Abstract: A system for generating a media playlist comprising a media management module operable to select a first media item from a plurality of media items stored in a media database for playback; and using raw user input data representing a measure of the popularity of the first media item, generate preference data representing a refined user preference for the first media item; wherein the preference data is used to determine a second media item from the plurality of media items for playback.

Abstract: A system for coordinating image characteristics in a plurality (n) of video streams, the system includes human factor value determination component, a human factor value comparator component, a human factor modification component. The human factor modification component determines the value of at least the human perceptible factor for at least a subset of the plurality of video streams. The human factor value comparator component compares the value of the at least one human perceptible factor for each of the at least a subset of n video streams. The human factor modification component modifies the value of the human perceptible factor for the at least a subset of the n video streams to minimize the differences in the values of the human perceptible factors between the n independently captured video streams.

Abstract: Methods and systems for communicating each participant's focus of attention in a video conference are described. In one aspect, a method for communicating where each participant's attention is focused in a video conference includes receiving each remote participant's video and audio streams and focus of attention data, based on the remote participant's head location. The at least one remote participant's video streams are presented in separate viewing areas of the local participant's display. The viewing areas presenting the remote participants are modified to indicate to the local participant each remote participant's focus of attention, based on the focus of attention data.

Abstract: Methods and systems that reduce video crosstalk in video streams sent between participants in a video conference are disclosed. In one aspect, a method for reducing video crosstalk in a video stream sent from a local site to a remote site includes projecting a video stream of the remote site onto a screen at the local site. Each image in the video stream is dimmed according to a dimming factor of a dimming sequence. Crosstalk images of the local site are captured through the screen. Each crosstalk image is a blending of the image of the local site captured through the screen with a dimmed image of the remote site projected onto the screen. Images of the local site with reduced crosstalk are computed based on the dimming sequence. A video stream composed of the images of the local site with reduced crosstalk are sent to the remote site.

Abstract: Methods and systems for using portable electronic devices in video conferences are disclosed. In one aspect, a method receives each remote participant's audio data stream and at least one video stream over a network and arranges the video streams in a data structure that describes the location of each video stream's associated viewing area within a virtual meeting space. The method blends audio streams into a combined audio of the remote participants. The method presents at least one viewing area on the portable device display to be viewed by the local participant, and changes the at least one viewing area to be presented on the portable device display based on cues provided by the operator.

Abstract: The present invention describes a method of modifying an image in a video that includes the step of capturing a visible light image of an area, where the visible light image captured at a first frame rate. The method in addition includes the step of capturing a corresponding infrared light image of an area, the infrared light image being captured when the area is illuminated with an infrared light source, the infrared light image captured at the substantially the same frame rate as the visible light image. Based on the infrared light image, at least a subset of the human perceptible characteristics of the captured visible light image are modified.

Abstract: The present invention provides a portable device that includes at least one view angle sensor for collecting sensor information about the view angle of the portable device. It also includes a view angle determination component for determining (1) the view angle of the portable device engaged in a videoconference session and (2) whether the view angle is within a predefined range for the videoconference session. The portable device also includes a feedback component, wherein responsive to the determination that the view angle is out of range, providing user feedback.

Abstract: A position estimation system comprising a plurality of ‘shaped for depth sensing’ lenses comprising a lens profile directly based on distance estimation propagation of errors; a plurality of light sensing devices associated with the plurality of ‘shaped for depth sensing’ lenses; and a position estimator for estimating a position of at least a first object with respect to a second object based on the plurality of ‘shaped for depth sensing’ lenses and the plurality of light sensing devices.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to object segmentation of digital video streams and digital images. In one aspect, a method for segmenting an object in a digitally-encoded image includes designing a non-linear local function that generates function values associated with identifying the object of interest and a combination function that combines the function values, the object of interest encoded in digital image data. The method includes forming orthogonal projections of the digital image data based on the function values and the combination function. In addition, the orthogonal projections can be used to determining boundaries segmenting the object in the digital image data. The method also includes extracting an image of the object that lies within the boundaries.

Abstract: sensors are arranged continuously adjacent along the boundary region of a touch surface. Furthermore, a touch associated with the interior area of the touch surface is detected via at least a plurality of sensors along the boundary region.

Abstract: The present invention describes a display system. The display system includes a display, the display including a display screen capable of operating in a transparent mode; a lighting characteristic assessment component for determining the lighting characteristics of the content on the display screen and the lighting characteristics behind the display screen; and an adaptive lighting control component for controlling of an at least one lighting source and the lighting characteristics of the content on the display screen, wherein based on a comparison of the lighting characteristics of the content on the display screen and the lighting characteristics behind the display screen, modifying at least one of the lighting characteristics of the content on the display screen or the lighting characteristics of the at least one lighting source.

Abstract: A synchronization relationship determiner comprising an input visual information signal receiver configured to receive an input visual information signal, and a capture signal receiver configured to receive a capture signal generated by a capture device. The synchronization relationship determiner is configured to determine a synchronization relationship between the input visual information signal and the capture signal. The synchronization relationship determination is signal based.

Abstract: A visual-collaborative system including a display screen configured to display images and a camera configured to capture images. The system also includes a video cross-talk reducer configured to estimate video cross-talk that is to be displayed on the display screen and captured by the camera, and reducing the estimated video cross-talk from captured images by the camera. The estimation of the video cross-talk and reduction of the video cross-talk is signal based.

Abstract: A video cross-talk estimator comprising a visual input signal receiver configured to receive a visual input signal, a capture signal receiver configured to receive a capture signal, and a signal based video-cross talk determiner configured to estimate video cross-talk based on at least two frames of the visual input signal. The estimation of the video cross-talk is signal based.

Abstract: A system and method for searching real estate properties, a system and method for estimating the size of an area, and a system and method for associating an image with information relevant to the image is disclosed. A system for searching real estate properties comprises a data storage unit configured to store map information, additional relevant georeferenced information and information about real estate properties, including information identifying the locations of the real estate properties; and a display unit configured to receive a search request from a user, communicate with the data storage unit, and provide search results to the user, including a map showing locations of real estate properties, in response to the search request, the display unit being further configured to displaying a user interface with which the user may associate information, personal to the user, with a particular real estate property.

Abstract: Controlling artifacts in video data. Image data of collocated pixels of a plurality of frames of the video data is sampled (310), wherein at least a portion of each of the plurality of frames corresponds to an object that does not move across the plurality of frames. A statistical curve fit is performed (320) on sampled image data of the collocated pixels, wherein the statistical curve fit places less consideration on a sampled collocated pixel that corresponds to movement of an object across the plurality of frames. An adjusted frame is generated (330) based at least in part on at least one parameter of the statistical curve fit.

Abstract: A method for reducing audio noise in an audio signal acquisition is described herein. The method includes: receiving an input audio signal; separating the input audio signal into a high-frequency portion and a low-frequency portion based on a threshold frequency; synthesizing the low-frequency portion to at least reduce any audio noise therein to generate a new low-frequency portion; combining the high-frequency portion and the new low-frequency portion to form a new audio signal representing the input audio signal; and outputting the new audio signal for the audio signal acquisition.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and machine-readable media for processing an input image are described. In one aspect, respective visual features of local input image regions of an input image having a first pixel resolution are analyzed to produce a result. Based on the result of analyzing the visual features, reduced-resolution visual representations of corresponding ones of the local input image regions are derived from the input image. A thumbnail image that reflects the arrangements, proportions and local details of the input image having a second pixel resolution lower than the first pixel resolution is produced from the reduced-resolution visual representations. The thumbnail image is output.

Abstract: A method of determining whether a video frame meets the design composition requirements associated with a video conference, said method comprising steps performed by a processor of: providing design composition requirements for the video frame, wherein the design composition requirements are available at runtime; analyzing captured video content from a video conference, to determine whether a participant of interest is present in a video frame of the video content; and analyzing the video frame to determine if it meets the design composition requirements for the video conference.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of providing feedback to a participant in a video conference, comprising the steps of: establishing a video conferencing session between multiple participants, wherein each participant in the video conferencing session is associated with a video capture device and an audio capture device; and establishing presentation requirements for each participant, wherein the presentation requirements are associated with the video conferencing session and the video capture and audio capture devices associated with each participant, wherein responsive to a failure to meet the presentation requirements, feedback is sent to at least the local participant who has failed to meet the presentation requirements.