Abstract: A method for billing of a parking fee includes the steps of: when it is determined that neither license plate identifier data nor time data is stored in a storage unit, that no target is contained in a current image, and that a license plate identifier is recognized in the current image, storing time at which the current image is captured and the license plate identifier in the storage unit to respectively serve as the time data and the license plate identifier data; and when it is determined that the license plate identifier data and the time data are stored, and that the license plate identifier is recognized, calculating a parking fee of the vehicle according to a parking rate, the time data, and the time at which the current image is captured.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for classifying spoken content in a teleconference for a follower of the teleconference is disclosed. The method comprises: detecting a topic to which the spoken content belongs; determining a (overall) correlation degree between the follower and the spoken content at least according to a correlation degree between the follower and the topic; and classifying the spoken content according to the (overall) correlation degree between the follower and the spoken content. With the method and the apparatus, the correlation degree between the spoken content in the teleconference and the follower of the teleconference can be determined automatically, and the spoken content can be classified according to the correlation degree, so that the follower can selectively pay attention to some spoken contents during the teleconference, which reduces a burden of the follower and improves conference efficiency.

Abstract: A portable teeth rinsing machine includes a base and a spray gun. The base includes an air compression device to generate compressed air and a liquid compression device to generate a compressed liquid. The spray gun communicates with the air compression device and the liquid compression device, and includes an air directing passage to get the compressed air, a liquid directing passage to get the compressed liquid, a first depressing portion located in the air directing passage and triggered to output the compressed air, and a second depressing portion located in the liquid directing passage and triggered to output the compressed liquid.

Abstract: A computer program product is provided and includes a non-transitory tangible storage medium readable by a processing circuit and on which instructions are stored for execution by the processing circuit for performing a method. The method includes enabling retrieval of a keyboard pressed sequence of characters of a first type, permitting a re-selection of characters of a second type, which are associated with the keyboard pressed sequence of the characters of the first type and permitting modification of the keyboard pressed sequence of the characters of the first type to initiate a search for and retrieval of characters of the second type.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for classifying spoken content in a teleconference for a follower of the teleconference is disclosed. The method comprises: detecting a topic to which the spoken content belongs; determining a (overall) correlation degree between the follower and the spoken content at least according to a correlation degree between the follower and the topic; and classifying the spoken content according to the (overall) correlation degree between the follower and the spoken content. With the method and the apparatus, the correlation degree between the spoken content in the teleconference and the follower of the teleconference can be determined automatically, and the spoken content can be classified according to the correlation degree, so that the follower can selectively pay attention to some spoken contents during the teleconference, which reduces a burden of the follower and improves conference efficiency.

Abstract: A computer program product is provided and includes a non-transitory tangible storage medium readable by a processing circuit and on which instructions are stored for execution by the processing circuit for performing a method. The method includes enabling retrieval of a keyboard pressed sequence of characters of a first type, permitting a re-selection of characters of a second type, which are associated with the keyboard pressed sequence of the characters of the first type and permitting modification of the keyboard pressed sequence of the characters of the first type to initiate a search for and retrieval of characters of the second type.

Abstract: A moving object detection method and an image processing system thereof are provided. First, a pixel-wise distance of a received image to a reference image is computed to obtain a distance map. A histogram analysis is performed on the distance map to obtain a distance distribution. An entropy value of the distance distribution is computed and a peak distance value which is with a maximum occurrence probability in the distance distribution is searched out. Then, by using a mapping rule, the entropy value and the peak distance value are transformed into a decision threshold value. The decision threshold value is applied in classifying the pixels of the distance map into a group of foreground attributes and a group of background attributes and thereby moving objects in the current image are obtained.

Abstract: A computer program product is provided and includes a non-transitory tangible storage medium readable by a processing circuit and on which instructions are stored for execution by the processing circuit for performing a method. The method includes enabling retrieval of a keyboard pressed sequence of characters of a first type, permitting a re-selection of characters of a second type, which are associated with the keyboard pressed sequence of the characters of the first type and permitting modification of the keyboard pressed sequence of the characters of the first type to initiate a search for and retrieval of characters of the second type.

Abstract: A computer program product is provided and includes a non-transitory tangible storage medium readable by a processing circuit and on which instructions are stored for execution by the processing circuit for performing a method. The method includes enabling retrieval of a keyboard pressed sequence of characters of a first type, permitting a re-selection of characters of a second type, which are associated with the keyboard pressed sequence of the characters of the first type and permitting modification of the keyboard pressed sequence of the characters of the first type to initiate a search for and retrieval of characters of the second type.

Abstract: A foreground image separation method is disclosed to separate dynamic foreground and static background in a sequence of input images which have been processed either with automatic white balance or brightness control by the camera. First, an input image is received from the camera, and then a white balance or brightness compensation is performed to the input image according to a reference image to generate a compensated image with background color and background brightness which are approximately similar to that of the reference image. Finally, a background subtraction algorithm is performed to the compensated image to generate a background separation result. The background subtraction algorithm could be a Gaussian Mixture Model based algorithm. The method could process successive images received from the camera to continuously generate background separation results and update the reference image accordingly, such that video surveillance system could adapt to the change of illumination.

Abstract: Strings entered into a computer system are converted to a common language. The process of converting strings to a common language comprises determining a user-selected target language, associating a user-selected primary input language with the target language and associating a user-selected secondary input language with the target language. The process further comprises obtaining a string of at least one character, converting the obtained string from the primary input language to the target language if the obtained string corresponds to a valid string in the primary input language and converting the obtained string from the secondary input language to the target language if the obtained string corresponds to a valid string in the secondary input language and is not a valid string in the primary input language.

Abstract: A method, computer program product, and system for detecting and displaying user status is described. A method may comprise receiving activity data from at least one of an audio input device, a video input device, and a command input device. The method may further comprise calculating a text availability index corresponding, at least in part, to a likelihood of a user to be available for text communication, a voice availability index corresponding, at least in part, to a likelihood of the user to be available for voice communication, and a video availability index corresponding, at least in part to a likelihood of the user to be available for video communication, wherein at least one of the text availability index, the voice availability index, and the video availability index is based upon, at least in part, the activity data.

Abstract: A moving object detection method and an image processing system thereof are provided. First, a pixel-wise distance of a received image to a reference image is computed to obtain a distance map. A histogram analysis is performed on the distance map to obtain a distance distribution. An entropy value of the distance distribution is computed and a peak distance value which is with a maximum occurrence probability in the distance distribution is searched out. Then, by using a mapping rule, the entropy value and the peak distance value are transformed into a decision threshold value. The decision threshold value is applied in classifying the pixels of the distance map into a group of foreground attributes and a group of background attributes and thereby moving objects in the current image are obtained.

Abstract: Strings entered into a computer system are converted to a common language. The process of converting strings to a common language comprises determining a user-selected target language, associating a user-selected primary input language with the target language and associating a user-selected secondary input language with the target language. The process further comprises obtaining a string of at least one character, converting the obtained string from the primary input language to the target language if the obtained string corresponds to a valid string in the primary input language and converting the obtained string from the secondary input language to the target language if the obtained string corresponds to a valid string in the secondary input language and is not a valid string in the primary input language.

Abstract: A foreground image separation method is disclosed to separate dynamic foreground and static background in a sequence of input images which have been processed either with automatic white balance or brightness control by the camera. First, an input image is received from the camera, and then a white balance or brightness compensation is performed to the input image according to a reference image to generate a compensated image with background color and background brightness which are approximately similar to that of the reference image. Finally, a background subtraction algorithm is performed to the compensated image to generate a background separation result. The background subtraction algorithm could be a Gaussian Mixture Model based algorithm. The method could process successive images received from the camera to continuously generate background separation results and update the reference image accordingly, such that video surveillance system could adapt to the change of illumination.

Abstract: Disclosed is an object detection method and system in an image plane. A Hidden Markov Model (HMM) is employed and its associated parameters are initialized for an image plane. Updating HMM parameters is accomplished by referring to the previous estimated object mask in a spatial domain. With the updated HMM parameters and a decoding algorithm, a refined state sequence is obtained and a better object mask is restored from the refined state sequence. Consequently, estimation of the HMM parameters can be rapidly achieved and robust object detection can be effected. This allows the resultant object mask to be closer to the real object area, and the false detection in the background area can be decreased.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for adaptive object detection, which may be applied in detecting an object having an ellipse feature. The method for adaptive object detection comprises performing an object shape detection based on the extracted foreground from the object; determining whether the object being occluded according to the detected feature statistic information of the object; if the object being not occluded, determining whether to switching object shape detection to ellipse detection; if the object being occluded or necessary to switch to ellipse detection, performing ellipse detection on the foreground; when the foreground being detected to have ellipse features, the object is continuously tracked; and when the current detection being ellipse detection, determining whether the ellipse detection being able to switch back to object shape detection.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an auxiliary cooling water supplier for a dental implant device, which comprises a main machine having a built-in water-supply module, a conduit, an outlet module, a flowrate control circuit and a pedal. The main machine further comprises a control unit; the control unit is connected to the flowrate control circuit, and the flowrate control circuit is connected to the water-supply module. The user can use the control unit to regulate the flowrate of the outlet module or to switch between an automatic water-supply mode and a pedal control mode. The auxiliary cooling water supplier for a dental implant device of the present invention has the advantages of lightweight, portability, maneuverability, simple structure and easy operation.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an illuminator for a dental drill, which comprises a body having a front end and a rear end and having an accommodation room thereinside, a drill installed at the front end of the body, and an illuminator having a light-emitting diode (LED). The body further has an opening-located portion, and the opening-located portion has a through-hole. The LED is installed in the through-hole and has a light-emitting portion facing outward from the through-hole. The present invention adopts a LED as the light source and is simpler and cheaper than the conventional illuminator using an electric bulb or optical fibers.

Abstract: Disclosed is an object detection method and system in an image plane. A Hidden Markov Model (HMM) is employed and its associated parameters are initialized for an image plane. Updating HMM parameters is accomplished by referring to the previous estimated object mask in a spatial domain. With the updated HMM parameters and a decoding algorithm, a refined state sequence is obtained and a better object mask is restored from the refined state sequence. Consequently, estimation of the HMM parameters can be rapidly achieved and robust object detection can be effected. This allows the resultant object mask to be closer to the real object area, and the false detection in the background area can be decreased.