Abstract: A user-friendly and interactively created multimedia electronic message, as well as a system and method for creating such messages, combines an audio component (e.g. a voice-over, music, etc.) with user-interaction events that act upon selected visual media that serve as a visual background to the message. The visual media can be images, sequences of images, video, files such as documents or simply a pre-established library of background templates. The user interaction events can be sketch animations, text animations, symbols, shapes, emoticons and image transformation (e.g. pan, zoom, rotation, etc.) events. The user-interaction events may be time-correlated with the audio component through a common clock that is initiated by, and runs throughout, the audio recordation process, or they may be added outside of the audio component time-line.

Abstract: A Skqueak™ is an interactively created electronic memo/message that combines a voiceover with user-interaction elements on a selected background. The background could be images, sequence of images from a video, entire video, files such as documents or pre-canned templates. The user inter-action elements are sketch animations, text animations, symbols, shapes, emoticons, image transformation events (pan, zoom, rotation etc.). Skqueak™ also denotes the application that allows the creation of a Skqueak™. Skqueak™ also represents a web service available at www.skqueak.com that allows the creation, viewing, storing, sharing, searching, annotating, and manipulation of Skqueaks.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for viewing machine vision information. The machine vision information includes machine vision data representing a sequence of machine vision processing steps. The machine vision information pertaining to a machine vision process on a given machine vision processor is produced. The machine vision information is displayed at a device remotely located from the given machine vision processor. A selection interface is provided on the device to allow a user to view the machine vision data corresponding to at least one stage of the machine vision processing.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for viewing machine vision information. The machine vision information includes machine vision data representing a sequence of machine vision processing steps. The machine vision information pertaining to a machine vision process on a given machine vision processor is produced. The machine vision information is displayed at a device remotely located from the given machine vision processor. A selection interface is provided on the device to allow a user to view the machine vision data corresponding to at least one stage of the machine vision processing.

Abstract: A method, computer program product, and machine vision system for monitoring an activity area proximate an actuated passageway for the occurrence of an object-related event. The activity area includes a first activity zone and at least a second activity zone. The first and the at least a second activity zones are essentially parallel to the activity area. The actuated passageway is actuatable with a control signal. The occurrence of an object-related event is detected within the activity area. If the object-related event occurs within the first activity zone, a first algorithm is executed to generate the control signal. If the object-related event occurs within the at least a second activity zone, a second algorithm is executed to generate the control signal.

Abstract: Enhanced portal security is provided through stereoscopy, including a stereo door sensor for detecting and optionally preventing access violations, such as piggybacking and tailgating. A portal security system can include a 3D imaging system that generates a target volume from plural 2D images of a field of view about a portal; and a processor that detects and tracks people candidates moving through the target volume to detect a portal access event.

Abstract: A method, computer program product, and machine vision system for monitoring an activity area proximate an actuated passageway for the occurrence of an object-related event. The activity area includes a first activity zone and at least a second activity zone. The first and the at least a second activity zones are essentially parallel to the activity area. The actuated passageway is actuatable with a control signal. The occurrence of an object-related event is detected within the activity area. If the object-related event occurs within the first activity zone, a first algorithm is executed to generate the control signal. If the object-related event occurs within the at least a second activity zone, a second algorithm is executed to generate the control signal.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and apparatuses for finding features that are similar in the image. The invention finds the similar features by searching portions of the image for features that are substantially similar to a feature prototype. First, individual features in the image are located and designated candidate features, and optionally a spatial pattern representing a majority of the candidate features is generated. Next, feature profiles are generated therefrom, and the feature prototype is constructed using at least a subset of feature profiles. An example is described wherein the object is a ball grid array, the similar features are the solder balls on the ball grid array, the feature profiles are local images of balls of a ball grid array, and the feature prototype is an average of a sub-set of the local images of the balls.

Abstract: A method and system provides increased levels of security for a mantrap portal by continuously monitoring two zones of the mantrap; a primary zone and a secondary zone. A primary sensor determines that exactly one or zero people are present in the primary zone when requesting access into a secured area. A secondary sensor determines that exactly zero people are present in the secondary zone when access to the secured area is granted. The primary and secondary sensors in combination can detect piggyback events and tailgating events before granting access to a secured area. Further, the primary and secondary sensors in combination can detect the presence of unauthorized persons in a mantrap prior to granting access to the mantrap for exit from a secured area.

Abstract: A method and system create a geometric object model for use in machine vision inspection. A pixel image representation of an object is acquired. Based on this pixel image representation, part models for the parts of the object are generated. Each part model corresponds to a different part of the object. From the part models of the object, a model for the entire object can be created. Using this created object model, a test inspection is performed on a set of test images, and each of the test images is associated with a set of known inspection measurements. The test inspection produces a set of testing inspection measurements. If the test inspection yields satisfactory performance, the object models created are stored.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided to improve upon accessibility of machine vision tools. More specifically, improved methods and apparatuses are presented to allow a user to select, via a user interface of a web browser included in a given computer, a machine vision tool. Via the web browser, the user can select training information to be used for training. The selected training information can then be sent to a machine vision tool computer which includes a machine vision tool. The web browser can then send a command to the machine vision tool computer to train the machine vision tool using the selected training information. Other aspects of the invention are directed toward a method or apparatus that allows a user to select, via a user interface which may comprise a web browser included in a given computer, parameters for running a machine vision tool and a machine vision tool. Using the web browser, the user can then cause the machine vision tool to be executed and use the selected parameters.

Abstract: Enhanced portal security is provided through stereoscopy, including a stereo door sensor for detecting and optionally preventing access violations, such as piggybacking and tailgating. A portal security system can include a 3D imaging system that generates a target volume from plural 2D images of a field of view about a portal; and a processor that detects and tracks people candidates moving through the target volume to detect a portal access event.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and apparatuses for generating from an image of an object a model of the object, when the object contains similar features. First, the invention finds the similar features. The similar features are found by searching portions of the image for features that are substantially similar to a feature prototype. More particularly, individual features in the image are located and designated candidate features, and optionally a spatial pattern representing a majority of the candidate features is generated. Next, feature profiles are generated therefrom, and the feature prototype is constructed using at least a subset of feature profiles. Thereafter, the model is generated using the similar features and, optionally, the spatial pattern.