Methods and Systems for Content Processing

A method comprising:

• characterizing an optical distortion function associated with a lens;
• defining geometry of a correction surface corresponding to the optical distortion function;
• and
• texture-mapping an image onto the correction surface using a GPU, after receiving the image through the lens, or before projecting the image through the lens;
• wherein tilts and/or elevations in the correction surface serve to compensate for the optical distortion function associated with the lens.

A method comprising:

• at a radio base station that communicates with plural portable devices, receiving a services reservation message from a first portable device, the services reservation message including one or more parameters of a future service that the first portable device requests be made available to it not immediately, but at a future time;
• and
• making a decision about a service provided to a second portable device, based in part on the services reservation message received from the first portable device;
• wherein allocation of processing and/or bandwidth resources of the radio base station is improved due to advance information about anticipated services to be provided to the first portable device.

A cell phone including an image sensor with a thermoelectric cooling device coupled thereto, a processor, and a memory, instructions in the memory configuring the processor to control a camera function of the cell phone as follows:

• capture image data;
• assess noise in the captured image data;
• and
• if the noise exceeds a threshold, activate the thermoelectric cooling device and capture further image data after the sensor has cooled.

A cell phone apparatus comprising:

• a first portion comprising an optical sensor and lens assembly, the first portion being adapted for carrying by a user in a first location relative to a body of the user;
• and
• a second portion comprising a display, a user interface, and a cellular radio transceiver, the second portion being adapted for carrying by the user in a second, different, location relative to the body of the user;
• and
• a wireless communication system linking the first and second portions.

A cell phone apparatus comprising:

• a first portion comprising an LED illumination assembly, detachably coupled to:
• a second portion comprising a display, a user interface, a cellular radio transceiver, an optical sensor, and a lens;
• and
• a wireless communication system linking the first and second portions;
• wherein the first portion can be detached from the second portion and positioned to illuminate a subject being imaged by the optical sensor of the second portion.

A method of operating a mobile phone, comprising:

• sensing visual stimulus using a sensor in said phone;
• transmitting first data, including data related to the sensed stimulus, from the mobile phone for remote signal processing;
• responsive to said transmitting, receiving processed second data back at the mobile phone;
• and
• taking an action, at the phone, based on the received second data;
• wherein said transmitting comprises transmitting the first data to one of a set-top box, automobile, thermostat, or an HVAC system, for signal processing by a processor therein.

A method of operating a first mobile phone, comprising:

• offloading a first image processing task from the first mobile phone to a second mobile phone, and collecting results therefrom, the first and second mobile phones being directly coupled across a radio link such as Bluetooth;
• and
• offloading a second image processing task to a third mobile phone, the third mobile phone being different than the first and second mobile phones, and collecting results therefrom;
• and
• at the first mobile phone, taking an action based on said collected results;
• wherein the first and third mobile phones do not directly exchange radio signals with each other, but rather the first phone directly exchanges radio signals with the second mobile phone, and the second phone directly exchanges radio signals with the third mobile phone.

A method comprising:

• (a) using a camera sub-system of a mobile phone, capturing and buffering plural frames of image data, while the camera sub-system is changing a parameter that varies a camera focal distance from a first focal distance to a second focal distance, thereby yielding frames of image data at a variety of focal distance settings;
• (b) performing a first analysis on one or more of said frames of image data, to assess a focus parameter;
• (c) based on said first analysis, selecting a frame of image data, not analyzed in act (b), as having a desired focus parameter;
• and
• (d) taking a further action with the selected frame of image data.

A method comprising:

• using a camera sub-system of a mobile phone, capturing a first frame of image data;
• assessing the captured image data;
• setting a parameter of the camera sub-system based on said assessment;
• and
• capturing a second frame of image data using said set parameter;
• wherein the assessing includes assessing the content of the first frame of image data in a particular color channel, and the setting includes setting said parameter to maximize a dynamic range of the second frame of image data in said particular color channel, wherein the particular color channel is selected from blue, yellow, red, and green.

A method comprising:

• receiving one or more data packets, the packet(s) including first data relating to imagery captured by a mobile phone, and indicating an operation to be performed using said imagery-related data;
• after said imagery has been captured by the mobile phone, conducting an automated evaluation of plural different computer-based service providers, to identify which of them is to provide results of said indicated operation on the first data for use by the mobile phone;
• and
• based on said evaluation, sending the first data to a selected one of said computer-based service providers, for it to perform the indicated operation thereon.

A method comprising:

• receiving one or more packets of data, the packet(s) including first data relating to image content captured by a mobile phone, and also indicating an operation to be performed using the first data;
• contacting plural computer-based service providers, to solicit interest in performing the operation, and providing results of said operation for use by the mobile phone on a competitive basis;
• receiving responses from one or more of said service providers;
• and
• deciding a winner from among said plural computer-based service providers;
• wherein the method further includes providing at least some of the first data to at least some of said plural service providers before deciding the winner.

A method of processing image data captured using an image sensor in a cell phone, comprising:

• performing a first image processing operation on the captured image data using a processing module in the cell phone, yielding internally-processed image data;
• evaluating a competition between two or more external service providers, and sending the internally-processed image data to a winner of said competition for further processing, the winning service provider delivering externally-processed image data;
• and
• taking an action based on the externally-processed image data.

A method of operating a camera-equipped mobile phone to image a printed subject, the method comprising the acts:

• activating only a first LED light source of a first visible light color, for a first interval, while capturing image data from a printed subject using said mobile phone;
• activating only a second LED light source of a second visible light color different than the first, for a second interval different than the first, while capturing image data from said printed subject using said mobile phone;
• and
• taking an action using said captured image data.

A method of operating a mobile phone equipped with a camera and a projector, the method comprising the acts:

• capturing first and second frames of image data from a subject using the camera, and illuminating the subject—during one of said frames—with a first pattern of collimated light from the projector;
• by reference to a difference between said frames, identifying said pattern;
• and
• adjusting a camera parameter by reference to said identified pattern.

A method comprising the acts:

• in a mobile phone, which has an RF output power state that varies with proximity to a base station with which the phone wirelessly communicates, assessing variables including variables relating to (a) said RF transmitter output power state, (b) mobile phone battery state, and (c) network bandwidth state, to determine whether to have a processing operation related to imagery captured by the mobile phone performed by a processor in the mobile phone, or by a processing node at the base station;
• transmitting data to the processing node at the base station, if said determination is to have said processing operation performed by said processing node at said base station;
• and
• performing the image processing operation using the processor in the mobile phone, if said determination is to have the image processing operation performed by said mobile device processor.

A method comprising the acts:

• in a mobile phone, which has an RF output power state that varies with proximity to a base station with which the phone wirelessly communicates, assessing variables including variables relating to (a) said RF transmitter output power state, (b) mobile phone battery state, and (c) network bandwidth state, in connection with deciding (1) where, and (2) when, to have processing related to imagery captured by the mobile phone performed;
• based on said assessing, deciding to have said processing performed (1) by a processor remote from the mobile phone, (2) at a later time, after one of said variables has changed;
• and
• at said later time, after one of said variables has changed, transmitting data relating to said imagery to said remote processor for processing.

A method performed by a portable device, and involving a remote processing system to which the portable device refers one or more tasks for remote execution, the method including the acts:

• transmitting information from the portable device to the remote processing system, requesting reservation of processing capacity for the remote processing system to meet a forthcoming processing need for the portable device, the information including information characterizing the processing need, and also indicating when—in the future—first data for said processing need is expected to be available;
• receiving, at the portable device, information confirming reservation of said processing capacity by the remote processing system;
• and
• at a later time, transmitting the first data from the portable device to the remote processing system for processing, in accordance with said reservation.

A method performed by a remote processing system, and involving a portable device, the method including the acts:

• receiving information from the portable device, requesting reservation of processing capacity for the remote processing system to meet a forthcoming processing need for the portable device, the information including information characterizing the processing need, and also indicating when—in the future—first data for said processing need is expected to be available;
• sending, to the portable device, information confirming reservation of said processing capacity;
• and
• at a later time, receiving the first data from the portable device, in accordance with said reservation;
• wherein advance knowledge of processing to be referred to it by the portable device allows the remote processing system to better allocate its resources.

A method performed by a cellular base station that includes a computer system, the method comprising the acts:

• for a group of first cellular subscribers, who do not transmit information to the base station about their future service usage intentions, modeling their future service usage by statistics;
• from one or more second cellular subscribers, receiving transmitted information about their future service usage intentions;
• and
• allocating services to plural cellular subscribers in accordance with said statistics and the received information.

A method comprising the acts:

• receiving information, including imagery depicting one or more faces, sent from a mobile phone associated with a user;
• determining, from the received information, data not included in the received information, said determined data including data enabling access to a first photo repository account, and data enabling access to a second photo repository account;
• submitting the imagery to the first photo repository account, using said determined data, and receiving therefrom names associated with any face(s) recognized from the imagery by the first account;
• submitting the imagery to the second photo repository account, using said determined data, and receiving therefrom names associated with any faces recognized from the imagery by the second photo repository account—if any;
• and
• sending data including said received name(s to the mobile phone.

A computer readable medium containing non-transitory first software causing a processing system in a mobile phone that is programmed thereby to perform the following acts:

• provide a layered stack interface between (a) mobile phone hardware, including at least a camera, and (b) application software running on said mobile phone processing system that relies on such hardware, including OCR software and/or barcode reading software;
• and
• provide a layered stack interface between (a) said mobile phone hardware, and (b) application software running on one or more processors remote from the mobile phone that relies on such hardware;
• wherein execution of said first software establishes a platform enabling local and remote application software to interact with mobile phone hardware, without resort to specialized software stacks enabling particular application software to interact with said mobile phone hardware.

A method practiced using a mobile phone, comprising the acts:

• projecting at least one pattern onto a subject from a projector portion included in the mobile phone;
• using a camera portion in the mobile phone, capturing image data from the subject including said pattern(s);
• by reference to the captured image data including the pattern(s), discerning 3D information about the subject;
• and
• using said 3D information in connection with a recognition operation involving said subject.