Abstract: A method for automatically extracting data from a chart includes generating and displaying a graphical user interface (GUI) enabling a user to select a screen area covering one or more screens at least partially, the screen area displaying a chart; in response to determining that the user has selected the screen area, automatically taking a screenshot of the selected screen area and automatically performing an image analysis of the screenshot for extracting data from the chart contained in the screenshot; in response to determining that the image analysis of the screenshot has completed successfully, automatically displaying or enabling a selectable GUI element; and in response to a select action of the user having selected said selectable GUI element, outputting the extracted data.

Abstract: The invention relates to an image analysis method for automatically extracting data from a bar chart. A processor receives a digital image of a bar chart comprising a plurality of o-bars. The processor provides a plurality of hypothesis charts respectively specifying a sequence of h-bars, a particular way of grouping the h-bars into categories, and an injective mapping from the o-bars to the h-bars. The processor compares the h-bars of the hypothesis charts with the o-bars of the bar chart in the image for assigning the o-bars to series and categories in accordance with the one of the hypothesis charts whose h-bars are most similar to the o-bars and for returning the series and the category assigned to said o-bars.

Abstract: The invention relates to an image analysis method for automatically extracting data from a bar chart. A processor receives a digital image of a bar chart comprising a plurality of o-bars. The processor provides a plurality of hypothesis charts respectively specifying a sequence of h-bars, a particular way of grouping the h-bars into categories, and an injective mapping from the o-bars to the h-bars. The processor compares the h-bars of the hypothesis charts with the o-bars of the bar chart in the image for assigning the o-bars to series and categories in accordance with the one of the hypothesis charts whose h-bars are most similar to the o-bars and for returning the series and the category assigned to said o-bars.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for automatically extracting data from a chart. A capture module generates and displays a GUI. The GUI enables a user to select a screen area covering one or more screens such that a screen area displaying a chart is selected. In response to determining that the user has selected the screen area and does not change the selection, the capture module automatically takes a screenshot of the selected screen area and automatically extracts data from the chart. In response to determining that the image analysis successfully extracted the data, the capture module displays or enables a selectable GUI element. In response to a select action of the user of the selectable GUI element, the capture module outputs the extracted data.

Abstract: The invention relates to a computer-implemented method for displaying data values calculated by a spreadsheet-function, the method comprising: Specifying one or more formal output parameters by specifying, for each formal output parameter, a first cell of a spreadsheet document, Specifying one or more formal input parameters by specifying, for each formal input parameter, a second cell, Specifying a spreadsheet-function body, wherein the specified spreadsheet-function in operation provides a user with the option for: Calculating a first output parameter value, Displaying the one or more first output parameter values or a data value having been derived thereof in a 3rd cell, Calculating a second output parameter value, and Displaying the one or more second output parameter values or a data value having been derived thereof in a 4th cell, wherein the 3rd cell and the 4th cell display their respective data content within the spreadsheet document at the same time.

Abstract: The invention provides for a method of solving a set of page layout constraints by a computer comprising the steps receiving a set of page layout constraints. The method further comprises the step of dividing the set of page layout constraints into a groups dependent upon the type of constraint. Each of the set of page layout constraints is a member of only one of the groups. The method further comprises the step of transforming each constraint of each of the groups into a resource constraint. The method further comprises the step of assigning a priority to each of the groups. The method further comprises the step of solving each of the groups in the order of the priority using a resource allocation algorithm. All members of a group chosen from the groups are solved simultaneously.

Abstract: The invention provides for a method of solving a set of page layout constraints by a computer comprising the steps receiving a set of page layout constraints. The method further comprises the step of dividing the set of page layout constraints into a groups dependent upon the type of constraint. Each of the set of page layout constraints is a member of only one of the groups. The method further comprises the step of transforming each constraint of each of the groups into a resource constraint. The method further comprises the step of assigning a priority to each of the groups. The method further comprises the step of solving each of the groups in the order of the priority using a resource allocation algorithm. All members of a group chosen from the groups are solved simultaneously.

Abstract: A method of entering page layout constraints into a computer. The method comprises providing a container for representing a page layout. The method further comprises providing a set of graphical objects, each having a set of object gridlines for delimiting important graphical features. Each of the set of object gridlines has a span. The method further comprises selecting and placing the set of graphical objects one by one within the container. Each of the selected graphical objects are positioned by snapping the position of the span to a non-empty gridline or by adding a new gridline. The method further comprises determining at least one pair of colliding gridlines. Colliding gridlines have a parallel direction and at least one pair of spans which at least partially overlap in the parallel direction. The method further comprises inserting page layout constraints between the at least one pair of colliding gridlines.

Abstract: The invention relates to a computer-implemented method for displaying data values calculated by a spreadsheet-function, the method comprising: Specifying one or more formal output parameters by specifying, for each formal output parameter, a first cell of a spreadsheet document, Specifying one or more formal input parameters by specifying, for each formal input parameter, a second cell, Specifying a spreadsheet-function body, wherein the specified spreadsheet-function in operation provides a user with the option for: Calculating a first output parameter value, Displaying the one or more first output parameter values or a data value having been derived thereof in a 3rd cell, Calculating a second output parameter value, and Displaying the one or more second output parameter values or a data value having been derived thereof in a 4th cell, wherein the 3rd cell and the 4th cell display their respective data content within the spreadsheet document at the same time.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for efficient agenda drafting, synchronization and display comprising: displaying visual document elements of an electronic document, the elements comprising one or multiple agendas and topic boxes, introducing a user command via an interface, the user command comprising the insertion or deletion of agendas, overviews and topic boxes or the editing of topic boxes, automatically propagating all changes introduced by the user to any of the visual document elements of the same document section, the automated propagation of changes synchronizing all agendas, overviews and topic boxes, displaying the synchronized visual document elements.

Abstract: A method of entering a presentation into a computer. A dynamic grid is provided by adding graphical objects to a logical container, i.e. an empty presentation page. The dynamic grid facilitates entering of constraints. The constraints can be used as an input for a constraint solver to provide an automatic layout.

Abstract: A method of entering a presentation into a computer. A dynamic grid is provided by adding graphical objects to a logical container, i.e. an empty presentation page. The dynamic grid facilitates entering of constraints. The constraints can be used as an input for a constraint solver to provide an automatic layout.

Abstract: A system and process for generating a new video sequence from frames taken from an input video clip. Generally, this involves computing a similarity value between each of the frames of the input video clip and each of the other frames. For each frame, the similarity values associated therewith are analyzed to identify potentially acceptable transitions between it and the remaining frames. A transition is considered acceptable if it would appear smooth to a person viewing a video containing the frames, or at least if the transition is one of the best available. A new video sequence is then synthesized using the identified transitions to specify an order in which the frames associated with these transitions are to be played. Finally, the new video sequence is rendered by playing the frames of the input video clip in the order specified in the synthesizing procedure.

Abstract: A system and process for generating a 3D video animation of an object referred to as a 3D Video Texture is presented. The 3D Video Texture is constructed by first simultaneously videotaping an object from two or more different cameras positioned at different locations. Video from, one of the cameras is used to extract, analyze and synthesize a video sprite of the object of interest. In addition, the first, contemporaneous, frames captured by at least two of the cameras are used to estimate a 3D depth map of the scene. The background of the scene contained within the depth map is then masked out, and a clear shot of the scene background taken before filming of the object began, leaving just the object. To generate each new frame in the 3D video animation, the extracted region making up a “frame” of the video sprite is mapped onto the previously generated 3D surface.

Abstract: A system and process for generating a video animation from the frames of a video sprite with user-controlled motion is presented. An object is extracted from the frames of an input video and processed to generate a new video sequence or video sprite of that object. In addition, the translation velocity of the object for each frame is computed and associated with each frame in the newly generated video sprite. The system user causes a desired path to be generated for the object featured in the video sprite to follow in the video animation. Frames of the video sprite showing the object of interest are selected and inserted in a background image, or frame of a background video, along the prescribed path. The video sprite frames are selected by comparing a last-selected frame to the other video sprite frames, and selecting a video sprite frame that is identified in the comparison as corresponding to an acceptable transition from the last-selected frame.