Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for expanding upon the single-distance-based background denotation to seamlessly replace unwanted image information in a captured image derived from an imaging application so as to account for a selected object's spatial orientation to maintain an image of the selected object in the captured image.

Abstract: A method is provided for identifying and verifying a person using hand biometrics with an anti-spoofing measure. The method comprises acquiring (51) a first image (10) of a hand in a first configuration, acquiring (52) a second image (30, 40) of the hand in one of the first and a second configuration for comparison with the first image (10), determining (52) whether a person can be identified from at least one of the first image (10) and the second image (30, 40), and determining (55) from a comparison of the second image (30, 40) with the first image (10) whether the hand is a counterfeit.

Abstract: A system and method for reducing distance-based distortion in a camera image of an object, where the distanced-based distortion is due to differences in distance from the camera to different parts of the object. In one approach, the distortion is reduced by estimating distances to different parts of the object and then generating a reprojected image of the object dependent upon the estimated distances and upon a virtual viewpoint that is more distant than the camera from the object. In a further approach, the image is warped such that points in the image match corresponding points in one or more stored templates. In a still further approach, if excessive distortion is present in the image, the camera zoom is increased and a magnified image is displayed, prompting a person to move farther from the camera thereby reducing the distortion.

Abstract: A method of providing three dimensional (3D) information is disclosed in which a master recruits a local slave to provide contemporaneous images. The images are collected and 3D information extracted therefrom. The 3D information or various images may be transmitted to a remote device and is employed to provide a substitute background that replaces the background of the original image. Either the new image is displayed on one or both devices. The images can be collected and the 3D information extracted at either of the master or slave or at a separate device. To recruit the slave, the master broadcasts a query to all local devices, determines the available devices and their characteristics, automatically or manually selects a particular device, requests authorization from the selected device, and pairs with the selected device when authorization is received. Devices of the same or different types may be paired.

Abstract: A system and method for reducing distance-based distortion in a camera image of an object, where the distanced-based distortion is due to differences in distance from the camera to different parts of the object. In one approach, the distortion is reduced by estimating distances to different parts of the object and then generating a reprojected image of the object dependent upon the estimated distances and upon a virtual viewpoint that is more distant than the camera from the object. In a further approach, the image is warped such that points in the image match corresponding points in one or more stored templates. In a still further approach, if excessive distortion is present in the image, the camera zoom is increased and a magnified image is displayed, prompting a person to move farther from the camera thereby reducing the distortion.

Abstract: A system and method for reducing distance-based distortion in a camera image of an object, where the distanced-based distortion is due to differences in distance from the camera to different parts of the object. In one approach, the distortion is reduced by estimating distances to different parts of the object and then generating a reprojected image of the object dependent upon the estimated distances and upon a virtual viewpoint that is more distant than the camera from the object. In a further approach, the image is warped such that points in the image match corresponding points in one or more stored templates. In a still further approach, if excessive distortion is present in the image, the camera zoom is increased and a magnified image is displayed, prompting a person to move farther from the camera thereby reducing the distortion.

Abstract: A device and method of modifying an image containing a foreground and an original or substitute background are disclosed. Boundary pixels contain only the original background or the original background and the foreground. The original background is replaced by a predetermined or random color or by a color corresponding to the substitute background. The entire boundary pixel can be replaced by the replacement color. Alternatively, the ratio of the foreground to the original background can be estimated from the neighboring pixels and only the original background replaced by the replacement color. Once some or all of the boundary pixels are replaced, the image can be transmitted or otherwise transferred to other devices or viewers. Some or all of the images in a video can be modified.

Abstract: There is disclosed a communication device for processing a digital image to select recipients for the digital image or a modified digital image. The communication device comprises an input device, a processor, and a transmitter. The input device obtains the digital image, and receives an indication based on a user input that pertains to a region on the digital image. The processor processes the indicated region of the digital image, and determines an object corresponding to one or more recipients of the digital image. The transmitter transmits a message that includes the digital image or a modified digital image to the recipient corresponding to the determined object.

Abstract: A security system is provided that uses two or more object-locating systems to determine whether a sensed object is a household member or an intruder. One of the object-locating systems locates “cooperative” objects, which are household members that wear or carry a device that communicates with the system to allow the system to determine the locations of the household members. Another of the object-locating systems locates non-cooperative objects, such as intruders, and typically also locates the cooperative objects. When an object is located by the second object-locating system, the security system of the invention determines whether the object location corresponds to a location of a cooperative object as determined by the first object-locating system. If so, the security system decides that the object is a household member and does not trigger the alarm. If not, the security system decides that the object is an intruder and may trigger the alarm.

Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for expanding upon the single-distance-based background denotation to seamlessly replace unwanted image information in a captured image derived from an imaging application so as to account for a selected object's spatial orientation to maintain an image of the selected object in the captured image.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for manipulating displayed content using first and second types of human-machine interface in combination are disclosed. Machine operations are divided into two sets and the first type of user interface controls a first set and a second set of operations, while the second type of user interface controls only the second set. In a preferred method embodiment, one hand controls the first set via a mouse interface and the other hand controls the second set via a stereo camera based hand gesture recognition interface. In a preferred apparatus embodiment, the apparatus has a manipulable input device capable of interacting with displayed content and visualization of the displayed content. Additionally, the apparatus has a gesture based input device capable of interacting only with the visualization of the displayed content.

Abstract: The processing of a stereoscopic image using first and second images to facilitate computing a corresponding depth/disparity image can be facilitated by providing (101) the first and second images and then computing (103) a disparity value of each pixel in the second image by, at least in part, determining a likelihood of occlusion for at least some pixels comprising the second image using, at least in part, predicted occlusion information as corresponds to information contained in the first image. By one approach, this predicted occlusion information can be provided, at least in part, by processing (102) the first image, at least in part, by determining occlusion value information for at least some pixels as comprise the first image and then using the occlusion value information for the first image to determine a corresponding disparity information map for the first image.

Abstract: A security system is provided that uses two or more object-locating systems to determine whether a sensed object is a household member or an intruder. One of the object-locating systems locates “cooperative” objects, which are household members that wear or carry a device that communicates with the system to allow the system to determine the locations of the household members. Another of the object-locating systems locates non-cooperative objects, such as intruders, and typically also locates the cooperative objects. When an object is located by the second object-locating system, the security system of the invention determines whether the object location corresponds to a location of a cooperative object as determined by the first object-locating system. If so, the security system decides that the object is a household member and does not trigger the alarm. If not, the security system decides that the object is an intruder and may trigger the alarm.

Abstract: A method is provided for identifying and verifying a person using hand biometrics with an anti-spoofing measure. The method comprises acquiring (51) a first image (10) of a hand in a first configuration, acquiring (52) a second image (30, 40) of the hand in one of the first and a second configuration for comparison with the first image (10), determining (52) whether a person can be identified from at least one of the first image (10) and the second image (30, 40), and determining (55) from a comparison of the second image (30, 40) with the first image (10) whether the hand is a counterfeit.