Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to a monitoring unit and method which counts a number of qualified clusters of a selected event type based on a size threshold, granularity threshold, and distance threshold time. In one embodiment, a qualified cluster is a cluster which meets both the size threshold and granularity threshold. In one embodiment, a qualified cluster is detected and counted by the cluster counter if it occurs at least the distance threshold time after a previous counted qualified cluster. For example, in one implementation, the performance monitor waits until a distance threshold time expires prior to detecting a next qualified cluster. Alternatively, all qualified clusters are detected where the cluster counter counts a qualified cluster only if it occurs at least the distance threshold time after a previous qualified cluster, regardless of whether it was counted by the cluster counter or not.

Abstract: A system for predicting life of a rotary machine, includes a vibration gauge configured to measure time series data of a peak acceleration of the rotary machine; a band pass filter configured to filter an analog signal of the time series data of the peak acceleration measured by the vibration gauge in a frequency band including a first analysis frequency expressed as a product of an equation including a number of rotor blades of the rotary machine and a normal frequency unique to the rotary machine; and a data processing unit configured to predict a life span of the rotary machine by characteristics of the filtered analog data of the time series data of the peak acceleration with the first analysis frequency.

Abstract: A control system for the operation of a centrifugal pump which may be used for production of gas and/or oil from a well. The control system includes vector feedback model to derive values of torque and speed from signals indicative of instantaneous current and voltage drawn by the pump motor, a pump model which derives values of the fluid flow rate and the head pressure for the pump from torque and speed inputs, a pumping system model that derives from the estimated values of the pump operating parameters an estimated value of a pumping system parameter and controllers responsive to the estimated values of the pumping system parameters to control the pump to maintain fluid level at the pump input near an optimum level.

Abstract: A method for reporting data network monitoring information. The method includes accessing performance metric values for a network component and generating a trace of graph data points for the performance metric values. For a range of the trace, a histogram is built and displayed corresponding to the graph data points. For a user interface, a performance monitoring display is generated including a graph of the trace relative to an x-axis and a y-axis and a representation of the histogram. The graph data points in the trace corresponds to a histogram previously built from the performance metric values, and the trace is generated by determining and plotting an average value of each of the graph data point histograms. The building of the histogram for the performance monitoring display involves combining the graph data point histograms corresponding to the graph data points in the selected histogram range.

Abstract: A method for determining from measured reflection data on a plurality of trace positions, a plurality of subsurface parameters. The method includes the steps of: preprocessing the measured reflection data into a plurality of partial or full stacks; specifying one or more initial subsurface parameters defining an initial subsurface model; specifying a wavelet or wavelet field for each of the partial or full stacks of the measured reflection data; calculating synthetic reflection data based on the specified wavelets and the initial subsurface parameters; optimizing an objective function, including the weighted difference between measured reflection data and synthetic reflection data for a plurality of trace positions simultaneously; and outputting the optimized subsurface parameters. A device for implementing this method is also included.

Abstract: A modular method of modeling a product using finite-element-modeling (FEM) software is disclosed that facilitates flexibility and reusability of FEM input-text files. In an exemplary embodiment, a user conceptually divides the product into segments (22, 24, 26). The user then identifies desired variations to the segments, which form the basis for a plurality of modules (27-38). The user then creates module-input-text files for each module and stores the files in a data processing system (10) for subsequent use. When the user wishes to model a particular variation of the product, the user selects the module-input-text files corresponding to that variation, inputs them into the FEM software, and defines the connectivity between the selected modules.

Abstract: A method for selecting a process for forming a device, includes generating a plurality of equations using a response surface methodology model. Each equation relates a respective device simulator input parameter to a respective combination of processing parameters that can be used to form the device or a respective combination of device characteristics. A model of a figure-of-merit circuit is formed that is representative of an integrated circuit into which the device is to be incorporated. One of the combinations of processing parameters or combinations of device characteristics is identified that results in a device satisfying a set of performance specifications for the figure-of-merit circuit, using the plurality of equations and the device simulator.

Abstract: For estimating a value of a vector of variables p in a mathematical model representing a physical process, where a state vector x of the model is estimated by a State Augmented Extended Kalman Filter (SAEKF), and where that the vector of variables p represents one or more properties of the process and is representable by a function of the state vector x, the following steps are executed:

Abstract: A virtual patient simulates the onset, diagnosis and treatment of all major medical conditions via a medical instructional console. The multimedia simulation, complete with video and audio, allows the patient to develop symptoms, answer questions, and undergo physical examination, monitoring, laboratory and radiological evaluation. The virtual patient responds realistically to medical interventions and visualizes medical ailments and treatments from “within”. Exemplary organs available for visualization include a beating heart, flowing blood, breathing lungs and a thinking brain. Medical conditions include clots forming and emblazing, lungs collapsing, and the heart being defibrillated. The virtual patient provides a complete human body heretofore impalpable, allowing a user to navigate throughout the human body, observing the organs in simulated motion during both normal and pathological physiology, while demonstrating the internal effects of medications and procedures on these organs.

Abstract: An automated method for modeling spectral data includes accessing a set of spectral data, corresponding to each of a plurality of samples, each set having associated therewith at least one independently measured constituent value (201).Data transforms are applied to the set of spectral data to generate, for each sample, a set of transformed and untransformed spectral data, which with its associated constituent values, is divided into a calibration sub-set (231) and a validation sub-set (232). One or more of a partial least squares, principal component regression, neural net, or a multiple linear regression analysis is applied to the calibration data sub-sets to obtain corresponding modeling equations for predicting the target substance amount in a sample. The modeling equation with the best correlation between the spectral data in the validation sub-set and the corresponding constituent values in the validation sub-set is identified, preferably as a function of the SEE and SEP.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates commencing simulation of a process from a process checkpoint, wherein the process checkpoint was created from the process while the process was running outside of a simulator. The system starts by resuming simulation of a restart application within the simulator, wherein the restart application restarts processes from a checkpointed state outside of the simulator. The simulation of this restart application is resumed at a point where the restart application is ready to accept a checkpoint to be restarted. Once simulation of the restart application is resumed, the simulator uses the simulation of the restart application to restart the process from the checkpoint. In this way, simulation of the process can be commenced from the process checkpoint, without the time-consuming task of having to run the process within the simulator up to the point where the checkpoint was created.

Abstract: A source code is entirely described in a high-level language. The source code includes a library description and a versatile description other than the library description to correspond to a target processor-adapted assembler code. The library description is made up of functions defined in high-level language. In order to produce target processor-adapted software, a dedicated translator transforms the library description into, one by one, an assembler code, while a compiler compiles the versatile description. A simulator includes a compiler that is operable to compile the library description with reference to a library.

Abstract: A personal computer emulates the functionality of a smart card reader that conforms with the PCSC standard, to enable the computer to communicate with a reader that complies with the EMV standard for financial transactions. An interface in the personal computer checks commands being sent to the reader, to determine if they represent a case in which data is to be received in a response from the reader. If so, the interface emulates the return of a state word which identifies the amount of data in the response. In reply, the interface receives a new command, to which it then responds with data received from the reader.

Abstract: A method of grammar learning from a corpus comprises, for the other non-context words, generating frequency vectors for each non-context token in a corpus based upon counted occurrences of a predetermined relationship of the non-context tokens to identified context tokens. Clusters are grown from the frequency vectors according to a lexical correlation among the non-context tokens.

Abstract: A computer method for representing a natural-language document in a vector form suitable for text manipulation operations is disclosed. The method involves determining (a) for each of a plurality of terms composed of non-generic words and, optionally, proximately arranged word groups in the document, a selectivity value of the term related to the frequency of occurrence of that term in a library of texts in one field, relative to the frequency of occurrence of the same term in one or more other libraries of texts in one or more other fields, respectively. The document is represented as a vector of terms, where the coefficient assigned to each term includes a function of the selectivity value determined for that term, and optionally related to the inverse document frequency of that word in one or more libraries of texts. Also disclosed are a computer-readable code for carrying out the method, a computer system that employs the code, and a vector produced by the method.

Abstract: A question answering system in which a first knowledge database including a knowledge source of a first language, and a second knowledge database including a knowledge source of a second language are used to obtain an answer to a question inputted in the first language by a user. A first acquisition unit retrieves, from the first knowledge database, a first prospective answer of the first language to the question. A first translation unit translates the question into the second language. A second acquisition unit retrieves, from the second knowledge database, a second prospective answer of the second language to the question translated into the second language. A second translation unit translates the second prospective answer of the second language into the first language. A processing unit ranks the first prospective answer in conjunction with a translation result of the second prospective answer.

Abstract: A method selects recordings stored in a database. A spoken query is represented as a phonetic lattice and paths through the phonetic lattice are converted to a set of text queries. The database is searched to generate a playlist of recordings matching the set of text queries and samples of the recordings on the playlist are then played. A particular sample is selected as an acoustic query for searching the database to update the playlist with recording matching the acoustic query. Samples of the recordings on the updated playlist are played and a particular sample of the updated play list is selected. A particular record associated with the sample is then played.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method which consists, when analysing an input signal in the frequency domain, in determining a noise level estimator and a useful signal level estimator in an input signal frame, thereby enabling to calculate the transfer function of a first noise-reducing filter, carrying out a second pass to fine-tune the useful signal level estimator, by combining the signal spectrum and the first filter transfer function, then to calculate the transfer function of a second noise-reducing filter on the basis of the fine-tuned useful signal level estimator and the noise level estimator. Said second noise-reducing filter is then used to reduce the noise level in the frame.

Abstract: A system includes a frame reception device to receive a stream of frames. An energy determination device determines a first energy of a first frame preceding a gap, and a second energy of a second frame, and the second frame is received after the first frame. A candidate testing and blending device determines at least one of first portion of the first frame and a second portion of the second frame to insert in place of the gap, based on the first energy trajectory and the second energy trajectory, and on a determination of an optimal blend point, and blends with at least one of the first frame and the second frame.

Abstract: This invention relates to a mobile communicator which is arranged to save power by efficiently controlling a power amplifier by selecting an adequate speech coding rate. An inventive mobile communicator comprises a plurality of encoding means for encoding a speech signal with different encoding rates, respectively; encoding rate inputting means for accepting an input of encoding rate selected by a terminal user; and encoding rate deciding means for deciding an encoding rate applied for encoding the speech signal based on the encoding rate inputted via the encoding rate inputting means and for selectively switching the plurality of encoding means corresponding to this encoding rate.

Abstract: A sub-band adaptive differential pulse code modulation/encoding apparatus includes means (102, 103, 104, 105) having a predetermined asymmetric impulse response for receiving an audio signal and band-dividing the received audio signal into a predetermined number of sub-bands, so as to obtain a plurality of band-divided sub-band audio signals, a plurality of quantization means (110, 111, 112, 113) for quantizing the band-divided sub-band audio signals with the predetermined number of sub-bands, and encoding means (115) for performing adaptive differential pulse code modulation/encoding of the quantized sub-band audio signals.

Abstract: An efficient coding scheme with higher audio bandwidth and/or better audio quality at lower bitrates, wherein the scheme eliminates long-term and short-term frequency domain correlation in a signal via frequency domain predictors. The coding scheme compresses information consisting of coded low frequency components as well as a parametric representation for the high frequency components based on a non-linear model. Additionally, by working on the frequency domain representations of the signal (such as the MDCT representation which is naturally available to a PAC encoder and decoder), low pass and high pass signal components are easily obtained by windowing the appropriate ranges of frequencies in the signal. Furthermore, the power functions of the signal are replaced by corresponding convolution functions of the same order.

Abstract: A method for encoding speech includes sampling speech to obtain successive voice frames each having a predetermined number of samples, and determining parameters of a linear prediction model for each voice frame. The parameters include a long-term excitation word extracted from an adaptive coded directory using a first linear prediction filter and an associated long-term gain. The parameters further include a short-term excitation word extracted from a fixed coded directory and an associated short-term gain. The adaptive coded directory is updated based upon the extracted long-term excitation word and the extracted short-term excitation word. The first linear prediction filter is updated using the short-term excitation word filtered by a second filter. The second filter has an order greater than or equal to 1 and coefficients thereof depend on the long-term gain for reducing a short-term excitation contribution when a long-term excitation gain is greater than a threshold.

Abstract: A noise reduction circuit suppressing noise ascribable to a bit error to prevent the data quality from being lowered includes a data storage storing input data chronologically continuously supplied. The data storage includes three data registers connected in tandem to each other. The noise detector detects the magnitude of the noise, using three pieces of data respectively supplied from the three data registers to feed an output selector with an output selection signal, selecting noise correction or non-correction, depending on the comparison of the magnitude of the detected noise with a preset threshold. The output selector outputs either one of the inherent input data to be output and correction data calculated by a correction value calculator, depending on the output selection signal, to perform correction on the noise larger than the threshold value.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention provides a method for detecting speech end points in an input signal containing speech portions and non-speech (noise) portions. The method includes processing signal frames of a digital input signal containing speech and non-speech portions to extract features from the signal frames, comparing at least one property of the processed signal frames to a noise model and a speech model to determine whether a processed signal frame contains speech or noise, generating a signal indicative of the speech or noise determination, and updating either the speech model or the noise model depending upon whether a processed signal frame is determined to contain speech or noise, respectively. In some configurations, the method also includes resetting the speech and noise models dependent upon whether a number of zero crossings in a determined inter-frame correlation is greater than a threshold number.

Abstract: A speech processing method that improves overall speech recognition accuracy uses a digital speech signal pre-processing to reduce noise using a noise mitigation algorithm having defined parameters. The digital speech signal is analyzed with a ASR decoder that provides decoder scores; acoustic-unit confidence is determined given the ASR decoder scores; and the noise mitigation algorithm is modified based on the computed acoustic unit confidence.

Abstract: Computer-implemented methods and apparatus are provided to facilitate the recognition of the content of a body of speech data. In one embodiment, a method for analyzing verbal communication is provided, comprising acts of producing an electronic recording of a plurality of spoken words; processing the electronic recording to identify a plurality of word alternatives for each of the spoken words, each of the plurality of word alternatives being identified by comparing a portion of the electronic recording with a lexicon, and each of the plurality of word alternatives being assigned a probability of correctly identifying a spoken word; loading the word alternatives and the probabilities to a database for subsequent analysis; and examining the word alternatives and the probabilities to determine at least one characteristic of the plurality of spoken words.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a transcription service over a network. The transcription service includes a transcription server, a database, and several communication gateways. A transcription request is received by the system from anyone and includes an audio file, transcription instructions are derived by the system from a requestor profile, from preferences submitted with the audio file, or both. The request is then processed by the transcription server, the audio file is transmitted to at least one transcriber for transcription, transcribers receive the audio file, transcribe the file, and send the transcription back to the transcription server. The transcription server processes the file and sends the transcription to the entity that requested the transcription. Transcription accuracy is validated statistically by the system, thereby enabling reliable transcription from unknown transcription nodes. Profiles may be configured for both transcribers and transcription requestors.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for configuring a user interface for an electronic device for connecting it at least temporarily to a telecommunication or data network, comprising a voice-oriented user interface and/or a voice data entry device. The user interface or voice data entry device is configured via the telecommunication or data network by transferring at least parts of a vocabulary from a main unit in the telecommunication or data network to a terminal component of the user interface, which receives said parts of the vocabulary and saves them in an internal vocabulary memory.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for gathering audience measurement data relating to receipt of and/or exposure to audio data by an audience member. Audio data is monitored to detect a monitoring code. Based on detection of the monitoring code, a signature characterizing the audio data is extracted.

Abstract: Integrating voice communication into a game console to minimize or eliminate voice data processing by a primary processor. Input voice data from a microphone or a network is processed by a secondary processor and stored in a circular buffer. Drift between storing and reading the processed voice data may result from differing data rates, interrupts, and other latencies. If the circular buffer, accumulates an amount of data that exceeds a predefined threshold corresponding to a human perceptible latency, a pointer in the circular buffer is reset, so that only a portion of the processed voice data is output. A stream of packet contexts each indicate a location and length of voice data in the circular buffer to be output. Preferably, the output voice data is encoded in a standard digital format, such as universal serial bus. The output voice data may be communicated to a network or a sound transducer.

Abstract: A method for generating animated sequences of talking heads in text-to-speech applications wherein a processor samples a plurality of frames comprising image samples. Representative parameters are extracted from the image samples and stored in an animation library. The processor also samples a plurality of multiphones comprising images together with their associated sounds. The processor extracts parameters from these images comprising data characterizing mouth shapes, maps, rules, or equations, and stores the resulting parameters and sound information in a coarticulation library. The animated sequence begins with the processor considering an input phoneme sequence, recalling from the coarticulation library parameters associated with that sequence, and selecting appropriate image samples from the animation library based on that sequence. The image samples are concatenated together, and the corresponding sound is output, to form the animated synthesis.

Abstract: An arrangement is provided for enabling multi-user meeting minute generation and consolidation. A plurality of clients sign up a meeting session across a network. Each of the clients participating in the meeting session associates with an automatic meeting minute enabling mechanism. The automatic meeting minute enabling mechanism is capable of processing acoustic input containing speech data representing the speech of its associated client in a source language to generate one or more transcriptions based on the speech of the client in one or more destination languages, according to information related to other participating clients. Such generated transcriptions from the plurality of participating clients are consolidated to produce meeting minutes update.

Abstract: A spoken interaction system for enabling a user to interact with said information system, said interaction system being aimed at being connected to the information system, the interaction system being aimed at being connected to a recognition system for enabling the user to interact with the information system by means of phrases generated by said user and processed by the recognition system, said interaction system comprising at least one domain module aimed at having defined therein phrase set-ups that are constructed based on object classes, attributes classes and action classes that are common to said information systems of the considered application domain and are provided to the particularised with specific objects types, action types, attribute types and their instances, provided from the information system, in order to define a grammar of phrases that are provided to be generated by the user to interact with the information system.

Abstract: A method of transmitting an audio analog signal over limited bandwidth transmit channels include digitizing the analog signal and splitting the digitized signal into multiple channels. One channel is downsampled and anti-aliased. Another channel is high-pass filtered and downsampled. The channels are then encoded, and multiplexed together along with an alignment signal. The channels are then transmitted over limited bandwidth channels.

Abstract: Datacasting bandwidth enhancements are accomplished using a perceptual audio coder (PAC) that indicates, to a push-pull gateway (PPG), the availability of deterministic and opportunistic bandwidth. In case of real-time programs, data is pulled from a pre-managed datacasting service queue, and the deterministic bandwidth is used for real-time low bit-rate program related information and the opportunistic bandwidth is used for transmission of encoded non-real-time data content. For recorded content, further enhancement is achieved by preprocessing the audio song. The PAC identifies data rate (e.g., in kbps) and the deterministic and opportunistic deterministic bandwidth available (with delay variance). This information is conveyed to a push-pull gateway which performs management of data content destined for the deterministic opportunistic queue.

Abstract: A method for processing mail provides a pre-sorting service to a market which is not recognized by any public or private entity in the mailing and shipping industry. This market includes businesses and/or individuals who alone are unable to satisfy the minimum requirements of a postal service for pre-sort mail. The method in includes providing a mail box for collecting pre-sort mail in an office building, business area, or another publicly accessible venue, collecting mail from the mail box, and then combining it into pre-sorted bundles which satisfy postal service requirements for pre-sort mail. The bundles are then submitted to a post office to thereby realize a profit. The invention is also a smart mail box which includes a processor for performing at least one of a variety of mail-related and communications functions. To aid the customer, the box may include a display. A remotely located management center may monitor the status of the box to provide enhanced services to consumers.

Abstract: An enterprise business planning system includes a server to execute an enterprise planning session for a set of enterprise contributors in accordance with an enterprise model, wherein the enterprise model defines hierarchically arranged nodes and associates the enterprise contributors with the nodes. The system further comprises a web browser executing on a remote computing device of one of the enterprise contributors to communicate contribution data between the remote computing device and the server, and an inline compression module executing on the remote computing device. The inline compression module automatically compresses outbound communications from the web browser to the server, and automatically decompresses inbound communication received from the server and forwards the decompressed inbound communications to the web browser.

Abstract: An integrated system for standard registration is provided. The first part of the integrated system a lean documentation system that knows exactly how the registrar will test the organization's quality management system and supplies the organization with one page flow charts that comply with the applicable standard. The second part of the integrated system is applying a near paperless document control software that manages the launch and maintenance of the procedures and quality records and instant reporting. The third part of the integrated system is a powerful database software that receives data from the electronic forms to populate relational database tables.

Abstract: A computer network based employment application system and method is disclosed. The system may be employed by companies having multiple locations throughout one or more regions. The hiring process, application screening, and applicant selection may be performed over a computer network linked to the different locations. Applications are entered on-line and placed in an applicant source pool. The applicant source pool is accessible from the computer network. The applicant source pool is screened for candidates when a need arises within the company. By using the applicant source pool, applicant information retrieval is automated.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for screening applicants to determine whether the applicant is a candidate under one or more incentive/tax credit programs established by either a government agency, the employer, or the like, are provided. An applicant makes use of one or more interfaces provided via a client device to enter appropriate information and transmit this information back to a remote server. This information is processed to determine whether the applicant qualifies as a candidate under one or more incentive/tax credit programs. The one or more incentive/tax credit programs may be identified based on a profile established for the particular employer. The processing of the applicant information may involve applying one or more sets of business rules, established for the one or more incentive/tax credit programs, to the applicant's answers to various questions in a questionnaire.

Abstract: A computer system for facilitating in accessing and reporting detailed financial information from non-depository financial institutions and for enabling comparison of performance of similarly situated non-depository institutions. The system includes a web site and at least one processing component. The web site is used for collecting financial information for predefined periods from the non-depository financial institutions. The processing component processes the information for selected time periods entered into the web site and stores the information in at least one database. The processing information also uses the information entered by all non-depository institutions to determine the status of each non-depository and to generate financial analytical information for internal use within a federally chartered corporation.

Abstract: Systems and methods for processing benefits include providing a graphical user interface, such as a web browser, to a benefit recipient for accessing at least account information concerning at least one benefit type. The benefits processing system may receive a request from the benefit recipient through the graphical user interface for displaying the at least account information concerning the at least one benefit type. The benefits processing system may then display the at least account information through the graphical user interface concerning the at least one benefit type.

Abstract: Product notices are received, a product user is notified and a record of the notice is stored within the receiver. The receiver is selectively enabled to conserve battery power. Notification occurs by way of visual and audible indications.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing geographically authenticated electronic documents is disclosed. Authentication for attributes for an electronic document stored on a computer network are defined, the attributes comprise at least one attribute describing a geographic location associated with the electronic document. Authenticated attributes (e.g., geographic location) of electronic documents (e.g., Web pages) allow for more accurate geographic searching and filtering. An authenticated digital certificate is created and associated with an electronic document. The authenticated digital certificate can be stored within the electronic document, such as can be done with HTML tags on a Web page. The digital certificate can also be stored as a separate file associated with the electronic document, as a separate signed digital certificate and as a database record.

Abstract: A W3 Trust Model is described for evaluating trust and transitivity of trust of online services. By introducing a set of trust attributes for each web document, the W3 Trust Model combines a vertically trusted public key infrastructure with a horizontal referral web classification. It provides a mechanism to assess both the trust and the transitivity of trust of web contents in a heterogeneous environment. The trust attributes are categorized in three categories: a first category which relates to contents of the web document, a second category which relates to owner of the web document, and a third category which relates to relationships of the web document and certificate authorities.

Abstract: The loadage of liquefied gas loaded on a tank lorry vehicle 1 measured on the basis of the load detected by a load sensor 16a attached to at a predetermined position of the tank lorry vehicle 1. The loadage as well as the position information obtained from a GPS signal, time information and vehicle specifying information is transmitted to a business place trough a portable telephone packet communication network 2 and a dedicated line 3. The business place receives the position information, time information, vehicle specifying information and loadage, and produces these items of information as outputs. The tank lorry vehicle 1 collects running information of one's own vehicle whose recording is legally compelled and records it in correlation with the loadage on a memory card 14. The business place 4 reads the running information and loadage from the memory card 14, and issues a report correlated with the running information and loadage.

Abstract: A vehicle information specification determining function is built in the on-board terminal installed on a vehicle to determine the specification for vehicle information collection. An information center determines service charges according to the vehicle information specification determined by the vehicle information specification determining function.

Abstract: Correlation between images and photography locations thereof is facilitated when generating an album of images photographed during a trip. Map data sets are stored in a storage means of an album generation support server. A user accesses the album generation support server from a personal computer to request album generation. Screens for transmitting image data sets and for prompting input of data that specifies a travel route are displayed at the personal computer. The user inputs data regarding a departure point, a departure time, a final destination, etc., and transmits the image data sets to the album generation support server. An album generation server generates travel route data representing the user's travel route based on the input data, estimates locations along the travel route where the image data sets were photographed based on time data attached thereto, and generates album data by correlating the image data sets with a map.

Abstract: Albums are generated by efficiently classifying images recorded on a high capacity memory card. Image datasets, having location data representing photography locations thereof attached thereto, are transmitted from a personal computer to an album generation support server. The album generation support server calculates distances between the photography locations of the image datasets and a predetermined reference position, such as the user's home, based on the location data. In cases that the distance exceeds a predetermined threshold value, the image dataset is assumed to have been photographed during a trip, and is classified as an image for a vacation album. In cases that the distance does not exceed the threshold value, the image dataset is assumed to have been photographed in the vicinity of the user's home, and classified as an image for a theme album, the theme being an event that occurs in the vicinity of the user's home.