Abstract: A method for determining parking availability includes receiving video data from a sequence of frames taken from an image capture device that is monitoring a parking area. The method includes determining background and foreground images in an initial frame of the sequence of frames. The method further includes updating the background and foreground images in each of the sequence of frames following the initial frame. The method also includes determining a length of a parking space using the determined background and foreground images. The determining includes computing a pixel distance between a foreground image and one of an adjacent foreground image and an end of the parking area. The determining further includes mapping the pixel distance to an actual distance for estimating the length of the parking space.

Abstract: A method for calibrating in situ a plurality of printheads in an imaging device has been developed. Firing signals operate a plurality of printheads to form ink test patterns on an image receiving member. Reflectance measurements of light reflected from the test patterns and optical density measurements for a portion of the patterns formed by only one printhead in the plurality of printheads are used to adjust the firing signals and enable the printheads to print within a predetermined range about an average reflectance value and a predetermined optical density.

Abstract: This closure provides image processing methods and apparatus for corner enhancing a digital image for rendering on an image output device. According to an exemplary method, the method determines whether or not image pixels are associated with a corner as a function of the USAN values generated for the image pixels. Subsequently, one or more pixels associated with a corner are modified to render a corner enhanced image.

Abstract: A method of operating a printer enables the mass of the ink drops ejected by the printheads in the printer to maintained in an optimal range without measuring the drop mass being ejected by the inkjets in the printheads. After calibration of the printheads, the printheads are operated with electrical signals having different peak-to-peak voltages. The number of inoperable inkjets for each printhead is determined from image data of the ejected ink on the image receiving member and the number of inoperable inkjets for each printhead is compared to a predetermined threshold. The peak-to-peak voltage for the electrical signals used to operate a printhead is adjusted with reference to the number of inoperable inkjets and the predetermined threshold.

Abstract: Compensation for rendering device non-uniformities is provided for halftoned images. A spatially dependent tone reproduction curve (TRC) provides compensation values. Pixel location information is used to access TRC values. For example, the values are modification values. The modification values are added to the pixel values to generate combined values. Quantization is applied to the combined values to prepare compensated image data for rendering. For example, Rank Ordered Error Diffusion is applied to the combined values. The combined values may include diffused error from previously processed pixels. Gray values may be estimated for the respective pixels. The estimated gray values may be used to access compensation information from a TRC that is both spatially and gray value dependent. Mathematical basis decomposition is used to reduce TRC memory requirements.

Abstract: A method for calibrating in situ a plurality of printheads in an imaging device has been developed. Firing signals operate a plurality of printheads to form ink test patterns on an image receiving member. Reflectance measurements of light reflected from the test patterns and optical density measurements for a portion of the patterns formed by only one printhead in the plurality of printheads are used to adjust the firing signals and enable the printheads to print within a predetermined range about an average reflectance value and a predetermined optical density.

Abstract: A method and computing device that provides viewer impression data for a recorded digital video stream. The method receives a digital video stream as a series of segments, and stores it as a recorded digital video stream having a transition between two consecutive segments at a transition position. The method stores a notification tag that is associated with the transition, and that includes a tag position in the recorded digital video stream, a notification mode, and tag data. During playback of the recorded digital video stream, the method generates a play mode status event, and generates a transition notification when the playback encounters the notification tag and, based on the notification mode, the transition associated with the notification tag. The method collects viewer impression data for one of the two consecutive segments from the play mode status event and the transition notification.

Abstract: An embodiment generally relates to systems and methods for determining cell phone usage automatically by individuals operating vehicles. A processing module can process multi-spectral images or videos of individuals and detect different regions in the image such as face regions, hand regions, and cell phone regions. Further, the processing module can analyze the regions based on locations and numbers of skin pixels and cell phone pixels to determine if the individual is holding his or her cell phone near his or her face. Based on the analysis, it can be determined whether the individual is operating the cell phone. Further, the analysis can yield a confidence level associated with the cell phone usage.

Abstract: A method for calibrating in situ a plurality of printheads in an imaging device has been developed. Firing signals operate a plurality of printheads to form ink test patterns on an image receiving member. Reflectance measurements of light reflected from the test patterns and optical density measurements for a portion of the patterns formed by only one printhead in the plurality of printheads are used to adjust the firing signals and enable the printheads to print within a predetermined range about an average reflectance value and a predetermined optical density.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a thin semiconductor package includes providing a lead frame with a removable substrate that has an attaching surface attached to a first surface of the lead frame. The lead frame is formed from an electrically conductive sheet and has leads that extend inwardly from a lead frame boundary towards a central region of the lead frame. A semiconductor die is mounted on the removable substrate at the central region. The semiconductor die has a connection pad surface with die pads on it, and the connection pad surface is attached to the attaching surface of the removable substrate. The lead frame and die are encapsulated with a first encapsulant so that the lead frame is sandwiched between the first encapsulant and the removable substrate. The removable substrate is removed from the lead frame to expose the first surface of the lead frame and then the die pads are electrically connected to respective ones of the leads.

Abstract: There is an encoding of three dimensional (3D) information. The encoding may include receiving a signal including frames in a 3D video sequence, receiving caption information to appear in a caption window associated with the frames, and/or receiving disparity information associated with the frames. The encoding may also include determining frame disparity maps based on the disparity information associated with the frames. The frame disparity maps may be determined by dividing a part of a frame into a plurality of grid cells. The grid cells may define a disparity measure associated with locations in a grid. The grid cells may form a caption window disparity map dividable into equivalent size portions including an equivalent amount of grid cells. The encoding may also include encoding the frames, the caption information and the frame disparity maps. There is also a decoding of the 3D information.

Abstract: A method enables an inkjet printing system to attenuate image noise in an image of a test strip obtained as print media bearing the test strip travels over a roller in the printing system.

Abstract: Engine response curves (RCs) can be used for streak compensation for printed documents. A feedback control paradigm can be included to effect RC compensation. Singular Value Decomposition (SVD) can be used to represent each RC in the collection of spatial RC data as a linear combination of basis vectors. RCs are approximated by selecting the first few basis vectors, the approximation aiding in noise rejection and reducing computation in the controller by reducing dimensionality of the RC data from gray levels to the number of SVD bases selected. An optimal subset of RCs is selectable from the set of approximated RCs by clustering the SVD weights, the clustered SVD weights producing TRCs that span all engine response RCs generated by a printer. Compensation RCs are constructible using reduced number of bases and clustered SVD weights.

Abstract: A method evaluates image quality in an ink printing system and generates data values for altering the operation of the ink printing system. The method includes generating an ink image on an ink image receiving member that corresponds to a digital image stored in the ink printing system, generating a scanned image signal corresponding to the ink image, generating firing signal waveform adjustments and image data adjustments with reference to the scanned image signal corresponding to the ink image, and operating a printhead in an ink imaging system with reference to the firing signal waveform adjustments and the image data adjustments.

Abstract: A printer operating method enables a controller to identify process direction errors in an optical imaging system. The method includes identifying a printhead roll error for each printhead in a plurality of printheads in a printer, moving each printhead by an amount that corrects the printhead roll error for the corresponding printhead, generating a plurality of dashes on media with the plurality of printheads as the media moves past the plurality of printheads, identifying a position for each dash in the process direction from image data of the plurality of dashes on the media, identifying a displacement in the process direction for each optical detector in a linear array of optical detectors used to generated the image data of the plurality of dashes, the displacement being identified with reference to the identified positions for the dashes, and operating the printer to compensate for the identified displacements of the optical detectors.

Abstract: A switched digital video (SDV) system and method that provides a seamless transition when tuning a set-top box from a first SDV service to a second SDV service. The method detects a set up service trigger in a content stream before a tune request time to transition the content stream from the first SDV service to the second SDV service, and sends a request to set up the second SDV service at a time before the tune request time, where a time difference between the time and the tune request time is greater than a service set up time for the second SDV service. The method detects a tune request in the content stream for the second SDV service, sends a service select request to tune to the second SDV service, and receives the second SDV service at the tune request time.

Abstract: A system and method for distributing targeted advertisements in a switched digital video system. The method monitors a content stream associated with a channel selected by a subscriber, where the content stream includes an advertisement segment having a start time and an end time, and an advertisement replacement opportunity inserted in the content stream. The method detects the advertisement replacement opportunity at a detection time that is prior to the start time of the advertisement segment, and sends a request to select an advertisement replacement for the advertisement segment, thereby broadcasting a service associated with the advertisement replacement prior to the start time for the advertisement segment. The method receives tune data to identify an advertisement replacement stream associated with the advertisement replacement, and tunes to the advertisement replacement at the start time for the advertisement segment.

Abstract: A color correction method includes for each of a plurality of color separations of a digital image, establishing a tone reproduction curve in the form of a vector. The vector is a function of a plurality of basis vectors. The basis vectors account for colorant interactions between a primary colorant with which the color separation is to be rendered and at least one secondary colorant with which at least a second of the plurality of color separations is to be rendered. The vector includes modified input values corresponding to input values for the color separation which vary, depending on the input values of at least the second color separation. For a pixel of interest in the digital image, a modified input value for the color separation which corresponds to the input value of the given color separation is identified from the vector.

Abstract: A method and system for managing information using a gateway (130) is disclosed. The network includes a gateway (130) and at least one wireless device (110, 115). The method includes (304) downloading information from a predefined source to a gateway via a broadband link in response to a real time request received from a wireless device. Further, the method includes (306) storing the information within the gateway. Moreover, the method includes (308) transmitting the stored information from the gateway to the wireless device.

Abstract: A low voltage tunnel field effect transistor includes a p-n tunnel junction, a gate-dielectric, a gate, a source-contact, and a drain-contact. The p-n tunnel junction includes a depletion region interfacing together a source-layer and a drain-layer. The depletion region includes a source-tunneling-region of the source-layer and a drain-tunneling-region of the drain-layer. When no external electric field is imposed, the depletion region of the p-n tunnel junction has an internal electric field that substantially points towards the source-tunneling-region and the drain-tunneling-region. The gate-dielectric is interfaced directly onto the drain-tunneling-region such that the drain-tunneling-region is between the source-tunneling-region and the gate-dielectric. The gate is interfaced onto the gate-dielectric such that the gate is configured to impose an external electric field which is oriented substantially in parallel to the internal electric field of the depletion region.