Abstract: A method for reconstructing three dimensional shapes from two dimensional image domains uses glyph address carpets as a structured light pattern. The glyph address carpet includes a glyph encoding scheme in which the coordinates of any given point can be computed by looking at the glyph marks in a small neighborhood. The method includes calibrating at least one projecting device and at least one image detecting device and projecting a glyph address carpet pattern onto a three dimensional figure. The projected glyph address carpet pattern is detected and used to reconstruct the three dimensional coordinates for each readable glyph mark within the projected glyph address carpet pattern.

Abstract: A method for choosing visual characteristics of a characteristic space within a region includes calculating a mean characteristic of the region, determining a covariance of the region, inverting the covariance to produce an inverse covariance, estimating a target characteristic, determining a difference between the mean characteristic and the target characteristic transposing the difference to produce a difference transpose, determining a saliency from a product of the difference transpose multiplied by the inverse covariance multiplied by the difference, comparing the saliency to an acceptance criterion to yield one of an acceptance if the saliency satisfies the acceptance criterion and a rejection otherwise, adjusting the target characteristic and repeating the determining a difference, transposing the difference, determining a saliency and comparing the saliency steps if the comparing yields the rejection, and outputting the target characteristic if the comparing yields the acceptance.

Abstract: An enhanced thumbnail apparatus produces thumbnails in which one or more elements, such as a document header, or keywords specified by a user, are modified to facilitate review by the user. The enhanced thumbnails are produced by generating a reduced-size representation associated with the document, and modifying the appearance of at least one element in the reduced-size representation. The appearance of the at least one element may be modified by modifying its appearance while in a document format, and/or by modifying its appearance after being converted to a reduced-size representation.

Abstract: A thumbnail image includes at least one selectable element. The selectable element may be selected, or the document as a whole may be selected. The selectable element is associated with either (a) a portion of the original document, smaller than the original document as a whole or (b) a document other than the original document. When the thumbnail as a whole is selected, the original document is displayed. When the selectable element is selected, the appropriate portion of the original document, or the document other than the original document, is displayed.

Abstract: A thumbnail is generated by generating a thumbnail of an original document, generating at least one selectable element, and associating the at least one selectable element with the thumbnail in a display of the thumbnail. By selecting one of the selectable elements in the thumbnail, a document or document portion linked to the selectable element can be directly accessed.

Abstract: An enhanced thumbnail apparatus produces thumbnails in which one or more elements, such as a document header, or keywords specified by a user, are modified to facilitate review by the user. The enhanced thumbnails are produced by generating a reduced-size representation associated with the document, and modifying the appearance of at least one element in the reduced-size representation. The appearance of the at least one element may be modified by modifying its appearance while in a document format, and/or by modifying its appearance after being converted to a reduced-size representation.

Abstract: A thumbnail of an original document has at least one appearance characteristic that is different from a corresponding appearance characteristic in an original document. When retrieving a document associated with the thumbnail, a document version is displayed that is more similar in appearance to the thumbnail than the original document. If desired, one or more further versions of the document, closer to or identical to the first version, may be subsequently displayed.

Abstract: A thumbnail is generated by generating a thumbnail of an original document, generating at least one selectable element, and associating the at least one selectable element with the thumbnail in a display of the thumbnail. By selecting one of the selectable elements in the thumbnail, a document or document portion linked to the selectable element can be directly accessed.

Abstract: A method for choosing visual characteristics of a characteristic space within a region includes calculating a mean characteristic of the region, determining a covariance of the region, inverting the covariance to produce an inverse covariance, estimating a target characteristic, determining a difference between the mean characteristic and the target characteristic transposing the difference to produce a difference transpose, determining a saliency from a product of the difference transpose multiplied by the inverse covariance multiplied by the difference, comparing the saliency to an acceptance criterion to yield one of an acceptance if the saliency satisfies the acceptance criterion and a rejection otherwise, adjusting the target characteristic and repeating the determining a difference, transposing the difference, determining a saliency and comparing the saliency steps if the comparing yields the rejection, and outputting the target characteristic if the comparing yields the acceptance.

Abstract: A thumbnail image includes at least one selectable element. The selectable element may be selected, or the document as a whole may be selected. The selectable element is associated with either (a) a portion of the original document, smaller than the original document as a whole or (b) a document other than the original document. When the thumbnail as a whole is selected, the original document is displayed. When the selectable element is selected, the appropriate portion of the original document, or the document other than the original document, is displayed.