Abstract: An image processing method of the present invention includes a detection step detecting a characteristic area from each of three or more shot images having a common graphic pattern in part thereof, the characteristic area having an image significantly different from the other shot images, and a combining step extracting a partial image located in the characteristic area from each of the three or more shot images and combining these partial images into one image.

Abstract: Given two video sequences, a composite video sequence can be generated (15) which includes visual elements from each of the given sequences, suitably synchronized (11) and represented in a chosen focal plane. A composite video sequence can be made also by similarly combining a video sequence with an audio sequence. In the composite video sequence, contestants, action figures or objects can be shown against a common background (12) even if the given video sequences differ as to background, with the common background taken from one or the other of the given sequences, for example. Alternatively, a different suitable background can be used, e.g. as derived from the given video sequences, as obtained from another video sequence or image, or as otherwise synthesized.

Abstract: An image processing system is described which is arranged to highlight information in image displays by selectively blurring less important areas of an image. By generating such displays comprising areas which are in focus and areas which are out of focus, a viewer's attention is preferentially drawn towards those areas of an image which appear sharp. By having a display system which is arranged to generate such images a means is provided to direct a viewer's attention towards considering the sharp areas of the image display first. Further the selective blurring portions of an image reduces rather than increases the amount of information presented to a viewer and hence reduces the likelihood that a viewer will become overloaded with information. Display systems of this type are therefore especially applicable to complex control environments as means of directing viewer's attention.

Abstract: A method and a portable device controls output of a display unit to display information accurately and clearly regardless of a background image. Disclosed is an arrangement for calculating a difference between an arbitrary expression value of an arbitrary screen configuration element to be displayed on a given area of the background image and an actual expression value of the given area of the background image. Each expression value includes at least one of a color and lightness. The arrangement automatically selects the expression value of the screen configuration element based on the calculation result. The screen configuration element is displayed at the given area of the background image based on the selected arbitrary expression value.

Abstract: Images provide rich information regarding what they depict. For example, an image may have additional information, such as depth and/or 3D location values, for some points within the image. It may be advantageous to extrapolate the values from the valued points to the entire image because a new view of the image may be generated based upon values of points. Accordingly, an interpolated image may be generated by interpolating values for unvalued points based upon values of valued points. In particular, a set of valued points having desired cost paths may be determined for an unvalued point. A model may be applied to the set of valued points to interpolate a value for the unvalued point. One or more interpolated images may be projected onto a new view. In particular, points within an interpolated image may be projected onto locations within the new view based upon values of the points.

Abstract: An image processing device performs: setting a focal pixel among a plurality of pixels in an original image that is represented by original image data; setting a pixel near the focal pixel as a near pixel; acquiring a degree of difference in luminance for the focal pixel and the near pixel; determining, based on the degree of difference, at least one of: a size of a supplemental image; a shape of the supplemental image; color of the supplemental image; and luminance of the supplemental image; and generating edited image data by editing the original image data, the edited image data representing an edited image obtained by superimposing the supplemental image on the original image, the supplemental image being superimposed on an area around the focal pixel in the original image.

Abstract: Morphological anti-aliasing (MLAA) of a re-projection of a two-dimensional image can be implemented in a way that produces a better result while using fewer processor resources. One or more discontinuities between each neighboring pixel of the two-dimensional image are determined. One or more pre-defined patterns formed by the one or more discontinuities are identified. A blend amount is calculated for each pixel neighboring the identified pre-defined patterns. A re-projection is applied to the two-dimensional image and to the blend amount for each pixel thereby generating re-projected blend amounts. The neighboring pixels of the re-projection are then blended according to the re-projected blend amounts.

Abstract: An in-vehicle device for displaying a meter image in real time, wherein the processing load is reduced without deterioration of the appearance of the meter image. The in-vehicle device stores therein a plurality of basic images which can indicate a first measured value and a second measured value both of which are measured values relating to the vehicle. According to the acquired first and second measured values, the in-vehicle device selects a predetermined basic image out of the plurality of basic images, transmits a partial area of the selected basic image, and synthesizes these basic images, to thereby generate a meter image to be displayed.

Abstract: Embodiments are described for a method to generate an image that includes image structure detail captured from a first image and color from a second image. The first image of a defined subject can be obtained from a computer memory. The first image may be a downsampled fine image with image detail. The second image captured of the defined subject in the first image can be obtained from a computer memory. The second image may be a coarse image. A target pixel in the second image can be selected. A target color distribution for a pixel window of the target pixel can then be computed. A source color distribution for a pixel window of a corresponding pixel in the first image can be computed using a computer processor. Further, a statistic of the target pixel can be determined with respect to the target color distribution. The source color in the source color distribution can be computed with the statistic. The target pixel color can then be replaced by the source color.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus which includes a extension width determination unit for determining a extension width based on a depression time of the cursor at a reference position on an image display unit where a releasing operation of the cursor was performed, which is a time during which the cursor had been kept depressed until the releasing operation was performed, and an ornament piece arrangement unit for arranging the plurality of ornament pieces at positions radially extended away from the reference position with the extension width determined by the extension width determination unit.

Abstract: An optical sensor for detecting motion or movement in an area of interest and a method of operation is provided. The system includes a CMOS sensor having an array of pixels that captures images in an area of interest. The system monitors the average pixel value for the array to define a first state. If the average pixel value changes beyond a defined threshold, the system defines a second state. For each change in state, a signal is generated. In one embodiment, the optical sensor is used with a meter having a dial with an indicator. The optical sensor generates a signal each time the indicator passes through the area of interest to allow for the remote monitoring of a consumable commodity.

Abstract: An image generation method and system. The method includes receiving by a computing apparatus from a video recording device attached to a backside of a video monitor connected to the computing apparatus, a video data stream comprising a first video image of an input device connected to the computing apparatus and a second video image of a users hands enabling switches on the input device. An input device image associated with the input device is displayed. The computing apparatus super-imposes and displays a hand image associated with the user's hands over the input device image. The computing apparatus adjusts a brightness of the hand image such that the input device image is visible through the hand image.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed to realistically simulate facial wrinkle aging of a person using a neutral state (natural look) image and one or more expression images (e.g., smile, frown, pout, wink) that induce wrinkles. The neutral and expression images are processed to simulate wrinkle aging by registering the wrinkles that are visible in the expression image onto the neutral image, thereby generating a wrinkle-aged simulated image. Advantageously, a person's own wrinkle histological data is utilized, hence providing an accurate and realistic wrinkle aging simulation. Similarly, the neutral image is processed to eliminate all visible wrinkles thereby generating a wrinkle de-aged simulation image. Additionally, blending of a neutral image with an aged or de-aged simulation image is disclosed, where the degree of blending is based on statistical modeling of skin condition with age and/or expected outcome of a particular type of treatment.

Abstract: A temporal parallax induced display includes the presentation of different views of a scene. The system likewise uses a model of the human visual system to modify the image to reduce the rocking artifacts.

Abstract: A system and method for performing content aware cropping or expansion may be applied to translate an object within an image. The object may be selected by defining an approximate bounding box of the object. The method may receive input indicating a lowest priority edge or corner of the object to be translated (e.g., using a drag operation). Respective energy values for pixels in regions of the image adjacent to a region comprising the selected object may be weighted based on their distance from the region and/or lowest priority edge/corner, on a cropping or expansion graph, and/or on the translation dimension and direction. Relative costs may be determined for seams of these regions dependent on the energy values. Low cost seams may be removed from one region and replicated in another region, and the region comprising the translated object may be combined with these resized regions in a modified image.

Abstract: A image processing apparatus includes a first image converting section for converting an original image into an output resolution image, a second image converting section for converting the original image into an intermediate resolution image, a similarity information generating section for detecting a plurality of similar areas, in a block in the intermediate resolution image corresponding to a predetermined partial area in the output resolution image, that resemble the partial area, and for generating similarity information including a position of each of the plurality of similar areas in the intermediate resolution image and a weight of the position, a texture generating section for generating a texture image by combining high-frequency components of the intermediate resolution image at the position according to the weight, and a texture blending section for blending the output resolution image and the texture image to generate output image.

Abstract: There are provided systems and methods for tinting an image by monochromatic tinting using saturation maps for use by an application providing a user interface supporting customizable tinted images. By using saturation map and a monochromatic value map derived from the image and configuring the saturation map to specify areas for tinting, a tint color can be applied to the image by a series of quickly processed arithmetic calculations. This provides a lightweight and high quality method for tinting images within an application without wasting unnecessary network bandwidth or processor resources. Furthermore, the method can be adapted to apply multiple tint colors for multiple tints or use an alpha channel to restore color information lost due to the monochromatic value map. The resulting tinted image can also be used as a texture for a three-dimensional rendering engine.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the development of terrain image analogy filters which may be used to convert visible terrain imagery from a first condition to a second condition. For example, from a seasonal “daytime/summer” view to a “nighttime/winter” appearance. The image analogy filters may be generated using processors such as one or more graphics processing units.

Abstract: A video scaler is disclosed. A polyphase filter can be used to generate interpolated pixels. The values of pixels adjacent an interpolated pixel are examined to determine variation in values among the adjacent pixels to determine minimum and maximum value variations. The value of the interpolated pixel is limited based on the minimum and maximum value variations. Ringing artifacts can be reduced by limiting the color range of an interpolated pixel.

Abstract: An image generation method and system. The method includes receiving by a computing apparatus from a video recording device attached to a backside of a video monitor connected to the computing apparatus, a video data stream comprising a first video image of an input device connected to the computing apparatus and a second video image of a users hands enabling switches on the input device. An input device image associated with the input device is displayed. The computing apparatus super-imposes and displays a hand image associated with the user's hands over the input device image. The computing apparatus adjusts a brightness of the hand image such that the input device image is visible through the hand image.

Abstract: A display system for an aircraft includes a processing unit configured to receive data related to an aircraft profile and to supply display commands with symbology based on the aircraft profile; and a display device coupled the processing unit and configured to receive the display commands and operable to render a three-dimensional view with the symbology based on the aircraft profile. The symbology may include slope symbology.

Abstract: A system and method for combining images generated by separate sources. The system comprises a plurality of video image data sources that generate separate video images. The video images are captured and scaled by image processing hardware to fit within the viewports of a target window generated by a computing device. The parameters of the viewports are associated with the parameters of the target window such that changes to the target window result in corresponding changes to the viewports. The method comprises scaling the separate images to fit within the viewports using redundant data within each video image to interpolate pixel data at the boundary regions of adjacent images to eliminate artifacts at the boundary regions.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a method, which includes the steps of generating a first rendered image associated with a first application, independently generating a second rendered image associated with a second application, applying a first set of blending weights to the first rendered image to establish a first weighted image, applying a second set of blending weights to the second rendered image to establish a second weighted image, and blending the first weighted image and the second weighted image before scanning out a blended result to a first display device.

Abstract: A method of provisioning avatars comprises receiving at a first computer system associated with a first user, a metadata file relating to an avatar of a second user. In particular, the metadata file comprises data for use with an avatar generator process that is in execution on the first computer system. Data is extracted from the metadata file, and is provided as input data to the avatar generator process, thereby generating locally to the first computer system the avatar of the second user. The avatar of the second user so generated is displayed to the first user within a virtual environment.

Abstract: An apparatus for overlaying images includes a broadcast image layer generator, an application image layer generator, and an overlay processor. The broadcast image layer generator generates a broadcast image layer based on a received broadcast signal. The application image layer generator generates an application image layer based on an application image. The overlay processor generates an overlay image obtained by overlaying the broadcast image layer with the application image layer, so that a broadcast image corresponding to the broadcast image layer and an application image corresponding to the application image layer may be displayed simultaneously on a screen. The broadcast image and the application image may be displayed simultaneously on a screen, and visibility and readability of a text in the application image may be enhanced based on the user's preference and the user's recognition ability when the portable device performs multi-tasking in which multiple programs are simultaneously executed.

Abstract: A composite image-generating device includes: a geometric transformation table that assigns coordinates corresponding to positions of pixels of an output image on an input image received from a capturing section; and an output image-generating section that generates the output image by superimposing an overlay image based on overlay data associated with the positions of the pixels of the output image in the geometric transformation table on an image obtained by geometrically transforming the input image according to the geometric transformation table.

Abstract: The claimed subject matter relates to a computer-implemented architecture that can generate a map. The map can be a hybrid between an orthographic projection map and street-side images, thus including useful aspects from both types of representations. For example, an orthographic projection map is very effective at presenting global relationships among the features of the map but not effective at presenting local detail. In contrast, street -side images show excellent detail but do not convey the global information of an orthographic projection map. The hybrid map can thus provide a richer set of information than conventional maps and can also display objects/features of the hybrid map in multiple perspectives simultaneously on a single representation that is printable.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an image signal processor for carrying out conversion into an xvYCC signal by using a photograph film as a material, the image signal processor including: acquisition means for acquiring print film concentration data based on said photograph film; generation means for generating spectral data on an image on a screen previously presumed based on spectral concentration characteristics of colors of a positive film having an image projected on said screen, a spectral distribution of a projection light source, and the print film concentration data; arithmetical operation means for arithmetically operating an XYZ tri-stimulus value corresponding to the spectral data; and conversion means for converting the XYZ tri-stimulus value into the xvYCC signal.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for generating a surrounding seamless bird-view image with distance assistance interface, which process a plurality of surrounding images associated with a carrier captured by different image sensing devices. After that, an assistant marking is determined according to the relationship between acquired image space and the real space and thereby is formed on the surrounding seamless bird-view image so as to assist the driver in the carrier for avoiding collision or events affecting the safety being occurred.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for expressing a gray level with a decimal value in a plasma display panel that is capable of enhancing a picture quality. In the method and apparatus, a sustaining pulse is applied only to any one electrode of a sustaining electrode pair to thereby express a gray level with a decimal value.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a camera unit configured to capture an image, and a microprocessor configured to control a display to display the image and an overlay substantially simultaneously. In one broad aspect, at least one of the level of transparency, the brightness level, or the color value of the overlay is determined based on at least one of a representative brightness level or a representative color value associated with the image being displayed.

Abstract: A vector field, including its local three-dimensional attribute, is substantially visualized on a two-dimensional field of view in an intuitionally visible way. The vector field is mapped onto a three-dimensional coordinate space to produce corresponding coordinate point sequences, the degree of elevation in a local area of a plane in which the coordinate point sequences are connected is determined, the degree of depression in the local area is determined, the degree of elevation/depression in the local area is determined by weight-combining the degree of elevation and the degree of depression, the coordinate space is mapped onto a two-dimensional plane and gray-scale display corresponding to the degree of elevation/depression is conducted on the area of the two-dimensional plane corresponding to the local area.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention sets forth a method and system for reducing memory bandwidth requirements for an anti-aliasing operation. The first virtual coverage information for a pixel involved in an anti-aliasing operation is maintained in memory. If a certain operating condition of the anti-aliasing operation deterministically implies the second virtual coverage information for this pixel, the second virtual coverage information, as opposed to the first virtual coverage information, is used in the anti-aliasing operation. In such situations, since the virtual coverage information is implied, it does not have to be accessed from memory, thereby improving overall system performance.

Abstract: Several embodiments of the present application disclose techniques, systems and methods for changing or rendering input image data that may assume a first white point for a given display into image data to be rendered under a second—assumed, desired or measured—white point of the display.

Abstract: A image processing apparatus includes a first image converting section for converting an original image into an output resolution image, a second image converting section for converting the original image into an intermediate resolution image, a similarity information generating section for detecting a plurality of similar areas, in a block in the intermediate resolution image corresponding to a predetermined partial area in the output resolution image, that resemble the partial area, and for generating similarity information including a position of each of the plurality of similar areas in the intermediate resolution image and a weight of the position, a texture generating section for generating a texture image by combining high-frequency components of the intermediate resolution image at the position according to the weight, and a texture blending section for blending the output resolution image and the texture image to generate output image.

Abstract: A method for utilizing networked devices can include a step of receiving a network job associated with a network user. A location of the network user can be automatically determined. One of many possible networked devices can be dynamically selected based upon the determined user location. The network job can be assigned to the selected device.

Abstract: The claimed subject matter relates to a computer-implemented architecture that can generate a map. The map can be a hybrid between an orthographic projection map and street-side images, thus including useful aspects from both types of representations. For example, an orthographic projection map is very effective at presenting global relationships among the features of the map, but not effective at presenting local detail. In contrast, street-side images show excellent detail, but do not convey the global information of an orthographic projection map. The hybrid map can thus provide a richer set of information than conventional maps, and can also display objects/features of the hybrid map in multiple perspectives simultaneously on a single representation that is printable.

Abstract: Mechanisms for displaying text or image over a background such as a video display frame that automatically improve legibility of text or image displayed against a background by increasing the contrast between text or image and background. The display frame may be a single image, but may also be an image within a dynamic sequence of recorded images such as a movie or other video media, or sequence of images captured in real-time by a camera or other device. In one embodiment, color component values are selected, and complementing and filtering applied to achieve contrast. In another embodiment, selecting a minimally used value for color components in the frame achieves contrast. In some cases both text or image, and background, may be altered to achieve contrast. Another embodiment provides background intensity modulation to achieve varying contrast within altered backgrounds, and smoothing over many frames in dynamic material.

Abstract: A vector field (70) including its local three-dimensional attribute is substantially visualized on a two-dimensional field of view in an intuitionally visible way (p5, p8). For the visualization, the vector field (70) is mapped onto a three-dimensional coordinate space (80) to produce corresponding coordinate point sequences (p1), the degree of elevation (A) in a local area of a plane in which the coordinate point sequences are connected (p2) is determined, the degree of depression (C) in the local area is determined (p3), the degree of elevation/depression (B) in the local area is determined by weight-combining the degree of elevation (A) and the degree of depression (C) (p4), the coordinate space (80) is mapped onto a two-dimensional plane (90), and gray-scale display (F) corresponding to the degree of elevation/depression is conducted on the area of the two-dimensional plane (90) corresponding to the local area (p5).

Abstract: Systems and methods provide object-based image inpainting. The object-based inpainting can recover part of a missing object or can synthesize visual objects that are entirely missing. In one implementation, an exemplary system generates a target visual object to be inpainted into an image, by geometrically matching key features with a model visual object that can be selected from the same or another image. Borders of the target object are refined through pixel-based contour deformation and textures for the target object are obtained either by pixel interpolation or by patch-based modeling of pre-existing texture in the image. Graph-cut segmentation rectifies image overlap as the target object is embedded in the image. Poisson editing filters visual seams, and edge filling completes visual gaps around the border of the target object.

Abstract: A method, comprising: generating facial muscle activations from facial marker data; animating a computer graphics facial model using the facial muscle activations; generating a skin layer overlaying the computer graphics facial model; and animating the skin layer using the facial marker data.

Abstract: A method of image restoration in an image processing system is provided. An observed image of an original image, wherein the observed image comprises multiple samples, is received. For a selected sample from the multiple samples, a subset of the multiple samples is selected, wherein said subset includes the selected sample. Image restoration to restore an original image sample from the selected sample is performed as a function of said subset of multiple samples, and not the entire observed image. A novel image restoration method which requires shorter length FFT calculation in the image restoration process is utilized, wherein the resulting restored image maintains the same quality as the result from conventional approaches.

Abstract: A system and method for processing images utilizing varied feature class weights is provided. A computer system associates two or more images with a set of feature class data, such as color and texture data. The computer system assigns a set of processing weights for each of the feature classes. The two or more images are blended according to the feature class weights. The blended image can be further adjusted according to the content of the images.

Abstract: A system and method for displaying information about video/audio clips that are being edited. When two different clips are being matched, or when one clip is being used to replace another clip, the first clip is shown on a first timeline in a normal form. The other clip is arranged in a separate timeline to overlap with the first clip. The user is provided with the ability to easily move both clips with an input device. For individual frames that overlap, one frame is at least partially transparent so that user can see both frames at the same time.

Abstract: A method for assigning background pixels an appropriate color to fill all remaining background pixels by a computer after standard paint and overscan techniques to prevent and reduce artifacts. The method includes computing an initial mipmap level and keeping track of which pixels are background pixels. Four pixels at a subsequent mipmap level correspond to a single pixel at a higher level. If the four pixels at the lower level are background pixels, then the single pixel is also a background pixel and a corresponding color is used. Otherwise, the color of the single pixel is the average of non-background pixels.

Abstract: In one aspect, a background image constructed from HDR image information is displayed along with portions of the HDR image corresponding to one or more regions of interest. The portions have at least one display parameter (e.g., a tone mapping parameter) that differs from a corresponding display parameter for the background image. Regions of interest and display parameters can be determined by a user (e.g., via a GUI). In another aspect, an intermediate image is determined based on image data corresponding to one or more regions of interest of the HDR image. The intermediate image has a narrower dynamic range than the HDR image. The intermediate image or a derived image is then displayed. The techniques and tools can be used to compare, for example, different tone mappings, compression methods, or color spaces in the background and regions of interest.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for erasing in a digital image. A method includes identifying a plurality of tip regions on the image, establishing an erasure color, and completely erasing pixels in the tip region that have a color matching the erasure color. Pixels having partially matching colors are partially erased and color decontaminated.

Abstract: A texture unit of a graphics processing unit provides the ability to switch among different filter modes depending upon shader program instructions that are received by the texture unit. One filter mode has the capability to extract filter weights that have been specified in a received shader program instruction rather than calculating the weights within the texture unit itself.

Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods that provide images of an environment to the viewpoint of a display. The systems and methods define a mapping surface at a distance from the image source and display that approximates the environment within the field of view of the image source. The system methods define a model that relates the different geometries of the image source, display, and mapping surface to each other. Using the model and the mapping surface, the systems and methods tile images from the image source, correlate the images to the display, and display the images. In instants where two image sources have overlapping fields of view on the mapping surface, the systems and methods overlap and stitch the images to form a mosaic image. If two overlapping image sources each have images with unique characteristics, the systems and methods fuse the images into a composite image.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for automatically rendering information on a display screen of a building information system. Following generation of a plan image, such as a floor or site plan image, the plan image is modified and subsequently rendered on the display screen. The plan image is modified by adjusting the contrast ratio of the plan image such that, when graphical elements, such as icons representing elevators, evacuation stairways and fire hydrants, are rendered on the display screen overlaying the modified plan image, the graphical elements are visually distinct from the modified plan image.