Abstract: Systems and methods of organizing a collection of objects are described. In one aspect, a sequence of objects is segmented into object clusters based on: comparisons of successive object intervals to weighted measures of cluster extent; and comparisons of successive object intervals to weighted measures of cluster object density. In another aspect, objects from the collection are segmented into clusters. Context-related meta data associated with the objects and parsable into multiple levels of a name hierarchy is extracted. Names are assigned to clusters based on the extracted context-related meta data corresponding to a level of the name hierarchy selected to distinguish segmented clusters from one another. In another aspect, a sequence of objects that are segmented into clusters is accessed. Each cluster includes multiple objects arranged in a respective sequence in accordance with context-related meta data associated with the objects.

Abstract: Systems and methods of detecting halftone modulations that are embedded in an image are described. The halftone modulations represent an ordered sequence of digital halftone microscreens that encodes information that has been embedded in the image. In one embodiment, the embedded information is detected by applying a respective matched filter to the image for each of two or more different halftone modulations to identify the ordered sequence of halftone modulations embedded in the image. This approach provides an effective, robust and efficient scheme for detecting such halftone modulations without knowledge of the original image before halftone modulation.

Abstract: A digital video camera system may utilize a concurrent dual video and still image pipeline that simultaneously acquires, processes, transmits and/or stores digital video and high resolution digital still image photographs. The concurrent dual pipeline may include a video pipeline optimized for digital video and a still image pipeline optimized for high resolution digital still images. As a result, high resolution still image photographs may be acquired during video recording without any interference with the video recording or any impact on the quality of the video or the still image photographs.

Abstract: A method and system for halftoning images that uses error diffusion with partial dots is provided. First, an input picture element (input pixel) that has a picture level (e.g., gray level) is received. Next, a reproducible gray level is generated based on the gray level of an input pixel. Then, a corrected gray level is generated based on the gray level of an input pixel and an error amount (e.g., error propagated or diffused from adjacent areas or pixels). A determination is made whether the corrected gray level is in a predetermined relationship with a threshold. When the corrected gray level is in a predetermined relationship with the threshold, the reproducible gray level (i.e., partial dot size) is provided as output. When the corrected gray level is not in a predetermined relationship with the threshold, a zero value is provided as output.

Abstract: A method for producing a set of images as a photobook is provided. The method includes selecting a set of images having meta data and determining an attribute value for an attribute associated with each of the images. After determining an attribute value of an attribute, the method adjusts the attribute value associated with at least one of the images to render the attribute value of the images uniform. The method then organizes the images automatically using the meta data and determines a layout of the photobook by automatically adjusting spatial characteristics of the images within the photobook. Once the method determines a layout of the photobook, the method outputs the photobook.

Abstract: A system and method for enhancing scanned document images utilizes an estimated background luminance of a given digital image to remove or reduce visual “see-through” noise. The estimated background luminance is dependent on the luminance values of the edges pixels of detected text edges of the image. In one embodiment, the estimated background luminance is generated using only the edge pixels that are on the lighter side of the detected edges. In addition to the see-through removal, the system and method may further enhance the scanned document images by removing color fringes and sharpening and/or darkening edges of text contained in the images.

Abstract: Methods and systems that classify sepia-toned digital images are described. An exemplary method includes converting RGB values of a digital image to hue saturation intensity (HSV) values. Pixels of the digital image that are not above a predetermined intensity or saturation threshold are removed from the image. The remaining pixels are analyzed and classified as sepia-toned images based on the results of the analysis. Additionally, a method for training a system to recognize sepia-toned images is disclosed.

Abstract: A method and system for capturing images. First, a preview image of a scene is captured. Next, an automatic determination is made whether the scene is a document. When it is determined that the scene is a document, at least one camera control is set to a value that is tailored for document capture. The scene is then captured using the set camera controls. Image processing that is tailored for documents is then performed on the captured scene.

Abstract: Methods and systems that classify sepia-toned digital images are described. An exemplary method includes converting RGB values of a digital image to hue saturation intensity (HSV) values. Pixels of the digital image that are not above a predetermined intensity or saturation threshold are removed from the image. The remaining pixels are analyzed and classified as sepia-toned images based on the results of the analysis. Additionally, a method for training a system to recognize sepia-toned images is disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and methods of detecting halftone modulations that are embedded in an image are described. The halftone modulations represent an ordered sequence of digital halftone microscreens that encodes information that has been embedded in the image. In one embodiment, the embedded information is detected by applying a respective matched filter to the image for each of two or more different halftone modulations to identify the ordered sequence of halftone modulations embedded in the image. This approach provides an effective, robust and efficient scheme for detecting such halftone modulations without knowledge of the original image before halftone modulation.

Abstract: An image enhancement apparatus and a corresponding method use face detection to provide for automatic enhancement of appearances of an image based on knowledge of human faces in the image. By modifying and transforming the image automatically using facial information, the image, including the human faces in the image, may have more pleasing lightness, contrast, and/or color levels. The image enhancement method may also automatically reduce or remove any red eye artifact without human intervention, leading to images with more pleasing appearances.

Abstract: A method and system for halftoning images that uses error diffusion with partial dots is provided. First, an input picture element (input pixel) that has a picture level (e.g., gray level) is received. Next, a reproducible gray level is generated based on the gray level of an input pixel. Then, a corrected gray level is generated based on the gray level of an input pixel and an error amount (e.g., error propagated or diffused from adjacent areas or pixels). A determination is made whether the corrected gray level is in a predetermined relationship with a threshold. When the corrected gray level is in a predetermined relationship with the threshold, the reproducible gray level (i.e., partial dot size) is provided as output. When the corrected gray level is not in a predetermined relationship with the threshold, a zero value is provided as output.