Systems and methods for optimizing a scene

A computer-implemented method comprising:

• defining at least one visual goal for a scene, the scene comprised of a plurality of objects, the visual goal specifying at least one object in the scene which is desired to be not predicted to be attended to by a visual attention model;
• receiving input defining allowable changes to the scene, which define how at least some of the plurality of objects may be changed in order to achieve the goal;
• assigning a monetary cost estimate to at least some of the allowable changes;
• automatically modifying, by a processor, some of the plurality of objects consistent with the defined allowable changes so as to produce modified scenes;
• evaluating the modified scenes with a visual attention model;
• calculating, by the processor, modification costs associated with the modified scenes based on the monetary cost estimate;
• and,
• determining, by the processor, based on the evaluation, which of the modified scenes achieves the at least one visual goal for the scene and has the modification cost being lower than a predetermined threshold.

A computer system comprising:

• a processor and memory;
• a scene optimization module operative to at least:
• (1) receive input defining at least one visual goal for a scene, the scene comprised of a plurality of objects, the objects having properties;
• (2) receive input defining allowable changes, which define how properties can be changed;
• (3) associate allowable changes with a monetary cost estimate;
• (4) generate modified scenes by modifying the properties of objects consistent with the allowable changes;
• (5) interact with a visual attention module to determine which modified scenes meet the visual goal;
• and,
• (6) determine the costs associated at least some of the modified scenes based on the monetary cost estimate;
• a visual attention module operative to evaluate a scene and predict objects within the scene that will tend to attract visual attention.