Abstract: A method for projecting an exfoliated picture by outputting direction information of image data having three or more dimensions. The method includes calculating direction information of each voxel using voxel data of a plurality of pixels, and generating the exfoliated picture with the direction information.

Abstract: An electronic wall map design and printing system enables a user to select or specify the size, coverage area and detail level of a wall map and to customize the wall map based on the user's needs via a fully automated electronic interface. For ease of viewing during the creation of the wall map, the design and printing system displays the wall map being designed on the electronic user interface at a first detail level or resolution that is less than the level of detail or resolution used to print the wall map. However, the user may use the electronic interface to view portions of the wall map on the user interface at the same level of detail to be actually printed on the wall map to thereby enable the user to assure that the level of detail to be printed on the wall map is adequate for the user's purposes without making the wall map, as printed, hard to read. Once the user has designed the wall map by selecting the size, coverage area, and other customizable features such as titles, specialized icons, etc.

Abstract: A graphical display animation system is disclosed that supports timed modification of element property values of elements within a graphical display. The animation system utilizes a display structure for maintaining a set of elements corresponding to displayed objects within a graphically displayed scene. The elements include a variable property value. The animation system also utilizes a property system that maintains properties associated with elements maintained by the display structure. The properties include dynamic properties that are capable of changing over time—and thus affecting the appearance of the corresponding element on a graphical display. The animation system includes animation classes, from which animation objects are instantiated and associated with an element property at runtime. The animation object instances provide time varying values affecting values assigned to the dynamic properties maintained by the property system.

Abstract: A user of a virtual object or computer model uses a haptic interface device in the real world to manipulate a virtual tool in a virtual environment to interact and modify the virtual object. The user uses the virtual tool in a sculpting mode to modify the shape of the virtual object by adding, removing, or modifying the material of the object. The user feels an interaction force from the virtual tool as it interacts with and modifies the virtual object. The designer can set geometric constraints, such as a constraint point, constraint line, or constraint surface, to limit or guide the movement of the virtual tool.

Abstract: A system and method for generating a realistic weather forecast visualization. Realistic weather graphics and animations are combined with a few of view of location of interest to allow weather presentation viewers to visualize future forecast weather conditions as the would actually be seen. A forecast weather video presentation may be formed by selecting and combining pre-rendered or pre-recorded video segments based on user selected time period and location parameters and model generated forecast weather data.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for constructing and viewing a computer model image. The invention comprises the following steps: at least one zone of the image is selected; the part of the image that is located outside the selected zone (2) is displayed with standard display attributes; specific display attributes are defined for the objects to be displayed in the selected zone (2); and the part of the image that is located inside the selected zone (2) is displayed with the specific display attributes.

Abstract: A method for approximating the lighting of a 2-dimensional image that is to be incorporated into a live-action scene using an image processing tool. The 2-dimensional image has an interior defined by an edge. The method includes: approximating a plurality of edge normal vectors along the edge of the image, approximating a plurality of interior normal vectors across the interior of the image, and rendering the image based on the plurality of edge normal vectors and the plurality of interior normal vectors.

Abstract: A method and computing device for rendering graphical objects is provided. A transformation to be applied to a graphical object is determined. Verification data corresponding to the transformation is determined. The transformation is adjusted using the verification data. The graphical object transformed with the transformation is rendered via an output interface.

Abstract: A method for processing video image data for display during interactive game play is provided. During a game play session, processing of one or more images of the game play session is performed to adjust scene representation of objects at a first distance relative to objects at a second distance. During the game play session, the method generates a sharp image for a scene and produces a blur image of the scene. The method then generates a composited blend image of the sharp and blur images using data from z-dimension image data. The composited blend image has depth of field information provided by the z-dimension image data, and then rendering of the scene for display during the interactive game play. The method then repeats for the one or more images during the game play session.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for post-processing a 3D digital video signal, said digital video signal having a plurality of views with associated disparity maps. The invention is characterized in that said method comprises a first step of generating a projected disparity map from an original disparity map, and a second step of filling holes within said projected disparity map, the first step comprising the sub-step of removing isolated projected pixels on said projected disparity map by filtering them.

Abstract: A method of performing stretch-driven mesh parameterization. A method of performing stretch-driven mesh parameterization comprising, computing a spectral analysis to parameterize a mesh, and iterating a stretch optimization calculation to further optimize the initial parameterization.

Abstract: A system and process for rendering and displaying an interactive viewpoint video is presented in which a user can watch a dynamic scene while manipulating (freezing, slowing down, or reversing) time and changing the viewpoint at will. The ability to interactively control viewpoint while watching a video is an exciting new application for image-based rendering. Because any intermediate view can be synthesized at any time, with the potential for space-time manipulation, this type of video has been dubbed interactive viewpoint video.

Abstract: A method for distributing photons among light sources when rendering an image of a scene using photon mapping includes the steps of computing a total energy for the scene, where the scene includes a plurality of light sources, and computing an average energy of the light sources. The method also includes the steps of comparing, for each of the light sources, the actual energy of the light source to an average energy of the light source and distributing photons to each of the light sources based on the comparison.

Abstract: A method and system estimates a reflectance function of an arbitrary scene. The scene is illuminated under various lighting condition. For each lighting condition there is an associated illumination image and an observed image. Multiple, non-overlapping kernels are determined for each pixel in a reflectance image from the pairs of illumination and observed images. A weight is then determined for each kernel to estimate the reflectance function represented as the reflectance image.

Abstract: A configuration is presented that enables viewing a plurality of data objects situated in a virtual space as the visual field defined in the virtual space is changed smoothly; and that at the same time enables: supplemental information in connection with displayed data objects to be displayed; information in connection with displayed data objects to be displayed in more detail; means for dialogue with a user to be provided in situations where required; and application programs linked to the display of information and associated with that information to be executed.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of providing a volumetric representation of a three-dimensional object. The method comprises several steps, including obtaining a line list of points of at least one set of lines having start and end points corresponding to intersection of the lines with object boundary positions and obtaining an approximate volumetric representation of the object. Then, a modified volumetric representation is produced by modifying the approximate volumetric representation based on the start and end points of the set of lines and the approximate volumetric representation. The resultant modified volumetric representation of the object is more accurate than the approximate volumetric representation of the object. Also, a resultant data set from the present invention that defines the volumetric representation of the object contains continuous data as to the shape of the object, rather than mere discrete data. Therefore, the resultant data set contains more realistic data defining the object.

Abstract: An enlargement feature of a graphical user interface (GUI) is disclosed. When a portion of a digital image displayed in the GUI is selected for enlargement, an enlarged version of the selected portion is displayed adjacent to the remaining portion of the original image that was not selected for enlargement. The digital image may include a plurality of image portions (e.g., individual display windows) selectable for enlargement, such as those found in a CATV electronic programming guide (EPG). In one embodiment, hidden supplemental data corresponding to the selected portion is only revealed in the enlarged version of the selected portion, so that it can be more easily viewed. In another embodiment, an enlargement feature application program is downloaded to a local device that controls the GUI, in response to a subscriber accepting an offer presented by a service provider.

Abstract: A system and method for deploying one or more graphical programs on a personal digital assistant (PDA). One or more selected graphical programs may be programmatically converted to an executable format that can be executed by the portable computing device. For example, the graphical programs may be initially represented as a plurality of data structures that define or specify the operation of the respective graphical programs, and conversion software program may operate to access these data structures from memory and convert the data structures to an executable format suitable for the portable computing device. The executable may be transferred to the portable computing device for execution.

Abstract: A method and system that archive a three-dimensional site in a highly-compact manner such that real-time, three-dimensional exploration and interaction with the site with high-resolution graphics is enabled. During authoring, information is collected about a site, and processed into a walkmap comprising a number of maps. A visibility map indicates which ones of the many polygons that make up a site are potentially visible from a given region. A collision map establishes where a can navigate in the site. A ground map tracks the terrain for reproducing camera heights and viewing angles, and a trigger map causes scripts to be fired from locations in the site. During navigation, only the maps relevant to a user's current position are active, whereby rapid rendering of an appropriate image for the user's current perspective is possible in real-time, providing a first person, perspective tour of the site in a perceived three-dimensional environment.

Abstract: Methods for rendering a 3D object includes determining incident illumination for object surface points, determining surface colors associated with these points, determining diffuse illumination values associated with these points, associating a 3D grid having vertices the object, determining input scattering values for the vertices from the incident illumination and the surface colors associated with these points, low pass filtering the input scattering values to determine modified scattering values for the vertices, determining output scattering values for these points from the modified scattering values for the vertices, and determining reflected illumination values for these points from the output scattering values, surface material colors, and incident illumination for these points