Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.p.

Stephen Philip Cheatle

David Arthur Grosvenor

Andrew Arthur Hunter

Maurizio Pilu

David Neil Slatter

Tong Zhang

Stephen Bernard Pollard

Carl Staelin

Gary Lee Vondran, Jr

Xiaofan Lin

Guy De Warrenne Bruce Adams

C Brian Atkins

Mei Chen

Dominic Lee

Charles A Untulis

Richard Oliver Kahn

Gary Porter

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 method for creating an image album includes selecting a subset of images from a source set and creating a plurality of image albums by arranging the subset of images over one or more pages. Each image album is evaluated by a penalty detection unit to generate a penalty score which is a measure of the aesthetic quality of an image album. One or more of the image albums having the lowest penalty scores are presented to the user. A system for arranging a number of images into an image album is also provided.

Image album creation

A system for arranging a number of images into a compilation of images a metadata derivation unit () configured to derive metadata from the images based on the content of the images, and an image arranging unit () configured to arrange the images into a compilation of images based on the metadata derived from the images. A method for arranging a number of images into a compilation of images is also provided.

Compilation of images

An electronic image processor () for enhancing an artistic intent of an image comprises: an input () to receive digital image data of an image to be enhanced; a classifier () to identify and classify regions in an image, including assigning to each region one of plural predetermined classifications and a respective degree of confidence in the classification, on the basis of the context of the region within the image, each classification being associated with a perceived degree of saliency of the region to a human viewer of the image; and an enhancer () to enhance regions of the image by a degree of enhancement determined at least in part by the respective classification and by the degree of confidence in the classification.

The present invention is a digital image manipulation system for automatically cropping acquired digital images, including a memory device configured to store at least one acquired digital image, a crop analysis segmentation subsystem configured to divide at least one image into a set of similarly colored regions, a classification subsystem configured to classify each region into one of a set of possible classes which include subject background and distraction at a minimum, an optimization search configured to search possible crop boundaries and a selection module configured to automatically select a highest rated crop boundary determined from the search and based on an optimization criterion that is derived from results of the crop analysis segmentation and classification subsystems.

Method for automatically cropping digital images

The present invention is a method for manipulating acquired digital images in a computer system, comprising creating a crop cost array for each of a set of input images with a set of associated aspect ratios, wherein the cost crop array operates and is stored on the computer system and wherein each element of the array holds a lowest crop cost of an input image for a predetermined aspect ratio, generating plural possible candidate combinations of aspect ratios for the images, wherein one aspect ratio is generated for each image, creating an arrangement of the images for each candidate combination in which each image is cropped to its associated aspect ratio in the candidate combination, evaluating each possible arrangement using a combination of a crop cost of each of the images at their selected aspect ratio and a measure of an aesthetic quality of the layout arrangement, selecting a layout combination with a lowest combined crop cost and layout evaluation score, cropping each image according to a respective aspect ratio in the selected layout combination and arranging the cropped digital images in the selected layout to produce an automatically formatted output layout page.

Autocropping and autolayout method for digital images

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 method for generating an image sequence using an image capture device, the method comprising using image data generated using the device and representative of an existing image of a sequence to assist a user of the device to capture one or more subsequent images for the sequence in order that said existing and the or each subsequent image are captured at substantially the same location and device orientation, and an image capture device operable to assist a user in generating an image sequence.

Image capture method and apparatus

Various embodiments provide a system and method for editing of recorded media. Briefly described, one embodiment is a method comprising method comprising receiving an image signal captured by an image capture device, the image signal comprising a plurality of saliency values and a plurality of images, each of the images associated with one of the saliency values and the saliency values corresponding to at least one characteristic of the captured images; receiving specification of an overall duration of a program; and generating an editing signal indicative of the specified overall duration of the program and to the plurality of saliency values such that the generated editing signal corresponds to a plurality of portions of the image program having saliency values at least equal to a threshold, the corresponding portions being determined so that the total duration of the program corresponds to the specified overall duration of the program when durations of the indicative portions are summed together.

Editing of recorded media

A method and system for automatically producing a page using frames of a video stream. A plurality of video frames from a video stream or clip are read, and multiple frames are extracted from the video stream, based on the content of each frame. Frames which neighbor the extracted frames in the video stream are also extracted, with the number of neighboring frames to be extracted being controlled by parameters provided to the page production system. The resolution of the images in the extracted video frames is enhanced, based on the information in each extracted frame and each respective extracted neighboring frame. The enhanced images are automatically cropped to enhance the important features in each image, and the cropped images are composed into one or more pages that are representative of the content of the video stream.

System and method for producing a page using frames of a video stream

Embodiments provide a system and method for generating images of a document with 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 without interaction by a user and to subsequently capture at least one additional image of the document during an interaction session including interaction from the user during that session, and a processing means adapted to generate a data set representing the interaction session from the initial image and the additional image, the data set containing at least the initial image along with information indicative of the interaction of the user during the session obtained from the additional image.

Method and apparatus for generating images of a document with interaction

Image capture apparatus whereby a narrow beam infra-red transmitter () and a short range radio receiver () are mounted within a personal digital camera (). A push-button mechanism () is provided on the outer cover of the camera () to activate the transmitter () when required. An environmental camera () is provided with a narrow beam infra-red receiver () and a short range radio transmitter (). In the case whereby, for example, a user wishes to capture an image of themselves using the environment camera (), they can simply position themselves within the camera's field of view (), point the digital camera () at the camera () and press the push-button mechanism () causing the transmitter () to transmit an image capture request signal () to the security camera (). The captured image is transmitted via a short range transmitter () to the user's personal camera () where it is received by the receiver ().

Image capture apparatus and method and method with a remote signaling device

Various embodiments provide a system and method for producing an edited video signal from a plurality of cameras. Briefly described, one embodiment is a method that produces an edited video signal from a plurality of cameras wherein at least the imaging lens of each of the camera being held or worn by a respective one of a plurality of participants simultaneously present at a site, comprising receiving contemporaneous audio streams from at least two participants, selectively deriving from the audio streams a single audio output signal according to a predetermined first set of one or more criteria, receiving contemporaneous video streams from at least two of the cameras, and deriving from the video streams a single video output signal according to a predetermined second set of one or more criteria.

Editing multiple camera outputs

A digital camera derives an infrared and visible signals from IR and visible sensors. The sensor fields of view overlap or share a common field of view. An analyzer of the IR signal provides the location of and information from an active or passive IR target. The analyzer responds to the location and information signals for visible image composition control (pan/tilt/zoom/timing) and selection of visible image pictures for storage to provide ancillary information, such as personal details of a target wearer. The visible and infrared image signals are combined to correct for sensitivity of the visible and/or IR sensors to IR and visible wavelengths, respectively.

Growing community of inventors

Bristol, United Kingdom

Stephen Philip Cheatle