Abstract: An apparatus and method to encrypt data having hierarchical information are provided. The apparatus includes an N-th layer key generator, which generates an N-th layer key, an (N+1)-th layer key generator, which generates an (N+1)-th layer key by applying the N-th layer key to a predetermined function, an N-th layer data encryptor, which encrypts N-th layer data using the N-th layer key, and an (N+1)-th layer data encryptor, which encrypts (N+1)-th layer data using the (N+1)-th layer key.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for securing sensitive data from unauthorized access or use. The method and system of the present invention is useful in a wide variety of settings, including commercial settings generally available to the public which may be extremely large or small with respect to the number of users. The method and system of the present invention is also useful in a more private setting, such as with a corporation or governmental agency, as well as between corporation, governmental agencies or any other entity.

Abstract: A reception apparatus includes: a reception unit for receiving the scrambled content, the scrambled content being scrambled so that a predetermined unit of scrambled content is descrambled using a descrambling key corresponding to the predetermined unit of scrambled content, and at least one piece of storage information in which a list including all descrambling keys used for descrambling the scrambled content is embedded; storage unit for storing the received scrambled content and the storage information; list extraction unit for extracting the list from the stored storage information; descramble processing unit for extracting the predetermined unit of scrambled content from the stored scrambled content, extracting a descrambling key corresponding to the predetermined unit of scrambled content from the extracted list, and descrambling the extracted predetermined unit of scrambled content using the extracted descrambling key; and reproduction unit for reproducing the predetermined unit of descrambled content

Abstract: Systems and methods for graphically displaying statistical information relating to the operation of a quantum key distribution (QKD) system. The method includes exchanging quantum photons between first and second QKD stations for each combination of modulator states, collecting data on the number of quantum photon counts obtained in each of two detectors for each modulator state combination, defining a statistical region for each modulator state combination based on the collected data, and displaying the statistical regions on a graph having indicia indicating ideal locations for the statistical regions. The method also optionally includes adjusting the QKD system based on the graphically displayed information to optimize system performance.

Abstract: A method of generating a public key in a secure digital communication system, having at least one trusted entity CA and subscriber entities A. For each entity A, the trusted entity selects a unique identity distinguishing the entity A. The trusted entity then generates a public key reconstruction public data of the entity A by mathematically combining public values obtained from respective private values of the trusted entity and the entity A. The unique identity and public key reconstruction public data of the entity A serve as A's implicit certificate. The trusted entity combines the implicit certificate information with a mathematical function to derive an entity information ƒ and generates a value kA by binding with ƒ with private values of the trusted entity. The trusted entity transmits the value kA to the entity to permit A to generate a private key from kA, A's private value and A's implicit certificate.

Abstract: Sound processing systems have been developed that create a surround effect without quality degradation experienced by known sound processing systems in non-optimum listening environments. The sound processing systems may include matrix decoding systems that manipulate input signals prior to converting them into a number of output signals so that the output signals are a function of a greater number of input signals. These sound processing systems may also or alternately include a bass management system that from the input signals preserves the low frequency components of the input signals in separate channels. Both the matrix decoding systems and bass management systems may also produce additional signals. Further, the matrix decoding and bass management systems may be implemented separately or jointly in vehicular sound systems.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating a multi-channel output signal performs a center channel cancellation to obtain improved base channels for reconstructing left-side output channels or right-side output channels. In particular, the apparatus includes a cancellation channel calculator for calculating a cancellation channel using information related to the original center channel available at the decoder. The device furthermore includes a combiner for combining a transmission channel with the cancellation channel. Finally, the apparatus includes a reconstructor for generating the multi-channel output signal. Due to the center channel cancellation, the channel reconstructor not only uses a different base channel for reconstructing the center channel but also uses base channels different from the transmission channels for reconstructing left and right output channels which have a reduced or even completely cancelled influence of the original center channel.

Abstract: A method and system for pulse code modulation (PCM) audio ramp and decay function may comprise receiving at least one control signal which indicates whether to enable a ramp-up function or a decay function. When the ramp-up function is enabled, an audio input signal may be modified such that an input low to high transition may make a more gradual transition from low to high at the output, and when the decay function is enabled the audio input signal may be modified such that an input high to low transition may make a more gradual transition from high to low at the output. These functionalities may reduce unwanted noise generated when there is a sudden high to low transition, or a sudden low to high transition, in audio signals.

Abstract: A parametric audio system having increased bandwidth for generating airborne audio signals with reduced distortion. The parametric audio system includes a modulator for modulating an ultrasonic carrier signal with a processed audio signal, a driver amplifier for amplifying the modulated carrier signal, and an array of acoustic transducers for projecting the modulated and amplified carrier signal through the air along a selected projection path to regenerate the audio signal. Each of the acoustic transducers in the array is a membrane-type transducer. Further, the acoustic transducer array is a phased array capable of electronically steering, focusing, or shaping one or more audio beams.

Abstract: An integrated circuit (102) configured to provide a microphone output signal, comprising: a preamplifier (108) coupled to receive an input signal, generated by a first microphone member that is movable relative to a second microphone member; and a voltage pump (104) to provide a bias voltage to either microphone member.

Abstract: An audio mixing console that comprises at least one input connector for receiving a video signal for broadcast; at least one input connector for receiving an audio signal; a control panel that includes a plurality of user operable audio channel controls; a signal processing unit for generating an audio output signal; and at least one display monitor integral to the audio console for displaying a video signal for broadcast.

Abstract: A method for processing audio signal that includes receiving a plurality of digital audio signals and calculating signal levels of them. The next step is calculating smooth attenuation signal for each one of the input audio signals. The smooth attenuation signals are calculated according to the signal levels and smoothing criteria, such that the mixing of signals that include the input audio signals multiplied by their respective smooth attenuation signals is peak limited by a given threshold level.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for simulating a 3D sound environment in an audio system using an at least two-channel reproduction device, the method including generating first and second pseudo head-related transfer function (HRTF) data, first using at least one speaker and then using headphones; dividing the first and second frequency representation of the data or using a deconvolution operator on the time domain representation of the first and second data, or subtracting the cepstrum representation of the first and second data, and using the results of the division or subtraction to prepare filters having an impulse response operable to initiate natural sounds of a remote speaker for preparing at least two filters connectable to the system in the audio path from an audio source to sound reproduction devices to be used by a listener.

Abstract: Optimal head related transfer function spatial configurations designed to maximize speech intelligibility in multi-talker speech displays by spatially separating competing speech channels combined with a method of normalizing the relative levels of the different talkers in a multi-talker speech display that improves overall performance even in conventional multi-talker spatial configurations.

Abstract: An earphone device having composite functions at least has an earphone shell body, a loudspeaker, and an adjustment component. Several outer sound holes are disposed on the outer side of the earphone shell body. The loudspeaker is fixed in the earphone shell body. The loudspeaker is arranged outwards. The adjustment component is disposed on the earphone shell body. There are several adjustment holes corresponding to the outer sound holes of the earphone shell body on the adjustment component. The adjustment holes of the adjustment component can be controlled to be opposite to or be staggered with the outer sound holes of the earphone shell body. The earphone device is comfortable for use and can reduce pathological changes in ear and hearing decay to keep the human body healthy. Moreover, the earphone device has the functions of earphone, sound amplifier, and sound box.

Abstract: An inventive loudspeaker includes a diaphragm, a first excitation means for generating structure-borne sound in the diaphragm, and a second excitation means, different from the first one, for setting the diaphragm into a longitudinal vibrational motion in a direction perpendicular to the extension of the diaphragm. In accordance with the invention, the problem of insufficient bass reproduction and/or of the magnitude conflicting with invisible integration or installation is solved in that a second exciter system is introduced, which uniformly moves the diaphragm, or the plate serving as the diaphragm, forward and backward in addition to the bending waves of the structure-borne sound. The sound reproduction therefore is possible across the entire audio-frequency range without impeding the goal of invisible integration or installation.

Abstract: The presently claimed invention relates generally to data encoding and steganography. One combination recites a method of encoding data representing color imagery with an auxiliary signal. The method includes: providing a set of encoding values for a data sample; determining a color characteristic associated the data sample based on associated color values; and selectively scaling color values in the data sample based on the color characteristic to encode at least a portion of the auxiliary signal in the data representing color imagery. Of course, other combinations are provided as well.

Abstract: A curve fitting method is used to synchronize a reader of embedded data in a media signal. A circular reference signal is embedded in the media signal. After geometric distortion of the media signal, the reference signal is distorted, yet still detectable. The amount of distortion is derived by detecting the reference signal, and applying a curve fitting method from which the distortion is calculated.

Abstract: A method for detecting an object in an image includes determining a shape model from aligned training examples, and implementing the shape model as a prior within a level set framework for determining the object in the image, wherein the level set framework determines a projection of the object in the image and a confidence measure along portions of the projection, the level set framework being constrained by the prior.

Abstract: A method for detecting an obstacle by using two cameras, the obstacle being on a reference plane in a field of view common to the two cameras, the method inputting a first image and a second image from the two cameras, respectively, transforming the first image to a transformed image, obtaining a degree of similarity D indicating a similarity between an image in a processing region established in the second image and an image in a corresponding processing region established in the first image, obtaining a degree of similarity P indicating a similarity between an image in the processing region established in the second image and an image in a corresponding processing region established in the transformed image, detecting the obstacle based on of the degree of similarity D and the degree of similarity P on a reference plane region, obtaining a difference K between the degree of similarity D and the degree of similarity P both obtained as being on the reference plane region, judging that the obstacle is at a pos

Abstract: Exemplary methods for performing a statistical analysis of scanned images are disclosed. The methods described herein may be embodied as logic instructions on a computer-readable medium. In one exemplary implementation a correlation value is determined between a scanned image included in a digital file and an original digital image, and a signal is generated indicating whether the correlation value exceeds a threshold.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for determining a document's overall effectiveness or quality using a technique that employs detecting correlation between document citation rate and document presentation elements such as style and layout. A document's citation rate is the number of citations of or references to that document from other documents. This is taken as an indicator of a document's overall effectiveness. This invention employs automated means to obtain, for a sample of documents, both presentation data and citation rate data. Presentation data is obtained, for each document in the sample, by automated inspection of the document, for stylistic elements. The citation rate for each document is based on the number of citations (e.g., hyperlinks) to that document from another set of documents, the larger the set the better.

Abstract: A digital camera system includes an input member for selecting at least one of an individual profile and a group profile and a memory operatively coupled to the input member. The memory includes digital images captured by the digital camera system and a profile information database. The profile information database includes at least one of an individual profile having an individual profile marker and a group profile having a plurality of individual profile markers. A tracking system, operatively coupled to the memory, selectively scans the captured images for images including at least one individual profile marker. A notification system, operatively coupled to the tracking system, provides one of a visual and an audible alarm indicating that less than a pre-selected number of individual profile markers are present in the captured images.

Abstract: An eye tracking system includes an eye camera and a scene camera for supplying video data to interlace electronics indicative of an image of the user's eye and an image of the scene observed by the user. A frame grabber is provided for digitizing the video data and for separating the eye and scene data into two processing channels, and a spot location module determines the location of a reference spot formed on the user's eye. The module includes an adaptive threshold and spot identification sub-modules for indicating parts of the eye camera image which have higher brightness, and for selecting a valid reference spot. A pupil location module determines the user's line of gaze, and a display for indicating the user's point of regard from the user's line of gaze determined by the pupil and spot location modules.

Abstract: Improvements are provided to effectively assess a user's face and head pose such that a computer or like device can track the user's attention towards a display device(s). Then the region of the display or graphical user interface that the user is turned towards can be automatically selected without requiring the user to provide further inputs. A frontal face detector is applied to detect the user's frontal face and then key facial points such as left/right eye center, left/right mouth corner, nose tip, etc., are detected by component detectors. The system then tracks the user's head by an image tracker and determines yaw, tilt and roll angle and other pose information of the user's head through a coarse to fine process according to key facial points and/or confidence outputs by pose estimator.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for extracting feature vectors for face recognition and retrieval are provided. An entire Fourier feature vector is generated for an entire face area of a normalized face image using first and second normalized vectors, and a central Fourier feature vector is generated for a central face area of the normalized face image using third and fourth normalized vectors. An entire intensity feature vector is generated for the entire face area, and a local intensity feature vector is generated for a predetermined number of face component-wise areas. An entire composite feature vector is generated by coupling the first and second normalized vectors and the entire intensity feature, and a central composite feature vector is generated by coupling the third and fourth normalized vectors and the local intensity feature vectors.

Abstract: A method of identifying an individual using biometric data is disclosed comprises of a sequence of steps. First the biometric data of the individual is enrolled, said biometric data selected from one or more of the following: finger print, palm print, iris or any other biometric data. The anchor features and other identifiable significant features are identified. The anchor features consist of: center point in fingerprints or palm prints, optic discs in retina image or lens section in iris image. The other identifiable significant features include: ridge join points, ridge line endings for finger prints or palm prints or macula and vessel density in retina, and lens and iris portion in iris image. The relativity of each significant feature in relation to the other feature is computed. The relativity includes distance or direction or both. The relativity is combined to obtain a classification code. The classification code and the biometric data obtained are encrypted. Then the encrypted data is stored.

Abstract: A method for matching biometric data on an authentication server is disclosed. An authentication server is provided having biometric template data stored thereon. A plurality of workstation processors in communication with the authentication server is also provided. A sensed biometric image is provided to a processor out of the plurality of workstation processors from an individual. From the authentication server to the processor, co-ordinate data relating to a plurality of non-contiguous features of the template data are provided. Characteristic data is extracted from the biometric image, the characteristic data for correlation with the provided co-ordinate data allowing for a subsequent alignment of the biometric image within a known frame of reference relative to the template data on the basis of the provided data and the other data.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, the present technique provides a phantom for testing imaging device. The exemplary phantom includes a first portion having groups of vessels, which are filled with a radiographically opaque substance (i.e., a contrast agent). The each group of vessels may extend from a central region of the first portion to the periphery of the central portion. The phantom may also include a second portion having a testing region. By way of example, the testing region may comprise a series of rings, each ring being configured to attenuate X-ray radiation differently. Adventurously, each ring may comprise materials configured to emulate different types and amounts of human tissue. For example, the exemplary phantom may include a ring, which emulates bone tissue, and a second ring, which emulates soft tissue. Moreover, each ring may be configured to emulate different amounts of tissue.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting a shape in an image are provided. The method comprises: constructing a deformable model from an image; deforming the deformable model to remove an undesired shape in a portion of the image; computing properties of the deformed model to enable detection of a desired shape in the portion of the image; and detecting the desired shape based on the computed properties.

Abstract: A system and method for remote navigation of a specimen.

Abstract: A method of segmenting a radiographic image into diagnostically relevant and diagnostically irrelevant regions comprising: acquiring a digital radiographic image including a matrix of rows and columns of pixels; detecting the initial background left point of a histogram of the image; detecting the foreground of the image; regenerating the background of the image by region growing; validating the background of the image; merging the background and foreground regions of the image as diagnostically irrelevant regions; and extracting the anatomy region of the image as the diagnostically relevant region.

Abstract: An object of this invention is to eliminate the need for any analytic function and maximize the contrast of an image resulting from gray level conversion of an original image. To accomplish this, an image processing apparatus which executes image processing for a radiographical image obtained by converting, into an electrical signal, an intensity distribution of radiation that is radiated to an object and has passed through at least the object, includes a defining unit for defining a gray level conversion curve to be used for gray level conversion on the basis of the contrast of the image resulting from gray level conversion of the original radiographical image, and a gray level conversion unit for converting the gray level of the radiographical image by using the gray level conversion curve defined by the defining unit.

Abstract: A document processing system comprises an input receptacle for receiving documents. A transport mechanism receives the documents from the input receptacle and transports the documents past an image scanner and a discrimination unit. An output receptacle receives the documents from the transport mechanism after being transported past the image scanner and the discrimination unit. The image scanner obtains an image of the documents, obtains an image of a selected area of the documents, and obtains information contained in the selected area of the document. The discrimination unit determines the authenticity of the document. A system controller directs the flows of documents over the transport mechanism.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and method for use in a computing environment to provide object counts by utilizing object images. Objects are detected and images are captured using a programmable array of light sources and photo detectors. The images are compared against known images to ascertain the identity of the objects and subsequently count the objects.

Abstract: A method (100) comprises steps of: receiving a first digital model (102) of a first three-dimensional scene comprising at least one object; receiving a second digital model (112) of a second three-dimensional scene comprising at least one object; and performing a change analysis (102) on the first and second digital models to provide a difference indication representing a difference between the first and second models. In one embodiment a mean square error operation (110) is performed on the first and second digital models to provide a value indicating the difference between the digital models. In another embodiment, a conflation operation is performed on the difference model provided by the change analysis (120) and an object level change database (124) is produced.

Abstract: A method for obtaining a glassless image is disclosed. The image processing method comprises the steps of (a) receiving an RGB color frontal facial image; (b) extracting candidates of eye regions from the received RGB color frontal facial image; (c) determining an exact eye region out of the candidates and normalizing the received RGB color frontal facial image; (d) extracting a glasses frame region by using color information contained in the received RGB color frontal facial image and edge information of a glasses frame; (e) performing an RGB-HSI transformation on the normalized frontal facial image; (f) generating H?, S?, and I? glassless compensated images; (g) obtaining R?, G?, and B? compensated images by performing an HSI-RGB transformation on the H?, S?, and I? glassless compensated images; and (h) creating a glassless final color facial image on the basis of the R?, G?, and B? compensated images.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for converting color images to textured monochrome images such that image regions with similar luminance but different chrominance look different when converted to black-and-white to preserve color information therein. This texture-encoded color information can be extracted at a later time to reconstitute the original color image. The present method involves first converting the color image to a luminance-chrominance colorspace. The chrominance data is decomposed into 4 channels of chrominance. A wavelet transformation of the luminance channel is preformed. Scaled chrominance channels are then mapped to a number of wavelet sub-bands. Once mapped, the wavelet transform is inverted to generate textures proportional to the original colors of the color image having an amplitude proportional to the chroma of the original color. The black-and-white image is embedded with this texture information into the image's grayscale component.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus is composed of an image input unit for obtaining multi-valued image data by reading an image optically; an image processing unit for performing image processing including screen processing on the multi-valued image data obtained by the image input unit; a data converting unit for converting image data obtained by the image processing of the image processing unit into a form that is described in a page description language; and an image output unit for outputting image data obtained by the conversion of the data converting unit to the outside.

Abstract: An image processing method for converting a first image, which is expressed in a colorimetric system made up of a plurality of color components and is constituted of a plurality of pixels each holding color information corresponding to a single color component, to a second image constituted with a plurality of pixels all holding color information corresponding to at least one common color component, includes: a color difference information generation step in which color difference information is generated by using color information in the first image; a color gradient analysis step in which a color gradient indicating an extent of color change is determined based upon the color difference information having been generated; and an image conversion step in which the first image is converted to the second image based upon the color gradient having been determined.

Abstract: Processing a digitized image signal includes selectively adjusting interpolated color values on the basis of correlations between pre-identified reference patterns of values and the patterns of values within the neighborhoods in which the interpolated color values reside. The reference patterns may be various possible combinations of a high reference value and a low reference value within a selected neighborhood configuration. When minimum and maximum color values are used as the reference values, the reference patterns are representative of the various maximum luminous gradient possibilities within the selected neighborhood configuration.

Abstract: A method processes an input image securely. An input image is acquired in a client and partitioned into a set of overlapping tiles. The set of overlapping tiles is transferred to a server. In the server, motion pixels in each tile that are immediately adjacent to other motions pixels in the tile are labeled locally to generate a set of locally labeled tiles. The set of locally labeled tiles is transferred to the client. In the client, the set of locally labeled tiles is labeled globally to generate a list of pairs of unique global labels. The list of pairs of unique global labels is transferred to the server. In the server, the pairs of unique global labels are classified into equivalence classes. The equivalence classes are transferred to the client and the motion pixels are relabeled in the client according to the equivalence classes to form connected components in the input image.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for interactive construction of an object boundary by minimizing a sum of costs, including costs associated with inconsistency of the image data and costs associated with undesired curve shape properties. A particle filter optimization algorithm is implemented that incorporates a variable strength, intrinsic preference for boundary smoothness. The particle filter generates alternative sequences of random moves, constructed in parallel, to avoid becoming stuck in local minima. Approximate optimization algorithms are utilized, keeping computational burden low, freeing resources to analyze intrinsic costs associated with local curvature. In one embodiment, a user may construct a curve by launching a particle stream, and by choosing visually satisfactory locations on the stream from which to relaunch particles. The user can also provide other input, such as drop down dams to redirect the stream at T-junctions.

Abstract: A system detects an object in frames of a video sequence to obtain a detected object, tracks the detected object in the frames of the video sequence to obtain a tracked object, and classifies the tracked object as a real object or a spurious object based on spatial and/or temporal properties of the tracked object.

Abstract: Systems and methods for object or pattern detection that use a nonlinear support vector (SV) machine are described. In the illustrated and described embodiment, objects or patterns comprising faces are detected. The decision surface is approximated in terms of a reduced set of expansion vectors. In order to determine the presence of a face, the kernelized inner product of the expansion vectors with the input pattern are sequentially evaluated and summed, such that if at any point the pattern can be rejected as not comprising a face, no more expansion vectors are used. The sequential application of the expansion vectors produces a substantial saving in computational time.

Abstract: A method for performing a reordering operation on a matrix of input data values, the method comprising: loading the data values into a computer store by forming a plurality of data strings, each data string comprising a plurality of data sub-strings and each data sub-string representing at least one of the data values, and storing each data string in a register of the computer store in which its sub-strings are not individually addressable; and performing a series of data reordering steps operating on one or more of said data strings to reorder said data values; the reordering operation being a scan-wise reordering operation.

Abstract: A layered presentation system (LAPE) includes a server that performs compressed-domain image processing on image data received from multiple clients including a master client and other clients to generate a composite image that incorporates imagery from the other clients with a master image from the master client for viewing on a shared display. The system's clients can add imagery in the form of questions, comments, and graphics to a currently displayed image. The added imagery is processed along with the master image to generate the composite image that then appears on the shared display and perhaps also on each client's individual display. The processing includes scaling the master image/added imagery, as required, and blending and/or overlaying the added imagery onto the master image so as to augment but not obscure it. A network protocol is included for sending image data in the compressed domain back and forth between the server and each of the clients.

Abstract: An apparatus for compressing holographic data includes an image capture device for capturing an image of an interference pattern reconstructed by irradiating a reference beam and converting the image into m bits. In such an apparatus, a splitter removes least significant j bits from the m-bit data and divides m?j bits of the m-bit data into most significant k bits and remaining m?j?k bits. Thereafter, a compressor converts the most significant k bits into l bits, which is combined with the m?j?k bits to output n bits, wherein l<k and n=l+m?j?k. In this way, by compressing a certain number of most significant bits of the m-bit data and thus relatively increasing the number of the remaining least significant bits of the m-bit data, the BER of final reconstructed image data can be improved.

Abstract: An adaptive entropy coder is coupled with a localized conditioning context to provide efficient compression of images with localized high frequency variations. In one implementation, an arithmetic coder can be used as the adaptive entropy coder. The localized conditioning context includes a basic context region with multiple context pixels that are adjacent the current pixel, each of the context pixels having an image tone. A state is determined for the basic context region based upon a pattern of unique image tones among the context pixels therein. An extended context region that includes the basic context region is used to identify a non-local trend within the context pixels and a corresponding state. A current pixel may be arithmetically encoded according to a previously encoded pixel having the same tone or as a not-in-context element. In one implementation, a not-in-context element may be represented by a tone in a color cache that is arranged as an ordered list of most recent not-in-context values.

Abstract: A method for indexing minimum coded units (MCUs) in a Joint Photographic Expert Group (JPEG) bit stream includes (1) entropy decoding a first MCU to determine a bit offset of a second MCU and a DC coefficient of the first MCU, wherein the first MCU immediately precedes the second MCU in the bit stream, and (2) indexing the second MCU by storing the bit offset and the DC coefficient in an index. The method may further include (3) receiving a request for the second MCU, (4) reading the index to determine the bit offset of the second MCU and the DC coefficient of the first MCU, and (5) entropy decoding the second MCU starting at its bit offset in the bit stream, wherein the entropy decoding the second MCU includes determining a DC coefficient of the second MCU using the DC coefficient of the first MCU.