Abstract: Some embodiments provide a computer program for performing a color matching operation. The computer program identifies first and second images. Each image includes several pixels. Each pixel includes a luma component value. Based on analysis of the luma component values of the pixels of the first and second images, the computer program determines a set of transforms to modify pixel values of the first image so that the pixel values of the first image are similar to pixel values of the second image. The computer program applies the set of transforms to the first image such that the pixel values of the first image are similar to the pixel values of the second image.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a computer program for matching colors of a first image to colors of a second image. The computer program identifies a set of transforms for converting the first image to a device-independent color space. The computer program modifies the set of transforms to segment colors of the first image into a set of segmented colors. The computer program applies the modified set of transforms to pixel values of the first image in order to segment the pixels of the first image into the set of segmented colors. The computer program applies the modified set of transforms to pixel values of the second image in order to segment the pixels of the second image into the set of segmented colors. The computer program matches each segmented color in the set of segmented colors in the first image to the segmented color in the second image.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide a non-linear image-enhancement method to enhance an image that includes a number of picture elements. The non-linear enhancement method adjusts the brightness value of each pixel in the image and adjusts at least one chromatic value of each pixel in the image based on the adjustment to the brightness value of that pixel.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a method for detecting and/or identifying a set of faces in a video frame and performing a set of image processing operations based on locations of the set of faces. In particular, the method identifies a set of respective locations of the set of faces in the video frame and applies one or more image processing operations based on the locations of the set of faces found in the video frame. The image processing operations include color correction operations, non-color correction operations, and image processing operations that modify areas inside or outside of the detected and/or identified faces. Additionally, some embodiments provide a graphical user interface for automatically applying image processing operations to an area of a video frame isolated by an ellipse-shaped mask. Furthermore, some embodiments provide a system for automatically applying image processing operations to an area of a video frame isolated by an ellipse-shaped mask.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a computer program that provides a graphical user interface (GUI) for controlling an application. The GUI includes a contiguous two-dimensional sliding region for defining several values. The GUI also includes several sliders for moving within the sliding region. Each slider selects one or more values from the several values based on a position of the slider within the sliding region. The selected values are parameters for controlling one or more operations of the application.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a method for editing an image that includes several pixels having pixel values in a color space. The method identifies (i) a shape in a plane of two dimensions of the color space and (ii) a range in a third dimension of the color space over which the first shape is propagated to form a first volume in the color space. Pixels whose pixel values are in the first volume of the color space are fully selected. The method displays a deformable curve along the third dimension that represents the manner in which the shape is propagated over the range of the color space.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a method that provides an image display area that displays an image having a set of pixels that have pixel values in a color space. The method provides a first GUI item that activates a first sampling tool for selecting a first section of the image. The first section includes a first set of pixels for defining a first portion of the color space enclosing the pixel values of the first set. An image pixel whose pixel values are in the first portion is fully selected. The method provides a second GUI item that activates a second sampling tool for selecting a second section of the image displayed in the image display area. The second section includes a second set of pixels for defining a second portion of the color space enclosing the first portion and excluding the pixel values of the first set of pixels.

Abstract: Ready Check Systems is an improved communication system comprising a central computer system for initiating, integrating, and administering a remote network, a master communication unit operated remotely by a team leader, and a plurality of auxiliary communication devices preferably operated remotely by team members, wherein alert signals may be efficiently and effectively transmitted between points of interface via the remote network serving to provide a real-time safety communications system optimally suited in the event of emergency situations.

Abstract: A method of defining a dynamically adjustable user interface (“UI”) of a device is described. The method defines multiple UI elements for the UI, where each UI element includes multiple pixels. The method defines a display adjustment tool for receiving a single display adjustment parameter and in response adjusting the appearance of the UI by differentiating display adjustments to a first set of saturated pixels from the display adjustments to a second set of non-saturated pixels.

Abstract: A breath actuated metered dose inhaler device for use wit an aerosol valve having a transient metering chamber.

Abstract: A color calibration system includes a visual display terminal (VDT), a color calibration sensor optically coupled to the VDT, and a computer processing unit (CPU) electrically coupled to the VDT and the color calibration sensor. The VDT has a display screen and a plurality of color channels, each color channel having an intensity input, a bias input, and a gain input. The VDT produces an image on the display screen responsive to the intensity input. The color calibration sensor provides values responsive to the chromaticity and luminance of a test patch portion of the image on the display screen. The CPU performs calibration of the VDT including setting the bias of each color channel to reduce the difference between a target black point and the test patch with the intensity input at a minimum value for each color channel.

Abstract: A method for modifying an audio visual recording originally produced with an original audio track of an original speaker, using a second audio dub track of a second speaker, comprising analyzing the original audio track to convert it into a continuous time coded facial and acoustic symbol stream to identify corresponding visual facial motions of the original speaker to create continuous data sets of facial motion corresponding to speech utterance states and transformations, storing these continuous data sets in a database, analyzing the second audio dub track to convert it to a continuous tune coded facial and acoustic symbol stream, using the second audio dub track's continuous time coded facial and acoustic symbol stream to animate the original speaker's face, synchronized to the second audio dub track to create natural continuous facial speech expression by the original speaker of the second dub audio track.

Abstract: A color calibration system includes a visual display terminal (VDT), a color calibration sensor optically coupled to the VDT, and a computer processing unit (CPU) electrically coupled to the VDT and the color calibration sensor. The VDT has a display screen and a plurality of color channels, each color channel having an intensity input, a bias input, and a gain input. The VDT produces an image on the display screen responsive to the intensity input. The color calibration sensor provides values responsive to the chromaticity and luminance of a test patch portion of the image on the display screen. The CPU performs calibration of the VDT including setting the bias of each color channel to reduce the difference between a target black point and the test patch with the intensity input at a minimum value for each color channel.

Abstract: This invention comprises analyzing a speaker's speech in an audio visual recording to convert it into triphones and/or phonemes and then using a time coded phoneme stream to identify corresponding visual facial motions, to create single frame snapshots or multi-frame clips of facial motion corresponding to speech phoneme utterance states and transformations, which are stored in a database, and which are subsequently used to animate the original speaker's face, synchronized to a new voice track that has been converted into a time-coded, image frame-indexed phoneme stream.