Abstract: A system and method hosts entity-specific photo-sharing websites for entity-specific image capture devices. The system and method provides software for the entity-specific image capture devices that causes the image capture devices to transmit entity ID information when the image capture devices transmit images over the Internet. The system and method further provide an online photosharing service capable of hosting the entity-specific photo-sharing websites for each of the entities, such that when the image capture devices connect to photo-sharing service, the photo-sharing service uses the entity ID received from the image capture devices to automatically associate the image with the photo-sharing websites of the identified entity.

Abstract: A client (such as a PC, portable telephone, PDA, electrical appliances), to which a device such as a IC card is connected, starts a handshake protocol to request a server to start communication. When communication is established via the handshake protocol, the initiative of communication is transferred to the server, and the state changes into a neutral state. In this neutral state, a control packet including a particular number of messages and a finished message is transmitted from the server to the client. If the client receives the control packet, the client performs a process according to the messages included in the control packet. This makes it possible to remotely control a device via a network in a highly reliable and efficient manner.

Abstract: A wireless communication device, such as a cellular handset, is configured to tailor its retrieval of electronic content, such as through a web feed, according to one or more capability parameters of the device. In one embodiment, a wireless communication device is configured, such as by including appropriate computer program instructions, to tailor its retrieval of electronic content based on maintaining device capability information in the wireless communication device, and filtering one or more electronic feeds received by the wireless communication device to identify electronic content having content characteristics commensurate with the device capability information.

Abstract: There is provided an information processing device including a storage control unit that causes shooting parameters to be stored, a change instruction unit that transmits an instruction to change the shooting parameters, and a change processing unit that, in response to the instruction from the change instruction unit, changes the shooting parameters without relying on a surrounding environment. The instruction from the change instruction unit does not indicate content of the change in the shooting parameters, but instructs execution of the change.

Abstract: An optical imager includes: an image sensor for capturing images of targets and outputting image signals; a lens for focusing the target on the image sensor as a function of lens position; a memory for storing predetermined lens positions determined from predetermined target sizes; and a controller for determining current target size based on captured images and positioning the lens at a predetermined lens position by correlating current target size with predetermined target sizes.

Abstract: A portable image capture device, program and method for controlling and managing data captured thereby. A device program residing on the portable image capture device generally associates data processing attributes with image files generated for image data captured by the portable image capture device. In some embodiments, the device program associates data processing attributes related to prompts for pre-defined image data with corresponding image files generated in response to the prompts. The device program, and attribute and prompt data therefor are created on a data processing system and are transferrable therefrom to the portable image capture device.

Abstract: The embodiments of the present invention provide an image forming method and apparatus, and an electronic device. The image forming method includes: matching a real-time image formed by an image forming element with a pre-stored registered image, when a depth of field of the image forming element moves; and making a shooting when an object corresponding to the registered image is matched with an object in the real-time image and the object is within the depth of field of the image forming element. With the embodiments of the present invention, an accurate auto-focusing can be achieved, an effect of highlighting a specific object and clearly imaging the same can be obtained, and an image of higher quality can be formed.

Abstract: An interchangeable lens including a fitting unit that can be fitted to and removed from a camera body; an imaging optical system that has an aperture, and whose focal length is variable over a range from a first focal length to a second focal length; and an MTF characteristic transmission unit that transmits MTF characteristic data specifying MTF characteristics of the imaging optical system to the camera body.

Abstract: An electronic device that is accessible to a first storage medium that has no communication function and a second storage medium that has a communication function and is detachable to the device, comprising: an input unit configured to input image data; a designation unit configured to designate at least one of the first storage medium and the second storage medium as a storage medium serving as a storage destination of the image data input by the input unit; and a control unit configured to, if the first storage medium is designated as the storage destination of the image data and the second storage medium is not designated, store the image data in the first storage medium and store the image data in the second storage medium as well so as to transmit the image data to an external apparatus by the communication function of the second storage medium.

Abstract: In order to set appropriate parameters for pattern recognition while reducing a processing amount and a memory capacity for processing, an information processing apparatus includes a first setting unit configured to set a parameter candidate(s) to be used for pattern recognition, a first feature data generation unit configured to generate feature data of image data obtained by using the parameter candidate(s) set by the first setting unit, a storage unit configured to store an estimation model which is a modelization of a relationship between feature data of a plurality of image data obtained by using each of a plurality of model parameters and an evaluation value for each of the model parameters, and an estimation unit configured to refer to the estimation model and estimate an evaluation value for the parameter candidate(s) based on the feature data generated by the first feature data generation unit.

Abstract: An electronic apparatus and a method for making a bokeh image are provided. The electronic apparatus includes an image photographing unit configured to photograph an image, a display configured to display a user interface (UI) to set a bokeh option on the image, and a controller configured to, when the image is divided into a plurality of areas on the UI, and a bokeh pattern is determined for each of the plurality of areas, generate a bokeh image by mapping the bokeh pattern determined for each of the plurality of areas to a light source point included in the respective each of the plurality of areas.

Abstract: A first plurality of images of a scene may be captured. Each image of the first plurality of images may be captured with a different total exposure time (TET). Based at least on the first plurality of images, a TET sequence may be determined for capturing images of the scene. A second plurality of images of the scene may be captured. Images in the second plurality of images may be captured using the TET sequence. Based at least on the second plurality of images, an output image of the scene may be constructed.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an apparatus having a controller to capture one or more images of a conference room using a video camera, generate an illumination model for a plurality of lights associated with the conference room based on the images, and illuminate at least a portion of the lights based on the illumination model during a video conference call that utilizes the video camera, where the video conference call is implemented using an interactive television network. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: An image sensing apparatus includes an image sensing unit having an image sensor, an optical member which is arranged in front of the image sensor, a foreign substance detection unit which detects, from a foreign substance detection image including the image of a foreign substance adhered to the surface of the optical member, a recording unit which, when shooting a moving image, records moving image data generated based on image signals successively output from the image sensing unit, and records foreign substance information and lens information in addition to the moving image data, and a lens information obtaining unit which, when the lens information is updated by operating the imaging lens by a user during moving image shooting, obtains the updated lens information. When the lens information obtaining unit obtains the updated lens information, the recording unit records the updated lens information in addition to the moving image data.

Abstract: A digital apparatus is provided. The digital apparatus includes an image acquisition unit configured to acquire an image of a user and a controller configured to recognize a hand shape in the acquired image of the user and to perform a function corresponding to the recognized hand shape.

Abstract: A driving assist apparatus acquires vehicle information which includes a gear state and speed of a vehicle; judges a state of preparing for movement, a state of starting movement, and a state during movement; generates a wide-angle image that is an image that can see a wide range although having distortion when the vehicle state is the state of preparing for movement or the state of starting movement; and generates a no-distortion image that is an image in which the distortion due to the lens shape and the distortion by the projection system are eliminated from the camera image when the vehicle state is the state during movement.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus and method enables an automated extended depth of field capability that automates and simplifies the process of creating extended depth of field images. An embodiment automates the acquisition of an image “stack” or sequence and stores metadata at the time of image acquisition that facilitates production of a composite image having an extended depth of field from at least a portion of the images in the acquired sequence. An embodiment allows a user to specify, either at the time of image capture or at the time the composite image is created, a range of distances that the user wishes to have in focus within the composite image. An embodiment provides an on-board capability to produce a composite, extended depth of field image from the image stack. One embodiment allows the user to import the image stack into an image-processing software application that produces the composite image.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an image file creation unit, a storage control unit, an extracting unit, and a display controller. The image file creation unit is configured to create a file including a plurality of images, first management information indicating a specified Exif version, and second management information including an image size and a total number of the images in the file. The storage control unit is configured to store the image file in a storage. The extraction unit is configured to extract the image from the image file in the storage based on the second management information. The display controller is configured to display the image on a display.

Abstract: A variable-magnification image processing apparatus, comprising: a magnification setting group storing unit to store a magnification setting group; a display magnification obtaining unit to obtain a display magnification of an image displayed on a display screen at an equal pixel magnification; a magnification setting selection unit configured to select one of the magnification settings in one of decreasing order and increasing order; and a display control unit configured to display the image at the magnification setting, wherein the magnification setting selection unit is configured to execute at least one of: operation to select the obtained display magnification subsequently to a maximum one of the magnification settings smaller than the obtained display magnification when a magnifying operation is conducted; and operation to select the obtained displaying magnification subsequently to a minimum one of the magnification settings larger than the obtained display magnification when a reducing operation is co

Abstract: Various embodiments relating to image capture with a camera and generation of a processed image having desired image characteristics are provided. In one embodiment, a plurality of images of a scene captured by a camera and associated image metadata are stored. Image metadata associated with each image of the plurality of images includes image characteristics of that image, and each image has a different set of values of image characteristics. A request for an image of the scene that most closely matches a specified image characteristic profile that defines one or more values of one or more image characteristics is received. The image characteristic profile is compared to image metadata of each of the plurality of images. A processed image generated from the plurality of images of the scene having image characteristics that most closely match the image characteristic profile based on the comparison is provided.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a photographic optical system, an image sensor, and an image processing unit. The system includes an aberration control element for generating a predetermined aberration. The system forms an optical image. The image sensor generates an image signal corresponding to the image. The processing unit processes the image signal to improve image characteristics degraded based on the predetermined aberration. The aberration control element, at a first spatial frequency less than a Nyquist frequency of the image sensor, sets a response of a system optical transfer function to a reducible maximum value. The aberration control element positions a field distance of a maximum pupil height of a spherical aberration curve of the system, and a field distance of an inflection point proximate to the maximum pupil height, on either a plus side or a minus side with respect to a field distance of the pupil height of zero.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, when embedded information, which is information embedded into received image file, is to be printed, the embedded information is extracted from the image file, form data for preparing a form that includes an information-embedding area where extracted embedded information is to be arranged and an image-data area where the image data in the received image file is to be arranged is prepared, a combined image is generated by combining the extracted embedded information in the information-embedding area and the image data in the image-data area, and the combined image is printed.

Abstract: An image photography apparatus includes a storage unit to store data which is generated when an image is edited in the image photography apparatus, a receiver to receive an event to recover the image if editing of the image that is being edited in the image photography apparatus stops, and a controller to determine whether the image is to be recovered to an unedited original image or editing of the image is to be resumed to recover the image to a completely edited image according to an edited degree of the image so as to recover the image to the unedited original image or the completely edited image.

Abstract: It is an imaging apparatus that outputs subject capture images having a plurality of kinds of number of pixels by binning imaging in which pixel addition of a plurality of pixels of an imaging device is performed, including: a correction information storage unit that stores a dark correction file storing an image correction data for one screen of the imaging device, a correction calculation data generating unit that generates a correction calculation data by obtaining a correction calculation value corresponding to each pixel of the subject capture image from the image correction data when the number of pixels of the subject capture image is different from the number of pixels of the image correction data; and an image correcting unit that corrects each pixel of the subject capture image by using the correction calculation value of a corresponding pixel position of the correction calculation data.

Abstract: A capturing device includes an image sensor that generates an image signal by performing photoelectric conversion for light from a subject, a control unit that generates a setting value for setting a range where an image resulting from the image signal is cut, based on a first instruction input from a user, a setting value storage unit that stores the setting value generated by the control unit, an image conversion unit that reads the setting value from the setting value storage unit, and cuts a specific region specified by the setting value from the image and enlarges the cut region, when there is a second instruction input from the user, and an output unit that converts a signal of the image cut and enlarged by the image conversion unit into an image signal of a predetermined format and outputs the converted image signal.

Abstract: A capturing device includes an image sensor that generates an image signal by performing photoelectric conversion for light from a subject, a control unit that generates a setting value for setting a range where an image resulting from the image signal is cut, based on a first instruction input from a user, a setting value storage unit that stores the setting value generated by the control unit, an image conversion unit that reads the setting value from the setting value storage unit, and cuts a specific region specified by the setting value from the image and enlarges the cut region, when there is a second instruction input from the user, and an output unit that converts a signal of the image cut and enlarged by the image conversion unit into an image signal of a predetermined format and outputs the converted image signal.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an image processing command input section to receive image processing commands for image data written into a memory by units of one line, a line number deriving section to derive a number of lines of the image data required to execute image processing operations based on the image processing commands received by the image processing command input section, a line number indicating section to output a numerical value indicating the number of lines of the image data derived by the line number deriving section, a read timing controlling section to control read timing from the memory in response to the numerical value output from the line number indicating section, a parameter indicating section to output parameters used for the image processing operations, and an image processing section to execute the image processing operations.

Abstract: When various reverse operations are performed using a scan reverse function that reverses an image vertically or horizontally, there is a problem in that color information of the first pixel of an image after being reversed is different from color information of the first pixel of a Bayer image before interpolation processing. An image processing apparatus performs interpolation processing on a first image of a Bayer pattern, generates a second image in which colors are arranged in an order reverse to the predetermined order from an interpolated image, and stores the second image in a memory. The image processing apparatus reverses the second image when reading the second image from the memory.

Abstract: A mobile terminal including a display; a wireless communication unit configured to provide wireless communication; a camera; and a controller configured to capture an image via the camera; store, in a memory, related capturing information related to the capturing of the image; obtain, through the wireless communication unit, at least one surrounding image related to the captured image based on the related capturing information; and display a synthesized image including the captured image and the obtained at least one surrounding image.

Abstract: A trimming target specifying unit specifies a trimming target during editing of image data. A trimming area determining unit determines the specified target as a trimming area in an image. A trimming area analyzing unit analyzes image data in the trimming area determined by the trimming area determining unit. A focus range determining unit determines a focus range in accordance with the result of analysis by the trimming area analyzing unit. The focus range appending unit appends information about the focus range determined by the focus range determining unit to image data. A storage unit stores image data before and after trim editing and data appended thereto and a display unit displays the image data before and after trim editing.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus capable of highly accurately detecting and correcting color shift of image data, caused by a chromatic difference of magnification. The image processing apparatus stores first color shift amount data including color shift amount information of the image data and accuracy information indicative of detection accuracy of the color shift. The image processing apparatus analyzes the image data to thereby determine second color shift amount data including color shift amount information of the image data and accuracy information indicative of detection accuracy of the color shift. The image processing apparatus corrects the color shift of the image data using the color shift amount information selected from the first and color shift amount data, based on the accuracy information included in the first color shift amount data and the accuracy information included in the second color shift amount data.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus capable of interchanging a lens unit includes a processing unit configured to perform image correction processing based on data acquired by an acquisition unit. In the image capturing apparatus, the acquired data includes information of a first shooting condition, configured in a discrete manner, information of a plurality of second shooting conditions provided for each information of the first shooting condition, and correction information corresponding to a combination of the information of the first shooting condition and the information of the second shooting condition.

Abstract: A method determines a pixel value in a high dynamic range image from two images of different brightness by obtaining corresponding input pixel intensities from the two images, determining combination weights, and calculating the pixel value in the high dynamic range image as a weighted average of the input pixel intensities. Another method determines a pixel value in a high dynamic range image from more than two images by forming pairs of corresponding input pixel intensities, determining relative combination weights for the input pixels intensities for each pair, applying a normalization condition to determine absolute combination weights, and calculating the pixel value in the high dynamic range image as a weighted average of the input pixel intensities. Systems for generating high dynamic range image generation from two or more input images include a processor, a memory, a combination weight module, and a pixel value calculation module.

Abstract: A device and method are provided for processing mages to prolong battery life. In one implementation, a wearable apparatus may include a wearable image sensor configured to capture a plurality of images from an environment of a user. The wearable apparatus may also include at least one processing device configured to, in a first processing-mode, process representations of the plurality of images to determine a value of at least one capturing parameter for use in capturing at least one subsequent image, and in a second processing-mode, process the representations of the plurality of images to extract information. In addition, the at least one processing device may operate in the first processing-mode when the wearable apparatus is powered by a mobile power source included in the wearable apparatus and may operate in the second processing-mode when the wearable apparatus is powered by an external power source.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus for displaying an image read from a recording medium has a mechanism capable of displaying an image for a desired page immediately after an instruction has been given by a user to change a page to be displayed. The image processing apparatus includes a priority determination unit that determines the priorities of pages, and a page specifying unit for allowing a user to change a page to be displayed. In accordance with a result of the priority determination unit, the reading of image data from an image recording medium is started without waiting for the page specifying unit to be operated.

Abstract: A method for estimating an optical, electromagnetic or acoustic image having at least the successive steps of: scattering an incident optical, electromagnetic or acoustic signal using a multiple scattering medium corresponding to a known transmission matrix stored into a memory of an imaging system; measuring the scattered signal using a detector array and storing the measurements into the memory of the imaging system; and determining an estimated image having a number of image elements that is greater than the number of measurements, at full spatial bandwidth. The estimated image is determined from the measurements and the transmission matrix using a sparsity-promoting algorithm.

Abstract: An imaging system may include an image sensor array and circuitry that rotates and encodes images from the image sensor array. The circuitry may encode images from the image sensor into an image format such as a Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG) format. The circuitry may perform rotations of the images during encoding into Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG) format. Image rotations during encoding and compression may include redefining minimum coded units of the encoded image such that minimum coded units of a rotated image are processed in the same order as minimum coded units in a non-rotated image. Redefinition of minimum coded units may include rewriting of parameters in a start of frame segment of an image data stream such that the height and width of minimum coded units are reversed during rotation.

Abstract: A camera body at which an interchangeable lens, holding a plurality of sets of optical characteristics data, each expressing specific optical characteristics in one of a plurality of representation formats, can be detachably mounted, includes: an identification information reception unit that receives lens-side identification information from the interchangeable lens, which indicates the plurality of representation formats; an identification information storage unit in which body-side identification information indicating each representation format that the camera body is capable of recognizing among the plurality of representation formats, is stored; a selection unit that selects a single representation format included in both the lens-side and the body-side identification information, among the plurality of representation formats; a request unit that issues a request to the interchangeable lens for the optical characteristics data corresponding to the selected representation format; and an optical character

Abstract: An apparatus and method for adjusting a white balance, and more particularly, an apparatus and method for adjusting a white balance of an image captured with a complex light source are provided. The apparatus includes a camera unit, and a controller for controlling recognition of a facial image from an image captured by the camera unit and, if it is determined that the image has been captured with a complex light source based on a comparison between a white balance gain calculated based on a facial skin color of the recognized facial image and a white balance gain calculated based on a white balance scheme, for adjusting a white balance of the captured image based on a final white balance gain extracted by interpolating the two white balance gains.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus arranged so that an optical image of an object obtained by emitting a flash is converted into an electric signal to obtain a first image regarding photographing of the object, the same optical image of the object is converted into an electric signal to obtain a second image, a distance from the object is measured for each image area of the first image on the basis of the second image, and the first image is corrected on the basis of the distance from the object measured for each image area and light distribution characteristic data of a flash stored beforehand corresponding to the distance of the object.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus includes an image capturing unit and an image processing unit. The image capturing unit captures a subject by an image sensor including focus detection pixels. The image processing unit includes a correction range determination unit configured to determine a range of a correction coefficient based on an optical condition of a photographing optical system, and a correction coefficient calculation unit configured to calculate the correction coefficient based on pixel data of a pixel positioned near the focus detection pixel, and a pixel correction unit configured to correct the pixel data of the focus detection pixel based on the correction coefficient and the range.

Abstract: A method for calibrating position of light point is used for an interactive projection system including an image capture device. The image capture device includes an image sensor and an optical filter. The method includes the following steps. A plurality of calibrating patterns formed by visible light is individually projected on a screen. The distance between the calibrating pattern with big area and an optical axis of the image sensor is larger than that between the calibrating pattern with small area and the optical axis. Next, the exposure time of the image sensor is adjusted so the image sensor can capture the images of the calibrating patterns through the optical filter. According to the images of the calibrating patterns, a plurality of coordinate positions is gotten. Then, the coordinate positions are adjusted according to a standard coordinate.

Abstract: An image pickup unit and an image processing unit are provided, each inexpensively achieving both of far distance photographing and near distance photographing in a simple configuration. In an image processing section 12, a correction coefficient selection section 123 selects one of a correction coefficient k1 for a distant object and a correction coefficient k2 for a proximate object in response to a mode setting signal input by a user, and outputs the selected correction coefficient to a deblurring processing section 122. The deblurring processing section 122 performs blur correction to image data D2 based on imaging data D0 with use of the selected correction coefficient. This allows appropriate blur correction to the imaging data of each of the distant object and the proximate object.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a first acquisition unit configured to acquire positional information indicating a photographing position of an image, a second acquisition unit configured to acquire photographic information on photographing of the image, a determination unit configured to determine reliability which indicates a level of the positional information acquired by the first acquisition means indicating a photographing position of contents expressed by the image based on the photographic information acquired by the second acquisition means, and an associating unit configured to associate the reliability determined by the determination means with the image.

Abstract: A camera device is provided with: an imaging unit for generating an area image obtained by shooting an area from above; and a display image generation unit for generating a display image of a target moving in the area using a clip image which is clipped from the area image. In this case, a rotation angle of a current frame is calculated on the basis of the rotation angle of the previous frame and a reference angle of the current frame. As a result, a rapid change in an orientation of the target displayed in the display image can be suppressed.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a photographing method. The method includes: determining a photographed object in a viewing frame; obtaining characteristic information of the photographed object, where the characteristic information is used to indicate a type of the photographed object; analyzing a behavioral parameter of the photographed object and an environmental parameter in the viewing frame, where the behavioral parameter is used to indicate a behavior type and a behavior speed of the photographed object, and the environmental parameter is used to indicate a color condition and/or a light condition in the viewing frame; determining a photographing parameter that corresponds to the characteristic information, the behavioral parameter, and the environmental parameter; and photographing the photographed object according to the photographing parameter.

Abstract: An electronic device includes an array of daisy chained image sensors, with each image sensor including a pixel array. A host is coupled to an image sensor at an end of the array and is configured to insert identification codes. The identification codes include embedded data values to thereby indicate specific parts of the image data, and a set of identification codes comprising a first identification code to identify a start of a data stream and a second identification code to identify an end of the data stream.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus that is capable of generating an album by laying out desired images in desired positions by a simple operation, while confirming a result of the layout by a photographer when shooting an image. A control section displays a through-the lens-image obtained by shooting an object on a display section by inserting the through-the lens-image in a plurality of frames on a template. When it is detected that one of the plurality of frames has been designated, the control section generates an image file by executing image pickup processing, and stores the generated image file in a storage medium in association with the designated frame of the plurality of frames on the template.

Abstract: The present invention provides a shooting device and a program that can recognize shooting scenes according to the situation with a high degree of precision. In at least one of a case where GPS information has not been acquired by a GPS receiver 58 within a predetermined period after the GPS receiver 58 has been activated, a case where the GPS information has been acquired by the GPS receiver 58 within the predetermined period after the GPS receiver 58 has been activated but the acquired GPS information has not been stored in a database C, and a case where a subject image has been acquired by shooting without the GPS receiver 58 being activated, the shooting device recognizes the shooting scene at the current shooting location on the basis of at least one of the subject image acquired by the shooting and shooting support information.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a setting unit configured to set, in a first range encompassing an area of a captured image acquired by an imaging unit, a first analysis graphic or a first line on a display screen displaying the first analysis range, and set, in the first setting range, a display range of the captured image to be displayed on a display unit, and a determination unit configured, when the display range is such that the first graphic or the first line set in the first range is partially located outside the display range, to determine a second analysis graphic having a number of vertexes equal to or smaller than a number of vertexes of the first analysis graphic, and contained within the display range or a second line contained within the display range.