Abstract: Apparatus and a method for communicating media over a network including encoding the media into a server database at a server, downloading from the server database to a client database generally only those portions of the media which are necessary to satisfy user requests and in response to a user request for a given item of media, determining whether the media is present in the client database, and if not, automatically downloading those portions of the media which are necessary to supply the user with the given item of media from the server database.

Abstract: A method for image processing in a computerized system reduces the amount of memory required for image processing and produces a layered effect which permits complex manipulation such as scaling and rotation without long delay, while allowing earlier versions of the visual image to be recalled. The method involves pre-processing, image editing and raster image processing.

Abstract: A method for correcting color in a system for creating a panoramic image from a plurality of images taken by a camera. The method comprising the steps of: receiving a color channel from at least a first image and a second image; creating an overlap portion between the first image and second image; and adjusting the color channel for the first image and for the second image in at least the overlap portion between the first image and the second image which is independent of motion estimation. In an alternate embodiment, a system and computer readable medium corresponding to the above method is described.

Abstract: A method for composition of two digital images which overlap in an overlapping pixel region, including adjusting the pixel color values of at least one of the digital images so as to produce resulting digital images including at least one modified digital image, and combining the resulting digital images in the overlapping pixel region by taking weighted averages of their pixel color values.

Abstract: A method and system for archiving digital data on a server computer, and enabling a user, by means of a client computer, to interactively view a digital image derived from the digital data, the method including receiving an original HTML page by the client computer from the server computer, the original HTML page containing a view window within which a first image is displayed, the view window being partitioned into a plurality of sub-regions at least one of which contains a multiplicity of pixels, selecting a location within the view window corresponding to one of the plurality of sub-regions by the user, initial sending by the client computer to the server computer an indication of the sub-region selected by the user, creating by the server computer a new HTML page containing a link to an embedded image which corresponds to the indication, and further sending the new HTML page by the server computer to the client computer.

Abstract: A method for composition of two digital images which overlap in an overlapping pixel region, including adjusting the pixel color values of at least one of the digital images so as to produce resulting digital images including at least one modified digital image, and combining the resulting digital images in the overlapping pixel region by taking weighted averages of their pixel color values.

Abstract: A method for generating a mask for a desired portion within a digital image including selecting a region containing a boundary of the desired portion, the region being at least partially bounded by an inner outline and an outer outline, the inner outline lying inside of or on the boundary and the outer outline lying outside of or on the boundary, detecting edges which lie within the region using an automated edge detector, and generating a mask based on the region and the edges. A system for carrying out the method is also described and claimed.

Abstract: A method for transforming a first image defined by a first multi-dimensional color space (RGB) into second image defined by a second multi-dimensional color space (CMYK). The method computes the transformation using information derived from a previous transformation of said second image into said first image. The method then minimizes the error produced while transforming the second image back into the first image. As such, an image editing system can display on a video monitor an image that is defined in one multi-dimensional color space (RGB), print using a printer that prints images using a second multi-dimensional color space (CMYK) and edit an image using any multi-dimensional color space (either RGB or CMYK) that facilitates rapid and accurate image editing.

Abstract: A method and system for removal of flash artifacts from a digital image containing pixels therein, including using a database of reference flash-corrupted images for identifying corrupted pixels within the digital image that have been corrupted by a flash, and modifying the color values of each corrupted pixel of the digital image, to correct the corrupted pixel color values.

Abstract: A method and system for modifying a panoramic image of a scene, so as to alter its surface geometry, including providing an initial panoramic image of a scene projected onto an initial surface, generating, in response to user input, a desired surface upon which the scene is to be projected, and modifying the initial panoramic image by mapping points on the desired surface to corresponding points on the initial surface to produce a modified panoramic image corresponding to projection of the scene onto the desired surface.

Abstract: A method for applying textures to a composite image in a computerized multi-resolution paint system, the method including obtaining a stack of image rendering layers to be composited, and applying at least one texture map to at least one selected layer in the stack.

Abstract: A method for preparing a presentation of a perspective view of a scene based upon an environment map representing the scene and having environment map indices, which presentation interactively displays viewing planes at any orientation, said viewing planes having scanlines, the method including generating a look-up table tabulating the environment map indices, the look-up table being characterized in that each of the scanlines of the viewing planes corresponds to information within a scanline of the look-up table, and storing the look-up table. A system is also described and claimed.

Abstract: A method for centering a plurality of images which are snapshots of an object seen at a plurality of orientations, including computing modification parameters for the images, and modifying the images based upon the modification parameters using a computer.

Abstract: A method for digital multimedia composition including selecting multimedia data segments, arranging the selected multimedia data segments on a single storyline strip, inserting transitions between adjacent multimedia data segments on the storyline strip, and combining the selected multimedia data segments based on their arrangement on the storyline strip and based on the inserted transitions, to produce a multimedia output file from the storyline strip. A system is also described and claimed.

Abstract: A method and system for enabling a user to import a user-defined graphics edit into at least one template, the method including the steps of selecting, by the user, at least one first editable object, editing, by the user, at least part of the at least one first editable object, thereby producing a user-defined graphics edit, saving the user-defined graphics edit, selecting, by the user, a template containing at least one second editable object; and applying at least part of the user-defined graphics edit to at least part of the at least one second editable object within the template.

Abstract: A method and system for viewing panoramas over a server-client network including storing an image in tiled form on a server, receiving at a server from a client a request for at least a portion of the image, transmitting from the server to the client at least one tile corresponding to the at least a portion of the image requested by the client, and carrying out an individual tile-wise perspective correction on said at least one tile.

Abstract: A method for non-destructive, selectably reversible image compositing, including providing a displayed image including at least a region of an original image, modifying the displayed image to produce a modified displayed image, and producing a modified image file including at least the displayed image and not including the modified displayed image and also including resolution independent parameters operative for modifying the displayed image to produce the modified displayed image. A system is also described and claimed.

Abstract: A method and system for monitoring activity of an image server which stores a multiplicity of images, at least some of which contain plural image portions, the method including the steps of monitoring which of the multiplicity of images stored on the image server are accessed, monitoring accessing of individual ones of the plural image portions of each of the multiplicity of images stored on the image server which are accessed, and providing an output indication of the number of times that each image portion of the multiplicity of images stored on the image server is accessed.

Abstract: A method for composition of two digital images which overlap in an overlapping pixel region, including adjusting the pixel color values of at least one of the digital images so as to produce resulting digital images including at least one modified digital image, and combining the resulting digital images in the overlapping pixel region by taking weighted averages of their pixel color values.

Abstract: A method for archiving digital data on a server computer, and enabling a user, by means of a client computer, to interactively view a digital image derived from the digital data, including receiving by the client computer from the server computer an HTML page, the HTML page including a view window within which a first image is displayed, the view window being partitioned into a plurality of imaginary sub-regions at least one of which contains a multiplicity of pixels, selecting by the user, using a pointing device, a location within the view window corresponding to one of the plurality of sub-regions, sending by the client computer to the server computer an indication of the sub-region selected by the user, modifying by the server computer the HTML page to generate a new HTML page with a link to a second image, the second image being an enlarged portion of the first image, and the enlarged portion of the first image corresponding to the selected location, and sending by the server computer to the client compu