Abstract: Methods, computer programs, and systems for interfacing a user with a computer program, utilizing gaze detection and voice recognition, are provided. One method includes an operation for determining if a gaze of a user is directed towards a target associated with the computer program. The computer program is set to operate in a first state when the gaze is determined to be on the target, and set to operate in a second state when the gaze is determined to be away from the target. When operating in the first state, the computer program processes voice commands from the user, and, when operating in the second state, the computer program omits processing of voice commands.

Abstract: Mode searching and early termination of a video picture may include determining the cost value of a simple intra-mode prediction of the video picture; determining the cost value of an inter-mode prediction of the video picture; determining a threshold value based on a given quantization parameter (QP); comparing the cost value of the simple intra-mode prediction to the sum of the cost value of the inter-mode prediction and the threshold value; and performing a mode-prediction of the video picture in accordance with the result obtained. Fast compression of variable length symbols may include receiving a variable length symbol with one or more tokens; combining the one or more tokens in the variable length symbol to form a token combination; and determining a bit representation of the token combination in correspondence to a probability threshold associated with the token combination.

Abstract: The present invention provides a facial image display apparatus that can display moving images concentrated on the face when images of people's faces are displayed. A facial image display apparatus is provided wherein a facial area detecting unit (21) detects facial areas in which faces are displayed from within a target image for displaying a plurality of faces; a dynamic extraction area creating unit (22) creates, based on the facial areas detected by the facial area detecting means, a dynamic extraction area of which at least one of position and surface area varies over time in the target image; and a moving image output unit (27) sequentially extracts images in the dynamic extraction area and outputs the extracted images as a moving image.

Abstract: Methods of eye gaze tracking are provided using magnetized contact lenses tracked by magnetic sensors and/or reflecting contact lenses tracked by video-based sensors. Tracking information of contact lenses from magnetic sensors and video-based sensors may be used to improve eye tracking and/or combined with other sensor data to improve accuracy. Furthermore, reflective contact lenses improve blink detection while eye gaze tracking is otherwise unimpeded by magnetized contact lenses. Additionally, contact lenses may be adapted for viewing 3D information.

Abstract: An image synthesis unit receives respective pixel values for a single horizontal row of a ¼ demosaiced image, a 1/16 demosaiced image, and a 1/64 demosaiced image from a pyramid filter for reducing, in a plurality of stages, a frame of a moving image that is captured. The image synthesis unit then connects the pixel values in a predetermined rule so as to generate a virtual synthesized image and outputs the synthesized image in the form of streams. A control unit of an image transmission unit notifies a data selection unit of a request from a host terminal. The data selection unit selects and extracts necessary data from respective streams of pieces of data of the synthesized image, a RAW image, and a 1/1 demosaiced image, and generates a stream of data to be transmitted. A packetizing unit packetizes the stream and transmits the packetized stream to the host terminal.

Abstract: In an information processing apparatus, a cue playback decision unit 610 determines, based on recording information acquired from a recording information storage unit in which a recorded content having a program recorded and the recording information of the recorded content are associated with each other, whether or not a recorded content of a playback target is a recorded content whose recording is started prior to starting time of the program and which is to be played back by cue playback. A time confirmation unit 612 acquires, when it is determined that the recorded content is a recorded content to be played back by cue playback, recording starting time included in the recording information of the recorded content of the playback target from the recording information storage unit.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an application provision method in a client-server type system providing a game application to a plurality of users via a network. The method causes a computational resource of a server to perform the steps of: providing, to a first user using a client terminal connected to the server, a game application selected by the first user; providing, to a second user specified by the first user, the game application provided to the first user after the game application is ended by the first user; and notifying achievement levels of the first and second users to the client terminals of the first and second users after the game application is ended by the second user.

Abstract: An optical disc device that reads information recorded in an optical disc medium includes an objective lens that focuses light on the optical disc medium, a spherical aberration correction mechanism that changes an amount of spherical aberration of the objective lens according to a setting value of a predetermined parameter, and an evaluation value measurement section that measures an evaluation value indicating the accuracy of reading of information from the optical disc medium. The optical disc device further includes a control section that executes adjustment processing in which the control section carries out plural times of measurement of the evaluation value by the evaluation value measurement section concurrently with changing the amount of spherical aberration of the objective lens by the spherical aberration correction mechanism and calculates an optimum setting value of the parameter based on plural evaluation values obtained by the plural times of measurement.

Abstract: A game device includes: an image processing unit operative to display a screen image of a game field including vertical land features; a passage forming unit operative to form a passage in the game field through which fluid can move, in accordance with an instruction by a user; fluid control unit operative to control fluid supplied to the passage; and a terrestrial character control unit and an aquatic character control unit operative to control an action of a character disposed in the game field. The aquatic character control unit moves the character, which exists in the passage in which the fluid exists, together with the fluid when the fluid is moved along the passage to a lower position by the fluid control unit.

Abstract: A cluster value identifying unit identifies a value of a parameter representing a level of a ground swell of interest related to provided information, which is determined in accordance with registration of information related to the provided information. A period identifying unit identifies, based on the value of the parameter, a period in which the ground swell of interest related to the provided information grows with a lapse of time. A user feature identifying unit identifies, based on the identified period, a feature of a user who registers the related information. Accordingly, the feature of the user may be identified based on the registration of the information related to the provided information.

Abstract: Methods and systems for displaying a three dimensional image to a rotated viewer are presented. The roll and yaw of a viewer's eyes, with respect to a display, is tracked and used to adjust the orientation of a pair of stereoscopic images so as to maintain a three dimensional image when a viewer is rotated. Adjustment to the orientation of the pair of stereoscopic images may also factor in the orientation of a plurality of viewers, each viewer with a potentially different orientation with respect to the display.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are described for presenting non-video content through a mobile device that uses a video camera to track a video on another screen. In one embodiment, a system includes a video display, such as a TV, that displays video content. A mobile device with an integrated video camera captures video data from the TV and allows a user to select an area in the video in order to hear/feel/smell what is at that location in the video.

Abstract: In a reader for a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag for near-field wireless communication, an antenna selection switch includes a plurality of antennae arranged with an extent within a predetermined range for transmitting and receiving data to and from an RFID tag, and selects one antenna to be used for transmission and reception of data from among the plurality of antennae. A detection part acquires, when a carrier wave transmitted from the RFID tag is received by any of the plurality of antennae, information indicative of an antenna selected by the antenna selection switch under the control of an antenna changeover controlling part.

Abstract: Provided is an information processing system capable of controlling a user s own name disclosed to other user in accordance with the relationship with the other user. A user management server stores, for each of a plurality of users, an identification name adapted to identify the user in association with a restricted disclosure name registered by the user and information identifying a user entitled to disclosure to whom the disclosure of the restricted disclosure name is permitted. The user management server receives a request for acquisition of name information of a requested user including information identifying a requesting user from a client device. The user management server transmits the restricted disclosure name of the requested user as a reply to the acquisition request if the requesting user is registered as a user entitled to disclosure of the requested user. If not, the user management server transmits the identification name of the requested user.

Abstract: A communication management apparatus is provided which includes: a start request acceptance unit configured to accept a request to start a program from a terminal; a query unit configured to query the program whether communication with the terminal is available upon acceptance of the start request; and a response transmission unit configured to transmit to the terminal, in response to the start request therefrom, a message indicating whether communication is available between the program and the terminal as a result of the query about the availability of communication therebetween.

Abstract: A block tool, which can be assembled by a user, is configured with multiple types of blocks and is shot by a camera for capturing a still image or a moving image. The position coordinates of a marker of the square-pillar block in a three-dimensional space are obtained by image recognition. Also, a connecting position and the type of each block, a gradient vector of the square-pillar block, an angle between two blocks constituting the square-pillar block, and the respective blocks' lengths are obtained so as to derive the shape, posture, and position of the block tool, and corresponding information processing is then performed.

Abstract: A displayed image generation unit enlarges, reduces, or scrolls a displayed image in accordance with a command for change from a user. When a clip command receiving unit receives a clip command, a clipping area identification unit identifies an area to be clipped according to the clip command. A thumbnail image generation unit generates a thumbnail image corresponding to the identified area. A positional information acquisition unit acquires positional information identifying a position of the identified area in an image as a whole. A content ID acquisition unit acquires identification information identifying an image when the clipping command is received. A hard disk drive maps the identification information, the thumbnail image, and the positional information and stores the mapped information.