Patents Issued in August 1, 2017
  • Patent number: 9721138
    Abstract: The invention provides a system and method for rapid validation of identity from tissue using registered two dimensional and optical coherence tomography (OCT) scan images. The preferred embodiment provides, for a human fingerprint, validation that the surface fingerprint matches the primary fingerprint. An alternate embodiment provides validation of “aliveness” by ascertaining blood flow. Various embodiments are taught.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Inventor: Joshua Noel Hogan
  • Patent number: 9721139
    Abstract: Example embodiments disclose a fingerprint recognition sensor and a fingerprint recognition system. The fingerprint recognition sensor may include a pad configured to apply a first wave signal having multi-frequency characteristics to an object, a signal applying electrode configured to transmit the first wave signal having multi-frequency characteristics to the pad and a signal receiving electrode configured to receive a reflection wave signal from the object to the pad based on the first wave signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jongseok Kim, Jungwoo Kim, Seokhwan Chung
  • Patent number: 9721140
    Abstract: A sensing method of a fingerprint sensor includes the following steps: (a) applying a first voltage, a second voltage and a third voltage to a first node connected to an electrode plate to be measured, a second node disconnected from the first node, and a conductor adjacent to the electrode plate to be measured, respectively; (b) providing a first finger drive voltage for a finger; (c) stopping applying the first, second and third voltages to the first node, the second node and the conductor, respectively; (d) after step (c), applying a fourth voltage to the conductor, and connecting the first node to the second node; (e) after steps (b) and (c), providing a second finger drive voltage for the finger; and (f) after steps (d) and (e), obtaining a measurement result of the electrode plate to be measured according to a signal on the second node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: ELAN MICROELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chao-Chi Yang, Jui-Che Lin
  • Patent number: 9721141
    Abstract: A wrist-worn apparatus control with fingerprint data includes a physical activity-related measurement sensor interface, a fingerprint sensor, one or more processors, and one or more memories including computer program code. The one or more memories and the computer program code are configured to, with the one or more processors, cause the apparatus at least to receive fingerprint data from a user with the fingerprint sensor, identify the fingerprint data as matching with one finger of the user on the basis of a comparison between the fingerprint data and reference data of a plurality of fingers of the user stored in the memory, and select a function of a physical activity-related measurement on the basis of the identified finger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: POLAR ELECTRO OY
    Inventor: Pertti Puolakanaho
  • Patent number: 9721142
    Abstract: Multi-resolution fingerprint sensors and methods of using the same are provided. The multi-resolution fingerprint sensors each include a portion of the imaging area or region of the sensor that provides higher imaging resolution than the remaining imaging area of the sensor. The area of higher resolution is useful for anti-spoofing purposes, but because only a portion of the sensor is higher-resolution, advantageously it will not impact hardware costs nearly as much as a sensor that was higher resolution over its entire imaging area. Furthermore, the higher resolution area can be down-sampled so there would be no impact on the standard matcher and image processing software stack, which expects a uniform resolution for the entire image acquired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventor: Anthony P. Russo
  • Patent number: 9721143
    Abstract: Modifying a visual depiction is provided. A processor identifies a first depiction of a first member of an online social network. The processor determines a first date value representing a date corresponding to the first depiction. The processor determines a relationship between the first member and a second member of the online social network. The processor identifies a second date value based, at least in part, on the relationship between the first member and the second member. The processor determines a region of the first depiction by performing facial recognition based, at least in part, on the first depiction. The processor generates a second depiction by applying one or more operations to the region of the first depiction based, at least in part, on the second date value, wherein the second depiction allows identification of the first member based, at least in part, on the second date value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Paul R. Bastide, Lisa Seacat DeLuca, Lydia M. Do
  • Patent number: 9721144
    Abstract: A computer alters at least one recognizable metric or text in a digitally encoded photographic image by operating an alteration algorithm in response to user input data while preserving an overall aesthetic quality of the image and obscuring an identity of at least one individual or geographic location appearing in the image. An altered digitally-encoded photographic image prepared by the altering of the at least one recognizable metric or text in the image is stored in a computer memory. User feedback and/or automatic analysis may be performed to define parameter values of the alteration algorithm such that the alteration process achieves preservation of aesthetic qualities while obscuring an identity of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Inventor: Gary S. Shuster
  • Patent number: 9721145
    Abstract: A central person determining system includes an information terminal having a plurality of image data; and a server; wherein the information terminal performs face detection processing and generates a face detection result for each of a plurality of images based on the plurality of image data, generates a plurality of face image data by cropping, on the basis of the face detection result, a face image from the plurality of images based on the plurality of image data, and transmits the plurality of face image data to the server; and wherein the server performs central person determining processing on the basis of the plurality of face image data acquired from the information terminal, generates the central person determining result, and transmits the central person determining result to the information terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Toshimitsu Fukushima
  • Patent number: 9721146
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to human facial feature analysis. Specifically, embodiments of the present invention relate a system and method for utilizing one or more overlay grids in conjunction with imagery of a human face in order to analyze beauty and attractiveness of the face in the underlying imagery. In a preferred embodiment, the system utilizes computerized image capture features and processing features to analyze a human face in relation to a plurality of overlay grids in order to identify and empirically measure beauty and attractiveness based on the alignment of said overlay grids with specific features (e.g., nose, lips, eyebrows) of the human face and whether a successful fit exists with specifically defined Hayduke facial grids or by how close the individual's facial features align with specifically defined Hayduke facial grids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Inventor: Andrew John-Haidukewych Hayduke
  • Patent number: 9721147
    Abstract: A digital identity, which may include a user interface that may be displayed on a mobile computing device, may be generated to include information extracted from a physical identification card (e.g., driver license or passport), as well as information regarding validation of the physical identification card and of the consumer's identity. The digital identity may be used in place of the physical identification card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: CONSUMERINFO.COM, INC.
    Inventor: Mark Joseph Kapczynski
  • Patent number: 9721148
    Abstract: The present invention provides, in at least one aspect, methods and systems that detect at least one face in at least one digital image, determine and store area co-ordinates of a location of the at least one detected face in the at least one digital image, apply at least one transformation to the at least one detected face to create at least one portrait of the at least one detected face, rotate the at least one portrait at least until the at least one portrait is shown in a vertical orientation and a pair of eyes of the at least one face shown in the at least one portrait are positioned on a horizontal plane; and store the rotated at least one portrait.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Applied Recognition Inc.
    Inventors: Ray Ganong, Donald Craig Waugh, Yong Man Ro, Konstantinos Plataniotis, Chris Studholme
  • Patent number: 9721149
    Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for ensuring a desired distribution of images in a multimedia document (e.g., yearbook, slideshow). A desired distribution of facial signatures in a multimedia document to be created by the user is received. Upon receiving an image to be added to the multimedia document by the user, a facial signature for a face detected in the image is generated. The current number of instances of the facial signature in the multimedia document is then determined. A determination is then made as to whether the current number of instances of the facial signature meets the desired distribution. An indication is then provided to the user as to whether the current number of instances of the facial signature meets or does not meet the desired distribution. In this manner, the user can ensure a desired distribution of images in the multimedia document.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Lisa M. Bradley, Brian O'Donovan, Aaron J. Quirk, Lin Sun
  • Patent number: 9721150
    Abstract: Biometric enrollment and verification techniques for ocular-vascular, periocular, and facial regions are described. Periocular image regions can be defined based on the dimensions of an ocular region identified in an image of a facial region. Feature descriptors can be generated for interest points in the ocular and periocular regions using a combination of patterned histogram feature descriptors. Quality metrics for the regions can be determined based on region value scores calculated based on texture surrounding the interest points. A biometric matching process for calculating a match score based on the ocular and periocular regions can progressively include additional periocular regions to obtain a greater match confidence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: EyeVerify Inc.
    Inventors: Vikas Gottemukkula, Reza R. Derakhshani, Sashi K. Saripalle
  • Patent number: 9721151
    Abstract: An apparatus for detecting an interfacing region in a depth image detects the interfacing region based on a depth of a first region and a depth of a second region which is an external region of the first region in a depth image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seung Ju Han, Jae Joon Han, Chang Kyu Choi
  • Patent number: 9721152
    Abstract: A method and system for athletic training includes a plurality of devices including receiver circuitry and processors to receive signals from at least one body-worn beacon. The signals are distance limited such that proper reception indicates arrival in proximity to a device from the plurality of devices. The arrival is sensed by a device and relayed to other devices to actuate indicators on such devices to guide a user wearing the beacon in the direction of such actuated indicator. The times of arrival and departure from the vicinity of each such device from the plurality of devices is reported to an application that is used to measure an athlete's performance when traversing a course defined by such devices in the form of cones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Inventor: Asaf Kolin
  • Patent number: 9721153
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus including an acquisition unit configured to acquire results of analysis processing for a plurality of images; a designation unit configured to designate a type of a target to be detected from an image; and a determination unit configured to determine, among the plurality of images, an image used for detection processing of the detection target designated by the designation unit based on the type of the detection target designated by the designation unit and the result of the analysis processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yuichi Tsunematsu
  • Patent number: 9721154
    Abstract: An object detection apparatus is capable of estimating the size of a moving object easily based on images. An object detection apparatus (5) of an object detection system (1) includes an object detection/determination unit (7) configured to analyze a period of motion of the object based on the images to estimate a size of the object based on the period of motion of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignees: NEC CORPORATION, NATIONAL UNIVERSITY CORPORATION HOKKAIDO UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kumeno, Yuji Okamoto, Yuichi Murai, Yoshihiko Oishi, Yuji Tasaka
  • Patent number: 9721155
    Abstract: Detection of a document type of a document is provided. An application such as a document processing application analyzes a document to detect features of the document and pages of the document, based on an action selecting the document. The features include declarative and separative features. A type of the pages is detected based on the features. The type of the pages and values of the features of the document are aggregated to identify the document type of the document.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Marko Rakita, Andreja Ilic, Dusan Lukic
  • Patent number: 9721156
    Abstract: Various embodiments describe systems and methods enable a computing device of a user to capture an image of a gift card, or other such monetary device containing a code, with a camera or otherwise receive an image of that gift card. The computing device can be configured to recognize codes, such as digit claim codes, of the gift card by using one or more image processing, computer vision, and/or machine learning algorithms. After a successful detection and verification of a claim code, money or funds deposited in, or otherwise available from, an account associated with the gift card can be utilized, such as applied to a purchase or deposited into the user's account. In many instances, a user interface (UI) can be provided on the computing device for the user to use to capture an image of a gift card and redeem the funds from the corresponding card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: A9.COM, INC.
    Inventor: Adam Wiggen Kraft
  • Patent number: 9721157
    Abstract: Under one aspect, an interface program stored on a computer-readable medium causes a computer system with a display device to perform the functions of: displaying an image of a region of a metric vector space; obtaining a set of pixel extents in the image that contain apparent textual annotations; for each pixel extent of the set, obtaining a confidence score that the pixel extent actually contains a textual annotation; and displaying the set of pixel extents in a ranked list based on the corresponding confidence scores. In some embodiments, the program further causes the computer system to perform the functions of, for at least one pixel extent of the set, at least one of automatically generating a text string based on the apparent textual annotation, and accepting user input entering a text string based on the apparent textual annotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
    Inventors: John R. Frank, Christopher Schmidt
  • Patent number: 9721158
    Abstract: A terrain mapping system includes an aerial system including at least one camera configured to capture a plurality of aerial images of an area and transmit the plurality of aerial images to an image database, a plurality of machines each having a ground control point (GCP) disposed thereon, and each being configured to periodically record a global location of the GCP in a location history database, and a mapping unit configured to construct a preliminary three-dimensional (3D) terrain map based on the plurality of aerial images, detect at least one GCP within at least one aerial image, determine an estimated global location and an accurate global location of the at least one GCP, and calibrate the preliminary 3D terrain map based on the estimated global location and the accurate global location of the at least one GCP.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Qi Wang, Paul Edmund Rybski
  • Patent number: 9721159
    Abstract: A system for identifying a periodicity-related attribute in a multi-frequency signal. The system is configured to produce phase and delay modulated signals from a complex input signal. The system is designed to combine these phase and delay modulated signals to identify a periodicity-related attribute associated with the multi-frequency signal. The system is configured to produce a physically perceptible output based on the identified periodicity-related attribute.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Inventor: Evan Donald Balster
  • Patent number: 9721160
    Abstract: A machine-implemented method of processing an input image includes receiving user input that manually identifies a location in the input image that corresponds to a potential redeye artifact. A set of detected redeye artifacts in the input image is received. One of the detected redeye artifacts that is closest to the manually identified location is identified. The identified detected redeye artifact is stored in a list of redeye artifacts that are identified with manual assistance if the identified detected redeye artifact is within a threshold distance from the manually identified location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Matthew D. Gaubatz, Stephen L. Laszlo, Kunal A. Desai
  • Patent number: 9721161
    Abstract: Representative implementations of devices and techniques provide adjustable parameters for imaging devices and systems. Dynamic adjustments to one or more parameters of an imaging component may be performed based on changes to the relative velocity of the imaging component or to the proximity of an object to the imaging component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Markus Dielacher, Josef Prainsack, Martin Flatscher, Michael Mark, Robert Lobnik
  • Patent number: 9721162
    Abstract: An object-recognition method and system employing Bayesian fusion algorithm to reiteratively improve probability of correspondence between captured object images and database object images by fusing probability data associated with each of plurality of object image captures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: AGT International GMBH
    Inventors: Marco Huber, Andreas Merentitis, Roel Heremans, Christian Debes
  • Patent number: 9721163
    Abstract: In an image processing apparatus, a degree-of-relevance calculation unit calculates a degree of relevance between each of a plurality of images on the basis of a person's face, determination results of scenes and objects, GPS information, and a degree of similarity. An important image extraction unit extracts images captured over a certain period of time including a reference date for determining a degree of importance of the image, and images captured over a certain period of time including a relevant date relevant to the reference date, as important image, from the plurality of images. A relevant image extraction unit extracts a certain number of images as relevant images from important images in which the degree of relevance for a selected image selected from the plurality of images by an instruction which is input through an instruction input unit is equal to or greater than a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Kei Yamaji
  • Patent number: 9721164
    Abstract: A system for collecting data comprising a mobile terminal for capturing a plurality of frames of image data, the mobile terminal having a first imaging assembly and a second imaging assembly, the first imaging assembly for capturing a first frame of image data representing a first object and the second imaging assembly for capturing a second frame of image data representing a second object, wherein the system for use in collecting data is operative for associating first frame information and second frame information, the first frame information including one or more of image data of the first frame of image data and information derived utilizing the image data of the first frame of image data, the second frame information including one or more of image data of the second frame of image data and information derived utilizing the image data of the second frame of image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Hand Held Products, Inc.
    Inventors: William H. Havens, Ynjiun Paul Wang, Jonathan Stiles
  • Patent number: 9721165
    Abstract: A system and method for generating a short video summary from video data. For example, the system may receive input video data including video clips and may select snippets from each video clip to include in the short video summary. To select a snippet, the system may calculate a priority metric for individual frames in a video clip, may generate a priority metric graph for the video clip and may select a portion of the video clip associated with a peak of the priority metric graph. Thus, the snippets may include a short duration of time (e.g., 1-4 seconds) corresponding to the peak of the priority metric graph. The system may reorder the snippets based on characteristics of content represented in the snippet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Peter Van Tuyl Bentley, Matthew Alan Townsend, Manlio Armando Lo Conte, Mark Eugene Pearson
  • Patent number: 9721166
    Abstract: A system and method for detecting a particular human in a plurality of images of humans may include one or more processors to receive input data describing the appearance of the particular human via a graphical user interface (GUI). An image representing the particular human may be generated based on the input data. This may take the form of an avatar or artificial image. This artificial or processor-generated image may be used to identify one or more of the humans in said plurality of images as a candidate for the particular human.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Qognify Ltd.
    Inventors: Oren Deri, Yaniv Gurwicz, Vladimir Goldner
  • Patent number: 9721167
    Abstract: The present invention provides a biometric notification system for selectively sending messages to interested recipients. In various embodiments, message trigger criteria, interested recipients, and message content may vary depending upon, among other things, the service being provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: FaceFirst, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Ethan Rosenkrantz, Gifford Hesketh
  • Patent number: 9721168
    Abstract: Video analytics is used to track an object of interest represented in video data representing the field of view of a scene observed by a video camera. A multidimensional virtual beam is used to detect whether the tracked object of interest is continually present in a detection zone within the field view of the scene. An occurrence of an event is signaled when the tracked object of interest is continually present in the detection zone during a period beginning when the tracked object of interest enters the detection zone and ending when the tracked object of interest leaves the detection zone through the opposite side, after having completely crossed through the detection zone. Use of a virtual beam detection zone reduces false alarms as compared to the numbers of incidences of false alarms of traditional detection methods, while adding several features and benefits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: AVIGILON ANALYTICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mahesh Saptharishi, Douglas H. Marman
  • Patent number: 9721169
    Abstract: An image processing device includes: an image acquisition unit that obtains a photographic image of an area outside of a vehicle captured and output by a camera; a sun decision unit that calculates a sun position which indicates, at least, a solar elevation and makes a decision as to whether or not the solar elevation is equal to or lower than a predetermined elevation; an opacity detection unit that detects clouding of a lens surface of the camera; a vehicle detection unit that detects another vehicle, different from the vehicle, based upon image information of a first image area in the photographic image; and a control unit that suspends detection of the other vehicle by the vehicle detection unit if the opacity detection unit detects opacity in, at least, the first image area and the sun decision unit decides that the solar elevation is equal to or lower than the predetermined elevation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignees: Clarion Co., Ltd., Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Kiyohara, Katsuyuki Nakamura, Masayuki Takemura, Kota Irie, Yasuhisa Hayakawa, Osamu Fukata
  • Patent number: 9721170
    Abstract: A self-location calculating device projects a patterned light onto a road surface around a vehicle, captures and obtains an image of the road surface around the vehicle. When determining that a condition of the road surface around the vehicle changes as much as or more than a threshold value, the self-location calculating device calculates a current position and a current attitude angle of the vehicle in present by adding an amount of change in the attitude to a current position and a current attitude angle of the vehicle which are calculated in a previous information process cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ichiro Yamaguchi, Hidekazu Nishiuchi
  • Patent number: 9721171
    Abstract: A method for detecting variable message traffic signs for a vehicle, includes: reading in a vehicle position, comparing the vehicle position to position information of at least one variable message traffic sign in order to determine a presence of a variable message traffic sign in a predefined area around the vehicle and in response to provide a proximity information, and varying a detection instruction of information of a variable message traffic sign in response to the proximity information to detect a variable message traffic sign.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Frank Moesle, Daniela Weiss, Paul Ruhnau, Dimitrios Bariamis
  • Patent number: 9721172
    Abstract: An imaging system and method for a vehicle is provided, and includes an imager configured to image a scene external and forward of the vehicle and to generate image data corresponding to the acquired images. A controller is configured to receive the image data and analyze an optical flow between successive image frames to compute a relative motion between the imager and the imaged scene, wherein the optical flow includes a pattern of apparent motion of objects of interest in the successive image frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: David J. Wright, David M. Falb
  • Patent number: 9721173
    Abstract: A system and method for detecting electronic device use by a driver of a vehicle including acquiring an image including a vehicle from an associated image capture device positioned to view oncoming traffic, locating a windshield region of the vehicle in the captured image, processing pixels of the windshield region of the image for computing a feature vector describing the windshield region of the vehicle, applying the feature vector to a classifier for classifying the image into respective classes including at least classes for candidate electronic device use and candidate electronic device non-use, and outputting the classification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Conduent Business Services, LLC
    Inventors: Beilei Xu, Robert P. Loce, Thomas F. Wade, Peter Paul
  • Patent number: 9721174
    Abstract: A user identification method and a user identification electronic device are provided. The method includes: obtaining user state information of a user; determining available user identification modes based on the user state information; determining user identification accuracy information corresponding to each of the available user identification modes; determining a selected user identification mode, based on a service requiring user identification and the user identification accuracy information; and performing user identification in the selected user identification mode. With the method or the electronic device, the user can be identified based on various types of information, thus an application range of the user identification method is expanded, and robustness of the user identification method is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignees: Beijing Lenovo Software Ltd., Lenovo (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hao Shen
  • Patent number: 9721175
    Abstract: A method for generating multiple biometric profiles for a user is disclosed. According to one embodiment, the method may include (1) receiving data from a user, the data comprising biometric data for a user and device specifications for the electronic device; (2) at least one computer processor retrieving at least one existing user profile; (3) the at least one computer processor determining whether the data is consistent with at least one of the existing profiles; and (4) the at least one computer processor updating at least one existing profile if the data is consistent with the existing profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
  • Patent number: 9721176
    Abstract: A supplemental device for gathering information concerning the use of an injection device, the supplemental device having a first camera sensor portion for generating a first camera output indicative of a scene in the field of view of the first camera sensor portion, a second camera sensor portion for generating a second camera output indicative of a scene in the field of view of the second camera sensor portion, and at least one processor. The processor configured to use the first camera output to determine whether a rotational speed of an object in the field of view exceeds a threshold speed, if it is determined the rotational speed of the object does not exceed the threshold speed, to process the second camera output to identify a feature provided on the or another object, and if it is determined the rotational speed of the object does exceed the threshold speed, to refrain from attempting to identify the feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: SANOFI-AVENTIS DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
    Inventor: Roman Prager
  • Patent number: 9721177
    Abstract: During an information-extraction technique, visual suitability indicators may be displayed to a user of the electronic device to assist the user in acquiring an image of a document that is suitable for subsequent extraction of textual information. For example, an imaging application executed by the electronic device may display, in a window associated with the imaging application, a visual suitability indicator of a tilt orientation of the electronic device relative to a plane of the document. When the tilt orientation falls within a predefined range, the electronic device may modify the visual suitability indicators to provide visual feedback to the user. Then, the electronic device may acquire the image of the document using an imaging device, which is integrated into the electronic device. Next, the electronic device may extract the textual information from the image of the document using optical character recognition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: INTUIT INC.
    Inventors: Sammy Lee, Grace Pariante, Eugene Krivopaltsev, Sreeneel K. Maddika, Bobby G. Bray, Jr., Andrew B. Firstenberger
  • Patent number: 9721178
    Abstract: Exemplary methods of extracting closed caption (CC) image from a frame of an audio video (AV) stream are described. For all pixels of the frame, setting a color value of the pixels to a determined pixel value when the color value of the pixel is different from a background color value associated with CC image. A set edges is analyzed to identify one or more polygons. A polygon that contains text is determined from the one or more polygons. The frame is cropped along the polygon to obtain a CC image. Upon determination that the CC image is identical to another closed caption image a frame count associated with the other closed caption image is increased by 1; and upon determination that the CC image is not identical to the other CC image the closed caption image is stored along with a position and a time value as metadata information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
    Inventors: Bhushan Ramnani, Aparna Varanasi
  • Patent number: 9721179
    Abstract: An apparatus and method to detect a line segment or arc using Hough transform. A Hough transform unit performs contour extraction on brightness image data to generate contour image data, with pixels having a pixel value of 0 to 255, performs the Hough transform on points in the contour image data, and counts additional values represented by pixel values of points in the contour image data in a Hough table. The Hough transform unit performs contour extraction on first to third component data to generate first to third contour data with pixels having a pixel value of 0 to 255, performs the Hough transform on points in the first to third contour data, and counts additional values represented by pixel values of points in the first to third contour data in the Hough table. The detection unit comprehensively evaluates the counts to detect a line segment or arc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: MegaChips Corporation
    Inventor: Hiromu Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 9721180
    Abstract: A video is received of a region of a subject where a signal corresponding to respiratory function can be registered by a video device. Pixels in the region in each of the image frames are processed to identify a respiratory pattern with peak/valley pairs. A peak/valley pair of interest is selected. An array of optical flow vectors is determined between a window of groups of pixel locations in a reference image frame corresponding to a peak of the pair/valley pair and a window in each of a number of image frames corresponding to the respiratory signal between the peak and ending at a valley point. Optical flow vectors have a direction and a magnitude. A ratio is determined between upwardly pointing optical flow vectors and downwardly pointing optical flow vectors. Based on the ratio, a determination is made whether the respiration phase for that peak/valley pair is inspiration or expiration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Prathosh A. Prasad, Lalit Keshav Mestha, Himanshu J. Madhu
  • Patent number: 9721181
    Abstract: A system for detecting clouds and cloud shadows is described. In one approach, clouds and cloud shadows within a remote sensing image are detected through a three step process. In the first stage a high-precision low-recall classifier is used to identify cloud seed pixels within the image. In the second stage, a low-precision high-recall classifier is used to identify potential cloud pixels within the image. Additionally, in the second stage, the cloud seed pixels are grown into the potential cloud pixels to identify clusters of pixels which have a high likelihood of representing clouds. In the third stage, a geometric technique is used to determine pixels which likely represent shadows cast by the clouds identified in the second stage. The clouds identified in the second stage and the shadows identified in the third stage are then exported as a cloud mask and shadow mask of the remote sensing image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: The Climate Corporation
    Inventors: Wei Guan, Pramithus Khadka, Jeffrey Gerard
  • Patent number: 9721182
    Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for encoding an image is provided. The image that needs to be represented is represented in the form of a Gaussian pyramid which is a scale-space representation of the image and includes several pyramid images. The feature points in the pyramid images are identified and a specified number of feature points are selected. The orientations of the selected feature points are obtained by using a set of orientation calculating algorithms. A patch is extracted around the feature point in the pyramid images based on the orientations of the feature point and the sampling factor of the pyramid image. The boundary patches in the pyramid images are extracted by padding the pyramid images with extra pixels. The feature vectors of the extracted patches are defined. These feature vectors are normalized so that the components in the feature vectors are less than a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: A9.com, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark A. Ruzon, Raghavan Manmatha, Donald Tanguay
  • Patent number: 9721183
    Abstract: Techniques for selecting a digital image are disclosed. The techniques may include receiving a first set of digital images, analyzing the first set of digital images to extract first image features from each of the first set of digital images, accessing a user profile, comparing the extracted first image features to a preset list of image features, ranking each digital image of the first set, selecting each digital image having a ranking that exceeds a threshold, assigning a category to each selected digital image based on a comparison of each selected digital image to a category database of digital image categories, displaying each selected digital image with the assigned category, receiving an input from the user in response to the displaying, updating the user profile and the category database based on the input, and selecting at least one subsequent digital image based on the updated user profile and category database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: HULU, LLC
    Inventors: Noah Raymond Heller, James Theodore Bartot, David Ballantyne Christianson, Jason Hayes Christensen, Schuyler Cullen, Hugh Crean, Navdeep Singh Dhillon, Samuel J S Fu, Craig Bruce Horman
  • Patent number: 9721184
    Abstract: An article pickup apparatus configured so as to measure surface positions of articles randomly piled on the three-dimensional space using a three-dimensional measurement instrument to acquire position information of three-dimensional points, determine a connected set made by connecting three-dimensional points present in the vicinity of each other among the three-dimensional points, and identify a position and posture of an article based on the position information of three-dimensional points belonging to the connected set. The posture of the article is identified by calculating a main component direction of the connected set by applying main component analysis to the three-dimensional points belonging to the connected set and identifying the posture of the article based on the main component direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takashi Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 9721185
    Abstract: Particular embodiments automatically identify and track a logo that appears in video content. For example, particular embodiments can track a branding logo's position and size without any prior knowledge about the logo, such as the position, type, structure, and content of the logo. In one embodiment, a heat map is used that accumulates a frequency of short-term logos that are detected in the video content. The heat map is then used to identify a branding logo in the video content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises LLC
    Inventors: Renxiang Li, Faisal Ishtiaq
  • Patent number: 9721186
    Abstract: Techniques are provided that include obtaining a vocabulary including a set of content indices that reference corresponding cells in a descriptor space based on an input set of descriptors. A plurality of local features of an image are identified based on the vocabulary, the local features being represented by a plurality of local descriptors. An associated visual word in the vocabulary is determined for each of the plurality of local descriptors. A plurality of global signatures for the image are generated based on the associated visual words, wherein some of the plurality of global signatures are generated using local descriptors corresponding to different cropped versions of the image, two or more of the different cropped versions of the image being centered at a same pixel location of the image, and an image recognition search is facilitated using the plurality of global signatures to search a document image dataset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Nant Holdings IP, LLC
    Inventor: Bing Song
  • Patent number: 9721187
    Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product for providing a lasso selection tool for a stereoscopic image is disclosed. The method includes the steps of obtaining a lasso region of a stereoscopic image pair based on a path defined by a user using a lasso selection tool. An object in a first image of the stereoscopic image pair is identified, where the object is at least partially included within the lasso region and the object is identified in a second image of the stereoscopic image pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: NVIDIA Corporation
    Inventor: David R. Cook