Abstract: User defined controls for media censorship may define values for content of the media for a user. Controls can be specific to nudity in the media, sexuality of the media, language offensiveness of the media, and/or violence in the media. When a user requests a media instance, a default version can be checked for default artifacts that violate the controls. Replacement artifacts can be created for each violating default artifact. Modified media can be created that replaces the default artifacts with the replacement ones. The modified media can be provided to the user in response to the user request.

Abstract: A manufacturer server 110 that determines a first invoice amount or calculates a second invoice amount for an inkjet printer has a billing status acquisition unit 342 that acquires billing status information including actual print volume PV. An actual print volume calculation unit 343 determines (i) if PV is less than or equal to a specific volume V1, in which case the first invoice amount, which is a fixed amount, is determined, and (ii) if PV exceeds V1, in which case the second invoice amount is calculated. An invoice amount calculation unit 344 determines or calculates the first or second invoice amount.

Abstract: A networked commercial interaction management method assembles information into bundles that include a data element reference and meta data describing the data element. The method distributes the meta data and the data element reference from the bundles through the network, and distributes copies of the data elements in the bundles from the network node of their respective data owners to the network nodes of accessors using the meta data and the data element reference distributed through the network. In at least one embodiment, the method periodically issues bundle version identifying signals to different nodes of the network. The bundle version identifying signals indicate changes to the data elements to the network nodes of accessors.

Abstract: Systems and methods for media-oriented product catalog creation are disclosed herein. Media content displayed or otherwise selected by a content consumer can be identified. Accordingly, products or services depicted by the media content can be compiled into a dynamic product catalog. The catalog can include a description of the products or services as well as associated contextual references to the media content, such as a screen capture or video clip that depicts one or more portions of the media content in which the product or service was featured.

Abstract: A real-time fraud prevention system enables merchants and commercial organizations on-line to assess and protect themselves from high-risk users. A centralized database is configured to build and store dossiers of user devices and behaviors collected from subscriber websites in real-time. Real, low-risk users have webpage click navigation behaviors that are assumed to be very different than those of fraudsters. Individual user devices are distinguished from others by hundreds of points of user-device configuration data each independently maintains. A client agent provokes user devices to volunteer configuration data when a user visits respective webpages at independent websites. A collection of comprehensive dossiers of user devices is organized by their identifying information, and used calculating a fraud score in real-time. Each corresponding website is thereby assisted in deciding whether to allow a proposed transaction to be concluded with the particular user and their device.

Abstract: An apparatus and method to adjust item recommendations are disclosed herein. A first image attribute of a query image is compared to a second image attribute of each of a plurality of inventory images of a plurality of inventory items to identify the inventory items similar to the query image. Item recommendations comprising the identified inventory items in a first listing order are provided for display at a remote device. A second listing order of the identified inventory items is determined based on a user preference for a particular one of the identified inventory items. At least the second listing order is provided to the remote device for re-display of the item recommendations in accordance with the second listing order.

Abstract: Techniques for conducting secure online transactions are provided. Some techniques utilize a trusted, secure device that is distributed to a human user, and which only the user can access, a device reader, and a one-time secret valid only to authenticate a single transaction to improve on the traditional transaction model by isolating elements of the transaction with the user on the user's trusted, secure device. Isolating elements of the transaction on the trusted, secure device facilitates a secure transaction on an untrusted machine and over an untrusted network.

Abstract: Systems and methods to manage investments, trades, and financial accounting. The integrated system processes an investment under various investment groups and accounting methodologies, such as GAAP, SAP, Tax, and. Trade. An investment is processed based on events occurring during the life of the investment for each accounting method to provide for accurate financial reporting in accordance with the one or more accounting methods, such as GAAP, SAP, and Tax accounting. The system is flexible to calculate cash flow, yield, and amortization for an investment during the lifespan timeline of the investment based on the occurrence of an event (or a hypothetical event) during the lifespan timeline of the investment. Accurate reporting is provided by effective dating events of an investment to the appropriate reporting period. The system provides for consolidation, e.g., the aggregation of income and assets from a set of portfolios to report them as one group.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a flood risk score may be determined for a property point that provides a comprehensive assessment of the property point's risk of flooding. Determining the flood risk score may include determining a flood risk characteristic for the property point and assigning a flood risk score that corresponds to the flood risk characteristic. In some embodiments, flood risk characteristics may include a difference in elevation between the elevation of the property point and an elevation of a calculated point (e.g., on a known flood risk zone boundary). Flood risk characteristics may also include a flood zone determination for the property point and/or proximity of the property point to a known flood risk zone boundary or a flood source. In some embodiments, flood risk scores may be provided on flood risk score reports.

Abstract: An embodiment of a method of linking a first network to a second network includes sending, by a first network having at least one first member associated therewith, a link request message to a second network having at least one second member associated therewith. The link request message includes a request to establish a link with the second network. The first network further includes at least one resource associated therewith and accessible by the at least one first member. The method further includes receiving an acceptance message from the second network at the first network, establishing a first link between the first network and the second network in response to receiving the acceptance message, and sharing access to the at least one resource to the at least one second member of the second network.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for identifying topical experts from a seed set of experts by identifying “second tier” influencers for the topic. New concepts detected among a pool of experts and second tier influencers are monitored among the general population and their significance evaluated. Reports may be generated for these detected trends. Trends in social media for a concept represented in a taxonomy may be detected by monitoring content for descendent nodes for the concept. Correlations between social media activity with respect to the concept and sales of products corresponding to the concept may be made and sales predicted for the same or different products that correspond to descendants of the concept in the taxonomy.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method, system, and article of manufacture for systematically and automatically identifying abnormal or collective behavior patterns in microblogging messages that produce burst phenomena, such as Twitter storms. A microblogging storm engine in a storm detection server is configured to detect and classify the volume, shape, and type of a Twitter storm when keying on topics such as, but not limited to, a brand, an event, a person, an entity, a country, or a controversial issue. The microblogging storm engine comprises a storm detection module, a storm classification module, a database interface module, and a sentiment process module. The storm detection module is configured to detect different patterns of microblogging storms by capturing the volume of a particular storm to assist in output statistical analysis. The storm classification module is configured to classify the storms into different types of a particular storm category.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining the volume of hot water dispensed during a given timeframe from a hydrocarbon fueled water heater based on the volume of fuel consumed by the water heater during the timeframe and the average temperature difference between the inlet water temperature and the outlet water temperature during the timeframe.

Abstract: The present disclosure features methods relating to conducting a stem cell technology business such as a regenerative medicine business based on induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and cells differentiated from iPSCs. The present disclosure also provides a database of iPSC-derived cells and methods of using the database for tracking customers and samples, as well as methods for marketing and running the business.

Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods for electronically-capturing a destination address of a package and for using the destination address to automate a package pre-load operation. An embodiment of the invention includes a compression system for compressing the destination address as a compressed MaxiCode symbol, a smart shipping label system for generating a shipping label with a compressed MaxiCode and a pre-load assist system for generating package handling instructions from the electronically-captured destination address.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for presenting information to an agent of an organization. The method includes the steps of the organization detecting a contact with a client of the organization, classifying the contact based upon information delivered along with the contact and delivering the contact to the agent. The method further includes the steps of retrieving a set of reference key words and key words in context based upon the classification of the contact, detecting keywords and keywords in context from a dialog between the agent and client, matching at least some of the detected keywords and key words in context with the reference keywords and keywords in context, identifying information within a database based upon the matching and presenting the identified information to the agent.

Abstract: A device for using display history information is provided. The device includes an image information generation unit configured to generate image information of contents reproduced in a different device, an image information transmission unit configured to transmit the generated image information to a seamless service providing server and a display history information management unit configured to control the apparatus based on the received display history information which is received from the seamless service providing server. Here, the display history information corresponds to the transmitted image information.

Abstract: A method for the conversion of graphical representations of automation environments is provided. The method includes receiving first graphics data in a first format comprising a first graphical representation of a first portion of an automation environment. The method also includes processing the first graphics data to convert the first graphics data to second graphics data in a second format. The method further includes receiving performance data associated with the operation of the first portion of the automation environment, and transferring the performance data and the second graphics data to a client device, for incorporation of the performance data into the second graphics data by the client device.

Abstract: A method for measuring performance of virtual desktop services offered by a server including a processor is described. A first encoded watermark is embedded into user interface display generated by a virtual desktop when initiating an operation. The first encoded watermark includes pixels identifying the operation and indicating its initiation. A second encoded watermark is embedded into the user interface upon completion of the operation indicating completion of the operation. An action performance time is then computed and stored in a memory. Multiple performance times may be compiled from multiple operations of multiple virtual desktops to assess the performance of the system as a whole.

Abstract: Disclosed are “graphics overrides.” An override accepts a stream of graphics commands as produced by an application and then modifies the stream before it is rendered by the GPU. Different overrides perform different modifications. One override can modify a stream of graphics commands in response to another stream. Overrides can enforce conformity with a visual paradigm and, by being modified, can support a change to that paradigm without requiring the applications to change. Overrides can monitor the entire computing environment and improve the response to that environment of a particular application: For example, an override monitors frames as they are produced by an application. If the application cannot keep up with a fixed frame rate, then the override produces “synthetic” frames to take the place of missing frames. Overrides are not restricted to fixing existing problems. Rather, applications can be developed that depend upon the presence of overrides.

Abstract: Early depth test stages of a graphics processing pipeline broadcast information about fragments having conditional discard tests associated with them and that pass those early depth tests to other stages in the pipeline. The other stages in the pipeline use the early depth test pass information to determine if the processing of any fragments that they are currently processing can be slowed down. If a fragment that triggered the slowing down of the processing of fragments that are already in the pipeline passes all the conditional discard tests it is to be subjected to, a signal that triggers stopping of the processing of the fragments whose processing it had previously slowed down is sent. If the fragment fails a conditional discard test it is to be subjected to, a signal triggering the reviving of the processing of the fragments whose processing it had previously slowed down is sent.

Abstract: Graphics processing units (GPUs) are used, for example, to process data related to three-dimensional objects or scenes and to render the three-dimensional data onto a two-dimensional display screen. One embodiment, among others, of a unified cache system used in a GPU comprises a data storage device and a storage device controller. The data storage device is configured to store graphics data processed by or to be processed by one or more shader units. The storage device controller is placed in communication with the data storage device. The storage device controller is configured to dynamically control a storage allocation of the graphics data within the data storage device.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are provided for determining a size of an attribute storage buffer. Input attributes read by a shader program to generate output attributes are identified. A portion of the output attributes to be consumed by a destination shader program is identified. The size of the attribute storage buffer that is allocated for execution of the shader program is computed based on the input attributes and the portion of the output attributes.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image registration device and method, an image segmentation device and method and a medical image apparatus. The image registration device includes: a rigid registration unit for performing a rigid registration of a first input image with a second input image, which is a reference, to obtain first deformation information; a first non-rigid registration unit for performing a first non-rigid registration of the first and second input images by taking the first deformation information as the initial deformation information to obtain second deformation information; and a second non-rigid registration unit for performing a second non-rigid registration of the first and second input images by taking the second deformation information as the initial deformation information to obtain third deformation information. By combining rigid registration with non-rigid registration, the present invention realizes a fast image registration.

Abstract: A transformation rule of color transformation in an appropriate color space is set even without advanced knowledge and know-how. A three-dimensional lookup table unit transforms color information on an input image signal on the basis of a transformation rule. A correction range calculation unit calculates a correction range in a predetermined color space on the basis of a positional relationship between source coordinates and destination coordinates in the color space. A lattice point transfer distance calculation unit calculates the transformation destination coordinates at respective points on the basis of the positional relationship between the source coordinates and the destination coordinates, and a positional relationship between coordinates at the respective points within the correction range and the source coordinates to reflect the calculated transformation destination coordinates on the transformation rule.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for estimating defocus direction from a single image obtained, such as in a digital camera apparatus, are presented. To determine defocus direction, point spread function (PSF) differences for the image are evaluated in the frequency domain, with frequency pairs being found having largest difference in their Fourier transform magnitudes, from which a direction estimate feature is extracted, and defocus direction estimated based on relation of estimated feature and statistics derived from camera image tests. The method can be applied for controlling autofocus mechanisms in cameras, or other applications requiring rapid determination of defocus directions, such as from a single image.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus and method including executing high-pass filtering in a column direction on the pixel values of original image data read from a flat panel detector to obtain first image data, and subtracting a value obtained by converting each of the pixel values of the first image data in accordance with an absolute value of a statistic calculated from pixel values in the same pixel row of the first image data from the value of a corresponding pixel of the original image data to obtain processed image data.

Abstract: Systems and methods for correction of user identified artifacts in light field images are disclosed. One embodiment of the invention is a method for correcting artifacts in a light field image rendered from a light field obtained by capturing a set of images from different viewpoints and initial depth estimates for pixels within the light field using a processor configured by an image processing application, where the method includes: receiving a user input indicating the location of an artifact within said light field image; selecting a region of the light field image containing the indicated artifact; generating updated depth estimates for pixels within the selected region; and re-rendering at least a portion of the light field image using the updated depth estimates for the pixels within the selected region.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides computing device implemented methods, computing device readable media, and systems for motion compensation in a three dimensional scan. Motion compensation can include receiving three-dimensional (3D) scans of a dentition, estimating a motion trajectory from one scan to another, and calculating a corrected scan by compensating for the motion trajectory. Estimating the motion trajectory can include one or more of: registering a scan to another scan and determining whether an amount of movement between the scans is within a registration threshold; determining an optical flow based on local motion between consecutive two-dimensional (2D) images taken during the scan, estimating and improving a motion trajectory of a point in the scan using the optical flow; and estimating an amount of motion of a 3D scanner during the scan as a rigid body transformation based on input from a position tracking device.

Abstract: A system for image enhancement includes a computer receiving an input image, and modifies the entire range of frequencies of the image, wherein the modifying is greater for the lower frequency aspects of the input image relative to the higher frequency aspects of the input image based upon a brightening process that is based upon a brightening selection, where the brightening selection is based upon a backlight level of a display to display the input image. The computer modifies the higher frequency aspects of the input image based upon an enhancement process that is based upon the brightening selection which is based upon the backlight level of the display. The computer combines the modifies image based upon the brightening process and the modified image based upon the enhancement process.

Abstract: A method for automatic diagnostics of images related to pantographs, comprising the steps of: capturing an image that shows a pantograph of a locomotive, the image being taken from an aerial view during the travel of the locomotive, the image comprising the gliding area of a plurality of slippers of the pantograph; identifying, by means of a module for classifying the pantograph model, the model of the pantograph within a plurality of pantograph models, on the basis of the image captured; determining, by means of a module for classifying materials, a material of which the slippers are composed among a plurality of materials, on the basis of the pantograph model identified; and determining a value related to the state of wear for each one of the plurality of slippers, on the basis of the type of material determined.

Abstract: A brewing assembly for a coffee machine, which brewing assembly includes a brewing module with a brewing head, an upper and lower closure element, and a drive module with at least one linear guide element. The brewing head has a cylindrical brewing chamber, which can be closed by the upper and lower closure elements and cooperates with the linear guide such that the brewing head is displaceable linearly in the brewing assembly. The drive unit also includes a motor drive for the linear guide element. The brewing head and at least one of the two closure elements with at least a brewing chamber are arranged in the brewing module in a linearly displaceable fashion. The brewing module is arranged detachably in or on the drive unit such that when it is in or on the drive unit at least the brewing head is linearly displaceable via the linear guide element.

Abstract: A method for reworking an inconsistency on a part. A location of the inconsistency is identified for the part in a model of the part. An image is generated for a rework for the part. The image is projected for the rework on the part based on the location identified for the inconsistency. The rework is performed for the inconsistency on the part using the image projected on the part.

Abstract: A system for reviewing digitized images of pathology specimens includes an image processing system and an image display system adapted to communicate with the image processing system. The image processing system is configured to receive a whole-slide digital image of a pathology specimen, segment the whole-slide digital image into a tissue-particle image within the whole-slide digital image, and represent the tissue-particle image as a plurality of image tiles such that each of the plurality of image tiles can be displayed sequentially on the image display system to permit a substantially complete, tile-by-tile review of the tissue-particle image in a predefined order.

Abstract: A method for processing a three-dimensional image file captured directly from a live subject, the file including the cranium of the subject, comprises: providing a vertex point cloud for the three-dimensional image file; determining a median point for the vertex point cloud; determining a point on the cranium; and utilizing the median point and the cranium point to define a z-axis for the three-dimensional image file.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for identifying a position of a mobile platform. Images are provided by a camera system on a first mobile platform. The images include images of a second platform. An identified position of the first mobile platform is generated using the images and the position information for the second platform. The position information for the second platform identifies a location of the second platform.

Abstract: Wind energy systems, such as an Airborne Wind Turbine (“AWT”), may be used to facilitate conversion of kinetic energy to electrical energy. An AWT may include an aerial vehicle that flies in a path to convert kinetic wind energy to electrical energy. The aerial vehicle may be tethered to a ground station with a tether that terminates at a tether termination mount system. In one aspect, the tether termination mount system may include a tether termination unit configured in one or more gimbals that allow for the tether termination unit to rotate about one or more axes while tracking the aerial vehicle in flight. In a further aspect, the tether termination mount system may include an imaging device configured for imaging the aerial vehicle during flight in order to enhance tracking accuracy over that which is performed by angular motion of the tether termination unit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a determination method that enables the position of a body part subject to vital movement to be determined, wherein the body part is to be irradiated. A region of an analytical image is determined, wherein the region represents a body part subject to vital movement, in particular a tumor in an anatomical body. A change in position from one analytical image to the next is performed that reflects the vital movement, wherein the body parts subject to vital movement are parts of the body that are to be irradiated or are not to be irradiated and that move as a result of vital functions such as respiration and/or heartbeat even when the anatomical body is otherwise kept deliberately at rest.

Abstract: A three-dimensional imaging unit includes a plurality of image pickup devices that image an image and a rotation drive device which rotates the image pickup devices and adjusts optical axes such that reflections of an object to be measured in a space to be measured have a predetermined amount of overlap. An association calculating unit calculates position association information of pixels when a required measurement point is mapped onto a plurality of images. A three-dimensional shape calculating unit calculates a three-dimensional shape of the object to be measured using the position association information and rotational information of the rotation drive device. A three-dimensional shape estimation calculating unit estimates, from the three-dimensional shape, a three-dimensional shape of a region of the object to be measured where the three-dimensional shape is not obtained.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for depth map estimation using normalized displacement of image pairs. In one embodiment, an image manipulation application identifies image pairs from an input image. Each of the image pairs includes an image portion from a first perspective and the image portion from a second perspective. The image manipulation generates displacement vectors for the image pairs. Each of the displacement vectors represents at least one of a horizontal displacement and a vertical displacement of the image portion from the first perspective to the second perspective. The image manipulation application generates normalized displacement vectors corresponding to the displacement vectors. Each of the normalized displacement vectors is generated by transforming a respective orientation of a corresponding one of the displacement vectors to a common reference direction. The image manipulation application generates a depth map based on the normalized displacement vectors.

Abstract: Belief propagation and affinity measure techniques are described. In one or more implementations, beliefs may be formed to solve a labeling problem for a node, such as to perform image processing. An affinity measure may be calculated that describes how similar the node is to another node. This affinity measure may then be used as a basis to determine whether the share the belief formed for the node with the other node to solve a labeling problem for the other node.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a specifying unit configured to specify, based on an image as a candidate of an output target, at least one object region satisfying a predetermined condition from the image, a determination unit configured to determine whether the object region specified in the image by the specifying unit is divided in the image, and a decision unit configured to decide the output target region in the image based on a determination result by the determination unit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for segmenting a three-dimensional image data set, comprising the steps of: a) providing a three-dimensional image data set of a body structure, which is to be segmented, and a generic model of the body structure; b) generating synthetic two-dimensional image data sets on the basis of the three-dimensional image data set of the body structure provided in a); and c) pre-positioning the generic model in relation to the three-dimensional image data set of the body structure provided in a); and e) generating a three-dimensional model of the body structure by fitting the generic model to the synthetic two-dimensional image data sets of the body structure, generated in step b).

Abstract: Method and system is disclosed for image segmentation. The method includes acquiring a digital image, constructing a graph from the digital image, calculating a plurality of cost functions, constructing an electrical network based upon the constructed graph and the plurality of calculated cost functions, simulating the electrical network using fixed-point linearization, and segmenting the image using the simulated electrical network to produce segmented layers. Simulation may be executed in parallel to achieve desirable computational efficiencies.

Abstract: A method for processing a video sequence having a plurality of frames includes the steps of: extracting features from each of the frames, determining correspondences between the extracted features from two of the frames, estimating motion in the video sequence based on the determined correspondences, generating a background mosaic for the video sequence based on the estimated motion, and performing foreground-background segmentation on each of the frames based on the background mosaic.

Abstract: A motion detection method is provided. The method includes steps of: capturing a current frame, generating a current luma frame according to the current frame, generating a foreground binary image according to the current luma frame, a background luma image and a sensitivity, and updating the background luma frame according to an updating frequency and the sensitivity.

Abstract: Systems and methods for creating and distributing professional quality pictorial souvenirs giving the illusion that guests of a facility were imaged at other locations, including making initial arrangements with guests, showing selections of background scene images at video displays and flashing chroma key images interspersed with frames of the scene images, taking key guest images in synch with the flashed key images, extracting guest image content from the key guest images and merging into selecting scene images, showing initial merges images for guest selection and providing souvenir portfolios that include merged images to guests or designees after making financial arrangements, including for payment to third parties for copyright content included in the souvenirs and with advertisers for promotional material included in the souvenirs.

Abstract: Provided are a computer system and methods related to a map display. A method includes but is not limited to receiving a request for the map, the map illustrating one or more locations; determining a status associated with at least one of the one or more locations on the map, the status being a function of one or more location interaction rules associated with the at least one of the one or more locations on the map; and generating a signal related to indicating on the map the status associated with the at least one of the one or more locations.

Abstract: A method for harmonizing a combined image involves receiving a respective image or image frame from each of two or more cameras, the images from two of the cameras representing the same region in an overlap region, measuring pixel statistics of at least some of the pixels in the overlap region for the image of each of the two cameras, determining a difference in the pixel statistics ?pixel of the image from each of the two cameras in the overlap region, calculating a correction factor Kpixel, wherein the correction factor Kpixel may be predicted to produce a reduction in ?pixel of less than ?pixel/2 when applied to the image of one of the two cameras, applying the correction factor Kpixel in a hardware device acquiring the image, and receiving a further image or image frame from each of the two cameras.

Abstract: There is provided an image processing device including a body hair detection unit that detects a body hair region corresponding to body hair from a process target image that includes skin, a texture structure estimation unit that estimates a structure of skin texture in the process target image, and an interpolation unit that interpolates the body hair region detected by the body hair detection unit based on the structure of the skin texture estimated by the texture structure estimation unit.