Abstract: A photography system includes a digital camera and a depth and position detection device. The digital camera is configured to capture a digital image of a subject. The depth and position detection device scans the subject and determines three-dimensional locations of the subject and any other objects within the field of view. The depth and position detection device also determines locations of body points of the subject. The depth and position information can then be mapped to the digital image.

Abstract: A method and device for generating a composite group image from subgroup images is provided. Subgroup images, each having a common background, are accessed. The boundaries of a subgroup area within each of the subgroup images is determined. At least one horizontal and at least one vertical shift factor is determined using the determined boundaries. An arrangement for the subgroup images based on the at least one horizontal and the at least one vertical shift factor is generated. The composite group image is generated by blending the subgroup images arranged in the arrangement.

Abstract: A method for automatically analyzing and constructing communications to a plurality of recipients includes automatically separating communication content files into page groups in a system comprising one or more intelligent communication design servers, wherein each of the page groups is associated a recipient of the communications, inputting the communication content files into an intra-page machine prediction model to produce intra-page parameters, inputting the communication content files and the intra-page parameters into an intra-page machine prediction model to produce intra-group parameters and inter-group parameters, automatically constructing standard communication design files by an intelligent communication content learning and constructing engine based on the communication content files and the intra-page parameters, intra-group parameters, and inter-group parameters, and printing and finishing physical mailing pieces to be mailed to the recipients based on the standard communication design files.

Abstract: A method of photographing a subject includes storing a library of photographic scene designs in a computer memory, training a photographic scene detection model by a computer processing device using machine learning from sample portrait images comprising known photographic scenes defined in the library of photographic scene designs, capturing a production portrait photograph, using a digital camera, of a subject in a photographic scene that is defined by a photographic scene design in the library of photographic scene designs, automatically detecting the photographic scene in the production portrait photograph using the photographic scene detection model operating on one or more computer processors, and processing the production portrait photograph by an image processing system to personalize the photographic scene detected in the production portrait photograph.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes selecting a kernel and kernel parameters for a first Support Vector Machine (SVM) model, testing the first SVM model on a feature matrix T of n feature vectors of length m to produce false positive (FP) data set and false negative (FN) data set by a computer processor, wherein n and m are integer numbers, automatically removing feature vectors corresponding to the FP data set from the feature matrix T by the computer processor to produce a feature matrix T_best, retraining the first SVM model on the feature matrix T_best to produce a second SVM model, and checking if a ratio (T_best sample number)/(SVM support vector number) is above a threshold for the second SVM model on T_best. If the ratio is above the threshold, SVM predictions are performed using the second SVM model on the feature matrix T_best.

Abstract: Devices and methods for evaluating at least one photograph during a photography session are described. In some instances, a camera may be used to capture images during a photography session and a computing device may be used to identify a portrait order specification for the photography session including a set of required photographs, each having associated required criteria. The computing device may evaluate the images and determine whether the images can be associated with any of the required photographs based on features included in the images being associated with the required criteria of the required photographs. The images associated with required photographs may be displayed, and a determination of whether the images qualify as a required photograph may be made using a graphical user interface, or may be made automatically.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method is disclosed for image recognition and other applications. The method employs an SVM model and can reduce false negatives and increase recognition accuracies by raising the sample-to-support-vector ratio.

Abstract: A method of illuminating a subject during photography is disclosed. The method includes illuminating a background lighting system during a first image capture, illuminating a subject lighting system during a second image capture, and illuminating the background lighting system during a third image capture. The time from the first image capture to the third image capture is less than about 100 milliseconds. Also disclosed is a method for generating a composite mask of a subject, including receiving the three images, determining any movements of the subject between the first and third images, estimating an intermediate position of the subject during the second image, and generating a composite mask at the estimated intermediate position.

Abstract: Devices and methods for evaluating at least one photograph during a photography session are described. In some instances, a camera may be used to capture images during a photography session and a computing device may be used to identify a portrait order specification for the photography session including a set of required photographs, each having associated required criteria. The computing device may evaluate the images and determine whether the images can be associated with any of the required photographs based on features included in the images being associated with the required criteria of the required photographs. The images associated with required photographs may be displayed, and a determination of whether the images qualify as a required photograph may be made using a graphical user interface, or may be made automatically.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes selecting a kernel and kernel parameters for a first Support Vector Machine (SVM) model, testing the first SVM model on a feature matrix T of n feature vectors of length m to produce false positive (FP) data set and false negative (FN) data set by a computer processor, wherein n and m are integer numbers, automatically removing feature vectors corresponding to the FN data set from the feature matrix T by the computer processor to produce a feature matrix T_best of size (n-size(FN))*m, retraining the first SVM model on the feature matrix T_best to produce a second SVM model, and checking if a ratio (T_best sample number)/(SVM support vector number) is above a threshold for the second SVM model on T_best. If the ratio is above the threshold, SVM predictions is performed using the second SVM model on the feature matrix T_best.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for responding to user behaviors includes storing category specifications for a plurality of categories configured to characterize users, storing categories for users in a computer network system, detecting behaviors of a user in real time, and determining in real time if the behaviors of the user is within a first category specification associated with a first category that the user is tagged with. If the behaviors of the user exceed the first category specification, the method assigns a second category to the user in real time in response to the detected user behaviors.

Abstract: A method for proactively creating an image product includes capturing an image of an object in a first environment by a device, storing a library of personalized products each characterized by a product type, automatically recognizing the object in the image as having a product type associated with the library of personalized products, automatically creating a design for the personalized product of the product type using personalized content, automatically displaying the design of the personalized product of the product type incorporating the selected photo in the first environment on the device, and manufacturing a physical product based on the design of the personalized product.

Abstract: A photo design smart assistant system for reducing similar photos for display and product design includes a similarity distance computation module that can calculate hash values of images and to calculate similarity distances between the images using at least the hash values, a burst grouping module that can automatically group the images into a burst based at least in part on the similarity distances of the images, wherein at least one image is automatically selected from the burst of images, an intelligent design creation engine that can automatically create a photo product design using the selected image from the burst, and a printing and finishing facility that can automatically make a physical photo product based on the photo product design.

Abstract: A method for proactively creating an image product includes capturing an image of an object in a first environment by a device, storing a library of personalized products each characterized by a product type, automatically recognizing the object in the image as having a product type associated with the library of personalized products, automatically creating a design for the personalized product of the product type using personalized content, automatically displaying the design of the personalized product of the product type incorporating the selected photo in the first environment on the device, and manufacturing a physical product based on the design of the personalized product.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for preventing spam emails from a share site includes providing a network-based computer system to enable users to set up share sites and to send emails from the share sites, detecting potential spam emails based on one or more spam detection rules, identifying false positive emails in the potential spam emails based on one or more false alarm reduction rules, removing false positive emails from the potential spam emails to produce a list of verified spam emails, identifying a sender of the list of verified spam emails as a spammer, and prohibiting the spammer from sending emails from one or more share sites owned spammer.

Abstract: A method of illuminating a subject during photography is disclosed. The method includes illuminating a background lighting system during a first image capture, illuminating a subject lighting system during a second image capture, and illuminating the background lighting system during a third image capture. The time from the first image capture to the third image capture is less than about 100 milliseconds. Also disclosed is a method for generating a composite mask of a subject, including receiving the three images, determining any movements of the subject between the first and third images, estimating an intermediate position of the subject during the second image, and generating a composite mask at the estimated intermediate position.

Abstract: A method for proactively creating a photo product includes storing a library of points of interest in a computer system, detecting one or more images from a user, automatically extracting image capture locations from the images, automatically comparing the image capture locations with the points of interest in the library to obtain one or more identified points of interest, automatically identifying an occasion based on the identified points of interest in the library, automatically selecting, by the computer processor, a photo product type in part based on the occasion, automatically creating a design of a photo product of the photo product type using one or more images from the user, and manufacturing a physical photo product based on the photo product design.

Abstract: A method for matching and tracking workpieces in laser etching operation includes generating by the computer a label image that uniquely identifies the workpiece, moving a laser head to the workpiece, setting the laser head to a first power level by a power controller, etching the product image on the workpiece using a laser beam emitted from the laser head, wherein the laser beam is modulated at the first power level in accordance with a product image in a pixel wise fashion across the workpiece, moving the laser head to the label by the transport mechanism, setting the laser head to a second power level by the power controller, etching the label image on the workpiece using a laser beam emitted from the laser head, wherein the laser beam is modulated at the second power level in accordance with the label image in a pixel wise fashion across the label.

Abstract: A computer implemented method for recognizing facial expressions by applying feature learning and feature engineering to face images. The method includes conducting feature learning on a face image comprising feeding the face image into a first convolution neural network to obtain a first decision, conducting feature engineering on a face image, comprising the steps of automatically detecting facial landmarks in the face image, transforming the facial features into a two-dimensional matrix, and feeding the two-dimensional matrix into a second convolution neural network to obtain a second decision, computing a hybrid decision based on the first decision and the second decision, and recognizing a facial expression in the face image in accordance to the hybrid decision.