Abstract: A computer system includes a computer processor, an operating system operative in connection with the computer processor, and a display responsive to the operating system. The system also has a pointing device that includes a position sensor and a tactile actuator. A pointing device driver is responsive to the position sensor, and the tactile actuator is responsive to the pointing device driver. A general-purpose application is responsive to the pointing device driver and to the operating system and in communication with the display, and the pointing device driver is also responsive to the general purpose application. The system further includes a profile that maps region changes associated with material displayed on the screen to tactile signals to be sent to the tactile actuator.

Abstract: Provides a system for detecting an intersection between more than one panoramic video sequence and detecting the orientation of the sequences forming the intersection. Video images and corresponding location data are received. If required, the images and location data is processed to ensure the images contain location data. An intersection between two paths is then derived from the video images by deriving a rough intersection between two images, determining a neighborhood for the two images, and dividing each image in the neighborhood into strips. An identifying value is derived from each strip to create a row of strip values which are then converted to the frequency domain. A distance measure is taken between strips in the frequency domain, and the intersection is determined from the images having the smallest distance measure between them.

Abstract: An audio device management system (ADMS) manages remote audio devices via user selections in video links. The system enhances audio acquisition quality by receiving and processing human suggestions, forming customized two-way audio links according to user requests, and learning audio pickup strategies and camera management strategies from user operations. The ADMS control interface for a remote user provides a multi-window GUI that provides an overview window and selection display window. The ADMS provides users with more flexibility to enhance audio signals according to their needs and makes it more convenient to form customized two-way audio links without requiring users to remember a list of phone numbers. The ADMS also automatically manages available microphones for audio pickup based on microphone sound quality and the system's past experience when users monitor a structured audio environment without explicitly expressing their attentions in the video window.

Abstract: A method for exchanging information in a shared interactive environment, comprising selecting a first physical device in a first live video image wherein the first physical device has information associated with it, causing the information to be transferred to a second physical device in a second live video image wherein the transfer is brought about by manipulating a visual representation of the information, wherein the manipulation includes interacting with the first live video image and the second live video image, wherein the first physical device and the second physical device are part of the shared interactive environment, and wherein the first physical device and the second physical device are not the same.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method for discriminatively selecting keyframes that are representative of segments of a source digital media and at the same time distinguishable from other keyframes representing other segments of the digital media. The method and system, in one embodiment, includes pre-processing the source digital media to obtain feature vectors for frames of the media. Discriminatively selecting a keyframe as a representative for each segment of a source digital media wherein said discriminative selection includes determining a similarity measure for each candidate keyframe and determining a dis-similarity measure for each candidate keyframe and selecting the keyframe with the highest goodness value computing from the similarity and dis-similarity measures.

Abstract: Video recordings of meetings and scanned paper documents are natural digital documents that come out of a meeting. These can be placed on the Internet for easy access, with links generated between them by matching scanned documents to a segment of the video referencing the scanned document. Furthermore, annotations made on the paper documents during the meeting can be extracted and used as indexes to the video. An orthonormal transform, such as a Digital Cosine Transform (DCT) is used to compare scanned documents to video frames.

Abstract: A camera array captures plural component images which are combined into a single scene. In one embodiment, each camera of the array is a fixed digital camera. The images from each camera are warped to a common coordinate system and the disparity between overlapping images is reduced using disparity estimation techniques.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a status of a teleconference by determining an approximate delay time and providing a status signal in view of the determined approximate delay time are provided. An approximate delay time is approximately the amount of time that will elapse before an occurrence occurring at a first time, which is captured into an occurrence signal by a source unit, will be experienced at a second time after the occurrence signal is received by at least one receiving unit.

Abstract: Methods and systems for transferring media between media source devices and media sink devices are disclosed. Remote control units are used to indicate the media sink and media source devices for transferring media data between these elements.

Abstract: This invention relates to a force-feedback apparatus which includes a stylus that is equipped with an electromagnetic device or a freely rotating ball. The stylus is functionally coupled to a controller which is capable of exerting a magnetic field to the electromagnetic device or to the rotating ball, which results in a force being created between the stylus and a surface. This invention also relates to a method of using a force-feedback stylus including moving a force-feedback stylus over a surface, controlling a force-feedback device via a controller coupled to the force-feedback stylus and applying a force to the force-feedback stylus via the force-feedback device, the force being determined for at least features on the surface.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting useful images and for ranking images in order of usefulness based on a vignette score describing how closely each one resembles a “vignette,” or a central object or image surrounded by a featureless or deemphasized background. Several methods for determining an image's vignette score are disclosed as examples. Variance ratio analysis entails calculation of the ratio of variance between the edge region of the image and the entire image. Statistical model analysis entails developing a statistical classifier capable of determining a statistical model of each image class based on pre-entered training data. Spatial frequency analysis involves estimating the energy at different spatial frequencies in the central and edge regions and in the image as a whole. A vignette score is calculated as the ratio of mid-frequency energies in the edge region to the mid-frequency energies of the entire image.

Abstract: A stream of ordered information, such as, for example, audio, video and/or text data, can be windowed and parameterized. A similarity between the parameterized and windowed stream of ordered information can be determined, and a probabilistic decomposition or probabilistic matrix factorization, such as non-negative matrix factorization, can be applied to the similarity matrix. The component matrices resulting from the decomposition indicate major components or segments of the ordered information. Excerpts can then be extracted from the stream of ordered information based on the component matrices to generate a summary of the stream of ordered information.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for automatically combining image and audio data to create a multimedia presentation. In one embodiment, audio and image data are received by the system. The audio data includes a list of events that correspond to points of interest in an audio file. The audio data may also include an audio file or audio stream. The received images are then matched to the audio file or stream using the time. In one embodiment, the events represent times within the audio file or stream at which there is a certain feature or characteristic in the audio file. The audio events list may be processed to remove, sort or predict or otherwise generate audio events. Images processing may also occur, and may include image analysis to determine image matching to the event list, deleting images, and processing images to incorporate effects. Image effects may include cropping, panning, zooming and other visual effects.

Abstract: A computer system includes a computer processor, an operating system operative in connection with the computer processor, and a display responsive to the operating system. The system also has a pointing device that includes a position sensor and a tactile actuator. A pointing device driver is responsive to the position sensor, and the tactile actuator is responsive to the pointing device driver. A general-purpose application is responsive to the pointing device driver and to the operating system and in communication with the display, and the pointing device driver is also responsive to the general purpose application. The system further includes a profile that maps region changes associated with material displayed on the screen to tactile signals to be sent to the tactile actuator.

Abstract: A system, method and apparatus for remotely annotating an object. An embodiment of the present invention includes a video camera projector that captures video images of a local object and projects annotations made by a user at a remote location onto said local object.

Abstract: Methods and systems for classifying images, such as photographs, allow a user to incorporate subjective judgments regarding photograph qualities when making classification decisions. A slide-show interface allows a user to classify and advance photographs with a one-key action or a single interaction event. The interface presents related information relevant to a displayed photograph that is to be classified, such as contiguous photographs, similar photographs, and other versions of the same photograph. The methods and systems provide an overview interface which allows a user to review and refine classification decisions in the context of the original sequence of photographs.

Abstract: Provides a system for detecting an intersection between more than one panoramic video sequence and detecting the orientation of the sequences forming the intersection. Video images and corresponding location data are received. If required, the images and location data is processed to ensure the images contain location data. An intersection between two paths is then derived from the video images by deriving a rough intersection between two images, determining a neighborhood for the two images, and dividing each image in the neighborhood into strips. An identifying value is derived from each strip to create a row of strip values which are then converted to the frequency domain. A distance measure is taken between strips in the frequency domain, and the intersection is determined from the images having the smallest distance measure between them.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method for producing a summary of a digital file on one or more computers. The method includes segmenting the digital file into a plurality of segments, clustering said segments into a plurality of clusters and selecting a cluster from said plurality of clusters wherein said selected cluster includes segments representative of said digital file. Upon selection of a cluster a segment of the cluster is provided as a summary of said digital file.

Abstract: A camera array captures plural component images which are combined into a single scene. In one embodiment, each camera of the array is a fixed digital camera. The images from each camera are warped to a common coordinate system and the disparity between overlapping images is reduced using disparity estimation techniques.

Abstract: A method for improvement of the consistency of color and brightness across boundaries of multicamera and/or multidisplayed overlapping or near overlapping composite images, reduction of objectionable artifacts at overlapping image seams of composite images, adjustment of color and brightness/intensity on either side of overlapping image seams, application of color correction across a composite image, reduction of color and intensity mismatches of composite images, gradual change of color across image seams of a composite image, including altering color outside of overlap regions is provided so that the seams are less discernible and to avoid sharp color changes across a composite or mosaic image are reduced or avoided.