Abstract: What is disclosed is a system and method for processing an image to obscure information which can be used for identification purposes. In one embodiment, an image is received as part of a traffic enforcement activity. A motor vehicle in the image has a visibly discernible license plate. The vehicle's license plate is first isolated in the image. Content in the image which can be used for identification purposes is thereafter identified. The identified content is compared to the license plate. Any content in the image which is different than the license plate is obscured by, for instance, pixelating the content in the image, introducing a distortion into the image at a location of the content, replacing content with other content, or by blurring the content of the image. The modified image containing the obscured content is then provided to an image output device for rendering. Various embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A method for creating a custom track is described. A selection of at least one artist, venue, and track of a live musical performance having at least one complete song for selection by the user is provided. A selection by the first user of the at least one artist, venue, and track is received. At least one clip associated with the at least one selected artist, venue, and track is displayed. The first user is allowed to create a first custom track from the at least one clip by selecting at least a portion of the at least one clip to be included in the first custom track and a start time and an end time of the at least a portion of the at least one clip within the first custom track.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a system that allows a user to preset a desired TV program for unattended recording by use of a PDA. A PDA acquires from a TV program information service provider TV program information by which to preset a desired TV program to be recorded unattended. When the user selects relevant TV information about the desired program, the PDA sends to a personal computer the information for presetting the TV program of interest for subsequent unattended recording. Based on the preset information sent from the PDA, the personal computer presets the specified TV program to be recorded unattended.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the stereoscopic display of a scene on a grid of picture elements (pixels), based on several views that are combined according to a combination rule to form a combination image. The combination image contains only selected parts or pixels of each view. Furthermore, propagation directions are fixed, which make it possible for a viewer to see in the combination image a different selection of views with his left eye than with his right eye, which results in a visual impression of space. Starting from an original view, in which each pixel contains bits of color information and depth information, the other views are generated, with exclusively such bits of color information being determined that belong to pixels of the views which are displayed in the combination image. The determination of the bits of color information is performed with the aid of a relief card Z(x,y).

Abstract: Image data file systems and methods are operable to generate image data files for a plurality of images having a common image data array, and are operable to generate images from the image data files. An exemplary embodiment stores a common image data array into a master image data file, wherein the stored common image data array corresponds to an image data array of a first image of the plurality of images; and generates a soft link image data file based upon a second image of the plurality of images, wherein an image data array of the second image is the same as the common image data array, and wherein a soft link in the soft link image data file identifies a location of the stored common image data array.

Abstract: Electronic Guide products give the user the ability to videotape selected programs. Once a program has successfully been taped a message is displayed, reminding the viewer that they have taped it. (E.g. “You taped Xxxxx; have you watched it yet?”) Information comprising information that shows are taped, the particular shows taped and viewer profiles allow advertisements targeted to the viewer who typically records a given type of programming to be presented.

Abstract: A system for managing and searching for a digital video includes: a video feature point extraction unit decoding an input video and extracting a feature point; a video feature point database (DB) storing and managing a feature point of a video to be compared (i.e., a comparison target video), and a video feature point comparison unit coarsely comparing the feature point of the input video and that of the comparison target video to acquire a candidate group, and minutely comparing the candidate group to detect a content repeated section, and informing a user of the content repeated section.

Abstract: A reproduction apparatus comprises a reproduction unit configured to reproduce image data from a recording medium; a recognition unit configured to recognize users in response to reproduction of selected image data; and a control unit configured to inhibit deletion of the selected image data from the recording medium, in a case where there is a user, other than users recognized by the recognition unit, who has not reproduced the selected image data among a plurality of predetermined users.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for video bit stream extension by video information annotation. In one embodiment, the invention may include gathering video data from a video source, gathering non-visual video information associated with the video data, maintaining a current state of the video information in storage, and annotating the video data with the current state of the video information.

Abstract: A system and method that repeat video images in a deinterlacing system. The method comprises detecting a signal requesting an input video image be repeated and determining the desired number of repetitions. The input video image may then be processed to generate an output video image and the output video image may be repeated the desired number of repetitions. The input video images following the repeated image may be held until the repeating is completed, and may then be processed and displayed. Repeating the video image may be utilized to achieve different playback modes such as, for example, slow motion, pause, and video rate conversion.

Abstract: A content reproducing apparatus includes: a content control unit that controls reproduction of a content by reading a program from a BD and executing the program; a reproduction information recording unit that records reproduction information including a reproduction position within the content during the reproduction; a reproduction information acquiring unit that acquires, upon a start of the reproduction of the BD, the reproduction information recorded at a time of previous reproduction; and a resume-reproduction control unit that starts to reproduce the BD from the reproduction position identified based on the acquired reproduction information or from a vicinity thereof, wherein the content control unit controls the reproduction if the reproduction information has not been acquired by the reproduction information acquiring unit, and the resume-reproduction control unit controls the reproduction if the reproduction information has been acquired by the reproduction information acquiring unit.

Abstract: Methods and systems that provide enhanced personal video recorder (“PVR”) and interactive television program guide (“IPG”) functionality are provided. An interactive television application (“application”) may be implemented to provide such functionality. The application may be used to display a list of PVR recordings, to schedule recordings to a PVR, to configure recordings, to view a list of scheduled recordings, to configure recording settings, or to select delete priority settings for recordings. The application may integrate pay-per-view and PVR functionality. The application may send user notifications for changes that are to be made to the recording content of a PVR. Live programming may be buffered by the application using a straight buffers that are created for each new program. Parallel buffers for concurrent programs may be implemented using multiple tuners. Straight buffers may be used in managing or controlling the flow of programming.

Abstract: When the playback speed of a moving picture is changed to a slower playback speed during playback of the moving picture, the playback at the slower playback speed starts from the top of the range which includes, out of the moving picture being played back, the frames being played back when an instruction to change the playback speed was received and in which frames having the same recording frame rate as the frames are continuously recorded. Consequently, when the playback speed is changed during the playback of a moving picture, the scene for which the user wishes to change the playback speed can be played back reliably.

Abstract: Disclosed is a reproducing apparatus which reproduces a sound based on audio data, including: an audio data storage unit; an analyzing unit to analyze the audio data; an imaging unit to convert the analysis result into corresponding image data; a generating unit to generate an audio image arrangement diagram in which an audio image is arranged to a relative time axis originating on a current time; and a display control unit to display the audio image arrangement diagram when a sound based on the audio data is output, wherein in the audio image arrangement diagram, an audio image output at a current time point can be recognized, and the audio image arrangement diagram includes an audio image of any one time zones of one from the current time to a past, from the current time to a future, and from a past to a future.

Abstract: A first calculating section calculates an amount of camera-shake correction based on an amount of shaking of the image pickup apparatus which has been detected, when each of a first capturing and a second capturing is carried out. A second calculating section calculates at least an amount of optical tilt-displacement between the image pickup element and an object for the first capturing, which is necessary for the second capturing, and the second calculating section calculates one of an amount of shift by which some of the image pickup lenses and the interchangeable image pickup lenses are to be shifted in a predetermined direction, and an amount of change by which an angle of an image pickup surface of the image pickup element with respect to the optical axial direction is to be changed, while the first capturing and the second capturing are being carried out.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing multimedia data using an event index are provided. The method includes; to detect a biometric signal of a user when the user captures a multimedia data, digitize the detected biometric signal and indexing the multimedia data using the result of the digitization, and selectively edit the indexed multimedia data and playing back the result of the selectively editing. Accordingly, it is possible to facilitate the management of moving data files by indexing part of a moving data corresponding to an emotional event of a user who has captured the moving data, editing the moving data according to the results of the indexing, and playing back the edited moving data to provide a preview of the moving data.

Abstract: Representing a video by a frame of the video. Processing a frame by receiving a first frame of a video; dividing the received first frame into at least one region; and for each region, obtaining a pixel value from a each of a plurality of pixels of the region; and determining variability among the obtained pixel values. For a determined variability less than a predetermined threshold, processing at least one subsequent frame.

Abstract: A method and a video camera for recording an event initiated video sequence includes storing captured video frames in a video buffer, detecting a first event, and in response, initiating a video sequence recording session for recording of a video sequence in a non-volatile memory. Pre-event video frames and post-event video frames related to the first event are recorded, where the post-event time period starts at the detection of the first event. A first event delay time period is started in response to the expiration of the post-event time period. The video sequence recording session is closed if a delay period expires and no other event process is in progress.

Abstract: A formatter 2s13 is provided and, when a code sequence which matches a part (‘00’) of the head of a predetermined code sequence detected by a start code prefix detection unit 2s3, is detected, the start code prefix detection unit 2s3 detects the residual part (‘00’, ‘00’, ‘01’, ‘E0’) of the detected predetermined code sequence to detect a pattern of (‘00’, ‘00’, ‘00’), and the formatter 2s13 outputs one (‘00’). After the boundary of packets is defined, amongst data which are not transferred to a decoding buffer 2s9, data corresponding to code sequences other than the code sequence (‘00’, ‘00’, ‘01’, ‘E0’) indicating the packet boundary are output to the decoding buffer 2s9. Therefore, when separating a coded and multiplexed signal, control of an input buffer reading control circuit 2s4 is simplified, and thereby the hardware scale is reduced, resulting in an inexpensive apparatus for reproducing a digital code sequence.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling a playback experience for one or more videos is disclosed. Actions are specified in control documents for the one or more videos. The actions specify start time and duration for each action, optional introductory or confirmation messages or interface controls, optional gestures, and/or intents that are triggered by the actions. The various control documents are compiled into a single control document that includes a link to the one or more videos and the actions various. Multiple parties can control the playback experience with multiple control documents to provide a multi-layered control experience.