Abstract: An image background maintenance system and method for maintaining a background model of an image sequence by processing on multiple spatial scales. These multiple spatial scales include a pixel scale, a regional scale and a frame scale. The image sequence undergoes pixel processing that determines a current background model and provides an initial pixel assignment as either a background or a foreground pixel. Region processing further refines the initial pixel assignments by considering relationships between pixels and possibly reassigning pixels. Frame processing further refines the current background model by determining whether a substantial change has occurred in the actual background and, if so, providing a more accurate background model.

Abstract: An inter-network remote control system is described that enables remote control of computing devices via two or more disparate data communications networks. In various embodiments, the inter-network remote control system receives a message from a mobile device via a first network, transforms the received message so that it can be relayed via a second network, and forwards the transformed message via the second network to a target computing device to cause that device to be controlled remotely.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a peer-to-peer photo-sharing environment. The system includes: manual and automatic photo annotation at the client; periodic client-server synchronization; an index of client photos on a central server or a photo database that is resident on the central server, which is updated by the client-server synchronization function; end-user search functionality to search the centralized index or photo database; and transmission of the relevant photos to the client via an on-line image cache. In one embodiment, one client's new photos are automatically displayed on another client's computer (e.g., via screen saver or another mechanism).

Abstract: Techniques and tools for displaying/viewing HDR images are described. In one aspect, a background image constructed from HDR image information is displayed along with portions of the HDR image corresponding to one or more regions of interest. The portions have at least one display parameter (e.g., a tone mapping parameter) that differs from a corresponding display parameter for the background image. Regions of interest and display parameters can be determined by a user (e.g., via a GUI). In another aspect, an intermediate image is determined based on image data corresponding to one or more regions of interest of the HDR image. The intermediate image has a narrower dynamic range than the HDR image. The intermediate image or a derived image is then displayed. The techniques and tools can be used to compare, for example, different tone mappings, compression methods, or color spaces in the background and regions of interest.

Abstract: An image background maintenance system and method for maintaining a background model of an image sequence by processing on multiple spatial scales. These multiple spatial scales include a pixel scale, a regional scale and a frame scale. The image sequence undergoes pixel processing that determines a current background model and provides an initial pixel assignment as either a background or a foreground pixel. Region processing further refines the initial pixel assignments by considering relationships between pixels and possibly reassigning pixels. Frame processing further refines the current background model by determining whether a substantial change has occurred in the actual background and, if so, providing a more accurate background model.

Abstract: The invention is a user interface for browsing a database of media that is tagged by geographic location information including photos, videos, and panoramas. Interchangeable panels are used for determining query constraints and viewing query results, grid-aligned media dots indicate how many media should be associated with a location on a map, and a reflective UI shows how query constraints and query results are related through cursor interaction.

Abstract: A system and process for controlling common information displays, referred to as shared displays, is presented. The system and process allows multiple modes of input using a set of modules that accept and display data from a variety of sources. Input modules are able to understand data from a single mode of communication and to be able to generate messages as output accordingly. An optional translation module takes discrete message units and converts them into commands or requests that can be processed by a logic module. The logic module includes any application that is running on the shared display. A layout module lays out the information output by the logic module and a display module takes the layout data and converts the information to a form that can be readily displayed on a display device.

Abstract: A system and process for creating an interactive digital image, which allows a viewer to interact with a displayed image so as to change it with regard to a desired effect, such as exposure, focus or color, among others. An interactive image includes representative images which depict a scene with some image parameter varying between them. The interactive image also includes an index image, whose pixels each identify the representative image that exhibits the desired effect related to the varied image parameter at a corresponding pixel location. For example, a pixel of the index image might identify the representative image having a correspondingly-located pixel that depicts a portion of the scene at the sharpest focus. One primary form of interaction involves selecting a pixel of a displayed image whereupon the representative image identified in the index image at a corresponding pixel location is displayed in lieu of the currently displayed image.

Abstract: A system and process for creating an interactive digital image, which allows a viewer to interact with a displayed image so as to change it with regard to a desired effect, such as exposure, focus or color, among others. An interactive image includes representative images which depict a scene with some image parameter varying between them. The interactive image also includes an index image, whose pixels each identify the representative image that exhibits the desired effect related to the varied image parameter at a corresponding pixel location. For example, a pixel of the index image might identify the representative image having a correspondingly-located pixel that depicts a portion of the scene at the sharpest focus. One primary form of interaction involves selecting a pixel of a displayed image whereupon the representative image identified in the index image at a corresponding pixel location is displayed in lieu of the currently displayed image.

Abstract: A system and process for creating an interactive digital image, which allows a viewer to interact with a displayed image so as to change it with regard to a desired effect, such as exposure, focus or color, among others. An interactive image includes representative images which depict a scene with some image parameter varying between them. The interactive image also includes an index image, whose pixels each identify the representative image that exhibits the desired effect related to the varied image parameter at a corresponding pixel location. For example, a pixel of the index image might identify the representative image having a correspondingly-located pixel that depicts a portion of the scene at the sharpest focus. One primary form of interaction involves selecting a pixel of a displayed image whereupon the representative image identified in the index image at a corresponding pixel location is displayed in lieu of the currently displayed image.

Abstract: An occlusion reduction system is described. The occlusion reduction system can reduce occlusions when displaying multiple objects by computing an occlusion measure and applying one or more functional dynamics techniques to minimize the occlusion measure, such as by moving objects, making objects at least partially transparent, and altering the scale of objects. The occlusion reduction system can create a geometric model based on modeling information it receives, establish a viewpoint, identify a set of objects for analysis, and compute an occlusion measure for the identified set of objects.

Abstract: The present invention includes a computer user interface system and a method for displaying short segments of video each representing a single theme or event (called video cliplets or “cliplets”). The computer user interface displays the cliplets and information and properties of each of the cliplets. Through the computer user interface of the invention, a user can quickly and easily determine the contents and interesting portions of the video. The cliplet user interface method includes displaying a plurality of cliplets in a two-dimensional arrangement along with cliplet information. The cliplet user interface system includes a plurality of keyframe windows for displaying cliplets and a keyframe within each keyframe window representing a cliplet therein. Moreover, the cliplet user interface system includes a cliplet property presentation area for displaying a cliplet interest rating. The cliplet interest rating indicates the amount of interesting content within the cliplet for a particular cliplet property.

Abstract: A system is provided for selecting a foreground region of an image, given a set of pixels defining the boundary of the foreground region of the image. The system includes a component to determine a foreground value (F) and opacity value (?) for each pixel on the set wherein ? is determined via a subpixel edge-offset to facilitate a separation the foreground region from background portions of the image. The foreground value (F) and opacity value (?) are then employed to smoothly mix the foreground region of the image with a subsequent image background region.

Abstract: A facility for sending enhanced SMS messages is provided. The facility at a sending SMS subscriber unit encodes the original text of an SMS message to produce an encoded SMS message, and transmits the encoded SMS message for receipt by the intended recipient of the SMS message. The facility at a receiving SMS subscriber unit receives the transmitted encoded SMS message and decodes the encoded SMS message to produce the original text of the SMS message. In some instances, the facility at the receiving SMS subscriber unit may not decode the received encoded SMS message and, thus, provide the received SMS message in its received form. In some instances, the facility at the sending SMS subscriber unit may send the original text of the SMS message and have the receiving SMS subscriber unit decode (translate) the original text into a different form.

Abstract: An interface is presented that can be used by those with little or no computer skills and little or no reading skills. In an exemplary embodiment, the icon pictures are detailed enough that they do not need text to be understood. Most icons do not require that they be clicked to be selected, rather they select on cursor hover. When an icon is hovered over, in an exemplary embodiment, it increases in size to make it easier for a user to select it. The interface has a help function that provides a voice that tells the function of an icon when the icon is moused over or otherwise tentatively chosen by a user. The help function voice may be accompanied by a virtual companion a picture of a person, who, in some embodiments, is animated and appears to be speaking the help text.

Abstract: A multi-user multi-input application for education is described. In one aspect, a user interface (UI) presenting pedagogical tasks of varied type and multiple cursors are presented on a single display. Each cursor is assigned to a particular user of multiple users. Actions associated with cursor control event data are mapped to particular users. Relative successes of respective ones of the users in completing particular types of pedagogical tasks of are determined.

Abstract: A system is provided for selecting a foreground region of an image, given a set of pixels defining the boundary of the foreground region of the image. The system includes a component to determine a foreground value (F) and opacity value (?) for each pixel on the set wherein ? is determined via a subpixel edge-offset to facilitate a separation the foreground region from background portions of the image. The foreground value (F) and opacity value (?) are then employed to smoothly mix the foreground region of the image with a subsequent image background region.

Abstract: Multi-user multi-input desktop workspaces and applications are described. In one aspect, a single computing device presents multiple workspaces on a desktop area. The desktop area is designed for multiple users to provide in parallel inputs. Each workspace is configured for use by a particular set of users. Responsive to user direction, user access restrictions to a particular workspace of the multiple workspaces is suspended to allow a new user to interface within context of a particular workspace.

Abstract: The present invention includes in a system and method for estimating and tracking an orientation of a user's face by combining head tracking and face detection techniques. The orientation of the face, or facial pose, can be expressed in terms of pitch, roll and yaw of the user's head. Facial pose information can be used, for example, to ascertain in which direction the user is looking. In general, the facial pose estimation method obtains a position of the head and a position of the face and compares the two to obtain the facial pose. In particular, a camera is used to obtain an image containing a user's head. Any movement of the user's head is tracked and the head position is determined. A face then is detected on the head and the face position is determined. The head and face positions then are compared.

Abstract: A system and a method for automatically authoring video compositions from longer units of digitized video (or a source video) by using short segments of video (or video “cliplets”). The video composition authoring process provides an aesthetically-pleasing layout of data elements to create a video composition. The data elements include multimedia elements, parameter information and description information. Any data elements that are missing but required are automatically selected by the system. The user may then review preliminary video composition results and refine the results if desired. The video composition authoring system includes an element selection and layout module for selecting the data elements in the video composition, and an iterative refinement module that allows the user to change and refine the preliminary results.