Abstract: An electronic wireless hand held multimedia device includes a microprocessor and more than one wireless transceiver modules enabling wireless communications over a variety of standards, including Cellular (e.g., GSM, CDMA, GPRS, 3G), 802.11 (e.g., WLAN), and short range (e.g., Bluetooth, infrared, RFID) for the retrieval, processing, and delivery of multimedia data to/from remote data resources (e.g., Internet, servers).

Abstract: An example AC/DC phone line detection system may include one or more of an electronic circuit that is floating with reference to ground, a first A/D converter coupled to the electronic circuit and configured to detect ringing voltages from DC voltages included in a telephone line, a second A/D converter coupled to the electronic circuit and configured to detect caller identification information from AC voltages included in the telephone line, and a processor configured to control signals detected by the first and second A/D convertors and output information about the signals to call taking equipment.

Abstract: A system or method for dynamic redundant call recording may include a plurality of recording devices, each recording device having a plurality of recording resources, and a resource allocator. The resource allocator may receive a request from a call receiving node for commencement of a recording session. It may then attempt to connect to a first one of the plurality of recording devices and if successful, establish a recording session between the call receiving node and the recording device, or if not successful, attempting to connect the recording session controller to a second one of the multiple recording devices. Two resource allocators may operate in parallel to establish dual recording using resources at two different recording devices. Call content may be recorded separately from call metadata and may be integrated with the metadata using a unique call ID.

Abstract: A system and method for communicating presence information that can include at a first server of a communication platform, receiving an authorization token of a first client application; verifying at least one permission associated with the authorization token; registering a presence status of the first client application upon verifying the at least one permission of the authorization token; at a second server of the communication platform, accepting an incoming communication request; retrieving communication instructions according to the incoming communication request; identifying an instruction to communicate with a communication destination of the first client application; accessing the presence status resource of the first client application; establishing communication with the first client application according to the accessed presence status resource.

Abstract: Method of filtering undesirable incoming telephone calls, in which a decision to block a call or to transmit it is based both on the caller's number and on analysis of the caller's voice.

Abstract: A method, non-transitory computer-readable storage device, and apparatus for promoting adoption of an automated communication channel. For example, the method collects data from a plurality of communication channels related to a plurality of touchpoints, determines at least one journey from the plurality of touchpoints, determines a current state of a user for the at least one journey, determines that a next touchpoint for the at least one journey leads to a human interaction from the current state, and interacts with an endpoint device of the user via an automated communication channel.

Abstract: A process performed by a personal interactive voice communication system includes accepting settings of interactive voice communication system prompts for a communication address to which communications are received by the personal interactive voice communication system. The process includes mapping, in response to instructions specific to the network communication address, actions to correspond to selections of set interactive voice communication system prompts. The process also includes identifying a selection of an interactive voice communication system prompt and executing a mapped action corresponding to the selection identified. Voice communications to and from the personal interactive voice communication system are transmitted as packets over the internet via a network server that coordinates communications for personal interactive voice communication systems.

Abstract: A system and method that includes receiving a call from a customer; determining, in response to receiving the call, interactions with the customer and relevant business objects relating to the interactions; and presenting, simultaneously in a user interface display pane, representations of the interactions and the relevant business objects relating to the interactions.

Abstract: A customer contact system receives a customer inquiry from a customer. Availability of different types of resources for handling the customer inquiry is used to calculate a ranking for the different types of resources for handling the customer inquiry. A type of resource with the highest rank is offered to the customer in order to resolve the customer inquiry.

Abstract: Techniques for conducting a support session and determine suitable instructions for resolving a certain technical mal-function in a device/equipment of a user. Imagery data associated the technical mal-function is received from a user's device and used for determining at least one improperly setup property associated with the mal-function in the mal-functioning device/equipment based on a comparison of the received imagery data with reference data. Instructions comprising augmented imagery for resolving the mal-function can be then generated, or fetched form a database, based on the determined at least one improperly setup property. A new database record can be generated comprising the augmented imagery data for use in future support sessions associated with the mal-function.

Abstract: Apparatus for operating a multimedia contact center, comprising a multimedia contact center system for handling communications sessions between an organization and its customers and obtaining media-specific information relating to the communications session, and a search engine for performing a search in relation to the obtained media-specific information, wherein the multimedia contact center system is configured to use the results from the search in handling the communications session, wherein the results may include heterogeneous material not primarily intended for session handling purposes.

Abstract: A system for directing calls using historical call backs, demographics, and real time attributes is disclosed. In particular, the system may receive incoming calls at an interactive voice response system. Based on speech occurring during the calls, the system may determine attributes of the callers. The system may then utilize the determined attributes, call records, demographic information pertaining to account owners, real time call attribute assessment systems, regression analyses, and various types of information to direct the calls from the interactive voice response system to an optimal agent for handling. Notably, the system may direct the calls to those agents that have a higher probability of successful interaction with the calling parties so as to reduce follow-up calls, which may be costly to the entity receiving the calls. A subset of the calls may be directed to agents at random so as to facilitate the collection of unbiased information.

Abstract: Non-limiting examples of the present disclosure describe insight-based routing that is used to improve processing of a service request through a help desk service. A request for support (e.g. technical support) can be received through a modality of a help desk service. The request is evaluated, where an evaluation of the request comprises analyzing an issue associated with the request as well as user-specific signal data associated with a customer and generating insights. A support agent is matched to the customer based on an evaluation of the request. The support agent is selected from a pool of support agents based on application of a model that analyzes support agent data in correlation with the generated insights. An interaction between the matched support agent and the customer may be initiated through a modality of the help desk service.

Abstract: A communication system (1) comprising: determining means operable to determine an attribute of a communication device; identifying means operable to identify an avatar by using the attribute, wherein the avatar is such that it conveys to a viewer thereof information about a person; and communicating means operable to communicate the avatar to the communication device.

Abstract: Provided is a voice gateway-based communication method applied to a voice gateway and a mobile terminal which are in communication. The voice gateway includes at least two communication links and is capable of establishing communication between the communication links and an external communication network, and the at least two communication links correspond to different communication numbers. The mobile terminal can communicate with outside through the voice gateway, and one mobile terminal can use a plurality of different communication links on the voice gateway to complete voice or data service communication. The communication selection of the mobile terminal is expanded to a greater extent by the voice gateway, which increases the selections of the mobile terminal during communication. That is to say, one mobile terminal can use more numbers to carry out voice communication or data service communication, which satisfies the subscriber's requirement for using a plurality of different numbers.

Abstract: System and methods are disclosed for configuring the sharing of resource pools and individual resources in the resource groups among enterprise communication systems. In certain embodiments, the resource pools are trunk groups and the individual resources that comprise the trunk groups are communication resources. Digital PBXs components associated with different enterprise communication systems are registered and assigned shared use of a trunk group. Communication services are provided to the digital PBXs using the channels of the shared trunk group. Each enterprise may reserve channels within the trunk group for exclusive use by the enterprise, while sharing use of other channels in the trunk group. Each enterprise can be guaranteed a minimum calling capacity while providing improved resource utilization due to fewer idle communication channels.

Abstract: A portable speakerphone having a housing, a receiving transducer, an electrical cable, a transmitting transducer, and a processor. The receiving transducer is affixed to the housing and is configured to receive a first electrical signal from a mobile device. The electrical cable is coupled to and extends from the housing. The transmitting transducer is affixed to the electrical cable, remote from the housing. Also, the transmitting transducer is configured to transmit a second electrical signal, and the second electrical signal is based in part on the first electrical signal. The processor is configured to suppress acoustic echo by modifying the second electrical signal. The processor is also configured to output the modified second electrical signal to the mobile device. A related method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for modifying a quality of a connection between a terminal and an application server of a network is described. The application server provides a service to the terminal via the connection. The method includes sending, by the terminal, a quality modification request for a desired modification of a quality of the provided service, and determining, by the network, a condition of the connection to be modified based on the quality modification request. The determined condition to be modified is associated with the quality of the provided service. The method includes determining, by the network, a charging price for the determined condition of the connection to be modified, modifying, by the network, a condition of the connection, and charging, by the network, for modifying the condition of the connection.

Abstract: Systems and methods enable distribution of data transfer capacity in a WWAN between mobile devices. The data transfer capacity is given by a data plan for the respective mobile device. The systems and methods register first and second mobile devices with a transaction service as acquirers and providers, respectively, of data transfer capacity. The systems and methods detect when a first mobile device indicates a desire to acquire data transfer capacity, identify one or more second mobile devices that are located within reach for short-range communication with the first mobile device, and connect the first mobile device by short-range communication to one of the second mobile devices such that the first mobile device is tethered to the WWAN by this second mobile device. The systems and methods may also distribute authentication data to enable the first mobile device to be authenticated by the second mobile device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for presenting multimedia content to a caller and/or a called party in association with a telephone call. Content may be presented pre-ring (before the called party's telephone rings), in-call, and/or post-call. Content presented to a party may be related to or selected by another party participating in the call, or may be related to or selected by a third party (e.g., an advertiser that paid for the ability to have its content presented). Presented content may be actuable, and allow a caller to change the destination of a call, take advantage of an offer presented to him, redeem a coupon, schedule or queue a subsequent call, etc. To find a desired destination party, a caller may initiate a manual or automatic search of his local contacts (on his telephone) and/or a central or global directory or contact list.

Abstract: In an image processing system, a multifunction printer carries out image reading or printing in accordance with processing execution condition information stored in a storage apparatus of a host PC. A storage apparatus of a client PC stores processing execution condition information. In a case where the client PC is connected to the host PC via the network, a control apparatus transmits the processing execution condition information stored in the storage apparatus to the host PC. The host PC stores the received processing execution condition information in the storage apparatus.

Abstract: A terminal apparatus stores an external program and operation information associated with each other. The external program causes an image processing apparatus to perform an image processing operation. The operation information indicates a trigger operation which is acceptable via the input interface. The terminal apparatus performs: accepting, a user operation for specifying operation specification information that defines details of the image processing operation that is to be performed by the image processing apparatus in response to an instruction provided by the terminal apparatus; determining whether the user operation is the trigger operation; if the user operation is not the trigger operation, causing the image processing apparatus to perform the image processing operation whose details are defined by the operation specification information; and if the user operation is the trigger operation, starting up the external program associated with the operation information indicating the trigger operation.

Abstract: An image processing device includes a memory and a storage controller. The memory stores a setting of an image forming process in accordance with generation of a first image formation command or an input of a command for generating the first image formation command. The storage controller causes a first setting designated as a result of a first operation to be overwritten and stored over a second setting designated as a result of a second operation and corresponding to a second image formation command. The first setting and the second setting are included in the stored setting.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a display that displays data; a memory that stores the data and a display condition for displaying the data; and a processor. The processor determines whether the display condition is satisfied in accordance with a change of status of the apparatus. The processor displays the data in response to determining that the display condition is satisfied. The processor obtains, via a network at a timing represented by information that is stored in association with the data, update information to update the at least one of the data and the display condition stored in the memory. The update information obtained via the network includes information indicative of a next update time. The processor obtains, based on the next update time, next update information via the network.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an application on a framework separated into a core logic portion handling basic processing and a user interface frame portion handling rendering processing and operates; and a controller that executes the application and the framework. The core logic portion is implemented with an application programming interface defined by the framework. The application includes plural applications including a device application. The framework loads all core logic portions of the plural applications at activation of a system. A core logic portion of the device application monitors a state of a device relating to execution of another application and holds information on the device. A core logic portion of the other application acquires the information on the device from the device application and holds the information as display information.

Abstract: A Web browser is installed on an information processing apparatus coupled to a server apparatus that provides a single-page application. The Web browser obtains a Web content for displaying pages in the single-page application. The Web content includes screen definition information in which content elements are defined for respective page identification information items and includes configuration information in which a configuration between the page identification information items is defined. The Web browser creates, based on the configuration information, component information including, for the respective page identification information items, page components of the pages. When an operation for a page transition is performed, the Web browser displays a page after the transition based on a content element corresponding to a page identification information item of the page after the transition and on a page component corresponding to the page identification information item of the page after the transition.

Abstract: Imagery captured by a point-of-sale scanner (e.g., in a supermarket) for purposes of barcode decoding, is contrast-enhanced preparatory to use for watermark decoding—despite the fact that such operation may sometimes result in contrast between certain pixels being diminished. A great variety of other features and arrangements are also detailed.

Abstract: An image forming device includes: a reader configured to generate an image of a document; a setting receiving circuit configured to receive a plurality of set values on a print setting when test printing is executed for confirming a test result; an area dividing circuit configured to divide an area of an image on the read document based on number of the set values; an image processing circuit configured to perform image processing corresponding to each of the set values, on each of the divided areas; a combined image generating circuit configured to generate a combined image acquired by combining the areas of the image on the document to which the image processing corresponding to each of the set values is performed; and a printer configure to print the combined image generated by the combined image generating circuit.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus performs: acquiring instruction data including notification data and location information indicative of a location of next instruction data; controlling at least one of a display and an image processor to perform an operation instructed by the instruction data acquired most recently; when controlling the at least one of the display and the image processor, connecting a first communication interface with a mobile terminal within a particular distance range from the image processing apparatus, in accordance with a near-field wireless communication protocol; when controlling, transmitting the notification data extracted from the instruction data acquired most recently, to the mobile terminal through the first communication interface, the notification data being data for specifying an operation to be performed by the mobile terminal; and acquiring the next instruction data based on the location information extracted from the instruction data acquired most recently.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes plural communication units, a switching unit, and a controller. The communication units are configured to conduct a wireless communication. The switching unit is configured to switch a first communication unit having a relatively fast communication speed to a second communication unit having a relatively slow communication speed if a communication is attempted to start and if the first communication unit is being used. The controller is configured to perform a control to start the communication by the first communication unit.

Abstract: An information processing device includes an informing unit. The informing unit provides information concerning a state of processing in a first informing mode and information concerning an object of the processing in a second informing mode at the same time. The first informing mode is a mode for providing information by using a first attribute which forms elements. The second informing mode is a mode for providing information by using, among the elements, a second attribute, which is different from the first attribute used in the first informing mode.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a manuscript reader configured to read a manuscript, an embedment processing unit configured to perform a process of embedding additional information into data of the manuscript that has been read by the manuscript reader. The embedment processing unit embeds, as the additional information, a pattern including a plurality of dots arranged in such a shape that an inclination of the manuscript is detectable.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an image-data acquiring unit, a character recognition processing unit, and a monochrome conversion unit. The image-data acquiring unit acquires image data representing an image including a character. The character recognition processing unit performs a character recognition process on the image data to extract a character region. The character region is a region where the character is represented. The monochrome conversion unit converts the image data into monochrome image data when the image data is color image data including a color image. The monochrome image data includes a monochrome image representing the color image with a single color. When a tone difference between the extracted character region and an adjacent region is smaller than a predetermined threshold, the monochrome conversion unit changes a tone of a boundary region between the character region and the adjacent region adjacent to the character region.

Abstract: A signal processing device includes a signal output circuit, a controller, and a corrector. The signal output circuit outputs a signal according to a physical quantity being input. The controller controls the signal output circuit. The corrector corrects a signal to be corrected. The signal to be corrected is output from the signal output circuit. The signal output circuit selectively performs one of first operation of outputting a characteristic signal that indicates characteristics of the signal output circuit and second operation of outputting a pseudo signal that is generated spuriously, according to control of the controller. The corrector corrects the signal to be corrected based on one of the characteristic signal and the pseudo signal output from the signal output circuit.

Abstract: A method using L processers includes: receiving image data encoded by delta row encoding; dividing the two dimensionally arranged plurality of pixels by M (M?L) to make M blocks of pixels; assigning M processers to perform a parallel processing of accumulating the delta data for all the row lines of each of the M blocks of the image data to obtain the accumulated delta data, the accumulated delta data including a total delta between the first row line and the last row line in each of the blocks; obtaining the first row lines in the respective blocks using the total delta one by one starting from the second block; and assigning M+1 processers to perform a parallel processing of decoding using the obtained first row lines to obtain the decoded data and a parallel processing of rendering the image data using the decoded data.

Abstract: An image forming method includes: sending a print job and a print job ticket including user ID data from a terminal to an image forming apparatus and sending the print job ticket to a mobile terminal; receiving the print job ticket by the image forming apparatus; waiting for an access from a mobile terminal having the user ID data using a wireless communication in a specified range from the image forming apparatus; authenticating for accessing the print job ticket in the image forming apparatus using the user ID data; acquiring a facial image of a user in front of the image forming apparatus in response to the authentication; recognizing a face of an owner of the print job ticket in the acquired facial image to cause the image forming apparatus to print the image data; and printing the image data while the facial image is being recognized.

Abstract: An image capture system controlled by a trigger source includes one or more imaging devices, each including a lens with an optical filter attachable thereto in axial alignment with an optical axis of the lens, a sensor, a link board interface, and a controller in communication with the sensor and connected to the link board interface. One or more imaging array link boards each includes a plurality of imaging device interfaces and a first link board interconnect. The link board interface is connected to the imaging device interface. The first link board interconnect is connectible to a link board interconnect of another imaging array link board. A shutter activation command from the trigger source is transmitted to the imaging devices to initiate an image capture procedure thereby.

Abstract: Various embodiments may be generally directed to techniques for synchronizing operation of a flash light with operation of a camera using a rolling shutter for image capture. Various embodiments provide techniques for illuminating portions of a field of view of a camera substantially synchronously with portions of the field of view of the camera undergoing image capture. Various embodiments provide techniques for illuminating sequential sections of the camera field of view, rather than the entire field of view of the camera, at substantially the same time that a sensor of the camera performs image capture operations using corresponding portions of an image sensor, such as exposing the sensors to light from the image to be captured.

Abstract: An apparatus is described that includes an image sensor having a first output port and a second output port. The first output port is to transmit a first image stream concurrently with a second image stream transmitted from the second output port.

Abstract: A method for obtaining a refocused image from 4D raw light field data for a given focus plane value g is described. The method is executed by an electronic device and is remarkable in that it comprises determining at least one pixel value, for at least one color component, of the refocused image at coordinates (k, l)?N2. The at least one projected pixel value with coordinates comprised in a neighborhood of said coordinates (k, l), for the at least one color component is determined, weighted and updated.

Abstract: There is provided an image processing apparatus including a presentation controller configured to control presentation of degrees of focus in a target image corresponding to an image to be processed on the basis of a first determination result corresponding to a determination result of a degree of focus in a pixel unit in the target image and a second determination result corresponding to a determination result of a degree of focus in a region unit in the target image.

Abstract: An image generation device generates an image of an object placed on a surface of an image sensor by using a plurality of images each of which is captured by the image sensor when the object is irradiated with a corresponding one of a plurality of illuminators. The object includes first object and one or more second objects included in the first object. The image generation device determines a section of the first object including a largest number of feature points of second objects, generates an in-focus image using the section as a virtual focal plane, and causes the in-focus image to be displayed on a display screen.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus reads out a signal from pixels of the image sensor, sets a region in which a plurality of signals having different viewpoints are read out from each pixel of an image sensor, acquires first depth information for detecting an object using a signal that has been read out from a first region, acquires second depth information for detecting a focus state of the object using a signal that has been read out from a second region, and variably controls a ratio of screens in which the first region is set and a ratio of screens in which the second region is set.

Abstract: The present teaching relates to real-time manipulation of images and video captured on mobile devices, and in particular to composite graphical elements applied in real-time to captured images and/or video. Some embodiments contemplate a method comprising receiving a captured image and/or video from a portable multi-function device, applying processing in real time via a Quality Engine, applying processing in real time via an Image Engine, applying an overlay process in real time, applying a filter process in real time, storing and/or streaming the processed content, and sharing the processed content.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus which is capable of performing automatic adjustment of black balance properly without the need to have a member for fully shielding light. A diaphragm of a lens barrel and an ND filter, which is provided separately from the diaphragm, adjust the amount of light incident on an image pickup device that picks up an image of a subject. Whether the automatic adjustment is possible in present image pickup environment is judged based on evaluation values of a picked-up image obtained in a state where the amounts of incident light are maximized by respective ones of the diaphragm and the ND filter, and a predetermined judgment threshold value which is determined based on a range over which the amount of incident light is adjustable by the diaphragm and a range over which the amount of incident light is adjustable by the ND filter.

Abstract: There is provided an image processing apparatus that includes an ambient-light image obtaining section, a cumulative image generation section, and a high-quality image generation section. The ambient-light image obtaining section obtains an ambient-light image in a first time range, the ambient-light image being an image of an object captured with a predetermined exposure time. The cumulative image generation section generates a cumulative image in a second time range, the cumulative image being obtained by cumulative addition of each pixel value in a plurality of images, the plurality of images being of the object sequentially captured with the predetermined exposure time. The high-quality image generation section generates a high-quality image, the high-quality image being obtained by subtracting a pixel value in the ambient-light image from a corresponding pixel value in a normalized image, the normalized image being the cumulative image normalized based on a total sum of the exposure time.

Abstract: Provided is a light detecting apparatus including: a first photoelectric converting element which outputs a first electrical signal in accordance with an incident light including a modulated light component and a background light component; a filter which outputs a second electrical signal resulting from the modulated light component being reduced in the incident light; and a signal processor which subtracts the second electrical signal from the first electrical signal to reduce a component corresponding to the background light component in the first electrical signal.

Abstract: A camera rig for simultaneous recording holds a first smartphone with a first interactive touch screen, a second smartphone with a second camera, and a third smartphone with a third camera. The camera rig includes a handle, a first mount configured for holding the first smartphone orienting the first interactive touch screen oriented toward a user, a second mount adjacent the first mount is configured for holding the second smartphone with the second camera facing the user, and a third mount overlays the first mount. The third mount is configured for holding the third smartphone with the third camera oriented away from the user. Three simultaneous footage streams of the same event are then edited into a single clip.

Abstract: In a method of setting an OSD function according to a related technique, it is not allowed to select various superimposing techniques. In a case where a monitoring camera supports a plurality of superimposing techniques, a user is supposed to select one of the superimposing techniques via a troublesome operation. In view of the above, an image pickup apparatus is provided which includes a reception unit configured to receive an acquisition request for information associated with an image superimposing method of the image pickup apparatus, and a transmission unit configured to, in a case where the acquisition request for the information associated with the image superimposing method of the image pickup apparatus is received by the reception unit, transmit information associated with the image superimposing method of the image pickup apparatus.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses are described for automatic identification and mapping of consumer electronic devices to ports on an HDMI switch. A device that is connected to an HDMI switch is identified based on data received over an HDMI connection, and ports on the HDMI switch are automatically mapped and configured. Methods, systems, and apparatuses are described for back-end database creation for automatic identification and mapping of consumer electronic devices to ports on an HDMI switch. The back-end database may be created by the based on video and audio signatures received from a consumer electronic device and based on remote control information and signatures.