Abstract: An electronic card (100) configured to be read by a reading device (300) is disclosed. The card (100) comprising a card portion (270) having a surface (156) onto which are formed a plurality of user interface elements (154) and electronic apparatus (259) attached to the card portion (270). The apparatus (259) comprising a memory (276) in which are retained a plurality of data strings. At least one of the data strings is associated with a corresponding one of the user interface elements (154). The apparatus (259) also comprises a processor means (275) coupled to the memory means (276) and communication means (278) for coupling the processor means (275) to the reading device (300). The processor means (275) is configured to relate reading signals generated from a selection of at least one of the elements (154) and received via the communication means (278) with at least one of the retained data strings. The retained data strings are inaccessible to the reading device (300).

Abstract: A method of interpreting an image using a statistical or probabilistic interpretation model is disclosed. The image has associated therewith contextual information. The method comprises the following steps: providing the contextual information associated with the image for analysis; analyzing the additional contextual information to identify predetermined features relating to the image; and biasing the statistical or probabilistic interpretation model in accordance with the identified features.

Abstract: A method of providing an interface to a first application is disclosed. The first application is retained within a memory means (276) of an electronic card (100), with at least one of a plurality of user interface elements (154) being associated with a user interface element object stored in the memory (276). The memory means (276) is coupled to a processor means (275) of the electronic card (100). The processor means (275) is coupled to a reading device (300) configured to facilitate reading of the electronic card (100). The method executes at least a first application and a second application within the processor means (275). The second application is configured to associate reading signals generated by the reading device (300) in response to a selection of at least one of the elements (154) with a command to be issued to the first application. The second application is configured to provide the interface to the first application.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for viewing a collection of data objects. The method initially sorts the collection according to at least two fields associated with the data objects. The data objects are then arranged within a range along said at least two fields into groups. A three dimensional presentation of the collection is then formed having two of the dimensions formed by two of the at least two fields and a third dimension incorporating a representation of each data object in the corresponding group.

Abstract: A method of generating a dependent media item (911) is disclosed. The method comprises arranging a sequence of EDL elements (901-907) in an order, wherein at least an ordered sub-set of the EDL elements (901-907) are associated with track control attributes (912) for the dependent media item (911). The method further comprises producing a sequence of media items (904-908) in a source track (906) dependent upon at least some of the sequence EDL elements (901-907), and generating the dependent media item (911) dependent the track control attributes (912) and the order in which the sub-set of EDL elements is arranged.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method (1900) of forming a printable representation of a document (1800) having framed content (1808). The method includes recording (1904) the position, height and width of each frame of the document in a display widow in which the document is presented. The dimensions of a printing medium associated with the printable representation are also identified. A height of content of each frame is determined and, for each frame, a record of any corresponding dependency frames, each dependency frame being above the frame in the display window;. The records are then interpreted to establish a display order of the frames.

Abstract: The artwork is defined by a tree structure having leaf nodes comprising objects and parent nodes comprising graphical operators. Each node has fields storing values indicative of horizontal and vertical alteration rules applicable to that node or its sub-tree. The method comprises a selection step, a traversal step and two application steps. In the selection step (300) a target area is selected for fitting the artwork. In the traversal step, the method traverses the nodes of the tree structure (318,342,336,338) traversing one or more of the said nodes. In the first application step, the method applies, for each one of the traversed nodes that is a leaf node, a horizontal alteration rule (344). The horizontal rule re-positions each point within the object comprising the leaf node to another point within a target area, whereby altering the shape of the artwork in a horizontal direction.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for creating a blend from one arbitrary edge (20) to a second arbitrary edge (21) in a computer graphic image creation is disclosed. A color along each of the edges (20,21) is determined. A parametric equation is then formed for a color of each pixel (23) within the area bounded by the edges (20,21), and the parametric equation is solved to derive a color for each of the pixels (23). In another aspect, after determining the color along each edge (20,21), each of the edges (20,21) is vectorised into corresponding line segments (31 to 34). Pairs of the line segments (31 to 34) are then matched to form polygons (29) having a defined color at each of vertices, A color is then determined for each pixel of the polygon (29) from the defined colors of the vertices.

Abstract: A remote control apparatus (10) for accessing a desired resource (13) on a network system (46) is disclosed. The network system (46) typically has a plurality of node sites of which at least one node site includes the desired resource which is uniquely identifiable by a resource identifier (66). The remote control apparatus includes input means (32) for inputting the resource identifier into the remote control apparatus, storage means (30) for storing the entered resource identifier; transmission means (21,23,35) and authentication means (28). The transmission means provides for wireless transmission of the resource identifier to an output arrangement (11) to enable the output arrangement to receive the resource identifier and thereby access the desired resource at the network system node identified by the resource identifier for reproduction of the desired resource by the output arrangement.

Abstract: A method of updating, directing or moving page table entry values in a virtual memory management system. The method operates without requiring suspension of a search process looking for a predetermined page table entry value of a page table. In a first step, the method determines whether the current page table value is the predetermined page table entry value or whether the search process looking for a page table entry value is in progress. Then, the current page table entry value is deleted or moved in the event that the current page table entry value is not the predetermined page table entry value or in the event that the search process is not in progress.

Abstract: A graphic system for a color copier includes a memory card for storing input object image data, a host processor connected to a user controllable keyboard for selecting and editing the object image data to create edited image data, a real-time processor for rendering the edited image data to output an image signal, and a communicator for communicating with the copier.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed which permit a seamless halftoning of an image by halftoning regions of the image independently and/or in parallel. Each region of the image being arbitrarily determined, and being halftoned on the basis of halftoned pixel results of pixels within a predetermined neighborhood of the region. The arrangement providing a greater flexibility in the independent halftoning of the regions, while providing substantially seamless joins between abutting halftoned regions of the image. Further, the arrangement also provides a mechanism for parallel processing (halftoning) of abutting regions of an image with substantially seamless results.

Abstract: An object-based computerized graphics system for reproducing an image on a display device having a plurality of scan lines upon each of which a plurality of pixels are reproducible. The system includes information-providing means for providing graphic object information for at least one graphic object intended for reproduction, the graphic object comprising an outline representation of the graphic object. The outline representation is formed from at least two curve fragments, each curve fragment being defined by a single non-parametric quadratic polynomial. Also included in the system is rendering means for rendering the at least one graphic object. The rendering means is configured to determine, for each curve fragment, a first intersection between each curve fragment and a scan line of the display device. The rendering means is also used to determines using two computer-implemented mathematical operations, each subsequent intersection between each curve fragment and other ones of the scan lines.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing a number of ports with burst access to a DRAM array includes a memory array, a controller for controlling the memory array, a write device for writing to the memory array, a read device for reading from the memory array, a FIFO output buffer for temporarily storing data read from the memory array and/or a FIFO input buffer for temporarily storing data prior to writing to the memory array.

Abstract: An image processing system in which a computer image is halftoned by halftoning a current pixel using error diffusion, with a halftoned output value of the current pixel being determined using errors derived from substantially all previously halftoned pixels of the image. Output error values are determined for each pixel, and are acted upon by an error diffusion mask of geometrically reducing values. In certain instances, previously halftoned pixels are divided into two or more groups to obtain a desired contribution from previously halftoned pixels.

Abstract: An image signal in filtered to provide a filtered image signal representing a filtered image, and a mapping function is determined from a predetermined arbitrary function of the image signal. The filtered image signal and the image signal are interpolated in accordance with the mapping function to produce a final image signal representing a final image. The interpolation includes adjusting an opacity of each picture element of the image signal and the filtered image signal in accordance with the mapping function. In a final image, a smoothed transition is produced between the filtered image signal and the image signal. Preferably, the determination of the mapping function is also dependent upon the filtered image signal, and the mapping function is an absolute value of a difference between the image signal and the filtered image signal.

Abstract: A method of dealing with self-overlapping objects in a system for creating computerised images, which are made up of objects, by means of a scan line process is described. For each of the overlapping objects (1,2), a number of steps are performed. A first step (702) is to determine a directional border of the object (1). Another step (704) involves determining intersections of the directional border (8 to 10) with a current scan line (7). A further step is to determine, for each pixel within the scan line (7), a count of the number of preceding intersections, wherein the count is incremented for a directional border (8,9) crossing in a first direction and is decremented for a directional border crossing (10,11) in a second direction. Still, a further step (706) is to render each pixel of the object (1) a number of times equal to the count.

Abstract: An arrangement for sharpening the resolution of printed text in a color printing system is disclosed. An image processing system (1) includes a color conversion apparatus (2) for converting from one color space (RBG) to another color space (CMYK) for display on a color printer (8). The color conversion apparatus (2) includes a near-black correction unit (36) which detects near black-near white and near white-near, black transistions and when such a transition occurs, outputs a full,or deep black color in place of the near-black color.

Abstract: An apparatus for data normalization includes a FIFO buffer for receiving input data words, an input register for receiving a first data word from the FIFO buffer, and a combinatorial circuit for transforming the first data word in the input register and a subsequent data word from the FIFO buffer into a normalized output data word. The apparatus utilizes two or more independent instruction streams to increase the processing speed of the apparatus.

Abstract: An ink jet print device includes a passageway for flowing ink having an outlet for ejecting ink at one end. The passageway has a portion where the cross-sectional dimensions of the passageway change. A generating device which generates energy for ejecting ink from the outlet is disposed on a surface intersecting the passageway and defines a part of the portion where the cross-sectional dimensions of the passageway change.