Abstract: A system and method for accessing and utilizing ancillary data with an electronic camera device includes a data source that stores various selectable ancillary data files such as image template files, text overlay files, image background files, and special program instruction files. The data source may be implemented in any effective manner, including as a service on an distributed computer network like the Internet, as a discrete electronic device such as a personal computer, or as a removable, non-volatile memory device such as a flash memory. The electronic camera device may then utilize an ancillary data module to access, select, and download the ancillary data files from the data source for subsequently combining with other captured image data to thereby produce new composite images.

Abstract: A system and method for effectively generating an electronic control signal includes a loop filter that has a first capacitor, a second capacitor, and a damping resistor. The first capacitor typically has a significantly greater capacitance than said second capacitor. A primary charge pump provides a primary charge current to the loop filter, and a damping charge pump provides a damping charge current to the loop filter. The loop filter responsively generates the electronic control signal for regulating the output frequency of a voltage-controlled oscillator. All components of the loop filter are sized to be implemented as part of an integrated circuit device.

Abstract: A system and method for denoising using signal dependent adaptive weights includes an imaging device that captures image data corresponding to a photographic target. A denoising manager identifies similar pixels from said image data that are located within a pre-defined processing window around the pixel to be denoised. The denoising manager computes signal-dependent weighting values that correspond to respective ones of the similar pixels. The denoising manager then calculates the denoised pixel value by utilizing the weighting values in conjunction with raw pixel values of the similar pixel set. In this manner all pixels in the image are denoised.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for effectively implementing a unit Gm cell includes an input P that receives an input P signal and an input N that receives an input N signal. The unit Gm cell further includes an output P that generates an output P signal that is connected through a first bias resistor to the input N. The unit Gm cell also includes an output N that generates an output N signal that is connected through a second bias resistor to the input P. The unit Gm cell features level-shifting resistors that cause the output P signal and the output N signal to be at different respective voltage levels. A Vcore supply voltage may thus be reduced by a voltage potential across the level-shifting resistors to operate the unit Gm cell with a reduced Vcore supply voltage.

Abstract: A system and method for effectively performing enhanced device location procedures to determine the current physical location of a mobile device includes a plurality of satellites that wirelessly transmit satellite beacon signals, a plurality of base stations that wirelessly transmit pilot signals, and a plurality of access points that wirelessly transmit access-point beacon signals. A location detector of the mobile device coordinates a device location procedure by measuring the satellite beacon signals, the pilot signals, and the access-point beacon signals to generate corresponding satellite information, base station information, and access point information. The location detector analyzes the satellite information, the base station information, and the access point information to select an optimal system configuration from the most effective satellites, base stations, and access points.

Abstract: A system and method for effectively protecting electronic content information includes a channel setup module that coordinates a channel setup procedure to create a secure communications channel between a content drive and a display module. A source DRM module transmits a special content key from the content drive to the display module over the secure communications channel. A content playback module then initiates a content playback procedure for utilizing the electronic content. The source DRM module responsively encrypts the electronic content with the content key. The channel setup module and the content playback module are unable to access or utilize the content key. A destination DRM module then receives the electronic content over the secure communications channel and utilizes the content key to decrypt the electronic content.

Abstract: An apparatus for implementing a front end core for a transimpedance amplifier includes an input transimpedance stage that receives an FE core input signal and responsively generates an output transimpedance gain signal. A first output gain stage receives the output transimpedance gain signal and responsively generates an FE core output signal. A phase inverter stage also receives the output transimpedance gain signal and responsively generates an inverted output signal. A second output gain stage then receives the inverted output signal and responsively generates an inverted FE core output signal.

Abstract: A system and method for effectively utilizing a dual-mode phase-locked loop to support a data transmission procedure includes a voltage controlled oscillator that generates a receiver clock signal in response to VCO input control signals. A binary phase detector generates a BPD output signal during a BPD mode by comparing input data and the receiver clock signal. In addition, a lock-assist circuit generates a PFD output signal during a PFD mode by comparing a reference signal and a divided receiver clock signal. A loop filter performs a BPD transfer function to generate a VCO input control signal from the BPD output signal during the BPD mode. The same loop filter also performs a PFD transfer function to generate the VCO input control signal from the PFD output signal during the PFD mode.

Abstract: A system for supporting a burst transmission procedure includes a burst manager that divides a selected content item into individual content segments. A transmitter then transmits the content segments in a substantially concurrent manner over different corresponding transmission channels. One or more electronic devices receives and stores the transmitted content segments. A content manager of the electronic device performs a reassembly procedure to convert the content segments into the originally-transmitted content item for utilization by a device user.

Abstract: A system and method for effectively supporting data transfer procedures includes a source device that registers with an account server to participate in a data backup service. The source device then encrypts and stores user data onto a datacenter. The source device later may request a data transfer task from a vendor. The datacenter responsively transfers the encrypted user data to a vendor server, and an escrow server generates and sends a temporary key to the vendor server. A destination device may then utilize the temporary key to decrypt and securely store the user data onto the destination device.

Abstract: A system and method for effectively supporting a data transmission procedure includes a phase-locked loop with a phase detector that compares a clock signal and input data to generate a phase error signal for adjusting the clock signal that is generated from a voltage-controlled oscillator. The phase detector includes a positive-edge detector circuit that generates an edge detection signal P to indicate whether data transitions are present in the input data. The phase detector also includes a lead/lag indicator circuit that generates a lead/lag indicator signal T to indicate whether the clock signal is early or late with respect to the input data.

Abstract: An architecture for electronically transferring information includes a transmitter with an encoder that performs a parity encoding procedure. The encoder creates parity blocks for embedding in transmission packets. The parity blocks may be based upon data segments from one or more of the transmission packets. The system also includes a receiver with a decoder that utilizes the parity blocks for performing a packet validation procedure to identify corrupted packets from among the transmission packets. The decoder also performs a packet reconstruction procedure with selected ones of the data segments and the parity blocks to produce reconstructed data segments for the corrupted packets.

Abstract: A system and method for creating composite images by utilizing a camera comprises a cradle device that transports the camera across a target area during a scanning procedure that captures and stores image data. During the scanning procedure, a motion detector captures and provides scan motion data to a scanning manager from the camera. The scanning manager may then responsively utilize the scan motion data to accurately extract still frames corresponding to the target area from the captured image data at pre-determined time intervals. A stitching software program may then access and combine the still frames generated by the scanning manager to thereby create composite images.

Abstract: A system and method for effectively implementing an electronic image manager device includes one or more input/output interfaces for bi-directionally communicating with various information sources to transfer content information that includes image data. The electronic image manager device also includes a memory device for archiving the content information, and an application program that manipulates the content information by performing various procedures such as downloading and uploading the content information, organizing and managing the content information, editing the content information, and displaying the content information.

Abstract: A system and method for implementing an IQ generator includes a master latch that generates an I signal in response to a clock input signal, and a slave latch that generates a Q signal in response to an inverted clock input signal. A master selector is configured to provide a communication path from the master latch to the slave latch, and a slave selector is configured to provide a feedback path from the slave latch to the master latch. The foregoing I and Q signals are output directly from the respective master and slave latches without any intervening electronic circuitry.

Abstract: A system and method for efficiently transferring data from an electronic camera device includes a camera device that is configured to capture image data and temporarily store the image data into an economical limited local buffer memory. A transfer manager from the camera device may then periodically arbitrate for access to a wireless communications network, and may transfer the captured image data from the buffer memory to a designated data destination, such as an image service on a distributed computer network like the Internet. A system user may then efficiently access the transferred image data from a dedicated storage location on the data destination by utilizing any appropriate data-access device, such as a personal computer device or a portable electronic device.

Abstract: A system and method for capturing adjacent images includes an imaging device with a panorama manager that performs various procedures to manipulate one or more image parameters that correspond to adjacent frames of captured image data. An image-stitching software program may then produce a cohesive combined panorama image from the adjacent frames of image data by utilizing the manipulated image parameters.

Abstract: A system and method for effectively optimizing zoom settings in a digital camera includes a digital zoom module that performs a digital zoom function, and an optical zoom module that controls a lens unit of the digital camera to perform an optical zoom function. A depth of field manager performs a zoom-setting optimization procedure to select optimal zoom values for the optical zoom module and the digital zoom module to thereby optimize image quality characteristics of images captured by the camera device.

Abstract: A system and method for effectively implementing an electronic image hub device includes a peripheral device, such as a digital camera, that may be periodically connected to the image hub device by a system user. The system user may then utilize the image hub device to transfer captured data from the peripheral device to a specific data destination, such as a user service on a distributed computer network. The peripheral device also may utilize the image hub device to recharge batteries that become depleted through operation of the peripheral device. The system user may then subsequently access and utilize the captured data from the data destination in accordance with the present invention.

Abstract: An apparatus for implementing a digital phase-locked loop includes a voltage-controlled oscillator that generates a primary clock signal in response to a VCO control voltage. Detection means generates counter control signals, including count up signals and count down signals, to indicate a current relationship between the primary clock signal and a reference signal. An up/down counter then either increments or decrements a counter value in response to corresponding counter control signals. The counter value is then converted by a digital-to-analog converter into the VCO control voltage for adjusting the frequency of the primary clock signal generated by the voltage-controlled oscillator. In alternate embodiments, the foregoing up/down counter may be utilized to adjust the frequency of the voltage-controlled oscillator in proportion to the counter value by utilizing appropriate techniques other than generating a VCO control voltage with a digital-to-analog converter.