Abstract: Systems, methods and program storage devices are disclosed, which comprise instructions to cause one or more processing units to dynamically generate refined normal maps for 2D texture maps, e.g., supplied by a programmer or artist. Generally speaking, there are two pertinent properties to keep in balance when generating normal vectors comprising a normal map: “smoothness” and “bumpiness.” The smoothness of the normal vectors is influenced by how many neighboring pixels are involved in the “smoothening” calculation. Incorporating the influence of a greater number of neighboring pixels' values reduces the overall bumpiness of the normal map, as each pixel's value takes weight from those neighboring pixels.

Abstract: One or more techniques and/or systems are disclosed for consolidating one or more glyphs of a font. A common contour, comprising a glyph contour that occurs more than once in one or more glyphs of the font, can be identified. A common simple glyph can be created for the identified common contour. A reference to the common simple glyph can replace one or more occurrences of the common contour in the one or more glyphs of the font. Given that the common simple glyph is generally smaller than the common contour, an amount of font related data for the font can be reduced, thus reducing overhead associated with storing and/or presenting the font.

Abstract: At the time of using a haptic device to present to a user haptics which a first virtual object superimposed on the haptic device receives from a second virtual object superimposed on a real object, the user is enabled to touch within the second virtual object, regardless of the real object. Accordingly, the haptics received from the second virtual object is obtained using a first haptic event model of the first virtual object and a second haptic event model of the second virtual object, and while the first haptic event model corresponds to computer graphics information of the first virtual object, the shape of the first virtual object differs from that of the haptic device, such that instructions can be made regarding the inside of the real object, using the first virtual object.

Abstract: A method fits primitive shapes to a set of three-dimensional (3D) points by first converting the set of 3D points to a distance field. Each element in the distance field is associated with a distance to a nearest point in the set of 3D points. A set of two or more candidates are hypothesizing from the primitive shapes, and a score is determined for each candidate using the distance field. Then, the primitive shape to fit to the 3D points is selected from the candidates according to their scores.

Abstract: A mobile terminal and a method of controlling a mobile terminal are provided. A depth level of a stereoscopic graphic object using binocular parallax is controlled according to a user's usage pattern, and displaying of the stereoscopic graphic object is controlled according to various events such as various input signals.

Abstract: A user can dynamically invoke and control the display of secondary data visualizations based on a selected element of a primary data visualization. Previews of the secondary data visualizations are presented as the user interacts with the primary visualization. In response to user input, previews can be dynamically expanded, allowing a user to dynamically “drill down” into selected elements of the primary data visualization. Any suitable input mechanism can be used, including for example, a gesture such as a two-finger spreading motion to invoke previews of available secondary visualizations, wherein the axis defined by two points of contact determines which of the displayed previews of secondary visualizations is highlighted and/or expanded. In various embodiments, a hierarchy of visualizations can be established, and the user can navigate among two or more levels of visualizations in the same interactive manner.

Abstract: One exemplary embodiment involves performing a function on a container to determine a value for a container size attribute, wherein a contained element is contained by the container. Performing the function on the container involves determining whether the container constrains a contained element size attribute of the contained element. Performing the function on the container further involves performing the function on the contained element to determine a value for the contained element size attribute. If the container constrains the contained element size attribute, the function is passed information identifying how the container constrains the contained element size attribute. If the container does not constrain the contained element size attribute, the function is passed information identifying that the container does not constrain the contained element size attribute. Performing the function on the container further involves determining the value of the size attribute of the container.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure can be embodied in a method that includes dividing a Bezier curve representing a portion of a vector image to be rendered on a display of a computing device into a set of curve segments. Each of the curve segments is approximated using a circular arc from a set of circular arcs. An approximation error for each of the curve segments is determined. A spring constant is calculated as a function of the respective approximation error determined for each of the curve segments in the set of curve segments. The spring constant represents a relative magnitude of the respective approximation errors calculated for the approximated curve segments. The lengths of curve segments are adjusted based on the respective spring constant calculated for each curve segment in the set of curve segments.

Abstract: A control device for a display device including a plurality of scanning lines, a plurality of data lines traversing the plurality of scanning lines, and a plurality of pixels disposed at positions corresponding to intersections between the plurality of scanning lines and the plurality of data lines, the control device displaying a first character inputted in a predetermined region of the display device; and thereafter, displaying a second character different from the inputted character, superposed on the first character displayed in the predetermined region.

Abstract: A method for selecting an analysis procedure for a value series, including displaying a value series on a computer display monitor, receiving one or more sequences of user provided annotations, where the annotations overlay at least a sub-interval of the value series on the computer display monitor, using the sequences of user provided annotations to select an optimal value series analysis method from a set of value series analysis methods, where selecting an optimal value series analysis method includes determining parameter values for the optimal value series analysis method, and presenting the selected optimal value series analysis method and parameters, and the optimal reconstruction of the annotation sequences to the user.

Abstract: Automatic trend analysis is provided on a dataset. Upon selection of a data cell or chart point within a data representation, a trend chart is automatically generated in order to demonstrate how the data within the selection trends over time. The system may automatically configure the trend chart based on the metadata of a data source associated with a selected data such that no input or configuration is needed by a user. The system may identify the time hierarchies and other data attributes included in the metadata of the data source associated with a selected data cell and may automatically configure the axis settings and the trend lines according to metadata of the data source. The trend chart may also be configured to display multiple trend lines for comparing multiple data set trends over a specified time period.

Abstract: Search-based matching for multiple parameter sets in computer animation is disclosed. The search-based matching method can include receiving a selection of a first set of joint parameters in a first model to match to a second set of joint parameters in a second model, currently in operation, for an appendage of a computer-generated object. The method can also adjust the selected first set of joint parameters to match the second set of joint parameters. The method can further compare the adjusted first set of joint parameters to the second set of joint parameters. Based on the comparison, the method can switch from the second model to the first model and replace the second set of joint parameters with the adjusted first set of joint parameters. The method can then output the replacement first set of joint parameters for rendering the appendage of the object.

Abstract: A method of determining one or more representative color encodings is disclosed. A set of color encoding clusters is determined for a plurality of candidate color encodings based on a clustering criterion related to one or more desired perceptual attributes of the plurality of candidate color encodings. Each candidate color encoding is assigned to one cluster within the set of color encoding clusters. A representative color encoding is determined for each cluster within the set of color encoding clusters depending on the candidate color encodings assigned to each cluster.

Abstract: A method is provided for providing scroll-wheel functionality on a touchpad without the touchpad predefining a scroll-wheel. The method includes receiving data corresponding to progressive movement of a touch point on the touchpad, determining from the received data that the progressive movement is substantially elliptical, defining an ellipse around an ellipse center. The method further includes detecting, based on the determined movement, continued angular movement of the touch point around the ellipse center, and registering the continued angular movement as one or more scroll events in the computing system.

Abstract: A system and method for converting data generated in a computer aided design software component to an alternate, smaller format usable by a variety of alternate software components is provided. CAD data from a project having a plurality of objects is provided. Objects are identified and grouped into object data layers for processing, conversion and 3D model generation. The selected, grouped objects are processed by removing unnecessary data and redundancies, converted to an alternate format, transported to the alternate software component and regenerated by the alternate software component in its own environment.

Abstract: In an animation processing system, generating images to be viewable on a display using a computer that are generated based on scene geometry obtained from computer readable storage and animation data representing changes over time of scene geometry elements, but also images can be modified to include shading that is a function of positions of objects at other than the current instantaneous time for a frame render such that the motion effect shading would suggest motion of at least one of the elements to a viewer of the generated images. Motion effects provide, based on depiction parameters and/or artist inputs, shading that varies for at least some received animation data, received motion depiction parameters, for at least one pixel, a pixel color is rendered based on motion effect program output and at least some received scene geometry, such that the output contributes to features that would suggest the motion.

Abstract: A system includes a server and a client computer device. The server determines a graphical object visible from a view region and determines one or more parameters defining the graphical object visible from the view region. The server further transmits the determined one or more parameters to a client computing device. The client computing device includes a processor to generate the graphical object using the determined one or more parameters received from the server. The client computing device further includes a display device to display the generated graphical object within a computer generated modeled environment.

Abstract: A data broadcast display device guarantees stereoscopic perception by the user of a displayed 3D data broadcast image, while alleviating the discomfort a user experiences due to a delay in display. The data broadcast display device includes a reception unit that receives object data for generating the left-view and right-view objects, a display data generation unit that generates the left-view and right-view objects using the received object data while providing notification upon completion of the generation of each object, and a display control unit that determines, at predetermined time intervals, whether the notification has been received for both the left-view and right-view objects, includes both the left-view and right-view objects in a data broadcast image for display when determining affirmatively, and includes neither the left-view nor the right-view object in the data broadcast image for display when determining negatively.

Abstract: A robot is made to recognize and manipulate different types of cable harnesses in an assembly line. This is achieved by using a stereo camera system to define a 3D cloud of a given cable harness. Pose information of specific parts of the cable harness are determined from the 3D point cloud, and the cable harness is then re-presented as a collection of primitive geometric shapes of known dimensions, whose positions and orientations follow the spatial position of the represented cable harness. The robot can then manipulate the cable harness by using the simplified representation as a reference.

Abstract: Techniques are described for visualizing a product at the actual location in the environment at which the product is to be used or displayed. An embodiment of the approaches described herein may be used in the context of a computer-based system that can receive and store digital images, receive a request to manufacture a custom framed product including an identification of an image to be framed and a type of mat and/or frame, and display a preview image of the custom framed product that simulates the actual appearance of the product as closely as possible. With such a system, the preview image may be highly realistic under idealized lighting and display conditions.