Abstract: A method generates a composite image by painting unfilled regions between micro-objects with other micro-objects to create a multiple layer effect. Another method generates a composite image from as few as one micro-object by changing the average color and/or intensity of the micro-object to match that of an area on the source image. Yet another method quickly generates a preview image of a composite image by saving the micro-objects in multiple resolutions so that the micro-objects at the small resolution can be quickly scaled to build a preview image of the composite image.

Abstract: A known face guided imaging method applied for an electronic imaging device uses the scale of a known face sensed in a previous frame to define a scale range of a searching window, which adds a scale constraint into the searching window so as to search a current frame horizontally and vertically in the searching window to perform a face searching loop for a face. The invention simply sends a corresponding image patch within the scale range to a face detector for the face detection, and the searching space is constrained in a small group of scale ranges without the need of detecting the whole image of various different scales within the scale range, and thus the invention effectively reduces the huge quantity of computing values required for the detection process and greatly enhances the speed and efficiency of the face detection.

Abstract: A method includes (a) performing image deblur at the original size of underexposed and normally exposed images when their original image size is small. Otherwise, the method includes (b) downsizing the images and performing image deblur on the downsized images. The image deblur on downsized images includes (c) applying a global color transfer between the images if their difference of average gray values is small. Otherwise, the method includes four successive sub-procedures: (d) histogram customizing of the underexposed image based on the normally exposed image; (e) region segmentation for the histogram-customized underexposed image and local alignment of regions in the histogram-customized underexposed image with the normally exposed image; (f) color tuning for the histogram-customized underexposed image based on the local alignment and a global alignment between the underexposed and the normally exposed images; and (g) local color transfer with multi-size neighbor windows from between the images.

Abstract: A method is provided for processing minimum coded units (MCUs) in a Joint Photographic Expert Group (JPEG) bit stream representing an image. A data structure is generated for storing MCU block numbers, corresponding MCU block coordinates, and corresponding MCU block editing lists. When an editing operation to the image is received, the editing operation is saved to a group of the MCU block editing lists of a group of the MCUs affected by the editing operation. Later the MCUs are retrieved from the JPEG bit stream one at a time and then processed according to the editing operations in the corresponding MCU blocking editing lists.

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: Locating an eye includes generating an intensity response map by applying a 3-rectangle filter and applying K-mean clustering to the map to determine the eye. Locating an eye corner includes applying logarithm transform and grayscale stretching to generate a grayscale eye patch, generating a binary map of the patch by using a threshold based on a histogram of the patch, and estimating the eye corner by averaging coordinates weighted by minimal eigenvalues of spatial gradient matrices in a search region based on the binary map. Locating a mouth corner includes generating another intensity response map and generating another binary map using another threshold based on another histogram of the intensity response map. Locating a chin or a cheek includes applying angle constrained gradient analysis to reject locations that cannot be the chin or cheek. Locating a cheek further includes removing falsely detected cheeks by parabola fitting curves through the cheeks.

Abstract: A method of automatically detecting and tracking successive frames in a region of interesting by an electronic imaging device includes: decomposing a frame into intensity, color and direction features according to human perceptions; filtering an input image by a Gaussian pyramid to obtain levels of pyramid representations by down sampling; calculating the features of pyramid representations; using a linear center-surround operator similar to a biological perception to expedite the calculation of a mean value of the peripheral region; using the difference of each feature between a small central region and the peripheral region as a measured value; overlaying the pyramid feature maps to obtain a conspicuity map and unify the conspicuity maps of the three features; obtaining a saliency map of the frames by linear combination; and using the saliency map for a segmentation to mark an interesting region of a frame in the large region of the conspicuity maps.

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: A method for estimating noise according to a multiresolution model is applied to an imaging device and comprises steps of: using an imaging sensor of the imaging device to capture a series of images of a scene under different imaging conditions; processing the images with a multiresolution transformation process to obtain a series of sub-images corresponding to different frequency layers; processing a series of the sub-images of the images that are in a same frequency layer to generate an averaged image; determining a difference between each of the sub-images in the same frequency layer and the averaged image corresponding to that frequency layer, and calculating the differences and the averaged image to obtain noise level functions of the imaging sensor in the different frequency layers under the different imaging conditions; and defining the noise level functions of the imaging sensor as noise samples for establishing an a priori model database.

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 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 of automatic photographs stitching in a photograph capturing electronic apparatus, said method comprising the steps of 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 said photograph capturing electronic apparatus for capturing the next photograph which is suitable for stitching, said next suitable photograph having at a predetermined region, an area overlapped and aligned to said captured photograph with said overlapped and aligned area reaching a predetermined proportion; capturing the next suitable photograph; and stitching said consecutively captured photographs into a panoramic photograph.

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.

Abstract: A method for enhancing an image includes applying an auto-level transformation to an original image to form a first image, applying an auto-contrast transformation to the original image to form a second image, and applying an auto-brightness transformation to the original image to form a third image. The method further includes applying a color cast correction to the first, the second, and the third images to generate a first group of images, applying a gamma correction to the first group of images to generate a second group of images, applying a sharpening correction to the second group of images to generate a third group of images, and presenting the third group of images to a user to select a final result.

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 indicates 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 is provided for a first media management software on a first device to share media with a second media management software on a second device. The method includes receiving user input designating a user of the second media management software for sharing of media, receiving user input designating a media file to be shared with the user of the second media management software, logging onto a server software on a server computer over a network, and learning from the server software if the second media management software is currently logged in with the server software over the network. When the second media management software is currently logged in with the server software, the method further includes learning from the server software an address of the second device and transmitting the media file to the second media management software over the network using the address.

Abstract: A method for searching an image database includes capturing an image of a photograph and a background, determining a boundary of the photograph in the image, cropping the photograph from the image, correcting the perspective of the photograph, compensating colors of the photograph, and matching the photograph with an image in the image database.

Abstract: A method for enhancing a video includes applying a linear histogram stretch, a gamma correction, and sigma row, column, and temporal filters to the video.

Abstract: A method for digitally magnifying images applied to an electronic device includes the steps of: reading in a preview image inputted into the electronic device; executing a 2-fold image magnifying process to the preview image; executing a fuzziness removing process to the preview image; segmenting the preview image into a background area and a text area, executing a correspondingly text strengthening process to the text area; and determining if the preview image is magnified up to a predetermined amplification factor; if yes, outputting the preview image after being magnified to a display screen for displaying the preview image; and otherwise, going back to re-execute the 2-fold image magnifying process to the magnified preview image, and then executing the fuzziness removing process and the text strengthening process, in order to generate the preview image magnified about 4-fold or more.

Abstract: The present invention is to provide a method of restoring closed-eye portrait photo, which comprises the steps of detecting the locations and range of the eyes of a portrait photo being taken, retrieving a patch of a designated range of the eyes area and its neighboring area which represents the expression of the eyes and its neighboring area, determining whether the eyes of said patch are open or closed by using an eyes state classifier, temporarily storing said patch as an open-eye templet when it is determined that the eyes are open, detecting the locations and range of the eyes of a subsequently taken portrait photo, calculating an eyes restoration area when it is determined that the eyes are closed, replacing the closed-eye patch with said open-eye templet, and performing fusion operation toward said eyes restoration area to ensure that each portrait photo generated is with the eyes opened.