Abstract: A method for creating a cooperative movie sequence comprises connecting two or more mobile devices over a network, designating one of said mobile devices as a Master device and the remaining devices as Slave devices, capturing movie sequences in said Master device and at least in one of said Slave devices, and integrating on-the-fly movie streams and/or images transmitted over said network by said one or more Slave devices into the movie sequence being captured by said Master device.

Abstract: Several autofocus techniques are disclosed. The autofocus techniques help the device to achieve focus without presenting unpleasant blurred images to the operator of the camera, e.g., by dividing image frames into technical frames and display frames, with autofocus search occurring during technical frames. With another technique, the upper bound of the spatial frequencies of the blurred image permits a calculation of the focused lens position. Another technique searches for focus in jumps that exponentially decrease the search space with each jump. In another focusing technique, the lens is moved through a range of positions during a frame acquired with a rolling shutter exposure and the focused position may be determined from the sharpest row of the frame.

Abstract: A method for controlling a device comprises: a) providing a mobile device comprising a camera; b) positioning said mobile device such that said camera acquires the image of an operator's hands; c) analyzing the movements of said operator's hands to derive a control command therefrom; and d) transmitting said control command to a controlled device.

Abstract: A method for generating and viewing on a handheld device a 3-D augmented reality feature containing a rich media message that is linked to a physical object comprises the steps of: a) by a first user: i. Taking a picture of a physical object; ii. selecting an augmented reality theme; iii. attaching the rich media animated object to the image taken, in the desired position and location on the physical object; iv. generating a reach media message from the augmented reality image obtained in step (iii); iv. optionally attaching an additional file to the rich media message; v. Transferring the physical object to a second user; and vi. sending to said second user a message via a communication channel, which contains the augmented reality rich media; b) by the second user (the recipient): vii. viewing the physical object received from the first user, using an AR viewer in the mobile phone camera, thereby to see the augmented reality rich media appearing on said physical object.

Abstract: A method for generating combined images from images taken separately with the same or a similar background, comprising the steps of: a) capturing a first image containing one or more selected items; b) capturing a second image containing one or more selected items that were not included in the first image; c) generating a preview image that combines the selected items of the first image and the selected items of the second image, the relative positioning of said selected items being effected using elements in the background; d) combining the images as shown in the preview or as corrected by a user, on receipt of an input from said user; and e) optionally, repeating steps a) through d) with a third image, using the combined image obtained in step d) as one of the two images.

Abstract: A method for generating a combined image that comprises, during capturing a sequence comprising a plurality of initial images, detecting a subset of the plurality of images having no substantial motion thereamong, combining data from the subset to produce a combined image, and outputting the combined image.

Abstract: An augmented ultrasound examination system, comprises: a) an ultrasound system suitable to generate images of a body portion; b) a first position sensor coupled to the ultrasound transducer of said ultrasound system; c) a second position sensor suitable to be coupled to a finger; and d) data processing apparatus suitable to receive position information from said first and from said that second position sensors and to generate therefrom information correlating on a screen the position of said second position sensor with the image generated by said ultrasound system.

Abstract: A method for generating a virtual tour (VT) comprising while shooting a video of the motion of an image-capturing device, identifying three distinct states, consisting of: a) Turning around (“scanning”); b) Moving forward and backward (“walking”); and c)Staying in place and holding the image-capturing device; and thereafter combining them together to create a virtual tour.

Abstract: A method of correcting a current image taken by a capturing device, the current image captured after a previous image, the method comprising the steps of: determining a noticeable pixel group, such as an edge of an object in the previous image; locating the noticeable pixel groups in the current image, by finding corresponding pixels whose values are most similar to the values of the noticeable pixels, determining the offset between the previous image and the current image, and correcting the current image using the offset. Optionally, multiple offsets are determined for multiple areas in the current image, and other areas in the image are optionally corrected according to interpolations between the determined offsets.

Abstract: A method for optimizing a digital image acquired by a camera, according to the preference of the user of the camera, comprises determining the user's preferences based on user behavior in respect of one or more previously acquired images and thereafter changing one or more shooting parameter of the camera based on said behavior.

Abstract: A method for providing location-based messages comprises locating a suitable placeholder for a message within a physical surrounding using a handheld device provided with image acquisition apparatus, and associating a written or visual or audio message, or a combination of two or more of them, with an image that identifies said placeholder, said association being carried out in a server adapted to communicate with said handheld device.

Abstract: A method for controlling a device comprises: a) providing a mobile device comprising a camera; b) positioning said mobile device such that said camera acquires the image of an operator's hands; c) analyzing the movements of said operator's hands to derive a control command therefrom; and d) transmitting said control command to a controlled device.

Abstract: A method for creating a cooperative movie sequence comprises connecting two or more mobile devices over a network, designating one of said mobile devices as a Master device and the remaining devices as Slave devices, capturing movie sequences in said Master device and at least in one of said Slave devices, and integrating on-the-fly movie streams and/or images transmitted over said network by said one or more Slave devices into the movie sequence being captured by said Master device.

Abstract: System and method for visual pairing between wireless devices, according to which a first software component is installed on a first WCD with a display screen and a second software component is installed on a second WCD having a camera and then a request to establish an open WCC is sent from the second WCD to the first WCD. If the request is approved by the first WCD, an image with graphically encoded unique one-time information is generated on the display screen using the first software. The image is captured by the camera and the information is decoded in the captured image by using the second software component. This information is used to establish an open WCC between the second WCD and the first WCD.

Abstract: A method for creating an image that depicts the motion of a moving object. The method comprises: a) identifying a motion of a moving object in a plurality of initial images depicting a scene, b) capturing a plurality of reference images of the moving object, c) cropping at least one sub-image of the moving object from at least one of the plurality of reference images, and d) combining the at least one sub-image and at least one of the plurality of reference images to produce a final representation depicting the motion. The resolution of the plurality of initial images is lower than the resolution of the plurality of reference images.

Abstract: A method of correcting a current image taken by a capturing device, the current image captured after a previous image, the method comprising the steps of: determining a noticeable pixel group, such as an edge of an object in the previous image; locating the noticeable pixel groups in the current image, by finding corresponding pixels whose values are most similar to the values of the noticeable pixels, determining the offset between the previous image and the current image, and correcting the current image using the offset. Optionally, multiple offsets are determined for multiple areas in the current image, and other areas in the image are optionally corrected according to interpolations between the determined offsets.

Abstract: A method for providing location-based messages comprises locating a suitable placeholder for a message within a physical surrounding using a handheld device provided with image acquisition apparatus, and associating a written or visual or audio message, or a combination of two or more of them, with an image that identifies said placeholder, said association being carried out in a server adapted to communicate with said handheld device.

Abstract: A method for generating and viewing on a handheld device a 3-D augmented reality feature containing a rich media message that is linked to a physical object comprises the steps of: a) by a first user: i. Taking a picture of a physical object; ii. selecting an augmented reality theme; iii. attaching the rich media animated object to the image taken, in the desired position and location on the physical object; iv. generating a reach media message from the augmented reality image obtained in step (iii); iv. optionally attaching an additional file to the rich media message; v. Transferring the physical object to a second user; and vi. sending to said second user a message via a communication channel, which contains the augmented reality rich media; b) by the second user (the recipient): vii. viewing the physical object received from the first user, using an AR viewer in the mobile phone camera, thereby to see the augmented reality rich media appearing on said physical object.

Abstract: System and method for visual pairing between wireless devices, according to which a first software component is installed on a first WCD with a display screen and a second software component is installed on a second WCD having a camera and then a request to establish an open WCC is sent from the second WCD to the first WCD. If the request is approved by the first WCD, an image with graphically encoded unique one-time information is generated on the display screen using the first software. The image is captured by the camera and the information is decoded in the captured image by using the second software component. This information is used to establish an open WCC between the second WCD and the first WCD.

Abstract: A method for generating a preview image of an item to be photographed using flashlights, wherein said preview image is generated without any added light, comprises the steps of: (a) calculating the distance between a portion of the item to be photographed and the camera; (b) calculating the flash light dissemination on the area of said portion, using the distance to said portion and the known flash power to be applied; (c) recalculating captured exposure parameter according to the information gathered from the surface of said portion; and (d) changing the brightness of the preview image by using the calculated lighting parameters at each location.