Abstract: A method and apparatus for computing a level-of detail (LOD) value for the of texels of a texture map to pixels of a graphics image adapted to receive signals representing texel coordinates for texels of a texture map and pixel coordinates for pixels of a graphics image to calculate a level-of-detail (LOD). The apparatus computes the LOD by calculating the square of the ratio between the number of texels applied to one pixel from the texel and pixel coordinates, approximating a base-two logarithm of the square of the ratio, and dividing the result of the approximation by two to compute the LOD.

Abstract: An image processing system according to the present invention aiming at providing a function capable of efficiently managing and utilizing image data, comprises a display unit for displaying on a screen a composite area as an aggregation of unit areas into which images are inserted, and an operation unit for inserting a processing target image into the unit area within the composite area.

Abstract: Disclosed is a pseudo 3-D space representation system capable of creating a cubic pseudo 3-D space with a plurality of 2-D images by simple operation. An operation display means displays plural images to a user who is requested to specify a same area on each of two or more images by using an area specifying means. A specified area associating means associates the specified area on one image with the specified area on the other image as one set or plural sets of common parts. An image transforming means transforms one or both images by matching the specified areas by affine transformation and an image display means displays both images as superposed on one the other.

Abstract: In order to express undulation of a surface of an object realistically, a dynamic picture image generation device comprises a movement amount computation unit 310, which computes the movement amount for a vertex based on the connectedness, which is the degree of connection of a vertex to each skeleton, and on the reference movement amount, set for each skeleton of a model, which is the maximum value of the movement amount of a vertex connected only to the skeleton; a direction computation unit 311, which computes the movement direction of vertices comprised by each polygon; and a coordinate computation unit 312, which computes the coordinates of a vertex after a prescribed time, using the movement amount computed by the movement amount computation unit 310 and the movement direction computed by the direction computation unit 311.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed in which one or more standard faces are transformed into a target face so as to allow expressions corresponding to the standard face(s) to be used as animation vectors by the target face. In particular, a non-linear morphing transformation function is determined between the standard face(s) and the target face. The target face animation vectors are a function of the morphing transformation function and the animation vectors of the standard face(s).

Abstract: A system and method for generating a realistic weather forecast visualization. Realistic weather graphics and animations are combined with a view of a location of interest to allow weather presentation viewers to visualize future forecast weather conditions as they 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: 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: An image processing apparatus is constructed by a setting circuit for manually setting a first color processing parameter, a first color processing circuit for performing a first color process by using the first color processing parameter, a storing circuit for storing a second color processing parameter set in correspondence to the first color processing parameter as a reference value, and a second color processing circuit for performing a second color process different from the first color process by using the second color processing parameter, wherein in case of making the second color processing circuit function, the first color processing parameter is set to the reference value.

Abstract: A method for converting a subdivision surface, such as a Catmull-Clark subdivision surface, into a cubic Bezier surface defined by sixteen control points. The method includes (a) converting a subdivision face to Bezier control points using a conversion matrix using fifteen points and a dummy value for an unavailable sixteenth point; and (b) replacing one of the Bezier control points which corresponds to an extraordinary point on the subdivision face with the extraordinary point's limit point.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product for rendering gaseous volumetric objects scenes using an alpha channel. In one described implementation, the method determines a distance between a user to boundaries of a gaseous volume and then stores the distance in an alpha channel to arrive at an alpha value. Then the alpha value can be used as a factor assist in blending scene colors with gaseous colors to render virtually realistic pixels for the gaseous object from the perspective of a user's view of the object. The resulting scenes can then be used to simulate patchy fog, clouds, or other gases of more or less constant density and color.

Abstract: In the present invention, for an unprocessed joint, a joint index and a joint rotation angle are obtained (S25, S27). For the unprocessed vertex corresponding to the obtained joint index, a vertex index and a weight w for the vertex are obtained. On the basis of the weight w and the rotation angle in the current frame, coordinate values of the vertex buffer are changed. A quarternion q1 according to the joint rotation angle in the current frame and a unit quarternion are sphere-linear interpolated with the weight w. From the resultant quarternion q, a conversion matrix R is determined for the joint. An overall conversion matrix M is obtained as M=RJTB, where a matrix T represents a relative coordinates from a parent joint, a matrix J represents a basic rotation angle, and B denotes a conversion matrix of the parent joint.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process and device for representation on a digital television screen. The process for the representation on a digital television screen of a display comprising the representation of a video signal, the representation of applications and the representation of the navigator is characterized in that it comprises a step of detecting the activation of the navigator, a step of resizing the display of the video signal and the representation of applications according to one and the same homothetic reduction.

Abstract: A computer implemented method registers an image with a 3D physical object by first acquiring a 3D graphics model of an object. Multiple 3D calibration points a surface of the object and corresponding 3D model calibration points in the 3D graphics model are identified. The object is illuminated with a calibration image using a projector at a fixed location. The calibration image is aligned with each of the 3D calibration points on the surface of the 3D physical object to identify corresponding 2D pixels in the calibration image, and then a transformation between the 2D calibration pixels and the corresponding 3D model calibration points is determined to register the projector with the 3D physical object.

Abstract: Modifying a three-dimensional model includes constructing a bones infrastructure for a polygon mesh, removing edges of polygons in the polygon mesh to reduce a resolution of the polygon mesh, receiving an instruction to reduce a number of bones in the bones infrastructure, reducing the number of bones in the bones infrastructure in response to the instruction, and associate the polygon mesh with the bones infrastructure having a reduced number of bones.

Abstract: A method of generating a three-dimensional model of a scene from a plurality of photographs of the scene. The method includes voxels in an interior region and an exterior region of the scene in question and then examines the voxels to determine if they are empty or part of the objects in the scene. The interior region is divided into a plurality of interior voxels, that are preferably of the same size. The exterior region surrounds the interior space and is divided into exterior voxels having different sizes. The size of the exterior voxels increases as a function of the distance between the voxel and the interior region. The voxels that are furthest from the interior region are preferably infinite in size.

Abstract: A system and method for generating sample points that can generate the sample points in parallel. The sample points can be used in processing in parallel, with the results subsequently collected and used as necessary in subsequent rendering operations. Sample points are generated using a coarse Halton sequence, which makes use of coarse radical inverse values ?bi,M(j) as follows: ?bi,M(j)=?b(jM+i) where base “b” is preferably a prime number, but not a divisor of “M,” and “i” is an integer. Using this definition, the s-dimensional coarse Halton sequence USCHal,i,M, which may be used to define sample points for use in evaluating integrals, is defined as UsCHal,i,M=(?b1i,M(j), . . . , ?bsi,M(j)) where b1, . . . , bs are the first “s” prime numbers that are not divisors of “M.” Each value of “i” defines a subsequence that is a low-discrepancy sequence, and so can be used in connection with processing.

Abstract: A data signal for modifying a graphic scene displayed on at least one terminal, the graphic scene mode of a set of graphic objects and each object defined by at least one field. The data signal includes frames containing information for updating the graphic scene. Some of the frames also contain a command to completely replace the graphic scene with a new scene. Further, a method of transmitting a data signal to modify a graphic scene displayed on a terminal. Also, a terminal for displaying a graphic scene, the terminal processing a signal for modifying the graphic scene.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for blending two image that makes use of a color map which indicates colors in a foreground can be mixed with the background and how much of each source to mix. One embodiment of the invention restricts the use of the color map to only pixels in the foreground that correspond to a graphic (or effect) in the background. Another embodiment makes use of a gray scale matte which stores blending values for each pixel in the foreground.

Abstract: Patch-parallelized plane equation evaluation, for triangle membership testing, is performed with reduced dynamic range by referencing x and y coordinates to a base location which is (for each patch) in or near the patch.

Abstract: The present invention uses colors for displaying the results of information retrieval or analysis of pieces of input information so as to allow a user to visually and objectively understand the difference between the pieces of input information and a series of changes. An information comparison display apparatus, according to the present invention, comprises a unit for receiving pieces of input information; a unit for comparing the pieces of input information based on predetermined comparison criteria, and for determining characteristic elements to be assigned colors; a unit for assigning colors to the pieces of input information based on the results of comparison; and a unit for outputting the information, to which the colors have been assigned, to the outside.