Abstract: A discount service for consumer printing of digital images stored using an authorised device recognizes identification data originating from the authorised device, to identify at least one digital image stored using the device

Abstract: An attention detection system comprises a portable attention detection module for receiving attention clues of a host person. The attention clues are generated from a self perspective of the host. Attention clues of the host person generated from an observer perspective are received. A sensor device generates signals relating to the attention clue signals of the self perspective. At least one sensor generates signals relating to the attention clue signals of the observer perspective. The attention detection module determines a situation of raised attention of the host wearer from the self perspective attention clues and the received observer perspective attention clues.

Abstract: A captured image of a scene is modified by detecting an inhibit signal emanating from an inhibitor device carried by an object within the scene. In response to receipt of the inhibit signal, identifying a portion of the image corresponding to the object. The image object of the scene is modified by obscuring the image portion of the object.

Abstract: An electronic still, video or hybrid camera has a physically or mechanically operable user control receiving an input from a user and generates a binary, continuous or multi-level saliency signal while an image signal is being produced. The user control may be the same as or different from the picture taking control. In real time the saliency signal controls processing of the camera signal, or the camera itself, for example by controlling the frequency of still picture taking, or by optimising image storage in memory. The signal can also be stored with the image signal for later use, as in editing. The user control can be mounted on the camera or remote therefrom and include a movement or pressure sensor.

Abstract: A visual media viewing system comprises a server (102) and a viewing unit (106), connected via a network (104). The server (102) includes an image processor (108) and a data storage device (110) for storing visual media data. The viewing unit (106) includes a screen (112) for viewing at least a portion of a piece of visual media and a data storage device (120) for storing visual media data. Both of the respective data storage devices (110,120) are arranged to store data (124) corresponding to the same piece of visual media, locally. The image processor (108) is arranged to select a portion of the piece of visual media automatically and to generate a control data set (126) corresponding to the location of the portion of the visual media within the visual media data (124) and any operations performed thereupon.

Abstract: A printed document is an interface with a computer. A camera generates a video signal representing an image of the printed document. A processor linked to the camera processes an image of the printed document and a finger or pointing implement pointing to a region of the printed document. The processor recognizes when a graphical user interface element within the captured image is selected by the user pointing to the user interface element on the printed document by determining the region on the page that is pointed to by the finger or pointing implement and determining from a memory the identity of the user interface element, if any, that corresponds to the region of the printed page pointed to by the finger or pointing implement and then triggers an operation represented by that graphical user interface element.

Abstract: Zoomed sequential images including a first image at a first magnification, a later image at a second magnification, and at least one intermediate image at a magnification between the first and second magnifications are processed by applying an electronic zoom to each of the intermediate images to magnify each of the intermediate images to the same size as the image size at the higher magnification level of the first and second magnifications.

Abstract: A camera comprises a user interface for the input of information indicative of the activity of a user. A control unit controls at least one function of the camera in response to the information.

Abstract: A method for authorising discounted printing, comprising identifying content which has been captured by a consumer in authorised defined circumstances, and authorising discounted consumer printing of the identified content or of further content linked to the identified content

Abstract: An image capture device electronically captures and selects a desired text portion. A visible light image is projected onto text on a document to enable a user to position the light image relative to the desired text portion. At least some of the text is captured in accordance with a position of the light image. A text selector selects the desired text portion from the captured text.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for discounting printing, comprising a) receiving information about printing by a consumer of content that has been selected by the consumer for printing and specified by a content provider as printable at a discount; b) obtaining, for use in discounting printing consumables, an estimation of printing costs incurred by the consumer in said printing of the selected content; and c) preparing a bill, using said estimation, for billing a stakeholder in the content for said printing. There is also disclosed causing information to be provided in association with viewable content. The information communicates to a viewer that specified content, comprising or related to the viewable content, is printable by the consumer at a discount. The discount is directly related to costs incurred by the consumer in printing said specified content. The information may, for example, be provided in the form of a GUI element activatable by a user input device.

Abstract: There is disclosed a computer apparatus for causing display and manipulation of a pictorial image synchronously with remote computer apparatus. The apparatus comprises computer instructions executable by the apparatus to generate, on a display screen, a graphical user interface (GUI). The GUI has: a) an image display region; b) at least one manipulation control element, activatable by a user input device, for manipulating a displayed image; and c) at least one symbol associated with at least one stored image file. The symbol is activatable by a user input device so as to cause (i) display of a corresponding image in the image display region and (ii) output of a display signal. The display signal is adapted to cause remotely executing computer instructions to process a remotely stored associated image file so as to display a corresponding image.

Abstract: A method of displaying digital images comprises the steps of using a processor to determine an extent of similarity between a first image part and a second image part, displaying a first image part from a viewpoint and transitioning to displaying a second image part from a viewpoint, the second image part being selected at least partly based on a determined extent of similarity between the first image part and the second image part, in which the viewpoint of an image part is moved either during the transition or after the transition takes place. An appropriate system is provided.

Abstract: A method of displaying a digital image comprises the steps of: providing a processor with image data for generating a displayable image, which image data is from a plurality of static digital images, the processor generating a displayable rendered image from the image data, determining a rostrum path to display part of the displayable rendered image and generating a novel viewpoint simulating a different viewing angle. A corresponding computer system is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method which facilitates the use of a printed or scribed document as an interface with a computer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a camera (1) that projects a pattern of visible light (28) onto an object such as a document (10) to be photographed to indicate to a photographer the area of the object within view of the camera. The camera comprising image capture means (18), a lens (2) arranged to image the document (10) in an object plane onto the image capture means (18), an image framing projector (2,20,22) operable to project visible optical radiation (24,26) onto the object plane to indicate to a user of the camera (1) the bounds (28) of the document (10) imaged onto the image capture means (18), and a camera attitude sensor system (9,15) for sensing the attitude of the camera (1). The image framing projector (2,20,22) is operable in response to the attitude sensor system (9,15) to project the optical radiation (24,26) onto the object plane only when the attitude sensor system (9,15) senses that the camera (1) is oriented so that the optical radiation (24,26) will be projected downwards.

Abstract: A method of producing a halftone lenticular image from multiple images which are divided into image strips and the strips interleaved to form a lenticular image involves the image strips of each original image being processed separately from those of other original images to produce corresponding halftone dot printing values for printing the dots of the halftone lenticular image. An appropriate processor can be programmed to carry out such a method. Improved halftone lenticular images are a result.

Abstract: A method for selectively adjusting the amount of specular reflections appearing in the final image output by an image capturing device by blending two substantially perfectly overlapping images, one with natural specular reflections and one without specular reflections. In the combined image, the amount of specular reflection is lower than in the image having natural specular reflections, to the extent in many cases that the underlying image content can be seen. In any event, the apparatus provides means for selectively adjusting the intensity of specular reflection, or even eliminating it altogether, in each region of the image containing such reflection.

Abstract: An image capturing system comprises an image capturing device mounted on a support so as to be manually adjustable in three dimensions relative thereto. The system further comprises analysis apparatus for determining the presence of any part of said support in the field of view of said image capturing device and/or its appearance in an image captured by said image capturing device.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for at least partially removing the effects of perspective distortion from a captured image of a document containing text is disclosed. Real or illusionary text lines are identified in the captured documents. The lines are grouped into line bundles and the dominant bundle is selected. The characteristics of the dominant bundle are used to generate a transform which partially removes the effect of perspective in the document. The transform when applied has the effect of making horizontal lines in the original document parallel in the processed image. The method may also comprise identifying a single vertical clue or line in the captured image and processing at least one characteristic of the vertical clue with the characteristics of the dominant line bundle and the focal length of the camera that captured the image to produce a vertical transform.