Abstract: There is disclosed a content protection method and apparatus. The content protection method and apparatus further improves such related schemes by facilitating spatial as well as temporal management of content. This is achieved by storing encrypted content and a corresponding decryption key and destroying the decryption key when suitable. In order to further facilitate the content protection, the decryption key may be received periodically, which allows for a large number of people to connect to the network at different times.

Abstract: A method of synchronizing the phase of a local image synchronization signal generator of a local video data processor in communication with an asynchronous switched packet network to the phase of a reference image synchronization signal generator of a reference video data processor also coupled to the network, the local and reference processors having respective clocks, the reference and local image synchronization signal generators generating periodic image synchronization signals in synchronism with the reference and local clocks respectively including: frequency synchronizing the local and reference clocks; sending an image timing packet providing reference image synchronization data indicating the difference in timing, measured with respect to the reference processor's clock, between the time at which the image timing packet is launched onto the network and the time of production of a reference image synchronization signal; and controlling the timing of the production of the local image synchronization si

Abstract: An encoding data processing apparatus generates a video material item marked copy by embedding a payload data word into the video material item. The video material item includes plural video frames. A code word generator generates a water mark code word from the payload data word and reads data representing the water mark code word into a shuffle data store. A shuffle processor generates pseudo randomly at least one address within an address space of the shuffle data store for each video frame and reads data representing part or parts of the water mark code word out from the data store at locations identified by the pseudo randomly generated address. A data embedding processor receives the video material item and embeds the data representing the part or parts of the water mark code word read out from the shuffle data store for each frame into a corresponding frame of the video material item.

Abstract: There is disclosed a content protection method and apparatus. The content protection method and apparatus further improves such related schemes by facilitating spatial as well as temporal management of content. This is achieved by storing encrypted content and a corresponding decryption key and destroying the decryption key when suitable. In order to further facilitate the content protection, the decryption key may be received periodically, which allows for a large number of people to connect to the network at different times.

Abstract: A method of synchronizing the phase of a local image synchronization signal generator of a local video data processor in communication with an asynchronous switched packet network to the phase of a reference image synchronization signal generator of a reference video data processor also coupled to the network, the local and reference processors having respective clocks, the reference and local image synchronization signal generators generating periodic image synchronization signals in synchronism with the reference and local clocks respectively comprises the steps of: frequency synchronizing the local and reference clocks; the reference video data processor sending, via the network, to the local data processor an image timing packet providing reference image synchronization data indicating the difference in timing, measured with respect to the reference processor's clock, between the time at which the image timing packet is launched onto the network and the time of production of a reference image synchroni

Abstract: A camera arrangement comprising a plurality of camera elements and a corresponding method of arranging camera elements is described. The camera arrangement improves the resolution of a stitched image by maintaining a uniform overlap between the fields of view of adjacent camera element. The uniform overlap is achieved. This is because the amount of unnecessary overlap required to achieve the required degree of overlap is reduced.

Abstract: A method of detecting an object in an image at a client device is described. This method comprises the steps of: receiving from a server a two dimensional image of a scene, the scene being captured by a camera and the image comprising an object located within the scene, receiving from the server position data, the position data being indicative of the position of the object within the image; receiving from the server an outline representation of the object at that position, the outline representation defining for pixel positions in a segment of the image at that position whether the pixel position represents the object; and on the basis of said outline, detecting the object in the image.

Abstract: A method of creating a stereoscopic image for display comprising the steps of: receiving a first image and a second image of the same scene captured from the same location, the second image being displaced from the first image by an amount; and transforming the second image such that at least some of the second image is displaced from the first image by a further amount; and outputting the first image and the transformed second image for stereoscopic display is disclosed. A corresponding apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: A camera arrangement comprising a 3 dimensional image capture portion arranged to capture a first stereoscopic image composed of a first and a second image and a further camera element spaced apart from the 3 dimensional capture portion, the further camera element arranged to capture a third image, whereby the third image, when viewed with either the first or second image forms a second stereoscopic image is described. A corresponding method and camera system is also described.

Abstract: There is described a method of distributing software and supplemental display data and a client device having the same. The method reduces the cost of providing software to a number of devices on a multi-cast network. The software allows the user to gain access to the multi-cast network, and the supplemental display data is transferred to the client device over the network.

Abstract: A method of generating a three dimensional image from a two dimensional image is described.

Abstract: A method and a system for generating image content. The method and system allow segments of a panoramic scene, to be generated with reduced distortion. The method and system reduce the amount of distortion by mapping pixel data onto a pseudo camera focal plane which is provided substantially perpendicularly to the focal location of the camera that captured the image. A camera arrangement can implement the method and system.

Abstract: An image processing device comprises receiving means operable to receive, from a camera, a captured image corresponding to an image of a scene captured by the camera. The scene contains at least one object. The device comprises determining means operable to determine a distance between the object within the scene and a reference position defined with respect to the camera, and generating means operable to detect a position of the object within the captured image, and to generate a modified image from the captured image based on image features within the captured image which correspond to the object in the scene.

Abstract: An encoding data processing apparatus generates a video material item marked copy by embedding a payload data word into the video material item. The video material item includes plural video frames. A code word generator generates a water mark code word from the payload data word and reads data representing the water mark code word into a shuffle data store. A shuffle processor generates pseudo randomly at least one address within an address space of the shuffle data store for each video frame and reads data representing part or parts of the water mark code word out from the data store at locations identified by the pseudo randomly generated address. A data embedding processor receives the video material item and embeds the data representing the part or parts of the water mark code word read out from the shuffle data store for each frame into a corresponding frame of the video material item.

Abstract: A display arrangement comprises an image display device having a first camera directed towards positions adopted by users viewing the display; one or more further cameras directed towards other respective locations; a face detector for detecting human faces in images captured by the cameras; and means for detecting those faces which appear in images captured by both the first camera and at least one of the further cameras.

Abstract: A video data processing apparatus, that processes video data including a sequence of images, the apparatus including: an object tracker unit configured to detect a presence of one or more objects within an image and to track a detected object across successive images; an identity association unit configured to associate an identity with an object tracked by the object tracker unit; a counter unit configured to, for a first and second identity, count a number of images within which a tracked object associated with the first identity and a tracked object associated with the second identity have both been detected; and a similarity detector unit configured to determine whether two tracked objects are similar in appearance.

Abstract: A display arrangement comprises an image display device having two or more sets of images for display; a camera directed towards positions adopted by users viewing the display; a face detector for detecting human faces in images captured by the camera, the face detector being arranged to detect faces in at least two face categories; and means, responsive to the a frequency of detection of categories of faces by the face detector at one or more different periods, for selecting a set of images to be displayed on the image display device at that time of day.

Abstract: An image processing method for selecting a subset of n (where n is two or more) images representative of a test set of images. The method includes detecting a degree of similarity between images in the test set of images so that the subset of images comprises those n images having substantially the lowest similarity with other images in the set.

Abstract: A system for recovering an estimate of a finger print code word from an un-authorised copy of content material includes a content packaging apparatus. The content packaging apparatus includes a secure content production device and a proxy generator. The secure content production device is operable to convert the content material into a content data file for distribution to a reproduction apparatus, the content data file including frames of the content material which are to be reproduced by a reproduction apparatus and to encrypt the content data file using a content encryption key to form a secure content data file for secure distribution to the reproduction apparatus. The proxy generator is operable to generate a proxy version of the content material representing a reduced quality version of the content material, the quality being reduced to discourage unauthorised copying of the content material and including the frames of the content material which are to be reproduced by the reproduction apparatus.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus and method generate a three dimensional representation of a scene which includes a plurality of objects disposed on a plane. The three dimensional representation is generated from one or more video images of the scene, which include the objects on the plane produced from a view of the scene by a video camera. The method comprises processing the captured video images so as to extract one or more image features from each object, comparing the one or more image features with sample image features from a predetermined set of possible example objects which the video images may contain, and identifying the objects from the comparison of the image features with the stored image features of the possible example objects. The method also includes generating object path data, which includes object identification data for each object which identifies the respective object; and provides a position of the object on the plane in the video images with respect to time.