Abstract: A method includes determining a first blend map for a first projector, the first blend map including a first plurality of attenuation factors corresponding to a region of overlap between first and second images projected by the first projector and a second projector, respectively, on a display surface, applying the first blend map to a white level measurement map that includes a plurality of white level measurement values measured from a first plurality of captured images, applying a smoothing function to the white level measurement map to generate a white level target map, and determining a scale map for the first projector from the white level measurement map and the white level target map.

Abstract: Methods and systems for servicing content for delivery to a client device are described. An item of content is identified during a session with the client device. A type of service to be performed on the item of content is identified. A provider is selected from a plurality of providers capable of performing the service. The session is transferred to the selected provider, which performs the service on the item of content.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention includes a method for managing a streaming media service. The method includes receiving a request for a streaming media service from a client and the streaming media service includes a media service component. A service location manager is selected to which to provide the request from a plurality of service location managers. Additionally, a service provider is selected to which to assign the media service component from a plurality of service providers of a network. Furthermore, the service provider is informed of the assignment to perform the media service component. The service provider is caused to prepare to perform the streaming media service on streaming media. Moreover, information is used to determine whether to initiate a handoff of the streaming media service from the service provider to another service provider. If it is determined to initiate the handoff, the handoff is initiated.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention recite a system for providing product consulting using a transmitted image. In one embodiment, the present invention comprises an image capture device for capturing an image of a user and a reference color set. In embodiments of the present invention, the image capture device does not require a provided infrastructure when capturing the image. The system further comprises a categorizing system for determining at least one data category from data comprising the image. A result generator generates a result based upon the determining of the categorizing system. The system further comprises a result reporting system for conveying the product consultation to the user when the result is conveyed.

Abstract: A system that enables communication and collaboration among individuals using rich media environments. A system according to the present techniques includes a set of rich media environments each having a corresponding arrangement of sensing and rendering components for sensing of and rendering to a corresponding set of individuals. A system according to the present techniques includes an interest thread detector that uses the sensing and rendering components to detect formation of multiple communication interactions among the individuals and that creates an interest thread for each detected communication interaction and further includes a communication provider that for each interest thread captures a set of media data from a corresponding subset of the sensing components and that combines the captured media data in response to the activities of the corresponding individuals and that communicates the combined media data to a corresponding subset of the rendering components.

Abstract: A method includes generating a first plurality of meshes configured to map a first domain associated with a display surface to a second domain associated with an image capture device configured to capture a first image of the display surface, and generating a second plurality of meshes configured to map the second domain to a third domain associated with a first projector configured to display a second image onto the display surface. A third plurality of meshes is generated using the first plurality of meshes and the second plurality of meshes. The third plurality of meshes is configured to separately map a plurality of color bands between the first domain and the third domain.

Abstract: A method and system for videoconferencing between parties at N sites. Specifically, a virtual space arrangement of N sites is created. Video sequences of N?1 remote sites are simultaneously displayed on a non-planar display arranged around a local party at a local site consistent with the virtual space arrangement. The displayed images of the remote parties are scaled consistently with their true physical sizes at their distances from the local party in the virtual space arrangement. Real-time video streams of the local party are captured from a plurality of viewpoints and are used to generate N?1 video view streams representing views of the local party from approximately the local display locations of the N?1 remote parties.

Abstract: A “path-enhanced” recorder combines the recording of multimedia data files (typically, but not necessarily, using conventional digital audio, photo, and video recording technology), along with quasi-continuous capturing of time and position data to permit a subsequent reconstruction of the user's entire path, preferably including times and/or locations at which no multimedia data files were being recorded. A “path-enhanced” recorder device thus provides a combined record of not only multimedia data files but also data concerning path traveled between (and possibly during) the capturing of individual recorded media files to thereby create “path-enhanced” multimedia, which in turn facilitates a number of contemplated applications including the Automatic Generation of Presentations; Exploration, Enhancement and Editing of “Path-Enhanced” Multimedia; and Searching of “Path-Enhanced” Multimedia Databases.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention recite a computer implemented method and system for estimating skin color from an image. In embodiments of the present invention, an image of a subject and of an imaged reference color set is accessed. In embodiments of the present invention, a controlled infrastructure is not required when capturing the image. At least one skin pixel of the subject is located in the image and a color description of the at least one skin pixel is determined. Then, a color correction function to be applied to the color description of the at least one skin pixel is determined. The color correction function is applied to the color description of the at least one skin pixel to create a modified color description. Finally, the skin color of the subject is estimated based upon an analysis of the modified color description.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention recite a method of compiling color analysis parameters. In one embodiment of the present invention, a corrected color description of at least one test subject is constructed. The corrected color description of at least one test subject is then accessed. The at least one test subject is assigned to a classification color according the accessed corrected color description. The classification color is then correlated with a prescriptive recommendation.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention recite a system and method for conveying the true color of a subject. In one embodiment, the present invention comprises an image capture device, an imaged reference color set comprising at least one reference color, and a control reference color set comprising at least one control color corresponding to the at least one reference color. The present invention further comprises a color correction component for accessing the control reference color set and the imaged reference color set and for generating a color correction function which eliminates a discrepancy between the at least one reference color and the at least one control color.

Abstract: Methods and systems for utilizing a parallel conversational thread during a remote collaboration are described. In one embodiment, a managing entity is utilized to establish a first communications path for a remote collaboration of at least two parties. Then, a request for a parallel conversation is received from at least one of the at least two parties during the remote collaboration. The managing entity then establishes a second communications path for the parallel conversation between the at least two parties. Wherein, the enabling of the parallel conversation on the second communications path is performed without inhibiting the first communications path, such that a portion of a first party can have a parallel conversation with a portion of a second party on the second communications path while the first communications path for the remote collaboration remains active.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention recites a coordinating component for creating an enhanced representation of an ongoing event using inputs from a communication session established between a plurality of communication devices. A first input port receives a first input from a first of the plurality of communication devices. A second input port receives a second input from a second of the plurality of communication devices. The first of the plurality of communication devices and the second of the plurality of communication devices do not have a prior association. A generator for selectively combining the first input and the second input creates an enhanced representation of the ongoing event. The enhanced representation is then output from an output port.

Abstract: One embodiment in accordance with the invention is a video system that can include a display screen and a plurality of video capturing devices located behind the display screen. It is noted that each of the plurality of video capturing devices is for capturing a video stream through the display screen.

Abstract: Segmentation of background and foreground objects in an image is based upon the joint use of range and color data. Range-based data is largely independent of color image data, and hence not adversely affected by the limitations associated with color-based segmentation, such as shadows and similarly colored objects. Furthermore, color segmentation is complementary to range measurement in those cases where reliable range data cannot be obtained. These complementary sets of data are used to provide a multidimensional background estimation. The segmentation of a foreground object in a given frame of an image sequence is carried out by comparing the image frames with background statistics relating to range and normalized color, using the sets of statistics in a complementary manner. A background model is determined by estimating using a multidimensional histogram, recording pixel values, configuring the pixel values into a cluster, and selecting a largest cluster as representing the background model.

Abstract: A method of displaying images includes performing geometric processing and photometric processing on a plurality of image frames, thereby generating a plurality of processed image frames, projecting the plurality of processed image frames on a non-planar display surface with at least one projector, wherein the geometric processing includes applying a first plurality of meshes to the plurality of image frames, wherein the first plurality of meshes defines 2D mappings between the display surface and the at least one projector.

Abstract: A method performed by a processing system includes determining at least first and second distances between a first pixel location having a first pixel value in a first image frame and first and second edges of the first image frame, respectively, and determining a first factor that is proportional to a first product of the first and the second distances and configured to attenuate the first pixel value in response to the first pixel value being displayed by a first projector on a display screen such that the first pixel value overlaps with a second pixel value displayed by a second projector.

Abstract: A method includes determining a first blend map for a first projector, the first blend map including a first plurality of attenuation factors corresponding to a region of overlap between first and second images projected by the first projector and a second projector, respectively, on a display surface, applying the first blend map to a white level measurement map that includes a plurality of white level measurement values measured from a first plurality of captured images, applying a smoothing function to the white level measurement map to generate a white level target map, and determining a scale map for the first projector from the white level measurement map and the white level target map.

Abstract: A method includes generating a first plurality of meshes configured to map a first domain associated with a display surface having a plurality of fiducial marks to a second domain associated with a image capture device configured to capture a first image of the display surface, generating a second plurality of meshes configured to map the second domain to a third domain associated with a first projector configured to display a second image onto the display surface, and generating a first mesh configured to map the first domain to the third domain in conjunction with a second mesh using the first plurality of meshes and the second plurality of meshes.

Abstract: One form of the present invention provides a method of displaying multiple image streams that includes providing a first plurality of image streams, processing the plurality of image streams, thereby generating at least one processed image stream, and projecting the at least one processed image stream onto a non-planar surface with at least one projector, thereby generating a plurality of different projected image streams at a corresponding plurality of different positions on the non-planar surface.