Abstract: Techniques for performing a task while preserving the privacy or confidentiality of information used as input for the task. In one embodiment the task is broken down into smaller tasks (called subtasks or microtasks), which are then outsourced. The input information for each microtask is based upon and is generally a subset of the input information received for the task. The determination of microtasks for the task is performed in such a manner that constraints associated with the task are satisfied. For example, microtasks may be determined for the task based upon risk (e.g., the risk associated with the privacy or confidentiality of the input information being compromised as a result of the outsourcing), quality constraints (e.g., desired quality of the work product resulting from performance of the task), cost constraints, and other constraints associated with the job.

Abstract: An electro-optic imaging system includes an aberrated triplet lens, a detector subsystem and a digital image processing subsystem. The triplet lens is not fully corrected for all aberrations (typically suffering from significant spherical aberration), with the digital image processing subsystem compensating for deficiencies in the triplet lens. In this way, an increased depth of field can be realized.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for secure and oblivious document matching are described. In one embodiment, the method comprises transmitting initial secure dot product data generated from a document thumbprint for a document to a remote system. The method may also comprise receiving a response from the remote system. In one embodiment, the response is generated by the remote system utilizing the initial secure dot product data and without knowledge of the document. In one embodiment, the method may further comprise determining whether the response indicates a match for the document.

Abstract: A digital-optical imaging system can be operated in two modes, which shall be referred to as broadband mode and grayscale mode. In broadband mode, different color images are captured and then image processed together. The optics are intentionally aberrated to increase the depth of field, with the image processing compensating for the aberrations. In grayscale mode, the different color images are captured and then image processed separately. The color images are assumed to be correlated so that it is not necessary to have clear images of all color channels. Accordingly, the optics are designed so that the different color images focus at different locations, thus increasing the overall depth of field where at least one color image is in focus.

Abstract: An optical system that behaves like an integrated low pass filter with an adjustable optical cutoff frequency. The filter behavior is “integrated” in the sense that the overall design of the optical system results in the low pass filter characteristic, rather than having a separate, discrete component that implements the low pass filtering. The filter behavior is “adjustable” in the sense that the optical system can be adjusted in a manner that changes the optical cutoff frequency of the MTF. For example, moving certain optical components within the optical system may cause the change in cutoff frequency.

Abstract: Adaptive optics (AO) elements in imaging system allow dynamic and precise control over the optical wavefront to reduce uncontrolled wavefront errors in imaging systems. Traditional control of such devices is based on inverting the wavefront function to minimize the RMS wavefront error. However, this approach is not always optimal, particularly when the wavefront error is near or exceeds the limit of the AO element's correction capability. In the current approach, the AO element is instead controlled based on a performance metric that takes into account image processing, and not just RMS wavefront error.

Abstract: An electro-optic imaging system includes an aberrated triplet lens, a detector subsystem and a digital image processing subsystem. The triplet lens is not fully corrected for all aberrations (typically suffering from significant spherical aberration), with the digital image processing subsystem compensating for deficiencies in the triplet lens. In this way, an increased depth of field can be realized.

Abstract: A unified design strategy takes into account different subsystems within an overall electro-optic imaging system. In one implementation, the design methodology predicts end-to-end imaging performance using a spatial model for the source and models for the optical subsystem, the detector subsystem and the digital image processing subsystem. The optical subsystem and digital image processing subsystems are jointly designed taking into account the entire system. The intermediate image produced by the optical subsystem is not required to be high quality since, for example, the quality may be corrected by the digital image processing subsystem.

Abstract: Multiframe reconstruction combines a set of acquired images into a reconstructed image. Here, which images to acquire are selected based at least in part on the content of previously acquired images. In one approach, a set of at least three images of an object are acquired at different acquisition settings. For at least one of the images in the set, the acquisition setting for the image is determined based at least in part on the content of previously acquired images. Multiframe image reconstruction is applied to the set of acquired images to synthesize a reconstructed image of the object.

Abstract: A unified design strategy takes into account different subsystems within an overall electro-optic imaging system. In one implementation, the design methodology predicts end-to-end imaging performance using a spatial model for the source and models for the optical subsystem, the detector subsystem and the digital image processing subsystem. The optical subsystem and digital image processing subsystems are jointly designed taking into account the entire system. The intermediate image produced by the optical subsystem is not required to be high quality since, for example, the quality may be corrected by the digital image processing subsystem.

Abstract: Adjustments to the optical subsystem of an electro-optic imaging system take into account different subsystems within the overall electro-optic imaging system. In one implementation, end-to-end imaging performance is predicted based on determining propagation of a source through the optical subsystem, the detector subsystem and the digital image processing subsystem. The optical subsystem is then adjusted after taking into account these other subsystems. For example, the compensators for the optical subsystem and the digital image processing subsystem may be jointly adjusted based on a post-processing performance metric that takes into account the effects of the image processing. Unlike in conventional approaches, the intermediate optical image produced by the optical subsystem is not required to be high image quality since, for example, the image may be subsequently improved by other adjustments in the digital image processing subsystem.

Abstract: An automatic reading assistance application for documents available in electronic form. An automatic annotator is provided which finds concepts of interest and keywords. The operation of the annotator is personalizable for a particular user. The annotator is also capable of improving its performance overtime by both automatic and manual feedback. The annotator is usable with any electronic document. Another available feature is a thumbnail image of all or part of a multi-page document wherein a currently displayed section of the document is highlighted in the thumbnail image. Movement of the highlighted area in the thumbnail image is then synchronized with scrolling through the document.

Abstract: Techniques for designing and processing a workflow that can be refined or modified based upon information associated with a document processed by the workflow. Since the author of the document may configure the information associated with a document that is used to determine if a workflow is to be modified, the present invention enables a document author, in addition to the workflow designer, to control processing of a document in a workflow. The documents themselves specify portions of the overall processing within a workflow net. Permissions information may be specified for the workflow and for the documents. The permissions information may specify which documents can modify the workflow, the manner in which the workflow is modified, and which documents can be processed according to the modified workflow.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for block quantization for color halftoning is described. In one embodiment, the method comprises dividing an input image and an output image into blocks, wherein each block in the output image corresponds to one block in the input image. The method also includes dividing each block into subblocks if an edge exists in said each block, calculating a color average of each input block, and calculating a set of output colors for each block in the output image to match the color average of its corresponding block in the input image.

Abstract: An internet target marketing system, method, and computer program for distributing online advertising to viewers based upon the viewers' interests is provided. Specific embodiments according to the present invention can use an n-way matching of user's concepts of interest, advertiser's concepts and a currently viewed document to target advertising to the view of the current document. Some embodiments can generate a contextually sensitive advertisement for each page viewed in a browser, thereby associating an advertisement with every page in a document. Specific embodiments can associate advertising with documents that are substantially free of embedded advertisements, for example. Alternative embodiments can include embedded advertising.

Abstract: The document controlled workflow techniques are provided that can be represented by refinable Petri nets. A document may contain a control code that indicates to the document controlled workflow system to implement specified operations (i.e., functions) at a refinable place. The operations implemented at the refinable place are determined by the control code in the document. An author of the document can customize a document controlled workflow system of the present invention by entering a control code into a document that triggers the implementation of operations customized to that particular document at a refinable place in the document workflow system. The operations specified by a control code in a document can be represented by a refinement network.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for open data collection is provided. The method of machine learning comprises setting up a system for learning, the system having certain goals. The method further comprising presenting queries to non-expert netizens over a network, the netizens participating in the training process. Then, based on responses to the queries, the method continually updating the system and refining the queries.

Abstract: According to the present invention, an internet target marketing system, method and computer program for distributing online advertising to viewers based upon the viewers' interests is provided. Specific embodiments according to the present invention can use an n-way matching of user's concepts of interest, advertiser's concepts and a currently viewed document to target advertising to the view of the current document. Some embodiments can generate a contextually sensitive advertisement for each page viewed in a browser, thereby associating an advertisement with every page in a document. Specific embodiments can associate advertising with documents that are substantially free of embedded advertisements, for example. Alternative embodiments can include embedded advertising, however.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus to help visually impaired people read paper-based documents are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving information of the readers, scanning in the paper-based document, analyzing the scanned document and re-rendering the scanned document based on the information of the readers. The method may further include printing the re-rendered document.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting proper page orientation of a scanned document image. The document is subdivided into a series of word boxes. The number of ascending and descending text characters within the word can then be compared with the number expected for a properly oriented document to verify page orientation.