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.

Methods and Systems for Content Processing

In a device having a display, a change in focus for an application is used with a requested usage of a context attribute to change the amount of information regarding the context attribute that is sent to another application. A method of changing the orientation of images on a device's display detects movement followed by an end of movement of the device. The orientation of the device is then determined and is used to set the orientation of images on the display. A method of setting the orientation of a display also includes storing information regarding an item displayed in a first orientation before changing the orientation. When the orientation is returned to the first orientation, the stored information is retrieved and is used to display the item in the first orientation. The stored information can include whether the item is to appear in the particular orientation.

Method and apparatus using multiple sensors in a device with a display

System and method for view navigation and magnification of the display of hand-held devices in response to the orientation changes along only two axes of rotation as measured by sensors inside the devices. The view navigation system is engaged and controlled by a single hand which simultaneously presses two ergonomically designed switches on both sides of the hand-held device. In other embodiments, the system engaged into the view navigation mode in response to an operator command in the form of a finger tap, or a voice command, or predefined user gestures. The response curve of the view navigation to sensed changes in orientation is dynamically changing to allow coarse and fine navigation of the view. Various methods are described to terminate the view navigation mode and fix the display at the desired view. Miniature sensors like accelerometers, tilt sensors, or magneto-resistive direction sensors sense the orientation changes. The system can be added to an existing hand-held device via an application interface of the device.

View navigation and magnification of a hand-held device with a display

A method is provided for modifying an image. The method comprises displaying an image, the image comprising a portion of an object; and determining if an edge of the object is in a location within the portion. The method further comprises detecting movement, in a member direction, of an operating member with respect to the edge. The method still further comprises moving, if the edge is not in the location, the object in an object direction corresponding to the detected movement; and modifying, if the edge is in the location, the image in response to the detected movement, the modified image comprising the edge in the location.

Information processing apparatus, information processing method and program

In one embodiment of the invention, a method for controlling a robotic surgical tool is disclosed. The method for controlling a robotic surgical tool includes moving a monitor displaying an image of a robotic surgical tool; sensing motion of the monitor; and translating the sensed motion of the monitor into motion of the robotic surgical tool.

Controlling a robotic surgical tool with a display monitor

A small-sized information processor which is used while being held in one hand, and which can scroll a display screen in accordance with a tilt. When a scroll start switch is depressed, the tilt angle of a display unit at this time is detected as an initial tilt angle by a tilt sensor. When a predetermined time period has lapsed since the depression of the switch, the tilt angle of the display unit is detected as a second tilt angle by the tilt sensor. The initial tilt angle is subtracted from the second tilt angle by a processing unit, thereby calculating the relative tilt angle of the display unit. The processing unit scrolls the display screen of the display unit on the basis of the calculated relative tilt angle. The scrolling speed of the display unit may well be changed in accordance with the width of the relative tilt angle.

Small-sized information processor capable of scrolling screen in accordance with tilt, and scrolling method therefor

PURPOSE:To provide the compact information processor which enables an operator to scroll a screen without using his hand in which the compact information processor is not held at the time of using the compact information processor in his other hand. CONSTITUTION:When a scroll start switch 110 is depressed, the angle of inclination of a display part 106 at this time is detected by an inclination sensor 104. When a prescribed time elapses after the depression, the angle of inclination of the display part 106 is detected by the inclination sensor 104, and the angle of inclination at the time of depression is subtracted from this angle of inclination to calculate the relativel angle of inclination from the depression. A processing part 101 scrolls the display screen on the display part 106 based on this relative angle of inclination. The scroll speed may be changed in accordance with the angle of inclination.

Compact information processor

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize an electric washer system that can meet a change in a use environment or an advent of new clothing (textile) or a detergent. SOLUTION: A washer operation program and equipment specifications are obtained from an electric washer 100 by a mobile telephone 200, and registered on a home page 410 on the Internet 400 by a short distance wireless communication, and a new washing and dehydration control program and reference information are obtained and provided to the electric washer by short distance wireless communication.

Electric washer system

A display control system for a scan type display apparatus in which a display screen is divided into a plurality of split display regions on a video screen and each display region is scanned in parallel. A dual port memory having a random access port and a serial access port is used as a display memory and display data is inputted through the random access port and outputted through the serial access port. Display addresses for reading out sequentially display data corresponding to each raster of every split display region one by one from the dual port memory are generated and the display data of each of the split display regions read out from the dual port memory are stored into each of the buffer memories. The display data stored in the buffer memories is read out and transferred to the scan type display device.

Display control system for a scan type display apparatus

A parallel-to-serial signal converting apparatus which comprises: a logic circuit for converting first parallel bit signals of a low frequency to be converted to a high frequency serial bit signal into second parallel bit signals having the same frequency as the first parallel bit signals and having information as to whether adjacent two bits of the serial bit signal are equal in level or not; a circuit for adjusting the phase of the second parallel bit signals to form third parallel bit signals whose phases are shifted by a phase difference, successively, in an order of corresponding bits of the serial bit signal, the phase difference being substantially equal to the phase difference between adjacent two bits of the serial bit signal; and a logic circuit for logically processing the third parallel bit signals to obtain the serial bit signal. An image displaying system utilizes the parallel-to-serial signal converting apparatus.

Hirobumi Yokosuka

Papers

Small-sized information processor capable of scrolling screen in accordance with tilt, and scrolling method therefor

Compact information processor

Electric washer system

Display control system for a scan type display apparatus

Parallel-to-serial signal converting apparatus and image displaying system using the same