Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention enable an image based controller to control and manipulate objects with simple point-and-capture operations via images captured by a camera enhanced mobile device. Powered by this technology, a user is able to complete many complicated control tasks via guided control of objects without utilizing laser pointers, IR transmitters, mini-projectors, or bar code tagging and/or customized wall paper are not needed for the environment control. This description is not intended to be a complete description of, or limit the scope of, the invention. Other features, aspects, and objects of the invention can be obtained from a review of the specification, the figures, and the claims.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method to make effective use of non rectangular display space for displaying a collage. In an embodiment of the invention, a heterogeneous set of images can be arranged to display the region of interest of the images to avoid overlapping regions of interest. The background gaps between the regions of interest can be filled by extending the regions of interest using a Voronoi technique. This produces a stained glass effect for the collage. In an embodiment of the present invention, the technique can be applied to irregular shapes including circular shapes with a hole in the middle. In an embodiment of the present invention, the technique can be used to print labels for disks.

Abstract: An automated system and method for producing videos using expert video production rules. The automated video production system and method of the present invention is particularly well-suited for the online publishing of lectures. The system of the present invention includes a camera system for capturing the lecture, such as an audience-tracking camera and a non-intrusive lecturer-tracking camera. Moreover, each camera may be controlled by a cinematographer. Tracking of a subject is performed using a history-based, reduced-motion tracker that sets up a camera shot based on the subject's movement history and leaves the shot fixed until the camera is switched. The system also includes a virtual director module having a probabilistic finite state machine (FSM) module that uses probabilistic rules and the expert video production rules to determine a current camera view.

Abstract: A digital license sharing method, system and apparatus is provided for use in a digital rights management system. Usage rights in respect of digital content are transferred between content player devices or applications by associating with each player a status indication. Transfer is carried out by transmitting a request to obtain the usage rights from a player requiring usage rights to a player currently holding the rights. The transferring player sets a first status indication to indicate that it is no longer entitled to exercise the rights, and transmits a response to the requesting player to transfer the usage rights. The requesting player then sets a second status indication to indicate that it is henceforth entitled to exercise the rights. Methods and apparatus for creating transferable licenses are also provided that employ a sharable license format including a validated portion and an unvalidated portion.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention introduce a user navigation interface that allows a user to monitor/navigate video streams captured from multiple cameras. It integrates video streams from multiple cameras with the semantic layout into a 3-D immersive environment and renders the video streams in multiple displays on a user navigation interface. It conveys the spatial distribution of the cameras as well as their fields of view and allows a user to navigate freely or switch among preset views. This description is not intended to be a complete description of, or limit the scope of, the invention. Other features, aspects, and objects of the invention can be obtained from a review of the specification, the figures, and the claims.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention introduce a novel technique to analyze and monitor video streams captured from multiple cameras. It highlights the foreground region of the video streams via local alpha blending and displays the videos in an immersive 3-D environment. The spatial arrangement of the displays can be generated by multi-dimensional scaling of the amount of simultaneous motion across different video streams. This description is not intended to be a complete description of, or limit the scope of, the invention. Other features, aspects, and objects of the invention can be obtained from a review of the specification, the figures, and the claims.

Abstract: A system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention comprises a device for facilitating video communication between a remote participant and another location. The device can comprise a screen adapted to display the remote participant, the screen having a posture adapted to be controlled by the remote participant. A camera can be mounted adjacent to the screen, and can allow the subject to view a selected conference participant or a desired location such that when the camera is trained on the selected participant or desired location a gaze of the remote participant displayed by the screen appears substantially directed at the selected participant or desired location.

Abstract: A community network system with broadband integrated services includes video servers, video storages, video conference servers, satellite digital television receiver servers, a network accounting server, a network management server, Gigabit Ethernet Switches, Fast Ethernet switches, home gateways, wireless gateways, digital television sets, analogue television sets, computers, PCs with wireless interface, stationary IP telephones, and wireless IP mobile phones. The IP stationary phone can be connected between the Fast Ethernet switch and the home gateway, and also can be connected between the home gateway and the computer. The wireless gateway is connected to the mobile phone and a mobile device. The satellite digital television receiver server is connected to a satellite signal receiver antenna. The backbone Gigabit Ethernet Switch is connected to a Metropolitan Area Network via a 1000 Mbps or 100 Mbps port.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a status of a teleconference by determining an approximate delay time and providing a status signal in view of the determined approximate delay time are provided. An approximate delay time is approximately the amount of time that will elapse before an occurrence occurring at a first time, which is captured into an occurrence signal by a source unit, will be experienced at a second time after the occurrence signal is received by at least one receiving unit.

Abstract: A system and method for optimizing the visual fidelity of a presentation for a plurality of audience members and a plurality of display devices, comprising: modeling the quality of view available to the plurality of audience members based on: one or more properties of the display devices, a distribution of the display devices, a distribution of the plurality of audience members, and the visual presentation wherein the visual presentation comprises one or more h-slides; and determining an optimal mapping for the one or more h-slides to the plurality of display devices based on the modeling.

Abstract: An algorithm for finding regions of interest (ROI) in images and photos based on an information driven approach in which sub-blocks of an image are analyzed for information content or compressibility based on the discrete cosine transform. The sub-blocks of low compressibility are grouped into ROIs using a morphological technique. Unlike other algorithms that are geared for highly specific types of ROI (e.g. face detection), the method of the present invention is generally applicable to arbitrary images and photos. A center-weighted variation of the algorithm can produce better results for certain photo applications. The algorithm can be used with several other image applications, including Stained-Glass collages and Pan-and-Scan presentations.

Abstract: An algorithm for finding regions of interest (ROI) in synthetic images based on an information driven approach in which sub-blocks of a set of synthetic image are analyzed for information content or compressibility based on textural and color features. A DCT may be used to analyze the textural features of a set of images and a color histogram may be used to analyze the color features of the set of images. Sub-blocks of low compressibility are grouped into ROIs using a type of morphological technique. Unlike other algorithms that are geared for highly specific types of ROI (e.g. OCR text detection), the method of the present invention is generally applicable to arbitrary synthetic images. The present invention can be used with several other image applications, including Stained-Glass collages presentations.

Abstract: Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the present invention can include a convertible podium having a compact and lightweight design that can provide multiple functionalities by converting its form. A system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention can convert from an interactive podium to other presentation devices including (but not limited to) an imaging device, a remote avatar for a presenter, an interactive whiteboard, and an information board. The system includes one or more configurable controls for controlling one or both of a presentation and a presentation environment.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention extracts video regions of interest from one or more videos and generates a highly condensed visual summary of the videos. The video regions of interest are extracted based on to energy, movement, face or other object detection methods, associated data or external input, or some other feature of the video. In another embodiment, the present invention extracts regions of interest from images and generates highly condensed visual summaries of the images. The highly condensed visual summary is generated by laying out germs on a canvas and then filling the spaces between the germs. The result is a visual summary that resembles a stained glass window having cells of varying shape. The germs may be laid out by temporal order, color histogram, similarity, according to a desired pattern, size, or some other manner. The people, objects and other visual content in the germs appear larger and become easier to see.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention extracts video regions of interest from one or more videos and generates a highly condensed visual summary of the videos. The video regions of interest are extracted based on to energy, movement, face or other object detection methods, associated data or external input, or some other feature of the video. In another embodiment, the present invention extracts regions of interest from images and generates highly condensed visual summaries of the images. The highly condensed visual summary is generated by laying out germs on a canvas and then filling the spaces between the germs. The result is a visual summary that resembles a stained glass window having cells of varying shape. The germs may be laid out by temporal order, color histogram, similarity, according to a desired pattern, size, or some other manner. The people, objects and other visual content in the germs appear larger and become easier to see.

Abstract: A system and method for authoring a media presentation including a media presentation environment representation having a portion defined as a hot spot associated with a media presentation device. Various embodiments include a hyper-slide listing portion, a media presentation authoring portion, and/or a media presentation device listing portion. Various embodiments include an integrated presentation authoring preview environment. The method includes selecting a physical device for a presentation unit in the media presentation environment, manipulating a visual representation of the presentation unit, recording a display of the presentation unit, and previewing the presentation in an augmented reality environment, a virtual reality environment, or both. Various embodiments operate with a plurality of types of media presentation devices and a plurality of each type of device.

Abstract: Methods and systems for transferring media between media source devices and media sink devices are disclosed. Remote control units are used to indicate the media sink and media source devices for transferring media data between these elements.

Abstract: A peer-to-peer modular presentation system is disclosed for providing improved presentations. The system includes a plurality of displays. Each display is associated with an input device, processor and input/output port. The plurality of displays may include static or mobile wherein each display is aware of the displays immediately surrounding it or of the displays in a remote site during a teleconference. A propagation direction may be configured for at least two of the displays in the system. Propagation may be initiated for multiple displays by generating a gesture input at one display. The gesture input will cause content to be presented in the particular display, and initiate propagation of content along the configured direction in neighboring displays. Content may be fed to a particular display through a stack or other memory that is associated with the display.

Abstract: A method for exchanging information in a shared interactive environment, comprising selecting a first physical device in a first live video image wherein the first physical device has information associated with it, causing the information to be transferred to a second physical device in a second live video image wherein the transfer is brought about by manipulating a visual representation of the information, wherein the manipulation includes interacting with the first live video image and the second live video image, wherein the first physical device and the second physical device are part of the shared interactive environment, and wherein the first physical device and the second physical device are not the same.

Abstract: A system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention comprises a device for facilitating video communication between a remote participant and another location. The device can comprise a screen adapted to display the remote participant, the screen having a posture adapted to be controlled by the remote participant. A camera can be mounted adjacent to the screen, and can allow the subject to view a selected conference participant or a desired location such that when the camera is trained on the selected participant or desired location a gaze of the remote participant displayed by the screen appears substantially directed at the selected participant or desired location.