Abstract: A two dimensional/three dimensional (2D/3D) digital acquisition and display device for enabling users to capture 3D information using a single device. In an embodiment, the device has a single movable lens with a sensor. In another embodiment, the device has a single lens with a beam splitter and multiple sensors. In another embodiment, the device has multiple lenses and multiple sensors. In yet another embodiment, the device is a standard digital camera with additional 3D software. In some embodiments, 3D information is generated from 2D information using a depth map generated from the 2D information. In some embodiments, 3D information is acquired directly using the hardware configuration of the camera. The 3D information is then able to be displayed on the device, sent to another device to be displayed or printed.

Abstract: A three or more dimensional (3+D) graphical user interface (GUI) uses detected three dimensional (3D) hand movements or other input devices to navigate a displayed two dimensional (2D), three dimensional, or 3+D representation of a corresponding menu, document, or data set. Specific hand motions may be used that correspond to navigational commands, including, but not limited to: up, down, left, right, select, exit, back, new search, start, close, and deselect. The GUI displays two initially perpendicular axes, with additional axes sufficiently off angle that their navigation is apparent, rather than hidden. The 3+D GUI may be used for navigating large complex data sets, such as search results, document library storage, or simpler data sets, such as TV menus, music selection, photographs, videos, etc.

Abstract: A hybrid imaging device is configured to capture low resolution video and high resolution still images. The imaging device is configured to apply motion information obtained from the low resolution video to a reference high resolution still image to generate a missing moment of interest high resolution still image. The low-resolution video is captured at a high frame rate in conjunction with a few high-resolution still pictures taken at periodic intervals. A user locates a desired scene of interest, e.g. a moment of interest, from the captured video, and a post-processing technique is used to generate the high resolution still picture corresponding to the selected moment of interest. The high resolution still image is generated using texture information from one or more nearby captured high resolution still images and motion information from the low-resolution video frame corresponding to the selected moment of interest.

Abstract: A camera and method which selectively applies image content adjustments to elements contained in the image material. By way of example, the method involves registration of user touch screen input and determination of the arbitrary extent of a specific element in the captured image material at the location at which touch input was registered. Once selected, the element can be highlighted on the display, and additional user input may be optionally input to control what type of adjustment is to be applied. Then the element within the captured image material is processed to apply automatic, or user-selected, adjustments to the content of said element in relation to the remainder of the captured image. The adjustments to the image element may comprise any conventional forms of image editing, such as saturation, white balance, exposure, sizing, noise reduction, sharpening, blurring, deleting and so forth.

Abstract: An imaging system acquires an image using focal point and field depth information. The system receives focal point and field information via a user interface and analyzes the image based on the focal point and field depth information to calculate characteristics of the content of the image. In addition, the system automatically determines the image exposure based on the characteristics. Furthermore, the system determines the appropriate aperture and exposure based on the field depth information.

Abstract: A video input signal is analyzed to detect image content and image properties, wherein detecting the image content includes automatically deriving image features. A content group is determined for the video input signal based on the detected image content, the content group including predefined image properties. The image properties of the video input signal are adjusted based on a difference between the detected image properties and the predefined image properties.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a sub-pixel rendering method includes receiving 3D image data associated with pixel intensity values of N two-dimensional images having multiple sets of corresponding pixels. Each set of corresponding pixels includes N pixels (one pixel from each of N images) and each pixel has a green sub-pixel, a red sub-pixel and a blue sub-pixel. The method further includes mapping, for each selected set, N green sub-pixels, N red sub-pixels and N blue sub-pixels to M sub-pixels on a display to form a stereogram of the scene. The above mapping includes mapping N green sub-pixels from N images to N green sub-pixels on the display, mapping N red sub-pixels from N images to L red sub-pixels on the display, and mapping N blue sub-pixels from N images to K blue sub-pixels on the display, where L does not exceed N and K is lower than N.

Abstract: A hybrid imaging device is configured to capture low resolution video and high resolution still images. The imaging device is configured to apply motion information obtained from the low resolution video to a reference high resolution still image to generate a missing moment of interest high resolution still image. The low-resolution video is captured at a high frame rate in conjunction with a few high-resolution still pictures taken at periodic intervals. A user locates a desired scene of interest, e.g. a moment of interest, from the captured video, and a post-processing technique is used to generate the high resolution still picture corresponding to the selected moment of interest. The high resolution still image is generated using texture information from one or more nearby captured high resolution still images and motion information from the low-resolution video frame corresponding to the selected moment of interest.

Abstract: A two dimensional/three dimensional (2D/3D) digital acquisition and display device for enabling users to capture 3D information using a single device. In an embodiment, the device has a single movable lens with a sensor. In another embodiment, the device has a single lens with a beam splitter and multiple sensors. In another embodiment, the device has multiple lenses and multiple sensors. In yet another embodiment, the device is a standard digital camera with additional 3D software. In some embodiments, 3D information is generated from 2D information using a depth map generated from the 2D information. In some embodiments, 3D information is acquired directly using the hardware configuration of the camera. The 3D information is then able to be displayed on the device, sent to another device to be displayed or printed.

Abstract: A method for detecting human skin tone in a video signal by comparing image data from the video signal to a color profile table obtained from a plurality of training sequences. The image data comprising a plurality of pixels each having a plurality of color components, the components preferably being in the YCbCr color space. The method includes separating image data for each frame in the video signal into sets of data, averaging the image data in each data set to generate mean values for each color component in the data set, comparing the mean values to a stored color profile correlating to human skin tone, and identifying data sets falling within the stored color profile.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a sub-pixel rendering method includes receiving 3D image data associated with pixel intensity values of N two-dimensional images having multiple sets of corresponding pixels. Each set of corresponding pixels includes N pixels (one pixel from each of N images) and each pixel has a green sub-pixel, a red sub-pixel and a blue sub-pixel. The method further includes mapping, for each selected set, N green sub-pixels, N red sub-pixels and N blue sub-pixels to M sub-pixels on a display to form a stereogram of the scene. The above mapping includes mapping N green sub-pixels from N images to N green sub-pixels on the display, mapping N red sub-pixels from N images to L red sub-pixels on the display, and mapping N blue sub-pixels from N images to K blue sub-pixels on the display, where L does not exceed N and K is lower than N.

Abstract: A method for detecting human skin tone in a video signal by comparing image data from the video signal to a color profile table obtained from a plurality of training sequences. The image data comprising a plurality of pixels each having a plurality of color components, the components preferably being in the YCbCr color space. The method includes separating image data for each frame in the video signal into sets of data, averaging the image data in each data set to generate mean values for each color component in the data set, comparing the mean values to a stored color profile correlating to human skin tone, and identifying data sets falling within the stored color profile.

Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) acquisition and visualization system for personal electronic devices comprises two digital cameras which function in a variety of ways. The two digital cameras acquire 3D data which is then displayed on an auto-stereoscopic display. For clarity and ease of use, the two digital cameras also function as eye-tracking devices helping to project the proper image at the correct angle to the user. The two digital cameras also function to aid in autofocusing at the correct depth. Each personal electronic device is also able to store, transmit and display the acquired 3D data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for selecting a quantization table containing quantization coefficients for encoding image data. A set of quantization tables is examined to determine a quantization table which meets a predetermined selection criteria. If such a quantization table is not the first table examined, other tables in the vicinity of a neighborhood of tables are examined utilizing linear searching techniques. If a quantization table which meets the selection criteria is not determined in the vicinity of the neighborhood of tables, quantization tables outside the vicinity of the neighborhood of tables are examined utilizing binary searching techniques.

Abstract: A technique for selectively inhibiting a video recorder from recording and/or reproducing those television programs, which are not authorized for viewing. Authorization data associated with respective television programs that are receivable by the recorder and indication of whether that program is authorized for recording and/or reproduction, is received by the recorder prior to (or multiplexed with) the television program and is stored thereat. When the television program is received, the stored authorization data associated with that is read to determine if the received television program is authorized for recording and/or reproduction. If not, the recorder is inhibited from recording and/or reproducing that unauthorized television program.

Abstract: The resolution of an original image, represented as a pixel array, is increased by applying a spectral transformation to the pixel array, producing a spectral array representing the image, and then applying an inverting spectral transformation to produce a larger pixel array. The inverting spectral transformation is of a kind designed to convert high frequency spectral components not present in the original image or identified by the spectral array. These high-frequency terms of the inverting spectral transformation are either ignored or supplied with zero values. As a result, the final, larger pixel array has the same spectral distribution as the original pixel array, but a larger number of pixels.

Abstract: Methods and systems for data compression and decompression are disclosed. Specifically, the method for data compression of the present invention receives eight inputs representing pixel information of an image and performs a combination of an 8-point discrete cosine transform (DCT) and weighting function to obtain eight outputs representing digital representations of an image. The method for data decompression receives eight inputs representing digital representations of an image and performs a combination of an inverse weighting function and an 8-point inverse discrete cosine transform (IDCT) to obtain pixel components of an image. The methods and systems of the present invention may be used in optimizing digital video encoders and decoders.

Abstract: A technique for selectively inhibiting a video recorder from recording and/or reproducing those television programs, which are not authorized for viewing. Authorization data associated with respective television programs that are receivable by the recorder and indication of whether that program is authorized for recording and/or reproduction, is received by the recorder prior to (or multiplexed with) the television program and is stored thereat. When the television program is received, the stored authorization data associated with that is read to determine if the received television program is authorized for recording and/or reproduction. If not, the recorder is inhibited from recording and/or reproducing that unauthorized television program.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for creating user configurable interactive display, wherein a control area is invoked in order to display representations of at least one operating environment. The operating environment contains user interactive components corresponding to information resources which may be selected for use by the user. A scratch pad is invoked onto the display allowing a user to select components from the operating environment to be placed onto the scratch pad. Once the interactive components from one or more operating environments are placed onto the scratch pad, a user interactive display area is generated comprising a display of user selected components.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for post processing image data which previously was encoded using a discrete cosine transform in order to remove resulting blocking effects. Possible blocking points are examined to determine whether blocking points exist. If blocking points are determined, an adjustment value for each blocking point is computed and proportionately utilized to adjust the adjacent and neighboring pixels.