Abstract: A system and method receives a set of data points and identifies one or more Bezier curves corresponding to the set of data points. The system and method uses different techniques for identifying the Bezier curve depending on whether a Bezier point is a sharp point, in which the slope of the lines on either side of the point differ by a threshold amount or another type of point.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product for identifying a form, the form having a form template and including at least one object. A locale property definition is assigned for the at least one object of the form. The locale property definition is stored with the form template. The form is rendered, wherein the at least one object of the form is rendered in accordance with the locale property definition for the at least one object.

Abstract: A preview window generator can be configured to sense a presence of navigation input applied to a resource reference (e.g., an icon, file path, etc.) displayed in an application window. The resource reference displayed in the application window can represent a resource such as stored content (e.g., a file, folder, etc.). While sensing input such as presence of a pointer in a vicinity of the resource reference in the application window, the preview window generator displays a context view (e.g., a file system view) including a representation of the stored content. Accordingly, a user can view the stored content in a relevant context view such as a storage context indicating where the content is stored in a file system without having to launch a separate windows explorer application. The preview window can be configured to receive input, enabling a viewer to modify a particular context view.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for arranging and aligning graphical objects are disclosed. The selection of a first graphical object in a graphical user interface is received, and it is determined if the first graphical object is located at a substantially minimal distance in a reference plane from a related second graphical object on the graphical user interface. If the graphical objects are not located at a substantially minimal distance from each other in the reference plane, the graphical objects are graphically arranged to substantially minimize the distance in the reference plane between them.

Abstract: A system receives a selection of content within the digital composition, and derives conceptual information associated with the content. The conceptual information is used to identify the graphical element associated with the selection of content. The system obtains the graphical element associated with the content, and displays the graphical element within the digital composition.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus provide for a clip-beat aligner that identifies musical beats in an audio file. An editing mode is provided to associate the audio file with a media segment according to a timeline. The clip-beat aligner aligns a boundary of the media segment with a musical beat on the timeline. Upon performing an editing operation, the clip-beat aligner maintains that the boundary of the media segment is aligned with any one of the musical beats. To align a boundary of each media segment with a musical beat, the clip-beat aligner identifies a musical beat that is proximate to the position of the media segment's boundary. The clip-beat aligner then aligns the media segment's boundary with the proximate musical beat by, if necessary, automatically trimming the media segment's duration such that the media segment's boundary occurs at the same moment in time as the proximate musical beat.

Abstract: A system renders an object as a plurality of layers displayed within a three-dimensional view. The system receives a selection of a layer from the plurality of layers in the three-dimensional view, and renders the object as a planar view with the selected layer active, the planar view displaying the object in a two dimensional space.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention allow for cloning texture from one image location to another. The two locations may belong to the same image, or to two different images. Embodiments of the invention use a median filter to filter a source image and a target image. The filtered source image and the original source image are combined to extract texture information. Texture information is then combined with the filtered target image to generate a destination image. Embodiments of the invention may be utilized to retouch photographs, in order to correct, improve or change localized flaws or problems in images. An example is the removal of wrinkles and blemishes on a person's face. Embodiments of the invention allow for cloning the texture from a smooth skin area into a region of wrinkles, while preserving the colors and shadings of the target image.

Abstract: An apparatus for analyzing the broadband noise content of a digital image comprising the following: a means of automatically identifying regions of originally constant color in the image by analysis of the variance of pixel values of regions of the image; a means of automatically detecting and discarding regions deemed to be unrepresentative of the true noise content of an image, including under- and over-exposed regions; a means of allowing the user to manually select some or all required constant color regions if desired; and, a means of analyzing such constant color regions to generate a parametric or non-parametric model of the noise in the image, including frequency characteristic within and between channels and other characteristics such as phase which might describe structured noise.

Abstract: Methods and-apparatus implementing a technique for forming a trap polygon which does not interfere with the print quality of other trap polygons or objects. Edges in close proximity to a color transition edge (“CTE”) are checked for potential interference. A trap polygon is formed for the CTE that avoids any interfering edges or trap polygons for those edges. The technique can be applied to form a trap polygon for each edge in a page to be printed.

Abstract: A computer-assisted technique for providing approximate solutions to photogrammetric problems in interactive applications computes an approximate solution to a large, non-linear system by converting the non-linear system into a smaller, linear system where only a subset of the system's parameters are used. The size of the smaller system can be adjusted to different system capabilities and/or model complexities to ensure computation of an approximate solution in a given time. For use in an interactive environment, this time may be adjusted so that redraw rates are within acceptable tolerances, say from 5 to 30 frames per second. The method may allow for drawing a three-dimensional representation of a scene using parameterized primitives having constraints which are updated interactively, so as to minimize error in constrained locations of the primitives. Such drawing may include creating a Jacobian matrix for a predetermined minimum set of parameters of the primitives.

Abstract: A macro for use by an application program is described. The macro is embedded in a macro file including at least two versions of executable configuration code corresponding to two different operating systems to interface the macro file to an application program. Attached to the macro file is a sequence of actions to apply to an application file produced by the application program. Also attached is application identification information that identifies an original host application corresponding to the macro. The sequence of actions in the macro file can be produced by storing commands, applied to a data file opened in the application program, into a log file and transferring at least one stored command from the log file to the macro file.

Abstract: A system for producing a raster image derived from coded and non-coded portions of a hybrid data structure from an input bitmap including (1) a data processing apparatus, (2) a recognizer which performs recognition on an input bitmap to the data processing apparatus to detect identifiable objects within the input bitmap, (3) a mechanism for producing a hybrid data structure including coded data corresponding to the identifiable objects and non-coded data derived from portions of the input bitmap which do not correspond to the identifiable objects, and (4) an output device capable of developing a visually perceptible raster image derived from the hybrid data structure. The raster image includes raster images of the identifiable objects and raster images derived from portions of the input bitmap that do not correspond to the identifiable objects.

Abstract: A computer-assisted technique for constructing a three-dimensional model on top of one or more images (e.g., photographs) such that the model's parameters automatically match those of the real world object depicted in the photograph(s). Camera parameters such as focal length, position, and orientation in space may be determined from the images such that the projection of a three-dimensional model through the calculated camera parameters matches the projection of the real world object through the camera onto the image surface. Modeling is accomplished using primitives, such as boxes or pyramids, which may be intuitively manipulated to construct the three-dimensional model on a video display or other display screen of a computer system with a two-dimensional input controller (e.g., a mouse, joystick, etc.) such that the, displayed three-dimensional object manipulation emulates physical three-dimensional object manipulation.

Abstract: A raster image processor receives a file of instructions and images in any convenient page description language and blends the images in accordance with the specified blending mode and, possibly, opacity information.

Abstract: A secured access to data in a portable document format (PDF) file is provided by encapsulating a Public Key Cryptography Standard number 7 (PKCS#7) object having a recipient list into data. ‘Enveloped data’ encapsulated in the PKCS#7 object contains access information that is used to access the remainder of the document into which the PKCS#7 object is encapsulated. The access information can be decrypted by all recipients in the PKCS#7 recipient list. If a recipient listed in the recipient list attempts to access data in the document, the access information is decrypted using the recipient's private key. The access information is used to obtain an access key that is used to decrypt data in the document.

Abstract: A method for providing secured access to a document includes the steps of embedding a permissions attribute into a recipient list. The permissions attribute identifies permissions allowing various levels of access to a predetermined document. Each recipient listed in the recipient list has a corresponding permission associated therewith. Further, the method renders the recipient list and its contents tamper-proof.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for retaining visual continuity uses techniques that display sets of data on a computer monitor. The sets of data, stored in one or more electronic files, are arranged on separate pages so that corresponding data are positioned at the same location on each page. Corresponding page layouts enable a user to maintain focus on a particular area, for example, an area where a property name and value appear, or an area where a particular template definition and generated text appear. The invention uses visual techniques such as highlighting data to distinguish differences in the data sets. Each page has a tab so that a user can choose the page to display on the computer monitor.