Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to implement automated search-based problem determination and resolution systems in which a domain-specific data model for a class of complex systems, which is representative of structural relationships of entities within the class of complex systems, is utilized to provide enhanced domain-specific content searching and search results ranking for problem determination and resolution for complex systems.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided to capture a real three dimensional scene, including both color and depth information, and subsequently use the resulting color and depth information to produce separate images for a viewer's left and right eyes, thereby producing a stereoscopic view of the original scene.

Abstract: In a panoramic scene represented by a first environment map comprising a plurality of elements each associated with a color value representing color of the corresponding element, hotlink areas in the scene are defined by a second environment map comprising a plurality of elements. The elements of the second environment map correspond to the elements of said first environment map according to a mapping function. At least one element of the second environment map is associated with hotlink data identifying an action to be performed upon user selection of at least one element of the first environment map that correspond to the at least one element of the second environment map.

Abstract: A computer graphics system stores graphics data the represents one or more three dimensional objects. The objects are represented by one or more primitives each defined by a plurality of vertices. The graphics systems renders the objects to generate a two dimensional image for display. During the rendering operation, coordinates of vertices of said primitives are subjected to a perspective transformation. The present invention provides a method and apparatus that uses at least one look-up table for mapping a texture function to pixels covered by at least one of said primitives.

Abstract: A computer system generates a cylindrical environment map comprising a plurality of elements and associated information pertaining to images of a panoramic scene by storing in memory information associated with elements of a side image of the panoramic scene and information associated with elements of a top image and/or bottom image of the panoramic scene. For at least one element of the cylindrical environment map, if the element of the cylindrical environment map corresponds to an element of the side image, the information corresponding to the element of the side image is associated with the element of the cylindrical environment map. However, if the element of the cylindrical environment map corresponds to an element of the top image (or bottom image), the information corresponding to the element of the top image (or bottom image) is associated with the element of the cylindrical environment map.

Abstract: The present invention generates an environment map by storing in memory color values associated with pixels of an image representing the panoramic scene. For at least one element of each facet of the environment map, a mapping operation is performed that comprises the following steps. A direction vector is generated that corresponds to the element. A pixel of the image that corresponds to the direction vector is determined. A color value is derived based upon a stored color value associated with the pixel of the image, and the derived color value is stored at a location in memory associated with the element of the environment map. A view of the environment map is generated by determining a view window corresponding to a field of view. The view window comprises an array of pixels identified by a plurality of rows and columns. The environment map is mapped to the view window for display. The mapping step includes the following steps for each pixel of the view window.

Abstract: The computer system of the present invention generates a view of a scene by storing in memory color values associated with elements of an environment map representing the scene and color values associated with elements of a bit map image that is separate from the environment map. The bit map image is orientated with respect to the coordinate system of the environment map. The environment map is projected onto a view window that comprises an array of pixels. For at least one pixel of the view window covered by the bit map image, the element of the bit map image that corresponds to the pixel of the view plane is determined and a color value of the pixel is derived based upon the color value of the corresponding element of the bit map image. The derived color value of the pixel of the view window is stored for display. The computer system may also store in memory depth values associated with the elements of the bit map image and depth values associated with pixels of the view window.

Abstract: The rasterization process is separated into two modes, a test mode and a normal mode, to eliminate shading calculations associated with all-hidden triangles, thereby providing improved efficiency over prior rasterization schemes.