text:
|Publication number
|Publication type
|Application number
|Publication date
|Jun 22, 2010
|Priority date
|Apr 13, 2006
|Fee status
|Also published as
|Publication number
|John R. Fredlund, Joseph A. Manico, Elena A. Fedorovskaya
|Original Assignee
|Eastman Kodak Company
|Export Citation
|BiBTeX, EndNote, RefMan
|Patent Citations (18), Non-Patent Citations (3), Referenced by (12), Classifications (6), Legal Events (6)
|External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, Espacenet
Reference is made to assigned, co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/403,686, entitled VALUE INDEX FROM INCOMPLETE DATA, filed Apr. 13, 2006, in the names of Elena Fedorovskaya, Serguei Endrikhovski, John R. Fredlund and Joseph A. Manico.
The invention relates to digital cameras and image organization methods and more particularly relates to in camera dud image management.
Digital imaging has vastly increased users ability to amass very large numbers of still images, video image sequences, and multimedia records combining one or more images and other content. (Still images, video sequences, and multimedia records are referred to collectively herein with the term "image records".) With very large numbers of image records, management becomes difficult.
Efforts have been made to aid users in organizing and utilizing image records by assigning metadata to individual image records that indicates a metric of expected value to the user. U.S. Patent Publication No. 2003/0128389 A1, filed by Matraszek et al., discloses another measure of image record importance, "affective information", which can take the form of a multi-valued metadata tag. The affective information can be a manual entry or can be automatically detected user reactions, including user initiated utilization of a particular image, such as how many times an image was printed or sent to others via e-mail. In either case, affective information is identified with a particular user. U.S. Pat. No. 6,671,405 to Savakis et al, discloses another approach, which computes a metric of "emphasis and appeal" of an image, without user intervention. A first metric is based upon a number of factors, which can include: image semantic content (e.g. people, faces); objective features, such as colorfulness and sharpness; and main subject features, such as size of the main subject. A second metric compares the factors relative to other images in a collection. The factors are integrated using a trained reasoning engine. U.S. Patent Publication No. 2004/0075743 is somewhat similar and discloses image sorting of images based upon user-selected parameters of semantic content or objective features in the images. These approaches place much effort into valuing of all of the images in a collection.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,535,636 is directed to a method for detecting "dud images", that is, unacceptable images, to determine images that are undesirable for placing in albums.
All of these approaches are useful, particularly in an environment, in which a user is making a deliberate effort to organize images, for example, in creating an album. Another environment, in which image management is needed is during a picture taking session with a digital still camera, cell phone camera, or the like. Some digital cameras, such as, the V-550 digital camera marketed by Eastman Kodak Company of Rochester, N.Y., include a user control labeled "Share", which can be actuated by the user to designate a respective image for preferential printing and e-mailing. It is convenient to use this user control during a picture taking session to identify images the user considers particularly good. Another environment, in which image management is an issue, is in devices having limited image handling capabilities relative to the overall requirements of a collection of images, such as an image viewer having limited storage capacity relative to received sets of images.
It would thus be desirable to provide methods and camera, in which unacceptable images can quickly and easily be managed on a camera.
The invention is defined by the claims. The invention, in broader aspects, provides an image record organization method, camera, and system, in which a plurality of image records are provided and a value index is determined for each of the image records. The image records are classified into unacceptable records having respective value indexes within a predetermined threshold and acceptable records having respective value indexes beyond the threshold. The unacceptable records are demarcated from the acceptable records.
It is an advantageous effect of the invention that an improved methods and camera are provided, in which unacceptable images can quickly and easily be managed on a camera.
The above-mentioned and other features and objects of this invention and the manner of attaining them will become more apparent and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures wherein:
In the image record organization method and system, a plurality of image records are provided and a value index of each of the image records is determined. The image records are classified into unacceptable records having respective value indexes within a predetermined threshold and acceptable records having respective value indexes beyond the threshold. The unacceptable image records are then demarcated from the acceptable image records. The system can be a camera.
The term "archival image" is used herein to refer to a digital image stored in memory and accessible to the user following a capture event. An archival image is distinguished from other non-archival electronic images produced during capture of a light image of a scene. Such non-archival images include earlier images in the imaging chain leading to the archival image, such as the initial analog electronic image captured by the image sensor of the camera and the initial digital image produced by digitizing the initial analog image. In those cases, the non-archival images and the resulting archival image are all produced from the same light image. Another type of non-archival images is images used in viewfinding, setting exposure and focus, and the like. These non-archival images may be shown to the user on a viewfinder or the like, but are not made available for ordinary use subsequent to capture. These non-archival images can be automatically deleted by reuse of the memory used for storing them.
The term "image record" is used here to refer to a digital still image, video sequence, or multimedia record. An image record is inclusive of one or more images in any combination with sounds or other data and is exclusive of any non-archival images. For example, image records include multiple spectrum images, scannerless range images, digital album pages, and multimedia video presentations. Discussion herein is generally directed to image records that are captured using a digital camera. Image records can also be captured using other capture devices and by using photographic film or other means and then digitizing. As discussed herein, image records are stored digitally along with associated information.
The term "date-time" is used here to refer to time related information, such as a date and a time of day; however, a date-time can be limited to a particular unit of time, such as date information without times.
In the following description, some features are described as "software" or "software programs". Those skilled in the art will recognize that the equivalent of such software can also be readily constructed in hardware. Because image manipulation algorithms and systems are well known, the present description emphasizes algorithms and features forming part of, or cooperating more directly with, the method. General features of digital still and video cameras and computerized systems are likewise well known, and the present description is generally limited to those aspects directly related to the method of the invention. Other aspects of such algorithms and apparatus, and hardware and/or software for producing and otherwise processing the image signals involved therewith, not specifically shown or described herein may be selected from such systems, algorithms, components, and elements known in the art. Given the description as set forth herein, all additional software/hardware implementation is conventional and within the ordinary skill in the art.
The present invention can be implemented in computer hardware and computerized equipment. For example, the method can be performed using a system including one or more digital cameras or other capture devices and/or one or more personal computers. Referring to
Removal memory, in any form, can be included and is illustrated as a compact disk-read only memory (CD-ROM) 124, which can include software programs, is inserted into the microprocessor based unit for providing a means of inputting the software programs and other information to the microprocessor based unit 112. Multiple types of removal memory can be provided (illustrated here by a floppy disk 126) and data can be written to any suitable type of removable memory. Memory can be external and accessible using a wired or wireless connection, either directly or via a local or large area network, such as the Internet. Still further, the microprocessor-based unit 112 may be programmed, as is well known in the art, for storing the software program internally. A printer or other output device 128 can also be connected to the microprocessor-based unit 112 for printing a hardcopy of the output from the computer system 110. The microprocessor-based unit 112 can have a network connection 127, such as a telephone line or wireless link, to an external network, such as a local area network or the Internet.
Images may also be displayed on the display 114 via a memory card, such as a personal computer card (PC card) 130, such as, as it was formerly known, a PCMCIA card (based on the specifications of the Personal Computer Memory Card International Association), which contains digitized images electronically embodied in the card 130. The PC card 130 is ultimately inserted into the microprocessor based unit 112 for permitting visual display of the image on the display 114. Alternatively, the PC card 130 can be inserted into an externally located PC card reader 132 connected to the microprocessor-based unit 112. Images may also be input via the compact disk 124, the floppy disk 126, or the network connection 127. Any images stored in the PC card 130, the floppy disk 126 or the compact disk 124, or input through the network connection 127, may have been obtained from a variety of sources, such as a digital camera or a scanner. Images may also be input directly from a digital camera 134 via a camera docking port 136 connected to the microprocessor-based unit 112 or directly from the digital camera 134 via a cable connection 138 to the microprocessor-based unit 112 or via a wireless connection 140 to the microprocessor-based unit 112.
The output device 128 provides a final image that has been subject to transformations. The output device can be a printer or other output device that provides a paper or other hard copy final image. The output device can also be an output device that provides the final image as a digital file. The output device can also include combinations of output, such as a printed image and a digital file on a memory unit, such as a CD or DVD, which can be used in conjunction with any variety of home and portable viewing device such as a "personal media player" or "flat screen TV".
The microprocessor-based unit 112 provides means for processing the digital images to produce pleasing looking images on the intended output device or media. The present invention can be used with a variety of output devices that can include, but are not limited to, a digital photographic printer and soft copy display. The microprocessor-based unit 112 can be used to process digital images to make adjustments for overall brightness, tone scale, image structure, etc. of digital images in a manner such that a pleasing looking image is produced by an image output device. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the present invention is not limited to just these mentioned image processing functions.
A digital image includes one or more digital image channels or color components. Each digital image channel is a two-dimensional array of pixels. Each pixel value relates to the amount of light received by the imaging capture device corresponding to the physical region of pixel. For color imaging applications, a digital image will often consist of red, green, and blue digital image channels. Motion imaging applications can be thought of as a sequence of digital images. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the present invention can be applied to, but is not limited to, a digital image channel for any of the herein-mentioned applications. Although a digital image channel is described as a two dimensional array of pixel values arranged by rows and columns, those skilled in the art will recognize that the present invention can be applied to non rectilinear arrays with equal effect.
The general control computer shown in
It should also be noted that the present invention can be implemented in a combination of software and/or hardware and is not limited to devices, which are physically connected and/or located within the same physical location. One or more of the devices illustrated in
The present invention may be employed in a variety of user contexts and environments. Exemplary contexts and environments include, without limitation, wholesale digital photofinishing (which involves exemplary process steps or stages such as film in, digital processing, prints out), retail digital photofinishing (film in, digital processing, prints out), home printing (home scanned film or digital images, digital processing, prints out), desktop software (software that applies algorithms to digital prints to make them better—or even just to change them), digital fulfillment (digital images in—from media or over the web, digital processing, with images out—in digital form on media, digital form over the web, or printed on hard-copy prints), kiosks (digital or scanned input, digital processing, digital or hard copy output), mobile devices (e.g., camera, PDA or cell phone that can be used as a processing unit, a display unit, or a unit to give processing instructions), and as a service offered via the World Wide Web.
In each context, the invention may stand alone or may be a component of a larger system solution. Furthermore, human interfaces, e.g., the scanning or input, the digital processing, the display to a user (if needed), the input of user requests or processing instructions (if needed), the output, can each be on the same or different devices and physical locations, and communication between the devices and locations can be via public or private network connections, or media based communication. Where consistent with the foregoing disclosure of the present invention, the method of the invention can be fully automatic, may have user input (be fully or partially manual), may have user or operator review to accept/reject the result, or may be assisted by metadata (metadata that may be user supplied, supplied by a measuring device (e.g. in a camera), or determined by an algorithm). Moreover, the algorithm(s) may interface with a variety of workflow user interface schemes.
The cameras disclosed herein have features necessary to practice the invention. Other features are well known to those of skill in the art. In the following, cameras are sometimes referred to as still cameras and video cameras. It will be understood that the respective terms are inclusive of both dedicated still and video cameras and of combination still/video cameras, as used for the respective still or video capture function. It will also be understood that the camera can include any of a wide variety of features not discussed in detail herein, such as, detachable and interchangeable lenses and multiple capture units. The camera can be portable or fixed in position and can provide one or more other functions related or unrelated to imaging. For example, the camera can be a cell phone camera or can provide communication functions in some other manner.
Referring to
The user interface 13 can include one or more information displays 66 to present camera information to the photographer, such as exposure level, exposures remaining, battery state, flash state, and the like. The image display 30 can instead or additionally also be used to display non-image information, such as camera settings. For example, a graphical user interface (GUI) can be provided, including menus presenting option selections and review modes for examining captured images. Both the image display 30 and a digital viewfinder display (not illustrated) can provide the same functions and one or the other can be eliminated. The camera can include a speaker and/or microphone (not shown), to receive audio inputs and provide audio outputs.
When used as a still camera, the camera 10 assesses ambient lighting and/or other conditions and determines scene parameters, such as shutter speeds and diaphragm settings. A stream of non-archival electronic images are captured in a continuing sequence and displayed to the photographer. The capture of non-archival images ends when the shutter release or trigger 17 is tripped and an archival image is captured. In video capture mode, archival images are captured in a stream as long as the trigger is actuated or toggled on and then off. Many still digital cameras have a two-stroke shutter release. Typically, a partial depression of a shutter button actuates a switch commonly referred to as S1, and full depression of the shutter button actuates a switch commonly referred to as S2. (Full depression is also referred to as "S1-S2 stroke".) A continuous stream of non-archival images is captured at the first stroke and a single archival image is captured at the second stroke.
When the photographer trips the shutter release, light from a subject scene propagates along an optical path 20 through the taking lens 12 strikes the image sensor 16 producing an analog electronic image, which is then digitized and digitally processed. (For convenience, image capture is generally discussed herein in terms of individual still images, like considerations apply to capture of bursts of still images and video sequences.)
The type of image sensor 16 used may vary, but it is highly preferred that the image sensor be one of the several solid-state image sensors available. For example, the image sensor can be a charge-coupled device (CCD), a CMOS sensor (CMOS), or charge injection device (CID). Some components of a control unit 22 work with the image sensor 16. In the illustrated camera, those components are a clock driver (also referred to herein as a timing generator) 24, analog signal processor 26 and an analog-to-digital converter/amplifier (A/D) 28. Such components can also be incorporated in a single unit with the image sensor. For example, CMOS image sensors are manufactured with a process that allows other components to be integrated onto the same semiconductor die.
The electronic image capture unit 16 captures an image with three or more color channels. It is currently preferred that a single image sensor 16 be used along with a color filter, however, multiple monochromatic image sensors and filters can be used. Suitable filters are well known to those of skill in the art, and, in some cases are incorporated with the image sensor 16 to provide an integral component. Those skilled in the art will recognize that some procedures described herein in relation to digital images having multiple color channels can also be limited to one or more of the channels, but less than all of the channels. Suitability of this approach can be determined heuristically.
The image display 30 is driven by an image display driver or controller 32 and produces a light image (also referred to here as a "display image") that is viewed by the user. Different types of image display 30 can be used. For example, the image display can be a liquid crystal display ("LCD"), a cathode ray tube display, or an organic electroluminescent display ("OELD"; also referred to as an organic light emitting display, "OLED"). The display 30 can be mounted on the back or top of the body, so as to be readily viewable by the photographer immediately following a picture taking.
The electrical signal from each pixel of the image sensor 16 is related to both the intensity of the light reaching the pixel and the length of time the pixel is allowed to accumulate or integrate the signal from incoming light. This time is called the integration time or exposure time. Integration time is controlled by a shutter 34, that is switchable between an open state and a closed state. The shutter 34 can be mechanical or electromechanical or can be provided as a logical function of the hardware and software of the electronic image capture unit. For example, some types of image sensors 16 allow the integration time to be controlled electronically by resetting the image sensor and then reading out the image sensor some time later. When using a CCD, electronic control of the integration time of the image sensor 16 can be provided by shifting the accumulated charge under a light shielded register provided at a non-photosensitive region. This can be a full frame as in a frame transfer device CCD or a horizontal line in an interline transfer device CCD. Suitable devices and procedures are well known to those of skill in the art. Thus, the timing generator 24 can provide a way to control when the image sensor is actively recording the image. In the camera of
The combination of overall light intensity and integration time is called exposure. Equivalent exposures can be achieved by various combinations of light intensity and integration time. Although the exposures are equivalent, a particular exposure combination of light intensity and integration time may be preferred over other equivalent exposures for capturing a given scene image. Although
In the illustrated camera, a filter assembly 36 and diaphragm 38 modify the light intensity at the sensor 16. Each is adjustable. The diaphragm 38 controls the intensity of light reaching the image sensor 16 using a mechanical aperture (not shown) to block light in the optical path. The size of the aperture can be continuously adjustable, stepped, or otherwise varied. As an alternative, the diaphragm 38 can be emplaceable in and removable from the optical path 20. Filter assembly 36 can be varied likewise. For example, filter assembly 36 can include a set of different neutral density filters (not shown) that can be rotated or otherwise moved into the optical path 20.
Referring again to
The taking lens 14 can be simple, such as having a single focal length and manual focusing or a fixed focus, but this is not preferred. In the camera shown in
The taking lens 14 of the camera is also preferably autofocusing. For example, an autofocusing system can provide focusing using passive or active autofocus or a combination of the two. Referring to
The camera 10 includes a brightness sensor 46. In
The camera of
The control unit 22 controls or adjusts the exposure regulating elements and other camera components, facilitates transfer of images and other signals, and performs processing related to the images. The control unit 22 shown in
The timing generator 24 supplies control signals for all electronic components in timing relationship. Calibration values for the individual camera 10 are stored in a calibration memory (not separately illustrated), such as an EEPROM, and supplied to the system controller 56. The components of the user interface are connected to a control unit 22 and function by means of a combination of software programs executed on the system controller 56. The control unit 22 also operates the other components, including drivers and memories, such as the zoom control 62, focus control 44, macro control 64, display drivers 32, and other drivers (not shown) for the shutter 34, diaphragm 36, filter assembly 38, and viewfinder and status displays 40,66.
The camera 10 can include other components to provide information supplemental to captured image information. An example of such a component 76 is the orientation sensor illustrated in
It will be understood that the circuits shown and described can be modified in a variety of ways well known to those of skill in the art. It will also be understood that the various features described here in terms of physical circuits can be alternatively provided as firmware or software functions or a combination of the two. Likewise, components illustrated as separate units herein may be conveniently combined or shared. Multiple components can be provided in distributed locations.
The captured electronic image from the image sensor is amplified, processed, and converted from analog to digital by the analog signal processor 26 and A/D converter 28. The resulting digital electronic image is then processed in the digital signal processor 58, using DSP memory 60 a and following processing, is stored in system memory 60 b and/or removable memory 60 c. Signal lines, illustrated as a data bus 68, electronically connect the image sensor 16, system controller 56, processor 58, image display 30, memory 60 a-60 d, and other electronic components; and provide a pathway for address and data signals.
"Memory" refers to one or more suitably sized logical units of physical memory provided in semiconductor memory or magnetic memory, or the like. Memory 60 a-60 d can each be any type of random access memory. For example, memory can be an internal memory, such as, such as SDRAM or Flash EPROM memory, or alternately a removable memory, or a combination of both. Removable memory 60 c can be provided for archival image storage. Removable memory can be of any type, such as a Compact Flash (CF) or Secure Digital (SD) type card inserted into a socket 70 and connected to the system controller 56 via memory card interface 72. Other types of storage that are utilized include without limitation PC-Cards, MultiMedia Cards (MMC), or embedded and/or removable Hard Drives.
The system controller 56 and digital signal processor 58 can be controlled by software stored in the same physical memory that is used for image storage, but it is preferred that the system controller 56 and digital signal processor 58 are controlled by firmware stored in dedicated memory 60 d, for example, in a ROM or EPROM firmware memory. Separate dedicated units of memory can also be provided to support other functions. The memory on which captured images are stored can be fixed in the camera 10 or removable or a combination of both. The type of memory used and the manner of information storage, such as optical or magnetic or electronic, is not critical. For example, removable memory can be a floppy disc, a CD, a DVD, a tape cassette, or flash memory card or stick. The removable memory can be utilized for transfer of image records to and from the camera in digital form or those image records can be transmitted as electronic signals.
The illustrated camera has multiple processors. Although this partitioning of camera functional control among multiple controllers and processors is typical, these controllers or processors are combined in various ways without affecting the functional operation of the camera. These controllers or processors can comprise one or more digital signal processor devices, microcontrollers, programmable logic devices, or other digital logic circuits. Although a combination of such controllers or processors has been described, it should be apparent that one controller or processor can perform all of the needed functions. All of these variations can perform the same function.
In the illustrated embodiment, digital signal processor 58 manipulates the digital image data in its memory 60 a according to a software program permanently stored in program memory 60 d and copied to memory 60 a for execution during image capture. Digital signal processor 58 executes the software necessary for practicing image processing. The digital image can also be modified in the same manner as in other digital cameras to enhance images. For example, the image can be processed by the digital signal processor to provide interpolation and edge enhancement. The digital processing can provide images with modifications for use as display images on the displays on the camera and archival images with modifications for storage in a particular file structure. For example, to be displayed an image may need to be transformed to accommodate different capabilities in terms of gray scale, color gamut, and white point of the display and the imager and other components of the electronic capture unit. The displayed image may be cropped, reduced in resolution and/or contrast levels, or some other part of the information in the image may not be shown. Modifications related to file transfer, can include operations such as, JPEG compression and file formatting. Enhancements can also be provided in both cases. The image modifications can also include the addition of metadata, that is, image record associated non-image information.
System controller 56 controls the overall operation of the camera based on a software program stored in program memory 60 d, which can include Flash EEPROM or other nonvolatile memory. This memory 60 d can also be used to store image sensor calibration data, user setting selections and other data which must be preserved when the camera is turned off. System controller 56 controls the sequence of image capture by directing the macro control 64, flash control 50, focus control 44, and other drivers of capture unit components as previously described, directing the timing generator 24 to operate the image sensor 16 and associated elements, and directing digital signal processor 58 to process the captured image data. After an image is captured and processed, the final image file stored in system memory 60 b or digital signal processor memory 60 a, is transferred to a host computer (not illustrated in
In the illustrated camera 10, processed images are copied to a display buffer in system memory 60 b and continuously read out via video encoder 80 to produce a video signal. This signal is processed by display controller 32 and/or digital signal processor 58 and presented on image display 30 and can be output directly from the camera for display on an external monitor. The video images are archival in the camera is used for video capture and non-archival if used for viewfinding prior to still archival image capture.
The method and apparatus herein can include features provided by software and/or hardware components that utilize various data detection and reduction techniques, such as face detection, skin detection, people detection, other object detection, essential for interpreting the scene depicted on an image, for example, a birthday cake for birthday party pictures, or characterizing the image, such as in the case of medical images capturing specific body parts.
The invention is inclusive of combinations of the embodiments described herein. References to "a particular embodiment" and the like refer to features that are present in at least one embodiment of the invention. Separate references to "an embodiment" or "particular embodiments" or the like do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or embodiments; however, such embodiments are not mutually exclusive, unless so indicated or as are readily apparent to one of skill in the art. The use of singular and/or plural in referring to the "method" or "methods" and the like is not limiting.
Referring now to
The image records can be provided by retrieval from memory, capture, transfer from another source, or any combination of these. For example, the image records can be provided by wireless transmission to a camera in the form of a camera phone.
The demarcation of the unacceptable image records can be physical or logical or both and can be reversible or irreversible. In demarcating, the unacceptable image records can be isolated or separated or can be marked to delimit them from acceptable image records. For example, in the demarcating, the unacceptable image records can be grouped in a different logical folder than the acceptable image records. Similarly, the unacceptable image records can be marked with a digital file attribute or other logical tag that makes the unacceptable image records different than the acceptable image records. Likewise, the unacceptable files can be demarcated by identifying them in a look-up table.
The demarcating of the unacceptable image records can include discarding the unacceptable image records. This discarding can be reversible or irreversible. Reversible discarding is a change in digital file marking that alters available access, but does not destroy the image information. For example, unacceptable image records can be deleted in a conventional manner, that is filenames of unacceptable image records can be changed to remove the unacceptable image records from directories of saved image records and queue the unacceptable image records for overwriting as space is needed. In this case, the discarding can be reversed by use of recovery procedures appropriate to the particular system, before the discarded records have been overwritten. Alternatively, the unacceptable image records can be immediately overwritten or otherwise destroyed without possibility of recovery.
The demarcating can include blocking fulfillment of the unacceptable images. The term "fulfillment" is used herein to describe further use of an archival image following capture. For example, fulfillment can include any one or more of: long term archival storage, transmission to another site, image processing, queuing of the image records for viewing or other purpose, non-image processing computations, hard copy output, soft copy display, and non-image output, organizing, labeling, aggregation with other information, and other allocating of resources to individual image records.
Fulfillment can alternatively be provided differently for unacceptable and acceptable image records. For example, unacceptable image records could be stored at a higher compression ratio than acceptable image records. Similarly, unacceptable image records could be automatically retained in memory for a shorter time than acceptable records.
Demarcating can be completely free of user intervention or can include user intervention as a necessary or optional step. For example, indications of unacceptable image records can be displayed and user input confirming or abnegating the indicated status can be accepted. The indications can take a variety of forms, such as the image records, thumbnails, keyframes, filenames or the like. The user can be given the opportunity to discard or retain unacceptable image records. The user can be given the same choice as to one or more fulfillment procedures. For example, the user can be required to confirm discarding of image records found by the camera or other system to be unacceptable. As another example, the user can be required to confirm exclusion of unacceptable image records from transmittal to remote storage with acceptable image records. User input can also be allowed to selectively change the status of individual image records from unacceptable to acceptable, to confirm an indicated further treatment of particular image records, to otherwise decide about an indicated action, to set defaults, and the like.
The method can be performed on each image record, before a next image record is provided or can be performed on a batch of images or even on a completed database. In particular embodiments, the demarcating of unacceptable images is intermittent with capturing, either following capture of each image record or following capture of a small number of image records, such as a burst of still images. This has the advantage of reducing on-going storage requirements and, if user confirmation is required, of limiting the number of image records on which a decision is required, to one or a relatively small number.
In a particular embodiment, the system accepts user input that sets the value index threshold used in the method. This allows the user to adjust the boundary between unacceptable and acceptable image records. This adjustment can be made precise, within the limits of the value index used, or coarse. The latter approach has the advantage that differences in adjustments are more likely to be readily apparent to the user.
It is possible for a user to enter a value index for each captured image in a camera or collection of images, but this is inconvenient and likely to be undesirable for most users. It is highly preferred that the value indexes of the image records be generated without user intervention. A variety of value indexes of image records are known to those of skill in the art. A currently preferred value index is computed automatically from one or more of: user inputs to the camera used during capture of the respective image record, image quality of the respective image record, image content of the respective image record, and user reactions to the respective image record.
In determining the above-mentioned incomplete information value index, the image records are collected and sets of image data are provided. (The term "image data" as used herein referred to information exclusive of the image or images of an associated image record.) Each set is associated with a respective image record. Each set includes data in one or more (or all) of the categories: capture related data, image analysis data, image usage data, and user reaction data. The data sets of a plurality of the image records can be incomplete and the missing data can be in different combinations of categories in different image records. For example, one image record can lack image analysis data and another image usage data. A value index of each of the image records is generated using the respective set of information data. The generating is statistically independent of any of the categories having missing data in the respective set. In other words, the generating does not treat missing information as having a default or zero value, but rather generates the respective value index without consideration of the category for which information is unavailable. As a result, the value indexes of the collection of image records are, in effect, calculated using different algorithms. This approach has the advantage that missing data in a particular category does not preclude generation and use of a value index.
Capture related data is data available at the time of capture that defines capture conditions, such as exposure, location, date-time, status of camera functions, and the like. This is information that cannot be derived from the image record itself. Examples of capture related data includes: lens focal length, shutter speed, lens aperture, exposure time, digital/optical zoom status, flash fired state, detected subject distance, image size, location information, and time of capture. Capture related data relates to both set up and capture of an image record and can also relate to on-camera review of the image record.
Capture related data can be derived from user inputs to a camera or other capture device. Each user input provides a signal to the control unit of the camera, which defines an operational setting. For example with a particular camera, the user moves an on-off switch to power on the camera. This action places the camera in a default state with a predefined priority mode, flash status, zoom position, and the like. Similarly, when the user provides a partial shutter button depression, autoexposure and autofocus engage, a sequence of viewfinder images begins to be captured and automatic flash set-up occurs.
The user enters inputs using a plurality of camera user controls that are operatively connected to a capture unit via a control unit. The user controls include user capture controls that provide inputs that set-up the camera for capture. Examples are a capture mode switch and flash status control. The user controls can also include user viewfinder-display controls that operate a viewfinder-display unit for on-camera review of an image or images following capture. Examples of user inputs include: partial shutter button depression, full shutter button depression, focal length selection, camera display actuation, selection of editing parameters, user classification of an image record, and camera display deactuation. The viewfinder-display controls can include one or more user controls for manual user classification of images, for example, a "share" or "favorite" button.
The inputs for a particular image record can be limited to those received during composition, capture, and, optionally, during viewing of that image record. Alternatively, one or more inputs concurrent with composition, capture, and, optionally, viewing of one or more other image records can also be included. For example, if several images are taken of the same scene or with slight shifts in scene (for example as determined by a subject tracking autofocus system and the recorded time/date of each image), then information datas related to all of the images could be used in deriving the capture related data of each of the images.
Another example of capture related data is temporal values calculated from temporal relationships between two or more of the camera inputs. Temporal relationships can be elapsed times between two inputs or events occurring within a particular span of time. Examples are inputs defining one or more of: image composition time, S1-S2 stroke time, on-camera editing time, on-camera viewing time, and elapsed time at a particular location (determined by a global positioning system receiver in the camera or the like) with the camera in a power on state. Temporal relationships can be selected so as to all exemplify additional effort on the part of the user to capture a particular image or sequence of images. Geographic relationships between two or more inputs can yield information datas in the same manner as temporal relationships as can combinations of different kinds of relationships, such as inputs within a particular time span and geographic range.
Other examples of capture related image data include information derived from textual or vocal annotation that is retained with the image record, location information, current date-time, photographer identity. Such data can be entered by the user or automatically. Annotations can be provided individually by a user or can be generated from information content or preset information. For example, a camera can automatically generate the caption "Home" at a selected geographic location or a user can add the same caption. Suitable hardware and software for determining location information, such as Global Positioning System units are well known to those of skill in the art. Photographer identity can be determined by such means as: use of an identifying transponder, such as a radio frequency identification device, user entry of identification data, voice recognition, or biometric identification, such as user's facial recognition or fingerprint matching. Combinations of such metadata and other parameters can be used to provide image data. For example, date-time information can be used in combination with prerecorded identifications of holidays, birthdays, or the like.
Capture related data can be saved at the time of capture as individual items of metadata. In some cases, the capture related data can be in the form of metadata commonly saved with captured images and made available for image organization, such as annotations and date-time information. Other items of capture related data discussed here, such as S1-S2 stroke time are unlikely to be utilized for image organization.
Intrinsic image data is derived from an analysis of the image record itself. Specific types of intrinsic image data include image quality data and image content data. The former is concerned with features of an image record unrelated to content, but related to limitations in the capture of an original scene. Examples of image quality data include: image sharpness, image noise, contrast, presence/absence of dark background, scene balance, skin tone color, saturation, clipping, aliasing, and compression state. Examples of image content data include: presence/absence of people, number of people, gender of people, age of people, redeye, eye blink, smile expression, head size, translation problem, subject centrality, scene location, scenery type, and scene uniqueness. ("Translation problem" is defined as an incomplete representation of the main object in a scene, such as a face, or a body of the person.) For example, sunsets can be determined by an analysis of overall image color, as in U.S. Published Patent Application No. US20050147298 A1, filed by A. Gallagher et al., and portraits can be determined by face detection software, such as U.S. Published Patent Application US20040179719 A1, filed by S. Chen. The analysis of "image content", as the term is used here, is inclusive of image composition.
Image quality data can be preset to increase or decrease respective value indexes by predetermined amounts for specific quality factors. For example, a low sharpness value can decrease a respective value index by a predetermined percentage. Similarly, analysis results showing particular content or particular combinations of content and quality factors can be preassigned specific modifications of the respective value indexes. For example, the presence of one or more faces could raise a value index by a predetermined percentage. In the simplified example earlier discussed, in which each input is assigned one point, the presence of a face can add another point to a value index.
Image usage data is data relating to usage of a particular image record following capture. This data can reflect the usage itself or steps preparatory to that usage, for example, editing time prior to storage or printing of a revised image. Examples of image usage data include: editing time, viewing time, number of reviews, number of hard copies made, number of soft copies made, number of e-mails including a copy or link to the respective image record, number of recipients, usage in an album, usage in a website, usage as a screensaver, renaming, annotation, archival state, and other fulfillment usage. Examples of utilization on which the image usage data is based include: copying, storage, organizing, labeling, aggregation with other information, image processing, non-image processing computations, hard copy output, soft copy display, and non-image output. Equipment and techniques suitable for image record utilization are well known to those of skill in the art. For example, a database unit that is part of a personal computer can provide output via a display or a printer. In addition to direct usage information, usage data can include data directly comparable to the temporal values earlier discussed. For example, the time viewing and editing specific image records can be considered.
User reaction data is based upon observation of the reactions of the user to a respective image record. U.S. Patent Publication No. 2003/0128389 A1, to Matraszek et al., which is hereby incorporated herein by reference, discloses techniques for detecting user reactions to images. (For purposes herein, "user reactions" are exclusive of image usage and of the above-discussed inputs used for camera control.) Examples of user reactions include: vocalizations during viewing, facial expression during viewing, physiological responses, gaze information, and neurophysiological responses. User reactions can be automatically monitored via a biometric device such as a GSR (galvanic skin response) or heart rate monitor. These devices have become low cost and readily available and incorporated into image capture and display device as described in Matraszek et al.
Image data in each category can also include data derived from other image data. Examples of derived information include: compatibility of image data with a pre-established user profile, and a difference or similarity of image content to one or more reference images determined to have a high or low value index. For example, clustering as disclosed in U.S. Published Patent Application No. US2005/0105775 A1 or U.S. Pat. No. 6,993,180 can be used. Results of the event clustering can be used as capture related data.
The available data for each image record is used to generate the value index for that image record. Since the value indexes are used to compare the image records, the algorithm used must always produce a value of the same metric, despite data that is incomplete and different for different image records. This can be achieved by expressing each value index as a probability relative to a maximum for the types of data used in calculating that particular value index. Another alternative is simply calculating a total of predetermined values of each data item for a particular value index. This approach assumes that the larger the total the greater the actual value to the user. Negative values can be established for particular data items and different weights can be preassigned to different items or types of data. For example, each item of capture related data can be assigned a value of one and each item of usage data can be assigned a value of two. It is currently preferred that the value index is one-dimensional, since this allows simpler comparisons between image records.
In a particular embodiment, the set of image data is supplied to a reasoning engine that has been trained to generate value indexes. In the reasoning engine, different image data, identified by respective inputs, can compete or reinforce each other according to knowledge derived from the results of the ground truth study of human observers-evaluations of real images. Competition and reinforcement are resolved by the inference network of the reasoning engine. A currently preferred reasoning engine is a Bayes net.
A Bayes net (see, e.g., J. Pearl, Probabilistic Reasoning in Intelligent Systems, San Francisco, Calif.: Morgan Kaufmann, 1988) is a directed acyclic graph that represents causality relationships between various entities in the graph, where the direction of links represents causality relationships between various entities in the graph, and where the direction of links represents causality. Evaluation is based on knowledge of the Joint Probability Distribution Function (PDF) among various entities. The Bayes net advantages include explicit uncertainty characterization, efficient computation, easy construction and maintenance, quick training, and fast adaptation to changes in the network structure and its parameters. A Bayes net consists of four components:
There is one Bayes net active for each image record. It is expected that a simple two-level Bayes net can be used in the current system, where the value index is determined at the root node and all the items of image data are at the leaf nodes. It should be noted that each link is assumed to be conditionally independent of other links at the same level, which results in convenient training of the entire net by training each link separately, i.e., deriving the CPM for a given link independent of others. This assumption is often violated in practice; however, the independence simplification makes implementation simpler and some inaccuracy can be tolerated. It also provides a baseline for comparison with other classifiers or reasoning engines, such as a Bayes net with more than two levels.
All the items of information data are integrated by a Bayes net to yield the value index. On one hand, different items of information data may compete with or contradict each other. On the other hand, different items of information data may mutually reinforce each other according to prior models or knowledge of typical photographic scenes. Both competition and reinforcement are resolved by the Bayes net-based inference engine.
One advantage of Bayes nets is each link is assumed to be independent of links at the same level. Therefore, it is convenient for training the entire net by training each link separately. In general, two methods are used for obtaining CPM for each root-feature node pair:
Other reasoning engines may be employed in place of the Bayes net. For example, in Pattern Recognition and Neural Networks by B. D. Ripley (Cambridge University Press, 1996), a variety of different classifiers are described that can be used to solve pattern recognition problems, where having the right feature is normally the most important consideration. Such classifiers include linear discriminant analysis methods, flexible discriminants, (feed-forward) neural networks, non-parametric methods, tree-structured classifiers, and belief networks (such as Bayesian networks). It will be obvious to anyone of ordinary skill in such methods that any of these classifiers can be adopted as the reasoning engine for practice of the present invention.
The value index of an image record can be calculated at any time after capture of the image record and can be recalculated at any time after additional image data becomes available. At all of these times, the archival image record is stored in memory and an indication of the value index can be associated with the image record. The indication can be recorded in metadata in a digital image file or one of a set of digital image files. The indication can also be stored in a separate file, or within an image of the image record either visibly or by steganographic embedment or the like.
The indication can be in the form of the set of information data, the value index, or both. The selection of the particular form is a matter of convenience in a particular use. The value index can be stored as calculated (also referred to here as the "calculated index") or in an alternative form, for example, compressed by Huffman coding. In the following, the value index is generally discussed in the form of a saved set of information data that is stored within the digital file of a respective image record, like considerations apply to other variations.
The indication of the value index can be associated with an image record in the same manner as other metadata. For example, such indication can be associated with an image record by storing the value index within a digital image file. This is particularly convenient, if the image record is limited to a single digital file, since this deters accident dissociation of the value index from the image record. A particular example of metadata within an image file is a TIFF IFD within an Exif image file. Alternatively, value indexes can be stored separately. Other metadata associated with the image records can be handled in the same manner. Security and access permissions information can be included to control access to the information.
After capture, the image records can be stored as a database and can be retained in or transferred to a database unit that allows access to the image records and respective value indexes. The database unit can be internal to the camera or can be separate. The database unit can also be in the form of multiple separated components linked directly or via a network. Suitable hardware, software, file formats, compression/decompression schemes, and other criteria for storing and accessing image records and metadata are well known to those of skill in the art. In a particular embodiment, the database unit is external to the camera and is addressable independent of the camera. As the stored image records are utilized for one or more purposes, usage parameters of the individual image records are tracked, and the value indexes of the image records are revised responsive to the respective utilization. Value indexes are likewise revised when other data, such as user reaction data becomes available.
Value indexes can be revised by means of a full recalculation, if information data available or can be revised by modification of the existing value index. In a continuation of an earlier-discussed simplified example, each utilization of an image record can be assigned a value of one and can be added to the preexisting value index. Similarly, the value index of an image record could be raised by a uniform increment at the time of any utilization, and could be lowered by a likewise uniform, negative increment at each passage of a preset time period without utilization.
In the above procedure, each value index provides the intrinsic value of a particular image. The value index can alternatively provide a value relative to other images in a collection. The former approach can be particularly advantageous if image records are expected to be moved between different databases or different databases are likely to be combined or split in an unpredictable manner. In that case, repeated recalculation of value indexes can be avoided. The latter approach can be advantageous if single database is likely to be used and there is a need for repeated comparisons of the image records in the database. For example, when a capacity limit is exceeded, a database unit can automatically request user authorization to delete images based upon relative value indexes. It is possible to combine both approaches. For example, image records can be assigned intrinsic value indexes in a camera and later be reassigned corresponding relative value indexes in a database unit relative to all or a subset of the image records in the database unit.
The value indexes of a particular set of image records can be based upon information limited to an individual user or can be based upon information from a defined group of people or can be based upon information from a large, and possibly unidentified, group of people, such as viewers of a public web site. The inclusion of more or less people is likely to change resulting value indexes. For example, usage of a set of image records by a relatively small social group, such as family members, has a good likelihood of being primarily based upon common interests, such as preserving memories; while usage of the same set of image records by a large group of strangers is more likely to be based upon different interests, such as newsworthiness or artistic merit. Since the value index ordinarily relates to inputs at capture by a single person, the photographer, it is preferred that later modification of resulting value indexes be limited to a group of persons likely to have the same interests as the photographer. This helps maintain the value of the value index for the photographer.
The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention.
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Our panel of experts weighs in on four of the biggest questions in racing this week.
Turn 1: Will a driver who is not in the Chase win one of the final nine races on the schedule? If not, explain why. If so, pick the driver and the race and explain why.
Terry Blount, ESPN.com: I'll say no. If you judge it strictly on what has happened earlier this year, probably not. Eight of the nine remaining racetracks had events earlier this year. Seven of those were won by Chasers. And Tony Stewart won at Homestead last year. Non-Chaser Ryan Newman won at Martinsville in April, but that was a bit of a fluke after a crazy late restart. Almost anyone can win at Talladega, but everywhere else, Kyle Busch is the one real threat to do it. Even though 31 other drivers start each race, only four or five have any realistic shot at winning.
Ed Hinton, ESPN.com: We'll probably see a non-Chaser win, a la Clint Bowyer at Talladega last year and Jamie McMurray at Charlotte the year before that. Who and where? Cartier and Tiffany in a joint effort with Waterford couldn't produce that kind of crystal ball. So here's a stab: Kyle Busch barely lost to Brad Keselowski at Talladega in the spring, so let's reverse the fortunes and say the roulette ball falls into the 18 slot at Casino de Alabama in October.
Ryan McGee, ESPN The Magazine: Yes, and not just one driver or one race. I think Kyle Busch and Newman could both win races and I think Busch in particular is totally motivated to win multiple checkered flags and kind of blow things up during the Chase. I have my eye on Dover and Phoenix for Busch. Newman is the defending champ at Martinsville and is very good at New Hampshire.
David Newton, ESPN.com: Yes. Only once (2008) since the Chase was implemented in 2004 has a non-Chase driver not won one of the final 10 races. There are two very talented non-Chase drivers in Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards, who are capable of winning almost any week. There is Talladega where anything can happen, although one of the current 12 Chase drivers has won the past five races there. Four of the first 27 races were won by a driver not among these 12, so you have to figure there will be at least one out of the final 10. I'll predict Busch wins at Talladega. He was second there in the spring and he won't be driving just to survive like many of the Chase drivers will.
Turn 2: Imagine NASCAR without Chicagoland winner Brad Keselowski. What kind of impact is he having on the sport?
Blount: Only a Dale Earnhardt Jr. title would be better. Just look at Keselowski's year: His season-opening Twitter explosion at Daytona; saying all drugs should be banned after the Allmendinger situation; indirectly calling out the Hendrick boys on car manipulation and forcing a rule change; his unapologetic water-bottle toss at Atlanta; starting the Chase with a victory. Keselowski always is entertaining, on and off the track. In an era where so many drivers guard their opinions in fear of angering a sponsor, Brad K. just lets it fly and says what he thinks. Agree or disagree, everyone wants to listen. But he does it based on rational thought without unfiltered anger, a lesson the Busch brothers should have learned long ago.
Hinton: There hasn't been such a guarantee of a rollicking good time whenever a driver walks into a room since the primes of Darrell Waltrip and Rusty Wallace. The guy lights up racetracks and then lights up winners' news conferences. NASCAR without him? Same old blah blah blah blah as we heard for nearly a decade from fans about vanilla personalities. Since he burst onto the scene in 2009, the moaning and groaning and "bo-ring" complaints sure have ebbed. Now he's turning his act from the occasional to the full-time, and spreading the pizzazz throughout NASCAR. It's all good and it's all needed.
McGee: A growing impact. His willingness to say whatever is on his mind and then, just as importantly, back it up on the racetrack appears to be winning people over. There hasn't been a 20-something guy with the ability to attract new fans to come along in a while. The difference between BK and, say, Kyle Busch, is that he was handed a chance to be the good guy early on via the Carl Edwards feud. Some say that the Twitter thing is overplayed, but its impact can't be discounted. He also makes people mad, which is just as valuable as making them love you. Selfishly, as a reporter I love the guy because he's tape-recorder gold whenever he talks.
Newton: It would be a lot less exciting for sure. Keselowski says what's on his mind and dares to challenge the hierarchy of NASCAR perhaps more than any driver. He stood up to veterans Carl Edwards and Denny Hamlin when they attacked him for his aggressive style entering the sport. He scoffed at tradition by showing up at the Myers Brothers Luncheon in Las Vegas last year wearing jeans and an untucked shirt while the rest of the 2011 Chase class wore suits. His tweets from the track after Juan Pablo Montoya hit the jet dryer during the Daytona 500 were legendary in social media lore and got more attention than the race itself. He brings back that old-school bravado that the sport is missing, that the sport needs. And he backs it all up with a boatload of talent that has him in position to win his first title.
Turn 3: Jeff Gordon saw his luck turn bad again at Chicagoland. Did his chance at a fifth championship come to an end when his throttle got stuck and he wrecked? Why or why not?
Blount: Probably, but it's not impossible to come back and win the title after a bad start. Jimmie Johnson finished 25th in the 2010 Chase opener and 39th in 2006, but came back to win the championship in both years. However, JJ started both those playoffs in second place. He had five regular-season wins in 2010 and four in 2006. In the six other Chase seasons, no other Chase champ finished worse than sixth in the first playoff race. So, yes, Gordon is done.
Hinton: It's not over, but it's over. It's not THAT he went out Sunday, but HOW he went out. A stuck throttle is just about as scary as it gets for a driver. Bobby Labonte did recover from such a fright to win a championship in 2000. But fuel injection was supposed to cut down drastically on stuck throttles, and now such a simple thing as a return spring rears its head. That can't help a driver's confidence. To come back now, Gordon would have to climb past 11 tough competitors with the wind out of his sails.
McGee: Toast. I hate it for the guy, but he's a full race worth of points behind and the odds are slim to none that all 11 guys in front of him will fall that far back. I've already heard people start with stories of "Yeah, but Jimmie Johnson finished 39th in the first Chase race of '06 and 25th in '10 and still won both titles!" True, but that was under the old points system. This new system makes you pay for a bad day in a much bigger way.
Newton: It doesn't look good, but don't slam the door on Gordon yet. He was 42 points behind Kyle Busch 10 races before the regular-season finale at Richmond. He finished three points ahead of Busch for the final wild-card spot, so making up 47 points in nine races isn't impossible. As we've seen in most Chase years, almost every driver has at least one bad race. Jimmie Johnson was 156 points out -- about the same deficit as Gordon under the current point system -- with six races remaining in 2006 and won it all. Gordon was in position for a solid top-5 before his throttle stuck on Sunday at Chicagoland and sent him into the wall. It would have been his fourth straight top-5 coupled with a third and two seconds to finish the regular season. It will take an almost flawless run the rest of the way, but it can be done.
Turn 4: Team owner Roger Penske's success in Indy car racing is unmatched, but he has never won a Sprint Cup title. Now Keselowski is atop the points standings. What would a Cup title do for Penske's legacy?
Blount: Penske's shining legacy as one of the best team owners in the history of auto racing, if not the best ever, is set whether he wins a Cup title or not. But a Cup championship would be a great way to cap a remarkable career for one of the classiest gentlemen ever to grace the sport. And it also would place a much-needed positive reflection on what has been a difficult couple of years with a lot of controversy in his NASCAR program, from Kurt Busch's dismissal to the surprising move to jettison Dodge and AJ Allmendinger's drug suspension.
Hinton: It would cement his place as the most diversified car owner ever in American racing, but much more: It would be a reward for all those decades Penske has spent as one of NASCAR's best citizens. From the 1970s to this very day, the man has steadfastly refused to tolerate cheating on his teams. It's only fair now that NASCAR should give something back to the man who has given so much class and dignity to NASCAR, cleanly, above and beyond the call.
McGee: I've never believed that "The Captain" needs any sort of validation in his life, business or racing. If he hung it up today we'd be singing the same praises to him, Cup or no Cup. But I do think that, as cool-headed as he always appears, on the inside the thought of not having that title really eats at his gut. That's a testament to him as a competitor. I'm pretty sure if I'd won 15 Indy 500s and was worth $1.1 billion I'd be on a beach somewhere, but he just keeps pushing.
Newton: Penske always will be best known for his dominance in the IndyCar Series -- that is his passion. But a title in NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series would solidify him as the greatest owner in all of motorsports. No longer will we be able to say he's won 23 national championships -- 12 in IndyCar -- but he's never won one in NASCAR's premier series. There no longer will be that asterisk beside his name.


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EWING — Five months after a natural gas explosion decimated Ewing's South Fork development, the process of restoring homes that were battered or destroyed is underway.
Tensions have begun to subside in the community, where nearly every one of the 130 homes was damaged to some degree in the disastrous explosion that occurred when a work crew struck a gas line March 4. The accident resulted in the death of a local resident and injuries to several workmen.
Some residents have expressed anger and frustration with a process they believe has taken too long, leaving 37 homes empty, while some other residents lived in battered houses with boarded up windows.
"We're definitely moving forward, finally," said Steve Wernick, a South Fork resident who has not been able to live in his home since the blast.
By the end of next week, owners of four of the 37 homes that have been left uninhabitable will be able to return, said Al Pellegrino of P&A Management, which runs the community for the homeowners association.
An Iowa-based disaster restoration company hired to manage the reconstruction process, GC3, began working on the site in the past few weeks after going through a permitting process.
"Certainly, so far, they're handling things the way they should," Wernick said.
The contractors appear to be working in a professional manner, Wernick said, and the project feels like it's moving at a good pace to this point.
The project will involve the demolition and reconstruction of about eight homes that are beyond repair and the restoration of just about every other house in the community as contractors take on a variety of damage from nail pops to shattered windows to cracked walls.
The contractor is working simultaneously on the entire development, with the priority of getting everybody back into their homes, Pellegrino said.
GC3 will also work to establish an adequate timeline for the work to be completed, Pellegrino said, though that will vary for each residence depending on the nature and magnitude of the damage.
The board is providing residents with constant updates through emails, he said, and homeowners should address the board with any questions they have.
GC3, which is managing the project on site, has hired local subcontractors to do the work, he said. Pellegrino did not disclose who the subcontractors were, but said that about 90 percent of them are in place.
"They're keeping us in the loop on the new process," Wernick said.
While residents seem to be happy with the direction of the work, there was still some animosity at a recent meeting with the board, he said.
"It's just kind of a residual anger at the realization that we completely wasted several months," Wernick said.
P&A dismissed the original contractor, Cornerstone Appraisal & Restoration Services of Princeton, in early June, telling residents that the magnitude of the damage revealed in the engineer's reports made it necessary to make the change.
Then on June 30, the board introduced Scozzari, a Pennington firm, to South Fork residents as the new general contractor for the site, residents said, only to later announce that they would again go in a new direction.
In early July, the board settled on GC3, which they announced July 17.
If the process had been handled better, the construction that is happening now could have been handled months ago, Wernick said.
Brendan McGrath may be reached at email@example.com. Follow him on Twitter @BrendanRMcGrath. Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.


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Barry Reynolds is a Senior Training Officer and the Coordinator for Career Development Programs for the Wisconsin Department of Justice, Training and Standards Bureau. Barry is responsible for the development, maintenance, and implementation of leadership and management education programs for all levels of Wisconsin statewide law enforcement. Barry is also a certified instructor with the International Association of Chief's of Police in the prestigious Leadership in Police Organizations Program, the flagship leadership development program of the IACP.
Barry hold's a Master of Science Degree in Management and writes extensively on issues related to leadership and management in law enforcement agencies. He has extensive experience as an instructor and conference presenter on a variety of law enforcement topics, and is the founder and owner of Police Leadership Resources and the Policeleaders.com website.
Barry retired from active law enforcement with over thirty years of experience, including fourteen years of supervisory experience. During his active law enforcement career Barry served as both a patrol and investigative supervisor, and also held positions as the 911 Communications Supervisor and Field Training Unit Supervisor, among others. His career accomplishments include two Outstanding Service Awards, an Exemplary Performance Award, and the Department Award for Bravery.
3 advantages of becoming a values-based police agency - 07/02/20151
3 rules for managing conflict on your command staff - 10/02/2014
4 keys to develop police leaders of the future - 09/04/20141
5 simple rules for managing your police agency's budget - 08/07/20142
How to change culture in your police department - 03/13/20144
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Certificate IV in Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Cultural Arts
Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT)
Certificate IV
|Mid Year Intake?
|Study Mode
|Entry Requirements
|CIT Reid
|Full-time internal
Certificate III in Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Cultural Arts or equivalent
Course Description
This qualification is part of the Visual Arts, Craft and Design Training Package. It reflects the role of people who work in an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander cultural arts context. They produce work that shows a well-developed command of technique in their chosen art form and are able to apply solutions to a defined range of unpredictable problems. They have broad and integrated factual, technical and theoretical knowledge with cognitive skills that allow them to analyse, compare and act on information from a range of sources.
Subjects you can Study
Core: Participate in OHS processes; Produce drawings to communicate ideas; Develop and apply knowledge of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander cultural arts; Produce work that expresses own Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander identity; Realise a creative project; Research history and theory to inform own arts practice. Electives: Increase depth of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander dance techniques; Produce computer-aided drawings; Experiment with moulding and casting techniques; Explore the use of colour; Source and apply design industry knowledge; Select sites for creative projects and plan work; Experiment with techniques to produce ceramics; Enhance, manipulate and output photo images; plus more.
About Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT)The Canberra Institute of Technology is a large multi-campus provider of a wide range of vocational education and training programs. CIT offers over 400 programs at different levels through six campuses across Canberra.
The CIT also offers a range of courses at its Learning Centres at Gungahlin, Tuggeranong and Reid. Students will be able to study in these centres at their own pace and at times that suit them. The centres aim to offer all the specialist support students will need for successful study.
CIT Award programs are endorsed by industry and accredited by the CIT Advisory Council under delegation from the ACT Accreditation and Registration Council.
Studying at CIT is different from the school or university systems. Unlike universities, which offer a more general and theory-based education, CIT focuses on teaching the skills and knowledge for jobs. CIT aims to provide quality programs and services, relevant curricula and modern facilities.
CIT programs cater for full or part-time students as well as people in either full-time or part-time employment. Some courses can be studied online or at an individual pace via one of the flexible Learning Centres. CIT classes are small, the average size being 20 students.
Courses are run only if there are enough students and resources. Each course has its own entry requirements. Selection criteria and/or selection processes apply to many high demand programs.
CIT offers traineeship programs which are advertised in local newspapers. VET FEE-HELP and FEE-HELP is available for eligible programs where students meet the requirements.
Provider CRICOS: 00001K RTO code: 0101;HE
Certificate IVCourse code: CUV40211
CIT Reid
- Full-time internal = 0.5 year
15 units: 6 core; 9 elective
Entry Requirements
Certificate III in Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Cultural Arts or equivalent
Indigenous students can apply for a CIT Indigenous scholarship. Information is available through the Yurauna Centre.
Life after Study
Related Careers
Artists conceive and create visual representations to investigate, respond to or communicate an impression or idea.
Craftspersons design, make and repair objects that have both functional and artistic qualities, working with wood, metal, glass, leather, ceramics, textiles and other materials.


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A demonstration of an Anti-Aging Hand Treatment using Estelina's products.
3D Nail Art Tutorial
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Troubleshooter: Subtle Ombre with Gel-Polish
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Acrylic Gel Nail Art: Water Marble Tutorial 3
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CND Additives Nail Art How-To
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Anti-Aging Treatment Service Demo by LCN
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Gehwol's Crack, Callus & Dry Skin Treatment
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Celebrity Nails: Awards Season 201652 photos
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Dereck Chisora spit in the face of Wladimir Klitschko before fighting his brother Vitali. He then got in a brawl with fellow British fighter David Haye at the post-fight press conference.
Chisora is crazy.
But he's not the only boxer in history who left a few screws in another room. Far from it. Here are a few other boxers known for being pretty nuts.
(Note: The videos included are not safe for work.)


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"I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full Victory." Dwight D Eisenhower, D- DAY – June 6, 1944
The Great Debate UK
D-Day Dispatch: The first reporter on the beach
Google juice dampens news headlines
– Mic Wright is Online News Editor at Stuff. The views expressed are his own –