 02-05-2009 |
20090034788 | Sense/control devices, configuration tools and methods for such devices, and systems including such devices - A system for monitoring equipment in a non-invasive fashion may include at least one sense device comprising an electronics module that includes a image sensor, at least one controller coupled to receive image data from the image sensor and generate a reading value, a display that displays the reading value from the at least one controller. In addition, a mounting adapter, separate from and attachable to the electronics module, may be included that has a fitting portion adaptable to be affixed to the monitored equipment and an image opening that enables an image of the monitored equipment to be acquired. In other embodiments, a sense device may provide a signal, such as a DC signal from piece of equipment. A configuration tool may configure parameters by which a reading value is generated from such a DC signal. In one arrangement, a configuration tool may configure sense devices via a wireless connection, and display any images of the monitored equipment captured by the sense device. This may enable intuitive configuration of sense devices and/or quick confirmation of sense device readings. | 02-05-2009 |
20090041292 | Multi channel radiometer imaging method and system - The invention provides for an expandable multi channel radiometer imaging method and system. The imaging system includes a scanner for reflecting millimeter wave energy emanating from a pre-determined scene. The millimeter wave energy is focused to a focal plane array using an optical lens and a multi channel radiometer receives the millimeter wave energy. The focal plane array is formed by a plurality of pixels that each includes a single low noise amplifier. The number of pixels of the focal plane array is expendable to increase the resolution of a millimeter wave image. A virtual grid of cells is formed representing different values of millimeter wave energy within the imaging zone. Algorithms calculate differences of millimeter wave energy between cells of said virtual grid to display a composite image to identify concealed objects on an individual. | 02-12-2009 |
20090041293 | MULTIPLE CAMERA IMAGING METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DETECTING CONCEALED OBJECTS - The present invention is an imaging system for detecting concealed objects on an individual. The imaging system includes an imaging zone that is illuminated with millimeter wave energy. A plurality of millimeter wave cameras are focused to fully surround the imaging zone and have the ability to detect millimeter wave frequencies reflected from the imaging zone. As an individual passes through the imaging zone the plurality of millimeter wave cameras detect concealed objects by identifying differences in the millimeter wave energy reflected by the individual's body and a concealed object. A composite image is generated by a central processing unit and displayed on a monitor showing the concealed object on the individual through optical contrast. | 02-12-2009 |
20090041294 | System for Applying Content Categorizations of Images - Disclosed herein are databases that contain image context categorizations, those categorizations identifying the context of an image based on a computed fingerprint. Also disclosed herein are applications of such a database, including a viewing application that blocks the rendering of images with undesirable content noted by a content categorization, and a scanning application that locates images in a corpus or repository of images having certain content noted by content categorization, such as unlawful images. Such blocking may be through an obfuscation technique, such as blurring, distorting an image, or may be through a replacement of image material. A categorization tool may include obfuscation with an aperture tool for clarifying portions of blocked images. Detailed information on various example embodiments of the inventions are provided in the Detailed Description below, and the inventions are defined by the appended claims. | 02-12-2009 |
20090041295 | Image Display Device, Image Display Method, and Image Display Program - An image display device used for checking an image represented by digital image data includes a display section that displays the image and checking information used for checking the image, an image display control section that displays the image on the display section based on the digital image data, a checking line segment designation section that allows designation of a checking line segment, which is a series of checking places in the image, on the display section on which the image is displayed, and a checking information display control section that displays a changing condition of the digital image data along the checking line segment on the display section as the checking information. | 02-12-2009 |
20090041296 | Method and Device for the Detection, at the Correct Time, of Print Marks Located at Regular Intervals on a Print Web - In a method and a device for the detection, at the correct time, of pressure marks situated at regular intervals on a print web, use is made of cameras, with a processing unit which is assigned to the camera. The activation of the camera is no longer triggered externally in order to detect the pressure marks. Instead, the drive control system, which actuates a movement of the print web, is connected to a bus to which the cameras and therefore the processing units are also connected. It is thereby possible for the drive control system to provide the processing units with process data which the processing units can use to calculate detection times. The activation of the camera takes place, on the basis of the calculation, automatically by means of the cameras with the processing unit itself. | 02-12-2009 |
20090046890 | Method and system for digital image analysis of ear traits - A method of evaluating one or more kernels of an ear of maize using digital imagery includes acquiring a digital image of the one or more kernels of the ear of maize, processing the digital image to estimate at least one physical property of the one or more kernels of the ear of maize from the digital image, and evaluating the at least one kernel of maize using the estimate of the at least one physical property of the at least one kernel of maize. | 02-19-2009 |
20090046891 | HAIR STYLE SIMULATION IMAGE CREATING METHOD - A hairstyle simulation image is formed by combining a face image and a hair image such that a hair image of any hairstyle can be simply combined with the face image without impairing the naturalness of the fitted face and hair images, irrespective of whether or not a part of the face is covered with the hair. The hairstyle simulation image formed by combining the face and hair images is formed as follows. First, two eyes in the face image are detected, and a semi-oval shaped curve L | 02-19-2009 |
20090052727 | Methods for non-linear image blending, adjustment and display - A method for generating and adjusting an image obtained based on computed tomography data using a non-linear blending function is provided. In one embodiment of the method, first image data is obtained using a first X-ray energy, and second image data is obtained using a second X-ray image energy. An image is generated by blending the first and second image data using the non-linear function. The first X-ray energy and the second X-ray energy are different. | 02-26-2009 |
20090052728 | Method and device for displaying images - The present invention relates to a method and a device for displaying images aimed at combating the copying of images by filming during their display, for example by a camcorder in a cinema hall. It is known to modulate the luminance of the pixels of a pattern around the value to be displayed at a high frequency which renders the pattern invisible to the human eye but which generates artefacts on the sequence shot by the camcorder. This pattern is commonly called an anti-copy pattern. According to the invention, it is proposed to increase the hindrance generated by this modulation by varying the amplitude of the modulation of the pixels of the anti-copy pattern as a function of their membership or non-membership in a zone of interest of the sequence. | 02-26-2009 |
20090052729 | Image reproduction apparatus using image files related to an electronic map, image reproduction method for the same, and recording medium for recording program for executing the method - An image reproduction apparatus for displaying images of image files including an image of a target point to be observed by using image files located adjacent to the target point. A method of reproducing an image of an image file on an electronic map including the image file so that position information of the image file matches position information on the electronic map includes: (a) selecting a target point to be observed on the electronic map and obtaining position information of the target point; (b) setting a search range of image files on the electronic map; (c) searching for image files including an image of the target point within the set search range; and (d) displaying images of the found image files on the electronic map. | 02-26-2009 |
20090052730 | INTERACTIVE IMAGE SYSTEM, INTERACTIVE APPARATUS AND OPERATING METHOD THEREOF - An interactive image system includes a host having a first wireless module and an access device for accessing software, at least one reference point for generating light of a predetermined spectrum and an interactive apparatus including a second wireless module, an image module, a modulation module and a processing unit. The image module captures images of the reference point with a sampling frequency to form a first image and a second image, calculates and outputs a moving vector of the images of the reference point between the first and second images. The processing unit controls the second wireless module to transmit the moving vector to the first wireless module and controls the modulation module to real-timely modulate the sampling frequency of the image module according to a predetermined condition. The present invention further provides an interactive apparatus and operating method thereof. | 02-26-2009 |
20090052731 | Image processing apparatus and accounting system - The present invention provides an image processing apparatus and an accounting system which comprise an accounting section of a high degree of flexibility in accounting for the output of image data. The accounting system is primarily made up of a client PC | 02-26-2009 |
20090052732 | MATERIAL CONTEXT ANALYSIS - A process for contextual analysis of radiographic image data can be embodied as a method, system, and computer software program, among other things. The process can include receiving a radiographic image and performing a region analysis including identifying a region within the radiographic images having an estimated atomic number within a predetermined range and determining if the region is in an expected location. The process can also include performing a material feature analysis to identify whether a feature present in the radiographic image is associated with an obscuration characteristic. The process can include providing context information and generating, as output, a region of interest in the radiographic image, the region of interest being determined based upon a set of rules and the region analysis, the material feature analysis, and the context information. | 02-26-2009 |
20090052733 | IMAGE ARCHIVE APPARATUS - Conditions regarding attributes of images for generating multi-frame image data including plural frames of images in one file from image data are previously stored. When image data is received, multi-frame image data is generated from the received image data based on incidental information included in the image data and the previously stored conditions. Then, the generated multi-frame image data is archived. When a request for an image is made by a certain terminal, an application functioning on the terminal is identified, and multi-frame image data compliant with the application is transmitted from among the generated multi-frame image data. | 02-26-2009 |
20090052734 | MOVING IMAGE CREATING APPARATUS, MOVING IMAGE CREATING METHOD, AND PROGRAM - Disclosed herein is a moving image creating apparatus for creating moving image data using a plurality of images, the moving image creating apparatus including: template file storage means for storing a plurality of template files each of which holds a plurality of component templates for accommodating an image each; selection means for selecting any one of the plurality of template files stored in the template file storage means; component metadata analysis means for analyzing metadata about each of the plurality of images; component template metadata analysis means for analyzing metadata about each of the plurality of component templates in the selected template file; and image placement means for placing the images into the component templates of the selected template file in accordance with the analyzed metadata about the images and the analyzed metadata about the component templates. | 02-26-2009 |
20090052735 | Methods and Apparatus to Process Video and Audio Media - The presently claimed invention relates generally to digital watermarking, and processing video or audio media files. One claim recites a method including: analyzing a plurality of video or audio media files; determining whether there are duplicate media files in the plurality video or audio media files; and avoiding duplicate video or audio media files when searching the plurality of video or audio media files for digital watermarking. Of course, other claims and combinations are provided as well. | 02-26-2009 |
20090052736 | IMAGE RANKING FOR IMAGING PRODUCTS AND SERVICES - A computer-assisted method provides digital images, selects a digital image, obtains one or more image characteristics of the selected digital image, computes one or more image-ranking values for the selected digital image based on the obtained image characteristics of the selected digital image, and ranks the selected digital image using the computed image-ranking values. | 02-26-2009 |
20090060256 | METHOD OF ADVERTISEMENT SPACE MANAGEMENT FOR DIGITAL CINEMA SYSTEM - A method for automatically collecting viewer statistics from one or more persons in a movie theater, the method including the steps of capturing an image of the one or more persons in the movie theater with an infrared camera; using a face recognition algorithm to determine persons present in the movie theater; and determining one or more categories from characteristics from persons present to compute the viewer statistics. | 03-05-2009 |
20090060257 | WATERMARKING METHOD RESISTANT TO GEOMETRIC ATTACK IN WAVELET TRANSFORM DOMAIN - The present invention relates, in general, to a watermarking method resistant to a geometric attack in a wavelet transform domain, and, more particularly, to technology for embedding a watermark in a discrete wavelet transform (DWT) domain, thus extracting autocorrelation (AC) peaks, which play an important part in the estimation of geometric attacks in ACF-based watermarking, and detecting watermarks using the AC peaks even after geometric distortion is applied. In the watermarking method of the present invention, a watermark pattern is embedded in subbands of a Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT) domain. An Autocorrelation Function (ACF) of a watermark is executed in the domain, thus detecting a watermark required to estimate a geometric attack. A watermark signal is detected using an undecimated wavelet transform so as to compensate for an image shift in the watermark. | 03-05-2009 |
20090060258 | System and Method for the Generation of Multiple Angle Correlation-Based Digital Watermarks - Disclosed are systems and methods directed to the generation of digitally watermarked grayscale images having a watermark embedded at different arbitrary Rotation Angles. A single public key can be used to retrieve the otherwise invisible watermarks from the watermarked images when overlaid atop the images at Orientation Angles corresponding to the Rotation Angles. | 03-05-2009 |
20090060259 | UPC SUBSTITUTION FRAUD PREVENTION - The present invention provides a system and method for detecting fraudulent identification tags, such as Universal Product Codes (UPC) applied to goods to be purchased. The invention may store in a database images of the goods to be purchased and feature models of these images. When a customer desires to purchase an item containing a UPC, a scanned image of the item about to be purchased may be acquired and a feature model of the scanned image may be created. The system may retrieve from the database the image and feature model previously stored for the item associated with the just-scanned UPC. A variety of image processing techniques may be used to compare the scanned and database images and/or the scanned and database feature models. In one embodiment of the invention, these image processing techniques may include determining a geometric transformation that maps the features of the scanned image onto the features of a database model. | 03-05-2009 |
20090060260 | Intelligent image smoke/flame sensor and detection system - An intelligent image smoke/flame/complex intelligent image smoke/flame sensor, and an intelligent image smoke/flame detection system formed of such an intelligent image smoke/flame/complex intelligent image smoke/flame sensor. The intelligent image smoke/flame sensor is formed of an image sensor, for example, CCD (Charge-coupled Device), a DSP Processor, an input/output circuit, an infrared lamp and filter assembly, a casing, a window glass, a front cover, and a rear cover. The intelligent image smoke/flame detection system accurately detects fire characteristics including smoke and flame, producing an early alarm to lower catastrophe. | 03-05-2009 |
20090060261 | System and method for the generation of correlation-based digital watermarks - Disclosed are systems and methods directed to digital watermarks, and more particularly, the generation of invisible correlation-based digital watermarks embedded in halftone images. | 03-05-2009 |
20090060262 | System and method for the generation of multi-layer correlation-based digital watermarks - Disclosed are systems and methods directed to the generation of multi-layer digital watermarks, including the generation of distinct watermarks on each of at least two color layers or channels within an image such that each may be retrieved or viewed independently of the other in the output image. | 03-05-2009 |
20090060263 | MAP INFORMATION DISPLAY APPARATUS, MAP INFORMATION DISPLAY METHOD, AND PROGRAM - A map information display apparatus for displaying map information on the basis of information on image-capturing times and image-capturing positions that are respectively associated with a plurality of captured images includes a captured image extraction unit configured to extract images captured within a predetermined time period that includes the image-capturing time of a predetermined captured image from among the plurality of captured images; a map area selection unit configured to select an area of a map so as to include the image-capturing positions of the captured images extracted by the captured image extraction unit by using as a reference the image-capturing position of the predetermined captured image; and a map information display unit configured to display map information in such a manner that the area of the map, which is selected by the map area selection unit, is displayed. | 03-05-2009 |
20090060264 | Variable Message Coding Protocols for Encoding Auxiliary Data in Media Signals - Variable message coding protocols enable greater flexibility in encoding auxiliary data in media signals. One such protocol employs a version identifier that indicates the type of coding used to process an auxiliary data message before it is embedded in a host media signal. This version identifier specifies the type of error robustness coding applied to a variable message. The error robustness coding may be varied to alter the message payload capacity for different versions of auxiliary data embedding and reading systems. Another protocol uses control symbols to specify the format and variable length of the variable message. | 03-05-2009 |
20090060265 | Processing Data Representing Video and Audio and Methods Related Thereto - The presently claimed invention relates generally to processing data representing video and audio. One claim recites a method including: obtaining video, the video comprising at least picture portions and audio portions associated with the video; performing a first act of analyzing data representing picture portions of the video or audio portions associated with the video to determine whether the data satisfies first predetermined criteria; and if the data satisfies the first predetermined criteria, performing a second act of analyzing data representing picture portions of the video or audio portions associated with the video to determine whether the data satisfies second predetermined criteria. The first act of analyzing or the second act of analyzing utilizes steganographic decoding. A related claim recites that the first act of analyzing or the second act of analyzing utilizes pattern matching. Another related claim recites that the first act of analyzing or the second act of analyzing derives information from the data representing picture portions of the video. Of course, other claims and combinations are provided as well. | 03-05-2009 |
20090060266 | Methods and Systems for Analyzing Ratiometric Data - Systems and methods for analyzing ratiometric data, e.g., ratiometric image data such as fluorescent image data. | 03-05-2009 |
20090060267 | SALIENCE ESTIMATION FOR OBJECT-BASED VISUAL ATTENTION MODEL - The present invention provides a salience estimation method for object-based visual attention model. The method comprises steps of segmenting the image into a plurality of objects to be estimated, extracting feature maps for each segmented object, calculating the saliences of each segmented object in a set of circles defined around a centre pixel of the object based on the extracted feature maps, and integrating the saliences of each segmented object in all circles in order to achieve an overall salience estimation for each segmented object. The present invention is much more human vision inosculated and of low computing complexity. | 03-05-2009 |
20090060268 | Methods, Systems, and Products for Gesture-Activated Appliances - Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for operating home appliances using gesture recognition. A sequence of video images is received and compared to a stored sequence of gesture images. A recognized gesture is associated to a home appliance and to an operation of the home appliance. An appliance controller causes a response to the recognized gesture to perform the operation of the home appliance. | 03-05-2009 |
20090060269 | Content Identification Through Deriving Identifiers from Video, Images and Audio - The present invention relates generally to obtaining information from a profile associated with a proprietor of a media object (e.g., video, images and/or audio), where the proprietor may change information within the profile from time to time. One claim recites a method including: receiving an identifier via the internet from a device including or communicating with a content processor that derives the identifier from sample values representing audio portions of a media object or from sample values representing picture portions of the media object; utilizing the identifier to interrogate a database; obtaining from the database at least some information from a profile associated with a proprietor of the media object, wherein the database is configured to allow a proprietor to change information within the profile; and providing the at least some information from the profile associated with the proprietor of the media object to a remote location. Other combinations are provided and claimed as well. | 03-05-2009 |
20090067666 | DETERMINING DOCUMENT AUTHENTICITY IN A CLOSED-LOOP PROCESS - A document authentication method uses a watermark added in a printed document to detection possible alterations made to the document after it was printed. First, a visible watermark in the form of a dot pattern is overlapped with an original digital image. The watermarked image is printed out as a halftone image at a first resolution. The watermark in the printed document appears as a light gray shade. Later, the printed document is scanned back using a grayscale scan at a resolution higher than the first resolution. In the scanned image, altered areas would appear flat (lacking intensity variation) whereas unaltered areas will have relatively large density variations due to the watermark dots and the fact that the image was halftone printed at a lower resolution. Alternations are detected by identifying flat areas within the image using a combination of flat block detection and a multiple thresholds method. | 03-12-2009 |
20090067667 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR IMAGE INTEGRITY DETERMINATION - A method and system for determining integrity of images is disclosed herein. The method includes determining the integrity of a non-image data of an image file. The method of protecting images comprises: obtaining an image file having both image data and non-image data and generating at least one code based on the non-image data at the time of creation of the image file. The code is incorporated into the image data of the image file in a visually non-detectable format. In an example, a digital watermarking technique is used to incorporate the code into the image data. | 03-12-2009 |
20090067668 | VIDEO PROCESSING SYSTEM AND METHOD - A method of calculating a transform matrix for transforming points in a model of an object to an image of the object captured by a camera. The camera produces a two dimensional view of the object, the object having a plane, which includes a plurality of lines defining features on the plane of the object. The method comprises identifying a plurality of triplets of points on the lines of the object in the image from the camera, each of the triplets of points providing three or more non co-linear points on the lines of the object. The method includes identifying a sample triplet of points in the model, for each of the identified plurality of triplets of points, calculating a transform matrix which will transform the sample triplet from the model onto the identified triplet of points from the camera image, for each of the identified transform matrices, calculating a transform matrix for transforming a plurality of points on the lines of the object from the model to the image, calculating a comparison metric between the points transformed from the lines of the plane of the object in the model and corresponding points in the image view of the object, and identifying the transform matrix which produces the best comparison metric. The identified transform matrix can therefore be used to transform points on the model into the image produced by the camera, or points in the image onto the model. | 03-12-2009 |
20090067669 | LIQUID LEVEL DETECTING APPARATUS - A liquid level detecting apparatus detects a liquid surface of a liquid stored in a vessel, by taking an image of an inside of the vessel from a predetermined position where an opening edge of the vessel and the liquid surface come into an imaging range, and determining whether a distance between the opening edge of the vessel and the liquid surface in a taken image is within a preset threshold range or not. | 03-12-2009 |
20090067670 | METHODS AND PROCESSES FOR DETECTING A MARK ON A PLAYING SURFACE AND FOR TRACKING AN OBJECT - Systems and methods for detecting a mark left by an object on a playing surface are provided. A system for detecting a mark left by an impact of an object on a playing surface, the system including at least one processor coupled to a memory arrangement. The system may further include at least one camera for collecting a sequence of images of the playing surface before and after impact of an object. Additionally, the system may include an image processing system adapted to process at least a portion of the sequence of images to identify the mark left by the object on the playing surface. The system may also include a judgment processing system operative to determine the position of the mark relative to the feature of the playing surface. | 03-12-2009 |
20090067671 | Authentication of Physical and Electronic Media Objects Using Digital Watermarks - Digital watermark methods for encoding auxiliary data into a host signal are used to authenticate physical and electronic objects. One such method computes a content specific message dependent on the host signal, encodes the content specific message into a watermark signal, and embeds the watermark in the host signal such that the watermark signal is substantially imperceptible in the host signal. One specific implementation embeds data representing salient features of the host signal into the watermark. For example, for photo IDs, the method embeds the spatial location of salient features of the photo into the watermark. Another implementation computes a semi-sensitive hash of the host signal, such as a low pass filtering of the signal, and embeds the hash into the watermark. The watermark signal may be content dependent by making the watermark key dependent on some attribute of the signal in which the watermark is embedded. Another approach is to make the watermark key dependent on a user or an attribute of the user. Yet another approach is to use multiple watermark components and multiple watermark detection stages that help identify and screen out invalid watermark signals. Another digital watermarking method for authenticating a media object transforms a media signal to a frequency domain comprising an array of frequency coefficients. It selects a first set of frequency coefficients, and alters the selected first set of frequency coefficients so that values of the coefficients in the set correspond to a pattern. The pattern of the media signal is authenticated by comparing a pattern of the values of the frequency coefficients in the set with an expected pattern. | 03-12-2009 |
20090067672 | Embedding Hidden Auxiliary Code Signals in Media - Methods for embedding and reading identification codes from media signals use embedded code signals modulated with the auxiliary message. These embedded code signals convey hidden tracking codes in images, video, music and printed objects. The embedded code signals are embedded by varying characteristics of the signal. The identification code varies for different copies of a media signal and indexes distribution information such as point of sale information and ownership information. | 03-12-2009 |
20090074229 | Device and method for the visual representation of measured values - The invention relates to an apparatus and method for visually representing measuring values. | 03-19-2009 |
20090074230 | Electronic watermark embedding device and detection device, detection method, detection program, and intergrated circuit device thereof - An electronic watermark technique which allows precise detection of electronic watermark information from image having any size is provided. In an electronic watermark embedding device | 03-19-2009 |
20090074231 | Secure Article, Notably a Security and/or Valuable Document - The invention concerns a secure article, notably a security and/or valuable document ( | 03-19-2009 |
20090074232 | HISTORY IMAGE GENERATING SYSTEM, HISTORY IMAGE GENERATING METHOD, AND RECORDING MEDIUM IN WHICH IS RECORDED A COMPUTER PROGRAM - A history image generating system and method is configured such that a determining unit determines whether or not an image to be combined with a history image stored as a history is a digital watermark image, and when it has been determined by the determining unit that the image is a digital watermark image, a processing unit performs, with respect to the digital watermark image, processing including enhancement processing such that the visibility of the image is increased, and a generating unit generates an image in which the digital watermark image with respect to which processing has been performed by the processing unit and the history image are combined. Further, a recording medium stores a computer program that causes a computer to execute operation of each unit of this history image generating system. | 03-19-2009 |
20090074233 | INFORMATION REGISTRATION SYSTEM - A memory device memorizes, in association, possessor identification information, which is recorded at recording mediums carried by authorized users of an image forming device, and inputter identification information corresponding to the possessor identification information. An information retention device memorizes image information and inputter identification information transmitted from an image formation instruction device. A reading device reads possessor identification information from a recording medium. If it is determined that this possessor identification information has been memorized at the memory device, an image formation section reads image information that is associated with inputter identification information that is associated with the possessor identification information, and implements image formation. If not, an output section outputs the possessor identification information. When the possessor identification information is inputted through an input section, a registration section registers the possessor identification information and inputter identification information by memorizing them in association at the memory device. | 03-19-2009 |
20090074234 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CAPTURING IMAGES - An exemplary method for capturing images includes steps of: focusing on a scene, wherein the scene comprises at least one person; locating irises of the at least one person on an image of the scene; measuring a diameter and a height of each of the irises; comparing the ratio of the height to the diameter with a predetermined ratio to determine whether the at least one person's eyes are blinking or closed; capturing at least two images of the at least one person in quick succession if the at least one person's eyes are not blinking or closed; and selecting an optimum image from one of the at least two images. A system for capturing images is also provided. | 03-19-2009 |
20090074235 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR GENERATING BOOKMARK VIDEO FINGERPRINTS - Systems and methods for replacing original media bookmarks of at least a portion of a digital media file with replacement bookmarks is described. A media fingerprint engine detects the location of the original fingerprints associated with the portion of the digital media file and a region analysis algorithm characterizes regions of media file spanning the location of the original bookmarks by data class types. The replacement bookmarks are associated with the data class types and are overwritten or otherwise are substituted for the original bookmarks. The replacement bookmarks then are subjected to a fingerprint matching algorithm that incorporates media timeline and media related metadata. | 03-19-2009 |
20090074236 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND IMAGE READING METHOD - In an image forming apparatus, a reader reads an image of one page of an original thereby obtaining image data. A determining unit determines whether embedded data has been embedded in the image data. An extracting unit extracts the embedded data, acquires a target page number of a reading unnecessary page based on the embedded data, and saves the page number in a storage unit. A page number determining unit determines whether a page number of a next page of the original matches with the target page number. Upon the page number of the next page matching with the target page number, the reader does not read image data of the next page. | 03-19-2009 |
20090074237 | METHOD FOR PRINTING A PRINTING SUBSTRATE - A method for printing a printing substrate is disclosed. The printing substrate is printed by a printing-plate-based printing method, in particular by an offset printing method, with a printed image that is the same for printed copies of a print job and therefore with a static printed image as well as, in addition to the printing-plate-based printing method, by a non-printing-plate-based printing method, in particular an inkjet printing method, with a printed image that is variable for the printed copies of the print job and therefore with a dynamic printed image. After the static and dynamic printing of the printing substrate, each printed copy is detected using measuring techniques and recorded at least in sections in such a manner that each printed copy is verifiable with respect to its authenticity. | 03-19-2009 |
20090074238 | Method and System for Determining Poses of Objects from Range Images Using Adaptive Sampling of Pose Spaces - A method for determining a pose of an object from a range image is presented. A distribution of poses for an object is determined from a model of the object. A set of reference poses is selected according to the distribution, such that more reference poses are selected for more probable poses than less probable poses. A reference image for each reference pose is generated, and the reference pose used to generate the reference image that best matches a range image including the object is assigned as the pose of the object. | 03-19-2009 |
20090074239 | System and Method for Imaging with Extended Depth of Focus and Incoherent Light - An optical arrangement is provided for use in imaging with a large depth of focus. The optical arrangement comprises an aperture unit, and a replication unit. The replication unit is configured for producing a plurality of replicas of an input optical field passed through the aperture unit such that the replicas include at least two replicas that are of substantially the same phase distribution and are created at different regions of the aperture unit plane. | 03-19-2009 |
20090074240 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR EMBEDDING WATERMARKS - Methods and apparatus for embedding a watermark are disclosed. An example method to embed media identification information in a compressed media data stream disclosed herein comprises reconstructing an uncompressed media data stream from the compressed media data stream, the uncompressed media data stream separate from the compressed media data stream, embedding the media identification information in the uncompressed media data stream to determine a watermarked uncompressed media data stream, and modifying a first mantissa value corresponding to a first transform coefficient associated with the compressed media stream to embed the media identification information in the compressed media data stream without uncompressing the compressed media data stream, the modification of the first mantissa value based on a difference between the first transform coefficient and a corresponding second transform coefficient generated from the watermarked uncompressed media data stream. | 03-19-2009 |
20090074241 | Steganographic Systems and Methods - The present invention relates to steganographic systems and methods. Once claim recites a method including: obtaining video content, wherein the video content comprises a steganographic signal embedded in picture elements of the video content, with multiple instances of the steganographic signal embedded in the picture elements of the video content, the steganographic signal comprising a plural-bit identifier that is uniquely associated with an intended recipient of the video content; encrypting—utilizing a processor or electronic processing circuitry—the video content with an encryption key that comprises mathematical relationship to the plural-bit identifier that is uniquely associated with the intended recipient of the video content; obtaining a decryption key that comprises a cryptographic relationship to the encryption key; communicating the encrypted video content and the decryption key to the intended user of the video content; and maintaining an association of the plural-bit identifier with the intended recipient. Other claims and combinations are provided as well. | 03-19-2009 |
20090074242 | ELECTRONIC WATERMARK EMBEDDING METHOD, DEVICE, AND PROGRAM, AND ELECTRONIC WATERMARK DETECTING METHOD, DEVICE, AND PROGRAM - A digital watermark embedding apparatus for embedding embedding information, as digital watermark, into an input signal having dimensions equal to or greater than N (N is an integer equal to or greater than 2) and a digital watermark detection apparatus for detecting the digital watermark are disclosed. The digital watermark embedding apparatus generates an embedding sequence based on embedding information, generates a N−1-dimensional pattern based on the embedding sequence, generates N-dimensional embedding pattern by modulating a periodic signal according to a value on the N−1-dimensional pattern, and superimposing the embedding pattern in the input signal and outputs it. The digital watermark detection apparatus measures a component of a predetermined periodic signal in a direction of a dimension of the input signal to obtain a N−1-dimensional pattern, obtains a detection sequence from values of the N−1 dimensional pattern, and detects embedded digital watermark based on a size of correlation value between the detection sequence and an embedding sequence. | 03-19-2009 |
20090074243 | Method and apparatus for detecting errors in electronically processed images - A method of detecting one or more errors in a series of electronically processed, multi-pixel images, the pixels of which correspond from one image to the next, the method including monitoring the reflectance of one or more of the corresponding pixels during sequential processing of each image of the series and, if the reflectance value of a pixel is invariant or substantially invariant in more than a predetermined number of consecutive said images, and identifying an error. | 03-19-2009 |
20090080688 | DIGITAL WATERMARKING FOR FEW-COLOR IMAGES - Systems and methodologies for embedding a watermark in a few-color image are provided herein. A digital watermarking algorithm named Spatial Unified Key Insertion (SUKI) can be utilized, wherein adaptive threshold halftoning can be performed in combination with contour shaping and modification to embed a binary logo into a digital image. Watermarking can be performed for an image using SUKI without introducing “salt-and-pepper” artifacts into the image. Further, watermarking techniques described herein can embed data into an image with a considerably high payload while providing excellent resistance against JPEG compression and other attacks and introducing no additional colors into an image. | 03-26-2009 |
20090080689 | Watermarking Encoded Content - A system and method are described for inserting a watermark in encoded content, including receiving encoded content, receiving at least one pre-processed watermark unit, and replacing directly a number of bits starting at a position in the encoded content with an alternative value, wherein the alternative value has embedded therein watermark signals, wherein the alternative value is selected from among a plurality of alternative values specified in the at least one said watermark unit. An apparatus and method for generating watermark units are also described including selecting a position where a value in encoded content is to be replaced by an alternative value and calculating the alternative value a plurality of alternative values for each selected position. Further a system and method for replacing a watermark in encoded content are also described including receiving encoded content, receiving at least one pre-processed watermark unit and replacing a number of bits starting at a position in the encoded content with a value, wherein the value is specified in the at least one watermark unit. | 03-26-2009 |
20090080690 | METHOD OF IMAGING A CODING PATTERN COMPRISING REED-SOLOMON CODEWORDS ENCODED BY MIXED MULTI-PULSE POSITION MODULATION - A method of imaging a coding pattern disposed on a surface of a substrate. The method comprises the steps of: (a) operatively positioning an optical reader relative to the surface and capturing an image of a portion of the coding pattern; (b) sampling and decoding a Reed-Solomon codeword contained in the imaged portion; and (c) determining, using the decoded codeword, a position of said reader, an identity of the substrate digital signature, and/or a fragment of an embedded data object. The coding pattern encodes Reed-Solomon symbols using mixed multi-pulse position modulation, with a higher number of Reed-Solomon symbol values available for redundancy symbols than data symbols. | 03-26-2009 |
20090080691 | METHOD OF GENERATING A CLIPPING FROM A PRINTED SUBSTRATE - A method of generating a clipping from a printed substrate. The substrate has a graphic image and a position-coding pattern disposed thereon and the position-coding pattern identifies an identity and a plurality of locations. The method comprises the steps of: (i) receiving, in a computer system, interaction data indicative of the identity and a position of a sensing device relative to the substrate, the sensing device generating the interaction data, when operatively positioned or moved relative to the substrate, by reading the position-coding pattern; (ii) identifying and retrieving a page description corresponding to the printed substrate using the identity, the page description including a visual description describing the graphic image and an input description describing interactive elements; (iii) determining, using the page description and the position of the sensing device, a clipping zone of the substrate indicated by the sensing device, the clipping zone containing a part of the graphic image; (iv) generating the clipping, the clipping comprising a clipping identity identifying the page description and the clipping zone; and (v) copying the clipping to a clipboard. | 03-26-2009 |
20090080692 | SIZE MEASUREMENT APPARATUS, IMAGE DISPLAY UNIT, COMPUTER-READABLE SIZE MEASUREMENT PROGRAM STORAGE MEDIUM, AND COMPUTER-READABLE IMAGE DISPLAY PROGRAM STORAGE MEDIUM - A size measurement apparatus comprises a designation section that designates parts in images of two or more medical images acquired through image taking for a subject; a first measurement section that measures a size of an image on a part designated by the designation section, of the medical image, as to a measurement direction associated with a geometry of the image; and a second measurement section that measures a size of a common measurement direction common to two or more medical images, the common measurement direction being determined in accordance with the measurement direction in the first measurement section. | 03-26-2009 |
20090080693 | ELECTRONIC WATERMARK EMBEDDING APPARATUS AND ELECTRONIC WATERMARK EMBEDDING METHOD - An electronic watermark embedding apparatus and an electronic watermark embedding method can severally deal with both of the resistance property of an electronic watermark and the prevention of image quality deterioration. Electronic watermark information of a high importance level is embedded in a component having a strong resistance property, and electronic watermark information of a low importance level is embedded in a component exerting little influence on an image quality. As a result, the electronic watermark information to be embedded in the component having a strong resistance property is limited to that of a high importance level. Moreover, the image quality deterioration can be suppressed in comparison with the case of embedding all pieces of information, and the electronic watermark information of low importance level is embedded in the component having a weak resistance property but exerting little influence on an image quality. | 03-26-2009 |
20090080694 | Deriving Multiple Identifiers from Multimedia Content - The presently claimed invention relates generally to content identification, such as deriving identifiers from content itself. One claim recites a method including: using a processor, deriving first information from audio elements of an audio signal; using a processor, deriving second information from data representing picture elements of a video signal that is associated with the audio signal; and utilizing the first information or the second information in a content filtering process, said process utilizes a recognition unit or device to sample content being distributed on a network, and controls further distribution of the content in the network based at least in part on the first information or the second information. Of course, other combinations and claims are provided as well. | 03-26-2009 |
20090087012 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR IDENTIFYING SIMILARITIES AMONG ALARMS - Systems and methods for classifying targets within a container are provided. In one aspect, a method for resolving an alarm raised by an imaging system is provided, the imaging system alarm triggered by an alarm target including a plurality of objects. The method includes receiving a plurality of images from the imaging system, calculating at least one feature value for each object of the plurality of objects, determining whether each object is part of the alarm target, and rendering a decision on the alarm target. | 04-02-2009 |
20090087013 | RAY MAPPING - The application discloses the use of light rays from a region and based on those light rays generates a map of the region. | 04-02-2009 |
20090087014 | SKEW/DOUBLEFEED DETECTION IN SCANNED IMAGES - A system and method for identifying a status such as, for example, skew and/or double feed, of a scanned image. | 04-02-2009 |
20090087015 | PARENTAL MONITORING METHOD USING PERIODIC IMAGE SAMPLING - There is provided a system and/or method of monitoring media content. More specifically, in one embodiment, there is provided a method of monitoring operation of an electronic device having a plurality of signal inputs, the method comprising periodically collecting images from each of the plurality of signal inputs, storing the collected images for later evaluation if an image storage option is enabled, and sending the collected images for direct viewing if the image storage option is not enabled. | 04-02-2009 |
20090087016 | Content based adjustment of an image - A video input signal is analyzed to detect image content and image properties, wherein detecting the image content includes automatically deriving image features. A content group is determined for the video input signal based on the detected image content, the content group including predefined image properties. The image properties of the video input signal are adjusted based on a difference between the detected image properties and the predefined image properties. | 04-02-2009 |
20090087017 | HANDWRITTEN INFORMATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, HANDWRITTEN INFORMATION MANAGEMENT METHOD AND RECORDING MEDIUM STORING HANDWRITTEN INFORMATION MANAGEMENT PROGRAM - A handwritten information management system, which includes a paper sheet document generation section that generates a paper sheet document in which plurality pieces of coded information including coordinate information indicating a position on a paper sheet and document identification information of the paper sheet document formed on the paper sheet are recorded; a paper sheet document registration section that registers the generated paper sheet document and an electronic document corresponding to the paper sheet document correlated with the document identification information; a handwritten information detection section that detects handwritten information handwriting on the generated paper sheet document; a handwritten information registration section that registers handwritten information identification information to identify the handwritten information correlated with the detected handwritten information; and an identification information management section that manages the document identification information and the handwritten information identification information. | 04-02-2009 |
20090087018 | PERCEPTABILITY MODEL APPLIED TO WATERMARK SIGNALS - This document relates generally to digital watermarking. One claim recites a method including: obtaining data representing visual media; determining a model through iteratively embedding a digital watermark signal in the data; and embedding the digital watermark signal in the data according to the model. The model maximizes robustness of the digital watermark signal while minimizing perceptibility of the digital watermark signal when the signal is embedded in the data. A new embedding form or embedding mask is created after each embedding iteration. Of course, other combinations are described and claimed as well. | 04-02-2009 |
20090087019 | Method fo rthe simultaneous deposition of a set of patterns on a substrate by a macrostamp - A stamp for depositing materials in the form of imprints on a surface of a substrate. The stamp includes a template and pins joined at one end to a first face of the template. The pins are arranged on the first face of the template so that the faces of all the pins joined to the template can be placed in contact virtually simultaneously on the surface of the substrate. The disclosed embodiments also relate to a method for fabricating the stamp and to a method for the virtually simultaneous deposition of a large number of imprints of identical or different materials on the surface of the substrate using the stamp, for an analysis. | 04-02-2009 |
20090087020 | IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD AND IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICE - An electronic watermarking embedding-processing section acquires layout information which specifies an embedding area of first sub information and an embedding area of second sub information in main image information. The electronic watermarking embedding-processing section performs overlapping processing for invisibly embedding the first sub information in the embedding area of the first sub information in the main image information which is specified by the layout information. The electronic watermarking embedding-processing section performs overlapping processing for invisibly embedding the second sub information in the embedding area of the second sub information in the main image information which is specified by the layout information. The electronic watermarking embedding-processing section creates composite image information by composing image information in which the first sub information is invisibly embedded in the main image information and image information in which the second sub information is invisibly embedded in the main image information. | 04-02-2009 |
20090087021 | COVERT AND ROBUST MARK FOR MEDIA IDENTIFICATION - Systems and methods are described for repeatedly embedding information in media that is recoverable by emphasizing subtle variations between the media. In many embodiments perceptual models are used to identify portions of the media in which the embedded information is unlikely to be apparent to a human observer. One embodiment of the invention includes rendering the information in the form of a media, selecting a plurality of portions of media from the carrier media, combining at least part of the rendered media with each of the selected portions of the carrier media to form modified media portions, where the modifications to the modified media portions are not apparent to a human observer and creating a modified carrier medium using the modified media portions. | 04-02-2009 |
20090087022 | STAIN DETECTION SYSTEM - An image pickup unit that does not have a movable system and is fixed at one point picks up an image. A subject region extraction unit detects a subject in the image, extracts a region of the subject, and generates a region extraction image. A region extraction image storage unit holds a plurality of recent region extraction images. Then, a stain level calculation unit compares the held region extraction images for each pixel, and increases a value of the stain level of a pixel when it is highly probable that a stain is present on the pixel, and vise versa. The subject region extraction and the stain level calculation are performed each time an image is picked up, and the value is updated. A stain determination unit outputs whether or not a stain is present and the degree that the stain is present on the basis of the value. | 04-02-2009 |
20090092277 | Geo-Relevance for Images - Images may be sorted and categorized by defining a frustum for each image and overlaying the frustums in two, three, or four dimensions to create a density map and identify points of interest. Images that contain a point of interest may be grouped, sorted, and categorized to determine representative images of the point. By including many images from different sources, common points of interest may be defined. Points of interest may be defined in two or three Euclidian dimensions, or may include a dimension of time. | 04-09-2009 |
20090092278 | Endoscope apparatus and program - An endoscope apparatus includes an electronic endoscope that picks up a measurement object and produces a picked-up-image signal; an image-processing unit that produces a image signal based on the picked-up-image signal; and an measurement processing unit that undertakes measurement processing to the measurement object based on the image signal. The measurement processing unit includes: a reference point-designating unit that designates two reference points on the measurement object; an approximate-outline—calculating unit that calculates an approximate outline by approximating the outline of the measurement object based on the reference points; and a loss-composing points-calculating unit that calculates loss-composing points that constitute a loss outline formed on the measurement object based on the reference points and the approximate outline. This enables loss size measurement upon designating two reference points, thereby reducing complex operations and improving operability. | 04-09-2009 |
20090092279 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND VERIFICATION SYSTEM - There is provided an image processing apparatus including: an image information acquisition unit that acquires image information representing an image obtained by reading a recording medium containing one or a plurality of detectable substances; an extraction unit that extracts an image corresponding to the detectable substances from the image information acquired by the image information acquisition unit; a computation unit that computes feature quantities of distribution of the detectable substances in the recording medium based on the image corresponding to the detectable substances extracted by the extraction unit; and a memory that stores the feature quantities computed by the computation unit. | 04-09-2009 |
20090092280 | IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD AND IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS - In an image processing apparatus for creating synthetic image information by embedding sub-information in an invisible state in main image information in a visible state, attention pixels in the main image information are set, a specific pixel block is created by assigning a first specific pixel to the attention pixel of a first color and a second specific pixel to the attention pixel of a second color, first key information is selected for a first value of the sub-information constituted by binary information and second key information is selected for a second value, color difference modulation processing is performed on the selected key information based on a predetermined color difference amount, and the color-difference-modulated key information is superposed on the specific pixel block to thereby create the synthetic image information in which the sub-information in an invisible state is embedded in the main image information. | 04-09-2009 |
20090092281 | METHOD FOR IMPROVED FORENSIC ANALYSIS - A method for improved forensic analysis using multi-view digital imaging of forensic specimens at a plurality of reflected, scattered, emitted, transmitted or absorbed wavelengths to provide new detailed information to distinguish and differentiate forensic materials and samples. | 04-09-2009 |
20090097695 | Personal document authentication system using watermarking - An identification document includes a unique identifier, and a picture of a person. Steganographically embedded in the picture is information corresponding to the identifier, by which the document can be authenticated. A verification apparatus reads the identifier from the document (e.g., by OCR or a machine-readable feature), and collects scan data corresponding to the picture. The scan data is processed to extract the embedded information. The embedded information is then compared for expected correspondence with the identifier. A remote database can store information related to the card, and can be queried in connection with the authentication. | 04-16-2009 |
20090097696 | System and method of dynamic insertion of data - Utilization of the on-demand/one-off digital content manufacturing process can be used to create a unique digital product that includes additional content targeted to the consumer. Through applying advanced analytical and artificial intelligence technology to data gathered at time of purchase, material that best matches the consumer's interests can be selected. Once additional data is selected it can be altered with tracking information and then inserted to create the consumer's final product. | 04-16-2009 |
20090097697 | INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, INDICATION SYSTEM, AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM - An information processing apparatus recognizes an object from plural images captured by a image capture device, decides an outline of the recognized object, and calculates average luminances of the inside and the outside of the decided outline. Further, the information processing apparatus determines that a difference between the average luminances of the inside and the outside of the outline is equal to and more than a predetermined value, generates an adjustment image which make gradation increase so that a luminance of any one of the inside and the outside of the outline increases when the difference is equal to and more than the predetermined value, the any one of the inside and the outside of the outline having a lower average luminance than another one. The adjustment image is projected onto the object by a projection device, and then captured by the image capture device. | 04-16-2009 |
20090097698 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR, AND COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM - An image processing apparatus which is capable of easily determining, when a user causes the apparatus to scan a sheet original to carry out predetermined processing, whether or not the sheet original has been modified or edited from a document file as the source of the sheet original. A scanner section not only reads an original and generates original image data, but also recognizes information embedded in the original. Rights information concerning the original is acquired based on the information embedded in the original. A controller unit determines whether or not the original has been edited, and performs control based on contents of the rights information and a result of the determination, such that execution of processing, which is designated by a user, on the original image data is permitted or restricted. | 04-16-2009 |
20090097699 | INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS AND METHOD, COMPUTER PROGRAM AND COMPUTER-READABLE RECORDING MEDIUM - A watermark information embedding apparatus generates a document image from electronic document data that has been input thereto, modifies the electronic document data based upon the document image and embeds information in the electronic document data. The apparatus includes a document image generator for generating a document image from the electronic document data; a document analyzer for detecting layout information of each constituent image in the generated document image; a normalization information calculation unit for calculating normalization information, which is for normalizing placement of each constituent image, based upon the detected layout information; a modification unit for modifying the electronic document data; and an embedding unit for embedding information in the modified electronic document data. | 04-16-2009 |
20090097700 | METHOD OF DATA CAPTURE AND RECOGNITION - A method of capturing data from a form is disclosed. The form is completed by a user. The form is identified from a library of forms by recognizing an overall layout of the form. Fields on the form correlating to data fields completed by the user are identified, and data from the data fields is captured and stored. | 04-16-2009 |
20090097701 | Sleepiness level determination device for driver - A sleepiness level determination device includes: a detector processing a face image of an user and for detecting an eye image of the user based on the face image; a characteristic value calculating unit calculating a characteristic value regarding the eye based on the eye image; a sleepiness level determining unit determining a sleepiness level based on the characteristic value; and a reliability calculating unit calculating reliability of the sleepiness level based on the characteristic value. | 04-16-2009 |
20090097702 | Error Processing of Steganographic Message Signals - A form of error processing is used to decode steganographic messages embedded in image and audio signals in the presence of distortion, which tends to introduce errors in steganographic data communication. Content signals with auxiliary embedded data are analyzed to detect embedded message signals. Confidence values are assigned to the message signals and used to ascertain whether a message has been accurately detected. Error processing enables accurate message extraction in the presence of “soft errors” in the embedded message signal. This error processing enables more effective recovery of the steganographic message from content signals that undergo distortion and/or loss transformations after being embedded with steganographic data. | 04-16-2009 |
20090103769 | COGNITIVE CONTROL FRAMEWORK FOR AUTOMATIC CONTROL OF APPLICATION PROGRAMS EXPOSURE A GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE - The present invention relates generally to automatic control of software application programs and image analysis and, more specifically, to analyzing graphical component, an execution scenario script, and a playback component. The recording component is adapted to capture user input data and images displayed by the graphical user interface during a recording phase of execution of the application program, and to analyze the captured user input data and displayed images to generate an execution scenario (script) during the recording phase. The execution scenario may be written in a selected high level language (e.g., XML). The playback component is adapted to generate simulated user input data based on the execution scenario during a playback phase of execution of the application program, to input the simulated user input data to the application program, to perform image analysis on images displayed by the graphical user interface as a result of processing the simulated user input data during the playback phase and captured displayed images from the recording phase; and to automatically control execution of the application program based at least in part on the image analysis. | 04-23-2009 |
20090103770 | Image data transmission system and method, and terminal apparatus and management center which constitute transmission side and reception side of the system - An image data transmission system comprises a first terminal device ( | 04-23-2009 |
20090103771 | IMAGE PROCESSOR, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM - The image processor includes: an acquisition unit acquiring a read-out image read out by an image reading apparatus; a detection unit detecting, from the read-out image, an embedded image including a first specified image having a first shape and a second specified image having a second shape; an adding unit adding attribute information to a specified region in the embedded image, in accordance with an appearance ratio of the first specified image in the specified region, and adding attribute information to other region surrounding the specified region, in accordance with an appearance ratio of the first specified image in the other region; and a determination unit determining whether or not the specified region is to be subjected to a predetermined processing using the first specified image based on whether or not the attribute information added to the specified region corresponds to the attribute information added to the other region. | 04-23-2009 |
20090103772 | Method and Detection Device for the Imaging Detection of a Sample - The invention relates to a device for detecting a sample in a longitudinal sample container ( | 04-23-2009 |
20090103773 | SMART PICKING IN 3D POINT CLOUDS - An embodiment of the invention includes a method for identifying a point representing a feature in a 3D dataset. The method includes performing a pick, which includes filtering the dataset to extract a subset of points based on certain criteria including a seed point and evaluating a metric for each point in the subset of points. The metric is a non-normalized probability that the point being evaluated represents the feature. The point or points with the highest metric is identified as representing the feature. Another embodiment of the invention includes a computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions for identifying a point representing a feature in a 3D dataset. Another embodiment of the invention includes a method for displaying a view of a feature in a 3D dataset. | 04-23-2009 |
20090103774 | Temporally Threaded CMI Watermark - Disclosed is a temporally threaded copyright management information watermark where fragile watermarks containing CMI are spread throughout a digital work temporally. In one embodiment of this invention, the copyright management information is divided into a multitude of copyright management information subparts; the copyright management subparts are applied to fragile sub-watermarks; and fragile watermarks are applied to temporally separated portions of the digital work. | 04-23-2009 |
20090110230 | IMAGE GENERATING APPARATUS, IMAGE GENERATING METHOD, IMAGE DISPLAY MEDIUM, AND COMPUTER READABLE RECORDING MEDIUM - A leak-prohibited image to be subjected to leak prohibition is comprised of dots DT so that two dots are included in an 8×8 matrix at a resolution of | 04-30-2009 |
20090110231 | METHOD, DEVICE AND SYSTEM FOR DYNAMICALLY EMBEDDING WATERMARK INFORMATION INTO MULTIMEDIA CONTENT - A method and devices for dynamically embedding watermark and/or end-user access information into multimedia content. The method includes providing multimedia content transformed into blocks that each include an array of pixel blocks, and dynamically embedding portions of watermark and/or end-user access information into selected pixel blocks based on the values of the coefficients within the pixel blocks. For multimedia content encoded using discrete cosine transform (DCT) or other block-based encoding, the transform coefficients to include embedded information are chosen based on analysis of the coefficient values, rather than in a fixed or predetermined manner. Also, embedding watermark and/or end-user access information can occur across different pixel blocks within a given image to reduce the number of embedded coefficients per block, within the peripheral pixel blocks within a given image, and/or in different areas across images to reduce the duration of embedded information in any one area. | 04-30-2009 |
20090110232 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DETECTING CONCEALED OBJECTS - Methods and systems for detecting the presence of concealed objects. One embodiment of the method of these teachings for detecting the presence of concealed objects is passive, does not require any external radiation source, uses thermal radiation of a body as a source of radiation. Other embodiments include unique systems, devices, methods, and apparatus to determine the presence of a concealed object. | 04-30-2009 |
20090110233 | IMAGE SPAM FILTERING BASED ON SENDERS' INTENTION ANALYSIS - Systems and methods for an anti-spam detection module that can detect image spam are provided. According to one embodiment, an image spam detection process involves determining and measuring various characteristics of images that may be embedded within or otherwise associated with an electronic mail (email) message. An approximate display location of the embedded images is determined. The existence of one or more abnormal factors associated with the embedded images is identified. A quantity of text included in the one or more embedded images is determined and measured by analyzing one or more blocks of binarized representations of the one or more embedded images. Finally, the likelihood that the email message is spam is determined based on one or more of the approximate display location, the existence of one or more abnormal factors and the quantity and location of text measured. | 04-30-2009 |
20090110234 | IMAGE PROCESSING SYSTEM AND METHOD THEREOF APPLIED WITH INSTANT MESSAGING PROGRAM - An image processing method for providing an output image for an instant messaging program is provided. The image processing method includes the following steps. Firstly, an image capturer captures an input image. Next, the input image is inputted to a dump memory block. Then in response to an operating event, a drawing data is input to a canvas memory block. The storing sizes of the dump memory block and the canvas memory block are substantially the same. Next, the drawing data is obtained from the canvas memory and is combined with the input image, so that an output image is generated in the dump memory block. The instant messaging program controls a virtual image capturer to obtain the output image from the dump memory block. | 04-30-2009 |
20090116683 | Methods and Systems Responsive to Features Sensed From Imagery or Other Data - A device, such as a cell phone, uses an image sensor to capture image data. The phone can respond to detection of particular imagery feature (e.g., watermarked imagery, barcodes, image fingerprints, etc.) by presenting distinctive graphics on a display screen. Such graphics may be positioned within the display, and affine-warped, in registered relationship with the position of the detected feature, and its affine distortion, as depicted in the image data. Related approaches can be implemented without use of an image sensor, e.g., relying on data sensed from an RFID device. A variety of other features and arrangements are also detailed. | 05-07-2009 |
20090116684 | GENERATING MUSIC PLAYLIST BASED ON FACIAL EXPRESSION - A method may include playing a first song on a device, capturing an image of a user, performing facial expression recognition of the user based on the image, and selecting a second song based on a facial expression of the user. | 05-07-2009 |
20090116685 | Method For Reversible Image Watermarking Based On Integer-to-Integer Wavelet Transform - Enhanced method for embedding watermarks based on integer-to-integer wavelet transform is provided. The method according to the present invention includes the steps of: (A) dividing an original image (X×Y) to a plurality of image blocks (M×N); (B) selecting image blocks for embedding an location information that indicates image blocks to be watermarked;(C) embedding the location information into the image blocks selected in the step (B); and (D) embedding watermarks into remaining image blocks which are not selected in the step (B). | 05-07-2009 |
20090116686 | Content Serialization by Varying Content Properties, Including Varying Master Copy Watermark Properties - This disclosure describes novel methods for generating unique copies of content. One method combines the functions of the master copy and unique copy watermarks. In particular, the method generates a unique copy by varying the manner in which the master copy watermark is embedded in unique copies of a content item. In one embodiment, the master copy watermark is repeated within the content item and its location is varied in a unique pattern that comprises the unique copy watermark. The unique copy is generated by producing a copy in which master copy watermarks are embedded in a unique pattern. For instance in one embodiment, the locations of the master copy watermarks in the content item are represented as a vector of delta values in which each delta value corresponds to the distance between a corresponding instance of the master copy watermark, and a neighboring instance of the master copy watermark. This vector is stored in a transaction record in association with transaction information, such as information identifying the master copy and information associated with the unique copy. Other ways of representing the unique pattern of attributes of the master copy watermark are also possible. In other embodiments, properties of the master copy watermark other than its location are varied through the content. The unique copy watermark is conveyed in the vector of deltas in these properties of the master copy watermark. Some examples of these properties of the master copy watermark signal include phase characteristics (e.g., the phase shift of a watermark carrier signal), frequency magnitude characteristics, etc. These properties are varied in a manner that does not alter the information carried in the master copy watermark. However, it does provide a variation that creates a unique copy, and the unique copy watermark is conveyed in this variation. The variation in location of the instances of the master copy watermark can be in different domains, such as a spatial domain, a time domain, a time-space domain, a transform domain (including frequency transform domains), a compressed domain, etc. | 05-07-2009 |
20090116687 | Image Sensors Worn or Attached on Humans for Imagery Identification - The presently claimed invention relates to image sensors to be worn or attached on a human. One claim recites an apparatus including: an image sensor to capture image data, said apparatus to be worn or attached on a human so that said image sensor captures image data while said apparatus is worn or attached on the human; and an analyzer to analyze captured image data and to determine plural-bit identifiers for one or more objects represented in the captured image data. Of course, additional combinations are provided as claimed as well. | 05-07-2009 |
20090116688 | SYNTHETIC FOVEAL IMAGING TECHNOLOGY - Apparatuses and methods are disclosed that create a synthetic fovea in order to identify and highlight interesting portions of an image for further processing and rapid response. Synthetic foveal imaging implements a parallel processing architecture that uses reprogrammable logic to implement embedded, distributed, real-time foveal image processing from different sensor types while simultaneously allowing for lossless storage and retrieval of raw image data. Real-time, distributed, adaptive processing of multi-tap image sensors with coordinated processing hardware used for each output tap is enabled. In mosaic focal planes, a parallel-processing network can be implemented that treats the mosaic focal plane as a single ensemble rather than a set of isolated sensors. Various applications are enabled for imaging and robotic vision where processing and responding to enormous amounts of data quickly and efficiently is important. | 05-07-2009 |
20090116689 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF WATERMARKING A SIGNAL - A system and method of generating a watermarked signal are disclosed. The system segments the signal into overlapping blocks using a window function and processes the overlapping blocks according to whether each block is odd- or even-numbered. The system windows the odd-numbered blocks, modulates the phase of each block in the frequency domain, transforms each modulated block in the time domain, windows each block transformed into the time domain and overlap-adds each odd-numbered block with each even-numbered block to generate the watermarked signal. | 05-07-2009 |
20090116690 | Image processing device, image processing method, image processing program, and recording medium - An image processing device extracts additional information from image data and includes an input unit to input a plurality of image data items, an additional information extracting unit to extract an additional information item from each image data item, and a determining unit to determine a process to be performed for each image data item based on the extracted additional information item. The determining unit is configured to determine a process to be performed for an image-data group containing the plurality of image data items, based on a plurality of additional information items extracted from the plurality of image data items, and determine a process to be performed for each image data item based on one of the plurality of additional information items. | 05-07-2009 |
20090123020 | Method and Device for Reading Digital Tatooing, Computer Software Package and Corresponding Storage Means - The invention relates to a method of reading a watermark, of the type comprising a step of determining at least one watermarking message contained in a data set, possibly preceded by a step of determining at least one suite of parameters of a watermarking channel undergone by the data set, each suite of channel parameters comprising at least one channel parameter. The step of determining at least one watermarking message and/or the prior step of determining at least one suite of channel parameters comprises (comprise): an estimation phase, consisting in processing at least one batch of data comprising data of the data set, so as to obtain N estimated element(s), with N≧0; and a verification phase, consisting in validating or invalidating, in view of the entirety or of at least a subset of the data set, each estimated element. In the foregoing, each estimated element is an estimated watermarking message, in the case of the step of determining at least one watermarking message, and a suite of estimated-channel parameters, in the case of the prior step of determining at least one suite of channel parameters. | 05-14-2009 |
20090123021 | System, method, and medium indexing photos semantically - A system, method and medium indexing a plurality of photos semantically based on a user's annotation. The method includes analyzing the user's annotation and extracting a shared index from the user's annotation, detecting a situation change in the plurality of photos, and indexing the plurality of photos according to the situation change based on the shared index. | 05-14-2009 |
20090123022 | Digital cinema projector watermarking system and method - A system and method for watermarking a projected image from a digital cinema projector includes a projector having a plurality of watermark image files associated therewith. A scripting mechanism is configured to determine when and where the watermark image files are displayed during the presentation. The watermark image files include a combination of null and non-null watermark images unique to a given projector and rendered in accordance with the scripting mechanism during a rendering of a digital presentation such that the watermark images and their temporal placement identifies the projector rendering the presentation. | 05-14-2009 |
20090123023 | Routing Networks For Use With Content Linking Systems - A method of linking a content object with a network resource presents a content object to a reader, discerns an identifier associated with the content object, transfers the identifier to an indexing system, and in response receives an internet address corresponding to the content object. To enhance the response of the indexing system, it includes multiple routers, which it selects based on location relative to the reader. For example, the method sends user location data to a master system, and in response, receives an address of an indexing system close to the user location. | 05-14-2009 |
20090123024 | IMAGE PROCESSOR, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM - The image processor is provided with: a detection unit that detects plural specified images each having a shape from an image read out by an image reading apparatus; a first determination unit that determines presence or absence of other specific image other than a specified image out of the plural specified images detected by the detection unit, in a position determined in advance for the specified image; and a second determination unit that determines whether or not the specified image is to be subjected to a processing on the basis of a result of the determination of the presence or absence of the other specified image by the first determination unit. | 05-14-2009 |
20090123025 | METHODS AND APPARATUS TO MEASURE BRAND EXPOSURE IN MEDIA STREAMS - Methods and apparatus to measure brand exposure in media streams are disclosed. An example method to determine brand exposures included in media content disclosed herein comprises determining whether a scene detected from a media stream corresponding to the media content matches a reference scene, identifying an expected region of interest in the detected scene based on information describing the reference scene when the detected scene is determined to match the reference scene and the reference scene is not specified to be a scene of no interest, and determining whether a reference brand identifier associated with the reference scene is included in the expected region of interest identified in the detected scene. | 05-14-2009 |
20090123026 | Method and Apparatus for Associating Identifiers with Content - Watermark detection in an image or the like can be optimized by exploiting the innate biases in the image to emphasize the watermark signal. The watermark signal can be trial-located with different origins in the image to find one that yields improved results. Similarly, the image can be processed (e.g., by changing resolution, rotation, or compression) so as to change the innate biases to better reinforce the watermark signal. Compression of an image can be done in accordance with a desired identifier, with the compressor deciding which image components to retain and which to discard based, in part, on the identifier that is to be associated with the image. The techniques are also applicable to other forms of content, such as audio. A variety of other arrangements are also detailed. | 05-14-2009 |
20090123027 | Method of embedding informaton into image - According to an aspect of an embodiment, a method of embedding information into an image has obtaining an image data by taking the image by an image input device, dividing the image data into a plurality of blocks, determining an area in each of the blocks on the basis of a resolution power of the image input device, where a characteristic value may be modified in accordance with the information, respectively, comparing the size of the block with the size of the area and modifying a characteristic value of each of the blocks in accordance with the information to be embedded when the ratio of the size of the area with respect to the size of the blocks is smaller than a predetermined value. | 05-14-2009 |
20090129625 | Extracting Data From Images - Disclosed are embodiments of systems and methods for embedding and/or extracting data from images. In embodiments, an image may be segmented into regions, and characters or other image groups within a segmented region may be determined to be embedding sites. A data vector may be embedded into a set of corresponding ordered embedding sites by representing each data element as different intensity values assigned to the pixels within one portion of an embedding site relative to the pixels in another portion of the embedding site. In embodiments, embedded data may be extracted from an image by extracting and decoding a set of bit values from a set of identified and ordered embedding sites. | 05-21-2009 |
20090129626 | Method and apparatus for determining whether backlight exists - Provided are a method and apparatus for determining whether backlight exists. The method according to an embodiment of the present invention includes calculating scattering degrees of luminance values of pixels included in each of images which represent the same photographic subject and have different brightness levels from each other; and determining whether backlight exists on the photographic subject in consideration of the calculated scattering degrees. | 05-21-2009 |
20090129627 | DIGITAL WATERMARKING SYSTEMS AND METHODS - The present invention relates to watermarking of compressed audio or video files. One claim recites a method including: obtaining a copy of a compressed audio or video file; decompressing the compressed audio or video file to yield decompressed audio or video content; determining a first watermarking component for the decompressed audio or video content, the first watermarking component intended to be steganographically hidden in the audio or video content; storing the first digital watermarking component separately from the compressed audio or video file; and then providing the stored first watermarking component, a unique plural-bit watermark identifier, and the compressed audio or video file to a remote location. Other claims and combinations are provided as well. | 05-21-2009 |
20090136079 | AUTOMATIC MICROPARTICLE MARK READER - An automatic reader system, apparatus, and method for the identification and authentication of articles enabling automatic collection and processing of code data associated with microparticle marks, automatic determination of the code from the code data associated with microparticle marks, and automatic retrieval of reference information associated with the code. | 05-28-2009 |
20090136080 | Identifying Embedded Data in an Image - Disclosed are embodiments of systems and methods for embedding and/or extracting data from images. In embodiments, an image may be segmented into regions, and characters or other image groups within a segmented region may be determined to be embedding sites. A data vector may be embedded into a set of corresponding ordered embedding sites by representing each data element as different intensity values assigned to the pixels within one portion of an embedding site relative to the pixels in another portion of the embedding site. In embodiments, embedded data may be extracted from an image by extracting and decoding a set of bit values from a set of identified and ordered embedding sites. | 05-28-2009 |
20090136081 | Method And System For Utilizing GPS Information To Secure Digital Media - A device such as a set-top-box, digital TV, DVD player, multi-media player, cellular telephone or digital cinema player that may handle data such as multimedia data and/or audio/video signals, may determine its location. The device may determine its location based on GPS information and may send its location to an external entity, for example, a service provider. The device may generate a watermark comprising its determined location and may embed or insert the watermark within the data. In addition, the generated watermark may comprise one or more of a unique identifier for the device, a source of the data, for example, a service provider, a date and a time. The watermark may be secured via processing, for example, the watermark may be encrypted prior to being embedded. The data may be compressed when embedding the watermark. The watermark embedding process may be handled via a secure embedded processor and/or secure code. | 05-28-2009 |
20090136082 | Embedding Data in Images - Disclosed are embodiments of systems and methods for embedding and/or extracting data from images. In embodiments, an image may be segmented into regions, and characters or other image groups within a segmented region may be determined to be embedding sites. A data vector may be embedded into a set of corresponding ordered embedding sites by representing each data element as different intensity values assigned to the pixels within one portion of an embedding site relative to the pixels in another portion of the embedding site. In embodiments, embedded data may be extracted from an image by extracting and decoding a set of bit values from a set of identified and ordered embedding sites. | 05-28-2009 |
20090136083 | Coefficient Selection for Video Watermarking - A method and system for watermarking video images by selecting sets of coefficients and enforcing relationships between property values of selected sets of coefficients with a volume of video are described. | 05-28-2009 |
20090136084 | DIGITAL WATERMARK DETECTING DEVICE - Provided is a digital watermark detecting device for improving the accuracy of reliability judgment of detected information thereby to prevent misdetection. The digital watermark detecting device includes a pixel extracting unit ( | 05-28-2009 |
20090136085 | Detecting Embedded Signals in Media Content Using Coincidence Metrics - A method of detecting an embedded signal in a media signal. The method comprises receiving blocks of the media signal and computing a detection metric for the blocks. The detection metric comprises a measure of coincidence of detection parameters of different blocks. The method performs subsequent detection operations based on the measure of coincidence of the detection parameters. | 05-28-2009 |
20090136086 | Spray data acquisition system - A spray data acquisition system includes a spray pump actuator that is capable of providing a pumping force to a pumping device to generate an aerosol spray plume along a spray axis. The system also includes an illumination device that illuminates the aerosol spray plume along at least one first geometric plane that intersects the aerosol spray plume. The system further includes an imaging device that acquires data representative of an interaction between the illumination and the aerosol spray plume along at least one geometric plane. | 05-28-2009 |
20090136087 | Replacement Based Watermarking - A video processor for replacement based watermarking may include a video content input channel; a video content preprocessor; a replacement based watermarking (RBW) metadata creator; and a video content encoder. To output the encoded video content, the video processor may have a dual or single output channel. For a dual output channel, the video processor includes an encoded video content output channel and an RBW metadata output channel for outputting encoded video content and RBW metadata as separate streams for further processing and distribution. For a single output channel, the video processor includes a video content output channel for outputting encoded video content combined with RBW metadata as a single output stream for further processing and distribution. | 05-28-2009 |
20090136088 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - In a watermark process section in an image processing apparatus, a visible watermark pattern read-out section reads out a visible watermark pattern that is stored in a memory. An invisible watermark generating section draws an invisible watermark on the read-out visible watermark pattern. Image data, which includes both the visible watermark and drawn invisible watermark, is multiplied by an overlay ratio. An adder section adds the visible/invisible watermark image data, which is multiplied by the overlay ratio, and input image data. Thus, watermark-overlaid image data is generated. | 05-28-2009 |
20090141927 | WATERMARK GENERATING CIRCUIT AND RELATED METHOD THEREOF - A watermark generating circuit includes: a first computing circuit, for generating a second reference signal according to a computing parameter, an input data and a first reference signal; a second computing circuit, coupled to the first computing circuit, for generating at least one selecting signal to determine an embedding location for a watermark according to the second reference signal; and a register, coupled to the first computing circuit, for registering the second reference signal to transmit the registered second reference signal to the first computing circuit for updating the first reference signal, and for generating the watermark according to the second reference signal. | 06-04-2009 |
20090141928 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR WITNESS CARD ANALYSIS - A system for and method of assessing fluid spray using image processing techniques of a calibration and one or more as-sprayed witness cards. Calibration and as-sprayed witness cards are exposed to a backlight sufficient to make a plurality of stains thereon electronically visible. At the same time an image of the stains is captured by, e.g., a digital camera. Resulting image data is processed to assess characteristics of the stains of the fluid on the as-sprayed witness card(s) and thereby assess characteristics of the spray, e.g., volume of fluid delivered. In one embodiment, the witness card is a chemically coated semiopaque plate. | 06-04-2009 |
20090141929 | SELECTING BIT POSITIONS FOR STORING A DIGITAL WATERMARK - A method comprises selecting bit positions for storing a digital watermark in digital audio data in time domain by choosing a spread function characterising the plurality of the selected bit positions, wherein the spread function comprises at least one Gaussian curve. | 06-04-2009 |
20090141930 | IMAGE FORMING METHOD AND COUNT CONTROL METHOD - An image forming apparatus which copies on a recording sheet an original document carrying a watermark, where a watermark comprising a specific character or a pattern is embedded inconspicuously into an image of the original document, the image forming apparatus including: a discrimination section which discriminates a color mode of the original document and a color of the watermark; and a counting section which counts a number of copied sheets as monochrome printing in cases where the discrimination section has discriminated the color mode of the original document as monochrome and has discriminated the color of the watermark as colored. | 06-04-2009 |
20090141931 | Digital Watermarking CMOS Sensor - The subject matter of this specification can be implemented in, among other things, an imaging system including an active pixel sensor imaging array configured to capture an image, said imaging array being in electronic communication with a watermark embedder. | 06-04-2009 |
20090141932 | METHOD FOR IMAGE QUALITY ASSESSMENT USING QUALITY VECTORS - A method for assessing the image quality of image data acquires image data, segments the image data into at least one spatial region, obtains a plurality of image quality measures for the at least one spatial region, and forms at least one quality vector that has two or more quality measures for the at least one spatial region. The at least one quality vector is classified into one of a plurality of predefined quality classes. | 06-04-2009 |
20090141933 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND METHOD - A method of matching a pose of a synthesised representation of a human or animal body to a captured image of that human or animal body is provided, which can be used to generate a graphical model of the body when disposed on a plane, such as a synthesised model of a football player on a field of play. The method includes receiving the captured image data, determining from the captured image data a plurality of limb position estimates, each position estimate corresponding to an amount by which limbs of the body are separated with respect to each other and deriving from the plurality of limb positions an estimated gait phase of the body. The estimated gait phase is then applied to a basis gait model in order to provide an estimated pose of the body, the basis gait model comprising data which defines a displacement of the limbs or parts thereof with respect to a gait cycle period. The estimated pose is then matched to that of the synthesised representation of the body. | 06-04-2009 |
20090147985 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR secure WATERMARK EMBEDDING AND EXTRACTION DATA FLOW ARCHITECTURE - Methods and systems for secure watermark embedding and extraction data flow architecture are disclosed and may include embedding a watermark in a video signal utilizing an embedded CPU. The embedded CPU may be controlled utilizing a security processor via a secure bus. The watermark may be embedded in a compressed video signal that may be diverted around a compression/decompression engine. The watermark may be embedded in a decompressed video signal and may be directed through a compression/decompression engine. Requests may be sent to the embedded CPU from the main CPU via the security processor and the secure bus. The watermark may be encrypted utilizing the security processor. The secure bus may be inaccessible to the main CPU or any device not on the chip. The chip may be disabled when the embedded CPU may be disabled. Sections of the video signal may be classified and selected for embedding. | 06-11-2009 |
20090147986 | METHOD AND SYSTEM OF IMMERSIVE SENSATION ENHANCEMENT FOR VIDEO SEQUENCE DISPLAYING - An immersive sensation enhancement method and system for video sequence displaying is provided. An immersive sensation enhancement system, the system including: a foreground image identification unit to identify a foreground image for each frame of an input image; a foreground image characteristic extraction unit to extract a characteristic of the foreground image; a contrast threshold identification unit to identify a contrast threshold based on the characteristic of the foreground image; and an immersive sensation enhancement processing unit to process an immersive sensation enhancement of the input image based on at least one of the characteristic of the foreground image and the contrast threshold. | 06-11-2009 |
20090147987 | X-RAY INSPECTION APPARATUS - An x-ray inspection apparatus includes a sample image obtaining unit, an ideal curve generating unit, a curve adjustment unit, and a mass estimation unit as a function block generated by a control computer. The sample image obtaining unit obtains 10 x-ray transmission images of sample inspected products each of whose mass is known in advance. The ideal curve generating unit generates a table based on a formula that indicates a relationship between the brightness of an area included in the x-ray transmission images and the estimated mass of the area. The curve adjustment unit refers to the input actual mass of each x-ray transmission image and adjusts the table such that the estimated mass approximates the actual mass. The mass estimation unit determines the estimated mass per unit area based on the post-adjusted table and adds up these masses to determine the total estimated mass of the product. | 06-11-2009 |
20090147988 | IMAGE TRANSFER WITH SECURE QUALITY ASSESSMENT - A method for producing an assured image from image data that is transferred from a first entity to a second entity acquires image data, transfers the acquired image data from the first entity to the second entity, forms secure assurance data according to image quality measurements obtained from the acquired image data, and forms an assured image that includes the acquired image data and the secure assurance data. At least one image quality message is generated that indicates the transfer of the acquired image data from the first entity to the second entity and is representative of the image quality measurements. The at least one image quality message is presented to at least one of the first entity and the second entity. | 06-11-2009 |
20090147989 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND COMPUTER-READABLE RECORDING MEDIUM STORING IMAGE PROCESSING PROGRAM - A picture image extracting section extracts a picture image from an image shown by image data stored in an image memory. A document image creating section executes a processing of superimposing a special dot pattern and a pattern image onto the image from which the picture image is extracted. After that, the picture image is put over the image to which the special dot pattern is superimposed, so that an image is created. | 06-11-2009 |
20090147990 | System and Method of Generic Symbol Recognition and User Authentication Using a Communication Device with Imaging Capabilities - A system and method for recognizing symbols and identifying users or services, including the displaying of an image or video clip on a display device in which identification information is embedded in the image or video clip, the capturing the image or video clip on an imaging device, the transmitting of the image or video clip from the imaging device to a communication network, the transmitting of the image or video clip from the communication network to a processing and authentication server, the processing of the information embedded in the image or video clip by the server to identify logos, alphanumeric characters, or special symbols in the image or video clip, and converting the identified logos or characters or symbols into a digital format to identify the user or location of the user or service provided to the user, and the using of the processed information in digital format to provide one or more of a variety of additional applications. | 06-11-2009 |
20090154758 | UNIVERSAL READER - A computer implemented method and computer usable program product for embedding rich content of a document in an image. In one embodiment, a static image of the document is generated. If the amount of memory associated with the rich content does not exceed a threshold amount, the rich content is encoded into a single content block according to an image format. If the rich content does exceed the threshold amount, the rich content is encoded into a plurality of content blocks. The content block or the plurality of content blocks are inserted into an arbitrary storage location of the image. The static image is displayed when the image is opened in an absence of an application associated with the rich content of the document. The rich content is displayed when the image is opened in a presence of the application associated with the rich content of the document. | 06-18-2009 |
20090154759 | METHOD, USER INTERFACE, APPARATUS AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR PROVIDING A GRAPHICAL CODE PATTERN - A method for generating a graphical code pattern from a multimedia content, the method including receiving one or more input and in response editing the multimedia content, encoding the multimedia content into a graphical code pattern, displaying the generated graphical code pattern, and concurrently with the editing, encoding the multimedia content into the graphical code pattern and displaying the image of the graphical code pattern, such as to provide a preview of the graphical code pattern. | 06-18-2009 |
20090154760 | Image maze generating system and method thereof - The present invention discloses an image maze generating system. The system is suitable for use with a digital camera to generate a maze of photographs. The system specially includes an image processing module and an image maze generating module. The image processing module assigns numbers to the photographs. And then the image maze generating module pieces the photographs together on a template which is attached to maze path information according to its numbers to generate the maze of photographs. | 06-18-2009 |
20090154761 | Image display method and image display system using the same - An image display method and an image display system using the method. In the method, location information is extracted from each of a plurality of image files, and map information corresponding to the location information is extracted. Then, images contained in the image files and the map information are displayed. The map information includes map images of places corresponding to the location information. In addition, a representative map image, which is determined based on a distance between the images contained in the image files and by using the map images, is displayed. | 06-18-2009 |
20090154762 | Method and system for 2D image transformation with various artistic effects - Disclosed is an image transforming method. A 2D image photographed by a digital camera is transformed into an artistic image through image transformation performed by a computer so that a natural image such as an oil painting, a pen illustration, a cartoon, a dual picture, and a template mosaic as if a person directly depicts can be provided. In the transformation of the 2D image by various artistic effects, the procedure of creating the artistic image is displayed on a screen as if a person works so that a user can view the procedure of creating the artistic image and can be interested in the artistic image. | 06-18-2009 |
20090154763 | IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD FOR GENERATING EASILY READABLE IMAGE - A character area is detected in a reduced layout and a character is detected in the character area, and a character size is compared to a predetermined size readable by a user when characters are printed. A detected character size determined to be smaller than the predetermined size is enlarged. An object adjacent to the detected character in an original document is detected and a content of the objects is determined. A layout position in which a relationship between the enlarged detected characters and the objects is kept is determined according to the determined content and the enlarged characters are arranged. The whole document can be output automatically in an easily viewable state while keeping a meaningful layout relationship between the objects. | 06-18-2009 |
20090154764 | DRUG VIAL DETECTION IN AN AUTOMATED DRUG PREPARATION SYSTEM - In accordance with the present invention, a method for determining an orientation of a drug vial in an automated drug preparation system that includes a number of stations includes the steps of: (a) identifying the drug vial using identification information that is associated with the drug vial; (b) obtaining a photoimage of identified drug vial; and (c) comparing the photoimage with a reference image that corresponds to the identified drug vial to determine whether the orientation of the drug vial. | 06-18-2009 |
20090154765 | Information Display Device And Information Display Method - In order to prevent interception of information through leakage electromagnetic waves when transmitting the information using an image display unit, an image converter generates plural converted images, stores the generated converted images in an image storage, an image output unit reads out the converted images from the image storage and transmits the converted images to a screen control unit successively. The screen control unit displays a reception image on an image display unit. The image output unit outputs the converted image group at a high speed, thereby performing a switching display on the image display unit, and shows an image visually equivalent to the input image. | 06-18-2009 |
20090161907 | EMBEDDED ASSESSMENT OF REFUSE FOR ACTIVITY MONITORING - Embodiments of the present invention provide devices and methods for monitoring the waste output of one or more individuals. Embodiments provide a waste receptacle equipped with one or more cameras capable of imaging the contents of the waste receptacle and optionally a scale that is capable of measuring the weight of the waste receptacle or the weight of the contents of the waste receptacle. The waste receptacle optionally communicates wirelessly with a base station that is able to store images of the contents of the waste receptacle and communicate automatically with remote caregivers. Algorithms are provided that are capable of providing a signal to a caregiver to alert the caregiver if the waste receptacle is not in use. | 06-25-2009 |
20090161908 | Recoverable Marks for Films - Techniques for making and using recoverable marks for films. The recoverable mark consists of a portion of a film to which a watermark that is imperceptible to viewers of the film has been applied and an original mark that is applied to the portion of the film with the watermark. Application of the original mark to the portion modifies the watermark, and consequently, if the original mark is altered, the modifications to the watermark preserve the original mark. In one application of the technique, the watermark is applied to a digital master of the film, a master analog copy is made from the digital master, and a unique original mark is applied to each of the copies made from the master analog copy. | 06-25-2009 |
20090161909 | Method of dynamically showing a water mark - A method of dynamically showing a water mark is applied in an audio/video transmitter. The audio/video transmitter includes a plurality of display contents such as a playback area name, a playback date, a playback time and an identification mark. The audio/video transmitter continues obtaining a plurality of frames from an audio/video source such as an audio/video server or an audio/video database and temporarily stores the frames in a buffer. The audio/video transmitter also produces a water mark from at least one display content according to a plurality of display conditions such as display coordinates, appearance, time and frequency, and composes the water mark with at least one frame stored in the buffer to form at least one display screen, and shows the display screen on an output unit, such that the water mark on the display screen cannot be changed or overwritten, and viewers can identify the water mark easily. | 06-25-2009 |
20090169050 | METHOD FOR CHARACTERIZATION OF OBJECTS - A method for characterization of objects has the steps of:
| 07-02-2009 |
20090169051 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETECTING ITEMS OF INTEREST THROUGH MASS ESTIMATION - A system and method for identifying an object based on its estimated mass. In one aspect, a method for estimating a mass of an object is provided. The method includes acquiring image data including a plurality of image elements, calculating a histogram based on the image data, calculating a computed tomography (CT) number of the object using an anisotropic erosion operator, and determining a perimeter of the object. The method also includes calculating an estimated mass of the object using the CT number and a first subset of image elements of the plurality of image elements, the first subset of image elements defined by the perimeter of the object, and outputting at least one of the estimated mass of the object and an image including the object. | 07-02-2009 |
20090175489 | AUTOMATICALLY GENERATING PRECIPITATION PROXIMITY NOTIFICATIONS - A method and system for automatically generating a notification of a status of precipitation being received by a user-defined detection zone within a geographic area. An image of the geographic area is received. The image includes pixels associated with the detection zone. Each pixel is associated with a sub-area of the detection zone. Characteristics (e.g., colors) of the pixels are obtained. The characteristics indicate intensities of precipitation being received by sub-areas of the detection zone. The intensities of precipitation that are greater than a first user-defined threshold are counted to produce a count. Based on the count's comparison to a second user-defined threshold, a status of precipitation being received or not being received by the detection zone is determined. A notification of the status is generated and sent. | 07-09-2009 |
20090175490 | Watermark display controller and method - A method and device for displaying a watermark on a display | 07-09-2009 |
20090175491 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR INTERACTION WITH A USER - The process includes:
| 07-09-2009 |
20090175492 | Image synthesis system for a vehicle and the manufacturing method thereof - The present invention discloses an image synthesis system for a vehicle to provide the driver with a downward-facing image of the car's 360° surrounding view. The system includes: a first camera, which is used to shoot a first image of the periphery of the vehicle; a second camera, which is used to shoot a second image of the periphery of said vehicle, wherein the second image and the first image have an overlap region; an image processing device comprising a defining component and a synthesis component, which is used to synthesize the first image and the second image and output a third image; a display device, which is used to display the third image. | 07-09-2009 |
20090175493 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME - To accurately extract embedded information from a document image using line spacing watermark, an image processing apparatus for extracting watermark information includes an input unit which inputs a document image as image data, an image reduction unit which generates, from the image data, reduced image data reduced in the first direction, a detection unit which scans the reduced image data in the second direction and detects the length of a blank region as line spacing information, and an extraction unit which extracts watermark information embedded in the document image based on the line spacing information. | 07-09-2009 |
20090175494 | Method and an apparatus for marking image sequences, a support comprising such marks, and a method and an apparatus for identifying such marks - A method for marking a series of images such as a film for identification. A copy of the film is associated with a series of pseudorandom values that correspond to fields of a virtual grid covering an image. A visible mark is put into the field corresponding to the first pseudo-random value in M consecutive images followed by a number N of unmarked images (N | 07-09-2009 |
20090175495 | IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICE AND METHOD, AND PROGRAM FOR THE SAME - The image processing device includes: a detection unit that detects embedded additional data; an extraction unit that extracts additional information; a storage unit that stores the data of the document and the detailed information; a search unit that acquires a stored document and detailed information thereof; a generation unit that generates thumbnail image data of pages of a stored document; a post-processing unit that processes the thumbnail image data; and a display device that displays the detailed information of the stored document and the thumbnail image data, wherein the thumbnail image of the same page as the page of the printed document is displayed on the display device, in a second display method different from a first display method that is a method of displaying a thumbnail image expressing the page other than the page of the printed document. | 07-09-2009 |
20090185712 | METHOD FOR REAL-TIME VISUALIZATION OF CARIES CONDITION - A method for displaying live video of a tooth identifies a tooth tissue region in a viewable image frame obtained from a video stream and processes pixel data within the tooth tissue region to identify a suspected caries site. Intensity values for pixels that correspond to the suspected caries site are modified and a highlighted viewable image frame is formed as a combination of the modified intensity values corresponding to the suspected caries site and other pixel values in the viewable image frame. The highlighted viewable image frame is displayed in video form. | 07-23-2009 |
20090185713 | INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, INFORMATION PROCESSING SYSTEM, INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD, COMPUTER-READABLE MEDIUM AND COMPUTER DATA SIGNAL - An information processing apparatus includes an image data generating unit, a document image generating unit, a signature generating unit, a code image generating unit and a print image generating unit. The image data generating unit generates visually confirmable document image data based on an electronic document to be signed. The document image generating unit generates a document image to be signed including the document image data and error correction data for respective character images contained in the document image data. The signature generating unit generates a digital signature of the document image to be signed. The code image generating unit generates a code image based on document-related information including information relating to the document image to be signed and the digital signature of the document image to be signed. The print image generating unit synthesizes the document image to be signed and the code image to generate a print image. | 07-23-2009 |
20090185714 | Method and apparatus for analysis of particles in a liquid sample - The invention relates to methods for analysis of particles in a liquid sample, the sample being retained in a sample retaining device, the method comprising: acquiring, by means of an image acquiring device, a plurality of images of said sample at different focus planes within the sample retaining device; analysing said images, by means of an image analyser, for identifying which, if any, of the particles of the sample are imaged in focus in each of the images, and analysing those particles which have been identified as being imaged in focus; wherein said plurality of images are acquired at different, essentially parallel, focus planes, which planes are separated from each other by a distance, said distance being less than 10 micrometers. The invention also relates to apparatuses adapted to be used for the inventive methods. | 07-23-2009 |
20090190795 | Gauge monitoring methods, devices and systems - A method of reading a gauge may include capturing a digital image of the gauge with a gauge reading device attached to the gauge, the digital image comprising a plurality of pixels; determining an angle of a gauge feature based on positions of predetermined pixels of the digital image; and converting the angle into a gauge reading. Gauge reader devices and network based systems are also disclosed. | 07-30-2009 |
20090190796 | METHOD OF DETECTING EMBEDDED DATA FROM IMAGE DATA HAVING A PLURALITY OF TYPES OF DATA EMBEDDED THEREIN - Data to be embedded is divided and thus embedded in areas internal to a block corresponding to a predetermined region of a scanned image. Of the areas, a defined area has the embedded data's identification information embedded therein. A detection apparatus includes a counter including a region including a region storing identification information and a region storing a count value corresponding to embedded data divided that is detected in an area other than the defined area, and classifies a count value corresponding to embedded data divided that is detected from a scanned image for each identification information detected in the block, and stores it to the counter. The detection apparatus identifies data stored for each identification information that has the largest count value for each area as data embedded in that area, and reconstructs the embedded data. | 07-30-2009 |
20090196456 | METHOD FOR CONFIGURING CAMERA-EQUIPPED ELECTRONIC DEVICES USING AN ENCODED MARK - A wide range of digital devices either have or are provided with imaging devices which are capable of imaging externally provided information in the form of special codes that contain setup and/or configuration information. Processors within these devices, which include cell phones, cameras, PDAs and personal computers, to name just a few, recognize the image and convert it to the desired configuration and/or setup information. | 08-06-2009 |
20090196457 | VIDEO IMAGE PROCESSING AND FUSION - Processing of image data derived from radiation emanating from a scene and acquired by a multi-channel enhanced vision system renders an image of the scene for display. Detected first and second wavelength bands of radiation produce respective first and second sets of image data that include representations of relatively low contrast, high spatial frequency detail of features of the scene. Nonlinear intensity transformation of data derived from the first and second sets of image data produces, respectively, first and second sets of low dynamic range image data representing, respectively, first and second sets of intensity values. Different pairs of associated intensity values of the first and second sets correspond to different pixels forming an image. The associated intensity values of the different pairs are combined to form fused image data representing brightness levels of the pixels forming a displayed image that exhibits with high brightness and in great detail the features of the scene. | 08-06-2009 |
20090196458 | METHOD, DEVICE, AND PROGRAM FOR EMBEDDING, DISPLAYING, AND RECOGNIZING DATA - First, the original data C is divided into an n number of pieces of partial data C | 08-06-2009 |
20090202101 | ELECTRONIC MANIFEST OF UNDERGROUND FACILITY LOCATE MARKS - A method performed by a device may include receiving information regarding a particular geographic area; retrieving an aerial image of the particular geographic area; displaying the aerial image; determining an approximate geographic location of a mark denoting an underground facility; overlaying, on the displayed aerial image, information concerning the approximate geographic location of the mark denoting the underground facility; and storing the aerial image and the information concerning the approximate geographic location of the mark denoting the underground facility. | 08-13-2009 |
20090202102 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ACQUISITION AND DISPLAY OF IMAGES - A system and method for acquiring images and linking the images to positions is provided. In particular, images are taken using one or more cameras and identified with a particular time stamp. A position locating unit located close to the camera takes position determinations that are similarly time stamped with a clock that is synchronized with image time stamp clock. A processor calculates the position of the camera or unit carrying the camera at the time the image was shot based on the closest available positioning determination information and the velocity, or speed and direction, of the unit. The images may be linked as part of a series of images or linked based on stringing or vectoring the images associated with travel directions, such as, a particular block of residential images in a city or the like. The images are displayed individually for a static, 360 degree, panoramic view, or via a video or near video simulation to simulate driving conditions. The images, being associated with actual locations, allows for visual mapping and route information to be determined. | 08-13-2009 |
20090202103 | DIGITAL WATERMARK EMBEDDING APPARATUS, DIGITAL WATERMARK DETECTING APPARATUS, AND DIGITAL WATERMARK SYSTEM - The digital watermark embedding apparatus includes: a storing unit ( | 08-13-2009 |
20090202104 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ANALYZING AND MARKING FILM - A system and method for analyzing and marking a film image for providing a marked film with robust marks which have a high survival rate during, e.g., unauthorized duplication. The present invention provides the ability to facilitate the choosing of ideal locations of marks for marking a film image by recommending potential marking locations based on the survivability of the mark against different background colors. The system and method provides for selecting at least two potential marking areas in at least one frame of the film, saturating the at least two potential marking areas in a predetermined color of a mark, calculating a root mean square error (RMSE) of each of the at least two potential marking areas and an area surrounding each potential marking area, and determining which of the at least two potential marking areas has the lowest RMSE, i.e., the recommend marking location. | 08-13-2009 |
20090202105 | AUTOMATIC LICENSE PLATE RECOGNITION SYSTEM INTEGRATED IN AN ELECTRONIC TOLL COLLECTION SYSTEM - This invention relates to an automatic license plate recognition system referred to as ALPR—Advanced License Plate Recognition—which is integrated in an electronic toll collection system such as “Via Verde”—single-lane freeflow—, multi-lane (Open Road Tolling), manual lane, semi-automatic lane, or any other solution involving the automatic license plate recognition. It is basically characterized by the following: taking of a panoramic picture of the back of the vehicle for visual inspection; automatic (by image recognition), recognition of the vehicle's license plate, checking both the rear and front license plates; generation of a final photograph in the JPEG (“Joint Photographic Expert Group”) format, apposing rear and front license plates to the panoramic image, as well as inserting data on time and place; independence between the quality of the generated photos and from variables such as light, climate conditions and license plates' quality, among other aspects; thus comprising for that purpose: a camera system for image acquisition; an automatic license plate recognition system (“engine”) referred to as LPR (“License Plate Recognition”); a composition module ( | 08-13-2009 |
20090202106 | METHOD FOR RECOGNIZING MUSIC SCORE IMAGE WITH AUTOMATIC ACCOMPANIMENT IN MOBILE DEVICE - A method for recognizing a music score included in an image and various information included in the music score, which may be obtained through a camera provided in a mobile terminal without requiring a separate editing program. The method includes detecting a region with staff lines from the image including the music score; detecting a region with an accompaniment chord from the image by taking the region with the staff lines and a region with a musical note into consideration; extracting and removing the staff lines from the music score included in the image; recognizing the musical note by extracting the musical note from the image, from which the staff lines have been removed; recognizing the accompaniment chord by extracting the accompaniment chord from the image, from which the staff lines have been removed; and generating data for reproducing a sound source corresponding to the musical note and accompaniment chord. | 08-13-2009 |
20090208050 | Defect Detection Apparatus, Defect Detection Method and Computer Program - There is provided a defect detection apparatus capable of highly accurately detecting a defect of a size not larger than a size desired by the user, in which the size setting device sets the defect size, the reduction ratio setting device sets an image reduction ratio based on the set defect size, the image reduction device generates a reduced image obtained by reducing the original multi-valued image, the filter processing device performs filter processing on the reduced image for removing a defect in the reduced image, the image enlarging device generates an enlarged image obtained by enlarging the reduced image, subjected to the filter processing, at an image enlargement ratio corresponding to the reciprocal of the image reduction ratio, and the difference calculating device generates a difference image obtained by performing a calculation of a difference between the original multi-valued image and the enlarged image. | 08-20-2009 |
20090208051 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FLUOROGENIC DETERMINATION OF LEAD CONCENTRATIONS - A method and apparatus for the use of fluorogenic probes for development of a rapid, and cost-effective determination of lead clearance following lead hazard control activities. The invention involves the use of fluorogenic chemosensors for efficient detection of lead in dust on hard surfaces at regulatory levels. The use of methods for lead visualization based on one or more of the fluorogenic type compounds would be highly beneficial to lead abatement projects. The identification of areas of high lead concentration (hotspots) can allow work to be focused on areas that have the greatest impact on clearance. Also, a rapid and cost-effective means of determining if lead clearance has been met can improve compliance with lead abatement activities. This would decrease the amount of time and materials spent in general surface cleaning and allow the elimination of isolated areas of lead concentration that may otherwise have been missed. | 08-20-2009 |
20090220120 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ARTISTIC SCENE IMAGE DETECTION - The subject application is directed to a system and method for artistic scene image detection. First, image data is received that is encoded in a multi-dimensional color space. From the received image data, histogram data is then calculated. Dominant spike regions in the calculated histogram data are then identified. An N-sum value is then calculated from the identified dominant spike regions in the calculated histogram data. Testing of the calculated N-sum value against a predetermined threshold value then occurs. The received image data is thereafter classified as an artistic scene, a tinted artistic scene, or a sepia tone range artistic scene according to the testing results. | 09-03-2009 |
20090220121 | Arrangement of Objects in Images or Graphics to Convey a Machine-Readable Signal - The present invention provides methods and systems related to arranging objects (e.g., circles, dots and other shapes) in images and graphics to convey a machine-readable signal. One claim recites a method including: integrating a plurality of objects in an image or graphic, the objects being arranged in a pattern that is machine-readable by a programmed computer processor, the plurality of objects being integrated in the image or graphic so that the pattern is hidden in the image or graphic through cooperation with design elements of the image or graphic; and providing a visible structure for aiding in machine-reading of the pattern by the programmed computer processor. Of course, other combinations are provided and claimed as well. | 09-03-2009 |
20090226031 | PARTICLE ANALYZER, METHOD FOR ANALYZING PARTICLES, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT - A particle analyzer capable of extracting particle image for each particle at high accuracy, if a plurality of images of a particle are imaged. | 09-10-2009 |
20090232346 | METHOD FOR CAPTURING TEXT DATA AND/OR IMAGE DATA FOR PRODUCING IDENTIFICATION DOCUMENTS - The method according to the invention is for capturing text data and/or image data for use in the production of identification documents for an applicant, e.g., a passport. The method involves recording electronic image data of the applicant by means of a suitable recording method, such as a digital camera. Further, electronic text data for this applicant is manually or automatically input to the record. Then an electronic set of data of the recorded image data and the input text data is produced. This set of data is signed by means of a qualified signature. | 09-17-2009 |
20090232347 | Method And System For Inserting Software Processing In A Hardware Image Sensor Pipeline - Image data may be processed via one or more stages by a hardware image sensor pipeline (ISP) wherein one or more software processing steps may be inserted at any point within the hardware ISP. Output from any stage of the hardware ISP may be stored in memory. Stored hardware ISP output may be retrieved from memory and processed via one or more software processes. Results from the one or more software processes may be stored in memory and communicated to any stage of the hardware ISP for additional processing. In this regard, the hardware ISP and one or more processors may simultaneously process portions of image data. In addition, the hardware ISP and the one or more processors may be integrated within a chip. | 09-17-2009 |
20090232348 | Image Object Separation - Techniques and systems for segmenting one or more objects in a subject image resulting from subjecting one or more objects to imaging using an imaging apparatus are disclosed, such that limitations of image noise, object proximity, image intensity variations, shape complexity, and/or computational resources may be mitigated. Merely border edges of objects in a subject image can be generated, for example, by using edge detection and discarding interior edges. Geometric difference values of the identified boundaries of the objects in the subject image can be calculated. One or more transitions between objects can be identified by using the geometric difference values, for example, which may result in data that represents a location in the image of an object to be segmented. | 09-17-2009 |
20090232349 | High Volume Earth Observation Image Processing - The present invention is related to the processing of data, and more particularly to a method of and system for processing large volumes of Earth observation imagery data. A system for processing a large volume of Earth observation imaging data is described, comprising a computer including a visual display and a user interface, a plurality of servers, an image database storing said Earth observation imaging data as a plurality of separate image data files, and a network for interconnecting the computer, plurality of servers and image database. The plurality of servers is operable to process the separate data files in a distributed manner, at least one of the plurality of servers is operable to process the separate data files in a multiprocessing environment and at least one of the plurality of servers is operable to collate the processed separate data files into a single imaging result. | 09-17-2009 |
20090232350 | Encoding and Decoding Auxiliary Signals - This disclosure describes methods and systems for encoding and decoding signals from a host signal such as audio, video or imagery. One claim recites a method comprising: receiving a host signal carrying an auxiliary signal; extracting data representing at least some features of the host signal, said extracting utilizes one or more processors; using the data representing at least some features of the host signal to determine a key; and detecting the auxiliary signal in a transform domain associated with the key, the detecting utilizes one or more processors. Other claims and combinations are provided as well. | 09-17-2009 |
20090232351 | Authentication method, authentication device, and recording medium - An authentication method performed by an authentication device to authenticate a user includes an authentication-use image generating step of generating an authentication-use image including authentication-use information corresponding to an image expressing one or more characters and/or symbols which is provided on a background, wherein an edge formed by a difference in image density does not exist between the background and the image expressing the characters and/or the symbols; an authentication-use image presenting step of presenting, to the user, the authentication-use image generated at the authentication-use image generating step; and an authentication step of performing authentication by comparing character and/or symbol information input by the user based on the authentication-use image presented at the authentication-use image presenting step, with the characters and/or the symbols in the authentication-use image. | 09-17-2009 |
20090232352 | Steganographic Encoding Methods and Apparatus - The presently claimed invention relates generally to steganographic encoding. One claim recites a method including: obtaining data representing a first graphic; utilizing a multi-purpose computer processor configured for steganographically data hiding to hide a signal in the data representing the first graphic; obtaining a copy of the first graphic including a steganographically hidden signal therein; storing the copy of the first graphic in electronic memory or integrated circuitry. A steganographically hidden signal in the data representing the first graphic and the steganographically hidden signal in the copy of the first graphic are related. Of course, other combinations are provided as well. | 09-17-2009 |
20090238402 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR VISUALIZING POSITIONS ON A SURFACE - A device and a method are disclosed for visualizing positions on a surface by means of a marking which is produced by an optically detectable radiation. In order to permit a residue-free marking which can be observed with a camera from partly extremely oblique observation directions, the device has an optical waveguide, which is coupled to a radiation source and whose light output region can be located at a desired position of the surface in order to emit optically detectable radiation at the desired position of the surface through the optical waveguide. As a result, the radiation is emitted at the desired position of the surface in various spatial directions. | 09-24-2009 |
20090238403 | Systems and Methods Using Identifying Data Derived or Extracted from Video, Audio or Images - The presently claimed invention relates to deriving or extracting information from audio, images and video. One claim recites a method of operating a network filter. The network includes a plurality of network nodes, the network filter is for filtering video or audio. The method includes: monitoring video or audio traffic to a particular network node; identifying a first video or audio at the particular network node through deriving identifying data from data representing the first video or audio, the deriving utilizes at least one programmed multi-purpose computer processor; determining additional information associated with the first video or audio based at least in part on the identifying information; and notifying the network node of the presence of the additional information. | 09-24-2009 |
20090245568 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONTROL OF A DEVICE - The invention describes a method for control of a device ( | 10-01-2009 |
20090245569 | Optical Imaging Based Computer Pointing - Methods and systems for optical imaging based computer pointing, including optical imaging based pointing motion and button functionality. Optical image motion information is translated to a computer pointing device data format, and one or more patterns, sequences, or combinations of optical image information are translated to one or more corresponding pointing device button select indications in the pointing device data format. | 10-01-2009 |
20090252370 | Video watermark detection - A method and system for detecting watermarks in video images including preparing a signal, extracting and calculating property values, detecting bit values and decoding a payload, where the payload is a bit sequence generated and embedded by enforcing relationships between property values in a volume of video are described. | 10-08-2009 |
20090252371 | Mobile device with color detection capabilities - A mobile device comprising a camera and color detection software stored in memory of the mobile device, wherein the color detection application analyzes and displays component colors in a captured image and compares component colors in two such captured images. The color detection application displays component colors in a specific format such as red, green and blue and displays percentage of these colors in each of the compared images. The color detection also provides textual and audio feedbacks of the extent of match between colors of the two images. The two captured images that are to be compared are displayed in split windows. When the captured images are multicolored, the color detection application provides an arrow on these images to identify a specific location and compares the component colors at these locations. Also, an independent electronic device analyzes and displays component colors in a captured image and compares component colors in two such captured images. | 10-08-2009 |
20090252372 | Terrain Correction Systems - Methods, apparatus and computer program code for terrain correction for geophysical surveys, in particular potential field surveys. A method of terrain correction for a geophysical survey involves capturing a multi- or hyperspectral image of a region to be surveyed; determining a surface geological composition of the surveyed region using the captured image multi- or hyperspectral image; determining terrain correction data for the geophysical survey using the determined surface geological composition; and using the terrain correction data for performing the terrain correction for the geophysical survey. | 10-08-2009 |
20090257618 | DATA PROCESSING APPARATUS AND METHOD - A data processing apparatus registers an image encoded with a two-dimensional water mark pattern. The water mark includes for each image frame a water mark frame pattern of water mark blocks. The water mark pattern includes plural regions each including one water mark block selected from a predetermined set of possible water mark blocks based on a key sequence. The key sequence provides a predetermined sequence of selected water mark blocks to form the water mark pattern of each frame to provide a predetermined sequence of water marked frames. The data processing apparatus includes a block match processor generating block match probabilities including for each region of a current frame of the water marked image a probability surface of possible distortion vectors for each possible water mark block of the set of possible water marked blocks that may have been added to that region of the image frame. | 10-15-2009 |
20090257619 | Method for Extracting Random Signatures From a Material Element and Method for Generating a Decomposition Base to Implement the Extraction Method - The present invention concerns a method for extracting a random signature from a subject material element, comprising:
| 10-15-2009 |
20090257620 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR AUDITING SIGNAGE - Example methods and apparatus for auditing signage are disclosed. A disclosed example method involves directing an operator to a signage location and capturing an image of a signage at the signage location. The example method also includes detecting an actual characteristic of the signage based on the image and comparing the actual characteristic to an expected characteristic. | 10-15-2009 |
20090262973 | System and method for estimating interest level - The interest level estimation system of the present invention includes a gaze measurement unit that measures a person's gaze velocity and a skin potential level measurement unit that measures a person's skin potential level. The interest level estimation system also includes an interest level estimation unit. In the interest level estimation unit, a skin potential level time variation and a gaze velocity standard deviation are obtained at predetermined intervals, an inflection point of the skin potential level time variation is obtained at the predetermined intervals, the skin potential level time variation and the gaze velocity standard deviation that are obtained before a time corresponding to the inflection point are related to an interest state at the predetermined intervals, and the skin potential level time variation and the gaze velocity standard deviation that are obtained after the time corresponding to the inflection point are related to a disinterest state at the predetermined intervals, thereby obtaining a relationship between the skin potential level time variation and gaze velocity standard deviation and the interest level. | 10-22-2009 |
20090262974 | System and method for obtaining georeferenced mapping data - A system and method for acquiring spatial mapping information of surface data points defining a region unable to receive effective GPS signals, such as the interior of a building, includes an IMU for dynamically determining geographical positions relative to at least one fixed reference point, a LIDAR or camera for determining range of the IMU to each surface data point, and a processor to determine position data for each surface data point relative to the at least one reference point. A digital camera obtains characteristic image data, including color data, of the surface data points, and the processor correlates the position data and image data for the surface data points to create an image of the region. | 10-22-2009 |
20090262975 | Deriving or Calculating Identifiers From Video Signals - The present invention relates generally to processing video signals. One claim recites a method including: utilizing a multi-purpose electronic processor programmed for analyzing a video signal to derive or calculate an identifier from data representing picture elements of the video signal or from data representing audio accompanying the video signal; providing the identifier to electronic memory or to a remote repository to obtain advertizing information; receiving advertizing information from the electronic memory or the remote repository; and controlling rendering of the advertizing information such that the advertizing information is synchronized with at least a portion of the video signal when rendered. Of course, other combinations and claims are provided as well. | 10-22-2009 |
20090268937 | Decoding Watermark Information Items of a Watermarked Audio or Video Signal Using Correlation - Watermark information consists of several data symbols which are embedded continuously in an audio or a video signal using modulation with a pseudo-random sequence if spread spectrum technology is used. At decoder site the watermark information is regained using correlation of the received signal with a candidate pseudo-random sequence. Such correlation can be performed by one-dimensional real-symmetric fast Fourier transform of the two input signal vectors, which each consist of a section of N values of the input signal, to which section N-1 zeroes are attached, by multiplying one of the transformed vectors by the conjugated version of the other transformed vector, followed by inverse RFFT transform of that frequency domain product vector. However, if the level of a spread-spectrum watermark is too low or if too much noise had been added during the transmission of the audio or video signals, the correlation does not show a clear peak, which means that the watermark information bits cannot be recovered. According to the invention, the correlation result is improved by setting to zero in the frequency domain frequency bins of the vector which do not have a positive impact on the correlation peak at location zero, i.e. which frequency bins do not contribute to that peak. Thereby the noise level in the correlation or matched filter output is reduced and the watermark information items can be recovered or decoded correctly from the received watermarked audio or video signal. | 10-29-2009 |
20090268938 | PROBABILISTIC INTENSITY SIMILARITY MEASURE BASED ON NOISE DISTRIBUTIONS - Technologies for comparing observed intensities using a probabilistic similarity measure. In the probabilistic similarity measure example, there is no attempt to estimate a true intensity. Rather, the similarity of two observed intensities is defined as the likelihood that they each resulted from the same but unknown true identity while taking into account the noise characteristics of the camera observing the intensities. Since the true intensity is unknown, all possible true intensities are taken into account, rather than using a specific true intensity estimate. The probabilistic similarity measure indicates the degree to which two intensities correspond to the same intensity without estimating a true scene intensity value. | 10-29-2009 |
20090268939 | METHOD, SYSTEM, AND PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR DETERMINING A STATE OF A SHOPPING RECEPTACLE - The present invention provides an approach for determining a state of a shopping receptacle. Specifically, under the present approach, an image capture device (e.g., camera) is positioned at the checkout station and/or on the shopping receptacle. The device will capture at least one image of the shopping receptacle during the checkout process and/or when the customer or checkout clerk indicates that the transaction is ready for payment (e.g., all items have been scanned or rung through). Using such image(s), a model for an empty receptacle and a knowledgebase of non-shopping items that may remain in the shopping receptacle, it is determined whether the receptacle is empty. If not, an alarm or other notification will be activated and the events can be logged. | 10-29-2009 |
20090268940 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, AND MEDIUM STORING PROGRAM THEREOF - An image processing apparatus that superimposes additional information on image data, the apparatus sets, in the image data, a main region in which the superimposing intensity for superimposing the additional information is constant, and a superimposing intensity change region in which the superimposing intensity for superimposing the additional information is not constant, sets, the superimposing intensity according to the target pixel in the superimposing intensity change region, and superimposes the additional information on image data using the set superimposing intensity. | 10-29-2009 |
20090274338 | Method and System for Enhanced Image Alignment - Provided is a method for analyzing image slices. The method includes extracting first and second sub-slices from first and second image slices, respectively, and computing a shift between the first and second image slices based on the first and second sub-slices. The first and second sub-slices overlap. | 11-05-2009 |
20090279734 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ASSESSING A CONDITION OF PROPERTY - A system and method for assessing a condition of property for insurance purposes includes a sensor for acquiring a spectral image. In a preferred embodiment, the spectral image is post-processed to generate at least one spectral radiance plot, the plot used as input to a radiative transfer computer model. The output of the model establishes a spectral signature for the property. Over a period of time, spectral signatures can be compared to generate a spectral difference, the difference attributed to a change in the condition of the property, such as a fire or flood. In response to the change, an insurance company initiates an insurance-related action such as processing a claim. | 11-12-2009 |
20090279735 | Method and Apparatus for Embedding Auxiliary Information within Original Data - This patent application is generally related to watermarking and steganography. One claim recites a method of transmarking a media signal previously embedded with a first digital watermark using a first digital watermark embedding method. The method includes: utilizing a programmed electronic processor, detecting the first digital watermark in the media signal; converting the media signal to a different format; utilizing a programmed electronic processor, embedding detected message information from the first digital watermark into a second digital watermark in the converted media signal such that the second digital watermark is adapted to robustness or perceptibility parameters associated with the new format. Of course, other combinations and claims are provided as well. | 11-12-2009 |
20090285442 | ELECTRONIC WATERMARK EMBEDDING DEVICE AND ELECTRONIC WATERMARK DETECTION DEVICE - A digital watermark embedding device and a digital watermark detecting device are obtained, which can realize stable digital watermark detection using fewer, and embed and detect a larger amount of digital watermark information with an identical number of pixels used for digital watermark embedding in a conventional technology. The digital watermark embedding device includes: an embedding-information converting unit ( | 11-19-2009 |
20090285443 | Remote Control Based on Image Recognition - A remote control device uses image recognition to recognize features or objects in an on-screen menu displayed on an external display associated with a controlled device. The on-screen menu may contain one or more control objects for controlling the associated appliance. A camera in the remote control device captures at least a portion of the menu displayed on the external display. A controller including an image processor generates control signal based on recognition of one or more control objects in the displayed image. A transmitter connected to the controller transmits the control signal to the controlled appliance. | 11-19-2009 |
20090285444 | Web-Based Content Detection in Images, Extraction and Recognition - A web-based image detection system includes: an image capture device, a web browser, a plug-in, and a recognition server. A captured image is processed by the plug-in to assess whether a pre-determined content type is contained with in the image. Once an initial analysis at the browser plug-in detects a pre-determined content type in an image, the image is transmitted to a recognition server for content recognition of the image by content type. The system thus enables users to link documents or other image types to electronic data using only a capture device and a web browser. | 11-19-2009 |
20090285445 | System and Method of Translating Road Signs - A camera-equipped wireless communication device captures images of traffic signs that are unfamiliar to a user. A controller in the device analyzes the captured image and generates information that allows the user to identify the traffic sign. | 11-19-2009 |
20090285446 | Signal Embedding and Detection using Circular Structures in a Transform Domain of a Media Signal - Machine readable signals embedded in other media signals include a circular structure in a transform domain to facilitate detection. The machine readable signals are not apparent to human observers of rendered media containing the machine readable signals, such as images and documents. A detector captures the media signal, transforms it to the transform domain, and then uses the circular structure in the transform domain to facilitate detection despite rotation of the media signal. | 11-19-2009 |
20090290750 | BLOCK-BASED WATERMARKING - A water marking system generates a water marked image frame for conveying a payload data word by combining at least one image frame with a two-dimensional water mark pattern. The water mark pattern includes plural regions each associated with one of symbols of the payload data word. Each region includes a two dimensional water mark block selected from a predetermined set of possible water mark blocks to represent the value of the payload data symbol associated with that region. A detecting data processing apparatus detects the payload data from a received water marked image frame, which has been encoded by utilizing a block match prior probability calculator operable to correlate each region of the water marked image frame with each of the water mark blocks from the set of water marked blocks) to form for each region a set of probability surfaces. | 11-26-2009 |
20090290751 | Methods and Systems for Detecting Numerals in a Digital Image - Aspects of the present invention are related to systems and methods for determining the location of numerals in an electronic document image. | 11-26-2009 |
20090290752 | Method for producing video signatures and identifying video clips - A method for receiving input video having a sequence of input video frames, and producing a compact video signature as an identifier of the input video, includes the following steps: generating a processed video tomograph using an arrangement of corresponding lines of pixels from the respective frames of the sequence of video frames; measuring characteristics of the processed video tomograph; and producing the video signature from the measured characteristics. | 11-26-2009 |
20090290753 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR GAZE ESTIMATION - A gaze estimation method and system, the method including capturing a video sequence of images with an image capturing system, designating at least one landmark in a head portion of the captured video sequence, fitting a virtual model of the head portion to the actual head portion in the captured video sequence, and determining the gaze estimation. | 11-26-2009 |
20090290754 | Deriving Identifying Data From Video and Audio - The present invention relates generally to deriving identifying data from sample values representing video or audio. One claim recites a method including: obtaining identifying data from an electronic processor that derives the identifying data from sample values representing audio or video; providing the identifying data to a database; receiving advertising information from the database, the advertising information being associated with the audio or video, and the advertising information having been identified in the database utilizing at least the identifying data; and providing the advertising information to a consumer. Of course, other combinations are provided and claimed too. | 11-26-2009 |
20090296980 | System and Method for Producing a Geometric Model of the Auditory Canal - A system creating a three-dimensional model of a confined space includes a balloon that is inflated to make contact with the confined space, the balloon's interior surface having surface features; and a sensor configured to make measurements of the interior surface of the balloon, the measurements being manipulated to form three-dimensional model of confined space. A method of creating a three-dimensional model of a confined space includes making a series of 360 degree panoramic images of the confined space using a single moving camera; and manipulating the 360 degree panoramic images to create the three-dimensional model. | 12-03-2009 |
20090296981 | Finishing control system using inline sensing with clear toner - The present application discloses a system, method and device for placing substantially invisible marks comprising alphanumeric characters, symbols, or bar codes, on a page using clear ink or toner, which may then be read by a spectrophotometer. Such substantially invisible marks are not viewable to the unaided eye of a human observer, do not distract a viewer, and allow the viewer to focus their attention on the printed matter and text of interest to the viewer. | 12-03-2009 |
20090296982 | FUSION OF IMAGE BLOCK ADJUSTMENTS FOR THE GENERATION OF A GROUND CONTROL NETWORK - A method for fusion of image block adjustments for the generation of a ground control network constituting a Metric Information Network (MIN). Utilizing the subject. fusion algorithm it is possible to duplicate the results of an extremely large simultaneous image block adjustment by sequentially performing smaller image block adjustments on small overlapping areas of interest and taking the results to update a metric information network. Note, intermediate results for less than all the imagery provide usable updates to the metric information network. The result of the infusion of sequential image block adjustments into the metric information network is that one can obtain the accuracy provided by an extremely large single image block adjustment, and do so in manageable chunks or segments involving conventional computer resources. | 12-03-2009 |
20090296983 | SIGNAL PROCESSING UTILIZING HOST CARRIER INFORMATION - The present invention generally relates to processing audio, video and images. One claim recites a method including: obtaining media signal comprising a steganographic signal hidden therein; utilizing a programmed electronic processor, selecting portions of the media signal for steganographic signal detection, wherein the subset of the media signal is selected based on at least one or more predetermined probability factors, in which a probability factor comprises a selection criteria or rule to identify portions of the media signal which have a higher likelihood of including a steganographic signal relative to other portions of the media signal; and utilizing a programmed electronic processor, analyzing selected portions of the media signal to obtain the steganographic signal. Of course, other claims and combinations are provided as well. | 12-03-2009 |
20090304226 | Multimedia Data Embedding and Decoding - A method for embedding data into a media signal receives a media signal, divides the media signal into blocks of samples, and calculates a function of the samples in the blocks, including transformations of samples in the blocks to corresponding block values. A processor uses the block value to determine a factor for samples in the blocks to be multiplied by the samples so that when a data embedding function is evaluated for the block, an output of the data embedding function corresponds to a data value representing desired digital data embedded in the block. A compatible decoder extracts this embedded data from the media signal. The decoder divides the media signal into blocks of samples and calculates a function of the samples in the blocks, including transformations of samples in the blocks to corresponding block values. A processor processes the block value to evaluate a data embedding function to determine digital data embedded in the block. | 12-10-2009 |
20090304227 | Methods and Systems for Provisioning Energy Systems - The invention provides consumers, private enterprises, government agencies, contractors and third party vendors with tools and resources for gathering site specific information related to purchase and installation of energy systems. A system according to one embodiment of the invention remotely determines the measurements of a roof. An exemplary system comprises a computer including an input means, a display means and a working memory. An aerial image file database contains a plurality of aerial images of roofs of buildings in a selected region. A roof estimating software program receives location information of a building in the selected region and then presents the aerial image files showing roof sections of building located at the location information. Some embodiments of the system include a sizing tool for determining the size, geometry, and pitch of the roof sections of a building being displayed. | 12-10-2009 |
20090304228 | APPARATUS, METHOD, AND SYSTEM OF CONTROLLING SETTING INFORMATION FOR CONFIDENTIAL DOCUMENT - An apparatus, method, and system of generating a confidential document by adding additional information to image data are described, each of which obtains administrator setting information set by an administrator, and user setting information set by a user. Information for display to the user is controlled based on at least the administrator setting information to satisfy the requirement set by the administrator setting information even when the user setting information differs from the administrator setting information. | 12-10-2009 |
20090310814 | FINDING ORIENTATION AND DATE OF HARDCOPY MEDIUM - A method of determining the image capture date of scanned hardcopy medium, includes scanning hardcopy medium that includes at least one index print(s) to produce scanned digital images; detecting one or more index prints from among the scanned digital images; identifying thumbnail images contained within the one or more index prints; determining an image capture date for each index print and associating the image capture date with the thumbnail image(s) contained within that index print; matching a scanned digital image to a thumbnail image from the one or more index prints; associating the date from the thumbnail image to the scanned digital image that matches the thumbnail image; and storing the date in association with the scanned digital image that matches the thumbnail image. | 12-17-2009 |
20090310815 | THERMOGRAPHIC IMAGE PROCESSING SYSTEM - The system permits sharing both thermographic image processing and visualization across a single universal platform, thus allowing for sharing of processor resources and visualization of thermographic images on a variety of imaging (client) devices without high-performance graphical display cards. In a typical embodiment, a (e.g., medical) thermographic image | 12-17-2009 |
20090310816 | ENABLING PROVENANCE MANAGEMENT FOR PRE-EXISTING APPLICATIONS - A method of providing provenance management for a pre-existing application is provided. A provenance data selection is received. The provenance data selection indicates provenance data to present to a user. The provenance data is presented to the user as a version tree comprising a plurality of connected nodes. A node selection is received. The node selection indicates a node selected from the version tree. One or more nodes from a root node of the plurality of connected nodes to the node selected from the version tree are identified. One or more action parameters associated with the identified one or more nodes are identified. An action parameter of the one or more action parameters is associated with a previous interaction with a pre-existing application. Presentation of a state of the pre-existing application associated with the node selected from the version tree is triggered. | 12-17-2009 |
20090310817 | WATERMARKING METHOD, WATERMARK CHECKING METHOD, WATERMARKING DEVICE, AND WATERMARK CHECKING DEVICE - A watermarking method is provided. The method includes: the steps of creating an entire watermark for an image frame by using a secret key; dividing an image frame of the digital image file into divided frames by at least one row and at least one column; applying a predetermined watermark creating algorithm to pixel data of each divided frame to generate a unit watermark; and applying the unit watermarks with the digital image file. The step of creating the unit watermark uses a public key or applies a keyless algorithm. Another watermarking method includes the steps of dividing the image frame into a plurality of divided frames, each divided frame partially overlapping neighboring divided frames; applying a predetermined watermark creating algorithm to pixel data of each divided frame to generate a unit watermark; and applying the unit watermarks with the digital image file. With the watermarking method and the checking method, a forged or faked area of the image frame can be detected without increasing the amount of computation. | 12-17-2009 |
20090310818 | FACE DETECTION SYSTEM - The present invention relates to a face detection system for a vehicle. At least one first lighting unit is configured to radiate infrared light onto a left side of a driver's face. At least one second lighting unit is configured to radiate infrared light onto a right side of the driver's face. An image capturing unit separately captures the driver's face onto which the infrared light is radiated from the first and second lighting units. A control unit acquires left and right images of the face from the image capturing unit, and obtains a difference image between the acquired left and right images, thus determining whether the driver is inattentive in looking ahead. The system stably performs the face detection function with no or less effect by external optical environments as well as reduced computational load. | 12-17-2009 |
20090310819 | MEDIA DATA PROCESSING APPARATUS AND MEDIA DATA PROCESSING METHOD - In the case that media data containing image information of persons are managed, protection of privacy is realized, and an increase in management costs and a deterioration of operability are suppressed. | 12-17-2009 |
20090316950 | Object Authentication Using a Programmable Image Acquisition Device - An image acquisition device is provided for use in determining whether a test object is an authentic object having an authentication image applied to an authentication image area thereof. The authentication image includes indicia formed based on authentication parameters. The image acquisition device comprises an image capture arrangement configured for capturing a digital image of a target area of a test object. The image acquisition device further comprises a data processor having an image processing portion configured for receiving and processing the digital image to produce a processing result. The processing result may be established at least in part using one or more of the authentication parameters. | 12-24-2009 |
20090324005 | Script Detection Service - Script detection service techniques are described. In an implementation, a determination is made as to which human writing system is associated with individual text characters in a string of one or more text characters based on values representing the individual text characters in the string. A particular human writing system is designated as associated with the string based on the values associated with the individual text characters in the string. | 12-31-2009 |
20090324006 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR MONITORING AND TRACKING VIDEOS ON THE INTERNET - Method and system for discovering and identifying a video object. The method includes crawling at least one predetermined website, discovering at least one video link at the predetermined website, processing information associated with a first database for storing one or more video links, and determining whether the discovered video link was already discovered before based on at least information associated with the first database. Additionally, the method includes, if the discovered video link is determined not to have been discovered before, updating the first database based on at least information associated with the discovered video link, downloading at least one video object based on at least information associated with the discovered video link, and processing information associated with the downloaded video object. | 12-31-2009 |
20090324007 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING METADATA TO CAPTURED IMAGE AND METHOD THEREOF - An image processing apparatus acquires data of a finder image in an imaging apparatus, analyzes the data of the finder image, and extracts a feature amount of the finder image. Then, the image processing apparatus generates metadata based on the analysis result, and provides the metadata to a still image data captured by the imaging apparatus. | 12-31-2009 |
20100002902 | Graphical Retail Item Identification With Point-Of-Sale Terminals - Graphical retail item identification including receiving, from a digital camera, an image of a retail item to be identified; decoding, by an image decoding module, the image into one or more image processing tasks; assigning, by a task assignment engine, the one or more image processing tasks to one or more of the POS terminals, the one or more POS terminals characterized as image processing terminals; executing the image processing tasks by the image processing terminals, including reporting results of the image processing tasks to an item identification engine; and identifying, by the item identification engine upon completion of the image processing tasks by the image processing terminals, the retail item. | 01-07-2010 |
20100002903 | PROTECTION METHOD FOR PREVENTING HARD COPY OF DOCUMENT FROM BEING RELEASED OR REPRODUCED - A protection method for preventing a hard copy of a document from being released or reproduced is provided. The protection method comprises: selecting a pattern with a closed contour line and utilizing a level set method to process the pattern to generate at least a watermark; and embedding the watermark into the document. In addition, the protection method can further comprise: detecting the hard copy of the document to determine whether at least a watermark exists in the hard copy of the document; and forbidding releasing or reproducing the document when the watermark is detected in the hard copy of the document. | 01-07-2010 |
20100002904 | Optimization methods for the insertion, protection, and detection of digital watermarks in digitized data - The implementations of digital watermarks can be optimally suited to particular transmission, distribution and storage mediums given the nature of digitally-sampled audio, video and other multimedia works. Watermark application parameters can be adapted to the individual characteristics of a given digital sample stream. Watermark information can be either carried in individual samples or in relationships between multiple samples, such as in a waveform shape. More optimal models may be obtained to design watermark systems that are tamper-resistant given the number and breadth of existent digitized sample options with different frequency and time components. The highest quality of a given content signal may be maintained as it is mastered, with the watermark suitably hidden, taking into account usage of digital filters and error correction. The quality of the underlying content signals can be used to identify and highlight advantageous locations for the insertion of digital watermarks. The watermark is integrated as closely as possible to the content signal, at a maximum level to force degradation of the content signal when attempts are made to remove the watermarks. | 01-07-2010 |
20100002905 | Control of the positional relationship between a sample collection instrument and a surface to be analyzed during a sampling procedure with image analysis - A system and method utilizes an image analysis approach for controlling the collection instrument-to-surface distance in a sampling system for use, for example, with mass spectrometric detection. Such an approach involves the capturing of an image of the collection instrument or the shadow thereof cast across the surface and the utilization of line average brightness (LAB) techniques to determine the actual distance between the collection instrument and the surface. The actual distance is subsequently compared to a target distance for re-optimization, as necessary, of the collection instrument-to-surface during an automated surface sampling operation. | 01-07-2010 |
20100002906 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR ANALYSIS OF SIGNAL CHARACTERISTICS WITH THE USE OF MASKS - An analysis device for analyzing a signal characteristic with the use of a mask. The analysis device includes a buffer device for the provision of a signal-image address of a signal-image point of a signal image and for the provision of a mask-image address of a mask-image point of a mask image and a comparison device for the comparison of the signal-image address and the mask-image address. | 01-07-2010 |
20100002907 | MULTI-STAGE WATERMARKING PROCESS AND SYSTEM - A multi-stage watermarking system and process that creates a watermark specification which describes how to generate a watermark, generates a template specification which describes how to merge the watermark into a target document, generates the watermark based on the watermark specification, and merges the watermark into the target document based on the template specification to provide a watermarked document. | 01-07-2010 |
20100008532 | Method for Predicting Constellations by Using Fingerprint Types and Blood Types, and System Thereof - A method for predicting constellations comprises the steps of: providing probability data of correlations between constellations and combined fingerprint types and blood types, and constellation fortune-telling data; detecting and classifying a fingerprint image; inputting a personal blood type; calculating probabilities of correlations between the constellations and the combined fingerprint types and blood types, and correspondingly outputting the constellation fortune-telling data according to the calculated probability. A constellation-predicting system of a preferred embodiment includes a fingerprint-image-detecting device, a blood-type-inputting unit, a calculating unit, a memory unit and a terminal unit which are connected to form the system. | 01-14-2010 |
20100008533 | IMAGE PROCESSING SYSTEM AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM - An image processing system includes: an image reception unit that receives an image including an additional entry portion; an additional entry portion extracting unit that extracts the additional entry portion from the image received by the image reception unit; a concealment area specifying unit that specifies an area to be concealed in the image based on the additional entry portion extracted by the additional entry portion extracting unit; a concealment reason specifying unit that specifies a concealment reason based on one of operation information related to an operation for the image and a feature of the additional entry portion extracted by the additional entry portion extracting unit; an image concealment unit that conceals the area specified by the concealment area specifying unit in the image; and an image addition unit that adds concealment reason information related to the concealment reason specified by the conceal reason specifying unit to the image. | 01-14-2010 |
20100008534 | Methods for Managing Content Using Intentional Degradation and Insertion of Steganographic Codes - A method of managing media content provides a media signal in which perceptible portions are intentionally degraded in perceptual quality. In response to receiving authorization, the method transforms the media signal into a higher quality media signal in which the intentional degradation is corrected. In addition, the media content is transformed by embedding an identifying code into the higher quality media signal. Media signal processing hardware includes a receiver of the media signal and activation hardware that transforms the media signal content in response to authorization, including embedding the identifying code. | 01-14-2010 |
20100008535 | Mobile Phone Payment System using Integrated Camera Credit Card Reader - A system and a method for conducting credit card transactions through a mobile device of a user. The mobile device comprises an image acquisition unit and a mobile application operated by the mobile device. The system enables acquiring an image of a client's credit card, using the image acquisition unit; analyzing data of the image; outputting details of the credit card from the analysis; verifying the output details, wherein the verification is further carried out through the mobile application; verifying authorization of inputted monetary transaction, wherein the mobile application enables verifying the authorization by communicating with the billing center, associated with at least one credit company associated with the credit card over at least one communication network, wherein the communication is carried out by the mobile application using the mobile device; and conducting monetary transactions using the verified credit card details. | 01-14-2010 |
20100008536 | Methods and Systems for Steganographic Processing - Electronic content data (e.g., audio or visual) can be steganographically encoded for a variety of purposes. One claim recites a method practiced by a first party, including the acts: (a) receiving content that has been previously steganographically encoded by a second party with first plural-bit data; and (b) utilizing a programmed electronic processor, further steganographically encoding the content with a second plural-bit data different than the first. The further encoding includes altering digital data representing human-perceptible attributes of the content, in a manner that is dependent on the content. Both of the first and second plural-bit data are represented in encoded content. Of course, a great variety of other claims, arrangements and features are provided. | 01-14-2010 |
20100008537 | Embedding Hidden Auxiliary Information in Media - Methods and apparatus for steganographically embedding information in media signals (e.g., audio and video) are provided. One claim recites a method of enabling tracing of a media signal to a distribution point of the media signal, including: providing time and place information associated with the distribution point, the distribution point includes at least speakers to render the media signal to an assembled audience; utilizing a programmed electronic processor, embedding the time and place information in the media signal, such that the time and place information is imperceptibly distributed in the media signal, said embedding alters data representing audible portions of the media signal or alters data representing video picture elements of the media signal to convey the time and place information in the media signal; and at least the place information is recoverable from plural different portions of the media signal. Of course, other claims, combinations and features are also provided. | 01-14-2010 |
20100008538 | Watermarking Methods, Systems and Apparatus - This disclosure describes, e.g., methods, systems, sensors and apparatus for steganographically encoding information in image or video data. One claim recites a method of introducing a message to a watermark embedder located on-chip with an image array. The method includes the acts of: color converting image data provided from the image array, in which the color converting provides a multi-color approximation per pixel; receiving color converted image data at the watermark embedder; receiving the message from at least one of a random access memory (RAM) or a chip interface; communicating the message to the watermark embedder; and steganographically embedding the message in the color converted image data. Of course, other claims are provided too. | 01-14-2010 |
20100014705 | Optimized Digital Watermarking Functions for Streaming Data - A digital watermark detector comprises a memory buffer for receiving an incoming stream of data. The detector includes a registration module for determining registration of embedded data in blocks of the incoming stream of data, and logic for re-using the registration for subsequent blocks of the incoming stream of data to detect machine readable signals. Another digital watermark detector comprises a message reader for extracting message estimates from blocks of media signal data and a decoder for combining the extracted message estimates and decoding a message from the combined message elements. Another digital watermark detector comprises a memory buffer and pipelined watermark processor segments. The segments each perform a different watermark detector operation. These segments concurrently operate on different data segments of the block of data in a processing pipeline. | 01-21-2010 |
20100021001 | Method for Making an Assured Image - A method for producing an assured image acquires image data and segments the image data into one or more spatial regions. One or more quality measures is calculated from the image data that is within the one or more spatial regions. Secure assurance data is produced that is representative of the one or more quality measures and the image data. The secure assurance data is associated with the image data to produce the assured image. | 01-28-2010 |
20100021002 | PRINTED MATTER, IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, PRINTED MATTER AUTHENTICITY DETERMINATION APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, PRINTED MATTER AUTHENTICITY DETERMINATION METHOD, AND PROGRAM - A printed matter, wherein a line latent image and a digital watermark are printed in a predetermined region in an overlapping manner, the line latent image becoming visible when a line filter provided with a line pattern formed on a transparent film is superimposed thereon. | 01-28-2010 |
20100021003 | Method and apparatus for encoding /decoding symbols carrying payload data for watermarking of an audio of video signal - Watermark information (denoted WM) consists of several symbols which are embedded continuously by reference sequence modulation in an audio or a video signal. At decoder site the WM is regained using correlation of the received signal with a corresponding reference sequence. The symbols form watermark data frames. The invention uses for the bit values ‘zero’ and ‘one’ in each payload symbol and for each payload symbol in a watermark data frame different reference sequences, without using synchronisation symbols. A logarithmic search is performed in the WM decoder to reduce the numbers of correlations to be calculated. The invention makes watermarking of critical sound signals much more robust. | 01-28-2010 |
20100021004 | Hiding and Detecting Messages in Media Signals - The present invention relates to steganographically hiding messages in media signals such as video and audio signals. In one implementation, a method of decoding an encoded media signal to extract a plural-bit auxiliary signal therefrom is provided. The media signal includes a plurality of intervals, with the plural-bit auxiliary signal being steganographically encoded in at least some of the intervals. Once encoded in the media signal the plural-bit auxiliary signal is generally imperceptible to a human observer of the encoded media signal. The encoding includes subtle changes to at least some portions of the media signal to thereby represent the plural-bit auxiliary signal. The method includes receiving the encoded media signal; and decoding the received encoded media signal to extract the plural-bit auxiliary signal therefrom. The decoding analyzes a plurality of intervals of the media signal with greater or lesser confidence in the extracted multi-bit auxiliary data signal being obtained by processing more or less intervals of the encoded media signal, respectively | 01-28-2010 |
20100027834 | Apparatus, method and programmable product for identification of a document with feature analysis - The present application relates to a method, apparatus and programmable product for uniquely identifying a document. More specifically, the application allows for the identification of the document through collection of minutiae data at various points throughout the document's lifecycle without reliance upon or requirement for any unique identification characters, barcodes and/or objects that were added to the document specifically for the purpose of identification. | 02-04-2010 |
20100027835 | RECOGNIZING ACTIONS OF ANIMATE OBJECTS IN VIDEO - A system that facilitates automatically determining an action of an animate object is described herein. The system includes a receiver component that receives video data that includes images of an animate object. The system additionally includes a determiner component that accesses a data store that includes an action graph and automatically determines an action undertaken by the animate object in the received video data based at least in part upon the action graph. The action graph comprises a plurality of nodes that are representative of multiple possible postures of the animate object. At least one node in the action graph is shared amongst multiple actions represented in the action graph. | 02-04-2010 |
20100027836 | Image processing system and viewership effect measuring method - There is provided an information processing system, comprising: a viewing apparatus equipped with a content reproduction unit that reproduces content containing video data or audio data; a radio communication apparatus equipped with a storage unit in which user data correlated to a user to whom said radio communication apparatus belongs are stored and a data transmitting unit that transmits viewer data that include part of or all of said user data stored in said storage unit; and an information processing apparatus equipped with an analyzing unit that analyzes, based upon the user data, a viewership effect of the content reproduced by said viewing apparatus and a content distribution unit that distributes content data to be used to reproduce the content to said viewing apparatus. | 02-04-2010 |
20100027837 | Extracting Multiple Identifiers from Audio and Video Content - The presently claimed invention relates generally to content identification, such as extracting identifying information from content itself. One claim recites a method including: extracting first identifying information from data representing audio elements of an audio signal, said act of extracting first identifying information from data representing audio elements of the audio signal utilizes a programmed electronic processor; extracting second identifying information from data representing picture elements of a video signal that is associated with the audio signal, said act of extracting second identifying information from data representing picture elements of the video signal utilizes a programmed electronic processor; and utilizing the first identifying information or the second identifying information in a synchronization process, said synchronization process controls content synchronization during rendering of the audio signal or the video signal. Of course, other combinations and claims are provided as well. | 02-04-2010 |
20100027838 | Image-Based Visibility Measurement - The invention provides an image-based visibility measurement solution in which an image is used to calculate a visibility (visual range). In one embodiment, a lighting condition for the image is determined and the visibility calculation is adjusted based on the lighting condition. Further, the invention can obtain image data for a set of portions of the image and estimate a visual range based on each portion. The estimated visual ranges can be combined to calculate the visibility for the image. Still further, multiple metrics can be calculated, each of which is used to estimate a visual range. Subsequently, the visual ranges can be used to calculate the visibility for the image. Even further, configuration data that is based on a set of training images can be used to calculate the visibility for a new image. To this extent, the invention can incorporate the lighting condition, portions of the image having differing features, multiple metrics, and/or feedback through training images to accurately measure visibility based on an image. | 02-04-2010 |
20100034420 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR VIDEO BASED FIRE DETECTION - A method for recognizing fire using block-wise processing of video input provided by a video detector. Video input is divided into a plurality of frames ( | 02-11-2010 |
20100034421 | DIGITAL TERRAIN MAPPING WITH GPS AND LASER SYSTEM - This invention concerns digital terrain mapping, and in particular a method for producing digital terrain maps of the vicinity around large rotating machinery, such as draglines, shovels, excavators, wheel loaders or cranes. The method involves the following steps: Mounting a 2-Dimensions laser scanner and a high-accuracy RTK GPS system to an item of large rotating machinery, at a radial extremity of the machinery. Arranging the laser scanner to record radial lines of data representing the terrain below the extremity of the machinery. Rotating the machinery completely about its axis of rotation and generating data from both the laser scanner and GPS system that represents the terrain around the machinery. Wherein, a calibration is conducted by recording data from markers at known locations in the terrain below the extremity of the machinery to determine the relative positions of the laser scanner centre and the GPS antenna, the orientation of the laser scanner and the time lag between the data generated from both the laser scanner and the GPS system. In a further aspect the invention concerns equipment for use in the method and software. | 02-11-2010 |
20100040255 | Processing Data Representing Video and Audio and Methods Related Thereto - The presently claimed invention relates generally to processing data representing video and audio. One claim recites an apparatus including: electronic memory to buffer video or audio obtained from storage associated with a publicly accessible internet site; and one or more electronic processors programmed for: processing the obtained video or audio to extract identifying information therefrom, the processing processes data representing picture elements of the obtained video or processes data representing audible portions of the obtained audio; communicating with a data repository using the identifying information to identify the obtained video or audio; obtaining information associated with the identified video or audio, the information including payment information for use of the identified audio or video; and providing a remotely located user access to the payment information. Of course, other claims and combinations are provided as well. | 02-18-2010 |
20100046790 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR GENERATING A SYMBOL IDENTIFICATION CHALLENGE - Provided is a system and method for generating a symbol identification challenge. The method includes receiving a plurality of symbols, e.g. a base symbol and a noise symbol. A first visual property and a second visual property is then applied to each received symbol. Each symbol is then transformed by transitioning the first visual property to the second visual property and the second visual property to the first visual property. A plurality of views is then generated by transitioning between the transformations of each symbol. An associated system for performing the method is also provided. | 02-25-2010 |
20100046791 | IMAGE-BASED INVENTORY CONTROL SYSTEM USING ADVANCED IMAGE RECOGNITION - Systems for monitoring an inventory condition of objects based on captured images are described. An exemplary system includes at least one storage drawer, each storage drawer including a plurality of storage locations for storing objects; and a data storage device storing reference data for each storage drawer. The reference data includes, for each region of interest corresponding to each respective storage drawer, at least one of a reference image signature representing attributes of the region of interest when a stored object is present, and a reference image signature representing attributes of the region of interest when the stored object is not present. A data processor of the system is configured to derive an image signature representing attributes of a region of interest corresponding to a drawer using a captured image of the drawer; and determine an inventory condition of the drawer according to the stored reference data corresponding to the region of interest and the derived image signature representing attributes of the captured image of the region of interest. | 02-25-2010 |
20100046792 | METHODS FOR COUNTING CORN SILKS OR OTHER PLURAL ELONGATED STRANDS AND USE OF THE COUNT FOR CHARACTERIZING THE STRANDS OR THEIR ORIGIN - Methods for relatively high throughput counting of elongated strands including silks of a plant. One method includes segregating similar sized pieces of silks from a section of the plant's silk brush and quantitatively counting the pieces using an automated method. The automated method can be a digital image of the pieces distributed across or above a surface, and image analysis to derive a count of individual pieces. An alternative automated method is to move the pieces sequentially and substantially singulated past a detector. | 02-25-2010 |
20100046793 | ICE QUALITY SENSING SYSTEM EMPLOYING DIGITAL IMAGING - A refrigerator includes a sensing system for detecting quality of ice cubes in an ice cube storage bin. The system includes a digital image capture device coupled to a digital image analyzing system which captures digital images of the ice cube storage bin intermittently. The digital images are processed to determine a centroid of the ice mass within the bin, and the centroid is analyzed to determine whether it is located outside a predetermined acceptable boundary. A centroid outside of the acceptable range indicates an ice clumping situation. Additionally, the digital images are analyzed to determine whether ice cubes are smaller than a predetermined minimal acceptable size in order to detect stale ice. The level of ice in the bin can also be determined from the images. Notifications for clumping, stale and/or low level ice are sent to a user interface. | 02-25-2010 |
20100046794 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR MEASURING MICROPOROUS FILM ON BATTERY ELECTRODE PLATE, COATER EQUIPPED WITH FILM MEASURING DEVICE, AND COATING METHOD USING FILM MEASURING METHOD - There is provided a film measuring device capable of accurately and easily measuring the thickness of a microporous film formed on a battery electrode plate over the entire area of the film. A color CCD sensor | 02-25-2010 |
20100046795 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR EMBEDDING WATERMARKS - Methods and apparatus for embedding a watermark are disclosed. An example method for embedding a watermark disclosed herein comprises identifying a transform coefficient associated with a compressed digital data stream, obtaining a mantissa code, and modifying the transform coefficient based on the mantissa code to embed the watermark. | 02-25-2010 |
20100054525 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATIC RECOGNITION AND LABELING OF ANATOMICAL STRUCTURES AND VESSELS IN MEDICAL IMAGING SCANS - A system and method for recognizing and labeling anatomical structures in an image includes creating a list of objects such that one or more objects on the list appear before a target object and setting the image as a context for a first object on the list. The first object is detected and labeled by subtracting a background of the image. A local context is set for a next object on the list using the first object. The next object is detected and labeled by registration using the local context. Setting a local context and detecting and labeling the next object are repeated until the target object is detected and labeled. Labeling of the target object is refined using region growing. | 03-04-2010 |
20100054526 | METHOD, APPARATUS AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR PROVIDING GAZE INFORMATION - An apparatus for providing gaze information may include a processor. The processor may be configured to receive content, determine gaze information of an individual relative to the content, modify the gaze information based on modification criteria, modify the content based on the modified gaze information, and provide for visualization of the modified content. A corresponding method and computer program product are also provided. | 03-04-2010 |
20100054527 | Architecture and methods for creating and representing time-dependent imagery - The present invention pertains to geographical image processing of time-dependent imagery. Various assets acquired at different times are stored and processing according to acquisition date in order to generate one or more image tiles for a geographical region of interest. The different image tiles are sorted based on asset acquisition date. Multiple image tiles for the same region of interest may be available. In response to a user request for imagery as of a certain date, one or more image tiles associated with assets from prior to that date are used to generate a time-based geographical image for the user. | 03-04-2010 |
20100054528 | Method for Producing and Visualizing an Optically Hidden Mark - The utility model can be used to visualize hidden images (marks) that are used to identify the object, thereby providing protection against forgery. The device includes means for cooling of the viewed object (VO), the mirror-like surface (MS) of which includes an optically invisible marking image formed by modifying an area of MS by chaining the surface energy of the modified area. Said optically invisible marking image is characterized by the possibility of visualization through the establishment of a meta-stable environment of water vapor in the area of the MS of the object in the process of cooling VO. A visually perceptible image of the optically invisible mark is obtained in the form of distinguished structures formed by stable phase particles of the meta-stable environment at the sites of the MS of VO having different surface energy. The cooling device contains a designated placement location for VO is embodied in the form of Peltier element realizing the Peltier effect. Contacts and of Peltier element are connected to an electrical circuit with adjustable amperage. The designated placement location is located on the external, visually accessible surface of contact of the cooled Peltier element, enabling the placement of VO in an area with a non-homogenous temperature field and the cooling of MS of VO to a temperature below the dew point temperature of water vapor in the environment surrounding MS by controlled changes in the temperature of the Peltier element cooled contact. The device may be equipped with optical means of visual observation of the visualized marking image. | 03-04-2010 |
20100054529 | Methods for Extracting Identifying Information From Video and Audio Content - The presently claimed invention relates generally to extracting or computing identifying information from media content, e.g., such as video and audio. One claim recites a method including: obtaining data representing video or audio associated with an online network resource; obtaining instructions from the online network resource, the instructions are associated with the data; processing the data in accordance with at least some of the instructions; utilizing one or more processors, computing identifying information from the data, the identifying information facilitating identification of the video or audio. Of course, other claims and combinations are provided as well. | 03-04-2010 |
20100054530 | System and Method for Data Acquisition and Processing - A system and method for data acquisition and processing is described which can form the basis of new and improved business and consumer services. Encoded datagram images are captured using a mobile phone or PDA or fixed line device and processed to determine authorisation and level of access to remote data services then transmitted to a remote data processing centre. The captured datagram may comprise a variety of geometric shapes and language characters and even some custom graphics such as the use of a corporate logo incorporated into a datagram structure. The method makes possible payment transactions which link the authentication of the mobile phone subscriber to pre-registered credit facilities such as credit card companies which enables the purchase of music or a software game without requiring the mobile operator to become a general financial credit service. | 03-04-2010 |
20100054531 | Digital watermark embedding apparatus and digital watermark detection apparatus - A digital watermark embedding apparatus includes a scaling unit configured to scale at least a specific frequency component of an input image signal to generate a scaled image signal, a control unit configured to control at least one of a phase and amplitude of the scaled image signal in accordance with watermark information to generate a controlled image signal, and a combiner to combine the input image signal and the controlled image signal to generate an output image signal embedded with the watermark information. | 03-04-2010 |
20100061585 | BLIND WAVELET-BASED WATERMARKING METHOD - A blind wavelet-based watermarking method is provided to extract one or more embedded watermarks form one or more high subbands of a watermarked image generated by 1-level or 2 level wavelet transform. One or more least-mean-square (LMS) filters are trained to predict the data sets in the high subbands of an original image by converting a low subband of the watermarked image. Therefore, the one or more embedded watermarks could be extracted by comparing the predicted data sets in the high subbands with data sets in corresponding subbands of the watermarked image. | 03-11-2010 |
20100061586 | TV WITH VIEWER-ADAPTED HEIGHT AND ANGLE ADJUSTMENT - The height and angular orientation of a TV on a movable stand are automatically adjusted based on viewer position as imaged by a camera and analyzed by image recognition algorithms. | 03-11-2010 |
20100061587 | SYSTEM, METHOD, AND APPARATUS FOR VIDEO FINGERPRINTING - Embodiments of methods, apparatuses, devices and systems associated with video fingerprinting are disclosed. | 03-11-2010 |
20100061588 | FLOATATION-VOLUME ADEQUACY DETERMINING SYSTEM AND FLOATATION-VOLUME ADEQUACY DETERMINING METHOD - A floatation-volume adequacy determining system including a receiving unit; an image processing unit; an adequacy determining unit; and a display unit. The receiving unit receives an actual image that is taken by a capsule medical apparatus that is floating in a liquid in the direction toward the liquid level. The image processing unit generates a determination reference image that represents an adequate range of a floatation volume of the capsule medical apparatus adjusted to the actual image that is taken by the capsule medical apparatus. An adequacy determining unit compares the determination reference image and the actual image with each other and determines whether the floatation volume of the capsule medical apparatus is adequate. The display unit displays a result of determining whether the floatation volume of the capsule medical apparatus is adequate. | 03-11-2010 |
20100061589 | METHOD FOR DETERMINING THE TEMPERATURE OF A DIGITAL X-RAY DETECTOR, METHOD FOR GENERATING A TEMPERATURE-CORRECTED X-RAY IMAGE AND DIGITAL X-RAY DETECTOR - In order to improve the image quality of X-ray detectors, a method for determining the temperature of a digital X-ray detector with a scintillator and a pixel matrix of photodiodes is provided at least one point of the X-ray detector. According to the method a reverse voltage is applied to at least a first photodiode, the reverse current of the at least first photodiode is measured, and the temperature of the X-ray detector at the first photodiode is determined from the reverse current. | 03-11-2010 |
20100061590 | FINGERPRINTING DIGITAL VIDEO FOR RIGHTS MANAGEMENT IN NETWORKS - Systems and methods generate video fingerprints for video data streams. A collection of sub-fingerprints constitute a fingerprint block. The size and temporal position of the block is chosen to represent the video that is being served. The video server has prior information about the video semantics. Based on this information, the server generates control codes that identify which blocks, based on time/byte offsets, in the sequence best represent the video object. The video receiver is equipped with facilities to generate these fingerprint blocks. The block(s) are sent back to the server. The server is equipped with facilities to verify and record the mismatches with respect to references. The mismatch statistics may be archived for use in a number of applications. | 03-11-2010 |
20100067734 | Geographical Encoding Imagery and Video - The presently claimed invention relates generally to encoding imagery and video. One claim recites a method including: obtaining data representing an image or video captured from an aerial platform; and utilizing a multi-purpose computer processor configured to: control communication of the data; and steganographically encode the data to include information representing polynomial coefficients associated with at least one geographic dimension. Other combinations and claims are provided as well. | 03-18-2010 |
20100067735 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR TESTING SYSTEMS WITH VISUAL OUTPUT - The invention relates to a device and a method for testing systems or devices with visual output and at least one mechanical input element. The device comprises an input unit for the automated mechanical actuation of the at least one input element of the device, an image analysis unit, which acquires and analyzes the visual output of the device, and a control unit, which controls the input unit and image analysis unit, and automatically determines a test result based on predetermined desired outputs and the findings of the image analysis unit. | 03-18-2010 |
20100067736 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT - Encoding information is assigned to each block according to a position of the block in an image of the color image data. An image analyzing unit analyzes the block and outputs a feature value. A block determining unit determines whether the block is an embedding-possible block based on the feature value and demarcates a watermark embedding area in the embedding-possible block. An embedding unit embeds the watermark information by deforming the watermark embedding area according to a pattern that represents the watermark information and replacing a pixel in the watermark embedding area with another pixel near the pixel to be replaced. | 03-18-2010 |
20100067737 | Steganographic Systems and Methods - The present invention relates to steganographic systems and methods. One claim recites an apparatus including: electronic memory to buffer a compressed digital watermark object, the digital watermark object is a separate object relative to a compressed video object; and an electronic processor. The electronic processor is programmed for: decompressing the compressed video object to yield a decompressed video object, the decompressed video object comprising data representing video picture elements and data representing audio elements; decompressing the digital watermark object to obtain digital watermark data; steganographically hiding the digital watermark data in the data representing video picture elements or in the data representing audio elements to yield digital watermarked video or audio; and rendering the digital watermarked video or audio. Other claims and combinations are provided too. | 03-18-2010 |
20100074464 | OBJECT DETECTION AND USER SETTINGS - Object detection and user setting techniques are described. In an implementation, an object placed on a surface of the client is detected by the client. A determination is made as to which of a plurality of users correspond to the detected object. One or more user settings are located that correspond to the determined user. | 03-25-2010 |
20100074465 | METHOD FOR ANALYZING A HUMAN HEAD - The invention relates to a method and apparatus for analyzing a human head according to psycho-physiognomy, and offers an at least partly automated analysis. However, it can also perform such an analysis independently or without any intervention by an analyst or any other person, so that the method offers a fully automated analysis. The method for analyzing a human head includes the steps of establishing a computerized system having a computer unit; providing a reference model with a model reference point in the computerized system; providing a database with a plurality of contents in the computerized system; generating an image of a human head; transmitting the image to the computerized system; fixing a image reference point in the image; comparing the image reference point with the model reference point to determine a deviation; assigning a numerical value to the determined deviation; and assigning a content of the database to the obtained numerical value. | 03-25-2010 |
20100074466 | Using Classification Techniques in Digital Watermarking - A classification scheme assigns samples of the watermarked media to classes based on classification criteria indicating a likely presence of a watermarked signal. Once classified, the scheme determines statistical characteristics of the media signal for the classes, and assigns a figure of merit to the samples in each class. A watermark decoder (e.g., reader and/or detector) use the figure of merit to adapt a watermark decoding function to the statistical features of the classes, such as weighting to samples to improve watermark decoding. | 03-25-2010 |
20100074467 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REMOVING DIGITAL WATERMARKS FROM A WATERMARKED IMAGE - A system and method for removing digital watermarks from a watermarked image of an electronic device are provided. The method decomposes the watermarked image to a plurality of Eigen-images, assigns an identifier to each of the Eigen-images in sequence, and identifies an identifier range of the Eigen-images to be removed from the watermarked image. The method further selects Eigen-images having watermarked information from the identifier range, deletes the Eigen-images having watermarked information from the Eigen-images within the identifier range, and integrates the remainder Eigen-images of the identifier range to form a composite image. Additionally, the method determines whether the composite image is distorted, and stores the composite image into a storage device of the electronic device if the composite image is not distorted. | 03-25-2010 |
20100074468 | IMAGE GENERATING APPARATUS AND COMPUTER PROGRAM - The present invention relate to an image generating apparatus for generating an image from a viewpoint specified by a user. According to the invention, the apparatus has a storage unit that stores data of a plurality of images, and a disparity map generating unit that generates a disparity map. The disparity map is associated with a pair of images including a first image and a second image, and indicates corresponding pixels in the first and second images. | 03-25-2010 |
20100080410 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PREVENTING USE OF A PHOTOGRAPH IN DIGITAL SYSTEMS - A photograph processing system that prevents the unpermitted use of photographic media containing a depiction of a protected person, view or item. A permission object is located in physical proximity to the person, view or object being protected. A photograph including the permission object will contain a depiction of the permission object. When the photograph is processed, the photograph processing system scans the photograph for a permission object. If a permission object is found, the system further processes the photograph according to the permission associated with the permission object. | 04-01-2010 |
20100080411 | METHODS AND APPARATUS TO AUTOMATICALLY CRAWL THE INTERNET USING IMAGE ANALYSIS - Methods and apparatus to automatically crawl the Internet using image analysis are disclosed. An example method to visually identify components of a web page includes rendering a web page in a web browser to generate an image, and visually analyzing at least a portion of the image with a machine to detect a region containing a possible web page component. The example method further includes automatically determining a type of the detected web page component and storing the web page component type and a location of the portion of the web page. | 04-01-2010 |
20100080412 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS OF GRAPHICALLY CONVEYING A STRENGTH OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN USERS - An exemplary method includes generating a graphic configured to represent a strength of communication between a user and another user and modifying the graphic based on at least one factor associated with one or more communications between the users. An exemplary system includes a storage facility configured to maintain data associated with a strength of communication between a user and another user and a strength of communication facility configured to generate a graphic configured to graphically represent the strength of communication in accordance with the data. The strength of communication facility is further configured to modify the graphic based on a change in at least one factor associated with one or more communications between the users. | 04-01-2010 |
20100080413 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR VIDEO TRANSMISSION AND PROCESSING WITH CUSTOMIZED WATERMARKING DELIVERY - Methods and systems for video transmission and processing with customized watermarking delivery are disclosed and may include watermarking data at a communication device utilizing received global positioning (GPS) data and communicating the watermarked video data to a receiving communication device. The receiving communication device may verify the watermarked data, and may determine whether to render the received watermarked data based on the verification. The communication device may include an edge device, and may receive a feedback signal communicated from the receiving communication device. The watermarking of subsequently processed data may be adjusted based on the received feedback signal, which may include GPS data and/or device parameters corresponding to the receiving communication device. The watermarked video data communicated to the receiving communication device may be adjusted based on one or more device parameters corresponding to the receiving communication device and/or GPS information. | 04-01-2010 |
20100080414 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR ATTACHING ADDITIONAL INFORMATION - An image analyzing section acquires information on a type of a subject as an image attribute using an image analysis technique, and if the subject is a human, information on clothes of the human as the image attribute. In an additional information DB, there are provided plural pieces of candidate additional information which possibly become additional information, plural reference attributes for each piece of the candidate additional information, and individual compatibility degrees for the respective reference attributes. For every piece of the candidate additional information, a sum of the individual compatibility degrees of the reference attributes which are correlated with the image attributes acquired from the image are calculated as a total compatibility degree. The candidate additional information having the total compatibility degree equal to or higher than a certain value is selected as additional information. A tag having this additional information is attached to an image file. | 04-01-2010 |
20100086170 | Progressive Image Quality Control Using Watermarking - The ability to remove a watermark from an encoded image by reversible watermarking opens the possibility of various novel applications. Several such applications are detailed. One permits different classes of consumers to gain access to different versions of an image. A pristine image is intentionally degraded in some fashion, and distributed to consumers. By reference to one or more watermarks in the degraded image, some or all of the degradation can be removed, or transformed to a less-objectionable state. Through such arrangements, image consumers with different needs can gain access to versions of the image having differing qualities. | 04-08-2010 |
20100086171 | METHOD OF IMAGING CODING PATTERN HAVING MERGED DATA SYMBOLS - A method of decoding a coding pattern disposed on a surface of a substrate. The method comprises the steps of: (a) operatively positioning an optical reader relative to the surface and capturing an image of a portion of the coding pattern, the coding pattern comprising: a plurality of merged data symbols, each merged data symbol being represented by a plurality of data elements disposed on the surface, wherein each merged data symbol encodes a first individual data symbol from a first codeword and a second individual data symbol from a second codeword; (b) sampling a set of the merged data symbols contained in the imaged portion; and (c) decoding the sampled set of merged data symbols to obtain the first codeword encoded by a corresponding set of first individual data symbols. | 04-08-2010 |
20100086172 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATIC SEDIMENT OR SLUDGE DETECTION, MONITORING, AND INSPECTION IN OIL STORAGE AND OTHER FACILITIES - A method includes receiving an image of a storage tank at a processing system, where the storage tank is capable of storing one or more materials. The method also includes processing the image to identify a level, profile, or amount of sludge or sediment present in the storage tank. Processing the image could include segmenting the image into multiple segments and using the segments to identify a non-linearity in the image. The image could be segmented into segments having different grey levels using grey level values associated with previously-identified sediment or sludge. The identified level or amount of sludge or sediment could be used to automatically schedule maintenance for the storage tank. | 04-08-2010 |
20100092025 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SECURE SHARING OF RECORDED COPIES OF A MULTICAST AUDIOVISUAL PROGRAM USING SCRAMBLING AND WATERMARKING TECHNIQUES - A method for secure distribution of an original audiovisual stream to a plurality of consumer devices through a multicast session includes generating a protected audiovisual stream by modifying the original audiovisual stream; a complementary stream of any format including digital information suitable to allow reconstruction of an audiovisual stream from the protected stream; calculating a first mark as function of a unique identifier of a receiving consumer device or an external secure device; calculating on the receiving consumer device a first marked audiovisual stream from the protected stream as function of the first mark and the complementary stream; transmitting the protected stream from the receiving device to the second device; calculating a second mark as function of a unique identifier of a second device, an external secure device or a consumer using the second device; and calculating on the second consumer device a second marked audiovisual stream from the protected stream received from the receiving device as function of the second mark. | 04-15-2010 |
20100092026 | METHOD, APPARATUS AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR PROVIDING PATTERN DETECTION WITH UNKNOWN NOISE LEVELS - An apparatus for providing pattern detection may include a processor. The processor may be configured to iteratively test different models and corresponding scales for each of the models. The models may be employed for modeling parameters corresponding to a visually detected data. The processor may be further configured to evaluate each of the models over a plurality of iterations based on a function evaluation of each of the models, select one of the models based on the function evaluation of the selected one of the models, and utilize the selected one of the models for fitting the data. | 04-15-2010 |
20100092027 | IMAGE SENSOR AND METHOD - Described herein are methods that may improve yield of an image sensor. In one embodiment, a method that may improve yield of an image sensor includes generating output values of control logic associated with an array of light sensitive elements. The method further may include determining if the control logic has one or more faulty output values. The method further may include automatically correcting the one or more faulty output values. In another embodiment, a method that may improve yield of an image sensor includes providing light to an array of light sensitive elements. The method further may include generating an image based on the light sensitive elements and associated control logic. The method further may include disconnecting control lines from control logic that has one or more faulty output values based on viewing the image. The method further may include generating another image based on the control logic having no faulty output values. | 04-15-2010 |
20100092028 | Data Decomposition Method and Computer System Therefrom - For multi-dimensional temporal-spatial data, EEMD is applied to time series of each spatial location to obtain IMF-like components of different time scales. All the ith IMF-like components of all the time series of all spatial locations are arranged to obtain ith temporal-spatial multi-dimensional IMF-like component. For two-dimensional spatial data or images, the two-dimensional spatial data or images are consider as a collection of one-dimensional series in first direction along locations in second direction. The same approach to the one used in temporal-spatial data decomposition is used to obtain the resulting two-dimensional IMF-like components. Each of the resulted IMF-like components are taken as the new two-dimensional data for further decomposition, but the data is considered as a collection of one-dimensional series in second-direction along locations in first-direction. | 04-15-2010 |
20100098287 | REVERSIBLE DATA HIDING - Methods for reversible data hiding are disclosed herein. These methods may be applied to images for reversible image data hiding. In one embodiment, a method for reversible data hiding comprises identifying carrier data having a plurality of components and establishing prediction-errors for each of the components of the carrier data. A first threshold and a second threshold are established. The prediction-errors of the components are evaluated against the first threshold to identify components for possible hiding. The components identified for possible hiding are evaluated against the second threshold to identify components for hiding. To-be embedded data is embedded into the carrier data identified for hiding to create marked data. The marked data is evaluated for overflow or underflow. If overflow or underflow is detected, histogram modification is performed. Marked data is then established. | 04-22-2010 |
20100098288 | Method of processing images to combat copying - The invention relates to a method of processing source images which is intended to combat their copying by a camcorder or a camera during their display, for example in a cinema hall. The source image sequence represents a scene. According to the invention, the method comprises the following steps:
| 04-22-2010 |
20100098289 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ANALYSIS OF SPATIO-TEMPORAL DATA - A system and method of analyzing at least one dataset having temporal and spatial content is provided. A method includes the steps of applying a colorimetric mapping to the dataset based on the spatial content ( | 04-22-2010 |
20100098290 | METHOD FOR DETECTING A CLEAR PATH THROUGH TOPOGRAPHICAL VARIATION ANALYSIS - A method for detecting a clear path of travel for a vehicle wherein the detecting includes a fusion of a plurality of analyses including monitoring an image from a camera device includes analyzing the image through clear path detection analysis to determine a clear path of travel within the image, analyzing an area in front of the vehicle utilizing a topographical variation analysis to determine a flat surface upon which the vehicle can travel, combining the clear path of travel and the determined flat surface to describe an enhanced clear path of travel, and utilizing the enhanced clear path of travel to navigate the vehicle. | 04-22-2010 |
20100104128 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING THE POSITION OF A STRUCTURE ON A CARRIER RELATIVE TO A REFERENCE POINT OF THE CARRIER - A method is provided for determining the position of a structure on a carrier, relative to a reference point of the carrier, said method comprising the steps of: a) providing an image including a reference structure; b) recording an image of the structure on the carrier by means of a recording device, with a known recording position relative to the reference points; c) superimposing the two images to form one superimposed image; d) determining the image distance of the two structures in the superimposed image; e) shifting the two structures in the superimposed image relative to one another, depending on the determined image distance; f) checking whether the determined image distance is below a predetermined maximum value; wherein, if the image distance is below the maximum value, the method is continued in step g), and, if the image distance is not below the maximum value, steps d)-f) are repeated, taking into account the determined image distance/distances: g) determining the position of the structure relative to the reference point, on the basis of the recording position in step b) and of the image distance/image distances determined in step(s) d). | 04-29-2010 |
20100104129 | EMBEDDING AND DETECTING WATERMARKS - A watermark embedding method for embedding a secret message sequence in a document. The techniques include obtaining layout information of the document, extracting a digest of the document by using a Hash function, calculating embedded positions where the secret message sequence is embedded in the document, and dispersedly hiding the secret message sequence in each of the calculated embedded positions by altering the layout of the document. Also provided is a watermark embedding apparatus, a corresponding watermark detecting method and apparatus, and a method and system for detecting document integrity. The integrity of documents in various forms can be detected, and secret information to be hidden can be embedded therein and extracted therefrom. The techniques described are not limited to the document either in soft copy or in hard copy and have good robustness. | 04-29-2010 |
20100104130 | DOCUMENT PROCESSING APPARATUS AND DOCUMENT PROCESSING METHOD - Character spacing values in a document image are extracted and a variance is calculated for fluctuations in the character spacing values. When the calculated variance is lower than a preset threshold value, the document image is determined as having watermark information embedded therein. Such use of the variance in the character spacing values enables high-speed determination of the presence or absence of character-spacing watermark information. At this time, it is possible to speed up the determination by using only some character spacing values in the document, instead of using all character spacing values. | 04-29-2010 |
20100104131 | DOCUMENT PROCESSING APPARATUS AND DOCUMENT PROCESSING METHOD - Character string heights and line spacing values are acquired as character string information on a document image, and fluctuations in the character string height and fluctuations in the line spacing value are calculated as variances. If the calculated variance is equal to or lower than a threshold value, the character string information is determined as being appropriate for use in extracting line-spacing watermarks, and line-spacing watermark information is extracted from the character string information. | 04-29-2010 |
20100104132 | COMPUTER IMAGE PROCESSING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR NDT/NDI TESTING DEVICES - A system and method suitable for producing color images of signals received from flaw detection devices with high efficiency that allow accurate image processing in real time by making use of a commercially available graphics accelerator and associated software. An exemplary S-scan scanned area is mapped into vertex coordinates and primitives to create a surface. The surface is then given a color texture representing S-scan signal amplitude information. An efficient commercially available graphics accelerator is used to render color image efficiently based the input of the vertex coordinates, primitives and the color texture. | 04-29-2010 |
20100104133 | Pre-Processed Information Embedding System - Auxiliary information ( | 04-29-2010 |
20100119102 | WATER TABLES MAPPING - Described herein are implementations of various technologies for a method for mapping water table depths. In one implementation, a satellite image of an area of interest may be received. The satellite image may comprise a red spectrum, a green spectrum and a blue spectrum. A first map may be generated that identifies only water features on the satellite image. The first map may be convolved with a digital elevation model of the area of interest to generate a second map. The second map may identify elevations of the water features on the satellite image. An interpolation algorithm may be applied to the second map to generate a third map. The third map may identify water tables and elevations for the water tables on the satellite image. | 05-13-2010 |
20100119103 | ARRANGEMENT AND METHOD FOR NON DESTRUCTIVE MEASUREMENT OF WALL THICKNESS AND SURFACE SHAPES OF OBJECTS WITH AN INNER SURFACE - The invention relates to a method of carrying out measurements with penetrating radiation on a hollow object comprising at least one wall surrounding an inner space of the object, said wall comprising an inner surface and an outer surface, said method at least being carried out for determining a position and shape of at least a portion of the inner surface of the wall. | 05-13-2010 |
20100119104 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SURFACE MEASUREMENT - A method of determining the dimensions and location of a surface feature, for example a valve seat. The surface of the feature is measured, for example using a spiral scan path with a tactile probe and the multiple data points acquired from the scan are used to create a digitized image. The digitized image is fitted to a nominal image (e.g. CAD data) of the surface feature. The deviation of the digitized image from the nominal image is used to determine at least one of the dimensions, location and form deviation of the surface feature. | 05-13-2010 |
20100119105 | Image processing device and image processing progam - Provided is a technology of embedding watermark data into an arbitrarily-shaped region by applying a wavelet transform. Prepared are: image data into which the watermark data is to be embedded; a shape map that defines the arbitrarily-shaped region into which the watermark data is to be embedded within the image data; and the watermark data. An SA-DWT processing unit uses the shape map to recognize a given region included in the arbitrarily-shaped region within the image data, and subjects image data in the given region to the wavelet transform. The wavelet transform causes the image data in the arbitrarily-shaped region to be divided into frequency bands, and a watermark data embedding unit embeds the watermark data into a frequency space of the image data generated by the dividing. An SA-IDWT processing unit subjects the resultant to an inverse wavelet transform, and watermark-embedded image data is generated. | 05-13-2010 |
20100119106 | Digital watermark embedding method, digital watermark embedding apparatus, and storage medium storing a digital watermark embedding program - A method for embedding a watermark into digital data, when the watermark is to be embedded in a digital image, independently changes real number components and imaginary number components of each of coefficient values of a complex watermark coefficient matrix using key, from the watermark to be embedded in the digital image, a step for performing a discrete Fourier inverse transform on the sequence matrix of the changed watermark and generating a watermark pattern; and a step for adding like tiling the water mark pattern to the original image, and generating an embedded image. | 05-13-2010 |
20100119107 | INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF MULTI-STAGE CONNECTED INFORMATION PROCESSING UNITS - An information processing apparatus includes a plurality of information processing units that are connected in stages. Each of the information processing units comprises a plurality of processing units configured to process information and output a processing result and an integration unit configured to input the processing result of one or a plurality of the processing units and output the processing result after integrating the processing result, and changes a connection relation between the output of the processing result from the processing units and the input to the integration unit. | 05-13-2010 |
20100119108 | Methods and Arrangements for Composing Information-Carrying Artwork - Data defining several different information-carrying patterns can be stored on mass storage of a computer workstation and serve as a library of design elements for future designs. The same user-interface techniques that are employed to pick colors in image-editing software (e.g. Adobe Photoshop) and fill textures in presentation programs (e.g. Microsoft PowerPoint) can similarly be used to present a palette of information patterns to a security document designer. Clicking on a visual representation of the desired pattern makes the pattern available for inclusion in a security document being designed (e.g. filling a desired area). A great variety of other features and arrangements are also detailed. | 05-13-2010 |
20100124353 | Robust Encoding of Metadata in Lossy Encoded Images - Processing an image with embedded metadata by determining an integer value of a byte and separate the integer value into a plurality of digits, converting each of the digits into an encoding value using a predefined conversion function, selecting a pixel block in a metadata container, encoding into the selected pixel block each of the encoding values, and after the pixel block is encoded using a lossy compression scheme and subsequently decoded into raw pixel data, extracting the metadata from the raw pixel data, and performing at least one predefined action using the metadata. | 05-20-2010 |
20100124354 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR IMAGE FINGERPRINTING - The present invention provides methods and systems to protect an organization's secure image information from unauthorized disclosure. In one embodiment, methods and systems to generate image fingerprints are provided. The fingerprints are generated for each feature point of an image data. Because the fingerprints take into account the neighborhood features around each feature point, the image fingerprints are robust against derivate images where the original image may have been altered. Methods and systems to maintain a fingerprint database for an organization's secure image data is also provided. In one embodiment, client fingerprints are generated for image data that a user intends to transmit outside of the organization. In some embodiments, suitable security actions are initiated if any of the client fingerprints match any of the fingerprints in the fingerprint database. | 05-20-2010 |
20100124355 | INFORMATION PROCESSING DEVICE, INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD, AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM - An information processing device includes: a storage that stores information associating features with respective processing information; an electronic image acquisition unit that acquires an electronic image obtained by reading an image of an original; a specifying unit that recognizes a feature contained in the acquired electronic image, and specifies the processing information associated with the recognized feature and stored in the storage as processing information for use in processing the acquired electronic image; and a display control unit that displays information indicating the specified processing information and a part of the image where the feature is recognized in the acquired electronic image. | 05-20-2010 |
20100128918 | Method and System for Content Distribution Network Performance and Quality Measurement - A content delivery system includes an upload module, a content delivery module, and a quality assurance module. The upload module is configured to receive content from a content provider, and generate an upload signature for the content as received from the content provider. The content delivery module is configured to receive a request for the content from a client system, and provide the content to the client system. The quality assurance module is configured to generate a download signature for the content as delivered to the client, and compare the upload signature and the download signature. When the upload signature and the download signature do not match, the quality assurance module is further configured to generate an alert. | 05-27-2010 |
20100128919 | SYNCHRONIZING IMAGE SEQUENCES - As set forth herein, a computer-based method is employed to align a sequences of images. Metadata associated with images from two or more sources is received and a time stamp is extracted from the metadata. The images are sorted into sequences based at least in part upon the image source. The similarity of images from disparate sequences is measured and image pairs from disparate sequences with a similarity greater than a predetermined threshold are identified. A sequence of images is aligned by minimizing the misalignment of pairs. | 05-27-2010 |
20100128920 | SPATIAL INFORMATION DATABASE GENERATING DEVICE AND SPATIAL INFORMATION DATABASE GENERATING PROGRAM - An orthographic projection creating unit creates an orthographic projection image from an optical image of an ground surface acquired by an optical camera, and a DSM generating unit generates a DSM from the orthographic projection image. A laser point group data generating unit generates three-dimensional point group data based on a laser measurement result of the ground surface by a laser measuring device. An object generating unit groups altitude data of the DSM and altitude data of the three-dimensional point group data for each of objects such as buildings. A synthesizing unit extracts the same objects from the grouped altitude data of the DSM and three-dimensional point group data, associates the objects with each other based on respective coordinate information thereof, and replaces altitude information of the optical image by high-accuracy altitude information of the three-dimensional point group data for each of the objects. | 05-27-2010 |
20100128921 | Digital Watermarking of Low Bit Rate Video - Methods for embedding digital watermarks in compressed video include perceptual adapting a digital watermark in predicted and non-predicted data based on block activity derived from the compressed video stream, embedding in predicted objects in a video stream having separately compressed video objects, and bit rate control of watermarked video. | 05-27-2010 |
20100128922 | AUTOMATED GENERATION OF FORM DEFINITIONS FROM HARD-COPY FORMS - A computer-implemented method for form generation includes capturing an image of a hard-copy form, and automatically processing the image to identify form fields in the image and text characters associated with each of the form fields. Geometrical coordinates of the form fields that define respective filling areas for entry of information into the fields are determined. Optical character recognition (OCR) is applied to the text characters in order to identify form field names. Associations are determined between the form field names and object names of corresponding data objects. The geometrical coordinates of the filling areas of the form fields are combined with the object names of the data objects corresponding to the form fields to generate a form definition. | 05-27-2010 |
20100128923 | IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD AND IMAGE INSPECTING METHOD - The present invention relates to an image processing method and image inspecting method with high versatility which enable efficient and highly accurate proof of authenticity of a digital image. The image processing method subjects at least a part of a digital image which can exist temporarily or continuously in a falsification-vulnerable environment, to a first morphology operation using a predetermined structuring element, to process the digital image. The image inspecting method subjects the digital image thus processed, to a second morphology operation using the same structuring element as in the first morphology operation. The morphology operations have the idempotent and the presence or absence of falsification can be detected by determining identity of images before and after the second morphology operation. | 05-27-2010 |
20100128924 | Authentication of Identification Documents - Security of photographic identification documents is enhanced by embedding within the photographic image encoded information that may be correlated to other information pertaining to the individual represented by the image, such other information being, for example, printed on the document adjacent to the photograph. | 05-27-2010 |
20100128925 | AUTOMATIC MICROPARTICLE MARK READER - An automatic reader system, apparatus, and method for the identification and authentication of articles enabling automatic collection and processing of code data associated with microparticle marks, automatic determination of the code from the code data associated with microparticle marks, and automatic retrieval of reference information associated with the code. | 05-27-2010 |
20100135521 | Method for Extracting a Fingerprint Data From Video/Audio Signals - A method for extracting a fingerprint data from video/audio signals, comprising the steps of sending a series of video frame images into a fingerprint extractor; extracting a fingerprint data through the fingerprint extractor; and storing the fingerprint data into a fingerprint database, characterized in that, in the fingerprint extractor, said method further comprises the sub-steps of storing the video frame images in a frame buffer which accepts a new video frame image and discards the oldest video frame image in a first in first out (FIFO) fashion; sampling the video images by a sub-sampler which operates on one video frame image at a time, so that the output of the sub-sampler contains data samples obtained from multiple video frame images while the video image content itself is discarded, and after each video frame image is sampled at the head of the frame buffer, it is discarded after the sampling; making the data samples to go through a divider which divides the data samples into groups of video frames so as to be organized as one fingerprint segment after another one; incorporating optional information by a formatter to the fingerprint segment so as to form the fingerprint data, at the output of the formatter, the video image content is discarded, only the fingerprint data and the associated optional information remain; and transferring the fingerprint data and the associated optional information by a transfer buffer to the fingerprint database. According to the present invention, the method for extracting a fingerprint data from video/audio signals facilitates the automatic identification, archiving and search of video content without the need for human visual inspections. | 06-03-2010 |
20100135522 | Method for auditing and maintaining an ordered inventory - An image based optical character recognition method for auditing, maintaining and storing articles according to an ordered classification scheme not requiring exact physical positions. | 06-03-2010 |
20100135523 | VOLUME MARKING WITH LOW-FREQUENCY - A method and apparatus for embedding watermark data into a data stream using the insertion of low frequency carriers modulated by the watermark data into selected spatio-temporal volumes having equal total luminance values | 06-03-2010 |
20100135524 | Uniquely Linking Security Elements in Identification Documents - We provide techniques for uniquely linking security elements in identification documents. In one implementation we provide a digital watermark embedded on, and a smartcard chip embedded in, an identification document. The smart card chip includes a hash or a reduced-bit representation of the digital watermark, while the digital watermark includes a hash of information stored on the smartcard chip. In another implementation we cross-correlate encryption keys carried by various machine-readable features on an identification document. In still another implementation, we embed biometric information, which is stored in smartcard electronic circuitry, with a digital watermark. In one case the watermark is reversible, so that it can be removed to yield unmarked biometric information. In another case the watermark is fragile, to reveal whether the biometric information has been subjected to a transformation. In yet another implementation, we provide a jurisdictional indicator on an identification document. The jurisdictional indicator helps in decoding a digital watermark on the identification document. | 06-03-2010 |
20100135525 | Content Processing Methods Using Reversible Watermarking - The ability to remove a watermark from encoded content (e.g., an image) opens the possibility of various novel applications. Several such applications are detailed. One employs a reversible watermark in conjunction with a second (robust) watermark. In this arrangement, the payload of the reversible watermark conveys information about the robust watermark (e.g., encoding parameters, or an error signal), permitting removal of the robust watermark from an uncorrupted encoded image. By such arrangements, the encoded image can be fully restored to its pristine, unencoded state even if several different watermarks have been applied. | 06-03-2010 |
20100135526 | INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS AND INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD - This invention provides a technique of preventing determination of image alteration when digital image data has undergone, e.g., rotation without any substantial change in contents. To do this, an area separation processing unit separates image data into areas. For each of the separated areas, an area feature value calculator calculates an area feature value independent of the coordinate information of the image. An area order sorter sorts the separated areas in accordance with the calculated area feature values. A validation data generation processing unit generates validation data based on the sort result. | 06-03-2010 |
20100142748 | HEIGHT MEASUREMENT IN A PERSPECTIVE IMAGE - A method, apparatus, and computer program product are present for identifying a location in a scene. An image of the scene is displayed on a display device. A cursor on the image is moved in relation to a number of corresponding directions in a model of the scene in response to a manipulation of a number of controls associated with the cursor. A base location in the scene is identified corresponding to a particular point in response to a user input selecting the particular point in the image. A selected point in the image is selected for the scene and a displacement of the selected point is identified from the base location in response to another user input occurring after an identification of the base location. An offset location in the scene is identified corresponding to the selected point in the image using the base location and the displacement. | 06-10-2010 |
20100142749 | Digital Watermarking Apparatus and Methods - The present invention relates to various digital watermarking methods, apparatus and systems. One claim recites a method of determining a size or denomination of a momentary object. The method includes: utilizing a configured, multi-purpose electronic processor, decoding a digital watermark embedded in a monetary object, the watermark including data corresponding to a denomination of the monetary object; based on the data, determining feedback to indicate the denomination of the monetary object; and providing the feedback. Handheld computing devices can be advantageously employed with this combination. Of course, other combinations are provided and claimed. | 06-10-2010 |
20100142750 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR ARRANGING BLOCK OF VESSEL - A vessel block arranging device extracts image information on a vessel block loaded on a transporter, and determines whether to arrange the vessel block in an area in which the vessel block will be arranged by using location information of the arranged vessel block in the area and extracted image information, thereby reducing errors caused by determining the vessel block arrangement. | 06-10-2010 |
20100142751 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ANALYZING PANICLE STRUCTURE - An analysis apparatus that analyzes a branching structure of a panicle includes an image capturing unit that captures a panicle image; a portion extracting unit that extracts branches and seed grains from the panicle image; a branching-state determination unit that determines a branching state of the branches; and a data file that has a tree structure corresponding to the branching state of the branches, wherein the branching-state determination unit stores the branching state of the branches in the data file. | 06-10-2010 |
20100142752 | Signal Processing of Audio and Video Data, including Deriving Identifying Information - The present invention relates generally to signal processing of media content, e.g., audio or video content. One form of signal processing derives identifying information from media content. One claim recites a method including: upon encountering audio or video content, and using a programmed electronic processor, attempting to derive identifying information from data representing the encountered audio or video content; if a digital watermark is not obtained from the data representing the encountered audio or video content, modifying the encountered audio or video content; and then attempting to attempting to derive identifying information from data representing the modified audio or video content. Of course, other claims are provided too. | 06-10-2010 |
20100142753 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR MONITORING A MAGNETIC POWDER - The invention relates to apparatus monitoring test media used in or applicable to magnetic testing, said apparatus comprising a test element fitted with an artificial defect and a test medium feed and a test return as well as a magnetic field generator, further a magnetic field adjustment unit to adjust the magnetic field strength acting on the test element and/or the artificial defect, being adjustable at different magnetic field intensities to check the test medium, and to a corresponding method. | 06-10-2010 |
20100142754 | INSPECTION METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DISPLAY - A ghost image inspection system comprises a carrier, a reflectance measurement apparatus, and a processing apparatus. The carrier is configured to support the electronic paper display, and the electronic paper display is configured to show a test pattern and at least one sub-frame. The test pattern has a plurality of optical states. The reflectance measurement apparatus is coupled to the carrier and is configured to measure reflectances of the test pattern and at least one sub-frame, and the processing apparatus is coupled to the reflectance measurement apparatus and is configured to determine whether the reflectance is worse than a threshold value of a ghost image index. | 06-10-2010 |
20100142755 | Method, System, and Computer Program Product for Providing Cosmetic Application Instructions Using Arc Lines - Individuals want to look their best because when they look good, they feel good. It affects not only how they perceive themselves, but also how others perceive them. Unfortunately, many individuals don't look as good as they would like. And even more frustrating, they don't know how to produce their optimal facial look. Imagine a plain or average looking woman being able to transform herself into a very pretty woman. Imagine an already pretty woman being able to transform herself into a gorgeous woman. The Perfect Shape™ Makeover Process empowers individuals to achieve this magical transformation. Confidence, self-esteem, perception, and respect are enhanced in very positive ways. This is something individuals want on a universal, world-wide level. The Perfect Shape™ Makeover Process instructs the client how to use makeup to reshape each of these facial features to the ultimate of what they have to work with. | 06-10-2010 |
20100142756 | DOCUMENT SECURITY METHOD - Disclosed is a method ( | 06-10-2010 |
20100142757 | Method And Device Using Rotating Printing Arm To Project Or View Image Across A Workpiece - The technology disclosed relates to scanning of large flat substrates for reading and writing images. Examples are flat panel displays, PCB's and photovoltaic panels. Reading and writing is to be understood in a broad sense: reading may mean microscopy, inspection, metrology, spectroscopy, interferometry, scatterometry, etc. of a large workpiece, and writing may mean exposing a photoresist, annealing by optical heating, ablating, or creating any other change to the surface by an optical beam. In particular, we disclose a technology that uses a rotating or swinging arm that describes an arc across a workpiece as it scans, instead of following a traditional straight-line motion. | 06-10-2010 |
20100150393 | SENTIMENT CLASSIFICATION USING OUT OF DOMAIN DATA - Providing sentiment classification of out of domain data are disclosed herein. In some aspects, a source domain having a trained classifier is matched to a target domain having a target classifier. The trained classifier may include identifiers that may be used to predict the sentiment of opinion data for the source domain. The target classifier may use the identifiers of the trained classifier to determine the sentiment of opinion data for the target domain. | 06-17-2010 |
20100150394 | MODIFYING A CODED BITSTREAM - Various implementations are provided for, for example, determining watermarking data, performing the watermarking, and processing watermarked data. At least one implementation watermarks AVC bitstream that uses CAVLC entropy coding. The watermarking data may be determined in a pre-processing stage and stored for later use in watermark a bitstream. One method accesses variable-length encoded data including an encoding of information identifying an actual reference used to predictively encode an image. The encoding of the information has a particular value. The method determines an alternative value that is different from the particular value, such that the alternative value is an encoding of alternative information that identifies a different reference from the actual reference. The alternative value is for use in watermarking the variable-length encoded data. | 06-17-2010 |
20100150395 | Data Transmission by Extracted or Calculated Identifying Data - The present invention relates to data transmission, and more particularly relates to use of extracted or calculated identifying data as proxies in transmission. One claim recites a method including: receiving identifying data and information from a handheld device, the identifying data having been calculated from audible portions or video portions of first content utilizing at least a programmed electronic processor housed within the handheld device, in which the handheld device comprises a media player for rendering audio or video content to a user of the handheld device, and the information comprises capabilities associated with the handheld device; with reference to a database, determining additional content, enhanced or improved relative to the first content, that is associated with: i) the identifying data, and ii) the information; and providing metadata associated with the additional content to the handheld device. These techniques could be advantageously applied to cell phones. Of course, other combinations and claims are also provided. | 06-17-2010 |
20100150396 | Out of Phase Digital Watermarking in Two Chrominance Directions - The present invention relate generally to digital watermarking. One claim recites an apparatus comprising: electronic memory for buffering a color video signal comprising a first frame and a second frame; and one or more electronic processors programmed for: transforming a first color channel and a second color channel of the first frame by hiding a digital watermark in the first color channel such that the first digital watermark includes a first signal polarity, and hiding the digital watermark in the second color channel such that the digital watermark includes a second signal polarity that is inversely related to the first signal polarity; transforming a first color channel and a second color channel of the second frame by hiding a digital watermark in the first color channel such that the first digital watermark includes the second signal polarity, and hiding the digital watermark in the second color channel such that the digital watermark includes the first signal polarity. Of course, different combinations and claims are provided too. | 06-17-2010 |
20100150397 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IDENTIFYING AND LABELING FIELDS OF TEXT ASSOCIATED WITH SCANNED BUSINESS DOCUMENTS - A system for electronically distilling information from a business document uses a network scanner to electronically scan a platen area, having a business document thereon, to create a bitmap. A network server carries out a segmentation process to segment the scan generated bitmap into a bitmap object, the bitmap object corresponding to the scanned business document; a bitmap to text conversion process to convert the bitmap object into a block of text; a semantic recognition process to generate a structured representation of semantic entities corresponding to the scanned business document; and a document generation process to convert the structured representation into a structure text file. The semantic recognition process includes the processes of generating, for each line of text having a keyword therein, a terminal symbol corresponding to the keyword therein; generating, for each line of text not having a keyword therein and absent of numeric characters, an alphabetic terminal symbol; generating, for each line of text not having a keyword therein and having a numeric character therein, an alphanumeric terminal symbol; generating a string of terminal symbols from the generated terminal symbols; determining a probable parsing of the generated string of terminal symbols; labeling each text line, according to a determined function, with non-terminal symbols; and parsing the business document information text into fields of business document information text based upon the non-terminal symbol of each text line and the determined probable parsing of the generated string of terminal symbols. | 06-17-2010 |
20100158308 | Digital Cinema Projector Watermarking System and Method - Watermarking a projected image for rendering a digital presentation with a watermark coding. The watermark coding uniquely identifies the source of the image presentation. The watermark coding includes a set of images wherein each image defines a watermark image. The images include dots which uniquely define each image relative to the other images in the set by at least an angular relationship between dots of the image. | 06-24-2010 |
20100158309 | DETERMINING WOOD CHARACTERISTICS USING ANNUAL RING IMAGES FROM LUMBER FACES - Methods are described for predicting the percentage of latewood and specific gravity of lumber independent of moisture content using image analysis of the lumber surfaces. | 06-24-2010 |
20100158310 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IDENTIFYING AND TALLYING OBJECTS - An system and method for tallying objects presented for purchase preferably images the objects with a machine vision system while the objects are still, or substantially still. Images of the objects may be used to recognize the objects and to collect information about each object, such as the price. A pre-tally list may be generated and displayed to a customer showing the customer the cost of the recognized objects. A prompt on a customer display may be given to urge a customer to re-orient unrecognized objects to assist the machine vision system with recognizing such unrecognized objects. A tallying event, such as removing a recognized object from the machine vision system's field of view, preferably automatically tallies recognized objects so it is not necessary for a cashier to scan or otherwise input object information into a point of sale system. | 06-24-2010 |
20100158311 | Electronic watermark embedding device, electronic watermark detecting device, and programs therefor - An electronic watermark embedding device that embeds a graphic pattern representing information in image data includes a signaling feature period changing unit configured to change a period of signaling feature of a graphic pattern, a graphic pattern embedding unit configured to embed the graphic pattern in the image data as a period of the signaling feature changed by the signaling feature period changing unit, and an embedment region detecting unit configured to detect an embedding position where the graphic pattern is embedded from a region of the image data other than a background, whereby the signaling feature period changing unit changes the period of the signaling feature while maintaining the signaling feature when the image data undergo image enlargement or reduction processing, and the graphic pattern embedding unit embeds the graphic pattern in the embedding position on the region of the image data other than the background. | 06-24-2010 |
20100166250 | System for Identifying Motion Video Content - A system for identifying motion video content, with a registered fmgerprint databse in advance for video contents of broadcasting video signals, wherein said system at least comprises a frame buffer into which a consecutive of video frame images of a motion video content to be identified are stored; a frame sampler by which sample values on the video frame images are obtained; a fingerprint store in which the sample values are held as a fingerprint A for search in the fingerprint database; and a matcher which performs a fingerprint pattern matching algorithm between the fingerprint A for search in the fingerprint database and fingerprints B contained in the fingerprint database so as to determine whether the motion video content has ever been broadcasted before. The system according to the present invention can effectively organize, archive, and search video content; lower the cost of digital storage devices; and identify video content efficiently and with minimal or no human interactions. | 07-01-2010 |
20100166251 | Method for Watermarking a Digital Data Set and Device Implementing Said Method - The invention relates to a method of watermarking a data set comprising the steps of:
| 07-01-2010 |
20100166252 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING BLOOD OXYGENATION USING A MOBILE COMMUNICATION DEVICE | 07-01-2010 |
20100166253 | GENERATING DATA REPRESENTATIVE OF A FRAGMENTED DOCUMENT - Systems and methods to generate data representative of a fragmented document are provided. A particular method includes moving a plurality of pieces of a document that has been fragmented. The method also includes capturing images of the pieces. Each of the images includes at least one side of at least one of the plurality of pieces. The method further includes processing the images to generate a data file including at least a portion of the document where the portion is determined based on image data associated with two or more of the plurality of pieces. | 07-01-2010 |
20100166254 | Device and Method for Processing Images to Determine a Signature of a Film - A broadband switched multiplexer comprising an input broadband demultiplexer ( | 07-01-2010 |
20100166255 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR EVALUATING VEHICLE REFERENCE PLANES - A method and apparatus for comparing reference planes during a vehicle wheel alignment procedure using a machine vision vehicle wheel alignment system. The machine vision vehicle wheel alignment system is configured to acquire position and orientation data associated with at least one optical target disposed in a field of view, to establish a first reference plane associated with a surface on which a vehicle undergoing an alignment procedure is disposed. Positional information associated with each wheel of the vehicle is then acquired by the machine vision vehicle wheel alignment system, and utilized to establish a second reference plane associated with each wheel of the vehicle. Differences between an orientation of the first reference plane and an orientation of the second reference plane are determined and identified to an operator or utilized to characterize components of the vehicle or vehicle support surface. | 07-01-2010 |
20100172538 | Hiding and Detecting Auxiliary Data in Media Materials and Signals - The present technology relates to steganographically hiding messages in materials such as paper stock, plastic and film. The technology can also be used to encode auxiliary data in imagery, which may be separately marked (e.g., by altering values of digital image pixels), or may simply be formed on a marked material. | 07-08-2010 |
20100172539 | DIGITAL WATERMARK EMBEDDING DEVICE AND METHOD, AND DIGITAL WATERMARK DETECTION DEVICE AND METHOD - A digital watermark embedding device according to the present invention includes: a watermark pattern generation part ( | 07-08-2010 |
20100172540 | Synchronizing Rendering of Multimedia Content - Auxiliary data encoded in multimedia content signals synchronizes rendering of different media content types in multimedia content. This auxiliary data includes one or more digital watermarks that are used to synchronize playback of the different media content signals. The digital watermarks identify different media signals, identify rendering locations, such as temporal or spatial areas in a first signal where the media signal is to be rendered, or provide rendering control scripts for controlling playback. | 07-08-2010 |
20100183188 | OPTICAL MEASURING DEVICE - A method for determining the surface topography of a coated object and for the simultaneous spatially resolved determination of the thickness of the layer on the coated object. It is provided that the surface topography is measured with the aid of white-light interferometry, the thickness of the layer is measured by the principle of reflectometry, and by using, for both measurements, a shared radiation source having an electromagnetic radiation spectrum, which is reflected from the layer surface in a first wavelength range contained in the radiation spectrum and which penetrates into the layer in a second wavelength range contained in the radiation spectrum. Also described is a corresponding optical measuring instrument. The method and the optical measuring instrument make simultaneous highly accurate surface measurement of the surface topography and of the layer thickness of coated objects possible. | 07-22-2010 |
20100183189 | IMAGE SIGNATURE CREATING METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISCRIMINATING STILL IMAGES - An image signature creating method includes: creating a map by partitioning a still image using rings defined by concentric circles radially spaced apart from each other by a predetermined interval and radial lines circumferentially spaced apart from each other by a predetermined angle, the center of the still image being that of the concentric circles; and creating an image signature from the created map on the basis of distribution of pixels in regions defined by the rings and the radial lines. Accordingly, distribution of illegal contents is prevented and interrupted by search for and discrimination of a still image illegally deformed by a copying of or an intended attack on the still image. | 07-22-2010 |
20100183190 | ELECTRONIC WATERMARK EMBEDDING APPARATUS AND METHOD AND ELECTRONIC WATERMARK DETECTING APPARATUS AND METHOD - An electronic watermark embedding apparatus includes means for storing a pixel matrix G with n rows and m columns of an input image, means for acquiring singular values s | 07-22-2010 |
20100183191 | METHOD FOR THE CONTACT-FREE MEASUREMENT OF DEFORMATIONS OF A SURFACE OF A MEASURED OBJECT - The invention relates to a method for the contact-free measurement of deformations of a surface of a object in which a series of individual images is captured in each of two time windows (T | 07-22-2010 |
20100189305 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR LIP READING CONTROL OF A MEDIA DEVICE - Systems and methods of generating device commands based upon spoken user commands are disclosed. An exemplary embodiment captures a series of images of a user of a media device, generates image information corresponding to the series of captured images, determines lip movement of the user from the generated image information, determines at least one spoken user command based upon the determined lip movement of the user, and determines a device command based upon the determined spoken user command. Then, the device command is communicated to, for example, a media presentation device, wherein an operation of the media presentation device is controlled in accordance with the determined spoken user command. | 07-29-2010 |
20100195865 | METHODS AND APPARATUS TO COUNT PERSONS IN A MONITORED ENVIRONMENT - Methods and apparatus to count persons in a monitored environment are disclosed. An example apparatus to count the number of people in a monitored environment is described, which includes an image sensor having a plurality of pixels, a pseudorandom number generator to generate pseudorandom coordinates, a reader to read first pixel data generated by a first pixel of the image sensor at a first time, the first pixel corresponding to the pseudorandom coordinates, a comparator to compare the first pixel data with second pixel data generated by the first pixel at a second time different from the first time to generate a change value, and a counter configured to generate a count of persons based at least on the change value. | 08-05-2010 |
20100195866 | Digital Watermarking System and Method - Embodiments of the invention provide a digital watermarking system and method for producing watermarked images from a sequence of original images. The system includes a storage unit and a processor to encode watermark data, create a watermark bitmap template of the encoded watermark data, load and scale the original images, composite the watermark bitmap template and the scaled original images to produce the watermarked images, and store the watermarked images. The system can also produce a single watermarked image from a single original image. | 08-05-2010 |
20100202651 | ELECTRONIC WATERMARK EMBEDDING APPARATUS AND METHOD AND ELECTRONIC WATERMARK EXAMINING APPARATUS AND METHOD - An electronic watermark embedding apparatus includes means for storing a pixel matrix G with n rows and n columns of an input image, means for acquiring eigenvalues s | 08-12-2010 |
20100202652 | Video Fingerprinting Using Watermarks - Video fingerprinting using watermarks is described herein. A watermark encoder embeds a watermark into an input video to produce a watermarked video. The watermark encoder can choose particular regions of the video that are sufficiently complex for watermarking. Spatial and temporal complexity analyses can be performed on a per-pixel basis to locate suitable regions of the video. The watermarks can be embedded using a unique codeword associated with a given user. A watermark decoder can receive the watermarked video. In some instances, the watermarked video may have been attacked in some way after being output by the watermark encoder. In these instances, the watermark decoder can extract the watermark from the watermarked video. In turn, the watermark decoder can extract the codeword from the watermark, and compare the extracted codeword to a plurality of known codewords associated with respective users. | 08-12-2010 |
20100202653 | Watermarking Systems and Methods - Various improvements and applications for digital watermarking technology are detailed. One concerns techniques for making watermarks resistant to malicious attacks. Another involves using digital watermarking with ID cards and credentials, such as a watermarked driver's license conveying a user's cryptographic PKI. Still another uses digital watermarks in connection with automated compliance audits for corporate users of electronic content. A variety of other technologies are also detailed. | 08-12-2010 |
20100202654 | PATTERN MEASUREMENT APPARATUS - Mutual compatibility is established between the measurement with a high magnification and the measurement in a wide region. A pattern measurement apparatus is proposed which adds identification information to each of fragments that constitute a pattern within an image obtained by the SEM, and which stores the identification information in a predetermined storage format. Here, the identification information is added to each fragment for distinguishing between one fragment and another fragment. According to the above-described configuration, it turns out that the identification information is added to each fragment on the SEM image which has possessed no specific identification information originally. As a result, it becomes possible to implement the SEM-image management based on the identification information. | 08-12-2010 |
20100208935 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING THE RELATIVE OVERLAY SHIFT OF STACKED LAYERS - A method is provided for determining the relative overlay shift of stacked layers, said method comprising the steps of: a) providing a reference image including a reference pattern that comprises first and second pattern elements; b) providing a measurement image of a measurement pattern, which comprises a first pattern element formed by a first one of the layers and a second pattern element formed by a second one of the layers; c) weighting the reference or measurement image such that a weighted first image is generated, in which the first pattern element is emphasized relative to the second pattern element; d) determining the relative shift of the first pattern element on the basis of the weighted first image and of the measurement or reference image not weighted in step c); e) weighting the reference or measurement image such that a weighted second image is generated, in which the second pattern element is emphasized relative to the first pattern element; f) determining the relative shift of the second pattern element on the basis of the weighted second image and of the measurement or reference image not weighted in step e); g) determining the relative overlay shift on the basis of the relative shifts determined in steps d) and f). | 08-19-2010 |
20100208936 | System to determine in near real-time product density in a continuous dispensing product flow - A system for determining in near real-time the product density value of a zone of preferable small fungible products within an acceptable size range in a flow of products includes a sample input piping from a bin or piping of products, a sampling volume for fixing the size of a sample, a scale, a processor, an imaging table and an associated camera. The system may include a sample output pipe, and may include or be associated with a bagger/scale. Operation of these components provides for successively sampling of each zone in the bin to determine the quantity of acceptable product per unit weight and to control the flow of those products. The system therefore can compensate for variations among supplying entities where product supplies are subsequently piled atop one another. The system makes the density calculation available to the plant information system and an automated packaging system, which may be via a 16 bit scaled analoge or a serial interface, among other systems. In addition the image information is stored for future analysis, audit support, and process improment activities. | 08-19-2010 |
20100208937 | METHOD OF CAPTURING LINEAR FEATURES ALONG A REFERENCE-LINE ACROSS A SURFACE FOR USE IN A MAP DATABASE - A method of producing linear features along a reference-line across a surface for use in a map database is disclosed. In at least one embodiment, the method includes generating, from reference-line data representative of coordinates of the reference-line in a geographic coordinate reference system and source images of the surface adjacent to the reference-line and associated position and orientation data in the geographic coordinate reference system, a reference-line referenced data set, wherein the reference-line referenced data set includes a plurality of sets of image data and associated data defining a reference-line across a surface in the geographic coordinate reference system, the sets of image data including pixels wherein a set of image data corresponds to an orthorectified view representation of a line section of the surface in the geographic coordinate reference system, each set of image data includes a reference pixel being associated with a position on the reference-line, wherein each pixel represents a surface having a position at a distance from the position of the reference pixel along the line section, and wherein the line section perpendicularly crosses the reference-line at the position associated with the reference pixel; and, post processing the reference-line referenced data set to produce linear features along the reference-line and associated locations in the geographic coordinate reference system for use in a map database. | 08-19-2010 |
20100208938 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PRODUCING CERTIFIED DOCUMENTS AND THE LIKE - A system for generating secure documents includes a station for generating a plain document and a security image generator that generates a security image. The security image is then incorporated into the plain document. Each security image consists of a plurality of secure elements, each secure element being defined by two sets of parallel lines. Each secure element defines an alphanumeric character or other unique image that is visible under certain conditions, i.e., when inspected through a viewer. The technique can also be used to provide security images on a web page as a means of indicating that the web page is genuine. | 08-19-2010 |
20100215210 | Method for Facilitating the Archiving of Video Content - A method for facilitating the archiving of video content, wherein said method at least comprises distributing collectors at which video signals are distributed, the video signals being distributed in many geographically different places, and/or over different time periods; making said video signals go through a fingerprint extraction process to form extracted fingerprint data via collectors; and sending the fingerprint data collected from the collectors to a data center for archiving via a data path. The method according to the present invention can extract fingerprint information from video content for the purpose of archiving without the huge storage capacity required, can collect statistics and extract additional information from the archived video information automatically based on the user entered searching video clip information, and can search through video fingerprint data for identifying historical recording and collect statistics and extract additional information of video content easily at low hardware cost. | 08-26-2010 |
20100215211 | System for Facilitating the Archiving of Video Content - A system for facilitating the archiving of video content, wherein said system at least comprises collectors at which video signals are collected, the video signals being distributed in many geographically different places, and/or over different time periods; a fingerprint extraction processor through which the video signals go to form extracted fingerprint data via collectors; and a data center to which the extracted fingerprint data collected from the collectors are sent for archiving via a data path. The system according to the present invention can extract fingerprint information from video content for the purpose of archiving without the huge storage capacity required, can collect statistics and extract additional information from the archived video information automatically based on the user entered searching video clip information, and can search through video fingerprint data for identifying historical recording and collect statistics and extract additional information of video content easily at low hardware cost. | 08-26-2010 |
20100215212 | System and Method for the Inspection of Structures - A system and method utilizing an unmanned air vehicle to inspect structures is disclosed. An unmanned air vehicle capable of moving to a position and hovering in place is positioned using GPS coordinates. The unmanned air vehicle is able to capture images of the structure and transmit the images to an inspector and a database. Data identifying the position of the unmanned air vehicle and the orientation of the digital camera can be stored in the database, permitting specific inspections of specific structural elements to be repeated with a high degree of precision and accuracy later in time. | 08-26-2010 |
20100220890 | TWO LEVEL CROSS-CORRELATION BASED SYSTEM FOR WATERMARKING CONTINUOUS DIGITAL MEDIA - A two level cross-correlation based system for watermarking continuous digital media at the system application level. It is a post-compression process for watermarking where no a priori knowledge of the underlying compression algorithm is required. Per each compressed media frame, a current unique digital signature is generated based on the data from the current compressed frame plus the digital signature that has been previously generated. The signature thus generated is then used in conjunction with the next compressed frame to generate the next unique digital signature. All digital signatures are correlated according to the above process until a “reset” signal is issued. A new chain of correlated digital signatures is produced by the system with a pre-determined initial signature. | 09-02-2010 |
20100226523 | ADVANCED WATERMARKING SYSTEM AND METHOD - A method, computer program product, and computing device for obtaining an uncompressed digital media data file. One or more default watermarks is inserted into the uncompressed digital media data file to form a watermarked uncompressed digital media data file. The watermarked uncompressed digital media data file is compressed to form a first watermarked compressed digital media data file. The first watermarked compressed media data file is stored on a storage device. The first watermarked compressed media data file is retrieved from the storage device. The first watermarked compressed digital media data file is modified to associate the first watermarked compressed digital media data file with a transaction identifier to form a second watermarked compressed digital media data file. | 09-09-2010 |
20100226524 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MEASURING HAZE OF SHEET MATERIALS OR OTHER MATERIALS - A method includes illuminating a material with first light and capturing an image of second light transmitted through the material. The method also includes analyzing multiple regions of the image and determining one or more haze measurements associated with the material based on the analyzing. The method further includes storing and/or outputting the one or more haze measurements. Analyzing the multiple regions of the image may include summing pixel values in each region to produce a total pixel value for that region. The multiple regions of the image may include (i) a first region forming a first disc, (ii) a second region forming either a first annular region around the first region or a second disc larger than and including the first disc, and (iii) a third region forming either a second annular region around the second region or a third disc larger than and including the first and second discs. | 09-09-2010 |
20100226525 | Processing Audio or Video Content with Multiple Watermark Layers - The present invention relates generally to audio and video processing, e.g., with digital watermarking. One claim recites an apparatus including: electronic memory for buffering data representing audio or video, and an electronic processor. The electronic processor is programmed for: (i) controlling receipt of data representing audio or video, the data representing audio or video comprising at least two digital watermark layers, the first watermark layer comprising a content identifier which uniquely identifies the content, and the second watermark layer comprising a distributor identifier which identifies a distributor or distribution channel associated with the content; and (ii) embedding a third watermark layer in the audio or video, in which the third watermark layer is embedded through alterations to data representing audible portions of the audio or through alterations to data representing video picture elements of the video, and in which each of the first watermark layer, the second watermark layer and the third digital watermark layer are embedded in the audio or video content with different watermark protocols or different watermark keys. Of course, other claims are provided as well. | 09-09-2010 |
20100226526 | MOBILE MEDIA, DEVICES, AND SIGNALING - Consumer uses of mobile devices and electronic media are changing. Mobile devices include increased computational capabilities, mobile broadband access, better integrated sensors, and higher resolution screens. These enhanced features are driving increased consumption of media such as images, maps, e-books, audio, video, and games. As users become more accustomed to using mobile devices for media, opportunities arise for new digital watermarking usage models. For example, transient media, like images being displayed on screens, can be watermarked to provide a link between mobile devices, extending the reach of digital watermarking. Digital fingerprinting can also be employed. Applications based on these emerging usage models can provide richer user experiences and drive increased media consumption. A great variety of other features and arrangements are also detailed. | 09-09-2010 |
20100226527 | Watermark embedding and detecting methods, systems devices and components - Method determining lookup table (“LUT”) for embedding watermark. For each quantization cell, calculating probabilities that signal point falls into cell. Selecting cell by probabilities. Setting LUT value to watermark value with largest probability, subject to run constraint. For remaining cells, repeating selecting and setting steps. Other method determining quantization ensemble by calculating probability density function for signal points where the watermark value to be embedded. Distortion and robustness functions are formulated. Given robustness or distortion is selected. Functions optimized, and ensemble of quantizers determined with parameters that comply. Other method quantizing in association with lossy compression. Strength of compression determined. Adapting strength of watermark with strength of compression by a mapping. Other method selecting points for embedding watermark. Determine threshold between large and small signal points using statistical method. Select signal points for embedding according to threshold. Also, processors, computer programs, and systems. | 09-09-2010 |
20100226528 | Digital Watermarking Video Captured from Airborne Platforms - Digital watermarking technology is used in conjunction with video captured from airborne platforms (e.g., satellites, remotely controlled aerial vehicles and aircraft). One claim recites an airborne platform comprising: a camera for capturing video depicting at least a portion of the earth's surface; and an electronic processor. The electronic processor is programmed for: obtaining geographical metadata associated with captured video; encoding first digital watermarking in the captured video through alterations to data representing the captured video, in which the first digital watermarking is generally imperceptible to a human observer of the captured video when rendered to the human observer in real time, and in which the first digital watermarking comprises or links to the geographical metadata; and controlling transmission of digital watermarked video to a remotely located receiver on or in the earth's surface. Another claim recites: that the electronic processor is further programmed for: hiding second digital watermarking in data representing the captured video, the second digital watermarking comprising a plural-bit payload that includes data representing a refinement relative to at least some of the geographical metadata. Other claims and combinations are provided too. | 09-09-2010 |
20100226529 | Methods and Apparatus to Process Imagery or Audio Content - The presently claimed invention relates generally to digital watermarking, and processing imagery (e.g., including video) or audio content. One claim recites a method including: obtaining first media comprising imagery or audio; obtaining second media comprising imagery or audio; aggregating the first media and the second media to yield a unit; and using a programmed electronic processor, examining the unit for the presence of a digital watermark. Another claim recites a method comprising: upon encountering imagery or audio content, performing a screening operation on the imagery or audio content; based at least in part on the result of the screening operation, determining whether to derive or extract identifying data from the imagery or audio content, said act of determining uses a programmed electronic processor; providing the identifying data for storage in an electronic data record. Still another claim recites a method comprising: using a programmed electronic processor, extracting identifying data from data representing imagery or from data representing audio; automatically dialing a telephone number; providing the identifying data for telephonic communication to a device hosting the telephone number; receiving signals representing a human voice command; and providing signals for telephonic communication to a device hosting the telephone number. Of course, other claims and combinations are provided too. | 09-09-2010 |
20100226530 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF GENERIC SYMBOL RECOGNITION AND USER AUTHENTICATION USING A COMMUNICATION DEVICE WITH IMAGING CAPABILITIES - A system and method for recognizing symbols and identifying users or services, including the displaying of an image or video clip on a display device in which identification information is embedded in the image or video clip, the capturing the image or video clip on an imaging device, the transmitting of the image or video clip from the imaging device to a communication network, the transmitting of the image or video clip from the communication network to a processing and authentication server, the processing of the information embedded in the image or video clip by the server to identify logos, alphanumeric characters, or special symbols in the image or video clip, and converting the identified logos or characters or symbols into a digital format to identify the user or location of the user or service provided to the user, and the using of the processed information in digital format to provide one or more of a variety of additional applications. | 09-09-2010 |
20100232638 | DISTORTION CALIBRATION FOR OPTICAL SENSORS - A method for calibrating an imaging instrument, possibly located on an aircraft or satellite, is described. According to the method, an image acquired by the instrument is ortho-rectified, and then co-registered and correlated with a reference image. In this way, ground disparities between the acquired image and the reference image are measured. Updated instrument pointing directions that correct for the disparities measured are then determined and adopted as corrective calibrations for the distortions of the instrument. | 09-16-2010 |
20100232639 | VISION-BASED VEHICLE NAVIGATION SYSTEM AND METHOD - A system and method of determining aircraft position on an aerodrome ground surface having a centerline disposed thereon is provided. A current image of the aerodrome ground surface is captured using a camera that has a known focal length and is disposed on a vehicle at a preset pitch angle. The current image includes the centerline, which extends to a vanishing point in the captured image. The slope and intercept of at least a portion of the centerline are computed. The vertical and horizontal positions of the vanishing point are computed. An estimate of the vehicle position on the ground surface is computed using the computed horizontal and vertical positions of the vanishing point, the known focal length, and the preset pitch angle. | 09-16-2010 |
20100232640 | System and Method for Verifying the Contents of a Filled, Capped Pharmaceutical Prescription - A method of verifying the identity of a dispensed pharmaceutical includes the steps of: reading identifying indicia on a pharmaceutical vial containing a dispensed pharmaceutical; determining the identity of a prescribed pharmaceutical called for by the identifying indicia; acquiring an image of the dispensed pharmaceutical through the vial; comparing the image of the dispensed pharmaceutical to data storage comprising image data associated with pharmaceuticals; acquiring spectral data for the dispensed pharmaceutical through the vial; comparing the spectral data of the dispensed pharmaceutical to data storage comprising spectral data associated with pharmaceuticals; and automatically determining whether the image and the spectral data of the dispensed pharmaceutical confirm that the dispensed pharmaceutical matches the prescribed pharmaceutical. | 09-16-2010 |
20100232641 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR IDENTIFYING UCC USING IMAGE IDENTIFIER - There is provided a method of identifying User-Created Content (UCC) using an image identifier, including combining a still image with the image identifier, requesting registration of UCC corresponding to the still image combined with the image identifier, and combining a UCC identifier, issued in response to the request, with the still image combined with the image identifier, thus generating final UCC. | 09-16-2010 |
20100239117 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR PROVIDING A CONTENT STREAM, CONTENT STREAM, METHOD AND DEVICE FOR PROCESSING A CONTENT STREAM - The present invention relates to a method for providing a content stream ( | 09-23-2010 |
20100239118 | Optical Signature to Enable Image Correction - A method and system for performing document image correction using a document reader is disclosed. The method includes generating a document image representative of a document having a deformation; decoding an optical pattern embedded in the document from the document image to determine an optical signature for the document; receiving document classification data associated with the optical signature; and applying an image correction technique to the document image based on the document classification data to generate a corrected document image. A document capable of being read by a document reader is also disclosed. The document includes a substrate and an optical pattern embedded on the substrate. The optical pattern is part of a background pattern printed on the substrate. The optical pattern defines an optical signature unique to the particular class of document and is associated with document classification data for the document. | 09-23-2010 |
20100246882 | SCALING INDEPENDENT TECHNIQUE FOR WATERMARKING IMAGES WITH RECORDER SHUT-OFF - A robust technique to prevent illicit copying of video information notwithstanding the use of image scaling. A watermark is embedded into the video signal (e.g., DVD's content or other video sources) at different scales (i.e., sizes). The watermark is maintained at each scale for a predetermined time duration that is sufficient to allow the detector circuit in a DVD-recorder, DVHS recorder, DVCR, or any other digital format recorder to detect, extract, and process information contained in the watermark. At the end of the predetermined time duration, the watermark is changed to a different scale preferably on a pseudo-random basis to ensure that each one of all the scales in a predetermined scaling range is achieved a predetermined number of times. Thereby the recorder shuts off a number of times during play of the content, each time the detector circuit senses the watermark. | 09-30-2010 |
20100246883 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR EMBEDDING AND RECOVERING AN IMAGE FOR USE WITH VIDEO CONTENT - Methods and apparatus for embedding and recovering an image for use with video content are disclosed. An example apparatus includes an image processing module to embed a real component of a spectral representation of the image data into a first set of video frames from the plurality of video frames and embed an imaginary component of the spectral representation of the image data into a second set of video frames from the plurality of video frames. | 09-30-2010 |
20100254566 | Watermarking of Data Invariant to Distortion - A data set is transformed to a domain in which values are robust to distortion. The values are then expanded to carry auxiliary data. To recover the data, the data set is transformed into the domain, further transformed to get a set of possibly expanded data, and then processed to extract auxiliary data from the expanded values. | 10-07-2010 |
20100254567 | Fingerprint Development in Image Based Spam Blocking - A fingerprint of an image identified within a received message is generated following analysis of the message. A spam detection engine identifies an image within a message and converts the image into a grey scale image. The spam detection engine analyzes the grey scale image and assigns a score. A fingerprint of the grey scale image is generated based on the score. The fingerprint may also be based on other factors such as the message sender's status (e.g. blacklisted or whitelisted) and other scores and reports generated by the spam detection engine. The fingerprint is then used to filter future incoming messages. | 10-07-2010 |
20100254568 | Reduced-reference visual communication quality assessment using data hiding - A method and system of communicating visual communication quality information, includes extracting reduced-reference (RR) feature data from visual content, embedding the RR feature data in the visual content; and transmitting the visual content with the embedded RR feature data. Visual communication quality is assessed by receiving visual content which includes visual content data and a first set of embedded RR feature data, retrieving the first set of RR feature data from the visual content data, and generating a second set of RR feature data from the visual content data. The second set of RR feature data corresponds to substantially identical features of the visual content data as that used to generate the first set of RR feature data. The first set of RR feature data is compared to the second first set of RR feature data to determine a quality of the visual content based upon the comparison. | 10-07-2010 |
20100254569 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INSERTING A REMOVABLE VISIBLE WATERMARK IN AN IMAGE AND METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REMOVING SUCH WATERMARKS - A method of watermarking an image. A visible watermark is inserted in the image to obtain a visibly watermarked image. Information allowing removal of the visible watermark is protected to obtain protected information that is inserted as an invisible watermark in the visibly watermarked image to obtain a visibly and invisibly watermarked image. The information allowing removal of the visible watermark may be image values of the pixels to be covered by the visible watermark and, possibly, the position and size of the visible watermark, in which case these values are first memorised. The visible watermark may be opaque. Also provided are an apparatus for inserting the watermarks, a method for removing the visible watermark, essentially by performing the method “in a mirror”, and an apparatus for removing the visible watermark. | 10-07-2010 |
20100254570 | DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING A DRIVEN MOVEMENT ELEMENT, PARTICULARLY A DOOR OR A GATE - A device for controlling a driven movement element with an electronic unit is proposed, which comprises a transmitter for electromagnetic radiation, for example, light, in particular infrared light, and a receiver for electromagnetic radiation emitted by a transmitter for the detection of objects on a propagation path between transmitter and receiver. According to the invention, the electronic unit is designed to detect a temporal change in at least one feature derived from the received electromagnetic radiation and, upon a detection of a change in the at least one feature that is comparatively slow over time, to output a signal that is associated with a detection of smoke. | 10-07-2010 |
20100260372 | METHOD AND APPARATUS TO MARK A DOCUMENT USING A COMBINATION BETWEEN GUILLOCHES AND WATERMARKING, METHOD AND APPARATUS TO READ PREVIOUS COMBINATION - Guilloches (preventing modification) and watermarking (preventing substitution) technologies are combined to protect a medium, such as a card or a passport. The major idea stems from their dual role for medium authentication: the presence of one is needed to check the validity of the other one. By nature, the guilloche network is visible in the image and easily detectable by image processing. This network is therefore used to generate reference points as elements of synchronization to retrieve watermark information originally embedded in the medium that has submitted an RST transformation. These reference points are by nature stronger than any other means involving invisible templates in the spatial or Fourier space. | 10-14-2010 |
20100260373 | MOBILE IMAGE-BASED INFORMATION RETRIEVAL SYSTEM - An image-based information retrieval system, including a mobile telephone, a remote recognition server, and a remote media server, the mobile telephone having a built-in camera and a communication link for transmitting an image from the built-in camera to the remote recognition server and for receiving mobile media content from the remote media server, the remote recognition server for matching an image from the mobile telephone with an object representation in a database and forwarding an associated text identifier to the remote media server, and the remote media server for forwarding mobile media content to the mobile telephone based on the associated text identifier. | 10-14-2010 |
20100260374 | INFRARED-RAY THERMAL IMAGE ANALYZER - The IR camera ( | 10-14-2010 |
20100260375 | Method and Apparatus for Associating Identifiers with Content - Watermark detection in an image or the like can be optimized by exploiting the innate biases in the image to emphasize the watermark signal. The watermark signal can be trial-located with different origins in the image to find one that yields improved results. Similarly, the image can be processed (e.g., by changing resolution, rotation, or compression) so as to change the innate biases to better reinforce the watermark signal. Compression of an image can be done in accordance with a desired identifier, with the compressor deciding which image components to retain and which to discard based, in part, on the identifier that is to be associated with the image. The techniques are also applicable to other forms of content, such as audio. A variety of other arrangements are also detailed. | 10-14-2010 |
20100266155 | Method and Apparatus for Assembling a Targeted Set of Photographs - Apparatus and methods are provided for automatically dividing a collection of digital photographs into subject-specific sets. Before an event at which photographs are to be taken, information identifying some or all subjects is submitted to an automated facilitator. The facilitator generates slates comprising machine-scannable tags or codes, with each identified subject having a unique slate. At the event, for each subject a first photo is taken that includes the subject's slate; any number of photos is taken afterward. The photos are uploaded to the facilitator and scanned to identify the slates. Every photo that follows a slate is associated with the corresponding subject, until another slate is identified. Subjects are provided access codes with which to access the facilitator and view their photographs, purchase copies, order merchandise, etc. Access codes may be separate from the slates, or may be human-readable forms of the machine-scannable tag within the slates. | 10-21-2010 |
20100266156 | OPTICAL SEDIMENTATION RECORDER - A robotic optical sedimentation recorder is described for the recordation of carbon flux in the oceans wherein both POC and PIC particles are captured at the open end of a submersible sampling platform, the captured particles allowed to drift down onto a collection plate where they can be imaged over time. The particles are imaged using three separate light sources, activated in sequence, one source being a back light, a second source being a side light to provide dark field illumination, and a third source comprising a cross polarized light source to illuminate birefringent particles. The recorder in one embodiment is attached to a buoyancy unit which is capable upon command for bringing the sedimentation recorder to a programmed depth below the ocean surface during recordation mode, and on command returning the unit to the ocean surface for transmission of recorded data and receipt of new instructions. The combined unit is provided with its own power source and is designed to operate autonomously in the ocean for extended periods of time. | 10-21-2010 |
20100266157 | METHOD FOR EMBEDDING WATERMARK INTO AN IMAGE AND DIGITAL VIDEO RECORDER USING SAID METHOD - The present invention relates to a method for embedding and detecting watermark wherein forgery/alternation of image can be identified and the location of forgery/alternation can be verified by embedding and detecting watermark into a digital image which is shot in real time. Watermark is generated by using a quantized coefficient after frequency transform used in the compression process. By embedding this into an image, image can be compressed simultaneously with embedding watermark. The present invention discloses a method for embedding robust watermark which embeds a random sequence circular shifted from an original pseudo random sequence by the distance d as watermark into an image. The present invention discloses a technology for generating and embedding watermark by using a DCT coefficient quantized during the process for MPEG compressing the image, wherein said watermark can be generated and embedded in a unit of macro blocks or slices. The present invention discloses a technology for generating and embedding watermark by using a wavelet coefficient quantized during the process for wavelet compressing the image. Further, the present invention discloses a digital video recorder recording the image which is shot in real time embedded with watermark in accordance with the above method for embedding watermark. | 10-21-2010 |
20100272311 | Over-Parameterized Variational Optical Flow Method - An optical flow estimation process based on a spatio-temporal model with varying coefficients multiplying a set of basis functions at each pixel. The benefit of over-parameterization becomes evident in the smoothness term, which instead of directly penalizing for changes in the optic flow, accumulates a cost of deviating from the assumed optic flow model. The optical flow field is represented by a general space-time model comprising a selected set of basis functions. The optical flow parameters are computed at each pixel in terms of coefficients of the basis functions. The model is thus highly over-parameterized, and regularization is applied at the level of the coefficients, rather than the model itself. As a result, the actual optical flow in the group of images is represented more accurately than in methods that are known in the art. | 10-28-2010 |
20100272312 | INFORMATION HIDING WITH SIMILAR STRUCTURES - In some aspects, message data is generated from a first representation of a message and a reference image. The message data is generated to hide the message such that generating a second representation of the message from the message data requires processing of a second image that is perceptually similar to the first image. In some examples, a degree to which the second representation of the message is perceptually similar to the first representation of the message is related to a degree to which the second image is perceptually similar to the first image. | 10-28-2010 |
20100272313 | FORGERY PREVENTION MEDIUM - A forgery prevention medium includes a volume hologram layer on which an interference pattern is recorded after being exposed to at least an emitted laser beam; a digital watermarking information layer on which digital watermarking information is recorded; and a substrate film, and the information recorded on the digital watermarking information layer is interpreted by emitting a light beam that is different in one or more of the characteristics, incidence direction, incidence angle and incidence wavelength, from a hologram reproduction illumination beam used to reproduce an image recorded on the volume hologram layer. | 10-28-2010 |
20100278373 | IMAGING WITH NONDEGENERATE FREQUENCY-ENTANGLED PHOTONS - An object that might be at least partially obscured is imaged. Frequency-entangled photons are generated. The frequency-entangled photons include photons having first and second frequencies. Those photons having the first frequency can pass through the obscuration and illuminate the object. Photons scattered by the object and those photons having the second frequency are used to form an image by considering coincidences in time of arrival. | 11-04-2010 |
20100278374 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR RECOGNISING AND DETERMINING THE POSITION OF AT LEAST ONE TEAT CUP - An apparatus ( | 11-04-2010 |
20100278375 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING A POSITION FOR AN ADDENDUM MESH NODE - Systems and Methods are provided for determining a position of an addendum mesh node disposed between a part mesh boundary and a binder mesh boundary with respect to a first plane. The method includes selecting a first point on the part mesh boundary and a second point on the binder mesh boundary having positions with respect to the first plane that are disposed on a control line which also intersects the position of the addendum mesh node with respect to the first plane, identifying a plurality of control points having positions with respect to the first plane that are disposed on the control line, and generating an interpolated curve that intersects the first point, the second point, and the plurality of control points. The method further includes adjusting the position of at least one of the plurality of control points with respect to a second plane that is substantially orthogonal to the first plane and repeating the step of generating the interpolated curve until the interpolated curve is tangentially correlated to the first point and to the second point. Finally, a position on the interpolated curve is identified that corresponds to the position of the addendum mesh node with respect to the first plane. | 11-04-2010 |
20100278376 | SYSTEM FOR COUNTING A NUMBER OF MOVING OBJECTS - A system and methodology that counts a number of moving objects including the pedestrians within predetermined areas. According to certain embodiments, a system comprises an image sensing device and a data processing device. The image sensing device is situated at a predetermined area. The image sensing device retrieves a series of images of the moving objects within the predetermined area. The data processing device is coupled to the image sensing device. The data processing device processes the retrieved image to generate a dynamic background of the first predetermined area and determine a flow of the moving objects thereon. | 11-04-2010 |
20100278377 | METHODS FOR ELECTRONICALLY ANALYSING A DIALOGUE AND CORRESPONDING SYSTEMS - The invention relates to a method for electronically evaluating a dialogue between at least two persons comprising receiving audio data, analysing the audio data to determine the reparation of utterances of the at least two persons in the course of the dialogue and comparing the results of the analysis with predetermined communication patterns. | 11-04-2010 |
20100278378 | Device for Measuring the Defects of an Imaging Instrument with Two Opto-Electronic Sensors - The present invention relates to a device for measuring defects of an imaging instrument with a sensor that is accurate, simple to produce and implement and inexpensive. According to the invention, this device comprising at least one second sensor, similar to the first, inclined relative thereto and imaging the same region as the first sensor, and a device for calculating the defocusing of each element of this other sensor. | 11-04-2010 |
20100278379 | LOCATION BASED IMAGE ACQUISITION - A location based image acquisition data processing method includes determining a geographic location of a mobile device and mapping the location to a proximate imaging system with at least one camera. The method also includes identifying a Web site for the proximate imaging system, and directing a Web browser executing in memory by a processor of the mobile device to navigate to the identified Web site. Optionally, the method additionally includes detecting a change in position of the mobile device to a new location, mapping the new location to a different imaging system, identifying a different Web site for the different imaging system, and directing the Web browser to navigate to the identified different Web site. | 11-04-2010 |
20100278380 | Tamper-Resistant Text Stream Watermarking - A tamper-resistant text stream watermarking system is provided. Content such as any text-based document including programming code is encoded with a watermarking mechanism. The mechanism modifies the text itself according to a preset repeating pattern without changing the substance. Examples include patterned use of white spaces, contractions, abbreviations, order of local variables in programming code, and the like. The pattern may include a binary fingerprint that can be used to trace the watermarked document to an assigned source or version of the original document. In analyzing a suspect text stream, patterns are generated based on instances of the mechanism and their corresponding bit values. Repeating patterns are combined into a bit stream along with separators between each pattern. The bit stream can then be analyzed to determine a source of the watermarked text stream. | 11-04-2010 |
20100278381 | MONITORING DIGITAL IMAGES - Digital images are monitored by enabling access to a digital image, receiving a notification associated with the digital image from a first user, and regulating access of the first user to the digital image based on the notification received from the first user. | 11-04-2010 |
20100278382 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR IDENTIFYING A DISCONTINUITY IN THE BOUNDARY OF AN OBJECT IN AN IMAGE - Machine vision is used to identify a discontinuity in the boundary of an object in an image. An image of one or more objects is captured. One or more skeletons of the one or more objects are calculated. One or more boundaries of the one or more objects are calculated. A plurality of radial lines is extended from a spine point of a skeleton to the one or more boundaries. Each radial line intersects a boundary at a radial endpoint producing a plurality of radial endpoints. For each radial endpoint an expected radial endpoint is calculated based on two or more neighboring radial endpoints. If the difference between the radial endpoint and its expected radial endpoint exceeds a threshold, a radial line including the radial endpoint is identified as a discontinuity in a boundary of an object. | 11-04-2010 |
20100284563 | WATERMARKING DIFFERENT AREAS OF DIGITAL IMAGES WITH DIFFERENT INTENSITIES - An image is processed to encode a digital watermark, with different regions thereof processed using different levels of watermark intensity. In an image comprised of elements of differing sizes (e.g., halftone shapes of different sizes, or lines of different width), the different regions can be defined by reference to the sizes of elements contained therein. Regions characterized by relatively small elements can be watermarked at a relatively low intensity. Regions characterized by relatively large elements can be watermarked at a relatively high intensity. A variety of other features are also discussed. | 11-11-2010 |
20100284564 | Steganographic Encoding - The present invention relates generally to steganographic encoding. One claim recites a consumer product including: a metallic or shinny surface including a machine-readable pattern, the machine-readable pattern including plural-bit auxiliary data hidden in a steganographic manner, and the pattern provides at least diffuse or Lambertian reflection. Another claim recites a consumer product including: a shiny or metallic surface including a pattern, the pattern including or representing the auxiliary data in a steganographic manner, and in which the pattern is provided with an ink or dye and in which at least one of a coloration or finish of the ink or dye is selected to hide the ink or dye with respect to at least one of a first coloration or the first finish. The auxiliary data comprises or links to information regarding the physical object. Of course, other claims and combinations are also provided. | 11-11-2010 |
20100290663 | MORPHOLOGIC SAFETY FEATURE - The invention relates to a safety feature, comprising a carrier substrate onto which a continuous-tone image is printed, characterized in that the continuous-tone image is transferred into a high-resolution bar element by a morphologic transition. | 11-18-2010 |
20100290664 | Detection system for detecting appearances of many electronic elements and methods of using the same - A detection system for detecting appearances of many electronic elements includes a rotary module, a feeding module and a detection module. The rotary module has a base structure and a hollow transparent rotary structure disposed on the base structure. The feeding module is disposed beside one side of the hollow transparent rotary structure in order to sequentially guide the electronic elements to the top surface of the hollow transparent rotary structure. The detection module has a plurality of detection units sequentially disposed around the hollow transparent rotary structure. Each detection unit is composed of an image-sensing element for sensing the electronic elements, an image-capturing element for capturing surface images of the electronic elements and a classifying element for classifying the electronic elements. | 11-18-2010 |
20100290665 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DIMENSIONING OBJECTS USING STEREOSCOPIC IMAGING - A method and configuration to estimate the dimensions of a cuboid. The configuration includes two image acquisition units offset from each other with at least one of the units positioned at a defined acquisition height above a background surface. Image processing techniques are used to extract a perimeter of a top surface of the cuboid, placed on the background surface, from pairs of acquired images. A height estimation technique is used to calculate an absolute height of the cuboid. The absolute height of the cuboid is used, along with the extracted perimeter of the top surface of the cuboid, to calculate an absolute length and an absolute width of the cuboid. The height, length, and width may be used to calculate an estimated volume of the cuboid. | 11-18-2010 |
20100290666 | Controlling Use of Audio or Image Content - The present invention relates generally to controlling use of audio (e.g., ambient or digital audio) or image content (e.g., the image content may comprise video). One claim recites a method comprising: receiving data representing audio elements or image picture elements, the audio elements or image picture elements being captured using a sensor; using a programmed electronic processor, analyzing the data representing audio elements or image picture elements to extract identifying information therefrom; communicating extracted identifying information to a database; receiving control information from the database; carrying out an action based at least in part on the control information. Of course, other claims are provided as well. | 11-18-2010 |
20100290667 | Video entity recognition in compressed digital video streams - A method and system for detection of video segments in compressed digital video streams is presented. The compressed digital video stream is examine to determine synchronization points, and the compressed video signal is analyzed following detection of the synchronization points to create video fingerprints that are subsequently compared against a library of stored fingerprints. | 11-18-2010 |
20100296693 | SYSTEM AND PROCESS FOR ROOF MEASUREMENT USING AERIAL IMAGERY - The present disclosure shows creating a first layer and a second layer, in computer memory and substantially overlapping at least a segment of line from said first layer with at least a segment of another line from said second layer. A first non-dimensional attribute is different from said second non-dimensional attribute of the two lines. A user length field enabling a client with said interactive file to override at least one of said length numeric values, where said area operator may automatically recalculate area based on said length field override is shown. Also, providing a visual marker that is moveable on said computer monitor around said aerial imagery region, which may be moved, to more precisely identify the location of the building roof structure is shown. | 11-25-2010 |
20100296694 | QUANTIFICATION OF ENERGY LOSS FROM BUILDINGS - A method for determining heat and/or energy loss from a building using a thermographic image of the building, the image of the building being captured at a pre-determined angle, preferably perpendicular to the building, the method comprising analyzing automatically the image to determine the temperature of areas of the image, determining the real size of the scene associated with the image areas that are above a pre-determined temperature and using this to determine heat and/or energy loss from the building. | 11-25-2010 |
20100296695 | Methods and Systems for Steganographic Processing - The present claims utilize steganographic embedding to help facilitate tracing of unauthorized copies to a location and particular time. One claim recites a method including: obtaining data representing audio or video, the audio or video to be communicated to an audience assembled at a location at a particular time; and steganographic embedding binary information in the data with a programmed electronic processor, said steganographic embedding modifies portions of the data to hide the binary information in the data, the binary information is associated with the location and particular time of communicating the audio or video to the audience assembled at the location at the particular time. The binary information enables an unauthorized version of the communicated audio or video to be traced back to the location and particular time. Of course, other combination and claims are provided too. | 11-25-2010 |
20100303279 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR TEMPORAL SYNCHRONIZATION - Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, apparatus and system for temporal synchronization of digital content based on a marker symbol and a marker code. A marker symbol is inserted at an identifiable location of a payload (e.g., the beginning and/or end of a payload) at regular intervals in the digital content and the payload is marker coded to form a periodic sequence. The payload is marker coded such that the maker symbol is not repeated by the coded payload. The periodic sequence is then embedded into digital content. A decoder is able to re-synchronize the payload by determining the location of the marker symbol. As such, a method, apparatus and system is provided for robust temporal synchronization for, for example, content encoding and decoding for applications such as audio and video water-marking and the like. | 12-02-2010 |
20100303280 | METHOD FOR MEASUREMENT OF REFLECTANCE PROFILES OF IMAGE SURFACES - A system of measuring the bare belt signature of a surface that does not require the use of extra print jobs, or extra belt cycles, during the printing of the actual print job. Instead, the inter-document zone and other “toner-free” areas within the test job itself are used to extract an estimate of the bare belt signature. More specifically, prior knowledge of the job content and of the location of the area between image pitches is used to identify areas of the belt that should be toner-free. These areas are then treated as “bare belt” segments, and the sensor signal for these areas are extracted, aligned according to their spatial location along the belt, and then averaged to produce a final estimate of the bare belt signature. | 12-02-2010 |
20100303281 | IDENTIFICATION OF FAULTY JETS VIA SENSING ON CUSTOMER IMAGES - Systems and methods monitor jets in a color imaging device to identify and correct faulty jets without interrupting a print job. The relationship between the output of the imaging device and the sensor values of a sensor is characterized in a correspondence table. Thereafter, an image produced by the imaging device is measured by the sensor at multiple locations for a group of jets including jets each corresponding a different color of the imaging device color space. The measured output at each of the multiple locations is compared with two or more sets of predicted sensor outputs generated from the color coordinates used to produce the image at the corresponding location and the correspondence table, the set of predicted sensor outputs including at least one predicted sensor output generated with at least one jet set as faulty. At least one jet is determined as operating properly or being faulty based on a comparison of the sets of predicted sensor outputs and the corresponding measured outputs for the multiple locations. | 12-02-2010 |
20100303282 | FINGERPRINTING A DATA OBJECT - Embodiments of the invention provide a method and a system for fingerprinting a data object at a server system and a method and a system for extracting the fingerprint from the data object at a client system. Sections of a data object are watermarked with known watermark data to create a first and a second variant of the data object, whereby the section boundaries are optionally saved as metadata. Using the metadata, the first and second variant are combined by taking sections from the variants to create a fingerprinted data object. From the fingerprinted data object, the watermark data can be extracted again. | 12-02-2010 |
20100303283 | ADAPTIVE PREDICTION FILTERING FOR ENCODING/DECODING DIGITAL SIGNALS IN MEDIA CONTENT - A method computes signal characteristics of a host signal in which a digital signal is encoded, and analyzes the characteristics to determine an extent to which the signal characteristics correspond to characteristics of the digital signal. The method adapts parameters of a predictive filter or prediction function applied to the host signal based on the extent to which the signal characteristics correspond to the characteristics of the digital signal. In one embodiment, different filters or filter parameters are selected to match different signal characteristics of the host signal with the characteristics of the digital signal. These predictive filtering techniques also enable optimized encoding of digital signals that adapt the encoding of digital signals to take advantage of predictive filtering in the decoding process. | 12-02-2010 |
20100303284 | Signal Hiding Employing Feature Modification - Aspects of the present disclosure relate generally to methods and systems for signal hiding using feature modulation. One claim recites a method comprising: obtaining data representing a media signal; analyzing the data to determine features of the media signal; using a programmed electronic processor, modifying determined features to hide a signal in the data; and modifying the data to include a characteristic to facilitate later detection of the signal. In some case the features may include statistical features of the media signal. Of course, other claims and combinations are provided too. | 12-02-2010 |
20100303285 | INFORMATION TRANSMITTING DEVICE - An information transmitting device | 12-02-2010 |
20100303286 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR IDENTIFYING LOCATION INFORMATION IN A PORTABLE TERMINAL - An apparatus and method for determining location information of a subject included in an image, using the image in a portable terminal not having a function of acquiring location information such as a Global Positioning System (GPS) function. The apparatus includes a controller for processing to request location information through an image and receive the location information on the image from an image search server storing a plurality of images having location information therein. | 12-02-2010 |
20100303287 | X-Ray Tomographic Inspection Systems for the Identification of Specific Target Items - The present specification discloses an X-ray scanning system with a non-rotating X-ray scanner that generates scanning data defining a tomographic X-ray image of the object and a processor executing programmatic instructions where the executing processor analyzes the scanning data to extract at least one parameter of the tomographic X-ray image and where the processor is configured to determine if the object comprises a liquid, sharp object, narcotic, currency, nuclear materials, cigarettes or fire-arms. | 12-02-2010 |
20100303288 | METHOD FOR MULTI-MEDIA RECOGNITION, DATA CONVERSION, CREATION OF METATAGS, STORAGE AND SEARCH RETRIEVAL - This invention relates to an apparatus for capturing data a first capture device interfacing with a primary data source to capture data therefrom for storage into a primary data set. A second capture device is provided interfacing with a secondary data source to capture data therefrom for storage into a secondary data set. An associating device is then operable to associate the converted data set with the primary data set. A data converter converts the data stored in the second data set to a different and inverted form as a converted data set. | 12-02-2010 |
20100310113 | System And Method For Temperature Data Acquisition - A system and method is disclosed for acquiring temperature data from a plurality of features in a chamber including capturing a first image of an interior area of the chamber, capturing a second image of the interior area of the chamber, identifying a plurality of features within the data for the first image and the data for the second image, generating an interior area representation based on the first image data, the second image data, and the identification of each feature of the plurality of features in the interior area, and correlating the interior area representation to temperature information related to the interior area. | 12-09-2010 |
20100310114 | WATERMARKING OF MOTION PICTURES - The problem of watermarking a sequence of images from a motion picture can be divided into two parts. The first part is embedding watermarks in the sequence of images. The second part is detecting embedded watermarks in a target sequence of images where the target sequence may have resulted from one or more attacks on an original sequence of images in which the watermarks were embedded. Motion pictures are watermarked by embedding information in different ways in different images. In general, the information to be embedded is used to define a plurality of watermark images. Each watermark image is an apparent pattern of noise in both signal and frequency domains, and is different from the other watermark images. Preferably, each watermark image is temporally uncorrelated with the other watermark images. Each watermark image is used to modify a corresponding image from the motion picture. To detect the presence of the information in a target sequence of images from a motion picture, the target images are processed to determine an alignment with a watermark sequence. When an alignment with the watermark sequence is determined, a sliding window detector is applied to detect the watermark and read the information embedded by the watermark. By embedding the same information in different ways in different images, and then detecting this information by combining data from the different images, the sensitivity of the detector is increased. | 12-09-2010 |
20100310115 | Image-based techniques for shredded document reconstruction - An image-based technique for shredded document reconstruction includes the steps of: employing an image processing process to obtain shred images of the shredded document, and then extracting several features of shred images for reconstruction with two similarity measures, and then employing an algorithm using the shred coding scheme and average word length that is insensitive to the shredding noise on image boundaries, and then a weighted digraph is then carried out to derive the optimal shred sorting result for document reconstruction in terms of the shortest path. Experiments are presented for both the synthetic and real data sets. The results show that the proposed method has correctly merged the majority of the shredded document. | 12-09-2010 |
20100310116 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR EVALUATING SOLAR RADIATION AMOUNT - [Problem to be Solved]Disclosed is a method and apparatus for evaluating a solar radiation amount that can realize higher accuracy by virtue of consideration of terrain conditions. | 12-09-2010 |
20100310117 | COLOR IMAGE OR VIDEO PROCESSING - The present invention relates generally to color image processing. One claim recites a method comprising: determining a plurality of color attributes associated with video or imagery; determining which samples representing the video or imagery should receive digital watermarking based on the plurality of color attributes; transforming at least some of the samples into a transform domain; and utilizing a programmed electronic processor, modifying transform domain coefficients representing the samples to hide the digital watermarking therein. Of course other claims and combinations are provided as well. | 12-09-2010 |
20100310118 | Printing Media and Methods Employing Digital Watermarking - Stationery, or other printable media, is encoded with a digital watermark. The watermark is not conspicuous to a human observer of the media, yet conveys plural bits of auxiliary information when optically scanned and digitally processed. The watermark can be formed by ink-jet printing, or otherwise. The encoded information can be used for various purposes, including authenticating the document as an original, linking to associated on-line resources, and distinguishing seemingly-identical versions of the same document (document serialization). | 12-09-2010 |
20100310119 | Methods Employing Topical Subject Criteria in Video Processing - The picture information of video can be used in various ways to identify the video or its topical subject matter. This enables numerous novel arrangements in which particular video of interest to a particular consumer can be discerned. A variety of other embodiments and features are also detailed. | 12-09-2010 |
20100316250 | KEY IDENTIFYING DEVICE - The present invention in its various versions includes devices and methods for recognizing, naming, storing, identifying, and reproducing keys. In one preferred example, a relatively small hand-held device includes a key-receiving slot having an internal scanner that captures an image of a key inserted into the slot. In a data storing mode, the key can be named and identified and then stored in memory. In a recognition mode, the scanned image of an inserted key is compared with previously stored keys to find a match. In the event a match is found, an associated display presents information identifying the key, such as the name of the key, the door or other locking device it is assigned to, or other desirable information. | 12-16-2010 |
20100316251 | Optical Authentication - An apparatus may be provided for determining a signature from an article in a reading volume of the apparatus. The apparatus can comprise a source operable to generate a coherent beam and a beam directing member operable to direct the coherent beam into the reading volume. The apparatus may also comprise a detector arrangement for collecting signals created by scatter of the coherent beam within the reading volume, wherein different ones of the signals relate to scatter from different parts of the reading volume, the detector arrangement having a numerical aperture greater than a predetermined minimum and a processor operable to determine a signature for an article in the reading volume from the collected signals. Use of such apparatus can be repeated whenever required to test authenticity of the article. Using this system, it has been discovered that it is essentially pointless to go to the effort and expense of making specially prepared tokens, since unique characteristics are measurable in a straightforward manner from a wide variety of every day articles. | 12-16-2010 |
20100316252 | Method For Determining The Luminance Of Traffic Signs And Device For Implementing Same - The method of the invention comprises: obtaining a sequence of at least two images, with different levels of illumination; extracting the region containing the sign in the image; calculating the luminance values of the signs; and obtaining the difference in luminance of the sign corresponding to the two levels of illumination. The value obtained is the luminance of the sign ( | 12-16-2010 |
20100322462 | Liquid Level Detection Method - A liquid level detection method includes capturing an image of a liquid surface, a structural surface, and graduation markings provided on the structural surface using an image-capturing device to thereby obtain an initial image. Subsequently, the initial image is processed so as to generate a processed image, and a level reference value of the liquid surface is obtained from the processed image. The level reference value represents a height of the liquid surface in terms of inherent characteristics of the processed image. Lastly, a liquid level of the liquid surface is calculated based on a relative proportional relation among the level reference value, an overall height of the processed image interms of the inherent characteristics of the processed image, and dimensions of any one of the initial and processed images relative to the graduation markings. | 12-23-2010 |
20100322463 | Watermark Placement in Watermarking of Time Varying Media Signals - A method of placing a watermark in a video stream estimates motion between frames in the video stream, and computes a representative motion for a frame. Before embedding the watermark in that frame, the method spatially adjusts a digital watermark by the representative motion. This method is particularly suited for embedding a watermark in a video stream compressed using motion estimation. In this case, the method uses the motion vectors in the video stream to compute a dominant motion for a frame, and then shifts the watermark by this dominant motion before embedding it in the frame. | 12-23-2010 |
20100322464 | SECURITY SYSTEM USING ENCODED IMAGE WITH PUZZLED IMAGE - Disclosed is a system for encoding an original image | 12-23-2010 |
20100322465 | PANTOGRAPH DAMAGE AND WEAR MONITORING SYSTEM - A system for evaluating the condition of a pantograph, the system comprising: a track-side pantograph monitoring station that captures one or more images of a pantograph, while a locomotive comprising the pantograph is in normal service; a station management system that analyses one or more images captured at the monitoring site and determines the condition of the pantograph; and a user interface that controls the system and presents the results of the analysis to the user. A user may control the track-side monitoring station and station management system remotely. | 12-23-2010 |
20100322466 | Watermark Synchronization Signals Conveying Payload Data - Steganographic synchronization signals (sometimes termed “orientation signals,” “marker signals,” reference signals,” “grid signals,” “calibration signals,” etc.) are sometimes included with digital watermarking signals to aid in correct decoding of the object thereby marked (e.g., a digital image file, audio clip, document, etc.). Digital watermark detection systems sometimes fail if the object encompasses several separately-watermarked components (e.g., a scanned magazine page with several different images, or photocopy data resulting from scanning while several documents are on the photocopier platen). Each component may include its own synchronization signal, confusing the detection system. In accordance with certain embodiments, this problem is addressed by a proximity-based approach, and/or a multiple grid-based approach. In accordance with other embodiments, the synchronization signal can—itself—convey watermark information, so it serves both a synchronization and a payload-conveyance function. | 12-23-2010 |
20100322467 | Steganographic Encoding and Decoding - This patent document relates generally to steganography and digital watermarking. One claim recites, in a watermark encoder, a method of encoding auxiliary information in an image or video comprising: using a programmed electronic processor, computing a change in an attribute of an image or video sample to encode auxiliary information in the image or video; and changing color values of the image or video sample to effect the change in the attribute, in which changes to color values are determined based at least in part on both: i) visibility of the changes, and ii) anticipated watermark detection. Of course, other claims are provided too. | 12-23-2010 |
20100322468 | Encoding and Decoding Auxiliary Signals - This disclosure describes apparatus and systems for encoding and decoding signals from a host signal such as audio, video or imagery. One claim recites an apparatus comprising: electronic memory for storing a media signal representing audio or video; and an electronic processor. The electronic processor is programmed for: extracting data representing at least some features of the media signal; using the extracted data as a key to select coefficients in a transform domain, the coefficients representing the media signal; and modifying selected coefficients to hide a steganographic signal in the media signal. Of course, other claims and combinations are provided as well. | 12-23-2010 |
20100322469 | Combined Watermarking and Fingerprinting - Content fingerprints and watermarks are combined in various ways for content identification applications. Fingerprints are used to identify content generally while watermarks provide more detailed localization of parts within the content, and vice versa. Fingerprint techniques are further used for signal synchronization and other pre-processing steps to assist in digital watermark decoding. A variety of fingerprint/watermark techniques identify characteristics of the channel of content from content samples. | 12-23-2010 |
20100322470 | WATERMARK COMMUNICATION AND CONTROL SYSTEMS - An enhanced television system (e.g., ATVEF-based) conveys enhancement data using an in-band, video watermark, channel. The system desirably is implemented using a layered architecture, so that the watermark nature of the communications channel is transparent to other layers that employ the enhancement data. Due to the in-picture nature of the communications channel, systems employing the detailed technology are not subject to some of the compatibility issues that are present with prior art techniques. | 12-23-2010 |
20100329504 | Detecting Geographic Features in Images Based on Invariant Components - Systems, devices, features, and methods for detecting geographic features in images, such as, for example, to develop a navigation database are disclosed. For example, a method of detecting text from collected images includes collecting a plurality of images of geographic areas along a road or path. An image of the plurality of images is selected. Components that represent a feature about the road or path in the selected image are determined. In one embodiment, the components are independent or invariant to scale of the feature. The determined components are compared to reference components in a data library. If the determined components substantially match with the reference components, the feature in the selected image is identified to be a text character (e.g., of a road sign) corresponding to at least some of the reference components in the data library. | 12-30-2010 |
20100329505 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PROCESSING IMAGE - An image processing apparatus includes: a storage module configured to store a plurality of pieces of comment data; an analyzing module configured to analyze an expression of a person contained in image data; a generating module configured to select a target comment data from among the comment data stored in the storage module based on the expression of the person analyzed by the analyzing module, and to generate voice data using the target comment data; and an output module configured to output reproduction data to be used for displaying the image data together with the voice data generated by the generating module. | 12-30-2010 |
20100329506 | Routing Networks for Use With Content Linking Systems - A method of linking a content object with a network resource presents a content object to a reader, discerns an identifier associated with the content object, transfers the identifier to an indexing system, and in response receives an internet address corresponding to the content object. To enhance the response of the indexing system, it includes multiple routers, which it selects based on location relative to the reader. For example, the method sends user location data to a master system, and in response, receives an address of an indexing system close to the user location. | 12-30-2010 |
20100329507 | PAPER SHEET IDENTIFYING DEVICE AND PAPER SHEET IDENTIFYING METHOD - A paper sheet identification apparatus capable of identifying an authenticity of a watermark area formed on a paper sheet is provided without increasing the cost. The paper sheet identification apparatus includes: a light receiving part | 12-30-2010 |
20110002502 | IMAGE DATA COMPENSATION FOR OPTICAL OR SPATIAL ERROR IN AN ARRAY OF PHOTOSENSITIVE CHIPS - A method of processing image data from a multi-chip array with a plurality of photosensitive chips aligned substantially in a transverse direction, including: generating, using a processor for at least one specially programmed computer, a Δy or Δx optical error value equal to a difference in process and transverse directions, respectively, between actual and apparent locations for a first photosensor, the apparent location due to optical error; and storing, in a memory element for the specially programmed computer, respective outputs from the photosensors in the array for first and second scan lines. The actual location is included in the first scan line. The processor retrieves, for use as at least part of useful image data for the first photosensor, the stored output of: the first photosensor for the second scan line for a Δy optical error, or a second photosensor for the first line for a Δx optical error . . . . | 01-06-2011 |
20110002503 | Identification Documents and Authentication of Such Documents - The present invention relates generally to identification documents. One claim recites an apparatus to authentic an identification document. The identification document comprising first machine-readable information including a first plural-bit message, and semantic information carried on or in the identification document. The apparatus includes: a first reader to read the first machine-readable information to obtain the first plural-bit message; a second reader to obtain information from the semantic information carried on or in the identification document; an electronic processor programmed as a decryption unit to decrypt the first plural-bit message or the information obtained from the semantic information; and an electronic processor programmed as a decision unit to determine whether the identification document is authentic based at least in part on the first plural-bit message and the semantic information. Other claims and combinations are provided as well. | 01-06-2011 |
20110002504 | SYSTEM AND/OR METHOD FOR IMAGE TAMPER DETECTION - The subject matter disclosed herein relates to techniques for detecting tampering of digital image data. | 01-06-2011 |
20110007932 | Method for Identifying Motion Video Content - A method for identifying motion video content, forming a registered fingerprint database in advance for video contents of broadcasting video signals, wherein said method at least comprises the steps of storing a consecutive of video frame images of a motion video content to be identified into a frame buffer; obtaining sample values on the video frame images by a frame sampler; holding the sample values in a fingerprint store as a fingerprint A for search in the fingerprint database; and performing a fingerprint pattern matching algorithm between the fingerprint A for search in the fingerprint database and fingerprints B contained in the fingerprint database so as to determine whether the motion video content has ever been broadcasted before. The method according to the present invention can effectively organize, archive, and search video content; lower the cost of digital storage devices; and identify video content efficiently and with minimal or no human interactions. | 01-13-2011 |
20110007933 | 3D Image Processing - Three dimensional image processing is described for example, for digital rendering of real-world objects, medical imaging applications and digital effects rendering. In an example, a 3D image processing apparatus takes a binary volume representation of a three dimensional image and forms an embedding function substantially consistent with the binary volume. In examples, the embedding function is smoothed by regularizing the at least second order derivatives and optimized using a convex optimization engine. In an embodiment the optimized embedding function is used to create a surface representation of the three dimensional object using an iso-surface extraction engine. In another embodiment the surface representation may be directly rendered on a display using volume rendering techniques. | 01-13-2011 |
20110007934 | Securing of Documents by Means of Digital Watermark Information - In the production of a document, image information is incorporated into a plurality of layers of the document such that the pieces of image information are combined into a total image. The image information in at least two of the layers includes digital watermark information. The entirety of the digital watermark information in the at least two layers forms a security feature for an authentication of the document. The invention further relates to a respective document, a method for authentication, and a device for authentication. | 01-13-2011 |
20110007935 | Digital Watermarking in Data Representing Color Channels - The present disclosure relates to digital watermarking. One claim recites a method to detect two or more different digital watermarks in media. The method includes: receiving captured imagery of the media, the captured imagery comprising a plurality of image frames; for a first image frame applying a first watermark detector to search for a first digital watermark hidden within the first image frame, in which an electronic processor is programmed as the first watermark detector; and for a second image frame applying a second, different watermark detector to search for a second, different watermark hidden within the second image frame, in which an electronic processor is programmed as the second watermark detector. Other claims and combinations are provided too. | 01-13-2011 |
20110007936 | Encoding and Decoding Media Signals - The present disclosure relates generally to encoding and decoding signals from media signals. One claim recites an apparatus comprising: electronic memory for storing blocks of a media signal; an electronic processor programmed for: determining a detection metric for the blocks, the detection metric comprising a measure of coincidence of detection parameters of different blocks; and performing detection operations based on the measure of coincidence of the detection parameters. Of course, other claims and combinations are provided as well. | 01-13-2011 |
20110007937 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MEASURING AN OBJECT OF INTEREST - This invention relates to a system and method for measuring an object of interest ( | 01-13-2011 |
20110013802 | Content Objects with Computer Instructions Steganographically Encoded Therein, and Associated Methods - Various improvements to digital watermarking are disclosed. For example, a digitally watermarked object can steganographically convey a payload that includes computer instructions (e.g., JAVA, ActiveX, or HTML) that—when decoded—control some manner of operation of an associated instruction processor. One application is a digital movie that, when double-clicked, automatically executes a watermark-embedded Java applet which links through a browser to the movie's distributor. The user is then prompted to input a credit card number. After the number has been verified and a charge made, the applet releases the content of the file to the computer's viewer for viewing of the movie. | 01-20-2011 |
20110013803 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR HIDING DATA FOR HALFTONE IMAGES - We propose methods for generating a halftone image, in which each pixel takes one of two tone values. The generated image contains hidden data, which is present at data storage pixels chosen using a pseudo-random number generator. In a first case, the data is hidden within an existing halftone image by reversing the tone value at certain of the data storage pixels, and at pixels neighbouring the data storage pixels. In a second case, the halftone image is generated from a grey-scale image, and data is hidden during this conversion process. | 01-20-2011 |
20110019868 | Method for Image Positioning - A method for image positioning is provided. The method is configured for positioning image data captured by a C-arm device and includes the steps of: providing an indication module, providing a database, reading the image data, comparing the image data, deriving a coordinate conversion system, and calculating the image data. Steel balls in the indication module have known template coordinates. Plural sets of template triangle data, each set composed by three of the steel balls, are stored in the database. Steel ball image data presented in the image data form indication triangle data. The indication triangle data are compared with the template triangle data to produce comparison results. The coordinate conversion system is derived from the comparison result with the highest similarity. Thus, image coordinates in the image data can be converted into and from the template coordinates via the coordinate conversion system, allowing the image to be orientated precisely. | 01-27-2011 |
20110019869 | Method and Systems for Processing Text Found in Images - An image containing text (e.g., a surveillance camera photo that includes a vehicle license plate) is analyzed to determine the text (e.g., by an OCR technique). The recognized text is then stored in a database. The image is digitally watermarked with an identifier that associates the image with the database location where the text is stored. In addition to surveillance contexts, this technology can be employed in indexing the World Wide Web. Images used in web pages can be watermarked to link to associated text or other data. When the web page is crawled by an indexer, the watermark can be decoded and the associated data repository accessed to obtain information that can augment the web index for that page. | 01-27-2011 |
20110019870 | EMBEDDING INTERACTIVE DATA INTO AN AUDIOVISUAL CONTENT BY WATERMARKING - A method for referencing and interconnecting contents, applications and metadata to an audiovisual content is described, especially for iTV of for distribution on DVD, which comprises the step of inserting a digital watermark into the audiovisual content during an audiovisual content encoding step, the digital watermark being possibly used for allowing a user to reproduce or exploit additional contents supplementing those provided by the audiovisual content, wherein the digital watermark is inserted into the audiovisual content as data frame with header and body by subdividing it into a plurality of consecutive ‘I’ frames and forcing the parity of LSBs of mid-frequency providing an auxiliary watermark channel, e.g. in an MPEG2 transport stream. | 01-27-2011 |
20110019871 | DEVICE FOR CREATING AND/OR PROCESSING AN OBJECT SIGNATURE, MONITORING DEVICE, METHOD AND COMPUTER PROGRAM - The invention relates to a device ( | 01-27-2011 |
20110019872 | PAPER IDENTIFYING APPARATUS AND PAPER IDENTIFYING METHOD - A bill identification apparatus which accurately identifies an authenticity of a watermarked area formed on a bill is provided. The bill identification apparatus has light receiving parts ( | 01-27-2011 |
20110026760 | METHOD FOR CHARACTERIZING POWDER IN A ROTATING CYLINDRICAL CONTAINER BY IMAGE ANALYSIS - A method is provided for characterizing powders and powder behavior in a rotating cylindrical container by image analysis techniques. Powder is placed in a generally cylindrical container with transparent ends. The container is then placed in front of an imaging device and illuminated with a light source so the device can capture images of the powder over time. The container is then rotated at various speeds and the camera captures images of the powder at fixed time intervals. Image analysis algorithms are then used to isolate the powder information in the images and this data is used to calculate several parameters of the powder including the potential energy of the powder, the curvature of the powder, and volume of the powder. From these calculations, the average potential energy level of the powder, the potential energy level at which the powder yields or avalanches, the change in the potential energy before and after an avalanche, the powder surface curvature, and powder volume can be determined as a function of container rotation speed. | 02-03-2011 |
20110026761 | MEDIA FINGERPRINTS THAT RELIABLY CORRESPOND TO MEDIA CONTENT - Quantized energy values are accessed to initially represent a temporally related group of content elements in a media sequence. The values are accessed over a matrix of regions into which the initial representation is partitioned. The initial representation may be downsampled and/or cropped from the content. A basis vector set is estimated in a dimensional space from the values. The initial representation is transformed into a subsequent representation, which is in another dimensional space. The subsequent representation projects the initial representation, based on the basis vectors. The subsequent representation reliably corresponds to the media content portion over a change in a geometric orientation thereof. Repeated for other media content portions of the group, subsequent representations of the first and other portions are averaged or transformed over time. The averaged/transformed values reliably correspond to the content portion over speed changes. The initial representation may include spatial or transform related information. | 02-03-2011 |
20110026762 | MARKER PROCESSING METHOD, MARKER PROCESSING DEVICE, MARKER, OBJECT HAVING A MARKER, AND MARKER PROCESSING PROGRAM - A marker processing method includes: (a) binarizing a shot image; (b) labeling one or more constituents of the image detected based on the image binarized in step (a); (c) obtaining a region centroid of each of the constituents corresponding to the respective labels processed in step (b); (d) obtaining a degree of overlap of the region centroids of the constituents corresponding respectively to the labels, obtained in step (c); and (e) detecting a marker based on the degree of overlap of the region centroids obtained in step (d). | 02-03-2011 |
20110026763 | AUDIO VISUAL SIGNATURE, METHOD OF DERIVING A SIGNATURE, AND METHOD OF COMPARING AUDIO-VISUAL DATA - The invention relates to the analysis of characteristics of audio and/or video signalsforthe generation of audio-visual content signatures.To determine an audio signature a region of interest for example of high entropy —is identified in audio signature data. This region of interest is then provided as anaudio signaturewith offset information. A video signature is also provided. | 02-03-2011 |
20110033080 | PROCESSING TECHNIQUES FOR TEXT CAPTURE FROM A RENDERED DOCUMENT - A facility for initiating a purchase is described. The facility receives a text sequence captured by a user from a rendered document using a handheld text capture device. The facility identifies in the received text sequence a reference to a distinguished product. In response to identifying the reference, the facility presents to the user an opportunity to place an order for the established product. If the user accepts the presented opportunity to order the distinct product, the facility orders the distinct product on behalf of the user. | 02-10-2011 |
20110033081 | Watermark Decoding from Streaming Media - This patent document details, e.g., claims and systems for watermark decoding from streaming media signals. One claim recites an apparatus comprising: electronic memory for buffering a streaming media signal; one or more electronic processors programmed for: ranking buffered portions of the media signal in terms of their ability to hide steganographic indicia; detecting steganographic indicia from relatively higher-ranked portions of the streaming media signal before attempting to detect from relatively lower-ranked portions; and carrying out an action based at least in part on detection of the steganographic indicia. Of course, other claims and disclosure are provided too. | 02-10-2011 |
20110033082 | System and method for improved forensic analysis - The present disclosure provides for a system and method for analyzing questioned documents. A sample document is illuminated to thereby generate a first plurality of interacted photons. The first plurality of interacted photons are detected at a first detector to thereby generate a digital image. The digital image is analyzed to thereby identify at least one region of interest of the sample document. This region of interest is illuminated to thereby generate a second plurality of interacted photons. This second plurality of interacted photons are passed through a tunable filter and detected at a second detector to thereby generate a hyperspectral image representative of the region of interest. The hyperpsectral image may then be analyzed to evaluate changes to or differentiate different inks present in the sample document. Chemometric techniques such as k-means clustering, PCA, and/or PLSDA may also be applied. | 02-10-2011 |
20110038506 | EMISSION ANALYSIS DEVICE, METHOD AND SYSTEM - An emission analysis device has an image obtaining module configured to obtain a plurality of first images and a plurality of second images by changing multiple times an end test pattern address, the first images being obtained by integrating an emission from a nondefective semiconductor device determined to be nondefective by a function test while test patterns from a predetermined start test pattern address to the end test pattern address are inputted to the nondefective semiconductor device, the second images being obtained by integrating an emission from a defective semiconductor device determined to be defective by the function test while the test patterns from the predetermined start test pattern address to the end test pattern address are inputted to the defective semiconductor device, and a comparator configured to compare each of the first images with each of the second images by the end test pattern address to determine whether there is a difference between the first images and the second images. | 02-17-2011 |
20110038507 | Device and Method for Quantification of Gases in Plumes by Remote Sensing - In one aspect, the present invention relates to a device quantifying absolute amounts of ingredients of a plume. In one embodiment, the device comprises a source for emitting a beam of light and transmitting the emitted light through the plume to a surface on which the transmitted light is scattered, a detector for acquiring an image of the exhaust plume, the acquired image containing information of absorption of the scattered light scattered from the surface, and a processor for processing the acquired image to determine an absolute amount of at least one of components of the exhaust plume. | 02-17-2011 |
20110044492 | ADAPTIVE VOTING EXPERTS FOR INCREMENTAL SEGMENTATION OF SEQUENCES WITH PREDICTION IN A VIDEO SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM - A sequence layer in a machine-learning engine configured to learn from the observations of a computer vision engine. In one embodiment, the machine-learning engine uses the voting experts to segment adaptive resonance theory (ART) network label sequences for different objects observed in a scene. The sequence layer may be configured to observe the ART label sequences and incrementally build, update, and trim, and reorganize an ngram trie for those label sequences. The sequence layer computes the entropies for the nodes in the ngram trie and determines a sliding window length and vote count parameters. Once determined, the sequence layer may segment newly observed sequences to estimate the primitive events observed in the scene as well as issue alerts for inter-sequence and intra-sequence anomalies. | 02-24-2011 |
20110044493 | Apparatus to Facilitate Capturing Samples As Pertain to an Object to Be Imaged and Corresponding Method - One facilitates capturing samples as pertain to an object to be imaged by providing N pulsed sampling chains (where N is an integer greater than 1) where these sampling chains are in planes substantially parallel to one another and are substantially equidistant from adjacent others by a given distance. By one approach, the ratio of this given distance to a desired sample interval is approximately an integer that is relatively prime to N. So configured, a complete set of samples of the object can be captured by the sampling chains in a single pass notwithstanding that the object and the sampling chains are moving quickly with respect to one another. | 02-24-2011 |
20110044494 | Quantization-Based Data Embedding in Mapped Data - Novel methods and systems for quantization based data embedding and reading in host signals, such as image, audio and video signals. To embed auxiliary data in a host signal, an embedder maps the host signal from a first domain into a mapped signal in a second domain. The embedder performs quantization based embedding of auxiliary data into the host signal using quantizers. The quantizers are adapted such that the relationship between corresponding quantizers in the first and second domains satisfies a predetermined constraint. The mapping improves the robustness of the data embedding method by increasing the chances that the embedded data can be recovered by an auxiliary data reader after modifications. A related embedding method projects the mapped signal unto a vector, and specifically, a pseudorandom vector. It performs quantization based embedding on the projected signal. The use of this projection provides added robustness of the embedded data to noise and other forms of distortion. | 02-24-2011 |
20110044495 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GAS DETECTION BASED ON SPECTRAL SPATIAL MISREGISTRATION - In accordance with one embodiment, a method for remote identification of at least one gas includes sampling a plurality of spectral images of a scene wherein each spectral image is sampled at a different wavelength, providing a reference spectral image, and generating a spatial displacement expression by detecting the spatial misregistration in at least one region of the spectral images between the reference spectral image and at least one of the plurality of spectral images. At least one reference spatial displacement expression is provided corresponding to at least one gas, and at least one identification process is implemented to identify at least one gas. The identification process employs the generated spatial displacement expression and the at least one reference spatial displacement expression. Optionally the reference image is one of the sampled spectral images, the reference spatial displacement expression is provided from a general or adapted library, and the concentration of the gas can be determined. | 02-24-2011 |
20110044496 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR MULTISTATE INTERFEROMETRIC LIGHT MODULATION - A multi-state light modulator comprises a first reflector. A first electrode is positioned at a distance from the first reflector. A second reflector is positioned between the first reflector and the first electrode. The second reflector is movable between an undriven position, a first driven position, and a second driven position, each having a corresponding distance from the first reflector. In one embodiment, the three positions correspond to reflecting white light, being non-reflective, and reflecting a selected color of light. Another embodiment is a method of making the light modulator. Another embodiment is a display including the light modulator. | 02-24-2011 |
20110051989 | Orientation Free Watermarking Message Decoding from Document Scans - Bit data is encoded into characters in an input image by providing different darkness levels for pixels in either half of a text character. To determine if the input image is of a right-side up document, or an upside-down document, multiple scans of the input image at 90° rotations between scans may be made. Each scan result is searched for occurrences of a indicator prefix bit-sequence. The scan that contains the indicator prefix bit-sequence is elected as the right-side up orientation for the input image. If multiple scans show occurrences of the indicator prefix bit-sequence, then the scan that has the highest number of occurrences is elected as the correct orientation. Alternatively, the number of data bits between repeated occurrences of the indicator prefix bit-sequence is compared with a predefined message bit size, and the scan that matches most closely is elected as the correct orientation. | 03-03-2011 |
20110051990 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SIGNAL PROCESING NON-UNIFORMLY SAMPLED DATA - According to various embodiments, a method is provided for improving data and a system is provided that is configured to perform the method. The method can comprise processing a data signal by using an optical system comprising a signal processor. The method can comprise collecting data generated by the optical system, wherein the data comprises non-uniformly sampled data. The method can comprise performing an interpolation operation on the non-uniformly sampled data using the signal processor, to generate interpolated data. Further, the method can comprise adjusting the data with the interpolated data using the signal processor, to generate improved data. The improved data can be output to a user, for example, by displaying the improved data on a display unit, or by printing out the improved data. According to various embodiments, the data can comprise any desired data, for example, image data. The method can comprise improving the image resolution, improving the image brightness, improving the image contrast, and/or improving the image focus. | 03-03-2011 |
20110051991 | PIXEL ANALYSIS AND FRAME ALIGNMENT FOR BACKGROUND FRAMES - Background frames can be completed from a collection of frames having foreground objects that are partially obscuring the pixels comprising the background. The special offset of a pixel represented across a collection of frames can be determined based on camera movement data. By determining the relative offset of a pixel represented in a first frame from the same pixel in other frames, pixel values representing a background object can be accumulated to derive a completed background frame. | 03-03-2011 |
20110051992 | UNSUPERVISED LEARNING OF TEMPORAL ANOMALIES FOR A VIDEO SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM - Techniques are described for analyzing a stream of video frames to identify temporal anomalies. A video surveillance system configured to identify when agents depicted in the video stream engage in anomalous behavior, relative to the time-of-day (TOD) or day-of-week (DOW) at which the behavior occurs. A machine-learning engine may establish the normalcy of a scene by observing the scene over a specified period of time. Once the observations of the scene have matured, the actions of agents in the scene may be evaluated and classified as normal or abnormal temporal behavior, relative to the past observations. | 03-03-2011 |
20110051993 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ENSURING THE PERFORMANCE OF A VIDEO-BASED FIRE DETECTION SYSTEM - A video-based fire detection system receives video data comprised of a plurality of individual frames, and determines based on the video data the ability of the system to detect the presence of fire. The system includes a video recognition system connectable to receive the video data and to calculate one or more background features associated with the video data. Based on the calculated background features, the video recognitions system assesses the ability of the video-based fire detection system to detect the presence of fire. The system includes one or more outputs operably connectable to communicate the results of the assessment made by the video recognitions system. | 03-03-2011 |
20110051994 | METHOD OF MEASURING THE CLEANNESS OF STEEL STRIP - The present invention relates to an automated in-line method for measuring the surface cleanness of a continuously running metal sheet or strip, characterized by the following steps: a beam of radiation or a particle beam or a spark is focused onto the surface of the running strip, the transmitted power and the focal diameter being chosen so as to obtain a power density sufficient to create a plasma or hot spot which locally etches the metal in the form of a central zone surrounded by a peripheral oxidation ring; the characteristics of a zone encompassing said oxidized ring and possibly said central zone are analyzed by means of an optical image acquisition device and image processing; and an objective value indicative of the surface cleanness is deduced therefrom. | 03-03-2011 |
20110051995 | IMAGE DATA PROCESSING SYSTEMS FOR HIDING SECRET INFORMATION AND DATA HIDING METHODS USING THE SAME - A system for hiding secret data in halftone images is disclosed. The system includes an image input module, a halftoning processing module and an image output module. The image input module reads an original image data and a secret image data. The halftoning processing module is coupled to the image input module and receives the original image data and the secret image data, performs a first error diffusion process to the original image to generate a first halftone image and performs a second error diffusion process to the original image data and the secret image data to generate a second halftone image. The image output image module is coupled to the halftoning processing module and outputs the first halftone image and the second halftone image, wherein the second error diffusion process comprises adding or subtracting a variable noise strength to or from each pixel of the secret image. | 03-03-2011 |
20110051996 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PERFORMING X-RAY INSPECTION OF A PRODUCT AT A SECURITY CHECKPOINT USING SIMULATION - A method, an apparatus and a system are provided for deriving a characteristic of a product using X-rays. X-ray image data associated with the product is received, the X-ray image data being derived by performing an X-ray scan of the product using an X-ray imaging apparatus and conveying attenuation information resulting from interaction of X-rays with the product. A response of a reference product to X-rays is then simulated to generate simulated X-ray image data. The simulated X-ray image data and the received X-ray image data are then processed to derive one or more characteristics of the product. Information conveying the derived characteristic of the product is then released. In a specific implementation, the product is a liquid product comprised of a bottle at least partially filled with liquid and the derived characteristic of the liquid product is a threat status assessment associated with the liquid in the bottle. In another aspect, a simulation engine for simulating interactions between X-rays and objects is also provided. | 03-03-2011 |
20110051997 | APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING STATE OF STACKED SHEETS, SHEET HANDLING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING STATE OF STACKED SHEETS - In an embodiment, an apparatus for determining a state of stacked sheets composed of a plurality of sheets loaded on a table in a standing state includes an illumination unit to irradiate a slit light to an end face composed of side faces of the stacked sheets, a light receiving portion to receive a reflection light of the slit light irradiated by the illumination unit and reflected from the stacked sheets, a detecting unit to detect edges of the sheets based on the reflection light that is reflected from the stacked sheets and received by the light receiving portion, and a determination unit to determine a state of the stacked sheets based on the edges detected by the detecting unit. | 03-03-2011 |
20110051998 | Methods for Controlling Rendering of Images and Video - The present disclosure includes disclosure generally related to digital watermarking and steganographic encoding. One claim recites an apparatus including: electronic memory for buffering data representing video or imagery; and an electronic processor. The electronic processor is programmed for: analyzing the data representing video or imagery, the video or imagery comprising digital watermarking hidden therein through alterations, the digital watermarking comprising content classification information; decoding the content classification information from the digital watermarking; and controlling display or rendering of the video or imagery in response to the content classification information. Other combinations are provided and claimed as well. | 03-03-2011 |
20110058706 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR VIDEO DETECTION OF SMOKE AND FLAME - A video recognition system detects the presence of fire based on video data provided by one or more video detectors. The video recognition system is operable to calculate a first flicker feature with respect to a first set of frame data and a second flicker feature with respect to a second set of frame data. The video recognition system combines the first flicker feature and the second flicker feature to generate an accumulated flicker feature. The video recognition system defines, based on the accumulated flicker feature, a flicker mask that represents a dynamic region of the fire. Based on the defined flicker mask, the video recognition system determines whether the video data indicates the presence of fire. | 03-10-2011 |
20110058707 | Digital Watermarks - The present invention relates generally to information encoding, data hiding, steganography and digital watermarking. One claim recites: using a programmed electronic processor, encoding content with a plural-bit digital watermark in accordance with initial encoding parameters; determining an assessment of the encoded plural-bit digital watermark in each of two or more portions of the content; for each of the two or more portions of the content, adjusting at least one of the initial encoding parameters according to a determined assessment for a respective portion of the content; and using a programmed electronic processor, encoding the content with said plural-bit watermark in accordance with adjusted encoding parameters. Other claims are provided as well. | 03-10-2011 |
20110064262 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR WATERMARKING 3D CONTENT - A video transmitter identifies regions in pictures in a compressed three-dimensional (3D) video comprising a base view video and an enhancement view video. The identified regions are not referenced by other pictures in the compressed 3D video. The identified regions are watermarked. Pictures such as a high layer picture in the base view video and the enhancement view video are identified for watermarking. The identified regions in the base view and/or enhancement view videos are watermarked and multiplexed into a transport stream for transmission. An intended video receiver extracts the base view video, the enhancement view video and corresponding watermark data from the received transport stream. The corresponding extracted watermark data are synchronized with the extracted base view video and the extracted enhancement view video, respectively, for watermark insertion. The resulting base view and enhancement view videos are decoded into a left view video and a right view video, respectively. | 03-17-2011 |
20110064263 | Method and system for processing an image received from a remote source - In a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an automated, computerized method is provided for processing an image. According to a feature of the present invention, the method comprises the steps of, at a computer system, receiving an image recorded at and transmitted from a remote source, at the computer system, processing the transmitted image, for segregation of the transmitted image into a corresponding intrinsic image and, at the computer system, processing the corresponding intrinsic image to perform a preselected task, for a result. As a further feature of the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the remote source comprises a cell phone or remote computer system. | 03-17-2011 |
20110064264 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR VIDEO DETECTION OF SMOKE AND FLAME - A video recognition system detects the presence of fire based on video data provided by one or more video detectors. The video recognition system divides each individual frame of video data into a plurality of frame elements and calculates with respect to each frame element a structural feature that the algorithm uses to identify a core region of potential fire. The video recognition system defines a region surrounding the core region and calculates with respect to each frame element within the surrounding region a temporal feature. Based on the calculated temporal feature, the video recognition system associates a representative temporal value with the core region. Based on the structural and temporal features associated with the core region, video recognition system determines whether the video data indicates the presence of fire. | 03-17-2011 |
20110064265 | Signature based registration method and method for signature calculation - A method for temporal registration of a first sequence of images and a second sequence of second images is described. The method comprises the following steps for:
| 03-17-2011 |
20110064266 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR CHECKING CONTAINER CLOSURES - A method for checking container closures with a checking means, including passing the container closures by the checking means by means of a conveyor medium without isolating the container closures upstream of the checking means, and checking the container closures with the checking means. | 03-17-2011 |
20110069861 | Distributed Decoding of Digitally Encoded Media Signals - Digital data is decoded from media signals (e.g., audio, images, video, etc.) using a distributed processing in which a first device receives and pre-processes the signal, and transmits it to a remote device for further decoding. One method pre-filters the media signal, leaving a residual from which digital data is decoded. Other arrangements progressively send portions of the signal for decoding operations. | 03-24-2011 |
20110069862 | Electromagnetic Imaging Analyser - A particle spectrometer, operable to produce an image of a particle from an emitting or transmitting surface comprising emitting or transmitting means for said particles; means for limiting said particles according to predetermined criteria; an electromagnetic imaging analyser; selection means for selecting said particles for transmission into said spectrometer, said selection dependent on the electrostatic charge or magnetic moment of said particles, wherein said analyser includes at least two pairs of object and image planes, and wherein a first pair of said at least two pairs of object and image planes relate to a detector, which images particle distributions according to analysis criteria, a second pair of said at least two pairs of object and image planes relates to energy selection, said electromagnetic imaging analyser capable of producing at least one image of said surface, wherein each image is tuned to a selected energy range and wherein any plurality of such images are produced simultaneously. | 03-24-2011 |
20110069863 | IMAGE MATCHING SYSTEM, PROVIDING APPARATUS,IMAGING APPARATUS, IMAGE MATCHING METHOD, AND PROGRAM - An image matching system in which an imaging apparatus configured to capture an image and a storage unit configured to store matching information are connected to each other via a network and the imaging apparatus performs matching between the matching information and the captured image includes a selection unit configured to select, from among the matching information stored in the storage unit, matching information corresponding to predetermined time, and an updating unit configured to update the matching information to be used by the imaging apparatus to perform matching with the captured image with the matching information selected by the selection unit. | 03-24-2011 |
20110069864 | STEGANOGRAPHIC METHOD AND DEVICE - An apparatus and method for encoding and decoding additional information into a stream of digitized samples in an integral manner. The information is encoded using special keys. The information is contained in the samples, not prepended or appended to the sample stream. The method makes it extremely difficult to find the information in the samples if the proper keys are not possessed by the decoder. The method does not cause a significant degradation to the sample stream. The method is used to establish ownership of copyrighted digital multimedia content and provide a disincentive to piracy of such material. | 03-24-2011 |
20110075882 | GEOSPATIAL INFORMATION CREATING SYSTEM AND GEOSPATIAL INFORMATION CREATING METHOD - To be precisely extracted a house footprint. There is provided a geospatial information creating system for extracting a footprint of a house from an aerial photograph, comprising a processor for executing a program, a memory for storing data required for executing the program, and a storage unit for storing the aerial photograph. The processor detects edges of an image based on a characteristic quantity of neighboring pixels in the aerial photograph stored in the storage unit; extracts an orientation of the house by analyzing directions of the detected edges; and generates a polygon of an outline of the house by using linear lines of the extracted orientation of the house. | 03-31-2011 |
20110075883 | Method and System for Recording Automatic Call Distributor Calls - A method for recording automatic call distributor calls includes receiving from a caller a call for distribution to one of a plurality of agents and distributing the call to a first agent of the plurality of agents for handling. The method includes creating a call signature associated with the call for recording verification and recording communications of the call to a recording file. The method also includes embedding the call signature in the recording file. | 03-31-2011 |
20110081040 | METHODS FOR GAS DETECTION USING STATIONARY HYPERSPECTRAL IMAGING SENSORS - According to one embodiment, a method comprises producing a first hyperspectral imaging (HSI) data cube of a location at a first time using data from a HSI sensor; producing a second HSI data cube of the same location at a second time using data from the HSI sensor; subtracting on a pixel-by-pixel basis the second HSI data cube from the first HSI data cube to produce a raw difference cube; calibrating the raw difference cube to produce a calibrated raw difference cube; selecting at least one desired spectral band based on a gas of interest; producing a detection image based on the at least one selected spectral band and the calibrated raw difference cube; examining the detection image to determine presence of the gas of interest; and outputting a result of the examination. Other methods, systems, and computer program products for detecting the presence of a gas are also described. | 04-07-2011 |
20110081041 | Variable Message Coding Protocols For Encoding Auxiliary Data in Media Signals - Variable message coding protocols enable greater flexibility in encoding auxiliary data in media signals. One such protocol employs a version identifier that indicates the type of coding used to process an auxiliary data message before it is embedded in a host media signal. This version identifier specifies the type of error robustness coding applied to a variable message. The error robustness coding may be varied to alter the message payload capacity for different versions of auxiliary data embedding and reading systems. Another protocol uses control symbols to specify the format and variable length of the variable message. | 04-07-2011 |
20110081042 | Apparatus and method for adjusting depth - A depth adjusting method and apparatus is described. The depth adjusting method and apparatus may calculate an average depth value of objects based on a spatial feature of an image, may adjust a depth of the image based on the calculated average value, and may adjust a depth of the image according to a difference in depth between a current frame and a previous frame, based on a temporal feature of the image. | 04-07-2011 |
20110085695 | IMAGE COMBINING - One or more techniques and/or systems for combining images of objects are disclosed where an image of a first object is to be inserted into an image of a second object in such a manner as to make the insertion substantially undetectable by a human observer of the combined image. An object generator generates a substantially artifact free image of a first object. An object locator orients the first object image according to a desired insertion point in a second object image. A forward projector converts the first object image into projection space data of the first object, and a combiner combines the first object projection space data with the second object projection space data. The combined projection space data is converted to image space data by a reconstructor, and the resulting combined image space data can be displayed on a monitor for human observation. | 04-14-2011 |
20110085696 | IMAGE DATA MANAGEMENT APPARATUS, METHOD AND PROGRAM - Image data are each related to identification information on an image-capturing location and an image-capturing apparatus, and a CPU, upon issuance of an image data transfer instruction, determines a non-image-capturing location on the basis of the image-capturing location information for image data captured by a specific image-capturing apparatus and stored in a recording medium. Then, from among image data captured by other image-capturing apparatuses and stored in other recording medium, image data captured in the non-image-capturing location is extracted, so that a user of the specific image-capturing apparatus can easily obtain image data captured by the other apparatuses in a location that the specific image-capturing apparatus did not capture images of. | 04-14-2011 |
20110085697 | AUTOMATIC METHOD TO GENERATE PRODUCT ATTRIBUTES BASED SOLELY ON PRODUCT IMAGES - Disclosed is a method to generate data describing a product. The method includes the steps of comparing a digitized query image of the product to digitized pre-existing product images in a pre-existing product database. The pre-existing product database is organized using a taxonomy and an ontology. The pre-existing product images are linked to a corresponding node in the taxonomy and are also linked to attribute data and attribute value data in the ontology. At least one pre-existing product image is then retrieved that most closely matches the query image based on at least one matching criterion selected in whole or in part by a user. From the pre-existing product database is extracted the node in the taxonomy, the attribute data, or the attribute value data linked to the pre-existing product image retrieved earlier. In this fashion, product data relevant to the item depicted in the query image can be generated automatically from existing product data. | 04-14-2011 |
20110091065 | Image Alignment Using Translation Invariant Feature Matching - A computer implemented method and system is provided for aligning multiple overlapping images in real time using translation invariant feature matching. A user captures overlapping images comprising a first image and a second image using one or more image capture devices. An image aligning application determines one or more local maxima pixel points and local minima pixel points in the first image and the second image based on predetermined statistical criteria. The image aligning application performs iterative intra image correlation in the first image for selecting a predetermined number of feature points. The image aligning application performs iterative inter image correlation for the selected feature points, for determining a predetermined number of best correlated feature point pairs, and selects a matching feature point pair from the best correlated feature point pairs. The image aligning application aligns the first image and the second image using the selected matching feature point pair. | 04-21-2011 |
20110091066 | Authentication of Physical and Electronic Media Objects Using Digital Watermarks - Digital watermark methods for encoding auxiliary data into a host signal are used to authenticate physical and electronic objects. One such method computes a content specific message dependent on the host signal, encodes the content specific message into a watermark signal, and embeds the watermark in the host signal such that the watermark signal is substantially imperceptible in the host signal. One specific implementation embeds data representing salient features of the host signal into the watermark. For example, for photo IDs, the method embeds the spatial location of salient features of the photo into the watermark. Another implementation computes a semi-sensitive hash of the host signal, such as a low pass filtering of the signal, and embeds the hash into the watermark. The watermark signal may be content dependent by making the watermark key dependent on some attribute of the signal in which the watermark is embedded. Another approach is to make the watermark key dependent on a user or an attribute of the user. Yet another approach is to use multiple watermark components and multiple watermark detection stages that help identify and screen out invalid watermark signals. Another digital watermarking method for authenticating a media object transforms a media signal to a frequency domain comprising an array of frequency coefficients. It selects a first set of frequency coefficients, and alters the selected first set of frequency coefficients so that values of the coefficients in the set correspond to a pattern. The pattern of the media signal is authenticated by comparing a pattern of the values of the frequency coefficients in the set with an expected pattern. | 04-21-2011 |
20110103639 | OPTIMIZATION METHODS FOR THE INSERTION, PROTECTION, AND DETECTION OF DIGITAL WATERMARKS IN DIGITIZED DATA - The implementations of digital watermarks can be optimally suited to particular transmission, distribution and storage mediums given the nature of digitally-sampled audio, video and other multimedia works. Watermark application parameters can be adapted to the individual characteristics of a given digital sample stream. Watermark information can be either carried in individual samples or in relationships between multiple samples, such as in a waveform shape. More optimal models may be obtained to design watermark systems that are tamper-resistant given the number and breadth of existent digitized sample options with different frequency and time components. The highest quality of a given content signal may be maintained as it is mastered, with the watermark suitably hidden, taking into account usage of digital filters and error correction. The quality of the underlying content signals can be used to identify and highlight advantageous locations for the insertion of digital watermarks. The watermark is integrated as closely as possible to the content signal, at a maximum level to force degradation of the content signal when attempts are made to remove the watermarks. | 05-05-2011 |
20110103640 | Image processing apparatus, image data output processing apparatus and image processing method - An image processing apparatus of the present invention includes: a self-similar image storing section | 05-05-2011 |
20110103641 | VIDEO-BASED SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FIRE DETECTION - A video recognition system detects the presence of fire based on video data provided by one or more video detectors, but suppresses the triggering of an alarm in situations based on the selection of acceptable regions and application of rules associated with each acceptable region. A user defines acceptable regions within the field of view of the video detector and associates with each acceptable region a rule. During processing of video data associated with the field of view, video metrics are calculated and analyzed to detect the presence of fire (e.g., flame or smoke). Prior to triggering an alarm, regions identified as indicative of fire are compared with the user-defined acceptable regions. If there is overlap between the two regions, the rule associated with the acceptable region is applied to determine whether the alarm should be suppressed or triggered. | 05-05-2011 |
20110110555 | Arrangement of Objects in Images or Graphics to Convey a Machine-Readable Signal - The disclosure provides apparatus related to arranging objects (e.g., circles, dots and other shapes) in images and graphics to convey a machine-readable signal. One claim recites an apparatus including: electronic memory for storing image or graphic data; and an electronic processor programmed for: integrating a plurality of objects in stored image or graphic data, the objects being arranged in a pattern that is machine-readable, the plurality of objects being integrated in the image or graphic so that the pattern is hidden in the image or graphic through cooperation with design elements of the image or graphic; and providing a visible structure for aiding in machine-reading of the pattern. Of course, other combinations are provided and claimed as well. | 05-12-2011 |
20110110556 | IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - The main CPU executes Fourier transform to the partial image, then performs strict spectrum analysis | 05-12-2011 |
20110116679 | Digital watermark embedding method, digital watermark embedding apparatus, and storage medium storing a digital watermark embedding program - A method for embedding a watermark into digital data, when the watermark is to be embedded in a digital image, independently changes real number components and imaginary number components of each of coefficient values of a complex watermark coefficient matrix using key, from the watermark to be embedded in the digital image, a step for performing a discrete Fourier inverse transform on the sequence matrix of the changed watermark and generating a watermark pattern; and a step for adding like tiling the water mark pattern to the original image, and generating an embedded image. | 05-19-2011 |
20110116680 | METHOD OF ANALYZING AN IMAGE OF HYDRIDES IN A METAL ALLOY, NOTABLY IN A NUCLEAR FUEL CLADDING ALLOY - The original image composed of pixels representing a sample of the alloy, the hydrides being represented by groupings of pixels ( | 05-19-2011 |
20110116681 | Security Printing Analysis System And Method For Enhancing Security Printing - A method for enhancing security printing includes generating data for a region of interest ( | 05-19-2011 |
20110123062 | Device, software application, system and method for proof of display - Disclosed are methods, circuits, devices and systems for verifying whether content transmitted to a remote display was properly displayed. According to embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a system including a watermarking module adapted to embed a watermark into content to be displayed at a remote display, a transmitter adapted to transmit the content with embedded watermark to the remote display, and a display verification module adapted to receive a feedback signal from a watermark monitoring device in proximity with the remote display. | 05-26-2011 |
20110123063 | Synchronization of Digital Watermarks - A method for synchronization of a digital watermark generates a digital watermark based on feature extraction and a key generator. The synchronization method is adapted for both temporal and spatial synchronization. Statistical features of the watermarked signal along with key generators are used to compute keys used to detect embedded digital watermarks that vary over time or space. For spatial synchronization, spatial redundancy is used to detect geometric distortion of a signal in which the watermark is embedded using an autocorrelation method to detect peaks caused by the redundancy of the watermark structure. These peaks are then analyzed with a histogram method to detect rotation and scaling of the host media signal. The spatial synchronization process is applied to watermarks for both intra-coded frames of video (I-frames) as well as still images. | 05-26-2011 |
20110123064 | Method for monitoring a picture or multimedia video pictures in a communication system - A method for monitoring a picture or multimedia video pictures in a communication system is provided. The method includes following steps: a monitoring node extracts a picture or multimedia video pictures from communication data; a preprocessing system divides the picture or multimedia video pictures into multiple parts, and executes hash calculation respectively to obtain hash value of each part; the preprocessing system processes multiple hash values to construct a single ID; a primary monitoring system searches a template base for the ID, the template base includes multiple items, and each item includes an ID and hash values of which the ID in the item is composed; if the ID is not found, the primary monitoring system searches the template base for each hash value respectively; and the primary monitoring system informs the search result to the preprocessing system and the monitoring node. The present invention improves the efficiency of monitoring a picture or multimedia video pictures in communications. | 05-26-2011 |
20110123065 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR GENERATING STRUCTURALLY MULTI-PATTERNED WATERMARK, WATERMARK INSERTION APPARATUS AND METHOD USING THE SAME, AND WATERMARK DETECTION APPARATUS AND METHOD USING THE SAME - An apparatus and a method for generating a constructively multi-patterned watermark, an apparatus and a method for inserting and detecting the watermark using the same. The method includes dividing user's hidden data into plural partial data and outputs the plural partial data, performing a message-encoding of the plural of partial data, modulating the plural message-encoded data into image signal format and outputting plural message signals, generating a synchronization signal for synchronizing the constructively multi-patterned watermark with a two-dimensional translation of an image, generating, plural sub-base patterns using the plurality of message signals modulated into the image signal format, and the synchronization signal, and generating a base watermark that is the constructively multi-patterned watermark, using the plural sub-base patterns. Therefore, the invention increases the payload of the watermark, withstands robustly the two-dimensional translation of an image and general geometric transform of the image through the constructive characteristics of the watermark. | 05-26-2011 |
20110129114 | METHOD FOR INSERTING WATERMARK ASSISTANCE DATA IN A BITSTREAM AND BITSTREAM COMPRISING THE WATERMARK ASSISTANCE DATA - The invention relates to a method for inserting watermark assistance data in a bitstream of coded data comprising the step of inserting, in the bitstream, identification data identifying coded data to be substituted and, for each coded data to be substituted, at least one substitution data. The method further comprises a step of inserting in the bitstream a format data defining a manner of substituting the coded data to be substituted by the substitution data. | 06-02-2011 |
20110129115 | Digital Authentication with Analog Documents - Security of photographic identification documents is enhanced by embedding within the photographic image encoded information that may be correlated to other information pertaining to the individual represented by the image, such other information being, for example, printed on the document adjacent to the photograph. | 06-02-2011 |
20110129116 | EFFICIENT WATERMARKING APPROACHES OF COMPRESSED MEDIA - Systems and methods are described for imperceptibly embedding information by overwriting original video content with other content from a bitstream In a number of embodiments, the replacement of original content is efficiently implemented by referencing other information in the bitstream, also called reference content. One embodiment of the invention includes analyzing the compressed bitstream using a preprocessor to identify locations that can be imperceptibly modified, generating at least one piece of replacement data for each identified location using the pre-processor, selecting pieces of replacement data using an embedding device, and embedding the payload information in the compressed bitstream by using the embedding device to overwrite at least a portion of the compressed bitstream with the selected replacement data. | 06-02-2011 |
20110135143 | CONTEXT-BASED ADAPTIVE BINARY ARITHMETIC CODING (CABAC) VIDEO STREAM COMPLIANCE - A method of providing CABAC compliant changes such as watermarks comprises accessing encoded data such as video which comprise at least two blocks; creating or accessing a list of changes to the encoded data that include a direct change to a block; determining motion character or motion vector differential of non-immediate block, non-immediate blocks being adjacent to an immediate block that are immediately adjacent to the block; determining change to the immediate block based on original motion character of the block and the non-immediate block and the motion character of the block that would result from the application of the change; storing the change to the list if the change does not cause a difference to the immediate block; and evaluating other potential changes if other potential changes are available, wherein the other potential changes are subjected to the same process steps as the direct change. | 06-09-2011 |
20110135144 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR COLLECTING VOICE AND IMAGE DATA ON A REMOTE DEVICE AND COVERTING THE COMBINED DATA - A system and method to capture and analyze image data of an object, the system including: an end unit to capture the image data, the end unit including: an image capturing unit to capture the image data of the object, and a transmitting unit to transmit the captured image data; and a data analysis server to analyze the image data, the data analysis server including: a receiving unit to receive the transmitted image data, and a control unit to analyze the received image data by performing one or more machine vision functions on the received image data, and to control a transmitting of a result of the one or more machine vision functions to the end unit and/or a performing of a function according to the result of the one or more machine vision functions. Accordingly, complex image data of an object can be collected by a remote image capturing device in order to identify the object by analyzing the image data in a separate server. | 06-09-2011 |
20110135145 | ABERRATION MEASUREMENT METHOD AND SYSTEM INCLUDING INTERFEROMETER AND SIGNAL PROCESSING UNIT - An aberration measurement system includes an interferometer that includes a polarization adjuster configured to adjust a polarization plane of coherent light, and a phase shifter configured to shift a phase of reference light. The aberration measurement system further includes a signal processing unit configured to obtain a nonpolarization aberration of the test object, and coefficients a=sin ε cos 2θ, b=sin ε sin 2θ, and c=cos ε for a retardation amount 2ε and a principal axis direction θ of a polarization aberration of the test object, based on data of a plurality of interference pattern images which provide at least three complex visibilities obtained from the interferometer after a polarization adjuster adjusts the polarization plane of the coherent light, and to determine signs of the coefficients a, b, and c based on the nonpolarization aberration. | 06-09-2011 |
20110135146 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR STEGANALYSIS OF TEXTURE IMAGES - Embodiments of the invention are directed toward methods for steganalysis that improve the detection of steganography in texture images. The methods combine features extracted from the image spatial representation and from a block discrete cosine transform (BDCT) representation with multiple different block sizes (i.e., N×N) to improve detection of data hidden in texture images. Image data that is to undergo steganalysis can be provided to embodiments of the invention in at least one of spatial (pixel) and JPEG format. When JPEG format is provided, the image is first decompressed to spatial representation, from which the features are extracted when the block size is at least one 2×2, 4×4, and 16×16. When the block size is 8×8, the JPEG coefficients (JPEG quantized 8×8 BDCT coefficients) derived directly from the JPEG image are used to extract features. In addition, the method is also effective as a universal steganalyzer for both texture and smooth/non-texture images. Embodiments of the invention also (1) utilize moments of 1-D and 2-D characteristic functions; (2) Prediction-error; and (3) all wavelet subbands including the low-low subbands. | 06-09-2011 |
20110142278 | Visual-Based Contactless Communication Device and Method Thereof - A visual-based contactless communication device adapted to communicate with one or more visual-based contactless devices includes a photographic device for photographing image data displayed by one or more visual-based contactless communication devices; a center control device for identifying predetermined information in the image data, producing response information according to the predetermined information and generating effective image data identifiable by one or more visual-based contactless communication devices according to the response information or specified information; and a display device for displaying the effective image data to be photographed by one or more visual-based contactless communication devices; wherein when two visual-based contactless communication devices communicate with each other, one displays the effective image data with the response information after identifying the predetermined information, and the other proceeds with subsequent communication only after identifying the effective image with the response information and confirming that the response information is recognized. | 06-16-2011 |
20110142279 | SECURITY PAPER - A security paper comprising a fibrous substrate comprising a watermark having repeating motifs, and a security structure that does not completely cover the watermark and has at least one semi-reflective area which is superposed at least partly on the watermark; which paper on the one hand allows observation, through the semi-reflective area, at least partially, of one of the motifs, and on the other hand allows observation at least partially of another of said motifs in a region of the watermark that is not covered by the security structure. | 06-16-2011 |
20110142280 | Authenticating Identification and Security Documents - The application discloses identification and security documents and methods and systems for authenticating such identification and security documents. In one implementation, a document includes a first surface; and a second surface. The first surface comprises a first set of print structures and a second set of print structures. The first set of print structures and the second set of print structures cooperate to obscure the location on the first surface of the second set of print structures. The second set of print structures is arranged on the first surface so as to provide a reflection pattern. In one example, the reflection pattern includes a diffraction grating. The second set of print structures is preferably provided on the first surface with metallic ink. Of course, other claims and combinations are provided too. | 06-16-2011 |
20110150266 | AUTOMATED SECURITY CONTROL USING ENCODED SECURITY INFORMATION - Embodiments of techniques and systems for automated security setup are described. A camera associated with a computing device may be used to capture an image of a multi-dimensional code, such as a QR code. The multi-dimensional code may contain information used to set up security or networking on the computing device. For example, the code may contain information used to connect the computing device to a wireless network, or a security certificate to facilitate secure internetworking After the image is captured, a security setup application may decode the information contained in the code and use it to control security and networking on the computing device by manipulating APIs on the computing device. This prevents improper connections and/or mistakes in entering long, difficult pieces of security information. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. | 06-23-2011 |
20110150267 | Human verification by contextually iconic visual public turing test - There is provided a system and method for human verification by a contextually iconic visual public Turing test. There is provided a method comprising receiving a request to verify whether a client is human controlled, selecting, by contextual criteria, a plurality of images each having one or more associated tags from a database, generating a challenge question and a corresponding answer set based on associated tags of a subset of the plurality of images, presenting the plurality of images and the challenge question to the client, receiving a submission to the challenge question from the client, and responding to the request by verifying whether the submission is contained in the answer set to determine whether the client is human controlled. The contextual criteria may comprise subject matter, branding, or intended audience of a content provider sending the request, thereby facilitating human responses while deterring automated systems. | 06-23-2011 |
20110150268 | Perceptual Modeling of Media Signals for Data Hiding - The present disclosure relates generally to embedding auxiliary data and data hiding. One claim recites a method including: receiving data representing a media signal; using a programmed electronic processor, calculating perceptibility characteristics of the media signal, in which the perceptibility characteristics include contrast; using a programmed electronic processor, calculating a non-linear contrast to gain mapping using the perceptibility characteristics; using a programmed electronic processor, embedding an auxiliary signal in the media signal with reference to the non-linear contrast to gain mapping. Other claims and combinations are also provided. | 06-23-2011 |
20110150269 | DIGITAL SIGNATURE APPARATUS AND METHOD - A digital signature apparatus including, a converting unit that converts, based on a first video image frame being independently replayable, a predicted frame being not independently replayable into a second video image frame being independently replayable, an encoding unit that encodes the first or second video image frame into an image data according to an image format, a transfer unit that transfers, when receiving the predicted frame, the predicted frame to the converting unit, and transfers, when receiving the first or second video image frame, the received video image frame to the encoding unit, and a digest information generating unit that generates a digest information for each of image data encoded by the encoding unit. | 06-23-2011 |
20110158464 | Method for Embedding Messages into Structure Shapes - Embodiments of the invention disclose a system and a method for embedding a symbol in a glyph, comprising the steps of determining a set of landmarks representing an outline of the glyph; determining a data segment between two landmarks, wherein the data segment is suitable for embedding the symbol; modifying the data segment according to the symbol to produce a modified glyph such that the symbol is embedded in the modified glyph; and outputting the modified glyph. | 06-30-2011 |
20110158465 | SELECTION OF WATERMARKS FOR THE WATERMARKING OF COMPRESSED VIDEO - A method comprises accessing changes which can be watermarks in a list for coded data, the changes having an syntax element, an original value and an candidate alternative value; determining for a subset a group of compliant changes from the changes, the complaint changes being compliant with a coding protocol such as a CABAC encoding protocol; and selecting for the subset only compliant changes that result in the subset having only one candidate alternative value for each syntax elements and result in only compliant changes also meeting at least one performance criterion. The method can include determining fidelity, recoverability, or robustness of the watermarks and removing or preventing watermarks from being in the subset based on the fidelity, recoverability, or robustness, wherein fidelity, recoverability, and robustness are performance criteria. The method can include determining at least two performance values for the watermarks, determining some collective metric of the at least two performance values, and removing or preventing watermarks from being in the subset based on the same collective metric. | 06-30-2011 |
20110158466 | DISPLAY ANGLE ADJUSTMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD THEREOF - A display angle adjustment system includes a display rotation module, an image capture module, a data processing module, and a control module. The display rotation module is configured for driving the display to move. The image capture module is rotatably positioned on the display. The data processing module is electrically connected to the image capture module, for receiving a signal including image information from the image capture module, and calculating an eigenvector using a plurality of feature points according to the signal. The control module is electrically connected to the display rotation module, the image capture module, and the data processing module, respectively, for controlling the display rotation module and the image capture module to rotate according to the eigenvector calculated by the data processing module. | 06-30-2011 |
20110158467 | SOLAR POWER DEVICE - A solar power device includes a solar panel, a rotating assembly, an image sensor, a image recognition system, and a control system. The rotating assembly is connected to the solar panel. The image sensor is positioned on the solar panel to generate an image signal. The image recognition system is connected to the image sensors to transfer the image signal to a recognition signal. The control system is connected to the image recognition system and the rotating assembly. The control system receives the recognition signal and directs the rotating assembly to re-position the solar panel according to the recognition signal. A method for controlling the solar power device is also provided. | 06-30-2011 |
20110158468 | Error Processing of Steganographic Message Signals - A form of error processing is used to decode steganographic messages embedded in image and audio signals in the presence of distortion, which tends to introduce errors in steganographic data communication. Content signals with auxiliary embedded data are analyzed to detect embedded message signals. Confidence values are assigned to the message signals and used to ascertain whether a message has been accurately detected. Error processing enables accurate message extraction in the presence of “soft errors” in the embedded message signal. This error processing enables more effective recovery of the steganographic message from content signals that undergo distortion and/or loss transformations after being embedded with steganographic data. | 06-30-2011 |
20110158469 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR MANAGEMENT OF FIELD OPERATIONS, PROJECTS AND/OR COLLECTED SAMPLES - Methods and apparatus for collecting samples and watermarking pictures relating to the samples are described. Watermarks may include site specific information, e.g., room, floor number, etc. in addition to GPS location. Project number and information relating to the test may also be included in the watermark. A watermarked photo of the site location from which a sample is collected is generated. A watermarked photo of the container including the sample is also generated. Watermarked photos of the test site and sample containers may be stored in association with the samples and other chain of custody information. Watermarked photos are electronically communicated to a testing facility and maintained in a database with test results generated from the testing of the sample(s). Pictures and test results are electronically accessible. A list of individuals handling the samples may also be included the database as part of a documented physical chain of sample custody. | 06-30-2011 |
20110158470 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SECURE CODING OF ARBITRARILY SHAPED VISUAL OBJECTS - The present invention relates to a method and system for secure coding of arbitrarily shaped visual objects. More specifically, a system and method are provided for encoding an image, characterized by the steps of selecting one or more objects in the image from the background of the image, separating the one or more objects from the background, and compressing and encrypting, or facilitating the compression and encryption, by one or more computer processors, each of the one or more objects using a single coding scheme. The coding scheme also is operable to decrypt and decode each of the objects. | 06-30-2011 |
20110158471 | MATERIAL DETERMINING APPARATUS FOR STEEL PRODUCT AND MATERIAL DETERMINING METHOD FOR STEEL PRODUCT - An object of the invention is to provide a material determining apparatus for a steel product and a material determining method for a steel product which can stably and precisely determine a carbon content of the steel product. The invention provides a material determining apparatus for a steel product, which is provided with an imaging device for continuously imaging a spark generated during rubbing the steel product at a plurality of times, a detecting part for detecting spark regions and bursting spark regions from each of the imaged pictures imaged by the imaging device, a calculating part for calculating a total of the spark regions and a total of the bursting spark regions by summing up the numbers of the spark regions and the bursting spark regions detected by the detecting part with regard to each of all the imaged pictures, so as to calculate a rate of the total of the bursting spark regions with respect to the total of the spark regions, and a determining part for determining a carbon content of the steel product based on the rate, and a material determining method for the steel product. | 06-30-2011 |
20110158472 | METHOD FOR SECURING AN IMAGE BY MEANS OF GRAPHICAL ANTI-COUNTERFEITING MEANS, METHOD FOR SECURING AN IDENTIFICATION DOCUMENT, AND SECURE IDENTIFICATION DOCUMENT - The invention relates to a method for securing a first image by means of graphical anti-counterfeiting means and to a method for securing an identification document with such graphical anti-counterfeiting means. The invention also relates to a secure identification document that allows detecting either a fraudulent modification of the existing personalization or a fraudulent falsified document. For that, graphical anti-counterfeiting image is inserted into an identification image, each image being defined by a plurality of pixels. The characteristic level (for example grey level) of each pixel i of the graphical anti-counterfeiting image is linked, by a function F, to a matrix Ωi of pixels defined in the identification image, said pixels of the matrix Ωi surrounding the location i of a pixel of the graphical anti-counterfeiting image, said function F taking into account the characteristic level (for example average grey level) G(Ωi) and the texture level T(Ωi) of said matrix Ωi. | 06-30-2011 |
20110164783 | RANGE IMAGING LIDAR - Light scattered by a portion of a fluid medium illuminated by a beam of substantially monochromatic light is received within a field-of-view nominally along an axis oriented in a different direction relative to the beam and processed by an interferometer to generate a corresponding fringe pattern that is detected and processed to generate at least one measure of the fluid medium at a plurality of different ranges. | 07-07-2011 |
20110164784 | EMBEDDER FOR EMBEDDING A WATERMARK INTO AN INFORMATION REPRESENTATION, DETECTOR FOR DETECTING A WATERMARK IN AN INFORMATION REPRESENTATION, METHOD AND COMPUTER PROGRAM AND INFORMATION SIGNAL - An embedder for embedding a watermark to be embedded into an input information representation comprises an information adder, which is implemented to provide the input information representation with the watermark and additional information to be added to obtain an input information representation provided with the watermark and the additional information. The additional information to be added comprises descriptive information describing the embedding of the at least one watermark into the input information representation. | 07-07-2011 |
20110170737 | METHOD FOR CONSTRUCTING INNER CODES FOR ANTI-COLLUSION FORRENSIC CODE FOR WATERMARKING DIGITAL CONTENT - A method and apparatus are described including generating a unique code for each of a plurality of users using a plurality of symbols, generating a plurality of codes representing the plurality of symbols, substituting the plurality of codes into the unique code for each of the plurality of users, permuting the code resulting from the substitution to produce a codeword for each of the plurality of users and embedding the codeword into digital content. The second generating act further includes generating a string of first symbols followed by second symbols, wherein the first symbols are all ones and the second symbols are all negative ones, wherein a number of first symbols is equal to a number of the second symbols, and wherein if a length of the first symbols followed by the second symbols is less than a length of the code, then the first symbols followed by the second symbols are repeated until the code length is filled. | 07-14-2011 |
20110170738 | DEVICE, SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING COMPLIANCE WITH AN INSTRUCTION BY A FIGURE IN AN IMAGE - A device, system and method for determining a compliance with an instruction to assemble a figure according to a depiction of the figure on an output device, by presenting image data of the figure, capturing an image of the assembled figure, and comparing the figure captured in the image to the figure depicted on the output device. | 07-14-2011 |
20110176704 | Optical Character Recognition Lottery verification tool - An interactive rapid response system that utilizes optical character recognition through digital imaging of paper based lottery tickets and rapidly checks against internet based sources to see if they are winners. The system is designed to work on mobile devices, handheld devices, and computers. | 07-21-2011 |
20110176705 | Information processing device, information processing system and program - An information processing device of present invention includes an identification medium detecting portion that detects a specific identification medium, a position acquisition portion that acquires information indicating a positional relationship between the identification medium and the information processing device, a processing execution portion that executes specific processing when the information processing device is at a distance from the identification medium that is equal to or less than a predetermined value, and a processing execution prevention portion that causes the specific processing not to be performed by the processing execution portion when the information processing device is at a distance from the identification medium that is equal to or less than the predetermined value immediately after an application relating to the specific processing is activated. | 07-21-2011 |
20110176706 | WATERMARK PAYLOAD ENCRYPTION FOR MEDIA INCLUDING MULTIPLE WATERMARKS - A media signal is analyzed for an expected error rate. Data is steganographically encoded in the media signal using an amount of error robustness coding that is determined based in part on the expected error rate. To decode the data from the media signal, the media signal is analyzed to determine an expected error rate. The steganographically encoded data is decoded using an amount of error robustness coding that is determined based in part of the expected error rate. | 07-21-2011 |
20110182464 | METHOD OF DECODING CODING PATTERN COMPRISING CONTROL SYMBOLS - A method of decoding a coding pattern disposed on or in a substrate. The method comprises the steps of: (a) operatively positioning an optical reader relative to a surface of the substrate; (b) capturing an image of a portion of the coding pattern; (c) sampling and decoding control symbols contained in the imaged portion to provide r | 07-28-2011 |
20110182465 | Electronic Golf Assistant Utilizing a Plurality of Images - Included are systems and methods for providing data. At least one embodiment of a method includes accessing, by a computing device, a plurality of images for a geographic location; determining which of the images has a predetermined geographic accuracy; determining which of the image has a predetermined image clarity; determining a common point on the image with the predetermined geographic accuracy and the image with the predetermined image clarity; utilizing the common point to merge the image with the predetermined geographic accuracy with the image with the predetermined image clarity; and providing one or more location services on the image with predetermined image clarity, utilizing geographic location data from the image with the predetermined geographic accuracy. | 07-28-2011 |
20110182466 | METHOD FOR PROTECTING DIGITAL CONTENT AGAINST MINORITY COLLUSION ATTACKS - A method and system of detecting colluders conducting a collusion attack including a minority-type collusion attack on a digital product includes the generation of codewords used as watermarks in the digital product. The inner code of the codewords is generated using permutations of rows in a Hadamard matrix and concatenating them together. A typical outer code of the codeword is the Reed Solomon code. An adaptive detector is able to accurately detect one of three or more colluders of a minority-type attack. Prior art schemes using an error correcting code-based watermarking mechanism with an inner code fail to detect colluders with a minority-type collusion attack which includes three colluders. | 07-28-2011 |
20110182467 | MOIRE PATTERN GENERATED BY ANGULAR ILLUMINATION OF SURFACES - Improved methods, devices, compositions, and systems are provided for concealing information on articles in commerce, such as pharmaceuticals, to improve detection of counterfeits. Embodiments are provided where Moiré patterns on article surfaces are detectable using a revealing layer only when the surfaces are illuminated at or near particular angles. Embodiments incorporating revealing layers into detection systems, such as microscopes, are also provided. A method comprising: providing at least one pharmaceutical composition which comprises at least one surface which comprises at least one area which is adapted to provide a Moiré base layer; illuminating the area at an angle; imaging the illuminated area with a Moiré revealing layer to generate a Moiré pattern. Such embodiments provide an additional layer of security over previous methods of detecting counterfeit articles. | 07-28-2011 |
20110188700 | APPARATUS FOR INSERTING WATERMARK AND METHOD THEREFOR - There are provided an apparatus for inserting a watermark and a method therefor. The apparatus for inserting a watermark includes a watermark pattern image receiving unit that stores a watermark pattern image including a preset bit value; a watermark information generation unit that stores watermark information including binary tracking information generated based on at least one of a user ID value and a terminal ID value; and a watermark insertion unit that receives watermark pattern images corresponding to bit values of the stored watermark information from the watermark pattern image generation unit, and overlays the watermark pattern images in sequence on a display screen. | 08-04-2011 |
20110188701 | OPTIMIZING VIDEO STREAM PROCESSING - The present invention involves implementation of an intelligent switching program, whereby the processing power required to monitor check-out stations is considerably reduced. The present invention monitors a subset of check-out stations at any given time, instead of monitoring all check-out stations at all times. The subset of check-out stations is determined dynamically according to, but not limited to, cashier records, input parameters from the user, current lane activity, past lane activity, time of day, etc. Statistical models (e.g., effective population sampling and/or population hypothesis tests) are developed along these lines that guide the lane selection process, whereby increases in the false-negative rate due to failure to monitor particular lanes when events of interest occur are controlled. By monitoring fewer check-out stations, while maintaining target performance accuracy, the amount of data that end users must deal with is significantly reduced. | 08-04-2011 |
20110188702 | VARIABLE FAN FOR PORTABLE EXPLOSIVE OR DRUG DETECTION SYSTEM - Systems and methods are disclosed to automatically detect the presence of a substance on a test swipe by capturing a background image of the test swipe; applying one or more test chemicals to a test swipe; adjusting the temperature of the test swipe to a predetermined temperature range; controlling a variable speed fan to avoid fogging the camera's lens; capturing an in-situ image of the test swipe after the application of chemical at the predetermined temperature range; subtracting the background image from the in-situ image; generating a difference value from the two images; and searching a known database to identify the substance. | 08-04-2011 |
20110188703 | System and Method for Securing Media Content - A system and method for securing media content are provided. A method for distributing security media content includes embedding a marking payload into media content, thereby producing embedded media content, applying a transform to the embedded media content, thereby producing secured media content, and distributing the secured media content. The marking payload is embedded based on perceptual information regarding the media content. | 08-04-2011 |
20110188704 | Content Identification and Quality Monitoring - Content identification and quality monitoring are provided. The method involves obtaining a first fingerprint derived from a first media content, processing the first media content to generate a second media content, obtaining a second fingerprint derived from the second media content, and comparing the first fingerprint and the second fingerprint to determine one or more of: a similarity between the first fingerprint and the second fingerprint that indicates that the second media content is generated from the first media content or a difference between the first fingerprint and the second fingerprint to identify a quality degradation between the first media content and the second media content. | 08-04-2011 |
20110194725 | Novel Bit Pattern Design For Visible Watermarking - A watermarking system uses distinct bit patterns to identify a logic 0, a logic 1, and a marker bit, which demarcates segments of logic bit information. Marker bits, which are printed on both foreground and background areas of an image, outline message blocks. In message extraction, a preprocessing step removes any white boarders, identifies the best defined corner of a message block, crops the image, and rotates the image to place the identified corner at the top-left corner. Message extraction scans the rotated image in window segments of increasing size during multiple cycles. During each cycle, if a bit pattern cannot be identified as a data bit, then the size of the examined bit area is increased and rechecked to see it specifically is a marker bit. If no bit information can be definitively identified, then it is assigned a logic bit value based on a 50% random assignment. | 08-11-2011 |
20110194726 | Embedded Message Extraction For Visible Watermarking - A watermarking system uses distinct bit patterns to identify a logic 0, a logic 1, and a marker bit, which demarcates segments of logic bit information. Marker bits, which are printed on both foreground and background areas of an image, outline message blocks. In message extraction, a preprocessing step removes any white boarders, identifies the best defined corner of a message block, crops the image, and rotates the image to place the identified corner at the top-left corner. Message extraction scans the rotated image in window segments of increasing size during multiple cycles. During each cycle, if a bit pattern cannot be identified as a data bit, then the size of the examined bit area is increased and rechecked to see it specifically is a marker bit. If no bit information can be definitively identified, then it is assigned a logic bit value based on a 50% random assignment. | 08-11-2011 |
20110194727 | IMAGE DATA PROCESSIG SYSTEMS FOR HIDING SECRET INFORMATION AND DATA HIDING METHODS USING THE SAME - An image data processing system includes an image input module, a bit map generation module and an encoding module. The image input module receives an image and secret information and obtains at least one gray-level image according to image. The bit map generation module generates a bit map image according to gray-level image and generates an ordered dithering block truncation coding (ODBTC) image according to bit map image and gray-level image. The encoding module generates an encoded gray-level image according to bit map image and secret information, wherein the encoding module divides gray-level image into image blocks, finds candidate blocks with close black and white pixel numbers among the image blocks, selects high frequency blocks belong to the high frequency region of the image from candidate blocks, and randomly embeds secret information into high frequency blocks to generate encoded gray-level image with secret information embedded therein. | 08-11-2011 |
20110194728 | Method and system for forensic marking of stereoscopic 3D content media - Anti-piracy measures for stereoscopic 3D content media displayed in dual lens projection systems are achieved by the forensic marking of each image in a stereoscopic image pair with separate component forensic marks or dots associated with each image of an image pair. In one example, the component mark used for marking one image of the pair is identical to the component forensic mark used for marking the other image of the pair. In another example, the component marks are different from each other. When superimposed over each other in proper alignment, the two component marks form a composite forensic mark. In this latter example, they each lack one or more of the forensic dots or shapes existing in the composite mark, and the component marks may or may not have one or more corresponding forensic dots or shapes in common. | 08-11-2011 |
20110194729 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR IMAGE PROCESSING OF GROUND PATTERN - In order to prevent illegal copying more effectively in an image forming apparatus, when a specified ground pattern for preventing copying is detected in input image data, the detected ground pattern is emphasized in the image data. Alternatively, information for detecting the specified ground pattern is stored in a storage device, in order to detect the ground pattern with the stored information. When the ground pattern is not detected, a ground region in the image data is analyzed further to determine whether a different ground pattern exits or not. When a ground pattern is detected, information for detecting the ground pattern is stored in the storing device. | 08-11-2011 |
20110194730 | CONTROL SIGNALS IN STREAMING AUDIO OR VIDEO INDICATING A WATERMARK - Methods and apparatuses for searching for a control signal in streaming video or streaming audio that indicates the presence of a watermark in the streaming video or streaming audio. The streaming video or streaming audio is received and searched for a control signal. The detection of a control signal indicates the presences of a digital watermark in the streaming video or streaming audio. An indicator is triggered based upon detecting the control signal. | 08-11-2011 |
20110200224 | CONTENT ITEM IDENTIFIER | 08-18-2011 |
20110206232 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ENGAGING FUNCTIONALITY WITH A COLOR TAG - A method of creating and/or detecting a color tag being displayed or to be displayed along with or as part of an image, wherein the color tag comprises an attribute or information identifying an attribute that will be communicated to an application and/or device. In one embodiment of this method, the application and/or device is capable of taking an action associated with the color tag. The method of creating a color tag further comprises associating the color tag with an image to be displayed on a display, wherein the color tag will be displayed with or as part of the image on the display. The method of detecting a color tag also comprises communicating the attribute or information identifying the attribute to the application and/or device capable of taking an action associated with the color tag. | 08-25-2011 |
20110206233 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD AND NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER-READABLE MEDIUM - An image processing apparatus includes an image acquiring unit, a partial information detecting unit and an embedding unit. The image acquiring unit acquires an image in which first additional information is embedded so that pieces of first partial information obtained by dividing the first additional information are coded and embedded in respective unit areas obtained by dividing the image. The partial information detecting unit detects the pieces of first partial information, which are embedded in the respective unit areas of the image acquired by the image acquiring unit. The embedding unit codes and embeds, in the respective unit areas, pieces of second partial information obtained by dividing second additional information which is different from the first additional information so that a sum of differences between corresponding pairs of (i) the pieces of detected first partial information and (ii) the newly embedded pieces of second partial information become minimum. | 08-25-2011 |
20110206234 | ARRANGEMENT FOR AND METHOD OF EXAMINING GEMSTONES - An arrangement for, and a method of, accurately determining at least one optical property, such as coverage and/or symmetry, of a gemstone, employ an energizable, stationary light source for directing light rays at different orientations to an uncovered table of the gemstone, and an energizable, stationary backlight spaced away from a culet of the gemstone. A controller energizes the light source to generate return light from the gemstone for each light ray, and energizes the backlight to illuminate the gemstone from behind. An imager images the return light as a plurality of frontlit images, and images the backlit gemstone as a backlit image. The controller processes at least one of the images to determine the optical property of the gemstone. | 08-25-2011 |
20110211726 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROCESSING IMAGE DATA RELATIVE TO A FOCUS OF ATTENTION WITHIN THE OVERALL IMAGE - This invention provides a system and method for processing discrete image data within an overall set of acquired image data based upon a focus of attention within that image. The result of such processing is to operate upon a more limited subset of the overall image data to generate output values required by the vision system process. Such output value can be a decoded ID or other alphanumeric data. The system and method is performed in a vision system having two processor groups, along with a data memory that is smaller in capacity than the amount of image data to be read out from the sensor array. The first processor group is a plurality of SIMD processors and at least one general purpose processor, co-located on the same die with the data memory. A data reduction function operates within the same clock cycle as data-readout from the sensor to generate a reduced data set that is stored in the on-die data memory. At least a portion of the overall, unreduced image data is concurrently (in the same clock cycle) transferred to the second processor while the first processor transmits at least one region indicator with respect to the reduced data set to the second processor. The region indicator represents at least one focus of attention for the second processor to operate upon. | 09-01-2011 |
20110211727 | Authentication of "SOURCE" for brands - A unique identifier and Authentication System is created to Authenticate to interested parties the BRAND “SOURCE” of: articles (such as clothing, accessories, jewels, fragrances, manufactures, etc.); of authorized dealers for such articles (wholesalers, retailers, etc.); of authorized service entities for such articles: and for the like; of the BRAND “SOURCE” which the provider of the article desires to authenticate its Brand source to the party acquiring the article(s) to substantiate to that acquiring party that they are receiving a genuine article and/or dealing with a “SOURCE” authorized entity. The Authentication System accommodates not only camera enabled imagers and hard wiring but also camera enabled smart phones and internet communications. In addition to responding, in real time, to Authentication Inquiries the system establishes a communication link between the “SOURCE” and the inquirer for marketing and other APP like matters. | 09-01-2011 |
20110211728 | INFORMATION PROCESSING SYSTEM, INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, PROCESSING METHOD THEREOF, AND NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM - An information processing system assigns a comment to a specific region of an image, and calculates a total value of evaluation scores based on assigned comments for each image as an evaluation value of that image. | 09-01-2011 |
20110216935 | Navigating on Images - Systems, devices, features, and methods for navigating on images are disclosed. For example, one method includes identifying a point selected on an initial image. An image component, such as a pixel, of the initial image corresponding to the identified point is determined. The image component of the initial image represents an origin. A route from the origin to a destination is generated, and the destination corresponds to another image component, such as another pixel. | 09-08-2011 |
20110216936 | Reducing Watermark Perceptibility and Extending Detection Distortion Tolerances - The present disclosures relates generally to digital watermarking and data hiding. One claim recites a method comprising: obtaining data representing video; using one or more programmed electronic processors, embedding a first watermark signal in a first portion of the data, the first watermark signal comprising a first signal polarity; using one or more electronic processors, embedding a second watermark signal in a second portion of the data, the second watermark signal comprising a second signal polarity that is inversely related to the first signal polarity; rendering the watermarked video in real time, in which due to temporal averaging of the first watermark signal and second watermark signal over time, the first watermark signal and the second watermark signal are hidden from a human observer of the video. Of course, other claims are provided too. | 09-08-2011 |
20110216937 | Media Fingerprints that Reliably Correspond to Media Content with Projection of Moment Invariants - A portion of media content is accessed. Components from a first and each subsequent spatial regions of the media content are sampled. Each spatial region has an unsegmented area. Each subsequent spatial region includes those within its area as elements thereof or the spatial regions may partially overlap. The regions may overlap independent of a hierarchical relationship between the regions. A media fingerprint is derived from the components of each of the spatial regions, which reliably corresponds to the media content portion, e.g., over geometric attacks such as rotation. | 09-08-2011 |
20110222723 | LUMINANCE EVALUATION - A method comprises providing a change to apply to video; dividing video into blocks; creating propagation map which captures only specific changes to blocks that would be changed by the application of the change; evaluating the change based on a luminance criterion as being a perceptible change or an imperceptible change; for propagation maps of an imperceptible change, storing the propagation map to a list, wherein the propagation map is the principle data structure to be applied to the video. The propagation map can be created by using motion vector changes associated with the change. | 09-15-2011 |
20110228969 | MARKER PLACEMENT DEVICE, MARKER PLACEMENT DETECTING DEVICE, AND COMPUTER READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM FOR STORING MARKER PLACEMENT PROGRAM - A marker placement device includes, a marker placement method decision section that decides, for every predetermined pitch from a starting edge of a side to an end edge of the side, a placement position of a marker for detecting a position within a rectangular image region, the placement position being along the side of the image region within an image. A marker adding section that adds the marker to the image according to the placement position decided is provided, where, when a gap shorter than the pitch remains between the end edge and the decided placement position closest to the end edge of the side, the marker placement method decision section decides a first marker placement position closest to the starting edge, and decides a subsequent marker placement position. | 09-22-2011 |
20110228970 | Mass Analysis Data Processing Method and Mass Analysis Data Processing Apparatus - The present invention provides a method and apparatus for efficiently handling a large amount of data collected by an imaging mass analysis to present significant information for the analysis of the tissue structure of a biological sample or other objects in an intuitively understandable form for analysis operators. For each pixel | 09-22-2011 |
20110228971 | ROBUST WATERMARKING FOR DIGITAL MEDIA - Embedding a watermark includes organizing variation locations in a data stream, partitioning the data stream into small blocks, determining the variation of small blocks based on the variation, categorizing small blocks into big blocks, identifying those big blocks that have a threshold level of variation, and embedding into those identified big blocks a watermark value. | 09-22-2011 |
20110228972 | DIGITAL WATERMARK PADDING METHOD, DIGITAL WATERMARK PADDING DEVICE, DIGITAL WATERMARK DETECTING METHOD, DIGITAL WATERMARK DETECTING DEVICE, AND PROGRAM - A digital watermark embedding method of the present invention includes: a step of sequentially obtaining each frame image of the moving image data and frame display time; a step of generating a watermark pattern using watermark information, the frame display time and watermark pattern switching information; a step of superimposing the watermark pattern onto the frame image, and combining watermark embedded frame images obtained by sequentially repeating the processes to generate watermark embedded moving image data. A digital watermark detection method includes a step of sequentially obtaining a frame image; a step of generating a difference image between the currently obtained frame image and a previously obtained frame image; and a step of performing digital watermark detection from the difference image to output digital watermark detection status, and when digital watermark detection process is continued, obtaining a new frame again to repeat the above processes. | 09-22-2011 |
20110228973 | Methods and systems for digital image security - Methods and systems for securing digital imagery are provided. In one respect, embedding, compression, encryption, data hiding, and other imaging processing techniques and systems may be provided for digital image security. In one non-limiting example, a method for producing a compressed and encrypted image is provided. An image may be converted into a binary bit stream, and the bit stream may be decomposed into a plurality of segments. A binary sequence based on a first key may be generated and may be used to generate a code matrix. A distance between the code matrix and the distance may be determined for each of the plurality of segments. Using a combined first and second key, a compressed and encrypted image may be obtained. | 09-22-2011 |
20110235851 | Method and Apparatus for Indicating an Analysis Criteria - An apparatus, comprising a processor, memory including computer program code, the memory and the computer program code configured to, working with the processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following: receiving an indication that a first analysis chronicle has changed, the first analysis chronicle correlating to a first analysis criteria, and causing display of at least one indication of the first analysis criteria is disclosed. | 09-29-2011 |
20110235852 | STRUCTURE FOR RECOGNIZING ARTICLE TO BE COLLECTED, AND COLLECTION INFORMATION RECOGNITION APPARATUS AND COLLECTION PROCESSING APPARATUS THAT USE THE STRUCTURE - A structure for recognizing an article to be collected includes a recognition reference plane that is provided in a part of a holding base which holds the article to be collected with a predetermined positional relationship and that serves as a reference used for recognizing layout information about a position and an attitude of the holding base. The structure also includes a recognition indicator element which is placed on the recognition reference plane in such a way that an imaging tool captures an image of the recognition indicator element and which has four or more unit pattern marks at a predetermined positional relationship, in which each of the unit pattern marks is formed such that a density pattern sequentially changes with an increasing distance from a center position toward a periphery of the mark. | 09-29-2011 |
20110235853 | Secondary Market And Vending System For Devices - A recycling kiosk for recycling and financial remuneration for submission of a mobile telephone is disclosed herein. The recycling kiosk includes an inspection area with at least one camera and a plurality of electrical connectors in order to perform a visual analysis and an electrical analysis of the mobile telephone for determination of a value of the mobile telephone. The recycling kiosk also includes a processor, a display and a user interface. | 09-29-2011 |
20110243372 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DOCUMENT ANNOTATION - A method for producing an electronic annotated document including embedding annotation information into an electronic annotation object having image data including an annotation, and producing the electronic annotated document using pixel information from the electronic document and the electronic annotation object. The annotation embedded information may be used to select corresponding pixel information from one of the electronic annotated object and electronic document to be provided in the electronic annotated document. A system and tangible storage medium having machine-readable instructions for producing an electronic annotated document are also disclosed. | 10-06-2011 |
20110243373 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DOCUMENT ANNOTATION THAT INCLUDES OUTLINING - A method for producing an electronic annotated document including embedding annotation information into an electronic annotation object having image data including an annotation, and producing the electronic annotated document using pixel information from the electronic document and the electronic annotation object. The annotation embedded information may be used to select corresponding pixel information from one of the electronic annotated object and electronic document to be provided in the electronic annotated document. A system and tangible storage medium having machine-readable instructions for producing an electronic annotated document are also disclosed. | 10-06-2011 |
20110243374 | METHOD OF EMBEDDING INFORMATION IN INPUT IMAGE, METHOD OF EXTRACTING INFORMATION FROM INPUT IMAGE, AND RELATED APPARATUS - A method of embedding information in an input image, wherein the information includes a plurality of characters, includes: utilizing a processing circuit to receive the information and convert each character included in the information into a corresponding symbol according to a conversion look-up table; setting a position of the corresponding symbol of each character in a data block according to a sequence look-up table to generate the data block; and adding at least the data block to the input image. | 10-06-2011 |
20110243375 | INSERTING WATERMARKS INTO PORTIONS OF DIGITAL SIGNALS - The present invention relates generally to watermarking. In one implementation a method of pre-analyzing a digital signal for encoding digital watermarks using a digital filter comprising determining what changes in the digital signal will be affected by the digital filter is provided. In another implementation a system for pre-analyzing a digital signal for encoding at least one digital watermark using a digital filter is provided. The method includes a processor for identifying an area of the digital signal that will be affected by the digital filter; and an encoder for encoding the at least one digital watermark in the digital signal, the encoder encoding the at least one digital watermark so as to avoid the at least one area of the digital signal that will be affected by the digital filter. Other implementations are provided as well. | 10-06-2011 |
20110249860 | INTEGRATING AND POSITIONING METHOD FOR HIGH RESOLUTION MULTI-SATELLITE IMAGES - An integrating and positioning method for high resolution multi-satellite images is provided. In the method, direct georeferencing and a Rational Functions Model (RFM) are combined, two heterogeneous mathematical integrating and positioning adjustment models are established, so as to acquire relevant positioning parameters of the direct georeferencing and the RFM, and acquire ground coordinates of ground control points and a strip tie point, and local system errors of the ground coordinates are modified through a least-square collocation method. | 10-13-2011 |
20110255735 | PROBE MONITORING SYSTEM FOR RIVERBED ELEVATION MONITORING AT BRIDGE PIERS - A probe monitoring system for riverbed elevation monitoring at bridge piers is revealed. The system includes a housing, a measuring rod, a moving member, a control module, a photographic unit and a sensing unit. The housing is fixed on the pier. Both the moving member for driving the measuring rod and the control module for control of the moving member are mounted in the housing. When the control module drives the measuring rod to move downward and the sensing unit on the bottom of the measuring rod approaches the riverbed, a sensing signal is sent to the control module. Thus the moving member stops moving the measuring rod and the photographic unit takes pictures of the measuring rod to generate an image. Then the riverbed elevation is obtained according to the image or the movement of the moving member and is sent to a remote monitor unit for real-time monitoring. | 10-20-2011 |
20110255736 | NETWORKED IMAGE RECOGNITION METHODS AND SYSTEMS - An adaptive marketing image recognition system enables internet-based interactivity between individuals, commercial entities, and internet-based social networks. The system may receive a digital image from an individual and process the images to recognize at least one marketing image contained within the digital image. The system may identify at least one commercial entity associated with the marketing image, and provide a marketing response to the individual that may be tailored to the individual. The system may additionally provide marketing responses to members of an internet-based social network to which the individual belongs. Marketing metrics associated with the recognized marketing image and distribution of marketing responses may be compiled by the system and provided to the at least one commercial entity. | 10-20-2011 |
20110261993 | WELL FOCUSED CATADIOPTRIC IMAGE ACQUISITION - The subject innovation provides for systems and methods to facilitate obtaining an overall well focused catadioptric image by combining portions of multifocal images in a fast and reliable manner. The resulting images benefit applications where high image resolutions are desirable over a large field of view. In an aspect, shallow depth of field imaging with respect to the caustic volume boundary can be correlated to annular shaped best focal regions for multifocal image sets. These annular regions are generally independent of scene composition and generally dependant on optical system parameters allowing fast computation of overall well focused output images comprising concentric best focused annulus areas from a multifocal image set. | 10-27-2011 |
20110261994 | AUTOMATED TEMPLATE LAYOUT METHOD - A method for producing an image template having one or more openings for displaying images. The openings as well as the images are each associated with a season. The images are automatically analyzed to determine which season they most likely depict. Images are then selected to be placed in a template opening designated for a particular season. This method can be used to automate calendar production. | 10-27-2011 |
20110261995 | AUTOMATED TEMPLATE LAYOUT SYSTEM - A computer system having a processor and a memory for generating and storing a list of elements that are searched for in digital images. Occurrences of the elements in the images are indicative of a calendar season and, optionally, with a calendar month or another kind of season. The elements include weight values for indicating how strongly the element is associated with a season. The computer system automatically calculates a season determination value for each of the digital images and automatically selects images for use in a seasonal image product. | 10-27-2011 |
20110261996 | DIGITAL VIDEO PROTECTION FOR AUTHENTICITY VERIFICATION - A method for verifying the authenticity and integrity of an ordered sequence of digital video frames, without having access to the original recording, by embedding therein a respective series of digital signatures based on a secret key, or keys, and on the video content of respective frames. Signatures are camouflaged by embedding in transform coefficients of a transformed representation of the video data in parts of the frame corresponding to motion. If there is sufficient motion to contain all of the signature bits, a supplementary technique embeds in high-texture areas of a frame. A final fall-back is to embed in a pre-defined default zone. A method of predicting when supplementary embedding is needed enables the process to be applied in a single pass allowing real-time operation. Verification is done during decoding by comparing, for identity, embedded signatures with signatures calculated anew using the method employed to embed. | 10-27-2011 |
20110261997 | FORENSIC MARK INSERTION APPARATUS AND METHOD - A forensic mark insertion apparatus includes: an original content segment storage unit for storing multiple original contents; and a service control unit for, in response to a request for a content from a user, retrieving an original content corresponding to the request for the content from the original content segment storage unit, separating the retrieved original content into plurality of content segments, selectively inserting a forensic mark into some of the content segments, and assembling the content segments to produce an forensic-mark inserted content to be provided to the user. | 10-27-2011 |
20110261998 | SELECTION OF I-FRAMES FOR CLIENT-SIDE WATERMARKING - A system and method are provided for selecting frames of a compressed video stream that may be used for client-side watermarking. In general, a content source evaluates a number of Intra-Frames (I-Frames) in the compressed video stream using a sample watermark that is similar to actual watermarks that may be used for client-side watermarking. More specifically, each of a number of I-Frames in the compressed video stream is evaluated by first watermarking the I-Frame with the sample watermark. Associated frames in the compressed video stream are then decoded using the watermarked I-Frame. An error value for the decoded video frames is then computed. If the error value is outside of a predetermined error threshold range, the I-Frame is selected as an I-Frame that may be used for client-side watermarking. | 10-27-2011 |
20110261999 | NANO-ENCODING AND DECODING INFORMATION RELATED TO PRINTED TEXTS AND IMAGES ON PAPER AND OTHER SURFACES - A method and system for nano-encoding and decoding information related to printed texts and images on paper and other surfaces is provided. The system and method includes a nano-encoder for encoding information related to printed texts and images; and then collocating the encoded information with the related printed texts and/or images. The system also includes a nano-decoder for decoding information encoded by the nano-encoder. The nano-decoder includes a text processing database having a translator database. The translator database includes a definition database; and a summary database. In addition, the system and method includes detecting luminescent nano particles and/or magnetic nano particles; and determining invariant properties of the detected nano particles. The invariant properties are then matched with coded information. The system and method includes matching the invariant properties with predetermined coded information and analyzing the invariant properties of the detected nano particles for segmentation. | 10-27-2011 |
20110268311 | Vision-enabled household appliances - The invention is generally related to the systems and methods through which household appliances can provide intuitive and enhanced interactivity through visual inputs. In particular, the disclosure presents methods relating to control of a household appliance, such as a microwave or a refrigerator, via recognition of visual indicia, such as graphics, text, and the like, using a visual sensor such as a camera. | 11-03-2011 |
20110268312 | DEFORMATION MEASUREMENT METHOD AND APPARATUS - There is a situation in that, although a speckle interference optical system is effective for clarification of a process of deformation of a specimen, resolution is insufficient, and execution of a phase shift method for improving the resolution involves a costly apparatus. | 11-03-2011 |
20110268313 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TESTING ROPES - A computer-aided method, system and computer program product are provided for optical testing of a rope. Such method includes: providing an image data set for at least one portion of the rope; providing target values of a pictorial longitudinal extension of the representation of wires relative to a pictorial longitudinal extension of the rope in the image data set; determining a pictorial longitudinal extension of the wires in the image data set, including adapting an estimated longitudinal extension to the image data set; determining at least one quality value using a quality norm as a function of the determined pictorial longitudinal extension of the wires and the target values of the pictorial longitudinal extension of the wires; discriminating pictorial positions within the image data set of the rope, where at least one quality value exceeds or falls below a predetermined, assigned quality threshold value; and providing the discriminated pictorial positions. | 11-03-2011 |
20110268314 | Automatic Media Edit Inspector - A system that provides automatic background analysis of a digital image or other media element makes a determination that the image or media element may benefit from correction, and prompts the user to use a correction feature of the system. In some implementations, the prompt itself can navigate the user to the controls for the correction feature. Accordingly, users are notified when they might benefit from correction, and they can be further led to discover a feature with which they may have previously been unfamiliar. | 11-03-2011 |
20110268315 | Scalable Media Fingerprint Extraction - Derivation of a fingerprint includes generating feature matrices based on one or more training images, generating projection matrices based on the feature matrices in a training process, and deriving a fingerprint for one or more images by, at least in part, projecting a feature matrix based on the one or more images onto the projection matrices generated in the training process. | 11-03-2011 |
20110274310 | HIDDEN IMAGE SIGNALLING - An image is encoded to define one or more spatial regions that can be sensed by a suitably-equipped mobile device (e.g., a smart phone), but are imperceptible to humans. When such a mobile device senses one of these regions, it takes an action in response (e.g., rendering an associated tone, playing linked video, etc.). The regions may overlap in layered fashion. One form of encoding employs modification of the color content of the image at higher spatial frequencies, where human vision is not acute. In a particular embodiment, the encoding comprises altering a transform domain representation of the image by adding signal energy in a first chrominance channel, where the added signal energy falls primarily within a segmented arc region in a transform domain space. | 11-10-2011 |
20110274311 | SIGN LANGUAGE RECOGNITION SYSTEM AND METHOD - A sign language recognition method includes a camera capturing an image of a gesture from a signer, comparing the image of the gesture with a number of gestures to find out the meanings of the gesture, and displaying or vocalizing the meanings of the gestures. | 11-10-2011 |
20110274312 | INFORMATION IMAGE, IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND COMPUTER-READABLE MEDIUM - An information image includes a first, second, third, fourth and fifth pixel series which represent first, second, third, fourth and fifth information, respectively. The first and second information are successions of binary numbers 0 or 1. The first and third pixel series are series of pixel lumps arranged continuously as rows in a rectangle. The second and fourth pixel series are series of pixel lumps arranged continuously as columns in the rectangle. The row of the third pixel series is at a predetermined position with respect to that of the first pixel series. The column of the fourth pixel series is at a predetermined position with respect to that of the second pixel series. The fifth pixel series is a series of pixel lumps arranged in an area other than the rows and the columns of the first, second, third and fourth pixel series are arranged. | 11-10-2011 |
20110274313 | SIGNAL PROCESSING OF AUDIO AND VIDEO DATA, INCLUDING ASSESSMENT OF EMBEDDED DATA - The present invention relates generally to signal processing of media content, e.g., audio or video content. One form of signal processing derives identifying information from media content. One claim recites a method including: upon encountering audio or video content, and using a programmed electronic processor, attempting to derive identifying information from data representing the encountered audio or video content; if a digital watermark is not obtained from the data representing the encountered audio or video content, modifying the encountered audio or video content; and then attempting to attempting to derive identifying information from data representing the modified audio or video content. Of course, other claims are provided too. | 11-10-2011 |
20110280434 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR WATERMAKR INSERTIN USING VIDEO START CODES - A receiver may be operable to receive a default version for each portion of each of video frames, and an alternative version and corresponding watermark control information for one or more portions of one or more of the video frames, in a compressed video stream. The receiver may be operable to determine one or more of the default versions and/or one or more of the alternative versions for decoding based on the corresponding watermark control information and/or specific information locally associated with the receiver. The receiver may be operable to select the determined one or more of the default versions and/or the determined one or more of the default versions for decoding of the received compressed video stream by modifying one or more start codes. Each of the one or more start codes comprises a start code suffix. | 11-17-2011 |
20110280435 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS - The image processing apparatus is provided with a user authenticating portion, an operation portion capable of displaying an operation screen, and a registration portion for registering in a storage portion, with respect to an operation screen of the image processing function displayed through inputting of a user operation, the operation screen and a numeric key input before or after user authentication processing by the user authenticating portion being associated with each other for each authenticated user. The image processing apparatus, when the user authentication processing and inputting of the numeric key are performed, displays the operation screen, or a screen during image processing or after image processing as well as executes image processing by the image processing function. | 11-17-2011 |
20110280436 | EMBEDDING AND DETECTION OF WATERMARK IN A MOTION IMAGE SIGNAL - A video watermarking scheme is disclosed, which is designed for the digital cinema format, as it will be used on large projector screens in theaters. The watermark is designed in such a way that it has minimal impact on the video quality, but is still detectable after capture with a handheld camera and conversion to, for instance, VHS, CD-Video or DVD format. The proposed watermarking system only exploits the temporal axis. This makes it invulnerable to geometrical distortions generally caused by such a way of capturing. The watermark is embedded by modulating a global property of the frames (e.g. the mean luminance) in accordance with the samples of the watermark. The embedding depth is preferably locally adapted within each frame to local statistics of the respective image. Watermark detection is performed by correlating the watermark sequence with extracted mean luminance values of a sequence of frames. | 11-17-2011 |
20110280437 | Narrowcasting From Public Displays, and Related Methods - A user with a cell phone interacts, in a personalized session, with an electronic sign system. In some embodiments, the user's location relative to the sign is discerned from camera imagery—either imagery captured by the cell phone (i.e., of the sign), or captured by the sign system (i.e., of the user). Demographic information about the user can be estimated from imagery captured acquired by the sign system, or can be accessed from stored profile data associated with the user. The sign system can transmit payoffs (e.g., digital coupons or other response data) to viewers—customized per user demographics. In some arrangements, the payoff data is represented by digital watermark data encoded in the signage content. The encoding can take into account the user's location relative to the sign—allowing geometrical targeting of different payoffs to differently-located viewers. Other embodiments allow a user to engage an electronic sign system for interactive game play, using the cell phone as a controller. | 11-17-2011 |
20110286624 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR WATERMARKING OF 3D MESH MODEL - Provided are a watermarking method and a watermarking apparatus for a mesh mode, which are applicable to a system which requires high precision, such as a rapid prototyping system. A reference coordinate system is set using 1-ring values of vertices of a 3D mesh model. The vertices are sorted based on the set reference coordinate system, and bit-information of the watermark consisting of bit string is, respectively, embedded into each of polygonal faces of the 3D mesh model in the sorted order. | 11-24-2011 |
20110286625 | SYSTEM REACTIONS TO THE DETECTION OF EMBEDDED WATERMARKS IN A DIGITAL HOST CONTENT - Methods, devices and computer program products for enabling secure and efficient extraction of embedded watermarks from digital host content are provided. Upon the reception of a multi-channel digital host content with embedded watermarks, a subset of the received channels are selected and combined together to from a composite content. The composite content is then examined to recover embedded watermarks. The particular subset of channels can be selected according to a probability value. Further, a set of new channels can be selected and combined after a particular time interval has elapsed. The number of selected channels can also be varied each time a new selection is made. | 11-24-2011 |
20110299719 | Specific Absorption Rate Measurement and Energy-Delivery Device Characterization Using Thermal Phantom and Image Analysis - A method of predicting a radiation pattern emitted by an energy applicator includes the steps of providing thermal profile data for an energy applicator, determining a specific absorption rate around the energy applicator as a function of the thermal profile data, and generating a simulated radiation pattern for the energy applicator as a function of the determined specific absorption rate. | 12-08-2011 |
20110299720 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MATERIAL LAYER IDENTIFICATION THROUGH IMAGE PROCESSING - A fast and fully automated approach for determining the number of atomic planes in layered material samples is provided. Examples of such materials may include graphene and bismuth telluride (Bi | 12-08-2011 |
20110299721 | PROJECTION BASED HASHING THAT BALANCES ROBUSTNESS AND SENSITIVITY OF MEDIA FINGERPRINTS - Multiple candidate feature components of media content or projection matrices (or other hash functions, e.g., non-linear projections) are identified. Each of the candidate projection matrices (or other hash functions) includes an array of coefficients that relate to the candidate features. A subgroup of the candidate features or the projection matrices (or other hash functions) are selected based at least partially on an optimized combination of at least two characteristics of the candidate features or projection matrices (or other hash functions). Media fingerprints that uniquely identify the media content are derived from the selected optimized subgroup. Optimal projection matrices (or other hash functions) may be designed. Performance or sensitivity (e.g., search time) characteristics of the fingerprints are thus balanced with robustness characteristics thereof. | 12-08-2011 |
20110299722 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROCESSING PRINTED SHEETS, ESPECIALLY SHEETS OF PRINTED SECURITIES, INTO INDIVIDUAL DOCUMENTS - There is described method of processing printed sheets ( | 12-08-2011 |
20110299723 | Image processing apparatus, image forming apparatus, image processing method, and recording medium - An image processing apparatus includes a watermark adding section for adding a watermark for copy control to an image, where the watermark includes a dot pattern which becomes visible when copy, and a pattern adding section for adding a predetermined pattern to an appropriate position of an image, wherein the watermark adding section includes a watermark generating section for generating a watermark for copy control, where the watermark includes a dot pattern which becomes invisible when copy, a determining section for determining whether or not the pattern adding section adds the predetermined pattern to the image, when the generated watermark is added to the image, and a region setting section for setting a region where the predetermined pattern is to be appeared at a different portion where the dot pattern is added, when the determining section determines that the predetermined pattern is to be added to the image. | 12-08-2011 |
20110299724 | REMOTE DYNAMIC INDICATION OF SUPERVISORY CONTROL AND MONITORING - A system and method for assigning unique and immutable attributes to user profiles and associated image(s) to facilitate the dynamic indication of supervisory control and monitoring through iconic representation, steganographic processing and/or encryption processing. | 12-08-2011 |
20110299725 | METHODS INVOLVING MAPS, IMAGERY, VIDEO AND STEGANOGRAPHY - The disclosure describes methods and apparatus of providing steganographic indicia or digital watermarking in image or video data. One implementation provides a method of embedding a digital watermark in image data captured by an imager, with watermark embedding occurring on-chip with the imager. Another implementation provides a method of managing images. Each of the images comprises plural-bit data steganographically embedded therein in the form of a digital watermark, with the plural-bit data corresponding to a geo-location. Yet another implementation provides a method of identifying locations on a map, with the map being for display via a computer display. Still another implementation provides a method of introducing a watermark message to a watermark embedder located on-chip with an image array. Other implementations and embodiments are provided as well. | 12-08-2011 |
20110305364 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR EMBEDDING A BINARY SEQUENCE IN A COMPRESSED VIDEO STREAM - In a method of embedding a binary sequence in a video sequence or a compressed video stream, said stream being able to be decomposed into several types of objects, the method is applied to at least one image contained in said video sequence The method includes analyzing the video sequence in the compressed domain so as to determine one or more zones of interest, generating a watermarking map containing the image blocks available for the watermarking, excluding from the watermarking map, for the current compressed image, the blocks that are not eligible according to a defined criterion, and applying a digital watermarking function to each available block. | 12-15-2011 |
20110305365 | OPTIMIZATION METHODS FOR THE INSERTION, PROTECTION, AND DETECTION OF DIGITAL WATERMARKS IN DIGITIZED DATA - The implementations of digital watermarks can be optimally suited to particular transmission, distribution and storage mediums given the nature of digitally-sampled audio, video and other multimedia works. Watermark application parameters can be adapted to the individual characteristics of a given digital sample stream. Watermark information can be either carried in individual samples or in relationships between multiple samples, such as in a waveform shape. More optimal models may be obtained to design watermark systems that are tamper-resistant given the number and breadth of existent digitized sample options with different frequency and time components. The highest quality of a given content signal may be maintained as it is mastered, with the watermark suitably hidden, taking into account usage of digital filters and error correction. The quality of the underlying content signals can be used to identify and highlight advantageous locations for the insertion of digital watermarks. The watermark is integrated as closely as possible to the content signal, at a maximum level to force degradation of the content signal when attempts are made to remove the watermarks. | 12-15-2011 |
20110311094 | TECHNIQUES TO VERIFY LOCATION FOR LOCATION BASED SERVICES - Techniques to verify a participant's visit to a specific location are described. An embodiment may provide a system that generates a pattern that is unique to the location, and that may further be unique to a date or time, a transaction, or other criteria. Participants may capture the pattern, for example, using a mobile device, and transmit the pattern to a verification system. The verification system may decode, translate, decrypt or otherwise obtain information from the pattern. The information obtained from the pattern may be used to verify that the pattern came from the location. The participant may then receive credit for the visit. Other embodiments are described and claimed. | 12-22-2011 |
20110311095 | CONTENT FINGERPRINTING - A device may include a video camera for capturing a video clip, a processor, a transmitter, and a receiver. The processor may be configured to receive, from the video camera, the video clip that is shown on a display screen of a content presentation device. The transmitter may be configured to send the video clip or a fingerprint of the video clip to a remote device. The receiver may be configured to receive, from the remote device, an identity of content whose fingerprints match the fingerprint. | 12-22-2011 |
20110311096 | Object Processing Employing Movement - Directional albedo of a particular article, such as an identity card, is measured and stored. When the article is later presented, it can be confirmed to be the same particular article by re-measuring the albedo function, and checking for correspondence against the earlier-stored data. The re-measuring can be performed through use of a handheld optical device, such as a camera-equipped cell phone. The albedo function can serve as random key data in a variety of cryptographic applications. The function can be changed during the life of the article. A variety of other features are also detailed. | 12-22-2011 |
20110311097 | ANALYZER OF ULTRASONIC FLAW DETECTION IMAGE - A flaw detection image analyzer ( | 12-22-2011 |
20110311098 | Method and apparatus for inserting video watermark in compression domain - An apparatus and method for video watermarking are provided. The apparatus and method include receiving a bit stream encoded by a video encoder by a spatial domain information analyzer and extracting information from a spatial domain of an image with respect to code words forming the bit stream, grouping the code words for each segmented domain by a domain classifier based on the information from the spatial domain, determining a sign of the each segmented domain by a domain sign determiner and inserting a watermark in the each segmented domain according to the sign determined by the domain sign determiner by a watermark bit inserter. | 12-22-2011 |
20110317870 | AUTOMATIC APPEAL MEASUREMENT METHOD - A method for estimating a personal appeal of a candidate individual to an observer, comprising: designating a set of proxy individuals; providing one or more digital images for each proxy individual; determining personal appeal values of each proxy individual to the observer; providing one or more digital images for the candidate individual; determining image similarity metrics between the digital images for the candidate individual and the digital images for each proxy individual; determining similarity values between the candidate individual and each proxy individual responsive to the determined image similarity metrics; and estimating the personal appeal of the candidate individual to the observer by determining a weighted combination of the personal appeal values for the proxy individuals, wherein the weighted combination uses weighting coefficients that are determined responsive to the similarity values between the candidate individual and the corresponding proxy individual. | 12-29-2011 |
20120002839 | Malware image recognition - According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of detecting malware or other potentially unwanted programs. The method includes, at each of a plurality of client terminals, when it is determined that a program may be malware or a potentially unwanted program, generating image recognition data from displayed image data that includes image elements generated by the program, and sending the image recognition data to a central server. At the central server, storing the received image recognition data, and using the stored image recognition data to detect the presence of a malware or potentially unwanted program at the client terminals. | 01-05-2012 |
20120008819 | OPTIMIZATION OF HUMAN ACTIVITY DETERMINATION FROM VIDEO - In an embodiment, automated analysis of video data for determination of human behavior includes providing a programmable device that segments a video stream into a plurality of discrete individual frame image primitives which are combined into a visual event that may encompass an activity of concern as a function of a hypothesis. The visual event is optimized by setting a binary variable to true or false as a function of one or more constraints. The optimized visual event is processed in view of associated non-video transaction data and the binary variable by associating the optimized visual event with a logged transaction if associable, issuing an alert if the binary variable is true and the optimized visual event is not associable with the logged transaction, and dropping the optimized visual event if the binary variable is false and the optimized visual event is not associable. | 01-12-2012 |
20120008820 | Microform Word Search Method and Apparatus - An apparatus for searching for expressions that appear on a microform medium, the apparatus comprising a microform imager including a sensor for generating digital microform images of one segment of the microform medium at a time, a display screen; and a processor programmed to, while the microform imager is generating a digital microform image: (i) use the digital microform image generated by the microform imager to drive the display screen, (ii) search the digital microform image presented via the display screen for instances of a search expression and (iii) visually distinguish the located search expressions in the digital microform image presented via the display screen. | 01-12-2012 |
20120008821 | VIDEO VISUAL AND AUDIO QUERY - A video visual and audio query system for quickly identifying video within a large known corpus of videos being played on any screen or display. In one embodiment, the system can record via a mobile phone camera and microphone a live video clip from the TV and transcode it into a sequence of frame-signatures. The signatures representative of the clips can then be matched against the signatures of the TV content in a corpus across a network to identify the correct TV show or movie. | 01-12-2012 |
20120008822 | MULTI-VIEWPOINT IMAGE RECORDING MEDIUM AND AUTHENTICITY JUDGMENT METHOD - A multi-viewpoint image recording medium includes at least one main image recorded on the multi-viewpoint image recording medium and a plurality of sub-images, each having a display area smaller than a display area of the main image, recorded on the multi-viewpoint image recording medium. The main image and the plurality of sub-images are simultaneously displayed when the main image and the plurality of sub-images are reproduced. At least one of the plurality of sub-images changes in accordance with movement of a viewpoint. | 01-12-2012 |
20120008823 | DIGITAL WATERMARKS - The present invention relates generally to digital watermarking and steganographic data hiding. In one embodiment a method of rendering content to a user is provided. The rendered content includes a digital watermark embedded therein. In another embodiment, digital watermarking is utilized to facilitate purchase or lease of audio or video content over a network or with a remote computer. In still another embodiment, a compression characteristic is determined, and subsequent steganographic embedding is influenced based on the characteristic. Other embodiments are provided as well. | 01-12-2012 |
20120014557 | DIGITAL WATERMARKING IN DATA REPRESENTING COLOR CHANNELS - The present disclosure relates to digital watermarking. One claim recites a method to detect two or more different digital watermarks in media. The method includes: receiving captured imagery of the media, the captured imagery comprising a plurality of image frames; for a first image frame applying a first watermark detector to search for a first digital watermark hidden within the first image frame, in which an electronic processor is programmed as the first watermark detector; and for a second image frame applying a second, different watermark detector to search for a second, different watermark hidden within the second image frame, in which an electronic processor is programmed as the second watermark detector. Other claims and combinations are provided too. | 01-19-2012 |
20120020513 | DOCUMENT VERIFICATION SYSTEM - The present invention relates to a computer-implemented method, and associated apparatus, for printed document verification. A document to be printed will have related content data, imposition data, and finishing data, wherein the imposition data describes at least one imposition signature for the document and the finishing data describes the application of one or more finishing operations to be performed in order to produce the printed document. This data is obtained using an input device and is passed to a representation system that generates an electronic output representation of the document to be printed and finished, in accordance with the said content, imposition and finishing data. An operator can then inspect this electronic representation to check for errors that might arise. | 01-26-2012 |
20120027246 | TECHNIQUE FOR COLLECTING INCOME-TAX INFORMATION - A technique for collecting income-tax information is described. This collection technique allows a user (such as a taxpayer) to provide income-tax information by submitting an image of a document, such as an income-tax summary or form. After receiving the image, the income-tax information is extracted from the document, and a subset of the income-tax information that is relevant to the user is determined. This subset of the income-tax information is then provided to the user for validation, and the user subsequently provides feedback about the subset of the income-tax information, such as acceptance of the subset or correction of any errors. Furthermore, after receiving the user feedback, fields in an income-tax return of the user may be populated using the subset of the income-tax information. | 02-02-2012 |
20120027247 | PINNED-CONTACT, OSCILLATING LIQUID-LIQUID LENS AND IMAGING SYSTEMS - An oscillating liquid lens and imaging system and method employing the lens are provided. The liquid lens includes a substrate with a channel opening extending through the substrate. A liquid drop is disposed within the channel and is sized with a first droplet portion, including a first capillary surface, protruding away from a first substrate surface, and a second droplet portion, including a second capillary surface, protruding away from a second substrate surface. The liquid lens further includes an enclosure at least partially surrounding the substrate, and including a chamber. The liquid drop resides within the chamber, and the liquid lens includes a second liquid disposed within the chamber in direct or indirect contact with the liquid drop, and the liquid lens further includes a driver for oscillating the liquid drop within the channel. | 02-02-2012 |
20120033850 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR OPTICAL ASSET RECOGNITION AND LOCATION TRACKING - A method for managing assets associated with a platform is described. The method includes receiving an optical image of an asset associated with the platform, comparing, using an optical recognition program, the optical image of the asset to images of assets within a library of asset images to identify the asset, assigning a location for the identified asset, and updating a database, including one or more of an asset inventory and a platform configuration, based on the identification and location of the asset. | 02-09-2012 |
20120033851 | SPATIALLY INTEGRATED AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY FOR BRIDGE, STRUCTURE, AND ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING - Spatially Integrated Small-Format Aerial Photography (SFAP is one aspect of the present invention. It is a low-cost solution for bridge surface imaging and is proposed as a remote bridge inspection technique to supplement current bridge visual inspection. Providing top-down views, the airplanes flying at about 1000 ft, can allow visualization of sub-inch (large) cracks and joint openings on bridge decks or highway pavements. On board Global Positioning System is used to help geo-reference images collected and allow automated damage detection. A deck condition rating technique based on large crack detection is used to quantify the condition of the existing bridge decks. | 02-09-2012 |
20120039503 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONSTRUCTING A THREE DIMENSIONAL OPERATIONAL GRAPHIC FROM A TWO DIMENSIONAL BUILDING CONTROL SUBSYSTEM DRAWING - A method includes receiving into a computer processor a building control subsystem design drawing, and identifying a plurality of objects in the building control subsystem design drawing by comparing the objects to a template of objects. The template of objects includes one or more of a representation of a shape, a color, and a texture. A physical relationship among the plurality of objects is determined, and a three dimensional representation of the plurality of objects is retrieved from a three dimensional device library. A three dimensional building control subsystem graphic is generated by mapping the three dimensional representation of the plurality of objects into a three dimensional user interface as a function of the physical relationship. The three dimensional user interface is animated and interactive to monitor and control a building subsystem. | 02-16-2012 |
20120039504 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR EMBEDDING WATERMARKS - Methods and apparatus for embedding a watermark are disclosed. An example method disclosed herein to embed a watermark in a compressed data stream comprises obtaining a set of transform coefficients included in the compressed data stream, the set of transform coefficients having a respective first set of mantissa codes and a respective set of exponents, the first set of mantissa codes associated with a respective set of mantissa step sizes, identifying a first transform coefficient from the set of transform coefficients having a smallest magnitude among the set of transform coefficients, determining a second set of mantissa codes based on the first transform coefficient and the set of step sizes, and replacing the first set of mantissa codes included in the compressed data stream with the second set of mantissa codes to embed the watermark without uncompressing the compressed data stream. | 02-16-2012 |
20120045087 | ANALYSIS ENGINE AND DATABASE FOR MANIPULATING PARAMETERS FOR FLUIDIC SYSTEMS ON A CHIP - Systems for managing workflows to perform chemical or biological reactions using microfluidic devices. | 02-23-2012 |
20120045088 | Watermarking Different Areas of Digital Images with Different Intensities - An image is processed to encode a digital watermark, with different regions thereof processed using different levels of watermark intensity. In an image comprised of elements of differing sizes (e.g., halftone shapes of different sizes, or lines of different width), the different regions can be defined by reference to the sizes of elements contained therein. Regions characterized by relatively small elements can be watermarked at a relatively low intensity. Regions characterized by relatively large elements can be watermarked at a relatively high intensity. A variety of other features are also discussed. | 02-23-2012 |
20120045089 | DECODING A WATERMARK AND PROCESSING IN RESPONSE THERETO - Watermark encoders and decoders can be integrated into operating systems, Internet browsers, media players, and other applications and devices. Such integration enables the watermark-enabled application or device to provide additional functionality and information available via the watermark. The watermark, for example, may link to metadata or actions related to a media object. To exploit this watermark enabled functionality, the integrated application uses a watermark decoder to access the related metadata and actions. The user interface of the integrated application is enhanced to present metadata and actions linked via the watermark. Similarly, watermark encoders may be integrated into applications to convert media objects into enhanced, watermarked objects. A variety of other arrangements and features are also detailed. Many arrangements can be implemented using object identifiers other than watermarks. | 02-23-2012 |
20120057741 | SECURITY POLYMER THREAT DETECTION DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM - Embodiments disclosed enable the detection of the presence of chemical, biological, and/or explosive (CBE) substance or other items of interest on individuals handling tickets, fobs, passes, smartcards, or other media. Embodiments generally contemplate issuing media at a first location and analyzing the media at a second location. Material sensitive to CBE substance can be applied to the media at the first and/or second location. An adhesive also may be used to attract and/or retain particles to the media for analysis and/or adhere the detection material to the media. Such embodiments can be utilized in airports, transit stations, and other applications where security against threats posed by CBE substance may be a concern. | 03-08-2012 |
20120057742 | IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICE, METHOD AND PROGRAM PRODUCT PROCESSING BARCODES WITH LINK INFORMATION CORRESPONDING TO OTHER BARCODES - In a copy generation management on paper, the present invention aims to detect a falsification in embedded information and increase the capacity of embedded information while maintaining security. The image processing device embeds second additional information into document image data embedded with first additional information. The image processing device deletes a part where the first additional information is embedded in the document image data, and embeds the second additional information into the part of the first additional information thus deleted. The image processing device further embeds third information different from the first and second additional information at a position different from position at which the second additional information is embedded. Further, the embedding means embeds the third information at a position indicated by the second additional information. | 03-08-2012 |
20120057743 | System and method for fluorescence guided ingredient specific particle sizing - The present disclosure provides for a system and method for rapid, accurate, and reliable targeting and interrogation of pharmaceutical samples. An autofluorescence image of a sample may be generated and analyzed to identify areas of interest that exhibit autofluorescence characteristic of APIs. These areas of interest may then be targeted for analysis using Raman chemical imaging. This Raman chemical image may be used to determine geometric properties of particles present in a sample such as size and particle distribution. | 03-08-2012 |
20120063634 | Method for watermarking free view video with blind watermark detection - The invention relates to a method for watermark embedding in multi views video comprising a plurality of views captured with a plurality of cameras comprising for each view a step of projecting the view onto a domain invariant to the plurality of views and to intermediate synthesized view, which depends on the locations, orientations, and intrinsic parameters of the cameras, resulting into an invariant vector ; a step of applying a watermarking algorithm to the invariant vector resulting into a watermarked invariant vector ; and a step of modifying the view to obtain a watermarked view, wherein said watermarked view when projected onto the invariant domain results into the watermarked invariant vector. | 03-15-2012 |
20120063635 | INFORMATION PROCESSING DEVICE AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT - According to an embodiment, an information processing device includes: an extracting unit configured to extract a feature quantity of a content; a first detecting unit configured to detect a point in the content where variation of the feature quantity is a first predetermined amount or more; a second detecting unit configured to detect components of watermark information including components corresponding to respective intervals based on the point; a determining unit configured to determine a reliability of the watermark information that is detected; and a selecting unit configured to select a first watermark information from the watermark information based on a result of determination determined by the determining unit. | 03-15-2012 |
20120063636 | Video Entity Recognition in Compressed Digital Video Streams - A method and system for detection of video segments in compressed digital video streams is presented. The compressed digital video stream is examine to determine synchronization points, and the compressed video signal is analyzed following detection of the synchronization points to create video fingerprints that are subsequently compared against a library of stored fingerprints. | 03-15-2012 |
20120070029 | USING CAMERA SIGNATURES FROM UPLOADED IMAGES TO AUTHENTICATE USERS OF AN ONLINE SYSTEM - Users of an online system are authenticated based on signatures of cameras that were used to capture images uploaded to the online system. Users of an online system upload photos taken from their cameras. The online system extracts characteristic information about the camera that captured the photos. This information includes a mapping of faulty pixels, metadata included with the photos, a naming convention, and the like. The online system stores an association between the user and the camera. This association is used for authentication of the user. For authentication, the user is asked to upload new photos taken from the camera that the user used previously. The information extracted from the newly uploaded photos is matched against stored information of cameras used previously by the user. The user is successfully authenticated if the camera used for the newly uploaded photos matches a previously stored camera. | 03-22-2012 |
20120070030 | PAYLOAD RECOVERY SYSTEMS AND METHODS - A payload recovery system includes a reference halftone image of a data-bearing halftone image and a reference map of the data-bearing halftone image. The system further includes a cell alignment system for receiving a scanned image of a hard copy of the data-bearing halftone image and for generating an aligned scan of the scanned image using the reference halftone image and the reference map. A raw payload recovery system determines possible shift positions of each carrier cell of the aligned scan using a shift rule and the reference map; and a reconstructed data-bearing halftone image is generated by the raw payload recovery system using the possible shift positions and the reference halftone. The system also includes a recovered raw payload generated by the raw payload recovery system using the shift rule and the reference map. | 03-22-2012 |
20120070031 | INFORMATION PROCESSOR, INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD, AND PROGRAM - An information processor includes a data processing portion which generates content for delivery to a client. The data processing portion generates and provides a sub-image in which identification information of a content delivery client is recorded in image data formed only of a partial area of image data and a main image in which the image signal of the sub-image area is deleted or substituted with a dummy signal to the client, generates management information in which the identification information recorded in the sub-image is associated with client information of the content provision destination, and records the management information in a storage portion. | 03-22-2012 |
20120070032 | ELECTRONIC WATERMARK EMBEDDING METHOD, DEVICE, AND PROGRAM, AND ELECTRONIC WATERMARK DETECTING METHOD, DEVICE, AND PROGRAM - A digital watermark embedding apparatus for embedding embedding information, as digital watermark, into an input signal having dimensions equal to or greater than N (N is an integer equal to or greater than 2) and a digital watermark detection apparatus for detecting the digital watermark are disclosed. The digital watermark embedding apparatus generates an embedding sequence based on embedding information, generates a N−1-dimensional pattern based on the embedding sequence, generates N-dimensional embedding pattern by modulating a periodic signal according to a value on the N−1-dimensional pattern, and superimposing the embedding pattern in the input signal and outputs it. The digital watermark detection apparatus measures a component of a predetermined periodic signal in a direction of a dimension of the input signal to obtain a N−1-dimensional pattern, obtains a detection sequence from values of the N−1 dimensional pattern, and detects embedded digital watermark based on a size of correlation value between the detection sequence and an embedding sequence. | 03-22-2012 |
20120076344 | Assessment of Camera Phone Distortion for Digital Watermarking - The present disclosure relates generally to cell phones and cameras, and to digital watermarking involving such cell phones and cameras. One claim recites a method comprising: measuring distortion introduced by a cell phone camera; using a programmed electronic processor, quantifying the distortion; and providing quantified distortion as feedback to adjust a digital watermark embedding process in view of the distortion introduced by the cell phone camera. The act of quantifying distortion may include, e.g., quantifying a spatial frequency response (SFR) of the cell phone camera. Of course, other claims and combinations are provided too. | 03-29-2012 |
20120076345 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR WIND TURBINE INSPECTION - A system and method for inspecting a wind turbine for indications is disclosed. The method includes providing an inspection system spaced from the wind turbine, appraise a rotor blade of the wind turbine, and inspecting the rotor blade for indications. The inspection system includes an observation system and an inspection device, the observation system including an appraisal device and an automated scanning device, the appraisal device configured to provide an image of at least a portion of the rotor blade, the automated scanning device configured to rotate about at least one axis, shifting the image. | 03-29-2012 |
20120076346 | Message Encoding - The present invention relates to message encoding. One claim recites a method of providing information to transform a plural-bit message for steganographic encoding, said method comprising: providing a unique plural-bit number; altering the unique plural-bit number; error correction encoding the altered, unique plural-bit number, wherein the error correction encoded, altered, unique plural-bit number comprises information for transforming an independent message. Of course, other claims and combinations are provided too. | 03-29-2012 |
20120076347 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USING IMAGE DATA IN CONNECTION WITH CONFIGURING A UNIVERSAL CONTROLLING DEVICE - Data indicative of topography of an object of interest is received at a recognition system having an associated database in which is stored topography data for a plurality of reference objects each of which is cross-referenced to configuration information for a universal controlling device. The reference system uses the received data and the topography data for the plurality of reference objects to discern one or more reference objects as being a match for the object of interest. At least a subset of the configuration information that has been cross-referenced to the one or more reference objects discerned by the recognition system as being a match for the object of interest is then used to configure the universal controlling device to enable the universal controlling device to communicate commands to one or more target appliances. | 03-29-2012 |
20120076348 | METHODS, APPARATUS AND PROGRAMS FOR GENERATING AND UTILIZING CONTENT SIGNATURES - The presently claimed invention generally relates to deriving and/or utilizing content signatures (e.g., so-called “fingerprints”). One claim recites a method of generating a fingerprint associated with a content item including: pseudo-randomly selecting a segment of the content item; and utilizing a processor or electronic processing circuitry, fingerprinting the selected segment of content item as at least an identifier of the content item. Of course, other claims and combination are provided as well. | 03-29-2012 |
20120076349 | FLOW TYPE PARTICLE IMAGE ANALYSIS METHOD AND DEVICE - At each of mutually different multiple focal positions, focal adjustment parameter values are obtained from images of standard particles made of the same substance. Each focal adjustment parameter value is figured out as any one of the ratio between the density value around the center of the standard particle image and the density value around the outline, the difference therebetween, and the density value around the center. The in-focus position is adjusted on the basis of the relationship between the obtained focal adjustment parameter values and the focal positions. Moreover, on the basis of the relationship between the focal adjustment parameter values and the focal positions, the parameter values are converted into focal positions, and the focal positions and dispersion thereof are used to check the displacement of the in-focus position and the thickness of the sample liquid. | 03-29-2012 |
20120076350 | COOKER AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - Provided are a cooker and a method of controlling the cooker. An image of food scanned by an image sensor is corrected, and thus, can be free from distortion due to a lighting device. Accordingly, a user can more accurately recognize a cooking state of the food. | 03-29-2012 |
20120076351 | COOKER AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - Provided is a cooker. An image of the inside of a cooking chamber scanned by an image sensor is displayed to the outside through a display part. Thus, a user may more easily and accurately recognize the inner state of the cooking chamber. | 03-29-2012 |
20120082337 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, RECORDING MEDIUM AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - When original image data obtained by reading an original document is to be joined with watermark data associated with a watermark for copy control which appears as a result of making a copy, whether the original document includes a chromatic color or not is determined on the basis of the original image data. When the original document includes a chromatic color, the original image data is joined with chromatic watermark data. When the original document includes an achromatic color, the original image data is joined with achromatic watermark data. | 04-05-2012 |
20120087537 | SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR READING AND MANAGING BUSINESS CARD INFORMATION - A system and method for business card information reading and managing comprises a scanner which is optional and can provide dark background, a preprocessing module, a host computer with data storage, input/output (I/O), and display devices, an information extracting module, optical character recognition (OCR) engine, an image-processing (IP) engine, an information organizing module, all connected to the host computer to work together. On top of the system is the dataflow logic, i.e. the method, which guides all the business card information reading and management in a sequence of steps. The method is supported mainly through the software (SW) running on the host computer, with a GUI to interact with end users and provides functions like scanning/loading images and managing result. Among the steps, there are automatic card boundary and orientation detection step/method, manual card boundary and orientation refining step/method, automatic key information area detection step/method, manual key information area refining step/method by using a set of template key information items as over-layers on the GUI's image display. There is also key information extraction step which uses optical character recognition (OCR) and image processing to extract key information from cards and put the results in a table which can be further edited, merged with another table, and/or saved. | 04-12-2012 |
20120087538 | Method for Constructing a Composite Image Incorporating a Hidden Authentication Image - A method is provided for constructing a composite image having an authentication image formed therein. The authentication image is viewable using a decoder lens having one or more decoder lens frequencies. The method comprises generating a first plurality of component images in which corresponding tonal areas are tonally balanced around at least one tonal value. At least one of the component images is configured to include a representation of the authentication image. The method further comprises determining a pattern of component image elements for each of the component images. The pattern having at least one element frequency that is equal to or a multiple of a decoder lens frequency. At least a portion of the content of each component image element is extracted and used to construct a composite image element. | 04-12-2012 |
20120093354 | FINDING SIMILAR CONTENT IN A MIXED COLLECTION OF PRESENTATION AND RICH DOCUMENT CONTENT USING TWO-DIMENSIONAL VISUAL FINGERPRINTS - Visual fingerprinting is used to provide a robust and highly effective method of finding similar content in a large document collection of rich document content composed of multiple text, line-art, and photo image objects. The visual fingerprints capture unique two-dimensional localized aspects of document appearance. The visual fingerprints are highly distinctive; fast for lookup; compact for storage requirements; and scalable to large document collections. | 04-19-2012 |
20120093355 | Modifying restricted images - An apparatus, device, methods, computer program product, and system are described that determine a restricted image within a media asset, modify the restricted image to obtain a modified image that includes at least one shared image attribute of the restricted image, and produce a modified media asset that includes the modified image. | 04-19-2012 |
20120093356 | Image Watermarking - Methods and systems for watermarking of digital images are presented. In one aspect, a method of embedding information in a digital image includes transforming the digital image to a set of coefficient blocks having coefficients in a frequency domain, embedding a watermark-indicator in one or more of the coefficient blocks, and embedding a watermark in one or more watermark blocks that have a predetermined number of coefficient blocks. The embedded watermark is substantially invisible in the output watermarked digital image. Another aspect is a method of extracting a watermark from a digital image that includes transforming a digital image to a coefficient matrix, determining if the digital image is watermarked based on a predetermined watermark-indicator, and retrieving a watermark from a projected watermark block of a projected watermark block distribution. | 04-19-2012 |
20120099756 | Product Identification - Included are embodiments for product identification. One embodiment of a system includes an image capture device that captures a real-time video image of a retail environment product and a memory component that stores a computer application. In some embodiments, the computer application causes the system to identify the retail environment product from the real-time video image and determine whether a predetermined potential product is similar to the retail environment product. Similarly, in some embodiments, the computer program causes the system to provide, in response to determining that the predetermined potential product is similar to the retail environment product, product identification information for the retail environment product, the product identification information including an altered version of the real-time video image. | 04-26-2012 |
20120099757 | DROPOUT CORRECTION IN ULTRASOUND STRAIN IMAGING - Embodiments for correcting a dropout in a strain image in an ultrasound system are disclosed. In one embodiment, a processing unit sets a first window on each of pre-compression ultrasound frame data and post-compression second ultrasound frame data, move the first window in a predetermined direction and compute a correlation between the pre-compression ultrasound frame data and the post-compression ultrasound frame data within the first window to obtain a displacement corresponding to a value of each pixel of target ultrasound frame data. The processing unit sets one of pixels of the target ultrasound frame data as a reference pixel, sets a second window to encompass predetermined numbers of pixels positioned around the reference pixel, checks whether a displacement computation error corresponding to a dropout occur based on the pixel values within the second window and resets, when the dropout occurs, the value of the reference pixel. | 04-26-2012 |
20120099758 | Correcting Image Capture Distortion - The present disclosure relates generally to improving readability of machine-readable information, despite signal capture distortion. One claim recites an apparatus comprising: memory for storing input data; an electronic processor programmed for: altering a digital watermark or a digital watermarking process to pre-distort a digital watermark signal, wherein the altering is intended to counteract or compensate for expected distortion so as to enable machine-based detection of an embedded, pre-distorted digital watermark signal despite the expected distortion, wherein the expected distortion includes distortion associated with optical capture of the input data; and embedding the pre-distorted digital watermark signal in the input data. Of course, other claims and combinations are provided as well. | 04-26-2012 |
20120099759 | Managing Models Representing Different Expected Distortions Associated with a Plurality of Data Captures - The present disclosure relates generally to managing models representing different expected distortions associated with a plurality of data captures. One claim recites a method comprising: obtaining a plurality of models each representing a different expected distortion associated with a plurality of data captures, the plurality of data captures each resulting in distortion of a machine-readable signal; indexing the plurality of models; upon receiving a request, selecting a model associated with the request; and providing the selected model. Of course, other methods and combinations are provided as well. | 04-26-2012 |
20120099760 | ASSOCIATING INFORMATION WITH A PORTION OF MEDIA CONTENT - A media fingerprint is derived from a portion of media content. Information is associated with the media content portion based on the derived media fingerprint. Upon linking to the associated information, the associated content is presented with the media content portion. The media fingerprint includes a unique representation of the media content portion that is derived from a characteristic component of the media content portion. The media content may comprise an original instance of content or a derivative instance of the original content. | 04-26-2012 |
20120099761 | COOKER AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - Provided are a cooker and a method for controlling the same. A cooked degree of food may be determined through a variation of a food size read from a food image scanned by an image sensor in a cooking chamber. Thus, the cooked degree of the food in the cooking chamber may be more accurately determined. | 04-26-2012 |
20120106778 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING LOCATION OF PERSONS AND OBJECTS - A method for detecting changes in locations of persons and objects is disclosed. The method includes projecting a plurality of imaging planes across a specified area near a ground level and at none or least one pre-determined height from the ground level. The method also includes capturing respective imaging lines from the plurality of planes via one or more imaging components, observed when the objects or persons intersect the projected imaging planes. The method further includes recording a standard shape of the respective imaging lines in absence of any person or object within the specified area to establish a baseline image. The method also includes comparing each of successive captured imaging lines with the baseline image of the respective lines. The method further includes determining one or more changes in discontinuities in the captured imaging lines due to interception caused by movement of the object based upon the comparison. The method also includes translating the changes in discontinuities to determine an occurrence of an event of interest and alerting an operator in case of occurrence of the event of interest. | 05-03-2012 |
20120106779 | ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND METHOD FOR VIEWING ELECTRONIC CONFIDENTIAL DOCUMENT - An electronic confidential document viewing method is performed by an electronic device in electronic communication with a pair of eyeglasses. In response to display a confidential document on a display device, a protection image is generated based on a security image of the confidential document. The protection image is a copy of the security image that is offset from the security image by a predetermined distance in a vertical direction or a horizontal direction. The security image and the protection image are synchronously transmitted to the display device. The display device displays an overlapping picture based on the two images. The eyeglasses receive the overlapping picture, and separate the overlapping picture into two images. One of the two images is viewable by the left eye of a viewer, and another image is viewable by the right eye of the viewer. | 05-03-2012 |
20120106780 | Two dimensional information symbol - Disclosed is a method ( | 05-03-2012 |
20120114167 | REPEAT CLIP IDENTIFICATION IN VIDEO DATA - A method and System for identifying repeat clip instances in video data. The method comprises partitioning the video data into ordered video units utilising content-based keyframe sampling, wherein each video unit comprises a sequence interval between two consecutive keyframes; creating a fingerprint for each video unit; grouping at least two consecutive video units into one time-indexed video segment; and identifying the repeat clip instances based on correlation of the video segments. The method can be used for both discovering unknown repeat video clips and identifying instances of known repeat video clips automatically. The method can be used to identify short repeat video clips from less than a second long to a few minutes, such as tv station logos, program logos, tv commercials which are widely used in news video and other daily broadcasting programs. | 05-10-2012 |
20120114168 | ELECTRONIC WATERMARK EMBEDDING METHOD, DEVICE, AND PROGRAM, AND ELECTRONIC WATERMARK DETECTING METHOD, DEVICE, AND PROGRAM - A digital watermark embedding apparatus for embedding embedding information into an input signal having dimensions equal to or greater than N(N is an integer equal to or greater than 2). The apparatus generates an embedding sequence based on the embedding information, generates an N−1-dimensional pattern based on the embedding sequence, generates an N-dimensional embedding pattern by modulating a periodic signal according to a value on the N−1-dimensional pattern, and superimposes the embedding pattern in the input signal and outputs it. A digital watermark detection apparatus measures a component of a predetermined periodic signal in a direction of a dimension of the input signal to obtain an N−1-dimensional pattern, obtains a detection sequence from values of the N−1 dimensional pattern, and detects the embedded digital watermark based on a size of correlation value between the detection sequence and an embedding sequence. | 05-10-2012 |
20120114169 | CONTENT IDENTIFICATION AND ELECTRONIC TICKETS, COUPONS AND CREDITS - The present invention relates to digital watermarking methods and systems. In one embodiment, a handheld device displays a digitally watermarked image at an event center. An optical scanner captures optical scan data representing the device display. A watermark decoder analyzes the captured optical scan data to obtain the watermark. The watermark is used to determine authorized entry. The handheld device may include a cell phone or other portable computing device. | 05-10-2012 |
20120114170 | COUNTERFEIT DETECTION SYSTEM - A counterfeit detection system is disclosed herein. The system includes an image reduction system for minimizing size of at least one original image using a plurality of different reduction strategies to generate a plurality of minimized images. The system further includes a classification system which includes a first sub-system for generating at least one accuracy comparative assessment metric for each of the plurality of minimized images, a second sub-system for comparing the at least one accuracy comparative assessment metric for each of the plurality of minimized images with an accuracy assessment metric for the at least one original image, and a third sub-system for determining if at least one of the plurality of minimized images can be transmitted with improved or equivalent classification accuracy at a reduced bandwidth when compared to the original image are also part of the system. | 05-10-2012 |
20120121122 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, RECORDING MEDIUM AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - When dispersed large dots data associated with dispersed large dots which become visible as a result of making a copy or clustered small dots data (watermark pattern data) associated with clustered small dots which do not become visible as a result of making a copy is inputted to the watermark pattern generating section, the control section inputs the inputted dispersed large dots data or clustered small dots data to the watermark composition processing section. For a pixel corresponding to dispersed large dots data, the control section causes the watermark composition processing section to join data associated with an original image with data associated with a watermark and outputs obtained composite data to the image output apparatus. For a pixel corresponding to clustered small dots data, the watermark composition processing section outputs data associated with an original image to the image output apparatus. | 05-17-2012 |
20120128198 | Watermarking Systems and Methods - Various improvements and applications for digital watermarking technology are detailed. One concerns techniques for making watermarks resistant to malicious attacks. Another involves using digital watermarking with ID cards and credentials, such as a watermarked driver's license conveying a user's cryptographic PKI. Still another uses digital watermarks in connection with automated compliance audits for corporate users of electronic content. A variety of other technologies are also detailed. | 05-24-2012 |
20120128199 | WATERMARK INFORMATION EMBEDDING DEVICE, WATERMARK INFORMATION PROCESSING SYSTEM, WATERMARK INFORMATION EMBEDDING METHOD, AND PROGRAM - The present invention provides a watermark information embedding device, a watermark information processing system, a watermark information embedding method and program that can provide a two-dimensional code enabling detection of copying. The watermark information embedding device comprises a first wavelet transform unit ( | 05-24-2012 |
20120128200 | ROBUST WATERMARK - A method and system for embedding a watermark in block encrypted content, including encoding a bit string, the bit string including n bits, denoted b | 05-24-2012 |
20120134527 | HAZARD DETECTION FOR ASSET MANAGEMENT - An approach that detects locations of hazardous conditions within an infrastructure is provided. This approach uses satellite imagery, GIS data, automatic image processing, and predictive modeling to determine the location of the hazards automatically, thus optimizing infrastructure management. Specifically, a hazard detection tool provides this capability. The hazard detection tool comprises a detection component configured to: receive visual media containing asset location data about a set of physical assets, and hazard location data about potential hazards within a vicinity of each of the set of physical assets. The detection component further receives graphical information system (GIS) data containing asset location data about each of the set of physical assets. The hazard detection tool further comprises an analysis component configured to: analyze the visual media to determine if a hazardous condition exists for each of the set of physical assets; and apply the GIS data to the visual media to determine a location of hazardous conditions within the infrastructure. | 05-31-2012 |
20120134528 | Method and Apparatus for Embedding Auxiliary Information within Original Data - This patent application is generally related to watermarking and steganography. One claim recites a method of transmarking an audio or video signal previously embedded with a first digital watermark using a first digital watermark embedding method. The method includes: utilizing a programmed electronic processor, decoding the first digital watermark from the audio or video signal; converting the audio or video signal into a different form; and utilizing a programmed electronic processor, embedding decoded message information from the first digital watermark into a second digital watermark in the different form such that the second digital watermark is adapted to robustness or perceptibility parameters associated with the different form. Of course, other combinations and claims are provided as well. | 05-31-2012 |
20120134529 | Method and apparatus for applying of a watermark to a video during download - A method and apparatus for applying of a watermark to a video using a computer coupled to a network. Unreferenced frames in the video are identified. The video is parsed into paired sequential segments each having a long-compressed segment usually about 2 minutes long and a short-uncompressed segment usually about | 05-31-2012 |
20120134530 | METHOD TO TRACE VIDEO CONTENT PROCESSED BY A DECODER - A method traces the origin of a (illegally) distributed video material. It fingerprints a data object A having a nominal stream format F to provide a fingerprinted data object B including a pre-fingerprinting forensic luring process. | 05-31-2012 |
20120134531 | Pseudo Dual-Energy Material Identification System And Method With Undersampling - Pseudo dual-energy material identification systems and methods with under-sampling are disclosed. The system comprises a ray generating device, a mechanic rotation control section, a data collecting subsystem comprising a first tier of detectors and a second tier of detectors, and a master control and data processing computer. The system utilizes a CT-imaging-based material identification method with under-sampled dual-energy projection data, in which only a few detectors at the second tier are used to perform dual-energy projection data sampling, and optimization is made on the procedure of solving an equation system. | 05-31-2012 |
20120140978 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - An image processing apparatus includes an image receiver which receives an image content; an image processor which processes the image content received by the image receiver to be displayed on a display unit; a watermark detector which detects whether the image content processed by the image processor includes a watermark image; and a controller which controls the image processor to selectively limit display of the image content corresponding to whether the watermark image is detected in the image content by the watermark detector. | 06-07-2012 |
20120148087 | WATERMARK DECODING VIA SPECTRAL ANALYSIS OF PIXEL SPACING - Provided are methods, apparatus and systems related to watermark decoding via spectral analysis of an image. According to one exemplary method, spectral analysis is performed to decode a watermark within an image, where the pixel spacing associated with the image was modulated to encode the watermark. | 06-14-2012 |
20120148088 | EXTENSIONS FOR MODIFYING A GRAPHICAL OBJECT TO DISPLAY DATA - A graphical manipulation tool to create and/or make modifications to a graphical object suitable for visually representing data. The graphical manipulation tool analyzes the graphical object to determine parameters of visual characteristics of the graphical object that can be used to visually represent data. A computing system, through the graphical manipulation tool, may generate metadata that defines a capacity for visual characteristics to represent data. In some cases, a preview is displayed on a user interface indicating to a user how the metadata, if incorporated with the graphical object, may result in the visual characteristics of the graphical object being used to visually represent data. If incorporating the metadata with the graphical object is desirable, the user may provide to include the additional metadata with the graphical object. | 06-14-2012 |
20120148089 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR EFFICIENT WATERMARKING OF VIDEO CONTENT - A method for watermarking of video content is provided. An averaged scene image is computed for each scene of video content by performing averaging of frames present in each scene of video content. For each averaged scene image a set of random numbers are generated using a secret key to identify pixels at random locations of the averaged scene image. The secret key is associated with a watermark pattern corresponding to each averaged scene image. The identified pixels in each averaged scene image are mapped to each pixel of corresponding watermark pattern to obtain respective mapped pixels. Using respective mapped pixels, values of verification information are fetched and assigned using predetermined rules. The values of verification information are arranged to obtain first visual cryptographic share of watermark pattern for each averaged scene image. | 06-14-2012 |
20120148090 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING X-RAY IMAGE, RADIATION IMAGING SYSTEM, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, AND STORAGE MEDIUM - An image forming apparatus includes a conversion acquisition unit configured to acquire a gradation conversion characteristic based on an X-ray image captured by an X-ray sensor, a storage unit configured to store a pixel value range in which a signal-to-noise ratio is higher than a threshold value according to a characteristic of the X-ray sensor, a determination unit configured to determine whether a pixel value range in which gradation is widened according to the gradation conversion characteristic is included in the stored pixel value range, and a correction unit configured to correct the gradation conversion characteristic depending on a result of determination by the determination unit. | 06-14-2012 |
20120148091 | Location Estimation Using Image Analysis - An implementation of location estimation using image analysis is described. In this implementation, an image of a place is obtained and matched with previously stored images. The matching may be achieved by employing methods based on key feature extraction algorithm, color histogram analysis, pattern matching or other image comparison techniques. Upon determining a match, the location information associated with the image provides the location. The location information may be in the form of location tags or location keywords and the location information may be used by the user or other applications for the purposes of location determination. The technique allows for the user to enter location information. The location information may be assigned to the previously stored images residing in local and remote databases for users and applications to assign information or keywords to images. | 06-14-2012 |
20120155700 | Intelligent document with stored text and image - A self-authenticating intelligent document in sheet medium form has an information storage and transfer means incorporated thereinto for storing the original text portion of document information formed on the surface of the sheet medium and for storing an image of the completed document after supplemental information has been added to the original text portion on the surface of the sheet medium. The information storage and transfer means is either a single RFID tag having a first memory portion for storing the text portion and a second memory portion for storing the image of the completed document; or a first RFID tag having a memory portion for storing the text portion and a second RFID tag for storing the image of the completed document. To verify the authenticity of the document, the image stored in the information storage and transfer means is read out and compared with the visible version. When the two are identical, the document is authentic. | 06-21-2012 |
20120155701 | AUTOMATIC SPINE CREATION FOR BOOK COVER IMAGES THAT DO NOT HAVE SPINES - A method for automatically creating spine image areas for book covers that were originally created for books without spines includes adding image areas between the front and back cover images to make a single image with the spine being a user-specified solid color or bitmap image. | 06-21-2012 |
20120163652 | Method and System for Embedding and Extracting Image Digital Watermark - The present invention provides a method and a system for embedding and extracting an image digital watermark. The method includes: performing a DWT on an original carrier digital image to obtain two intermediate frequency coefficient matrixes; firstly performing a DCT on one of the two intermediate frequency coefficient matrixes, then performing the DWT, and then selecting an obtained low frequency coefficient matrix as a first low frequency coefficient matrix; performing the DWT on another intermediate frequency coefficient matrix, and then selecting an obtained low frequency coefficient matrix as a second low frequency coefficient matrix; and adjusting magnitude of a first frequency coefficient and a second frequency coefficient according to watermark values to be embedded at said embedment locations to make a magnitude relationship between two adjusted low frequency coefficients comply with a corresponding relationship between a preset embedded value and a magnitude relationship between the two low frequency coefficients. | 06-28-2012 |
20120163653 | DIGITAL WATERMARK EMBEDDING APPARATUS, DIGITAL WATERMARK EMBEDDING METHOD, AND DIGITAL WATERMARK DETECTION APPARATUS - A digital watermark embedding apparatus includes an interface unit which acquires video data and digital watermark information, and a processing unit which embeds the digital watermark information into the video data. The processing unit is adapted to cause the area of a watermark pattern formed by a plurality of pixels having a prescribed value, and superimposed on each image contained in the video data, to vary in periodic fashion over time according to the value of a symbol contained in the digital watermark information, and correct, using the prescribed value, the value of each pixel contained in a region where each image in the video data and the watermark pattern corresponding to that image overlap each other. | 06-28-2012 |
20120163654 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR TRACKING ILLEGAL DISTRIBUTOR AND PREVENTING ILLEGAL CONTENT DISTRIBUTION - A system for tracking an illegal distributor and preventing an illegal content distribution includes: a forensic mark generator for receiving content and a content identification code from a content providing apparatus to generate a forensic mark; a forensic mark database for storing the generated forensic mark; a forensic mark insertion unit for inserting the forensic mark into the content; and a content database for storing the content into which the forensic mark has been inserted. The system further includes a content transmitter for transmitting the content into which the forensic mark has been inserted to the content utilization apparatus. | 06-28-2012 |
20120163655 | EMERGABLE WATERMARK SUPERIMPOSING METHOD, EMERGABLE WATERMARK SUPERIMPOSING APPARATUS, AND EMERGABLE WATERMARK SUPERIMPOSING SYSTEM - In an emergable watermark superimposing method for superimposing a superimposition image on either a cover still image or a still image formed from a cover moving image, when an image after the superimposition image is superimposed thereon is converted, or a screen which displays thereon the image after the superimposition image is superimposed is photographed, the superimposition image is superimposed so as to be more emphasized. | 06-28-2012 |
20120170797 | AERIAL ROOF ESTIMATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Methods and systems for roof estimation are described. Example embodiments include a roof estimation system, which generates and provides roof estimate reports annotated with indications of the size, geometry, pitch and/or orientation of the roof sections of a building. Generating a roof estimate report may be based on one or more aerial images of a building. In some embodiments, generating a roof estimate report of a specified building roof may include generating a three-dimensional model of the roof, and generating a report that includes one or more views of the three-dimensional model, the views annotated with indications of the dimensions, area, and/or slope of sections of the roof. This abstract is provided to comply with rules requiring an abstract, and it is submitted with the intention that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. | 07-05-2012 |
20120170798 | METHOD OF ENHANCING RENDERING OF CONTENT ITEM, CLIENT SYSTEM AND SERVER SYSTEM - A method and system of providing further information on a content item is described. The method may include receiving a portion of the content item via a microphone of a user device. The received portion of the content item may be distinct from an identifier associated with the content item. Characteristic features are extracted from the portion of the content item to compute a digital fingerprint for the received portion of the content item. Further information on the content item may then be accessed using the digital fingerprint. The further information is to be displayed on the user device and the accessing may comprise searching the database using the computed fingerprint. | 07-05-2012 |
20120177248 | GRAPHIC DATA ALTERATION TO ENHANCE ONLINE PRIVACY - A computer alters at least one recognizable metric or text in a digitally-encoded photographic image by operating an alteration algorithm in response to user input data while preserving an overall aesthetic quality of the image and obscuring an identity of at least one individual or geographic location appearing in the image. An altered digitally-encoded photographic image prepared by the altering of the at least one recognizable metric or text in the image is stored in a computer memory. User feedback and/or automatic analysis may be performed to define parameter values of the alteration algorithm such that the alteration process achieves preservation of aesthetic qualities while obscuring an identity of interest. | 07-12-2012 |
20120183172 | Community-Based Data for Mapping Systems - Systems, devices, features, and methods for community-based collection and use of data for mapping and/or navigation are disclosed. For example, a method is provided for use of community-based data for mapping. A camera image from a mobile device is associated with a geographic location. A processor executes an image recognition algorithm on the camera image. An address or business logo in the camera image is identified with the image recognition algorithm. Address or business logo specific information is determined based on the address or logo and the geographic location. The specific information may be contact information or business operation information. | 07-19-2012 |
20120183173 | System and Method for Content Protection in a Content Delivery Network - An embodiment of an apparatus to authenticate a sequence of video frames includes a process to choose intra-frames of the sequence and sample DC components thereof to produce a set of test fingerprints. To reduce a dimensionality of the test fingerprints, the DC components of the chosen intra-frames are multiplied by a projection matrix formed of eigenvectors associated with the larger eigenvalues of a covariance matrix for a library of frames. The projected test fingerprints are compared against a reference set of fingerprints for authentication. Time-stamp spacings of the chosen intra-frames are determined, and these spacings are employed to select candidate frames for authentication in the reference set of fingerprints. | 07-19-2012 |
20120183174 | SYSTEM, METHOD, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR PREVENTING IMAGE-RELATED DATA LOSS - A system, method, and computer program product are provided for preventing data loss associated with an image. In use, an image is identified, and it is determined whether the image includes predetermined data. In addition, an action is performed based on the determination, for preventing data loss. | 07-19-2012 |
20120189157 | MOTION-BASED IMAGE WATERMARKING - A computer implemented method and system including providing a motion pattern to an imaging device; and acquiring an image with the imaging device, wherein the image has embedded signals representative of the motion pattern and the embedded signals provide an authenticating watermark. The embedded signals can comprise spectrum information selected from duration, dimension, acceleration and velocity. | 07-26-2012 |
20120189158 | OPTIMIZED IMPLEMENTATION OF BACK PROJECTION FOR COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY (CT) - The disclosure relates generally to a method of three dimensional (3D) tomographic volume reconstruction for computed tomography (CT) using vector processors and more specifically to an optimized implementation which pre-computes back projection weights and perspective geometry data associated with a given CT device as down-sampled tables. The down-sampled perspective geometry data and the weight table are interpolated dynamically as part of the volume reconstruction process for an object scanned using the given CT device. | 07-26-2012 |
20120189159 | PARALLAX EFFECT SECURITY ELEMENT - The present invention relates to a security element ( | 07-26-2012 |
20120195458 | RECONSTRUCTION METHOD USING DIRECT AND ITERATIVE TECHNIQUES - A system and method for forming volumetric images of an imaged object based on multiple radiation measurements of the object taken from different angles. A first volumetric image of the object may be calculated using a direct reconstruction method from a plurality of radiation measurements of the object. At least one iteration of an iterative reconstruction method may be performed to compute a second volumetric image of the object. The iterative reconstruction method may be initialized with the first volumetric image of the object. | 08-02-2012 |
20120201415 | ORGANIC MATTER MAPPING - Relative changes in organic matter in soil in an agricultural field are mapped by a computer-implemented system and method that uses a number of individual bands from one or more remotely sensed images of the agricultural field. Each of the bands is associated with a light spectrum wavelength range, and each of the bands is weighted based on its contribution to predicting relative changes in organic matter. Elevation data may also be used in the weighted calculation. The map is separated into zones based on the relative predicted organic matter falling within a predefined range. Each zone may be associated with a different average organic matter content, and nutrient supplements are recommended for each zone based on the average organic matter associated with each of the mapped zones. | 08-09-2012 |
20120207340 | METHOD FOR AUTOMATED TIRE DETECTION AND RECOGNITION - Methods and systems for discriminating between tires. One or more images of an unknown tire are received. One or more tread features are extracted from the images. The class of the unknown tire is determined using a classifier that matches the tread features to known tread features. | 08-16-2012 |
20120207341 | WIRELESS ENABLED MEMORY MODULE - A wireless-enabled memory module provides host devices access to a memory via a standard memory expansion interface and further incorporates embedded processing capability and a wireless network capability. The wireless-enabled memory module can be used in any host device providing a compatible memory card controller and interface. Host devices so equipped become wireless-memory enabled devices and can provide memory access to any other remote device enabled for compatible wireless communications. It is thereby possible for a remote device to access the memory content of the memory module, and cause transfers of either full-size or scaled versions of the content to the remote device through a first network, and optionally further transfer the content from the remote device through a second network to the Internet in the form of an e-mail message or MMS attachment. | 08-16-2012 |
20120207342 | COPY PROTECTION - A method is provided for transmitting media content from a media content receiving device such as a set-top-box to one or more user devices capable of displaying, storing or outputting the media content. The method includes receiving, at the set-top-box, media content encoded according to a particular format, embedding in the media content, while it is encoded according to the particular format, a watermark containing data identifying the set-top-box and then transmitting the watermarked media content to one or more user devices. Encoding a watermark while the content is encoded according the received format allows protection to be added and the content passed to other devices without having to decode the content first. The method may be implemented by a suitable media content receiving device operating a computer program. A corresponding apparatus for implementing the method is provided. | 08-16-2012 |
20120207343 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GENERATING A FORECAST WEATHER IMAGE - Described are a method and an apparatus for generating a forecast weather image such as a forecast weather radar image. The method uses filters to approximate viscous alignment and to thereby determine displacement fields having meaningful structure. In various embodiments a power-law energy spectrum is utilized for deformations in the displacement field through the application of a set of Gabor filters. The Gabor filters are applied in a sequential manner to gradient error images and values of modes of motions corresponding to the Gabor filters are determined. The values are used to generate the displacement field which can then be applied to an existing weather image to generate a forecast weather image. | 08-16-2012 |
20120207344 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR HIDING DATA FOR HALFTONE IMAGES - We propose methods for generating a halftone image, in which each pixel takes one of two tone values. The generated image contains hidden data, which is present at data storage pixels chosen using a pseudo-random number generator. In a first case, the data is hidden within an existing halftone image by reversing the tone value at certain of the data storage pixels, and at pixels neighbouring the data storage pixels. In a second case, the halftone image is generated from a grey-scale image, and data is hidden during this conversion process. | 08-16-2012 |
20120213401 | TWO LEVEL CROSS-CORRELATION BASED SYSTEM FOR WATERMARKING CONTINUOUS DIGITAL MEDIA - A two level cross-correlation based system for watermarking continuous digital media at the system application level. It is a post-compression process for watermarking where no a priori knowledge of the underlying compression algorithm is required. Per each compressed media frame, a current unique digital signature is generated based on the data from the current compressed frame plus the digital signature that has been previously generated. The signature thus generated is then used in conjunction with the next compressed frame to generate the next unique digital signature. All digital signatures are correlated according to the above process until a “reset” signal is issued. A new chain of correlated digital signatures is produced by the system with a pre-determined initial signature. | 08-23-2012 |
20120213402 | Digital Watermarking - A device for applying or extracting a digital watermark of two or more dimensions and a method of applying or extracting the digital watermark. The digital watermark is generated by adding a suitable number of watermarking arrays. Each watermarking array is constructed by convolving a multi-periodic shift array having a correlation bounded by a constant (two or greater) with a balanced periodic substitution sequence. | 08-23-2012 |
20120224741 | DATA PATTERN RECOGNITION AND SEPARATION ENGINE - Embodiments disclosed herein extend to methods, systems, and computer program products for analyzing digital data. A source of digital data is analyzed and separated into segments, each segment having an identifiable characteristic. The separated segments are copied into planes of a higher dimension. The separated segments are compared to determine a resemblance factor. A fingerprint is generated for segments having a resemblance factor above a particular threshold. Based upon the generated fingerprint, a data source may be filtered to block or to pass data corresponding to the generated fingerprint. The digital data may be audio data, video data, or other data. | 09-06-2012 |
20120224742 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR WATERMARKING CONTENT FOR TRACKING MEDIA CONSUMPTION - In a system and method of watermarking content for tracking media consumption, the method may include creating, by a computer processor, at least one copy of a mezzanine asset for distribution to at least one user, the mezzanine asset being watermarked with a watermark identifier, and the at least one copy including a copy of the watermark identifier. | 09-06-2012 |
20120230536 | DETERMINING WHETHER OR NOT A DIGITAL IMAGE HAS BEEN TAMPERED WITH - Apparatus and method to verify the integrity of a digital image (i.e., deciding whether or not the entire image or just a portion has been tampered with, and/or finding the doctored area in the image). One first determines the imaging sensor's reference pattern noise, which serves as a unique fingerprint that identifies the imaging sensor that captured the image. To verify the integrity of the content in a region of the image, a correlation detector determines the presence or absence of the imaging sensor's reference pattern noise in that region, thereby verifying whether or not the image has integrity. The correlation detector can also find automatically one or more regions in the image that were tampered with. | 09-13-2012 |
20120237078 | Watermarking and Fingerprinting Digital Content Using Alternative Blocks to Embed Information - A method of embedding information in digital content representing media streams. The method includes (1) selecting a set of locations within that digital content reprensenting the media stream to embed information, (2) selecting a set of possible alterations to make at those locations, and (3) making a subset of the possible alterations. The set of locations and possible alterations is herein sometimes called a “watermark.” The subset of actual alterations that are made is herein sometimes called a “fingerprint.” The method determines a set of locations at which there are alternative versions of digital content representing the same media stream, such as one being the original and one being an alternative version of the same digital content, herein sometimes called the “original movie” and the “alt-movie,” or herein sometimes called the “original block” and the “alt-block” for a particular block in the digital content representing the media stream. | 09-20-2012 |
20120237079 | INVISIBLE INFORMATION EMBEDDING APPARATUS, INVISIBLE INFORMATION DETECTING APPARATUS, INVISIBLE INFORMATION EMBEDDING METHOD, INVISIBLE INFORMATION DETECTING METHOD, AND STORAGE MEDIUM - An invisible information embedding apparatus for embedding invisible information at a position in an obtained image includes an image analysis unit configured to obtain object information and positional information of an object included in the image, an embedding target image determining unit configured to determine whether the image is an embedding target based on the object information obtained by the image analysis unit, and an image synthesizing unit configured to combine the image with the invisible information based on the determination result of the embedding target image determining unit. | 09-20-2012 |
20120243727 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR EMBEDDING WATERMARKS IN CONTENTS AND FOR DETECTING EMBEDDED WATERMARKS - Provided are a device and method for detecting watermarks in content carrying watermarks. One method for watermark detection according to the present invention comprises the steps of: extracting the label of a frequency component of the content; generating a bit sequence by making bit values correspond on the basis of changes in the label being extracted; checking correlation while shifting the phase of the band-spreading code (pn sequence) with respect to the generated bit sequence; and checking the amount of phase shift in the band-spreading code at times when the correlation checked in this way falls into the category of autocorrelation, and then determining a bit group having a value corresponding to the amount of phase shift checked in this manner. The bit group determined in this way constitutes part of watermark data. | 09-27-2012 |
20120250933 | Method for Tracking Tumors in Bi-Plane Images - A tumor is tracked in sequences of biplane images by generating a set of segmentation hypotheses using a 3D model of the tumor, a biplane geometry, and a previous location of the tumor as determined from the pairs of biplane images. Volume prior probabilities are constructed based on the set of hypotheses. Seed pixels are selected using the volume prior probabilities, and a bi-plane dual image graph is constructed using intensity gradients and the seed pixels to obtaining segmentation masks corresponding to tumor boundaries using the image intensities to determine a current location of the tumor. | 10-04-2012 |
20120250934 | INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, PLAYLIST CREATION METHOD, AND PLAYLIST CREATION PROGRAM - An information processing apparatus is disclosed which includes a control portion configured to allow a user to hand-draw and input a picture as a tag to be associated with user-designated contents so as to create a playlist of the contents based on degrees of similarity between the pictures associated with the contents as the tags thereof. | 10-04-2012 |
20120250935 | Method for Designating a Target for a Weapon Having Terminal Guidance Via Imaging - A method for designating a target in an area, intended for a weapon having terminal guidance via imaging, by means of an airborne optronic system comprising an imager associated with geolocation means and a processing unit. It comprises the steps of: acquisition of an image of the area by the imager of the system, and geolocation of this image by the geolocation means; extraction from a database of an orthoimage of the geolocated area, called the reference virtual image; designation of the position of the target in the reference virtual orthoimage; extraction from the reference virtual orthoimage of primitives around the position of the target, called virtual primitives; determination of the position of the target with respect to these virtual primitives; transferring the virtual primitives and the position of the target to the weapon having terminal guidance via imaging. | 10-04-2012 |
20120257785 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR MANAGING UNDERGROUND ASSETS - Systems and methods for managing underground assets are disclosed. One or more computing devices may be used to receive a request for clearance to excavate including a location identifier, resolve a location based on the location identifier, and retrieve asset data corresponding to the location from an asset location database. The asset location database can include location data regarding the positions of a plurality of assets associated with a plurality of different asset owners and may be maintained by one or more updates regarding the positions of assets from computing devices associated with the different asset owners. The systems and methods can include determining if one or more assets are buried proximate the location based on the retrieved data and transmitting data related to the determination of assets buried proximate the location. | 10-11-2012 |
20120257786 | CREATING A DETAILED CONTACT RECORD FROM A DIGITAL IMAGE OF A BUSINESS CARD AND ASSOCIATED COMPANY DATA - There is provided a method that includes (a) receiving image data, (b) processing the image data to yield first data, (c) obtaining second data from a repository, based on the first data, and (d) storing the first data and the second data as a record in a database. There is also provided a method that includes (a) receiving image data, (b) processing the image data to yield first data and second data, (c) matching the first data to a record that is stored in a database, and (d) updating the record to include the second data. There is also provided a system that performs the methods, and a storage medium that contains instructions that control a processor to perform the methods. | 10-11-2012 |
20120263342 | METHOD AND SYSTEM OF RAIL COMPONENT DETECTION USING VISION TECHNOLOGY - A method, system, and computer program product for automatically inspecting railroad tracks. The method includes assessing a configuration of rail components depicted in an image by comparing the configuration of the rail components to known hazards. The method also includes determining a severity of detected problems in the configuration of the rail components, using a computer processor. | 10-18-2012 |
20120263343 | FORENSIC MARKING IDENTIFYING OBJECTS - An image is obtained of an identifying object that is on a printed document. A forensic signature is extracted from the image. Access to the extracted forensic signature profile is enabled via information encoded in the identifying object. The identifying object may be interpreted to access the forensic signature for comparison with another. | 10-18-2012 |
20120263344 | MEASURING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING AT LEAST OF THE CRIMP HEIGHT OF A CONDUCTOR CRIMP - A measuring arrangement ( | 10-18-2012 |
20120263345 | PROOF INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, PROOF INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD, RECORDING MEDIUM, AND ELECTRONIC PROOFREADING SYSTEM - A proof information processing apparatus adds a plurality of types of annotative information to a proof image by use of a plurality of input modes for inputting respective different types of annotative information. A proof information processing method is carried out by using the proof information processing apparatus. A recording medium stores a program for performing the functions of the proof information processing apparatus. An electronic proofreading system includes the proof information processing apparatus and a remote server. At least one of input modes including a text input mode, a stylus input mode, a color information input mode, and a speech input mode is selected depending on characteristics of an image in a region of interest which is indicated. | 10-18-2012 |
20120269380 | Encoding and Decoding Data in an Image for Social Networking Communication - “A printed medium comprises an encoded image, the encoded image including a value encoded therein, wherein the value is referenced to at least a marketing database and an associated social networking environment and wherein the value further enables communication through the social networking environment.” | 10-25-2012 |
20120269381 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR MONITORING WATER LEVEL - The present invention relates to a water level monitoring device and method, which has an advantage of efficient water level monitoring and high device reliability by setting a portion of an area including the water area and the shore area in the image data, monitoring an area in the horizontal direction other than the vertical direction through the image, decreasing complexity by significantly reducing the computational amount over an existing vertical direction water level measuring system, excluding noises such as floating matters, irregular reflection and so on through a water level model generating process for area distinction, and generating a water level model adaptive to environmental factors such as algal bloom, muddy water and so on. | 10-25-2012 |
20120275639 | IMAGE ALGORITHMS TO REJECT UNDESIRED IMAGE FEATURES - A method for detecting authorized security markers includes capturing an image of a region of interest on a product with a camera; storing image data in a two-dimensional array on a microprocessor; counting a number of pixels at or above a predetermined brightness level in the image data with the microprocessor to determine a first score; eroding the image data; counting the pixels which remain at or above the predetermined brightness level after erosion to determine a second score; calculating a ratio of the second score to the first score; and producing a first authentication signal if the ratio meets a first predetermined criteria. | 11-01-2012 |
20120275640 | METHOD OF AUTHENTICATING SECURITY MARKER - A method for authenticating security markers includes capturing an image of a region of interest on a product with a camera; storing image data in a two-dimensional array on a microprocessor; counting a number of pixels at or above a predetermined brightness level in the image data with the microprocessor to determine a first score; establishing an area within the image; counting a number of pixels within the area to determine a second score; calculating a ratio of the second score to the first score; and if the ratio is above a predetermined threshold the security marker is authenticated. | 11-01-2012 |
20120275641 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR EMBEDDING A WATERMARK IMAGE IN A HOST IMAGE - The invention provides method of embedding a watermark image in a host image. The method includes generating a matrix code symbol, wherein the matrix code symbol includes information associated with the watermark image and the host image. The method further includes embedding the watermark image and the matrix code symbol in the host image at non-overlapping positions in the host image. | 11-01-2012 |
20120275642 | Salient Point-Based Arrangements - A variety of methods and systems involving sensor-equipped portable devices, such as smartphones and tablet computers, are described. One particular embodiment decodes a digital watermark from imagery captured by the device and, by reference to watermark payload data, obtains salient point data corresponding to an object depicted in the imagery. Other embodiments obtain salient point data for an object through use of other technologies (e.g., NFC chips). The salient point data enables the device to interact with the object in a spatially-dependent manner. Many other features and arrangements are also detailed. | 11-01-2012 |
20120275643 | Purchasing Photographic Products from a Software Application on a Mobile Electronic Device Application - The present invention relates generally to a method for purchasing photographic products. More particularly, the present invention allows a user of a software application on a mobile electronic device to purchase photographic products. | 11-01-2012 |
20120275644 | PAPER SHEET RECOGNITION APPARATUS AND PAPER SHEET RECOGNITION METHOD - Provided is a paper sheet recognition device for recognizing a fitness and authenticity of paper sheets, by which recognition of types, authenticity, and fitness of paper sheets can be effectively performed even in the case where a large number of features should be evaluated. The paper sheet recognition device is provided with a paper sheet information acquisition unit which acquires paper sheet information which is the information relating to paper sheets, a type recognition unit which recognizes the types of the paper sheets on the basis of the paper sheet information, a fitness recognition unit which recognizes fitness of the paper sheets on the basis of the paper sheet information, and an authenticity recognition unit which recognizes the authenticity of the paper sheets on the basis of the paper sheet information, wherein the fitness recognition process of the paper sheets by the fitness recognition unit and the authenticity recognition process of the paper sheets by the authenticity recognition unit are performed in parallel. | 11-01-2012 |
20120281871 | COLOR IMAGE OR VIDEO PROCESSING - A method of color masking an image or video includes reading color values of an image sample of the image or video and a corresponding change of an attribute of the image sample. Based on the color values of the image sample, the change in the image sample attribute is mapped to a change in color components of the image sample that is equivalent to the change in the image sample attribute, yet reduces visibility of the change in the image sample attribute for the specific color values of the image sample | 11-08-2012 |
20120288135 | Multi-Channel Digital Watermarking - The present disclosure relates generally to digital watermarking including watermarking conveyed through multiple channels. One claim recites a method to detect digital watermarks carried in different channels of a physical object. The method comprising: receiving first optically captured image data, the first optically captured image data corresponding to a first channel which is detectable with visible lighting; receiving second optically captured image data, the second optically captured image data corresponding to a second channel with is detectable in a first non-visible spectrum; receiving third optically captured image data, the third optically captured image data corresponding to a third channel with is detectable in a second non-visible spectrum; and using a programmed electronic processor, analyzing the first, second and third optically captured image data to detect watermark components embedded therein. Of course, other claims and combinations are provided too. | 11-15-2012 |
20120288136 | PAPER-SHEET RECOGNITION DEVICE AND PAPER-SHEET PROCESSING APPARATUS - A paper-sheet recognition device includes a sensor that detects the paper sheet being transported one by one to be recognized; an image capturing unit that captures an image of the paper sheet detected by the sensor; a recognition processing unit that recognizes the type of the paper sheet based on the paper sheet image captured by the image capturing unit; and a power consumption controller that controls power consumption by operating the image capturing unit and the recognition processing unit in a normal mode until the recognition of the paper sheet is completed after the paper sheet is detected by the sensor, and by stopping the operations of the image capturing unit and the recognition processing unit in a power-saving mode after completion of the recognition process. | 11-15-2012 |
20120288137 | Millimeter Wave Imaging Method and System to Detect Concealed Objects - The invention provides for an expandable multi channel radiometer imaging method and system. The imaging system includes a scanner for reflecting millimeter wave energy emanating from a pre-determined scene. The millimeter wave energy is focused to a focal plane array using an optical lens and a multi channel radiometer receives the millimeter wave energy. The focal plane array is formed by a plurality of pixels that each includes a single low noise amplifier. The number of pixels of the focal plane array is expendable to increase the resolution of a millimeter wave image. A virtual grid of cells is formed representing different values of millimeter wave energy within the imaging zone. Algorithms calculate differences of millimeter wave energy between cells of said virtual grid to display a composite image to identify concealed objects on an individual. | 11-15-2012 |
20120294475 | METHOD FOR PREVENTING TRANSPORTATION DISASTERS - The invention is used to prevent transportation disasters. The invention object is to provide taking into account of effect of destructive processes in a system “members of a transport crew/team—passengers” on generation of conditions resulting in a disaster of certain journey/trip/flight/rail run and thereby provide a sufficiently reliable prediction of the disaster so that to provide possibility of taking further effective measures to prevent this disaster. checkup of Scanned images of the hands of passengers arrived for certain journey/trip/flight/rail run and transport crew/team members appointed for this journey/trip/flight/rail run are checked up to detect an excited state of these passengers and transport crew/team members using markers of the excited state. A total excited state index of mass of the passengers and transport crew/team members of this journey/trip/flight/rail run are determined as ratio of a number of the passengers and transport crew/team members whose the excited state is detected to the total number of the passengers and the transport crew/team members of this journey/trip/flight/rail run. A disaster of this journey/trip/flight/rail run is forecasted by the total excited state index and, in the case of a positive forecast of the disaster, further measures to prevent the disaster of this journey/trip/flight/rail run takes. Markers of the excited state are combinations of dermatoglyphical features detected according to the results of the scanning and selected from the group of features characterizing a destructive dysplasia of papillary patterns, a general abnormality of the papillary patterns; a discontinuity; change of positions, configuration and size of three primary palmar creases; and single traits on three primary palmar creases. | 11-22-2012 |
20120300971 | MULTI-CHANNEL DIGITAL CONTENT WATERMARK SYSTEM AND METHOD - A multi-channel embedded data technique allows for embedding data, such as watermarks into multiple channels of audio, video, multi-media, and other digitized content streams. Two or more of the channels may be utilized. The embedded data may be segmented within each channel, and these segments may start and stop at identical times, or may be staggered or offset from one another. The available payload may be used for different data, or redundant data, providing enhanced reliability. Staggering allows for more rapid availability of at least some of the embedded data segments. References may be used between channels and between data streams to provide for highly complex configurations of encoding and decoding of the embedded data. | 11-29-2012 |
20120300972 | IMAGE-RELATED METHODS AND SYSTEMS - When a user prints a photograph from an online source, such as Facebook, a hidden digital watermark is automatically embedded in the printed output (e.g., by the printer, or by a cloud-based printer driver, by the user's smartphone, etc.). When someone later images the printed photo with a smartphone, the phone uses the watermarked information to link back to Facebook, and present the viewer with all of the commentary and context associated with that environment. By such arrangement, the richness of the photograph's network metadata is preserved—even after printing. Moreover, the online information presented via the smartphone is real-time information, including the latest crowd-sourced annotations. Thus, the printed photo may yield a different experience today than yesterday. In some embodiments, the watermark links different viewers (e.g., peers v. parents) to different online experiences—all from the same photograph. A great variety of other features and arrangements are also detailed. | 11-29-2012 |
20120300973 | AUTOMATED USER INFORMATION PROVISION USING IMAGES - A method for automated user information provision using an image includes requesting at least one user information image in response to receiving a user information form from a requesting entity over a network. The at least one user information image is received from a camera. The at least one user information image is analyzed using a processor to determine that the at least one user information image includes requested user information in at least one request section of the user information form. The requested user information is automatically provided into the at least one request section of the user information form. The user information form including the requested user information in the at least one request section is displayed on a display. The user information form may then be sent over the network to provide the requested user information to the requesting entity. | 11-29-2012 |
20120300974 | IMAGE RELATED METHODS AND SYSTEMS - Digital watermark encoding—and associated registry transactions—are made transparent to consumers—performed as built-in features of common image processing operations, such as taking a picture, or printing a picture. In one arrangement, a user interacts with buttons and other controls of a graphical user interface on the touchscreen of a printer to author specific experiences that should be triggered by a hardcopy image—such as launching a related video, playing a recorded audio clip, displaying other images in a story narrative to which the hardcopy image relates, etc. The printer then attends to interactions with network infrastructure components needed to give the hardcopy print the user-desired functionality. In another arrangement, the content experience triggered by a printed image is authored automatically, e.g., by reference to data mined from the image's online context (e.g., Facebook photo album). A great variety of other features and arrangements are also detailed. | 11-29-2012 |
20120300975 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETECTING THE WATERMARK USING DECISION FUSION - The present application provides a robust system and method for detecting the watermark in an electronic media, wherein the electronic media had gone through various kinds of attacks and their combinations thereof which may not be known while detecting the watermarks. The watermark detection system and method can be trained to detect or reject a particular pattern. The watermark detection system and method are based on correlation and are useful in any kind of digital watermarking applications. The watermark detection system and method perform well even when the amount of distortion is not precisely known, wherein the disclosure provides a set of templates or correlation filters, being designed for detection of watermark to cover any kind and combination of attacks. For synchronous attacks, the correlation filter designing is carried out dynamically. Particularly, the template i.e. correlation filter is an attack adaptive frequency domain pattern for watermark detection. | 11-29-2012 |
20120300976 | IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICE, IMAGE GENERATION DEVICE, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, AND IMAGE GENERATION METHOD - An embodiment of this invention is an image processing device, including: a sectioning unit for sectioning an image into a plurality of sections to be processed; and a classification unit for classifying the plurality of sections to be processed into at least a clarification-processing-adapted area for embedding a latent image into the image, and an obfuscation-processing-adapted area for embedding a digital watermark into the image based on a characteristic of the image. | 11-29-2012 |
20120300977 | EFFICIENT AND SECURE FORENSIC MARKING IN COMPRESSED DOMAIN - Methods, devices, and computer program products enable the embedding of forensic marks in a host content that is in compressed domain. These and other features are achieved by preprocessing of a host content to provide a plurality of host content versions with different embedded watermarks that are subsequently compressed. A host content may then be efficiently marked with forensic marks in response to a request for such content. The marking process is conducted in compressed domain, thus reducing the computational burden of decompressing and re-compressing the content, and avoiding further perceptual degradation of the host content. In addition, methods, devices and computer program products are disclosed that obstruct differential analysis of such forensically marked content. | 11-29-2012 |
20120308071 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR WATERMARKING AND DISTRIBUTING WATERMARKED CONTENT - Methods and apparatus for generating and distributing watermarked content are described. Content to be distributed is sliced into a plurality of segments, e.g., short portions. Individual segments are subjected to watermarking with multiple watermarked versions of a segment being generated. Different watermarked versions of a segment communicate different information, e.g., one or more numbers. Sets of watermarked segments corresponding to a program are supplied to a content distribution device. Based on a session number or other information corresponding to the destination of the content, the content distribution device selects watermarked segments from the sets of segments to provide to the user. The combination of segments communicates, via the watermarks, a sequence of numbers used to identify the streamed content without requiring the distribution node to perform image processing to generate the watermarks. When the segments are communicated sequentially, the watermarks can be detected and the identifying numerical sequence extracted. | 12-06-2012 |
20120308072 | PRINTED DEVICE WITH THREE-DIMENSIONAL APPEARANCE - The present invention is related to a device useful as a security element comprising first and second LC ink layers representing a graphical object exhibiting, when observed with an appropriate viewing equipment, a three-dimensional appearance, wherein one of said ink layers shows a first color at a certain viewing angle and is a left-handed circularly polarizing coating or comprises left-handed circularly polarizing pigment, and the other of said ink layers shows the same or another color at said viewing angle and is a right-handed circularly polarizing coating or comprises right-handed circularly polarizing pigment, said first and second LC ink layers representing a first and a second image corresponding to a pair of stereoscopic projections of said object, characterized in that said first and second images are composed of separate building blocks which are superimposed or can be superimposed. | 12-06-2012 |
20120308073 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR GENERATING BOOKMARK VIDEO FINGERPRINTS - Systems and methods for replacing original media bookmarks of at least a portion of a digital media file with replacement bookmarks is described. A media fingerprint engine detects the location of the original fingerprints associated with the portion of the digital media file and a region analysis algorithm characterizes regions of media file spanning the location of the original bookmarks by data class types. The replacement bookmarks are associated with the data class types and are overwritten or otherwise are substituted for the original bookmarks. The replacement bookmarks then are subjected to a fingerprint matching algorithm that incorporates media timeline and media related metadata. | 12-06-2012 |
20120308074 | WATERMARK DETECTION USING A PROPAGATION MAP - A method for detecting and selecting watermarking in video coding is provided that comprises accessing a list of possible watermarks; generating propagation maps of modifications to the video that would be caused by applying the respective watermarks; generating a detection region responsive to each respective propagation map that includes blocks within the propagation map that collectively rank highest with respect to a selected detection criteria compared to each other region within the propagation map; selecting a threshold metric for evaluating detection regions; and removing watermarks from the list responsive to a comparison of their detection regions with the threshold metric. | 12-06-2012 |
20120308075 | DATA-GENERATING DEVICE, DATA-GENERATING METHOD, DATA-GENERATING PROGRAM AND RECORDING MEDIUM - Data is generated which can prevent content displayed on a screen from being accurately replicated. A data-generating device has: an acquiring means that acquires still image data; a still image data generating means that generates a predetermined number of items of still image data in which at least part of pixel values of the acquired still image data are changed, and that makes an average of pixel values of matching display positions between the predetermined number of items of still image data equal to pixel values of matching display positions in the acquired still image data; and a movie data generating means that generates movie data for which each of the generated still image data is displayed at a predetermined frame rate. | 12-06-2012 |
20120321125 | IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD AND APPARATUS - An image processing method and apparatus extracts unique identifiers directly from images and examines similarities between images using the extracted identifiers, by capturing a frame of an image; reducing the size of the captured frame; transforming the reduced frame to a frequency domain frame; creating an image feature vector by scanning frequency components of the frequency domain frame; computing inner product values by projecting the image feature vector onto random vectors; generating a fingerprint for identifying the captured frame by applying a Heaviside step function to the inner product values; and searching a database for information related to the generated fingerprint and outputting the search results. | 12-20-2012 |
20120321126 | NON-DESTRUCTIVE DETERMINATION OF MATERIAL CHARACTERISTICS - A non-destructive determination of material characteristics of an aircraft component is provided. To provide a simple determination of material characteristics, which can be implemented economically, it is provided to make available image data of a layer, which can be detected from outside using electromagnetic radiation, of a workpiece to be examined; to detect first areas having a first pixel characteristic using the image data; and to detect second areas having a second pixel characteristic using the image data; the first pixel characteristic being associated with a fiber inlay of a fiber composite layer; and the second pixel characteristic being associated with an at least part-crystalline thermoplastic polymer of the fiber composite layer, which thermoplastic polymer is in a crystalline state; and to determine a relationship of the first areas to the second areas. | 12-20-2012 |
20120321127 | Method and System for Restricting Access to Sensitive Contents of Digital Images - The method for restricting access to sensitive contents of digital images using the digital watermarking technique for encoding and decoding sensitive contents of images is characterized in that the sensitive contents of an image are obscured, and the information necessary for the high quality reconstruction is encoded in the insensitive area of the transmitted image by modification of the DCT spectrum coefficients. The information concerning the obscured contents is retained by means of transform coefficients and processed independently. Noise with statistics identical to that of the digital watermark is inserted into the image after decoding. The system contains encoding unit including acquisition module connected with sensitive contents encoding module through sensitive patterns automatic detection module with attached memory buffer. Also, acquisition module is connected directly with sensitive contents encoding module and with compression module. In the decoding unit, stream decoding module is connected with image sensitive contents decoding module. | 12-20-2012 |
20120328148 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SECURE IMAGE MANAGEMENT - A method and computer device for managing imagery loaded in an image management system. The method includes analyzing the imagery loaded within the image management system, searching the imagery for one or more images, and displaying images found as a result of searching the imagery. Analyzing includes selecting an image to analyze, authenticating the selected image, and securely uploading an authenticated image into the image management system. Analyzing also includes performing a hashing operation on the selected image. Securely uploading an authenticated image includes, uploading a successfully authenticated into the image management system, including uploading a text file with metadata for the selected image, appending a generated hash for the selected image original to the uploaded text file, uploading the selected image, comparing the generated hash with a hash of the uploaded selected image, and generating an error message if the generated hash does not match the hash of the uploaded selected image. | 12-27-2012 |
20120328149 | Method and System for Robust Watermark Insertion and Extraction for Digital Set-Top Boxes - Methods and systems for robust watermark insertion and extraction for digital set-top boxes are disclosed and may include descrambling, detecting watermarking messages in a received video signal utilizing a watermark message parser, and immediately watermarking the descrambled video signal utilizing an embedded CPU. The embedded CPU may utilize code that may be signed by an authorized key, encrypted externally to the chip, decrypted, and stored in memory in a region off-limits to other processors. The video signal may be watermarked in a decompressed domain. The enabling of the watermarking may be verified utilizing a watchdog timer. The descriptors corresponding to the watermarking may be stored in memory that may be inaccessible by the main CPU. The watermark may comprise unique identifier data specific to the chip and a time stamp, and may be encrypted utilizing an on-chip combinatorial function. | 12-27-2012 |
20130004014 | GEOTAGGING OF AUDIO RECORDINGS - A method of geotagging an audio-recording. The method comprises: determining ( | 01-03-2013 |
20130004015 | PROCESS TO SECURE A PERSONAL PORTABLE OBJECT - The invention relates to a process to make secure a personal portable object comprising a body of the personal portable object, a microchip, a printed image and a device to enable said personal portable object to communicate with an entity external to the device. The process includes using an image file and an insertion algorithm to generate an image feature vector Vsi(num), storing the image feature vector Vsi(num) in the microchip, using the printed image obtained by a scanning device to generate an image feature vector Vsi(dig), and using a read-back algorithm to match the image feature vector Vsi(num) and the image feature vector Vsi(dig). | 01-03-2013 |
20130011002 | Methods and Apparatus for Robust Embedded Data - The present invention describes methods and apparatus involving embedding data. Data can be embedded steganographically in content or embedded in, e.g., headers associated with the content. One claim recites an apparatus including: a memory system for storing: i) content data comprising first information embedded therein; ii) second information which is separate from the content data, in which the second information is associated with a first user device and a second user device; and a logic processor. The logic processor is programmed for: decoding the first information from the content data; comparing the first information to the second information for correspondence; and based at least on the correspondence, determining whether to perform an action associated with the content data on either of the first user device or the second user device. Other claims and combinations are also provided. | 01-10-2013 |
20130011003 | Associating First and Second Watermarks with Audio or Video Content - The present invention relates generally to processing audio or video content. One claim recites an apparatus comprising: electronic memory for storing media representing audio or video content; and an electronic logic processor. The electronic processor is programmed for: embedding a protect watermark in the media, the protect watermark providing an indication that the media is protected; embedding a rights watermark in the media, the rights watermark providing an indication of user rights associated with rendering the audio or video content, in which the protect watermark is more difficult to remove from the media relative to the rights watermark; and reproducing the audio or video content after said embedding a protect watermark in the media and embedding a rights watermark in the media. Other claims and combinations are provided as well. | 01-10-2013 |
20130011004 | METHOD FOR WATERMARK DETECTION USING REFERENCE BLOCKS COMPARISON - The invention relates to a method for decoding a watermark embedded in a video comprising blocks of samples representative of the video comprising the steps of determining in the video a location of a watermarked block; determining a location for each reference block among a plurality of reference blocks wherein a reference block is associated to a watermark value among a plurality of watermark values; comparing the watermarked block with each reference block; and identifying watermark value for the watermarked block from the results of the plurality of comparison. The method is remarkable in that each reference block is equally located in the video, for instance the pirated video, so that the plurality of comparisons between the watermarked block and each reference block is performed among the same video. | 01-10-2013 |
20130011005 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR UTILIZING GPS INFORMATION TO SECURE DIGITAL MEDIA - A device such as a set-top-box, digital TV, DVD player, multi-media player, cellular telephone or digital cinema player that may handle data such as multimedia data and/or audio/video signals, may determine its location. The device may determine its location based on GPS information and send it to an external entity, for example, a service provider. The device may generate a watermark comprising its determined location and may embed or insert the watermark within the data. Also, the generated watermark may comprise one or more of a unique identifier for the device, a source of the data, for example, a service provider, a date and a time. The watermark may be secured via processing, for example, the watermark may be encrypted prior to being embedded. The data may be compressed when embedding the watermark. The watermark embedding process may be handled via a secure embedded processor and/or secure code. | 01-10-2013 |
20130011006 | ASYMMETRIC WATERMARK EMBEDDING/EXTRACTION - Methods and devices are provided to embed imperceptible watermarks into a host content and to subsequently extract embedded watermarks in a manner so as to achieve desired levels of robustness, transparency and security. For a particular host content, a first number of embedding opportunities are used to insert watermarks, which is less than a number of all embedding opportunities within the host content. Watermarks are extracted from a first number of watermark extraction opportunities, which is less than a number of all watermark extraction opportunities associated with the host content. The relationship between the first number of embedding opportunities, the first number of watermark extraction opportunities and the number of all watermark extraction opportunities is such that a circumvention attempt that overwrites watermarks at all extraction opportunities degrades perceptual quality of the host content below a desired perceptual quality level. | 01-10-2013 |
20130011007 | USING CAMERA SIGNATURES FROM UPLOADED IMAGES TO AUTHENTICATE USERS OF AN ONLINE SYSTEM - Users of an online system are authenticated based on signatures of cameras that were used to capture images uploaded to the online system. Users of an online system upload photos taken from their cameras. The online system extracts characteristic information about the camera that captured the photos. This information includes a mapping of faulty pixels, metadata included with the photos, a naming convention, and the like. The online system stores an association between the user and the camera. This association is used for authentication of the user. For authentication, the user is asked to upload new photos taken from the camera that the user used previously. The information extracted from the newly uploaded photos is matched against stored information of cameras used previously by the user. The user is successfully authenticated if the camera used for the newly uploaded photos matches a previously stored camera. | 01-10-2013 |
20130011008 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IDENTIFYING MEDIA CONTENT PRESENTED ON A MEDIA PLAYING DEVICE - A computing device executing a server engine receives a digital fingerprint created from a segment of a work, the work being a single rendering, the segment being less than an entirety of the work, and the digital fingerprint being based on perceptual features of the segment. The computing device compares the digital fingerprint to a plurality of digital fingerprints from a plurality of known works to identify a known work of the plurality of known works that corresponds to the work. The computing device transmits content-related data associated with the known work to a client device. | 01-10-2013 |
20130022230 | DIGITAL CONTENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, VERIFICATION DEVICE, PROGRAM THEREOF, AND DATA PROCESSING METHOD - A digital content management system ( | 01-24-2013 |
20130028465 | DIGITAL WATERMARK EMBEDDING APPARATUS AND METHOD - An apparatus includes: a generator which generates a first pattern including a plurality of pixels having a first value, with an area of the first pattern changing in a constant cycle, and, a phase of cyclical change of the area changing based on a value of a symbol included in an inputted digital watermark information; a generator which generates a second pattern including a plurality of pixels having a second value, with an area of the second pattern changing with a frequency characteristic that is different from the cycle of change of the area; and a unit which superimposes the first and the second pattern into each image area of images in time series constituting an inputted video image to correct a value of each pixel in an image area to which the first or the second pattern is superimposed according to the first and the second value. | 01-31-2013 |
20130028466 | Embedding and Detecting Hidden Information - A novel method is disclosed for detecting hidden information in a document comprising characters, including: determining layout transformation for each character in the document for detection compared with the original document; obtaining a code sequence embedded in the document for detection based on the layout transformation of each character in the document for detection and the predetermined embedding rule; decoding the code sequence to get the hidden information embedded in the document for detection. | 01-31-2013 |
20130034261 | Road sign detection and tracking within field-of-view (FOV) video data - Road signs are recognized within field-of-view (FOV) video data having frames. Within a first stage, one or more candidate road signs within the FOV video data are identified, by statically analyzing each frame of the FOV video data independently to detect the one or more candidate road signs within the FOV video data. Within a second stage, each candidate road sign is confirmed or rejected as an actual candidate road sign within the FOV video data by dynamically analyzing the frames of the FOV video data interdependently. The first stage is a static analysis that considers each frame of the FOV video data independently. The second stage is a dynamic analysis that considers the frames of the FOV video data interdependently. | 02-07-2013 |
20130039530 | System and Method for Replacing a Key - A system and method for replacing a key is described herein. Specifically, a system for replacing a key can comprise a network, a server that receives a still photograph from a mobile device, wherein said still photograph is related to a key. In another embodiment, the system for replacing a key can also comprise a memory that stores an application, one or more locksmith record and one or more user profile comprising key data. The system for replacing a key can further comprise a processor that, at the direction of said application, determines edge location from said still photograph using a predetermined threshold, determine a key code from said edge location, and stores said key code into said memory. | 02-14-2013 |
20130044910 | PROCESS AND DEVICE FOR DETECTION OF DROPS IN A DIGITAL IMAGE AND COMPUTER PROGRAM FOR EXECUTING THIS METHOD - A method for detection of drops on a transparent wall through which digital images (I | 02-21-2013 |
20130058522 | MEDIA SOURCE IDENTIFICATION - A server machine and a first device (e.g., a television) are configured to access a stream of media (e.g., a broadcast channel) from a media source (e.g., a broadcaster). The server machine generates a representation (e.g., a fingerprint) of the stream of media and stores the representation. The first device plays the stream of media (e.g., for a user) and generates an analog signal based on the stream of media. A second device (e.g., a mobile device of the user) is configured to receive the analog signal and generate a representation of the analog signal. The second device provides the representation of the analog signal to the server machine, which may compare the representation of the stream of media to the representation of the analog signal. Based on the comparison, the server machine may provide an identifier of the media source to the second device. | 03-07-2013 |
20130064415 | TEMPLATE CLEANING APPARATUS AND TEMPLATE CLEANING METHOD - According to one embodiment, there is disclosed a template cleaning apparatus to clean a template for imprint. The template includes a concave-convex pattern and a groove portion, and an image obtaining unit which obtains an image of a region including a side surface of the groove portion of the template. The apparatus further includes a cleaning time determination (CTD) unit having a function to determine cleaning time of the template. The function includes determining the cleaning time by comparing the image obtained by the image obtaining unit with a previously obtained reference image. The apparatus further includes a cleaning unit which cleans the template, based on the cleaning time determined by the CTD unit. | 03-14-2013 |
20130064416 | Extracting Features of Audio Signal Content to Provide Reliable Identification of the Signals - Signatures that can be used to identify video and audio content are generated from the content by generating measures of dissimilarity between features of corresponding groups of pixels in frames of video content and by generating low-resolution time-frequency representations of audio segments. The signatures are generated by applying a hash function to intermediate values derived from the measures of dissimilarity and to the low-resolution time-frequency representations. The generated signatures may be used in a variety of applications such as restoring synchronization between video and audio content streams and identifying copies of original video and audio content. The generated signatures can provide reliable identifications despite intentional and unintentional modifications to the content. | 03-14-2013 |
20130064417 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ROBUST LOW-COMPLEXITY VIDEO FINGERPRINTING - An apparatus and method for video fingerprinting are provided. The method includes, for each frame of a video sequence including a plurality of frames, removing a portion of the frame, dividing a remaining portion of the frame into blocks, dividing each block into sub-blocks, computing a block level feature as a mean of pixels in each sub-block within the block, concatenating all block level features in the frame, and concatenating features of all frames in the video sequence. | 03-14-2013 |
20130064418 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR IMAGE FINGERPRINTING - The present invention provides methods and systems to protect an organization's secure image information from unauthorized disclosure. In one embodiment, methods and systems to generate image fingerprints are provided. The fingerprints are generated for each feature point of an image data. Because the fingerprints take into account the neighborhood features around each feature point, the image fingerprints are robust against derivative images where the original image may have been altered. Methods and systems to maintain a fingerprint database for an organization's secure image data is also provided. In one embodiment, client fingerprints are generated for image data that a user intends to transmit outside of the organization. In some embodiments, suitable security actions are initiated if any of the client fingerprints match any of the fingerprints in the fingerprint database. | 03-14-2013 |
20130064419 | COMBINED WATERMARKING AND FINGERPRINTING - Content fingerprints and watermarks are combined in various ways for content identification applications. Fingerprints are used to identify content generally while watermarks provide more detailed localization of parts within the content, and vice versa. Fingerprint techniques are further used for signal synchronization and other pre-processing steps to assist in digital watermark decoding. A variety of fingerprint/watermark techniques identify characteristics of the channel of content from content samples. | 03-14-2013 |
20130070957 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DETECTING CELL PHONE USAGE BY A VEHICLE OPERATOR - An embodiment generally relates to systems and methods for determining cell phone usage automatically by individuals operating vehicles. A processing module can process multi-spectral images or videos of individuals and detect different regions in the image such as face regions, hand regions, and cell phone regions. Further, the processing module can analyze the regions based on locations and numbers of skin pixels and cell phone pixels to determine if the individual is holding his or her cell phone near his or her face. Based on the analysis, it can be determined whether the individual is operating the cell phone. Further, the analysis can yield a confidence level associated with the cell phone usage. | 03-21-2013 |
20130070958 | CLIENT-SIDE WATERMARKING USING HYBRID I-FRAMES - A system and method for client-side watermarking of digital content using hybrid Intra-Frames (I-Frames) are provided. In general, a content source provides a compressed video stream and a hybrid I-Frame stream to a client device via a network. The hybrid I-Frame stream includes a number of low-loss I-Frames corresponding to select ones of the I-Frames in the compressed video stream to be used for client-side watermarking. The client device watermarks the I-Frames in the hybrid I-Frame stream, optionally compresses the watermarked I-Frames, and replaces the select ones of the I-Frames in the compressed video stream with the watermarked and optionally compressed I-Frames to provide a watermarked version of the compressed video stream. | 03-21-2013 |
20130070959 | METHOD OF ENABLING A WIRELESS INFORMATION DEVICE TO ACCESS LOCATION DATA - A method of enabling a first wireless information device to access absolute location data in which the first wireless information device does not possess its own absolute location finding system but is instead able to receive, over a wireless network, absolute location data from a second wireless information device that does have its own absolute location finding system. The present invention hence enables wireless information devices to share absolute location data: for example, a mobile telephone with GPS capability can be used as a local “beacon” to broadcast its absolute location to any nearby devices over a personal area wireless network (e.g. a Bluetooth network) so that those nearby devices can use that location data. Hence, a camera with no location finding system of its own could obtain location data from a nearby GPS equipped mobile telephone over a Bluetooth PAN and watermark its images with location data. | 03-21-2013 |
20130070960 | PROVIDING A WATERMARKED DECODED AUDIO OR VIDEO SIGNAL DERIVED FROM A WATERMARKED AUDIO OR VIDEO SIGNAL THAT WAS LOW BIT RATE ENCODED AND DECODED - Various audio signal watermarking systems are known, which are also applied to digitally encoded audio signals. However, in current audio signal watermarking systems the watermark signal and its watermark payload do not survive very low bit rate audio coding, in particular parametric coding. According to the invention, a watermarked uncompressed audio signal bit-stream is low-bit rate compressed, but the water-marking is removed and the watermark's payload only is transmitted together with the compressed audio signal bit-stream. At decoder side, the received audio signal bit stream is de-compressed and water-marked again using the transmitted watermark payload. Advantageously, it does not matter that the compressed bitstream is not watermarked because the compressed bitstream can be encrypted prior to transmission. | 03-21-2013 |
20130077817 | STEGANOGRAPHIC METHOD - A steganographic method is presented that provides authentication of user identity, such that only an authorized user may reveal the data hidden steganographically. Two data objects such as images are used for this purpose, one hidden within the other. A key provision of the invention allows the ‘inner’ image to itself contain hidden data that is not corrupted by subsequent compression within the ‘outer’ image. A digital ‘scratch card’ is by this means implemented, where the inner image is only revealed to an authorized user. Using this algorithm, physical cards containing data are represented by a single digital object. | 03-28-2013 |
20130089233 | METHOD FOR DETERMINING THE TUMBLING MOTION OF A VEHICLE WHEEL - A method for determining the tumbling motion of a vehicle wheel and/or a measurement object attached to the vehicle wheel in the context of an axle measurement. The tumbling motion is executed relative to the precise wheel axis of rotation of the vehicle wheel and at least one orientation value is determined between, the precise wheel axis of rotation and a reference axis. Using at least one image recording unit, at least two wheel features that are present on the vehicle wheel or are attached for the measurement are acquired as the vehicle travels past and are evaluated by an evaluation device situated downstream. Using the wheel features recorded as the vehicle travels past, a wheel coordinate system and a feature coordinate system are determined. The wheel coordinate system and the feature coordinate system are set into relation to one another in order to determine the orientation value. | 04-11-2013 |
20130094690 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR EMBEDDING WATERMARKS - Methods and apparatus for embedding a watermark are disclosed. An example method disclosed herein to embed a watermark in a compressed data stream comprises obtaining a set of transform coefficients included in the compressed data stream, the set of transform coefficients having a respective first set of mantissa codes and a respective set of exponents, the first set of mantissa codes associated with a respective set of mantissa step sizes, identifying a first transform coefficient from the set of transform coefficients having a smallest magnitude among the set of transform coefficients, determining a second set of mantissa codes based on the first transform coefficient and the set of step sizes, and replacing the first set of mantissa codes included in the compressed data stream with the second set of mantissa codes to embed the watermark without uncompressing the compressed data stream. | 04-18-2013 |
20130094691 | PROCESSING DATA FOR ENCODING AND DECODING A MESSAGE - Processing data for encoding and decoding a message transmitted through a communication channel having adjacent information known during the encoding, the encoding method comprising the construction of a surjective correcting code produced from a characterization of the adjacent information in a system of spherical coordinates. | 04-18-2013 |
20130094692 | VIDEO WATERMARKING METHOD RESISTANT TO TEMPORAL DESYNCHRONIZATION ATTACKS - A video watermarking method resistant to temporal desynchronization attacks, of the type that comprises a watermark embedding, an attack stage and a watermark detection stage wherein during the watermarking embedding stage, the same watermark is hidden in a number of frames given by the mutual information between them; a temporal redundancy control is modified to hide a watermark in each possible I-frame; and during the watermark detection stage, the watermark extractor takes all the frames watermarked with the same key to extract its characteristics. | 04-18-2013 |
20130101153 | INSERTION-HOLE BLOCKAGE-RATE EVALUATION SYSTEM, INSERTION-HOLE BLOCKAGE-RATE EVALUATION METHOD, AND INSERTION-HOLE BLOCKAGE-RATE EVALUATION PROGRAM - An insertion-hole blockage-rate evaluation system is applied to a heat exchanger that includes a heat transfer tube and a tube support plate having an insertion hole formed therein for inserting the heat transfer tube therethrough. The tube support plate is displayed in a three dimensional manner in an elliptical diagram with a ratio between a long axis and a short axis being in a range from 1.0 to 2.0 inclusive, each of the tube support plates is serially arranged so as not to overlap on each other, and the insertion-hole blockage-rate evaluation system includes an imaging process of color-coding and displaying the diagram displayed in the three-dimensional elliptical shape according to a value of a blockage rate of the insertion hole acquired by checking the blockage rate of the insertion hole. | 04-25-2013 |
20130101154 | WATERMARKING DIFFERENT AREAS OF DIGITAL IMAGES WITH DIFFERENT INTENSITIES - An image is processed to encode a digital watermark, with different regions thereof processed using different levels of watermark intensity. In an image comprised of elements of differing sizes (e.g., halftone shapes of different sizes, or lines of different width), the different regions can be defined by reference to the sizes of elements contained therein. Regions characterized by relatively small elements can be watermarked at a relatively low intensity. Regions characterized by relatively large elements can be watermarked at a relatively high intensity. A variety of other features are also discussed. | 04-25-2013 |
20130108101 | EFFICIENT AND SECURE FORENSIC MARKING IN COMPRESSED DOMAIN | 05-02-2013 |
20130114847 | EXTRACTION OF EMBEDDED WATERMARKS FROM A HOST CONTENT USING A PLURALITY OF TENTATIVE WATERMARKS - Methods, devices and computer program products facilitate the extraction of embedded watermarks in the presence of content distortions. Distortion of the content is estimated using two or more detected watermarks with an associated probability of false detection that is above a desired level. The estimated content distortion is used to obtain pre-distorted synchronization templates and to reevaluate the detected watermarks. The use of pre-distorted synchronization templates results in obtaining better estimations of content distortion, and improved reliability of watermark detections. | 05-09-2013 |
20130114848 | EFFICIENT EXTRACTION OF EMBEDDED WATERMARKS IN THE PRESENCE OF HOST CONTENT DISTORTIONS - Methods, devices and computer program products facilitate the extraction of embedded watermarks in the presence of content distortions. Coarse estimates of a distortion or combination of distortions, present in the host content are obtained by detecting a tentative watermark, or a portion thereof, utilizing coarse pre-distorted watermark templates. Supplementary pre-distorted watermark templates are then selected in the neighborhood of the coarse distortion estimate to further re-evaluate the tentative watermark. The use of coarse and supplementary pre-distorted watermark templates results in obtaining better estimations of content distortions, and improved reliability of watermark detections in an efficient manner. | 05-09-2013 |
20130121525 | Method and Apparatus for Determining Sensor Format Factors from Image Metadata - Method and apparatus for determining sensor format factors from image metadata in which one of multiple techniques is applied to determine a sensor format factor for a camera from information in the metadata. Information from the metadata may be used to identify which of the multiple techniques to use. For example, the camera make and model may be used to determine a particular technique to use. As another example, the presence or absence of particular attributes or values for particular attributes may be used in determining a particular technique. In one embodiment, a profile database may be searched according to information in the metadata to determine if a sensor format factor for the camera is in the database. If the sensor format factor for the camera is not in the database, other information in the metadata may be examined to determine a particular technique from among the plurality of techniques. | 05-16-2013 |
20130129139 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DYNAMICALLY VISUALIZING A COLLECTION OF IMAGES IN THE FORM OF A COLLAGE - A method and apparatus of presenting a collection of images in the form of a collage is provided. The method dynamically visualizes the collection of images in the form of a collage. The method includes receiving the image from the collection of the images; adjusting parameters of dynamic visualization; analyzing distribution of colors in local areas of the images and the collage; modifying the image by adding the decorative elements of which the appearance depends on the distribution of colors in the local areas of the images and the local areas of the collage; modifying the collage by changing an appearance of decorative elements in the image; determining a position of the modified image on the modified collage; and generating a sequence of frames showing an occurrence of the modified image in the collage. | 05-23-2013 |
20130129140 | VALUABLE DOCUMENT IDENTIFICATION METHOD AND IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM THEREOF - A valuable document identification method and an identification system thereof are provided. The method involves an information collecting module for identifying valuable documents starts, after a banknote separation module for storing valuable documents starts; information is sequentially collected by the information collecting module along movement direction of valuable documents; after arrival and pass of valuable documents are inspected, the collected valuable document identification information is processed and identified by the identification module, and an identification result is obtained; the valuable document information state is recorded; valuable documents are counted based on the identification result and the valuable document information state, and then valuable documents are identified and judged. As a result, the reliability of the valuable document identification process is improved, and the fault rate due to the counting problem is reduced. | 05-23-2013 |
20130136296 | DIGITAL WATERMARK EMBEDDING APPARATUS AND METHOD, AND DIGITAL WATERMARK DETECTING APPARATUS AND METHOD - A digital watermark embedding apparatus is disclosed. A first codeword including a bit sequence of digital watermark information is generated. A cyclic shift sequence is generated based on the digital watermark information. A second codeword is generated by cyclically shifting the first codeword based on the generated cyclic shift sequence. The generated second codeword is embedded in contents. | 05-30-2013 |
20130136297 | ADAPTIVE VIDEO FINGERPRINTING - A method and system for embedding and recovering a spatial fingerprint in a sequence of video frames. The sequence includes marked frames that include marked groups having markable positions. The embedding method selects a frame offset and marking period for the marked frames, and determines a marking strength for modifying each marked group. A portion of the spatial fingerprint is embedded in each marked group of a first subgroup of the marked groups, and an ordering of the portion embedded in the first subgroup is embedded in each marked group of a second subgroup of the marked groups. The recovering method analyzes a quality ratio of the DCT transform energy and the residual for each markable position in the frame to determine whether the frame is a marked frame. The recovering method recovers the spatial fingerprint when the marked groups maintain the quality ratio in a number of successive marked frames. | 05-30-2013 |
20130142381 | REAL TIME SPECTROSCOPY PROCESSING AND ANALYSIS SYSTEM - A real time spectroscopy processing and analysis system comprising a data acquisition module, an image processing module operably connected to the data acquisition module and a data analysis and presentation module operably connected to both the data acquisition module and the image processing module. | 06-06-2013 |
20130142382 | PRE-PROCESSED INFORMATION EMBEDDING SYSTEM - Methods and devices are provided for embedding auxiliary information in a host content in a manner that reduces memory, bandwidth and computational complexity of the embedding and transmission systems. One methodology relates to receiving a set of watermark embedding parameters produced at a pre-processing node by pre-processing the host content. The watermark embedding parameters enable embedding each of a plurality of host content segments with any one of at least two different logical values. To embed the auxiliary information, the host content is modified on a segment-by-segment basis using the set of watermark embedding parameters and in accordance with a control signal that designates one of the at least two logical values for embedding into a selected segment of the host content. The generation of watermark embedding parameters at a pre-processing node reduces storage, transmission and computational complexity of embedding operations that can occur at locations other than the pre-processing node. | 06-06-2013 |
20130148842 | DIGITAL-WATERMARK EMBEDDING DEVICE, DIGITAL-WATERMARK EMBEDDING METHOD, AND DIGITAL-WATERMARK DETECTING DEVICE - A digital-watermark embedding device includes a content obtaining unit that obtains content; a watermark-information obtaining unit that obtains digital-watermark information; a generating unit that generates a synchronization flag on a basis of the digital-watermark information; and an embedding unit that embeds the digital-watermark information and the synchronization flag into the content. | 06-13-2013 |
20130148843 | DEVICE FOR GENERATING WATERMARK METADATA, ASSOCIATED DEVICE FOR EMBEDDING WATERMARK - A device for generating metadata associated with a content intended to be watermarked with an identifier stored in a device for embedding a watermark is disclosed. The device for generating metadata comprises a processor configured to generate metadata. The metadata comprises (i) an instruction for deriving a current payload bit from the identifier wherein the current payload bit is determined from a lookup index wherein the instruction for deriving a current payload bit indicates to which position in the identifier corresponds the current payload bit, or from a XOR function applied to a plurality of bits of the identifier, wherein the instruction for deriving a current payload bit comprises a binary mask indicating which bits in the identifier corresponds to XORed bits. | 06-13-2013 |
20130156255 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PERFORMING TRANSCODING RESISTANT WATERMARKING - A method for performing transcoding resistant watermarking of digital media content is provided. The method enables obtaining a plurality of spectral frequency bands of the digital media content. The method further enables calculating an entropy value for each of the plurality of spectral frequency bands. The entropy value quantifies information in each of the plurality of spectral frequency bands. The method further enables selecting a spectral frequency band from amongst the plurality of spectral frequency bands based on the calculation. The selected spectral frequency band has the highest entropy. Furthermore, the method enables inserting a watermark in the selected spectral frequency band of the digital media content. | 06-20-2013 |
20130156256 | STEGANOGRAPHIC ENCODING AND VERIFICATION - Multi-Dimensional Statistical Patchwork Steganographic Encoding and Verification uses fluctuations in image density and brightness to encode a binary cipher and decode the same in the absence of prior knowledge other than that of the existence of encoding and encoding party source. Once encoded, the image can be deciphered without any prior knowledge outside the encoding preference or hallmarks. This allows a party to encode and image, release it publicly, retrieve it at a later time, and decode it without any other knowledge than it was an image they encoded. Using a statistical representation of a defined segment of the image in a mated pair is used to define either a “I” or “0”. The addition of stereoscopic, alternate frequency bands, or harmonic stacking allows multiplication of available bits without degradation of image appearance. Using any pre-defined hallmarks of origin and pattern allow for non-cataloged reference of the encoded image. | 06-20-2013 |
20130156257 | IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICE, TAMPERING PREVENTION METHOD, AND TAMPERING DETECTION METHOD - An image processing device includes a frequency calculation part configured to calculate frequency coefficients of an image, a coefficient selection part configured to select plural pairs of the frequency coefficients from the calculated frequency coefficients, a code generation part configured to generate a code based on a comparison result between an absolute value of a difference between the two frequency coefficients of each of the selected pairs and a threshold, and a magnitude relationship between the two frequency coefficients, and a signature generation part configured to encrypt the generated code with a private key to generate a digital signature. | 06-20-2013 |
20130156258 | THERMAL POWERLINE RATING AND CLEARANCE ANALYSIS USING THERMAL IMAGING TECHNOLOGY - A method and apparatus are provided to acquire direct thermal measurements, for example, from a LiDAR collecting vehicle or air vessel, of an overhead electrical conductor substantially simultaneous with collection of 3-dimensional location data of the conductor, and utilize temperature information derived from the direct thermal measurements in line modeling, line rating, thermal line analysis, clearance analysis, and/or vegetation management. | 06-20-2013 |
20130156259 | PRODUCT IMAGING DEVICE, PRODUCT IMAGING METHOD, IMAGE CONVERSION DEVICE, IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICE, IMAGE PROCESSING SYSTEM, PROGRAM, AND INFORMATION RECORDING MEDIUM - A product imaging device ( | 06-20-2013 |
20130163808 | Method and System of Digital Steganography - The system and method of digital steganography comprises a sending AI engine, a decision tree AI engine, an armored security object, and a receiving AI engine. The armored security object comprises concentric layers. The layers of the armored security object can be 3-dimensional and are comprised of at least one axis of rotation, at least one surface, at least one color, and at least one texture. | 06-27-2013 |
20130163809 | PIPE THICKNESS MEASURING DEVICE AND METHOD, AND RECORDING MEDIUM - A pipe thickness measuring device | 06-27-2013 |
20130170693 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MANAGING KEY INFORMATION - Systems and methods for managing key information are provided. In some embodiments, systems for managing key information are provided, the systems comprising: at least one hardware processor that: receives security information from a user; receives an image of a first key; determines geometric information about the first key based on the image; causes the geometric information about the first key to be stored in a storage device in association with at least a portion of the security information from the user; and causes the geometric information about the first key to be retrieved from the storage device upon validating at least the portion of the security information for use in creating a second key. | 07-04-2013 |
20130170694 | System and Process for Roof Measurement Using Aerial Imagery - Processes and systems are disclosed for determining attributes of a roof structure of real-world three-dimensional building(s), including providing computer input field(s) for a user to input location data generally corresponding to the location of the building, providing visual access to a nadir image of a region including the roof structure of the building; on the nadir image of the region, providing a visual marker that is moveable on the computer monitor around the region, the visual marker initially corresponding to the location data but which may be moved to a final location, having location coordinates, on top of the building to more precisely identify the location of the building roof structure; providing a computer input capable of signaling user-acceptance of the final location of the marker; and, providing visual access to one or more oblique images of an aerial imagery database corresponding to location coordinates of the final location. | 07-04-2013 |
20130170695 | DIGITAL WATERMARK EMBEDDING APPARATUS, DIGITAL WATERMARK EMBEDDING METHOD, AND DIGITAL WATERMARK DETECTION APPARATUS - A digital watermark embedding apparatus includes an interface unit which acquires video data and digital watermark information, and a processing unit which embeds the digital watermark information into the video data. The processing unit is adapted to: determine the position of a watermark pattern so that the watermark pattern moves with time according to the value of a symbol contained in the digital watermark information within a first moving range that contains at least a portion of a reference region on each image, and so that the average pixel value of the reference region overlapped with the watermark pattern varies in a periodic fashion as the watermark pattern moves; and correct the value of each pixel contained in a region where the reference region and the watermark pattern overlap each other by using the value of a corresponding one of the pixels contained in the watermark pattern. | 07-04-2013 |
20130177199 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SEAMLESS CONTENT INSERTION ON NETWORK CONTENT USING AUDIO-VIDEO FINGERPRINTING AND WATERMARKING - A system and method to extract audio-video fingerprint and embed an audio-video watermark onto a content asset that is transmitted as part of network content. The specific content to be replaced and the point of local content insertion are identified uniquely by looking for the embedded audio-video watermark and match the audio-video fingerprint. The identified point of insertion enables seamless local content insertion. | 07-11-2013 |
20130188823 | Utilizing data reduction in steganographic and cryptographic systems - The present invention relates to methods for protecting a data signal using the following techniques: applying a data reduction technique to reduce the data signal into a reduced data signal; subtracting the reduced data signal from the data signal to produce a remainder signal; embedding a first watermark into the reduced data signal to produce a watermarked, reduced data signal; and adding the watermarked, reduced data signal to the remainder signal to produce an output signal. A second watermark may be embedded into the remainder signal before the final addition step. Further, cryptographic techniques may be used to encrypt the reduced data signals and to encrypt the remainder signals before the final addition step. | 07-25-2013 |
20130188824 | DIGITAL WATERMARKING - A method for embedding, using a processor, digital watermark data into image data representing a number of pixels, each of which has respective saturation values is disclosed. The method comprises the following steps:
| 07-25-2013 |
20130195312 | PLACING TEMPORALLY ALIGNED AND VARIABLY SIZED PIXELS IN DISCRETE RINGS IN A GRAPHICAL VISUALIZATION - Data points contain data values in respective time intervals. Pixels representing data points for time periods (each time period including multiple time intervals) are placed in corresponding discrete rings in a graphical visualization, wherein the pixels are user accessible to allow viewing of information of the corresponding data points. The pixels are temporally aligned in the corresponding discrete rings, and the pixels in the corresponding discrete rings are variably sized depending on a number of data points in the respective time periods. | 08-01-2013 |
20130202150 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR AN AUTOMATIC CONTENT RECOGNITION ABSTRACTION LAYER - A method and system for an automatic content recognition (ACR) abstraction layer are described in which real-time event manager in an ACR system may be utilized to receive interactive event identifiers and to assign those identifiers to sets of video fingerprints generated by multiple real-time fingerprint servers (RTFSs). The video fingerprints may be generated from a network television feed by utilizing video fingerprint technologies that are different for each RTFS. The interactive event identifiers may be determined from different sources. When determined from content ingested by the ACR system, for example, the interactive event identifiers may be based on a video fingerprinting process separate from those utilized by the RTFSs. The RTFSs may communicate the sets of video fingerprints and interactive event identifiers to corresponding fingerprint match systems, which in turn may communicate with devices that utilize the same video fingerprint technology as the corresponding RTFS. | 08-08-2013 |
20130202151 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR RECOVERING PHASE AND AMPLITUDE FROM INTENSITY IMAGES - An intensity image is collected at each of a plurality of locations spaced apart in a propagation direction of a light beam. Information from the intensity images is combined using a Kalman filter which assumes that at least one co-variance matrix has a diagonal form. This leads to considerable reduction in computational complexity. An augmented Kalman filter model (augmented space state model) is used in place of the standard Kalman filter model. The augmented Kalman filter improves the robustness to noise. | 08-08-2013 |
20130208941 | STEGANALYSIS WITH NEIGHBORING JOINT DENSITY - Systems and methods for detecting hidden messages and information in digital files are described. In an embodiment, a method of detecting steganography in a compressed digital image includes extracting neighboring joint density features from the image under scrutiny. Steganography in the image may be detected based on differences in a neighboring joint density feature of the image. | 08-15-2013 |
20130208942 | DIGITAL VIDEO FINGERPRINTING - A digitally encoded video fingerprinting system for generating and comparing/matching finger-prints from digitally encoded video which has been encoded according to an encoding method which involves the generation of residual macroblocks of pixels and the generation of quantized transform coefficients of the residual macroblocks, or of portions of the residual macroblocks, comprises a fingerprint database ( | 08-15-2013 |
20130216089 | Method and System for Remotely Inspecting Bridges and Other Structures - Spatially Integrated Small-Format Aerial Photography (SFAP) is one aspect of the present invention. It is a low-cost solution for bridge surface imaging and is proposed as a remote bridge inspection technique to supplement current bridge visual inspection. Providing top-down views, the airplanes flying at about 1000 feet can allow visualization of sub-inch (large) cracks and joint openings on bridge decks or highway pavements. On board Global Positioning System (GPS) is used to help geo-reference images collected and facilitate damage detection. Image analysis is performed to identify structural defects such as cracking. A deck condition rating technique based on large crack detection is used to quantify the condition of the existing bridge decks. | 08-22-2013 |
20130216090 | WATERMARK GENERATOR, WATERMARK DECODER, METHOD FOR PROVIDING A WATERMARKED SIGNAL BASED ON DISCRETE VALUED DATA AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING DISCRETE VALUED DATA IN DEPENDENCE ON A WATERMARKED SIGNAL - A watermark generator for providing a watermark signal as a sequence of subsequent watermark coefficients based on a stream of subsequent stream values representing discrete valued data includes a differential encoder. The differential encoder is configured to apply a phase rotation to a current stream value of the stream values representing the discrete valued data or to a current watermark symbol, the current watermark symbol corresponding to a current stream value of the stream values representing the discrete valued data, to obtain a current watermark coefficient of the watermark signal. The differential encoder is configured to derive a phase of a previous spectral coefficient of a watermarked signal which is a combination of the host signal and the watermark signal, and to provide the watermark signal such that a phase angle of the phase rotation applied to the current stream value or the current watermark symbol is dependent on the phase of the previous spectral coefficient of the watermarked signal. | 08-22-2013 |
20130223671 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DYNAMICALLY WATERMARKING MEDIA - A dynamic watermark generation method and system in which the dynamic watermark may have a default length or a shorter length, and wherein the dynamic watermark is generated to have the determined length. The dynamic watermark is a locally-unique code that is used as an index to a database entry that identifies the subscriber that requested the media asset. In some instances, the entry may include a timestamp, a subscriber device identifier such as a MAC address or IP address, a subscriber identifier or ID number, and a media asset identifier such as a static ID. The static ID may include a code that indicates whether the dynamic watermark is of a default length or shorter. The length of the dynamic watermark may be partly based upon projected audience size for the requested media asset. | 08-29-2013 |
20130223672 | METHOD OF DETECTING MATERIAL IN A PART - A method includes the steps of producing a first digital x-ray image of a part utilizing a full energy spectrum, producing a second digital x-ray image of the part with a hardened beam correlating to a higher energy portion of the full energy spectrum, subtracting the second x-ray image from the first x-ray image, and using a remainder of the subtracting step to locate the matter. | 08-29-2013 |
20130223673 | METHODS AND ARRANGEMENTS FOR IDENTIFYING OBJECTS - In some arrangements, product packaging is digitally watermarked over most of its extent to facilitate high-throughput item identification at retail checkouts. Imagery captured by conventional or plenoptic cameras can be processed (e.g., by GPUs) to derive several different perspective-transformed views—further minimizing the need to manually reposition items for identification. Crinkles and other deformations in product packaging can be optically sensed, allowing such surfaces to be virtually flattened to aid identification. Piles of items can be 3D-modelled and virtually segmented into geometric primitives to aid identification, and to discover locations of obscured items. Other data (e.g., including data from sensors in aisles, shelves and carts, and gaze tracking for clues about visual saliency) can be used in assessing identification hypotheses about an item. A great variety of other features and arrangements are also detailed. | 08-29-2013 |
20130223674 | Method and Apparatus for the Detection of Digital Watermarks for Instant Credential Authentication - A portable hand-held device for use in authenticating documents includes a camera for capturing images from the document to be authenticated as well as on-board computer-implemented instructions to capture and analyze Digitally Watermarked images and output an indication as to whether the document is authentic or not authentic. | 08-29-2013 |
20130223675 | Key Identification Device and Method of Use - A key identification device is disclosed. This device will read and store the unique properties of a key and allow a user to associate a name with these unique properties. A user can then retrieve this name by later inserting the key into the device. | 08-29-2013 |
20130230205 | EXPENSE REPORT SYSTEM WITH RECEIPT IMAGE PROCESSING - A system and method for processing receipt image data is disclosed. The system includes an image capture device and an image splitting module. In one embodiment, the image capture device is augmented to capture in a single scan four images arranged in a 2×2 grid pattern, nine images arranged in a 3×3 grid pattern, twelve images arranged in a 3×4 grid pattern or sixteen images arranged in a 4×4 grid pattern. The image splitting module recognizes scans of the image capture device that include multiple images and splits the images for the proper processing by the rest of the system. | 09-05-2013 |
20130236046 | METHOD, SYSTEM, AND COMPUTER-READABLE MEDIUM FOR DETECTING LEAKAGE OF A VIDEO - The present invention relates to a computer-implemented method, system and computer readable medium for detecting source of leakage of a video. The method comprises processing a video by a processing device resulting a processed video, identifying at least one responsible user for safekeeping and/or distributing and/or screening the processed video, creating a watermark wherein the watermark comprises an information about an owner of the video, the responsible user, and at least one transaction information, embedding the watermark inside the processed video resulting a watermarked video, distributing the watermarked video to at least one consumer, and identifying the responsible user by extracting the watermark from a pirated copy of the watermarked video and extracting the information contained in the watermark from the watermarked video. | 09-12-2013 |
20130251189 | MEDIA MONITORING USING MULTIPLE TYPES OF SIGNATURES - Media monitoring using multiple types of signatures is disclosed. An example media monitoring method disclosed herein comprises processing signatures of a first type to monitor media presented by a media device until a first one of the signatures of the first type is determined to match a reference signature of the first type, the reference signature of the first type being associated with first reference media, and processing signatures of a second type to monitor the media presented by the media device after the first one of the signatures of the first type is determined to match the reference signature of the first type and until a number of signatures of the second type is determined not to match corresponding reference signatures of the second type, the reference signatures of the second type being associated with the first reference media. | 09-26-2013 |
20130251190 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR EMBEDDING WATERMARK INTO IMAGE - A method of embedding a binary watermark into an image and a computer applied such are disclosed. The binary watermark is transformed to a watermark sequence consisting of K binary numbers and the image is converted into a grayscale image, being segmented into several sections. K sections are selected randomly while each selected section corresponds to one of the binary numbers of the watermark sequence. In relation to each selected section, a sum of a first part of the pixels and a sum of a second part of the pixels is compared. Each of the selected sections having their result of comparison being made to correspond to corresponding binary number in accordance with a predefined correlation results in the binary watermark being embedded into the image. | 09-26-2013 |
20130251191 | Method and System for Determining Void Pantograph Settings - A method and system for determining void pantograph settings is presented. The method includes obtaining electronic images of one or more predefined test sheets having a plurality of void pantograph settings, modeling one or more regions of the electronic images, predicting the sensitivity of the plurality of void pantograph settings to a print/scan process, the predicting being based at least in part on the one or modeled regions, and identifying characteristics for a candidate void pantograph setting using the prediction step results. The system includes a controller, a modeling unit, a measuring unit and a prediction unit configured to perform a method in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. A computer readable medium containing executable instructions is also described. | 09-26-2013 |
20130259292 | System and Method of Adding a Watermark to a JPEG Image File - A plurality of signature bits to be used to generate a watermark in a JPEG image file is determined, wherein the JPEG image file comprises at least one quantization table. A plurality of locations in the at least one quantization table is selected. A respective value associated with each of the selected plurality of locations in the at least one quantization table is changed, based on the plurality of signature bits. | 10-03-2013 |
20130259293 | APPLICATION PROGRAM EXECUTION METHOD - The present invention relates to an application program execution method which allows information held in an image to be analyzed by means of a mobile device's image recognition function, depends on specific content of information held in the image to call a corresponding application program, and complete an execution. The information held in the image comprises the application program's exclusive username, password and connecting mode, for instance, a web hard drive, network video, or a decoding key. | 10-03-2013 |
20130259294 | METHOD, SYSTEM, AND COMPUTER-READABLE MEDIUM FOR EMBEDDING AND EXTRACTING A WATERMARK IN A VIDEO - The present invention relates to a computer-implemented method, system and computer readable medium for embedding a watermark into a video and extracting a watermark from the original or copy of the watermarked video. The method comprises converting a video frame from RGB color space to YUV color space. Divide a chrominance component into plurality of blocks. Select plurality of blocks based on size of watermark. Associate a pixel in the watermark with selected plurality of blocks. Embed the watermark corresponding to selected plurality of blocks wherein embedding comprises replacing a first pixel value of the block with maximum value of first column of the block if binary value of the corresponding watermark pixel is one or else replace with minimum value. Combine Y component and chrominance components resulting processed YUV video frame and convert it to RGB video frame. Extract the watermark substantially in a reverse process. | 10-03-2013 |
20130259295 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR EMBEDDING IMAGE-RELATED INFORMATION IN IMAGE - A method of embedding image-related information in an image, the method including: receiving an image including a plurality of frames; receiving information related to the image; generating a codeword by encoding the image-related information; and embedding the image-related information in the image by substituting macroblocks included in at least one of the plurality of frames of the image based on the generated codeword. | 10-03-2013 |
20130272565 | AGENT MATCHING BASED ON VIDEO ANALYSIS OF CUSTOMER PRESENTATION - Systems and methods for routing and/or servicing contacts using video analysis of one or more video streams are provided. The systems and methods are particularly applicable to a contact center. | 10-17-2013 |
20130272566 | Method and System for Watermarking 3D Content - A video transmitter identifies regions in pictures in a compressed three-dimensional (3D) video comprising a base view video and an enhancement view video. The identified regions are not referenced by other pictures in the compressed 3D video. The identified regions are watermarked. Pictures such as a high layer picture in the base view video and the enhancement view video are identified for watermarking. The identified regions in the base view and/or enhancement view videos are watermarked and multiplexed into a transport stream for transmission. An intended video receiver extracts the base view video, the enhancement view video and corresponding watermark data from the received transport stream. The corresponding extracted watermark data are synchronized with the extracted base view video and the extracted enhancement view video, respectively, for watermark insertion. The resulting base view and enhancement view videos are decoded into a left view video and a right view video, respectively. | 10-17-2013 |
20130272567 | Marketing Campaign Platform - A graphically based encoded image, symbol or icon that can serve as a link from physical material or visual displays to electronic data to retrieve specific or general information. In one example, a graphic image is encoded with a value that is linked to a reference lookup table. For, example, a numeric value may be encoded to form an encoded image by providing a primary image, such as a logo, and by positioning one or more secondary images or shapes in reference to the primary image, wherein the position of the secondary image relative to the primary image corresponds or relates to the numeric value. Generally, the encoded image may be in the form of any shape, figure or logo, and may be associated with, for example, an advertisement, web site, marketing program, corporate promotion, product promotion, sweepstakes, business cards, personal information, and other mediums for the exchange of information. | 10-17-2013 |
20130272568 | SECURITY SYSTEM AND METHOD OF IN-FLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT DEVICE RENTALS HAVING SELF-CONTAINED, AUDIOVISUAL PRESENTATIONS - A security method for in-flight entertainment device (IFED) rentals having self-contained, audiovisual presentations is disclosed. A self-contained IFED has internal storage configured to contain current releases of movies and other audiovisual presentations. The method provides layers of security including unique bit stream encoding format, watermarking, camera artifacts, file encryption, hard drive encryption, input-output encryption and physically unique connectors, and tamper resistant casing the self-contained IFEDs. | 10-17-2013 |
20130279740 | Identifying Multimedia Objects Based on Multimedia Fingerprint - Embodiments of identifying multimedia objects based on multimedia fingerprints are provided. Query fingerprints are derived from a multimedia object according to differing fingerprint algorithms. For each fingerprint algorithm, decisions are calculated through at least one classifier corresponding to the fingerprint algorithm based on the query fingerprint and reference fingerprints, the reference fingerprints being derived from reference multimedia objects according to the same fingerprint algorithm. Each of the decisions indicates a possibility that the query fingerprint and the reference fingerprint are not derived from the same multimedia content. For each of the reference multimedia objects, a distance is calculated as a weighted sum of the decisions relating to the reference fingerprints. The multimedia object is identified as matching the reference multimedia object with the smallest distance less than a threshold. | 10-24-2013 |
20130279741 | VIDEO WATERMARKING - A method of watermarking a video signal includes encoding the video signal using at least one encoding parameter that is time-varied according to a watermarking pattern. The parameter affects information lost while encoding the signal. The parameter may be a quantization factor corresponding to a particular coefficient of an encoding transform. The parameter may be an element of a quantization matrix corresponding to a particular coefficient in a block DCT transform. The method may be implemented in devices with limited processing resources by means of a software update. The method enables the devices to imprint an encoded signal with a robust watermark, which may survive subsequent decompression and recompression. Alternatively, a video signal may be watermarked by modifying a magnitude of a non-dc spatial frequency component in a manner which varies with time according to a watermarking pattern. Corresponding watermark detection methods and watermarking devices also are disclosed. | 10-24-2013 |
20130287247 | FINGERPRINTING OF DATA - A fingerprinting apparatus, including: a plurality of receiving units to receive a plurality of input datasets, each of the plurality of input datasets divided into a plurality of input segments, at least one of the plurality of input datasets uniquely marked; a selector to select at least one input segment from one of at least two different input datasets of the plurality of input datasets; and at least one combiner to arrange the selected at least one input segment to produce an output dataset having a plurality of output segments, such that the number of output segments is equal to the number of input segments in each input dataset. | 10-31-2013 |
20130294641 | Multiple transform utilization and application for secure digital watermarking - Multiple transform utilization and applications for secure digital watermarking In one embodiment of the present invention, digital blocks in digital information to be protected are transformed into the frequency domain using a fast Fourier transform. A plurality of frequencies and associated amplitudes are identified for each of the transformed digital blocks and a subset of the identified amplitudes is selected for each of the digital blocks using a primary mask from a key. Message information is selected from a message using a transformation table generated with a convolution mask. The chosen message information is encoded into each of the transformed digital blocks by altering the selected amplitudes based on the selected message information. | 11-07-2013 |
20130301869 | FORENSIC MARKING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR REAL-TIME CONTENT SERVICE - A forensic marking apparatus includes a preprocessing unit configured to selectively perform preprocessing for forensic processing on content to be provided to a user terminal; and a forensic processing unit configured to perform forensic marking on the content by combining content files preprocessed by the preprocessing unit or perform the forensic marking on an uncompressed original content file in real time, in accordance with a forensic processing method set for the content. Further, the forensic marking apparatus includes a control unit configured to determine the forensic processing method for the content, to control the forensic processing unit so that forensic processing is performed on the content in accordance with the determined method, and to provide the forensic-processed content to the user terminal. | 11-14-2013 |
20130301870 | EMBEDDING VISUAL INFORMATION IN A TWO-DIMENSIONAL BAR CODE - A two dimensional barcode containing encoded information can be embedded with an image with a high visual quality. The encoded information within the barcode is meaningful to machines, while the image is meaningful to humans. The two dimensional barcode embedded with the image is designed such that machines can decode the information encoded within the two dimensional barcode even with the distortion from the image. The subject application describes various systems, methods and devices that can facilitate embedding the image within the two dimensional barcode, detecting the two dimensional barcode embedded with the image within a practical environment, and decoding the encoded information from the two dimensional barcode even with the distortion from the image. | 11-14-2013 |
20130301871 | ARCHITECTURES AND METHODS FOR CREATING AND REPRESENTING TIME-DEPENDENT IMAGERY - The present invention pertains to geographical image processing of time-dependent imagery. Various assets acquired at different times are stored and processing according to acquisition date in order to generate one or more image tiles for a geographical region of interest. The different image tiles are sorted based on asset acquisition date. Multiple image tiles for the same region of interest may be available. In response to a user request for imagery as of a certain date, one or more image tiles associated with assets from prior to that date are used to generate a time-based geographical image for the user. | 11-14-2013 |
20130301872 | HARDWARE-ENFORCED, ALWAYS-ON INSERTION OF A WATERMARK IN A VIDEO PROCESSING PATH - A method, apparatus, article of manufacture, and a memory structure for inserting a watermark in a media program is described. In an exemplary embodiment, the method comprises the steps of receiving data comprising the media program in the receiver disposed at a subscriber station, generating a watermark, the watermark generated at least in part according to a secure data processor-unique identifier irreversibly stored in the secure data processor, processing the received data to reproduce the media program, and inserting portions of the generated watermark in the reproduced media program at locations determined at least in part according to the secure data processor-unique identifier to produce a watermarked media program provided for display. | 11-14-2013 |
20130308817 | MANAGEMENT OF DIGITAL INFORMATION USING AN INDIVIDUAL DIGITAL WATERMARK - The present invention provides, in at least one embodiment, a system and method for management of digital information using an individual digital watermark. The system facilitates and controls engagements between an individual and other individuals or businesses. The system uses processing software to register an individual. The system stores an individual's profile and preference information in a database of digital information. When the individual makes contact with another entity (e.g., business or another individual) that he would like to connect with or share information with from his database, the individual allows his device to be scanned using a scanner (e.g., microphone or camera) such that the other entity can extract the embedded individual digital watermark and unlock access to a category of the individual's database of preselected digital information. | 11-21-2013 |
20130308818 | CONTENT RECOGNITION AND SYNCHRONIZATION USING LOCAL CACHING - A content fingerprint based recognition system employs local caching of portions of a fingerprint database to manage network services for identifying which programs a user's mobile device is exposed to and the timing of events within the program. The system enables background recognition and synchronization of network services in a way that consumes less device power and bandwidth. | 11-21-2013 |
20130315437 | METHODS, SYSTEMS AND APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATED AUTHENTICATION - The present disclosure is directed to an automated precious metal bullion authentication apparatus and system that, without human intervention, develops and disseminates information to enable a user to distinguish between genuine and non-genuine precious metals bullion items. The systems and devices may work together with third-party hardware or software and, with Internet access, may be utilized 24/7, 365 days a year. The system or device enables a user to receive directly at a point of sale, or anywhere in public or private, information regarding whether an item is genuine or not. Information regarding genuineness of an item may be provided to the user before, during, or after a monetary or non-monetary exchange or transaction between individuals or entities. The system or device identifies and authenticates precious metal bullion items automatically through a multiplicity of procedures and renders a conclusion based on data from acquired digital images and other physical measurements. | 11-28-2013 |
20130315438 | METHOD FOR GUARANTEEING WATERMARK EMBEDDING BY USING BIT STREAM CORRUPTION - A method for preventing the bypassing of watermark embedding in a bit-stream representative of audio/video data is disclosed. The method is remarkable in that it comprises a step of corrupting the bit-stream wherein original blocks in the bit-stream are replaced by corrupted blocks producing a non-compliant bit-stream; and a step of repairing the corrupted bit-stream by replacing each corrupted blocks, wherein at least one corrupted block is replaced by a watermarked block and at least one corrupted block is replaced by an original block, producing a compliant repaired and watermarked bit-stream. A device for watermarking and repairing a corrupted bit-stream and to a device for preparing a corrupted bit-stream, wherein the original bit-stream is representative of audio/video data are further disclosed. | 11-28-2013 |
20130315439 | METHOD FOR PROVIDING SERVICE USING IMAGE RECOGNITION AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE THEREOF - A method for providing a service using an image recognition technology and an electronic device thereof are provided. The method for providing a service includes constructing a service screen, extracting an image from the service screen, determining personal information matching the extracted image, and executing an application program by using the personal information matching the image. | 11-28-2013 |
20130322680 | Method for concealing a synthetic hologram in a binary image - The invention relates to a synthetic hologram ( | 12-05-2013 |
20130322681 | GENERATING A FORECAST BY FIELD COALESCENCE - A method for generating a coalesced image includes receiving a plurality of fields for a geographical region. A set of forces is determined for each of the fields by multiplying a gradient of a respective one of the fields with a difference between the respective one of the fields and each of the other fields. A net influence for each field is determined by averaging each of the forces associated with the respective field. A spectral filter is applied to each net influence to generate a respective value of a mode of motion used to deform each field and then displace each field until each field coalesces with each other field. | 12-05-2013 |
20130329938 | ENCODING DIGITAL ASSETS ALONG WITH CONTENT CONTROL DATA AS A QUILTED IMAGE REPRESENTATION - The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for encoding digital assets along with content control data as an image. Portions of a digital asset (e.g., audio data, video data, geospatial data, etc.) are encoded as series of graphical representations. One or more portions of the series of graphical representations are replaced with content control data. Content control data can be placed in a series of graphical representations in a manner that makes the presence of the content control data difficult to detect (e.g., based on the principles of steganography). Two dimensional images can be lossless relative to corresponding digital assets. Encoding can take redundancies between successive graphic image representations into account, reducing (potentially substantially) resource consumption when storing and transmitting digital assets. | 12-12-2013 |
20130329939 | DECODING A QUILTED IMAGE REPRESENTATION INTO A DIGITAL ASSET ALONG WITH CONTENT CONTROL DATA - The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for decoding a quilted image representation into a digital asset along with content control data. Portions of a digital asset (e.g., audio data, video data, geospatial data, etc.) along with content control data are encoded as series of graphical representations and quilted into a two dimensional image. Encoding can take redundancies and multiple levels of resolution within successive graphic image representations into account, reducing (potentially substantially) resource consumption when storing and transmitting digital assets. The content control data can be un-quilted, possibly along with portions of digital assets, from the two dimensional image. The content control data can be used to make content control decisions for the portions of digital assets. Decoding can also consider redundancies to recreate full (or lower resolution) representations of digital assets from the encoded graphical representations quilted into the two dimensional image. | 12-12-2013 |
20130329940 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, CONTROL METHOD OF IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, AND STORAGE MEDIUM - An image processing apparatus of the present invention includes: an image quality corrector that performs, when image data of a ground surface image obtained by taking an image of a ground surface from the sky is input, an image quality correction process to bring image quality of a reference image, which is obtained by taking an image of a range overlapping the input ground surface image from the sky, into line with image quality of the input ground surface image; a positioner that positions the input ground surface image and the reference image after the image quality correction process by said image quality corrector is performed; and an image synthesizer that generates a synthetic image by synthesizing the input ground surface image and the reference image after the positioning by the positioner is performed. | 12-12-2013 |
20130329941 | EFFICIENT WATERMARKING APPROACHES OF COMPRESSED MEDIA - Systems and methods are described for imperceptibly embedding information by identifying locations that can be imperceptibly modified, where the imperceptible modification by replacing original content using replacement content derived from elsewhere in the compressed bitstream to remove at least a portion of the original content, generating at least one piece of replacement data for each identified location, where overwriting a portion of the compressed bitstream with replacement data prevents a decoder from decoding original content due to decoding replacement content derived from elsewhere in the compressed bitstream, selecting pieces of replacement data using an embedding device, where overwriting portions of the compressed bitstream using pieces of replacement data encodes payload information in accordance with a predetermined coding scheme, and embedding the payload information in the compressed bitstream by using the embedding device to overwrite at least a portion of the compressed bitstream with the selected replacement data. | 12-12-2013 |
20130336519 | Willpower Watch (TM) -- A Wearable Food Consumption Monitor - This invention is a wearable, automatic, and tamper-resistant device and method for monitoring and measuring food consumption and caloric intake. It can help people to manage their energy balance and weight. It can be embodied as: (a) one or more automatic-imaging members that are worn on a person from which these members collectively and automatically take pictures of the person's mouth and pictures of a reachable food source when the person eats; (b) a tamper-resisting mechanism which detects and responds if the operation of the one or more automatic-imaging members is impaired; and (c) an image-analyzing member which automatically analyzes pictures of the person's mouth and pictures of the reachable food source in order to estimate the types and quantities of food that are consumed by the person. | 12-19-2013 |
20130336520 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISPLAYING CONTEXTUAL SUPPLEMENTAL CONTENT BASED ON IMAGE CONTENT - An image-based content item is analyzed to determine one or more interests of a viewer of the content item. The analysis may include performing image analysis on the content item to determine geographic information that is relevant to an image of the content item. The one or more interests may be determined based on an assumption or probabilistic conclusion about a subject of the content item. Further, the one or more interests may be determined by applying one or more rules that utilize the geographic information. For some embodiments, a supplemental content item may be provided to the viewer based on the one or more interests. | 12-19-2013 |
20130336521 | STEGANOGRAPHIC ENCODING AND DECODING - This patent document relates generally to steganography and digital watermarking. One claim recites a method comprising: receiving data representing image or video, in which the data comprises first data corresponding to first color data, second data corresponding to second color data and third data corresponding to third color data, the image or video to host auxiliary information; weighting the first data, the second data and the third data according to at least the following two factors: i) a color direction biased toward an expected embedding direction; and ii) expected image or video distortion introduced to the first data, second data or third data through image capture or signal processing; and determining from weighted first data, weighted second data and weighted third data, changes in an image or video attribute, in which the auxiliary information is conveyed through the changes to sample values representing the image or video. Of course, other claims are provided too. | 12-19-2013 |
20130336522 | STEGANOGRAPHIC ENCODING AND DECODING - This patent document relates generally to steganography and digital watermarking. One claim recites, in a watermark encoder, a method of encoding auxiliary information in an image or video comprising: using a programmed electronic processor, computing a change in an attribute of an image or video sample to encode auxiliary information in the image or video; and changing color values of the image or video sample to effect the change in the attribute, in which changes to color values are determined based at least in part on both: i) visibility of the changes, and ii) anticipated watermark detection. Of course, other claims are provided too. | 12-19-2013 |
20130343597 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR IDENTIFYING ELECTRONIC CONTENT USING VIDEO GRAPHS - Systems and methods are provided for identifying and recommending electronic content to consumers. In accordance with an implementation, one or more elements of electronic content are identified based on video graph data. In an exemplary method, information associated with a first element of video content is received, and corresponding video graph data is obtained. One or more second elements of video content that are similar to the first element of video content are identified based on the obtained video graph data. A subset the first and second elements of video content is subsequently identified for delivery to the user. | 12-26-2013 |
20130343598 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ASSOCIATING ELECTRONIC CONTENT - Systems and methods are provided for identifying and recommending electronic content to consumers. In accordance with an implementation, one or more elements of electronic content are associated to generate video graph data. In an exemplary method, information associated with first and second elements of video content is obtained and decomposed into corresponding first and second segments. A value indicative of an association between the first and second elements of video content is generated when the similarity measure satisfies at least one association rule. | 12-26-2013 |
20130343599 | DETECTION METHOD OF INVISIBLE MARK ON PLAYING CARD - The present invention relates to a method for detecting a mark that is invisible in the visible light region. Here, the invisible mark is displayed on a card using a characteristic according to which the color of light is changed by means of a refractive index difference according to media in the visible light region. According to the method for detecting the invisible mark, it may be quickly determined whether the card is a counterfeit card in an investigation. In addition, since it is unnecessary to repeatedly inspect the card to be checked using various wavelengths, the time required for determining whether the card is a counterfeit card may be reduced. | 12-26-2013 |
20140003648 | DETERMINING AN INTEREST LEVEL FOR AN IMAGE | 01-02-2014 |
20140003649 | WATERMARKING IMAGE BLOCK DIVISION METHOD AND DEVICE FOR WESTERN LANGUAGE WATERMARKING PROCESSING | 01-02-2014 |
20140003650 | SELECTING REPRESENTATIVE IMAGES FOR ESTABLISHMENTS | 01-02-2014 |
20140010404 | WATERMARKING DIFFERENT AREAS OF DIGITAL IMAGES WITH DIFFERENT INTENSITIES - An image is processed to encode a digital watermark, with different regions thereof processed using different levels of watermark intensity. In an image comprised of elements of differing sizes (e.g., halftone shapes of different sizes, or lines of different width), the different regions can be defined by reference to the sizes of elements contained therein. Regions characterized by relatively small elements can be watermarked at a relatively low intensity. Regions characterized by relatively large elements can be watermarked at a relatively high intensity. A variety of other features are also discussed. | 01-09-2014 |
20140016814 | HIERARCHICAL AND INDEX BASED WATERMARKS REPRESENTED AS TREES - An approach that provides hierarchical and index based watermarks represented as trees is described. In one embodiment, a watermark tree is formed from feature watermarks generated from a natural language processing (NLP) stack having NLP analytics. The watermark tree represents a hierarchical relationship between each of the feature watermarks. In particular, the watermark tree defines hierarchical pointers that point out inherited watermarks that exist between the feature watermarks according to the hierarchical relationship. Further, the watermark tree includes a time stamp specifying a time that a data set content residing in a corpus was accessed. | 01-16-2014 |
20140016815 | RECORDING MEDIUM STORING IMAGE PROCESSING PROGRAM AND IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS - A recording medium storing an image processing program according to one aspect of the present invention is a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing an image processing program to make a computer execute image processing on an image group on one timeline, the image processing program making the computer execute deriving a difference value that is based on a difference between pixel values of images that are adjacent in time series in the image group, and displaying a time-series difference image showing a time-series change in the difference value. | 01-16-2014 |
20140016816 | SERVICE PROVIDING SYSTEM, SERVICE PROVIDING METHOD, AND NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER READABLE INFORMATION RECORDING MEDIUM - A service providing system includes an information storage apparatus including a storage part storing electronic data; and an operation terminal connected with the information storage apparatus. The service providing system carries out an output service of outputting electronic data stored in the storage part using one or more electronic apparatuses from among a plurality of electronic apparatuses. The service providing system determines the one or more electronic apparatuses from among the plurality of electronic apparatuses based on information, the information being input from the outside of the operation terminal in response to an operation performed on the operation terminal, receives selection of the electronic data to be output from among the electronic data stored in the storage part, and transmits the electronic data to the one or more electronic apparatuses determined by the determination part, for outputting the electronic data using the one or more electronic apparatuses. | 01-16-2014 |
20140016817 | POSITION INFORMATION ADDING APPARATUS, POSITION INFORMATION ADDING METHOD, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM FOR ADDING POSITION INFORMATION AND POSITION DETECTION APPARATUS - A position information adding apparatus includes: a reference position setting unit which sets a plurality of reference positions for each of a plurality of pictures contained in digitalized video data; a region setting unit which sets a first position information adding region at a first position defined based on at least any of the plurality of reference positions and a second position information adding region at a second position different from the first position, for each of the plurality of pictures; and a position information embedding unit which embeds a first moving pattern which moves on the pictures in a first temporal period into the first position information adding region and a second moving pattern which moves on the pictures in a second temporal period into the second position information adding region. | 01-16-2014 |
20140023225 | DIGITAL WATERMARKING - System(s) and method(s) for embedding and extracting a watermark from a digital media are described. The method may include generating a plurality of random patterns where the plurality of random patterns includes at least a primary random pattern and a secondary random pattern. The random patterns are indicative of patterns to be embedded to the digital media. The method may further include converting at least the primary random pattern and the secondary random pattern to a bipolar form. The primary random pattern and the secondary random pattern thereof are converted to a primary bipolar random pattern and a secondary bipolar random pattern. The method may also include embedding one or more of the primary bipolar random pattern and the secondary bipolar random pattern in the digital media as the watermark based on a watermark ID, where the watermark ID is a random pattern. | 01-23-2014 |
20140023226 | COMBINED WATERMARKING AND FINGERPRINTING - Content fingerprints and watermarks are combined in various ways for content identification applications. Fingerprints are used to identify content generally while watermarks provide more detailed localization of parts within the content, and vice versa. Fingerprint techniques are further used for signal synchronization and other pre-processing steps to assist in digital watermark decoding. A variety of fingerprint/watermark techniques identify characteristics of the channel of content from content samples. | 01-23-2014 |
20140023227 | BROKEN MAG TICKET AUTHENTICATOR - A method for determining a status of transit media where the method includes imaging transit media with an optical imager to create a digital image of one or more surfaces of transit media. The method includes generating optical data from the digital image. Optical data includes information indicative of a transit product or usage. The method includes obtaining magnetic data from a magnetic strip of transit media with a magnetic media reader. Magnetic data includes information indicative of the transit product or usage encoded within the magnetic strip. Some embodiments include comparing, using a processing unit, optical data with magnetic data to determine whether optical data corresponds with magnetic data. The method can involve implementing one or more business rules from a database of business rules. This implementation can be based on the comparison. The method includes determining a status of transit media based on the implementation of business rules. | 01-23-2014 |
20140023228 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DETECTING MEDIUM IMAGE, AND FINANCIAL DEVICE - The present specification relates to an apparatus for detecting a medium image. According to one aspect, the apparatus for detecting the medium image comprises: a light emitting unit to emit the light toward the medium to be transferred along a transferring path; an image sensor having a light receiving unit to receive the light emitted from the light emitting unit; a reference medium which is arranged at a position separated from the transferring path and enables the image sensor to obtain an image; and a control unit to compensate the image of the medium obtained from the image sensor using the image of the reference medium obtained from the image sensor. | 01-23-2014 |
20140029785 | DETERMINING PROXIMITY OF A MOBILE DEVICE TO A SUBJECT BASED ON SHADOW ANALYSIS - The present disclosure relates generally to cell phones and cameras, and to shadow analysis in imagery captured by such cell phones and cameras. One claim recites a method comprising: identifying a shadow cast by a cell phone on a subject being imaged by a camera included in the cell phone; and using a programmed electronic processor, determining proximity to the subject based on an analysis of the shadow. Another claim recites a mobile phone comprising: a camera for capturing images and video; memory; and one or more processors programmed for: identifying a shadow cast by a cell phone on a subject being imaged by said imager; and determining proximity to the subject based on an analysis of the shadow. Of course, other claims and combinations are provided too. | 01-30-2014 |
20140029786 | FORENSIC MARKING USING A COMMON CUSTOMIZATION FUNCTION - Methods, systems, and apparatus are disclosed which enable flexible insertion of forensic watermarks into a digital content signal using a common customization function. The common customization function flexibly employs a range of different marking techniques that are applicable to a wide range of forensic marking schemes. These customization functions are also applicable to pre-processing and post-processing operations that may be necessary for enhancing the security and transparency of the embedded marks, as well as improving the computational efficiency of the marking process. The common customization function supports a well-defined set of operations specific to the task of forensic mark customization that can be carried out with a modest and preferably bounded effort on a wide range of devices. This is accomplished through the use of a generic transformation technique for use as a “customization” step for producing versions of content forensically marked with any of a multiplicity of mark messages. | 01-30-2014 |
20140029787 | DATA TRANSMISSION DEVICE, METHOD FOR ADDING COPYRIGHT NOTICE, AND PROGRAM - A data transmission device includes: a copyright-notice-requirement-information-storing unit that stores copyright-notice-requirement information indicating a correlation between a data transmission destination and whether a copyright notice is required; a transmission unit that transmits data to a transmission destination of the data; a copyright-notice-requirement-determining unit that determines whether to add a copyright notice to the data to be transmitted by the transmission unit, based on the transmission destination of the data and the copyright-notice-requirement information; and a copyright-notice-adding unit that adds a visible copyright notice to the data to be transmitted by the transmission unit upon the copyright-notice-requirement-determining unit determining that a copyright notice is to be added. | 01-30-2014 |
20140037129 | REDUCING WATERMARK PERCEPTIBILITY AND EXTENDING DETECTION DISTORTION TOLERANCES - The present disclosures relates generally to digital watermarking and data hiding. One claim recites a smartphone comprising: a camera to capture video of a display that is rendering video, in which the video comprises a first watermark signal embedded in a first portion of the data, a second watermark signal embedded in a second portion of the data, and a third watermark signal embedded in a third portion of the data, in which at least two of the first watermark signal, second watermark signal and third watermark signal are inversely related to one another; electronic memory for buffering data representing captured video; one or more electronic processors programmed for: applying a first perspective distortion to the data representing the captured video to yield first perspective distorted video; and analyzing the first perspective distorted video to detect digital watermarking, in which a second perspective distortion is applied to the data representing the captured video to yield second perspective distorted video when the analyzing does not detect digital watermarking, and then performing analyzing the second perspective distorted video to detect digital watermarking. Of course, other claims are provided too. | 02-06-2014 |
20140037130 | REDUCING WATERMARK PERCEPTIBILITY AND EXTENDING DETECTION DISTORTION TOLERANCES - The present disclosures relates generally to digital watermarking and data hiding. One claim recites an apparatus comprising: memory for storing data representing video; one or more electronic processors programmed for: embedding a first watermark signal in a first portion of the data, the first watermark signal comprising a first signal polarity and corresponding to first detection preconditioning; embedding a second watermark signal in a second portion of the data, the second watermark signal comprising a second signal polarity that is inversely related to the first signal polarity and corresponding to seconding detection preconditioning; controlling provision of the watermarked video for display in real time, in which temporal averaging of the first watermark signal and second watermark signal over time conceals the first watermark signal and the second watermark signal from a human observer of the video. Of course, other claims are provided too. | 02-06-2014 |
20140037131 | STEGANOGRAPHIC ENCODING AND DECODING - This patent document relates generally to steganography and digital watermarking. One claim recites, in a watermark encoder, a method of encoding auxiliary information in an image or video comprising: using a programmed electronic processor, computing a change in an attribute of an image or video sample to encode auxiliary information in the image or video; and changing color values of the image or video sample to effect the change in the attribute, in which changes to color values are determined based at least in part on both: i) visibility of the changes, and ii) anticipated watermark detection. Of course, other claims are provided too. | 02-06-2014 |
20140037132 | USER DEVICE, A SECOND SCREEN SYSTEM AND A METHOD FOR RENDERING SECOND SCREEN INFORMATION ON A SECOND SCREEN - Rendering second screen information on a second screen device. A user device receives information characterizing the source of a content data stream and the content data stream; generates a watermark payload using a plurality of parameters comprising the information and a time of the user device; and inserts a watermark comprising the watermark payload into the content data stream that is rendered. The second screen device captures the watermark and extracts the watermark payload and then at least one of the plurality of parameters; generates, using the at least one extracted parameter, a request that is sent the request to a server; receives information from the server in response to the request; and displays the received information on a screen of the second screen. | 02-06-2014 |
20140037133 | SYSTEM, METHOD & COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR VIDEO FINGERPRINTING - A method for fingerprinting a video involving identifying motion within the video and using a measure of the identified motion as a fingerprint. Once videos are fingerprinted, these fingerprints can be used in a method for identifying video. This involves creating a motion fingerprint for unidentified videos; comparing the fingerprints of the known and unknown videos, and identifying whether the unknown video is a copy of the known video based on the step of comparing. | 02-06-2014 |
20140044303 | Method of Securely Scanning a Payment Card - A method of securely scanning a payment card according to one example embodiment includes receiving an electronic image, determining by a processing device whether the received electronic image includes an image of a payment card, and if the received electronic image includes an image of a payment card, electronically masking at least a portion of a card number in the image of the payment card. | 02-13-2014 |
20140044304 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR SIGNAL PROCESSING - An object (e.g., a driver's license) is tested for authenticity using imagery captured by a consumer device (e.g., a mobile phone camera). Corresponding data is sent from the consumer device to a remote system, which has secret knowledge about features indicating object authenticity. The phone, or the remote system, discerns the pose of the object relative to the camera from the captured imagery. The remote system tests the received data for the authentication features, and issues an output signal indicating whether the object is authentic. This testing involves modeling the image data that would be captured by the consumer device from an authentic object—based on the object's discerned pose (and optionally based on information about the camera optics), and then comparing this modeled data with the data sent from the consumer device. A great variety of other features and arrangements are also detailed. | 02-13-2014 |
20140056469 | CONTEXTUALIZATION OF MACHINE INDETERMINABLE INFORMATION BASED ON MACHINE DETERMINABLE INFORMATION - A system for contextualizing machine indeterminable information based on machine determinable information may include a memory, an interface, and a processor. The memory may store an electronic document image which may include information determinable by a machine and information indeterminable by a machine. The processor may be operative to receive, via the interface, the electronic document image. The processor may determine the machine determinable information of the electronic document image and may identify the machine indeterminable information of the electronic document image. The processor may contextualize the machine indeterminable information based on the machine determinable information. The processor may present the contextualized machine indeterminable information to the user to facilitate interpretation thereof. In response thereto, the processor may receive, via the interface, data representative of a user determination associated with the machine indeterminable information. | 02-27-2014 |
20140064551 | CORRECTING ANOMALIES IN TERRAIN DATA - Systems and methods for detecting anomalies and correcting errors in terrain data are provided. In some aspects, a method includes receiving a first terrain image. The method also includes automatically detecting a set of anomalies in the first terrain image. The method also includes generating a modified terrain image based on the first terrain image. The modified terrain image includes a visual indication of at least a subset of the set of anomalies in the first terrain image. The method also includes providing the modified terrain image for display. The method also includes receiving an input indicating that at least a portion of at least one anomaly in the set of anomalies includes an error. The method also includes generating a corrected terrain image by automatically correcting the error. The method also includes providing the corrected terrain image. | 03-06-2014 |
20140079278 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CREATING A MEDIA SEQUENCE WITH AUTOMATIC SELECTION OF AN OPTIMAL SEQUENCE PRESET - A method and apparatus for creating a media sequence with an optimal sequence preset comprising accessing a plurality of media, wherein each media file in the plurality of media files comprises at least one frame comprising at least one object; calculating a sequence perimeter based on a union of a plurality of calculated frame perimeters for the plurality of media files, wherein the frame perimeter comprises each of the at least one objects in the at least one frame of the plurality of files; determining a sequence preset within a threshold of the calculated sequence perimeter; creating a sequence using the determined sequence preset; importing into the sequence that portion of the at least one frame of each media file in the plurality of media files that is within the calculated frame perimeter; and aligning each calculated frame perimeter of each file imported into the sequence with the sequence preset. | 03-20-2014 |
20140079279 | INTERACTION WITH AND DISPLAY OF PHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGES IN AN IMAGE STACK - A number of images of a scene are captured and stored. The images are captured over a range of values for an attribute (e.g., a camera setting). One of the images is displayed. A location of interest in the displayed image is identified. Regions that correspond to the location of interest are identified in each of the images. Those regions are evaluated to identify which of the regions is rated highest with respect to the attribute relative to the other regions. The image that includes the highest-rated region is then displayed. | 03-20-2014 |
20140086445 | WATERMARKING OF DIGITAL VIDEO - Techniques and mechanisms for watermarking of digital video are described herein. According to various embodiments, a request to transmit to a client machine video content based on a video content distribution item may be received. The video content distribution item may be divided into a plurality of video content segments. Designated ones of the video content segments may have a respective plurality of alternate video content segment encodings. Each of the alternate video content segment encodings may include a respective digital watermark. Different digital watermarks may encode different information within the alternate video content segment encodings. One of the respective alternate video content segment encodings may be selected for each of the designated video content segments to create a digital watermarking message to include in the video content. The video content including the selected video content segment encodings may be transmitted to the client machine. | 03-27-2014 |
20140086446 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IMAGE DATA PROCESSING, AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE INCLUDING THE APPARATUS - A camera control technique is provided. An image data processing apparatus includes a raw data processor configured to convert a signal collected by an image sensor into a digital signal, an identification information processor configured to allocate identification information to each video frame obtained by the raw data processor, and a metadata processor configured to write the identification information in metadata of the video frame. An electronic device having the apparatus and an image data processing method are also disclosed. | 03-27-2014 |
20140093120 | DIGITAL WATERMARKING METHODS, APPARATUS AND SYSTEMS - The present invention relate generally to digital watermarking and data hiding. One claim recites a method including: obtaining first data and second color data, the first color data and the second color data represent data from a color image signal or color video signal; obtaining a digital watermark pattern, the pattern aiding detection of a watermark message; separating the digital watermark pattern into first frequency components and second frequency components; utilizing a programmed electronic processor or electronic processing circuitry, modifying the first color data by hiding the first frequency components therein; and utilizing a programmed electronic processor or electronic processing circuitry, modifying the second color data by hiding the second frequency components therein. Of course, other combinations and claims are provided too. | 04-03-2014 |
20140093121 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND METHOD - An image processing apparatus includes a processor that executes a procedure. The procedure includes: applying distortion processing to each frame of the whole of or a section of video image data that contains plural successive frames and that is provided to plural users, the distortion processing being selected from amongst plural types of distortion processing such that a different distortion processing is applied for each of the users. | 04-03-2014 |
20140093122 | IMAGE IDENTIFIERS AND METHODS AND SYSTEMS OF PRESENTING IMAGE IDENTIFIERS - A method of creating an image identifier of a target image. The method comprises providing a target image, identifying a plurality of connected component clusters in the target image, each the connected component cluster comprises a plurality of neighboring pixels having at least one common property, calculating a center of gravity for each the connected component cluster, generating an image identifier of the target image by using a plurality of elements to map the connected component clusters in a space, each the element represents a respective the at least one common property, a respective the center of gravity, and a size which corresponds with a number of the plurality of neighboring pixels of the respective the connected component cluster, and outputting the image identifier. | 04-03-2014 |
20140093123 | ANALYZER OF ULTRASONIC FLAW DETECTION IMAGE - A flaw detection image analyzer ( | 04-03-2014 |
20140098985 | WATERMARKING OF IMAGES - Techniques and mechanisms described herein facilitate the watermarking of images. According to various embodiments, a watermark image to apply to a digital image is identified. The digital image may include a plurality of image pixel data values. Each of the image pixel data values may designate a color of a corresponding pixel in the digital image. The watermark image may include a plurality of watermark pixel data values. Each of the watermark pixel data values may designate a color change to a corresponding pixel. The watermark image may be of relatively low frequency and may exhibit relatively gradual transitions and relatively constant color tone. The watermark image may be superimposed on at least a portion of the digital image to create a watermarked digital image. | 04-10-2014 |
20140098986 | Systems and Methods for Performing Video Analysis - Included are embodiments for performing video analysis. Some embodiments include a system with a memory component that stores logic that, when executed by the system, causes the system to receive video content of a subject, identify a mannerism of the subject at a point in time in the video content, and determine an emotional state associated with the mannerism. In some embodiments, the logic causes the system to receive a file that correlates the mannerism with the point in time and provide a user interface that provides the video content with data from the file, such that the mannerism is provided with the data. | 04-10-2014 |
20140098987 | ANALYZER OF ULTRASONIC FLAW DETECTION IMAGE - A flaw detection image analyzer ( | 04-10-2014 |
20140105446 | DETERMINING WELLBORE FLUID PROPERTIES - Computer-implemented methods, software, and systems for determining a property of a wellbore fluid are disclosed. In some implementations, a computing system receives an image of a first sample of the wellbore fluid filling a conduit to a threshold volume of the conduit. The computing system determines a first time duration of the first sample of the wellbore fluid filling the conduit to the threshold volume of the conduit based on the image of the first sample. The computing system receives an image of a second sample of the wellbore fluid filling the conduit to the threshold volume of the conduit. The computing system determines a second time duration of the second sample of the wellbore fluid filling the conduit to the threshold volume of the conduit based on the image of the second sample. A property of the wellbore fluid is determined based on a difference between the first and second time durations. | 04-17-2014 |
20140105447 | EFFICIENT DATA FINGERPRINTING - Technologies are disclosed for enabling users to comprehensively determine their exposures to media and to receive services based thereon. For example, an application can be executed on a computing device associated with a user. The application can continuously monitor audio data that the computing device is exposed to and can generate digital signatures thereof. The digital signatures can be transmitted to a server that comprises a database of reference digital signatures and circuitry configured to compare and match the received digital signatures and the reference digital signatures. When a match is found, the server retrieves information associated with the matched reference digital signature and returns, to the device, the retrieved information. The server can also concatenate matches associated with data received from a plurality of computing devices and provide the concatenated data to a third party, who in turn, returns services to the users based on the received data. | 04-17-2014 |
20140105448 | METHODS AND APPARATUS TO PERFORM AUDIO WATERMARK DETECTION AND EXTRACTION - Methods and apparatus to perform audio watermark detection and extraction are disclosed. An example method includes sampling a media signal to generate samples, wherein the media signal includes an embedded message, determining a first symbol value for a first block of the samples, determining a second symbol value for a second block of the samples, and determining, using a processor, a resulting symbol value, representative of a part of the embedded message, based on the first symbol value and the second symbol value for the first block of samples and the second block of samples, wherein the first block and the second block partially overlap. | 04-17-2014 |
20140105449 | System and Method for Analysis and Authentication of Covert Security Information Using a Smart Device - A system and method for hidden security feature detection, analysis and authentication using a smart device is disclosed. The smart device can detect and analyze hidden security features using the camera capability of the smart device to capture a digital image, and then analyze and authenticate that image using a security service including a database of security feature data, processing rules, and other information. The security service can support a variety of smart devices and security features. The smart device includes a security-specific autofocus function that allows the smart device to be positioned within a range of distances and angles from a target document that includes hidden/covert security feature(s). The smart device can display an enhanced image showing the hidden security feature(s) and/or report if the security feature is valid or invalid, along with related information, via beeps, vibration, display, text messaging, or other reporting capabilities. | 04-17-2014 |
20140105450 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TARGETING AND READING CODED CONTENT - A method and device using a camera element to recognize and decode “invisible” watermarks. Of particular significance to the present invention is the development of a “designator” that is used to identify the existence of, and if desired, the approximate location of, the watermark or other coded content contained in an actual image such as media content (a displayed website, an printed or electronic advertisement, a label, billboard, brochure or any other means of displaying content) and assist in quick acquisition of the invisible watermark or other coded content by the reading device. A perceived image of the actual image can be optimized using the known characteristics of the designator. | 04-17-2014 |
20140105451 | CLIENT-SIDE WATERMARKING USING HYBRID I-FRAMES - A system and method for client-side watermarking of digital content using hybrid Intra-Frames (I-Frames) are provided. In general, a content source provides a compressed video stream and a hybrid I-Frame stream to a client device via a network. The hybrid I-Frame stream includes a number of low-loss I-Frames corresponding to select ones of the I-Frames in the compressed video stream to be used for client-side watermarking. The client device watermarks the I-Frames in the hybrid I-Frame stream, optionally compresses the watermarked I-Frames, and replaces the select ones of the I-Frames in the compressed video stream with the watermarked and optionally compressed I-Frames to provide a watermarked version of the compressed video stream. | 04-17-2014 |
20140112524 | METHODS AND ARRANGEMENTS FOR IDENTIFYING OBJECTS - In some arrangements, product packaging is digitally watermarked over most of its extent to facilitate high-throughput item identification at retail checkouts. Imagery of such packaging is analyzed to detect digital watermarking. One claim recites a method utilized at a retail checkout location comprising: receiving imagery representing a packaged item from a digital camera, the packaged item including digital watermarking hidden on its packaging, the packaged item moving relative to the digital camera; determining a region in the imagery corresponding to at least one relatively faster moving object; arranging watermark detection blocks over the determine region; an detecting the digital watermarking from the watermark detection blocks. Of course other claims and combinations are also provided. | 04-24-2014 |
20140112525 | DOCUMENT SECURIZATION METHOD AND A DOCUMENT SECURIZATION DEVICE USING PRINTING A DISTRIBUTION OF DOTS ON SAID DOCUMENT - An analogical mark printed on a document that includes a distribution of dots defined by a digital file, having, as a result of unanticipated unknowns in printing, an unpredictable variation, dot by dot, of at least one geometric characteristic of the printed dots where dots of the distribution of dots have, in the digital file, at least one geometric characteristic that digitally varies among dots, the geometric amplitude of the digital variation having the order of magnitude of said unpredictable variation and being less than an average dimension of the dots of the distribution of dots. | 04-24-2014 |
20140119593 | DETERMINING POSE FOR USE WITH DIGITAL WATERMARKING, FINGERPRINTING AND AUGMENTED REALITY - Image recognition and augmented reality experiences utilize auxiliary data extracted from an image or video, or image fingerprints, or a combination of both. One claim recites a method comprising: receiving a plurality of imagery frames captured by a device sensor; identifying a plurality of key points in each of the plurality of imagery frames; resolving image pose by utilizing relative relationships of the key points between different frames of the plurality of frames; modifying imagery of at least one of the plurality of frames based on resolved image pose; and deriving a fingerprint from modified imagery. Of course other claims and combinations are provided as well. | 05-01-2014 |
20140126764 | System and Method for Managing and Sharing Lottery Tickets via Mobile Devices - The embodiments herein disclose a system and a method for managing and sharing at-least one lottery ticket via a plurality of mobile devices. The system comprises a central server and a plurality of mobile devices. The plurality of mobile devices is connected to the central server via a communication media. The plurality of mobile devices comprises a data capturing unit, a data processing unit and a data sharing unit. The data capturing unit captures an image of a lottery ticket. The data processing unit converts a captured data into a plurality of data packets. The data processing unit compresses the plurality of data packets. The data sharing unit transfers the plurality of compressed data packets to the central server as well as a plurality of user devices. The central server implements a software application which reassembles the plurality of data packets received from the data sharing unit to form the lottery ticket. | 05-08-2014 |
20140126765 | SECURITY DEVICES INCORPORATING COLOUR SHIFTING INKS - A security document or device is provided which includes at least one area formed from a transparent plastics material which is exposed on at least one side to form a window or half-window, and a first colour shifting ink composition and a second colour shifting ink composition which both include different colour pigments and interference pigments but which both, at a first viewing angle, exhibit substantially the same colour when the interference pigments are viewable, and at other angles exhibit different colours when viewing the colour pigments. | 05-08-2014 |
20140126766 | ENCODING HIDDEN INFORMATION IN SPATIAL LINE FREQUENCIES - A method of encoding a hidden image in high frequency spatial frequencies of a line pattern of a host image. A set of host image spatial frequencies is generated based on a predefined mapping of a domain of a set of representative scalar values of the hidden image mage and a domain of the host image spatial frequencies. The line pattern of the host image is generated based on the set of host image spatial frequencies. The host image may be composed of tiles containing parallel line segments, with each tile encoding a corresponding one of the scalar values. The host image may be composed of a stochastic line pattern generated from a white noise image convolved with a space variable kernel based on the predefined domain mapping. The hidden image may be decoded algorithmically or optically in a single step. | 05-08-2014 |
20140133692 | USER EXPERIENCE ANALYSIS SYSTEM TO ANALYZE EVENTS IN A COMPUTER DESKTOP - A user experience analysis system to measure a user experience associated with a computer desktop may include an event capture subsystem and a duration analysis subsystem. The event capture subsystem may capture videos of the desktop before and after an infrastructure change. The duration analysis subsystem may analyze the videos to determine and compare durations of events occurring in the desktop that are captured in the videos, and determine changes in user experience based on the analysis. | 05-15-2014 |
20140133693 | DEVICE AND METHOD OF INSERTING WATERMARKS THROUGH CONVERSING CONTENTS AUTOMATICALLY - Provided are a watermark insertion apparatus and method. The watermark insertion method includes acquiring content through upload by a user, storing the uploaded content, receiving a content conversion request from a user or a manager, determining whether content for which content conversion has been requested is video or an image, converting the content according to the determined content kind, and inserting watermark suitable for the content kind into the converted content. | 05-15-2014 |
20140133694 | METHOD AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING DISPLAY DEVICE USING WATERMARK - A method for an electronic device configured to control a display device by using a watermark is provided. The method includes receiving a captured image of the display device from a remote control device, extracting a watermark from the captured image, acquiring a menu for the display device based on the watermark, and transmitting the menu to the remote control device for controlling the display device. | 05-15-2014 |
20140133695 | Advertisement Detection - A method and system for detection of video segments in compressed digital video streams is presented. The compressed digital video stream is examine to determine synchronization points, and the compressed video signal is analyzed following detection of the synchronization points to create video fingerprints that are subsequently compared against a library of stored fingerprints. | 05-15-2014 |
20140140570 | OBJECT IDENTIFICATION AND INVENTORY MANAGEMENT - A method/apparatus for identifying an object based on a pattern of structural features located in a particular region wherein the pattern comprises at least one fingerprint feature. The region may be recognized and used to identify the object. A first feature vector (FV) may be extracted from a first image of the pattern and may be mapped to an object identifier. To authenticate the object, a second FV may be extracted from a second image of the same region. The FVs may be compared and difference(s) determined. A match correlation value (MCV) may be calculated based on the difference(s). The difference(s) may be dampened if associated with expected wear and tear reducing the impact of the difference(s) on the MCV. The differences may be enhanced if associated with changes that are not explainable as wear and tear increasing the impact of the difference(s) on the MCV. | 05-22-2014 |
20140146996 | Device and Method for the Processing of Remote Sensing Data - The processing of remote sensing data, wherein first image data are processed with the use of second digital image data which, compared with the first image data, have a finer local resolution. The local resolution of the first digital image data is refined temporarily. The local resolution and every pixel of the temporarily refined first image data corresponds to the local resolution and each pixel of the second digital image data. Determining a weighting value for the pixels of the second digital image data which corresponds to a weighting of a image value of the pixel in the ratio of the image value of the pixel to image values of surrounding pixels. A smoothing of the local plot of the image values in the area of the pixel and its environment is implemented such that the weighting value of larger values is based on additional smoothing of image values. | 05-29-2014 |
20140161304 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MODIFYING A VIDEO STREAM TO ENCODE METADATA - A watermark encoder receives a current video image together with current metadata associated with the current image. A metadata delay also makes available to the watermark decoder delayed metadata associated respectively with four or more of the preceding. Then the watermark encoder modifies pixel values of the current image not only to encode the current metadata but also the delayed metadata. At a decoder, if metadata for the current image is corrupted or missing, it can be recovered from one of the succeeding images. | 06-12-2014 |
20140169616 | WATERMARKING SCREEN CAPTURE CONTENT - Information is displayed on a device by writing data to a buffer in memory, the content of the buffer describing a screen display of the device at a particular point in time. A watermarked version of the buffer content is generated by watermarking the content of the buffer with data, such as data identifying a user of the device and/or a copy of a program (e.g., an operating system) running on the device. The watermarked version of the buffer content is then made available, such as in response to a screen capture request. The data embedded in the watermarked version of the content is undetectable (or nearly undetectable) to the human eye, but can nonetheless be extracted by other computing devices or data extraction systems. | 06-19-2014 |
20140169617 | Forensic Authentication System and Method - A forensic authentication system includes an imaging device to capture an image of a printed mark and a non-printed area of a substrate directly adjacent to the printed mark, and a processor to run computer readable instructions. The processor can run computer readable instructions to utilize a model to define a substrate region that corresponds with at least a portion of the non-printed area of the substrate directly adjacent to the printed mark; and computer readable instructions to generate a substrate signature for the defined substrate region. Each of the computer readable instructions is embedded on a non-transitory, tangible computer readable medium. | 06-19-2014 |
20140169618 | METHOD FOR RETRIEVING ASSOCIATED INFORMATION USING AN IMAGE - A method for retrieving associated information using an image ( | 06-19-2014 |
20140177903 | Belief Propagation and Affinity Measures - Belief propagation and affinity measure techniques are described. In one or more implementations, beliefs may be formed to solve a labeling problem for a node, such as to perform image processing. An affinity measure may be calculated that describes how similar the node is to another node. This affinity measure may then be used as a basis to determine whether the share the belief formed for the node with the other node to solve a labeling problem for the other node. | 06-26-2014 |
20140177904 | RECORDING MEDIUM AND PRODUCING METHOD THEREOF, REPRODUCING METHOD AND REPRODUCING APPARATUS, AND COPYRIGHT MANAGING METHOD - A GUID as title information and a global serial number are recorded in a BCA of a digital video disc. A hash value of the GUID is embedded as an electronic watermark in a data area. When content data is reproduced from the digital video disc, a match of information of the two GUIDs is checked so as to prevent the digital video disc from being illegally copied. A lead-in area and a managing organization provide disc revocation lists. With a global serial number and a disc revocation list, content data can be prevented from being reproduced from an illegally distributed disc. A film WM detector detects data embedded in a movie shown in a theater so as to prevent content data from being reproduced from a disc on which the embedded data is recorded. Thus, content data can be prevented from being reproduced from an illegally distributed disc before a copyright supervisor of the content authorizes the disc to be distributed. | 06-26-2014 |
20140185860 | VIDEO DISPLAY METHOD - A video display method which allows a visible light communication signal to be appropriately transmitted includes: Step SL | 07-03-2014 |
20140185861 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR EMBEDDING AUXILIARY INFORMATION WITHIN ORIGINAL DATA - This patent application is generally related to watermarking and steganography. One claim recites a method of transmarking an audio or video signal previously embedded with a first digital watermark using a first digital watermark embedding method. The method includes: utilizing a programmed electronic processor, decoding the first digital watermark from the audio or video signal, in which the decoding determines relationships or values associated with local masking opportunities of the media signal; converting the audio or video signal into a different form; and utilizing a programmed electronic processor, embedding decoded message information from the first digital watermark into a second digital watermark in the different form such that the second digital watermark is adapted to robustness or perceptibility parameters associated with the different form. Of course, other combinations and claims are provided as well. | 07-03-2014 |
20140185862 | MESSAGING BY WRITING AN IMAGE INTO A SPECTROGRAM - A message is communicated between devices by passing a host signal, such as an audio signal, with the message written into the spectrogram of the host signal. For host audio signals, the message is authored, converted to an image format (if not already in suitable image form) and written into the spectrogram of the audio signal. The resulting audio signal can be communicated in a variety of ways, but in one particular embodiment, the audio signal is played from a speaker (e.g., of a sending mobile device) and captured through the microphone of a receiving device. The spectrogram of the received audio signal is computed and then rendered to a display screen (e.g., the display of a receiving mobile device). | 07-03-2014 |
20140193027 | SEARCH AND IDENTIFICATION OF VIDEO CONTENT - Methods and systems for searching for and retrieving video content via fingerprint matching are described. In some example embodiments, the methods and systems access an index of reference fingerprints, such as quantized values associated with multiple values calculated from patches of a frame, that are associated with sequential frames of known video content. The methods and systems may receive a search query that includes a group of query fingerprints associated with sequential frames of video content presented at a client device, access the index, compare the group of query fingerprints to reference fingerprints of the index, determine that the group of query fingerprints match the reference fingerprints of the index, and identify the video content presented at the client device based on the determined match. | 07-10-2014 |
20140193028 | APPARATUS AND METHOD TO EMBED SEARCHABLE INFORMATION INTO A FILE, ENCRYPTION, TRANSMISSION, STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL - A cell phone is disclosed for acquiring information to be transmitted to a receiving facility and for transmitting such thereto. A capture device captures information from an external source. A stamping device is provided for associating with the captured information a representation of the date and time of the capture of the information, such that the representation of the date and time information in association with the captured information forms augmented captured information. A data processing unit places the augmented captured information in association with subscriber information in a transmission of the augmented captured information to a receiving facility requiring such subscriber information. A transmitter transmits the transmission including the augmented captured information and the subscriber information to the receiving facility. The data processing unit encrypts the augmented captured information with a symmetrical encryption algorithm to provide encrypted augmented captured information in the transmission with the subscriber information. | 07-10-2014 |
20140205136 | VISIBLE LIGHT COMMUNICATION SIGNAL DISPLAY METHOD AND APPARATUS - A visible light communication signal display method of displaying (i) an image represented by video signals and (ii) an image obtained by encoding visible light communication signals includes: encoding at least part of the visible light communication signals to generate an encoded image; generating a plurality of sub-images which correspond to respective partial images obtained by dividing the encoded image and each of which (i) includes a corresponding one of the partial images and (ii) except for the corresponding partial image, is an image having a substantially uniform luminance value lower than or equal to a predetermined luminance value; and displaying, in a video display period, the image represented by the video signals, and displaying the sub-images in time series in a communication period different from the video display period. | 07-24-2014 |
20140205137 | METHOD TO TRACE VIDEO CONTENT PROCESSED BY A DECODER - The method traces the origin of a (illegally) distributed video material. It fingerprints a data object A having a nominal stream format F to provide a fingerprinted data object B including a pre-fingerprinting forensic luring process. | 07-24-2014 |
20140211978 | System and Method to Detect Video Piracy - System and Method to detect video piracy. This embodiment relates to management of video files, and more particularly to detecting piracy in video files. The embodiments herein achieve a system and method to detect video piracy by using unique identifiers embedded in escape frames in a video. | 07-31-2014 |
20140211979 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND METHOD THEREOF - Pattern information of a color filter array and algorithm information of color interpolation processing used in photography of input image data are obtained. Comparative image data is generated from the input image data using the pattern information and algorithm information. The comparative image data and input image data are compared to detect alteration of the input image data. | 07-31-2014 |
20140211980 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PERFORMING X-RAY INSPECTION OF A LIQUID PRODUCT AT A SECURITY CHECKPOINT - A method, an apparatus and a system are provided for assessing at a security checkpoint the threat status of a liquid product comprised of a bottle at least partially filled with liquid. Generally, an X-ray image of the liquid product is obtained and processed to derive a level of fill of the bottle and the threat status of the liquid product is determined at least in part based on the level of fill of the bottle. In some examples presented, an X-ray image of the liquid product is processed to derive location information associated with a meniscus formed by the liquid in the bottle and an estimated length of a path followed by X-rays through the liquid held in the bottle is used to determine the threat status of the liquid product, the length of the path being derived in part based on the location information. | 07-31-2014 |
20140219495 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ADDING AND DETECTING WATERMARK - A watermarking method and system are provided. The watermarking system includes a server and a client in communication with each other. At first, the client sends a login request to the server. The server authenticates an access right of the client to access specific multimedia data and generates an identification code uniquely associated with the client according to the login request if the client is authenticated to have the access right to access the multimedia data. An on-screen watermark is generated according to the identification code and added onto the multimedia data to be played. The watermark-generating and adding step may be performed by either the server or the client. The on-screen watermark can be detected by a watermark-detecting method and system to trace privacy source. | 08-07-2014 |
20140219496 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR GENERATING BOOKMARK VIDEO FINGERPRINTS - Systems and methods for replacing original media bookmarks of at least a portion of a digital media file with replacement bookmarks is described. A media fingerprint engine detects the location of the original fingerprints associated with the portion of the digital media file and a region analysis algorithm characterizes regions of media file spanning the location of the original bookmarks by data class types. The replacement bookmarks are associated with the data class types and are overwritten or otherwise are substituted for the original bookmarks. The replacement bookmarks then are subjected to a fingerprint matching algorithm that incorporates media timeline and media related metadata. | 08-07-2014 |
20140241568 | DIGITAL WATERMARK EMBEDDING METHOD AND DIGITAL WATERMARK DETECTION METHOD - A digital watermark embedding system generates a watermarked image by providing one or more specific regions in an image, each specific region including two or more base regions symmetric with respect to the centroid, and by embedding a watermark in the image while avoiding the specific region. Further, a digital watermark detecting system detects a watermark in a region other than the specific region, by detecting the shape of the specific region in which no watermark is embedded, calculating the centroid position of the specific region as a centroid, and correcting geometric transformation of the image based on the location in the image that corresponds to one or more calculated centroids. | 08-28-2014 |
20140247961 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DISPLAYING WATERMARK ON A SCREEN - There is provided a method and apparatus for displaying a watermark on a screen. According to the present invention, when an application is executed or a document is opened by a user's manipulation, it is determined whether a watermark is displayed based on a message generated from an operating system and screen watermark display policies, and when it is determined that the watermark is displayed, the watermark is displayed on a screen. According to the present invention, when the watermark is displayed on a screen, it is possible to provide a user with notification that corresponding content is important content or confidential content. Even when the screen is captured or is imaged using a camera, the watermark is displayed in the captured image or the imaged video. Therefore, it is possible to identify that the corresponding content is important content or confidential content. As a result, it is possible to increase user awareness of security. | 09-04-2014 |
20140254861 | ROW GUIDANCE PARAMETERIZATION WITH HOUGH TRANSFORM - Systems and techniques for row guidance parameterization with Hough transform are described herein. An electronic representation of a field (ERF) can be received. The ERF can include a set of feature sets including one of a set of crop row features or a set of furrow features. A first parameter space can be produced by applying a slope-intercept Hough transform (SLIHT) to members of a feature set. Peaks in the first parameter space can be identified. A second parameter space can be produced by application of the SLIHT to the peaks. A vanishing point can be calculated based on a vanishing point peak in the second parameter space. A track-angle error can be calculated from the vanishing point. | 09-11-2014 |
20140254862 | ENHANCED ANALYSIS FOR IMAGE-BASED SERPENTINE BELT WEAR EVALUATION - Systems and methods are provided for the improvement of an image of a device under test, such as a belt. The image of device under test is made more optimal by determining if the object is rotated away from a preferred axis of the image frame. If so, the image is rotated an opposing angle such that the object is parallel to the preferred axis of the image frame. The rotated image is then made available for analysis of the object. Rib width analysis is performed along the entire length of the detected rib by either de-rotating the image or not. | 09-11-2014 |
20140270329 | EXTRACTION OF FINANCIAL ACCOUNT INFORMATION FROM A DIGITAL IMAGE OF A CARD - Capturing information from payment instruments comprises receiving, using one or more computer devices, an image of a back side of a payment instrument, the payment instrument comprising information imprinted thereon such that the imprinted information protrudes from a front side of the payment instrument and the imprinted information is indented into the back side of the payment instrument; extracting sets of characters from the image of the back side of the payment instrument based on the imprinted information indented into the back side of the payment instrument and depicted in the image of the back side of the payment instrument; applying a first character recognition application to process the sets of characters extracted from the image of the back side of the payment instrument; and categorizing each of the sets of characters into one of a plurality of categories relating to information required to conduct a payment transaction. | 09-18-2014 |
20140270330 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR EMBEDDING AND DETECTING WATERMARK - A method of embedding a watermark in video data includes generating a watermark to be embedded in the video data, generating a bit string based on a generated watermark, and embedding a watermark in the video data by changing a quantization parameter of the video data by a predetermined value based on the bit string. | 09-18-2014 |
20140270331 | CONTENT WATERMARKING - In an embodiment, a method of watermarking a video includes generating three or more pilot signals. The method also includes generating a watermark. The method also includes embedding the three or more of the pilot signals in first frames of the video. The method also includes embedding the watermark in second frames of the video according to a watermarking just-noticeable-difference (JND) model. The second frames may be non-overlapping with the first frames. | 09-18-2014 |
20140270332 | ATMOSPHERIC COMPENSATION IN SATELLITE IMAGERY - Techniques for atmospheric compensation in satellite imagery that include converting an image including an array of radiance values to an array of surface reflectance values. The conversion is performed in an automated fashion by identifying one or more portions of the image for which the surface reflectance can be estimated and determining the Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) by iteratively comparing the radiance value captured by the image sensor to a calculated radiance value (based on the known surface reflectance, historical values for other atmospheric parameters, and the AOD) and adjusting the AOD until the calculated radiance value is substantially the same as the captured radiance value. | 09-18-2014 |
20140270333 | VERIFYING A SLIDER TRAY MAP - A hard disk drive manufacture process may use a database to track the sliders stored within a slider tray. Instead of requiring an operator to visually inspect each tray to confirm that the database information is accurate, the trays may be sent to a detection system that uses a computer vision technique to identify the total number of sliders in a tray. In one embodiment, the computer vision technique may also determine where the sliders are stored in the slider tray—e.g., a particular row and column. If the information obtained using the computer vision technique differs from the information stored in the database, the system may perform one or more actions for correcting the discrepancy. In this manner, the computer vision technique may be used to update and confirm the slider tracking information stored in the database. | 09-18-2014 |
20140270334 | COVERT MARKING SYSTEM BASED ON MULTIPLE LATENT CHARACTERISTICS - Described are systems for combining multiple latent characteristics within a pigment such that with certain specialized knowledge and tools the specific pigment can be uniquely authenticated. The system takes advantage of the rapid proliferation of artificial light sources that are characterized by combinations of narrow band light sources that combine to simulate natural, or broadband light sources. With knowledge of the ambient lighting spectral emissions and the ability to illuminate the subject with an alternative light source with different spectral emissions, it is possible to determine the presence of the latent characteristics within the pigment. In some embodiments of the system, a smartphone including a CMOS or CCD sensor and a LED light source, could be combined with software to authenticate all of the latent characteristics. These characteristics can be combined with each other in different proportions to mass customize unique solutions for each customer or product line. | 09-18-2014 |
20140270335 | System and Method for Embedding and Retrieving Covert Data in Overt Media - A system and method for embedding and retrieving covert data in overt media. The covert data is imperceptibly embedded into overt media, such as an image, using techniques such as time domain and frequency domain embedding, to generate embedded media The embedded media may be decoded by capturing an image of the embedded media using a smartphone or the like, and then decoding the embedded media to obtain the covert data. The covert data may be used in standalone fashion, such as for authentication, or may be looked up in a database or the like to obtain additional information such as promotional and advertising information. | 09-18-2014 |
20140270336 | System and Method for Transaction Authentication - Some implementations provide a method that includes: receiving, from a user on the mobile device, a request for a mobile transaction; inspecting, at the mobile device, a government-issued identification document presented by the user to obtain a digital watermark, the government-issued identification document documenting an identity of a subject; validating the government-issued identification document based on the digital watermark; and in response to validating the government-issued identification document as valid, authenticating the user as authorized to request the mobile transaction being requested. | 09-18-2014 |
20140270337 | TRANSACTIONAL VIDEO MARKING SYSTEM - Methods, devices, systems and computer program products facilitate embedding and extraction of transactional watermarks into and from a video content. One such method includes selecting a first number of frames from a video content and performing temporal and a spatial psychovisual analysis on the selected frames. For each selected frame, at least one area for insertion of watermarks is identified. A first and a second watermark symbol is embedded separately in the identified area(s), and the embedded frames are re-encoded to obtain a first and a second alternative data. An inserter manifest is formed that includes the first and the second alternative data to enable insertion of a watermark into the video content by selecting one or the other of the first and second alternative data for insertion into the video content. | 09-18-2014 |
20140270338 | TRANSACTIONAL VIDEO MARKING SYSTEM - Methods, devices, systems and computer program products facilitate embedding and extraction of transactional watermarks into and from a video content. One method for selecting an area for watermark insertion includes selecting a candidate area within a frame of the video content that is smaller in size that the frame itself, adding a first and a second watermark value to obtain corresponding first and second versions of the area, add noise to each of the first and second versions, and perform watermark extraction operations to obtain corresponding correlation values for the selected area. The above operations are repeated using different areas that are selected at pseudo-random offset values from the previously selected areas until the entire video frame is exhausted. One or more areas with the highest correlation value(s) are selected and designated as areas that are suitable for watermark insertion. | 09-18-2014 |
20140270339 | GRAPHIC DATA ALTERATION TO ENHANCE ONLINE PRIVACY - A computer alters at least one recognizable metric or text in a digitally-encoded photographic image by operating an alteration algorithm in response to user input data while preserving an overall aesthetic quality of the image and obscuring an identity of at least one individual or geographic location appearing in the image. An altered digitally-encoded photographic image prepared by the altering of the at least one recognizable metric or text in the image is stored in a computer memory. User feedback and/or automatic analysis may be performed to define parameter values of the alteration algorithm such that the alteration process achieves preservation of aesthetic qualities while obscuring an identity of interest. | 09-18-2014 |
20140270340 | WATERMARK DETECTION WITH PAYLOAD - A method for detecting a payload embedded using watermarking in a content stream, the payload being different in a first and a second segment of the content stream, a payload in the second segment having a predetermined relationship with a payload in the first segment, is described. The method selects a point in the content stream where the first segment is likely to end and the second segment to being, samples the stream to obtain a first set of samples that is before the chosen point and a second set of samples that is after the chosen point, and detects the payload on a combination of the first set and a transformation of the second set, where the transformation is based on the assumption that the second set is from the second segment and exploits the relationship that exists between the payloads in the first and second segments. | 09-18-2014 |
20140286525 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SEGMENTING AN IMAGE - A method on a computing device for categorizing one or more blocks of an image is disclosed. The method includes computing a membership value of each of the one or more blocks for each of one or more categories based on a set of parameters associated with each of the one or more blocks. The one or more categories comprise at least an image category. Each of the one or more blocks is categorized in the one or more categories based on the membership value. A category of at least one block is modified to the image category based on a reference signal and the membership value such that the number of blocks categorized under the image category increases. | 09-25-2014 |
20140286526 | FAST STORAGE METHOD FOR IMAGE DATA, VALUABLE-FILE IDENTIFYING METHOD AND IDENTIFYING DEVICE THEREOF - Disclosed are a valuable-file identifying method and an identifying device thereof. The identifying method and the identifying device store image data of a valuable file using a fast storage method for image data. The fast storage method for image data comprises: compulsively converting collected single-byte image data into long-integer image data; using N data masks which correspond to each other through a “bitwise AND” operation to extract the long-integer image data in such a manner that N points are extracted from M*N points in each line and one point is extracted from L points in each column, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 2, L and M are all integers greater than or equal to 1; and integrating the data extracted respectively by N data masks through a “bitwise OR” operation to obtain coded image data and store same. In conclusion, the present invention converts single-byte image data into long-integer image data, and extracts multipoint data at one time using a plurality of data masks which correspond to each other, reducing the number of operations, and achieving fast, compressed storage of images. | 09-25-2014 |
20140294229 | Method and Device for Watermarking a Sequence of Images, Method and Device for Authenticating a Sequence of Watermarked Images and Corresponding Computer Program - A method for watermarking a sequence of images is provided. The method implements the following steps, for at least one current image: comparing the current image with a preceding image of the sequence, delivering a difference image representing a motion between the preceding image and the current image; if the difference between the current image and the preceding image is above a predetermined threshold, watermarking the current image by inserting a message comprising a field carrying an identifier of the current image and a field carrying a soft hash obtained from at least one portion of the difference image; and if not, watermarking the current image by inserting a message comprising a field carrying an identifier of the current image. | 10-02-2014 |
20140294230 | PRINTED MATTER, PRINTED MATTER INSPECTION DEVICE, MANUFACTURING METHOD OF PRINTED MATTER, AND MANUFACTURING DEVICE OF PRINTED MATTER - A printed matter includes: a first sub image embedded in the main image which has the same color as a color of the main image in a human visual sense, and is printed with an ink to absorb light of an infrared wavelength band by a first absorption coefficient; and a second sub image embedded in the main image which has the same color as the color of the main image in a human visual sense, and is printed with an ink to absorb the light of the infrared wavelength band by a second absorption coefficient. | 10-02-2014 |
20140307915 | WATERMARK PROCESSING DEVICE AND METHOD, AND IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS - Disclosed are a watermark processing device, a method thereof, and an image capturing apparatus capable of reducing a processing time and a calculation amount while inserting a watermark into an image. The watermark processing method includes creating a watermarked image by inserting a predetermined watermark into a virtual wavelet image; and creating a synthesized image by synthesizing an input image and the watermarked image. | 10-16-2014 |
20140307916 | Method and device for localized blind watermark generation and detection - The present disclosure discloses a method and device for localized blind watermark generation and detection. The method for localized blind watermark generation may include: generating an N-dimensional pseudorandom initial sequence according to a preset key, and generating a 2N-dimensional sequence by inverting the initial sequence bit by bit and appending the inverted sequence to the initial sequence; and extracting the first 2N coefficients of a feature point of an image to form a coefficient sequence, and acquiring a parity of a bit of the coefficient sequence according to a parity of a corresponding bit of the 2N-dimensional sequence. With the present disclosure, redundant expansion may be performed on watermark data to increase the scale of test data with respect to the original bit data before embedding the test data into a transformation domain of the vicinity of a feature point of an image; during detection, a sequence extracted from the transformation domain of the vicinity of a certain feature point is checked bit by bit, and it is determined whether a watermark is embedded in the vicinity of the point base on the result of the examination, thereby enhancing a watermark detecting efficiency. | 10-16-2014 |
20140321693 | METHOD OF ELIMINATING SPURIOUS ECHOES IN SAR IMAGING - A method of eliminating spurious echoes in SAR imaging comprises a step Etp | 10-30-2014 |
20140321694 | METHODS AND APPARATUS TO GENERATE AND USE CONTENT-AWARE WATERMARKS - Methods and apparatus to generate and use content-aware watermarks are disclosed herein. In a disclosed example method, media composition data is received and at least one word present in an audio track of the media composition data is selected. The word is then located in a watermark. | 10-30-2014 |
20140321695 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR EMBEDDING WATERMARKS - Methods and apparatus for embedding a watermark are disclosed. Example methods disclosed herein to embed a watermark in a compressed data stream include obtaining a set of transform coefficients from the compressed data stream, the set of transform coefficients comprising a first set of mantissa codes and a first set of exponents. Disclosed example methods also include determining a second set of mantissa codes based on a sinusoidal component of the watermark. Disclosed example methods further include adjusting ones of the first set of mantissa codes based on corresponding ones of the second set of mantissa codes and compression information obtained from the compressed data stream to embed the watermark in the compressed data stream without uncompressing the compressed data stream. | 10-30-2014 |
20140321696 | Perceptual Rating Of Digital Image Retouching - A method is provided for automatically providing a digital image rating of photo retouching. The method includes the step of receiving at a computer, including a processor, a first set of pixel data of an original image and a second set of pixel data of a retouched image. The method also includes using the processor to determine a plurality of geometric statistics and a plurality of photometric statistics from the first and second sets of pixel data. The method further includes the step of using the processor to quantify a rating of the retouched image based upon the geometric statistics and photometric statistics to indicate deviation of the retouched image from the original image. A system is also provided to perform the steps. | 10-30-2014 |
20140328509 | DIGITAL MAKEUP - An aspect of some embodiments of the present invention relates to a system for processing an image of a human face, the system comprising a data processing and analyzing utility comprising: a high-pass filtering module configured for receiving an input image data indicative of a characteristic of the image and outputting a high-pass signal indicative of at least one of edges and contours of the face in the input image data; at least one band-pass filtering module configured for receiving data indicative of the input image data and outputting a bandpass signal indicative of low-contrast slowly-varying qualitative features of the face; a low-pass filtering module configured for receiving data indicative of the input image data and outputting a low-pass signal in which low-contrast regions are smoothed and high-contrast regions are preserved; a feature computation module configured for receiving the input image data and calculating a localized feature of the image for a plurality of pixels of the image; a strength computation module configured for receiving said localized feature from the feature computation module, using the localized feature for determining a localized operand to determine a strength of filters to be used in each of the high-pass filtering module, band-pass filtering module, low-pass filtering module at said plurality of the pixels, and transmitting the localized operand to each of said filtering modules; at least one transformation module configured for receiving and altering at least a portion of at least one of the high-pass signal, the bandpass signal, and the low-pass signal; and an addition module configured for receiving the high-pass signal, the bandpass signal, and the low-pass signal after said at least portion thereof has been altered, and for adding the received signals together, thus yielding an output signal indicative of a characteristic of an altered image. | 11-06-2014 |
20140334663 | ENCODING IN TWO CHROMINANCE DIRECTIONS - The present disclosure relates generally signal processing. One claim recites an apparatus comprising: memory for storing a color video signal comprising first data and second data; and a processor. The processor is programmed for: modifying first color information and second color information of the first data by encoding a signal in the first color information such that the signal includes a first signal polarity, and encoding the signal in the second color information such that signal includes a second signal polarity that is inversely related to the first signal polarity, and modifying first color information and second color information of the second data by encoding the signal in the first color information such that signal includes the second signal polarity, and encoding the signal in the second color information such that the signal includes the first signal polarity. Of course, different combinations and claims are provided too. | 11-13-2014 |
20140334664 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR IDENTIFYING CONTENT - Disclosed is a method for identifying content, preferably media content for publishing including the steps of a) Providing a content element for a user, b) Marking the content element with a global mark, c) Marking the content element with a local mark, d) Presenting the marked content element, e) Detecting at least part of the presented content element, f) Extracting the global mark and the local mark from the detected part of the content element, g) Identifying the extracted local mark and the global mark, and h) Identifying the content element based on the global and local mark. The invention relates also to a corresponding system and a use of the method and the system. | 11-13-2014 |
20140334665 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CREATING AN ANIMATION FROM A PLURALITY OF LATENT IMAGES ENCODED INTO A VISIBLE IMAGE - A computer-implemented method is provided for creating an animation from a plurality of latent images encoded into a visible image, where the encoded visible image is visually similar to the visible image when viewed with a naked eye. The method includes generating, via a processor, a first latent image having a first pattern of elements and assigning a first encoding parameter to the first pattern of elements. A second latent image is generated having a second pattern of elements and a second encoding parameter is assigned to the second pattern of elements, wherein the second encoding parameter is different than the first encoding parameter. The first pattern of elements and the second pattern of elements are embedded in the encoded visible image for decoding using a decoder having decoding parameters that match the corresponding first encoding parameter and the second encoding parameter. The decoded first latent image and the decoded second latent image are sequentially displayed to reveal the animation. | 11-13-2014 |
20140348375 | Forensic Verification Utilizing Halftone Boundaries - A forensic verification system ( | 11-27-2014 |
20140348376 | Forensic Verification Utilizing Forensic Markings Inside Halftones - A forensic verification system ( | 11-27-2014 |
20140355817 | PRE-PROCESSED INFORMATION EMBEDDING SYSTEM - Methods and devices are provided for reducing perceptible artifacts in a host content when the host contend is embedded with watermarks. In one method, a first segment of a host content that includes a first logical value is obtained. A second segment of the host content that includes a second logical embedded therein is also obtained. The second logical value is different from the first logical value, and the second segment is adjacent to the first segment of the host content. The host content at a boundary location of the first and the second segments is modified according to a transition function to suppress transitions in the host content at the boundary location caused by the different logical values embedded in the first and the second segments of the host content. | 12-04-2014 |
20140355818 | Method and Apparatus for Checking a Security Feature of a Value Document - A method includes checking a specified security feature of a value document which is present in a specified security-feature region of the value document. The security feature includes captured pixel data which describe spatially resolved with a specified optical spatial resolution, an optical image at least of the security-feature region of the value document, and there are captured ultrasound data which describe an ultrasonic property of the value document at least in the security-feature region, spatially resolved with a specified ultrasonic spatial resolution. The ultrasonic spatial resolution is lower than the optical spatial resolution. From the pixel data there are established first reduced-resolution pixel data for reduced-resolution pixels of the first reduced-resolution image which describe a reduced-resolution optical image at least of the security-feature region of the value document, whose optical spatial resolution corresponds to the ultrasonic spatial resolution. | 12-04-2014 |
20140363042 | Proactive creation of photo products - A method for proactively creating a photobook includes identifying a group of images by a computer system and automatically creating a design for a photobook by the computer system without receiving a user's request for designing a photobook if the number of images in the group is determined to be within a predetermined range. Pages of the photobook incorporate a plurality of images in the group. The method further includes presenting the design of the photobook to a user for preview and receiving an order from the user for a physical manifestation of the photobook based on the design. | 12-11-2014 |
20140369549 | Systems and Methods for Multimedia Processing - Systems and methods are provided for multimedia processing. For example, an encoded file is acquired; the encoded file is parsed to obtain application-indication information and watermark-indication information associated with the encoded file; a multimedia-recording application associated with the application-indication information is called; watermark information is generated based on at least the watermark-indication information; the watermark information displayed on a recording interface of the multimedia-recording application; and in response to multimedia information being generated on the recording interface of the multimedia-recording application, the watermark information and the multimedia information is integrated. | 12-18-2014 |
20140369550 | SMARTPHONE-BASED METHODS AND SYSTEMS - Methods and arrangements involving portable devices, such as smartphones and tablet computers, are disclosed. One arrangement enables a creator of content to select software with which that creator's content should be rendered—assuring continuity between artistic intention and delivery. Another arrangement utilizes the camera of a smartphone to identify nearby subjects, and take actions based thereon. Others rely on near field chip (RFID) identification of objects, or on identification of audio streams (e.g., music, voice). Some of the detailed technologies concern improvements to the user interfaces associated with such devices. Others involve use of these devices in connection with shopping, text entry, sign language interpretation, and vision-based discovery. Still other improvements are architectural in nature, e.g., relating to evidence-based state machines, and blackboard systems. Yet other technologies concern use of linked data in portable devices—some of which exploit GPU capabilities. Still other technologies concern computational photography. A great variety of other features and arrangements are also detailed. | 12-18-2014 |
20140369551 | Systems and Methods for Multimedia-Processing - Systems and methods are provided for multimedia processing. For example, upon receipt of a multimedia-information-release request, multimedia information to be released is acquired; whether the multimedia information contains watermark information is detected; in response to the multimedia information containing the watermark information, a first topic matching with the watermark information is searched for within one or more predetermined second topics, and the multimedia information and the first topic matching with the watermark information are released. | 12-18-2014 |
20140376767 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ENCODING AND AUTHENTICATING A DIGITAL IMAGE - An encoding apparatus partitions a digital image into multiple regions for subsequent encoding. A first encryption code is associated with a first region, a second encryption code is associated with a second region and the first code, and a third code is associated with the first code, the second code and a third region. An authentication apparatus authenticates the digital image in an inverse process. | 12-25-2014 |
20150010200 | MEASURING APPARATUS AND MEASURING PROGRAM - An apparatus includes: an acquiring unit configured to acquire a measured image including a cloud and a reference article; a specifying unit configured to specify a first area of the reference article in the measured image; a determining unit configured to determine whether or not the cloud exists on the near side of the reference article in the measured image; a position estimating unit configured to estimate the position of the cloud, if the cloud exists on the near side of the reference article, from a second area of the cloud in the measured image and the height and position of the reference article acquired from the information storage unit; an attenuation rate calculating unit configured to calculate a first luminance, which is a luminance of the second area of the measured image, and a second luminance, which is a luminance of the corresponding second area for the reference image acquired from the image storage unit, and calculating the attenuating rate of light from the first luminance and the second luminance; a density calculating unit configured to calculate a cloud density from the attenuation rate and the position of the cloud; and an output unit configured to output the position of the cloud and the cloud density. | 01-08-2015 |
20150010201 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR ASSESSING THE PRESENCE OF A WATERMARK IN A VIDEO - The invention relates to a method for assessing the presence of a watermark in a video wherein the video comprises at least a sequence of frames. The method comprises for at least one frame among one of the sequences of frames the steps of computing a set of axial cross-correlation values, wherein each axial cross-correlation value corresponds to a correlation between the frame and a reference watermark shifted along a spatial horizontal axis; obtaining a detection score by computing a weighted sum of values output by a function applied to said axial cross-correlation values; assessing the presence of a watermark according to the detection score. Such method is particularly well adapted to the detection of disparity coherent watermark but is compliant with any watermarking technique. A device implementing the method is further disclosed. | 01-08-2015 |
20150016661 | WATERMARKING AND SIGNAL RECOGNITION FOR MANAGING AND SHARING CAPTURED CONTENT, METADATA DISCOVERY AND RELATED ARRANGEMENTS - Content played at an event is identified using watermarking and/or other content recognition combined with contextual metadata, which facilitates identification and correlation with other content and metadata when it is posted to a network. | 01-15-2015 |
20150016662 | PATTERN MATCHING METHOD AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE THEREFOR - A method and apparatus verify whether a pattern extracted from an image or a video frame is identical to an original pattern in an electronic device. The method includes extracting a pattern and converting the extracted pattern into a first pattern of a binarized grid type, verifying pixel information of the first pattern, and determining whether the first pattern is identical to an original pattern in consideration of a similar degree between the pixel information of the first pattern and pixel information of the original pattern. | 01-15-2015 |
20150016663 | WATERMARKING IN AN ENCRYPTED DOMAIN - Methods, apparatus and systems for embedding auxiliary information in encrypted host signals are provided. The present invention enables secure application of digital watermarks at any point in the transmission and/or distribution of digital content by enabling the insertion of a plurality of digital watermarks, without the knowledge of the encryption/decryption keys, into a digital host content that has been encrypted with an encryption key. The embedded watermarks persist throughout the content subsequent to the decryption of the content. The disclosed techniques are applicable to content that has been encrypted using a variety of different encryption techniques and algorithms, including stream ciphers, block ciphers, symmetric and asymmetric encryption algorithms. These methods are further adapted to enable the insertion of watermarks into a content that is compressed prior to encryption. | 01-15-2015 |
20150016664 | METHODS AND ARRANGEMENTS INVOLVING SUBSTRATE MARKING - First and second patterns are formed on a substrate. A spatial offset between the patterns is determined, and stored for later use in authenticating the substrate. (One or both of the patterns may convey steganographic information. One pattern may be printed, while the other may be embossed.) A smartphone can sense these patterns, determine the spatial offset, and check whether the determined offset matches the earlier-stored offset, to judge whether the substrate is authentic. Another arrangement effects serialization of product packaging by use of paired patterns (at least one of which is typically a watermark pattern) applied in a manner causing a spatial offset between the patterns to progressively vary along a length of a printed web. Still other arrangements involve substrates conveying patterns that degrade over time, e.g., indicating freshness or pressurization condition. A great variety of other features and arrangements are also detailed. | 01-15-2015 |
20150023546 | Identification of Watermarked Content - There are provided methods and systems for identifying watermarked content. In one implementation, such a method includes receiving content including a digital watermark, and detecting the digital watermark, the detecting being performed without use of a decoder configured to read the digital watermark. In implementations in which the content includes an audio watermark, detecting the audio watermark includes filtering an audio frequency spectrum of the content, sampling the audio frequency spectrum to generate data corresponding to the content, determining a first audio level for searching the data based on the sampling, and searching the data at the first audio level. The content may be identified as watermarked content including an audio watermark when multiple, single frequency tones are detected. | 01-22-2015 |
20150023547 | INFORMATION PROVIDING SYSTEM HAVING CONTENT PROVIDING APPARATUS AND TERMINAL APPARATUS, AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - An information providing system including a content providing apparatus, a display apparatus, and a terminal apparatus is provided. The information providing system includes: a content providing apparatus to generate a watermark, insert the watermark into a predetermined location of a content on a real time basis, and transmit the content; a display apparatus to receive the content into which the watermark is inserted and output the content; and a terminal apparatus to receive input of at least one of an image and sound of the content comprising the watermark from the display apparatus, detect the watermark, extract identification information from the watermark, and output corresponding additional information. Accordingly, information is provided to a user by inserting and extracting the watermark in various methods. | 01-22-2015 |
20150023548 | INFORMATION PROCESSING DEVICE AND PROGRAM - An information processing device includes an image taking section having a connection to an image capturing device by which the image taking section instructs the image capturing device to capture an image of a merchandise, a processor configured to recognize candidates based on the captured image of the merchandise, and a display controller configured to display the candidates and highlight a group of the candidates that are related. | 01-22-2015 |
20150030200 | WATERMARK EXTRACTOR ENHANCEMENTS BASED ON PAYLOAD RANKING - Methods, devices, systems and computer program products improve the detection of watermarks that are embedded in a host content by providing information indicative of a ranking of watermark payloads to watermark extractors. A watermark extractor device obtains information indicative of a ranking of a plurality of watermark payload values, where such information designates each watermark payload value within a first subset of the plurality of watermark payload values as having an associated rank value. Based at least in-part on the information indicative of the ranking, the watermark extractor device is configured to prioritize resource allocation for extraction of payload values that are designated as belonging to the first subset over payload values that are not designated as belonging to the first subset. The watermark extractor then extracts a payload value, designated as belonging to the first subset, from one or more watermarks embedded in the host content. | 01-29-2015 |
20150030201 | FEATURE-BASED WATERMARK LOCALIZATION IN DIGITAL CAPTURE SYSTEMS - The present disclosures relates generally to digital watermarking and data hiding. One claim recites a method comprising: obtaining data representing captured imagery, the captured imagery depicting packaging including digital watermarking, the digital watermarking including an orientation signal that is detectable in a transform domain; generating a n-dimensional feature set of the data representing captured imagery, the n-dimensional feature set representing the captured imagery in a spatial domain, where n is an integer great than 13; using a trained classifier to predict the presence of the orientation signal in a transform domain from the feature set in the spatial domain. Of course, other claims and combinations are provided too. | 01-29-2015 |
20150036870 | AUTOMATED GRAPH LOCAL CONSTELLATION (GLC) METHOD OF CORRESPONDENCE SEARCH FOR REGISTRATION OF 2-D AND 3-D DATA - According to an embodiment, a 2-dimensional (2-D) image of a geographical region is transformed via a regional maxima transform (RMT) or an edge segmenting and boundary filling (ESBF) transform to produce a filtered 2-D image. The filtered 2-D image is iteratively eroded and opened to produce a processed EO 2-D image, 2-D object shape morphology is extracted from the processed EO 2-D image, and 2-D shape properties are extracted from the 2-D object shape morphology. A height slice of a 3-dimensional (3-D) point cloud comprising 3-D coordinate and intensity measurements of the geographical region is generated, and slice object shape morphology is extracted from the height slice. Slice shape properties from the slice object shape morphology are extracted, and the 2-D image is constellation matched to the height slice based on the 2-D shape properties and the slice shape properties. | 02-05-2015 |
20150036871 | METHODS AND APPARATUSES FOR EMBEDDING DIGITAL WATERMARK INTO AND EXTRACTING DIGITAL WATERMARK FROM TEXT - Methods and apparatus for embedding digital watermark information into and extracting digital watermark information from a text are disclosed. The method for embedding digital watermark information into a text comprises: creating a menu item of the digital watermark information; and embedding a binary string into a value of a predetermined attribute for the menu item of the digital watermark information, the binary string to be embedded being the digital watermark information to be embedded. According to the present invention, it is able to increase the amount of information to be embedded. | 02-05-2015 |
20150036872 | AUDIBLE DOCUMENT IDENTIFICATION FOR VISUALLY IMPAIRED PEOPLE - Disclosed is a document or article carrying information for the audible authentication of said document or article, wherein the information is present in or on said document or article in the form of a frequency-versus-time spectral density function (spectrogram), the spectrogram being embodied using document security means. Disclosed are further a method for producing said document or article; a reader device for displaying audible authentication information from said document or article, a method for authenticating said document or article and the use of a spectrogram for document authentication purposes. | 02-05-2015 |
20150036873 | CIRCUMVENTION OF WATERMARK ANALYSIS IN A HOST CONTENT - Methods and devices are provided to thwart analysis of a watermarking system by preventing analysis of watermarks in a host content. Upon receiving a content at a watermark embedding device, the content is analyzed to ascertain whether one or more test features are present in at least a first portion of the received content. When the analysis reveals that one or more test features are present, embedding of watermarks in at least the first portion of the received content is disabled. The test features of interest include a temporal, a spatial and/or a frequency characteristic such that, if a region of the content that includes test feature is embedded with a watermark, at least one characteristic of the embedded watermark is detectable upon analysis of that region. The test feature can, for example, approximate an impulse signal, a step function signal or a pure sinusoidal signal. | 02-05-2015 |
20150043768 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR EMBEDDING AND DETECTING A PATTERN - A method of embedding a pattern as a watermark into a content segment. Prior to modifying the content segment, an impulse response of a filter to be used for detecting the pattern is determined; the time-reversed impulse response of the filter is inserted into the segment as the set of imperceptible features; wherein the filter is an infinite impulse response filter having a semi-white frequency spectrum and provides a pseudo-random time-domain response. | 02-12-2015 |
20150043769 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REMOTE FEATURE MEASUREMENT IN DISTORTED IMAGES - A method and apparatus for ground or unmanned aerial vehicle based wind turbine blade inspection consisting of a thermal imaging camera configured to detect the presence of defects by acquiring thermal imaging data from a rotating wind turbine blade when it is not exposed to solar radiation heating and analyzing the thermal imaging data with a processor to identify thermal effects associated with latent defects or damage caused by internal friction due to cyclic gravitational stresses and wind loads during normal turbine operation or aerodynamic cooling of the area around a breach in the blade shell by escaping air, or blockage of residual heat flow or thermoelectric emissions from the rotating blade by the presence of delamination or crushing damage to the blade shell. The system permits latent defects to be identified using a ground-based in situ inspection before they become easily visually apparent, which allowing repairs to be made economically while the blade is in place. | 02-12-2015 |
20150049900 | INFORMATION PROVISION SYSTEM - A system capable of providing information having a large amount of data without spoiling the aesthetic appearance of an object is provided. An information provision terminal device | 02-19-2015 |
20150049901 | METHOD AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING CONTENT INTEGRITY - A method and an apparatus for controlling content integrity. A method for operating in an electronic device can include including unique information of content in a watermark image, and inserting the watermark image to the content. | 02-19-2015 |
20150063625 | DYNAMIC DIGITAL WATERMARK - Some implementations may provide a computer-implemented method for validating a digital document, the method including: receiving, at a computing device, the digital document comprising at least two digital watermarks, the digital document issued by a central entity; retrieving a first digital watermark from the digital document, the first digital watermark visually presented at a first time point; retrieving a second digital watermark from the digital document, the second digital watermark visually presented at a second time point, the second digital watermark being different from the first digital watermark and the second time point being different from the first time point; and reading the digital document based on the retrieved first and second digital watermarks. | 03-05-2015 |
20150063626 | DYNAMIC DIGITAL WATERMARK - Some implementations may include a computer-implemented method for applying at least two digital watermarks to a digital document, the method including: receiving a digital document comprising visual contents; generating a first digital watermark to be visually presented at a first time point; generating a second digital watermark to be visually presented at a second time point, the second digital watermark being different from the first digital watermark and the second time point being different from the first time point; and applying both the first digital watermark and second digital watermark to the digital document t. | 03-05-2015 |
20150071484 | STEGANOGRAPHIC ENCODING AND DECODING - This patent document relates generally to steganography and digital watermarking. One claim recites, a method of encoding auxiliary information in an image or video. The method includes: determining a watermark tweak for an attribute of an image or video sample to encode auxiliary information in the image or video; and altering color values of the image or video sample to effect the watermark tweak, said altering alters color values based at least in part on both: i) visibility of color value alterations, and ii) anticipated watermark detection. Of course, other claims are provided too. | 03-12-2015 |
20150071485 | INFORMATION CODING AND DECODING IN SPECTRAL DIFFERENCES - Information is encoded in an image signal by exploiting spectral differences between colors that appear the same when rendered. These spectral differences are detected using image sensing that discerns the spectral differences. Spectral difference detection methods include using sensor-synchronized spectrally-structured-light imaging, 3D sensors, imaging spectrophotometers, and higher resolution Bayer pattern capture relative to resolution of patches used to convey a spectral difference signal. | 03-12-2015 |
20150071486 | SENSING DATA FROM PHYSICAL OBJECTS - Directional albedo of a particular article, such as an identity card, is measured and stored. When the article is later presented, it can be confirmed to be the same particular article by re-measuring the albedo function, and checking for correspondence against the earlier-stored data. The re-measuring can be performed through us of a handheld optical device, such as a camera-equipped cell phone. The albedo function can serve as random key data in a variety of cryptographic applications. The function can be changed during the life of the article. A variety of other features are also detailed. | 03-12-2015 |
20150086067 | METHODS FOR SCENE BASED VIDEO WATERMARKING AND DEVICES THEREOF - A method, device and non-transitory computer readable medium for scene based video watermarking. Methods are disclosed to detect the scenes inside the video. Disclosed devices and methods are capable of scene change detection for both, gradual and abrupt scenes. Methods are also disclosed to group logical scenes in a video. The disclosed methods are aided with methods to reduce the computational time taken for scene change detection. Watermarks are created and segmented using a plurality of unique identifiers to limit any unauthorized use of the video. | 03-26-2015 |
20150086068 | Instrument and Document Authentication System - A method of creating a document whose authenticity can be confirmed comprises printing a character on the document using a combination of a printing medium having a first appearance and a contaminant having a second appearance distinct from the first appearance, and wherein a first portion of the character has the first appearance but not the second appearance, and a second portion of the character has the second appearance; capturing an image containing the character; and storing the image and information relating to the document in a database. A method of authenticating a document comprises capturing an image of the document; identifying a pattern in the document, comparing the pattern to information in a database relating to an original pattern present on an originally printed document, to determine whether the pattern and the original pattern are within a specified level of similarity. | 03-26-2015 |
20150086069 | EXTRACTING CARD DATA USING IIN DATABASE - Extracting card data comprises receiving, by one or more computing devices, a digital image of a card; perform an image recognition process on the digital representation of the card; identifying an image in the digital representation of the card; comparing the identified image to an image database comprising a plurality of images and determining that the identified image matches a stored image in the image database; determining a card type associated with the stored image and associating the card type with the card based on the determination that the identified image matches the stored image; and performing a particular optical character recognition algorithm on the digital representation of the card, the particular optical character recognition algorithm being based on the determined card type. Another example uses an issuer identification number to improve data extraction. Another example compares extracted data with user data to improve accuracy. | 03-26-2015 |
20150086070 | IMAGE RECOGNITION TO SUPPORT SHELF AUDITING FOR CONSUMER RESEARCH - Image recognition methods, apparatus and articles or manufacture to support shelf auditing for consumer research are disclosed herein. Example methods disclosed herein include comparing a first image signature associated with an input image with a plurality of reference signatures associated with a plurality of reference images to identify a first reference image matching the input image. Such disclosed example methods also include identifying a first group of items depicted in the input image as corresponding to a first group of reference items registered with the first reference image. Such disclosed example methods further include determining a first region of the input image that differs from a corresponding first region of the first reference image, and processing the first region of the input image based on a template to identify a second item depicted in the input image. | 03-26-2015 |
20150104058 | IMAGE-RELATED METHODS AND SYSTEMS - Digital watermark encoding—and associated registry transactions—are made transparent to consumers—performed as built-in features of common image processing operations, such as taking a picture, or printing a picture. In one arrangement, a user particularly defines network experiences that a hardcopy image is to invoke. The user may interact with buttons and other controls of a graphical user interface on the touchscreen of a printer to author specific experiences that should be triggered by a hardcopy image—such as launching a related video, playing a recorded audio clip, displaying other images in a story narrative to which the hardcopy image relates, etc. These choices can be made at the time of printing, or the printer can be used as an interface to establish or adjust such network experiences after printing. The printer then attends to interactions with network infrastructure components needed to give the hardcopy print the user-desired functionality. In another arrangement, the content experience triggered by a printed image is authored automatically, e.g., by reference to data mined from the image's online context (e.g., Facebook photo album). A great variety of other features and arrangements are also detailed. | 04-16-2015 |
20150104059 | Automatic Photo Album Creation Based On Social Information - A social photo curation system is used to automatically identify a subset of photos for an album to provide to a viewing user. The album and its photos are associated with metadata indicating information about the photos, such as individuals tagged in the photos, locations where the photos were taken, keywords or concepts associated with the photos, and the quality and variety of the photos. The social photo curation system uses this metadata to score and select the photos for a particular viewing user. The scoring and selection of photos for the album may be independent of the viewing user, or it may be customized based on the viewing user's interests and connections to other users in a social networking system. | 04-16-2015 |
20150104060 | Automatic Photo Album Creation Based On Social Information - A social photo curation system is used to automatically identify a subset of photos for an album to provide to a viewing user. The album and its photos are associated with metadata indicating information about the photos, such as individuals tagged in the photos, locations where the photos were taken, keywords or concepts associated with the photos, and the quality and variety of the photos. The social photo curation system uses this metadata to score and select the photos for a particular viewing user. The scoring and selection of photos for the album may be independent of the viewing user, or it may be customized based on the viewing user's interests and connections to other users in a social networking system. | 04-16-2015 |
20150104061 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR AUGMENTED REALITY MESSAGE HIDING AND REVEALING - The present invention relates to an operation method for executing games on mobile camera enabled terminal devices and to devices capable of executing the method. The method is based on hiding augmented reality messages in pictures by taking an image of an object, providing symbols; linking the symbols to the image, such that the symbols are not visible when displaying the image, and sending the image and the linked invisible symbols via a wireless connection as a first image to a mobile camera terminal device. The invention also provides a second component to re-visualize the hidden message by receiving the first image, taking a second image with a camera of the mobile camera terminal device, displaying the second image, comparing the first and second images to determine a matching measure, and visibly displaying the linked invisible symbols on the display, if the comparison fulfills at least one predetermined condition. | 04-16-2015 |
20150110340 | IDENTIFYING VIDEO CONTENT VIA COLOR-BASED FINGERPRINT MATCHING - Systems and methods of identifying unknown video content are described. An example method may include receiving a first fingerprint and a second fingerprint. The first fingerprint may be a color-based fingerprint derived from colors in a portion of the unknown video content, and the second fingerprint may be at least partially based on a feature other than the colors of the unknown video content. A reference database of reference fingerprints may then be queried using one of the first fingerprint or the second fingerprint to obtain a candidate group of fingerprints. The candidate group of fingerprints may then be queried using the other of the first fingerprint and the second fingerprint to identify at least one query fingerprint. The unknown video content may then be identified using the at least one query fingerprint. For example, the second fingerprint may be a luminance-based fingerprint derived from luminance in the unknown video content. | 04-23-2015 |
20150110341 | REDUCING WATERMARK PERCEPTIBILITY AND EXTENDING DETECTION DISTORTION TOLERANCES - The present disclosures relates generally to digital watermarking and data hiding. One claim recites an apparatus comprising: means for storing a watermark signal; means for embedding a watermark signal in a first portion of a video signal; means for preconditioning the watermark signal in a first manner to allow expanded detection of said preconditioned watermark signal in the presence of first distortion; means for embedding the watermark signal preconditioned in the first manner in a second portion of the video signal; means for preconditioning the watermark signal in a second manner to allow expanded detection of said preconditioned watermark signal in the presence of second distortion; and means for embedding the watermark signal preconditioned in the second manner in a third portion of the video signal. Of course, other claims are provided too. | 04-23-2015 |
20150110342 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR EMBEDDING DATA IN OBJECT AND APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR EXTRACTING EMBEDDED DATA - According to an embodiment, a data embedding apparatus includes a data acquisition unit and an object generation unit. The data acquisition unit acquires first data formed from a first bit string to be embedded in a first object including a first line segment or a first curve. The object generation unit generates a second object, which includes a deformed line segment or a deformed curve having a displacement corresponding to the first bit string with respect to the first line segment or the first curve and in which the first data is embedded, by deforming at least one of the first line segment and the first curve of the first object based on the first bit string. | 04-23-2015 |
20150117700 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING CONTENT-RELATED INFORMATION BASED ON DIGITAL WATERMARK AND FINGERPRINT - In a method for providing content-related information based on a digital watermark and fingerprint, the method includes: receiving a request for content-related information from a client terminal; using a watermark and a fingerprint of content to retrieve the requested content-related information from a database; and transmitting the retrieved content-related information to the client terminal. | 04-30-2015 |
20150117701 | DIGITAL FINGERPRINTING OBJECT AUTHENTICATION AND ANTI-COUNTERFEITING SYSTEM - Improvements are disclosed for authentication of an object, verification of its provenance, and certification of the object as compliant with manufacturing standards. Or, an object may be reported as a suspected counterfeit. In one embodiment the system compares a digital fingerprint of the object, based in image capture, to digital fingerprints previously stored in a database and determines if the object has been registered before and is thus authentic. An object feature template may be created which has a list of features and attributes that are relevant for authenticating particular classes of objects. The object feature template can also be used to examine unregistered objects for signs of counterfeiting. | 04-30-2015 |
20150125026 | Method for Inserting a Watermark in an Image and Corresponding Method for Detecting a Watermark in an Image to be Analyzed - A method is provided for inserting a digital watermark in an image by an insertion device. Inserting includes: applying a Fourier transform to the image, delivering a 2D Fourier spectrum; inserting the watermark in the Fourier spectrum delivering a modified Fourier spectrum; and applying an inverse Fourier transform to the modified Fourier spectrum delivering a watermarked image. The watermark includes a set of watermarking coefficients each associated with a distinct determined position of a given quadrant among the quadrants of the Fourier domain, the spectral coordinates u and v of which, measured along the two axes of coordinates of the given quadrant and starting from the continuous component and expressed in percentage of the dimensions U and V of the given quadrant, are such that: u>66%×U and v>66%×V. The set of positions associated with the watermarking coefficients defines a convex pattern in the given quadrant. | 05-07-2015 |
20150131845 | METHODS, SYSTEMS AND SOFTWARE PROGRAMS FOR ENHANCED SPORTS ANALYTICS AND APPLICATIONS - A system for enhanced sports analytics and/or content creation includes: an object tracking system that generates coordinate data corresponding to object motion in a sports event; a data processing module that receives the coordinate data from the object tracking system, analyzes the coordinate data with an event recognition algorithm that identifies and characterizes events and outcomes of interest, and catalogs the data in accordance with the identified events and outcomes into event profile data; a database that receives and stores the event profile data generated by the data processing module; a user application that accesses the event profile data from the database; and at least one processing unit that executes instructions stored in at least one non-transitory medium to implement at least one of the object tracking system, the data processing module, or the user application. | 05-14-2015 |
20150131846 | GEOGRAPHIC-BASED SIGNAL DETECTION - The disclosure relates generally to geographic-based signal detection. One claim recites an apparatus comprising: an input for receiving a signal from a cell phone; an electronic processor for determining, based at least in part on the signal, whether the cell phone is physically located in a predetermined home area; and upon a condition of not being in the predetermined home area, communicating a machine-readable code detector to the cell phone for use as its primary machine-readable code detector to detect machine-readable code while outside of its predetermined home area. Of course, other claims and combinations are provided as well. | 05-14-2015 |
20150131847 | SYSTEM FOR EMBEDDING DATA - A method and system including receiving marking information, determining, at least in part, based on the marking 0 information, a plurality of color element additives, adding the plurality of color element additives to at least one color element of a video frame, wherein the at least one color element includes a color element R, a color element G, and a color element B. Related methods and systems are also described. | 05-14-2015 |
20150139480 | CROSS-CORRELATION BASED SYSTEM FOR WATERMARKING MEDIA - A cross-correlation based system for watermarking continuous digital media, includes: a) means for retrieving at least one signature parameter (S | 05-21-2015 |
20150139481 | Identification and Purchasing Platform - A graphically based encoded image, symbol or icon that can serve as a link from physical material or visual displays to electronic data to retrieve specific or general information. In one example, a graphic image is encoded with a value that is linked to a reference lookup table. For example, a numeric value may be encoded to form an encoded image by providing a primary image, such as a logo, and by positioning one or more secondary images or shapes in reference to the primary image, wherein the position of the secondary image relative to the primary image corresponds or relates to the numeric value. Generally, the encoded image may be in the form of any shape, figure or logo, and may be associated with, for example, an advertisement, web site, marketing program, corporate promotion, product promotion, sweepstakes, business cards, personal information, and other mediums for the exchange of information. | 05-21-2015 |
20150296096 | Trusted Evidence Cameras and Related Methods and Computer Program Products - Digital Cameras configured to verify authenticity of digital photos taken with the digital camera and related methods and computer program products are provided. GPS information associated with a photograph taken with the digital camera is obtained. A checksum of pixels that make up the photograph and the obtained GPS information is generated. The generated checksum is encrypted using a private key associated with the digital camera so as to allow verification that the photograph has not been modified. | 10-15-2015 |
20150302542 | Feature Resolutions Sensitivity for Counterfeit Determinations - A counterfeit identification performance attribute (CIPA) sensitivity to changes in resolution of the image for features of an image is determined ( | 10-22-2015 |
20150302543 | METHODS FOR ENCODING, DECODING AND INTERPRETING AUXILIARY DATA IN MEDIA SIGNALS - The disclosure relates to digital watermarking, steganography, and specifically to message coding protocols used in conjunction with digital watermarking and steganographic encoding/decoding and payload interpretation methods. One claim recites a method for interpreting a data structure having fixed and variable message portions, the method comprising: processing the fixed message portion to determine a version of the variable message portion; decoding the entire payload field of the variable message portion according to the determined version; and interpreting only a portion of the decoded payload field according to the determined version. Of course, other features and claims are provided too. | 10-22-2015 |
20150310576 | STEGANOGRAPHIC ENCODING AND DECODING - This patent document relates generally to steganography and digital watermarking. One claim recites an apparatus comprising: memory for storing data representing an image or video, in which the data comprises first data corresponding to first color data, second data corresponding to second color data and third data corresponding to third color data, the image or video to host auxiliary information; a processor programmed for: weighting the first data, the second data and the third data according to at least the following two factors: i) a color direction associated with an expected embedding direction; and ii) expected image capture or signal processing; and determining from weighted first data, weighted second data and weighted third data, changes in one or more image or video attribute(s), in which the auxiliary information is conveyed through the changes. Of course, other claims and combinations are provided too. | 10-29-2015 |
20150319333 | Digital Watermark Feature For Device To Device Duplication Of A Digital Receipt - A computer-implemented process can be operated to create a watermarked copy of a unique original copy of an electronic sales receipt in a first computerized device to a second computerized device. The watermarked copy includes an electronic watermark identifying the copy. The process includes creating the watermarked copy of the electronic sales receipt by copying information from the original copy of the electronic sales receipt to the watermarked copy and providing the electronic watermark within the watermarked copy. | 11-05-2015 |
20150319508 | PROGRAM TELECAST MONITORING USING WATERMARKS - Example methods disclosed herein include associating a first data pattern obtained from a first sequence of watermarks detected by a first media monitor at a first time with a first transmission of first media when the first sequence of watermarks include a first identifier associated with the first media. Disclosed example methods also include associating a second data pattern obtained from a second sequence of watermarks detected by the first media monitor at a second time with a second transmission of the first media when the second sequence of watermarks include the first identifier associated with the first media. Disclosed example methods further include comparing a third data pattern obtained from a third sequence of watermarks detected by a second media monitor with the first and second data patterns to determine whether the second media monitor monitored the first transmission or the second transmission of the first media. | 11-05-2015 |
20150324947 | METADATA ACQUISITION USING EMBEDDED WATERMARKS - Methods, devices and computer program products are described that improve acquisition of metadata that is associates with a multimedia content, such an audio or video content. In one exemplary method, the multimedia content is received at a first device that is equipped with a watermark detector and watermark extraction operations are conducted to detect a plurality of watermark messages. Each watermark message includes a server code and an interval code. In this method, a server Internet Protocol (IP) address is obtained that corresponds to a server that stores at least a portion of the metadata associated with the multimedia content. The IP address corresponds to at least one of the server codes detected from the plurality of watermark messages. According to the above method, the metadata is requested from the server having the server IP address, and a response including the metadata associated with the multimedia content is received. | 11-12-2015 |
20150324948 | System and Method for Embedding Data - In one embodiment, a watermark is embedded in a sequence of video frames, for each one of the video frames, a set of N rectangular patches, two palettes of pixel values in a selected color space, such that the two palettes are denoted as P | 11-12-2015 |
20150350486 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR HIDING REVERSIBLE INFORMATION - A reversible information hiding apparatus, comprises: an image compressing unit that encodes an original image file to output a compressed image file by applying a preset compression format; an information hiding processing unit that divides a bit stream of the compressed image file into a plurality of bit blocks each having a preset length, allocates, to the plurality of the bit blocks, a plurality of hiding information bits obtained from dividing preset hiding information data into preset length units, and converts bit values of the bit blocks based on values of the allocated hiding information bits; and an information-hidden image providing unit that provides a reversible information extracting apparatus with the information-hidden image file comprising the bit blocks, of which the bit values have been converted. | 12-03-2015 |
20150358500 | GRAPHICAL INDICATOR - A graphical indicator comprising a plurality of first header blocks, a plurality of second header blocks and a plurality of data blocks for forming an indicator matrix is provided. Each of the first and second header blocks has a header graphical micro-unit, and each of the data blocks has a data graphical micro-unit. An array area is formed by the second header blocks and the data blocks. A first virtual line and a second virtual line are respectively formed by virtual centers of the first and second header blocks, and an included angle between the first and second virtual lines is less than 90 degrees. | 12-10-2015 |
20150358534 | Forensic Signature - A series of images of an object are captured using illumination sources. The series of images correspond to different relative orientations of the object and the illumination sources. A forensic signature for the object is generated using one or more of the series of images. The forensic signature is unique to the object. | 12-10-2015 |
20150371353 | MESSAGE INSERTING METHOD IN A RENDERING OF A VIDEO CONTENT BY A DISPLAY DEVICE, READING METHOD, DEVICES AND PROGRAMS ASSOCIATED - A method for inserting at least one message in a rendering of a video content by a display device is disclosed. The display device comprises a periodic light source and the method comprises obtaining one bit of the message and modulating a frequency of the periodic light source in view of the bit. A device for inserting at least one message is disclosed. In another aspect, a method and a device for reading at least one message in a video content obtained by filming a display device wherein the display device comprises a periodic light source whose frequency is modulated in view of a bit of the message is further disclosed. | 12-24-2015 |
20150371582 | IMAGE DISPLAY DEVICE, IMAGE DISPLAY METHOD AND PROGRAM - To make it difficult to obtain an original image based on display data. An image display device includes an image set generating unit that generates a plurality of image sets S, each including a plurality of modified images C | 12-24-2015 |
20150378317 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GENERATING A REAL TIME ATTRIBUTE MARK OF A PICTURE - A method for generating a real time attribute mark of a picture comprises: extracting a first time from picture data corresponding to the picture; obtaining a current time; calculating a time interval between the first time and the current time; and generating a real time attribute mark indicating the time interval. An apparatus for generating a real time attribute mark of a picture is also disclosed. | 12-31-2015 |
20150379659 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR DETERMINING A SET OF MODIFIABLE ELEMENTS IN A GROUP OF PICTURES - A method for determining a set of modifiable elements in a group of pictures of a coded bit-stream representative of an audio video content is disclosed. The method comprises determining a set of a candidate modifiable elements wherein a candidate modifiable element comprises a modified value of the coded bit-stream and a spatial propagation map associated with the modified value, a spatial propagation map comprising pixels whose decoding is impacted when the modified value is placed in the coded bit stream ; determining a heat map for each reference frame, the heat map comprising, for each pixel of the reference frame, an information representative of the usage of said pixel for temporal prediction during the decoding of said part of the coded bit-stream coding a group of pictures; obtaining a set of modifiable elements among candidate modifiable elements, a modifiable element having a spatial propagation map that does not overlap with corresponding heat map. | 12-31-2015 |
20150379660 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR EMBEDDING DATA - In one embodiment, a watermark is embedded in a sequence of video frames, for each one of the video frames, a set of N rectangular patches, two palettes of pixel values in a selected color space, such that the two palettes are denoted as P | 12-31-2015 |
20150379751 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR EMBEDDING CODES IN MUTLIMEDIA CONTENT ELEMENTS - A method and system for embedding a code in a multimedia content item are provided. The method comprises identifying multimedia content elements existing in the multimedia content item; generating a new multimedia content element based on the identified existing multimedia content elements; and adding the at least one new multimedia content element to the multimedia content item. | 12-31-2015 |
20160003681 | THERMOMETER HAVING A DIGITAL INFRARED SENSOR ON A CIRCUIT BOARD THAT IS SEPERATE FROM A MICROPROCESSOR - A microprocessor on a first circuit board is operably coupled to a digital infrared sensor on a second circuit board from which temperature is determined from the digital infrared sensor. | 01-07-2016 |
20160012293 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IDENTIFYING SALIENT EVENTS BY ANALYZING SALIENT VIDEO SEGMENTS IDENTIFIED BY SENSOR INFORMATION | 01-14-2016 |
20160012563 | ARRANGEMENTS FOR INCREASING DETECTION CONFIDENCE | 01-14-2016 |
20160012564 | METHOD FOR EMBEDDING AND EXTRACTING MULTI-SCALE SPACE BASED WATERMARK | 01-14-2016 |
20160019671 | IDENTIFYING MULTIMEDIA OBJECTS BASED ON MULTIMEDIA FINGERPRINT - Embodiments of identifying multimedia objects based on multimedia fingerprints are provided. Query fingerprints are derived from a multimedia object according to differing fingerprint algorithms. For each fingerprint algorithm, decisions are calculated through at least one classifier corresponding to the fingerprint algorithm based on the query fingerprint and reference fingerprints, the reference fingerprints being derived from reference multimedia objects according to the same fingerprint algorithm. Each of the decisions indicates a possibility that the query fingerprint and the reference fingerprint are not derived from the same multimedia content. For each of the reference multimedia objects, a distance is calculated as a weighted sum of the decisions relating to the reference fingerprints. The multimedia object is identified as matching the reference multimedia object with the smallest distance less than a threshold. | 01-21-2016 |
20160035058 | DIGITAL WATERMARKING - System(s) and method(s) for embedding and extracting a watermark from a digital media are described. The method may include embedding a set of watermark bits in a N*N block of the digital media based on a local binary pattern (LBP) synthesis process. The LBP synthesis process comprises changing a value of a neighbor of a central pixel of the N*N block to make the value of the neighbor greater than a value of the central pixel when a watermark bit corresponding to the neighbor is ‘1’ and changing the value of the neighbor of the central pixel to make the value of the neighbor lesser than the value of the central pixel when the watermark bit corresponding to the neighbor is ‘0’. | 02-04-2016 |
20160035059 | METHODS INVOLVING MAPS, IMAGERY, VIDEO AND STEGANOGRAPHY - The disclosure describes methods and apparatus of providing steganographic indicia or digital watermarking in image or video data. One implementation provides a method of embedding a digital watermark in image data captured by an imager, with watermark embedding occurring on-chip with the imager. Another implementation provides a method of managing images. Each of the images comprises plural-bit data steganographically embedded therein in the form of a digital watermark, with the plural-bit data corresponding to a geo-location. Yet another implementation provides a method of identifying locations on a map, with the map being for display via a computer display. Still another implementation provides a method of introducing a watermark message to a watermark embedder located on-chip with an image array. Other implementations and embodiments are provided as well. | 02-04-2016 |
20160035060 | METHOD FOR WATERMARKING THE TEXT PORTION OF A DOCUMENT - A method for watermarking a document containing at least one text portion comprising the following steps: —determining a specific character font comprising, for at least one character, an original graphic and at least one variation, each of the variations being associated with a different value, said character being termed encodable characters; —using the specific character font to encode an item of information in the text portion of the document, by replacing at least one original graphic with a variation, the original graphic and the variation or variations being identified as a single character by a first optical character recognition process referred to as standard OCR and identified as a plurality of characters by a second optical character recognition process referred to as specific OCR that is capable of determining if the represented character is the original graphic or one of the variations of same and, if so, making it possible to determine the variation that is represented, a strict order relationship being defined on the encodable characters in order to establish the order in which the encodable characters are to be processed during the decoding phase. | 02-04-2016 |
20160035094 | IMAGE-BASED OBJECT LOCATION SYSTEM AND PROCESS - A camera image, associated pose, and range data are applied as inputs to a floor plan generation process, which outputs a venue floor plan. The camera image, associated pose, and venue floor plan are input to a data extraction process, which outputs feature geo-location and metadata information to a data storage mechanism. | 02-04-2016 |
20160042487 | System and Method to detect video piracy - System and Method to detect video piracy. This embodiment relates to management of video files, and more particularly to detecting piracy in video files. The embodiments herein achieve a system and method to detect video piracy by using unique identifiers embedded in escape frames in a video. | 02-11-2016 |
20160042532 | METHOD FOR MONITORING WATER LEVEL OF A WATER BODY AND SYSTEM FOR IMPLEMENTING THE METHOD - In a method for monitoring water level of a water body, a monitoring system is configured to: capture a current image that has a portion of the water body, and a remaining portion aside from the portion of the water body; process the current image into a processed image that includes a water body region corresponding to the portion of the water body, and a background region corresponding to the remaining portion of the current image; mark, on the processed image, a plurality of virtual alert points according to a predetermined water level of the water body; determine whether at least one of the virtual alert points is located within the water body region of the processed image; and generate a monitoring result according to the determination thus made. | 02-11-2016 |
20160042741 | METHODS FOR WATERMARKING MEDIA DATA - Methods are provided for encoding watermark information into media data containing a series of digital samples in a sample domain. The methods involve: dividing the series of digital samples into a plurality of sections in the sample domain, each section comprising a corresponding plurality of samples; processing the corresponding plurality of samples in each section to obtain a single energy value associated with each section; grouping the sections into groups, each group containing three or more sections; for each group, assigning a nominal bit value according to a bit assignment rule, assigning a watermark bit value and comparing the watermark bit value to the nominal bit value. If the nominal bit value and the watermark bit value do not match, modifying one or more energy values of one or more corresponding sections in the group where re-application of the bit assignment rule would assign the watermark bit value to the group. | 02-11-2016 |
20160048940 | DIGITAL WATERMARKING IN DATA REPRESENTING COLOR CHANNELS - The present disclosure relates to digital watermarking. One claim recites a method to detect two or more different digital watermarks in media. The method includes: receiving captured imagery of the media, the captured imagery comprising a plurality of image frames; for a first image frame applying a first watermark detector to search for a first digital watermark hidden within the first image frame, in which an electronic processor is programmed as the first watermark detector; and for a second image frame applying a second, different watermark detector to search for a second, different watermark hidden within the second image frame, in which an electronic processor is programmed as the second watermark detector. Other claims and combinations are provided too. | 02-18-2016 |
20160055606 | WATERMARK DETECTION USING A MULTIPLICITY OF PREDICTED PATTERNS - Methods, devices and computer program products allow improved detection of watermarks into and from a multimedia content. One method for detecting watermarks from a host content includes performing watermark extraction to obtain a first sequence of watermark symbols from the host content and generating a plurality of predicted watermark templates. Each template corresponds to a sequence of watermark symbols that is predicted based on the first sequence of watermark symbols. A section of the host content is processed to obtain a candidate sequence of watermark symbols and correlation operations between the candidate sequence of watermark symbols and symbols of the predicted watermark templates are performed until a correlation result that is indicative of a successful watermark detection is obtained. An indication that the candidate sequence of watermark symbols represents at least a portion of a reliably extracted watermark message can then be produced. | 02-25-2016 |
20160055607 | CONTENT MANAGEMENT BASED ON DITHER-LIKE WATERMARK EMBEDDING - Methods, devices and computer program products allow embedding and detection of watermarks into and from a multimedia content. One watermark embedding method includes selecting a content segment that lacks inherent features for embedding of watermarks without producing perceptible artifacts, and obtaining a first dither pattern corresponding to a first watermark symbol of a watermark symbol alphabet, where each symbol is associated with a particular dither pattern. Further, each particular dither pattern, upon combination with the multimedia content segment that lacks inherent features, produces a composite content segment without perceptible artifacts. By combining the first dither pattern with the multimedia content segment that lacks inherent features, a first composite content segment with the first embedded watermark symbol is produced. The detection of watermarks messages can be carried out quickly by examining a small portions of the multimedia because even the featureless content segments include embedded watermarks. | 02-25-2016 |
20160063660 | PROTECTING CONTENT ON A MOBILE DEVICE FROM MINING - Systems and methods prevent or restrict the mining of content on a mobile device. For example, a method may include determining that content to be displayed on a screen includes content that matches a mining-restriction trigger, inserting a mining-restriction mark in the content that protects at least a portion of the content, and displaying the content with the mining-restriction mark on the screen. As another example, a method may include identifying, by a first application running on a mobile device, a mining-restriction mark in frame buffer data, the mining-restriction mark having been inserted by a second application, and determining whether the mining-restriction mark prevents mining of content. The method may also include preventing mining when the mining-restriction mark prevents mining and, when the mining-restriction mark does not prevent mining, determining a restriction for the data based on the mining-restriction mark and providing the restriction with the data for further processing. | 03-03-2016 |
20160063661 | METHOD FOR WATERMARKING A THREE DIMENSIONAL OBJECT AND METHOD FOR OBTAINING A PAYLOAD FROM A THREE DIMENSIONAL OBJECT - A method for watermarking a three-dimensional object is disclosed. The watermarking method comprises computing shape descriptor of a local neighborhood of a current vertex among the plurality of vertices of the three-dimensional object; obtaining a target shape descriptor from the shape descriptor using a quantization grid associated with a watermark payload; and modifying said local neighborhood wherein a position of at least one vertex of said local neighborhood is modified such that a shape descriptor of said modified local neighborhood is close to said target shape descriptor and wherein said current vertex is not modified. | 03-03-2016 |
20160071229 | WATERMARKING SYSTEM - A method of watermarking includes determining a first substantially uniform color pixel space in a first frame of a video, determining a first offset color based on the first substantially uniform color pixel space, and compositing a first watermark trace of a watermark key having the first offset color into the substantially uniform color pixel space so that a modified video frame is creating having the first watermark trace of the watermark key having the first offset color. | 03-10-2016 |
20160071273 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR EXTRACTING PEAK IMAGE FROM CONTINUOUSLY PHOTOGRAPHED IMAGES - An apparatus for extracting a peak image includes an image selector configured to select one of continuously photographed images; a base image determiner configured to determine at least one base image according to a predetermined criterion; a difference calculator configured to calculate a difference between the selected image and the at least one base image; and a peak image determiner configured to determine a peak image among the continuously photographed images based on the calculated difference. | 03-10-2016 |
20160072979 | METHOD OF SECURELY TRANSMITTING AN IMAGE FROM AN ELECTRONIC IDENTITY DOCUMENT TO A TERMINAL - The invention relates to systems and methods of securely transmitting an image stored in the memory of an identity document to a first terminal that is suitable for receiving the image. In various implementations, operations are performed by the identity document, including
| 03-10-2016 |
20160073002 | USER INFORMATION ACQUISITION METHOD AND USER INFORMATION ACQUISITION APPARATUS - The present application discloses a user information acquisition method and a user information acquisition apparatus. The method comprises: acquiring an image comprising at least one digital watermark; acquiring user related information corresponding to a current user and comprised in the at least one digital watermark, wherein the user related information comprises application startup information used to start a corresponding application; and projecting the user related information to a fundus of the user. The present application enables a user to start a corresponding application rapidly, securely, and conveniently. | 03-10-2016 |
20160078584 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, AND NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM - A plurality of images obtained by capturing, dividing over a plurality of times, a printed material in which additional information is embedded are input. Feature information concerning each of the inputted plurality of images is extracted. A poor quality area in the images is evaluated. An overlapping area of the plurality of images is specified based on the feature information. Additional information embedded in the printed material is extracted based on a result of the evaluating and a result of the specifying. | 03-17-2016 |
20160098810 | Watermarking and Scalability Techniques for a Virtual Desktop Planning Tool - A method for measuring performance of virtual desktop services offered by a server including a processor is described. A first encoded watermark is embedded into user interface display generated by a virtual desktop when initiating an operation. The first encoded watermark includes pixels identifying the operation and indicating its initiation. A second encoded watermark is embedded into the user interface upon completion of the operation indicating completion of the operation. An action performance time is then computed and stored in a memory. Multiple performance times may be compiled from multiple operations of multiple virtual desktops to assess the performance of the system as a whole. | 04-07-2016 |
20160105583 | Using a Security Feature with a Digital Image File - Among other things, at a cloud-based service, digital image files are received from which digital images can be displayed on devices. For each of the digital image files, data is embedded in the digital image file on behalf of a party who has rights in the digital image file. The existence of the embedded data is not perceptible in any digital image that is displayed using the digital image file. The embedded data includes information from which the digital image file can be authenticated. At the cloud-based service, a digital image file is received that is to be authenticated. The digital image file is authenticated based on the embedded data. | 04-14-2016 |
20160110838 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF WATERMARKING - A method of watermarking video images of a particular instance of a virtual environment is provided. The method includes selecting a plurality of virtual objects for inclusion within the virtual environment and respectively altering a physical property of the selected virtual objects from a reference value to a respective different value. The respective different value is selected responsive to respective identification values of identification data associated with that particular instance of the virtual environment. The physical property has a visible effect on the appearance of the virtual objects. The method further includes rendering, for display, the virtual environment comprising the altered virtual objects. | 04-21-2016 |
20160110839 | METHODS AND ARRANGEMENTS FOR IDENTIFYING OBJECTS - In some arrangements, product packaging is digitally watermarked over most of its extent to facilitate high-throughput item identification at retail checkouts. Imagery of such packaging is analyzed to detect digital watermarking. One claim recites a method utilized at a retail checkout location comprising: receiving imagery representing a packaged item from a digital camera, the packaged item including digital watermarking hidden on its packaging, the packaged item moving relative to the digital camera; determining a region in the imagery corresponding to at least one relatively faster moving object; arranging watermark detection blocks over the determine region; an detecting the digital watermarking from the watermark detection blocks. Of course other claims and combinations are also provided. | 04-21-2016 |
20160117557 | APPARATUS FOR DETECTING FAULTS IN VIDEO FRAMES OF VIDEO SEQUENCE - A fault detection circuit for detecting faults in a video sequence includes a multiple input signature register (MISR) with a linear feedback shift register (LFSR) that receives pixel data for pixels in a frame region for video frames of a video sequence and receives a read signal to read the pixel data and shift the MISR; a multiple signature storage buffer (MSSB) that stores frame signatures; and a signature comparator that compares current and reference frame signatures to determine if a fault condition exists in the video sequence. The MISR holds a frame signature for the frame region of the video frame while receiving a frame end signal. The MSSB stores a current frame signature held by the MISR after receiving the frame end signal. The MSSB also stores a reference frame signature. A display processing circuit includes the fault detection circuit. An integrated circuit includes the display processing circuit. | 04-28-2016 |
20160117791 | POSITION INFORMATION ADDING APPARATUS, POSITION INFORMATION ADDING METHOD, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM FOR ADDING POSITION INFORMATION AND POSITION DETECTION APPARATUS - A position information adding apparatus includes: a reference position setting unit which sets a plurality of reference positions for each of a plurality of pictures contained in digitalized video data; a region setting unit which sets a first position information adding region at a first position defined based on at least any of the plurality of reference positions and a second position information adding region at a second position different from the first position, for each of the plurality of pictures; and a position information embedding unit which embeds a first moving pattern which moves on the pictures in a first temporal period into the first position information adding region and a second moving pattern which moves on the pictures in a second temporal period into the second position information adding region. | 04-28-2016 |
20160117792 | METHOD FOR WATERMARKING A THREE-DIMENSIONAL OBJECT - A method for watermarking a three-dimensional object is disclosed. The three-dimensional object is represented by a mesh. A mesh comprises a plurality of vertices. The method further comprises computing an original thickness signature for said mesh from a plurality of thickness values, wherein a thickness value is computed for a vertex of the mesh; determining a target thickness signature, wherein the target thickness signature is a function of a watermark payload and of the original thickness signature; and modifying a position of at least one vertex of the mesh wherein a thickness signature computed for the modified mesh reaches the target thickness signature and wherein a distortion constraint between the mesh and the modified mesh is satisfied. | 04-28-2016 |
20160132984 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR VISUALIZING A CORRELATION MARK USING AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE - A mobile electronic device is used to decode a printed correlation mark. The device receives an image of a printed correlation mark, identifies a decoding template, applies the template to detect hidden content within the printed correlation mark, and outputs an image of the detected hidden content on the display. The device may enhance the image before presenting it on the display. | 05-12-2016 |
20160132986 | SIGNAL PROCESSORS AND METHODS FOR ESTIMATING TRANSFORMATIONS BETWEEN SIGNALS WITH LEAST SQUARES - Signal processing devices and methods estimate transforms between signals using a least squares technique. From a seed set of transform candidates, a direct least squares method applies a seed transform candidate to a reference signal and then measures correlation between the transformed reference signal and a suspect signal. For each candidate, update coordinates of reference signal features are identified in the suspect signal and provided as input to a least squares method to compute an update to the transform candidate. The method iterates so long as the update of the transform provides a better correlation. At the end of the process, the method identifies a transform or set of top transforms based on a further analysis of correlation, as well as other results. | 05-12-2016 |
20160148334 | WATERMARK DETECTION AND METADATA DELIVERY ASSOCIATED WITH A PRIMARY CONTENT - Methods, devices, systems and computer program products enable enhances delivery and use of metadata that is associated a primary multimedia content. Watermarks that are detected by a watermark extractor produce an indication as to astute of the watermark detector as being in one of a an unmarked content state, a marked content state or a gap state, and cause the watermark extractor to transition from one state to another state based on event that are recognized based a failure or a success in detecting watermarks, an indication of low content activity and a previous state of the watermark extractor. The events and states associated with the watermark extractor further allows retrieval of new metadata associated with the primary content, use of an existing metadata in a modified manner or a change in presentation of a secondary content that is associated with the primary content. | 05-26-2016 |
20160155208 | CONTENT WATERMARKING | 06-02-2016 |
20160156805 | STEGANOGRAPHIC ENCODING AND DECODING | 06-02-2016 |
20160171639 | CHAOTIC WATERMARKING FOR A DIGITAL IMAGE | 06-16-2016 |
20160179346 | IMAGE RECONSTRUCTING APPARATUS, IMAGE RECONSTRUCTING METHOD, AND NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM | 06-23-2016 |
20160180746 | System, Apparatus and Method for Mapping | 06-23-2016 |
20160182759 | Authenticatable Object Incorporating An Image That Appears To Float Above A Plane | 06-23-2016 |
20160188979 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR AUDIO-VIDEO SIGNAL PROCESSING - Both fingerprinting and watermark decoding processes are applied to received items of audio-visual content. Further processing is applied as well. This further processing depends on output data from the watermark decoding process, and can cause two items of seemingly-identical audio-visual content to be further-processed in different ways. | 06-30-2016 |
20160196630 | EXTRACTING AND MODIFYING A WATERMARK SIGNAL FROM AN OUTPUT SIGNAL OF A WATERMARKING ENCODER | 07-07-2016 |
20160196631 | Hybrid Automatic Content Recognition and Watermarking | 07-07-2016 |
20160198064 | SPOT COLOR SUBSTITUTION FOR DIGITAL WATERMARKING | 07-07-2016 |
20160253772 | SECURE CONTENT AND DOCUMENT WATERMARKING | 09-01-2016 |
20160378183 | DISPLAY APPARATUS AND IMAGE CORRECTION METHOD THEREOF - A display apparatus for a video call is provided. The display apparatus includes a display configured to display a first image received from an external apparatus; a communication unit configured to receive a second image generated by capturing a user while the first image is displayed; an image processor configured to detect a point of gaze of the user from the second image; and a controller configured to determine whether the point of gaze is located in a preset region of the first image and control the communication unit to transmit the second image or a third image that is obtained by editing the point of gaze in the second image to the external apparatus based on a determination result. | 12-29-2016 |
20160379082 | INTUITIVE COMPUTING METHODS AND SYSTEMS - In one particular aspect, a portable computing device (e.g., a tablet or smartphone) senses audio and/or image content from a user's environment, and initiates one or more recognition agents (e.g., performing image watermark recognition, image recognition, object recognition, facial recognition, barcode recognition, optical character recognition, audio watermark recognition, speech recognition, speaker recognition, or music recognition). Resource allocation to a recognition agent can be varied based on (a) progress of the recognition agent to achieve its recognition goal, and (b) user interest data indicating user interest in the output of the recognition agent. A second candidate recognition agent can be evaluated for possible launch, based on a relevance score, and a cost score. In some embodiments, the device adapts its operation to changing context, by terminating a first recognition agent in favor of a second recognition agent, without express user instruction to do so. A great number of other features and arrangements are also detailed. | 12-29-2016 |
20160379330 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROTECTING DIGITAL PHOTOS FROM ALTERATION - An encoding apparatus partitions a digital image into multiple regions for subsequent encoding. A first encryption code is associated with a first region, a second encryption code is associated with a second region and the first code, and a third code is associated with the first code, the second code and a third region. An authentication apparatus authenticates the digital image in an inverse process. | 12-29-2016 |
20170236239 | FULL COLOR VISIBILITY MODEL USING CSF WHICH VARIES SPATIALLY WITH LOCAL LUMINANCE | 08-17-2017 |
20170236240 | WATERMARK DETECTION WITH PAYLOAD | 08-17-2017 |
20180025224 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IDENTIFYING UNCLAIMED ELECTRONIC DOCUMENTS | 01-25-2018 |
20180025462 | Method and Apparatus for Publishing Locational Copyrighted Watermarking Video | 01-25-2018 |
20180025503 | VISUAL REGRESSION TESTING TOOL | 01-25-2018 |
20190147281 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MONITORING SAFETY CRITICAL SYMBOLS ON A DISPLAY | 05-16-2019 |
20190147584 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SINGLE IMAGE OBJECT DENSITY ESTIMATION | 05-16-2019 |
20190147635 | SYSTEM, METHOD, AND PROGRAM FOR MANAGING EVALUATION OF AVATAR IMAGES | 05-16-2019 |
20220136817 | Reconfigurable Optical Sensing Apparatus and Method Thereof - Systems, apparatuses, and methods for improved reconfigurable optical sensing are provided. For instance, an example optical sensing apparatus can include a photodetector array including a plurality of photodetectors. The optical sensing apparatus can include circuitry or one or more processing devices configured to receive one or more electrical signals representing an optical signal received by a first subset of the plurality of photodetectors; determine, based on the one or more electrical signals, a region of interest in the photodetector array for optical measurements; and deactivate, based on the region of interest, a second subset of the plurality of photodetectors of the photodetector array. | 05-05-2022 |
20220138896 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR POSITIONING - The present disclosure relates to positioning systems and methods. A system may obtain point-cloud data acquired by one or more sensors associated with a subject during a time period. The point-cloud data may be associated with an initial position of the subject. The system may also divide the point-cloud data into a plurality of groups. The system may also obtain pose data of the subject corresponding to each group of the plurality of groups of the point-cloud data. The system may also register, based on the pose data of the subject, the each group of the plurality of groups of the point-cloud data to form registered point-cloud data. The system may also generate, based on the registered point-cloud data, a local map associated with the initial position of the subject. | 05-05-2022 |