Abstract: A method (100) of demodulating a real two-dimensional pattern (110) is disclosed. The method (100) estimates (120, 130) a quadrature two-dimensional pattern from the real two-dimensional pattern (110) using a smooth phase only transform having an anti-symmetric phase, such as a spiral phase filter (140). A demodulated image is created by combining (180) the real two-dimensional pattern (110) and the estimated quadrature two-dimensional pattern.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a television system (50) and a method for automatically suggesting suitable programs to a viewer from a large number of available programs. The system (50) includes a DTV-agent system (21). Title information and characteristics of programs are made available as EPG (Electronic Program Guide) data, which including at least one Electronic Program Guide Database (22). A learning module (39) records characteristics associated with each program viewed by the user, and forms sets of these characteristics. The frequency of occurrence of each set is also determined. A recommendation module (40) uses a number of tasks to compile a list of viewer recommendations (67). Various tasks are defined, with each task defining a unique combination of a manner of ordering the viewer profile (500), and particular Relevance Filters for filtering the ordered viewer profile.

Abstract: A method of utilising a two-dimensional code pattern is disclosed comprising the steps of encoding (5) the structure of phase perturbations (including singularities) on a continuous phase map structure as an encoded representation of the code information. The codes can then be impressed or printed on other media such labels, documents, envelopes etc. A method of demodulating (10) the aforementioned codes and determining a phase map structure for the code including the detection of embedded phase singularities and decoding the embedded information, is also disclosed.

Abstract: A system (50) for earning functional usage patterns of a user of the system (50) and for planning a best sequences of events suitable for a particular user in a particular context is disclosed. Information relating to user decisions, such as the context during which the decision was made and the actual user decision, is gathered by the DTV-agent (36) and delivered to the active avatar agent (37). The learning module (39) operates to identify all generalization patterns from a number of instances. Method (500) then determines which particular decision is most appropriate by comparing the generalization patterns with the current context for which a decision must be made. Clusters of such behavior patterns are formed with each cluster having the same number of matched attributes. A decision selecting process then selects a decision which is most appropriate to the current context from the behavior patterns.

Abstract: A method (400) of estimating an orientation angle (?0) of a pattern in an image (405) is described. A complex energy operator is applied to the image (405). The complex energy operator is defined as ?c{f}=(D{f})2?fD2{f}. A phase component of the result, which is defined as 2?0=arg(?c{f}) is determined, from which the orientation angle (?0) is calculated. A method (100,200) of demodulating a real two-dimensional pattern is also described. A two-dimensional spiral phase filter is applied to the pattern. The result is combined with the original pattern to provide a demodulated image. Furthermore, a method (600) of estimating a spatial phase of fringe pattern images in a sequence of fringe patterns is disclosed. The fringe pattern images are converted to pure AMFM patterns by removing offsets from each. Contingent analytic images are determined corresponding to each of said AMFM patterns, from which phase differences and phase shifts are determined from dependent pairs.

Abstract: A system (50) for earning functional usage patterns of a user of the system (50) and for planning a best sequences of events suitable for a particular user in a particular context is disclosed. Information relating to user decisions, such as the context during which the decision was made and the actual user decision, is gathered by the DTV-agent (36) and delivered to the active avatar agent (37). The learning module (39) operates to identify all generalisation patterns from a number of instances. Method (500) then determines which particular decision is most appropriate by comparing the generalisation patterns with the current context for which a decision must be made. Clusters of such behaviour patterns are formed with each cluster having the same number of matched attributes. A decision selecting process then selects a decision which is most appropriate to the current context from the behaviour patterns.

Abstract: A method (1800) for controlling a system comprising a plurality of appliances, each said appliance having a corresponding appliance agent, and a user agent, associated with a user is disclosed. The method detecting (1802) an interaction of the user with a corresponding first appliance, communicating (1804) this to the user agent to thereby update a user profile, sending (1808) a first action message dependent upon the user profile and upon said one of the interaction to the first appliance agent to direct the corresponding first appliance to perform a first action, wherein control over said first action thereby passes from the user agent to the first appliance agent.

Abstract: A method of halftoning input image data intended for reproduction on a display (114) having a plurality of pixels (23-27) and a limited pixel response time (see FIG. 1) is disclosed. In a first halftone cycle (K=n), the method comprises (first) halftoning an input value (30) to display an extreme representable (100% or 0%). In a second halftone cycle (K=n+1), (second) halftoning the input value (30) to display an intermediate value such that the average of the extreme representable value and the intermediate value is substantially equal to the input value.

Abstract: A method (400) of estimating an orientation angle (&bgr;0) of a pattern in an image (405) is described. A complex energy operator is applied to the image (405). The complex energy operator is defined as &PSgr;c{ƒ}=(D{ƒ})2−ƒD2{ƒ}. A phase component of the result, which is defined as 2&bgr;0=arg(&PSgr;c{ƒ}) is determined, from which the orientation angle (&bgr;0) is calculated. A method (100,200) of demodulating a real two-dimensional pattern is also described. A two-dimensional spiral phase filter is applied to the pattern. The result is combined with the original pattern to provide a demodulated image. Furthermore, a method (600) of estimating a spatial phase of fringe pattern images in a sequence of fringe patterns is disclosed. The fringe pattern images are converted to pure AMFM patterns by removing offsets from each.