Abstract: Data points, calendar entries, trends, and behavioral patterns may be used to predict and pre-emptively build digital and printable products with selected collections of images without the user's active participation. The collections are selected from files on the user's device, cloud-based photo library, or other libraries shared among other individuals and grouped into thematic products. Based on analysis of the user's collections and on-line behaviors, the system may estimate types and volumes of potential media-centric products, and the resources needed for producing and distributing such media-centric products for a projected period of time. A user interface may take the form of a “virtual curator”, which is a graphical or animated persona for augmenting and managing interactions between the user and the system managing the user's stored media assets. The virtual curator can assume one of many personas with each user and can interact with the user via text/audio messaging.

Abstract: A method and system for automated creation of collages from a video sequence is provided. The system and method dynamically extracts key frames from a video sequence, which are used to create the collages shown on a display. By changing the position of cursors, a new set of key frames is extracted and the content of the collage will change correspondingly reflecting the changes in the key frames selection. The method also includes user interface elements to allow a user to change the layout design (e.g., rotate, overlap, white space, image scaling) of the video frames on the collage. In addition, the method includes different ways for browsing the video sequence by using automatically detected semantic concepts in various frames as indexing points. Further, the method includes defining swiping attributes based on motion characteristics (e.g., zoom/pan, motion of object), audio activity, or facial expression for browsing the video sequence.

Abstract: A method for selecting important digital images in a collection of digital images, comprising: analyzing the digital images in the collection of digital images to identify one or more sets of similar digital images; identifying one or more sets of similar digital images having the largest number of similar digital images; selecting one or more digital images from the identified largest sets of similar digital images to be important digital images; and storing an indication of the selected important digital image in a processor accessible memory.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of a modular photo kiosk system that produces prints that include printed templates, guides, and instructions for use with matching designated user provided photo. The systems are configurable so that they can be easily combined to adapt the kiosk system to meet the productivity, capacity, product range, inventory control, and physical conditions of a selected retail environment. The kiosk can include remote access for customers and kiosk owners to place remote orders and manage kiosk inventory and further include a secured product display area featuring photo products for sale. A further aspect of the technology described herein comprises a software application for use by clerks for monitoring, maintaining, and operating the photo kiosk system.

Abstract: A method of providing photofinishing services to a user including choices of photofinishing services, retailers, retail locations, delivery, and payment options, using a computer processor, communications network, and user interface. The user can send one or more digital images to the selected retailer and retail location via the communications network. Once the user selects the type and amount of photo products to be made from the provided digital images, the user can select any additional retail products, selects a delivery means, and payment option. The processor can coordinate the communications for production of the photofinishing order, billing, and any other retail purchase selected by the user. The processor also communicates the additional retail items to the retail staff and/or personal shopper and coordinates the production of the photofinishing order.

Abstract: A system and method for creating customized, personally relevant greeting cards, e-cards, mementos, invitations, decorations, and other types of printed and virtual media to convey affection, friendship, emotional connections, celebration, gratitude, condolence and other types of sentiments to relatives, friends, coworkers, business associates, and acquaintances regardless of the cultural backgrounds of the giver and the recipient.

Abstract: A system and method for creating customized, personally relevant greeting cards, e-cards, mementos, invitations, decorations, and other types of printed and virtual media to convey affection, friendship, emotional connections, celebration, gratitude, condolence and other types of sentiments to relatives, friends, coworkers, business associates, and acquaintances regardless of the cultural backgrounds of the giver and the recipient.

Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods that utilize data points, calendar entries, trends, behavioral patterns to predict and pre-emptively build digital and printable products with selected collections of images without the user's active participation. Based on analysis of a user's collections and online behaviors, the system may estimate types and volumes of potential media-centric products, and the resources needed for producing and distributing such media-centric products for a projected period of time. Embodiments of the system comprise a user interface that takes the form of a “virtual curator,” which is a graphical or animated persona for augmenting and managing interactions between the user and the system managing the user's stored media assets.

Abstract: A method for selecting important digital images in a collection of digital images, comprising: analyzing the digital images in the collection of digital images to identify one or more sets of similar digital images; identifying one or more sets of similar digital images having the largest number of similar digital images; selecting one or more digital images from the identified largest sets of similar digital images to be important digital images; and storing an indication of the selected important digital image in a processor accessible memory.

Abstract: Described herein is a system and method for predictive curation, and production infrastructure. In certain embodiments, the system includes a user interface, which may take the form of a “virtual curator,” a graphical or animated persona for augmenting and managing interactions between the user and the system managing the user's stored media assets. The virtual curator can assume one of many personas, as appropriate, with each user. Embodiments of the system leverage data points, calendar entries, trends, behavioral patterns to predict and pre-emptively build digital and printable products with selected collections of images without the user's active participation.

Abstract: A method for selecting important digital images in a collection of digital images, comprising: analyzing the digital images in the collection of digital images to identify one or more sets of similar digital images; identifying one or more sets of similar digital images having the largest number of similar digital images; selecting one or more digital images from the identified largest sets of similar digital images to be important digital images; and storing an indication of the selected important digital image in a processor accessible memory.

Abstract: A system and method for creating customized, personally relevant greeting cards, e-cards, mementos, invitations, decorations, and other types of printed and virtual media to convey affection, friendship, emotional connections, celebration, gratitude, condolence and other types of sentiments to relatives, friends, coworkers, business associates, and acquaintances regardless of the cultural backgrounds of the giver and the recipient.

Abstract: A method and system for automated creation of collages from a video sequence is provided. The system and method dynamically extracts key frames from a video sequence, which are used to create the collages shown on a display. By changing the position of cursors, a new set of key frames is extracted and the content of the collage will change correspondingly reflecting the changes in the key frames selection. The method also includes user interface elements to allow a user to change the layout design (e.g., rotate, overlap, white space, image scaling) of the video frames on the collage. In addition, the method includes different ways for browsing the video sequence by using automatically detected semantic concepts in various frames as indexing points. Further, the method includes defining swiping attributes based on motion characteristics (e.g., zoom/pan, motion of object), audio activity, or facial expression for browsing the video sequence.

Abstract: A system and method for creating customized, personally relevant greeting cards, e-cards, mementos, invitations, decorations, and other types of printed and virtual media to convey affection, friendship, emotional connections, celebration, gratitude, condolence and other types of sentiments to relatives, friends, coworkers, business associates, and acquaintances regardless of the cultural backgrounds of the giver and the recipient.

Abstract: A method for creating navigable views includes receiving digital images, computing a set of feature points for each of the digital images, selecting one of the digital images as a reference image, identifying a salient region of interest in the reference image, identifying other digital images containing a region of interest similar to the salient region of interest in the reference image using the set of feature points computed for each of other digital images, designating a reference location for the salient region of interest in the reference image, aligning the other digital images to the image that contains the designated reference location, ordering the image that contains the designated reference location and the other digital images, and generating a navigable view.

Abstract: A method for creating navigable views includes receiving digital images, computing a set of feature points for each of the digital images, selecting one of the digital images as a reference image, identifying a salient region of interest in the reference image, identifying other digital images containing a region of interest similar to the salient region of interest in the reference image using the set of feature points computed for each of other digital images, designating a reference location for the salient region of interest in the reference image, aligning the other digital images to the image that contains the designated reference location, ordering the image that contains the designated reference location and the other digital images, and generating a navigable view.

Abstract: A method for selecting important digital images in a collection of digital images, comprising: analyzing the digital images in the collection of digital images to identify one or more sets of similar digital images; identifying one or more sets of similar digital images having the largest number of similar digital images; selecting one or more digital images from the identified largest sets of similar digital images to be important digital images; and storing an indication of the selected important digital image in a processor accessible memory.

Abstract: Data points, calendar entries, trends, and behavioral patterns may be used to predict and pre-emptively build digital and printable products with selected collections of images without the user's active participation. The collections are selected from files on the user's device, cloud-based photo library, or other libraries shared among other individuals and grouped into thematic products. Based on analysis of the user's collections and on-line behaviors, the system may estimate types and volumes of potential media-centric products, and the resources needed for producing and distributing such media-centric products for a projected period of time. A user interface may take the form of a “virtual curator”, which is a graphical or animated persona for augmenting and managing interactions between the user and the system managing the user's stored media assets. The virtual curator can assume one of many personas with each user and can interact with the user via text/audio messaging.

Abstract: Data points, calendar entries, trends, behavioral patterns may be used to predict and pre-emptively build digital and printable products with selected collections of images without the user's active participation. The collections are selected from files on the user's device, cloud-based photo library, or other libraries shared among other individuals and grouped into thematic products. Based on analysis of the user's collections and on-line behaviors, the system may estimate types and volumes of potential media-centric products, and the resources needed for producing and distributing such media-centric products for a projected period of time. A user interface may take the form of a “virtual curator”, which is a graphical or animated persona for augmenting and managing interactions between the user and the system managing the user's stored media assets. The virtual curator can assume one of many personas, as appropriate, with each user.

Abstract: Data points, calendar entries, trends, behavioral patterns may be used to predict and pre-emptively build digital and printable products with selected collections of images without the user's active participation. The collections are selected from files on the user's device, cloud-based photo library, or other libraries shared among other individuals and grouped into thematic products. Based on analysis of the user's collections and on-line behaviors, the system may estimate types and volumes of potential media-centric products, and the resources needed for producing and distributing such media-centric products for a projected period of time. A user interface may take the form of a “virtual curator”, which is a graphical or animated persona for augmenting and managing interactions between the user and the system managing the user's stored media assets. The virtual curator can assume one of many personas, as appropriate, with each user.