Abstract: A system and method for subscribing TV programs according to the preferences of the user based on the user's past viewing history. The system keeps track of all the programs watched by the user to generate a profile indicative of the frequency of a particular program being watched. Then, a plurality of subscription plans based on the viewer's viewing habit stored in the user profile is offered to the user, so that the user can selectively pay for the programs of his or her interest, instead of paying for the entire programs.

Abstract: The position of a target lying on a plane is indicated by inputting a pointing direction which is computationally projected onto a plane. If the target is known to lie on a contour, the position is specified unambiguously. Alternatively, the position of a target can be specified by inputting its axial coordinates in successive steps. In another alternative approach, the image containing the target is translated and/or rotated and the target indicated again. The two direction projections are then used to determine the position of the target in 2-space. The direction indications may be input by a camera or other method, such as one or more radio transmitters.

Abstract: The learning rate used for updating the weights of a self-ordering feature map is determined by a process that injects some type of perturbation into the value so that it is not simply monotonically decreased with each training epoch. For example, the learning rate may be generated according to a pseudorandom process. The result is faster convergence of the synaptic weights.

Abstract: A security monitoring system including one or more cameras for monitoring a path of an individual, a recorder for recording the monitoring of the individual, trajectory analyzer for computing a trajectory of the path of the individual from the recorded monitoring, comparator for comparing the trajectory against known trajectories, and an alarm system for transmitting an alarm signal if the trajectory does not match one of the known trajectories. Further, the system may include a database for storing image data for each authorized individual of the structure and a recognition system for comparing images of the individual from the one or more cameras with the stored image data in the database. The alarm system transmits the alarm signal if the trajectory does not match one of the known trajectories and the individual is an authorized individual or if the individual is not an authorized individual.

Abstract: A lighting controller is disclosed that automatically adjusts a lighting device based on user activity. The disclosed lighting controller processes at least one of audio and video information to identify predefined user events that suggest that a lighting device should be activated or adjusted. In one implementation, a number of behavior rules define various user activities or events that suggest that the user would like to activate or adjust a lighting device. Each rule contains one or more conditions, and, optionally, a corresponding action-item that should be performed when the rule is satisfied to activate or adjust the lighting device. Upon detection of a predefined event, the corresponding action, if any, is performed by the lighting controller.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for restricting access to electronic media objects having objectionable content. The disclosed access control system prevents a user from accessing objectionable content based on an analysis of the audio or visual information associated with the content. For example, image processing techniques are employed to dynamically detect nudity, violence, or other identified inappropriate content in an image associated with an electronic media object. In addition, speech recognition techniques can be employed to dynamically detect one or more predefined stop words in audio information associated with an electronic media object. When a user first attempts to access an electronic media object, the audio or visual content (or both) of the electronic media object is analyzed to determine if the electronic media object contains any predefined inappropriate content. The inappropriate content may be defined, for example, in accordance with user-specific access privileges.

Abstract: A process for adaptive bookmarking of often-visited web sites, comprising the steps of (a) optionally determining the identity of a particular user, (b) determining whether a webpage has been detected, (c) if the webpage in step (b) has been detected, determining whether the webpage has been previously visited by a particular user, (d) performing one of (i) creating an initial record of the webpage visit by the particular user if it has been determined in step (c) that the webpage has not been previously visited by the particular user, and (ii) determining whether the webpage has been previously bookmarked if it has been determined in step (c) that the webpage has been previously visited by the particular user, (e) updating a visitation count if it has been determined in step (c) that the webpage has been previously visited by the particular user, (f) determining whether the visitation count has reached a predetermined threshold; and (g) recommending the bookmarking of the address of the webpage if it determi

Abstract: A computer-based assisted parking system and method for parking a vehicle into a parking space includes at least one sensor arranged to sense a position of the vehicle to be parked in a predetermined area adjacent the vehicle; a sensing system for at least two-dimensional reconstruction of feedback received from the one sensor; a path planning system for determining whether positions of other vehicles adjacent the parking space provide sufficient clearance for the vehicle to be parked and providing a planned path indicating how the vehicle to be parked will be maneuvered; a control system for controlling maneuvering of the vehicle to be parked based on the planned path determined by the path planning system, and the control system controls vehicle steering, direction, speed, and application of brakes, so that the vehicle to be parked is maneuvered into the parking space. Alternatively, directions may be given as the vehicle is parked under the control of the driver.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention can be configured to demultiplex an asynchronously multiplexed video signal, which comprises images from a number of different cameras. Image matching techniques are used to assign input images with states. After a period, the number of states will generally equal the number of input cameras. The states may be modeled through any number of techniques, such as histogram analysis, clustering, and hidden Markov model analysis. Input images are assigned to states, and the input images are output as being associated with the states. Zone surveillance may be performed on a series of images from one or more of the states. Any events that occur can be distinguished and reported.

Abstract: A method and system for concatenating eigenvoice vector data with eigenface vector data to obtain a new basic eigenvector to more positively and accurately identify a person. More specifically, for a specific person, the data of an eigenface vector is concatenated with the data of an eigenvoice vector to form a single vector, and this single vector is compared to reference vectors also obtained by concatenting the data of eigenface vectors and eigenvoice vectors to obtain a single vector of each persons in a defined group of people to determine if a person that is a member of a defined group of people. Using this single eiginvector gives a higher success rate for identifying a person than an eigenface vector or an eigenvoice vector used separately or together as separate vectors.

Abstract: A system and method for alerting a driver of an automobile to a traffic condition. The system comprises at least one camera having a field of view and facing in the forward direction of the automobile. The camera captures images of the field of view in front of the automobile. A control unit receives images of the field of view from the camera and identifies objects therein of a predetermined type. The control unit analyzes the object images of at least one predetermined type to determine whether one or more of the identified objects present a condition that requires the driver's response. A display receives control signals from the control unit regarding the one or more of the objects that present a condition that requires the driver's response. The display displays an image of the object to the driver that is positioned and scaled so that it overlays the actual object as seen by the driver, the displayed image of the object enhancing a feature of the actual object to alert the driver.

Abstract: An image processing system is disclosed that provides automatic face or skin blurring for images. All faces or skin can be blurred, or specific faces can be blurred. In one aspect of the invention, a particular face is blurred on an image or on a series of images in a video. Faces are determined in an image, and face matching is performed to match a particular face to faces in the image. If a match is found, the face or a portion of the face is blurred in the image. The blurring is performed on a portion of the image containing the particular face. Blurring may be performed through a variety of techniques. In another aspect of the invention, voice processing is used as an adjunct to or in place of face analysis to determine if a face in an image or series of images should be blurred. In another aspect of the invention, all faces or human skin in an image or series of images is blurred.

Abstract: A method and system for providing a mood based virtual photo album which provides photos based upon a sensed mood the viewer. The method may include the steps of capturing a first image of a facial expression of a viewer by a camera, providing the image to a pattern recognition module of a processor, determine a mood of the viewer by comparing the facial expression with a plurality of previously stored images of facial expressions having an associated emotional identifier that indicates a mood of each of the plurality of previously stored images, retrieving a set of photos from storage for transmission to the viewer based on the emotional identifier associated with the determined mood, and transmitting the set of photos in the form of an electronic photo album.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and system for controlling access to a television set using a remote control unit having a finger verification means. The method includes the steps of: placing at least one finger on the remote control unit for scanning; obtaining fingerprint data indicative of the scanned finger; comparing the fingerprint data to predetermined reference data to establish a fingerprint match; and, if a match is established, providing access to a number of channels associated with the scanned finger. The system includes a fingerprint reader for generating fingerprint data; a processor programmed to prompt the user to enter fingerprint data; and, a fingerprint recognition means for verifying that the user is an authorized user of the remote control apparatus.

Abstract: A surveillance and security system for automatic detection and warning of detected events includes a unit for observing behavior in a predetermined area under surveillance, a unit for processing an output of observed behavior from the unit for observing, and a includes a pattern recognition module for recognizing whether the observed behavior is associated with predefined suspicious behaviors. Upon recognition that the observed behavior is suspicious, security is notified about the potential need for increased surveillance, or automatically increased surveillance can be provided. The pattern recognition module may include infrared heat profiles of persons, images of actually people, sequences of people manipulating shopping bags, tearing sounds of tearing different types of packaging such as paper and plastic for retail products. The observation of motion, which is related to behavior, is compared against a database of predefined acts.

Abstract: A system and method for virtual clothes modeling includes a unit s for obtaining a virtual image of a particular shopper, a scanner for scanning an identifying token which identifies predetermined information in a database associated with a first article of clothing, a retrieval unit for retrieving from the database a visual display of the predetermined information first article of clothing corresponding to the identifying token, and

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device containing an automatic zoom lens, and more particularly to a zoom lens that is controlled by a processor that is linked to a gaze tracking system. As a user looks onto an object through the device, the gaze tracking system collects data relating to the position of each eye of the user. This eye position data is input into the processor where the focal point of the user is determined. The processor then adjusts the zoom lens to zoom in or out onto the object based on either a predetermined or user input zoom factor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for recommending items of interest to a user, such as television program recommendations, before a viewing history or purchase history of the user is available. A third party viewing or purchase history is processed to generate stereotype profiles that reflect the typical patterns of items selected by representative viewers. A user can select the most relevant stereotype(s) from the generated stereotype profiles and thereby initialize his or her profile with the items that are closest to his or her own interests. A clustering routine partitions the third party viewing or purchase history (the data set) into clusters, such that points (e.g., television programs) in one cluster are closer to the mean of that cluster than any other cluster. A distance computation routine evaluates the closeness of a television program to each cluster based on the distance between a given television program and the mean of a given cluster.

Abstract: An appliance controller is disclosed that monitors the operation of an appliance and automatically adjusts the appliance in response to predefined audio activity. The disclosed appliance controller includes one or more microphones to capture audio information associated with an appliance. A number of exemplary appliance adjustment rules define various audio features that suggest when an appliance setting should be adjusted. Each rule contains one or more audio features and a corresponding appliance adjustment that should be performed when the rule is satisfied. The appliance adjustment rules can be predefined or dynamically determined from observed user behavior.

Abstract: Generally, techniques for analyzing foreground-segmented images are disclosed. The techniques allow clusters to be determined from the foreground-segmented images. New clusters may be added, old clusters removed, and current clusters tracked. A probabilistic framework is used for the analysis of the present invention. A method is disclosed that estimates cluster parameters for one or more clusters determined from an image comprising segmented areas, and evaluates the cluster or clusters in order to determine whether to modify the cluster or clusters. These steps are generally performed until one or more convergence criteria are met. Additionally, clusters can be added, removed, or split during this process. In another aspect of the invention, clusters are tracked during a series of images, and predictions of cluster movements are made.