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

A digital image of the object is captured and the object is recognized from plurality of objects in a database. An information address corresponding to the object is then used to access information and initiate communication pertinent to the object.

Image Capture and Identification System and Process

Arrangements involving portable devices (e.g., smartphones and tablet computers) are disclosed. One arrangement enables a content creator to select software with which that creator's content should be rendered—assuring continuity between artistic intention and delivery. Another utilizes a device camera 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 connection with 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.

Smartphone-based methods and systems

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.

Media processing methods and arrangements

A steganographic embedder associates data with a media signal by encoding the data, a link to the data, or a combination of both into the media signal. The embedder may be located in a media signal capture device or an external process or device (Fig. 2, 100). In one application, for example, an embedder process steganographically encodes data into a media signal as part of the process of uploading the media signal from the media signal capture device to an external device (Fig. 2, 106). In another applications, a media signal capture device includes a steganographic embedder that encodes data or a link to external metadata into the media signal at the time of recording (Fig. 3).

Authenticating metadata and embedding metadata in watermarks of media signals

Methods and systems for associating watermark enabled objects with machine behaviors. Machine behaviors refer to actions by devices or systems in response to a triggering event. Examples of these behaviors include fetching a web page, opening an email client to send an email to a specific person, initiating a phone or video conference call, etc. A registration system (104) enables users to associate machine behaviors with objects through a watermark embedded in the objects. The decoding (104) of the watermark initiates a process for triggering the machine behaviors associated with the watermarked object. While the disclosure describes an implementation for stickers (116) as a class of watermark enabled objects, the system and related methods apply to other forms of watermark enabled objects, including both electronic and physical objects.

User control and activation of watermark enabled objects

Methods and systems for associating objects with corresponding machine behaviors. Machine behaviors refer to responsive actions that are triggered when an object (which may be physical or electronic) is encountered. Examples of these behaviors include fetching a web page, executing software instructions, etc. A registration system enables machine behaviors to be associated with objects through use of object identifiers. For an electronic object such as an audio or video signal, the identifier can comprise a steganographic in-band watermark, a numeric ID or song/artist name field in a in a file header; a 128-bit hash value obtained by applying a hashing algorithm to the content data, the file header data, a portion thereof, etc. The disclosure particularly focuses on an embodiment utilizing stickers as objects, and watermarks as identifiers, but the technology can be implemented in many other, different, forms.

Kirstin Hierholzer

Papers

User control and activation of watermark enabled objects

Associating objects with corresponding behaviors