Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide adjustments of the depiction of a user interface upon a computing environment's change in state.

Abstract: A host processor-based system may communicate with a video capture device. If an error occurs in connection with a device driver for the video capture device, software attempts to automatically recover the driver without necessitating rebooting of the host processor-based system. The recovery software may also be responsible for providing error messages as video frames through an established video transmission protocol. As the recovery software progresses, different error recovery status messages may be sent for display in place of the missing video frames.

Abstract: A guided toy vehicle may be operated with an onboard video camera. The video from the video camera may be transmitted to a control station for display by the user. In some embodiments of the present invention, the video may be transmitted from the vehicle to the control station over the same track that guides the vehicle.

Abstract: A guided toy vehicle may be operated with an onboard video camera. The video from the video camera may be transmitted to a control station for display by the user. In some embodiments of the present invention, the video may be transmitted from the vehicle to the control station over the same track that guides the vehicle.

Abstract: A guided toy vehicle may be operated with an onboard video camera. The video from the video camera may be transmitted to a control station for display by the user. In some embodiments of the present invention, the video may be transmitted from the vehicle to the control station over the same track that guides the vehicle.

Abstract: An imaging device may capture images over at least two different focal lengths. The captured images may then be combined to create a composite image that depicts in-focus objects at different distances from the imaging device.

Abstract: An interactive metadata selection system includes a token tracker that identifies and determines a coordinate of a token included in input video data. A video mapper receives output video data and determines a display domain coordinate system therefrom. A coordinate mapper resolves the token's coordinates to the display domain. Based on the token's display-domain coordinates, an overlay module selects metadata to be output.

Abstract: Toy robots are provided that act in concert with each other. A player issues high level team commands to a processor. The processor interprets the team command to derive individual low level commands for the toy robots. A transmitter transmits the low level commands to the toy robots, which then act in concert.

Abstract: Toy robots are provided that act in concert with each other. A player issues high level team commands to a processor. The processor interprets the team command to derive individual low level commands for the toy robots. A transmitter transmits the low level commands to the toy robots, which then act in concert.

Abstract: An animation system includes a video source filter, a tracker, a command recognizer, a character synthesizer, a character store, an overlay module, a video rendering filter and, optionally, a video store. The video source filter routes input video data to a tracker and a command recognizer. The command recognizer identifies predetermined patterns in the video input information and identifies the type of patterns. The tracker identifies the predetermined patterns in the video information and identifies the coordinates of the predetermined patterns. Based upon one or more types output by the command recognizer, the character synthesizer retrieves animation information from the character store. Places the retrieved animation information at coordinates identified by the tracker. The character synthesizer outputs animation information to the overlay module.

Abstract: A processor-based video capture system may detect the presence of image elements having a human flesh color. In response to the detection of that particular color, a processor-based video capture system may be controlled.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for using video input to control speech recognition systems is disclosed. In one embodiment, gestures of a user of a speech recognition system are detected from a video input, and are used to turn a speech recognition unit on and off. In another embodiment, the position of a user is detected from a video input, and the position information supplied to a microphone array point of source filter to aid the filter in selecting the voice of a user that is moving about in the field of the camera supplying the video input.

Abstract: A character good suitable for entertainment and/or educational purposes is disclosed. The character good includes one or more audio and/or video input generation devices that operate to generate audio and/or video inputs responsive to audio sensed and/or scenes observed in the character good's surrounding, to provide the character good with simulated listening and/or visual ability. The generated audio and/or video input signals are forwarded to an external computer for processing. The character good further includes one or more audio and/or electromechanical devices that operate to manifest audio and/or gesture responses under the control of the external computer, to provide the character good with simulated speech and/or gesture ability. The external computer exercises the control responsive to the generated audio and/or video inputs.