Abstract: An automatically switched camera system includes sensors for providing data of an image scene having subjects who are behaving in a manner which make them potential targets of the camera system, a pre-take indicator for providing an advanced notification to the subjects of the image scene that one of them is about to become a target of the camera system, a multimodal image analysis module communicating with the sensors and the pre-take indicator, for analyzing the data of the image scene provided by the sensors to select one of the subjects as a target of the camera system and outputting an indicator function command that causes the pre-take indicator to provide the advanced notification to the selected subject.

Abstract: Briefly, an alarm system monitors conditions of an independent person, yet one requiring some supervision, such as an elderly person living alone at home. The system monitors a variety of independent signals and combines them to recognize subtle cues that may indicate there will be a need for intervention by a supervisor.

Abstract: A method for providing a graduated revenue stream to recommenders of at least one of products and services (P/S) comprising the steps of (a) providing a central site that provides information and permits purchasing with regard to at least one of products and services (P/S); (b) determining whether a customer query/purchase is based on a recommendation; (c) providing the customer query/purchasing with one of: (i) a base price if the query/purchase in step (b) is not based on a recommendation; and (ii) a base price plus adding of an incremental value i to the base price if there has been a recommendation; and (d) paying a percentage of the incremental value i to a first recommender R1.

Abstract: A self-annotating camera providing annotation relating to a photograph. The camera captures a desired field of view in a photograph, obtains information relating to the photograph via a plurality of information sources, produces annotation corresponding to the information obtained from the plurality of information sources, and utilizes the produced annotation to annotate at least one of a photograph and an electronic file associated with the photograph. At least one of the plurality of information sources is internal to the camera and at least one of the plurality of information sources is external to the camera.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for monitoring the location of one or more viewer(s) and dynamically adjusting the image to compensate for the current location of the viewer(s). The image is adjusted to compensate for a viewing location (pan angle, &THgr;, tilt angle, &PHgr;, or distance, d) outside of a specified range of values. The input image is adjusted so that the output image appears as originally intended, for the current viewing location of the viewer. A linear transformation technique is applied to the original image to generate a modified image. The linear transformation maps the pixels in the original image to a new space that distorts the image, such that when the modified image is viewed from an offset viewing location the image appears as if being viewed from a direct viewing location.

Abstract: Briefly, an alarm system monitors conditions of an independent person, yet one requiring some supervision, such as an elderly person living alone at home. The system monitors a variety of independent signals and combines them to recognize subtle cues that may indicate there will be a need for intervention by a supervisor.

Abstract: The present invention incorporates known cinematographic procedures with computer rendered representation of images within a scene to capture high quality, pleasantly viewable images based on the content of a recorded scene. The present invention dynamically determines the criteria necessary to control camera movement to perform a known camera movement sequence based on computer determined scene content. By knowing, for example, the number and position of objects in a scene, the criteria for controlling the camera movement to achieve a known camera movement sequence may be determined.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of assembling an optical assembly having first and second longitudinal ends and comprising N coaxial shells forming individual mirrors, each of which extends between said first and second ends and presents a first diameter at said first end and a second diameter that is greater than the first at said opposite, second end, the method comprising: 1) putting the first end of the first shell situated outermost in the optical assembly into place on a support; 2) putting the first end of the second shell which is immediately adjacent thereto in the optical assembly into place on the support inside the first shell; . . . ; and N) putting the first end of the Nth shell which is situated innermost in the optical assembly into place on the support.

Abstract: A remote control system in which a program-up or program-down activation on a control remote device effects the selection of the next or prior available channel that is likely to contain a program of a particular selected genre, or category. The system includes an identification of those programs that are likely to relate to each particular category. When the user selects a category, the user incrementally selects from the programs contained within the selected category. In the system, a list builder includes a number of capabilities for improving the selective quality of the program selection, having access, for example, to an information source that provides the time of each scheduled program on each channel, and an indication of each program's genre, rating, and other related items.

Abstract: A system and method for verifying compliance with predetermined examination procedures. The system comprises at least one examination site data processing system comprising a data processing device, a user interface in data communication with the data processing device, and a recording device for recording audio and video information about the examination site and a user, and a central data processor in data communication with the data processing device of the examination site data processing system. The central data processor is configured to correlate video and audio data received from the examination site data processing device with user data inputted into the user interface in order to determine whether the user is complying with predetermined examination procedures.

Abstract: A camera system and method for operating same. In one embodiment, the method comprises the steps of providing a camera system comprising a camera and a central processing unit, capturing a view of a subject with the camera, determining cinematographic parameters of the view, comparing the determined cinematographic parameters to reference cinematographic parameters, formulating recommended camera operation based on the comparison of the determined cinematographic parameters to the reference cinematographic parameters, and indicating the recommended camera operation to the user.

Abstract: A camera system and method for operating that system. The camera system comprises a stationary camera having a wide angle view, a remotely controllable camera having a relatively smaller angle view for providing images in substantially full resolution, and a processor. The processor monitors the wide angle view of the stationary camera, receives information concerning a selected desired subject within the wide angle view, generates an electronic pan-tilt-zoom view of the selected desired subject based on the wide angle view of the stationary camera, controls the remotely controllable camera for providing a view that overlaps the electronic pan-tilt-zoom view of the desired subject, and processes the electronic pan-tilt-zoom view of the desired subject in accordance with the resolution of the remotely controllable camera.