Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for identifying regions of interest in an image and identifying a barcode in a degraded image are provided. A region of interest is identified by pre-processing an image, generating a binary image based on a metric calculated on the pre-processed image, and analyzing regions of the image identified using connected components and other analysis. A barcode is identified by searching a population of barcodes, degrading ideal image intensity profiles of candidate barcodes, and comparing the degraded ideal image intensity profiles to an image intensity profile of the degraded image.

Abstract: Psychovisual image compression techniques are disclosed that compress pixel data by a fixed compression ratio with little or no perceptual loss of detail. In some implementations, a psychovisual compression process is selected among several psychovisual compression processes based on characteristics of the pixel data. Compression is achieved during encoding by discarding psychovisually unnecessary bits from the pixel data. The psychovisual compression processes can be implemented in hardware and operate on scan lines of pixels captured by the image sensor. The psychovisual compression techniques can be used with image compression techniques to compress further the pixel data.

Abstract: A system for synchronization whereby metadata repository maintains information regarding the history and status of data items in a data repository. Data items are associated with states and such states changes (e.g. increment) in response to changes to the data items. History statements associated with the same states describe the changes in a generic enough fashion that multiple data items may be associated with a single state (e.g. if multiple data items share a common history such as that they were all edited by a user on the same device). The history repository is synchronized with other history repositories so as to reflect the states of data items on multiple devices. The synchronized history stores are used during synchronization to identify and resolve data conflicts through ancestry of data item history.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for enforcing software licenses for resource libraries such as an application program interface (API), a toolkit, a framework, a runtime library, a dynamic link library (DLL), an applet (e.g., a Java or ActiveX applet), or any other reusable resource. The resource library can be used by authorized end user software programs. A “per-program” licensing scheme for a resource library can allow a resource library to be licensed only for use with particular software programs.

Abstract: A three-dimensional (“3D”) avatar can be automatically created that resembles the physical appearance of an individual captured in one or more input images or video frames. The avatar can be further customized by the individual in an editing environment and used in various applications, including but not limited to gaming, social networking and video conferencing.

Abstract: Techniques are described for using chunk stores as building blocks to construct larger chunk stores. A chunk store constructed of other chunk stores (a composite chunk store) may have any number and type of building block chunk stores. Further, the building block chunk stores within a composite chunk store may be arranged in any manner, resulting in any number of levels within the composite chunk store. The building block chunk stores expose a common interface, and apply the same hash function to content of chunks to produce the access key for the chunks. Because the access key is based on content, all copies of the same chunk will have the same access key, regardless of the chunk store that is managing the copy. In addition, no other chunk will have that same access key.

Abstract: A server device sends a list of account holders together with an invitation to bind to the server. A client device can decide to present the invitation to a user for decision only if the client device finds a match between the list and the user.

Abstract: Techniques are described for using chunk stores as building blocks to construct larger chunk stores. A chunk store constructed of other chunk stores (a composite chunk store) may have any number and type of building block chunk stores. Further, the building block chunk stores within a composite chunk store may be arranged in any manner, resulting in any number of levels within the composite chunk store. The building block chunk stores expose a common interface, and apply the same hash function to content of chunks to produce the access key for the chunks. Because the access key is based on content, all copies of the same chunk will have the same access key, regardless of the chunk store that is managing the copy. In addition, no other chunk will have that same access key.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for enforcing software licenses for resource libraries such as an application program interface (API), a toolkit, a framework, a runtime library, a dynamic link library (DLL), an applet (e.g., a Java or ActiveX applet), or any other reusable resource. The resource library can be used by authorized end user software programs. A “per-program” licensing scheme for a resource library can allow a resource library to be licensed only for use with particular software programs.

Abstract: Psychovisual image compression techniques are disclosed that compress pixel data by a fixed compression ratio with little or no perceptual loss of detail. In some implementations, a psychovisual compression process is selected among several psychovisual compression processes based on characteristics of the pixel data. Compression is achieved during encoding by discarding psychovisually unnecessary bits from the pixel data. The psychovisual compression processes can be implemented in hardware and operate on scan lines of pixels captured by the image sensor. The psychovisual compression techniques can be used with image compression techniques to compress further the pixel data.

Abstract: A system for synchronization whereby metadata repository maintains information regarding the history and status of data items in a data repository. Data items are associated with states and such states changes (e.g. increment) in response to changes to the data items. History statements associated with the same states describe the changes in a generic enough fashion that multiple data items may be associated with a single state (e.g. if multiple data items share a common history such as that they were all edited by a user on the same device). The history repository is synchronized with other history repositories so as to reflect the states of data items on multiple devices. The synchronized history stores are used during synchronization to identify and resolve data conflicts through ancestry of data item history.

Abstract: A system and method by which users via programs on one computer may seamlessly access files remotely stored on other computers that run a well known file access protocol. An operating system extension and an application level network access program are provided. The operating system extension receives file system requests for remote files from the operating system that were issued according to a well known application program interface. The operating system extension forwards the remote file system request to the network access program. The network access program reformats the request according to a well known application level network protocol extension and sends it over a network to a remote computer system.

Abstract: A server device sends a list of account holders together with an invitation to bind to the server. A client device can decide to present the invitation to a user for decision only if the client device finds a match between the list and the user.

Abstract: The elements of a file system contain information that provides language-specific views of the file system. An indicator in each element enables a quick determination to be made whether that element is localized. These indicators can take the form of a key-value pair in a properties list, a special file in the element, such as an empty file, or a special extension on the name of the file. If the element is localized, the localization information can be stored as part of the element, or in a central location for use with multiple different elements. A library of APIs associated with the file system performs methods to determine whether a requested file system element is localized, and to retrieve the localized name in that case.

Abstract: A server device sends a list of account holders together with an invitation to bind to the server. A client device can decide to present the invitation to a user for decision only if the client device finds a match between the list and the user.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for enforcing software licenses for resource libraries such as an application program interface (API), a toolkit, a framework, a runtime library, a dynamic link library (DLL), an applet (e.g., a Java or ActiveX applet), or any other reusable resource. The resource library can be used by authorized end user software programs. A “per-program” licensing scheme for a resource library can allow a resource library to be licensed only for use with particular software programs.

Abstract: A three-dimensional (“3D”) avatar can be automatically created that resembles the physical appearance of an individual captured in one or more input images or video frames. The avatar can be further customized by the individual in an editing environment and used in various applications, including but not limited to gaming, social networking and video conferencing.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a method and apparatus for enforcing software licenses for resource libraries such as an application program interface (API), a toolkit, a framework, a runtime library, a dynamic link library (DLL), an applet (e.g. a Java or ActiveX applet), or any other reusable resource. The present invention allows the resource library to be selectively used only by authorized end user software programs. The present invention can be used to enforce a “per-program” licensing scheme for a resource library whereby the resource library is licensed only for use with particular software programs. In one embodiment, a license text string and a corresponding license key are embedded in a program that has been licensed to use a resource library. The license text string and the license key are supplied, for example, by a resource library vendor to a program developer who wants to use the resource library with an end user program being developed.

Abstract: A server device sends a list of account holders together with an invitation to bind to the server. A client device can decide to present the invitation to a user for decision only if the client device finds a match between the list and the user.

Abstract: A server device sends a list of account holders together with an invitation to bind to the server. A client device can decide to present the invitation to a user for decision only if the client device finds a match between the list and the user.