Abstract: A method for characterizing an image where a number of test areas of predefined shape and size are located on the image. The color or the texture of the image over each of the test areas is quantified. The image can be characterized by statistical descriptions of the frequency distribution of color or texture of the test areas.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for creating and managing portable user preferences for personalized media consumption. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a set of user information is captured and stored on a portable medium, such as a smart card, compatible with various media devices. Such use of a portable medium makes the information accessible to multiple devices. Finally, the portable medium may used to tailor user preferences according to the device chosen by the user, and may be dynamically updated as user preferences change.

Abstract: A method for retrieving relevant stories from a collection of stories. The method comprises the steps of identifying at least one query term, applying a cooccurrence matrix to the query term to provide a list of query terms, determining if a story in the collection contains any terms on the list of query terms, and then increasing a relevance measure if the story does contain words on the list of query words. If the relevance measure is higher than a threshold, the story is added to a list of relevant stories.

Abstract: A method for characterizing an image where a number of test areas of predefined shape and size are located on the image. The color or the texture of the image over each of the test areas is quantified. The image can be characterized by statistical descriptions of the frequency distribution of color or texture of the test areas.

Abstract: A method for characterizing an image where a number of test areas of predefined shape and size are located on the image. The color or the texture of the image over each of the test areas is quantified. The image can be characterized by statistical descriptions of the frequency distribution of color or texture of the test areas.

Abstract: A system detects a face within an image by receiving the image which includes a plurality of pixels, where a plurality of the pixels of the image is represented by respective groups of at least three values. The image is filtered by transforming a plurality of the respective groups of the at least three values to respective groups of less than three values, where the respective groups of the less than three values has less dependency on brightness than the respective groups of the at least three values. Regions of the image representative of skin-tones are determined based on the filtering. A first distribution of the regions of the image representative of the skin-tones in a first direction is calculated. A second distribution of the regions of the image representative of the skin-tones in a second direction is calculated, where the first direction and the second direction are different. The face within the image is located based on the first distribution and the second distribution.

Abstract: Providing at least one description scheme. For audio and/or video programs a program description scheme provides information regarding the associated program. For the user a user description scheme provides information regarding the user's preferences. For the system a system description scheme provides information regarding the system. The description schemes are independent of one another. Preferably, the program description scheme, user description scheme, and system description scheme are independent of one another.

Abstract: Providing at least one description scheme. For audio and/or video programs a program description scheme provides information regarding the associated program. For the user a user description scheme provides information regarding the user's preferences. For the system a system description scheme provides information regarding the system. The description schemes are independent of one another. Preferably, the program description scheme, user description scheme, and system description scheme are independent of one another.

Abstract: A system detects a face within an image by receiving the image which includes a plurality of pixels, where a plurality of the pixels of the image is represented by respective groups of at least three values. The image is filtered by transforming a plurality of the respective groups of the at least three values to respective groups of less than three values, where the respective groups of the less than three values has less dependency on brightness than the respective groups of the at least three values. Regions of the image representative of skin-tones are determined based on the filtering. A first distribution of the regions of the image representative of the skin-tones in a first direction is calculated. A second distribution of the regions of the image representative of the skin-tones in a second direction is calculated, where the first direction and the second direction are different. The face within the image is located based on the first distribution and the second distribution.