Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080215984 | STORYSHARE AUTOMATION - A method and system simplifies the creation process of a multimedia story for a user. It does this by using input and/or derived metadata, by providing constraints on the usability of assets, by automatically suggesting a theme for a story, and identifying appropriate assets and effects to be included in a story, which assets and effects are owned by the user or a third party. | 09-04-2008 |
20120229672 | DISTRIBUTED IMAGE ACQUISITION AND STORAGE SYSTEM - A distributed image acquisition and storage system connected to a communication network includes one or more digital cameras, each digital camera having a digital image sensor that acquires digital images, a unique camera identifier, and a current user identifier, and further includes one or more storage devices, each storage device having a digital memory that store the acquired digital images and a unique storage identifier, and further including a computer server. Connections, communications, and access privileges between the various system components is described. | 09-13-2012 |
20120239655 | DISTRIBUTED STORAGE AND METADATA SYSTEM - A system for storing digital images and accessing and storing digital image information using a communication network includes a plurality of independently controlled digital storage repositories associated with one or more different authorization groups, wherein a first digital storage repository includes a first digital image with associated first semantic information and wherein a second digital storage repository in a common authorization group with the first digital storage repository includes a second digital image with associated second semantic information and an associated second category, and wherein the processor of the first digital storage repository uses its computer program to independently access and match the first semantic information with the second semantic information, to associate the second category with the first semantic information, and to store the second category in association with the first semantic information in the first digital storage repository. | 09-20-2012 |
20120287321 | SWITCHABLE IMAGING APPARATUS FOR DISPLAY AND CAPTURE - A switchable imaging apparatus having an image display mode and an image capture mode, comprising: a display screen to provide a displayed image when the display screen is in a first display state, wherein the display screen is at least partially transparent when the display screen is switched to a second transparent state; an optical beam deflector switchable between a first non-deflecting state and a second deflecting state, such that when the optical beam deflector is in the second deflecting state imaging light from a scene is deflected into a camera positioned in a location peripheral to the display screen; and a controller which synchronously switches the display screen between the first display state and the second transparent state, and the optical beam deflector between the first non-deflecting state and the second deflecting state, thereby providing the image display mode and the image capture mode. | 11-15-2012 |
20120287322 | IMAGING APPARATUS WITH SWITCHABLE BEAM DEFLECTOR ARRAY - A switchable imaging apparatus having an image display mode and an image capture mode, comprising: a display screen to provide a displayed image when the display screen is in a first display state, wherein the display screen is at least partially transparent when the display screen is switched to a second transparent state; a set of optical beam deflectors, each optical beam deflector being individually switchable between a first non-deflecting state and a second deflecting state wherein imaging light from a corresponding section of the scene is deflected into a camera positioned in a location peripheral to the display screen; and a controller which synchronously switches the display screen between the first display state and the second transparent state, and the individual optical beam deflectors between their first non-deflecting state and their second deflecting state, thereby providing the image display mode and the image capture mode. | 11-15-2012 |
20120287323 | IMAGING APPARATUS WITH DUAL SWITCHABLE BEAM DEFLECTORS - A switchable imaging apparatus having an image display mode and an image capture mode, comprising: a display screen providing a first display state and a second transparent state; a first optical beam deflector switchable between a first non-deflecting state and a second deflecting state wherein imaging light from a first scene on a first side of display screen is deflected into a camera positioned in a location peripheral to the display screen; a second optical beam deflector switchable between a first non-deflecting state and a second deflecting state wherein imaging light from a second scene on a second side of display screen is deflected into a camera positioned in a location peripheral to the display screen; and a controller for controlling the state of the display screen and the first and second optical beam deflectors, thereby providing the image display mode and the image capture mode. | 11-15-2012 |
20120287326 | SWITCHABLE IMAGING APPARATUS FOR VIEWING AND CAPTURE - A switchable imaging apparatus having a transparent viewing mode and an image capture mode, comprising: a transparent plate having a front surface, wherein a scene is viewable through the transparent plate when the imaging apparatus is in the transparent viewing mode; an optical beam deflector positioned within the transparent plate, wherein the optical beam deflector is switchable between a first non-deflecting state and a second deflecting state, such that when the optical beam deflector is in the second deflecting state imaging light from the scene is deflected into a camera positioned in a location peripheral to the transparent plate; and a controller which synchronously switches the optical beam deflector between the first non-deflecting state and the second deflecting state, thereby providing the transparent viewing mode and the image capture mode. | 11-15-2012 |
20120287327 | CAPTURING IMAGES USING A SWITCHABLE IMAGING APPARATUS - A method for capturing an image, comprising: providing a switchable imaging apparatus including a display screen having a first display state and a second transparent state, an optical beam deflector switchable between a first non-deflecting state and a second deflecting state, a camera positioned in a location peripheral to the display screen, and a controller; setting the switchable imaging apparatus to the image capture mode by using the controller to set the display screen to the second transparent state and the optical beam deflector to the second deflecting state; using the camera to capture an image of the scene; setting the switchable imaging apparatus to the image display mode by using the controller to set the display screen to the first display state and the optical beam deflector to the first non-deflecting state; and displaying an image on the display screen. | 11-15-2012 |
20130077126 | CONFIGURING A MODULAR PRINTING SYSTEM - A method for configuring a modular printing system is disclosed. The system has a plurality of modules that are configured to be selectively interconnected to form different printing system configurations. The method includes providing printing system modules and associated configuration information for each module; selecting and interconnecting modules to produce a particular printing system configuration and communicating the associated configuration information for the selected modules to a system controller; and using the system controller to automatically determine a printing system configuration that includes operational parameter ranges for at least one of the selected modules. The method further includes storing the printing system configuration so that the modular printing system is ready to operate. | 03-28-2013 |
20130078022 | OPERATING A SELECTIVELY INTERCONNECTED MODULAR PRINTING SYSTEM - A method for operating a selectively interconnected modular printing system is disclosed. The method includes providing a selectively interconnected modular printing system that is responsive to an operational preference setting and associated configuration information for each module; communicating the associated configuration information for the selectively interconnected modules to a system controller; and using the system controller to automatically determine operational parameters based on the associated configuration information. The method further includes determining a set of operational preferences from the operational parameters; selecting at least one operational preference setting; using the system controller to determine specific operational parameters based on the selected operational preference setting; and storing the specific operational parameters so that the modular printing system is effective for operation. | 03-28-2013 |
20130128038 | METHOD FOR MAKING EVENT-RELATED MEDIA COLLECTION - A method for making a media collection associated with an event having an event location includes using a processor to receive one or more media elements from each of a plurality of media-capture devices, each media element having a capture location; defining the event in response to receiving one or more media-capture-device signals having the event location; and associating media elements having the event location received at the same time or after the event definition with a stored media-event collection corresponding to the event for subsequent use. | 05-23-2013 |
20130129232 | GROUP METHOD FOR MAKING EVENT-RELATED MEDIA COLLECTION - A method for making a media collection associated with an event having an event location, includes receiving a specification of members in a group; using a processor to receive one or more media elements from each of a plurality of media-capture devices, each media element having a capture location; defining the event in response to receiving one or more media-capture-device signals having the event location from group members; and associating media elements having the event location received at the same time or after the event definition with a stored media event collection corresponding to the event for subsequent use. | 05-23-2013 |
20130130729 | USER METHOD FOR MAKING EVENT-RELATED MEDIA COLLECTION - A method for making a media collection associated with an event having an event location by a user includes the user receiving an event signal; the user capturing one or more media element(s) with a media-capture device, the media element having an associated capture location; the user receiving a selection tool for the media-capture device for selecting captured media element(s) that have an associated capture location corresponding to the received event signal; operating the selection tool; and communicating one or more selected media element(s) to a media-element collection device. | 05-23-2013 |
20130242157 | CAPTURING IMAGES USING A SWITCHABLE IMAGING APPARATUS - A method for capturing an image, comprising: providing a switchable imaging apparatus including a display screen having a first display state and a second transparent state, an optical beam deflector switchable between a first non-deflecting state and a second deflecting state, a camera positioned in a location peripheral to the display screen, and a controller; setting the switchable imaging apparatus to the image capture mode by using the controller to set the display screen to the second transparent state and the optical beam deflector to the second deflecting state; using the camera to capture an image of the scene; setting the switchable imaging apparatus to the image display mode by using the controller to set the display screen to the first display state and the optical beam deflector to the first non-deflecting state; and displaying an image on the display screen. | 09-19-2013 |
20140055548 | DUPLEX THERMAL PRINTER WITH PIVOTABLE DIVERTER - A roll-fed duplex thermal printing system, comprising a supply roll of receiver media, a printing path, a reversing path, a pivotable diverter and a cutter positioned between the supply roll and the reversing path. When the diverter is in a first position the receiver media is directed from the supply roll, when the diverter is in a second position the receiver media is directed from the supply roll into the reversing path, and when the diverter is in the third position the receiver media is directed from the reversing path into the printing path. During a printing operation, the diverter is sequentially repositioned to feed the receiver media into the printing path where a first side image is printed, into the reversing path where it is cut, and into the printing path again where a second side image is printed. | 02-27-2014 |
20140085394 | DUPLEX THERMAL PRINTER WITH PIVOTABLE DIVERTER - A roll-fed duplex thermal printing system, comprising a supply roll of receiver media, a printing path, a reversing path, a pivotable diverter and a cutter positioned between the diverter and the reversing path. When the diverter is in a first position the receiver media is directed from the supply roll, when the diverter is in a second position the receiver media is directed from the supply roll into the reversing path, and when the diverter is in the third position the receiver media is directed from the reversing path into the printing path. During a printing operation, the diverter is sequentially repositioned to feed the receiver media into the printing path where a first side image is printed, into the reversing path where it is cut, and into the printing path again where a second side image is printed. | 03-27-2014 |
20140214487 | AGGREGATION OF MEDIA PRODUCT PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION - A method is disclosed for aggregating media product production and distribution responsive to demand fluctuations. The methods uses a communication network to send the one or more aggregations including a quoting deadline to the subset of production entities selected from the production entity network if the current one or more scores are within a pre-established threshold or holding the one or more aggregations until additional quoting requirements are received before the current quoting deadlines have elapsed. The methods also uses the communication network to receive quotes from the subset of production entities selected from the production entity network, using the processor to calculate customer pricing for the production and distribution of customer designated media products from the received quotes, and using the communication network to send the calculated customer prices to the plurality of customers before the quoting deadline has elapsed. | 07-31-2014 |
20140214581 | PRODUCTION CAPACITY MANAGEMENT IN MEDIA PRODUCT AGGREGATION SYSTEMS - A method is disclosed for managing production capacity. The method includes calculating a baseline of aggregated media product volumes and an associated target cost; using a processor to determine if the current volume of received quoting requirements will produce the baseline of aggregated media product volumes; and calculating adjusted target cost estimates. The method further includes using the communication network to send the quoting requirements and the calculated target cost estimates to a subset of the network of production entities; receiving actual cost estimates based on the calculated target cost estimates from the subset of the network of production entities; calculating customer prices for the plurality of customers for producing and distributing customer designated media products based on the received actual cost estimates; and using the communication network to provide customer prices to plurality of customers for producing and distributing customer designated media products. | 07-31-2014 |
20140214582 | ADJUSTING A CUSTOMER CATALOG FOR ORDERING VISUAL MEDIA PRODUCTS - A method is disclosed for adjusting a customer catalog for the production and distribution of visual media products based on system capacity. The method includes using a communication network to receive data including production pricing grids, distribution pricing grids, and production capacity thresholds from a network of visual media production entities; and receiving quoting requirements from a plurality of customers for producing and distributing visual media products selected from an on-line catalog. The method further includes using a processor to calculate system capacity, an aggregation of customer orders, and initial customer pricing for the aggregation; calculating adjusted pricing based upon system capacity; and updating the catalog with the adjusted pricing. | 07-31-2014 |
20150049910 | IMAGING WORKFLOW USING FACIAL AND NON-FACIAL FEATURES - A method for determining an impact score for a digital image includes providing the digital image wherein the digital image includes faces; using a processor to determine an image feature for the faces; using the processor to compute an object impact score for the faces, wherein the object impact score is based at least upon one of the determined image features; weighting the object impact score for the faces based on one of the determined image features for a face; using the processor to compute an impact score for the digital image by combining the weighted object impact scores for the faces in the image; and storing the computed impact score in a processor accessible memory. | 02-19-2015 |
20150052439 | CONTEXT SENSITIVE ADAPTABLE USER INTERFACE - A user interface control for an image product creation application is used for adding user supplied text or graphic elements to an image product, wherein the user interface control is responsive to the position relative to a user supplied image, a recognized object within the user supplied image, or an image product related feature, wherein the user interface control provides an indication when the text or graphic elements are positioned proximal to the user supplied image, the recognized object, or the image product related feature, and wherein the user interface control modifies an attribute of the text or graphic elements when placed proximal to the user supplied image, the recognized object, or the image product related feature. | 02-19-2015 |