Abstract: A method of removing an audio noise and an image capturing apparatus providing the same includes storing a specified audio signal included in a captured image as a noise signal, receiving an input audio signal included in an image, and removing a noise included in a transformed audio signal through a comparison between the input audio signal and the noise signal. Accordingly, the audio noise included in the input audio signal is removed, and thus the sound that is not desired by a user can be easily removed.

Abstract: A digital photographing apparatus and a control method thereof are disclosed. The digital photographing apparatus receives a voice, recognizes the received voice, and stores the recognized voice to correspond to a face. In this way, by recognizing the voice while displaying an image, an owner of the voice can be identified and thus a face of a person which is not included in an image being captured can be displayed on a screen.

Abstract: A system for presenting recorded data includes an electronic device and a database connectable to the electronic device over a communications network, the electronic device including a recording unit to record data from a first direction, a positional arrangement to determine positional data of the electronic device, a directional arrangement to determine directional data indicating the direction of the recorded data relative the position data; a memory including a first application stored thereon; and a control unit to execute the application to associate the directional data and the positional data to the recorded data and to transmit the recorded data with the associated positional and directional data to the database.

Abstract: A method and a mobile device for providing a file synthesis function are provided. The mobile device includes an audio processing unit for outputting audio signals when an audio file is reproduced, a camera for acquiring at least one video during the audio file reproduction, and a controller for enabling the camera to acquire the at least one video during the audio file reproduction and for including the acquired at least one video in the currently reproduced audio file.

Abstract: An image reproduction system configured by an image reproduction device that can accumulate a still image or a moving image for reproduction, and an information processing device that makes a setting to the image reproduction device.

Abstract: A digital camera system providing processed audio signals, comprising: an image sensor for capturing a digital image; an optical system for forming an image of a scene onto the image sensor; a microphone for capturing an audio signal; a data processing system; a storage memory for storing captured images and audio signals; and a program memory communicatively connected to the data processing system and storing instructions configured to cause the data processing system to implement a method for providing processed audio signals, wherein the instructions include: capturing one or more digital images of a scene using the image sensor and capturing a corresponding audio signal using the microphone; determining a scene type corresponding to the captured digital images; processing the captured audio signal responsive to the determined scene type; and recording the captured digital images together with the processed audio signal in the storage memory.

Abstract: An information-processing apparatus processes information obtained by shooting an image of a subject and by collecting ambient sound of the subject. The apparatus contains an image-and-sound-recording unit that shoots the image of the subject to output image information on the image and collects the ambient sound of the subject to output sound information on the ambient sound and an information output unit that detects living-body information showing emotion of living-body of an operator who operates the image-and-sound-recording unit to output the living-body information. The apparatus also contains an information-processing unit that establishes correspondence between the living-body information outputted from the information output unit and at least one of the image information of the subject and the sound information of the ambient sound of the subject, the image information and the sound information being outputted from the image-and-sound-recording unit.

Abstract: Provided is a photographing system, which includes a photographing device and a microphone. The photographing device captures an image to generate a video signal and record the generated video signal. The microphone is removably coupled to the photographing device and obtains at least one sound signal. Thus, the photographing system obtains and records a sound signal that satisfies a user's needs.

Abstract: A method for displaying pictures during a digital picture slide show includes receiving a plurality of pictures, determining display characteristics of the plurality of pictures according to weighting values of the plurality of pictures, and displaying the plurality of pictures according to the display characteristics of the plurality of pictures.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus includes an image capturing unit that captures an image of a subject and generates a captured image; a determination-information storage unit that stores items of determination information, each item of determination information being used to determine whether the captured image includes a corresponding one of target objects; an operation accepting unit that accepts a specifying operation of specifying at least one of the target objects for which the items of determination information are stored; a target-object detecting unit that selects determination information regarding the specified target object from among the items of determination information stored in the determination-information storage means and detects the specified target object in the captured image using the selected determination information; and a recording control unit that causes the captured image generated at the time the specified target object is detected to be recorded.

Abstract: According to one of embodiments, a method and apparatus for reproducing video and audio changes a playback speed for video and a playback speed for audio independently of each other. To provide an apparatus and method for controlling the playback speeds shortly before a period in which the video and audio should better be played back at a normal-speed, thereby to reduce the strange feeling the user may have as the playback changes from the high-speed playback to the normal-speed playback, a video signal and an audio signal are first isolated from a content and then demodulated. A playback speed is set for the video signal modulated, and a playback speed is set for the audio signal modulated. The video signal and the audio signal, each set to a playback speed, are output.

Abstract: At least two microphones generate wideband electrical audio signals in response to incoming sound waves, and the wideband audio signals are filtered to generate low band signals and high band signals. From the low band signals, low band beamformed signals are generated, and the low band beamformed signals are combined with the high band signals to generate modified wideband audio signals. In one implementation, an electronic apparatus is provided that includes a microphone array, a crossover, a beamformer module, and a combiner module. The microphone array has at least two pressure microphones that generate wideband electrical audio signals in response to incoming sound waves. The crossover generates low band signals and high band signals from the wideband electrical audio signals. The beamformer module generates low band beamformed signals from the low band signals. The combiner module combines the high band signals and the low band beamformed signals to generate modified wideband audio signals.

Abstract: A digital imaging device such as a digital camera or a video camera may include the capability to store audio files. These audio files may be generated under user control when the user wishes to take a picture or capture video. The audio files may be played back as attention grabbers to attract the attention of the imaging subjects. After attracting the attention of the subjects by playing back a recorded audio sound, an image may be automatically captured.

Abstract: Transparent voice registration of a party is provided in order to provide voice verification for communications with a service center. Verbal communication spoken by a party during interaction between the party and an agent of the service center is captured. A voice model associated with the captured communication is created and stored in order to provide voice verification during a subsequent call to the service center. When a requester contacts the service center, a comparison of the voice of the requester and a voice model of the person that the requester claims to be is performed, in order to verify the identity of the requester. Additionally, a voice model associated with a party is automatically updated after a subsequent communication between the party and the service center.

Abstract: A digital imaging device such as a digital camera or a video camera may include the capability to store audio files. These audio files may be generated under user control when the user wishes to take a picture or capture video. The audio files may be played back as attention grabbers to attract the attention of the imaging subjects. After attracting the attention of the subjects by playing back a recorded audio sound, an image may be automatically captured.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for identifying a scene in a video or audio source containing sports content. A representative method includes: extracting audio data from a video source, the video source containing sports content, removing from the audio data sounds not producible by human, classifying scenes of the video source as important scenes of the video clip by analyzing the energy, pitch and tonality of at least one frame of the audio data and determining whether the at least one frame is an exciting scene.

Abstract: A shooting apparatus includes a shooting section that shoots a subject, an acquiring section that acquires sound of surroundings, and an assigning section that assigns an electronic mark indicating a characteristic feature of the sound to a position in the image with sound corresponding to the sound, in each of a case when a level of the sound has become equal to a first threshold or more for a first period of time or more, and a case when, thereafter, the level of the sound has become less than a second threshold for a second period of time or more.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a microphone that converts a sound signal into an electrical signal, a detector that detects at least one of a sensor signal output from an operation sensor detecting an operation of an imaging unit that takes an optical image obtained by an optical unit and a control signal output from an operation unit that controls the operation of the imaging unit, a determination unit that determines a state of operation of the imaging unit based on at least one of the sensor signal and the control signal, a memory unit that stores a first electrical signal output from the microphone as a noise signal when a signal ratio of the first electrical signal and a second electrical signal is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value, and a noise reduction unit that reduces a noise of the electrical signal.

Abstract: A game device according to the present embodiment includes a camera as image pick-up means. An inner camera is accommodated in an upper housing. In addition, a microphone hole is provided in an inner surface of the upper housing so as to sense external sound through a microphone.

Abstract: A sound recording device includes an input unit, a timing detection unit, a section setting unit that sets a first section including a section in which an operation unit operates in a sound signal, a reference signal determination unit that determines, as a first reference signal, the sound signal corresponding to a second section following the first section, a signal detection unit that detects, as a second reference signal, a sound signal with the highest correlation with the first reference signal, an interpolation signal detection unit that detects, as an interpolation signal, a sound signal that follows the second reference signal detected by the signal detection unit in the sound signal and has the same time length as the first section, a signal replacement unit that replaces the sound signal in the first section with the interpolation signal, and a recording unit that records the sound signal replaced by the signal replacement unit.

Abstract: For automatically transmitting an image file, a system transmits the file automatically through specifically specifying information for file transmission such as an address of a destination. The system includes a memory for storing a data file and an automatic transmission control file for briefly describing information of a file name of the file to be transmitted and a destination address, and a communication unit for transmitting the data file according to the automatic transmission control file. Therefore, the system can transmit the data file automatically only by having a memory storing the data file and automatic transmission control file connected to the communication unit.

Abstract: An imaging device includes an interface, a controller, and a recorder. The interface is connected to an external device. The interface is configured to receive divided audio data obtained by dividing data included in an audio file obtained by the external device in units of time, from the external device. The controller performs correlating an image file with the divided audio data so that the image file and divided audio data are synchronized, based on time data of the image file obtained by image shooting, and time data of the divided audio data. The controller performs sending reduced image data obtained by reducing images included in the image file, to the external device through the interface. The recorder records the image file and divided audio data.

Abstract: An imaging device to which a portable storage medium is attachable, includes: a portable storage medium attachment section which attaches the portable storage medium; an inside storage medium which links image data imaged to information of imaging date and time and stores the data; and a transfer control section which controls a transfer of the image data from the inside storage medium to the portable storage medium, the portable storage medium having a data area which stores the image data transferred and a system area which stores management data generated corresponding to the image data stored in the data area, the transfer control section setting time stamp information of the management data generated in the portable storage medium corresponding to the image data transferred from the inside storage medium to the portable storage medium as the information of imaging date and time linked to the image data transferred.

Abstract: Information concerning an imaging place is acquired from a map information acquisition portion, and the acquired information related to the position is multiplexed with video image information to be recorded in a recording medium. The information related to positions separated at the time of reproducing is displayed by being superimposed onto a video image so that it is possible to switch from/to display/non-display. Further, the information related to a position is input by an operation portion, and the time corresponding thereto is taken from the multiplexed file, thereby making it possible to start reproduction from a part in which a specified position is imaged. It is therefore an object of the present invention to record the information related to the imaged place together with a video image, and to be able to switch from/to display/non-display of the information related to the place. Additionally, it is an object to perform control of reproduction based on the information related to a place.

Abstract: A sound pickup apparatus includes: a microphone array including at least three microphones, wherein a first pair of microphones in which two of the at least three microphones are aligned on a first axis, and a second pair of microphones in which two of the at least three microphones are aligned on a second axis; a first null signal generator which outputs a first null signal based on a differential output of the first pair of microphones; a second null signal generator which outputs a second null signal based on a differential output of the second pair of microphones; and a combiner which generates a target signal based on the first null signal and the second null signal, the target signal having a directional characteristic in which the lowest sensitivity is formed in a direction to a line along which the first null surface meets the second null surface.

Abstract: Provided are a digital photographing apparatus that is capable of displaying a slide show in which music and images are displayed in a harmonious manner to the user by replaying a plurality of image files according to an atmosphere created by the music by determining a replay order of the plurality of image files according to the music based on music information and image information, a method of controlling the digital photographing apparatus, and a recording medium for recording the method.

Abstract: A digital imaging device and methods thereof that will enable the embedding and retrieving of information in digital images are provided. The digital imaging device includes a capture module for capturing an image and creating a digital image file; an input module for inputting information regarding the captured image; and a processing module for associating the inputted information to the digital image file. The device further includes a scanning module for reading a symbology associated with a printed digital image and wherein the processing module is adapted to use the symbology to retrieve the associated information of the digital image file. The device may be embodied as a digital camera, a mobile phone, personal digital assistant (PDA), etc.

Abstract: A digital imaging device such as a digital camera or a video camera may include the capability to store audio files. These audio files may be generated under user control when the user wishes to take a picture or capture video. The audio files may be played back as attention grabbers to attract the attention of the imaging subjects. After attracting the attention of the subjects by playing back a recorded audio sound, an image may be automatically captured.

Abstract: A recording device including: a recorder recording data onto a recording medium on which tracks as units of audio data are grouped and managed by management information; and a controller generating an image file in which image data associated with one of each track recorded on the recording medium and each group managed by the management information is collected, and recording the image file onto the recording medium by the recording means.

Abstract: An audio signal processing apparatus does not drive a drive unit in a period during which an audio signal used for noise reduction processing is acquired, or does not stop a recording operation until the audio signal used for noise reduction processing is acquired.

Abstract: An image recording/playback control apparatus includes a moving image capturing section capturing a moving image and generating moving image data; a still image capturing section capturing a still image and generating still image data; a still image information generation section generating still image information in which the moving image data and the still image data are associated with each other by an image-capturing time; moving and still image coding sections coding the moving and still image data, respectively; a recording section recording the coded moving and still image data; a separation section separating the coded moving and still image data; moving and still image decoding sections decoding the coded moving and still image data, respectively; a still image information indication section indicating the moving or still image data; a selection section selecting the moving and still image data; and a display control displaying the moving or still image data.

Abstract: Systems and methods may provide location and media content tracking. The systems and methods may include receiving, from a personal communications device, location information and at least one media content, the location information indicating one or more historical physical locations of the personal communications device, the at least one media content associated with at least one of the one or more physical locations of the personal communications device; storing an association among an identification of the personal communications device, the at least one media content, and the location information corresponding to the one or more physical locations associated with the at least one media content; receiving, from a client computer, a request to track the personal communications device; and responsive to the request, providing the at least one media content and the corresponding location information to the client computer.

Abstract: An image/audio data sensing module incorporated in a case of an electronic apparatus. The image/audio data sensing module comprises: at least one image sensor, for sensing an image datum; a plurality of audio sensors, for sensing at least one audio datum; a processor, for processing the image datum and the audio datum according to a control instruction set to generate a processed image data stream and at least one processed audio data stream, and combining the processed image data stream and the processed audio data stream to generate an output data stream following a transceiver interface standard; a transceiver interface, for receiving the control instruction set and transmitting the output data stream via a multiplexing process; and a circuit board, wherein the image sensor, the audio sensors and the transceiver interface are coupled to the circuit board, and the processor is provided on the circuit board.

Abstract: An electronic camera is capable of recording image, voice, text, line-drawn information and the like. A release switch in the electronic camera is operated to photograph a subject image. When recording voice with the electronic camera, shutter sound effects are not output with the recorded voice. Further, the photographic operation can be indicated to the user by lighting a light-emitting diode in a finder when the release switch is operated.

Abstract: In recording materials of a video program or the like, the video materials are efficiently and optimally acquired so that processing steps in and after an editing step subsequent to a recording step can be reduced. A recording support information (metadata) on a schedule of and a performer for an imaging operation, and the like, which are determined in advance is recorded in a first recording medium 16 by a program constitution input device 100. The first recording medium 16 is inserted in to an imaging device 200, materials to be recorded are classified and confirmed based on the metadata, and the materials which can constitute a desirable program as potentially as possible are acquired in the recording operation.

Abstract: An electronic apparatus (102) includes a microphone (40). Sound is captured by the microphone (40), and a key operation is detected by a sub microcomputer (46). The processes according to outputs from the microphone (40) and the sub microcomputer (46) are executed by a main microcomputer (42). The main microcomputer (42) outputs a sound effect from a speaker (58) in response to the key operation. Besides, output setting of the sound effect is changed between active state and inactive state. The main microcomputer (42) changes an extraction characteristic of sound according to the setting state of sound effect output.

Abstract: An imaging device of the present invention comprises: an imaging mechanism; a sound acquisition unit operable to acquire sound data that includes information reflecting an imaging environment; and a setting unit operable to, based on the sound data acquired by the sound acquisition unit, select and set one or more setting values for controlling the imaging mechanism.

Abstract: A recording device obtains audio signals by plural microphones and records the audio signals on a recording medium. The device includes plural incorporated microphones for obtaining the audio signals; correction circuits for changing characteristics by correction parameters for the incorporated microphones, for correcting characteristics of the audio signals obtained by the incorporated microphones to a reference characteristic, and for outputting the corrected audio signals; and a recording device for recording the corrected audio signals output from the circuits on the recording medium.

Abstract: A handy, low cost, tamper-evident evidence recording device is disclosed. A method and system for utilizing evidence recording devices in improving various business processes such as insurance claims processing, car and equipment rentals, and property leases disputes, is disclosed.

Abstract: An electronic camera records pictures and sound associated with the picture images, and enables reproduction of selected picture images. When one of the picture images of a range of continuously-shot picture images is reproduced, the sound corresponding to the entire range of continuously-shot picture images is reproduced.

Abstract: A method and device for adding sound annotations to a picture, and a mobile terminal including the device are disclosed. The method adds sound annotations to a picture in the mobile terminal, comprising: selecting and displaying a picture on a display device of the mobile terminal; selecting an arbitrary position on the picture; starting a sound recording function to record sound annotations for said arbitrary position on the picture; and saving the picture and the recorded sound annotations. With the present disclosure, a user of the mobile terminal can conveniently add sound annotations to a photo when the photo is taken with a camera included in the mobile terminal, so as to record wonderful “sound and picture” contents, or edit and send multimedia messages having “sound hyperlinks”. A method and device for adding a visual mark onto a picture, and a mobile terminal including the device are also disclosed.

Abstract: In a recording/reproduction device, a type of recording medium which is currently selected is shown to the user on its small built-in monitor screen in a user-friendly manner and, for more user convenience, a background color of the screen is changed depending on the type of recording medium selected by the user. The user can know the currently selected type of recording medium from the screen's background color so it is possible to identify very quickly the type of recording medium even on a small monitor screen.

Abstract: A digital camera including a layout inputting unit that inputs a layout in drawing a digital image, an internal memory stored with the inputted layout, a selection receiving unit (S400) that receives selection of the layout stored in the internal memory, an object image outputting unit (S410, S420) that outputs the digital image outputted by the converting unit to a removable memory by being related to the layout selected by the selection receiving unit, and a layout unit (S440) that outputs the layout stored in the internal memory in the removable memory stored with the digital image by the object image outputting unit.

Abstract: A portable type recording and reproducing device including recording means for converting sound information output from sound collecting means to files in message units and recording the files on a predetermined recording medium, and recording image information output from photographing means on the recording medium in association with a corresponding file of sound information in response to a first external operation, display means for displaying images based on image information associated with respective files of sound information, and reproducing means for reproducing a file of sound information associated with an image selected by a predetermined second external operation among the images displayed by the display means.

Abstract: A digital still camera comprises an imaging system for capturing a single image of printed material containing a printed audio format; a processor for extracting encoded audio data from the image; a decoder for receiving and decoding the encoded audio data to an audio signal; and an audio output for outputting the audio signal as audio.

Abstract: A system for taking motion pictures of a scene with different parts at different focal lengths with a camera that normally would not have sufficient depth of field to capture all parts of said scene in focus. A computer (610) controls a high-speed, digital camera (605) and a lens (600) with rapid focus capability to produce a stack of images at different focal lengths for rapid processing into a composite serial image montage stream in motion picture output format (625). Operator controls permit continuous selection of depth of field (DOF) in the output image and enable a plurality of in-focus and out-of-focus regions over the depth of an image. An optional output port (640) provides for real-time recordation of all images in each stack for later processing. An optional remote control (1015) duplicates the main controls in the camera system (1000) so that a second person can assist in optimizing images as they are recorded, or for remote control of the camera itself.

Abstract: A signal processing apparatus includes: a write controller for writing an input moving image signal into a first memory in accordance with a first timing signal and writing an input audio signal into a second memory in accordance with the first timing signal; a communication unit for reading out the moving image signal from the first memory in accordance with the first timing signal, reading out the audio signal from the second memory in accordance with a second timing signal having a frequency different from that of the first timing signal, and transmitting the read-out moving image signal and the read-out audio signal to an external device; and a read-out controller for changing a read-out position of the audio signal to a predetermined read-out position to be determined according to a write position of the audio signal, in case that a difference between the write position and the read-out position of the audio signal is a predetermined value.

Abstract: A digital imaging device such as a digital camera or a video camera may include the capability to store audio files. These audio files may be generated under user control when the user wishes to take a picture or capture video. The audio files may be played back as attention grabbers to attract the attention of the imaging subjects. After attracting the attention of the subjects by playing back a recorded audio sound, an image may be automatically captured.

Abstract: A digital imaging device such as a digital camera or a video camera may include the capability to store audio files. These audio files may be generated under user control when the user wishes to take a picture or capture video. The audio files may be played back as attention grabbers to attract the attention of the imaging subjects. After attracting the attention of the subjects by playing back a recorded audio sound, an image may be automatically captured.

Abstract: An audio/video (A/V) capture device and method that capture audio and video in a spatially synchronized manner. In one implementation, the device and method automatically adjust the shape of a spatial directivity pattern of a microphone array used for acquiring audio so that the pattern is spatially synchronized with an amount of video zoom being applied by a video acquisition section to acquire video. For example, a wider spatial directivity pattern may automatically be used during wide-angle shots and a narrower spatial directivity pattern may automatically be used during close-ups. This beneficially allows for the consistent attenuation of audio signals received from audio sources that lie outside the field of view of the video acquisition section while passing or even enhancing audio signals received from audio sources that lie within the field of view even though the width of the field of view has changed.