Abstract: Arrangements involving portable devices (e.g., smartphones and tablet computers) are disclosed. One arrangement enables a content creator to select software with which that creator's content should be rendered—assuring continuity between artistic intention and delivery. Another utilizes a device camera to identify nearby subjects, and take actions based thereon. Others rely on near field chip (RFID) identification of objects, or on identification of audio streams (e.g., music, voice). Some technologies concern improvements to the user interfaces associated with such devices. For example, some arrangements enable discovery of both audio and visual content, without any user requirement to switch modes. Other technologies involve use of these devices in connection with shopping, text entry, and vision-based discovery. Still other improvements are architectural in nature, e.g., relating to evidence-based state machines, and blackboard systems. Yet other technologies concern computational photography.

Abstract: Arrangements involving portable devices (e.g., smartphones and tablet computers) are disclosed. One arrangement enables a content creator to select software with which that creator's content should be rendered—assuring continuity between artistic intention and delivery. Another utilizes a device camera to identify nearby subjects, and take actions based thereon. Others rely on near field chip (RFID) identification of objects, or on identification of audio streams (e.g., music, voice). Some technologies concern improvements to the user interfaces associated with such devices. Others involve use of these devices in connection with shopping, text entry, sign language interpretation, and vision-based discovery. Still other improvements are architectural in nature, e.g., relating to evidence-based state machines, and blackboard systems. Yet other technologies concern use of linked data in portable devices—some of which exploit GPU capabilities. Still other technologies concern computational photography.

Abstract: Arrangements involving portable devices (e.g., smartphones and tablet computers) are disclosed. One arrangement enables a content creator to select software with which that creator's content should be rendered—assuring continuity between artistic intention and delivery. Another utilizes a device camera to identify nearby subjects, and take actions based thereon. Others rely on near field chip (RFID) identification of objects, or on identification of audio streams (e.g., music, voice). Some technologies concern improvements to the user interfaces associated with such devices. Others involve use of these devices in connection with shopping, text entry, sign language interpretation, and vision-based discovery. Still other improvements are architectural in nature, e.g., relating to evidence-based state machines, and blackboard systems. Yet other technologies concern use of linked data in portable devices—some of which exploit GPU capabilities. Still other technologies concern computational photography.

Abstract: Arrangements involving portable devices (e.g., smartphones and tablet computers) are disclosed. One arrangement enables a content creator to select software with which that creator's content should be rendered—assuring continuity between artistic intention and delivery. Another utilizes a device camera to identify nearby subjects, and take actions based thereon. Others rely on near field chip (RFID) identification of objects, or on identification of audio streams (e.g., music, voice). Some technologies concern improvements to the user interfaces associated with such devices. Others involve use of these devices in connection with shopping, text entry, sign language interpretation, and vision-based discovery. Still other improvements are architectural in nature, e.g., relating to evidence-based state machines, and blackboard systems. Yet other technologies concern use of linked data in portable devices—some of which exploit GPU capabilities. Still other technologies concern computational photography.

Abstract: Arrangements involving portable devices (e.g., smartphones and tablet computers) are disclosed. One arrangement enables a content creator to select software with which that creator's content should be rendered—assuring continuity between artistic intention and delivery. Another utilizes a device camera to identify nearby subjects, and take actions based thereon. Others rely on near field chip (RFID) identification of objects, or on identification of audio streams (e.g., music, voice). Some technologies concern improvements to the user interfaces associated with such devices. Others involve use of these devices in connection with shopping, text entry, sign language interpretation, and vision-based discovery. Still other improvements are architectural in nature, e.g., relating to evidence-based state machines, and blackboard systems. Yet other technologies concern use of linked data in portable devices—some of which exploit GPU capabilities. Still other technologies concern computational photography.

Abstract: This document relates generally to digital watermarking. One claim recites a method including: obtaining data representing visual media; determining a model through iteratively embedding a digital watermark signal in the data; and embedding the digital watermark signal in the data according to the model. The model maximizes robustness of the digital watermark signal while minimizing perceptibility of the digital watermark signal when the signal is embedded in the data. A new embedding form or embedding mask is created after each embedding iteration. Of course, other combinations are described and claimed as well.

Abstract: This document relates generally to digital watermarking. One claim recites a method including: obtaining data representing visual media; determining a model through iteratively embedding a digital watermark signal in the data; and embedding the digital watermark signal in the data according to the model. The model maximizes robustness of the digital watermark signal while minimizing perceptibility of the digital watermark signal when the signal is embedded in the data. A new embedding form or embedding mask is created after each embedding iteration. Of course, other combinations are described and claimed as well.

Abstract: A digital watermarking system uses a model of a rendering device to take into account the impact of the rendering device on visual or auditory quality of the watermarked signal. For visual content, a reference image and watermarked image are passed through the model and then supplied to a visual quality metric that assesses the visibility of the watermark. The digital watermark embedding is adjusted iteratively with each pass through this process to produce a watermarked signal that has the desired visual quality.

Abstract: A digital watermarking system uses a model of a rendering device to take into account the impact of the rendering device on visual or auditory quality of the watermarked signal. For visual content, a reference image and watermarked image are passed through the model and then supplied to a visual quality metric that assesses the visibility of the watermark. The digital watermark embedding is adjusted iteratively with each pass through this process to produce a watermarked signal that has the desired visual quality.

Abstract: The present invention provides a mechanism for automatically setting the exposure time and gain of an electronic camera so that the acquired image has improved characteristics for the detection of a digital watermark. With the present invention the exposure time and gain of an electronic camera are set by first directing the camera at a test target with the camera's controls set to a default set of values. The system then calculates a histogram of the luminance values of the pixels in the image. Next characteristic values from the histogram such as the peak value, the centroid value, the RMS value, the median value, etc. are calculated. One or more of the characteristic values of the histogram are then applied as an index or pointer to values of pre-established settings that are stored in a table. Values from the table are used to set the exposure time and/or gain of the camera. In some embodiments, the variance of the luminance histogram is also measured and used to index data from the table.

Abstract: The present invention provides a mechanism for automatically setting the exposure time and gain of an electronic camera so that the acquired image has improved characteristics for the detection of a digital watermark. With the present invention the exposure time and gain of an electronic camera are set by first directing the camera at a test target with the camera's controls set to a default set of values. The system then calculates a histogram of the luminance values of the pixels in the image. Next characteristic values from the histogram such as the peak value, the centroid value, the RMS value, the median value, etc. are calculated. One or more of the characteristic values of the histogram are then applied as an index or pointer to values of pre-established settings that are stored in a table. Values from the table are used to set the exposure time and/or gain of the camera. In some embodiments, the variance of the luminance histogram is also measured and used to index data from the table.

Abstract: The present invention provides a mechanism for automatically setting the exposure time and gain of an electronic camera so that the acquired image has improved characteristics for the detection of a digital watermark. With the present invention the exposure time and gain of an electronic camera are set by first directing the camera at a test target with the camera's controls set to a default set of values. The system then calculates a histogram of the luminance values of the pixels in the image. Next characteristic values from the histogram such as the peak value, the centroid value, the RMS value, the median value, etc. are calculated. One or more of the characteristic values of the histogram are then applied as an index or pointer to values of pre-established settings that are stored in a table. Values from the table are used to set the exposure time and/or gain of the camera. In some embodiments, the variance of the luminance histogram is also measured and used to index data from the table.