Abstract: A method for creating a virtual video includes at least one of steps a)–d): a) sending an image of an object to a receiver via an information line, the image having a plurality of identifiable image points being substantially fewer in number than a number of remaining image points of the image, and the object having a plurality of identifiable object points corresponding to the plurality of identifiable image points; b) determining object position data of the plurality of identifiable object points; c) sending the object position data to the receiver via an information line; and d) morphing the image such that image position data of the identifiable image points are adjusted to approximately correspond to the object position data, where all of steps a)–d) are performed.

Abstract: The present invention consists of a method comprising the steps of displaying an image representing a source value; displaying an image representing a destination value; and displaying a transition image; wherein the transition image is a function of the source value and the destination value. Additionally, the present invention consists of an apparatus comprising: a graphics display device; a memory; a timing unit; and a processing unit coupled to the memory, the timing unit and the graphics display device; wherein the processing unit is configured to provide a transition from a first static value to a second static value; wherein the transition is a function of the first static value and the second static value.

Abstract: A graphical display system comprises memory and a texture mapper. The memory stores a parametric texture map (PTM) and a non-parametric texture map (non-PTM). The texture mapper is configured to selectively apply, based on a viewing parameter of a graphical object, the PTM and the non-PTM to a pixel of the graphical object.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing a shade from an image includes a principle component analyzing unit performing principle component analysis on a set of face images having various types of shades to generate an eigen space, a storing unit storing the eigen space generated by the principle component analyzing unit, an image input unit receiving as an input a new face image, a projecting unit projecting the face image input through the image input unit to the eigen space stored in the storing unit, and an image producing unit producing a face image with the shade component removed, based on the face image input through the image input unit and the image projected to the eigen space by the projecting unit.

Abstract: A method of displaying an image of at least a portion of a virtual patient including accessing identification of a video file, the video file comprising video data that depicts virtual patient features over a range of the features, determining an offset into the video file and presenting the video image corresponding to the offset.

Abstract: An image processing system includes a fixed-type game machine and a hand-held type game machine. To the hand-held type game machine, an imaging cartridge is attached, and therefore, when an operator photographs a face image of a desired object, for example, face image data corresponding thereto is produced. In addition, by operating an operating switch of the hand-held type game machine, the operator can input feature data representing a feature of the object. The hand-held type game machine transmits the face image data and the feature data to the fixed-type game machine. The fixed-type game machine deforms provisional three-dimensional character data selected by the operator based on the feature data, and attaches the face image data to the deformed provisional three-dimensional feature data so as to compose an image. A composed image is displayed on an image display device by an animation based on the feature data.

Abstract: A method of producing a kaleidoscope image which is usable in a scrapbook. The method includes the steps of providing a first display area for displaying an image; providing a window which is movable by a user relative to the image displayed in the first display area to produce a windowed image comprised of a portion of the image; and simultaneously displaying, in a second display area adjacent the first display area, the kaleidoscope image having a symmetrical design produced by arranging a series of the windowed image displayed in the first display area.

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 method is for inverting a distorted surface presentation into an undistorted surface presentation in a detail-in-context presentation system including the steps of: selecting an input point on the undistorted surface; calculating a vector from the input point to a reference viewpoint; locating a starting point lying above the distorted surface and on the vector; locating a first bracketing point for a first intersection point of the vector and the distorted surface lying above the distorted surface and on the vector; locating a second bracketing point for the first intersection point lying below the distorted surface, and below the first intersection point, but above any subsequent intersection points of the vector and the distorted surface; locating a midpoint between the first and second bracketing points; and, determining if the midpoint is an acceptable approximation for the first intersection point thus being an inversion point corresponding to the input point.

Abstract: A preferred embodiment of the invention permits a user to load two images into a computer system so that two images may be combined into a stereoscopic image pair. An additional embodiment permits a user to load a single 2D image into the system to be combined into a stereoscopic image pair. An additional embodiment permits a user load a single 2D image to be loaded into a computer to be morphed into a stereoscopic image pair. The term “morphing is derived from the term metamorphis. Morphing refers to the process of gradually changing one visual image to another or merging two or more images into a single image.

Abstract: A chronological age altering lenticular image is comprised of a first photograph (62) of an individual at a first age (64). A second photograph (66) of the individual at a second age (68) and a third photograph (70) of the individual at a third age (72) are included in the composite which comprise the lenticular image. The first, second, and third photographs show the individual at progressively older stages in the individuals life. In another embodiment the first, second, and third photographs show the individual at progressively younger stages in that individuals life.

Abstract: A fast, texture morphing algorithm for real-time computer simulation and video games dynamically generates objects “on the fly” by simplifying and reducing the computational load required for a texture morphing/blending process. Incremental interpolation techniques compute a morph parameter based on previous value and morph change rate. Precomputed initial and incremental morph parameter values for each texel component are applied during real-time morphing procedures using integer arithmetic. Approximation errors are reduced by incrementing/decrementing by an extra integer value when the number of morph iterations is a multiple of a frame counter. The frame counter avoids over-runs, and the morphing procedure is “snapped” the texel value to the precise texture target value to prevent under-runs and corresponding artifacts. Interlacing (applying interpolation to a subset of the texels each frame) significantly reduces computational load without introducing significant image artifacts.

Abstract: Systems and methods for calculating a modification of a geometrical shape by applying an inverse modification function to an array representing the shape. An array representing the geometrical shape is defined on a multi-dimensional space. A modification function is used to modify the geometrical shape. A user or a programmed computer can select the modification function. The computer applies an inverse of the modification function to the array. The computer deduces a change in the geometrical shape from the modified array. An advantage of the system and method is the ability to compute shape changes in certain situations where a direct computation is cumbersome or otherwise inconvenient.

Abstract: An interactive computer program for seaming a number of images into a panorama. Various parameters which affect how the images are seamed can be changed interactively. Parameters such as position, orientation, focal length, which image will be visible where images overlap, and the opacity curve can be changed. The result of any change is immediately visible. A user can move the control points, thereby “morphing” or distorting the contribution to the panorama of an image. Each pixel is assigned an “alpha” value which indicates the opacity value of that pixel in an area where images overlap. Alpha values can be changed according to a pre-established curve. The original images are not changed. Instead, only the transform between the original images and the final panorama is changed.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for viewing a depiction of an object (for example a solder joint) in a multi-dimensional manner, morphing the object's depiction using a graphical user interface to upper and lower acceptable tolerance limits and storing the tolerance limits for use in a test/inspection apparatus. The invention relates to the translation of human visual inspection-analysis of an object into physical quantifiable parameters used in an inspection device via a graphical user interface.

Abstract: A method and system for modeling rooms or chambers in a structure for intuitive and accurate estimation of process parameters (e.g., material and labor costs for performing the process) associated with the rooms. A graphical user interface to an estimation program enables an estimator to insert a model of a room and thereafter morph and mold the model to approximate the room undergoing estimation. The model is represented as a polyhedron having a plurality of planes that may be assigned attributes such as floors, walls and ceilings. During the morphing process, the modified and other affected planes of the polyhedron are continually revised to maintain the integrity of the closed volume represented,by the polyhedron.

Abstract: A makeover system and method for using the system is provided for providing a user with an image of how a person would look with different hair, glasses, makeup, etc. Using a before picture of the person, the system displays an item on the before picture and resizes the item to fit the size of the person according to user input. Therefore, the makeover system can superimpose an item over an image of a person regardless of the size of the image of the person on a computer screen. The system then provides an after picture representing a composite image of the superimposed selected overlay item over the image of the person.

Abstract: Intermediate panoramic images are each generated from two original panoramic images, where each panoramic image provides a 360 degree field of view of a scene from different nodal points. First, pairs of planar images are derived, where each pair corresponds to original planar views derived from respective portions of the original panoramic images, where a similar area of the scene is visible from each pair of planar views. Then, an intermediate planar image is generated from each pair of planar images, and the resulting series of intermediate planar images are cylindrically concatenated to form the intermediate panoramic image.

Abstract: A method and computer program product for generating a warping effect in an image having a plurality of regions, each associated with a distortion vector. The method includes defining a path segment vector in response to user movement of a brush cursor; modifying one or more distortion vectors having originations covered by the cursor based on the path segment vector; and repeating defining and modifying to produce a warping effect.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for morphing different geometric shapes while not using algebraic characteristics and overcoming inefficiency of Minkowski sum computation. The method for geometric shape morphing by using direction map so as to smoothly morph more than two different geometric shapes includes the steps of: a) extracting each direction map of the geometric shape; b) merging the direction maps; c) scaling the merged direction map by group; and d) generating a polygon by using an inverse function of a direction map.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for rendering images are presented. The method includes the step of segmenting at least one reference image in a reference image space into a plurality of tiles, each tile defined by a corresponding set of image samples. The connectivity of each of the samples is determined based on the relative curvature of a surface of the corresponding tile at the sample coordinates. Color and depth information between adjacent, connected samples is bi-linearly interpolated to form a corresponding set of sub-samples. The set of sub-samples are warped from the reference image space to a destination image space. A final pixel color for each of a plurality of groups of sub-samples in the destination image space is computed as a weighted average of the color information of the sub-samples for each respective group. The final pixel colors are combined to render a final image in the destination image space from the at least one reference image.

Abstract: A chronological age altering lenticular image is comprised of a first photograph (62) of an individual at a first age (64). A second photograph (66) of the individual at a second age (68) and a third photograph (70) of the individual at a third age (72) are included in the composite which comprise the lenticular image. The first, second, and third photographs show the individual at progressively older stages in the individuals life. In another embodiment the first, second, and third photographs show the individual at progressively younger stages in that individuals life.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for creating facial images, more particularly to a composite picture system and method utilising a library of basic facial components. In typical composite picture systems, the process of creating facial images includes the steps of selecting various facial components, herein designated as basic morphological elements, from a library and assembling them. The novel method comprises the introduction of a component calibration step allowing the different basic morphological elements of a facial image to be merged into a single synthetic facial image with proportional components. A universal skin tone, created using a set of filters on the original images, is also used to reduce the contrasts between the individual basic morphological elements. In addition, each basic morphological element is encoded and uniquely describes each facial image. The use of the encoding facilitates the transmission of such images requiring only the code to be sent.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method, system, and computer program product for reflection space image based rendering of an object at an interactive frame rate. A set of source radiance environment maps associated with a set of source viewing vectors are warped to create a destination radiance environment map associated with a destination viewing vector in a current frame. Blending and weighting operations can also be applied in creating the final destination radiance environment map. An object is then rendered with texture environment mapped from the destination radiance environment map.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for generating new images corresponding to iteratively morphed appearances of a plurality of objects. Data corresponding to appearances of the objects are stored. Embedded objects are morphed with respect to the terrain, whereas other objects are morphed in a predetermined order with respect to previously morphed objects as well as with respect to the terrain. Additionally, iterative morphing using a Bezier Curve technique is described.

Abstract: A first scanline of an input image is spatially transformed into a first pixel sequence of an output image. Holes in the first sequence are interpolated if magnifying the input image. Overlapping pixels in the first sequence are adjusted if minifying the input image. After transforming the first scanline, a second scanline of the source image is transformed into a second pixel sequence of the output image. Holes in the second sequence are interpolated if magnifying the input image. Overlapping pixels in the second sequence are adjusted if minifying the input image. Overlapping pixels across the first and second sequences are adjusted and holes between the first and second sequences are interpolated if rotating the input image.

Abstract: A face image synthesis server includes a morphing section, a base image generation section, and a feature addition section. The morphing section synthesizes two or more images by morphing. The base image generation section acquires two or more face images and synthesizes the face images by the morphing section to generate a base image. The feature addition section acquires a feature face image and synthesizes the feature face image and the base image by the morphing section to generate a feature-added image. Accordingly, the face images can be synthesized to generate a real face image and a resultant image to which a feature not contained in the original images is added can be generated.

Abstract: The visual fitness planner combines image morphing technology, exercise programming, supplement sales, and motivational techniques; into one product. Users begin by entering their current measurements, measurement goals and current picture into the system, preferably via a Web site. The picture is segmented into body components, and each segment is morphed based upon the goal measurement and the segment's responsiveness to weight loss using physiological tables and formulae. The resulting modified “after view”image is then returned to the user, preferably by online communications such as e-mail. In the business use for the disclosed system, the visual fitness planner helps the fitness industry overcome two of their biggest problems: obtaining new members and retaining current members. By showing members how they will look after following a specific regimen, client may accurately visualize their future appearance, resulting in increased client loyalty and satisfaction.

Abstract: A system and method, called Image-Based Surface Detail Transfer, to transfer geometric details from one surface of an object in an image to another with simple 2D image operations. The basic observation is that, without knowing its 3D geometry, geometric details (local deformations) can be extracted from a single image of an object in a way independent of its surface reflectance, and furthermore, these geometric details can be transferred to modify the appearance of other objects directly in images. Examples are shown including surface detail transfer between real objects, as well as between real and synthesized objects.

Abstract: There is provided a method of generating an interpolated image without any constraint even in a wide moving range. When two real images have an inclusive relationship, the two images are rotated to make their optical axes coincide with each other. Nonlinear interpolation processing is performed for the two images after the rotations, and the interpolated image is rotated in the line of sight direction of a user.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for producing a warped image from an input image. Image warp data encoded as an image on a card is read by a data reader in a camera. Each element of the warp map maps a corresponding region in an input image to a pixel location of the output image. The warp map is scaled to the dimensions of the output image so as to produce a scaled warp map, then each element in the scaled warp map is used to determine a contribution region in the input image by using a value corresponding to that element and values corresponding to adjacent elements. An output image color for a pixel of the output image that corresponds to the element of the contribution region is then produced.

Abstract: A computer-implemented system performs a conformal warp operation using a unique warping function to map a first area to a second area. The first area is defined by a first enclosing contour and the second area is defined by a second enclosing contour. The system defines the first enclosing contour; modifies the first enclosing contour into the second enclosing contour; generates an analytic function to conformally warp the first area into the second area; and performs the conformal warp using the analytic function.

Abstract: A method of image processing where a location of a three-dimensional object to be displayed by a quadrilateral polygon is displayed as a natural concave/convex shape and thereby the mode of change of the form of the three-dimensional object is displayed without a strange feeling, includes drawing and recording a quadrilateral polygon designated for division. The method also includes provisionally dividing that quadrilateral polygon into two triangular planes by a separating line connecting two facing vertexes, and judging if the two triangular planes form a convex shape facing the outside of the three-dimensional object. The method also includes dividing the quadrilateral polygon by that provisional division pattern if forming a convex shape, and dividing the quadrilateral polygon by another division pattern using a separating line connecting the remaining two vertexes if forming a concave shape so that the two triangular planes form a convex shape facing the outside of the three-dimensional object.

Abstract: A method for controlling and automatically animating lip synchronization and facial expressions of three dimensional animated characters using weighted morph targets and time aligned phonetic transcriptions of recorded text. The method utilizes a set of rules that determine the systems output comprising a stream of morph weight sets when a sequence of timed phonemes and/or other timed data is encountered. Other data, such as timed emotional state data or emotemes such as “surprise, “disgust, “embarrassment”, “timid smile”, or the like, may be inputted to affect the output stream of morph weight sets, or create additional streams.

Abstract: Techniques for geometric deformations in computer graphics are described, including a flexible and general modular methodology for constructing, analyzing, and evaluating geometric warps and deformations. Described techniques include establishing a set of source/target features (and related information) or parameter set for controlling deformation of a graphical model; a set of strength fields are established for controlling how strongly the transformation caused by the mapping of source feature to target feature will be applied to model points. A set of weighting fields modulates the influence of multiple source/target feature mappings on model points. Also described are variations on this technique that allow achieving results similar to conventional methods and additional functionality.

Abstract: An encoding method and apparatus of deformation information of a 3-dimensional (3D) object are provided. The encoding method of deformation information of a 3-Dimensional (3D) object, in which information on vertices forming the shape of the 3D object is described by a key framing method for performing deformation of the 3D object, the encoding method includes: (a) extracting keys indicating positions of key frames on a time axis, key values indicating characteristics information of key frames, and relation information, by parsing node information of the 3D object; (b) generating vertex connectivity information from the related information; (c) generating differential values for each of the keys from which temporal data redundancy is to be removed, and key values from which spatiotemporal data redundancy is to be removed, based on the vertex connectivity information; (d) quantizing the differential values; and (e) removing redundancy among bits and generating compressed bit stream through entropy encoding.

Abstract: A first image before deformation and a second image after deformation are input and formed into polygon models represented with a polygon mesh by a polygon model generation processing part. Polygon reduction processing is performed by a low progression level polygon model generation processing part to generate low progression level polygon models having a reduced number of polygons and metadata containing the reduction process of the number of polygons. A low progression level polygon model morphing processing part specifies corresponding vertices between the low progression level polygon models, and then they are formed into intermediate low progression level polygon models by interpolation. Intermediate images are generated by reproducing processing to the polygon model using the metadata by an intermediate image generation processing part and texture mapping.

Abstract: In computer graphics, polygons constituting two polygon models are matched to realize spontaneous morphing. Each of first and second polygon models is split into corresponding parts, such as ear, eye or face, and polygons making up a part of the first polygon model are matched to polygons making up a part of the second polygon corresponding to the first-stated part. A connection relational graph, as a two-dimensional graph representing the connection relation between polygons making up the respective parts, is prepared from the two matched parts, and the connection relational graphs of the two matched parts are rendered co-morphic to match the polygons constituting the two parts.

Abstract: Methods and products are disclosed concerning extraction of selected components of a warping of an image. Given a warped image and a distortion grid, the distortion at any point in the image may be viewed locally as a displacement and a linear transform. The linear transform can be manipulated to extract elements of the local distortion such as skew, rotation, magnification and combinations. The selected components may then be selectively applied at other locations of the same or a different image, using a variety of virtual paintbrushes for different effects.

Abstract: A system for generating a target pixel in a target grid from a plurality of source pixels in a source grid, said system comprising, a filter controller for determining a first distance between said target pixel and a source pixel to the left of said target pixel, and a second distance between said target pixel and a source pixel to the right of said target pixel; a left portion lookup circuit for determining filter coefficients for a left portion of said target pixel in accordance with said first difference; a right portion lookup circuit for determining filter coefficients for a right portion of said target pixel in accordance with said second difference; and a filter reconstruction unit for creating a filter in accordance with said left and right portion filter coefficients, said created filter for generating said target pixel from said plurality of source pixels.

Abstract: Intermediate panoramic images are each generated from two original panoramic images, where each panoramic image provides a 360 degree field of view of a scene from different nodal points. First, pairs of planar images are derived, where each pair corresponds to original planar views derived from respective portions of the original panoramic images, where a similar area of the scene is visible from each pair of planar views. Then, an intermediate planar image is generated from each pair of planar images, and the resulting series of intermediate planar images are cylindrically concatenated to form the intermediate panoramic image.

Abstract: A transition in an MPEG sequence including anchor pictures and bidirectionally predicted (B) pictures is encoded by a) coding first and second anchor pictures and b) coding a transition in the sequence by inserting B pictures into the bitstream to create the transition from the first anchor picture to the second anchor picture.

Abstract: A method of processing an image of a three-dimensional object, including the steps of providing a morphable object model derived from a plurality of 3D images, matching the morphable object model to at least one 2D object image, and providing the matched morphable object model as a 3D representation of the object. A method of generating a morphable object model includes the steps of generating a 3D database comprising a plurality of 3D images of prototype objects, subjecting the data of the 3D database to a data processing providing correspondences between the prototype objects and at least one reference object, and providing the morphable object model as a set of objects comprising linear combinations of the shapes and textures of the prototype objects.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for animation of an object. The invention includes communication destination matrixes used for project source and destination vertex arrays of, source and destination objects from an original space to an ortho-normal space. At a receiver (200), a control system (210) transforms zero-mean of source and destination vertex arrays using, respectively, the source and destination projection matrixes. Control system (210) computes an interim vertex array in the ortho-normal space based on a linear interpolation of the transformed source and destination vertex arrays, and an interim projection matrix based on a linear interpolation of the source and destination projection matrixes. Control system (210) transforms the interim vertex array from the ortho-normal space to the original space based on the interim projection matrix. A display (250) displays an interim object based on the interim vertex array in an animation of the object.

Abstract: A configurable vertex blending circuit that allows both morphing and skinning operations to be supported in dedicated hardware is presented. Such a configurable vertex blending circuit includes a matrix array that is used for storing the matrices associated with the various portions of the vertex blending operations. Vertex data that is received is stored in an input vertex buffer that includes multiple position buffers such that the multiple positions associated with morphing operations can be stored. Similarly, the single position typically associated with skinning operations can be stored in one of the position buffers. The input vertex buffer further stores blending weights associated with the various component operations that are included in the overall vertex blending operation. An arithmetic unit, which is configured and controlled by a transform controller, performs the calculations required for each of a plurality of component operations included in the overall vertex blending operation.

Abstract: A method of digital image mapping includes utilizing a digitized image, morphing this image or tessellated regions of this image, and rearranging the resulting morphed image or image regions to produce a new image for printing on flexible media, such as paper, so that when a three-dimensional origami-like object is constructed from this media and it is viewed from a particular direction then the viewer observes the original image.

Abstract: Upon calculating a FEM model of a new model vehicle as a structure to be analyzed using that of an existing vehicle as a prototype structure, a computer sets a plurality of corresponding reference points on the outline of the new model vehicle and the FEM model of the existing vehicle, changes a mesh model included in the FEM model of the existing vehicle to the outer shape of the new model vehicle on the basis of that mesh model and the correspondence between these reference points, and merges additional information contained in the FEM model of the existing vehicle and its associated state with respect to the deformed mesh model, thus calculating the FEM model of the new model vehicle.

Abstract: A method and graphics system configured to perform real-time morphing of three-dimensional (3D) objects that have been compressed into one or more streams of 3D graphics data using geometry compression techniques. In one embodiment, the graphics system has one or more decompression units, each configured to receive and decompress the graphics data. The decompression units are configured to convey the decompressed data corresponding to the morphs to a graphics processor that is configured to apply weighting factors to the graphics data. The weighted results are combined to yield a morphed object that is rendered to generate one or more frames of a morphing sequence. The weighting factors may be adjusted and reapplied to yield additional frames for the morphing sequence. A method for encoding 3D graphics data to allow morphing decompression is also disclosed.

Abstract: Techniques for finding a correspondence between a source object and a target object, the objects having n>2 dimensions, such that a vector field based on the correspondence generates objects which tend to preserve the characteristics of both the source object and the target object. The techniques result in vector fields which maximize the generated object's similarity to the target object while minimizing structural changes to the source object. Minimization of structural changes is done by associating directional spring functions with points in the source object and finding a vector which generates an object for which changes in the directional spring functions are minimized.

Abstract: Two images are analyzed to compute a set of motion vectors that describes motion between the first and second images. A motion vector is computed for each pixel in an image at a time between the first and second images. This set of motion vectors may be defined at any time between the first and second images, such as the midpoint. The motion vectors may be computed using any of several techniques. An example technique is based on the constant brightness constraint, also referred to as optical flow. Each vector is specified at a pixel center in an image defined at the time between the first and second images. The vectors may point to points in the first and second images that are not on pixel centers. The motion vectors are used to warp the first and second images to a point in time of an output image between the first and second images using a factor that represents the time between the first and second image at which the output image occurs.