Abstract: Various embodiments relating to image capture with a camera and generation of a processed image having desired image characteristics are provided. In one embodiment, a plurality of images of a scene captured by a camera and associated image metadata are stored. Image metadata associated with each image of the plurality of images includes image characteristics of that image, and each image has a different set of values of image characteristics. A request for an image of the scene that most closely matches a specified image characteristic profile that defines one or more values of one or more image characteristics is received. The image characteristic profile is compared to image metadata of each of the plurality of images. A processed image generated from the plurality of images of the scene having image characteristics that most closely match the image characteristic profile based on the comparison is provided.

Abstract: Various embodiments relating to image capture with a camera and generation of a processed image having desired image characteristics are provided. In one embodiment, a suggested range of values of one or more image characteristics based on preferences of one or more sources is received. Furthermore, settings of the camera are adjusted to capture a plurality of images of a scene. Each image has a different set of values within the suggested range of values of the one or more image characteristics.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for smoothing an image in a plurality of video frames consisting of a current frame and at least one previous frame. The position of at least one pixel in each of the plurality of frames is determined to provide respective determined positions. An adjusted position of the at least one pixel in the current frame is calculated based on the determined positions.

Abstract: Lens cleaning warning systems and methods. A system includes an image processing unit configured to analyze image data to determine whether the image data indicates lens flare and, if so, provide an indication to the user that the lens is contaminated.

Abstract: An imaging device and methods of stabilizing video captured using a rolling shutter operation. Motion estimation is used to determine a row motion vector for individual rows of a current frame of a pixel array. The row motion vectors are used to map the location of pixels in the current frame to a mapped frame representing a single acquisition time for the current frame.

Abstract: A method and system for blending images into a single image. Initially two images of a view are selected, wherein the images have overlapping content of the view. The images can differ from each other in such characteristics as time, camera location, camera settings, and lighting. The images are divided into strips along a common plane in a region of each image where the images overlap. A strip from each image is selected where the images are a close match. Pixel by pixel difference values between the two strips are calculated, and a cut line is determined where the differences between the two strips are minimized. Each image is cut along the corresponding cut line, and the cut images are blended together to form a single image of the view. The blended single image can be further processed by warping the image along the cut line to provide for a smoother fit between the two images.

Abstract: A method performed by a processing system. The method includes receiving a sequence of frames, each frame comprising a sequence of at least two images, each image at a different image position in the sequence and each pair of adjacent images having an overlap region. A local alignment value is determined for the images of each pair of adjacent image positions of each frame based on minimizing a difference of a desired parameter between the images in the overlap region. Global alignment values are determined for all images at corresponding pairs of adjacent image positions of each frame based on the local alignment values for the images at the corresponding pair of adjacent image positions of each frame. Each global alignment value is applied to at least one image of the images of the corresponding pair of adjacent image positions of each frame.

Abstract: A method for generating a panoramic image that enables a user to obtain panoramic photographs with a digital camera without the aid of a computer system or specialized lenses. A digital camera according to the present techniques captures a series of image frames as a user pans the digital camera through a panoramic image scene and combines the captured image frames while the image frames are being captured.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for smoothing an image in a plurality of video frames consisting of a current frame and at least one previous frame. The position of at least one pixel in each of the plurality of frames is determined to provide respective determined positions. An adjusted position of the at least one pixel in the current frame is calculated based on the determined positions.

Abstract: Lens cleaning warning systems and methods. A system includes an image processing unit configured to analyze image data to determine whether the image data indicates lens flare and, if so, provide an indication to the user that the lens is contaminated.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for controlling artifacts in an image due to a presence of flicker in ambient light is provided. The method comprises determining a power frequency for the ambient light; determining a magnitude and phase of flicker fluctuation in the image due to the flicker; and adjusting the image for the flicker fluctuation based on the power frequency, magnitude, and phase.

Abstract: An imaging device and methods of stabilizing video captured using a rolling shutter operation. Motion estimation is used to determine a row motion vector for individual rows of a current frame of a pixel array. The row motion vectors are used to map the location of pixels in the current frame to a mapped frame representing a single acquisition time for the current frame.

Abstract: In one aspect, audio summaries and transition audio segments are sequentially rendered with at least one transition audio segment rendered between each pair of sequential audio summaries. Each audio summary comprises digital content summarizing at least a portion of a respective associated audio piece. In another aspect, an original audio file is annotated by embedding therein information enabling rendering of at least one audio summary contained in the annotated audio file and comprising digital content summarizing at least a portion of the original audio file. In another aspect, an original audio file is annotated by providing at least one browsable link between the original audio file and at least one audio summary comprising digital content summarizing at least a portion of the original audio file, and storing the original audio file, the at least one browsable link, and the at least one audio summary on a common portable storage medium. In another aspect, an audio piece is divided into audio segments.

Abstract: A method of blending a pair of images, each image comprising a plurality of pixels having an intensity. A blending edge is determined for each image, each blending edge comprising at least one group of pixels, with each pixel at a pixel position, and an average intensity of pixels of the blending edges is determined at each pixel position. The method includes determining a scaling factor based on a relationship between the average intensity and the intensity of the pixel of the at least one group of pixels of the blending edge at each pixel position of each image. A blending area is determined for each image, each blending area comprising at least one group of pixels having a pixel at each of the pixel positions. The intensity of the pixel at each pixel position of the at least one group of pixels of the blending area of each image is scaled with the corresponding scaling factor.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for controlling artifacts in an image due to a presence of flicker in ambient light is provided. The method comprises determining a power frequency for the ambient light; determining a magnitude and phase of flicker fluctuation in the image due to the flicker; and adjusting the image for the flicker fluctuation based on the power frequency, magnitude, and phase.

Abstract: A color image processing method is provided. The color image processing method includes the step of: (a) indexing a color image by assigning representative colors of an image to a color space divided into a plurality of regions. The color image processing method may be applied to object-based image processing such as MPEG-7, and fast search and retrieval of multimedia content can be made.

Abstract: A color image processing method is provided. The color image processing method includes the step of: (a) indexing a color image by assigning representative colors of an image to a color space divided into a plurality of regions. The color image processing method may be applied to object-based image processing such as MPEG-7, and fast search and retrieval of multimedia content can be made.

Abstract: A system and method for categorizing non-textual subject data, such as digital images, utilizes content-based data and meta-data to determine outcomes of classification tasks. The classification system has a modular architecture in which modules configured to perform specific functions, including algorithmic functions, can be integrated or deleted from the system. At the center of the classification system is a decision module comprising: (1) a task component having a number of classification tasks arranged within a task tree configuration, (2) an algorithmic component for selecting an algorithm for each classification task, (3) a sub-algorithmic component for selecting sub-algorithmic routines for each algorithm, and (4) a learning component for constructing and modifying the arrangement of the task tree and the classification tasks based on the frequencies of occurrences for the classes associated with a set of files.

Abstract: The present application discloses a method, in a digital image capture device configured to enable the capture of a sequence of images for the generation of a wide angle composite image having an angular view greater than each image in the sequence of images, the method including, displaying a composite image formed from a portion of a frame of an image feed and a portion of at least one image from the sequence to generate a preview of a portion of the wide angle composite image having an angular view substantially equal to the current image feed.

Abstract: A method of blending a pair of images, each image comprising a plurality of pixels having an intensity. A blending edge is determined for each image, each blending edge comprising at least one group of pixels, with each pixel at a pixel position, and an average intensity of pixels of the blending edges is determined at each pixel position. The method includes determining a scaling factor based on a relationship between the average intensity and the intensity of the pixel of the at least one group of pixels of the blending edge at each pixel position of each image. A blending area is determined for each image, each blending area comprising at least one group of pixels having a pixel at each of the pixel positions. The intensity of the pixel at each pixel position of the at least one group of pixels of the blending area of each image is scaled with the corresponding scaling factor.