Abstract: A system and method to compile different types of data from different locations into one reliable assemblage is provided. The assemblage includes an index of information provided to a user. The assemblage may be in the form of a three dimensional (3D) representation of an object, where the 3D representation includes an index and links to more detailed information regarding the object. The 3D representation of any object, for example, a body part in the context of medical imaging, or a building in the context of architectural and engineering design. The assemblage is comprised of 3D and 2D artifacts. The 2D artifact includes 2D vector and raster embellishment in a variety of forms. The 3D artifact includes vector graphics (2D and 3D) including all data obtained through data conversion methods, and “Point clouds” (voxels).

Abstract: Upon receiving an input comprising an area of a user interface, a user interface element associated with the area of the user interface may be identified and a polygon-based representation of the at least one user interface element may be created. If the input is determined to comprise a selection of the user interface element according to the polygon-based representation, an operation associated with the user interface element may be performed.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a cloth weave structure is built from curves over the surface of a subdivision mesh at rendertime. A coherent woven or knitted surface is generated from interwoven curve geometry and a subdivision (or polygon) mesh. In one aspect, this is done at render-time. Accordingly, in one embodiment, a geometry generation process takes an ST map as input to control the direction of flow of curves (yarns) over the surface. Since each face is calculated independently, general global coordinates in ST space are predefined (at the beginning of the render) to make sure that each face transitions smoothly to the next.

Abstract: Multi-mode texture filters suitable for performing both bilinear filtering based on a fractional texture address and generating a weighted average of a group of texel values based on predetermined texel weighting coefficients as dependent on a filter mode signal. In embodiments, the weighted average may be accumulated over a variety of filter footprints. In embodiments, multi-mode texture filter logic includes a plurality of flexible filter blocks. In further embodiments, a pair of flexible filter blocks staged with each performing one lerp phase in the bilinear filter mode while a pair of flexible filter blocks in the flexible filter mode generate a weighted average over a pair of texels of a texel quad. In embodiments, each flexible filter block has a same microarchitecture, enabling an efficient utilization in either bilinear filter or flexible filter mode.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus for improving a user experience during viewport scrolling is herein disclosed. Rendering and drawing of a viewport is performed for a destination viewport based on a viewport scroll vector calculated from a user scroll input at a display device. The destination viewport is rendered before viewports between a starting viewport and the destination viewport so that there is no lag in rendering when the scrolling action reaches the destination viewport. The compromise is that intermediate viewports may be rendered based on a thumbnail image in low resolution, but since these low-resolution portions of the webpage are viewed briefly as the webpage scrolls to the destination viewport, a user is unlikely to notice the reduced resolution.

Abstract: For a given texture address, a texture sampler fetches and reduces texture data with a filter accumulator suitable for providing a weighted average over a variety of filter footprints. A multi-mode texture sampler is configurable to provide both a wide variety of footprints in either a separable or non-separable filter modes and allow for a filter footprint significantly wider than the bi-linear (2×2 texel) footprint. In embodiments, sub-sample addresses are generated by the texture sampler logic to accommodate a desired footprint. The sub-sample addresses may be generated and sequenced by multi-texel units, such as 2×2 texel quads, for efficient filtering. In embodiments, filter coefficients are cached from coefficient tables stored in memory.

Abstract: Texture filter logic suitable for determining a minimum or maximum texel value from a plurality of texel values associated with a filter footprint of arbitrary shape and size. In embodiments, logic circuitry includes a plurality of min/max comparison block stages is configured to perform comparisons and determine a min/max value of predetermined number of texel groups. In embodiments, the logic circuitry further includes a number of min/max collectors to accommodate filter footprints having more texel groups than the predetermined number accommodated by the min/max comparison block stages. Iterative comparisons may be performed until all texel groups in the given footprint have been compared. In further embodiments, the logic circuitry outputs four min/max texel values, which may then be further processed with a final comparison stages to arrive at one min/max value for a footprint.

Abstract: A graphics virtual texturing system in which textures stored in a storage medium of a host system are divided into respective pages that are then loaded into a local memory of a graphics processing system for use. If the texture page that is required for performing a texturing operation at an originally desired level of detail (52) is not present in the local memory of the graphics processing system (53), the virtual texture lookup process loops back to try to sample the texture at an increased level of detail (55), and so on, until texture data that can be used is found in the local memory of the graphics processing system (53). This allows the texturing operation to proceed using texture data for the texel positions in question from a higher level (less detailed) mipmap in place of the originally desired texture data.

Abstract: Systems and methods for reducing the amount of texture cache memory needed to store a texture atlas by using uniquely grouped refined triangles to create each texture atlas.

Abstract: An image is displayed in a computer system. The image includes contents having a feature visible therein. The contents have a region thereof defined to be provided with additional content in generating a modified image. An input is received comprising a semantic mark to be placed on the image. The semantic mark indicates an inside-region part inside the region and an outside-region part outside the region. The additional content for the region is determined using a patch-based optimization algorithm applied to the image. The patch-based optimization algorithm (i) identifies the additional content for the inside-region part based on the outside-region part and not on an area of the image that the semantic mark does not indicate, and (ii) identifies the additional content for a remainder of the region without being restricted to the outside-region part. The modified image having the additional content in the region is stored.

Abstract: Methods and systems for rendering an electronic greeting card to a portable computing device, wherein the visually-perceived light effects of the electronic greeting card are updated in real time. The electronic greeting card is dynamically rendered to the portable computing device including these dynamic light effects.

Abstract: The present application relates an encoder. The encoder partitions an image domain into several substructures each having one of at least one size dimension, and defines at least one geometric primitive for each substructure on the basis of geometry data. The encoder also retrieves, for each substructure, a subset of image data and determines whether pixel values of the retrieved subset are the same. If the pixel values are describable by a texture mapping operation, then the encoder defines a compressed texture image and assigns texture mapping data to the geometry data. Otherwise, the encoder defines an uncompressed texture image and assigns texture mapping data to the geometry data. The compressed image includes the geometry data, the texture mapping data, and the texture image data.

Abstract: The present invention provides a high-resolution image generation method which is capable of generating a high-resolution image from multiple low-resolution images having displacements without using an iterative computation. A high-resolution image generation method for generating a high-resolution image from multiple low-resolution images having displacements, comprises a first step of performing a registration processing of multiple low-resolution images; a second step of generating an average image having the undefined pixels and a weighted image based on the displacement information obtained by the registration processing and multiple low-resolution images; and a third step of generating the high-resolution image by estimating pixel values of the undefined pixels included in the average image.

Abstract: A map element parameterized in a two-dimensional (2D) coordinate system is applied to to three-dimensional (3D) geometry, parameterized in a 3D coordinate system, of a geographic area with which the map element is associated. The 3D geometry is rendered according to the selected perspective of a virtual camera. An approximate distance between the virtual camera and the 3D geometry is compared to a threshold value. A position of the map element is determined relative to the 3D geometry using (i) a linear transformation between the 2D coordinate system and the 3D coordinate when the approximate distance is smaller than the threshold value, and (ii) a non-linear transformation between the 2D coordinate system and the 3D coordinate system when the approximate distance is larger than the threshold value.

Abstract: An optical see-through head-mounted display device includes a see-through lens which combines an augmented reality image with light from a real-world scene, while an opacity filter is used to selectively block portions of the real-world scene so that the augmented reality image appears more distinctly. The opacity filter can be a see-through LCD panel, for instance, where each pixel of the LCD panel can be selectively controlled to be transmissive or opaque, based on a size, shape and position of the augmented reality image. Eye tracking can be used to adjust the position of the augmented reality image and the opaque pixels. Peripheral regions of the opacity filter, which are not behind the augmented reality image, can be activated to provide a peripheral cue or a representation of the augmented reality image. In another aspect, opaque pixels are provided at a time when an augmented reality image is not present.

Abstract: A method for creating a multi-dimensional audio map is provided. The method includes assigning a first audio attribute to a multi-dimensional space comprising at least three dimensions. The method also includes creating, by a computer processor responsive to user input, a first audio attribute layer within the multi-dimensional space, including a first dimension representing an audio attribute value of the first audio attribute for a location defined by at least two other dimensions. A method for generating a mixed output using the multi-dimensional audio map is also provided.

Abstract: A system for generating mixed audio output using a multi-dimensional audio map includes a computer processor and a multi-dimensional crossfader configured to implement a method. A first audio file is read. A multi-dimensional audio map includes a plurality of audio attribute layers, each including a first dimension representing an audio attribute value for a location defined by at least two other dimensions within a multi-dimensional space. A path is determined to transition between two points in the multi-dimensional audio map. A transition is performed between the two points in the multi-dimensional audio map by selecting corresponding values from each of the plurality of audio attribute layers between the two points. A mixed output is generated by applying the corresponding values from each of the plurality of audio attribute layers between the two points to a portion of the first audio file.

Abstract: An “Oriented Disk Interpolator” provides various techniques for interpolating between points in a point cloud using RGB images (or images in other color spaces) to produce a smooth implicit surface representation that can then be digitally sampled for ray-tracing or meshing to create a high fidelity geometric proxy from the point cloud. More specifically, the Oriented Disk Interpolator uses image color-based consistency to build an implicit surface from oriented points and images of the scene by interpolating disks in 3D space relative to a point cloud of a scene or objects within the scene. The resulting implicit surface is then available for a number of uses, including, but not limited to, constructing a high fidelity geometric proxy.

Abstract: There is provided a method and system for fast pattern interpolation with parallel coherent random walk searching. The system includes a system processor and a system memory, and an image processing application stored in the system memory. The image processing application, under control of the system processor, is configured to receive first and second pattern exemplars and a blend map for merging the first and second pattern exemplars, and to utilize a correspondence search process to determine first and second target images for use in producing a composite image. The first and second target images correspond respectively to the first and second pattern exemplars. In addition, a constraint imposed on the correspondence search process by the image processing application is based on the blend map for merging the first and second pattern exemplars.

Abstract: A present novel and non-trivial system, apparatus, and method for generating runway visual aids on an aircraft display unit. Visual aids could comprise of runway indicators corresponding to minimum and maximum rollout and touchdown points, each of which may be determined in real-time by applying input factors to one or more configurable landing profiles. Data representative of visual aids may be provided by one or more sources including runway data sources and real-time input factors. An image generating processor generates an image data set representative of a three-dimensional perspective view of a scene outside the aircraft, wherein the image data set is determined as a function of terrain data, runway data, and visual aid data. The image data set may be provided to a Head-Down Display unit, a Head-Up Display unit, or both, whereby an image contains a runway depicted with at least one visual aid.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product for implementing an algorithm for performing thin voxelization is disclosed. The thin voxelization algorithm receives a surface, maps the surface onto a plurality of volumetric picture elements (voxels), and generates a value for each voxel in the plurality of voxels that intersects with the surface. A voxel intersects with the surface when the surface intersects a crosshair shape associated with the voxel.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for rendering complex artwork using tile-based caching. The artwork is divided into one or more sets of separately rendered tiles. Each tile is progressively rendered at a particular scale level and stored in a cache. When the clip region or scale level is changed by the user, tiles in the cache that provide a so-called best rendering of the artwork in the clip region at the requested scale or zoom level are selected. The selected tiles can be displayed in the clip region while the artwork is rendered at the requested scale level. The best rendering includes the tile or tiles that are more completely rendered than other tiles in the cache, or if multiple tiles are as completely rendered as others, the best rendering includes the tile or tiles that are rendered at a scale level closest to the requested scale level.

Abstract: A depiction of a three-dimensional object that is displayed using volume rendering is influenced. A representation of the object, in which values of a variable characterizing the object are given at spatial points of the object and in which color values are allocated to the variable during the course of rendering, is provided. A set of points defined in the space of representation of the object is input, and a distance from spatial points incorporated by the representation to the set of points is calculated. Color values allocated to spatial points are modified, or color values are determined according to the calculated distance. A depiction of the object by volume rendering is calculated using the representation of the object, the representation incorporating the modified or determined color values.

Abstract: An example method and system for blending textures of a composite image formed by a plurality of source images mapped onto a three dimensional model are presented. The composite image is projected to obtain an unblended projected image having textures. The textures are blended to obtain a blended projected image. Both the unblended and the blended projected images are backprojected onto the three dimensional model. A difference is determined between a pixel of the backprojected, blended image and a corresponding pixel of the backprojected, unblended image. The determined difference is then applied to a further corresponding pixel of the composite image to obtain a modified composite image representing a blending of the plurality of source images in the composite image.

Abstract: A display system and method using texture mapping is provided. The display system, including: a texture maintenance unit maintaining a texture generated based on a characteristic of an object; a texture selection unit selecting a texture based on an object to be displayed; and a texture application unit repeatedly applying the selected texture to at least a portion of a three-dimensional (3D) texture corresponding to the object to be displayed.

Abstract: A three-dimensional relief can be produced from one or more two-dimensional digital (2D) images. A height field is computed from the 2D images and illumination direction information. The height field comprises a multiplicity of geometric surface elements arrayed in a 2D field corresponding to the pixels of the one or more 2D images. Each geometric surface element corresponds to a pixel of each of the digital images and has at least one height parameter representing a displacement from a surface floor. Once the height field is computed, optimizations can be made to the height field including adding and adjusting albedo and glossy surface finishing. The height field can be used to fabricate relief elements in a material, such that each relief element corresponds in shape, position in the height field, and height above the surface floor, to one of the geometric surface elements in the height field.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and computer-readable storage media for stereo drawing that enable the creation of stereoscopic image pairs. A stereo drawing system may present 3D shape(s) via a user interface (UI). The user can position and rotate a 3D shape, for example via direct manipulation technology such as motion tracking technology. A drawing surface may be mapped to an input device via which input strokes may be applied to the surface. The input strokes are mapped locally onto the surface, thereby allowing the user to draw onto a well-defined shape in 3D space. The stereo drawing system maps what is drawn onto the drawing surface; the geometry of the drawing surface provides depth information so that stereoscopic image pairs can be automatically generated.

Abstract: A method and system for detecting a curve structure in a 2D fluoroscopic image is disclosed. A plurality of curve segments are detected in the image. A graph is generated based on the detected curve segments. A curve structure is detected in the image by determining a path between a source node and a destination node in the graph. A hyper-graph can be constructed from the graph in order to impose geometric constraints on segments of the detected the curve structure, and the curve structure can be detected by finding a shortest path in the hyper-graph.

Abstract: Disclosed are a virtual viewpoint combination method and device in a multi-viewpoint video, improving the quality of the virtual viewpoint images and improving the display effects of the virtual viewpoint images under the premise of not introducing geometrical distortion. The method includes: taking two viewpoint images provided by a first camera and a second camera as reference viewpoint images, and respectively performing 3D image conversion, pinhole filling, image compensation and image convergence processing on the two viewpoint images to obtain a main virtual viewpoint image; then respectively performing depth-image processing, 3D image conversion, pinhole filling, image compensation and image convergence processing on the two viewpoint images to obtain a subordinate virtual viewpoint image; and performing filling the remaining holes in the main virtual viewpoint image on the basis of the subordinate virtual viewpoint image to obtain a final virtual viewpoint image to be combine.

Abstract: According to an illustrative embodiment an information processing apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a processor for controlling the displaying of a display object including a main display and an attached information display, and for controlling changing a display state of the attached information display based on movement of a viewer.

Abstract: A processor and a system are provided for performing texturing operations. The processor includes a texture return buffer having a plurality of slots for storing texture values and one or more texture units coupled to the texture return buffer. Each of the slots of the texture return buffer are addressable by a thread. Each texture unit is configured to allocate a slot of the texture return buffer when the texture unit generates a texture value.

Abstract: Systems and methods for rendering a view-dependent texture in conjunction with a three-dimensional model of a geographic area are provided. A view-dependent texture can be rendered in conjunction with at least portions of the three-dimensional model. A base texture can be rendered for portions of the three-dimensional model in the same field of view that are viewed from a slightly different perspective than a reference direction associated with the view-dependent texture. For instance, a stretching factor can be determined for each portion of the three-dimensional model based on the reference direction and a viewpoint direction associated with the portion of the three-dimensional model. A base texture, a view-dependent texture, or a blended texture can be selected for rendering at the portion of the three-dimensional model based on the stretching factor.

Abstract: Provided is an image processing apparatus including: an image selection unit selectively extracting one image data from a plurality of input image data; an image generation unit generating a computer graphics image based on computer graphics description data; a surface designation unit designating a surface of a predetermined polygon using surfaces of polygons among the computer graphics description data as a selection; and an image mapping unit texture-mapping an image according to the image data extracted by the image selection unit onto the surface of the polygon designated by the surface designation unit.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are provided for high-dynamic range images. In use, a first pixel attribute of a first pixel is received and a second pixel attribute of a second pixel is received. Next, a scalar based on the first pixel attribute and the second pixel attribute is identified. Finally, the first pixel and the second pixel are blended, based on the scalar, wherein the first pixel is brighter than the second pixel. Additional systems, methods, and computer program products are also presented.

Abstract: A method carried out by a graphics processing apparatus samples a texture value of a first texture layer at an offset to a second texture layer of a surface and adjusts pixel color for a pixel of the second texture layer using the texture value such that an appearance of depth is created between the first texture layer and the second texture layer. The method may adjust the pixel color using the sampled texture value alpha component. Another method includes transforming a surface normal vector to eye space for a surface having at least first and second texture layers mapped thereto, determining an offset between the first texture layer and the second texture layer using the transformed surface normal vector, sampling a texture value of the first texture layer using the offset, and adjusting pixel color for a pixel of the second texture layer using the texture value.

Abstract: A region or group of pixels may be textured as a unit, using a range specifier and one or more anchor pixels to define the group. In some embodiments, processing grouped pixels improves efficiency.

Abstract: Examples disclose a method and system for merging textures. The method may be executable to receive one or more images of an object, identify a texture value for a point in a first image of the one or more images, and determine a metric indicative of a relation between a view reference point vector and a normal vector of a position of a point on the object relative to the image capturing device. Based on the metrics, the method may be executable to determine a weighted average texture value to apply to a corresponding point of a three-dimensional mesh of the object.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide a method for randomly selecting a region on a map for testing and a map of the region can be generated using multiple map rendering engines. A screenshot of each of the generated maps can be obtained and text associated with map labels, such as street, city, and attraction names, can be recognized using an optical character recognition (OCR) engine. At this point, the recognized text from each rendering engine can then be compared to identify at least one error or inconsistency. In at least one embodiment, categories of errors that need most attention in the specific geographic areas can be identified and a human quality assurance tester can isolate these instances and narrow down the same to identify the rendering or data problem.

Abstract: An interactive user-friendly incremental calibration technique that provides immediate feedback to the user when aligning a point on a 3D model to a point on a 2D image. A can drag-and-drop points on a 3D model to points on a 2D image. As the user drags the correspondences, the application updates current estimates of where the camera would need to be to match the correspondences. The 2D and 3D images can be overlayed on each other and are sufficiently transparent for visual alignment. The user can fade between the 2D/3D views providing immediate feedback as to the improvements in alignment. The user can begin with a rough estimate of camera orientation and then progress to more granular parameters such as estimates for focal length, etc., to arrive at the desired alignment. While one parameter is adjustable, other parameters are fixed allowing for user adjustment of one parameter at a time.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing smooth level of detail transitions for geometric objects, such as geometric terrain tiles, are provided. In one embodiment, a parent geometric tile associated with a first level of detail can be partitioned into sub-tiles. The sub-tiles can be blended independently with child geometric tiles associated with a second level of detail. The blends can be adjusted as a function of camera distance over a transition range to provide a smooth level of detail transition. Various enhancements and modifications can be made to the level of detail transition, such as implementing a bias in the level of detail calculation, implementing an unpop algorithm over only a subset of the transition range, implementing a time based fade during a camera stop, and other enhancements.

Abstract: A machine-implemented display method that, with respect to a volume dataset being rendered, enables a user to navigate to any position in space and look in any direction. Preferably, the volume dataset is derived from a computer tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. With the described approach, the user can see details within the dataset that are not available using conventional visualization approaches. The freedom-of-motion capability allows the user to go to places (positions) within the volume rendering that are not otherwise possible using conventional “orbit” and “zoom” display techniques. Thus, for example, using the described approach, the display image enables a user to travel inside physical structures (e.g., a patient's heart, brain, arteries, and the like).

Abstract: High-fidelity video coding nowadays tends to adopt the RGB coding for directly reducing RGB inter-color redundancy without color space conversion. A known method uses a blockbased inter-color compensation algorithm for removing inter-color redundancy on RGB color planes by defining the correlation between color planes within each coding block as a linear model of slope and offset parameters, codes the base plane block and then predicts the other two color blocks from the base plane block. However, for most coding blocks the texture within a component block varies quite much. A new method for improved video coding uses adaptive segmentation of the base color component block, corresponding segmentation of the other color component blocks and individual slope and offset parameters for predicting each segment.

Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatus are described to render map data according to texture masks. A rendering device may obtain map data, which may include one or more shapes described by vector graphics data. Along with the one or more shapes, embodiments may include mask indicators corresponding to the one or more shapes. Embodiments may render the map data by creating a mask shape based upon mask indicators corresponding to the shapes described by the vector graphics data. For each created mask shape, a texture source may be determined according to the mask indicator for the mask shape. Embodiments may obtain a texture from the texture source and may apply the mask shape to the obtained texture to render a fill portion of the corresponding shape described by the vector graphics data. Some embodiments may display the rendered map data as a map view.

Abstract: A surface definition module of a hair/fur pipeline may be used to define a surface. An instancing module is used to instance hairs. An instanced hair database coupled to the instancing module is used to store hair data. The instancing module retrieves hair data from the instanced hair database to allow for a relatively large number of hairs to instanced. A display module is used to display the instanced hairs with respect to the surface.

Abstract: Aspects of this disclosure are directed to techniques to store values indicative of one or more scissor regions in a scissor buffer. In aspects of this disclosure, a processor may receive two dimensional (2-D) coordinates of a scissor region. The processor may transform the 2-D coordinates into coordinates that include more than two dimensions. The processor may store a value indicative of the scissor region in one or more storage units of the scissor buffer based on the coordinates that include more than two dimensions.

Abstract: A method and system for presenting image data to a video output device is disclosed. One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a method, which includes the steps of queuing the buffer of image data for display, attaching an object to a command associated with presenting the buffer of image data, wherein the object is capable of storing timing information relating to executing the command, and enabling an application program to access the timing information.

Abstract: Image data of an event is provided by updating a textured 3d model of the event. For example, in a sporting event, a model of a stadium can be periodically updated to reflect changes over time in lighting, advertisements, number of spectators in the stands and so forth. Different virtual viewpoints of the event can be depicted in an animation using the textured 3d model and image data from objects at the event such as participants in the sporting event. The same image from which object data is obtained can also be used to update the textured 3d model so that the model is current in the animation, resulting in greater realism. The updating can be based on an operator command or automatic detection of a specified event, such as change in lighting or passage of time. The animation can be provided in a broadcast television signal.

Abstract: Each block of texture data elements is encoded as a block of texture data that includes a set of integer values to be used to generate a set of base data values for the block, and a set of index values indicating how to use the base data values to generate data values for the texture data elements that the block represents. The integer values and the index values are both encoded in an encoded texture data block using a combination of base-n values, where n is greater than two, and base-2 values. Predefined bit representations are used to represent plural base-n values (n>2) collectively, and the bits of the bit representations representing the base-n values are interleaved with bits representing the base-2 values in the encoded texture data block.

Abstract: A method of detecting multi-surfaces of an object includes providing an imaging system capable of detecting surfaces of the object. After system parameters are set up, two-dimensional images of the object at multiple Z steps can be acquired. Each surface of the object can then be extracted using two steps. In a first step, the surface can be constructed based on a confidence threshold. In a second step, the surface can be enhanced using an interpolation filter.

Abstract: The invention discloses a method for editing propagation of video and image content based on local feature structure preservation, comprising: mapping all pixels in the input original image and/or video key frames to a selected feature space; finding K nearest neighbor pixels for each pixel according to feature vectors' Euclidean distance in the selected feature space; using Locally Linear Embedding (LLE) dimension reduction to construct the locally linear relationship between each pixel and its K nearest neighbor pixels in the selected feature space; According to the present invention, it is possible to accurately perform such image or video processing as automatic color transformation, interactive color editing, gray image colorization, video cloning and image matting.