Abstract: A method for comparing a plurality of photographers by assessing the aesthetic quality of a set of digital images captured by each photographer comprising: providing a set of digital images captured by each of a plurality of photographers; using a processor to determine an aesthetic quality parameter for each digital image in each of the sets of digital images, wherein the aesthetic quality parameter is an estimate for the aesthetic quality of the digital image; determining an aesthetic quality distribution for each photographer responsive to the aesthetic quality parameters computed for each of the digital images in the photographer's set of digital images; and providing a comparison between the aesthetic quality distributions of the photographers.

Abstract: A method of estimating the gender or approximate age of a photographer, includes: determining a steadiness signal related to movement of a camera held by a photographer while capturing an image or video, wherein the steadiness signal identifies the motion of the camera in at least two dimensions as a function of time. Then using a processor for determining a demographic classification for the photographer based on an analysis of the steadiness signal, wherein the demographic classification includes the approximate age or the gender of the photographer.

Abstract: A method of identifying a photographer includes determining a steadiness signal related to movement of a camera held by a first photographer while capturing an image or video, wherein the steadiness signal identifies the motion of the camera in at least two dimensions as a function of time and storing a set of steadiness signals where each steadiness signal has an associated known photographer. The method further includes using a processor to compare the steadiness signal to the set of steadiness signals to produce a set of similarity scores between the first photographer and each of the known photographers; and using the set of similarity scores to identify the photographer that has captured the image or video.

Abstract: A method of identifying the activity of a camera used for capturing an image or video, such activity not being related to the activity of subjects of the scene being captured includes determining a steadiness signal related to movement of the camera while capturing an image or video, wherein the steadiness signal identifies the motion of the camera in at least two dimensions as a function of time; and using a processor for determining a camera activity classification for the camera based on an analysis of the steadiness signal, wherein the camera activity classification includes categories of the camera being stationary, the camera being located in a moving vehicle, the camera being held by hand, or the camera being held by a jogging or walking user.

Abstract: An image capture device includes a lens arrangement having a first lens associated with a first digital image sensor and a second lens associated with a second digital image sensor; the first digital image sensor having photosites of a first predetermined color pattern for producing a first digital image; the second digital image sensor having photosites of a different second predetermined color pattern for producing a second digital image. The image capture device also includes a device for causing the lens arrangement to capture a first digital image from the first digital image sensor and a second digital image from the second digital image sensor at substantially the same time; a processor aligning the first and second digital images; and the processor using values of the second image based on the alignment between the first and second images operates on the first digital image to produce the enhanced digital image.

Abstract: A method for enhancing a digital image of a scene, includes acquiring a first digital image of the scene having pixel values corresponding to a first predetermined color pattern and a second digital image of the scene having pixel values corresponding to a second different predetermined color pattern, wherein the first and second digital images were captured at substantially the same time. The method further includes using a processor to align the first and second digital images; and using pixel values of the second image based on the alignment between the first and second images to operate on the first digital image to produce the enhanced digital image having corrected color values.

Abstract: A method of grouping images captured in a common location, including receiving a collection of images; classifying the images into a set of events, where each image in the collection belongs to no more than one event; analyzing background region(s) of images from each event to determine one or more features that represent the event; and comparing features from at least two events to determine which events occurred in a common location.

Abstract: A method for producing a slide show video from a collection of hardcopy media, the method includes digitizing the media and detecting handwritten information and estimating the age of the media; determining an order of presentation for the slide show video based on the detected handwritten information and estimated ages; and producing a slide show video from the hardcopy media using the determined order of presentation.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for selecting displays for displaying content, including providing content to show in a particular environment containing a set of displays; providing to a processor an associated location of each display in the environment; and providing a model of human motion in the environment. The method further includes using the processor to select a subset of displays for showing the content based on the locations of the displays and the model of human motion; and showing the content on the selected subset of displays.

Abstract: A method for detecting, scaling, and positioning handwritten information from hardcopy media, the method includes the steps of digitizing the media and detecting handwritten information; analyzing the media to determine an available location in the digitized image for placement; determining the orientation of the media and handwritten information; and orienting, scaling, and positioning the detected handwritten information. The method further includes storing or using the digitized image side with the handwritten information.

Abstract: A method for producing a distance map of scene distance values for a digital image captured by a digital camera includes capturing a first digital image of a scene under a first illumination condition, wherein the first digital image includes a plurality of pixels and the scene includes a plurality of scene objects located at different distances from the digital camera, capturing a second digital image of the scene under a second illumination condition that is different from the first illumination condition, and using the first and second digital images to produce a distance map having a plurality of scene distance values, wherein each scene distance value relates to the distance between the digital camera and the corresponding scene object.

Abstract: A method of estimating the gender or approximate age of a photographer, includes: determining a steadiness signal related to movement of a camera held by a photographer while capturing an image or video, wherein the steadiness signal identifies the motion of the camera in at least two dimensions as a function of time. Then using a processor for determining a demographic classification for the photographer based on an analysis of the steadiness signal, wherein the demographic classification includes the approximate age or the gender of the photographer.

Abstract: A method of identifying a photographer includes determining a steadiness signal related to movement of a camera held by a first photographer while capturing an image or video, wherein the steadiness signal identifies the motion of the camera in at least two dimensions as a function of time and storing a set of steadiness signals where each steadiness signal has an associated known photographer. The method further includes using a processor to compare the steadiness signal to the set of steadiness signals to produce a set of similarity scores between the first photographer and each of the known photographers; and using the set of similarity scores to identify the photographer that has captured the image or video.

Abstract: A method of identifying the activity of a camera used for capturing an image or video, such activity not being related to the activity of subjects of the scene being captured includes determining a steadiness signal related to movement of the camera while capturing an image or video, wherein the steadiness signal identifies the motion of the camera in at least two dimensions as a function of time; and using a processor for determining a camera activity classification for the camera based on an analysis of the steadiness signal, wherein the camera activity classification includes categories of the camera being stationary, the camera being located in a moving vehicle, the camera being held by hand, or the camera being held by a jogging or walking user.

Abstract: A method of identifying images containing a unique object found in at least two separate image collections of different users comprising identifying the unique object and providing features for the unique object; at least one user identifying at least two separate image collections produced by separate users that potentially have images of the unique object; and using the features to search the at least two separate collections to identify images that contain the unique object.

Abstract: A method of determining the image capture date of scanned hardcopy medium, includes scanning hardcopy medium that includes at least one index print(s) to produce scanned digital images; detecting one or more index prints from among the scanned digital images; identifying thumbnail images contained within the one or more index prints; determining an image capture date for each index print and associating the image capture date with the thumbnail image(s) contained within that index print; matching a scanned digital image to a thumbnail image from the one or more index prints; associating the date from the thumbnail image to the scanned digital image that matches the thumbnail image; and storing the date in association with the scanned digital image that matches the thumbnail image.

Abstract: Pre-image-acquisition information is obtained by a digital camera and transmitted to a system external to the digital camera. The system is configured to provide image-acquisition settings to the digital camera. In this regard, the digital camera receives the image-acquisition settings from the external system and performs an image-acquisition sequence based at least upon the received image-acquisition settings. Accordingly, the determination of image-acquisition settings can be performed remotely from the digital camera, where data-processing resources can greatly exceed those within the digital camera.

Abstract: A method of identifying images containing a unique object found in at least two separate image collections of different users comprising identifying the unique object and providing features for the unique object; at least one user identifying at least two separate image collections produced by separate users that potentially have images of the unique object; and using the features to search the at least two separate collections to identify images that contain the unique object.

Abstract: A method for analyzing an image to determine if it is an anaglyph image is disclosed. The method includes receiving a digital image including a plurality of digital image channels each containing multiple pixels; using a processor to compute a feature vector from pixel values of the digital image channels wherein the feature vector includes information that would indicate whether the image is an anaglyph or a non-anaglyph image; classifying the digital image as either an anaglyph or as a non-anaglyph based on the feature vector; and storing the classification of the digital image.

Abstract: A display system for displaying images to one or more people is disclosed having a display that receives and presents at least one image to a viewing region, wherein the images include 2D or 3D images and an image capture device associated with the display for capturing images of the viewing regions. The display further includes an image analyzer for detecting people in the viewing regions including detecting a category of eyewear that is worn by at least one person; and the image analyzer adjusting at least one image based on the detected people and the detected category of eyewear that is worn by at least one person.