Abstract: The invention relates to defining temporal and spatial relationships between components within a single piece, multi-component piece of content. Secondary components may comprise filters and may be used to allow for easy tracking of faces in videos to hide the identity of individuals. Methods of object tracking are also disclosed that may anticipate the off-camera movements of tracked objects based on prior observations to more quickly identify the objects upon return to the field of view.

Abstract: The invention relates to creating real-time, immersive mediated reality environments using real data collected from a physical event or venue. The invention provides a virtual participant with the ability to control their viewpoint and freely explore the venue, in real time by synthesizing virtual data corresponding to a requested virtual viewpoint using real images obtained from data collectors or sources at the venue. By tracking and correlating real and virtual viewpoints of virtual participants, physical objects, and data sources, systems and methods of the invention can create photo-realistic images for perspective views for which there is not physically present data source. Systems and methods of the invention also relate to applying effect objects to enhance the immersive experience including virtual guides, docents, text or audio information, expressive auras, tracking effects, and audio.

Abstract: The invention relates to assigning privacy permissions to different components of a single piece of content. An author may designate individual components within a piece of content and may also select a privacy level for each component. Components may be shared in a volatile format wherein the distributed copy of a component may have observation, copying, or forwarding restrictions incorporated into the format. By allowing an author to record and create a single piece of content and then select and apply separate privacy parameters to different components within that content, the invention allows the author to quickly document and share experiences with multiple audiences while maintaining the desired level of privacy for each component of the content. By distributing volatile copies of components, systems and methods of the invention allow an author to maintain some control over distribution and use of content on a component level as well.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to a tool for secure sharing and collaborative editing of content over a communication network. The invention provides systems and methods for dividing content into component parts of content data and/or editing parameters which may be individually attributed to their respective authors. Systems and methods of the invention relate to compiling content from these components for display or other output on a computing device. Content authors may retain ownership rights and privacy control over their individual contributions to collaborative content through selection of privacy parameters and distribution of volatile copies of content designed with optional copying, transferring, and/or viewing restrictions at an individual component level. By minimizing the number and size of data transfers necessary in the collaborative creation of content, systems and methods of the invention can also minimize security risks, data loss, and costs associated with data transfer over a network.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to tools for providing shorter media content previews having smaller file sizes to allow for audiences to preview media before or during downloading of the complete file. Methods are provided for intelligent selection of key content portions for inclusion in abridged previews. Interactive previews capturing the scope of the complete content but reducing file size through reduced frame-rates, compression, and/or resolutions are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to creating real-time, immersive mediated reality environments using real data collected from a physical event or venue. The invention provides a virtual participant with the ability to control their viewpoint and freely explore the venue, in real time by synthesizing virtual data corresponding to a requested virtual viewpoint using real images obtained from data collectors or sources at the venue. By tracking and correlating real and virtual viewpoints of virtual participants, physical objects, and data sources, systems and methods of the invention can create photo-realistic images for perspective views for which there is not physically present data source. Systems and methods of the invention also relate to applying effect objects to enhance the immersive experience including virtual guides, docents, text or audio information, expressive auras, tracking effects, and audio.

Abstract: The invention relates to defining temporal and spatial relationships between components within a single piece, multi-component piece of content. Secondary components may comprise filters and may be used to allow for easy tracking of faces in videos to hide the identity of individuals. Methods of object tracking are also disclosed that may anticipate the off-camera movements of tracked objects based on prior observations to more quickly identify the objects upon return to the field of view.

Abstract: The invention relates to creating real-time, immersive mediated reality environments using real data collected from a physical event or venue. The invention provides a virtual participant with the ability to control their viewpoint and freely explore the venue, in real time by synthesizing virtual data corresponding to a requested virtual viewpoint using real images obtained from data collectors or sources at the venue. By tracking and correlating real and virtual viewpoints of virtual participants, physical objects, and data sources, systems and methods of the invention can create photo-realistic images for perspective views for which there is not physically present data source. Systems and methods of the invention also relate to applying effect objects to enhance the immersive experience including virtual guides, docents, text or audio information, expressive auras, tracking effects, and audio.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to systems and methods for capturing a series of images with variable focus and exposure values. Upon initiation of an image capture routine, a series of images is captured while focal length and exposure value are changed such that the delay associated with conventional autofocus systems is avoided and images with multiple objects at various depths are captured in focus in one or more of the images of the series.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to a tool for secure sharing and collaborative editing of content over a communication network. The invention provides systems and methods for dividing content into component parts of content data and/or editing parameters which may be individually attributed to their respective authors. Systems and methods of the invention relate to compiling content from these components for display or other output on a computing device. Content authors may retain ownership rights and privacy control over their individual contributions to collaborative content through selection of privacy parameters and distribution of volatile copies of content designed with optional copying, transferring, and/or viewing restrictions at an individual component level. By minimizing the number and size of data transfers necessary in the collaborative creation of content, systems and methods of the invention can also minimize security risks, data loss, and costs associated with data transfer over a network.

Abstract: Systems and methods including are provided including computing devices operable to divide content into component parts of content data and/or editing parameters which may be individually attributed to their respective authors. Content and editing parameters may be sent and viewed separately and may have different privacy parameters set by their respective authors. Computing devices may be operable to synthesize and display edited content from separate components including content and privacy parameters.

Abstract: The invention relates to creating real-time, immersive mediated reality environments using real data collected from a physical event or venue. The invention provides a virtual participant with the ability to control their viewpoint and freely explore the venue, in real time by synthesizing virtual data corresponding to a requested virtual viewpoint using real images obtained from data collectors or sources at the venue. By tracking and correlating real and virtual viewpoints of virtual participants, physical objects, and data sources, systems and methods of the invention can create photo-realistic images for perspective views for which there is not physically present data source. Systems and methods of the invention also relate to applying effect objects to enhance the immersive experience including virtual guides, docents, text or audio information, expressive auras, tracking effects, and audio.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to a tool for secure sharing and collaborative editing of content over a communication network. The invention provides systems and methods for dividing content into component parts of content data and/or editing parameters which may be individually attributed to their respective authors. Systems and methods of the invention relate to compiling content from these components for display or other output on a computing device. Content authors may retain ownership rights and privacy control over their individual contributions to collaborative content through selection of privacy parameters and distribution of volatile copies of content designed with optional copying, transferring, and/or viewing restrictions at an individual component level. By minimizing the number and size of data transfers necessary in the collaborative creation of content, systems and methods of the invention can also minimize security risks, data loss, and costs associated with data transfer over a network.

Abstract: The invention relates to assigning privacy permissions to different components of a single piece of content. An author may designate individual components within a piece of content and may also select a privacy level for each component. Components may be shared in a volatile format wherein the distributed copy of a component may have observation, copying, or forwarding restrictions incorporated into the format. By allowing an author to record and create a single piece of content and then select and apply separate privacy parameters to different components within that content, the invention allows the author to quickly document and share experiences with multiple audiences while maintaining the desired level of privacy for each component of the content. By distributing volatile copies of components, systems and methods of the invention allow an author to maintain some control over distribution and use of content on a component level as well.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to classifying digital media and particularly to classifying new media as it is being provided to a media-sharing platform from a mobile device. The invention provides systems and methods for categorizing media as it is uploaded by mobile device to a media sharing platform. In certain aspects, the invention provides a method for classifying media that operates by receiving, at a server computer system, media transmitted from a mobile device by a user. A key word within the media is identified, and the server system retrieves from memory a plurality of prospective categories based on the keyword. The method includes causing the mobile device to display the prospective categories to the user, receiving a selection by the user of one of the prospective categories, and associating the media with the selected category.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to a tool for planning a communication campaign. The invention provides systems and methods for communicating through mobile devices in which a publisher can model the effectiveness of a customer's communication campaign as a function of media purchase quantity to aid the customer in selecting a purchase quantity that optimizes a ratio of return on investment to risk. The publisher can do this by providing the customer with access to a computer server system that includes a campaign management tool with an ROI simulator. In certain aspects, the invention provides a method of planning communication on mobile devices by receiving a set of communication campaign parameters, simulating effectiveness as a function of units purchased for the received parameters, and for providing the simulated effectiveness for a plurality of values for the units purchased.