Abstract: In a set-top-box system, messages from a service provider are stored and delayed until activity from a set-top-box remote is detected. Messages are then generated and provided to a television associated with the set-top-box. Delaying of the message display until set-top-box activity is detected allows short display times, thus preventing burn-in on some television screens, while providing a greater likelihood that messages will be viewed.

Abstract: In a set-top-box system, messages from a service provider are stored and delayed until activity from a set-top-box remote is detected. Messages are then generated and provided to a television associated with the set-top-box. Delaying of the message display until set-top-box activity is detected allows short display times, thus preventing burn-in on some television screens, while providing a greater likelihood that messages will be viewed.

Abstract: A method and system are provided to calibrate multiple camera devices to perform multi-camera tracking of one or more objects. The method and system identifies one or more common (or matching) calibration points on both of a first image or video stream captured by a first camera device and a second image or video stream captured by a second camera. Each of the one or more common calibration points are in a field of view of the first and second camera devices. The method and system further determines coordinate information for the first and second camera devices from the one or more common calibration points, and evaluates the coordinate information to determine alignment parameters, which reflect a location and orientation of the second camera device relative to the first camera device.

Abstract: A method and system are provided to calibrate multiple camera devices to perform multi-camera tracking of one or more objects. The method and system identifies one or more common (or matching) calibration points on both of a first image or video stream captured by a first camera device and a second image or video stream captured by a second camera. Each of the one or more common calibration points are in a field of view of the first and second camera devices. The method and system further determines coordinate information for the first and second camera devices from the one or more common calibration points, and evaluates the coordinate information to determine alignment parameters, which reflect a location and orientation of the second camera device relative to the first camera device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for camera sensor defect correction and noise reduction are disclosed. In an exemplary implementation, a method may include comparing a pixel in a digital image to neighboring pixels to identify an anomaly. The method may also include ignoring the anomaly if the anomaly occurs in at least one neighboring pixel, and marking the pixel as defective if the anomaly does not occur in any neighboring pixels.

Abstract: In a method for processing an image, a scene to be captured is divided into multiple zones and statistical values for a plurality of the multiple zones are obtained. In addition, a short-exposure time and a long-exposure time from the statistical values of the plurality of zones are determined. A long-exposure frame is captured at the long-exposure time and a short-exposure frame is captured at the short-exposure time. The long-exposure frame and the short-exposure frame are combined into a combined image while correcting for motion estimated to have occurred between the long-exposure frame and the short-exposure frame, and the combined image is stored.

Abstract: Methods for improving image quality of a digital image are disclosed herein.

Abstract: In a method for processing an image, a scene to be captured is divided into multiple zones and statistical values for a plurality of the multiple zones are obtained. In addition, a short-exposure time and a long-exposure time from the statistical values of the plurality of zones are determined. A long-exposure frame is captured at the long-exposure time and a short-exposure frame is captured at the short-exposure time. The long-exposure frame and the short-exposure frame are combined into a combined image while correcting for motion estimated to have occurred between the long-exposure frame and the short-exposure frame, and the combined image is stored.

Abstract: Systems and methods for camera sensor defect correction and noise reduction are disclosed. In an exemplary implementation, a method may include comparing a pixel in a digital image to neighboring pixels to identify an anomaly. The method may also include ignoring the anomaly if the anomaly occurs in at least one neighboring pixel, and marking the pixel as defective if the anomaly does not occur in any neighboring pixels.

Abstract: A scanning method that provides a quick start to the first scan and maintains the quality level of the final scan is disclosed. The first scan, or preview scan, is done without waiting for the lamp to stabilize. The time between the preview scan and the final high quality scan is used to stabilize the lamp.

Abstract: An image capturing device includes a processor, at least one interface, and a memory. The memory is capable of storing a plurality of records. A record includes image storage data, date/time data, and status data. The processor determines whether any of the images in the memory have been archived as indicated by the status information in the status storage cell of the records, and replaces one or more archived images with newly captured images as the device is used.

Abstract: In a digital camera, images are stored in chronological order in an image storage queue, and the ability of the camera to add additional images to the queue is related to the archival status of the images already in the queue.

Abstract: An image capturing device comprises an audio transducer, a processor, and a memory. The memory receives an audio signal produced by the audio transducer and gated by the processor. The memory includes an audio buffer capable of continuously accumulating the audio signal until the buffer becomes full, and thereafter storing a predetermined time amount of the most recent audio signal. The memory further includes one or more audio storage cells capable of storing at least a portion of the audio signal held in the audio buffer. The processor is capable of storing at least a portion of the audio signal from the audio buffer into an audio storage cell of the one or more audio storage cells.

Abstract: The present invention includes a system and method for the correction of user induced inadvertent orientation errors in captured digital images before the digital image is saved to a storage media or memory. A system of the present invention checks a user-selectable input to determine if the orientation correction has been enabled, enables a tilt determining mechanism which senses orientation errors when the feature is enabled, corrects the orientation errors in the viewed image, displays a corrected digital image to the user and allows the user to store a digital representation of the corrected image into a memory. The method of the present invention includes receiving a digital representation of an image, identifying vertical or horizontal lines contained within the image, determining an orientation error, rotating the digital representation of the image to reduce the orientation error and displaying a corrected digital image.

Abstract: An image without use of a flash is taken, along with an image using a flash. A difference image is generated by subtracting the flash-less image from the flash image. A threshold is applied to the difference image such that only large differences in intensity remain in the difference image. This artifact image is then subtracted from the flash image, thereby removing flash artifacts such as specular reflections and red-eye. The threshold used may be automatically calculated or may be set by the user. For some applications it may be desirable to set separate thresholds for each dimension of the color space (such as red, green, and blue) used. Once again these separate thresholds may be automatically calculated or may be set by the user.

Abstract: An electronic information retrieval device includes a time source, a communication interface capable of communicating with one or more external devices, and at least one I/O device. The electronic information retrieval device further includes a memory storing a plurality of time values and storing a corresponding plurality of time-based initialization default values. The electronic information retrieval device obtains a current time value from the time source upon initialization of the device, compares the current time value to the plurality of time values, retrieves a corresponding particular time-based initialization default value from the plurality of time-based initialization default values, and uses the particular time-based initialization default value in the initialization.

Abstract: A device, preferably a digital camera, has an imaging sensor providing a digital representation of an image projected onto an imaging portion of the imaging sensor. A processor associated with the device identifies an image compression factor and progressively, over a selected region of the digital representation of the image, magnifies at least a portion of the digital representation of the image to reduce an apparent convergence distortion. Correction preferably occurs before lossy compression. The device preferably includes a display to provide a visual display of the digital representation of the image to a user who may use a user input to manually correct apparent distortion by following prompts generated on the display. The device also preferably includes a non-volatile memory configured to store the digital representation of the image.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for printing and scoring media in a printing system. In one embodiment a scoring pattern is based upon input by the user on a graphical user interface. The system typically incorporates a controller that drives a scoring printer having a scoring head with one or more pins or wires that impact the surface of media and weaken the media. By creating a predetermined pattern of impacts, the media is weakened along a region or line for subsequent separation.

Abstract: A dataconferencing system comprises an imaging device adapted to generate an image of a document. The system also comprises a light source adapted to generate light proximate to the document for generating the image. A monitor application accessible by a processor is adapted to detect a change corresponding to the document. A lighting application accessible by the processor is adapted to automatically activate the light source in response to the detected change.

Abstract: An image without use of a flash is taken, along with an image using a flash. A difference image is generated by subtracting the flash-less image from the flash image. A threshold is applied to the difference image such that only large differences in intensity remain in the difference image. This artifact image is then subtracted from the flash image, thereby removing flash artifacts such as specular reflections and red-eye. The threshold used may be automatically calculated or may be set by the user. For some applications it may be desirable to set separate thresholds for each dimension of the color space (such as red, green, and blue) used. Once again these separate thresholds may be automatically calculated or may be set by the user.