Abstract: A system and method for a printer that can detect characteristics of a printed document and trigger an action in response, in addition to or instead of the action of printing the document.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for archiving media using a log are described. In one embodiment, the method comprises accepting an original media; updating a first log to include an indication that specifies a date of when the original media was received; converting the original media into a bitmap, the bitmap being in a format different than that of the media; updating a second log with an entry that specifies a relationship between the original media and the bitmap indicating that they are related, wherein the entry includes an identifier corresponding to the entry and an identifier corresponding to the media.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for recording transactions with a portable logging device are described. In one embodiment, examining a first log stored on a first, portable device and a second log associated with a second device; and determining that the portable device interacted with the second device based on one or more entries in the first and second logs.

Abstract: Techniques for generating a token that can be used to transfer value. The token may be used to transfer value in a value-based transaction with a vendor in a way that is secure and safe and maintains anonymity of the source of the value and preserves secrecy of information that should preferably not be disclosed to an untrusted third party such as a vendor. The token comprises sufficient information that enables value to be transferred from an account associated with the token to a vendor during a value-based transaction. Such a token may be presented by a user to a vendor in a value-based transaction with the purpose of transferring value involved in the transaction to the vendor in order to complete the transaction.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for process logging are described. In one embodiment, the method comprises accessing a log having one or more log entries that contain a first data indicative of a set of one or more processing operations, a second data indicative of an input to the one or more processing operations, and a third data indicative of an output of the one or more processing operations; and verifying one or more processing operations were performed based on information in one or more of the log entries of the log.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and article of manufacture for assisting a user with authoring a multimedia representation of documents. In one embodiment, the method comprises displaying one or more visual, audible, or audiovisual document elements from an input document in graphical user interface; and selecting one or more elements and for inclusion in a multimedia representation.

Abstract: A tilt-sensitive viewfinder indicates the area of an object plane within view of the camera using a visible signal projected from the camera. A direction sensor determines the camera orientation and modifies the visible signal as the camera orientation changes. Changes in appearance of the visible signal reflect changes in the camera field of view. Data from the direction sensor describing camera orientation may be stored in a data storage device and may be associated with data describing the captured image. The stored camera orientation data improves processing of captured images by providing information about angular components of the captured images.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and article of manufacture for creating visualizations of documents are described. In one embodiment, the method comprises receiving an electronic visual, audio, or audiovisual content; generating a display for authoring a multimedia representation of the received electronic content; receiving user input, if any, through the generated display; and generating a multimedia representation of the received electronic content utilizing received user input.

Abstract: A printing system includes embedded functionality for performing media content recognition and processing. Based on the results of the content recognition and processing performed on the media content, the printing system can generate a paper-based or other printed representation thereof. The printing system may further produce a corresponding electronic representation of the media content, which in combination with the printed representation can be used to view and access the media content. A printing system may also include a media renderer application having a print functionality for printing selected media content.

Abstract: A multimedia printing device receives multimedia data, processes it, and outputs it, thereby enhancing the handling and use of such data. In an embodiment, the processed data are output in a variety of formats, including on video paper, through a multimedia broadcast, or a bar code pointer to a digital archive. In another embodiment, the multimedia printing device receives multimedia data and uses the data to perform multimedia and video localization on the peripheral devices that generate the multimedia data. In another embodiment, the multimedia printing device carries out commands to capture and process multimedia data, including by inserting multimedia objects into existing documents.

Abstract: An audio processing device receives, processes, and outputs music and audio files to a variety of electronic and paper-based formats. In one embodiment, the audio processing device generates a score based on a music or audio file, and/or can match the file to melodies stored in a pre-existing database. In an embodiment, the audio processing device and a PC share the processing load. In yet another embodiment, the musical segments identified in a score are mapped to an audio or music file so that a user can access the specific segments at a later point.

Abstract: A system and method for a printer that receives a data containing multimedia information or a pointer to multimedia content and performs various actions in accordance with the received document. The printer may retrieve the multimedia content based on pointers within the document or the document itself may include multimedia content.

Abstract: Techniques for generating a printable representation of multimedia information that can be printed on a paper medium to provide a paper-based interface for the multimedia information. An output device is configured to print the printable representation of multimedia information on a paper medium to generate a multimedia paper document. The multimedia information for which the multimedia paper document is generated in stored on the output device.

Abstract: Techniques for capturing information during multimedia presentations. According to an embodiment, the presentation recording appliance (PRA) receives multimedia presentation information comprising video information and/or audio information. The PRA may also receive information from external sources other than the first source. The audio and video information received by the PRA is then processed and stored in a format which facilitates subsequent retrieval.

Abstract: An automatic printing assistant application for documents in electronic form is provided by virtue of the present invention. In certain embodiments, an elongated thumbnail image of all or part of an electronically stored document is displayed. A section of the document of interest to the reader is emphasized. Movement of the emphasized area in the elongated thumbnail image assists the user with the selection of sections or pages of the document for printing. The operation of the assistant is personalizable for a particular user by setting of a sensitivity level and selection of relevant topics of interest. Some embodiments of the assistant are also capable of improved performance over time by both automatic and manual feedback. The assistant is usable with many popular electronic document formats.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to receive an image and to create a smaller representation of the image from a wavelet representation of the image is described. The size of the smaller representation of the image is selected to compensate for the content of the image and physical properties of the display device to display the smaller representation of the image.

Abstract: According to the invention, a visitor kiosk for the capture and storage of personal information about visitors. The visitor kiosk is placed at the entry point to a facility being monitored. Each visitor signs in at the kiosk. Their business card and an image of their face are scanned. If they do not have a business card, their name and company are entered manually. They also enter the name of the person they are visiting and the purpose for their visit. The person they are visiting is notified of the arrival of the visitor by email or by voice telephone. The data about the visitor is stored locally or remotely. Automatic lookups of various information about the visitor are performed and communicated to the person being visited. A network interface allows users to enter information about visitors they are expecting to arrive. A telephone interface is provided for input of voice greetings as well as checking on the arrival status of visitors.

Abstract: The system of the present invention includes an output device for generating media representation of media content extracted from a media receiver. The system includes an extraction module for extracting of media content from the media receiver. The output device generates a representation of media content extracted. Additionally, a media transfer interface permits communication between the output device and the media receiver. The methods of the present invention include a extracting media content from a media receiver, generating a representation of media content, and communicating with the media receiver through a media transfer interface. Methods of the system further include scheduling actions of the media receiver to occur at predefined times, recording and playing media content, and generating a schedule display of media programs by performing optical character recognition on the schedule displayed on a schedule channel.

Abstract: The system of the present invention includes a media-printing interface that allows users to interact with a multimedia transformation process and format multimedia data to generate a representation of multimedia data. The present invention provides a user interface that permits users to interact with media content analysis and media representation generation. A media analysis software module receives media content analysis instructions from the user through the user interface, and the media analysis software module analyzes and recognizes features of the media content, such as faces, speech, text, etc. The media representation can be generated in a paper-based format, in digital format, and in any other representation formats. The user interface includes a number of fields through which the user can view media content and modify the media representation being generated.

Abstract: An automatic printing assistant application for documents in electronic form is provided by virtue of the present invention. In certain embodiments, an elongated thumbnail image of all or part of an electronically stored document is displayed. A section of the document of interest to the reader is emphasized. Movement of the emphasized area in the elongated thumbnail image assists the user with the selection of sections or pages of the document for printing. The operation of the assistant is personalizable for a particular user by setting of a sensitivity level and selection of relevant topics of interest. Some embodiments of the assistant are also capable of improved performance over time by both automatic and manual feedback. The assistant is usable with many popular electronic document formats.