Abstract:
This technology concerns, in one aspect, using a person's social network graph data as a virtual visual cortex—taking image input from a smartphone or the like, and processing it with the graph data to yield a personalized form of processing based on the imagery. The user's network graph data is typically updated by such processing—providing a form of virtual image memory that can influence future social network behavior. In another aspect, the technology concerns identifying content (e.g., audio) by both fingerprint-based and watermark-based techniques, and arrangements employing such identification data. A great number of other features and arrangements are also detailed.
Abstract:
Cell phones and other portable devices are equipped with a variety of technologies by which existing functionality can be improved, and new functionality can be provided. Some relate to visual search capabilities, and determining appropriate actions responsive to different image inputs. Others relate to processing of image data. Still others concern metadata generation, processing, and representation. Yet others relate to coping with fixed focus limitations of cell phone cameras, e.g., in reading digital watermark data. Still others concern user interface improvements. A great number of other features and arrangements are also detailed.
Abstract:
A portable device, such as a cell phone, is used to “forage” media content from a user's environment. For example, it may listen to a television viewed by a traveler in an airport lounge. By reference to digital watermark or fingerprint data extracted from the content, the device can identify the television program, and enable a variety of actions. The device may also identify content that preceded (or follows) the foraged content. Thus, a traveler who views just the end of an exciting sporting event can capture one of the following commercials, identify the preceding program, and download same for later viewing. Relatedly, audio foraging can be used as a source of still imagery. A great variety of other functions and arrangements, e.g., addressing social media, are also detailed.
Abstract:
Technologies involving portable devices, such as smartphones and tablet computers, are disclosed. One arrangement enables a creator of content to select software with which that creator's content should be rendered—assuring continuity between artistic intention and delivery. Another uses the camera of a smartphone to identify nearby subjects, and take actions based thereon. Others rely on near field chip (RFID) identification of objects, or on identification of audio streams (e.g., music, voice). Some technologies concern improvements to the user interfaces associated with such devices. Others involve use of these devices in shopping, text entry, sign language interpretation, and vision-based discovery. Still other improvements are architectural in nature, e.g., relating to evidence-based state machines, and blackboard systems. Yet other technologies concern use of linked data in portable devices—some of which exploit GPU capabilities. Still other technologies concern computational photography. A great variety of other features and arrangements are also detailed.
Abstract:
Directional albedo of a particular article, such as an identity card, is measured and stored. When the article is later presented, it can be confirmed to be the same particular article by re-measuring the albedo function, and checking for correspondence against the earlier-stored data. The re-measuring can be performed through us of a handheld optical device, such as a camera-equipped cell phone. The albedo function can serve as random key data in a variety of cryptographic applications. The function can be changed during the life of the article. A variety of other features are also detailed.
Abstract:
An audio watermark signal is associated audio host signal, but is provided separately. When the audio host signal is rendered, a user can control whether—and how strongly—the watermark signal is also rendered. The specification details a great variety of other technologies—most relating to audio and image content, and/or portable devices (e.g., smartphones).
Abstract:
Directional albedo of a particular article, such as an identity card, is measured and stored. When the article is later presented, it can be confirmed to be the same particular article by re-measuring the albedo function, and checking for correspondence against the earlier-stored data. The re-measuring can be performed through us of a handheld optical device, such as a camera-equipped cell phone. The albedo function can serve as random key data in a variety of cryptographic applications. The function can be changed during the life of the article through use of a variety of different card constructions (e.g., involving quantum dots, phase change materials, MEMS structures, etc.). A variety of other arrangements and features are also detailed.
Abstract:
A smart phone senses audio, imagery, and/or other stimulus from a user's environment, and acts autonomously to fulfill inferred or anticipated user desires. In one aspect, the detailed technology concerns phone-based cognition of a scene viewed by the phone's camera. The image processing tasks applied to the scene can be selected from among various alternatives by reference to resource costs, resource constraints, other stimulus information (e.g., audio), task substitutability, etc. The phone can apply more or less resources to an image processing task depending on how successfully the task is proceeding, or based on the user's apparent interest in the task. In some arrangements, data may be referred to the cloud for analysis, or for gleaning. Cognition, and identification of appropriate device response(s), can be aided by collateral information, such as context. A great number of other features and arrangements are also detailed.
Abstract:
The present disclosure relates to authenticating identification and security documents, and methods and systems for authenticating such. One claim recites a method of authenticating a security or identification document with a cell phone. The cell phone comprising an optical sensor and a graphical display, the document comprising micro-printing, in which the micro-printing is imperceptible by an unassisted human observer. The method comprises: receiving from the optical sensor optical scan data corresponding to the document; analyzing the optical scan data to recognize the micro-printing; scaling or magnifying the micro-printing; and rendering at least some of the scaled or magnified micro-printing via the graphical display, in which rendered, scaled or magnified micro-printing is perceptible by a human observer of the graphical display. Other claims, implementations and embodiments are provided as well.
Abstract:
A digital watermark in video includes a plural-bit payload that sets different permissions governing usage of the video. One bit, for example, may flag whether fast-forwarding of the video is permitted. Another may flag whether storage in non-encrypted form is permitted. A compliant video appliance governs its actions in accordance with such flag data provided by a video watermark detector.