Abstract: A method and device for eye gaze estimation with regard to a sequence of images. The method comprises receiving a sequence of first video images and a corresponding sequence of first eye images of a user watching at the first video images; determining first saliency maps associated with at least a part of the first video images; estimating associated first gaze points from the first saliency maps associated with the video images associated with the first eye images; storing of pairs of first eye images/first gaze points in a database; for a new eye image, called second eye image, estimating an associated second gaze point from the estimated first gaze points and from a second saliency map associated with a second video image associated with the second eye image; storing the second eye image and its associated second gaze point in the database.

Abstract: A method, a device and a signal enabling automatic washouts in HAV contents. Washout related information is added to a signal representing a HAV content so that a HAV rendering device may adapt the washout to its physical limitations defined by the device capabilities as well as the user preferences. Different types of washouts are proposed. The HAV content signal comprises a first information representative of a haptic washout effect and an optional second information representative of the parameters required for the haptic washout effect. The method comprises performing a first haptic effect, computing the haptic washout effect according to device capabilities, user preferences, type of washout obtained from washout flags and optional washout parameters, and performing the haptic washout effect.

Abstract: A method for processing an image of pixels is described. The method includes determining a plurality of features representative of the image, obtaining both information representative of a probability of presence of an object in the image and information representative of a shape of the object by implementing a unique multivariate regression applied to at least a part of the features.

Abstract: A method and device for determining a trajectory of a first camera in a three-dimensional scene, the 3D scene including at least one object of interest, a pose information being associated with the at least one object of interest. The method includes determining a set of points of the 3D scene, the set of points representative of a collision-free space of the 3D scene; and determining the trajectory in the 3D scene, The trajectory having a starting point and an ending point, the trajectory being defined with a plurality of points selected within the set, the plurality of points being selected according to a difference of the pose information defined in an image space between pairs of selected points from the starting point to the ending point, the image space being associated with an image of at least a part of the scene acquired with the first camera.

Abstract: In a particular implementation, a user environment space for haptic feedback and interactivity (HapSpace) is proposed. In one embodiment, the HapSpace is a virtual space attached to the user and is defined by the maximum distance that the user's body can reach. The HapSpace may move as the user moves. Haptic objects and haptic devices, and the associated haptic properties, may also be defined within the HapSpace. New descriptors, such as those enable precise locations and link between the user and haptic objects/devices are defined for describing the HapSpace.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to an apparatus and a method for obtaining a registration error map representing a level of sharpness of an image. Many methods are known which allow determining the position of a camera with respect to an object, based on the knowledge of a 3D model of the object and the intrinsic parameters of the camera. However, regardless of the visual servoing technique used, there is no control in the image space and the object may get out of the camera field of view during servoing. It is proposed to obtain a registration error map relating to an image of the object of interest generated by computing an intersection of a re-focusing surface obtained from a 3D model of said object of interest and a focal stack based on acquired four-dimensional light-field data relating to said object of interest.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods and apparatus for encoding and decoding pixel lists of an image. The pixels of an image are clustered according to at least one relationship. Clusters are stored as pixel lists. An integer matrix of the same size as the image is generated. A pixel of the image at the first index belongs to one list. The next pixel in the list has a second index. An integer is calculated according to the two indices and is stored at the first index in the matrix. The matrix may be compressed according to a lossless compression method. At decoding, a pixel with a first index in the image is associated with a pixel list. A second index is calculated according to the integer at the first index in the matrix and the pixel at the second index in the image is added to the list.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of gaze estimation. As to determine the position of the gaze without calibrating the system used for determining the gaze, the method comprises: detecting at least a location of the center of at least an eye on at least an eye image of a viewer watching at least a video image displayed on a screen; determining at least a first position of the gaze of the viewer on the screen by using the at least a detected location of the center of the at least an eye and a mapping function based on center-bias property of human gaze distribution. The invention also relates to a device configured for estimating the gaze.

Abstract: A device for providing the illusion of motion consists of at least two movable parts for stimulating the vestibular sense and the kinaesthetic sense of a user independently from each other. A moving headrest is provided for stimulating the vestibular sense of a user and a moving armrest is provided for stimulating the kinaesthetic sense of a user.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and system for synchronizing audiovisual content with inertial outputs for content reproduced on a mobile content device include, in response to a vibration of the mobile content device, receiving a recorded audio signal and a corresponding recorded inertial signal generated by the vibration. The recorded signals are each processed to determine a timestamp for a corresponding peak in each of the recorded signals. A time distance between the timestamp of the recorded audio signal and the timestamp of the recorded inertial signal is determine and inertial signals for content reproduced on the mobile content device are shifted by an amount of time equal to the determined time distance between the timestamp of the recorded audio signal and the timestamp of the recorded inertial signal.

Abstract: Haptic effects are automatically localized on a user's body based on multimedia content or its associated metadata. A haptic effect generator analyzes multimedia content to determine haptic events that occur in the multimedia content. It then generates a haptic effect based on the haptic event. A localizer receives the haptic effect from the haptic effect generator and automatically correlates the haptic effect to a portion of a body based on multimedia content information. The multimedia content information can include the multimedia content and the metadata and the like. The localizer uses a threshold value associated with the haptic event to determine when and where the haptic effect should be localized. The localizer can also utilize a body model to facilitate in localizing the haptic effect.

Abstract: Method and device for generating a stream from image(s) of an object is disclosed. The method includes the steps of obtaining data associated with points of a point cloud representing at least a part of the object, obtaining a parametric surface according to at least a geometric characteristic associated with the at least a part of the object and pose information of an acquisition device used to acquire the at least one image, obtaining a height map and one or more texture maps associated with the parametric surface, and generating the stream by combining together a first syntax element relative to the at least a parameter, a second syntax element relative to the height map, a third syntax element relative to the at least one texture map and a fourth syntax element relative to a position of the acquisition device. The disclosure relates further to a method and device for rendering an image of the object from the stream thus obtained.

Abstract: A method and device for controlling at least one force-feedback device associated with at least a part of the body of a user. As to control the user's experience of motion and movements induced by the displacement(s) of the force feedback device(s) following operations are performed: [a] determining a speed value of a movement of the at least a part of the body according to at least a parameter representative of the displacement of the at least one force-feedback device, the movement of the at least a part of the body being induced by the displacement of the at least one force-feedback device; [b] comparing the determined speed value with a threshold speed value as to determine whether the displacement of the at least one force-feedback device is perceived by the user; and [c] controlling the at least one parameter according to the comparison result.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device configured to determine and/or render information representative of roughness of a first surface of an object, the device comprising means for measuring a first pressure applied by at least a part of a hand on said device, sticky means configured to be in contact with the first surface and means for measuring a speed of the device.

Abstract: In order to generate force feedback data for a haptic device for providing simulated six degrees of freedom movement, a three dimensional acceleration component corresponding to the movement to be simulated is determined, a three dimensional velocity component corresponding to the movement to be simulated is determined and control signals for controlling at least three force feedback devices are determined, wherein each of the three force feedback devices provides three dimensional force effects to a fixation point associated to each of it, the three force feedback devices being arranged at defined positions with regard to each other, and the three fixation points define a geometric plane.

Abstract: A color to be emulated by an ambient light source associated to a display is determined. A saliency map is determined for an image displayed on the display. A subset of pixels of the image with a saliency below a given threshold is selected based on the saliency map. The color to be emulated by the ambient light source is then determined from color values of the determined subset of pixels.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods, apparatus or systems for rendering haptic texture properties on a surface associated with a set of at least one actuator. A system is used to detect parameters of a rubbing contact between the surface and at least one object. Friction, bumps and roughness are rendered by rotating and/or translating the surface according to parameters of the rubbing contact, in particular its direction and speed. A set of at least one actuator ensures the motion of the surface.

Abstract: A method and device for obtaining a sound, wherein an information representative of a speed of a first object moving on a first surface is obtained. The obtained speed information is used with one or more reference sounds to obtain the sound. The one or more reference sounds are associated with a determined speed of displacement of a second object moving on a second surface, the first surface being different from the second surface.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods and apparatus for composing an image representative of a textured material when distorted by a rubbing contact on a touch surface. To compose a realistic and immersive image of a textured material, the method comprises obtaining a 3D model of the textured material and a viscoelasticity model of the material, detecting a contact on the touch surface, computing a distorted version of the 3D model and composing an image representative of the distorted version of the 3D model.

Abstract: A method for processing an image of pixels is described. The method includes determining a plurality of features representative of the image, obtaining both information representative of a probability of presence of an object in the image and information representative of a shape of the object by implementing a unique multivariate regression applied to at least a part of the features.