Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for accessing a collection of images in a database. In accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention, each of the images is sorted into one of a plurality of time-based clusters. A weighted quality metric is used to assign to each image a quality number as a function of an image analysis heuristic. A representative image is automatically selected from each time-based cluster based on the quality number.

Abstract: Data display methods, display systems, network systems, and articles of manufacture are described. According to one embodiment, a data display method includes providing a plurality of display source devices, providing a display sink system configured to depict visual images, specifying a source display rule associated with display data of one of the display source devices, wherein the source display rule is configured to control the depiction of the display data of the respective one of display source devices by the display sink system, specifying a sink display rule configured to control the display of images using the display sink system, outputting the display data of the one of the display source devices and the source display rule for communication to the display sink system, analyzing the source display rule and the sink display rule, and using the display sink system, depicting the display data of the one of the display source devices responsive to the analyzing.

Abstract: In a method of compressing a palettized image having colors, the colors of the palettized image are arranged in a palette table in a hierarchical manner to form a hierarchical color palette. In addition, bit values for the colors are defined in accordance with the arrangement of the colors, such that, the bit values for substantially close colors are related and at least one of the bit values is truncated to thereby compress the palettized image.

Abstract: An automated method for conditionally propagating metadata instances among documents includes defining groups of metadata instances and includes assigning different propagation coefficients to each group. Each propagation coefficient assigned to a particular group is based upon correlating the associated document attribute or attributes with reliable propagations of metadata instances within the group. After the groups of metadata instances have been defined and the propagation coefficients have been assigned, propagation of a metadata instance from a second document to a first document is based upon a combination of (1) determining the particular group in which the metadata instance resides, (2) identifying the propagation coefficients that are assigned to that group for the associated document attributes, and (3) comparing the first and second documents with respect to the associated document attributes.

Abstract: Data access methods, media repository systems, media systems and articles of manufacture are described. According to one embodiment, a data access method includes storing media content using a media repository system and wherein a plurality of different usage rights are provided for controlling the consumption of the media content, providing a client configured to consume the media content, using the media repository system, accessing location information regarding a location of the client, using the location information, selecting one of the usage rights, communicating the media content to the client using the media repository system, and using the client, consuming the media content in accordance with the one of the usage rights.

Abstract: Various disc enhancement systems and methods are disclosed. In some embodiments, methods comprise retrieving information from a master optical disc; retrieving a data structure from a slave optical disc; using the information from the master optical disc to modify the data structure; and playing content from the slave optical disc in accordance with the modified data structure.

Abstract: An optical disc having a search file indicating languages associated with scenes, and methods associated therewith. In some embodiments, the optical disc is configured to store content and a search file. The content is playable by an optical disc player. The search file comprises data associated with scenes in the playable content. For a given scene, the data indicates a language associated with that scene.

Abstract: An exemplary method for variable speed video playback comprises obtaining a set of scores for a plurality of discrete segments in a digital video, enabling a playback of the digital video at a variable playback speed that may change from segment to segment based on the set of scores, receiving a user input to adjust the playback speed for at least one of the segments by modifying at least one of the set of scores, and adjusting the variable playback speed based on the user input.

Abstract: A system and method for browsing, retrieving, and recommending information from a collection uses multi-modal features of the documents in the collection, as well as an analysis of users' prior browsing and retrieval behavior. The system and method are premised on various disclosed methods for quantitatively representing documents in a document collection as vectors in multi-dimensional vector spaces, quantitatively determining similarity between documents, and clustering documents according to those similarities. The system and method also rely on methods for quantitatively representing users in a user population, quantitatively determining similarity between users, clustering users according to those similarities, and visually representing clusters of users by analogy to clusters of documents.

Abstract: Selecting from currently available television programs or other commercial broadcasts is enabled by clustering the broadcasts on the basis of program categories and by simultaneously displaying video information from all of the broadcasts. The channels through which the commercial broadcasts are received are monitored in order to detect any changes in program categorization. Thus, the clustering of the broadcasts is dynamic with respect to the number of broadcasts in the different clusters. Each broadcast is displayed as a reduced-scale presentation that is based upon the video information specific to the broadcasts. In one embodiment, at least one of the clusters can be split into sub-clusters, such as splitting a movie cluster or a sports cluster on the basis of genres. Optionally, the different reduced-scale presentations are continuously updated, other than during commercial times.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for creating a tangible medium containing digital content, and using the tangible medium to navigate corresponding files stored on a computer device. A user can use an input device to move about the tangible medium, and make a selection therefrom. A computing device determines which of the stored files contain digital content corresponding to the user's selection, by using pattern matching, coordinate mapping, or other techniques. The stored file is retrieved, and the digital content is made available for navigation.

Abstract: Image browsing through memory-stored items, such as a library of images or desktop windows, is efficiently performed by arranging images in partially overlapping fashion and generating a second-level image for each overlapped image that is contacted by a user-manipulated cursor. The second-level image is a “transitory” image, since it is removed as soon as the cursor is displaced from the corresponding first-level image. Thus, by placing the first-level images in a diagonally extending stack, straight line movement of the cursor will initiate a sequential presentation of transitory images for the images in the stack. In one embodiment, the display also includes an incrementing icon and a decrementing icon that are employed to provide substitute stacks. Moreover, a third-level image is formed in a separate window when the user selects one of the images from the stack. This third-level image has more permanency, since it remains in the display window after the stack has been substituted.

Abstract: A method for generating a panoramic image that enables a user to obtain panoramic photographs with a digital camera without the aid of a computer system or specialized lenses. A digital camera according to the present techniques captures a series of image frames as a user pans the digital camera through a panoramic image scene and combines the captured image frames while the image frames are being captured.

Abstract: Systems and methods of organizing a collection of objects are described. In one aspect, a sequence of objects is segmented into object clusters based on: comparisons of successive object intervals to weighted measures of cluster extent; and comparisons of successive object intervals to weighted measures of cluster object density. In another aspect, objects from the collection are segmented into clusters. Context-related meta data associated with the objects and parsable into multiple levels of a name hierarchy is extracted. Names are assigned to clusters based on the extracted context-related meta data corresponding to a level of the name hierarchy selected to distinguish segmented clusters from one another. In another aspect, a sequence of objects that are segmented into clusters is accessed. Each cluster includes multiple objects arranged in a respective sequence in accordance with context-related meta data associated with the objects.

Abstract: Digital media distribution methods, general purpose computers, digital media distribution systems are described. According to one aspect, a digital media distribution method includes providing a general purpose computer configured to execute a plurality of application programs according to a first priority level, executing one of the application programs according to a second priority level using the general purpose computer, wherein the second priority level is higher than the first priority level and the executing comprises executing to process encoded data of at least one of a plurality of media formats to provide media data, providing the media data within a predetermined media format using the general purpose computer, and outputting the media data of the predetermined media format from the general purpose computer for communication to a plurality of media appliance devices configured to process the media data of the predetermined media format.

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: A method for automatically determining device settings based on usage history. The method includes determining a characterization for a device operation in terms of a set of features and selecting a previous device operation having a characterization which is similar to the characterization of the device operation. The device settings which are associated with the characterization of the selected previous device operation may then be employed in performing the device operation.

Abstract: Various methods for imaging and navigating a selected path are described. A method of navigating a path includes the step of identifying a selected path. At least one image stream associated with navigating the selected path is identified. The displayed image stream includes visual information corresponding to traveling the selected path. In one embodiment, display of the image stream is varied in accordance with an actual location and a speed of a traveler along the selected path. Various single pass and multi-pass systems are described for capturing the visual information associated with a path. One method of acquiring visual information includes generating first and second image streams comprising visual information representing traversal of the path. Audio cues are recorded at the same plurality of locations on each pass. The audio cues permit synchronization of the image streams to locations along the path.

Abstract: An automated method for conditionally propagating metadata instances among documents includes defining groups of metadata instances and includes assigning different propagation coefficients to each group. Each propagation coefficient assigned to a particular group is based upon correlating the associated document attribute or attributes with reliable propagations of metadata instances within the group. After the groups of metadata instances have been defined and the propagation coefficients have been assigned, propagation of a metadata instance from a second document to a first document is based upon a combination of (1) determining the particular group in which the metadata instance resides, (2) identifying the propagation coefficients that are assigned to that group for the associated document attributes, and (3) comparing the first and second documents with respect to the associated document attributes.

Abstract: A system and method for browsing, retrieving, and recommending information from a collection uses multi-modal features of the documents in the collection, as well as an analysis of users' prior browsing and retrieval behavior. The system and method are premised on various disclosed methods for quantitatively representing documents in a document collection as vectors in multi-dimensional vector spaces, quantitatively determining similarity between documents, and clustering documents according to those similarities. The system and method also rely on methods for quantitatively representing users in a user population, quantitatively determining similarity between users, clustering users according to those similarities, and visually representing clusters of users by analogy to clusters of documents.