Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a computing device, including a controller to: transmit a client program having a graphical user interface to a media device operating in an interactive television network, wherein the client program presents a symbolic overlay that superimposes onto media content received by the media device and enables the media device to associate commentary with the media content received at the media device; and conduct searches for one of consumer products or consumer services associated with the media content based on the commentary regarding the media content. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A user interface method comprises: causing a plurality of first objects to be displayed; causing one or more second objects to be displayed, each second object associated on the display with one or more of the first objects; and, in response to an input, causing at least one of the first objects to be displayed with decreased prominence and causing at least one second object that is associated with the first object to be displayed such that the relative decrease in prominence of the second object, if any, is less than the relative decrease in prominence of the first object.

Abstract: A display control apparatus includes a display control unit for controlling a display unit for displaying an image, the display control unit being configured to display a plurality of represented images that represent a plurality of image groups classified depending on related information of the images on the display unit in a first display mode, and display related images relating to the represented images between a plurality of the represented images displayed in the first display mode depending on a user input on the display unit in a second display mode.

Abstract: Examples are disclosed herein that relate to the display of mixed reality imagery. One example provides a mixed reality computing device comprising an image sensor, a display device, a storage device comprising instructions, and a processor. The instructions are executable to receive an image of a physical environment, store the image, render a three-dimensional virtual model, form a mixed reality thumbnail image by compositing a view of the three-dimensional virtual model and the image, and display the mixed reality thumbnail image. The instructions are further executable to receive a user input updating the three-dimensional virtual model, render the updated three-dimensional virtual model, update the mixed reality thumbnail image by compositing a view of the updated three-dimensional virtual model and the image of the physical environment, and display the mixed reality thumbnail image including the updated three-dimensional virtual model composited with the image of the physical environment.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for distributing content via a communication network is presented. In one or more embodiments, the present invention comprises apparatus for receiving content from a server system. In one or more embodiments, the apparatus comprises a central processing unit, a video controller, a communications interface, and a memory comprising computer readable instructions for causing said apparatus to perform a variety of functions. In one or more embodiments, the computer readable instructions comprise instructions for causing the apparatus, upon connection to a power source and a communications source, to initiate a communications session with the server system. In one or more embodiments, the computer readable instructions comprise instructions to cause the apparatus to prompt a user of said apparatus to create an account at the server system.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes displaying a matrix. In one embodiment, a computing device is configured to display an N×M matrix comprising N rows and M columns of matrix cells. A selection is received by the computing device of a first matrix cell of the N×M matrix. The first matrix cell has a particular display area. The computing device is reconfigured to display the N×M matrix, wherein a first display area of the first matrix cell is increased, and wherein display areas of a plurality of other matrix cells are decreased.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an electronic device includes a display controller and a selector. The display controller displays, on a screen, at least one or more note icons corresponding to a note file including a plurality of pages. The selector selects a first note icon displayed on the screen. If a display mode of a note icon transitions from a mode capable of selecting at least one or more note icons to a mode capable of manipulating a page of a first note file corresponding to the first note icon, the display controller displays a transition image including an enlarged image of the first note icon and an enlarged image of a region other than the first note icon.

Abstract: A thumbnail image generating unit generates thumbnail images from a plurality of images having a sequential relation. A thumbnail image displaying unit displays the thumbnail images generated according to the sequential relation. A thumbnail image designating unit receives a designation of a thumbnail image from among the thumbnail images. An enlarging unit generates an enlarged image of a designated thumbnail image. An enlarged image displaying unit displays the enlarged image. A forward-advance designating unit designates a forward advance of the enlarged image displayed by the enlarged image displaying unit according to the sequential relation.

Abstract: Over the past few years there has been a dramatic proliferation of digital cameras, and it has become increasingly easy to share large numbers of photographs with many other people. These trends have contributed to the availability of large databases of photographs. Effectively organizing, browsing, and visualizing such .seas. of images, as well as finding a particular image, can be difficult tasks. In this paper, we demonstrate that knowledge of where images were taken and where they were pointed makes it possible to visualize large sets of photographs in powerful, intuitive new ways. We present and evaluate a set of novel tools that use location and orientation information, derived semi-automatically using structure from motion, to enhance the experience of exploring such large collections of images.

Abstract: Textual information may be harvested from photos that are associated with a geographic location, and the text may be used to respond to searches. In one example, photos are taken from a vehicle that has a camera and a GPS receiver. Each of the photos is marked with the geographic location at which it was taken, and text is extracted from the photos. Thus, each piece of text is associated with a particular geographic location, and the association between text and location is stored in a database. At some point in time, a query is received from a user, where the query specifies or implies a geographic criterion. The database is then examined to determine what items in the database meet the textual and geographic constraints of the query, and those pieces of information may be provided as search results.

Abstract: Advertising targeting metrics for individuals can be derived from images associated with those individuals. Such advertising targeting metrics can include physical attributes, as well as preferences based on prior activity, or history. Public images associated with specific user identities can be processed and advertising targeting metrics can be derived therefrom to more accurately tailor the advertisements displayed to the individuals associated with those user identities. Additionally, non-public images can be likewise processed, either remotely or, for greater privacy, locally if so allowed by the user. Advertisers can then utilize the greater breath of advertising targeting metrics that can be derived from images to more accurately target advertisements to specific groups. In doing so, advertisers can submit their own images of exemplary targeted users, and the targeting metrics for those advertisers' advertisements can be automatically derived from the submitted images utilizing equivalent algorithms.

Abstract: A meta-information-read unit, a display-cache unit, a pre-reading-cache unit, a display-state-management unit, an operation-input unit, a meta-information-pre-reading unit, and an input-operation-determination unit are provided. The meta-information-pre-reading unit changes a pre-reading condition and pre-reads meta information on the basis of a result of determination made by the input-operation-determination unit and display-state-management information managed by the display-state-management unit.

Abstract: Embodiments of a method and apparatus of image search are provided. An exemplary method of image search includes: receiving a request and returning a web page, where the returned web page allows uploading an image and adding annotation content for the image; receiving and storing the image and the annotation content for the image; and providing the annotation content for the image as a search index to an image search engine. Using the disclosed method and server, more searches related to information in an image can be provided. Moreover, because more information related to merchandise in an image can be provided to a viewer, it is believed that more online transactions can be facilitated.

Abstract: A method and system for storing information on a search result selected by a user with respect to a predetermined query, reflecting the user's preference by utilizing the information when the user inputs an identical query and requests a search, and providing a personalized search result in which user preferences are reflected. More particularly, a personalized search method and system utilizing favorites of a web browser in which a personalized search result is provided to each user by utilizing information on a website that the user bookmarked as the user's favorites is provided. According to the present invention, there is provided a personalized search service method and system which can provide a user with a personalized search service, even when user information is not stored in a search server and also, even when the user does not log in.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are provided for communicating information among devices. In use, content is presented utilizing a first device. In one embodiment, a request for information associated with the content may then be received utilizing the first device. To this end, the requested information may be sent to a second device other than the first device. In another embodiment, a request for a contact associated with the content may be received utilizing the first device. Thus, in response to the request, contact may be established with the second device in regards to the content.

Abstract: System(s), method(s), and/or technique(s) (“tools”) are described that enable a user to open a network-enabled electronic document in either a specific software application associated with the electronic document or a network browser. In some cases the tools do so using a single link. On selection of the link, if the user's computing device has access to the specific software application, the tools may load the electronic document using that application. Or, if the user's computing device does not have access to the specific software application, the tools may render the electronic document with a network browser. In so doing, the tools may make the document available to a larger set of potential users through their browsers, allow users the convenience of accessing the document within a browser, optimize users' experience in working with the document through a specific software application, or provide a simpler opening procedure.

Abstract: This is directed to systems and methods for providing a virtual fashion closet. Fashion items can be added to the Virtual Closet. Outfits may then be created by combining two or more of the fashion items. In some embodiments, the Virtual Closet system can create recommended outfits based on weather, season, or the user's calendar. The Virtual Closet system can allow a vendor to send recommended fashion items that may complete an outfit to a user for potential purchasing. In some embodiments, a social networking Virtual Closet can be provided. The social networking Virtual Closet can allow friends to see each other's Virtual Closets, recommend outfits to one another, recommend fashion items to buy, recommend fashion items to get rid of, recommend outfits to wear at a particular event, share and borrow each other's fashion items, or can otherwise suitably provide a social networking environment through the Virtual Closet.

Abstract: A system and method for geo-coding user generated content is described. The system comprises a content source, a content management module, a content repository, a location source, a location repository, a geo-coding module, and a geo-location object data sheet (GDS). The content source captures the user generated content. The content management module manages the user generated content. The content repository stores the user generated content. The location source generates a plurality of location data, and the location repository stores the location data. The geo-coding module generates the geo-located object data sheet (GDS) that associates the user generated content with the corresponding location data. The GDS depository stores the geo-located object data sheet.

Abstract: An Internet infrastructure that supports searching of images by correlating a search image with that of plurality of images hosted in Internet based servers in selected categories, containing an image search server, and a web browser contained in a client device that supports displaying of the images. 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 also delivers characteristic analysis of an image to the client device upon request. The selection of images is done within selected categories and 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.

Abstract: An Internet infrastructure that supports searching of images by correlating a search image with that of plurality of images hosted in Internet based servers, containing an image search server, and a web browser contained in a client device that supports displaying of the images. 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.

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: A system for selecting oblique images from a collection of geo-referenced oblique images and viewing them within the context of a virtual, three- or four-dimensional (3D space and time) geographic scene, providing the ability to analyze and interact with the oblique image being viewed. The system automatically selects and displays the best fit oblique image from an image warehouse based on the user's current 3D/4D viewpoint, and continuously maintains the geo-registration of the oblique image as the user adjusts the viewpoint.

Abstract: An image management apparatus includes: a narrowing-down reproduction unit for reproducing an image having particular attribute information; an attribute modification unit for modifying attribute information of the image under narrowing-down reproduction; an attribute modified image information storing unit configured to store information indicating the image which no longer contains the particular attribute information because of the modification performed on the attribute information by the attribute modification unit; and a control unit for performing control so as to regard the image indicated with the information stored in the attribute modified image information storing unit as a narrowing-down reproduction target image during the same narrowing-down reproduction as that at the time of modifying the attributes by said attribute modification unit, thereby enabling browsing of images including an image of which the attributes have been modified in a narrowing-down state, using a smaller storage area.

Abstract: It is an object to improve convenience of browse and search of a plurality of images. an electronic album display system for displaying a plurality of images included in an electronic album is provided, wherein the system includes: an image storing unit in which the plurality of images are stored; a person recognizing unit for recognizing a plurality of persons included in each of the plurality of images; an image grouping unit for classifying the plurality of images into a plurality of groups by the kind of a combination of persons included in an image on the basis of the recognition result by the person recognizing unit; a representative image selecting unit for selecting a representative image from each of the plurality of groups; and an image display unit for displaying each of the selected representative images consecutively.

Abstract: A system and method for making a face call is provided. The method includes receiving (402) a first picture, where the first picture is sent from a first communication device (102) by a first user. Further, the method includes performing a visual search (404) of the first picture and presenting (406) search results to the first user. The method further includes selecting (408) a second picture of a second user from the search results, where the second picture is selected by the first user. Finally, the method includes facilitating (410) a communication session between the first user and the second user.

Abstract: Provided is a method for real-time video blogging, including creating and entering comments in real-time by a plurality of terminals accessing a blog; uploading the created and entered comments to a server providing the blog by the terminals; converting the uploaded comments to separate descriptor files and storing the descriptor files in a blog file by the server; and downloading and playing the blog file containing the descriptor files from the server by the terminals.

Abstract: A meta-information-read unit, a display-cache unit, a pre-reading-cache unit, a display-state-management unit, an operation-input unit, a meta-information-pre-reading unit, and an input-operation-determination unit are provided. The meta-information-pre-reading unit changes a pre-reading condition and pre-reads meta information on the basis of a result of determination made by the input-operation-determination unit and display-state-management information managed by the display-state-management unit.