Abstract: A front-rear blur amount of a camera, which occurs when a release button is pressed in order to perform image pickup, is detected, and image data obtained by an imaging device on which an image of an object is formed are subjected to image processing on the basis of the front-rear blur amount. As a result, an image on which the effects of front-rear blur are reduced is obtained.

Abstract: If an image acquired from a video camera (113) contains a two-dimensional bar code as information unique to an operation input device (116), information unique to the video camera (113) and the information unique to the operation input device (116) are managed in a shared memory (107) in association with each other.

Abstract: A signal SG41 that has color signals thereof time-sequentially arranged in a color array corresponding to the color array in an image sensor 3 and that has not undergone resolution conversion is subjected to resolution conversion at a conversion rate (for example, ?) specified by a phase retention resolution conversion section 42. A de-mosaicing processing section 44 converts a signal SG42, which represents the order of the color array in the image sensor, into RGB signals SG44. A thin-line retention resolution conversion section 45 converts the signals SG44 into signals SG45 at a specified conversion rate (for example, ½). The signals SG45 are compressed by an encoder. In a recording medium 9, YC signals SG48 representing (640×480) pixels, the color signals SG42, a signal SG51 representing (640×480) pixels in the order of a color array and serving as thumbnail image data DT, and imaging information are recorded.

Abstract: An automatic focusing system in a low-illumination setting and a method using the same are disclosed. Through a selection of the memory bits and a tone adjustment, an automatic focusing could be precisely achieved. According to one embodiment, a lens module and an image sensor are firstly used for generating the digital image signals. Next, a gain adjustment unit is introduced to adjusting the gain of the signals, so as to reduce the noises. A memory bit retrieving unit is further used to retrieve the data from a plurality of memory bits. Next, a tone adjusting process is performed to raise the signals' contrast.

Abstract: An image file reproduction apparatus includes a reproduction unit that reads an image file from a storage medium storing image files capable of storing plural pieces of image data and reproduces the read image file, a first operation unit that receives a command for selecting any one of image files stored in the storage medium, and a second operation unit that receives a command for selecting any one of image data stored in the image file selected by the command received by the first operation unit. The reproduction unit controls selection of image data to be reproduced in a different way according to the operation made on the respective operation units.

Abstract: An image manager includes a communicator that communicates with a server computer storing image data, a detector that detects a storage capacity of image data stored into the server computer by the communicator and a controller that controls download of image data stored into the server computer in response to a detection result of the detector.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus, which is capable of starting up in a shooting mode and in a playback mode, and capable of switching between the shooting mode and the playback mode, includes: a memory which stores an image file corresponding to a shot picture image; a display which displays the picture image, and a selector which selects at least one image file from a plurality of image files stored in the memory, wherein in a case of starting up in the playback mode, when there is an image file selected by the selector, the selected image file is displayed on the display, and when there is no selected image file, a latest image file which is lastly shot and stored in the memory is displayed on the display.

Abstract: A method of operating a digital image capture device including storing a plurality of digital image template files, each of the digital image template files include features of a digital image template such as a number, location, and shape of openings in the digital image template. Image attribute requirements are also stored in association with each of the openings for screening images to be disposed in an opening. The templates are displayed to a user for selecting a template. Images are captured and stored and each of the images include image attribute data. Stored images are automatically searched to identify images that may be automatically digitally placed into openings in the digital template. The image attributes of found images are those which satisfy image attribute requirements of the openings. A file containing a digital image template together with the images digitally disposed therein is saved in the capture device for future use such as printing the file or transmitting the file over a network.

Abstract: The present invention includes methods, circuits, devices, apparatuses and systems for analyzing, characterizing and/or rating the composition of images. Further embodiments of the present invention include methods, circuits, devices, apparatuses and systems for providing instructive feedback or automatic corrective actions, relating to the quality of the composition of an image, to a user of an imaging device (e.g. digital camera, camera phone, etc.)—Optionally while the user is preparing to acquire an image, i.e. in real time. Embodiments of the present invention may further include methods, circuits, devices, apparatuses and systems for extracting image composition related rules based on analysis of composition parameters of rated images.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of storing or transferring an image along with an image-processing parameter for processing the image. When storing or transferring a second image for storage or transfer which has a second resolution for storage or transfer differing from a reference resolution, a reference image-processing parameter set according to a reference resolution image having the reference resolution is corrected based on a difference between the reference resolution and the second resolution, so that it becomes a second parameter corresponding to the second image. The second parameter obtained by the correction is stored or transferred along with the second image.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus which can improve convenience of white sheet data used for correcting the color of a picked-up image. Each image pickup data is converted into a file by an image filing unit and recorded by a medium-recording unit. Average value data of each color component data for part of the picked-up data is stored in an area different from the image pickup data recording area in each file.

Abstract: An adapter that allows digital imaging devices to be used with existing analog consoles. In one embodiment of the invention, an adaptor is provided that receives a digital video image signal from a medical device and converts the digital signal into an analog signal that can be displayed by an analog console. In another embodiment, the invention provides a method for converting a digital video signal received from a medical imaging device into a standardized analog video format.

Abstract: Obtaining camera direct dailies using a parallel recording scheme on a set, including; simultaneously recording camera-original video in a master recording session and a lower-resolution proxy recording session; transferring lower-resolution video from the lower-resolution proxy recording session to a stage ingest station; integrating data including sound, logging, color correction, metadata, and high-resolution video from the master recording session at the stage ingest station; and generating camera direct dailies using the integrated data and the video from the lower-resolution proxy recording session.

Abstract: An image management apparatus may include an input image setting information acquiring unit configured to, when image analysis information on an input image is set, acquire setting information as input image setting information, an available setting information acquiring unit configured to acquire setting information as available setting information, an update necessity determining unit configured to determine whether or not an update of the image analysis information is necessary, on the basis of a difference between the input image setting information and the available setting information, and an image analysis information setting unit configured to, when it is determined that an update of the image analysis information is necessary, perform image analysis on the input image using the second image analysis processing unit so as to set new image analysis information.

Abstract: A printing system includes: a camera unit for performing an electro-optic conversion on an image from a subject, generating image data storable in a storage unit, and storing print instruction information as associated with the image data according to the capture information relating to the capture of the image; an image editing unit for performing image editing on the image data; an information rewriting unit for rewriting the print instruction information stored as associated with the image data corresponding to the contents of image editing by the image editing unit; and a printing unit for performing a printing process after performing a predetermined image processing on the image data corresponding to the print instruction information.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for matching image metadata to a profile database to determine image processing parameters are described. In embodiments, image metadata may be used to match input images against a profile database. For example, camera make and model information and/or lens make and model information may be retrieved from the image metadata corresponding to an input image and used to locate a best match profile in the profile database. Additional custom data may then be retrieved from the located profile to perform processing that may be optimized for a specific camera and lens that captured the images, and in some cases for particular camera settings. The profile database may be generated via a calibration process applied to each of a plurality of camera/lens combinations. In one embodiment, the additional custom data may be adjusted or scaled to account for differences in cameras, lenses, or settings.

Abstract: The present invention is applied to imaging apparatuses including video cameras for recording moving pictures, electronic still cameras, monitoring devices and such. An image pickup means 3 and an image compressing means 5 are connected integrally by a wiring layer formed on a surface of the image pickup means 3 opposite a light-receiving surface of the image pickup means 3. The image pickup means 3 provides processing units of image data S1 relating to an image compressing process sequentially. Image data on a partial area in an effective image area is compressed to detect a code amount in advance. A data compressing ratio is determined on the basis of the code amount, and the image data is compressed at the image compressing ratio.

Abstract: A system for presenting recorded data includes an electronic device and a database connectable to the electronic device over a communications network, the electronic device including a recording unit to record data from a first direction, a positional arrangement to determine positional data of the electronic device, a directional arrangement to determine directional data indicating the direction of the recorded data relative the position data; a memory including a first application stored thereon; and a control unit to execute the application to associate the directional data and the positional data to the recorded data and to transmit the recorded data with the associated positional and directional data to the database.

Abstract: A method of segmenting a compressed video containing a plurality of frames into a multi-level hierarchy of video segments. The method comprises the steps of determining differences between the size of successive compressed frames in media time. The method then groups the frames to create a hierarchy of clusters of successive frames as video segments using a clustering process. The clustering process uses the size differences to determine boundaries between clusters at each level of the hierarchy.

Abstract: This invention includes an imaging device that photographs a subject image, a first storage device that stores image data output from the imaging device at a first time interval, a display device that reads the image data stored in the first storage device at the first time interval and display the image data, a second storage device that reads the image data stored in the first storage device at a second time interval and stores the image data and a feature extraction device that extracts a feature section of the subject based upon the image data stored in the second storage device. Therefore, image data output from the imaging device for an image display is once stored in the second storage device and the feature section is extracted from the stored image data, so an extraction is not affected by an update of the first storage device.

Abstract: When image shooting is performed in a mode that records plural images in response to a single shooting instruction and deletion is instructed on a shot-image confirmation screen that displays the shot image data immediately after the shooting, the plural image data generated by the same shooting instruction are all collectively deleted. On the contrary, in a playback mode, when deletion is instructed to one of the plural image data shot by the same shooting instruction, only the one image that has been instructed for deletion is deleted. This feature improves usability of the image sensing apparatus capable of recording plural images in response to a single shooting instruction.

Abstract: An image capture device, includes a body; an image sensor in the body; a lens configured to focus a scene onto the image sensor; a communications interface in the body; an image processor coupled to receive device information from an external device; a controller coupled to the communications interface and configured to control operations of the digital camera; and executable code embodied in a computer readable medium and configured to cause the controller to configure operational parameters of the digital camera based on information received from the external device. Examples of operational parameters that can be configured include locking and unlocking of the image capture device, encryption or other encoding of captured images, and device settings and configuration.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing enhanced navigation of stored digital video content based upon an event index. Includes generation and storage of an event index, as well as navigation based on events in the event index. An example system is embodied in a digital video recorder that detects and stores black field and silent frame events for use in locating commercial groups. The commercial groups may be skipped or otherwise navigated based upon data pointers linking the stored events to corresponding locations in the video data file.

Abstract: A internet based method and apparatus is described for automatically processing a captured digital image taken by a smart device at a fixed-location, mobile or virtual event, and synchronizing the combination of that captured primary image with a secondary image, be it a picture frame, or a watermark to create a combined media image. If desired, the combined image may also contain an audio file. Once combined, the image may be stored for later viewing, and/or automatically returned to the user of the smart device or the PC of the user who captured the primary image, forwarded to an online print service website, posted to a photo sharing website, and/or forwarded to a distribution list. The automated post processing of said captured images is handled by a process engine hosted at an Application Provider's website, the process engine containing instructions for the media combining and metadata tagging of said images.

Abstract: An image processing method and apparatus for automatically rotating an image and a display unit, and an information storage medium storing image information. The apparatus including a photographing unit which generates image data and a rotation sensing unit which generates rotational information of a rotation state of the photographing unit. When an object is photographed, the rotation information of the image is obtained and stored together, and when the image is displayed, the rotation is analyzed and the image and display unit are automatically rotated. When an image including moving picture information is watched, an image always optimized to be horizontal without additional work by a user can be seen.

Abstract: The present invention facilitates the setting of a condition for the execution of predetermined processing and enables the execution of processing conforming to a user's intention. In an image processing apparatus, a predetermined object is detected in an image selected based on an instruction from a user, a determination is made regarding an attribute of the detected object, and the determined attribute is set as an execution condition used when executing predetermined processing on an image.

Abstract: During framing, an image sensor captures an image of a subject and produces an image signal. The image signal is chronologically retrieved and sent to plural signal processing sections. The signal processing sections concurrently produce frames simulated based on different shooting conditions or different shooting modes. Images of frames are displayed on a screen of a display side by side. When a shutter button is pressed after selecting a desired image, an image is captured for recording under the shooting condition or the shooting mode corresponding to the selected image.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus having an improved convenience of use of white sheet data for correcting the color of a picked-up image. Image pickup data is converted into files by an image filing unit and recorded by a medium-recording unit. Average value data of each color component data for part of the picked-up data is stored in an area different from the image pickup data recording area in each file.

Abstract: An imaging device is provided that is configured to perform continuous shooting and includes an imaging unit, a memory, an imaging control unit and a grouping determination unit. The imaging unit is configured to capture an image of a subject. The memory is configured to store continuous shooting control information indicating a value of a control parameter related to continuous shooting. The imaging control unit is configured to cause the imaging unit to perform continuous shooting in accordance with the stored continuous shooting control information. The grouping determination unit is configured to determine, based on the stored continuous shooting control information, whether a series of image information are to be grouped together. The series of image information is obtained in one continuous shooting.

Abstract: A photographic processing system to organize one or more digital photographs and information regarding the subjects being photographed. The system includes a camera to capture digital images of one or more subjects, a user input to receive data related to the one or more subjects who are being photographed, and a database to link the photographs with the data related to the respective subjects.

Abstract: An information-processing apparatus stores in advance a photographing application program. Further, the information-processing apparatus comprises photographing processing means which has a function different from that of the photographing application program. In a launch acceptance state, the information-processing apparatus accepts a first launch operation for selectively launching a plurality of application programs, and a photographing enabling operation for setting a state of the information-processing apparatus to a photographing enabled state. The photographing enabling operation is different from the first launch operation, and is the same as a photographing operation.

Abstract: An image processing method includes storing corresponding addresses of original image data in respective addresses of a look-up table, the number of the respective addresses being smaller than the number of addresses that are necessary in output image data; determining whether the addresses of the original image data corresponding to the addresses of the output image data exist in the look-up table; calculating the addresses of the original image data in a first interpolation process if the addresses do not exist in the look-up table; and generating the output image data corresponding to the addresses of the output image data in a second interpolation process based on the original image data by using at least one of the calculated addresses of the original image data and the addresses of the original image data in the look-up table.

Abstract: An information-processing apparatus processes information obtained by shooting an image of a subject and by collecting ambient sound of the subject. The apparatus contains an image-and-sound-recording unit that shoots the image of the subject to output image information on the image and collects the ambient sound of the subject to output sound information on the ambient sound and an information output unit that detects living-body information showing emotion of living-body of an operator who operates the image-and-sound-recording unit to output the living-body information. The apparatus also contains an information-processing unit that establishes correspondence between the living-body information outputted from the information output unit and at least one of the image information of the subject and the sound information of the ambient sound of the subject, the image information and the sound information being outputted from the image-and-sound-recording unit.

Abstract: A digital camera system in which capture, processing and storage functions are partitioned differently than in existing systems. A hand-held digital camera is used with a workstation that may exist in a commercial image processing service center. A minimal amount of image data processing is performed in the digital camera, thereby allowing significant digital camera cost reductions due to lower memory requirements, lower processing requirements, and lower power requirements. Real-time single pass image compression techniques are employed within this digital camera to permit rapid gathering and storage of raw or minimally processed image data. The workstation to which the image data are transferred performs the image processing normally done within existing cameras. This processing takes advantage of the increased computational power that is possible to have in such a workstation, compared to that of a small camera, and the increased time over which such processing may be performed.

Abstract: Systems, methods and a computer readable mediums for reducing run-time bandwidth requirements within digital image capture devices are disclosed herein. As the resolution of digital image capture devices increase, the bandwidth needed to support this increased resolution is becoming increasingly difficult to support. To reduce the problems associated with run-time bandwidth requirements, it may be beneficial to obtain full-resolution and display-resolution images at the same time from the image capture circuitry—writing both to memory at virtually the same time. The display resolution image may then be delivered to a display unit directly without the need for additional memory operations on the full-resolution image. Only when a user indicates they wish to capture an image need additional memory operations on the full-resolution image be performed.

Abstract: There is provided an image capturing apparatus that automatically registers a taken object.

Abstract: A digital camera having a plurality of photography modes, comprising: an image sensor; an optical system for imaging a scene onto the image sensor; an image capture control for initiating an image capture operation; a photography mode user interface for selecting between a plurality of photography modes, the photography modes having associated image capture and image processing settings; a power control for turning the digital camera on or off, wherein when the camera is in an off state and the power control is activated with a first activation pattern the digital camera is turned on and set to operate in a default photography mode and when the power control is activated with a second activation pattern the digital camera is turned on and set to operate in a previously selected photography mode.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus captures a subject to obtain image data, is connected to an information processing apparatus, and receives and stores therein information about the information processing apparatus when being connected to the information processing apparatus. The image pickup apparatus generates an identifier on the basis of the information received from the information processing apparatus and count-up information. Then, the image pickup apparatus stores the identifier therein so that the identifier is associated with the image data stored in a storage medium.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an imaging apparatus for performing predetermined image signal processing on an image signal picked up by an image pickup device in order to convert the image signal for recording and display purposes, the imaging apparatus including, a parameter storage section, a parameter setting section, a gamma correction processing section, and a display-ready signal conversion section.

Abstract: An image recording method for an image recording medium is used in an image display apparatus that changes an image on a light valve and changes quantity of light which is incident on the light valve via a light control element according to an input image signal. The image recording method includes accommodating a range of brightness information which an object to be imaged indicates, in an entire range of brightness information which an image recording apparatus can record in the image recording medium; and recording a light-control control signal for controlling the light control element when an image signal is recorded on the image recording medium. The light control element is generated on the basis of the range of the brightness information uniformly expanded, in synchronization with the image signal.

Abstract: An image shooting device with an image sensing portion that acquires a series of input images formed in chronological order; a face detection portion that, detects a human face from each input image outputting position information of the detected face; a priority face choice portion that chooses a priority face from the detected faces; an identification portion that, searches for the priority face; and a re-choice portion that, when the priority face is detected from a first input image acquired but the priority face is not detected by the identification portion from a second input image retains information including position information executes a re-choice processing to re-choose the priority face searching within the third input image for a face to be re-chosen as a priority face.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and system for the acquisition and correlation matching of points belonging to a stereoscopic pair of images, whereby the pair is formed by a first image and a second image representing a scene. According to the invention, the two images of the pair are acquired with a single acquisition instrument (30) comprising two sensors CCD (31, 32) in the optical focal plane. The matching of the acquired stereoscopic pair consists in determining, by means of correlation, the point in the second image that is homologous to a point in the first image. Said correlation is performed for a point from the first image using an optimally-sized correlation window. When the homologous point of a point from the first image has been determined, the position deviation between the point from the first image and the homologous point thereof is entered in a table. Once all of the homologous points of the points from the first image have been found, the results table is reset barycentrically.

Abstract: An image pick-up apparatus comprises a filter whose transmitting wavelength band is changed depending on an input drive signal, a spectral control unit for inputting the drive signal to the filter, thereby changing the transmitting wavelength band of the filter in plural steps, a single image pick-up unit disposed at rear side of the filter, for obtaining image data every time the transmitting wavelength band of the filter is changed, and a record control unit for recording plural pieces of image data obtained by the image pick-up unit.

Abstract: A camera includes: a shooting section that outputs images of an object; a moving image shooting control section that controls the shooting section to repeat shooting under predetermined shooting conditions at a predetermined frame rate; a moving image generation section that generates moving images based on images shot under the predetermined shooting conditions, respectively; an image extraction section that extracts a first image and a second image based on a predetermined condition from each of the moving images; a display section; and a display control section that performs control to simultaneously multi-display the first image and the second image of each moving image on the display section.

Abstract: An image capture apparatus includes an image sensor of a line-sequential scanning type, an optical database which stores optical characteristics of the optical system in advance, a calculation unit which calculates optical parameters including at least information of a focal length of the optical system for each area of the image sensor based on drive information of the image sensor and drive information of the optical system, a referring unit which refers to optical characteristics corresponding to the optical parameters calculated by the calculation unit of the optical characteristics stored in the optical database, a correction value generation unit which generates correction values used to correct the image signal based on the optical characteristics referred to by the referring unit, and a correction unit which corrects the image signal using the correction values generated by the correction value generation unit.

Abstract: An improved handheld electronic device and camera apparatus upon which can be executed an improved method enable a modular camera to be used in conjunction with a flash. In one implementation, compensation parameters that are intended for use in a non-flash situation are overwritten with compensation parameters that are configured to compensate for the combined effects of the camera and the flash and are used by an embedded compensation routine executed on the camera. In another implementation, an image signal is processed by the embedded compensation routine using the original compensation parameters, but if it is determined that the image signal is a flash image signal, the image signal is further processed by the embedded compensation routine employing an additional set of parameters which compensate the image signal for the effect of the flash.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an image file creation unit, a storage control unit, an extracting unit, and a display controller. The image file creation unit is configured to create a file including a plurality of images, first management information indicating a specified Exif version, and second management information including an image size and a total number of the images in the file. The storage control unit is configured to store the image file in a storage. The extraction unit is configured to extract the image from the image file in the storage based on the second management information. The display controller is configured to display the image on a display.

Abstract: An image editing method includes recording by coding edit information in a predetermined field of an original image frame, and displaying either the original image or an image edited based on the edit information. Accordingly, the edit information is recorded in a blank field of the original frame without damaging the original image, and thus, the image frame can be efficiently stored without wasting storage space.

Abstract: An image capture module and an image capture method are provided. The image capture module includes an image signal processor, a preview interface module, and an image temporary storage module. The image signal processor receives an image data stream and processes the stream to generate a preview image stream and an output image stream, which will be respectively sent to the preview interface module and the image temporary storage module. The preview image stream has a first preview image frame while the output image stream has a first output image frame corresponding to the first preview image frame. When an image capture command is generated after the preview interface module receives and outputs the first preview image frame, the image temporary storage module will output the first output image frame from the buffer memory unit.

Abstract: A system and method for registering or otherwise associating items with generated content. Identification of who and/or what is present in connection with the generation of content is determined. In one embodiment, images, video, audio, or other media/multimedia content is generated, and the items and/or people present and relevant to the creation of that content are determined. A record of those relevant items and/or people may then be associated with that created content, so that the content includes a record of who/what was there when the content was created.