Abstract: Performance of an imaging reader for electro-optically reading direct part markings on workpieces is enhanced by ensuring that such markings are read in the vicinity of an ideal, focused, target plane, and by enhancing the contrast of such markings. Calibration and self-calibration of the reader improve performance.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for modeling patterns of behavior of humans or other animate objects and detecting a violation of a repetitive pattern of behavior. The behavior of one or more persons is observed over time and features of the behavior are recorded in a multi-dimensional space. Over time, the multi-dimensional data provides an indication of patterns of human behavior. Activities that are repetitive in terms of time, location and activity, such as sleeping and eating, would appear as a Gaussian distribution or cluster in the multi-dimensional data. Probability distribution functions can be analyzed using known Gaussian or clustering techniques to identify repetitive patterns of behavior and characteristics thereof, such as a mean and variance. Deviations from repetitive patterns of behavior can be detected and an alarm can be triggered, if appropriate.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for generating and maintaining enhanced background models for use in background-foreground segmentation. Background models are modified to contain an indication of objects that are typically stationary. Thereafter, if an object moves and has been previously identified as an object that is typically stationary, the object will not unnecessarily be identified as part of the foreground during background-foreground segmentation. In an exemplary implementation, moving objects are classified into two sets. A first set includes objects that typically move independently and a second set includes objects that are typically stationary. Generally, once an object is assigned to the second (stationary object) set, the object will remain in the background, even if the object is moved (normally, movement of the object would cause the object to become part of the foreground).

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting an emergency/law enforcement vehicle from a secondary vehicle. The apparatus includes: at least one camera mounted on the secondary vehicle; a display surface mounted inside an interior of the secondary vehicle for displaying video image data from the at least one camera; at least one of a pan, tilt, and zoom motor operatively connected to the at least one camera for providing an enhanced view of an emergency/law enforcement vehicle displayed on the display surface; and a controller for controlling the at least one pan, tilt, and zoom motors to provide the enhanced view. The apparatus alternatively also has the capability to detect, track and/or classify an emergency/law enforcement vehicle in the video image data.

Abstract: A method for reacquiring a target in an automated video tracking system is provided. The method includes the steps of: selecting a desired target to be tracked; switching the automated video tracking system to an automatic mode to initiate a tracking sequence to automatically track the selected desired target; switching the automated video tracking system from an automatic mode to a manual mode if the automated video tracking system encounters a period of difficulty in tracking the desired target; reacquiring the desired target in manual mode; and switching the automated video tracking system to the automatic mode for automatic tracking of the reacquired desired target without initiating a new tracking sequence. An apparatus and automated video tracking system for carrying out the methods of the present invention are also provided.

Abstract: A method for recommending a video content to a viewer. The method including the steps of: determining a user profile of the viewer, the user profile indicating the viewing preferences of the viewer, providing a plurality of user profiles; comparing the user profile of the viewer to each of the plurality of user profiles to determine if each of the plurality of user profiles contains at least one common characteristic with the user profile of the viewer; and determining a recommendation for the video content based on the plurality of user profiles, wherein user profiles having the at least one common characteristic are assigned a greater recommendation weight than user profiles not having the at least one common characteristic.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for adaptively setting biometric measurement thresholds in a biometric measurement system. A biometric measurement system comprises a biometric sensor, an analysis unit, and an output unit. The invention comprises an environmental sensor that measures a value of an environmental parameter of the ambient environment of the biometric measurement system. The invention also comprises an adaptive threshold setting unit that adaptively sets an adjustable biometric measurement threshold in the analysis unit using a value of the environmental parameter measured by the environmental sensor. The analysis unit analyzes biometric measurements received from the biometric sensor and uses the adjusted biometric measurement threshold to take into account the influence of environmental changes.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for adjusting image capture settings, such as, for example, exposure time and external illumination through determining ambient luminance conditions prior to a request to analyze a captured image. Since image capture settings are determined before an analyze request, a device can use images captured before or very close to the request to decode a target dataform.

Abstract: An acoustic based pointing device and a system and method for using the pointing device to move a cursor on a display screen of a display device. The pointing device comprises an acoustic source that generates and propagates an acoustic signal that is detected by four microphones M1, M2, M3, and M4 and is then converted into corresponding periodic electrical signals S1, S2, S3, and S4. The position vector P0 of the acoustic source is calculated by solving triangulation equations that depend on phase-shift time delays between S1 and Sj for j=1, 2, and 3. A position vector PC is calculated from P0 using a scale vector that relates a change in position of the cursor to a change in position of the acoustic source. Then the cursor is moved to a position PC associated with the position vector PC.

Abstract: A camera of a camera-based image processing system is calibrated using a graphical user interface (GUI) of the system. A representation of an area in which the camera is to be operated is presented via the GUI, and calibration information is obtained for each of a set of one or more calibration points sequentially as the camera is pointed to corresponding positions in the area. For each of the one or more calibration points, the calibration information is obtained after a command is entered identifying a corresponding position of the calibration point within the representation of the area as presented via the GUI. An external calibration including camera position and orientation is then computed for the camera based on the calibration information obtained for the one or more calibration points.

Abstract: A system and method wherein the parameters used for face recognition are determined via an evolutionary algorithm, such as a genetic algorithm. Candidate sets of parameters are evaluated for face recognition performance in a given environment. The most effective sets of parameters are used to generate offspring sets of parameters, and these offspring sets are subsequently evaluated for face recognition performance. This process is repeated, with each generation of offspring sets inheriting attributes of the most successful sets, until the system converges on a set of parameters that exhibits superior performance for the given environment. In like manner, other sets of parameters are determined for other environments. When the face recognition system is deployed, the appropriate set of parameters is used, dependent upon the environment in which the target images originate. In this manner, the system exhibits superior performance in each of the environments in which it is deployed.

Abstract: A telephone user who is at a first telephone station and is placed on hold at a second station is prevented from listening to an objectionable audio signal while a call is in process between the user and the second telephone station. The objectionable audio signal is detected while the call is in process and the user is prevented from hearing the objectionable audio signal while the objectionable audio signal is being detected. In response to detection of the end of the objectionable audio signal, the user is coupled to the second telephone station.

Abstract: Random sample subsets are selected from an image. The RANSAC algorithm is used to perform robust matching between the samples of a captured image and like samples of stored images. By selecting enough samples the likelihood that all samples will be affected by lighting changes is less and therefore it is more likely that a match will be found even in the case of different lighting in the captured image than the stored images. Additionally a weighted sampling technique is used which selects samples based on likelihood of being affected by lighting changes.

Abstract: An authenticating card 10 for use in a transaction includes a memory 15 and a processor 20. Biometric data of an authorized user of the card 10 are stored in the memory 15 when the card is used for the first time. The processor 20 receives acquired biometric information 25 of the user and allows the transaction when there is a match between the acquired biometric information 25 and the stored biometric data. The biometric information 25 of the user desiring to perform the transaction may be acquired by an input device or reader 30, such as a scanner, recorder or a digital tablet. The biometric information 25 and data may be the user's signature, voice print, palm print, finger print, length of finger(s), or eye scan.

Abstract: Using known methods of face recognition, appliances can be automatically initiated and/or adjusted as a user enters an environment, such as a home or a room. The environment is networked such that there is a communication link between a camera monitoring the entrance to the environment, a face recognition system, and the appliances. The method of automatically controlling a networked environment includes capturing a face image of an individual, storing the face image (i.e., in a memory), and associating at least one appliance setup to the face image. The method also includes comparing the face image to stored face images, retrieving the at least one appliance setup for a matched face image, and initiating the at least one appliance setup. An appliance setup controls turning on or off an appliance, such as an illumination source, a television, or a stereo.

Abstract: An identification and/or verification system which has improved accuracy when the expression on the face of the captured image is different than the expression on the face of the stored image. One or more images of a person are captured. The expressive facial features of the captured image are located. The system then compares the expressive facial features to the expressive facial features of the stored image. If there is no match then the locations of the non-matching expressive facial feature in the captured image are stored. These locations are then removed from the overall comparison between the captured image and the stored image. Removing these locations from the subsequent comparison of the entire image reduces false negatives that result from a difference in the facial expressions of the captured image and a matching stored image.

Abstract: A method and system for avatar mobile video communications are disclosed. Since the creation and realistic driving of avatars may not be done fully automatically with in a mobile communication device (e.g., a cellular phone), an avatar database is provided along with realistic driving mechanisms. Mobile callers may select appropriate downloadable avatars for using during a mobile video communication. The avatar database is provided as a global resource for the mobile video commutation system.

Abstract: Linear method for performing head motion estimation from facial feature data, the method comprising the steps of: obtaining first facial image and detecting a head in the first image; detecting position of four points P of said first facial image where P={p1, p2, p3, p4}, and pk=(xk, yk); obtaining second facial image and detecting a head in the second image; detecting position of four points P? of the second facial image where P?={p?1, p?2, p?3, p?4} and p?k=(x?k, y?k); and, determining the motion of the head represented by a rotation matrix R and translation vector T using the points P and P?. The head motion estimation is governed according to an equation: P?i=RPi+T, where R = [ r 1 T r 2 T r 3 T ] = [ r ij ] 3 × 3 and T=[T1 T2 T3]T represents camera rotation and translation respectively.

Abstract: Using known methods of face recognition, appliances can be automatically initiated and/or adjusted as a user enters an environment, such as a home or a room. The environment is networked such that there is a communication link between a camera monitoring the entrance to the environment, a face recognition system, and the appliances. The method of automatically controlling a networked environment includes capturing a face image of an individual, storing the face image (i.e., in a memory), and associating at least one appliance setup to the face image. The method also includes comparing the face image to stored face images, retrieving the at least one appliance setup for a matched face image, and initiating the at least one appliance setup. An appliance setup controls turning on or off an appliance, such as an illumination source, a television, or a stereo.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for performing a read operation including acquiring a series of frames of image data; processing a first frame of image data including an array of pixel data acquired while an aiming pattern was generated for determining a location L of at least one pixel of the array of pixel data that corresponds to the aiming pattern; and processing a second frame of image data acquired while the aiming pattern was not generated. The processing of the second frame of image data includes the steps of selecting at least one optical code acquired in the second frame of image data that is located at a respective location; wherein the respective location meets a predetermined condition relative to the determined location L; and providing the selected at least one optical code for further processing in accordance with the read operation.