Abstract:
The present technology concerns cell phones and other portable devices, and more particularly concerns use of such devices in connection with media content (electronic and physical) and with other systems (e.g., televisions, digital video recorders, and electronic program directories). Some aspects of the technology allow users to easily transfer displayed content from cell phone screens onto a television screens for easier viewing, or vice versa for content portability. Others enable users to participate interactively in entertainment content, such as by submitting plot directions, audio input, character names, etc., yielding more engaging, immersive, user experiences. Still other aspects of the technology involve a program directory database, compiled automatically from information reported by network nodes that watch and identify content traffic passing into (and/or out of) networked computers. By identifying content resident at a number of different repositories (e.g., web sites, TV networks, P2P systems, etc.), such a directory allows cell phone users to identify the diversity of sources from which desired content can be obtained—some available on a scheduled basis, others available on demand. Depending on the application, the directory information may be transparent to the user—serving to identify sources for desired content, from which application software can pick for content downloading, based, e.g., on context and stored profile data. A great number of other features and arrangements are also detailed.
Abstract:
A user captures an image of a retail product with a smartphone. Product recommendations associated with the retail product are provided to the smartphone. One claim recites a method comprising: receiving first imagery captured by a smartphone camera, the first imagery representing a first retail product located at a retail location, and presenting the first imagery on a screen of the smartphone; providing the first imagery to a processor to produce fingerprint data therefrom, the fingerprint data being utilized to identify the first retail product; receiving second imagery representing a second retail product, identified as a product recommendation associated with the first retail product, the second imagery being sourced from a source different than the smartphone camera; presenting, on the screen of the smartphone, the second imagery; receiving user input via a touch screen of the smartphone; as a consequence of said user input, initiating an action. Of course, a great variety of other claims, features and arrangements are also detailed.
Abstract:
In some arrangements, product packaging is digitally watermarked over most of its extent to facilitate high-throughput item identification at retail checkouts. Imagery captured by conventional or plenoptic cameras can be processed (e.g., by GPUs) to derive several different perspective-transformed views—further minimizing the need to manually reposition items for identification. Crinkles and other deformations in product packaging can be optically sensed, allowing such surfaces to be virtually flattened to aid identification. Piles of items can be 3D-modelled and virtually segmented into geometric primitives to aid identification, and to discover locations of obscured items. Other data (e.g., including data from sensors in aisles, shelves and carts, and gaze tracking for clues about visual saliency) can be used in assessing identification hypotheses about an item. Logos may be identified and used—or ignored—in product identification. A great variety of other features and arrangements are also detailed.
Abstract:
The disclosure relates generally to geographic-based signal detection. One claim recites an apparatus comprising: an input for receiving a signal from a cell phone; an electronic processor for determining, based at least in part on the signal, whether the cell phone is physically located in a predetermined home area; and upon a condition of not being in the predetermined home area, communicating a machine-readable code detector to the cell phone for use as its primary machine-readable code detector to detect machine-readable code while outside of its predetermined home area. Of course, other claims and combinations are provided as well.
Abstract:
This patent document relates generally to encoded information and digital watermarking. One claim recites an image capture device comprising: an optical system; an image sensor on a substrate for capturing imagery provided by the optical system, in which captured imagery includes encoded information, and in which the captured imagery comprises first color information, second color information and third color information; means for compressing the captured imagery captured by said image sensor; means for detecting the encoded information from the captured imagery, in which said detecting utilizes different color information weightings so that at least the first color information and the third color information are weighted differently than one another for detection of the encoded information; and means for providing the encoded information for output or display, once the encoded information is detected. Of course, other claims and combinations are provided as well.
Abstract:
Reference imagery of dermatological conditions is compiled in a crowd-sourced database (contributed by clinicians and/or the lay public), together with associated diagnosis information. A user later submits a query image to the system (e.g., captured with a smartphone). Image-based derivatives for the query image are determined (e.g., color histograms, FFT-based metrics, etc.), and are compared against similar derivatives computed from the reference imagery. This comparison identifies diseases that are not consistent with the query image, and such information is reported to the user. Depending on the size of the database, and the specificity of the data, 90% or more of candidate conditions may be effectively ruled-out, possibly sparing the user from expensive and painful biopsy procedures, and granting some peace of mind (e.g., knowledge that an emerging pattern of small lesions on a forearm is probably not caused by shingles, bedbugs, malaria or AIDS). A great number of other features and arrangements are also detailed.
Abstract:
The present disclosure relates to signal processing such as digital watermarking and data hiding. A sparse or dense digital watermark signal can be conveyed with a narrow-band absorption material corresponding to a center wavelength of a Point of Sale (POS) barcode scanner. The POS barcode scanner typically captures 2D imagery. Since the narrow-band absorption material absorbs over a narrow-band it is relatively imperceptible to the Human Visual System (HVS) but can be seen by the POS scanner.
Abstract:
Orchestrated encoding schemes facilitate encoding and decoding of data in content signals at several points in the distribution path of content items. Orchestrated encoding adheres to a set of encoding rules that enables multiple watermarks and corresponding applications to co-exist, avoids collisions among watermarks, and simplifies metadata and routing database infrastructure.
Abstract:
This disclosure generally relates to methods and systems for associating and identifying content, including both physical and electronic objects, with metadata through networks. The disclosure also generally relates to routing systems for handling requests including content identifiers. One combination includes a system comprising: an external interface including: i) a content interface for receiving a content signal and a request to provide metadata associated with the content signal, and ii) a metadata interface for providing metadata associated with the content signal, in which the metadata interface includes a variable metadata interface allowing variable types of metadata to be communicated to a requesting application through the metadata interface; and an internal interface including an identity provider interface for integrating an identity provider driver into the metadata client, the identity provider driver operable to compute a content identifier from the content signal and operable to provide the content identifier to the metadata client; means for invoking the identity provider driver through the internal interface to request the content identifier, in which metadata associated with the content signal is identified with the content identifier and provided through the metadata interface. Of course, other combinations are provided as well.
Abstract:
A content fingerprint based recognition system employs local caching of portions of a fingerprint database to manage network services for identifying which programs a user's mobile device is exposed to and the timing of events within the program. The system enables background recognition and synchronization of network services in a way that consumes less device power and bandwidth.