Methods and Systems for Content Processing

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 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 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 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.