Abstract: An image capture apparatus comprises a first imaging device operable to capture an image feedback image, generator for generating a feedback image from a captured image for output to a display, a facial recognition unit operable to determine the position of a face within the feedback image, an image corruptor operable to corrupt the feedback image with respect to the position of a face within the feedback image as determined by the facial recognition unit, and an image capture initiator operable to initiate the capture of an output image subsequent to corruption of the feedback image.

Abstract: A recording apparatus 1 capable of recording television signals has a classifier system 20 operable to process television signals recorded by the recording apparatus 1 and to classify scenes of the television signal as significant or not significant. The recording apparatus allows a user to input scenes 33 associated with significance information indicating the degree of significance of the input scene 33, and the classifier system 20 is arranged to be re-trained using the input scenes 33 and associated significance information.

Abstract: Face detection apparatus generating an output indicative of the likelihood of test regions of a test image containing a face comprises: means for deriving a plurality of sets of image attribute data from the test region, each set relating to the test region scaled by a respective different scaling factor from a geometric progression of scaling factors, the progression being such that each scaling factor is related to a next scaling factor by a predetermined multiplicative factor, the factor being the same across the whole progression of scaling factors; means for comparing the derived attributes for each scaling factor with a first respective set of attributes indicative of the presence of a face to generate a first respective likelihood value; means for comparing the derived attributes for each scaling factor with a second respective set of attributes indicative of the presence of a face to generate a second respective likelihood value; means for generating a combined likelihood value in respect of at least

Abstract: A charge pump circuit including an input rail, an output rail, a voltage rail, a control line, an MOS input transistor including a gate and a channel connected between the input rail and the voltage rail, and an MOS output transistor including a gate and a channel connected between the output rail and the voltage rail. The gate of the input transistor is connected to the gate of the output transistor and a switch connects the channel of the output transistor to the voltage rail in response to a signal on the control line. The channel of an input cascode transistor connects the channel of the input transistor to the input rail and the channel of an output cascode transistor connects the channel of the output transistor to the output rail. The gate of the input cascode transistor is connected to the gate of the output cascode transistor.

Abstract: A data processing apparatus maps input symbols to be communicated onto a predetermined number of carrier signals of an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexed (OFDM) symbol. The data processor includes an interleaver memory which reads-in the predetermined number of data symbols for mapping onto the OFDM carrier signals. The interleaver memory reads-out the data symbols on to the OFDM carriers to effect the mapping, the read-out being in a different order than the read-in, and the order being determined from a set of addresses. The set of addresses are generated from an address generator. The address generator includes a linear feedback shift register and a permutation circuit.

Abstract: A system and associated methodology of detecting objects using multiple sets of object probability data relating to different respective expected object sizes relative to the image size. A list of locations in an image where an object has been detected is stored, the list defining a probability data set and a probability value for each detected object. Object locations in a set of object probability data as locations at which a local maximum probability value exceeds a threshold probability value are detected and, if that location is substantially similar to a location previously stored in the list, where the local maximum probability value exceeds that relating to the previously stored location. The storing is repeated successively in respect of each set of probability data.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus in which output pixels of an output image are generated with respect to input pixels of an input image, a first subset of the output pixels being identical to respective input pixels and a second subset of the output pixels being derived from respective groups of one or more input pixels. The apparatus includes a spatial filter arrangement for filtering the second subset of pixels, the filter not being applied to filter the first subset of output pixels, the filter arrangement having a response such that high spatial frequencies are attenuated in the output image.

Abstract: A receiver-decoder apparatus has a receiver-decoder circuit capable of receiving and decoding broadcast television signals of different services to generate therefrom a video signal for display of an image on a display device. The apparatus has an EPG generator for generating a signal for display on said display device of an electronic program guide listing services and events in respect of those services. The EPG generator identifies further events which are related to respective events in the electronic program guide. In the electronic program guide, the further events are shown associated with the events to which they are related. The events in respect of each service are shown by blocks arranged along a time line. The further events are shown by adjacent blocks scaled to create a perspective view of the blocks of the further events being more distant than the blocks of the events to which they are related.

Abstract: A receiver for receiving a multi-carrier modulated symbol is arranged to suppress a burst noise signal which may have been induced in the symbol. The symbol includes a plurality of pilot carriers as well as a plurality of data bearing carriers. The receiver comprises a burst noise detection processor operable to detect the temporal position of the burst noise signal which may have corrupted the symbol within a period occupied by the symbol, and a channel estimation processor operable to generate a decimated noise signal corresponding to the burst noise, from the recovered pilot carriers. An inverse Fourier transform of the decimated noise signal provides a plurality of estimated versions of the burst noise signal. A noise signal processor is operable to generate an estimate of the burst noise signal by identifying one of the plurality of estimated burst noise versions at the detected temporal location of the burst noise signal.

Abstract: A video motion detection apparatus generating successive output video signal messages based on input video signal images. The apparatus applies a motion test detecting inter-image motion between two or more input video signal images, providing two sets of one or more motion vectors used for generating respective output image generating test output images using the respective motion vector sets, and compares image areas in the test output images pointed to by the motion vectors in one or both sets. For a motion vector with less than a predetermined degree of similarity between the image areas, the image areas are divided into two or more smaller image areas and the comparison is applied to each of the smaller areas. The use of motion vectors is inhibited for image areas in the test output images that have less than a predetermined degree of similarity at the image area sizes tested.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus in which output pixel values are generated with respect to pixels of an input image selected in accordance with an image feature direction in the input image. The apparatus includes a mechanism comparing blocks of pixels of the input image, the blocks being disposed with respect to a pixel position under test so that a correlation between the blocks would indicate an image feature direction applicable to that pixel position; and a mechanism detecting the image feature direction applicable to the pixel position under test as a direction corresponding to a block comparison for blocks having the highest correlation amongst blocks having block contents meeting one or more predetermined criteria.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus generating output image pixels from groups of one or more input image pixels, the groups selected in accordance with an image feature direction in the input image. An interpolator interpolates intermediate pixels between the input image pixels, and a block comparator detects correlation between sets of test blocks of pixels in the input image, which sets are oriented with respect to a current pixel position so that the orientation of a set having the greatest correlation indicates a probable image feature direction applicable to the current pixel position. For at least some sets of test blocks having an orientation with respect to the current pixel position within a predetermined range around a vertical orientation, the test blocks include the input image pixels and intermediate pixels interpolated from the input image pixels. For other sets of test blocks, the test blocks include only the input image pixels.

Abstract: A video motion detection apparatus includes a mechanism applying a motion test by comparing test areas of an image with respective sets of candidate areas in that or another image and generating motion vectors in dependence on a displacement between each test area and a candidate area giving a greatest similarity between the test area and that candidate area; and a mechanism applying an integrity test to test the motion vectors. For a motion vector failing the integrity test, the corresponding test area is divided into two or more smaller test areas and the motion test is applied again in respect of the two or more smaller areas, and a motion vector passing the integrity test is made available as an output of the apparatus.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus in which output pixels of an output image are generated from one or more input images using motion vectors having a sub-pixel accuracy. A motion vector allocator allocates motion vectors in the set to pixels of the output image, and is configured to compare a current output pixel with test image areas pointed to by motion vectors in the set to detect a most suitable motion vector for the current output pixel. The motion vector allocator includes a spatial filter comparing the current output pixel and a test image area to a sub-pixel accuracy. A pixel generator generates the output pixels, and includes a spatial filter generating an output pixel value at a required pixel position to a sub-pixel accuracy. The spatial filter of the motion vector allocator has fewer filter taps than the spatial filter of the pixel generator.

Abstract: A camera-recorder apparatus comprises an image capture device operable to capture a plurality of video images; a storage medium by which the video images are stored for later retrieval; a feature extraction unit operable to derive image property data from the image content of at least one of the video images substantially in real time at the capture of the video images, the image property data being associated with respective images or groups of images; and a data path by which the camera-recorder apparatus is operable to transfer the derived image property data to an external data processing apparatus.

Abstract: A method of organising data items in an n-dimensional space comprises, for each of a plurality of iterations, the step of generating a relative displacement of position for each data item within the n-dimensional space in accordance with a similarity value between each data item and respective other data items, the distance between each data item and respective other data items in the n-dimensional space, and the difference in position within the n-dimensional space between each data item and at least one reference point.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus for image conversion comprises first motion detecting means operable to detect motion to a first level of sensitivity; second motion detecting means operable to detect motion to a second level of sensitivity, the second level of sensitivity being of greater sensitivity than the first level of sensitivity so that the second motion detecting means can detect smaller amounts of motion than the first motion detecting means; conversion selection means operable to select respectively either a first conversion process or a second conversion process for a given point in an image dependant upon whether motion is detected at that point or not, and in which the conversion selection means operates independently of the second motion detecting means if the degree of motion within an image or a part thereof detected by the first motion detecting means exceeds a threshold amount.

Abstract: An apparatus including a transformer for transforming transform domain data into time domain data and a combiner for receiving material and combining said time domain data with said material to form data embedded material. Hence, the material is not subject any transformation at all.

Abstract: A method of image processing for converting interlaced images to progressive scan images comprises the steps of generating a motion dependent mixing value for determining the extent to which a preceding image field should be mixed with a current intra-field interpolated image field at a given pixel position, comparing the generated mixing value with a preceding historical mixing value, and if the comparison indicates an increase in motion, using the generated mixing value; otherwise, if the comparison indicates a decrease in motion, temporally filtering the generated mixing value prior to use.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus is operable to generate at least one processed image from an input image. The image processing apparatus is operable to receive the input image represented as a plurality of pixels each of which includes red, green and blue component values and to apply, for example, a k-means clustering algorithm to identify k local mean for the values of the red, green and blue component values, where k is an integer. The image processing apparatus is operable to identify for each local mean of the pixels for each of the red, green and blue components, a candidate range of component values, and a mapping function for mapping the candidate range of component values onto a dynamic range of possible component values for representing the image. The image processing apparatus is operable to apply for each of the red, green and blue components of each pixel of the input image the identified mapping function, to form for each of the k-local mean a processed image for display.