Abstract: An improved surface shading method computes and stores light reflectance values as a texture map for a given light direction and view direction to an object in a scene during development of a computer graphics (CG) program, and uses the stored texture map later for shading during real-time rendering. A selected bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) is applied using a standard model for distribution of normal direction vectors for a given type of surface, and BRDF values are computed as a global texture map for the object's surface in the scene. The BRDF values are stored as a look-up table indexed to the sampled range of normal direction vectors. During real-time rendering, surface shading can be readily processed by using the normal direction vector for any given point to look up the stored BRDF value. Shading with BRDF light reflectance values can be combined in one or more passes with shading of other surface texture characteristics, e.g.

Abstract: An electronic messaging system, and related method, employs a handwriting server component operable on a network with a messaging host server, and a client device operable with a handwritten messaging client connected to the network. The client device sets up a graphical data capture area into which a user can enter handwritten or handdrawn input through a suitable graphical input device. The handwritten or handdrawn input is captured and sent as pixel data or an attached graphics file in the supported network messaging protocol. The preferred form of the handwriting messaging component is a Java applet installed on the client device. The graphical input device can be a touch screen, pen input device, stylus pad, or attached drawing pad or mouse. The handwriting messaging client sets up a drawing editor/viewer that allows the user to compose, manipulate, send and view handwritten or handdrawn messages. The drawing editor/viewer can include a set of standard drawing tools and functions.

Abstract: An overhead traveling crane system has cylindrical guide members (16d, 18d) and guide bars (15a, 16a) installed on a moving device (18) and a lifting device (15), respectively. The guide bars (15a, 16a) are inserted nestably into the cylindrical guide members (16d, 18d) so [as to move] that the lifting device (15) can be raised and lowered by wires only substantially vertically relative to the moving device (18) when wires (15b, 16b) are wound up and down. The lower end parts of the cylindrical guide members (16d, 18d) are expanded in a flared shape so that the upper end parts of the guide bars (15a, 16a) can be moved minutely horizontally in the period between the start of engagement and the completion of engagement. Similarly, a flared position guide means may be provided on a lower part of the lifting device for engagement with positioning means located on the target on the ground.

Abstract: A leveling assembly for setting a vertical prop is comprised of an inclined surface setting member 20 and a horizontal surface forming member 30. The horizontal surface forming member 30 has a horizontal surface 32 to be adjusted to a horizontal position and an opposite first adjusting surface 31 that is not parallel to horizontal surface 32. The inclined surface setting member 20 has a setting surface 21 facing a slope inclined surface 11 and an opposite second adjusting surface 22 facing the first adjusting surface 31 which is not parallel to the setting surface 21. The horizontal surface forming member 30 and the inclined surface setting member 20 are placed on top or each other, and the horizontal surface 32 is adjusted to the horizontal position relative to the slope inclined surface 11 by rotating the members relative to each other to change the degree angle between the horizontal surface 32 and the setting surface 21.