Abstract: A graphics system interleaves a combination of graphics renderer operations and compute shader operations. A set of API calls is analyzed to determine dependencies and identify candidates for interleaving. A compute shader is adapted to have a tiled access pattern. The interleaving is scheduled to reduce a requirement to access an external memory to perform reads and writes of intermediate data.

Abstract: The invention introduces a method for compressing texture tiles, which contains at least the following steps: classifying each pixel of a texture tile into one of a plurality of groups and generating a bitmap of the texture tile, wherein the bitmap contains information indicating to which group each pixel of the texture tile belongs; reducing dependencies between pixels of each group; lossless-encoding each pixel of the texture tile to generate a first compression result; and outputting the first compression result and the bitmap.

Abstract: Structured light active sensing systems transmit and receive spatial codes to generate depth maps. Spatial codes can't be repeated within a disparity range if they are to be uniquely identified. This results in large numbers of codes for single transmitter/single receiver systems, because reflected ray traces from two object locations may be focused onto the same location of the receiver sensor, making it impossible to determine which object location reflected the code. However, the original code location may be uniquely identified because ray traces from the two object locations that focus onto the same location of the first receiver sensor may focus onto different locations on the second receiver sensor. Described herein are active sensing systems and methods that use two receivers to uniquely identify original code positions and allow for greater code reuse.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating a font of which style is changeable are disclosed. The disclosed method is a method for generating a font to be performed on an apparatus including a processor. The method comprises (a) setting a fixed style parameter which cannot change the style, wherein the fixed style parameter is included in style parameters, and a METAFONT consists of the style parameter and a letter drawing function, (b) generating an intermediate code based on the letter drawing function and the fixed style parameter; and (c) generating an output font by combining the intermediate code with a variable style parameter which can change the style, wherein the variable style parameter is included in the style parameter.

Abstract: A parallel adaptable graphics rasterization system in which a primitive assembler includes a router to selectively route a primitive to a first rasterizer or one of a plurality of second rasterizers. The second rasterizers concurrently operate on different primitives and the primitive is selectively routed based on an area of the primitive. In some variations, a bounding box of the primitive is reduced to a predetermined number of pixels prior to providing the primitive to the one of the plurality of second rasterizers. Reducing the bounding box can include subtracting an origin of the bounding box from coordinates of points that represent the primitive.

Abstract: A texture cache architecture facilitates access of compressed texture data in non-power of two formats, such as the Adaptive Scalable Texture Compression (ASTC) codec. In one implementation, the texture cache architecture includes a controller, a first buffer, a second buffer, and a texture decompressor. A first buffer stores one or more blocks of compressed texel data fetched, in response to a first request, from a first texture cache, where the one or more blocks of compressed texel data including at least requested texel data. The second buffer stores decompressed one or more blocks of compressed texel data and provides the decompressed requested texel data as output to a second texture cache. The one or more blocks of compressed texel data stored by the first buffer includes second texel data in addition to the requested texel data.

Abstract: An importance map indicates, for each of a plurality of pixels, whether the pixel is considered important enough to be rendered. A hierarchical tree for pixels is created to generate a hierarchical importance map. The hierarchical importance map may be used to stop traversal of a primitive that does not overlap a pixel indicated to be important.

Abstract: Exemplary methods, apparatuses, and systems receive a command from a program to render graphics data on a display device, transmit the command to a graphics processing unit (GPU), and transmit a readback request to the GPU. Upon receiving a response to the readback request from the GPU, the program is alerted that the command has been transmitted to the GPU. The response to the readback request is a pointer to a memory location at which the GPU has written rendered frame data representing the command. In response to receiving notification of a failure of the GPU, the rendered frame data written in response to the readback request and any additional commands to render the additional graphics requests received subsequent to the transmission of the readback request are transmitting to the GPU upon recovery from the failure, or to another GPU.

Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a flowchart generating method including steps of: designing a main process and a sub-module of a flowchart; wherein the main process includes a main process start, a sub-module port, and a main process end. The sub-module includes a sub-module node, and the sub-module node includes a sub-module entry node, a sub-module exit node, and a sub-module interrupted node; establishing a connection relationship between the sub-module and the sub-module port. The present disclosure may support cross-platform development. Therefore, resources depended by the present disclosure may be reduced, and a third-part software may not be installed.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for using selective resolution reduction on images to be transmitted and/or used by a playback device are described. Prior to transmission one or more images of an environment are captured. Based on image content, motion detection and/or user input a resolution reduction operation is selected and performed. The reduced resolution image is communicated to a playback device along with information indicating a UV map corresponding to the selected resolution allocation that should be used by the playback device for rendering the communicated image. By changing the resolution allocation used and which UV map is used by the playback device different resolution allocations can be made with respect to different portions of the environment while allowing the number of pixels in transmitted images to remain constant. The playback device renders the individual images with the UV map corresponding to the resolution allocation used to generate the individual images.

Abstract: Methods for enabling graphics features in processors are described herein. Methods are provided to enable trinary built-in functions in the shader, allow separation of the graphics processor's address space from the requirement that all textures must be physically backed, enable use of a sparse buffer allocated in virtual memory, allow a reference value used for stencil test to be generated and exported from a fragment shader, provide support for use specific operations in the stencil buffers, allow capture of multiple transform feedback streams, allow any combination of streams for rasterization, allow a same set of primitives to be used with multiple transform feedback streams as with a single stream, allow rendering to be directed to layered framebuffer attachments with only a vertex and fragment shader present, and allow geometry to be directed to one of an array of several independent viewport rectangles without a geometry shader.

Abstract: The vision system for an aircraft according to the invention comprises a display management system, on a display, capable of dynamically displaying synthetic information coming from a synthetic environment generating assembly on the display. The management assembly can control the display, on a first region of the display, of relief lines representative of the terrain situated facing the aircraft, without displaying synthetic surface representations of the terrain in the intermediate areas situated between the relief lines of the first region of the display. The generating assembly includes means for determining the position of the crest lines of the terrain from topographical data present in at least one database, and means for computing the position of the relief lines from the position of the crest lines of the terrain.

Abstract: A method of image compositing that directly manipulates ray tracing samples generated by a ray tracing renderer, rather than manipulating the pixels of a rasterized image. Rasterization may be performed after compositing at any desired resolution or resolutions, for example to adapt to different displays. Ray tracing samples may be tagged with the identity of the object intersected by the ray, facilitating object selection during compositing without the need for object masks. Random or pseudo-random ray patterns typically used by renderers may be supported directly. A large number of compositing operations may be performed directly on the ray tracing samples, including color changes, object repositioning in two dimensions or three dimensions, merging of images or objects from different scenes or rendering passes, and generation of new viewpoints for an image. Preview images may be generated during compositing using a subset of the available samples, trading off image quality for speed.

Abstract: Searching for items, such as apparel items, can be performed using a set of category-specific outlines or contours from which a user can select. The outlines enable a user to quickly specify a relevant category, and provide guidance as to how to orient the camera in order to enable an item to be identified in an image without the need for an expensive object identification and segmentation process. The outline can specify a “swatch” region, indicating where the user should position a view of a pattern, texture, or color of the item in which the user is interested. The category selection and swatch region data can be used to determine matching items. If the user wants a different set of search results, the user can select a different outline, causing a new query to be executed with updated category information and swatch data to obtain new search results.

Abstract: The adverse affects of using out-of-bounds texels for bilateral interpolation may be reduced by redefining the valid texel domain as having four corners defined at the centers of four corner texels. As a result, the texels around the periphery of the valid texture domain are partial texels, with the corner texels being one quarter of a texel and the edges being half of a texel.

Abstract: Techniques for planar region-guided estimates of 3D geometry of objects depicted in a single 2D image. The techniques estimate regions of an image that are part of planar regions (i.e., flat surfaces) and use those planar region estimates to estimate the 3D geometry of the objects in the image. The planar regions and resulting 3D geometry are estimated using only a single 2D image of the objects. Training data from images of other objects is used to train a CNN with a model that is then used to make planar region estimates using a single 2D image. The planar region estimates, in one example, are based on estimates of planarity (surface plane information) and estimates of edges (depth discontinuities and edges between surface planes) that are estimated using models trained using images of other scenes.

Abstract: A method and corresponding apparatus are provided for network configuration selection in a wireless network comprising a plurality of nodes. A subset of the nodes are configured to simultaneously participate in a sounding process, in which a node of the subset omni-directionally transmits a predetermined signal and in which other nodes of the subset of nodes sample the predetermined signal as received by an omni-directional antenna array of that node. Measurement reports are received from the subset of nodes, each measurement report comprising a signal source angle and a received signal strength. A path loss is determined in dependence on each measurement report to generate a set of path losses covering a plurality of transmitter node receiver node pairs. Then a directional configuration is selected for a directional antenna of each node of the subset of nodes for data transmission in dependence on the set of path losses.

Abstract: A method of automatically transforming a computerized 3D model having regions of images utilized as textures on one or more physical objects represented in the 3D model (such as building sides and roofs, walls, landscapes, mountain sides, trees and the like) to include material property information for one or more regions of the textures of the 3D model. In this method, image textures applied to the 3D model are examined by comparing, utilizing a computer, at least a portion of each image texture to entries in a palette of material entries. The material palette entry that best matches the one contained in the image texture is assigned to indicate a physical material of the physical object represented by the 3D model. Then, material property information is stored in the computerized 3D model for the image textures that are assigned a material palette entry.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for constructing video image frames including transparency information. Certain embodiments provide for accessing a first frame of digital data associated with a pixel of an image representation, the frame comprising a set of transparency data bits, a set of red data bits, a set of green data bits, and a set of blue data bits. A second frame is constructed comprising a single transparency data bit, a reduced set of red data bits, the set of green data bits; and the set of blue data bits, wherein the second frame is provided to a destination device.

Abstract: The techniques described herein may identify images that likely depict one or more items by comparing features of the items to features of different regions-of-interest (ROIs) of the images. When a user requests to identify images that depict a particular item, the techniques may determine a region-of-interest (ROI) size based on the size of the requested item. The techniques may then search multiple images using the ROI size.

Abstract: Methods for detecting a number of luminary fixtures in an indoor environment using an electronic image capture device and electronic computing device are presented, the methods including: capturing a ceiling scan of the indoor environment with at least the electronic image capture device; analyzing a synthetic ceiling image corresponding with the ceiling scan using the electronic computing device to identify a number of luminary candidates; and converting the number of luminary candidates to define the number of luminary fixtures. In some embodiments, the capturing the ceiling scan further includes: moving the electronic image capture device through the indoor environment; capturing the indoor environment; generating a point cloud of the indoor environment; colorizing the point cloud; extracting the colored point cloud of a ceiling; dividing the extracted point cloud into a number of rooms; and generating the synthetic ceiling image for each of the number of rooms.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a scanning device (10, 10?) for scanning an object (12), wherein the scanning device (10) comprises a projection unit (16) for projecting an alignment image (28) onto the object (12), said alignment image (28) comprising a main pattern (26), an image capturing unit (18) for capturing a live camera image (30) of the object (12), said live camera image (30) comprising a derivative pattern (32) of the main pattern (26), the derivative pattern (32) representing said projected alignment image (28) as seen from the image capturing unit viewpoint, and an alignment unit (22, 22?) for providing an indication of a correct position and/or orientation of the scanning device (10) with respect to the scanned object (12) on the basis of the captured live camera image (30).

Abstract: A scanned texture can be applied to a three-dimensional model using a scanner. A user can scan a surface texture with a three-dimensional scanner and then use the same scanner as a three-dimensional input device to apply the texture to a three-dimensional model displayed in a virtual modeling environment. To accomplish this, the surface texture may first be isolated and extracted from a scanned surface. The surface texture can then be applied to a three-dimensional model in a virtual workspace by using the scanner as a navigational and control input. Thus, in a similar manner and motion in which a real-world object is scanned, the surface texture can be applied to the digital model displayed in the virtual modeling environment. The scanner therefore provides a user with a simple and intuitive way in which to capture physical surface textures and apply them to digital objects.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide a process and method running on a computer for creating an augmented image. According to an embodiment, a graphical user interface gathers data that is programmatically analyzed to obtain photographic properties from a first image. Photographic properties are provided to a user for obtaining a second image containing a fiducial mark. The second image is programmatically analyzed to obtain photographic properties. The first image and the second image are programmatically analyzed and processed to produce an augmented image.

Abstract: Various devices, arrangements and methods for managing communications using a head mounted display device are described. In one aspect, tracking data is generated at least in part by one or more sensors in a head mounted display (HMD) device. The tracking data indicates one or more facial movements of a user wearing the HMD device. A patch image is obtained based on the tracking data. The patch image is merged with a facial image. Various embodiments relate to the HMD device and other methods for generating and using the patch and facial images.

Abstract: An indication of a polyline having multiple vertices and a stipple pattern of a not-a-power-of-two length are received. The stipple pattern is to be repeatedly rendered along the polyline. To reduce visual discontinuity, a texture of a power-of-two length, to be repeatedly applied along the polyline, is generated. The texture is made up of several whole instances of the stipple pattern and a portion of another instance of the stipple pattern defining remainder texels. The texture is modified so that visual pattern discontinuity substantially aligns with a vertex of the polyline at which a maximum amount of change in direction of the polyline occurs.

Abstract: A computing device can include a recognition mode interface utilizing graphical elements, such as virtual fireflies, to indicate recognized or identified objects. The fireflies can be animated to move across a display, and the fireflies can create bounding boxes around visual representations of objects as the objects are recognized. In some cases, the object might be of a type that has specific meaning or information to be conveyed to a user. In such cases, the fireflies might be displayed with a particular size, shape, or color to convey that information. The fireflies also can be configured to form shapes or patterns in order to convey other types of information to a user, such as where audio is being recognized, light is sufficient for image capture, and the like. Other types of information can be conveyed as well via altering characteristics of the fireflies.

Abstract: Computerized methods are performable by a driver assistance system while the host vehicle is moving. The driver assistance system includes a camera connectible to a processor. First and second image frames are captured from the field of view of the camera. Corresponding image points of the road are tracked from the first image frame to the second image frame. Image motion between the corresponding image points of the road is processed to detect a hazard in the road. The corresponding image points are determined to be of a moving shadow cast on the road to avoid a false positive detection of a hazard in the road or the corresponding image points are determined not to be of a moving shadow cast on the road to verify detection of a hazard in the road.

Abstract: A system and method for processing a 3-dimensional landmark providing a 3-dimensional representation of a 3-dimensional real world object located at a predefined geographic location is provided. The method includes the steps of providing a data set containing the 3-dimensional landmark, determining a largest continuous horizontal surface of the 3-dimensional landmark, and storing the determined largest horizontal surface as road traffic area of a road network used by a user when moving on the object.

Abstract: A tessellation method is described which uses vertex tessellation factors. For a quad patch, the method involves comparing the vertex tessellation factors for each vertex of the quad patch to a threshold value and if none exceed the threshold, the quad is sub-divided into two or four triangles. If at least one of the four vertex tessellation factors exceeds the threshold, a recursive or iterative method is used which considers each vertex of the quad patch and determines how to further tessellate the patch dependent upon the value of the vertex tessellation factor of the selected vertex or dependent upon values of the vertex tessellation factors of the selected vertex and a neighbor vertex. A similar method is described for a triangle patch.

Abstract: The video signal decoding method according to the present invention involves acquiring weighting-value predicting data of a neighboring view texture block corresponding to the current view texture block, deriving weighting-value predicting data of the current view texture block by using the weighting-value predicting data of the neighboring view texture block, and subjecting the current view texture block to weighting-value compensation by using the derived weighting-value predicting data.

Abstract: A graphical asset associated with a simulated character of a video game is received. A first image and a second image associated with the simulated character are subsequently received, the first image comprising graphical displacement mapping information for a first topology of image deformation and the second image comprising graphical displacement mapping information for a second topology of deformation. A portion of the graphical asset is then deformed using the graphical displacement mapping information from the first image and the second image to change the 3D geometry of the portion of the graphical asset.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method implemented in a computer system for obscuring a first region of an image composed by a plurality of pixels. The method comprising obtaining a mask, the mask defining an obscurity level for each pixel in the first region of the image, and obscuring pixels in the first region of the image based on the mask's obscurity level for each pixel.

Abstract: A system and method for capturing a player's likeness on an in game model at runtime including geometry and texture.

Abstract: A device connectable to a near eye display or to a virtual reality headset and to a portable computing platform having a processor is provided herein. The device may include: an illuminator configured to illuminate a proximity of a user wearing the headset or the near eye display with patterned light; and an IR camera configured to capture reflections of said patterned light coming from at least one object located in the proximity of the user, wherein the processor is configured to: establish data and power connection between the device and said portable computing platform and said near eye display; and generate a depth map of said object based on the reflections.

Abstract: An aspect of the present invention proposes a solution to allow low-cost flat panel displays without light guides to maintain a high quality image display via enhancement of pixel data to account for non uniform brightness. According to one embodiment, each pixel of a display is mapped to the brightness (intensity) of illumination that reaches the pixel. Regional pixel gains are calculated and applied on a per pixel basis to compensate for the non-uniform brightness across the screen. According to such an embodiment, even low cost flat panel displays experiencing non-uniform brightness can be used to render high quality images.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling structured light laser systems are disclosed. One aspect is a structured light system. The system includes a memory device configured to store a depth map. The system further includes an image projecting device including a laser system configured to project codewords. The system further includes a receiver device including a sensor, the receiver device configured to sense the projected codewords reflected from an object. The system further includes a processing circuit configured to retrieve a portion of the depth map and calculate expected codewords from the depth map. The system further includes a feedback system configured to control the output power of the laser system based on the sensed codewords and the expected codewords.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an imaging apparatus and a controlling method thereof, the imaging apparatus includes an image processing unit generating volume images of an object including a region of interest and extracting a reference plane of the volume images and an area setting unit automatically setting a distance from the reference plane, wherein the image processing unit may generate a 3D data of a region of interest based on a cross sectional data of the reference plane and a cross sectional data contained in a plurality of cross sectional images of the volume images existing in the distance.

Abstract: Processes and systems in computer enabled imaging for the mapping of volume rendering colors upon polygonal model objects applied to computer enabled volume rendering by means of mapping or encoding the color of volume rendering data upon polygonal model objects located inside volumetric data. Exemplary processes and systems including assigning the rendering result of voxels at or near the surface of the polygonal object.

Abstract: The present application relates to an apparatus for verifying the integrity of image data comprising mapped texture data is provided and a method of operating thereof. A fragment shader unit is coupled to first and second frame buffers and at least one texture buffer. A first texture sampler unit is configured to output texture mapped fragments to the first frame buffer. A second texture sampler unit is configured to output texture mapped fragments to the second frame buffer. A comparator unit is further configured to compare the image data stored in the first frame buffer and in the second frame buffer. A fault indication signal is issued in case the image data of the first and the second frame buffers mismatch.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided to construct a digital elevation model utilizing ground points captured by ground-based light detection and ranging (LiDAR). In the context of a method, a plurality of ground points are extracted from a data set captured by ground-based LiDAR to construct a digital elevation model. Each ground point includes positional information including an altitude. The method also includes identifying one or more road structures that are altitudinally offset from surrounding terrain based upon the plurality of ground points and modifying the ground points of the digital elevation model that are representative of the one or more road structures that are altitudinally offset from the surrounding terrain. The method further includes at least partially filling regions in the digital elevation model that lack ground points captured by ground-based LiDAR.

Abstract: Among other things, one or more techniques and/or systems are provided for defining a view direction for a texture image used to texture a geometry. That is, a geometry may represent a multi-dimensional surface of a scene, such as a city. The geometry may be textured using one or more texture images depicting the scene from various view directions. Because more than one texture image may contribute to texturing portions of the geometry, a view direction for a texture image may be selectively defined based upon a coverage metric associated with an amount of non-textured geometry pixels that are textured by the texture image along the view direction. In an example, a texture image may be defined according to a customized configuration, such as a spherical configuration, a cylindrical configuration, etc. In this way, redundant texturing of the geometry may be mitigated based upon the selectively identified view direction(s).

Abstract: In graphics rendering, a texture tile is divided into a plurality of partitions, each partition having a plurality of vertices. A map indicates, for each partition, whether each partition comprises a constant color. Then the plurality of vertices are transferred to a vertex shader, which determines that at least one of the partitions comprises a constant color partition. A vertex shader applies a vertex transformation that associates a set of texel coordinates from the texture tile to each of the vertices of the constant color partition to generate a set of associated texel coordinates. A first coordinate of the set of associated texel coordinates is set to zero. A pixel shader interpolates the associated texel coordinates to generate an interpolated value and accesses a single texel in the constant color partition that corresponds to the interpolated value.

Abstract: Methods of generating one or more abstractions of a three-dimensional (3D) input model by performing volumetric manipulations on one or more volumetric abstractions of the 3D input model. In some embodiments, volumetric manipulations are made to a volumetric shell abstraction of a 3D input model in a successive and iterative manner to generate an abstraction hierarchy composed of a set of volumetric abstractions having differing levels of abstraction based on containing differing amounts of geometric detail from the 3D input model. In one example of geometric manipulation, one or more fitted subvolumes corresponding to geometric detail of the 3D input model are identified based on a current level of abstraction and the 3D input model, and each fitted subvolume is added to or subtracted from the current level of abstraction to generate a next, finer level of abstraction. In some embodiments, the disclosed methods are embodied in suitable software.

Abstract: In a computer graphics processing unit (GPU) having a texture unit, when pixel sample locations are based on a non-orthonormal grid in scene space, the texture unit receives texture space gradient values directly, e.g., from a shader unit or generates them from texture coordinates supplied, e.g., by a shader unit, and then applies a transformation to the gradient values configured to adjust the gradient values to those which would arise from the use of a orthonormal screen space grid.

Abstract: Techniques to allow for ease of use of a photo browsing interface of a social networking system. In an embodiment, a designation of a first image for sharing is received from within a view. A first animation indicating that the first image has been designated for sharing is displayed. The displaying may comprise miniaturizing a copy of the first image. The miniaturizing may proceed from a first location within the view to a second location within the view. The first location may be associated with at least one of a center of the view and an option to designate the first image for sharing. The second location may be associated with a message compose option.

Abstract: Among other things, one or more techniques and/or systems are provided for defining a view direction for a texture image used to texture a geometry. That is, a geometry may represent a multi-dimensional surface of a scene, such as a city. The geometry may be textured using one or more texture images depicting the scene from various view directions. Because more than one texture image may contribute to texturing portions of the geometry, a view direction for a texture image may be selectively defined based upon a coverage metric associated with an amount of non-textured geometry pixels that are textured by the texture image along the view direction. In an example, a texture image may be defined according to a customized configuration, such as a spherical configuration, a cylindrical configuration, etc. In this way, redundant texturing of the geometry may be mitigated based upon the selectively identified view direction(s).

Abstract: A method is given for providing a visualization of a scene corresponding to game play. The method includes steps of receiving at a visualization server information about a scene corresponding to game play at a client computer, receiving additional information about the scene at the visualization server; and constructing a visualization at the visualization server based on the scene, the constructing based at least in part on the received information and the received additional information. In another embodiment, the visualization may be composed by the user rather than being a scene corresponding to game play. In a further embodiment, a method is given for providing a visualization of a scene corresponding to game play, including: receiving at a visualization server information about a scene corresponding to game play at a client; modifying the scene information; and constructing a visualization at the visualization server based on the modified scene information.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for identifying preferred orientations of a face in view of various preference factors and for producing a face image having a preferred orientation. The techniques allow a user to take a so-called selfie or have a video chat and appear as if he/she is looking into the camera with a face orientation that has been determined to be optimal for various factors. Such factors may be associated with face type (e.g., face shape, face color), image capture conditions (e.g., time of day, location, light condition, background), and/or the preferences of a particular user. The factors may also be directly associated with and/or dependent on face orientation (e.g., relative nostril size, facial symmetry, relative eye size, eye height).

Abstract: A picture coding method of the present invention codes a picture signal and a ratio of a number of luminance pixels and a number of chrominance pixels for the picture signal, and then one coding method out of at least two coding methods is selected depending on the ratio. Next, data related to a picture size is coded in accordance with the selected coding method. The data related to the picture size indicates a size of the picture corresponding to the picture signal or an output area, which is a pixel area to be outputted in decoding in a whole pixel area coded in the picture signal coding.