Abstract: A system projects multiple output images on a display surface. The system includes multiple projectors. Each projector includes a processing unit. The processing unit includes a microprocessor, a memory and an I/O interface connected by busses. A projector sub-system coupled to the processing unit is for displaying output images on the display surface. A camera sub-system coupled to the processing unit is for acquiring input images reflecting a geometry of the display surface. The camera sub-system is in a fixed physical relationship to the projector sub-system. A network sub-system coupled to the processing unit is for communicating messages between the projectors. Internal sensors coupled to the processing unit are for determining an orientation of the projector sub-system and the camera sub-system with respect to the display surface.

Abstract: A method packs input rectangles into a target rectangle. The rectangles are permuted into one or more an ordered list according to dimensions of the rectangles, e.g., width, height, perimeter, and area. The rectangles are then marked as unaccepted. A next unaccepted rectangle is selected from the ordered list beginning with a first rectangle in the list. Accepting the next rectangle if it is the last unaccepted rectangles, and otherwise, accepting the next rectangle with a probability p, and marking the next rectangle as accepted, and repeating the steps until all rectangles have been accepted.

Abstract: A system enables an interactively guided heuristic search for solving a combinatorial optimization problem. The system initially performs a hill-climbing search on the combinatorial optimization problem to obtain a solution using initial default parameters. The current solution and the combinatorial optimization problem are visualized on an optimization table, a table-top display device. The parameters are altered based on the visualization of the combinatorial optimization problem and the current solution. Then, the searching, visualizing, and setting are repeated until the solution is selected as an acceptable solution of the combinatorial optimization problem. During the repeating, the parameters can be a set of probabilities, and in which case the search is a random perturbation-based search. Alternatively, the parameters can be a set of priorities, in which case the search is an exhaustive local search.

Abstract: An interactive display system includes a sensor for sensing a relationship between a mobile coordinate frame fixed to a moving projector, and a stable coordinate frame fixed to a stationary display surface in the real world. An output image to be projected on the display surface is partitioned into a black image portion having a fixed relationship to the mobile coordinate frame, a stable image portion within the block image portion having a fixed relationship to the stable coordinate frame, and a mobile image portion within the stable image portion having a fixed relationship to the mobile coordinate frame. The mobile portion can be used as a pointer within the stable portion in a mouse-cursor like manner.

Abstract: A network enables remote users to communicate with, and to control a variety of devices whose only electrical connection is to a power line network. In hybrid networks, communications between different network domains is only available if proper message mapping is done. Message mapping leads to the determination of correct frame conversion based on the specifications of protocols identifying different networks. This invention comprises a method that does bi-directional conversion between application level information entered into the remote access device by the user and related physical layer power line communications frames.

Abstract: A method produces an image from a set of discrete sample points. The sample points can define a 3D volume or surface. Each discrete sample point is projected to a screen space. A continuous resampling filter for each sample point is generated in screen space. The continuous resampling filter is a combination of a continuous reconstruction function and a continuous filter function for the sample point in screen space. The continuous resampling filter is then applied to each corresponding discrete sample in the screen space to generate a continuous sample for the image. The continuous samples can be rasterized to pixels using any known rasterization process or method.

Abstract: A method renders a mesh constructed of polygons representing a graphics model one at the time to accentuate geometric features of the mesh. At least one additional polygon is generated at each edge of each polygon of the mesh. Each additional polygon has a predetermined orientation, size, and color. The predetermined orientation of the generated polygons is 180° with respect to the polygon if the polygon is a back-facing polygon to accentuate silhouettes. The predetermined orientation of the generated polygon is a first threshold angle with respect to the polygon if the polygon is a front-facing polygon to accentuate ridges, and the predetermined orientation of the generated polygon is a second threshold angle with respect to the polygon if the polygon is a front-facing polygon to accentuate valleys.

Abstract: A method for decorating a virtual world model first builds a physical model from a plurality of building blocks. Each building block includes a microcontroller coupled to a plurality of connectors. The connectros are for physically and electronically connecting the blocks in a three-dimensional structure to form the model. An arrangement of the blocks in the model is derived by connecting the model to a host computer. The arrangement is expressed as a set of logical axioms. The set of logical axioms is processed by a logic program to identify large scale structural elements of the model, and decorative attributes are assigned to the large. scale structural elements.

Abstract: A method edits a graphics object by first representing the graphics object by an adaptively sampled distance field. A portion of the adaptively sampled distance field is selected for editing and converted to a triangle model. The triangle model is then deformed, the adaptively sampled distance field is regenerated from the deformed triangle model.

Abstract: A system for adjusting delivery of sound to loudspeakers in a home theater includes a plurality of loudspeakers located in an area. The loudspeakers are coupled to a sound generating source. A camera is oriented to acquire images of the area. An image processing system and controller is coupled to the camera and the sound generating source. Image processing system identifies the positions of the speakers and a position of the listener in the area from the images. The controller adjusts the deliver of the sound according to the relative positions of the loudspeakers and the listener.

Abstract: A system for learning a mapping between time-varying signals is used to drive facial animation directly from speech, without laborious voice track analysis. The system learns dynamical models of facial and vocal action from observations of a face and the facial gestures made while speaking. Instead of depending on heuristic intermediate representations such as phonemes or visemes, the system trains hidden Markov models to obtain its own optimal representation of vocal and facial action. An entropy-minimizing training technique using an entropic prior ensures that these models contain sufficient dynamical information to synthesize realistic facial motion to accompany new vocal performances. In addition, they can make optimal use of context to handle ambiguity and relatively long-lasting facial co-articulation effects.

Abstract: A destination computer reads a device identification and a network address from a peripheral device connected to the destination computer. A device driver, corresponding to the device identification, is then retrieved from the source computer at the network address. A device driver installation program can also be retrieved from the source computer. The device driver installation program is executed in the destination computer to determine the configuration of the destination computer. The destination computer requests the device driver for the peripheral device corresponding to the configuration of the destination computer from the source computer. The device driver is installed in the destination computer.

Abstract: A system interactively edits a graphics object. The system includes a user interface for setting editing parameters, and providing a model of the graphics object. An adaptively sample distance field is generated from the model, and an interactive editor manipulates the adaptively sampled distance field. The manipulated adaptively sampled distance field is then converted to rendering primitives to be rendered by a rendering engine.

Abstract: A method displays an image on a display surface. First, structured patterns are projected on the display surface by multiple projectors Pi. Input images of the structured pattern are acquired. Each input image is acquired by a camera Ci in a fixed physical relationship to a corresponding one of the projectors. The correspondences are triangulated to determine a quadric transfer TPiCk. Quadric transfer parameters are determined of the quadric transfer T. Output images from the projectors are warped according to the quadric transfer and the quadric transfer parameters.

Abstract: A method adapts an output image to a shape of a display surface. First, a structured pattern is projected onto the display surface by a projector. An input image of the structured pattern is acquired by a camera in a fixed physical relationship to the projector. From the input image, a mesh of the structured pattern is determined in a coordinate frame of the projector. Coordinates of a texture are determined in the coordinate frame of the projector. The coordinates of the texture are updated according to the display region. The texture then mapped to the mesh, and the textured mesh is rendered on the display surface.

Abstract: A method, using a filter function, generates an anti-aliased discrete image from a continuous image including an edge. The method defines a line sample. A progressive convolution is derived from the filter function and the line sample. A pixel at a predetermined location in the discrete image is selected, and the line sample is oriented with respect to the selected pixel. A distance is measured from a point in the continuous image corresponding to the selected pixel to the edge along the oriented the line sample. The progressive convolution is evaluated at the measured distance to produce a weighted coverage value, and the weighted coverage value is associated with the pixel to anti-alias the pixel in the discrete image.

Abstract: A computer implemented method cross-fades intensities of a plurality of overlapping images by identifying pixels in a target image that are only produced by a first source image. The weights of all the corresponding pixels in the first source image are set to one. Pixels in a second source images contributing to the target image are similarly identified and set to one. the weight of each remaining pixel in the first and second images is inversely proportional to a distance to a nearest pixel having a weight of one. Then, the first and second source image can be projected to form the target image.

Abstract: A method controls an elevator system including multiple elevator cars and multiple floors. A new passenger at one of the floors signals a hall call. In response to receiving the hall call, the method determines, for each car, a set of all possible future states of the elevator system. The future states depend on the current state of the system, which is defined by passengers already assigned to cars, the direction of travel, position and velocity of the cars. A cost function is evaluated to determine a cost for each set of all possible future states. Then, the car associated with the set having a least cost is assigned to service the hall call. The method is applicable to any type of traffic. It is particularly well-suited for up-peak traffic because it handles efficiently the uncertainty in passenger destinations.

Abstract: A signal having one of a plurality of modulation formats is formed by encoding first data in accordance with a particular one of the modulation formats. The encoded first data is then combined with second data identifying the particular modulation format of the encoded first data to form the signal.

Abstract: A method transcodes groups of macroblocks of a partially decoded input bitstream. The groups of macroblocks include intra-mode and inter-mode macroblocks. Each macroblock includes DCT coefficients, and at least one motion vector. The modes of each group of macroblocks are mapped to be identical only if there is an inter-mode block and an intra-mode macroblock in the group. If any of the macroblocks in the group are mapped, then the DCT coefficients and the motion vector for such mapped macroblocks are modified in accordance with the mapping to generate reduced-resolution macroblock for an output compressed bitstream to compensate for drift.