Abstract: A method for a computing device to enhance video chatting Includes receiving a live video stream, processing a frame in the live video stream in real-time, and transmitting the frame to another computing device. Processing the frame in real-time includes detecting a face, an upper torso, or a gesture in the frame, and applying a visual effect to the frame. The method includes processing a next frame in the live video stream in real-time by repeating the enhancing, the detecting, and the applying.

Abstract: A method for a computing device to enhance video chatting Includes receiving a live video stream, processing a frame in the live video stream in real-time, and transmitting the frame to another computing device. Processing the frame in real-time includes detecting a face, an upper torso, or a gesture in the frame, and applying a visual effect to the frame. The method includes processing a next frame in the live video stream in real-time by repeating the enhancing, the detecting, and the applying.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods related to image taking and processing are provided. For example, some embodiments may contain a front facing camera and a back facing camera and can be used for including the image-taker as part of the images taken by the image-taker, for verifying authorship of the image, for creating documentary style still or moving images combining the images of the person creating the documentary and the images of the subject or the scene being documented, and for creating a wide field of views of still and moving images.

Abstract: A JPEG encoding process may generate entropy encoded data indexing auxiliary information. With the assistance of such auxiliary information, a quick JPEG decoder is implemented to significantly improve the performance of processing large sized JPEG images on the mobile systems with limited computation power.

Abstract: A method for protecting a software video player having Advanced Access Content System (AACS) includes reading segments of an encrypted first key from noncontiguous regions of memory, assembling the segments to form the encrypted first key, decrypting the encrypted first key with a second key to form a first key, extracting AACS key data from a pack file, decrypting the AACS key data to retrieve AACS Device Keys, generating an AACS Title Key using the AACS Device Key, clearing the AACS Device Keys and the first key from memory after the AACS Title Key is generated, decrying encrypted AACS content with the AACS Title Key to form AACS content, and displaying the AACS content.

Abstract: As more internet service providers have more customers with high-speed internet access accounts and these customers access more multi-media rich data (such as videos), the network infrastructure of internet service providers becomes saturated. Thus, internet service providers are facing pressure to upgrade their networks. Thus, internet service providers need to optimize the usage of their existing networks. To optimize the usage of existing networks, a system of performing predictive downloading for data caches is proposed. The system for performing predictive downloading examines network traffic conditions and does not issue predictive download requests if the network is busy. By restricting predictive downloads to times when the network is not busy, the system utilizes an under used resource. Accurate predictions will reduce future network traffic. Incorrect predictions cause no harm since the transfers only occur when free network bandwidth is available.

Abstract: A method for a makeover application executed by a processor includes, when a cloud face analyzer is accessible over a compute network, transmitting an image with a face to the cloud face analyzer over the computer network. The cloud face analyzer detects the face and facial feature points of the face, and returns this information to the makeover application. When the cloud face analyzer is not accessible over the computer network, the method includes using a local face analyzer to detect the face and the facial feature points. The method further includes applying an effect to the face in the image based on the facial feature points, displaying the image, and saving the image.

Abstract: A user runs an album application on a digital device to generate a digital album and share the album with others. The album application creates a message with a first copy of the album and a link to a second copy of the album on a website hosted by a photo sharing provider. The first copy of the album is a small file because it contains low resolution versions of the photos and it uses a compact file format (e.g., Adobe Flash or HTML5). After the message is sent, the album application uploads high resolution versions of the photos to the photo sharing provider. A recipient of the message may view the first copy of the album in the message or click on the link to access the second copy of the album from the website hosted by the photo sharing provider. The recipient may order prints of the album from the photo sharing provider or a print provider working with the photo sharing provider. The recipient may further share the album by forwarding the message or the link to others.

Abstract: A method for a computing device to provide a video includes receiving one or more selections of one or more animated facial effects to be applied to a face in a photo, automatically detecting the face in the photo, generating the video by applying the one or more selected animated facial effects to the face, displaying the video, and saving the video or a frame of the video.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a face tracking method for electronic camera devices. The method is applied to an electronic camera device having a face database and a face classifier, and the face database is provided for storing data such as a position, a size and a skin color prototype of a face in a previously stored preview image, and the method includes the steps of: obtaining a current preview image; determining whether or not a known face exists in the face database; defining a searching space on the current preview image; and using the face classifier to detect the searching space in the current preview image, and determining whether or not a face exists in the searching space.

Abstract: A method for concatenating MPEG-4 or H.263 segments is provided. The method includes extracting and comparing the VOL or picture header information of each segment. If the two segments have the same VOL or picture header information, the method merges the two segments directly by appending one segment to another to form a new bit stream. If the two segments have the different resolution, the method completely decodes and re-encodes the segments and then merges the segments. Otherwise the method takes the VOL or picture header information of one segment as reference to produce the new bit stream. The method parses the other segment frame at a time, re-encapsulates it according to the reference VOL or picture header information, and appends it to the one segment. During the process, the method only uses VLD to parse the other segment without using the tools of DCT, IDCT, ME, and MC.

Abstract: As more internet service providers have more customers with high-speed internet access accounts and these customers access more multi-media rich data (such as videos), the network infrastructure of internet service providers becomes saturated. Thus, internet service providers are facing pressure to upgrade their networks. However, high-speed digital networking equipment is expensive. Thus, internet service providers need to optimize the usage of their existing networks. To optimize the usage of existing networks, a system of delaying certain data requests is proposed. By delaying certain data requests, the various components in a network can shift data transfers from peak traffic times to lower traffic times. One useful application of delayed requests is the case in which a web client requests data ahead of schedule either through predictive methods or through subscriptions for desired data.

Abstract: This document discloses apparatus and methods related to image taking and processing. For example, some embodiments may contain a front facing camera and a back facing camera and can be used for including the image-taker as part of the images taken by the image-taker, for verifying authorship of the images, for creating documentary style still or moving images combining the images of the person creating the documentary and the images of the subject or the scene being documented, and for creating a wide field of views of still and moving images.

Abstract: A method for detecting a facial expression and repairing a smile face of a portrait photo includes the steps of: detecting a location and a range of a mouth region in an inputted portrait photo; capturing a patch in the mouth region and a predetermined peripheral range thereof; executing a comparison process to a smile state or a stiff state of the mouth region in the patch by a mouth state classifier; executing a calculation process to a repaired region of the mouth region when the mouth region is determined to be in the stiff state, in order to calculate a location of a plurality of feature points in the repaired region of the mouth region; and executing an image warping process to the location of the feature points and adjacent pixels thereof, for generating a portrait photo showing a smile state.

Abstract: A method provides for dynamic changes in a software video player. The method includes learning of a dynamic change from an input pin of a decoder filter, recording states of the decoder filter and a renderer filter, stopping the decoder and the renderer filters without changing a state of a source filter, and setting parameters for an output pin of the decoder filter. The parameters include setting a decoding mode. If the decoder filter output pin and a renderer filter input pin remain connected, a ReconnectEX function is used to set a new media type at the decoder filter output pin. Otherwise the method calls a Connect function to connect the pins and set the new media type. The method further includes changing to a decoder core in the decoder filter appropriate for the dynamic change and restoring the decoder and the renderer filters back to their original states.

Abstract: A method is provided to automatically determine “exciting” segments from a video. The method includes calculating image features of each frame in the video, determining a difference for each pair of adjacent frames, calculating a sum of differences for each group of frames in the video, and selecting a number of the groups with high sums as exciting segments of the video. The differences between pairs of adjacent frames are used as a criterion for measuring a degree of “excitement” for determining the highlights in the video.

Abstract: The present invention is to provide a variable length decoding method for decoding complete binary tree code, which is implemented to an entropy coding module for executing the process comprising the steps of: procuring a TabIndex to calculate a value T=?log2(TabIndex)?; reading T bits from a bitstream to obtain a first result M; determining whether or not the result M is smaller than (TabIndex-(1<<T)); if not, obtaining Index equal to (1<<T)?M?1; otherwise, reading 1 bits from the bitstream to obtain a second result N; and then obtaining Index equal to TabIndex-2×M?N?1, so as to decode data stream of video more efficiently and fast.

Abstract: A method of automatic photographs stitching in a photograph capturing electronic apparatus by capturing a photograph; on a viewfinder or display screen of said photograph capturing electronic apparatus, displaying at least one four-way guiding arrow for advising user the direction to move the photograph capturing electronic apparatus for capturing the next photograph which is suitable for stitching, the next suitable photograph having at a predetermined region, an area overlapped and aligned to the captured photograph with the overlapped and aligned area reaching a predetermined proportion; capturing the next suitable photograph; and stitching the consecutively captured photographs into a panoramic photograph.

Abstract: A method determining image orientation includes determining if an image includes an orientation tag and if the tag indicates the image is rotated +90 or ?90 degrees. When the image does not include the tag or the tag does not indicate the image is rotated, the method includes determining if a face is detected in the original image and displaying the original image when a face is detected. When a face is not detected, the method includes rotating the image +90 and ?90 degrees and detecting a face in the rotated images. When a face is not detected, the method includes applying a classifier to determine the image's proper orientation. When a face is detected in one rotated image, the method includes displaying the rotated image. When a face is detected in both rotated images, the method includes applying the classifier to determine the image's proper orientation.

Abstract: A method for online printing a digital project includes the steps of: separating at least one image from a digital project template; replacing the digital project template with an executable file; encapsulating an executable code into the executable file; converting the image into at least one thumbnail; writing the executable file, the thumbnail, and related information into an image file; uploading the image file to a server via a network; extracting the image file by the server, so as to read out the executable file, the thumbnail, and the related information; reading a corresponding project template from a database of the server according to the executable code; attaching the thumbnail back to the project template according to the related information in the image file, so as to recover a preview image of the digital project and print the project image by a printer.