Abstract: A system and method for generating automated response to an input query received from a user in a human-machine interaction environment are described. The system may comprise an external memory wherein the data is stored and segregated into a plurality of segments in the hierarchical structure. The system may further comprise a processor and a memory coupled with the processor. The processor may execute a plurality of modules stored in the memory. A segment identification module may be configured to identify a relevant segment, from the plurality of segments, matching with a user input. A relevant data determination module may be configured to determine relevant data within the relevant segment matching with the user input. A response generation module may be configured to generate a response with respect to the user input based upon the relevant data.

Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed that relate to interacting with a graphical user interface in a manner to facilitate hands-free operation. For example, one disclosed embodiment provides a method including outputting to a display device a user interface that displays graphical representations of a plurality of alignable user interface objects, each alignable user interface object representing a selectable object. The method further includes receiving depth data from an imaging device, the image data capturing an image of a face directed toward the display device. The method further comprises changing an alignment condition of a first user interface object of the plurality of alignable user interface objects to move the first user interface object into an aligned condition, and changing an alignment condition of a second user interface object to move the second user interface object out of an aligned condition based on the received image data.

Abstract: A method (100) for monitoring the displaying of a plurality of video contents (VD1, . . . , VDM) on a display (1) is described, the video contents (VD1,, VDM) each comprising a stream of digital images (I1, . . . , IK), each digital image comprising a respective pixel matrix. The method does not require the integration of markers inside the video contents and the monitoring is performed by means of an optical sensor (2) having a sensitive area facing the display (1) so as to detect over time the chromatic variations of the video contents displayed.

Abstract: An image processing system includes a first processor that acquires frames of image data. For each frame of data, the first processor generates a Gaussian pyramid for the frame of data, extract histogram of oriented gradient (HOG) descriptors for each level of the Gaussian pyramid, compresses the HOG descriptors, and sends the compressed HOG descriptors. A second processor is coupled to the first processor and is configured to receive the compressed HOG descriptors, aggregate the compressed HOG descriptors into windows, compare data of each window to at least one stored model, and generate output based upon the comparison.

Abstract: An image capture system includes: a pan-tilt head with a driving-and-supporting mechanism; an image capture module including at least two image capture devices fixed on the driving-and-supporting mechanism and arranged side by side in a horizontal direction or a vertical direction; a distance obtaining module configured to obtain a distance between a to-be-captured object and the image capture module; a processor configured to calculate a width P of the to-be-captured object which is capable of being currently captured by one of the image capture devices based on the distance L and a visual angle of the image capture device in the horizontal direction or the vertical direction, and calculate a relative rotation angle of the image capture devices in the horizontal direction or the vertical direction based on the width; and a controller configured to control the image capture device to rotate based on the relative rotation angle.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and articles of manufacture for expense management are disclosed. A user may submit receipts for one or more transactions into an expense management system. The expense management system may extract information from the receipts and match the extracted information to one or more of a plurality of Records of Charge (ROCs). The expense management system may match the extracted information to a ROC based on vendor name, location, time stamp, and the like. The expense management system may further assign a ROC to an expense category. The expense management system may assign a ROC to an expense category based on a standard industrial classification (SIC) code of a merchant, a category assigned to a different ROC, and a location associated with the ROC. An expense report for all submitted receipts may be generated.

Abstract: A discriminator generation device 10 includes a feature quantity extraction unit 13 which, using at least two pattern groups having patterns of different sizes for a detection object, extracts a feature quantity of patterns configuring each pattern group, and a discriminator generation unit 14 which generates a discriminator for detecting a detection object of a size corresponding to each pattern group in an image based on the feature quantity of the patterns of each pattern group.

Abstract: A biological observation apparatus includes a light source that radiates illumination light onto an observation region that includes a biological specimen; a CCD that acquires a macro image of the observation region; a light source that radiates excitation light onto the biological specimen; a micro-image acquisition unit that acquires a micro image of the biological specimen; an identification-information storing unit that stores identification information of the biological specimen; a biological-specimen specifying unit that extracts identification information of the biological specimen by performing image processing on the macro image, and specifies a biological specimen for which the extracted identification information corresponds to the identification information stored in the identification-information storing unit; and a pan controller that moves a capturing range of the micro-image acquisition unit such that the biological specimen is included in the viewing range of the micro image.

Abstract: With the widespread availability of video cameras, we are facing an ever-growing enormous collection of unedited and unstructured video data. Due to lack of an automatic way to generate highlights from this large collection of video streams, these videos can be tedious and time consuming to index or search. The present invention is a novel method of online video highlighting, a principled way of generating a short video highlight summarizing the most important and interesting contents of a potentially very long video, which is costly both time-wise and financially for manual processing. Specifically, the method learns a dictionary from given video using group sparse coding, and updates atoms in the dictionary on-the-fly. A highlight of the given video is then generated by combining segments that cannot be sparsely reconstructed using the learned dictionary.

Abstract: The present invention is to provide an information identification system, a method of identifying information, and a program for identifying information to efficiently identify information by considering information on an object existing in the imaged area when identifying information from an image. The information identification system 10 that identifies information on an object imaged in the image previously registers information on the object existing in a predetermined area, detects the location information of the image and identifies which area the location information belongs to, detects the feature amount of the object imaged in the image, and matches the identified area information and the detected feature amount to the database and identifies information on the object imaged in the image.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes receiving a spatial feature descriptor representing a binary string of comparison results between specified pairings of N patches in a region of an image, N being an integer greater than one. The method further includes compressing the spatial feature descriptor by determining a minimum number of bits needed to represent N, and generating a sorted array representing a ranking of the N patches based on the binary string of comparison results. Each element of the sorted array is associated with a corresponding patch of the N patches and stores a value representing a ranking of the patch relative to the other N?1 patches and coded using the minimum number of bits needed to represent N. The sorted array may be further compressed using a progressive bit representation decimation process.

Abstract: A system for detecting a hitch angle between a vehicle and a trailer is provided herein. An imaging device is configured to capture images of the trailer and a controller is configured to process images captured by the imaging device. The controller derives a template image and rotates the template image relative to a search image about an imaged hitch point that is common to the template image and the search image. The location of the imaged hitch point corresponds to a selected one of a number of candidate hitch point locations. The hitch angle is determined based on an angle at which the template image is rotated relative to the search image to generate a match therebetween.

Abstract: Technologies and implementations for de-interlacing an interlaced digital video and up-converting a frame rate of a digital video are generally disclosed.

Abstract: Ultraviolet light poses both health benefits and health risks. A method, device and computer storage program balances the health risks and benefits of ultraviolet light exposure with personal sensitivities and preferences for these health risks and benefits. An ultraviolet light exposure level of a subject person is estimated by monitoring data from a plurality of sources. A personal sensitivity to ultraviolet light exposure is also estimated from data from various sources. A recommendation for the subject person is generated based upon the estimated risks and benefits of ultraviolet light exposure.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed that allow for indexing, processing, or both of information from physical media or electronic media, which may be received from a plurality of sources. In embodiments, a document file may be matched using pattern matching methods and may include comparisons with a comparison reference database to improve or accelerate the indexing process. In embodiments, information may be presented to a user as potential matches thereby improving manual indexing processes. In embodiments, one or more additional actions may occur as part of the processing, including without limitation, association additional data with a document file, making observations from the document file, notifying individuals, creating composite messages, and billing events. In an embodiment, data from a document file may be associated with a key word, key phrase, or word frequency value that enables adaptive learning so that unindexed data may be automatically indexed based on user interaction history.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for image processing, a corresponding apparatus and a computer program product. The method comprises performing face detection of an image, obtaining a coarse face segmentation region of at least one face and a contour edge of the at least one face based on the face detection; and adjusting the coarse face segmentation region based on the contour edge to obtain a fine face segmentation region. By using the method, corresponding apparatus and computer program product of the present invention, the coarse face region in an image can be precisely segmented, which provides a good basis for the subsequent image processing based on the fine face segmentation region.

Abstract: Determining occupancy in a space by detecting a suspected object in a first image of a space, creating a bounding shape around the suspected object in the image, the bounding shape being aligned towards the center of the image, tracking a selected feature from within the bonding shape, determining occupancy in the space based on the tracking, and controlling a device based on the occupancy determination.

Abstract: Methods and systems for detecting keypoints in image data may include an image sensor interface receiving pixel data from an image sensor. A front-end pixel data processing circuit may receive pixel data and convert the pixel data to a different color space format. A back-end pixel data processing circuit may perform one or more operations on the pixel data. An output circuit may receive pixel data and output the pixel data to a system memory. A keypoint detection circuit may receive pixel data from the image sensor interface in the image sensor pixel data format or receive pixel data after processing by the front-end or the back-end pixel data processing circuits. The keypoint detection circuit may perform a keypoint detection operation on the pixel data to detect one or more keypoints in the image frame and output to the system memory a description of the one or more keypoints.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for identifying an object are disclosed. The method includes: performing linear feature detection on an image to be identified by using a linear feature detecting method to obtain detected linear features, wherein the linear feature detection method transforms detection of linear features in an image space to detection of extremal points in another space and assigns larger weights to continuous image points than to discrete image points during the transformation by using a continuous cluster factor; and identifying an object to be identified from the detected linear features by considering characteristics of the object to be identified. The method and apparatus for identifying an object of the invention, when used to detect and identify weak linear objects in high resolution remote sensing images, can effectively suppress the system noise and ambient noise, thereby successfully identifying the interested object and avoiding false alarms.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a remote point method. A remote pointing method according to the present invention comprises capturing images by a first and a second camera disposed being separated spatially from each other; detecting a pointing part in a first image captured by the first camera; determining a region of interest including the pointing part in a second image captured by the second camera; and extracting stereoscopic coordinates of the pointing part within the region of interest.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides user interface methods of and systems for displaying at least one available action overlaid on an image, comprising displaying an image; selecting at least one action and assigning a ranking weight thereto based on at least one of (1) image content, (2) current device location, (3) location at which the image was taken, (4) date of capturing the image; (5) time of capturing the image; and (6) a user preference signature representing prior actions chosen by a user and content preferences learned about the user; and ranking the at least one action based on its assigned ranking weight.

Abstract: A measurement apparatus includes a sample stage, an excitation unit, a light receiving unit, a stimulant applying nozzle, and a spray nozzle in a measurement space inside a body case, and also includes a heating unit and a gas supplying unit. The body case includes an inner case surrounding the measurement space, and an outer case surrounding the inner case to shield the measurement space from light from the outside and seal the measurement space. The heating unit is disposed between the inner case and the outer case and adjusts temperature in the measurement space through the inner case. The gas supplying unit supplies gas having controlled temperature and humidity into the measurement space and adjusts temperature and humidity in the measurement space.

Abstract: A method of capturing images includes obtaining a first image of a user captured by a front camera device of an electronic device. First coordinates of two eyes of the user in the first image are identified. A preview image of the user from a rear camera device of the electronic device is obtained, and second coordinates of the two eyes of the user in the preview image are identified. At least one difference value is calculated according to the first coordinates and the second coordinates of the two eyes of the user. Once each of the at least one difference value is within a corresponding predetermined range, the rear camera device is controlled to capture a second image of the user.

Abstract: The invention is a device and method for recognizing individuals of interest by analyzing images taken under real world lighting conditions with imperfect viewing. Recognition attributes are identified by running a plurality of processing algorithms on the image data which a) extract indices of recognition that are markers relating to specific individuals, b) create morphable, three dimensional computer graphics models of candidate individuals based on the indices of recognition, c) apply the viewing conditions from the real world data imagery to the three dimensional models, and d) declare recognition based on a high degree of correlation between the morphed model and the raw data image within a catalog of the indices of recognition of individuals of interest. The invention further encompasses the instantiation of the processing on very high thruput processing elements that may include FPGAs or GPUs.

Abstract: Systems and methods for normalizing entities via name normalization are disclosed. In some implementations, a computer-implemented method of identifying duplicate objects in a plurality of objects is provided. Each object in the plurality of objects is associated with one or more facts, and each of the one or more facts having a value. The method includes: using a computer processor to perform: associating facts extracted from web documents with a plurality of objects; and for each of the plurality of objects, normalizing the value of a name fact, the name fact being among one or more facts associated with the object; processing the plurality of objects in accordance with the normalized value of the name facts of the plurality of objects. In some implementations, normalizing the value of the name fact is optionally carried out by applying a group of normalization rules to the value of the name fact.

Abstract: A method and a system for exacting face features from data of face images have been disclosed. The system may comprise: A first feature extraction unit configured to filter the data of face images into a first plurality of channels of feature maps with a first dimension and down-sample the feature maps into a second dimension of feature maps; a second feature extraction unit configured to filter the second dimension of feature maps into a second plurality of channels of feature maps with a second dimension, and to down-sample the second plurality of channels feature maps into a third dimension of feature maps; and a third feature extraction unit configured to filter the third dimension of feature maps so as to further reduce high responses outside the face region such that reduce intra-identity variances of face images, while maintain discrimination between identities of the face images.

Abstract: A device and method for providing a visual cue for improved text imaging on a mobile device. The method includes determining a minimum text size for accurate optical character recognition (OCR) of an image captured by the mobile device, receiving an image stream of a printed substrate, and displaying the image stream and a visual cue superimposed onto the image stream, wherein the visual cue is indicative of the minimum text size. The method further includes capturing a digital image of the image stream, wherein the digital image does not include the visual cue. Additionally, the method further includes notifying a user of the mobile device when text displayed within the image stream is at least as large as the minimum text size.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a biological information processor includes: an area detection unit configured to detect an area in which a person is displayed from image information; a feature extraction unit configured to extract feature information based on a characteristic portion of a person from the area detected by the area detection unit from the image information; and a determination unit configured to determine an extraction precision indicating whether or not the characteristic portion of the person can be extracted, with respect to the feature information extracted by the feature extraction unit based on a position of the characteristic portion.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to audio identification using ordinal transformations. A media matching component receives a sample audio file. The sample audio file can include, for example, a cover song. The media matching component includes a vector component that computes a set of vectors using auditory feature values included in the sample audio file. A hashing component employs a hash function to generate a fingerprint, including a set of sub-fingerprints, for the sample audio file using the set of vectors. The fingerprint is invariant to variations including but not limited to variations in key, instrumentation, encoding formats, performers, performance conditions, arrangement, and/or recording and processing variations. An identification component determines if any reference audio files are similar to the sample audio file using the fingerprint and/or sub-fingerprints, and identifies any similar reference audio files.

Abstract: When enlarged/reduced images to be displayed based on a predetermined original image are displayed on a display screen, each of the enlarged/reduced images is created and displayed at a higher speed. Therefore, desired regions within an original image are designated, and desired images including the entire designated desired region are read from the original image, and stored separately from the original image. Then, an enlargement/reduction ratio with respect to the original image is acquired, and an enlarged/reduced original image obtained by enlarging/reducing the original image with the enlargement/reduction ratio in both a long-side direction and a short-side direction is created and displayed on a display screen.

Abstract: Provided is an information processor which readily permits operation input to be made so as to point a position on a screen when an operation input is received from a user using a captured image obtained by imaging the user. The information processor acquires a captured image including a user's face, identifies the position of the user's face included in the acquired captured image, sets an operation area at a position on the captured image determined in accordance with the identified face position, detects a detection target within the operation area, and receives, as a user-pointed position, a position on the screen corresponding to a relative position of the detected detection target within the operation area.

Abstract: Edge-based recognition systems and methods are presented. Edges of the object are identified from the image data based on co-circularity of edgels, and edge-based descriptors are constructed based on the identified edges. The edge-based descriptors along with additional perception metrics are used to obtain a list of candidate objects matched with the edge-based descriptors. Through various filtering processes and verification processes, false positive candidate objects are further removed from the list to determine the final candidate object.

Abstract: A method for assessment, optimization and logging of the effects of a therapy for a medical condition, including (a) receiving into a signal processor input signals indicative of the subject's brain activity; (b) characterizing the spatio-temporal behavior of the brain activity using the signals; (c) delivering a therapy to a target tissue of the subject; (d) characterizing the spatio-temporal effect of the therapy on the brain activity; (e) in response to the characterizing, optimizing at least one parameter of the therapy if the brain activity has not been satisfactorily modified and/or has been adversely modified by the therapy; (f) characterizing the spatio-temporal effect of the at least one optimized parameter; and (g) logging to memory the at least one optimized parameter. A computer readable program storage unit encoded with instructions that, when executed by a computer, performs the method.

Abstract: This disclosure provides an image processing method and system for recognizing barcodes and/or product labels. According to an exemplary embodiment, the method uses a multifaceted detection process that includes both image enhancement of a candidate barcode region and other product label information associated with a candidate barcode region to identify a product label, where the candidate barcode region includes a nonreadable barcode. According to one exemplary application, a store profile is generated based on the identifications of the product labels which are associated with a location of a product within a store.

Abstract: An object detection device comprises a specific object detector configured to detect a specific object in an image, a scene model creation unit configured to create a scene model characterizing a background of the specific object in the image, and a filtering unit configured to filter object detection results of the specific object detector using the scene model to determine the specific object, wherein the scene model creation unit comprises a collection unit configured to collect regions other than the specific object to be detected from the image as samples, a feature extraction unit configured to extract first negative feature vectors from the samples, a clustering unit configured to cluster first negative feature vectors into a plurality of feature groups, and a classifier creation unit configured to create first classifiers each for respective one of the feature groups and to create the scene model by combining the first classifiers.

Abstract: Recognizing a command may include monitoring a tangible reference with a depth sensor, maintaining a virtual reference approximately on calibrated three dimensional coordinates of the tangible reference, maintaining a touch space adjacent the virtual reference, and recognizing a command when a predetermined object enters the touch space.

Abstract: A method extracts a low-rank descriptor of a video acquired of a scene by first extracting a set of descriptors for each image in the video. The sets of descriptors for the video are aggregated to form a descriptor matrix. Iteratively, a low-rank descriptor matrix is determined from the descriptor matrix, as well as a selection matrix that associates each column in the descriptor matrix to a corresponding column in the low-rank descriptor matrix. The low-rank descriptor matrix is output upon convergence.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image processing device including a face information detection unit that detects face position information and face size information of a subject from an inputted image, a line-of-sight information calculation unit that calculates line-of-sight information of the subject, a face model generation unit that generates a face model of the subject using the face position information, the face size information, and three-dimensional facial shape template information representing a three-dimensional shape of a face, and an image generation unit that generates an image by correcting a line-of-sight direction of the subject to be directed to an imaging unit on the basis of the line-of-sight information and the face model. The line-of-sight information calculation unit calculates the line-of-sight information of the subject from the face position information and the face size information.

Abstract: A liveness-detection method and/or system is disclosed. A method of detecting liveness can comprise obtaining a single ultrasonic image of a biometric object. The single ultrasonic image can be subdivided into a plurality of overlapping sample blocks. Feature vectors can be extracted in a spatial domain and a frequency domain from each of the plurality of sample blocks. The feature vectors can be compared from each of the plurality of sample blocks to a classification model.

Abstract: Each of a plurality of cameras is sequentially selected. An image that does not include a retrieval target object is acquired, as a background image, from an image group captured by a selected camera. An image including the retrieval target object is acquired as a query image. A discriminator being used for identifying the retrieval target object from the image captured by the selected camera is learned using the background image and the query image. The retrieval target object is retrieved from the image group captured by the selected camera using the learned discriminator.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a memory, a generation unit, and a warning unit. The memory stores drawing commands used to determine print data for which security control is necessary. The generation unit generates raster image data in accordance with input print data. The warning unit issues a warning that security control is necessary for print data in a case where raster image data has not been successfully generated from the print data in the generation unit and drawing commands of the print data include a drawing command stored in the memory.

Abstract: An object identification apparatus selects, for each partial area of an object in a registered image, a corresponding sample image from sample images based on feature quantities of the partial area, for objects in the registered image, sets a similarity of feature quantities for each partial area between objects of an identical individual and between objects of different individuals based on a similarity related to the selected sample images for each partial area, makes a discriminator learn based on the set similarity, acquires a similarity for each partial area between objects in an input image and the registered image, and determines whether the object in the input image is identical to the object in the registered image based on the acquired similarity and a result of discrimination by the discriminator.

Abstract: This document describes techniques and apparatuses for determining an audience's state or interest using passive sensor data. The techniques receive sensor data that measures an audience during presentation of a media program. The techniques, based on this sensor data, then determine a state or interest of the audience members during the media program.

Abstract: Provided is an image processing device capable of specifying a character area included in an image even if a variable-density difference in an area included in the image other than the character area is large. A feature point specifying unit specifies corners of edges in a target image as feature points. An area obtaining unit obtains, based on a specified result of the feature point specifying unit, an area including a plurality of feature points aligned in a substantially straight line. A character area specifying unit specifies a character area in the target image based on the area obtained by the area obtaining unit.

Abstract: An object tracking device includes a short-term processing portion and a long short-term processing portion that are implemented by circuitry and work in a collaborative manner to track an object. The short-term processing portion includes a filter that tracks the object based on short-term memory and spatiotemporal consistency. The long short-term processing portion performs key-point matching-tracking and estimation based on a key-point database in order to track the object. A controller determines an output of the object tracking device based on the processing conducted by the short-term and long short-term processing portions of the tracking device, respectively.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image processing device that includes: a storage unit that holds model information including information indicating a plurality of feature points of a detection object; a correspondence-relationship determination unit that extracts a plurality of feature points included in an input image as a two-dimensional image or a three-dimensional image and that determines a correspondence relationship between an extracted plurality of feature points and a plurality of feature points of the model information; and a position estimating unit that estimates, based on the correspondence relationship, one or a plurality of second positions of the input image corresponding to one or a plurality of first positions set relatively to the detection object. The one or plurality of first positions is included in a point, a line, or a region.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for separating a foreground image are disclosed. The method includes obtaining an input image and depth information of the input image; roughly dividing the input image to obtain a rough foreground region based on the depth information of the input image; obtaining motion information of the input image, and generating a three-color image from the rough foreground region based on the motion information; and separating the foreground image from the generated three-color image. According to the method, the three-color image is generated based on the depth information and the motion information, thus a foreground object can be accurately separated from the three-color image.

Abstract: Systems and associated methods for optical coin discrimination are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method for discriminating coins includes obtaining a digital image of a coin, identifying the outline of the coin using a suitable algorithm, and determining the diameter of the coin using the outline of the coin. The method of this embodiment further includes generating a rectangular image of the coin using, for example, a log-polar transform, generating a series of, for example, Fourier transforms from the rectangular image, and identifying spectral peak locations and intensities in the Fourier transform results. The diameter of the coin, spectral peak location, spectral peak intensity of the coin and/or other aspects of the coin can then be compared to known values for different coins to discriminate the coin.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for content-based selection of style examples used in image stylization operations. For example, training images can be used to identify example stylized images that will generate high-quality stylized images when stylizing input images having certain types of semantic content. In one example, a processing device determines which example stylized images are more suitable for use with certain types of semantic content represented by training images. In response to receiving or otherwise accessing an input image, the processing device analyzes the semantic content of the input image, matches the input image to at least one training image with similar semantic content, and selects at least one example stylized image that has been previously matched to one or more training images having that type of semantic content. The processing device modifies color or contrast information for the input image using the selected example stylized image.

Abstract: An incremental Principal Component Pursuit (PCP) algorithm for video background modeling that is able to process one frame at a time while adapting to changes in background, with a computational complexity that allows for real-time processing, having a low memory footprint and is robust to translational and rotational jitter.