Abstract: Ordering of Goods or Services using Memory for Storing Digital Content A memory tag is a transponder device with a memory for storing digital content. The memory contains code for generating an order for goods or services from a plurality of order choices.

Abstract: One embodiment of a machine-human interface apparatus comprises a first device adapted to be substantially fixedly mounted relative to a portion of a first hand of a user, and a second device adapted to be substantially fixedly mounted relative to a portion of a digit of the other hand of the user, at least one of the devices comprising a transducer operable to generate a signal representative of the relative position or movement of the devices.

Abstract: A framing aid for a handheld document capture device such as a digital camera, comprising two pattern generators (10,20) generating convergent patterns (14, 24) that are in register on a target object plane. Triangulation between the two pattern generators (10,20) and using superimposed or complementary patterns (14,24) ensures that the hand held device (1) is correctly arranged at a predetermined range and orientation above a document to be captured, such that the document is accurately framed within the field of view of the capture device (1).

Abstract: A digital image capture apparatus is provided which is arranged to capture at least two images of a document and combine the images to produce a final image in which the effects of specular reflection and/or ambient light are removed. The apparatus includes a light source and a first image is captured with the source illuminating the document. A second ambient image is captured with the light source switched off, and the images are combined either by subtracting the ambient image from the first image or by replacing areas of the first image by corresponding areas of the ambient image.

Abstract: A method of processing image data relating to at least one image comprising using data relating to disposition and saliency of selected salient portions of the or each image, generating at least one respective saliency vector for respective said portions, and a device operable in accordance with the method.

Abstract: An image capture apparatus comprises a computer device, for example a personal computer, and a scanning device, for example a flat bed scanning device, configured to operate a two-scan image capture process followed by data processing for combining first and second images obtained in said two-step image capture process, and a three-step image capture process followed by data processing for combining first, second and third images obtained in said three-step image capture process for obtaining a combined full image of a document. Algorithms are disclosed for stitching first and second images together to obtain a combined image data. In both the two-step and three-step image capture operation and subsequent data processing, a document having a size larger than an image capture area of said image capture device can be combined to produce a combined image data representing the whole of the document in a fully automated manner without the need for user intervention in matching images.

Abstract: Automatic view generation, such as rostrum view generation, may be used beneficially for viewing of still or video images on low resolution display devices such as televisions or mobile. However, the generation of good quality automatic presentations such as rostrum presentations presently requires skilled manual intervention. By recording important parts of the picture at the time of capture time based on conscious and subconscious user actions at the time of capture, extra information may be derived from the capturing process which helps to guide or determine a suitable automatic view generation for presentation of the captured image.

Abstract: A system for displaying a user's personal digitized photographic image data in a comparable manner to a photo album is described. The system comprises a combination of: a gaming console for playing a video game; a domestic television for displaying the video game to the user when connected with the console; and a CD including the user's digitized photographic image data and a viewing application program. The viewing application program is arranged to configure the gaming console to display the digitized photographic image data on the television when the CD has been read by the gaming console. The system can be configured to permit simultaneous viewing of the user's image data at remote locations connected by the Internet.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for enabling an imaging function of a mobile device in areas where use of such imaging functions is prohibited, including registering image data in the device in order to determine if such data relates to the image of a face of a user of the device, and on the basis of the determination, enabling an imaging function of the device proper.

Abstract: Automatic calibration of an eye tracking system involves capturing a plurality of eye measurements, wherein each said eye measurement relates to a corresponding eye gaze position of a human eye; determining a set of statistics data from said plurality of eye gaze measurements; comparing said set of statistics of said eye gaze measurements with a set of statistics relating to a plurality of pre-measured eye gaze positions of at least one person; and as a result of said comparison, determining a calibration correction factor which, when applied to said statistics of said eye gaze measurement, give an optimum match between said statistics of eye gaze measurement and said statistics of predetermined eye gaze positions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of a camera and a structured light pattern in a platenless document imaging system (1) to capture the image of a page or of a bound book together with depth information that can be inferred from the light pattern.

Abstract: A method for processing an image sequence captured using an image capture device, wherein a captured sequence to be stabilized by estimating motion of the device, abstracting data from the image sequence, stabilizing the image sequence in response to the estimated motion of the device, and forming an output image sequence from the stabilized image sequence and the abstracted data.

Abstract: A video stabilization scheme which uses a dynamic programming algorithm in order to determine a best path through a notional stabilization band defined in terms of a trajectory of an image capture element. The best path is used in order to produce an optimally stabilized video sequence within the bounds defined by the image capture area of the image capture element.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for de-warping images of a developable surface, including developable curled surfaces, and in particular of images of curled documents (30). The system (1) includes a processor (25) linked to an image capture means (2) which: captures an image of the surface (30), said image having a warp corresponding to the non-planar surface; generates from the image a first set of points representing the three-dimensional profile of the non-planar surface relative (30) to a planar reference surface (12); fits to the first set of points a second set of points representative of a developable mesh; and uses the second set of points to texture-map the image (12) in order to de-warp the image.

Abstract: The user assistance system provides a system and method for capturing images of a document and interaction of a primary user with the document in an interaction session. Briefly described, one embodiment comprises an image capture means adapted to capture an initial image of the document and at least one subsequent, additional image of the document during an interaction session, the image being mapped to a known co-ordinate system, interaction capture means for capturing the interaction of a user with the document whereby to determine at least one co-ordinate of a pointer used for the interaction relative to the same co-ordinate system defined for the initial captured image, and processing means for determining an appropriate transform that maps the additional image onto the original image.

Abstract: Embodiments provide for an image capture device having a learning function. Briefly described, one embodiment comprises at least one manual control adapted to generate a control signal that controls image capture operation, the control operable by a user of the image capture device; at least one sensor adapted to sense an operating condition during image capture; a first element adapted to analyse inputs from the sensor to learn at least one associated operating condition, and adapted to analyse the control signal to learn a corresponding preference of the user; a second element adapted to predict a value corresponding to the control signal and the associated operating condition; and a third element adapted to compare the predicted value and the control signal, and adapted to determine a confidence level from the compared predicted value and control signal, wherein the confidence level corresponds to a degree of confidence in the predicted value.

Abstract: An embodiment relates to sharing digital data. Briefly described, one exemplary embodiment comprises receiving, at an addressee system, data associated with digital data rendered by an addressor system; searching, via the addressee system, for related digital data using the received data; enabling user selection of at least one of the related digital data located by the searching; and outputting the selected related digital data to the addressor system.

Abstract: An exemplary camera embodiment is adapted for detection of a mounting arrangement. The embodiment comprises detecting at least one of a plurality of mounting inputs associated with mounting of an image capture device; identifying one of a plurality of image capture settings associated with the detected mounting input; and controlling capture of at least one image by the image capture device in accordance with the identified image capture setting.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment is a camera that includes a behaviour controller which controls the output of behaviours from the camera and the input of behaviours into the camera.

Abstract: An attention detection system detects a condition of shared attention of plural persons. The system includes plural body language detectors each associated with a different person for detecting body language of the associated person. An analyzer receives body language information from the body language detectors, analyzes the body language of the persons and determines when said body language information indicates shared attention between the persons. The attention detection system generates a signal that captures an image of the shared attention.