Abstract: An image file for storing a still digital image and metadata related to the still digital image, the image file including digital image data representing the still digital image, and metadata that categorizes the still digital image as an important digital image, wherein the categorization uses a range of levels and the range of levels includes at least three different integer values.

Abstract: A method for controlling a display device includes setting an operational language of the display device, receiving a request to display a manual, reading an image, and reading language data to be displayed with the image. The language data may correspond to the operational language set for the display device. The image and language data are combined for display at predetermined locations within a page of the manual. The image and language data may be stored separately and the manual may be a type which guides a user in controlling an operation of the display device.

Abstract: The computer algorithm described which indexes and retrieves images. A query in the form of an image object or an image facilitates image retrieval in order to retrieve several images close to user's request. A thumbnail form of rank ordered images is provided for viewing. The user selects the images and down loads the images for inclusion in the job. The images are then ripped and printed.

Abstract: A method for preparing prepress image data includes forming low-resolution versions of the image data and laying out a document in a page layout program. Data describing commands manipulating the images and placing the images within a document is embedded within the metadata, and preferably within the Exif section of the megadata, of the low-resolution image files for subsequent use in manipulating and placing high-resolution versions of the images before printing the document. Alternately, high-resolution image data may be placed according to the placement of low-resolution image data by a conventional image editor.

Abstract: An Internet infrastructure that supports searching of images by correlating a search image and/or search string with that of plurality of images hosted in Internet based servers. The image search server supports delivery of search result pages to a client device based upon a search string or search image, and contains images from a plurality of Internet based web hosting servers. The image search server delivers a search result page containing images upon receiving a search string and/or search image from the web browser. The selection of images in the search result page is based upon: (i) word match, that is, by selecting images, titles of which correspond to the search string; and (ii) image correlation, that is, by selecting images, image characteristics of which correlates to that of search image. The selection of images in the search result page also occurs on the basis of popularity and may be refined by taking into account user feedback/preferences.

Abstract: An image search engine server that comprises an image search engine, capable of performing image searches based on the context of a search operation. The context of the search is derived from a built-in thesaurus and/or a dictionary. For a thesaurus-based algorithm, the approach is to send a query back to the user, who can select the image search domain, sub-domain, and other hierarchical search refinements from one or more dropdown menus. The items in the dropdown menus that the user selects during the “query back” are used to augment the search string entered by the user to better refine the image search. If the user entered search string is a single string of dictionary word or words or the dictionary mode is elected, then synonyms for that search string are used to generate the augmented search string for the final context-based search operation. By using the dictionary or thesaurus approach, a user search string can be augmented to result in improved image search results.

Abstract: A method, a system, and a computer-readable medium are provided which provide an efficient data layout for image data and fast access to samples of an image stored in hierarchical z-order format. An array of image data of a physical entity is ordered in a hierarchical z-order at a computing device. Data blocks are created from the array ordered based on the hierarchical z-order. Data files containing a predetermined number of successive data blocks are created from the created data blocks. A directory structure is created in a file system of a second computing device based on the hierarchical z-order. The created data files are stored in the created directory structure based on the hierarchical z-order.

Abstract: A machine-implemented technique for supporting interactions between charter transport service providers and service users. The technique utilizes an information management system to establish a real-time information exchange website that allows transport service users to request transport missions and transport service providers to view the mission requests in a pictorial format that assists the providers in offering mission quotations.

Abstract: A file management apparatus displays place images each of which is a unit for managing files on a display unit in a matrix manner. Files and thumbnail images are stored in association with one of the place images. When a place image is selected, thumbnail images associated with the selected place image are displayed on the display unit. When an instruction for shifting upward, downward, to the left, or to the right while thumbnail images are displayed, other thumbnail images associated with a place image arranged in a direction indicated by the instruction from a place image associated with the currently-displayed thumbnail images are displayed on the display unit.

Abstract: A method of detecting a changed condition within a geographical space from a moving vehicle. Images of that geographic space are memorialized in conjunction with GPS coordinates together with its GPS coordinates. The same geographic space is traversed from the moving vehicle while accessing the route's GPS coordinates. The memorialized images are played back by coordinating the GPS data on a memorialized images with that of the traversed geographic space such that the memorialized images are viewed simultaneously with the geographic space being traversed. An observer traveling within the moving vehicle can compare the memorialized images with those being traversed in order to identify changed conditions.

Abstract: A single entity of contents information is recorded across plural recording media, and seamless reproduction is enabled by ensuring a reproduction sequence. A contents control unit 616 records a part of contents information into a first recording medium and records the rest part of the contents information into a second recording medium different from the first recording medium. A contents attachment information management unit 618 generates link information indicating that the part of the contents information recorded in the first recording medium is continuous with the rest part recorded in the second recording medium, and records the link information thus generated into at least one of the first recording medium and the second recording medium while recording the link information into a file different from a file in which the contents information is recorded.

Abstract: An improved approach for managing and sending electronic data which allows one to access electronic data corresponding to a hardcopy document is provided. For example, when the hardcopy bearing a visible image is output, an identification image corresponding to identification data identifying the document is added to the visible image. The identification data can be recognized from the identification image, and used to retrieve various information in a database corresponding to the document.

Abstract: A system for tracking and presenting communication services consumed by an organization from a plurality of communications service providers is provided. The system includes an invoices data store for information relating to communication services expenses of the organization from two or more separate providers, a services data store for information relating to services approved for use by the organization, and an inventory data store for information relating to communications equipment in use by the organization. The system provides an interface for tracking and presenting the consumption of both wireless and wired communications services, including invoices, services and inventory associated with the wired and wireless communications services.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system that enters items into a gift registry. During operation, the system photographically captures images of items at stores containing the items. Moreover, the images include a set of barcodes identifying the items. Next, the system obtains a set of product codes for the one or more items from the barcodes in the images. Finally, the system enters the one or more items in the gift registry using the product codes.

Abstract: Systems and methods for creative work registration are described. In one aspect, a processor may perform various steps. An upload of a creative work may be received at the processor. The processor then may create a digital fingerprint for the creative work. The processor then may associate the digital fingerprint with the creative work and associate ownership information with the digital fingerprint and the creative work. The associated ownership information, digital fingerprint, and the creative work may be stored in a database.

Abstract: A method provides for real-time asset location tracking. An asset in a wide area network, be it a utilities network or a communication network, registers itself with a network management center. The registration process includes identification of a physical location of the asset usable for mapping and tracking the asset.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus searches search target frame images in video data to find a frame image matching a search query frame image. An extractor extracts characteristic quantities expressing the characteristics of respective images. A reliability judge judges the reliability of the values of each characteristic quantity in a characteristic quantity group extracted from the search query frame. If certain characteristic quantity values in the search query frame are judged to be of low reliability, the converter converts those values into predetermined values. Values are similarly converted for all search target frames. A comparer compares the converted characteristic quantities in the search query frame to the converted characteristic quantities in all search target frames. On the basis of the comparisons, a decision unit then chooses a search solution frame that matches the search query frame. In so doing, search processing robustness with respect to data variance is improved.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for creating and updating a facial image database from a collection of digital images is disclosed. A set of detected faces from a digital image collection is stored in a facial image database, along with data pertaining to them. At least one facial recognition template for each face in the first set is computed, and the images in the set are grouped according to the facial recognition template into similarity groups. Another embodiment is a naming tool for assigning names to a plurality of faces detected in a digital image collection. A facial image database stores data pertaining to facial images detected in images of a digital image collection.

Abstract: An apparatus and system for authenticating and searching data is provided. The apparatus includes a tightly coupled housing, an authenticator in the tightly coupled housing, a first archival storage in the tightly coupled housing, an indexer in the tightly coupled housing, and an index storage in the tightly coupled housing. The authenticator receives a file from an external email system, the authenticator creates first and second self-authenticating copies of the file, the first archival storage stores the first self-authenticating file, the indexer dissembles the second self-authenticating copy into components of the second self-authenticating copy, and the index storage stores the components of the second self-authenticating in a searchable format.

Abstract: An information processing device includes a content database storing contents with metadata and a keyword associated with each content, the metadata which accompanies each content and includes a plurality of items of data, a user database storing user identifiers with a specific item of the metadata associated with each user identifier, an acquiring unit acquiring new content and new metadata, an identifier extracting unit extracting a user identifier from the new metadata, a specific item specifying unit specifying a specific item associated with the extracted user identifier based on the user database, a keyword extracting unit extracting from the content database keywords associated with data identical to data of the specific item in the new metadata, a keyword selecting unit selecting a keyword from the extracted keywords, and a registration unit registering in the content database the selected keyword in association with the new content and the new metadata.

Abstract: A system and a computer program product process billing documents and payments. The system includes one or more processors for processing billing documents and for processing payments, and one or more databases in communication with the one or more processors. The one or more databases store information generated by the one or more processors. The computer program product enables a computer system to process billing documents and payments. The computer system has a computer readable storage medium bearing software instructions. The computer program product has software instructions for enabling the computer system to perform predetermined operations, and the predetermined operations include: providing print rules that control the production of billing documents; providing remittance rules that control processing of the payments; and storing images related to the billing documents and the payments.

Abstract: The saving device for image sharing saves images offered by a sharer of the images for image sharing and accessibly shares in an album form among at least one share. The device includes a sharee layout storing means configured to store first layout information of a sharee's album, a shared area determining means configured to determine a shared area to be shared in the sharee's album from a sharer's album, and a layout changing means configured to automatically change a layout of the shared area based on the first layout information of the at least one sharee. An image sharing system includes the device, and an image sharing method uses the device.

Abstract: The saving device for image sharing includes an image acquiring unit configured to acquire the images offered by a sharer of the images, a sharee information storing unit configured to store sharee information with respect to at least one sharee, a subject assessing unit configured to assess whether or not a person subject is included in the acquired images, an image associating unit configured to associate the images assessed as not including a person subject with the images assessed as including a person subject, based on the sharee information, and a shared image determining unit configured to determine the images to be shared with the sharee or sharees from among the associated images and the images assessed as including a person subject, based on the sharee information. The image sharing system and an image sharing method use such a device.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are databases that contain image context categorizations, those categorizations identifying the context of an image based on a computed fingerprint. Also disclosed herein are applications of such a database, including a viewing application that blocks the rendering of images with undesirable content noted by a content categorization, and a scanning application that locates images in a corpus or repository of images having certain content noted by content categorization, such as unlawful images. Such blocking may be through an obfuscation technique, such as blurring, distorting an image, or may be through a replacement of image material. A categorization tool may include obfuscation with an aperture tool for clarifying portions of blocked images. Detailed information on various example embodiments of the inventions are provided in the Detailed Description below, and the inventions are defined by the appended claims.

Abstract: A receiver information display method for displaying receiver information when an e-mail is composed is provided. First, a receiver database is provided, wherein the receiver database contains a receiver data and at least one image corresponding to the receiver data. Then, a receiver account data is provided, and the corresponding image is automatically displayed when the receiver account data matches the receiver data. As a result, a user can identify a receiver instantly, and accordingly the possibility of sending e-mails to wrong receivers can be greatly reduced.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus and method for searching for 3-dimensional shapes. The apparatus includes, an input means, an acquisition module, a storage means, a comparison and search module, an output means, and control means. The input means receives 3-dimensional image data. The acquisition module acquires a 2-dimensional image data group about the shape of an object represented by the 3-dimensional image data. The comparison and search module compares the respective data of the acquired 2-dimensional image data group with the respective data of the 2-dimensional image data groups that are previously stored in the storage means, and searches for 3-dimensional image data. The control means controls the modules and the means.

Abstract: The presently claimed invention relates to deriving or extracting information from audio, images and video. One claim recites a method of operating a network filter. The network includes a plurality of network nodes, the network filter is for filtering video or audio. The method includes: monitoring video or audio traffic to a particular network node; identifying a first video or audio at the particular network node through deriving identifying data from data representing the first video or audio, the deriving utilizes at least one programmed multi-purpose computer processor; determining additional information associated with the first video or audio based at least in part on the identifying information; and notifying the network node of the presence of the additional information.

Abstract: A system and related methods for receiving, processing, managing, reviewing, analyzing, evaluating, and reporting information about pathology specimens and specimen handling. A system in accordance with the present invention provides a functional data environment for receiving and processing incoming specimens, collecting patent information and entering it into the system, preparing individual specimens, embedding specimen-bearing cassettes in paraffin wax, cutting the specimen into thin sheets and mounting them on slides, slide preparation, assigning and dispatching a prepared case to a pathologist for diagnosis, issuing a diagnosis, collaborative review of problem cases, performing maintenance for case data, and issuing reports.

Abstract: A system and method of configuring solar energy systems that includes at least one processor, and a memory coupled to the at least one processor. The memory can store instructions to cause the at least one processor to 1) search one or more data sources for information, 2) store the information in a data store, 3) receive one or more images associated with a location to receive a solar energy system, 4) display the one or more images in real-time on a user interface on a display, 5) receive input data from a user interacting with the user interface, 6) process the information, images, and input data to determine parameters associated with the location, and 7) identify a useable area in the location for placement of the solar energy system based on the parameters.

Abstract: An authentication scheme is provided for securely establishing an association with a second device over a wireless communication link. A cryptographic key exchange is performed between a first device and a second device, wherein cryptographic information for the first and second device is obtained. The first and second devices may independently generate a confirmation value based on the cryptographic information. Each device may obtain a confirmation image based on their respective confirmation values. A confirmation image is uniquely associated with a confirmation value so that no two confirmation values can be associated with the same confirmation image. The images for both the first and second devices are provided to an operator for authentication. If the confirmation images are identical, an association between the first and second devices may be confirmed by the operator. Comparing confirmation images may increase the reliability of operator authentication and is more efficient than comparing values.

Abstract: The present invention is a centrally deployed, computer-based system for uniquely indexing and searching a picture archiving and communications system (PACS) or other like device. This system and method uses a LAN, WAN or global communication system, e.g., the Internet, to acquire, analyze, index, search and retrieve medically relevant facts about all patients requested by the user interacting with a PACS system. The central deployed, computer-based system of the present invention has various components that will i) increase the efficiency of a users ability to find health care related data while also improving the quality of care to individual patients; and ii) solves the problem associated with relative inaccessibility caused by storing large amounts of data on patients with various diseases within a PACS, a clear weakness of the current picture archiving and communications systems.

Abstract: A method for performing software operations on virtual machine images, includes: receiving a virtual machine image that includes data; reclassifying the data into a plurality of parts; and performing a software operation on one of the parts, wherein the software operation is performed without running a virtual machine.

Abstract: The credit a mobile radio apparatus account, the display (15) of the a mobile telephone (10) is used to display an image including a barcode (1) which graphically represents transaction data. This includes data identifying a transaction database records in a transaction database (75), the transaction database records including data identifying the mobile radio apparatus account. An account database (83) comprises account database records of mobile radio apparatus accounts including an amount of credit. A retail terminal (30) provided in a retail location has a reader (40) which reads the barcode (1). The retail terminal (30) accepts payment and communicates the read transaction data and data indicating that payment has been accepted to a transaction control system remote from the retail terminal (30). The transaction database (75) is updated to indicate that payment has been accepted and the account database (83) is updated to credit the mobile radio apparatus account by the payment amount.

Abstract: A method and system for accessing a group of objects in an electronic document is disclosed herein. The method comprises: selecting at least one object from an electronic document and grouping a plurality of objects in the electronic document based on characteristics of the selected object. The method further comprises: accessing a group of objects upon focusing on at least one of the grouped objects.

Abstract: A method and system for mixing rich media content with textual listing on a webpage includes receiving a plurality of advertisement parameters associated with an advertisement from an advertiser. The advertisement parameters define the advertisement and are used for booking the advertisement. Additional media content associated with the advertisement is obtained from the advertiser. The additional media content includes rich media content. A dynamic content window is defined for rendering the additional media content. A graphical icon is provided for the advertisement to indicate that additional media content is available for the advertisement. The graphical icon is activated through a control or is activated by default. The graphical icon is associated with the dynamic content to provide access to the additional media content on the webpage in response to detecting a user action at the graphical icon.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for facilitating a quality assessment of a locate and marking operation. Ticket information and a locate manifest are received regarding the operation as performed by a technician. One or more electronic indications of the quality assessment are processed based on the locate manifest, the ticket information, and at least one of: a time required to complete the locate and marking operation; a time at which the locate and marking operation was performed; a cost of the locate and marking operation; one or more conditions associated with a dig area in which the operation was performed; a number of facilities to be located as indicated in the ticket information; a discrepancy between the facilities to be located as indicated in the ticket information, but not indicated as marked in the locate manifest; and an efficiency with which the technician performed the locate and marking operation.

Abstract: A system and method for distributing target content, i.e. advertising or promotional material, are disclosed. A user takes a photograph of an image meeting predefined criteria. Image data defining the photograph is extracted and transmitted to a server where the image data is matched with corresponding image data relating to a plurality of pre-stored images. Where a match is found content is transmitted back to the user.

Abstract: A time-shift image distribution system includes an image server and a time-shift image requesting apparatus. The image server includes a first communication unit configured to carry out communications with the time-shift image requesting apparatus, an image database configured to store image data of captured images in association with meta information for image data of a captured image matching search-condition information, and an image providing unit configured to provide the image data of the captured image detected by the searching unit to the time-shift image requesting apparatus. The time-shift image requesting apparatus includes a second communication unit configured to carry out communications with the image server, and a unit configured to send a search request including information representing an imaging time and information for identifying a subject image as search-condition information to the image server via the second communication unit.

Abstract: A method and system may include capturing a computer system in a file-based manner that promotes single-instancing of files and thus prevents the occurrence of duplicate files, separating the captured computer system into primary file resources and ancillary file resources, and creating a parent image and a child image that refers to the parent image. The method and system may further include writing the primary file resources on the parent image, and writing the ancillary file resources onto the child image. The child image may include a resource-only file and a metadata-only file which provides instructions on how to recreate the file resources stored in the parent image and the child image.

Abstract: The system and method facilitate the control and management of information and actions related to the computerized scanning, categorization, processing, storage, and retrieval of paper documents and electronic document images for the purposes of creating electronic data; data entry; data capture; data classification and categorization; and document-, file-, and records-management. The systems and methods facilitate the conversion of paper documents into electronic images and into more useful forms.

Abstract: Methods and systems for analyzing an image, such as a newspaper or magazine pager or the like including text by mapping the image to determine regions of text and analyzing portions of the image in accordance with characteristics of selected regions of the text to develop a desired ordering of at least the selected regions in accordance with a textual relationship between the selected regions. The desired order may be related to the order in which the selected regions, and or words therein, are to be presented in a different format appropriate for a specific use, such by a human reader, for transferring the text over a network, for use in a database or by a search function, word processor or printer. Normalizing, columnizing, regionalizing, frameset building and article tracing functions may be used to develop the desired order in related regions in an article within the image.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method of searching are disclosed. When a search result includes a plurality of images being obtained from the same document, the plurality of images being obtained from the same document is displayed, one by one, in the order determined based on priority order information.

Abstract: A data processing apparatus includes a data conversion part converting first data into second data, an identification data generation part generating identification data which depends on the first data, and a data processing part relating the identification data to the second data. Specifically, the data processing part adds the identification data to the second data.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an imaging apparatus including: removable recording section configured to store a database in which pieces of registered information are stored, and image files; and control section configured to determine at a predetermined timing whether there is an incompatibility between the pieces of registered information and the image files stored in the recording section, and, if there is an incompatibility between the pieces of registered information and the image files, cause the pieces of registered information and the image files to be compatible with each other.

Abstract: Provided is an electronic document generating apparatus capable of easily generating an electronic document from a document while controlling the document per document and capable of supporting the generated electronic document to be managed per electronic document.

Abstract: The present invention provides an imaging apparatus includes: a first storage section configured to store picture files; a second storage section configured to store a database for storing registration information and picture files, the second storage section being removably attached to the imaging apparatus; and a control section configured to create the registration information about the picture files to be copied from the first storage section to the second storage section at a suitable time, the control section further adding the created registration information to the database so as to maintain consistency between the picture files and the registration information.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an Internet eco system includes a data posting platform securely accessible over the Internet to post personal, confidential and business data for conducting informational and transactional transactions for compensation. In another embodiment, the Internet eco system enables data providers to earn monetary compensation, system credits compensation or barter based compensation. In another embodiment, the Internet eco system enables data posting based upon freeform, system forms, keywords, mathematical logic, constraints, policies, facts, rules, workflow, or context logic; such data can be searched and retrieved based upon keywords, mathematical logic, constraints, policies, facts, rules, workflow, or context based search criteria.

Abstract: A translation scheme translates DICOM content into a format compatible for storage in an NDMA relational database. The translation scheme employs a schema for indexing the DICOM content, and employs a mechanism for translating queries embedded in XML into SQL. The translation scheme translates DICOM compatible data into a tab delimited flat representation of the DICOM content. The flat representation is then translated into data compatible with a relational database format, such as SQL, and then into database insert commands. The schema enables capture of the DICOM information into relational tables. Methods are also provided to service XML formatted research and clinical queries, to translate XML queries to optimized SQL and to return query results to XML specified destinations with record de-identification where required. Methods are also provided to interface to NDMA WallPlugs, secured query devices, or GRID devices.

Abstract: The system, method and program are adapted for collecting images of job-site conditions, and plans and specifications. The images are annotated with attributes that relate to the location, time and trades involved and other aspects of the images. Job site images are collected with a camera connected to a portable data collection device. The data collection device is programmed with image attributes for a particular project. Images are also annotated with attributes gathered by sensors, such as GPS position data, moisture sensor information, and direction information. Images with attached attributes are uploaded to a database server and indexed into a relational database. Images can be flagged and determined to be Images for Resolution which triggers automatic notification to the involved parties and follow up to confirm resolution. Authorized participants can access images in near real time, to make funding, insurance and other judgments about the project.

Abstract: The process includes: a selection step (310 to 317) for choosing one procedure from among the aforementioned multiple procedures, an identification step (319) for identifying, in a database, complementary information needed to perform the aforementioned procedure and a complementary information request step for requesting complementary information from the user, adapted to asking the user for at least one piece of complementary information identified by the means of identifying information.