Abstract: The invention discloses a cryptographic system and consisting of three methods: a cryptographic Vernam stream cipher that permits software programs on separate computers to encrypt and decrypt information; a cryptographic keyed one-way hash that ensures the integrity and authenticity of a message; a non-cyclic pseudo-random number generator that permits a software program inside a computer to create large amounts of pseudo-random bits at high data rates.

Abstract: A method and system for automatically adding effects to still images are described. In one embodiment, a source image and a template are selected. Further, designated areas of the source image are automatically replaced with template image information, the template image information alters the source image to produce special effects. In an alternate embodiment, designated areas of the source image are automatically replaced with template image information, the template image information giving the appearance of animation of the source image. In another alternate embodiment, the selected areas of the source image are replaced with template image information to produce an animation image sequence, the template image information giving the appearance of animation of the source image.

Abstract: A system and method for the real-time composition and presentation of a complex, dynamic, and interactive experience by means of an efficient declarative markup language. Using the Surface construct, authors can embed images or full-motion video data anywhere they would use a traditional texture map within their 3D scene. Authors can also use the results of rendering one scene description as an image to be texture mapped into another scene. In particular, the Surface allows the results of any rendering application to be used as a texture within the author's scene. This allows declarative rendering of nested scenes and rendering of scenes having component Surfaces with decoupled rendering rates.

Abstract: A digital camera is provided having a lens for focusing light from an image through a RGB mosaiced filter on to a solid state photosensor array containing a matrix of CCDs. The CCDs provide a single-channel mosaiced image output. A demosaicing process includes a first color transformation after separation for determining luminance and a luminance interpolation for interpolation of missing luminance components. The demosaicing process further includes a second color transformation for obtaining chrominance components. A chrominance interpolation for interpolation of missing chrominance components and an inverse color transformation transforms the components into the RGB space for combination into an image output.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for multi-user communication of multimedia content including dividing a client's scene into a non-shared and shared parts. In a disclosed embodiment, the non-shared parts of a scene may be organized into one or more single-user nodes with which other clients cannot interact. The shared parts of the scene are organized into one or more multi-user group nodes. These multi-user group nodes enable multiple clients to access the same scene and to interact with its shared content. Each multi-user group node is an extension of a Group node. In addition to the functionality provided by a single-user group node, a multi-user group node wraps its children with control mechanisms required for supporting multi-user communication. These control mechanisms may be provided as boolean exposed fields that act as switches to control initiation of interaction, update control, privacy, and object accessibility.

Abstract: A system and method for declarative markup that allows temporal manipulation of media assets. The media assets can be audio media, video media, animations, audio-visual media, images or events. Using the present invention a media sequence can be formed by playing more than one medium in series, in parallel or in any other temporal combination wherein a medium is cued to another medium. A media sequence created using the present invention can become part of a new media sequence, and the rate of playing the media sequence can be controlled by fields associated with the new media sequence. Also, using present invention, a media sequence can be cued to start playing at a fixed time before the end of a first media sequence, and in this instance the length of the first media sequence can be varied while still maintaining the fixed time from the end of the first media sequence.

Abstract: The invention illustrates a system and method of searching for a specific segment within a stream of content data comprising: receiving a stream of sensory data corresponding with the stream of content data; comparing the stream of sensory data with a search criteria; identifying the specific segment of the stream of content data corresponding to a match between the stream sensory data and the search criteria; setting the search criteria based upon parameters of the stream of sensory data; and applying a threshold to determine the match between the stream of sensory data and the search criteria.

Abstract: An electronic music marker device is provided with a cord and a plug coupled to the device housing such that the cord and the plug are adaptable so as to fit into the device housing with a cap to enclose and conceal the cord and plug. The cap is coupled to the housing by a hinge and lock mechanism such that when unlocked, the cap can be opened and the retractable cord with the plug such as a USB port attached thereto, can be released from the device housing to connect to an external device.