Abstract: A system and method for optimizing the performance of a graphics intensive software program for graphics acceleration hardware. This system and method encompasses a procedure that validates the different functions of a 3D acceleration capable video card, decides whether to use the acceleration hardware and optimizes the software application to selectively use the functions that work on the specific video acceleration card. Functions checked include sub-pixel positioning, opacity, color replacement and fog. If these tests are successful, then the graphics acceleration is used by the software application. However, if the tests are not successful the decision is made not to use graphics accelerator. Those with ordinary skill in the art will realize that it is not necessary to perform all of the tests in a specific order.

Abstract: A system and method for streaming whiteboard content to computing devices in a networked environment. The invention is an extension of whiteboard image generation technology to provide network-based collaboration of a target meeting. In one aspect, each networked client can receive audio content and whiteboard content (video images). In another aspect, each networked client can transmit audio content and annotation content which is displayed separately or generated on the whiteboard image. The streaming content is built on external collaboration frameworks.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically modeling a three dimensional object, such as a face, from a single image. The system and method according to the invention can construct one or more three dimensional (3D) face models using a single image. Although use of a frontal image simplifies the processing, the system and method according to the invention can also generate a 3D model from a non-frontal image (e.g., an image where the object to be modeled has an out of plane rotation, such a face that is turned to one side to some extent). The system is fully automatic. It is fast compared to the other modeling systems. Furthermore, it is very robust. It can be used to construct personalized models for games, on-line chat, and so on. It can also be used as a tool to generate a database of faces with various poses which are needed to train most face recognition systems.

Abstract: The present invention is embodied in a system and method for managing and controlling accounts with generated profile information. The system includes a data generator, a database and a search agent. The data generator generates, collects and processes data about potential buyers and generates customer profiles. Data can be collected and processed by any suitable means for generating profiles, such as a data gathering session. In one example, a potential buyer can be provided with an interactive browsing environment and allowed to select information related to products or services. The search agent is used to create the database, which comprises buyers having organized profiles that define specific criteria. A profile of the buyer can be created by inferring criteria desired by the buyer based on the interactive browsing and the selections made by the buyer.

Abstract: A system and method, called Image-Based Surface Detail Transfer, to transfer geometric details from one surface of an object in an image to another with simple 2D image operations. The basic observation is that, without knowing its 3D geometry, geometric details (local deformations) can be extracted from a single image of an object in a way independent of its surface reflectance, and furthermore, these geometric details can be transferred to modify the appearance of other objects directly in images. Examples are shown including surface detail transfer between real objects, as well as between real and synthesized objects.

Abstract: A system and method for graphically showing the animation order of animated elements in a presentation program or other software. The invention consists of a User Interface (UI) widget which shows the order of the animation in the presentation. This UI employs an animation On Object User Interface (OOUI), or animation tag, that is preferably a rectangular control that encloses a number, and labels the order in which objects are animated. Each animation OOUI or animation tag is associated with an object on a display during creation and editing. The animation OOUI or tag is preferably placed in close proximity to the object it is associated with, rather than in a separate window or dialog box, and is hence termed ‘On Object’. The animation tag is active and responds to computer input device selection actions. Each animation OOUI is typically associated with an animation list.

Abstract: The convex hull of two polygons having congruent corresponding angles with the same orientation can be determined by analyzing the relationship of each vertex of one of the polygons relative to its adjacent vertices. More particularly a line may be defined between a selected vertex on one of the polygons and its corresponding vertex on the other polygon. If the vertices adjacent to the selected vertex both fall on the same side of the line, then a line connecting the selected vertex with its corresponding vertex lies on the convex hull of the two polygons. If, on the other hand, the vertices adjacent to the selected vertex are located on different sides of the line, then the line connecting the selected vertex with its corresponding vertex does not lie on the convex hull.

Abstract: A system and method for facilitating low bandwidth video image transmission in video conferencing systems. A target is acquired (video image of a person's head) and processed to identify one or more sub-regions (e.g., background, eyes, mouth and head). The invention incorporates a fast feature matching methodology to match a current sub-region with previously stored sub-regions. If a match is found, an instruction is sent to the receiving computer to generate the next frame of video data from the previously stored blocks utilizing a texture synthesis technique. The invention is applicable for video conferencing in low bandwidth environments.

Abstract: A real-time approximately 360 degree image correction system and a method for alleviating distortion and perception problems in images captured by omni-directional cameras. In general, the real-time panoramic image correction method generates a warp table from pixel coordinates of a panoramic image and applies the warp table to the panoramic image to create a corrected panoramic image. The corrections are performed using a parametric class of warping functions that include Spatially Varying Uniform (SVU) scaling functions. The SVU scaling functions and scaling factors are used to perform vertical scaling and horizontal scaling on the panoramic image pixel coordinates. A horizontal distortion correction is performed using the SVU scaling functions at at least two different scaling factors. This processing generates a warp table that can be applied to the panoramic image to yield the corrected panoramic image.

Abstract: A system and method of converting the content of a regular whiteboard into an electronic document. This system and method provides an effective, economical and easy to use way to convert whiteboard content as an enhanced and easily editable electronic document though the use of a still or video camera. It uses a series of image processing steps to clip borders, rectify the whiteboard image and correct colors.

Abstract: A user is provided with guidelines that are temporarily displayed with content, in order to assist the user in neatly and accurately writing electronic ink. The guidelines may appear when the user moves a writing tool, such as a stylus or pen, close to a display and writing surface. Alternately, the guidelines may appear after the user has begun to write electronic ink, so that the guidelines can correspond to the angle at which the user is writing, the size of the user's handwriting, or both. As the user writes the electronic ink onto the writing surface, the handwritten electronic ink is added to the content being rendered on the display. After the user has finished writing electronic ink and moves the writing tool away from the writing surface, the guidelines are deleted, and are not added to the displayed content. In this way, the user can employ the temporary guidelines to accurately and legibly write electronic ink into content, without the guidelines themselves becoming a permanent part of the content.

Abstract: A system and method for graphically showing the animation order of animated elements in a presentation program or other software. The invention consists of a User Interface (UI) widget which shows the order of the animation in the presentation. This UI employs an animation On Object User Interface (OOUI), or animation tag, that is preferably a rectangular control that encloses a number, and labels the order in which objects are animated. Each animation OOUI or animation tag is associated with an object on a display during creation and editing. The animation OOUI or tag is preferably placed in close proximity to the object it is associated with, rather than in a separate window or dialog box, and is hence termed ‘On Object’. The animation tag is active and responds to computer input device selection actions. Each animation OOUI is typically associated with an animation list.

Abstract: A system and method for optimizing the performance of a graphics intensive software program for graphics acceleration hardware. This system and method encompasses a procedure that validates the different functions of a 3D acceleration capable video card, decides whether to use the acceleration hardware and optimizes the software application to selectively use the functions that work on the specific video acceleration card. Functions checked include sub-pixel positioning, opacity, color replacement and fog. If these tests are successful, then the graphics acceleration is used by the software application. However, if the tests are not successful the decision is made not to use graphics accelerator. Those with ordinary skill in the art will realize that it is not necessary to perform all of the tests in a specific order.

Abstract: The present invention is embodied in a system and method for extracting structure from multiple images of a scene by representing the scene as a group of image layers, including reflection and transparency layers. In general, the present invention performs layer extraction from multiple images containing reflections and transparencies. The present invention includes an optimal approach for recovering layer images and their associated motions from an arbitrary number of composite images. The present invention includes image formation equations, the constrained least squares technique used to recover the component images, a novel method to estimate upper and lower bounds on the solution using min- and max-composites, and a motion refinement method.

Abstract: A User Interface (UI) for a real-time panoramic image correction system and method that simplifies the use of the system for the user. The UI includes a control panel that allows a user to enter meeting table size and shape, camera position and orientation, and the amount of normalization desired (e.g. 0 to 100%). A window can also be implemented on a display that displays the corrected panoramic image. In this window, the head (either normalized or non-normalized) of a meeting participant, preferably one that is speaking, is extracted and displayed in a separate window. Additionally, the corrected panoramic image, whose size will vary in conjunction with the amount of warping applied, can be displayed and transmitted with extra pixels around its perimeter in order to allow the corrected or normalized panoramic image to adapt to any of the standard display size and resolutions and to simplify network transmission.

Abstract: Generation, coding and transmission of an effective video form, scalable portrait video. As an expansion to bi-level video, portrait video is composed of more gray levels, and therefore possesses higher visual quality while it maintains a low bit rate and low computational costs. Portrait video is a scalable video in that each video with a higher level always contains all the information of the video with a lower level. The bandwidths of 2–4 level portrait videos fit into the bandwidth range of 20–40 Kbps that GPRS and CDMA 1X can stably provide. Therefore, portrait video is very promising for video broadcast and communication on 2.5 G wireless networks. With portrait video technology, this system and method is the first to enable two-way video conferencing on Pocket PCs and Handheld PCs.

Abstract: A novel method for synchronizing the lips of a sketched face to an input voice. The lip synchronization system and method approach is to use training video as much as possible when the input voice is similar to the training voice sequences. Initially, face sequences are clustered from video segments, then by making use of sub-sequence Hidden Markov Models, a correlation between speech signals and face shape sequences is built. From this re-use of video, the discontinuity between two consecutive output faces is decreased and accurate and realistic synthesized animations are obtained. The lip synchronization system and method can synthesize faces from input audio in real-time without noticeable delay. Since acoustic feature data calculated from audio is directly used to drive the system without considering its phonemic representation, the method can adapt to any kind of voice, language or sound.

Abstract: This invention is directed toward a system and method for scanning a scene or object such as a whiteboard, paper document or similar item. More specifically, the invention is directed toward a system and method for obtaining a high-resolution image of a whiteboard or other object with a low-resolution camera. The system and method of the invention captures either a set of snapshots with overlap or a continuous video sequence, and then stitches them automatically into a single high-resolution image. The stitched image can finally be exported to other image processing systems and methods for further enhancement.