Abstract: Artifacts are detected in a cyclopean virtual image generated from stereo images. A disparity map is generated from the stereo images. Individual projected images are determined based on the disparity map and the corresponding stereo images. A difference map is computed between the individual projected images to indicate the artifacts. A source patch in the virtual image is defined relative to an artifact. A replacement target patch is generated using a split-patch search technique as a composite of a background exemplar patch and a foreground exemplar patch. Each exemplar patch may be identified from an image patch selected from at least one of the stereo images. The source patch of the virtual image is replaced by the replacement target patch to correct the detected artifact.

Abstract: Artifacts are detected in a cyclopean virtual image generated from stereo images. A disparity map is generated from the stereo images. Individual projected images are determined based on the disparity map and the corresponding stereo images. A difference map is computed between the individual projected images to indicate the artifacts. A source patch in the virtual image is defined relative to an artifact. A replacement target patch is generated using a split-patch search technique as a composite of a background exemplar patch and a foreground exemplar patch. Each exemplar patch may be identified from an image patch selected from at least one of the stereo images. The source patch of the virtual image is replaced by the replacement target patch to correct the detected artifact.

Abstract: Systems and methods for object or pattern detection that use a nonlinear support vector (SV) machine are described. In the illustrated and described embodiment, objects or patterns comprising faces are detected. The decision surface is approximated in terms of a reduced set of expansion vectors. In order to determine the presence of a face, the kernelized inner product of the expansion vectors with the input pattern are sequentially evaluated and summed, such that if at any point the pattern can be rejected as not comprising a face, no more expansion vectors are used. The sequential application of the expansion vectors produces a substantial saving in computational time.

Abstract: An example-based filling system identifies appropriate filling material to replace a destination region in an image and fills the destination region using this material, thereby alleviating or minimizing the amount of manual editing required to fill a destination region in image. Tiles of image data are borrowed from the proximity of the destination region or some other source to generate new image data to fill in the region. Destination regions may be designated by user input (e.g., selection of an image region by a user) or by other means (e.g., specification of a color or feature to be replaced). In addition, the order in which the destination region is filled by example tiles may be configured to emphasize the continuity of linear structures and composite textures using a type of isophote-driven image-sampling process.

Abstract: Systems and methods for object or pattern detection that use a nonlinear support vector (SV) machine are described. In the illustrated and described embodiment, objects or patterns comprising faces are detected. The decision surface is approximated in terms of a reduced set of expansion vectors. In order to determine the presence of a face, the kernelized inner product of the expansion vectors with the input pattern are sequentially evaluated and summed, such that if at any point the pattern can be rejected as not comprising a face, no more expansion vectors are used. The sequential application of the expansion vectors produces a substantial saving in computational time.

Abstract: A multi-layer graph for dense stereo dynamic programming can improve synthesis of cyclopean virtual images by distinguishing between stereo disparities caused by occlusion and disparities caused by non-fronto-parallel surfaces. This distinction can be leveraged to reduce image artifacts, such as “halos”. Distinguishing at least between these two types of disparities allows improved matching of left and right pixel data, which increases the amount of correct pixel information used in constructing the cyclopean virtual image and minimizes occlusion artifacts.

Abstract: A multi-layer graph for dense stereo dynamic progranmmiing can improve synthesis of cyclopean virtual images by distinguishing between stereo disparities causes by occlusion and disparities caused by non-fronto-parallel surfaces. In addition, cyclopean virtual image processing may be combined with simulation of three-dimensional translation of a virtual camera to assist in aligning the user's gaze with the virtual camera. Such translation may include without limitation one or more of the following: horizontal (e.g., left and right) translation of the virtual camera, vertical translation (e.g., up and down) of the virtual camera, and axial translation (e.g., toward the subject and away from the subject) of the virtual camera.

Abstract: A system is provided for selecting a foreground region of an image, given a set of pixels defining the boundary of the foreground region of the image. The system includes a component to determine a foreground value (F) and opacity value (?) for each pixel on the set wherein ? is determined via a subpixel edge-offset to facilitate a separation the foreground region from background portions of the image. The foreground value (F) and opacity value (?) are then employed to smoothly mix the foreground region of the image with a subsequent image background region.

Abstract: A blended result image is computed using guided interpolation to alter image data within a destination domain. The destination domain may be altered based on a guided interpolator that is either dependent or not dependent upon a source image. When blending a source region into a destination region of an image, guided interpolation eliminates or minimizes apparent seams between the inserted region and the rest of the image. A variety of interpolation guides may be used to yield different effects in the blended results image. Such interpolation guides may include without limitation an identity guide, a smooth guide, a filtering guide, a transparent guide, a masking guide, and a weighted average combination of various guides.

Abstract: A system is provided for selecting a foreground region of an image, given a set of pixels defining the boundary of the foreground region of the image. The system includes a component to determine a foreground value (F) and opacity value (a) for each pixel on the set wherein a is determined via a subpixel edge-offset to facilitate a separation the foreground region from background portions of the image. The foreground value (F) and opacity value (a) are then employed to smoothly mix the foreground region of the image with a subsequent image background region.

Abstract: A low spatial frequency video sequence is enhanced to provide a higher spatial frequency video sequence using a super-resolution process. Patches of higher frequency image data are inferred from the images of the lower frequency video sequence and a dictionary containing a training set of higher resolution image data. An inference module selects result patches from the training set to preserve spatial consistency within each image frame and to preserve temporal consistency, between image frames of the resulting video sequence. Temporal consistency can be preserved for static portions and/or moving portions of each frame.

Abstract: A cyclopean virtual imaging system provides a view from a virtual camera placed symmetrically or midway between the calibrated cameras of a physical stereo pair. Such a system may be used in video conferencing applications as well as other stereo image contexts. By combining the left and right stereo images captured by the stereo pair, a virtual image is produced such that the subject appears to be looking into a cyclopean virtual camera, rather than to the left or right of a single physical camera. The cyclopean virtual image is generated by a forward-backward algorithm using a probabilistic distribution of possible disparity families.

Abstract: Systems and methods for object or pattern detection that use a nonlinear support vector (SV) machine are described. In the illustrated and described embodiment, objects or patterns comprising faces are detected. The decision surface is approximated in terms of a reduced set of expansion vectors. In order to determine the presence of a face, the kernelized inner product of the expansion vectors with the input pattern are sequentially evaluated and summed, such that if at any point the pattern can be rejected as not comprising a face, no more expansion vectors are used. The sequential application of the expansion vectors produces a substantial saving in computational time.

Abstract: Systems and methods for object or pattern detection that use a nonlinear support vector (SV) machine are described. In the illustrated and described embodiment, objects or patterns comprising faces are detected. The decision surface is approximated in terms of a reduced set of expansion vectors. In order to determine the presence of a face, the kernelized inner product of the expansion vectors with the input pattern are sequentially evaluated and summed, such that if at any point the pattern can be rejected as not comprising a face, no more expansion vectors are used. The sequential application of the expansion vectors produces a substantial saving in computational time.

Abstract: An example-based filling system identifies appropriate filling material to replace a destination region in an image and fills the destination region using this material, thereby alleviating or minimizing the amount of manual editing required to fill a destination region in image. Tiles of image data are borrowed from the proximity of the destination region or some other source to generate new image data to fill in the region. Destination regions may be designated by user input (e.g., selection of an image region by a user) or by other means (e.g., specification of a color or feature to be replaced).

Abstract: An example-based filling system identifies appropriate filling material to replace a destination region in an image and fills the destination region using this material, thereby alleviating or minimizing the amount of manual editing required to fill a destination region in image. Tiles of image data are borrowed from the proximity of the destination region or some other source to generate new image data to fill in the region. Destination regions may be designated by user input (e.g., selection of an image region by a user) or by other means (e.g., specification of a color or feature to be replaced). In addition, the order in which the destination region is filled by example tiles may be configured to emphasize the continuity of linear structures and composite textures using a type of isophote-driven image-sampling process.

Abstract: A blended result image is computed using guided interpolation to alter image data within a destination domain. The destination domain may be altered based on a guided interpolator that is either dependent or not dependent upon a source image. When blending a source region into a destination region of an image, guided interpolation eliminates or minimizes apparent seams between the inserted region and the rest of the image. A variety of interpolation guides may be used to yield different effects in the blended results image. Such interpolation guides may include without limitation an identity guide, a smooth guide, a filtering guide, a transparent guide, a masking guide, and a weighted average combination of various guides.

Abstract: An electronic stylus system includes an electronic stylus and base receiving unit. The electronic stylus includes a first ultrasonic transmitter, a second ultrasonic transmitter, an electromagnetic transmitter, and a writing tip. The base receiver unit includes a first ultrasonic receiver, a second ultrasonic receiver, and an electromagnetic receiver. The ultrasonic receivers of the base unit are operable to receive signals transmitted by the ultrasonic transmitters of the electronic stylus. Similarly, the electromagnetic receiver of the base unit is operable to receive signals transmitted by the electromagnetic transmitter of the stylus. The location of the tip of the electronic stylus relative to a given reference point is determined using the locations of two ultrasonic transmitters relative to the two ultrasonic receivers.

Abstract: A system is provided for selecting a foreground region of an image, given a set of pixels defining the boundary of the foreground region of the image. The system includes a component to determine a foreground value (F) and opacity value (&agr;) for each pixel on the set wherein a is determined via a subpixel edge-offset to facilitate a separation the foreground region from background portions of the image. The foreground value (F) and opacity value (&agr;) are then employed to smoothly mix the foreground region of the image with a subsequent image background region.

Abstract: A system is provided for selecting a foreground region of an image, given a set of pixels defining the boundary of the foreground region of the image. The system includes a component to dilate the pixel set and a component to determine a foreground value (F) and to determine an opacity value (a) based on estimated foreground and background values for each pixel of the dilated set to facilitate a separation of the region from background portions of the image.