Abstract: A method and device are provided for method for stabilization of image data by an imaging device. In one embodiment, a method includes detecting image data for a first frame and a second frame, performing motion estimation to determine one or more motion vectors associated with global frame motion for image data of the first frame, performing an outlier rejection function to select at least one of the one or more motion vectors, and determining a global transformation for image data of the first frame based, at least in part, on motion vectors selected by the outlier rejection function. The method may further include determining a stabilization transformation for image data of the first frame by refining the global transformation to correct for unintentional motion and applying the stabilization transformation to image data of the first frame to stabilize the image data of the first frame.

Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program products are disclosed for collecting and providing long-term reviews for items such as products and services. In an exemplary method, a first review for an item may be received from a reviewer over a communications network. A determination may be made as to when the reviewer will be a long-term reviewer for the item. After the reviewer is a long-term reviewer for the item, a second review for the item may be requested, and such a second review for the item may be received from the reviewer in response to this request. A request to view reviews for the item may also be received, and both the first and second reviews may be provided in response to this request.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to implementing a generalized workflow execution model configured to provide access to workflow elements. A computer system instantiates a generalized workflow execution model that provides access to workflow elements stored in a database that is connected to the workflow execution model. The workflow execution model includes the following: activity models that include both agents which are configured to express the control flow of the activity models and symbols which represent values usable by the activity models and metadata configured to identify the workflow execution model. The computer system also receives user input requesting workflow elements and accesses the database to provide the requested workflow elements using the generalized workflow execution model.

Abstract: The likelihood of a particular type of object, such as a human face, being present within a digital image, and its location in that image, are determined by comparing the image data within defined windows across the image in sequence with two or more sets of data representing features of the particular type of object. The evaluation of each set of features after the first is preferably performed only on data of those windows that pass the evaluation with respect to the first set of features, thereby quickly narrowing potential target windows that contain at least some portion of the object. Correlation scores are preferably calculated by the use of non-linear interpolation techniques in order to obtain a more refined score. Evaluation of the individual windows also preferably includes maintaining separate feature set data for various positions of the object around one axis and rotating the feature set data with respect to the image data for the individual windows about another axis.

Abstract: The dispatching of messages from an incoming message pool to service instance(s). Message are received non-destructively and exclusively from the incoming message pool. If a particular service instance receives a message out of order, the processing of the message is deferred without releasing the exclusivity in the incoming message queue. Thus, the target service instance may continue to process one or more other messages until the target service instance is ready to process one or more deferred messages. In this way, messages may be pulled from the incoming message queue for dispatch to service instance(s), while maintaining correct order of processing, even if messages do not arrive into the incoming message queue in the correct order.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed towards compressing an image to substantially a preset file size using statistical information obtained from a single subset of the image and an initial compression of the single subset. A representative subset portion of the image is selected based in part on a clustering analysis of the image. The representative subset is then compressed, in one embodiment, twice, in order to obtain statistics useable for the entire image. A scale factor is then determined that may be used in the quantization and for creating a Bit Rate Control (BRC) curve that represents an amount of accumulated bits per Minimal Codec Unit (MCU). During the compression process, the BRC curve is used to prevent accumulating bits from over shooting a final preset file size target.

Abstract: Technologies for conversations between various parties, the conversations including context information that can be persisted to maintain the conversation when the parties or the communications media they communicate over operate intermittently. In such a conversation, any party can embed its view of the context into a message and any party can send the next message regardless of role and regardless of the underlying network, transport, or application message exchange pattern. Such technologies provide for durable services.

Abstract: A mechanical compressor system of potential energy storage for the electric energy generation for electric vehicles and/or with compressed air motor, without withdrawing power to the engine, which allows you as the vehicle travels through irregular terrain: a. take advantage of the vehicle weight to generate startup rpm from generator, both at the ascent and descent of the rack getting the same rpm output of gearbox thus increasing the rpm output of the generator; b. compress air more quickly to have rings of tightness in its cylinder piston which allows to accumulate air compressed by storage tanks through taking advantage of the weight of the vehicle in motion; c. take advantage of the pressure surplus accumulated in the main compressed air storage tank and redirect to the compressed air auxiliary storage tank and after certain pressure, release it into the turbine of the generator in motion and accelerating the movement to generate electricity.

Abstract: Technologies for enabling a continuation based runtime to accept or reject external stimulus and, in addition, to determine if an external stimulus may be valid for processing at a later point in execution.

Abstract: A computer system establishes an execution environment for executing activities in a continuation based runtime including instantiating an activity scheduler configured to perform the following: scheduling activities for execution in the CBR. The activity scheduler resolves the scheduled activity's arguments and variables prior to invoking the scheduled activity using the activity's unique context. The activity scheduler also determines, based on the activity's unique context, whether the scheduled activity comprises a work item that is to be queued at the top of the execution stack and, based on the determination, queues the work item to the execution stack. The computer system executes the work items of the scheduled activity as queued in the execution stack of the established execution environment in the CBR.

Abstract: Video data that includes a plurality of images acquired over time are processed in an apparatus immediately after acquiring the video data, or during some later post-processing of the video data, to reduce the effects of unintended motion in the acquired images. Coarse and fine compensation for motion is performed on video frames that correspond to the acquired images. A coarse compensation value is employed to compress each video frame that is both coarse and fine motion compensated.

Abstract: Activity callbacks in a continuation-based runtime. At framework-definition time, a framework activity is authored. The framework activity may have an environmental logic portion the processes input or output parameters whose values will be supplied to and/or received from an activity callback. The framework activity also includes a callback invocation portion that, during execution time, will actually provide parameter value(s) to and/or receive parameter value(s) from the activity callback. The framework activity serves as a framework that operates with any activity callback that has one or more characteristics. Such activity callbacks may not even be defined at framework-definition time. Instead, the framework activity may be used multiple times in the same applications, or in different applications to thereby provide core framework functionality, while allowing application developers to plug in activity callbacks that meet the custom needs of the application.

Abstract: Technologies for enabling a continuation based runtime to accept or reject external stimulus and, in addition, to determine if an external stimulus may be valid for processing at a later point in execution.

Abstract: A digital camera captures successive first and second images using an image sensor to produce image data, and processes the image data of the successive first and second images. The processing of the second image overlaps processing of the first image in time. The processing of the two images includes mapping locations in a virtual memory space to locations in the memory pages in a physical memory space of the digital camera, and storing information corresponding to the mapped locations in a page table. The digital camera performs operations on the image data of the first and second images stored at specified locations in the virtual memory space, and while performing those operations allocates and de-allocates memory pages in the physical memory space to virtual memory pages in the virtual memory space and updates the page table accordingly.

Abstract: A system for aggregating context information for messages includes a context container that associates names with context values and metadata for context entries. The system further includes a network protocol component configured to read messages from a network transport, an encoder component configured translate messages from a raw format into a canonical message format. The canonical message format is an enveloped message containing an application payload and message metadata. The context container is associated with a message in the canonical format. The system further includes an extraction component configured to retrieve context from a native network transport protocol and insert the context values and metadata into the context container, a plurality of additional protocol components configured to add, remove, or modify entries in the context container, and one or more higher level application components configured to operate on the canonical message using the context entries.

Abstract: Techniques for modifying data of an image that can be implemented in a digital camera, video image capturing device and other optical systems are provided to correct for Image image shading variations appearing in data from a two-dimensional photo-sensor. These variations can be caused by imperfect lenses, non-uniform sensitivity across the photo-sensor, and internal reflections within a housing of the optical system, for example. In order to correct for these variations, a small amount of modification data is stored in a small memory within the camera or other optical system, preferably separate correction data for each primary color. Image data from individual pixels are corrected on the fly by interpolating individual pixel corrections from the stored modification data, at the same rate as the image data is being acquired, so that the correction takes place without slowing down data transfer of picture data from the image sensor.

Abstract: Methods for estimating illumination parameters under flickering lighting conditions are disclosed. Illumination parameters, such as phase and contrast, of a intensity-varying light source may be estimated by capturing a sequence of video images, either prior to or after a desired still image to be processed. The relative average light intensities of the adjacently-captured images are calculated and used to estimate the illumination parameters applicable to the desired still image. The estimated illumination parameters may be used to calculate the point spread function of a still image for image de-blurring processing. The estimated illumination parameters may also be used to synchronize the exposure timing of a still image to the time when there is the most light, as well as for use in motion estimation during view/video modes.

Abstract: Methods for estimating illumination parameters under flickering lighting conditions are disclosed. Illumination parameters, such as phase and contrast, of a intensity-varying light source may be estimated by capturing a sequence of video images, either prior to or after a desired still image to be processed. The relative average light intensities of the adjacently-captured images are calculated and used to estimate the illumination parameters applicable to the desired still image. The estimated illumination parameters may be used to calculate the point spread function of a still image for image de-blurring processing. The estimated illumination parameters may also be used to synchronize the exposure timing of a still image to the time when there is the most light, as well as for use in motion estimation during view/video modes.

Abstract: Declarative definition and composition of activities of a continuation based runtime. When formulating such a declarative activity of a continuation-based runtime, the activity may be formulated in accordance with a declarative activity schema and include a properties portion that declaratively defines one or more interface parameters of the declarative activity, and a body portion that declaratively defines an execution behavior of the declarative activity. The declarative activities may be hierarchically structured such that a parent declarative activity may use one or more child activities to define its behavior, where one or more of the child activities may also be defined declaratively.

Abstract: Allowing a continuation based runtime to resolve different types of location expressions, value expressions, and/or locations. This may be accomplished using a different class for each particular type. The location expression classes may each have a common method used for all of the location expression classes. The value expression classes may each have a common method, and the locations may also each have a common method. This allows the resolution of such location and value expressions to be treated in a unified fashion regardless of the type of location expression, or the type of value expression. Also, the location may be treated in a unified manner regardless of the type of location.