Abstract: Apparatus is arranged in operation to perform a method of estimating the number of individuals in a scene. The method comprises generating, for a plurality of image positions within at least a portion of a captured image of the scene, an edge correspondence value indicative of positional and angular correspondence with a representation of at least a partial outline of an individual. Analysis of the edge correspondence value is used to detect whether each of the plurality of image positions contributes to at least part of an image of an individual.

Abstract: A method of classifying a video shot comprises predicting an image from a preceding image using a parameter based image transform, and comparing points in the predicted image with corresponding points in a current image to generate an point error value for each point. These point error values are used to identify those points whose point error value exceeds a point error threshold. Then, for corresponding points on images used as input to subsequent calculations that update the image transform parameters, the points so identified are excluded from contributing to said calculations.

Abstract: Audio processing apparatus in which a payload signal is inserted into a primary audio signal comprises a noise generator operable to generate a noise signal in dependence on the payload signal; a level detector for detecting a signal level of the primary signal; a modulator for respectively increasing or decreasing the level of the noise signal in response to an increase or a decrease of the detected signal level of the primary audio signal, to generate a modulated noise signal; a combiner for combining the primary signal and the modulated noise signal; and a signal delay arrangement; the modulator operating with respect to the signal delay arrangement so that a decrease in the level of the noise signal is time-advanced with respect to the corresponding decrease in the signal level of the primary audio signal.

Abstract: A watermarking system comprises an encoding data processor operable to generate at least one marked version of an original item of material by introducing one of a predetermined set of code words into a copy of the original material item. The code words are generated from a pseudo-random number generator initialised with a seed value. The seed value is used to identify the marked material item, from the code word produced from the seed value. The watermarking system also includes a detecting data processor operable to identify a particular marked copy of the material item by recovering a code word from the marked material item and correlating all code words in the set of code words with the recovered code word. The detecting data processing apparatus also includes a registration processor operable to associate samples of the original material item with corresponding samples of the marked material item to which corresponding code word coefficients may have been added.

Abstract: A system for facilitating production of information material comprises a plurality of metadata nodes operable to process metadata describing the content of information material, and a data communications network for providing a facility for communicating the metadata between the metadata nodes. The metadata is represented as metadata strings describing the content or attributes associated with the information material. The metadata string includes a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) providing an address of a storage location of an associated metadata resource. The metadata string is communicable separately from the information material via the network and the associated metadata resource is accessible via the network using the resource identifier. The metadata string can be arranged to provide an indication of parameters describing the information material and identifiers such as UMIDs or the like which facilitate navigation of the information material.

Abstract: A method of embedding data in material comprises the steps of: embedding data in original material to produce data embedded material; removing the watermark from the data embedded material to produce recovered material; comparing the original and recovered material to determine the differences and locations of differences therebetween; and storing the said locations and corrections which correct the said differences. A method of removing the data embedded in the material, comprises the steps of: removing the data from the material to produce recovered material; deriving the said corrections and locations from the said store; and using the corrections to correct the recovered material at the said locations.

Abstract: A method of processing successive images of a video signal to generate a representative color value indicative of a representative color of an image sub-area, the method comprises the steps of: (i) detecting a color property of the image sub-area in a current image; (ii) generating a filtered color property in respect of the current image by combining a color property for the current image with a filtered color property derived in respect of a corresponding sub-area of a previous image; and (iii) deriving the representative color value in dependence on a difference between the color property of the sub-area of the current image and the filtered color property.

Abstract: A method of object detection in video images comprises the steps of: detecting the size and image position of a first object part in two or more images; detecting attributes of a second object part, the second object part being defined by a predetermined orientation and size defined with respect to the size and position of the first object part; and comparing the detected attributes of the second object part in the two or more images detected to contain the first object part; in which the likelihood that the two or more images contain the same object is dependent at least on the comparison of the detected attributes of the second object part in those images.

Abstract: To effect power control of a power amplifier 2 having three amplifier stages 3, 4 and 5 used to amplify input signals modulated in accordance with a variable envelope modulation scheme, there is used a power amplifier 2 having a gain which reduces as the supply voltage to the power amplifier 2 reduces, and the output power POUT of the power amplifier 2 is controlled by regulation of the supply voltage VS. Taking advantage of the reduction in gain of the power amplifier 2, it is ensured that, in respect of each respective amplifier stage 3, 4 and 5 and at each respective value of the supply voltage in the voltage control range, the output power POUT of the respective amplifier stage 3, 4 and 5 is less than the saturation output power PSAT of the respective amplifier stage 3, 4 and 5. As a result, distortion of the signal is reduced. The power control technique improves efficiency over known techniques of backing off the output power and using a variable gain amplifier stage to control the output power.

Abstract: A detecting data processing apparatus determines whether one or more code words of a predetermined set of code words are present in a suspected version of a material item. The apparatus comprises a registration processor operable to associate samples of the suspected version with samples of a copy of the original material item, a recovery processor and a detection processor. The recovery processor is operable to generate a recovered code word by comparing the registered copy of the original and the suspect material items. The detection processor is operable to detect one or more code words from a correlation between the recovered code word and the code words from the set. The registration processor is operable to form at least one reduced-bandwidth-version of the material item and to associate the suspected version and the copy of the material item in accordance with a comparison between the reduced-bandwidth-versions of the suspected version and the original material item.

Abstract: A differential oscillator circuit, including an oscillator having a first side and a second side and bias circuitry for applying a bias voltage to the first and second sides of the oscillator wherein the bias circuitry is arranged such that, upon start-up, the bias voltage is not applied to the second side of the oscillator until after the first side of the oscillator by a delay period.

Abstract: A receiver determines a symbol synch time for recovering data from a symbol of signal samples generated in accordance with Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing. Each symbol includes a guard period which carries data repeated from a data bearing part of the symbol and pilot signal samples. The receiver compromises a pilot assisted tracker, a guard adapted filter processor and a filter controller. The controller is operable to excite the filter with the symbol signal samples to generate an output signal which provides a further representation of the channel impulse response. A symbol time adjustment estimator is operable to adjust the symbol synch time in accordance with the adjustment provided by at least one the pilot assisted tracker and the guard adapted filter processor. The pilot assisted tracker estimates the symbol synch time from a channel impulse response estimate generated from pilot signal samples.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus is operable to embed data into an image. Images such as those generated from an inter-laced scan may comprise a frame of image data, the frame comprising first and second image fields. The image processing apparatus comprises a combining processor operable to introduce the data to be embedded into at least one of the first and second fields of the image frame. As such a likelihood of a perceivable effect of the embedded data on the image may be reduced, because the images are viewed as a frame. The embedded data may also have an increased likelihood of being detected because some processing may effect the image frame more then the fields of the image. The combining processor may be operable to represent the data to be embedded in a transform domain form, and, in combination with a transform processor, combine the data to be embedded with the first and/or second fields with the image in a transform domain form or a spatial domain form.

Abstract: A smoke detection method for identifying, in a current input image, an area indicative of the presence of smoke, there being a sequence of two or more input images, the method comprising the steps of: storing a background estimation for a current input image; and comparing the current input image with the background estimation to detect a partial obscuring of the background estimation indicative of the presence of smoke in the current input image.

Abstract: An application programmer's interface provides a facility for accessing metadata describing the content or attributes of information material. The application programmer's interface comprises a signalling protocol processor operable to receive a metadata string which includes a resource identifier providing an address of a metadata resource, and a file transfer processor operable to provide access to the metadata resource in accordance with a request from the application program. The signalling protocol processor provides an efficient facility for communicating the metadata string. The metadata string may be in the form of a mark-up language such as XML. The metadata resource may be for example a proxy version of the information material, such as a video proxy if the information material is video. Accordingly, the file transfer processor is arranged to provide efficient access to the video proxy using the address provided with metadata string.

Abstract: An audio and/or video generation apparatus is arranged in operation to generate audio and/or video signals representative of an audio and/or video source has a meta data generation tool which is arranged in operation to generate meta data associated with the audio and/or video signals, wherein the type of meta data generated by the meta data generation tool is user selectable. The audio and/or video generation apparatus may comprise a recording means which is arranged in operation to record the audio and/or video signals on a recording medium, and the audio and/or video generation apparatus may be arranged to receive meta data associated with the audio and/or video signals generated by a data processor, the recording means being arranged in operation to record the meta data on the recording medium with the audio and/or video signals. The meta data may be user generated, such as text describing the audio/video signals, or may be secondary meta data which is automatically generated by the audio/video apparatus.

Abstract: A programmable logic device includes a programmable array of volatile logic elements which when loaded with a configuration program is operable to perform a process in accordance with the configuration of the logic elements by the configuration program. The programmable logic device includes a hardware decryption processor including a register having stored therein a first secret configuration key. A non-volatile store is arranged to store a configuration program which has been encrypted with the first secret configuration key. The configuration program includes therein the first secret configuration key, and the hardware decryption processor is operable, when power is applied to the programmable logic device to read the encrypted configuration program, to decrypt the encrypted configuration program using the first secret configuration key stored in the register, and to configure the programmable array of logic with the configuration program.

Abstract: A receiver is operable to detect and recover data from at least one set of received signal samples. The signal samples comprise a plurality of data bearing signal samples and a plurality of guard signal samples before or after the data bearing signal sample, the guard signal samples being formed by repeating a plurality of the data bearing signal samples. The receiver comprises a matched filter having a matched impulse response, a controller operable to adapt the impulse response of the matched filter to the signal samples of the guard signal samples, the matched filter being operable to produce an output signal which is representative of the convolution of the guard signal samples of the set with the received signal samples.

Abstract: A video display apparatus for displaying a catalogue of one or more candidate video items for replay, each video item being represented in the catalogue by a catalogue entry having at least one displayed representative image comprises a user control device operable to resize a displayed catalogue entry by a select-and-drag operation; and means responsive to a resizing of a catalogue entry to select a number of distinct representative images, for display in respect of that video item, so that the number displayed increases with increasing size of the catalogue entry while the display size of each representative image stays substantially constant with respect to changes in the catalogue entry size.

Abstract: A method of controlling copying of an information signal, comprises the steps of: prior to recordal and/or transmission, applying to the information signal a substantially imperceptible modification representing copy control data including a password securely encoded according to a predetermined algorithm; upon reproduction for copying by a user, deriving (S1, S3) the copy control data from the modified information signal; comparing (S8, S9, S11, S13, S15) the derived securely encoded password with a reference password securely encoded according to a predetermined algorithm; and enabling (S5) copying of the information signal if the securely encoded password derived from the information signal and the securely encoded reference password have a predetermined relationship, otherwise disabling copying (S7). The reference password is sent to the user via a channel which is separate from a channel used to send the information signal to the user.