Hewlett-packard Development Company, L.p.

Hewlett-packard Company

Mobile Acuity Limited

Maurizio Pilu

Stephen Bernard Pollard

Stephen Philip Cheatle

David Arthur Grosvenor

Richard Anthony Lawrence

Helen Balinsky

Andrew Clark Goris

Andrew Arthur Hunter

James Thomas Edward McDonnell

Guy Adams

Kevin J Youngers

Guy De Warrenne Bruce Adams

Darryl Greig

Anthony Ashbrook

Shane Dickson

Huw Robson

James T Edward McDonnell

A memory tag is a transponder device with a memory for storing digital content. The memory contains code for generating an order for goods or services from a plurality of order choices.

Ordering of goods or services using memory for storing digital content

A system for performing instructions determined by received media-based messages, the system including an interface for receiving a media-based message from a system user; a database associating a plurality of specifications of media-based messages with respective stored instructions; a recognition engine for identifying a correspondence between a received media-based message and a stored specification of a media-based message. The system may include an instruction engine for performing an instruction associated with a stored specification of an media-based message for which a correspondence has been identified; an interface for receiving an activation request; and a database manager configured to process the activation request to generate publication data for creating a publication that may be recorded by a user to define a new media-based message and configured to adapt the database to include a specification of the new media-based message. The system may include a database manager configured to arbitrate which of plural stored instructions is performed in response to an identified correspondence between the received media-based message and one or more specifications of media-based messages.

System for performing instructions that are dependent upon received media-based messages and associated methods and components

A method of processing image data representing a captured image, the data generated using an image capture element of an image capture device, the method comprising generating state data representing at least one characteristic of motion of the image capture device and a status of at least one setting of the device during a predetermined time period, and processing the image data on the basis of the state data in order to provide a measure of the accuracy of framing of the captured image within a field of view of the device, and corresponding apparatus.

Image processing

A memory tag is a transponder device with a memory for storing digital content. Purchase-related information for a product is stored in such a memory tag. A write capability of the memory tag is disabled.

Storage of purchase-related information

A method of determining a regular grid pattern from a surface coded pattern that comprises the regular grid pattern interleaved with a further data carrying pattern wherein the surface coded pattern is subject to perspective distortion, the method comprising:

Method and apparatus for reading a surface coded pattern

Apparatus for providing electronic data associated with an item to a user, the apparatus comprising a memory tag scanner arranged to communicate with a memory tag associated with an item, a user profile memory arranged to store user profile data therein, an output interface arranged to provided data to a user, and a data processor arranged to cause data to be selectively read from the memory tag associated with an item and the data to be selectively provided to a user via the output interface in accordance with the stored user profile data.

Method and apparatus for providing electronic data

Detectors capable of accurately detecting and tracking moving features of such as faces within a video stream are sometimes too slow to be run in real-time. The present invention rapidly scans video footage in real-time and generates a series of preattemptive triggers indicating the frames and locations within the frames at our deserving of further investigation by a sub real-time detector. The triggers are generated by looking for peaks in a time variant measure such as the amount of symmetry within a frame or portion of a frame.

Method of triggering a detector to detect a moving feature within a video stream

A visual media viewing system comprises a server () and a viewing unit (), connected via a network (). The server () includes an image processor () and a data storage device () for storing visual media data. The viewing unit () includes a screen () for viewing at least a portion of a piece of visual media and a data storage device () for storing visual media data. Both of the respective data storage devices () are arranged to store data () corresponding to the same piece of visual media, locally. The image processor () is arranged to select a portion of the piece of visual media automatically and to generate a control data set () corresponding to the location of the portion of the visual media within the visual media data () and any operations performed thereupon. The server () is arranged to transmit the control data set () to the viewing unit () such that the screen () is arranged to display the portion of the piece of visual media that is stored locally. A method of viewing visual media over the network () is also disclosed.

Visual media viewing system and method

An electronic still, video or hybrid camera has a physically or mechanically operable user control receiving an input from a user and generates a binary, continuous or multi-level saliency signal while an image signal is being produced. The user control may be the same as or different from the picture taking control. In real time the saliency signal controls processing of the camera signal, or the camera itself, for example by controlling the frequency of still picture taking, or by optimising image storage in memory. The signal can also be stored with the image signal for later use, as in editing. The user control can be mounted on the camera or remote therefrom and include a movement or pressure sensor.

Camera apparatus with saliency signal generation

A variable skew correction system comprises a de-skew application executable to transform scanned image data of a document exhibiting a variable skew condition to an output model representing a de-skewed image of the document by transferring pixel data for each of a plurality of raster lines of the scanned image data to the output model, wherein a variable spacing between at least two adjacent raster lines of the scanned image data is modified in the output model to correct non-linear distortion of the scanned image data.

Variable skew correction system and method

A method of processing image data relating to at least one image comprising using data relating to disposition and saliency of selected salient portions of the or each image, generating at least one respective saliency vector for respective said portions, and a device operable in accordance with the method.

A method for computing apparatus to create a page with a plurality of information items laid out upon it is described. A plurality of information items and a definition of one or more groups of information items to be formed on the page are received, as is a candidate layout of the information items on the page. Perceptual distances between information items in the candidate layout are determined, the perceptual distances representing both physical distance and graphical variation between relevant information items. It is determined from the perceptual distances whether the candidate layout satisfies predetermined criteria such that the candidate layout is perceived as visually representing the one or more groups. If the candidate layout is not perceived as visually representing the one or more groups, it is modified or regenerated until it does so.

Grouping of information items on a page

An exemplary embodiment is a camera that includes a behaviour controller which controls the output of behaviours from the camera and the input of behaviours into the camera.

Autonomous camera having exchangable behaviours

Embodiments provide for an image capture device having a learning function. Briefly described, one embodiment comprises at least one manual control adapted to generate a control signal that controls image capture operation, the control operable by a user of the image capture device; at least one sensor adapted to sense an operating condition during image capture; a first element adapted to analyse inputs from the sensor to learn at least one associated operating condition, and adapted to analyse the control signal to learn a corresponding preference of the user; a second element adapted to predict a value corresponding to the control signal and the associated operating condition; and a third element adapted to compare the predicted value and the control signal, and adapted to determine a confidence level from the compared predicted value and control signal, wherein the confidence level corresponds to a degree of confidence in the predicted value.

Image capture device having a learning function

The user assistance system provides a system and method for capturing images of a document and interaction of a primary user with the document in an interaction session. Briefly described, one embodiment comprises an image capture means adapted to capture an initial image of the document and at least one subsequent, additional image of the document during an interaction session, the image being mapped to a known co-ordinate system, interaction capture means for capturing the interaction of a user with the document whereby to determine at least one co-ordinate of a pointer used for the interaction relative to the same co-ordinate system defined for the initial captured image, and processing means for determining an appropriate transform that maps the additional image onto the original image.

Growing community of inventors

Bristol, United Kingdom

Maurizio Pilu