Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

At&t Laboratories Cambridge Limited

At&t Investments UK LLC

At&t Laboratories, Limited

Kenneth Robert Wood

Stephen Edward Hodges

Lyndsay Williams

James Srinivasan

Antonio Criminisi

Carsten Rother

Tristan John Richardson

David Andrew Sinclair

Chris Demetrios Karkanias

David Alexander Butler

Abigail Jane Sellen

Samuel Gavin Smyth

John Herbert Chiloyan

Kevin Michael Schofield

Hilary Lyndsay Williams

Mitch Goldberg

Emma L Berry

Georgina E Browne

A small wearable recall device is provided to capture images triggered by a combination of a detection of a capture condition (e.g., changes in motion, temperature or light level) followed by a relatively stable period, as detected by an accelerometer. By triggering on the combination of a detected capture condition followed by a detected stability condition, a clearer image of the environment of an interesting event is expected to be captured. The small size of the recall device makes it possible to integrate it into common portable consumer products, such as MP3 players, purses, clothing, hats, backpacks, necklaces, collars, and other human-wearable products.

Recall device

Methods of encryption and decryption are described which use a key associated with an event to encrypt/decrypt data associated with the event. The method of encryption comprises identifying a key associated with an event and encrypting data using the identified key. The encrypted data is then published along with details of the event.

Distribution of keys for encryption/decryption

An image capture device is described which is operable in any one of a number of capture modes. The device comprises a camera, a memory and a processor. The memory stores a plurality of sets of capture triggers, with each set of capture triggers being associated with one of the plurality of capture modes. The processor selects one of the plurality of capture modes, such that the device is operable in the selected capture mode. In the selected capture mode, an image is captured automatically when a capture trigger within the associated set of capture triggers is satisfied.

Automatic capture modes

A method of transferring images from a first device to a second device and computer program code for performing this method is described. A connection characteristic for a connection between the first & second devices is determined and at least one image is selected from a plurality of images on the first device for transfer dependent upon both the connection characteristic and image selection criteria. The selected image(s) are then transferred over the connection from the first device to the second device.

Transferring of digital images

A system that can enhance cognitive ability by viewing sequences of images captured during an event is disclosed. For example, the innovation can employ captured event sequences to improve failing memories in patients with a diagnosed memory condition such as acquired brain injury or neurodegenerative disease such as Alzheimer's disease. These event sequences can be captured in the point-of-view of a user (e.g., first person) as well as from a third person or other monitoring location (e.g., car).

Memory training via visual journal

A method of displaying digital images is described in which a display length indicator is received and digital images are accessed. A set of digital images are selected from the accessed digital images in accordance with the display length indicator and displayed in a predetermined order. The method may be performed by a computer program, which may be embodied on a computer readable medium.

Playback of digital images

A technique is provided for classifying images in a library () for subsequent selective retrieval. Each library image is segmented () into a plurality of coherent regions. Each of the regions is analysed in respect of a plurality of visual properties, each of which is ascribed a number according to the value of the visual property. The property numbers are then compared () with bands of the available property range and a computer-readable character, such as a letter of the alphabet, is ascribed to each of the property values. The characters are then arranged () in a predetermined order to form a region character string. The strings for each region are then indexed () to form an index () of the images by region character string. For image retrieval, a target image () is analysed in the same way to form region character strings which are then supplied to a text retrieval system () for detecting matches with entries in the index (). Library images having matching regions are retrieved from the library ().

Method of and apparatus for classifying an image

A technique is provided for classifying images in a library () for subsequent selective retrieval. Each library image is segmented () into a plurality of coherent regions. Each of the regions is analyzed in respect of a plurality of visual properties, each of which is ascribed a number according to the value of the visual property. The property numbers are then compared () with bands of the available property range and a computer-readable character, such as a letter of the alphabet is ascribed to each of the property values. The characters are then arranged () in a predetermined order to form a region character string. The strings for each region are then indexed () to form an index () of the images by region character string. For image retrieval, a target image () is analyzed in the same way to form region character strings which are then supplied to a text retrieval system () for detecting matches with entries in the index (). Library images having matching regions are retrieved from the library ().

A method for encoding digital information to be transmitted from a first device to a second device, wherein the digital information is mapped according to a map of n rows and m columns which define a plurality of cells (n&times;m) and wherein each of said cells has a pixel value. The method is useful for compressing bitmapped images to be rendered by the simplest of graphics engines. Thus the method is particularly suited to the transmission of images to a relatively slow client on which the images are to be rendered in real time and on which any complex decompression would be too costly for such rendering. Raw compression ratios are comparable to those obtained with standard runlength encoding, but the number of drawing primitive calls required to render the compressed images directly is substantially less. If the size of the largest area exceeds predetermined limits it is subdivided into smaller areas automatically without having to specify the size and position.

Method for encoding digital information

A method for encoding digital information to be transmitted from a first device to a second device, wherein the digital information is mapped according to a map of n rows and m columns which define a plurality of cells (n&times;m) and wherein each of said cells has a pixel value. The method is useful for compressing bitmapped images to be rendered by the simplest of graphics engines. Thus the method is particularly suited to the transmission of images to a relatively slow client on which the images are to be rendered in real time and on which any complex decompression would be too costly for such rendering. Raw compression ratios are comparable to those obtained with standard run-length encoding, but the number of drawing primitive calls required to render the compressed images directly is substantially less.

A method for encoding digital information to be transmitted from a first device to a second device, wherein the digital information is mapped according to a map of n rows and m columns which define a plurality of cells (n&times;m) and wherein each of said cells has a pixel value. The method is useful for compressing bitmapped images to be rendered by the simplest of graphics engines, Thus the method is particularly suited to the transmission of images to a relatively slow client on which the images are to be rendered in real time and on which any complex decompression would be too costly for such rendering. Raw compression ratios are comparable to those obtained with standard run-length encoding, but the number of drawing primitive calls required to render the compressed images directly is substantially less.

Growing community of inventors

Cambridge, United Kingdom

Kenneth Robert Wood