Abstract: The present invention relates to data transmission, and more particularly relates to use of extracted or calculated identifying data as proxies in transmission. One claim recites a method including: receiving identifying data and information from a handheld device, the identifying data having been calculated from audible portions or video portions of first content utilizing at least a programmed electronic processor housed within the handheld device, in which the handheld device comprises a media player for rendering audio or video content to a user of the handheld device, and the information comprises capabilities associated with the handheld device; with reference to a database, determining additional content, enhanced or improved relative to the first content, that is associated with: i) the identifying data, and ii) the information; and providing metadata associated with the additional content to the handheld device. These techniques could be advantageously applied to cell phones.

Abstract: A smart phone senses audio, imagery, and/or other stimulus from a user's environment, and acts autonomously to fulfill inferred or anticipated user desires. In one aspect, the detailed technology concerns phone-based cognition of a scene viewed by the phone's camera. The image processing tasks applied to the scene can be selected from among various alternatives by reference to resource costs, resource constraints, other stimulus information (e.g., audio), task substitutability, etc. The phone can apply more or less resources to an image processing task depending on how successfully the task is proceeding, or based on the user's apparent interest in the task. In some arrangements, data may be referred to the cloud for analysis, or for gleaning. Cognition, and identification of appropriate device response(s), can be aided by collateral information, such as context. A great number of other features and arrangements are also detailed.

Abstract: A smart phone senses audio, imagery, and/or other stimulus from a user's environment, and acts autonomously to fulfill inferred or anticipated user desires. In one aspect, the detailed technology concerns phone-based cognition of a scene viewed by the phone's camera. The image processing tasks applied to the scene can be selected from among various alternatives by reference to resource costs, resource constraints, other stimulus information (e.g., audio), task substitutability, etc. The phone can apply more or less resources to an image processing task depending on how successfully the task is proceeding, or based on the user's apparent interest in the task. In some arrangements, data may be referred to the cloud for analysis, or for gleaning. Cognition, and identification of appropriate device response(s), can be aided by collateral information, such as context. A great number of other features and arrangements are also detailed.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to various methods and systems to provide substitute sound (e.g., audio). One claim includes an apparatus comprising: electronic memory for storing identifying information obtained from steganographically encoded sound; an electronic processor programmed for: providing the identifying information to a remote computer, the remote computer including substitute sound corresponding to the identifying information; providing format information to the remote computer, the format information identifying a format in which the substitute sound should be formatted prior to communication of the substitute sound; and controlling receipt of substitute sound corresponding to the identifying information. Of course, other apparatus, methods and combinations are provided as well.

Abstract: An image containing text (e.g., a surveillance camera photo that includes a vehicle license plate) is analyzed to determine the text (e.g., by an OCR technique). The recognized text is then stored in a database. The image is digitally watermarked with an identifier that associates the image with the database location where the text is stored. In addition to surveillance contexts, this technology can be employed in indexing the World Wide Web. Images used in web pages can be watermarked to link to associated text or other data. When the web page is crawled by an indexer, the watermark can be decoded and the associated data repository accessed to obtain information that can augment the web index for that page.

Abstract: The presently claimed technology relates generally to audio-based, location-related methods. One claim recites a method in which a microphone in a user's portable device captures ambient sound, and corresponding data is then processed to determine location information about the user's location. Action is then taken involving the determined location information. By such arrangement, location information is determined by reference to ambient sound captured by a user-carried portable device. A great number of other features and arrangements are also detailed.

Abstract: The application discloses various methods and systems to provide substitute or replacement components for media objects (e.g., audio, video or images). The substitute or replacement components can be substituted for or to replace corresponding components when making copies of media objects. One claim includes: an apparatus comprising: a processor; and memory. The memory includes instructions for execution by said processor. The instructions include instructions to: upon receipt of a copy request, determine whether an object to be copied comprises a steganographic signal hidden within at least one component of the object; if the object comprises a steganographic signal hidden therein, obtain a substitute or replacement component corresponding to the steganographic signal; and execute the copy request of the object to yield a copy object including providing in the copy object the substitute or replacement component for the at least one component of the object.

Abstract: A shopper is presented with a customized online store whose inventory is defined by the shopper. In one embodiment, specification of the inventory is conducted in a bricks and mortar store—either during checkout, or by the shopper walking the aisles and scanning items with a barcode scanner pen or the like. The inventory may be defined—at least in part—by scanning items in the shopper's home. A variety of other novel features useful in on-line shopping are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to data transmission, and more particularly relates to use of extracted or calculated identifying data as proxies in transmission. One claim recites a method including: receiving identifying data and information from a handheld device, the identifying data having been calculated from audible portions or video portions of first content utilizing at least a programmed electronic processor housed within the handheld device, in which the handheld device comprises a media player for rendering audio or video content to a user of the handheld device, and the information comprises capabilities associated with the handheld device; with reference to a database, determining additional content, enhanced or improved relative to the first content, that is associated with: i) the identifying data, and ii) the information; and providing metadata associated with the additional content to the handheld device. These techniques could be advantageously applied to cell phones.

Abstract: A portable device, such as a cell phone, is used to “forage” media content from a user's environment. For example, it may listen to a television viewed by a traveler in an airport lounge. By reference to digital watermark or other data extracted from the content, the device can identify the television program, and enable a variety of actions. For example, the device may instruct a DVR to record the remainder of the television program—or determine when the program will be rebroadcast, and instruct the DVR to record the program in its entirety at that later time. The device may also identify content that preceded (or follows) the foraged content. Thus, a user who tunes-in just at the end of an exciting sporting event can capture one of the following commercials, identify the preceding program, and download same for later viewing.

Abstract: A portable device uses a microphone to listen to ambient audio, derives data from captured audio signals, and uses the derived data to request delivery of the audio or related information to the user's home or other location. The device is desirably pocket-sized, or suitable for carrying on a key-ring. The device may also detect a watermark signal that is present in the user's environment (e.g., played through a public address speaker system) to aid the user in recalling the context from which the audio was requested.

Abstract: Cell phones and other portable devices are equipped with a variety of technologies by which existing functionality can be improved, and new functionality can be provided. Some relate to visual search capabilities, and determining appropriate actions responsive to different image inputs. Others relate to processing of image data. Still others concern metadata generation, processing, and representation. Yet others relate to coping with fixed focus limitations of cell phone cameras, e.g., in reading digital watermark data. Still others concern user interface improvements. A great number of other features and arrangements are also detailed.

Abstract: Cell phones and other portable devices are equipped with a variety of technologies by which existing functionality can be improved, and new functionality can be provided. Some aspects relate to data driven imaging architectures, in which a cell phone's image sensor is one in a chain of stages that successively act on packetized instructions/data, to capture and later process imagery. Other aspects relate to distribution of processing tasks between the device and remote resources (“the cloud”). Elemental image processing, such as filtering and edge detection—and even some simpler template matching operations—may be performed on the cell phone. Other operations are referred out to remote service providers. The remote service providers can be identified using techniques such as a reverse auction, though which they compete for processing tasks. Other aspects of the disclosed technologies relate to visual search capabilities, and determining appropriate actions responsive to different image inputs.

Abstract: The presently claimed invention relate generally to portable audio devices. One claim recites a method including: receiving audio content data through an interface of a portable personal digital device capable of playing audio; storing the received audio content data in electronic memory; audibly rendering said audio content data; utilizing an electronic processor, counting a number of plays of the received audio content data; and displaying the number of plays of the received audio content data to a user of the portable personal digital device. Of course additional claims and combination are provided as well.

Abstract: An image containing text (e.g., a surveillance camera photo that includes a vehicle license plate) is analyzed to determine the text (e.g., by an OCR technique). The recognized text is then stored in a database. The image is digitally watermarked with an identifier that associates the image with the database location where the text is stored. In addition to surveillance contexts, this technology can be employed in indexing the World Wide Web. Images used in web pages can be watermarked to link to associated text or other data. When the web page is crawled by an indexer, the watermark can be decoded and the associated data repository accessed to obtain information that can augment the web index for that page.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to interacting with audio and ambient music, e.g., as obtained by a handheld device such as a cell phone. One combination includes: receiving electronic signals representing ambient music captured with a microphone in a user device; transferring the electronic signals representing the ambient music to a processor; receiving from the processor data derived from the electronic signals; using said data to obtain information from a database, said information relating to the ambient music; and providing at least textual information to a user about the ambient music, said provided textual information being based at least in part on information obtained from the database. This combination may also provide to the user a pointer to an online site, the online site including third-party reviews of content. A related combination may provide to the user a pointer to an online site that provides streaming media content associated with the ambient music.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to methods usable with handheld devices (e.g., music players or cell phones) and cell phones. One claim recites a cell phone including: an input or interface to receive first content corresponding to audio or video; a media player to render audio or video; an analyzer to derive a plural-bit identifier from portions of the first content representing audio elements of the audio or video picture elements of the video; data indicating at least some capabilities of the media player; and a controller to control: i) communicating the plural-bit identifier and the data indicating the at least some capabilities of the media player to a network resource to obtain enhanced content therefrom, the enhanced content being enhanced relative to the first content, and the enhanced content being associated with the plural-bit identifier and the media player; and ii) obtaining the enhanced content from the network resource. Of course, other claims and combinations are provided as well.

Abstract: Metadata determines treatment of content by automated systems, including “user generated content” web sites. The metadata may be conveyed with the content or may be determined by other techniques, including systems based on digital watermarking or content fingerprinting. In some arrangements, treatment depends on the temporal length of a content excerpt that matches a pre-existing work. In others, treatment depends on popularity—either of the content, or a pre-existing work from which it was derived. A great variety of other factors and contexts can also be considered. Automated tools to preliminarily identify possible “fair use” can be realized; further determination may be made by human evaluators (including crowd-source approaches).

Abstract: The disclosed technology generally relates to methods for identifying audio and video entertainment content. Certain shortcomings of fingerprint-based content identification can be redressed through use of crowdsourcing techniques.

Abstract: The application discloses various methods and systems to provide substitute or replacement components for media objects (e.g., audio, video or images). The substitute or replacement components can be substituted for or to replace corresponding components when making copies of media objects. One claim includes: an apparatus comprising: a processor; and memory. The memory includes instructions for execution by said processor. The instructions include instructions to: upon receipt of a copy request, determine whether an object to be copied comprises a steganographic signal hidden within at least one component of the object; if the object comprises a steganographic signal hidden therein, obtain a substitute or replacement component corresponding to the steganographic signal; and execute the copy request of the object to yield a copy object including providing in the copy object the substitute or replacement component for the at least one component of the object.