Abstract: A system and method for utilizing a graphic equalizer in performing image search procedures includes a histogram calculator for creating sets of histograms that represent corresponding images. A graphic equalizer is configured to select weighting parameters for performing the image search procedure. A feature detector calculates distance measures between histogram comparison pairs of a query image and subject images. The feature detector applies the weighting parameters to the distance measures to produce weighted distance measures. The feature detector next combines the weighted distance measures from the histogram comparison pairs to produce a composite distance measure for each of the subject images. The feature detector may then identify one or more of the subject images that are similar to the query image by analyzing the composite distance measures.

Abstract: A system and method for efficiently transferring data from an electronic camera device includes a camera device that is configured to capture image data and temporarily store the image data into an economical limited local buffer memory. A transfer manager from the camera device may then periodically arbitrate for access to a wireless communications network, and may transfer the captured image data from the buffer memory to a designated data destination, such as an image service on a distributed computer network like the Internet. A system user may then efficiently access the transferred image data from a dedicated storage location on the data destination by utilizing any appropriate data-access device, such as a personal computer device or a portable electronic device.

Abstract: A system and method for effectively performing speech recognition procedures includes enhanced demiphone acoustic models that a speech recognition engine utilizes to perform the speech recognition procedures. The enhanced demiphone acoustic models each have three states that are collectively arranged to form a preceding demiphone and a succeeding demiphone. An acoustic model generator may utilize a decision tree for analyzing speech context information from a training database. The acoustic model generator then effectively configures each of the enhanced demiphone acoustic models as either a succeeding-dominant enhanced demiphone acoustic model or a preceding-dominant enhanced demiphone acoustic model to accurately model speech characteristics.

Abstract: A source photo manager of the source device may be utilized to designate one or more message targets for receiving the photo data from the source device. A source mail program may access the photo data to automatically create a photo message that includes the photo data and photo identifier means to request special handling of the photo data. The source mail program may then automatically transmit the photo message over the electronic network to be downloaded by a target mail program of a target device corresponding to the foregoing designated message target. The target mail program may automatically detect the photo identifier means in the photo message, and may responsively provide the photo data to a target photo manager of the target device for automatic storage into a target photo album of the target device.

Abstract: A system and method for effectively performing a transmit power adjustment procedure in a wireless network includes a forward receiver that monitors a wireless forward link for forward data that is transmitted over the wireless forward link by a forward transmitter. The forward transmitter initially transmits the forward data at a minimum power level, and gradually increases the minimum power level to a power level threshold at which the forward receiver first detects the forward data on the forward link. Once the forward receiver and the forward transmitter are successfully coupled over the wireless forward link, the forward transmitter may then transmit forward data at a normal operating power level. The foregoing transmit power adjustment procedure ensures that the forward receiver receives forward data only from the forward transmitter, and prevents other proximate wireless devices from inadvertently intercepting forward data transmitted by the forward receiver.

Abstract: A system and method for effectively implementing an optimized language model for speech recognition includes initial language models each created by combining source models according to selectable interpolation coefficients that define proportional relationships for combining the source models. A rescoring module iteratively utilizes the initial language models to process input development data for calculating word-error rates that each correspond to a different one of the initial language models. An optimized language model is then selected from the initial language models by identifying an optimal word-error rate from among the foregoing word-error rates. The speech recognizer may then utilize the optimized language model for effectively performing various speech recognition procedures.

Abstract: A system and method for capturing adjacent images includes an imaging device with a panorama manager that performs various procedures to manipulate one or more image parameters that correspond to adjacent frames of captured image data. An image-stitching software program may then produce a cohesive combined panorama image from the adjacent frames of image data by utilizing the manipulated image parameters.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a system and method for implementing a Cantonese speech recognizer with an optimized phone set, and may include a recognizer configured to compare input speech data to phone strings from a vocabulary dictionary that is implemented according to an optimized Cantonese phone set. The optimized Cantonese phone set may be implemented with a phonetic technique to separately include consonantal phones and vocalic phones. For reasons of system efficiency, the optimized Cantonese phone set may preferably be implemented in a compact manner to include only a minimum required number of consonantal phones and vocalic phones to accurately represent Cantonese speech during the speech recognition procedure.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a system and method for implementing a Mandarin Chinese speech recognizer with an optimized phone set, and may include a recognizer configured to compare input speech data to phone strings from a vocabulary dictionary that is implemented according to an optimized Mandarin Chinese phone set. The optimized Mandarin Chinese phone set may be implemented with a phonetic technique to separately include consonantal phones and vocalic phones. For reasons of system efficiency, the optimized Mandarin Chinese phone set may preferably be implemented in a compact manner to include only a minimum required number of consonantal phones and vocalic phones to accurately represent Mandarin Chinese speech during the speech recognition procedure.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a system and method for effectively implementing a Mandarin Chinese speech recognition dictionary, and may include a recognizer configured to compare input speech data to phone strings from a vocabulary dictionary that is implemented according to an optimized Mandarin Chinese phone set. The optimized Mandarin Chinese phone set may efficiently be implemented by utilizing an allophone and phonemic variation technique. In addition, the foregoing vocabulary dictionary may be implemented by utilizing unified dictionary optimization techniques to provide robust and accurate speech recognition. Furthermore, the vocabulary dictionary may be implemented as an optimized dictionary to accurately recognize either Northern Mandarin Chinese speech or Southern Mandarin Chinese speech during the speech recognition procedure.

Abstract: A system and method for efficiently performing a depth map recovery procedure includes an imaging device that is implemented in a single-lens stereo-shutter configuration for simultaneously capturing overlaid images corresponding to a photographic target. A depth map generator is configured to analyze the overlaid images to determine disparity values corresponding to separation distances between matching points in the overlaid images. The depth map generator then utilizes the disparity values to calculate depth values that correspond to locations in the photographic target. The depth map generator may then utilize the foregoing depth values for creating a depth map corresponding to the photographic target.

Abstract: A method for utilizing concurrent context switching to support isochronous processes preferably comprises a main context that is configured to support system execution tasks, a first concurrent context that supports a first set of concurrent execution and loading procedures, and a second concurrent context that supports a second set of concurrent execution and loading procedures. A context control module preferably manages switching and loading procedures between the main context, the first concurrent context, and the second concurrent context. The context control module may perform successive concurrent context switching procedures by alternating between the first concurrent context and the second concurrent context to thereby sequentially support any desired number of isochronous processes.

Abstract: A system and method for effectively performing an image data transformation procedure may include an electronic camera device that is implemented to capture primary image data corresponding to a photographic target. A transformation manager in the electronic camera device may be configured to convert the primary image data into secondary image data by utilizing selectable transformation parameters that are optimized by utilizing an optimization metric to thereby minimize noise characteristics in the secondary image data. The transformation parameters may be stored in parameter lookup tables in the electronic camera device for use by the transformation manager in performing the image data transformation procedure.

Abstract: A system and method for performing a refinement procedure to effectively implement a speech recognition dictionary for spontaneous speech recognition may include a problematic word identifier configured to divide vocabulary words from an initial speech recognition dictionary into problematic words and non-problematic words according to pre-defined identification criteria. A candidate generator may analyze the problematic words to produce one or more pronunciation candidates for each of the problematic words. An optimization module may then perform an optimization process for refining one or more pronunciation candidates according to certain optimization criteria to thereby generate optimized problematic pronunciations. A dictionary refinement manager may finally combine the optimized problematic pronunciations with non-problematic pronunciations of the non-problematic words to produce a refined speech recognition dictionary for use by the speech recognition system.

Abstract: A system and method for utilizing speech recognition to efficiently perform data indexing procedures includes an authoring module that coordinates an authoring procedure for creating an index file that has pattern word sets corresponding to data objects stored in a memory of a host electronic device. The pattern word sets are generated with a speech recognition engine that transforms spoken data descriptions into text data descriptions for creating the pattern word sets. The pattern word sets are associated in the index file with data object identifiers that uniquely identify the corresponding data objects. A retrieval module manages a retrieval procedure in which the speech recognition engine converts a spoken data request into a text data request. The retrieval module compares the text data request and the pattern word sets to identify a requested object identifier for locating a requested data object from among the data objects stored in the memory of the host electronic device.

Abstract: A system and method for creating graphical presentations is disclosed. A pre-existing graphical presentation is scanned. Data points are extracted from the pre-existing graphical presentation. Corresponding data points are extracted from tabulated data. These corresponding data points are then inserted into the pre-existing graphical presentation to create a new graphical presentation. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 37 CFR 1.72(b).

Abstract: A system and method for effectively extracting facial feature information from image data may include a facial feature detector configured to generate facial feature information. The facial feature detector may perform an eye-area vertical projection procedure for generating eye information and eyebrow information. The facial feature detector may utilize an eyebrow filter to detect eyebrow location coordinates and eyebrow slope characteristics. Similarly, the facial feature detector may utilize an iris filter to detect iris location coordinates. The facial feature detector may also perform a mouth-area vertical projection procedure for generating corresponding nose/nostril location information and mouth/lip location information.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for effectively utilizing universal feature detectors to generate closely-correlated universal feature information for use in various content-retrieval procedures. In certain embodiments, the universal feature detectors may generate a multi-scale gaussian pyramid based upon selected original image data by iteratively performing a series of summing transforms. The universal feature detectors may also calculate multi-scale histograms corresponding to the multi-scale gaussian pyramid, and may then perform Radon transforms upon the multi-scale histograms to produce and store corresponding Radon transform lines. The universal feature detectors may also generate a multi-scale laplacian pyramid from the multi-scale gaussian pyramid by iteratively performing a series of difference transforms. The resultant universal feature information may then advantageously provide various types of required feature information with optimal binding characteristics.

Abstract: A system and method for efficiently performing data transfer operations includes a source device for providing transfer data through a communication path or network to a destination device. The source device has a transfer manager that determines various transfer parameters including a transfer data size, a transfer speed, and a transfer duration. The transfer parameters are then presented on a user interface for interactive use by a system user to manipulate the transfer data with various transfer options to thereby perform the data transfer operation in an optimal manner under current transfer conditions.

Abstract: A system and method for efficiently performing a storage management procedure may preferably include an audio-video recorder that is configured to receive audio and video data from a data source, and responsively store the received data into a non-volatile storage medium, such as a hard disk drive. A storage manager may preferably be configured to control the storage management procedure by selectively activating a data transcoding procedure that transcodes specified segments of the received data to thereby increase available storage space in the storage medium. The data transcoding procedure may preferably include an immediate mode during which transcoding occurs while data is initially being received by the audio-video recorder. The data transcoding procedure may also preferably include a mediate mode during which transcoding occurs when data is not currently being received by the audio-video recorder.