text:
computer repairs Solution for Remote Support Software
Our computer repairs remote support software tool has been specifically chosen to make sessions quick, secure and simple.
- Easy To Setup (Single Click)
- Highest Security Standards (256bit)
- Small File Size (Under 3Mb)
- Get Started Now.. click here.
Internet Explorer Users
1) Contact us via telephone or email to arrange a support session.
Our telephone numbers are 01206 580132 mobile: 07716 881854.
2) Download the secure desktop software (Click here to download).
You will be asked to "Save" or "Run" the file.
Please choose to "Run" it.
3) Disclaimer - You will be asked to agree to a Disclaimer before the remote session starts.
Please read through it and click "Accept" when you are ready.
4) The main window will then open and you should see a box that says "Your ID" number.
Please read this out to the technician.
Now all you need to do is sit back and relax! Your computer will be repaired whilst you go about your daily business (or you are welcome to watch!). Once the repair is complete and you are satisfied with the work done, the technician will close the connection and the software will cleanly uninstall itself.
The All-In-One Solution for Remote Access and Support over the Internet. Establishes connections to any PC or server all around the world within just a few seconds.


text:
ECRM at Print09
Wednesday, September 09, 2009
Press release from the issuing companyTEWKSBURY, MASSACHUSETTS -- ECRM today announced their release of RIPmate Plus at the upcoming PRINT 2009 exhibition. Engineered to accelerate the productivity beyond that of a standalone RIP, RIPmate Plus contains software enhancements which enable the remote control of the RIPing process. Any network workstation with a web browser can now be used to view, roam, and zoom (in or out) on any part of the rasterized image for soft proofing, as well as hold, release or re-direct a job without going to the physical RIP station.
ECRM will launch and demonstrate the productivity benefits of RIPmate Plus at PRINT 2009 (Chicago, September 11-16) by showing a streamlined workflow in their booth (#6524). RIPmate Plus includes an ECRM RIPmate RIP and is available immediately. For more information, go to www.ecrm.com.
ECRM Quote
For standalone RIP users, RIPmate Plus is a valuable productivity enhancement, notes John Marzec, ECRM Director of Product Management. While files can be sent to the RIP from all over the production facility, no one has to physically (and unproductively) be waiting at the RIP station for preview and job release. Once the file is RIPed, the production manager can check the rasterized file by roaming and zooming anywhere on the image [including traps]. And they can do this from any workstation with web and network access. This software can be invaluable as an enhancement to the workflow and quality assurance process of any print operation at a very attractive price point.
RIPmate Plus is also available as a software enhancement package for standalone ECRM and Harlequin RIP users. Its available from any of ECRMs worldwide marketing partners or directly from ECRM. For more information, go to www.ecrm.com.
Industry News
Copyright © 2018 WhatTheyThink. All Rights Reserved

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Nutty Barley Salad
For some people a rainy day seems glum, grey and downright depressing.
I love the rain. I love lightning and thunder and I especially love rain, lightning and thunder while being alone at home.
Is that weird? Then I'm ok with being weird because yesterday was a good day.
I felt like making something hearty with the cooler weather and wanted to use up some vegetables that I had ignored all weekend.
Nutty Barley Salad
- 6 cups of cooked barley (2 cups barley cooked in 9 cups of water)
- 1 bunch scallions sliced thinly
- 4 small/medium carrots peeled and diced
- 4 stalks of celery diced
- 2 cherry peppers diced
- 1/2 cup each almonds, walnuts and pumpkin seeds toasted and roughly chopped
- 2 t cumin
- 1 t chili powder
- 2 tsp salt
- 1/2 t onion powder
- 1 large tomato stem removed and cut into quarters
- juice of 1/2 a lemon
- 1/4 cup water
Boil 9 cups of water in a large stock pot. Add 2 cups of barley to boiling water and simmer until barley is tender but still chewy. Drain and set aside until cooled.
Add barley and all other ingredients to a large bowl and toss well.
Prepare dressing by placing all ingredients into a blender (I used the magic blender) and pour over salad. Mix well.
This is vegan and gluten-free. I added no oil to the dressing since there's a good amount of nuts in the salad. You may at first think there is too much dressing but the next day you'll find that the barley has sucked up most of the liquid. This will keep for 4-5 days.
MOM permalinkSeptember 23, 2011 12:41 pm
BUT there is no dressing here. Just a tomatoe. and spices. Where is the liquide.


text:
Until Tue 17th Sep
Bob Collins: Shooting Stars
@ National Portrait Gallery, London
Sorry - no tickets available
Bob Collins: Shooting Stars
Born in 1924, Collins's first illustrated article appeared in Amateur Photographer in 1952. Four years later he left his job as a watchmaker to pursue a career as a freelance photojournalist. Working primarily in the field of popular entertainment, he documented the rise of singers and radio and television performers such as Tony Hancock, Johnny Ray, Shirley Bassey and Petula Clark. His work frequently appeared in Picture Post, Illustrated and Everybody's Magazine and he contributed illustrated articles for a number of photographic magazines. Focusing on spontaneous human-interest subjects, Collins favoured Microcord, Super Ikonta and Rolleiflex cameras and almost always used electronic flash. Many of his portraits show stars in their dressing rooms or at home; this was in order to get a relaxed and un-posed portrait. In 1982 the Royal Photographic Society held a retrospective exhibition of Collins' work entitled Double Image.
The works in this display have been selected from the Bob Collins collection which was generously donated to the Gallery by John Acton in 2003. The collection comprises vintage prints, film negatives, colour transparencies and scrapbooks compiled by Bob Collins.
Venue Facts
National Portrait Gallery
Website: npg.org.uk
Enquiries: 02073060055
→ Charing Cross 7 min walk
→ Leicester Square 2 min walk


text:
Simple calculator type program needed
Bütçe $30-100 USD
Very simple program needed. I have the file loaded in excel that we use to determine what kind of value we give to a customer for a trade in phone.
The program will let us put in a phone model name e.g. "Nokia 2125" from a drop down menu or list of some sort. Then it will let us choose fair, good, new condition from another drop down menu which will then give us the price for the phone. We have a percentage that goes off by the retail price of the phone which is saved in the excel file attached in this post. This is a very easy program (like a calculator in way) that will take some of you minutes. I'm always on guruDOTcom but rite now there site is down for some reason so I had to come here and use this site. Hopefully I can find some one willing to make this for me asap. I'm going to offer $100 or more.
We sell phones in our stores and sometimes a customer comes in with a (old, fair, new phone) that we use to give them a trade in value. Say you're buying a 200.00 phone and you give us a fair motorola phone. We'll give you $15 for it.
We have an equation set up in excel that makes sense and all you would have to do is have a calculator that i can chose the phone model (select from list)(or some sort of drop down menu) and then the condition and the calculator would give a trade in value for that phone.
I am attaching a quick draft i made in paint to what i want it to look like and also the excel document explaining everything.
See pm for details
Bu iş için 2 freelancer ortalamada $95 teklif veriyor
Hi, we are really interested in this project and would like to help you for this. We can do it in VB.NET / Excel programming. Kind regards.


text:
New zine! Miss Sequential's Sketchbook
Yes! A new issue of Miss Sequential! Awesome! This issue is called Miss Sequential's Sketchbook, and is a collection of comics and drawings on no particular theme, except maybe the theme of I Drew Them All. The comics are a combination of real happenings, things that happened in dreams, and things I imagined, which is kind of fun. It's 28 pages of good stuff that you will enjoy, and you can get a copy HERE.
Also: If you live in Chicago and missed the Chicago Zine Fest this past weekend (bummer dude), you can purchase a few issues of my zines at Quimby's, which is incidentally one of my favorite shops in the entire universe. Truth.


text:
It looks like you're using an Ad Blocker.
Please white-list or disable AboveTopSecret.com in your ad-blocking tool.
Thank you.
Some features of ATS will be disabled while you continue to use an ad-blocker.
The Reverend Al Sharpton and supporters of police shooting victim Sean Bell said Saturday that they plan to carry out acts of civil disobedience this Wednesday to protest the acquittals of the three detectives charged in Bell's death.
The goal of the protests is to tie up traffic and force police to make arrests. Sharpton says the protests will continue on a weekly basis, leading up to what he hopes will be a citywide shutdown.
The locations for Wednesday's gatherings are as follows:
Third Avenue at 125th Street;
Park Avenue at 34th Street;
Third Avenue at 60th Street;
Varick and Houston Streets;
One Police Plaza;
415 Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn.
Race-Hustler and poverty pimp Al Sharpton is asking his supporters to "Protest" the NOT GUILTY verdicts against 3 NYPD Detectives in the 51-shot death of Shawn Bell.
Protesters will probably bring signs with large numbers from 1 - 51 to represent each of the shots fired at Shawn Bell's car. I think we should arrive with signs that ask, "Where were 52 and up?" or "Way to go NYPD!"
For my part, my sign will read, "Don't shoot Blacks, LYNCH THEM!"
It ought to be a real hoot to stir the # up with real live ghetto negroes... Those wishing to attend with me should send an e-mail to:
I think we should arrive with signs that ask, "Where were 52 and up?" or "Way to go NYPD!"
For my part, my sign will read, "Don't shoot Blacks, LYNCH THEM!"
Protesters are expected to gather at 3 p.m. at six locations. Those locations are close to several key transportation points, including the Triborough and Brooklyn Bridges, and the Midtown and Holland Tunnels.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg says the city is prepared for the demonstrations and that the city will look to protect the rights of both the protesters, as well as those who are not protesting.


text:
EP1057169A4 - Method and apparatus for processing, displaying and communicating images - Google PatentsMethod and apparatus for processing, displaying and communicating images
- Publication number
- Authority
- Grant status
- Application
- Patent type
- Prior art keywords
- signal
- image
- apparatus
- images
- surface
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
- G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
- G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
- G06F3/03—Arrangements for converting the position or the displacement of a member into a coded form
- G06F3/033—Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user, e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor
- G06F3/038—Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
- G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
- G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
- G06F3/03—Arrangements for converting the position or the displacement of a member into a coded form
- G06F3/033—Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user, e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor
- G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
- G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
- G06F3/03—Arrangements for converting the position or the displacement of a member into a coded form
- G06F3/041—Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
- G06F3/042—Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means by opto-electronic means
- G06F3/0425—Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means by opto-electronic means using a single imaging device like a video camera for tracking the absolute position of a single or a plurality of objects with respect to an imaged reference surface, e.g. video camera imaging a display or a projection screen, a table or a wall surface, on which a computer generated image is displayed or projected
- H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
- H04L29/00—Arrangements, apparatus, circuits or systems, not covered by a single one of groups H04L1/00 - H04L27/00 contains provisionally no documents
- H04L29/02—Communication control; Communication processing contains provisionally no documents
- H04L29/06—Communication control; Communication processing contains provisionally no documents characterised by a protocol
- H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
- H04L67/00—Network-specific arrangements or communication protocols supporting networked applications
- H04L67/36—Network-specific arrangements or communication protocols supporting networked applications involving the display of network or application conditions affecting the network application to the application user
- H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
- H04L67/00—Network-specific arrangements or communication protocols supporting networked applications
- H04L67/38—Protocols for telewriting; Protocols for networked simulations, virtual reality or games
- H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
- H04L69/00—Application independent communication protocol aspects or techniques in packet data networks
- H04L69/30—Definitions, standards or architectural aspects of layered protocol stacks
- H04L69/32—High level architectural aspects of 7-layer open systems interconnection [OSI] type protocol stacks
- H04L69/322—Aspects of intra-layer communication protocols among peer entities or protocol data unit [PDU] definitions
- H04L69/329—Aspects of intra-layer communication protocols among peer entities or protocol data unit [PDU] definitions in the application layer, i.e. layer seven
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N5/00—Details of television systems
- H04N5/74—Projection arrangements for image reproduction, e.g. using eidophor
Method and Apparatus for Processing. Displaying and Communicating Images
This is an application pursuant to a provisional application under the title "Remote Virtual
Whiteboard," filed October 3, 1997 and assigned Serial No. 60/060942.
The present invention relates generally to the field of processing images, and more
particularly, to the field of remote conferencing applications.
This application incorporates by reference the "Interactive Projected Video Image Display
System" disclosed under United States Patent 5,528,263 (Platzker et al) as if set forth at length
Background Image A computer-generated template, often from another active
application (such as Microsoft® Power Point®1), incorporated into
the Computer Display Image.
Committed Image A composite of the Background Image and all Writing Images to be
saved into some suitable medium, such as storage component,
transmission channel, or to a compatible software application.
Microsoft and PowerPoint are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Method and Apparatus for Processing. Displaying and Communicating Images
Computer Display Image The display presented by a computer for human viewing on a
device such as a monitor or Projection Surface employing
technologies such as VGA. SVGA, XGA and others.
Image Sensor An optical device such as a video camera, digital camera or other
imaging technology capable of viewing a Writing Surface with
Local Markings.
Local Markings Markings ("Local Writings" and/or "Local Erasures") made on the
Writing Surface of the site of reference.
Local Updates Stream of data packets containing compressed representations of
changes made to Local Markings.
Markings Writings and annotations (collectively, "Writings") and/or deletions
("Erasures") made by a human presenter on a Writing Surface.
Projection Surface A surface upon which the Computer Display Image created by a
computer-controlled projection may appear; in the present
invention, this will substantially overlap the Writing Surface.
Projections Visual information that appears in the Viewed Image as a result of projecting the Computer Display Image onto the Writing Surface (distinguished from Markings and Viewed Image Interference); in Method and Apparatus for Processing. Displaying and Communicating Images the context of the present invention Projections are relevant insomuch as they appear similar to physical Markings or otherwise complicate the task of detecting and processing Markings.
Remote Markings Markings ("Remote Writings" and/or "Remote Erasures") made on
the Writing Surfaces of non-local sites.
Remote Updates Stream of data packets containing compressed representations of
changes made to Remote Markings.
Stored Viewed Image The most recent Viewed Image modified to exclude Viewed Image
Interference and retained for purposes of detecting changes to Local
Markings in a comparison with a Viewed Image.
Stored Writing Image The most recent Writing Image retained for purposes of encoding
Local Updates in a comparison with an updated Writing Image.
Viewed Image The image acquired (or "seen") by the Image Sensor and made
available as digital information to computational resources
Viewed Image Interference Physical objects that are interposed between the Image Sensor and
the Writing Surface and therefore appear in the Viewed Image, for
example, a writer's arm or body (distinguished from Markings and
Projections). Method and Apparatus for Processing. Displaying and Communicating Images
Warping A transformation performed on an image based on a mapping
between two Geometrical coordinate spaces-, in the present
invention Viewed Images (or portions thereof) are transformed in
this manner to a predefined display coordinate space and projected
images (or portions thereof) are transformed to the coordinate space
of the Viewed Images (using both Warping and optional "scaling" to
overcome differences in pixel-resolution); the geometric mapping is
obtained through a process of calibration.
Writing Images Internal representations of the Local Markings or Remote Markings
at any point in time, one Writing Image per participating
transmitting site.
Writing Surface Any surface suitable for human writing, such as a whiteboard, paper
flip-chart or sheets of paper; in the present invention, this will also
be the Projection Surface, if employed.
Business, academic and other professional meetings are held to impart information to, and
solicit ideas from, the attendees. The convener of a meeting usually seeks participation from the
attendees, and it is an effective use of expensive meeting time to capture and record the key Method and Apparatus for Processing. Displaying and Communicating Images thoughts and ideas of the presenters and participants for future reference. It is particularly
effective to record and display key points, numbers, etc., dynamically as these are forthcoming
from participants at a meeting or seminar. An issue is how to record and display this information
most effectively with minimal distraction.
The transcription by hand of information written on a vertical board is known to every
school child.
Such data are ephemeral, however, and must eventually be erased. Traditionally, each
participant takes his or her own notes, each copying essentially the same material. Paradoxically,
valuable information may be missed by one or several or many of participants because of the
diversion of their attention to note-taking, and there may be errors in the transcription.
One approach to solving this problem is disclosed in the U.S. Patent 5,528,263 previously
incorporated hereinabove by reference, the "Interactive Projected Video Image Display System."
In this patent beginning at column 6, line 60 a function is described to enable a computer to
capture updated images. This system has been commercialized as Digital FlipchartTM ("DFC").
The system disclosed in the Platzker et al patent and the one commercialized by Tegrity can be
used at only one location and cannot capture an updated image without blanking the screen and
cannot ignore transient objects in the field of view.
Video technology could solve the problem and limitations of the prior art, but would
increase the cost and complexity of linking remote sites. Linking remote sites would allow
remote participants to view written information from other sites in real-time. Using video
technology to this end, the presenter must be careful not to block the view unduly, adding an
unnatural constraint to a presentation. On the remote end. video images of a person's arm. blouse Method and Apparatus for Processing. Displaying and Communicating Images or tic are unnatural unsatisfactory, uninformative, distracting at best and, at worst, an annoyance
that detracts from the value of the presentation to remote viewers. Moreover, such useless video
data further burdens the transmission channel. Combining video images from dispersed locations
adds even more complexity.
Transmitting even compressed video uses substantial bandwidth. Transmitting
compressed video of images containing motion uses even more bandwidth.
The present invention is an apparatus and method for providing a composite image on a
standard whiteboard, flipchart or other Writing Surface's location at a first site , consisting of
Local Markings and a projection of only the meaningful changes (i.e., Writings and Erasures)
made to at least a second Writing Surface located at a second site. The result is an appearance on
the local Projection Surface of a combination of physical Local Markings together with a
projection of the remote sites' respective Markings. Thus, the same composite image appears on
the Projection Surface at every site, although local viewers see the actual physical Markings made
locally, as opposed to the projected Remote Markings. To human perception, everyone at every
connected site is seeing the "same" image, differing only in size and to the degree imposed by the
technical capabilities of the local projector. The composite image also incorporates the
Background Image if one is generated within the computer.
In general, each site may utilize an Image Sensor connected to a standard PC-type
processor. The process, when employed in such a site, continuously "looks" (i.e., grabs Viewed
Images via the Image Sensor) at the present composition of the Writing Surface. It also Method and Apparatus for Processing. Displaying and Communicating Images continuously monitors the present composition of the Computer Display Image, if it is projected
on the Writing Surface. These image are analyzed to detect the existence and precise locations of
three kinds of information:
1. Viewed Image Interference — these areas are detected, 1 -nored and therefore not
encoded or transmitted and no bandwidth is consumed by them.
2. Projected "writings" ~ information that represents projected "objects" sensed by
the Image Sensor (e,g., Writings from other stations which are projected by a projector). These
Projections are similarly detected, ignored and withheld from transmission.
3. Local changes ~ changes to Local Markings which appeared after the previous
analysis. These local changes are processed. Remote sites (if any) may utilize a different display
resolution (the number of pixels in the VGA). Local changes undergo a process of geometric
adaptation (Warping), which transforms them to a common display resolution. The local changes
are then encoded in a compressed format as Local Updates and sent to other, remote sites for
display (with optional buffering of the transmitted data), and/or appended to a stored data stream.
The result of the process is that each site displays the Writings of all other parties. This display
may be projected on the same physical Projection Surface upon which Local Markings are
written. Consequently, all of the displays at each interconnected site contain all of the
information recorded elsewhere. Local Writings (i.e., locally recorded notations) are not
displayed (or projected). Users have a "commit capture" option whereby the resulting composite
Committed Image of the Writings from all sites may be saved. There may also be "receiver" only
stations, i.e., sites which do not transmit Local Updates, if any, and need not be equipped with an
Image Sensor or a Writing Surface. These sites merge and display Markings received from other Method and Apparatus for Processing. Displaying and Communicating Images physical sites. Optionally, such sites can be made to operate using standard, widely available
Internet browsing software without the need for additional, special-purpose hardware or software
In an optional embodiment, a remote site can be configured as display-only. The
composite image for display or projection at such a display-only (or receive-only) site would
consist of the assembled, ongoing changes to Remote Markings and Background Image without
any physical Local Markings comprising part of the image.
The remote conferencing capabilities of the invention are facilitated by the innovation of a
method of using a computer to isolate changes to Markings, filtering out transient data, and
compressing the result for transmission and/or storage. The computer processes the Viewed
Image signals, or "frames," representing the images appearing in the viewing field of the local
Image Sensor indicative of Markings made on the local Writing Surface. The meaningful portion
of this continuous sequence of frames are those not indicative of the presence of Viewed Image
Interference, should any appear transiently in the local viewing field, or of Projections. The
method detects changes between successive frames. These frames are filtered to reject those
signals below a predetermined spatial frequency representing obstructions, and the successive,
filtered frames are further examined to detect changes indicative of the Writings or Erasures made
on the local Writing Surface as distinguished from transient changes characteristic of Viewed
Image Interference. These changes are further examined to eliminate those that are caused by
changes to the Projections, if the Computer Display Image [302] is projected. The result is a
compressed representation of changes to Markings, suitable for decompression and display at the
receiving end. As such, the method may be termed a "writing codec." Method and Apparatus for Processing. Displaying and Communicating Images
Representations of the successive changes may be stored for later playback, locally or
remotely. In one embodiment, an image may be transmitted from time to time even without
changes to permit a late Joining site or one which is restarting to develop a composite image.
The present invention is more readily understandable by reference to the following
detailed description read in par i materia with the accompanying drawings in which:
FIGURE 1 is an example of variously configured, .interconnected transmit-and-receive and
receive-only sites utilizing the image processing capabilities of the present
FIGURE 2A is a model of a typical configuration depicting transmit-and-receive site that
operates in accordance with the present invention.
FIGURE 2B is a model of a typical configuration depicting the required components for a
receive-only site that operates in accordance with the present invention.
FIGURE 3 Is a high-level flowchart of the preferred embodiment of the method of the image
processing of the present invention. Method and Apparatus for Processing. Displaying and Communicating Images
FIGURE 4A is a representation of a Writing Surface appearance throughout the progression of a
hypothetical session as perceived by a human observer in multiple, interconnected
transmit-and-receive sites A, B and C, each of which are equipped with Image
FIGURE 4B is a representation of the progression of the composite Computer Display Image of
the same hypothetical session of Fig. 4A as displayed at receive-only sites D (with
projector-type display device) and E (with computer monitor-type display device).
FIGURE 5 is a detailed depiction of the process -by which one of the Local Updates
represented in Fig. 4A at transmit-and-receive site B is readied for transmission
and/or storage.
Referring now to Fig. 1, there is a drawing depicting a plurality of image processing sites
(A through E), interconnected by a communication infrastructure [11]. Five sites are shown. Sites
A, B and C each have two independent operating modes: Transmit and Receive. These sites are
sources of transmitted images because each is equipped with an Image Sensor [22] to view the
Markings on their respective Writing/Projection Surfaces [21], Each such site A, B and C can
operate in either Receive mode, Transmit mode or both simultaneously, and may be referred to for
convenience as "transmit-and-receive" sites. The other two sites, D and E, are not equipped with
image-sensing devices and thus operate in Receive mode only ("receive-only" sites). In the event Method and Apparatus for Processing. Displaying and Communicating Images that Markings are made upon the Projection Surface [21D] at site D, these Markings will not be
input, processed or transmitted to any other site. All sites may be linked by virtually any type of
data communication infrastructure [11], for example, via modem, local area network ("LAN"),
Internet or other types of communications channel.
Figs. 2A and 2B depict in more detail the typical site configurations for transmit-and-
receive and receive-only implementations of the present invention. Fig. 2 A shows the major
components required for using Transmit and Receive mode. The site in Fig. 2A has an Image
Sensor [22] to capture images of a local Writing Surface [21] continuously into a computer [23].
A projector [24] projects the computer generated Computer Display Image onto the Writing
Surface B[21]. A person can also write and erase Markings on the Writing Surface [21]
interspersed with the projected image.
Fig. 2B depicts a configuration for receive-only sites D and E, without the optional Image
Sensor [22] and corresponding video input circuit in computer [23] required at transmit-and-
receive sites A, B and C. A receive-only site may be configured the same as a transmit-and-
receive site, but in that event these devices will not be utilized by the present invention. At a
receive-only site, the display output may be directed to a projector-type device or a typical
computer monitor (such as [21D] and [12] depicted in Fig. 1 at sites D and E, respectively).
In each instance of a transmit-and-receive (Fig. 2A) and receive-only site (Fig. 2B), the
computer [23] is connected to a communications channel [25]. In another embodiment of the
present invention (not depicted), the session may be played back from remote storage device via
the communications channel [25]. In addition, another embodiment provides for the playback of Method and Apparatus for Processing. Displaying and Communicating Images a session from a local data storage device [26], in which case the communications link [25] would
not be required.
Fig. 3 is a flow diagram of the major components of the method whereby the various raw
and processed images deriving from local and remote sources, are manipulated in accordance with
the teachings of the preferred embodiment of this invention. The implementation of the preferred
embodiment is accomplished in software, resident and operating in the computer device [23]
depicted in Figs. 1, 2A and 2B. A receive-only site (Fig 2B and sites D and E in Fig. 1) requires
neither the functionality of the "capture engine" [31], as the local inputs shown as [301], [302]
and [303] would not be present, nor of the "Encode local update" subprocess of the "capture
codec" [34], as there would be no local data incoming from [31] for it to process. Accordingly, in
one embodiment of the present invention, these functions may be omitted in receive-only
implementations .
Figs. 4A and 4B are illustrative examples of a sequence of illustrations that represent
human perception of the Writing Surfaces of sites A, B and C (shown in Fig. 1 as [21 A] through
[21C]), as well as the Projection Surface [21D] of site D and monitor [12] of site E, as a result of
using the computers at each site [23] of Figs. 1, 2A and 2B) to execute the process of the present
invention (diagramed in Fig. 3). The diagram of Fig. 4A shows successive "snapshots" in time of
the three remote transmit-and-receive sites A, B and C of Fig. 1. Each frame depicts a point in
time where there has been detected a meaningful change to the Markings on at least one of the
transmit-and-receive sites' Writing Surfaces. Each frame is numbered from [41] through [46],
inclusive, in ascending time sequence, with a suffix representing the site. Frames labeled with the Method and Apparatus for Processing. Displaying and Communicating Images same integer but a differing suffix (e.g., [41A]and [41C]) depict the simultaneous appearance of
the Writing and/or display Surfaces at the respective sites.
For purposes of illustration, the rectangular frames represent the periphery of the Writing
Surfaces at transmit-and-receive sites A, B and C ([21] in Figs. 1 and 2 A) upon which the Image
Sensors should be trained. In the case of the receive-only site D, the rectangle represents the
periphery of the Projection Surface ([21D] in Fig. 1); at site E, the shadowed frame represents the
edge (or, outermost pixels) of the monitor ([12] in Fig. 1).
Further with respect to Fig. 4A, certain figures are superimposed upon these rectangles: a
stylized person moving in front of the illustrations at time sequences [41 A], [43 A] and [46A], and
a hand with the index finger extended at time sequences [42B] and [45B]. These superimposed
figures represent undesirable, transient obstructions (Viewed Image Interference) in the fields of
view of the Image Sensors [22 A] and [22B] at sites A and B, respectively. Images of obstructions
processed by the computers [23] at sites A and B are removed by the execution of the process
diagramed in Fig. 3 and, therefore, are not transmitted over the communications channels [25] and
do not appear on the displays/surfaces illustrated at any other site.
Fig. 4B depicts the resulting overall composite image which would be displayed at
receive-only sites. Each sequence would appear on the Projection Surface (shown as [21D] in
Fig. 1) at site D and upon the monitor display ([12] in Fig. 1) at site E. The composite image
appearing at any receive-only site would be the same, except for any geometrical adjustment such
as for resolution or scale. These geometrical adjustments are performed locally. Thus the
displays appearing on [21D] and [12] at receive-only sites D and E, respectively, are themselves
composites replicating all of the Local Markings of all transmit-and-receive sites A, B and C. It is Method and Apparatus for Processing. Displaying and Communicating Images possible that receive-only site D may use a whiteboard (or other Writing Surface) as its Projection
Surface [21D]. In the event that any Local Markings happen to be made at site D upon that
Projection Surface [21D], these Markings will not be detected or processed in Receive-mode, and
will not be incorporated in the overall composite image. In other words, if Local Markings are
made at receive-only site D, these Markings do not appear at any other site because site D does
not operate in transmit mode.
Fig. 5 further illustrates the result of the process of Fig. 3, performed by the computer
[23]. In particular, Fig. 5 details the process whereby transmit-and-receive site B produces the
Local Update that corresponds to the change shown in Fig. 4A from time sequence [44]
(illustrated at transmit-and-receive site C as [44C]) to time sequence [45] (depicted in Fig. 4A at
transmit-and-receive sites B and C as [45B] and [45C], respectively).
In accordance with the present invention, there is no inherent restriction on the number of
sites which may participate in a real-time session. External constraints such as limitations of
computer memory or processing or channel capacity may make an arbitrary limitation on the
number of participating sites desirable. There must be at least one site operating in Transmit
mode, except in the instance of a session being played back from a storage device [26].
In another embodiment of the present invention, not herein depicted, there need not be any
sites operating in Receive mode, where the session is being recorded to storage [26] for the
purpose of later playback. In such an embodiment, the communications channel [25] is not
required. In a variant of this embodiment, the ongoing changes to the Writing Image need not be
recorded to storage [26] continuously as Local Markings are made, but may be committed to
storage [26] and/or be displayed [12] or projected [24] intermittently upon demand, as with Method and Apparatus for Processing. Displaying and Communicating Images capture function of the DFC product previously described. Advantages of such an embodiment
over the DFC implementation include avoidance of the blanking of the Computer Display Image,
more immediate availability of the Committed Image, and additional accuracy inherent in
monitoring the progression of Local Markings over time.
In still another embodiment of the present invention, also not depicted, any of the
transmit-and-receive sites A, B and C of Fig. 1 could be operated in Transmit mode alone. Such a
site would be deemed to be a transmit-only site, without the capability of receiving and displaying
Remote Updates. A projector [24] would be optional, depending upon whether the projection of a
Background Image is desired. In yet another embodiment, a transmit-and-receive or transmit-
only site could operate without a projector [24].
In operation, certain preliminary steps must be performed in order to effect the teachings
of the invention. This disclosure assumes that projection devices [24] at any site have been
properly focused upon a Projection Surface [21]. Where the projection device is also the Writing
Surface at a transmit-and-receive site ([21A], [21B] and [21C]), it is required that the field of
view of the site's Image Sensor [22] be trained upon, and approximately aligned with, the
periphery of its Projection Surface [21]. It is advisable to have the Image Sensor [22] and
projector [24] in the closest proximity practicable.
To accomplish these, the Image Sensor should be optimally focused at each site. The
focusing of projection and Image Sensors is well known, and is usually performed manually to the
user's satisfaction, or performed automatically if that capability is available in the specific model
of the local equipment being used. Method and Apparatus for Processing. Displaying and Communicating Images
In addition, the image on the Projection Surface [21] as seen by the Image Sensor [22]
must be closely aligned with the image being displayed by the projector [24] upon the same
Projection Surface [21]. The present invention employs a proprietary technique used by Tegrity's
DFC product, wherein the user performs a manual alignment of the Image Sensor [22] and
projector [24]. This alignment step involves using the computer 1231 to output to the local
projector [24] an image of a rectangular test pattern for display upon the Projection Surface [21].
This test pattern contains an inner rectangle within which appears the unedited Viewed Image
seen simultaneously by the Image Sensor [22] (scaled down to fit the size of the rectangle). In
other words, the projected test pattern contains a projection of what the Image Sensor [22]"sees."
The user then physically adjusts the orientation and focus of the Image Sensor [22] until a full
replica of the projected test pattern appears within the inner rectangle, at which point the
alignment is sufficient to perform the process of the present invention. This technique is known
in the prior art.
Once aligned, the system must be calibrated in order to quantify characteristics of the
Viewed Image seen by the Image Sensor [22]. Calibration is necessary because distortions are
inevitably introduced by the optics of the Image Sensor [22] and projector [24] (e.g., by lenses)
and a parallax effect caused by the distance between the Image Sensor [22] and projector [24]
and/or the angle of projection and/or a non-plumbed Writing Surface [21], or some combination
of these.
Calibration information [303] may be required as input to allow comparison between
images captured during a session to one or more "reference" images and for adjusting
environment-dependent system parameters. Reference images may be captured before the session Method and Apparatus for Processing. Displaying and Communicating Images starts or at some other time when the system can assume a controlled environment (e.g., the
Writing Surface is assumed to be clear). System parameters may include information about focus,
color-balance and other characteristics of the input images, as well as information about the
computer display — such as its pixel resolution. When projection is employed, the calibration
information also includes means of computationally transforming pixel coordinates between the
coordinate space of the projected image (Computer Display Image) and that of the Viewed Image.
This transformation may combine "scaling" between different pixel resolutions and Warping,
which compensates for the geometric distortions described above.
The calibration algorithm may be implemented by projecting predetermined images that
include features with known locations, scale dimensions and color or light intensities, capturing
Viewed Images and processing them to locate and/or analyze the appearance of the predetermined
features. The location of projected targets can be used as inputs to calculate the computational
parameters of the Warping transformation described above. Techniques for locating projected
targets, analyzing them to extract basic characteristics and computing Warping transformations
based on their locations in the Viewed Image are well documented in image-processing literature.
When projection [24] is not employed, reference images may nonetheless be captured,
saved and analyzed to produce the system parameters. Optionally, the user may be instructed to
aid in this process, for example by aiming the Image Sensor [24], clearing the Writing Surface
[24] and removing viewed Viewed Image Interference (e.g., stepping aside). Calculating a
Warping transformation may be accomplished without projection (although it is not necessarily
required in this case) by instructing the user to. for example, mark corners of the writing area or to Method and Apparatus for Processing. Displaying and Communicating Images manipulate an image displayed on the computer monitor (e.g., by drawing a polygon that bounds
the writing area as seen in a Viewed Image shown to the user).
The calibration procedure may contain self-checks that determine whether the system is
properly aligned and capable of performing its intended functions. The user can be notified when
problems are detected and what the probable nature of these problems is. For example, a focus-
check determines if the Viewed Image has sufficient acuity and requests the user to adjust the
focus if the test fails. As another example, if there are excessive Markings or Viewed Image
Interference in the captured reference images, the user may be reminded to clear the Writing
Surface and remove obstructions. These techniques are known in the prior art.
The preferred embodiment of the present invention employs the calibration sequence of
Platzker et al, incorporated by reference, described in column 10, lines 50 through 66, as
implemented in the DFC product.
With alignment and calibration completed, the innovation of the present invention may be
performed. The transmit-and-receive sites A, B and C when operating in Transmit mode will
produce a "capture update stream" which may be sent to remote sites over a communication link
[25] and/or stored locally [26] . This stream consists of Local Updates that represent periodic
changes as Markings are being written (and erased) by the user(s). Receiver mode receives
capture update streams from one or more remote sites or as played back from storage, merges the
information, and displays it as the local Computer Display Image. Receiver mode requires no
special devices other than the computer. At any given time the user(s) may choose to "commit"
the Writing Surface Writings so as to freeze and save the Committed Image that represents all Method and Apparatus for Processing. Displaying and Communicating Images participating Writing Surfaces for the current "page" into some suitable medium, such as storage
component [26], transmission channel [25], or to a compatible software application.
Modules Comprising the Steps of the Preferred Embodiment
An implementation of the preferred embodiment includes software with the following
components, although variations in the design are possible without departing from the spirit of the
invention. The flowchart in Fig. 3 shows these modules and how they are interrelated:
a. Capture Engine [31] - Controls the operation of the software modules that track, analyze and
report changes to the Writing Surface. It manages the timing of the processing and the flow of
data between modules.
b. Real-time Detector [32] - Analyzes Viewed Images at a rapid rate to detect events in the
visual field. Specifically, the module contains an "Interference detector" which determines if and
where Viewed Image Interference appears in the image, a "changes detector" which determines if
and where Markings appear to have changed (written and/or erased) and a "projection
cancellation" unit which determines if and where relevant Projections that appear in the Viewed
Image have changed so that they may be discarded. By comparing the results of these units this
module can determine which changes in the Viewed Image represent actual, Local Markings
(Writings and Erasures).
c. Capture Processor [33] - When Local Markings have occurred, this module performs image
processing of the modified data. Various techniques are employed to clean-up the image, enhance
its appearance for visualization and to transform it geometrically to a predetermined coordinate
space (Warping). The result is an update to the local Writing Image, d. Capture Codec [34] - This Method and Apparatus for Processing. Displaying and Communicating Images module encodes updates to the local Writing Image in a compressed format as Local Updates for
transmission and/or storage (Transmit mode) and decodes incoming Remote Updates from remote
sites or from a playback source (Receive mode). Outgoing Local Updates may also undergo
splitting into partial Local Updates so as to meet bandwidth limitations that may be imposed
externally. This module also provides services of merging and displaying images that combine
the Writing Images from the different participating Writing Surfaces including scaling the image
geometry to match the target computer display resolution as necessary.
Receive mode typically requires only the Capture Codec module [34] while Transmit
mode requires the other modules in addition. An alternative mode of operation allows the
Transmitting station to send streams of Local Updates that can be viewed by existing Internet
browsers without requiring any special -purpose components, such as Capture Codec. The
following describes the operational flow of the process modeled in Fig. 3 in greater detail.
Description of Image Processing
This section describes the inputs and outputs of the image process and the internal
operation of each of its modules in the preferred embodiment of the invention as depicted in
Fig. 3.
Inputs and Outputs:
The inputs of a transmitter site include up to two continuous streams of information -
Viewed Images [301] and updates being made to the Computer Display Images [302]. The
former stream [301] contains the Markings that will be extracted, processed and transmitted. The
optional latter stream [302] is required so that the system may distinguish between changes to
physical Local Markings and changes to Projections 'if the configuration includes a projector Method and Apparatus for Processing. Displaying and Communicating Images [24]. If the Computer Display Image is not projected onto the Writing Surface [21], this stream is
not required (as depicted by the dashed lines in Fig. 3). Otherwise, it can preferably be produced
by trapping events that cause the display to be updated or by periodically obtaining an internal
representation of the Computer Display Image. In either case, modern computer operating
systems provide the services, such as callable Microsoft Windows® functions, required for
producing this information. In addition, calibration information [303], described above, is also
used by a transmitter site.
A transmitter produces as output a stream of Local Updates [304] . These Local Updates
are data packets [304] that encode successive changes to Local Markings- i.e. the Writing and
Erasures that takes place on the local Writing Surface. Typically, each packet encodes a "delta,"
describing the net change to the Writing Surface. When it is advantageous, other types of packets
may be used. For example, when a large amount of Erasures is detected it may be preferable to
produce a full encoding of the Writing Surface or when it is determined that the Writing Surface
has been completely cleared a concise "clear" packet may be used.
Receiver stations accept Remote Update packets produced by transmitters [305] where
each packet is labeled with the identification of the originating transmitter. There are generally
two local outputs from a typical receiver. One output is a composite image that merges the
representations of all participating Writing Images for the purposes of storing a Committed Image
[3061. A second output from a receiver is a composite image that merges all remote Writing
Images, and excludes the local Writing Image, if present, for the purposes of producing a new
Computer Display Image 13021. In some applications, such as when projection is used [24] it
may be useful to include the Background Image [307] (e.g.. containing a spreadsheet, text, Method and Apparatus for Processing. Displaying and Communicating Images diagrams, pictures etc.) when producing either of these composite images. Composite images are
created by merging any number of input images (Writing Images and optional Background
Image) using a procedure that adheres to the following rules:
• A pixel that is part of the Writings in none of the input images will not be
"written" in the composite image (i.e. it is assigned the background color, typically
• A pixel that is part of the Writings in one or more input images will be assigned a
non-background color. The choice of color depends on the color(s) of that pixel in
the input images and is determined by a "merging algorithm."
The "merging algorithm" used by the present invention takes a "layered" approach
whereby the input images are is seen as (arbitrarily) ordered, overlapping layers. The output color
chosen is the color of the pixel in the topmost "layer" (input image) in which the pixel was
"written." An alternative approach would be to compute a new color for the output pixel by
blending the colors of the overlapping input pixels. Various formulae may be employed for such
blending and are known from the literature. In any case, the "merging algorithm" typically
applies to a relatively small portion of the pixels since the participants will not typically overlap
much of their Writings.
The current invention may be used for various applications other than interactive remote
sessions. For example, the outgoing (or incoming) stream(s) of Local Updates could be recorded Method and Apparatus for Processing. Displaying and Communicating Images into storage [26] (possibly accompanied by other streams of data such as "raw" video and audio)
for later playback of a session. In this case a single site may operate independently as a
transmitter (during recording) or receiver (during playback) without taking Remote Update
streams [305]. This independence of transmit and receive modes is emphasized by the dashed
lines in the lower part of Fig. 3.
Capture Engine βl]:
The Capture Engine module [31] manages the flow of data and processing control between
the various modules of a transmitter system. As shown in Fig. 3, it is a high-level component that
controls the operation of the Real-time Detector [32] and Capture Processor [33] sub-modules.
The Capture Engine [31] executes a repeating cycle of operations. In each cycle, it grabs a
current Viewed Image [301] and also a synchronized and geometrically adjusted Computer
Display Image (if projection is employed) [302] as described below. The input images are passed
to the Real-time Detector module [32], which determines what relevant changes, if any have
occurred since the last cycle. Subsequently, the Capture Engine [31] may decide to invoke the
Capture Processor module [33]. The criteria for this decision include: whether the Real-time
Detector has found relevant changes, the time that has elapsed since the prior Local Update (as
compared to a predefined interval giving the desired update-rate), the size of the detected change
and the current processing load of the computer. If the Capture Processor [33] module is invoked,
it produces an update that is passed to the Capture Codec module [34] for encoding and
transmission. Method and Apparatus for Processing. Displaying and Communicating Images
After completing the cycle described above, the Capture Engine [31] schedules the
execution of the next cycle. It determines an interval during which processing is suspended
before beginning the following cycle. The criteria for determining this interval include-, whether
or not an update was produced in this cycle, the rate of detection most suitable for tracking
changes and the processing load of the computer. Intervals will vary among implementations, but
they typically range from tens to hundreds of milliseconds in-between successive processing
As described above, the Computer Display Image used as input [302] (if projection is
employed) should be "synchronized" with the Viewed Image input. This means that both images
together simultaneously represent the appearance of the Writing Surface at a specific time. A
counter example would occur if the Computer Display Image contained changes that did not yet
appear in the Viewed Image or vice versa. Synchronization is required to avoid erroneous results.
For example, if a newly projected object appears in the Viewed Image but the system uses an
outdated Computer Display Image that does not contain this object, the system could erroneously
determine that this object is a new Local Marking.
Synchronizing the input streams to the desired degree of accuracy can be accomplished
using several approaches. In the preferred embodiment of the invention events that cause changes
to the computer display are trapped, and a queue of updates is maintained along with timing
information. This enables the system to sample the Computer Display Image, as it appeared when
the Viewed Image was sampled. If strict synchronization cannot be implemented, the Capture
Engine [31] can avoid processing when there is a risk of unsynchronized occurrences, for example Method and Apparatus for Processing. Displaying and Communicating Images by skipping cycles when the operating-system or the Capture Codec (in receiver mode) [34]
indicate that the computer display is undergoing change.
Computer display information must also undergo Warping and "scaling" - operations that
transform the geometry of the Computer Display Image to match that of the Viewed Image so that
they can be compared with each other. Such transformation are well known in the art and can be
accomplished with high accuracy, for example by utilizing bilinear interpolation, given the
aforementioned calibration information and system parameters.
Real-time Detector [32]
The Real-time Detector [32] is responsible for tracking the information contained in the
input streams (Viewed Images and optionally, the Computer Display Images) to determine, in
real-time, if and where relevant changes have occurred to the Writing Surface [21]. When such
change, (Writings and Erasures) do occur, it updates internal image and state information to
reflect the detected change. Upon each execution of the Real-time Detector [32], it updates this
state information while performing temporal integration to improve quality and reduce noise. It
outputs a subset of this information that describes the currently detected change. This consists of
one or more image masks indicating which areas have changed and data from the Viewed Image
that corresponding to those area.
The Real-time Detector 1321 may be implemented as a series of three main detection
1. Change Detector
This unit detects changes in the Viewed Image that are potentially new Markings, but may
also be caused by changes to the Projections (if any) or Viewed Image Interference. The unit Method and Apparatus for Processing. Displaying and Communicating Images distinguishes between Local Writings and Local Erasures in order to use different processing,
techniques optimized for each type of change. Image noise is also eliminated, for example by
applying criteria of signal strength and size or shape constraints. In addition, results of prior
cycles are used in order to track the process of writing or erasing as it takes place.
The change detector is implemented using a combination of various approaches that are
based on well-known image processing techniques. Processing phases include: comparing the
Viewed Image input to the current state information, including a Stored Viewed Image, to
produce a difference image which is then binarized to determine the areas in which significant
changes have occurred, using edge-detection filters in order to detect lines that represent new
Writings or Erasures in those areas, -ray-scale comparison operations to the known reference
image or Stored Viewed Images to verify and isolate the change, filtering of noise and other
artifacts that are not actual lines and "stability checks" that remove transient image artifacts by
verifying that each change appears in two or more consecutive cycles.
2. Interference Detector
This unit identifies image areas that contain Viewed Image Interference such as a writer's
body or clothing or other ephemeral objects introduced into the field-of-view. These areas are
masked-off from the areas in which changes were detected in this cycle. An interference detector
also employs a combination of standard image-processing techniques. It compares the Viewed
Image to the calibration reference image. The difference image obtained from this comparison is
binarized after histogram analysis to determine an optimal binarization threshold. Morphological
operations are used to smooth the result and close "holes" that appear in it. Low frequency
components are assumed to be Viewed Image Interference. Transient changes are also assumed Method and Apparatus for Processing. Displaying and Communicating Images to be Viewed Image Interference and these are detected by "stability checks" that compare the
current Viewed Image to the Viewed Image of the previous processing cycle. Additional clues to
the existence of Viewed Image Interference are obtained in areas in which Writings seem to
disappear (yet an Erasure is not detected) and in areas in which Projections change appearance in
the Viewed Image without a corresponding change to the Computer Display Image. Additional
accuracy may be obtained by employing feature extraction and pattern recognition techniques to
identify certain, common shapes of expected obstructions such as a user's torso or hand.
Processing color information can be useful in distinguishing skin or clothing. In addition,
conclusions from prior cycles may be used in order to track motion of interfering objects.
3. Projection Cancellation (when projection is employed)
The purpose of this unit is to eliminate extraneous information from the Viewed Image
when such information results from projection of the Computer Display Image. Such Projections
may include both a "fixed" (seldom-changing) Background Image as well as Remote Updates that
are continuously being received from remote stations, if any such stations are participating. The
object is to leave only Writings and Erasures made on the physically local Writing Surface in the
update undergoing processing. The motivation for projection cancellation is thus twofold:
• It prevents the unnecessary transmission of projected background information that
is part of the "page" being displayed by the computer. This information is already
available in digital form within the computer and should not be handled as if it
were Markings on the Writing Surface. Method and Apparatus for Processing. Displaying and Communicating Images
• It prevents transmission "echoes." This means that each station transmits only
information that was created locally without bouncing back projected Remote
Updates received from remote stations.
The implementation is based on analysis of updates to the Computer Display Image [302]
and matching changes to it with changes to the Viewed Image [301]. Wherever a matching
change is found in both, it is "subtracted" or discarded. This leaves only the changes that
represent physical updates to the Writing Surface [21] or an empty set when no actual changes
were made. The subtraction is done in a careful manner that avoids, to the extent possible, the
discarding of Markings that happen to overlap Projections (for example, when a writer draws a
line through a projected word). When overlap does occur, it is usually the case that Markings are
made over existing Projections or vice versa (rather than simultaneous appearance of both types
of information). By comparing the Viewed Image to the Stored Viewed Image the new Markings
can be distinguished from preexisting Projections and the areas of overlap can be processed to
appear similar and continuous to the neighboring non-overlapping areas.
The order of execution and precise division of responsibility between detection units may
vary in alternate embodiments of the invention. In fact, they may even be programmed using
multiple, interdependent processing stages since the conclusions of each unit may assist the others
in producing accurate results. For example, the "interference detector" may take advantage of
clues produced by the "change detector" and "projection cancellation" units. Specifically, areas
detected as possible Erasures and areas in which the appearance of Projections is distorted relative
to their expected appearance may indicate the presence of Viewed Image Interference.
Conversely, the "change detector" and "projection cancellation" units could perform more Method and Apparatus for Processing. Displaying and Communicating Images accurately if they were supplied information about the location of Viewed Image Interference in
the Viewed Image as provided by the "Interference detector."
Capture Processor [33]
The Capture Processor [33] is responsible for transforming the Image Sensor data of
changed Markings into aesthetically pleasing Writing Image data suitable for merging with other
Writing Images and/or the Background Image. Specifically, background areas that have no
Writings should be colored white or some other predetermined or "transparent" background color.
When applicable, Warping of the processed Markings should be performed to compensate for
geometric distortions (see below). Markings should be readable, well formed and should
reproduce the same approximate color as that of the marker used. Improving readability and form
is accomplished by performing visualization enhancements, which include "stretching" the
grayscale intensities and smoothing the Markings using anti-aliasing techniques. Reproducing the
marker color is achieved by performing "color normalization" and "color quantification." The
former utilizes information from the calibration reference image as well as the Computer Display
Image [302] (if projected) to overcome color distortions due to background lighting. Color
quantifying assigns discrete hues to each given Marking, thereby reducing the number of colors in
use. This serves to make the resulting updates more accurate, readable and compact. Additional
operations may be performed such as vectorization and potentially, optical character recognition
or other shape or pattern recognition operations. These may be intended to further improve the
quality of the Markings for rendering, printing or other uses as well as to reduce the amount of Method and Apparatus for Processing. Displaying and Communicating Images data required so as to improve compression. These steps utilize techniques that are based on
extensive literature in the fields of graphics, image processing and pattern-recognition.
When Warping is possible (calibration information sup-plies it), the Capture Processor
1331 Warps Markings in order to compensate for geometric distortions of the Viewed Image due
to the perspective or optics of the Image Sensor device. This produces a straight, undistorted
image in a predetermined coordinate space which, preferably, is common to all participating sites.
An important result of Warping is that it brings images from each remote site to the same
(geometry (or possibly differing only by a scaling factor if a common coordinate space is not
enforced). This allows the images to be matched and merged as done in -subsequent processing.
Markings processed in this way, if projected, would accurately overlay the physical Writings that
produced them,
Capture Codec [34]
The Capture Codec module [34] encodes local changes to Markings into compact packets
(Local Updates) that may be appended to a data stream undergoing transmission to other sites
and/or to storage media [304]. It also decodes such packets if they arrive from remote sites
(Remote Updates) or if they are played back from storage [305]. Internal representations of the
local Writing Surface [21], if any, and of remote Writing Surface [21] if any, are maintained for
the encoding and decoding operations. These are referred to as Writing Images. A merged,
composite image of any subset of the participating Writing Images may be obtained from this
module [306] as described earlier. Various considerations affect the implementation of the
encoding and decoding algorithms used by the Capture Codec [34] One consideration is the data
format(s) used to encode the image information. The choice depends, among other things, on the Method and Apparatus for Processing. Displaying and Communicating Images characteristics of the data, degree of compression obtainable and the amount of processing time
required. The current invention utilizes the Microsoft PLE8 (8-bit Run Length Encoding) format
for encoding,. This provides the advantages of a "standard" format and a reasonable degree of
compression. Special codes could be employed to further improve the degree of compression.
Given that the input data represents a stream of updates, each update may be encoded as a "delta"
which specifies what information has changed in the respective cycle rather than an encoding the
full representation of the Writing Image every time. As stated above, other types of packets are
conceivable and are employed when advantageous and appropriate. Certain applications require
that a full-image encoding be periodically output as a "key frame", for example to allow a viewer
to join in mid-session or for skipping to different positions when playing back a recorded session.
Another consideration involves constraints on the output bandwidth (size of data produced
per unit time). When bandwidth limitations are imposed, any Local Update [304] may be split
such that part of it is output (up to the maximum allowed bandwidth) and part is buffered to be
output later. To further optimize use of the allowed bandwidth, buffered Local Updates [304] are
modified by subsequently produced Local Updates [304]. This implies that Local Updates [304]
for an area of the Writing Surface [21] that undergoes rapid successive changes may cancel each
other out and reduce the overall output size (as a trade-off for the delay in buffering). For
example, when an area that has just been erased is immediately overwritten (or vice versa), rather
than producing two separate and conflicting Local Updates [304], only the net result will be
output, thus reducing the amount of bandwidth used.
Additional sophistication may be introduced into the Capture Codec [34] processing.
Subunits of the content of each packet may be prioritized for transmission based on various Method and Apparatus for Processing. Displaying and Communicating Images criteria so that important" information arrives first, while less important updates are postponed as
long as necessary. Using another approach, an entire Local Update [304] can be transmitted, at
first with poor quality but high compression (e.g., by sub-sampling to a lower resolution) and then
gradually supplementing the transmission with the missing information that improves quality.
The motivation for such "progressive encoding" is to ensure that the Local Update is transmitted,
albeit with loss of quality, even if limited bandwidth is available. In this case, new Local Updates
[304] may take priority over enhancing the quality of prior Local Updates [304], the latter being
postponed until no new Local Updates [304] occur and bandwidth becomes available.
Detailed Examples
A detailed example of an image processing and display scenario is presented in Figs. 4A,
4B and 5. The diagrams of Figs. 4A and 4B show successive "snapshots" in time of the
appearance of the Writing Surfaces [21] at three remote sites: transmit-and-receive sites A, B and
C, and receive-only sites D and E. Sites A, B and C have their composite images projected upon
their respective Writing Surfaces [21A, 21B and 21C]. These snapshot representations of the
appearance of these Writing Surfaces [21] follow a time line which progresses diagrammatically
in vertical columns down the page.
For purposes of illustration, assume site [21A] A's Writing Surface is a large such as a
standard, erasable whiteboard; at site B, a small surface such as a piece of paper; and at site
C. a conventional flipchart. As depicted in Fig. 1. the displays at sites D and E are a
projector [24D] and computer monitor [12], respectively, passively displaying the
composite images of Fig. 4B. Method and Apparatus for Processing. Displaying and Communicating Images
In the first illustration 141 Al, the writer at site A has drawn a picture of a fish on the local
Writing Surface, upon which is projected the title "Fish Anatomy" (from the Background Image)
throughout the session. After a brief interval, the drawing of the fish appears at the other sites
[41C, 41D, 41E] (the appearance of the Writing Surface [21B] at site B is identical, but not
represented). The writer at site B then annotates the projection of the fish drawing [42B] and
these Writings are soon visible at the other sites [42C, 42D, 42E] (the appearance of the Writing
Surface [21B] at site A is identical, but not represented).
At this point, the writer at site A overwrites these projected Markings to correct the error
made by the other writer at site B [43 A]. Again, after a brief interval, the written correction made
at site A appears in the Computer Display Images at Sites B,C, D and E [43B, 43D] (the
appearance of the Writing Surface [21C] at site C and the display [21D] at site E are identical, but
not represented). Subsequently, the writer at site C adds Writings as shown in [44C] and these
appear at all other sites [44E] (all other surfaces and displays appear identical, but are not
represented). Thereafter, the writer at site B erases the incorrect Markings (Local Erasure of the
arrow) and replaces these with new. correct Markings (Local Writings of a different arrow) [45B].
These changes at site B produce Local Updates, which appear at the other sites [45C, 45D, 45E]
(the appearance of the Writing Surface [21A] at site A is not represented). The process by which
this particular Local Update [304] is produced is graphically depicted in Fig. 5
as explained in further detail later.
Throughout the ongoing session, transient Viewed Image Interference (physical
obstructions such as a hand or body) in the way of the images being captured are detected as non-
informational and discarded prior to transmission to the other sites and/or storage. The result is a Method and Apparatus for Processing. Displaying and Communicating Images continuous display at all five sites devoid of such distractions in their respective Computer
Display Images.
Finally, the writer at site A erases the prior Markings (site A Local Erasure) and makes
new Markings in their place (site A Local Writings) [46 A]. Soon thereafter at all five sites A, B,
C, D and E, a replica appears of the same composite image of the final result of this session of
projections, Writings and Erasures at sites A, B and C. At site A, the Writing Surface [21A]
contains the writer's physical Markings interposed upon the projected Computer Display Image
[302] containing Remote Updates from sites B and C. Conversely, at site B, the Writing Surface
[21B] contains the site B writer's physical Markings, also interposed upon a projected Computer
Display Image, [302] but this Computer Display Image displays the Remote Updates [305]
deriving from sites A and C. At site C, the Writing Surface 121C] contains the site C writer's
physical Markings, interposed upon a projected Computer Display Image 13021, which, in this
case, displays the Remote Updates [305] deriving from sites A and B. As receive-only sites, D
and E did not participate in the alteration of the image; the Computer Display Image [302] at
these sites is a composite of sites A, B and C.
Consequently, all five sites display what, in effect, are representations of the same result,
although the images actually differ in two important respects- (a) the transmit-and-receive sites'
viewers see a combination of physical Markings and projections over them, whereas the receive-
only sites view a display alone (i.e., no physical Markings)-, and (b) the scale and appearance of
the images appearing may differ between the sites due to differences in the size of the
Writing/Projection Surfaces [21] and/or resolution capabilities of their respective computer-driven
display devices. Method and Apparatus for Processing. Displaying and Communicating Images
While the specific elements in each site's Computer Display Image [302] will vary
according to where the Local Markings appear, and the resolution and size of the display may
vary, viewers will nevertheless subjectively perceive that they are seeing the "same" image,
regardless of which site they are at. Objectively, when at any time users at any site elect to create
a Committed Image [304], the process of the present invention will create a Committed Image
[306] that will be identical at every site, except for adjustments to accommodate differences in
resolution and size of display.
By way of further explanation of the transformations depicted above, Fig. 5 illustrates the
process in additional detail. Referring now to Fig. 5, there are depicted the processing steps and
images used during a typical cycle of the software components shown in Fig. 3 that run on the
computer of site B ([23B] in Figs. 1, 2A and 2B). Remote Updates [305A] and [305C] arrive
from sites A and C, respectively, via the communications network [25B]. Remote Updates
[305 A] and [305C] are used by the Capture Codec [34] to construct internal representations of the
physical Markings at each of these sites shown as Remote Writing Images [511] and [512],
respectively. These remote images are merged within the Capture Codec [34] to form a
Composite Remote Writing Image [521]. If a computer generated Background Image [307] Is
also employed, it too is merged with the former to create a composite Computer Display Image
[302], which is projected onto the Writing Surface [21B] by the projector [24B]. At this point the
visual scene contains, in addition to these Projections, user Viewed Image Interference and the
recently modified physical Markings on the local Writing Surface [21B] as shown in [532] and
[533] respectively. The Image Sensor device [22B] views the scene and provides a Viewed Image
[301] containing a digital representation of this scene including all the aforementioned visual Method and Apparatus for Processing. Displaying and Communicating Images elements - Projections, Viewed Image Interference and Markings. Due to the nature of the Image
Sensor and its positioning, the Viewed Image contains both geometric distortion and limited
optical quality and is degraded by noise and other known imaging artifacts. The Viewed Image
[301] is input into the Capture Engine [31] along with the calibration Reference Image [303] and
the Computer Display Image [302]. Assuming that the Viewed Image [301] and Computer
Display Image [302] are properly synchronized (i.e. the former is up-to-date with respect to the
latter) the Real-time Detector [32] analyzes the images along with the Stored Viewed Image [542]
and other stored information not depicted in the figure, to determine which content, if any, should
be processed as changes to Local Markings. It detects and ignores both the Viewed Image
Interference and Projections apparent in the Viewed Image leaving only changes to the Markings
on the Writing Surface [21]. The Capture Processor [33] proceeds to clean-up, Geometrically
Warp and properly color the chanced pixels, thereby updating an internal Writing Image [551]
with its results. Finally, the Capture Codec [34] compares the newly updated Writing Image
[551] with the previously Stored Writing Image [552] to determine precisely which pixels have
been written and/or erased since the last cycle of processing. The result of this comparison is then
encoded for transmission via the communications network [25B] and/or for saving to storage
[26B] as a new outgoing Local Update [304], which is depicted in the figure as a full image for
the sake of clarity.
While the preferred and alternate embodiments of the invention have been depicted herein
in detail, modifications and adaptations may be made thereto, without departing from the spirit
and scope of the invention as delineated in the following claims.
Priority Applications (3)
|Application Number
|Priority Date
|Filing Date
|US09166211 US6388654B1 (en)
|Method and apparatus for processing, displaying and communicating images
|PCT/US1999/022577 WO2000021065A1 (en)
|Method and apparatus for processing, displaying and communicating images
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|Publication Date
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|EP1057169A4 true true EP1057169A4 (en)
Family Applications (1)
|Application Number
|Priority Date
|Filing Date
|EP19990949988 Withdrawn EP1057169A4 (en)
|Method and apparatus for processing, displaying and communicating images
Country Status (4)
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|EP1057169A4 (en)
|CA2333036A1 (en)
|WO2000021065A1 (en)
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|EP1057169A1 (en)
|CA2333036A1 (en)
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text:
This is the centenary year of Michelangelo Antonioni. He was born on 29 September 1912 and died in 2007 at the age of 94, having worked until almost the very end. As well as everything else, he gave us one of the founding myths of postwar cinema: The Booing of L'Avventura. For film historians, it's as pretty much important as the audience riots at the 1913 premiere of Stravinsky's Rite of Spring.
Read the full article over at The Guardian and view his releases on Mr Bongo.


text: With summer brings graduation parties, weddings, picnics and family gatherings for homes and families all over the country. And preparing for big events like these can seem overwhelming. But, when you delegate essential carpet cleaning to the professionals in advance, you can seriously cut down on last minute cleaning stress. Dorundo's Cleaning Service is a… Read more »


text:
Academic journal article The International Sports Law Journal
UK Bid to Host 2018 FIFA World Cup: Lord Triesman Spills the Beans!
Article excerpt
Coming hard on the heels of the announcement on 9 May, 2011 by FIFA President, Sepp Blatter, with no doubt an eye on his re-election at the beginning of June 2011, which is being opposed, of an historic ten-year [euro]20 million Agreement with INTERPOL to rid the 'beautiful game' of match-fixing and illegal betting, Lord Triesman, the former Chairman of the English Football Association (FA), under the cloak of Parliamentary Privilege, claimed, on 10 May, 2011, that the UK Bid to host the FIFA World Cup in 2018 was riddled with requests for substantial sums of money and other favours in return for votes from a number of the members of the FIFA Executive Committee, who decided the issue.
These are serious allegations and they need to be thoroughly investigated by FIFA, which claims to be on a crusade to kick corruption out of football, which is not surprising, given that football is not only the world's favourite sport, but also its most lucrative one! With so much money in football, billions of US$ in fact, the temptations to take unfair advantages and act unethically are considerable, but must be resisted in the interest of fair play in sport, which is what sport is all about. …


text:
Apartment, Kingscliff
Rated 4 out of 5 stars 2 reviews
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From $109 per night {{quote.pricing.message}} Total {{quote.pricing.price | format:'currency':'short'}} for
Min 3 - 7 nights stay
Take a break in this beautiful, fully self-contained apartment located in a beachfront resort with two separate bedrooms and bathrooms.
The master king suite includes a deep relaxing spa bath and private balcony.
Other retails outlets are also available for convenience such as a small supermarket, beautician, ice cream parlour, hair salon and cafes too.
This Resort features a spa and large lagoon pool great for kids as it has a steady gradient.There's views of the stunning coastline and open parklands with a huge childrens playground and BBQ picnic areas too. Just relax, perhaps with a chilled champagne, on the balcony of this apartment which provides a relaxed, casual atmosphere, well suited to a beachside holiday.
This resort's smaller tropical pool located outside wings 5 & 7 is heated and has a heated spa as well. The main lagoon pool is not heated. Go ahead and spoil yourself.
Unfortunately you are unable to charge back to your room as this is a privately owned apartment. Rooms are not serviced but the apartment does have a fully equipped laundry. If you wish to have your room serviced during your stay we can arrange this for a fee. Other than beach towels, all linen is included - the beach towels can be hired from our hire service or you may bring your own with you.
You are booking with off-site real estate accommodation specialists and we are proud not to be affiliated with the on-site letting agent. Check in is via our local office and we will take care of any questions or concerns you may have during your stay, 7 days per week. Save waiting in queues and deal direct with us
At LJ Hooker Kingscliff, we pride ourselves with exceptional customer service by local people who live here, love here and are committed to growing Kingscliff and Tweed Coast Holidays as your favourite holiday destination year after year. For a memorable Kingscliff holiday contact LJ Hooker Kingscliff- proudly known as
With over 25 years experience, our guests love returning to our same friendly faces year after year. Save waiting in queues and deal direct with us
All bookings are subject to the holiday letting terms and conditions. A $1000.00 pre-authorisation of a credit card is required for the security deposit. The credit card authorisation form is required prior to arrival to assist with confirming your booking; please help us finalise your booking by completing and returning early.
There are great places to party in town, but no parties or functions permitted at the property in consideration of our neighbours. Noise complaints will result in loss of your security deposit & on the spot eviction. All holiday bookings are subject to our Terms & Conditions. 1.31 Credit Card Surcharge applies to credit card transactions.
The Gold Coast theme parks are approximately 40 minutes drive north and Byron Bay only 40 minutes south. Kingscliff on the Tweed Coast is becoming the hottest holiday destination, come and see what the fuss is about
"Everything was fantastic in the resort and the location is great 5/5" - Natalie M. - January 2016
2 Car Spaces
Fantastic beachfront resort in Kingscliff- Ideal for families or couples
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