Abstract: There is provided a first and second method for processing a composite video image. The methods generally include obtaining a first image of a scene through a first image capturing device with the composite image including a visual representation for directing a receiver's attention to at least one portion of the first image. Preferably, the visual representation may be an arm, a hand, a finger, or an object used for pointing.

Abstract: There is provided a method for showcasing a built-up structure with at least one room. It is advantageous that the user is able to view the interior of the built-up structure by accessing and navigating about a single panoramic image for each room. An apparatus enabling the method and a method of using a work product of the method for showcasing a built-up structure with at least one room is also provided.

Abstract: An electronic device is provided. The electronic device can include a processing portion and one or more audio output portions. Based on any of, or any combination of, the image signals, optical signals, voice input signals, movement of the electronic device and change in orientation of the electronic device, the processing portion can be configured to do one or both of varying/controlling at least a portion of the audio characteristics of the audio input signals and varying/controlling output of audio output signals.

Abstract: An electronic device is provided. The electronic device can include one or more protrusions and a casing. The casing can be shaped and dimensioned to carry the audio output portions. The casing can include a first face, a second face and sides. The one or more protrusions can extend from any of, or any combination of, the first face, the second face and at least one of the sides.

Abstract: There is provided a sound reproduction apparatus including a sub-woofer unit and a plurality of wireless speakers. A method of speaker charging and speaker calibration using the sound reproduction apparatus is also provided. The sub-woofer unit may be configured to perform tasks of both charging a power source in each of the plurality of wireless speakers; and calibrating speaker identity for each of the plurality of wireless speakers. It is advantageous that both of the tasks are performed when the plurality of wireless speakers is coupled to the sub-woofer unit. The speaker identity may include, for example, left front, right front, left rear, right rear, and center.

Abstract: There is provided a host implemented method for redefining at least one user interface element on a secondary device. The method may include connecting the secondary device to the host for communication between the host and the secondary device; redefining the at least one user interface element using an application running on the host; reviewing the at least one user interface element as redefined using the application (possibly including a visual preview of the at least one user interface element as redefined when viewed on the secondary device); determining whether the secondary device is able to support the at least one user interface element as redefined using the application; and incorporating the at least one user interface element redefined using the application onto the secondary device.

Abstract: A method for association based identification. The method includes providing at least one identifier and communicating identification information based on the at least one identifier. The method further includes receiving and processing identification information. Each of the at least one identifier can be associated with a color code. Identification information can be processed in a manner so as to produce association data. The association data can be associated with at least a characteristic data from a set of library data. The set of library data can correspond to a library of color codes and a characteristic data from the set of library data can correspond to a color code from the library of color codes. The association data is based upon to produce output signals. The output signals can be based on characteristic data associable with the association data.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for producing a coded graphic representation. The method includes providing a graphic array and processing at least a portion of the graphic array. A graphic array can be provided such that an array of graphic indications which includes a plurality of graphic indication pairs can be provided. Each of the plurality of graphic indication pair can have at least a first graphic element and a second graphic element. The first and second graphic element can be spaced apart such that each of the plurality of graphic indication pairs can be associated with an element pitch. The element pitches of the plurality of graphic indication pairs can be substantially similar. At least a portion of the graphic array can be processed by displacing at least one graphic indication pair in the plurality of graphic indication pairs such that at least one element pitch is deviated.

Abstract: There is provided a method for communications involving at least one text message. The method includes a sender apparatus transmitting at least one message, the at least one message including message data and at least one video filmlet; transmitting the message data over a first network and the at least one video filmlet to a server on a second network; and a recipient apparatus receiving the at least one message, the at least one message being combined and generated from the message data received from the first network and the at least one video filmlet received from the server. Advantageously, the at least one message may be generated in a manner as composed by a sender of the at least one message. It is preferable that the sender and recipient apparatus are able to support a data sync protocol on the second network.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus for enabling karaoke. The apparatus includes a casing for the apparatus; a microphone array incorporated within the casing, the microphone array being concealed from a user by the casing; a controller coupled to the microphone array to at least process audio signals from the user input at the microphone array; a data storage device coupled to the controller, the data storage device being for storing pre-recorded songs used for karaoke, and for storing songs as sung by the user; and an image capturing device coupled to the controller, the image capturing device being for capturing images of the user while the user is singing, with the captured images of the user being stored on the data storage device.

Abstract: There is provided methods for increasing a number of media playback devices served by a communications base station. The communications base station may be for transmitting data using a broadcast video band frequency and both transmitting and receiving data using a mobile broadband frequency. The methods enable the communications base station to serve a greater number of media playback devices in the idle mode compared to a lesser number of media playback devices in the active mode. Both the broadcast video band frequency and the mobile broadband frequency may be a data network such as, for example, WiMAX, HSxPA, HSPA+, LTE and so forth.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus for controlling playback of videos grouped in a plurality of playlists. The apparatus may be for controlling a host device and includes a plurality of buttons. Each button is used to perform at least one task such as, for example, toggling the host device from a standby mode to an active mode and subsequently running a first video from one of the plurality of playlists associated with the button; playing back a second video from one of the plurality of playlists associated with the button; tagging a video frame from any video; skipping amongst videos grouped in one of the plurality of playlists associated with the button and so forth. A corresponding method is also provided.

Abstract: There is provided a system and method for video frame marking. It is preferable that a tagged video frame is visually perceptible in the set of chronologically ordered video frames shown in the display. The selection of each video frame preferably causes playback of an excerpt of the video with a duration of the common predetermined interval. The video frame may denote a scene from a portion of the excerpt of the video, such as, for example, start, middle and end. It is advantageous that the excerpts of the video of each tagged video frame is combined using the user interface to generate a concise representation of the video. The concise representation of the video may be in a form where excerpts of the video of each of the tagged video frames are played back at a normal rate while excerpts of the video of each of other video frames are played back at an accelerated rate.

Abstract: There is provided a portable digital media device, including: a storage device; a force sensor coupled to the storage device; a display; and a controller coupled to both the storage device and the display, wherein the display shows information. The device may also be used as a cursor control and input device when connected to a computer. Other applications of the device are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus to process a digital image is provided. The method may comprise receiving host image data, receiving audio data and embedding the audio data within the host image data to provide an embedded image wherein the audio data if freely recoverable from the embedded image. The method may comprise processing the audio data using a Short Term Fourier Transformation (STFT) prior to embedding the audio data within the host image data. The method may reduce an amount of digital data that represents an audio signal included in the audio data prior to embedding the audio data within the host image. In one embodiment, the method comprises quantizing magnitude data and discarding phase data of the audio signal to provide the audio data for embedding. The method may comprise quantizing the audio data to match a shell of a D4 Lattice.

Abstract: There is provided an insert ear bud earphone with variable noise isolation. The earphone includes a housing with a serpentine channel which is able to contain at least one transducer in a main body of the housing; and a cushion which contacts a user's ear canal wall, the cushion being mounted on the serpentine channel. There is preferably at least one opening in either the housing or the cushion which causes leakage and allows ambient noise to enter the user's ear canal. There is also provided a cushion for an insert ear bud earphone. Finally, there is provided a method to enable variable noise isolation in an insert ear bud earphone comprising an inclusion of at least one opening in either a housing of the earphone or a cushion mounted on the earphone which causes leakage and allows ambient noise to enter a user's ear canal.

Abstract: There is provided apparatus comprising a user interface for displaying a plurality of items. The apparatus is arranged: a) to receive at least one instruction, by which instruction or instructions, one or more of a plurality of items initially displayed on the user interface is or are categorized as an item or items to be hidden and the remaining one or more of the plurality of items initially displayed on the user interface is or are categorized as an item or items to be displayed; b) to receive an instruction to hide, from the user interface, the one or more items to be hidden; and c) to hide from the user interface, the one or more items to be hidden, such that the item or items categorized as items to be displayed are displayed on the user interface, and the item or items categorized as items to be hidden are not displayed on the user interface. In one preferred arrangement, the apparatus is an electronic device.

Abstract: There is provided a method for charging a power source of a digital media player (20) using a cable (24) connected to a computer (34), and also a method for activating a lower volume during playback of content on the digital media player (20). Both methods may be triggered by a toggling switch (22) on the media player (20).

Abstract: There is provided a first dock for a portable hard disk, where the first dock is connectable to a host device. There is also provided a corresponding method for accessing content on the host device during use of the dock. It is advantageous that the host device is able to access content from portable hard disks that are docked with the first dock and a second dock.

Abstract: There is provided a method and system for distributing media content over a wireless network. There may be at least one primary stream of media content and the at least one secondary stream of media content being transmitted either simultaneously or with a time lag. Preferably, the at least one primary stream of media content takes up a substantially higher bandwidth over the wireless network compared to the at least one secondary stream of media content, and the at least one primary stream of media content is dropped by a signal receiver at areas of the wireless network with a degraded signal of the at least one primary stream of media content, where the degraded signal may be in a form which is not readable.