16th week of 2014 patent applcation highlights part 37 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20140105412 | USER DESIGNED ACTIVE NOISE CANCELLATION (ANC) CONTROLLER FOR HEADPHONES - Embodiments are directed towards enabling headphones to perform active noise cancellation for a particular user. Each separate user may enable individualized noise canceling headphones for one or more noise environments. When the user is wearing the headphones in a quiet environment, a user may employ a computer to initiate determination of a plant model of each ear cup specific to the user. When the user is wearing the headphones in a target noise environment, the user may utilize the computer to initiate determination of operating parameters of a controller for each ear cup of the headphones. The computer may provide the operating parameters of each controller to the headphones. And the operation of each controller may be updated based on the determined operating parameters. The updated headphones may be utilized by the user to provide active noise cancellation. | 2014-04-17 |
20140105413 | NOISE CANCELLATION - A noise cancellation signal is generated by generating an ambient noise signal, representing ambient noise, and generating a noise cancellation signal, by applying the ambient noise signal to an feedforward filter, where the feedforward filter comprises a high-pass filter having an adjustable cut-off frequency, and by applying a controllable gain. The noise cancellation signal is then applied to a loudspeaker, to generate a sound to at least partially cancel the ambient noise. An error signal is generated, representing unwanted sound in the region of the loudspeaker. The phase of the ambient noise signal is compared to a phase of the error signal, and the gain is controlled on the basis of a result of the comparison, taking account of a phase shift introduced by the high-pass filter when performing the comparison. | 2014-04-17 |
20140105414 | Apparatus and Methods for Limiting Sound Volume in Headphones - Exemplary embodiments or implementations are disclosed of methods, apparatus, and systems for a volume limiter circuit. A rectifier sub-circuit is configured to rectify at least a portion of an audio signal received from an audio source. A junction field effect transistor (JFET) has a channel connected in series between the audio source and a speaker. A feedback sub-circuit is configured to provide a gate signal at a gate of the JFET and to modulate a control signal in accordance with the audio signal crossing the JFET channel. The feedback sub-circuit is connected with the rectifier sub-circuit so as to extend a range of variable resistance of the JFET channel. The limiter circuit provides functionality that changes in response to varying audio voltages. | 2014-04-17 |
20140105415 | HIGH BANDWIDTH CONFIGURABLE SERIAL LINK - Aspects of the disclosure provide an audio circuit that includes a clock circuit, a transmitting circuit, an audio data preparation circuit and a controller. The controller is configured to provide control signals to configure the transmitting circuit and the audio data preparation circuit according to one of a plurality of link protocol. The clock circuit is configured to provide a clock signal for bit transmission. The transmitting circuit is configured to transmit a bit in response to a transition edge of the clock signal according to the link protocol. The audio data preparation circuit is configured to insert audio data into a bit stream and provide the bit stream to the transmitting circuit according to the link protocol. | 2014-04-17 |
20140105416 | METHODS, APPARATUSES AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS FOR FACILITATING DIRECTIONAL AUDIO CAPTURE WITH MULTIPLE MICROPHONES - An apparatus for providing directional audio capture may include a processor and memory storing executable computer program code that cause the apparatus to at least perform operations including assigning at least one beam direction, among a plurality of beam directions, in which to direct directionality of an output signal of one or more microphones. The computer program code may further cause the apparatus to divide microphone signals of the microphones into selected frequency subbands wherein an analysis performed. The computer program code may further cause the apparatus to select at least one set of microphones of the apparatus for selected frequency subbands. The computer program code may further cause the apparatus to optimize the assigned at least one beam direction by adjusting a beamformer parameter(s) based on the selected set of microphones and at least one of the selected frequency subbands. Corresponding methods and computer program products are also provided. | 2014-04-17 |
20140105417 | AUDIO SIGNAL PLAYBACK SYSTEM AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE - The present invention relates to the field of signal processing technologies, and provides an audio signal playback system and an electronic device. The system includes: two or more loudspeakers, configured to separately play audio signals in different frequency bands; a filter unit, configured to filter an input audio signal, amplify the filtered audio signal, and output the amplified audio signal to the two or more loudspeakers; and a feedback control unit, configured to collect the audio signals played by the two or more loudspeakers, measure power values of the audio signals in different frequency bands, and adjust, according to an measurement result, a amplification factor of the filter unit for the filtered audio signal in a corresponding frequency band. | 2014-04-17 |
20140105418 | FREQUENCY DOMAIN MULTIBAND DYNAMICS COMPRESSOR WITH SPECTRAL BALANCE COMPENSATION - A multiband dynamics compressor implements a solution for minimizing unwanted changes to the long-term frequency response. The solution essentially proposes undoing the multiband compression in a controlled manner using much slower smoothing times. In this regard, the compensation provided acts more like an equalizer than a compressor. What is applied is a very slowly time-varying, frequency-dependent post-gain (make-up gain) that attempts to restore the smoothed long-term level of each compressor band. | 2014-04-17 |
20140105419 | ASYMMETRIC POLYNOMIAL PSYCHOACOUSTIC BASS ENHANCEMENT - Psychoacoustic bass audio signal enhancement can be accomplished using a monotonic, asymmetric polynomial distortion. A non-linear process applies a monotonic, asymmetric polynomial distortion function that has continuous first and second derivatives to generate even and odd harmonics of missing fundamental frequencies. This polynomial distortion produces the desired psychoacoustic effect with a fairly rapid roll-off so as to avoid unpleasant aliasing. Moreover, the lack of first-order discontinuities prevents clicks or glitches. | 2014-04-17 |
20140105420 | BROADCAST ADVERTISEMENT VOLUME CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD THEREFOR - A system for controlling a volume of a broadcast advertisement including an advertisement agency server, a broadcaster server, a monitoring apparatus, and an advertisement company server, which are connected through a wire or wireless communication network is provided. The advertisement agency server includes an advertisement material storage unit, an advertisement material conversion unit, an advertisement watermark generation unit, a format conversion unit, and a cost calculation unit. The advertisement material conversion unit includes an advertisement reference volume storage unit for storing reference volume information of a volume included in the advertisement material, a volume comparison unit for comparing to determine whether an advertisement reference volume is different from a broadcaster reference volume stored in the broadcaster reference volume storage unit, and an advertisement volume conversion unit for storing the advertisement material having a changed volume and converted advertisement information in the advertisement agency server. | 2014-04-17 |
20140105421 | SOUND OUTPUT SYSTEM, NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM HAVING SOUND OUTPUT PROGRAM STORED THEREON, SOUND OUTPUT CONTROL METHOD, AND INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS - An information processing apparatus generates a signal of a first sound to be output to a first output device, and a signal of a second sound which is a sound to be output to a second output device and whose content is different from that of the first sound. The second output device is capable of setting a volume, and outputs a sound based on the signal of the second sound at a set volume. In addition, the second output device notifies an information processing apparatus of information about the set volume. When the set volume is small, the information processing apparatus generates the signal of the first sound so that at least a part of sounds included in the second sound is included in the first sound. | 2014-04-17 |
20140105422 | METHOD AND AN APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING AN AUDIO SIGNAL - A method of processing an audio signal, the method including receiving a downmix signal and a first information, the downmix signal including at least one object, the first information including object information indicating an attribute of the at least one object; receiving a second information, the second information including external preset information and applied object number information, the external preset information being an external input and including an external preset rendering parameter and external preset metadata, the applied object number information indicating a number of objects to which the external preset information is applied; generating downmix processing information controlling panning or gain of the downmix signal by using the object information and the external preset information based on the applied object number information; and modifying the downmix signal by using the downmix processing information. | 2014-04-17 |
20140105423 | METHOD AND AN APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING AN AUDIO SIGNAL - An apparatus for processing an audio signal and method thereof, the method including receiving a downmix signal including at least one normal object signal, and a bitstream including object information determined when the downmix signal is generated; extracting an extension type identifier indicating whether the downmix signal further includes a multi-channel object signal, from an extension part of the bitstream; extracting spatial information from the bitstream when the extension type identifier indicates that the downmix signal further includes the multi-channel object signal; and transmitting spatial information when mode information indicates that the least one normal object signal is to be suppressed. The spatial information is determined when a multi-channel source signal is downmixed into the multi-channel object signal. The mix information is to control an object position or an object level of the at least one normal object signal. | 2014-04-17 |
20140105424 | METHOD AND AN APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING AN AUDIO SIGNAL - An apparatus for processing an audio signal and method thereof, the method including receiving a downmix signal including at least one normal object signal, and a bitstream including object information determined when the downmix signal is generated; extracting, from an extension part of the bitstream, an extension type identifier indicating whether the downmix signal further includes a multi-channel object signal; generating spatial information using the object information and mix information when mode information indicates that the multi-channel object signal is to be suppressed and the extension type identifier indicates that the downmix signal further includes the multi-channel object signal; and transmitting spatial information. The mix information is to control an object position or an object level of the at least one normal object signal. | 2014-04-17 |
20140105425 | Acoustic Amplification Device - An amplification device amplifies sound waves that emit from a portable electronic device. The portable electronic device joins the amplification device at a horizontal orientation that is efficacious for watching videos in wide screen format. A slot in the amplifying device engages a speaker in the portable electronic device. The amplifying device receives sound waves generated by the speaker at a narrow, speaker receiving end, passes the sound waves through an acoustic channel, and finally emits the sound waves from a wide, amplifying end. Increasing surface area at the wide end of the amplifying device lowers the acoustic impedance, and consequently amplifies the sound waves. The sound waves amplify because acoustic impedance is lowered and matched to the proximate air. A cone-shaped dispersion port positions within the acoustic channel to optimize sound wave dispersion. A housing contains the components and has a sloped surface for supporting chargers. | 2014-04-17 |
20140105426 | NARROW PROFILE SPEAKER CONFIGURATIONS AND SYSTEMS - A narrow profile speaker unit comprises at least one speaker outputting sound towards an internal surface and through a duct with an output terminus, such as a slot, having a narrow dimension, effectively changing the cross-section of the speaker's audio output wave. A pair of speakers may face one another, outputting sound towards a common output slot. Multiple pairs of speakers may be used to form an inline speaker unit for increased sound output. A slotted speaker unit may include multiple speakers facing the same direction, towards a groundplane or reflecting surface, and having parallel apertures for allowing sound radiation. The speaker units may be integral with or attached to electronic appliances such as desktop computers or flatscreen devices, or may be used in automobiles or other contexts. | 2014-04-17 |
20140105427 | SPEAKER DEVICE - A speaker device includes a voice coil, a lead wire configured to be pulled out of the voice coil, a vibrating body connecting to the voice coil, a magnetic circuit comprising a yoke, and a frame that supports the vibrating body. The yoke includes a bottom portion including a plurality of corners and a side portion extending toward the vibrating body from one side of the bottom portion. The lead wire is configured to pass through a space that is outside of and next to the side portion of the yoke and between the frame and the vibrating body. The lead wire is configured to pass above a cutout of the yoke and bend toward and through the space. | 2014-04-17 |
20140105428 | COMPONENT HAVING A MICROMECHANICAL MICROPHONE STRUCTURE - A capacitive MEMS microphone structure is provided, which micromechanical microphone structure of component is realized in a layer construction and includes: a diaphragm structure sensitive to sound pressure, which is deflectable in a direction perpendicular to the layer planes of the layer construction; an acoustically penetrable counter-element which has through holes and is formed above or below the diaphragm structure in the layer construction; and a capacitor system for detecting the excursions of the diaphragm structure. The diaphragm structure includes a structural element in the middle area of the diaphragm structure, which structural element projects perpendicularly from the diaphragm plane and which, depending on the degree of excursion of the diaphragm structure, variably extends into a correspondingly formed and positioned through hole in the counter-element. | 2014-04-17 |
20140105429 | AUDIO SYSTEM AND AUDIO CHARACTERISTIC CONTROL DEVICE - An audio system includes plural speakers including a planar speaker configured to emit a plane wave on the basis of a received audio signal, and a controller configured to supply audio signals to the plural speakers respectively, and to set signal levels of audio signals to be supplied to the planar speaker and at least one speaker, other than the planar speaker, of the plural speakers in accordance with a control signal specifying a perceived distance of sound to be heard by a listener. | 2014-04-17 |
20140105430 | RADIATION-RESISTANT EARPHONE WIRE - The invention relates to a radiation-resistant earphone wire, particularly to signal lines having at least a radiation-resistant device on a predetermined position thereof and the radiation-resistant device including: a radiation absorber being a cylindrical body, made of a magnetic material with high permeability and having a first through hole in a middle thereof and a radiation blocker made of a metal sleeve body and coating on an outer periphery of the radiation absorber and a top of the radiation blocker corresponding to the first through hole has a second through hole for the signal lines passing through. Based on the features disclosed, the radiation absorber at an inner layer absorbs EMI radiation and the radiation blocker at an outer layer has a shielding effect and both the radiation absorber and the radiation blocker together form an anti-EMI structure, avoiding human brain damage caused by the electromagnetic waves. | 2014-04-17 |
20140105431 | EARPIECE - An ear unit for stably fitting in an ear includes a first surface facing inwardly toward the ear, a second, opposite surface facing outwardly from the ear and an outer circumferential surface formed between the first and second surfaces. The outer circumferential surface is shaped as a decremental curve. The distance between the ends of the decremental curve is approximately equal to the distance between a first cavity formed under the tragus of the ear and second cavity covered by the lower node of the antihelix of the ear. The first surface is provided with a curvature that provides a contact surface that substantially conforms to the concha, providing an improved attachment, thereby enabling the ear unit to fit closely against the concha when the ear unit is positioned into the ear. | 2014-04-17 |
20140105432 | Multipurpose Connector for Multiplexing Headset Interface into High-Definition Video and Audio Interface, and Handheld Electronic Device - The present invention provides a multipurpose connector for multiplexing a headset interface into a high-definition video/audio input interface and a handheld device including the multipurpose connector. The multipurpose connector includes a headset connector, a selecting switch, a high-definition video/audio transceiver, and an audio output module. The headset connector includes a first audio terminal and a second audio terminal. The audio output module is configured to output an audio signal of the headset. The selecting switch includes first and second lines. When the selecting switch communicates with the first line, the first audio terminal and the second audio terminal are coupled to a pair of differential transmission lines respectively, and the pair of differential transmission lines is configured to transmit high-definition video/audio data output by the high-definition video/audio transceiver. When the selecting switch communicates with the second line, the first audio terminal is coupled to the audio output module. | 2014-04-17 |
20140105433 | Automated Sound Processor - Disclosed are methods and apparatuses for optimizing which sound processing modes are enabled in the sound processing pathway of a hearing prosthesis. A sound processor classifies in the input signal and enables a first sound processing mode based on the classification of the input signal. The sound processor transforms the input signal into a transformed signal based on the enabled sound processing mode. The processor further classifies the transformed signal and identifies a second classification. Based on the second classification, the processor enables a second sound processing mode. Sometimes, the second classification is a classification that is only apparent to the sound processor after the first sound processing mode has been enabled. The second processing mode transforms the transformed signal into an output signal based on the second enabled sound processing mode. | 2014-04-17 |
20140105434 | AUDIO PROCESSING PIPELINE FOR AUDITORY PROSTHESIS HAVING A COMMON, AND TWO OR MORE STIMULATOR-SPECIFIC, FREQUENCY-ANALYSIS STAGES - An audio processing pipeline, for an auditory prosthesis, includes: a common stage, including a common frequency analysis filter bank, configured to generate a common set of processed signals based on an input audio signal; and first and second stimulator-specific stages, responsive to the common set of signals and including first and second frequency-analysis filter banks, configured to generate first and second sets of processed signals adapted for the first and second hearing stimulators, respectively. | 2014-04-17 |
20140105435 | METHOD FOR OPERATING A HEARING DEVICE AS WELL AS A HEARING DEVICE - A method for operating a hearing device by applying a frequency transposition scheme to an input signal of the hearing device comprising an input transducer, a signal processing unit and an output transducer, the method comprising the steps of transforming the input signal from time domain into frequency domain by applying a transformation function in order to obtain an input spectrum having a frequency range comprising a source region ( | 2014-04-17 |
20140105436 | HEARING AID GAIN DETERMINATION SYSTEM, HEARING AID GAIN DETERMINATION METHOD, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM - A hearing aid gain determination system includes: a biological signal measurement section for measureing an electroencephalogram signal; a sound group determination section for determining a frequency of a sound group including first, second and third sounds; a sound pressure determination section for determining sound pressures of the first to third sounds so that the respective sound pressures are less than a threshold and that the first to third sounds consecutively decrease; an output section for presenting the first to third sounds at the determined frequency and sound pressures; a characteristic amount extraction section for extracting a characteristic amount concerning time-frequency information of an event-related potential in a time range after presenting the first to third sounds; a gain determination section for determining a hearing aid gain for the frequency of the sound stimulation group against a predetermined criterion based on the characteristic amounts. | 2014-04-17 |
20140105437 | MINIATURE SPEAKER AND SPEAKER CABINET AND HEARING AID - A miniature speaker and speaker cabinet are provided, wherein the speaker is enclosed in an oblong capsule with a sound output opening at one end and leads passing from a speaker coil inside the capsule to connection points externally on the capsule, and where the cabinet encloses the capsule and at one end thereof comprise a lead input opening with leads passing there through to the connection points on the capsule, and where the cabinet further comprise a sound exit opening opposite the lead input opening, which is in fluid communication with the sound output opening of the capsule, wherein the cabinet has an internal space surpassing external measures of the capsule in all directions defining a gap between the capsule and cabinet wherein the thus defined gab is filled out with a hardening silicone. | 2014-04-17 |
20140105438 | Hearing Aid Positioning System And Structure - A hearing aid includes a relatively rigid shell which holds hearing aid electronics and one or more flexible, shape-retaining filaments attached to the hearing aid shell. The filament(s) extend(s) out a proximal side of the hearing aid shell having a shape which interacts with the user's ear anatomy such as the conchae bowl. The shape determines an insertion depth of the hearing aid shell into the user's ear canal, and a spring action biases the hearing aid toward the desired insertion depth. The hearing aid supported by the filament(s) provides an open, unoccluding position in the ear canal. | 2014-04-17 |
20140105439 | LOUDSPEAKER WITH IMPROVED THERMAL LOAD CAPACITY - The present invention relates to a loudspeaker ( | 2014-04-17 |
20140105440 | ACOUSTIC SYSTEMS FOR ELECTRONIC DEVICES - A portable electronic device may have acoustic ports such as microphone and speaker ports. Acoustic devices such as microphones and speakers may be associated with the acoustic ports. An acoustic port may have an opening between an interior and exterior of the portable electronic device. The opening may be covered by a metal mesh. An acoustic fabric may be interposed between the metal mesh and the opening. The opening may be formed from a hole in a glass member having outer and inner chamfers. A microphone boot may be provided that forms front and rear radial seals with a housing of the device and a microphone unit respectively. The microphone boot may also form multiple face seals with the microphone unit. A speaker for the speaker port may be enclosed in a sealed speaker enclosure. The speaker enclosure may have a pressure-equalizing vent slit covered with an acoustic mesh. | 2014-04-17 |
20140105441 | Interchangeable Attachable Extendable and Retractable Earpiece Cable Assembly for Mobile Communication and Sound Devices - An interchangeable, extendable and retractable audio earpiece cable assembly for a mobile electronic or sound device having an audio output port. A protective casing assembly is adapted to attach to the mobile communication or sound device. A platform assembly having a cable reel housing is removably attached to the protective casing assembly. A cable attached at one end to an earpiece retractably extends from the cable reel housing at another end. | 2014-04-17 |
20140105442 | ERGONOMIC EARPIECE AND ATTACHMENTS - An earpiece that substantially lacks a lower lobe is disclosed. In one example, the earpiece can have a generally arcuate rib having upper and lower ends. A lobe can be formed at the upper end of the arcuate rib. No lobe is formed at the lower end of the arcuate rib. An extension can extend from the earpiece and can be configured to extend into the ear canal. Eliminating the lower lobe mitigates discomfort during use and also reduces the likelihood of tissue damage and infection. The extension can enhance communication of desired sound, e.g., from a two-way radio, to an eardrum while mitigating communication of undesirable ambient noise to the eardrum. Other implementations and related methods are also disclosed. | 2014-04-17 |
20140105443 | REFLECTIVE CORDS - Disclosed herein are retroreflective audio cords. The audio cords can be coupled to an audio jack and headphones. The cords may include braided strands of a non-retroreflective material and retroreflective material. In use, the audio cords may be used to increase the visibility of the wearer. The audio cords may also be waterproof and/or configured to float. | 2014-04-17 |
20140105444 | LOUDSPEAKER - A loudspeaker includes a longitudinal enclosure having at least one subwoofer speaker for emitting lower sound frequencies; a carrier portion on top of the longitudinal enclosure; and a speaker arrangement having individual speakers for emitting higher sound frequencies arranged in a different direction with respect to the longitudinal enclosure, wherein the speaker arrangement is fixed to the carrier portion and is not surrounded by the longitudinal enclosure. | 2014-04-17 |
20140105445 | FLAT-PANEL SPEAKER HAVING A MULTILAYER PCB PATTERN VOICE COIL FILM - The present invention relates to a flat-panel speaker, and more particularly, to a flat-panel speaker having a multilayer PCB pattern voice coil film, which enables induced electromotive force to be increased by controlling the impedance of the multilayer voice coil film. The flat panel speaker having the multilayer PCB pattern voice coil film according to the present invention is characterized in that the voice coil comprises: a PCB (printed circuit board) pattern printed thereon and voice coil films stacked in an even number of 4 layers or more. Two layers each of said voice coil films are mutually connected in series, and the serially-connected voice coil films are connected to each other in parallel. | 2014-04-17 |
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. | 2014-04-17 |
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. | 2014-04-17 |
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. | 2014-04-17 |
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. | 2014-04-17 |
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. | 2014-04-17 |
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. | 2014-04-17 |
20140105452 | SORTING / SCANNING SYSTEM CAMERA UPGRADE APPARATUS WITH BACKWARDS COMPATIBILITY - A scanning camera upgrade adaptor system provides backwards compatibility when an existing scanning camera subsystem is replaced or upgraded in automated sorting equipment with a newer camera having a different data format. The adaptor system allows sorting equipment such as mail sorting equipment to be upgraded or repaired with a new camera while providing compatibility and optional fallback to a previous mode of operation of the existing equipment. The upgrade system enables legacy equipment and newly added sorting/processing equipment to be utilized in conjunction, while reducing cost of upgrade and necessity for completely new equipment as desirable features are added. | 2014-04-17 |
20140105453 | GESTURE IDENTIFICATION WITH NATURAL IMAGES - A method for gesture identification with natural images includes generating a series of variant images by using each two or more successive ones of the natural images, extracting an image feature from each of the variant images, and comparing the varying pattern of the image feature with a gesture definition to identify a gesture. The method is inherently insensitive to indistinctness of images, and supports the motion estimation in axes X, Y, and Z without requiring the detected object to maintain a fixed gesture. | 2014-04-17 |
20140105454 | TRACKING APPARATUS - A tracking apparatus includes a grouping setting unit, a tracking feature detection unit, a tracking unit. The grouping setting unit groups a plurality of focus detection areas with an in-focus state. The tracking feature detection unit detects a feature amount of the tracking target in areas of the groups grouped. The tracking unit tracks the tracking target in accordance with a first or second tracking position depending on the number of the set groups. | 2014-04-17 |
20140105455 | INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS AND INPUT CONTROL METHOD - An information processing apparatus includes an image capturing section to capture an image of a hand; an extracting section to extract a hand area from the captured image; a reference line determining section to determine a reference pushdown line in the image on the hand area; a determining section to determine a pushdown move if the bottom part of the hand area comes below the reference pushdown line; a first position determining section to determine a depth position based on an aspect ratio of the hand area if the pushdown move is determined; a second position determining section to determine a lateral position based on a position of the bottom part of the hand area if the pushdown move is determined; and an input key determining section to determine an input key from the determined depth position and lateral position. | 2014-04-17 |
20140105456 | DEVICE, SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING COMPLIANCE WITH AN INSTRUCTION BY A FIGURE IN AN IMAGE - A 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. | 2014-04-17 |
20140105457 | METHOD FOR PROVIDING TARGET POINT CANDIDATES FOR SELECTING A TARGET POINT - Method for providing target point candidates forming a candidate set for selecting a target point from the candidate set by means of a geodetic measuring device. The measuring device is coarsely oriented toward the target point, and an image is recorded in the sighting direction. A search process for certain target object candidates in the recorded image is performed by means of image processing and wherein at least one respective point representing the target object candidate is associated with each of the target object candidates as a target point candidate. Candidates are associated with a candidate set. respective weight values are derived according to at least one value of a predetermined target point property of the candidates and associated with the target point candidates. The target point candidates from the candidate set are each provided together with respective information representing the weight value associated with the target point candidate. | 2014-04-17 |
20140105458 | METHOD FOR REMOTELY DETERMINING AN ABSOLUTE AZIMUTH OF A TARGET POINT - The invention relates to a method and system for remotely determining an absolute azimuth of a target point (B) by ground means, via the creation of an image bank georeferenced in the absolute azimuth only from a first point (P | 2014-04-17 |
20140105459 | LOCATION-AWARE EVENT DETECTION - Techniques for detecting one or more events are provided. The techniques include using multiple overlapping regions of interest on a video sequence to cover a location for one or more events, wherein each event is associated with at least one of the multiple overlapping regions of interest, applying multiple-instance learning to the video sequence to select one or more of the multiple overlapping regions of interest to construct one or more location-aware event models, and applying the models to the video sequence to detect the one or more events and to determine the one or more regions of interest that are associated with the one or more events. | 2014-04-17 |
20140105460 | IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICE AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - An image processing device, method and program in which a feature point derivation unit derives a plurality of characteristic points in an input moving image. A tracking subject feature point setting unit sets a feature point within a tracking subject, from the characteristic points. A background feature point setting unit sets a group of background feature points from the characteristic points. The background feature points are not located within the tracking subject. A motion detection unit detects movement over time of the background feature points. A clip area setting unit sets a size and a position of a clip area of an image to be employed which includes the feature point within the tracking subject, on the basis of the movement of the feature point within the tracking subject and the movement of the background feature points, when the motion detection unit detects movement of the background feature points. | 2014-04-17 |
20140105461 | METHODS AND APPARATUS TO COUNT PEOPLE IN IMAGES - Methods and apparatus to count people in images are disclosed. An example method includes analyzing frame pairs of a plurality of frame pairs captured over a period of time to identify a redundant person indication detected in an overlap region, the overlap region corresponding to an intersection of a first field of view and a second field of view; eliminating the identified redundant person indication to form a conditioned set of person indications for the period of time; grouping similarly located ones of the person indications of the conditioned set to form groups; analyzing the groups to identify redundant groups detected in the overlap region; and eliminating the redundant groups from a people tally generated based on the groups. | 2014-04-17 |
20140105462 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR DETECTING A COMPOSITION OF AN AUDIENCE OF AN INFORMATION PRESENTING DEVICE - Methods and apparatus for detecting a composition of an audience of an information presenting device are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes maintaining a first count of a number of people detected in an environment based on image data representative of the environment; when the image data is indicative of a change in the number of people detected in the environment, presenting a request for identity information; determining if the people were compliant in providing the identity information based on a difference between the number of people appearing in the image data and a second number of received identity responses; and when the people were non-compliant in providing the identity information, increasing a second count maintained for the environment indicative of unidentified people in the room. | 2014-04-17 |
20140105463 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MOTION DETECTION IN AN IMAGE - Embodiments for moving object detection in an image are disclosed. These include detecting a moving object in an input image by selecting video frames that are visually similar to the input image, generating a model motion image by estimating motion for each selected video frame, and detecting, using the model motion image, a moving object in the input image based on differences between the model motion image and the input image. | 2014-04-17 |
20140105464 | PARKING ASSIST APPARATUS AND PARKING ASSIST METHOD AND PARKING ASSIST SYSTEM USING THE SAME - Disclosed are a parking assist apparatus, a parking assist method capable of more accurately recognizing a parking space and identifying and recognizing obstacles using a three-dimensional flash Lidar and a parking assist system using the same. The parking assist apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes: an information unit acquiring information collected by using a three-dimensional flash Lidar; and a determination unit determining at least any one of a parking space and presence and absence of obstacles using the information acquired by the information unit. | 2014-04-17 |
20140105465 | DISTANCE MEASUREMENT METHOD AND SYSTEM, AND PROCESSING SOFTWARE THEREOF - A distance measurement system and method are provided. The distance measurement method first projects a light beam with a speckle pattern to reference planes and an object to allow the reference planes and a surface of the object each have an image of the speckle pattern, the speckle pattern having a plurality of speckles. Next, images of the speckle pattern reflected by the reference planes are captured to generate reference image information, and an image of the speckle pattern reflected by the surface of the object is captured to generate an object image information. A processing module which may be a processing software can compare the object image information with the reference image information to obtain several similarity scores. If the most the most similarity score is greater than a threshold value, the processing module identifies the corresponding reference plane, thereby computing the position of the object. | 2014-04-17 |
20140105466 | INTERACTIVE PHOTOGRAPHY SYSTEM AND METHOD EMPLOYING FACIAL RECOGNITION - A system and method for providing social photography services at locations such as Cruise Ship and Theme Parks with the purpose of giving a customer a unique identifier, associating the unique identifier with a reference imagine of the customer, and matching reference images to images shot at the locale using facial recognition techniques. A photograph gallery application is also provided, allowing customers and employees to access the facially recognized images for viewing, purchasing, and printing. This system and method employs computer based technology and facial recognition to provide fast and accurate photography production, processing, selection, printing, and sale. | 2014-04-17 |
20140105467 | Image Classification And Information Retrieval Over Wireless Digital Networks And The Internet - A method and system for matching an unknown facial image of an individual with an image of a celebrity using facial recognition techniques and human perception is disclosed herein. The invention provides a internet hosted system to find, compare, contrast and identify similar characteristics among two or more individuals using a digital camera, cellular telephone camera, wireless device for the purpose of returning information regarding similar faces to the user The system features classification of unknown facial images from a variety of internet accessible sources, including mobile phones, wireless camera-enabled devices, images obtained from digital cameras or scanners that are uploaded from PCs, third-party applications and databases. Once classified, the matching person's name, image and associated meta-data is sent back to the user. The method and system uses human perception techniques to weight the feature vectors. | 2014-04-17 |
20140105468 | INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD AND COMPUTER PROGRAM - Provided is an image processing apparatus including an image display unit that displays an image in a predetermined position, an imaging unit that images a face of a person, and an image selection unit that selects, based on a state of the face imaged by the imaging unit, an image having face parameters concerning the state. The image display unit displays the image selected by the image selection unit in a manner that a face portion of the image selected by the image selection unit matches a face portion of the image displayed up to immediately. | 2014-04-17 |
20140105469 | FINGER BIOMETRIC SENSOR INCLUDING LATERALLY ADJACENT PIEZOELECTRIC TRANSDUCER LAYER AND ASSOCIATED METHODS - A finger biometric sensor may include a finger biometric sensing layer having an upper major surface and at least one sidewall surface adjacent thereto. The finger biometric layer may be for generating signals related to at least one biometric characteristic of the user's finger when positioned adjacent the first major surface. The finger biometric sensor may also include a piezoelectric transducer layer coupled to the at least one sidewall surface of the finger biometric sensing layer and a plurality of electrically conductive layers coupled to the piezoelectric transducer layer to define transducer electrodes. At least one of the electrically conductive layers may also cooperate with the finger biometric sensing layer for sensing the at least one biometric characteristic. | 2014-04-17 |
20140105470 | ELECTRONIC DEVICE FOR COLLECTING FINGER DATA AND DISPLAYING A FINGER MOVEMENT TRACE AND RELATED METHODS - An electronic device may include a finger sensor, a display, and a controller coupled to the finger sensor and the display. The controller may be configured to collect finger data from multiple portions of a user's finger as the user's finger is moved around on the finger sensor along a finger travel path. The controller may also be configured to generate on the display a finger movement trace corresponding to the finger movement travel path. | 2014-04-17 |
20140105471 | Computer-Aided Bone Scan Assessment With Automated Lesion Detection And Quantitative Assessment Of Bone Disease Burden Changes - A computer aided bone scan assessment system and method provide automated lesion detection and quantitative assessment of bone disease burden changes. | 2014-04-17 |
20140105472 | VISUALIZATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF PULMONARY LOBAR FISSURES - Systems and methods for visualizing pulmonary fissures including a processor and software instructions for creating a 3 dimensional model of the fissures. Creating the 3 dimensional model includes accessing volumetric imaging data of the patient's lungs, analyzing the volumetric imaging data to segment the lungs into lobes, using the segmented lobes to identify locations at which pulmonary fissures should be present where the lobes abut each other, analyzing the volumetric images to identify locations at which pulmonary fissures actually are present as existing fissure, comparing the locations at which pulmonary fissures should be present to the locations at which pulmonary fissures are present to identify locations of missing fissure, and creating a visual display comprising a 3 dimensional model of the pulmonary fissures including existing fissure portions and missing fissure portions, with the existing fissure portion visually distinct from the missing fissure portions. | 2014-04-17 |
20140105473 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SEGMENTING CONTOUR IN IMAGE - A method and apparatus for segmenting a contour in an image is provided. The method for segmenting a contour in an image at a processor comprising: creating an initial individual by creating an arbitrary encoding value with respect to an image pixel; creating at least one offspring individual using the initial individual; selecting at least one offspring individual with high fitness from the created offspring individuals; and deriving an individual with highest fitness as a final contour from the selected offspring individuals. | 2014-04-17 |
20140105474 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ANALYZING MEDICAL IMAGE - An apparatus for analyzing a medical image includes an image receiving unit configured to receive two or more medical images from a medical device; a image registration unit configured to register the two or more received medical images; an overlapped area detecting unit configured to detect overlapped areas in the two or more registered medical images; and a lesion analyzing unit configured to analyze lesions in the two or more registered medical images by employing different analysis techniques in the detected overlapped areas. | 2014-04-17 |
20140105475 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - An image processing apparatus including: an examination image obtaining unit obtaining an examination image of an examination subject; a shift-invariant feature quantity calculating unit calculating, for each pixel, a shift-invariant feature quantity represented by predetermined base vectors, from the examination image obtained by the examination image obtaining unit; a selecting unit selecting, on the examination image, a pixel having a matching degree lower than or equal to a predetermined threshold, between (i) a relative positional relationship of classes in normal images each of which does not include a lesion site and (ii) a relative positional relationship of the classes to which shift-invariant feature quantities respectively belong in the examination image, the classes being obtained by clustering the shift-invariant feature quantities: calculated from pixels included in the normal images; and represented by the predetermined base vectors; and an output unit outputting a result of the selection performed by the selecting unit. | 2014-04-17 |
20140105476 | Determining Electrical Properties of Tissue Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Least Squared Estimate - Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to estimating an electrical property of tissue using MR images. Complex values having real components and imaginary components are generated and are associated with pixels in one or more MR images that corresponding to a region of tissue for which the electrical property is constant. An estimated value of the electrical property for the region of tissue is determined based on a least squared error estimation applied to the complex values. | 2014-04-17 |
20140105477 | LOW DOSE CARDIAC CT IMAGING WITH TIME-ADAPTIVE FILTRATION - A system and method for reducing image noise and artifacts in coronary computed tomography angiography includes acquisition of CT images at multiplicity of CT slices arranged in such a fashion throughout the phases of the cardiac cycle as to utilize the majority of the X-ray radiation to which the myocardium exposed during the cycle. The acquired imaging data is processed with the use of a TAF filter to reduce the amount of noise and artifacts associated with the CT's system operating at low tube current. The TAF filter is configured to adapt the filtering strength in time domain according to temporal variations of the same anatomical location as identified in its corresponding CT slices. | 2014-04-17 |
20140105478 | ULTRASOUND IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS - Ultrasonic image data from a plurality of time phases are stored in an image storage unit ( | 2014-04-17 |
20140105479 | METHOD AND SYSTEM OF IMAGE RECONSTRUCTION AND METHOD AND SYSTEM OF IMAGE CONSTRUCTION - A method of image reconstruction is provided. When an object is not placed in a measurement space, first intensity images of an electromagnetic wave passing through the measurement space and corresponding to photon energy levels are measured. When the object is placed in the measurement space, second intensity images of the electromagnetic wave passing through the object and corresponding to photon energy levels are measured. In a database, data including an attenuation coefficient of each substance respectively having components irradiated by the electromagnetic wave corresponding to each photon energy level and a thickness of each substance in a transmission direction of the electromagnetic wave corresponding to each photon energy level are provided. Attenuation images of the object respectively corresponding to the components are calculated according to the data and the first and second intensity images. An image reconstruction system and a method and system of image construction are also provided. | 2014-04-17 |
20140105480 | IMAGE MEASUREMENT APPARATUS, IMAGE MEASUREMENT METHOD AND IMAGE MEASUREMENT SYSTEM - An image measurement apparatus includes: an image acquiring unit that acquires a sample image that is an image obtained by capturing an image of a sample; a standard color space converting unit that converts the sample image into a standard sample image that is an image in a standard color space; a color distribution normalizing unit that converts the standard sample image into a normalized sample image by converting pixel values of pixels in the standard sample image to cause a color distribution vector indicating a color distribution of the standard sample image to match a predetermined standard color distribution vector indicating a standard color distribution; and a positive rate acquiring unit that detects positive pixels by performing threshold processing on pixel values of pixels in the normalized sample image, and acquires a positive rate indicating a proportion of the detected positive pixels. | 2014-04-17 |
20140105481 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DETERMINING PART WEAR BASED ON DIGITAL IMAGE OF PART - Systems and methods are disclosed for determining part wear using a mobile device. One such exemplary method includes capturing, using the mobile device, at least one digital image of a wear part of a machine. The method further includes determining, by the mobile device and based on the at least one digital image, a degree of wear of the wear part. | 2014-04-17 |
20140105482 | Detecting Defects on a Wafer Using Defect-Specific Information - Methods and systems for detecting defects on a wafer using defect-specific information are provided. One method includes acquiring information for a target on a wafer. The target includes a pattern of interest formed on the wafer and a known DOI occurring proximate to or in the pattern of interest. The information includes an image of the target on the wafer. The method also includes searching for target candidates on the wafer or another wafer. The target candidates include the pattern of interest. The target and target candidate locations are provided to defect detection. In addition, the method includes detecting the known DOI in the target candidates by identifying potential DOI locations in images of the target candidates and applying one or more detection parameters to images of the potential DOI locations. | 2014-04-17 |
20140105483 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REDUCING ARTIFACTS CAUSED BY VIEW-DEPENDENT LIGHTING COMPONENTS - Systems and methods are provided for resolving artifacts in view-dependent components. The system and method apply a different stereo camera pair to view-dependent versus non-view-dependent or independent rays. In this way the lighting components may be independently dialed to art direct specular components versus diffuse components. | 2014-04-17 |
20140105484 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR RECONSTRUCTING SUPER-RESOLUTION THREE-DIMENSIONAL IMAGE FROM DEPTH IMAGE - An apparatus and method for reconstructing a super-resolution three-dimensional (3D) image from a depth image. The apparatus may include an error point relocation processing unit to relocate an error point in a depth image, and a super-resolution processing unit to reconstruct a 3D image by performing a super-resolution with respect to the depth image in which the error point is relocated. | 2014-04-17 |
20140105485 | BASIS VECTOR SPECTRAL IMAGE COMPRESSION - Computer implemented methods for compressing 3D hyperspectral image data having a plurality of spatial pixels associated with a hyperspectral image, and a number of spectral dimensions associated with each spatial pixel, include receiving, using a processor, the 3D hyperspectral image data, a set of basis vectors associated therewith, and either a maximum error amount or a maximum data size. The methods also include partitioning the 3D hyperspectral image data into a plurality of 2D images, each associated with one of the number of spectral dimensions, and an associated one of the set of basis vectors. The methods additionally include ranking the set of basis vectors if not already ranked. The methods may further include iteratively applying lossy compression to the 2D images, in an order determined by the ranking. Other embodiments and features are also disclosed. | 2014-04-17 |
20140105486 | METHOD FOR LOCATING A CAMERA AND FOR 3D RECONSTRUCTION IN A PARTIALLY KNOWN ENVIRONMENT - A method for locating a camera and 3D reconstruction of its static environment, comprising an object of interest, the 3D model of which is known, includes: calculating an initial pose of the camera in the environment and an initial reconstruction; calculating the pose of the camera for each new image by pairing 3D primitives of the environment with 2D primitives of said image and reconstructing 3D primitives of the environment by triangulation; and simultaneously optimizing the poses of the camera and 3D primitives by minimizing a reprojection error over a plurality of images. The 3D model is a geometric description of the object of interest, the reprojection error has only two types of terms, a first type associated with primitives constrained by the 3D model and a second type associated with primitives of the environment other than the object, the optimization associating the primitives with the environment or 3D model. | 2014-04-17 |
20140105487 | IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICE, INFORMATION GENERATION DEVICE, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, INFORMATION GENERATION METHOD, AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM - A feature value extraction section extracts a feature value from a pixel or a group of pixels of a sampling point for every plurality of sampling points for a reference point with respect to a region point on an image, and extracts a group of feature values with respect to the reference point; the location information identification section references an LRF function indicating a correspondence of the group of feature values with respect to the reference point and the location information indicating a relative location of the region point with respect to the reference point to identify the location information corresponding to the group of feature values extracted by the feature value extraction section, and the region point identification section assumes the location indicated by the location information identified by the location information identification section as a region point of the object. | 2014-04-17 |
20140105488 | LEARNING-BASED IMAGE PAGE INDEX SELECTION - Architecture that performs image page index selection. A learning-based framework learns a statistical model based on the hyperlink (URL-uniform resource locator) previous click information obtained from the image search users. The learned model can combine the features of a newly discovered URL to predict the possibility of the newly-discovered URL being clicked in the future image search. In addition to existing web index selection features, image clicks are added as features, and the image clicks are aggregated over different URL segments, as well as the site modeling pattern trees to reduce the sparse problem of the image click information. | 2014-04-17 |
20140105489 | PRE-COMPUTING DIGESTS FOR IMAGE SIMILARITY SEARCHING OF IMAGE-BASED LISTINGS IN A NETWORK-BASED PUBLICATION SYSTEM - A system and method, which may be an offline method, extracts relevant image features about images in a network-based publication system for enabling image similarity searching of such images. An image is uploaded and may be sent to a picture processing service, which generates digests. The digests are compressed data structures each representing a particular image feature such as edge, color, texture, or words. These digests are then stored in a search database, where the digests can be used to retrieve images by image similarity at scale. A similar process can be performed for an image query for searching the search database for images similar to the query image. | 2014-04-17 |
20140105490 | METHOD FOR IMAGE PROCESSING USING LOCAL STATISTICS CONVOLUTION - A method for filtering a digital image, comprising segmenting the digital image into a plurality of tiles; computing tile histograms corresponding to each of the plurality of tiles; deriving a plurality of tile transfer functions from the tile histograms preferably using 1D convolutions; interpolating a tile transfer function from the plurality of tile transfer functions; and filtering the digital image with the interpolated tile transfer function. Many filters otherwise difficult to conceive or to implement are possible with this method, including an edge-preserving smoothing filter, HDR tone mapping, edge invariant gradient or entropy detection, image upsampling, and mapping coarse data to fine data. | 2014-04-17 |
20140105491 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR WEB PAGE RENDERING TEST AUTOMATION SUITE - Methods and systems are provided for testing visual elements in a rendered web page. The method includes defining a gold image at a first point within a web application, taking a screen shot of an actual image at the first point during execution of the web application, and comparing the gold image to the actual image and generating a difference image based on the comparison. The difference image may include a first region highlighting a first difference between the gold image and the actual image within an area common to both images, and a second region highlighting a second difference between the gold image and the actual image which is not within an area common to both images. | 2014-04-17 |
20140105492 | Detecting Recurring Events in Consumer Image Collections - A method of detecting recurring events in a digital image collection taken over a pre-determined period of time is disclosed. The method uses a processor for analyzing the digital image collection to produce a two-dimensional representation of the distribution of image capture activity over time and detecting recurring events by identifying spatial clusters in the two-dimensional representation. | 2014-04-17 |
20140105493 | IMAGE COMPRESSION METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ENCODING PIXEL DATA OF FRAME INTO INTERLEAVED BIT-STREAM, AND RELATED IMAGE DECOMPRESSION METHOD AND APPARATUS - An image compression method includes at least the following steps: receiving a plurality of pixels of a frame, wherein pixel data of each pixel has a plurality of color channel data corresponding to a plurality of different color channels, respectively; encoding the pixel data of each pixel and generating bit-streams corresponding to the plurality of color channel data of the pixel, wherein the bit-streams corresponding to the plurality of color channel data of the pixel are separated; packing bit-streams of a same color channel data of different pixels into color channel bit-stream segments, wherein each of the bit-stream segments has a same predetermined size; and concatenating color channel bit-stream segments of the different color channels into a final bit-stream. Alternatively, color channel bit-stream segments of the same pixel are concatenated into a concatenated bit-stream portion, and concatenated bit-stream portions of different pixels are concatenated into a final bit-stream. | 2014-04-17 |
20140105494 | COMPRESSION AND DECODING OF SINGLE SENSOR COLOR IMAGE DATA - A method is described to greatly improve the efficiency of and reduce the complexity of image compression when using single-sensor color imagers for video acquisition. The method in addition allows for this new image compression type to be compatible with existing video processing tools, improving the workflow for film and television production. | 2014-04-17 |
20140105495 | METHOD, APPARATUS AND SYSTEM FOR CONVERGING IMAGES ENCODED USING DIFFERENT STANDARDS - A method for transforming an image expressed in terms of a first image encoding to a second image encoding, includes converting a set of original scene exposure-factor values into corresponding first and second image encoding values. A transform is then derived between the first image encoding values and the second image encoding values. The transform is then applied to an image encoded in said first image encoding. Examples of different encoding that can be transformed include Rec. 709, sRGB and other known image encoding standards. A system for performing such transformations as well as an electronic device that is capable of performing such transformations are also disclosed. | 2014-04-17 |
20140105496 | System and Method for Selecting Segmentation Parameters for Optical Character Recognition - A computer-implemented method for selecting at least one segmentation parameter for optical character recognition is provided. The method can include receiving an image having a character string that includes one or more characters. The method can also include receiving a character string identifying each of the one or more characters. The method can also include automatically generating at least one segmentation parameter. The method can also include performing segmentation on the image having the character string using the at least one segmentation parameter. The method can also include determining if a resultant segmentation satisfies one or more criteria and if the resultant segmentation satisfies the one or more criteria, selecting the at least one segmentation parameter. | 2014-04-17 |
20140105497 | System and Method for Selecting and Displaying Segmentation Parameters for Optical Character Recognition - A computer-implemented method for selecting at least one segmentation parameter for optical character recognition is provided. The method can include receiving an image having a character string that includes one or more characters. The method can also include receiving a character string identifying each of the one or more characters. The method can also include automatically generating at least one segmentation parameter. The method can also include performing segmentation on the image having the character string using the at least one segmentation parameter. The method can also include determining if a resultant segmentation satisfies one or more criteria and if the resultant segmentation satisfies the one or more criteria, selecting the at least one segmentation parameter. | 2014-04-17 |
20140105498 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR LOW COMPLEXITY CHANGE DETECTION IN A SEQUENCE OF IMAGES THROUGH BACKGROUND ESTIMATION - A method for low complexity change detection in a sequence of images using configurable block sizes is disclosed. In one embodiment, a first change detection map is generated by performing change detection based on configurable block sizes between a current image and one of an estimated first background image and a previous image. The first change detection map classifies each block as changed or unchanged. The selection between the previous image and the estimated background image for use in change detection is done using a confidence estimate, which is updated both at the low level and at the end of a high-level change analysis. In another embodiment, an estimated second background image is used in addition to the estimate first background image to help quickly adapt when a stationary object starts moving or when a scene object becomes stationary. | 2014-04-17 |
20140105499 | Determining Correspondence Between Image Regions - Techniques for determining correspondence between image regions are described. A computing system stores images that are comparable to determine corresponding image patches of the images. An approximation algorithm is implemented, and for multiple image patches in a region in a first image, corresponding image patches are determined in a second image. The approximation algorithm performs iterations utilizing a nearby-pixel mapping evaluation and a random-perturbation mapping evaluation to determine and select the corresponding image patches in the second image. | 2014-04-17 |
20140105500 | VIDEO SUMMARY INCLUDING A PARTICULAR PERSON - A digital video camera system that provides a video summary using a method that includes: designating a reference image containing a particular person; capturing a video sequence of the scene using the image sensor, the video sequence including a time sequence of image frames; processing the captured video sequence using a video processing path to form a digital video file; during the capturing of the video sequence, analyzing the captured image frames using a person recognition algorithm to identify a subset of the image frames that contain the particular person; forming the video summary including fewer than all of the image frames in the captured video sequence, wherein the video summary includes at least part of the identified subset of image frames containing the particular person; storing the digital video file in the storage memory; and storing a representation of the video summary in the storage memory. | 2014-04-17 |
20140105501 | CHARACTER RECOGNITION APPARATUS, NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM, AND CHARACTER RECOGNITION METHOD - A character recognition apparatus includes an extracting unit that extracts a numerical value reading region in which a numerical value that is a character string of a numeral is read from an image that is a character recognition target, a character recognizing unit that performs character recognition on the extracted numerical value reading region and obtains plural recognition candidates for each numerical value, and a selecting unit that selects a potential candidate from the plural recognition candidates on the basis of a numerical value range set for each numerical value reading region. | 2014-04-17 |
20140105502 | DEVICES, SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR TRANSCRIPTION SUGGESTIONS AND COMPLETIONS - Methods, devices and systems are described for transcribing text from artifacts to electronic files. A computer system is provided, wherein the computer system comprises a computer-readable storage device. An image of the artifact is received wherein text is present on the artifact. A first portion of the text is analyzed. Characters representing the first portion of the text are identified at a first confidence level equal to or greater than a threshold confidence level. The characters representing the first portion of the text are stored. A second portion of the text appearing on the artifact is analyzed. A plurality of candidates to represent the second portion of the text are identified at a second confidence level below the threshold confidence level. Finally, the plurality of candidates to a user for selection are presented. | 2014-04-17 |
20140105503 | ELECTRONIC APPARATUS AND HANDWRITTEN DOCUMENT PROCESSING METHOD - According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus includes a storing module and a display controller. The storing module stores a plurality of handwritten document data in a storage medium, each of the handwritten document data including stroke data corresponding to strokes, and region data indicative of a first region set for one or more first strokes of the plurality of strokes, the first strokes corresponding to a symbol. The display controller displays, if the plurality of handwritten document data are searched by a search key and the search key corresponds to the symbol, a list of first regions in the plurality of handwritten document data, the first regions corresponding to the symbol. | 2014-04-17 |
20140105504 | ILLUMINATION SENSITIVE FACE RECOGNITION - Systems and methods for face recognition are provided. In one example, a method for face recognition includes receiving a user image and detecting a user luminance of data representing the user's face. An adaptive low pass filter is selected that corresponds to the user luminance of the user's face. The filter is applied to the user image to create a filtered user image. The filtered user image is projected to create a filtered user image representation. A filtered reference image representation that has been filtered with the same low pass filter is selected from a reference image database. The method then determines whether the filtered reference image representation matches the filtered user image representation. | 2014-04-17 |
20140105505 | NEAR DUPLICATE IMAGES - Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for determining image search results. One of the methods includes generating a plurality of feature vectors for each image in a collection of images, wherein each feature vector is associated with an image tile of an image, wherein each feature vector corresponds to one of a plurality of predetermined visual words. All images in the collection of images that share at least a threshold number of matching visual words associated with matching image tiles are classified as near-duplicate images. | 2014-04-17 |
20140105506 | RECOGNITION AND POSE DETERMINATION OF 3D OBJECTS IN MULTIMODAL SCENES - The invention provides a method for recognizing instances of a 3D object in 3D scene data and scene intensity data and for determining the 3D poses of said instances comprising the following steps: (a) providing 3D object data and obtaining object intensity data; (b) providing 3D scene data and scene intensity data; (c) extracting scene feature points from the intensity data; (d) selecting at least one reference point from the 3D scene data; (e) computing, for each selected reference point, pose candidates for the 3D object under the assumption that said reference point is part of the 3D object by maximizing the number of extracted scene feature points that are consistent with the 3D object under the given pose candidate; (f) computing a set of filtered poses from the pose candidates. | 2014-04-17 |
20140105507 | AUTOMATIC EVALUATION OF LINE WEIGHTS - Systems and methods may automatically evaluate printed line weights in an image composition. An image composition may be received and the number of horizontal and vertical rows of pixels may be determined. The number of positive pixels in each of the horizontal and vertical rows may then be determined. An actual size of a pixel may be calculated. The actual size of a pixel may be multiplied by the number of positive pixels in each of the horizontal rows and each of the vertical rows to determine a positive line weight of each of the horizontal rows and each of the vertical rows. A predetermined minimum permissible positive line weight for the image composition may be identified and compared to the positive line weight of each of the horizontal rows and each of the vertical rows. | 2014-04-17 |
20140105508 | Systems and Methods for Intelligent Purchase Crawling and Retail Exploration - A method may comprise identifying a field of a digital document as containing information related to an order. The method may include deconstructing the field into a character string. The method may include comparing the character string with a set of regularized purchase-related expressions, thereby parsing the character string. The method may include extracting order information from the character string if the character string meets a condition of the one regularized purchase-related expression, and providing the extracted order information. Also disclosed are related systems. | 2014-04-17 |
20140105509 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR COMPARING IMAGES - Systems and methods for scoring similarity count a number of matching visual words between a query image and a candidate image, generate an image similarity score for the query image and the candidate image based at least in part on the number of matching visual words, and generate a normalized image similarity score based at least in part on the image similarity score and one or more of a complexity of the query image and a complexity of the candidate image. | 2014-04-17 |
20140105510 | Systems and Methods for Expense Management - Systems, methods, and articles of manufacture for expense management are disclosed. A user may submit receipts for one or more transactions into an expense management system. The expense management system may extract information from the receipts and match the extracted information to one or more of a plurality of Records of Charge (ROCs). The expense management system may match the extracted information to a ROC based on vendor name, location, time stamp, and the like. The expense management system may further assign a ROC to an expense category. The expense management system may assign a ROC to an expense category based on a standard industrial classification (SIC) code of a merchant, a category assigned to a different ROC, and a location associated with the ROC. An expense report for all submitted receipts may be generated. | 2014-04-17 |
20140105511 | MATCHED REPRESENTATION SPACE METHOD FOR NUMERICALLY ENCODING DATA - According to one embodiment, the present invention includes a method for numerically encoding and representing data that includes providing a representation of data and separating the representation into a scale header and an additional precision packet. Separating the representation includes identifying the location of the highest-order non-zero bit and encoding the location of the highest-order non-zero bit to form the scale header. The balance of the bits following the highest-order non-zero bit, or a truncated set of these bits, is encoded to form the additional precision packet, and a matched representation space (MRS) representation is composed of the paired data structures of a scale header and a corresponding additional precision packet, if any. | 2014-04-17 |