Abstract: A hand-held processing device, such as a mobile telephone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), or a portable computer, includes a physically or electronically adjustable camera and is operative to track a specified object of interest. Relative movement between the hand-held device and the object of interest is detected using an orientation determination device such as a gyroscope, an image-based tracking operation, or a hybrid combination of orientation determination and image-based tracking. A setting of the camera is then adjusted so as to maintain a desired framing of the object of interest within an image generated by the camera.

Abstract: An ultrasonic sensor is attached to the body to detect flow in a blood vessel. Signals from the sensor are processed to produce measures of flow during the administration of CPR such as flow velocity and flow pulsatility. The flow measures are compared with flow characteristics desirable during CPR and the result used to produce audible instructions guiding a caregiver in the administration of CPR. The flow measures may be used in conjunction with other detected physiological parameters such as compression force or depth, chest impedance, blood pressure, and ECG data to guide CPR.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for medical ultrasound diagnostics use time multiplexing of ultrasonic transducers of a multi-transducer array (108) disposed upon or in an application pad. Embodiments of the invention facilitate low excitation power and low wire count electrical interfaces (106, 306, 406) to the transducers and reduce electromagnetic interference between the transducers, as well as increase reliability and accuracy of positioning the application pad on the body of a patient. In one exemplary application, the invention facilitates assessment of blood perfusion.

Abstract: The invention relates to a highly automated puncture system for inserting a cannula or a needle into a blood vessel of a person or an animal. The puncture system has an acquisition module that allows for determining at least a location of a blood vessel underneath of the surface of a skin and is further enabled to determine an optimal puncture location that is potentially suitable for inserting a cannula into the blood vessel. Further, the puncture system has tissue analysis means to analyse the skin surface in the proximity of the puncture location to check whether the skin is suitable for punctuation. This prevents puncturing the skin at locations where scars, wound and the like can be found.

Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method are provided for control of a catheter (including an ablation catheter), bronchoscope/endoscope and beveled needle. Control of a bronchoscope (100) is calculated for a 3D environment based on capabilities of the bronchoscope and the patient morphology. This can be used to plan and simulate an optimal motion, train or compare surgical techniques or automate the procedure. A particular bronchoscope may be recommended based on its form and flexibility as well as based on the personal morphology of the patient rather than relying on statistical norms. For all tools, a 6 dimensional configuration space problem is solved using 3 storage dimensions and a ‘6D neighborhood’ for path planning. The present invention finds the kinematically feasible path from a ‘start’ to a goal, while avoiding obstacles and dangerous regions.

Abstract: A flow behavior monitor for presenting ultrasound measurements of an indicia of flow behavior of a fluid in a subject. The indicia of flow behavior are calculated for several frequency slices within a Doppler signal power spectrum and these indicia may be used to determine pulsatility and/or blood flow, as well as other parameters of flow behavior.

Abstract: An ultrasound method and apparatus for detecting and/or measuring the pulse and/or blood flow of a subject calculates a Doppler signal spectrum from an ultrasound signal backscattered from the blood in an artery of the subject. Indicia of flow behavior are calculated for several frequency slices within the Doppler signal spectrum and these indicia may be used to determine pulsatility and/or blood flow, as well as other parameters of flow behavior. Because of the robust nature of the calculated indicia, the ultrasound method and apparatus has particular use in an Automated or Semi-Automated External Defibrillator (AED) for determining whether to defibrillate a patient.

Abstract: A method for transmitting a stream of multi-media content from provider server to a user device includes transmitting multi-media content from the provider server to the user device via a communication network and outputting the multi-media content from the user device to a user via an output on the user device such that the multi-media content is delivered from the provider server to the user in real-time. A degree of attention that the user directs to the output of the user device is continuously determined during the transmission and a parameter adjusting module at the provider server adjusts a parameter of the multi-media content in response to the degree of attention.

Abstract: System and method for automatically programming a universal remote. In the system, the remote acquires identification data from a particular device at which it is pointed. The data is processed to determine command protocols associated with the particular device. Control commands for the particular device input to the remote by a user are formatted according to the command protocols associated with the particular device.

Abstract: A video display device, such as a television, having a picture-in-picture (PIP) display and a processor. The processor detects cues, such as color/texture/events/behaviors, etc., present in a primary display image, that is overlaid by the PIP. These cues are utilized by the processor to determine important and relatively unimportant portions of the primary display image. The processor then determines whether a change in a display characteristic of the PIP leads to the PIP obscuring less of an important portion of the primary display image, and if so, the processor changes the display characteristic of the PIP. Display characteristics of the PIP that may be changed by the processor include the PIP position, size, and transparency. The processor may also utilize a combination of the detected cues to determine important and relatively unimportant portions of the primary display image. The processor may also change combinations of display characteristics of the PIP.

Abstract: A method for reacquiring a target in an automated video tracking system is provided. The method includes the steps of: selecting a desired target to be tracked; switching the automated video tracking system to an automatic mode to initiate a tracking sequence to automatically track the selected desired target; switching the automated video tracking system from an automatic mode to a manual mode if the automated video tracking system encounters a period of difficulty in tracking the desired target; reacquiring the desired target in manual mode; and switching the automated video tracking system to the automatic mode for automatic tracking of the reacquired desired target without initiating a new tracking sequence. An apparatus and automated video tracking system for carrying out the methods of the present invention are also provided.

Abstract: A video conferencing system and method which automatically determines the appropriate preset camera parameters corresponding to participants participating in the video conference. A camera zooms out or pans the video conference space and looks for participants based on their faces. When a participant is detected, the preset camera parameters for that participant are calculated for when the center of the participant is in the center of the camera's view. This is continued for all the participants in the room. The optimal position for each participant and corresponding camera parameters are determined based on cultural preferences. Updates in the presets can be made periodically by the camera zooming out or panning the room. Multiple cameras can be used to continually update the presets.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the field of video-camera systems, such as a video conferencing systems, and more particularly to video camera targeting systems that locate and acquire targets using an input characterizing a target and a machine-classification system to assist in target acquisition responsively to that input. In some embodiments, the characterization and classification are employed together with one or more inputs of other modalities such as gesture-control. In one example of the system in operation, an operator is able to make pointing gestures toward an object and, simultaneously speak a sentence identifying the object to which the speaker is pointing. At least one term of the sentence, presumably, is associated with a machine-sensible characteristic by which the object can be identified. The system captures and processes the voice and gesture inputs and re-positions a PTZ video camera to focus on the object that best matches both the characteristics and the gesture.

Abstract: Method and system of detecting and analyzing the presence of a logo in one or more datastreams. In the method, at least one video datastream of an event is first received. Next, one or more regions of interest (ROIs) for the logo in one or more images comprising the at least one datastream are identified. The one or more ROIs are analyzed to detect if the logo is present in the ROI. If so, the detection of the presence of the logo is used in making either a broadcasting decision or an advertising decision.

Abstract: A video content analysis system extends content analysis capability of one system to multiple channels by providing for the spatial multiplexing of the multiple channels and appropriately analyzing the spatially multiplexed video signal. The resulting system may be lower in cost that present systems and permit the system to work with ancillary equipment such as video recorders. The system also preserves the real-time information inherent in the multiple source signals.

Abstract: A monitoring system for an infant, child, invalid, or other person requiring care uses computer vision and hearing, and inputs of other modalities, to analyze the status of a caretaker and/or cared-for person and its environment. The conditions are classified as normal or alarm conditions and an informative alarm signal is generated which may include records of the vision audio and other inputs. The system also has the ability to solicit responses from the occupants to stimulate a classifiable input to reduce ambiguity in its state signal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for tuning the content of information presented to an audience, for example, on a large display screen or an information kiosk. A disclosed content selection and driving system (i) extracts relevant characteristics about the audience, (ii) analyzes the characteristics, (iii) modifies the presented content based on the analysis, and (iv) records relevant statistics for reporting. An audio/visual analyzer derives audience characteristics and other information on the public reaction to the presented advertising or information by analyzing audio or video information, or both. The derived characteristics are utilized to tune the content of the presented advertising or information to the characteristics of the current audience. A reporting module receives real-time audience statistics and an indication of the selected content.

Abstract: System and method for automatically programming a universal remote. In the system, the remote acquires identification data from a particular device at which it is pointed. The data is processed to determine command protocols associated with the particular device. Control commands for the particular device input to the remote by a user are formatted according to the command protocols associated with the particular device.

Abstract: A method for selecting a target in an automated video tracking system. The method including the steps of: displaying video image data of a scene having a target to be tracked; freezing the video image data to display a frame thereof; and selecting a desired target in the frame of the video image data. Also provided is an apparatus for selecting a target in an automated video tracking system and an automated video tracking system employing such methods and apparatus.

Abstract: A system and method that detects and identifies an event from a sequence of images received. The system comprises a control unit that receives and processes the sequence of images from the camera. The control unit identifies at least one stationary image prior to the event and one stationary image subsequent to the event. The control unit compares one or more representations corresponding to one or more edges in the first stationary image with one or more representations corresponding to one or more edges in the second stationary image to determine whether an object has been deposited or removed during the event.