Abstract: The present invention disclosed an all-digital speaker system device based on multi-bit ?-? Modulation, comprising an A/D converter, an interpolation filter, a ?-? modulator, a dynamic mismatch regulator, a differential buffer and a speaker array. The present invention takes advantage of the ?-? modulation technique to effectively reduce the cost and complexity of the hardware realization of the speaker system device, thus realizing the full digitalization of the whole sound transmission link and the integration of the system device with low power dissipation and volume. Furthermore, the system device according to the present invention is provided with a better control ability on the local sound field, thus providing a better practicable method for the voice secret transmission.

Abstract: An audio system including a rendering processor for separately rendering a dialogue channel and a center music channel. The audio system may include circuitry for extracting one or both of the dialogue channel or the center music channel from program material that does not include both a dialogue channel and a center music channel. The dialogue channel and the center music channel may be radiated with different radiation patterns.

Abstract: A headset used as an external louder speaker and a method for adjusting an output of the speaker transducers are disclosed. The headset includes a signal receiver, speaker parts, hinge parts, and amplifiers. The speaker parts change their direction through the hinge parts. The output of speaker transducers is adjusted according to the direction of the speaker parts. When the output of speaker transducers is increased, the speaker parts of the headset are used as an external speaker.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing an audio signal and method thereof, comprising receiving a downmix signal comprising at least one normal object signal, and bitstream including object information determined when the downmix signal is generated; extracting extension type identifier indicating whether the downmix signal further comprises a multi-channel object signal, from extension part of the bitstream; when the extension type identifier indicates that the downmix signal further comprise multi-channel object signal, extracting first spatial information from the bitstream; and, transmitting at least one of the first spatial information and the second spatial information; wherein the first spatial information is determined when a multi-channel source signal are downmixed into the multi-channel object signal, wherein the second information is generated using the object information and mix information, are disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining a virtual sound source position by determining an output for loudspeakers by the position of the loudspeakers in relation to a listener. The output of respective loudspeakers is generated using aural cues to give the listener knowledge of the virtual position of the virtual sound source. Both a gain in intensity and a delay are simulated.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a loudspeaker device, comprising first and second closely located and individually acoustically isolated loudspeaker elements. The first and second elements are arranged to receive a first signal and a second signal, respectively, at least part of said first signal being in anti-phase relative to said second signal. The device further includes third and fourth loudspeaker elements, being located in close proximity to said first and second loudspeaker elements, respectively.

Abstract: A method, medium, and system generating a 3-dimensional (3D) stereo signal in a decoder by using a surround data stream. According to such a method, medium, and system, a head related transfer function (HRTF) is applied in a quadrature mirror filter (QMF) domain, thereby generating a 3D stereo signal by using a surround data stream.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for providing a stereo effect when playing an audio file at a portable terminal are provided. The apparatus includes a component extractor for extracting a mono component and stereo components from an audio signal and a gain controller for determining a signal ratio of the stereo components to the mono component and for controlling a stereo gain according to the signal ratio.

Abstract: A communication system has a wireless transmitter and a wireless receiver. The transmitter is built into a hearing device to be worn at one or both ears of an individual. The hearing device has an input acoustical-to-electrical converter unit and an output electrical-to-mechanical converter unit. The wireless transmitter is operationally connectable to the output of the input converter unit. The receiver is remote from the hearing device by a distance larger than any distance between two areas at one single individual. The transmitter and receiver form a wireless communication link at least for audio representing signals.

Abstract: A miniaturized microphone maintaining the properties of a microphone chip and achieving a smaller mounting area. The microphone includes a package which includes a first and second member. At least one of the first second members includes a recess. The microphone also includes a circuit element installed on an inner surface of the first member. Additionally, the microphone includes a microphone chip arranged on a surface on an opposite side of an installing surface of the circuit element.

Abstract: A vibrator for generating vibrations in a bone conducting hearing device, i.e. a hearing device of the type in which the sound information is mechanically transmitted via the skull bone directly to the inner ear of a person. The vibratory movements are provided by a piezo-electric or magneto-elastic element arranged to transfer the vibrations via the skull bone from the area behind the outer ear to the inner ear. The piezo-electric or magneto-elastic element is arranged to be at least partially implanted in a surgically drilled hole directly into the mastoid bone behind the outer ear so that the vibrations are transferred directly from the element to the bone and transferred in the skull bone to the inner ear. The element is encapsulated with a bone integrating material, such as titanium or various biocompatible ceramic materials or coatings and is disc shaped and acts with a radial expansion upon electrical stimulation so that longitudinal sound waves are induced into the skull bone.

Abstract: A speaker assembly having a removable grill. The grill includes a perforated portion circumscribed by a flange. The flange has one or magnets disposed around an outer periphery of the flange. The speaker body has corresponding slugs disposed so as to align with the magnets of the grill upon assembly. The magnetic bond formed between the slugs and magnets keeps the grill attached to the speaker body during operation of the speaker assembly.

Abstract: A high performance speaker is provided and includes a simple structure magnetic circuit achieved without the need of a complicated manufacturing process, and a high performance speaker is provided and includes a simple structure diaphragm achieved without the need of a difficult process for forming a U shape of a narrow width in the diaphragm. A speaker 100 is equipped with an inner-magnet-type magnetic circuit 4 provided with a magnet 1, a plate 2 and a yoke 3, a voice coil 7, and a diaphragm 6 supporting the voice coil 7 in place close to the end of the plate 2 while allowing the voice coil to vibrate. The yoke 3 is formed in an approximately flat plate shape having a diameter equal to or larger than that of the plate 2.

Abstract: A digital watermark embedding apparatus for embedding embedding information into an input signal having dimensions equal to or greater than N(N is an integer equal to or greater than 2). The apparatus generates an embedding sequence based on the embedding information, generates an N?1-dimensional pattern based on the embedding sequence, generates an N-dimensional embedding pattern by modulating a periodic signal according to a value on the N?1-dimensional pattern, and superimposes the embedding pattern in the input signal and outputs it. A digital watermark detection apparatus measures a component of a predetermined periodic signal in a direction of a dimension of the input signal to obtain an N?1-dimensional pattern, obtains a detection sequence from values of the N?1 dimensional pattern, and detects the embedded digital watermark based on a size of correlation value between the detection sequence and an embedding sequence.

Abstract: Automatically preparing communications for transmission by a mobile terminal device. In one example, this includes storing contact information including personal contacts and associated address and face image information. A face image is extracted from within a still image content to obtain an extracted face image. The extracted face image is linked to a given personal contact among the personal contacts by finding a match corresponding to the extracted face image among previously extracted face images found in the stored contact information. The given personal contact is correlated to address information using the contact information, and a message is automatically prepared for transmission to the given personal contact using the address information.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and systems to protect an organization's secure image information from unauthorized disclosure. In one embodiment, methods and systems to generate image fingerprints are provided. The fingerprints are generated for each feature point of an image data. Because the fingerprints take into account the neighborhood features around each feature point, the image fingerprints are robust against derivative images where the original image may have been altered. Methods and systems to maintain a fingerprint database for an organization's secure image data is also provided. In one embodiment, client fingerprints are generated for image data that a user intends to transmit outside of the organization. In some embodiments, suitable security actions are initiated if any of the client fingerprints match any of the fingerprints in the fingerprint database.

Abstract: A user captures an image of a magazine or catalog page with a smartphone. The page is identified by extracting fingerprint or watermark data from the imagery. Other imagery depicting that page is identified, and is displayed to the user on the smartphone screen. Further imagery can also be presented on the screen. This further imagery can include other pages in the publication that are not be consecutive with the captured page, but that are logically linked with it by reference to a data structure. The user may elect to post such imagery to a social network account (e.g., Pinterest) associated with the user. The posting can include an attribution identifying the original publication. A great variety of other features and arrangements are also detailed.

Abstract: Disclosed are an event structure system and a method and medium for controlling the event structure system. The method includes recognizing multiple-person interaction primitives, composing an event by inference based on temporal relations using the multiple-person interaction primitive, and determining a final event by either eliminating an unnecessary event from the composed event, or adding a new event in the composed event.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting objects. An object detector associated with a platform and configured to detect a number of objects is used to monitor for the number of objects. In response to detecting the number of objects, a number of distances to the number of objects detected by the object detector are measured using a distance measurement system. A number of geographic locations for the number of objects is identified using the number of distances, a location of the platform, and an orientation of the distance measurement system.

Abstract: A gesture recognition system and method that inputs videos of a moving hand and outputs the recognized gesture states for the input sequence. In each image, the hand area is segmented from the background and used to estimate parameters of all five fingers. The system further classifies the hand image as one of the postures in the pre-defined database and applies a geometric classification algorithm to recognize the gesture. The system combines a skin color model with motion information to achieve real-time hand segmentation performance, and considers each dynamic gesture as a multi-dimensional volume and uses a geometric algorithm to classify each volume.

Abstract: In order to perform vehicle control, a warning process, and the like which do not give a driver an uncomfortable feeling in speed adjustment, a warning process, and the like corresponding to a road shape such as a curve, it is necessary to recognize not only a near road shape but also a far road shape with high accuracy.

Abstract: Training data object images are clustered as a function of motion direction attributes and resized from respective original into same aspect ratios. Motionlet detectors are learned for each of the sets from features extracted from the resized object blobs. A deformable sliding window is applied to detect an object blob in input by varying window size, shape or aspect ratio to conform to a shape of the detected input video object blob. A motion direction of an underlying image patch of the detected input video object blob is extracted and motionlet detectors selected and applied that have similar motion directions. An object is thus detected within the detected blob and semantic attributes of an underlying image patch extracted if a motionlet detectors fires, the extracted semantic attributes available for use for searching for the detected object.

Abstract: An augmented reality-based file transfer method and a related file transfer system integrated with cloud computing are provided. The file transfer method is applied to file transmission between a first device and a second device wirelessly connected to each other, wherein the first device includes a file, a display unit, and an input unit electronically connected to the display unit. The file transfer method includes the following steps: when an image stored in the first device is opened, displaying the file and the image on the display unit of the first device, wherein the image comprises a face image of the second user; when the file is dragged to the face image of the second user shown in the image via the input unit and is then released, generating a command; and transferring the file from the first device to the second device according to the command.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and a system for analyzing and learning behavior based on an acquired stream of video frames. Objects depicted in the stream are determined based on an analysis of the video frames. Each object may have a corresponding search model used to track an object's motion frame-to-frame. Classes of the objects are determined and semantic representations of the objects are generated. The semantic representations are used to determine objects' behaviors and to learn about behaviors occurring in an environment depicted by the acquired video streams. This way, the system learns rapidly and in real-time normal and abnormal behaviors for any environment by analyzing movements or activities or absence of such in the environment and identifies and predicts abnormal and suspicious behavior based on what has been learned.

Abstract: Systems and methods for identifying, tracking, and using objects in a video or similar electronic content, including methods for tracking one or more moving objects in a video. This can involve tracking one or more feature points within a video scene and separating those feature points into multiple layers based on motion paths. Each such motion layer can be further divided into different clusters, for example, based on distances between points. These clusters can then be used as an estimate to define the boundaries of the objects in video. Objects can also be compared with one another in cases in which identified objects should be combined and considered a single object. For example, if two objects in the first two frames have significantly overlapping areas, they may be considered the same object. Objects in each frame can further be compared to determine the life of the objects across the frames.

Abstract: An apparatus stores a luminance signal and a color signal extracted from a tracking area in image data and determines a correlation with the stored luminance signal, thereby extracting an area where a specified object exists in another image data to update the tracking area using the position information of the extracted area. If a sufficient correlation cannot be obtained from the luminance signal, the apparatus makes a comparison with the stored color signal to determine whether the specified object is lost. The apparatus updates the luminance signal every time the tracking area is updated, but does not update the color signal even if the tracking area is updated or updates the color signal at a period longer than a period at which the luminance signal is updated.

Abstract: A smoke detecting method which uses a beam of radiation such as a laser (16), to monitor a region, such as a room (12). A camera (14) is used to capture images of part of the room (12), including a path of the laser beam. Particles in the laser beam scatter light (30), and this is captured by the camera (14) for analysis. A processor (20) extracts data relating to the scattered light (30) to determine the density of particles in the beam, to determine the level of smoke in the region. The laser may have a modulated output (38) so that images captured without the laser tuned “on” can be used as a reference point and compared to images taken with the laser turned “on”, to assist in determining the level of scattered light (30) compared to ambient light. Filters (24, 26) may be used to decrease signals generated from background light.

Abstract: A method and system may determine a location of a vehicle, collect an image using a camera associated with the vehicle, analyze the image in conjunction with the location of the vehicle and/or previously collected information on the location of traffic signals or other objects (e.g., traffic signs), and using this analysis locate an image of a traffic signal within the collected image. The position (e.g., a geographic position) of the signal may be determined, and stored for later use. The identification of the signal may be used to provide an output such as the status of the signal, such as green light.

Abstract: A surface measurement method includes inspecting a plurality of samples of a first irregular workpiece surface in two dimensions, determining, based on the inspections of the samples, a total number of surface peaks on each of the plurality of samples, and deriving a control limit from a statistical variation of the total number of surface peaks on each of the samples. The control limit specifies an out-of-tolerance condition for the total number of surface peaks on a second irregular workpiece surface. The method further includes inspecting a portion of the second irregular workpiece surface in two dimensions, determining, based on the inspection of the portion of the second irregular workpiece surface, a total number of surface peaks on the portion, and comparing the total number of surface peaks on the portion to the control limit to determine whether the second irregular workpiece surface is in the out-of-tolerance condition.

Abstract: A system and method for biometric identification of a target individual based on a query containing UV image data of the target individual. In one embodiment, the system includes a first database, a query module, a detection module, a sequence module and a match module. The first database includes a plurality of identities with each identity having at least one binary sequence representative of a skin area of that identity. The query module receives the query and validates the UV image data. The detection module detects at least one skin area in the UV image data. The sequence module forms at least one target binary sequence corresponding to the at least one skin area. The match module searches the first database based on the at least one target binary sequence to identify at least one identity thereby facilitating biometric identification of the target individual.

Abstract: A method for determining the position of the eyes includes: a step for determining approximate positions of the eyes in the digital image; a step for determining adjacent positions; a step of geometric transformation of the digital image into normalized images in such a way as to make the adjacent positions coincide with the reference positions; a step of comparison of at least a part of each normalized image with a corresponding part of a predetermined image, each comparison providing a score representing the level of resemblance between the parts of images; and a step of declaration of the adjacent positions associated with the best score as actual positions of the eyes of the face.

Abstract: An image quality control system and method is disclosed. At least one infrared camera takes a screen image of a room. When there are a plurality of cameras, images of the cameras are synchronized with respect to time, and a specific object of the image is tracked to estimate image quality of the object. When there are a plurality of cameras, a 3D screen model is reconfigured, and positions of the cameras and the infrared lighting tools are controlled. Infrared lighting and the cameras are controlled, and particularly, optical axis direction, optical magnification, exposure time, and the iris of the camera can be amended. Next, a high-quality object image list can be generated so as to process the images.

Abstract: An image retrieval system, including: an image input section for inputting a retrieval target image; an image data base for storing image data; a retrieval section for retrieving a plurality of images similar to said retrieval target image, by using a feature amount of said retrieval target image from said image data base; a filtering processing section for carrying out filtering processing using a whole image feature amount of another feature amount different from said feature amount of said retrieval target image about said plurality of images, to obtain a filtering result; and an outputting section for outputting said filtering result.

Abstract: The present invention is directed at modifying digital images of faces automatically or semi-automatically. In one aspect, a method of detecting faces in digital images and matching and replacing features within the digital images is provided. Techniques for blending, recoloring, shifting and resizing or portions of digital images are disclosed. In other aspects, methods of virtual “face lifts” are methods of detecting faces within digital image are provided. Advantageously, the detection and localization of faces and facial features, such as the eyes, nose, lips and hair, can be achieved on an automated or semi-automated basis. User feedback and adjustment enables fine tuning of modified images. A variety of systems for matching and replacing features within digital images is also provided, including implementation as a website, through mobile phones, handheld computers, or a kiosk. Related computer program products are also disclosed.

Abstract: The disclosed Biometric Card Pointer arrangements store (207) a card user's biometric signature in a local memory (124) in a verification station (127) the first time the card user uses the verification station (127) in question. The biometric signature is stored at a memory address (607) defined by the card information (605) on the user's card (601). All future uses of the particular verification station (127) by someone submitting the aforementioned card (601) requires the card user to submit both the card and a biometric signature, which is verified against the signature stored at the memory address defined by the card information (605) thereby determining if the person submitting the card is authorized to do so.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for determining a 2D contour of a vessel structure imaged in 3D image data for a first slice plane of the vessel structure, wherein the 3D image data was generated using a medical imaging system and has a multiplicity of image voxels which are all assigned a respective image value.

Abstract: A method of analyzing a thermal image of a body section is disclosed. The method comprises obtaining a thermospatial representation of the body section, calculating a surface integral of the thermal data over the surface, and determining the likelihood that a thermally distinguishable region is present in the body section, based on a value of the surface integral.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a calculating unit that calculates gradient strength of respective pixel values based on an intraluminal image, an extracting unit that extracts a closed region from the image, and a detecting unit that detects an abnormal portion of the closed region. The closed region satisfies conditions that the pixel of which gradient strength is a predetermined value or more is not included in the closed region and a boundary of the closed region does not bend with predetermined curvature or higher toward an inner side of the closed region. The extracting unit includes a setting unit that sets an initial closed region based on the gradient strength, an energy calculating unit that calculates values of types of energies based on an outer shape of the closed region and the gradient strength, and an energy weighted-sum calculating unit that calculates a weighted sum of the types of energy.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a gradient strength calculating unit that calculates a gradient strength of respective pixel values based on an intraluminal image; an extracting unit that extracts a closed region satisfying conditions that the pixel of which gradient strength is a predetermined value or more is not included in the region and a boundary of the region does not bend with a predetermined curvature or higher toward an inner side of the region; and a detecting unit that detects an abnormal portion inside the region. The extracting unit includes a setting unit that sets an initial shape of the region; an energy calculating unit that calculates values of types of energy including at least energies determined respectively by an outer shape of the region and the gradient strength; and an energy-weighted sum calculating unit that calculates a weighted sum of the types of energy.

Abstract: An average color bar indicating the overall imaging period of images taken in time sequence by a capsule endoscope is displayed. A list of checked images in the entire taken images is displayed in a checked-image display field, computation is made to what time during an observation period each checked image corresponds is computed, and a mark is displayed with a scale of the average color bar by a number corresponding to each checked image on the average color bar.

Abstract: The present invention provides a motion analysis system for measuring the relative function of one anatomical structure to another based on optical fiducial markers tracked in a series of images and in turn data, where the components of hard and soft tissue are used in analysis and where the image data can be compared in a time series such that probabilities of involvement with various tissues can be correlated to the image data. The system measures displacement at various positions and can relate the data to various muscle and other soft tissue variations within the constraints of the anatomy and physiology including motion in three dimensional space, including rotations and translations and functions including velocity and acceleration.

Abstract: A method for predefining a set of radioactive-emission measurement views, for radioactive-emission imaging after an administration of a radiopharmaceutical, the method being tailored to a specific body structure and optimized with respect to the information gained about the body structure and based on modeling body-structure, based on its geometry and anatomical constraints, which limit accessibility to the body structure.

Abstract: Systems and methods for retrieving, manipulating, and viewing 3D image objects from 3D virtual microscope slide images (“3D digital slides”) are provided. An image library module provides access to the imagery data in a 3D digital slide and constructs 3D image objects that are coextensive with the 3D digital slide or a 3D sub-portion thereof. From within the 3D image object, cross layer planar views spanning various depths of the 3D digital slide are constructed as well as 3D prisms and other shaped image areas. The image library module allows a 3D image object to be sliced into horizontal and vertical views, skewed cross layer views and regular and irregular shaped 3D image areas for viewing by a user.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus according to the present invention includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire a tomography image of a target to be captured, a detection unit configured to detect layer boundaries of a plurality of layers sequentially positioned in the depth direction from the acquired tomography image, and a determination unit configured to determine a structure of the target to be captured according to the number of the detected layer boundaries.

Abstract: An interventional roadmap method with optimization of the mask face is proposed. At least two empty images and at least two fill images are recorded in a mask phase A with a matrix-type array of pixels and stored. The empty and fill images are processed such that the gray values of each pixel of the x-ray images from mask phase A are arranged in ascending order. A mask image is computed from the processed empty and fill images such that the smallest gray values are averaged and from which the mask image will be formed. At least one current x-ray image is recorded and subtracted from the mask image to create roadmap images.

Abstract: A method for registering a 2-D DSA image to a 3-D image volume includes calculating a coarse similarity measure between a 2-D DRR of an aorta and a cardiac DSA image, and a 2-D DRR of a coronary artery and the cardiac DSA image, for a plurality of poses over a range of 2-D translations. Several DRR-pose combinations with largest similarity measures are selected as refinement candidates. The similarity measure is calculated between the refinement candidate DRRs and the DSA, for a plurality of poses over a range of 3-D translations and in-plane rotations. One or more DRR-pose combinations with largest similarity measures are selected as final candidates. The similarity measure between the final candidate DRRs the DSA are calculated for a plurality of poses over a range of 3D translations and 3D rotations, and a DRR-pose combination with a largest similarity measure is selected as a final registration result.

Abstract: A co-registration system provides a means for spatially warping an optical image of an object with another images of a similar object. The optical image may be a scatter image, and the second image may be the same type of image modality, or may be different. The co-registration may use landmarks selected by a user, or may make use of contour information derived from the images. The system may also include processing of three-dimensional volume data in the form of sets of two-dimensional slices for co-registration.

Abstract: A method for 3-D volume image reconstruction of a subject. 2-D projection images are obtained over a range of scan angles, and one or more truncated images are identified from the obtained images. From each of the one or more truncated images, a corrected truncated image is formed by a repeated process of identifying a row of image data values in the one or more truncated images, assigning an extension length to one or both ends of the row according to the row location in the truncated image, and extending the truncated image data for the row of image data values by applying a row-dependent cosine function to each value in the extension length. A 3-D volume image is reconstructed using one or more of the corrected truncated images.

Abstract: The present invention is a method of generating a best estimate of an image attenuation map derived from a truncated image attenuation map and PET emissions data for the object being imaged by a morphological imaging modality. The method involves a plurality of steps beginning with the recordation and processing of PET emissions data. Next, the morphological imaging modality records image data which is processed to determine an attenuation map. The attenuation map, for image modalities such as CT and MR scanning systems integrated with PET, is truncated, resulting in a truncated attenuation map image. Pixels for which attenuation data needs to be determined are identified and attenuation coefficients for these pixels are estimated and combined with the truncated attenuation map to generate a full initial attenuation map for the image, which is iteratively processed together with the PET emission data until the improvement change in the emission image reaches a defined threshold improvement level.

Abstract: An image reconstruction system and method based on image projection data collected by an imaging system having N tubes of response (TORs) having N? axial translation symmetries and N? in-plane rotation symmetries between the TORs. A system matrix mapping image projection data to pixels of an image is used, where the pixels are positioned according to a polar or cylindrical coordinate grid. During image reconstruction, matrix-vector computations are performed between the system matrix and vectors containing image estimates or image projection estimates. The matrix-vector computations are accelerated by structuring the system matrix coefficients, image vectors, and projection measurement vectors in such a way that symmetric data is stored in contiguous memory locations.