Abstract: A method for producing an assured image acquires image data and segments the image data into one or more spatial regions. One or more quality measures is calculated from the image data that is within the one or more spatial regions. Secure assurance data is produced that is representative of the one or more quality measures and the image data. The secure assurance data is associated with the image data to produce the assured image.

Abstract: A method for calculating a skew angle of an original image, executed at least in part on a computer system stores image data for the original image in an electronic memory, then forms an energy-normalized image according to the relative contrast amplitude of image features over each of a plurality of local image regions within the stored image data. A partitioned image is formed by partitioning the energy-normalized image into a number of sub-regions. A summed region is formed as a combination of image pixel data from the sub-regions. A Fourier magnitude spectrum is obtained by performing a Fourier transform on the summed region. The skew angle is calculated according to the peak value of a radial line integration function that is formed by integrating the Fourier magnitude spectrum along each of a plurality of lines of constant radial angles. An output signal indicates the calculated skew angle.

Abstract: A method for assessing the image quality of image data acquires image data, segments the image data into at least one spatial region, obtains a plurality of image quality measures for the at least one spatial region, and forms at least one quality vector that has two or more quality measures for the at least one spatial region. The at least one quality vector is classified into one of a plurality of predefined quality classes.

Abstract: A method of extracting a voice command produced in an enclosed or partially enclosed environment, includes providing an impulse response signal of the enclosed or partially enclosed environment; recording the voice command and ambient sounds; and using the impulse response signal to extract the recorded voice command.

Abstract: An integrated image capture apparatus for use in a two-way communication with a remote display, includes an image capture device for capturing still or video images including a system for sending the captured still or video images to the remote display and for receiving and displaying images from a remote location, a face recognition system provided in the integrated image capture device for detecting faces in the captured image; and an indicator responsive to face detection for indicating that a face has been captured by the image capture device.

Abstract: A method for processing scanned image data, executed at least in part by a computer system, obtains scanned image data, obtains a predetermined image quality profile that has one or more image quality requirement values, and generates processed image data by applying one or more image processing operations to the image data in accordance with a processing script. The method calculates image quality metrics from the processed image data and compares the calculated image quality metrics to the one or more image quality requirement values from the predetermined quality profile. Results of the image quality comparison are displayed.

Abstract: A method for calculating a skew angle of an original image, executed at least in part on a computer system stores image data for the original image in an electronic memory, then forms an energy-normalized image according to the relative contrast amplitude of image features over each of a plurality of local image regions within the stored image data. A partitioned image is formed by partitioning the energy-normalized image into a number of sub-regions. A summed region is formed as a combination of image pixel data from the sub-regions. A Fourier magnitude spectrum is obtained by performing a Fourier transform on the summed region. The skew angle is calculated according to the peak value of a radial line integration function that is formed by integrating the Fourier magnitude spectrum along each of a plurality of lines of constant radial angles. An output signal indicates the calculated skew angle.

Abstract: A method for producing an assured image acquires image data and segments the image data into one or more spatial regions. One or more quality measures is calculated from the image data that is within the one or more spatial regions. Secure assurance data is produced that is representative of the one or more quality measures and the image data. The secure assurance data is associated with the image data to produce the assured image.

Abstract: A method for producing an assured image from image data that is transferred from a first entity to a second entity acquires image data, transfers the acquired image data from the first entity to the second entity, forms secure assurance data according to image quality measurements obtained from the acquired image data, and forms an assured image that includes the acquired image data and the secure assurance data. At least one image quality message is generated that indicates the transfer of the acquired image data from the first entity to the second entity and is representative of the image quality measurements. The at least one image quality message is presented to at least one of the first entity and the second entity.

Abstract: A method for assessing the image quality of image data acquires image data, segments the image data into at least one spatial region, obtains a plurality of image quality measures for the at least one spatial region, and forms at least one quality vector that has two or more quality measures for the at least one spatial region. The at least one quality vector is classified into one of a plurality of predefined quality classes.

Abstract: A method of recording audio metadata during image capture: includes providing an image capture device for capturing still or video digitized images of a scene and for recording audio signals; recording the audio signals continuously in a buffer while the device is in power on mode; and initiating the capture of a still image or of a video image by the image capture device, and storing as metadata, audio signals produced for a time prior to, during, and after the termination of the capture of the still or video images.

Abstract: A method of extracting a voice command produced in an enclosed or partially enclosed environment, includes providing an impulse response signal of the enclosed or partially enclosed environment; recording the voice command and ambient sounds; and using the impulse response signal to extract the recorded voice command.

Abstract: An integrated image capture apparatus for use in a two-way communication with a remote display, includes an image capture device for capturing still or video images including a system for sending the captured still or video images to the remote display and for receiving and displaying images from a remote location, a face recognition system provided in the integrated image capture device for detecting faces in the captured image; and an indicator responsive to face detection for indicating that a face has been captured by the image capture device.

Abstract: A method and system is disclosed for printing an authenticatable image having an embedded image into a receiver having a discernible physical characteristic, such that the printed image can be used to authenticate the receiver which includes scanning the receiver to produce information related to the discernible physical characteristic of the receiver, and providing a carrier which includes information related to the scanned receiver discernible physical characteristic. The method also includes combining the carrier with an input image to form the authenticatable image having the embedded image, and printing the authenticatable image having the embedded image onto the receiver.

Abstract: A method for authenticating a printed or scanned embedded image is disclosed that utilizes a prediction of the effect of a print or scanning process on the embedded message based upon characteristics of the printer or scanner. These values are measured directly at the time of authentication and compared to the predicted. Based on the comparison a decision is made regarding authenticity.

Abstract: A media that is used for making an authenticable original document and a method for making the document. The media has an area on which a custom three dimensional physical indicia identifier can be formed thereon by a user. The area of the media is made of a material such that when the three dimensional physical indicia is digitally scanned a unique digital file is produced.

Abstract: A method and system is disclosed for printing an authenticatable image having an embedded image into a receiver having a discernible physical characteristic, such that the printed image can be used to authenticate the receiver which includes scanning the receiver to produce information related to the discernible physical characteristic of the receiver, and providing a carrier which includes information related to the scanned receiver discernible physical characteristic. The method also includes combining the carrier with an input image to form the authenticatable image having the embedded image, and printing the authenticatable image having the embedded image onto the receiver.

Abstract: A method for embedding a watermark signal that contains message data in a digital image represented as a two-dimensional array of pixel values, includes the steps of: providing a dispersed message image having pixel values representative of the message data; modifying each pixel value of the dispersed message image as a function of the corresponding pixel value in the digital image; and combining the modified dispersed message image with the digital image to produce a watermarked image.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for printing an authenticatable image having an embedded image into a receiver having a discernible physical characteristic, such that the printed image can be used to authenticate the receiver includes scanning the receiver to produce information related to the discernible physical characteristic of the receiver, and providing a carrier which includes information related to the scanned receiver discernible physical characteristic. The method also includes combining the carrier with an input image to form the authenticatable image having the embedded image, and printing the authenticatable image having the embedded image onto the receiver.

Abstract: A method for embedding message data in a digital image sequence having two or more frames, includes the steps of: providing a dispersed message image representative of the message data; and adding spatially shifted versions of the dispersed message image to successive frames of the digital image sequence.