Abstract: A method of viewing a clip of image data stored (109) remotely on a network (106). The viewing is performed by an image processing station (101) connected to the network. Frames of a clip are prefetched (701) and certain of the frames in a frame sequence are skipped, in alternation with frames that are fetched. Frames are skipped to compensate for network conditions. Display (702) of the prefetched frames is performed by selecting (1001) a prefetched frame for display appropriate to the elapsed real time since playback started. The clip is viewed in real time, even though the network (106) does not necessarily support the data transfer rate required for full playback of the clip.

Abstract: Network configuration data is automatically written to data structures in a networked image data processing environment. The environment includes several image processing systems (101-108) in which each image processing system has direct access to a respective frame storage device (111-118). Each image processing system includes a local configuration file specifying details of its locally connected storage device in combination with a network configuration data structure. A network (121) allows each image processing system to indirectly access the frame storage devices of other connected image processing systems. An image processing system transmits details of system configuration data to other networked processing systems. Furthermore, configuration data received from other networked image processing systems is added to local configuration data.

Abstract: A first image processing system, a second image processing system, a first storage system and a second storage system communicate over a high bandwidth switch. The switch connects the first processing system to the first storage system and also connects the second processing system to the second storage system. At the first image processing system, first location data is read to identify the location of frames on the first frame storage system. Similarly, at the second image processing system second location data is read to identify the location frames on the second frame storage system. In response to control commands issued to the switch, the first image processing system is disconnected from the first storage system and reconnected to the second storage system. Similarly, the second processing system is disconnected from the second storage system and reconnected to the first storage system.

Abstract: Animation data is rendered in real time. Animated scenes include at least one texture-mapped surface (502). Each scene is rendered on demand, in immediate continuation from the last, and results of scene animation may be combined with image data from another real time image source. Textures (921) are pre-loaded into a texture memory (809) before a scene containing them is rendered. As a result of the necessity to perform rendering (1521) in real time, each frame has an available bandwidth (1501) for transferring a texture to the texture memory. Estimates of available bandwidth are generated (1302) by an adaptive statistical model. A texture required for transfer is split (1307) into portions (1801) that are transferred (1511) as a background operation, while real time rendering continues without loss of rendering quality.

Abstract: An improved apparatus and method are provided for updating a database object 202. A database thread 706 is implemented in a database-dependent application 702 stored in the main memory 504 of a computer, such that an object cache manager 703 allows said database-dependent application 702 to modify a cached version of a transient object 704 and to queue (705) corresponding database processing commands, which will then be served by said database thread 706 to update the persistent data 202 stored in the central database 201 corresponding to said transient object 704. A Permit Manager 707 is implemented, such that concurrency is carried out by means of a cache invalidation mechanism (1101, 1102, 1103, 1104, 1105).

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for generating three-dimensional text 1403 within images 1601 composited in real time, by means of generating three-dimensional text 1403 from one or a plurality of text formatting templates 303. Storage means 204 stores said text formatting templates 303 and instructions 302 for processing means 201, 202. Said instructions 302 configure said processing means 201, 202 to define (404) a text formatting template 512. Said instructions 302 further configure said processing means 201, 202 to equip (405) said defined text formatting template 512 with three-dimensional preferences with which to format text 1402 to be included in said template and subsequently equip (407) said defined text formatting template 512 with said text 1402. Said instructions 302 finally configure said processing means 201,202 to render (408) said two-dimensional template 512 including said text 1403 formatted according to said three-dimensional preferences (1602).

Abstract: A method of initializing application instructions on a processing system. An application (602) comprises a number of dynamically shared objects or modules. Each of these modules may include data structures (614) that require initialization. Modules are dependent upon each other, and a module initialization order is identified by automatically registering a module's dependencies in an initialization list (608) during module loading, processing module dependencies to identify all dependencies, and generating an initialization schedule (609). Module initialization (506) is then performed. Plug-in modules can be loaded and initialized after the application has started, and the plug-in schedule is appended to the initialization schedule. Finalization is performed in reverse order, when the application is closed.

Abstract: Video data in the form of a plurality of digitised frames, is stored on a plurality of magnetic disks. Each image frame is striped across a plurality of disks and redundant parity information, derived from the stripes, is written to an additional disk. Disk failure is detected and in response to this detection missing data is regenerated from the parity information. This allows the transfer of video data in real time to be maintained for output so that the system remains operational. While data is being read in real time, derived from regenerated data, the regenerated data is written to an operational disk, thereby reprotecting the data in the event of a subsequent failure. Frame supplied to output are labelled as being protected or unprotected and application programs may respond to this status information as considered appropriate.

Abstract: Image data is generated for a scene, in which the scene includes object surfaces in three-dimensions. Intersecting or touching surfaces are identified by analysing the surfaces within a hierarchy of bounding volumes. Thereafter, a multi-resolution representation of a radiosity equation is constructed for the scene, wherein one of the identified surfaces is considered separately for light emission on either side of a previously identified line of contact or intersection.

Abstract: A processing system for processing data representing edit decision lists having edit decisions with edit data, representing the type of edit to take place, and frame range data, representing the frames over which the edit is to take place. An input device applies input data to the processing system in response to user manipulations specifying changes in the edit data. The processing device is configured to identify an associated function of the identified edit data, calculate modifications to the range data in response to the identified function and write the modified range data to storage.

Abstract: A multi-resolution representation of a radiosity equation for a scene is constructed. The scene comprises object elements and steps are performed to identify specialised cluster elements by associating object elements having a characterising relationship. Elements are linked and/or meshed in response to an estimate of error of light transmission between the elements. The linking includes the process of calculating a form factor and when linking a specialised cluster, the form factor is calculated with reference to the characterising relationship. The characterising relationship may be, for example, near co-planarity and in this way the overall processing and calculation requirements are reduced.

Abstract: Video data in the form of a plurality of digitised frames, is stored on a plurality of magnetic disks. Each image frame is striped across a plurality of disks and redundant parity information, derived from the stripes, is written to an additional disk. Disk failure is detected and in response to this detection missing data is regenerated from the parity information. This allows the transfer of video data in real time to be maintained for output so that the system remains operational. While data is being read in real time, derived-from regenerated data, the regenerated data is written to an operational disk, thereby reprotecting the data in the event of a subsequent failure. Frame supplied to output are labelled as being protected or unprotected and application programs may respond to this status information as considered appropriate.

Abstract: An object shown in a first clip of image frames is composited with frames of a second clip on a frame-by-frame basis. A track of positions are determined over time which specify a relationship between a point on frames from said first clip in relation to corresponding frames in said second clip. The object is overlaid transparently over corresponding frames of second clip and the positions of said track are modified. Thereafter, the images are composited on the basis of the modified track positions.

Abstract: A virtual set combines real and synthesized images. The set includes a real light source (205) configured to generate a beam of light. In addition, a virtual light source is synthesized such that the real light source and the virtual light source are co-ordinated so as to appear as if originating from a common light source in the virtual set. In this way, a single light source appears to illuminate both a real and a syntheized image.

Abstract: An image processing system processes image data in response to a sequence of image processing steps defined by a process tree (800). The process tree comprises a plurality of interconnected nodes (801-813), including input nodes (801-804) and at least one output node (813). Output rendering is performed a frame at a time, and a frame requirement (824) is passed from the output node to previous nodes (812, 811, 810). Intermediate nodes include requirement processing (823) such that a node (810) having different input and output frame rates can identify and generate a requirement (825) for the input frames (826) as it requires for its processing (821).

Abstract: A processing system for processing data representing edit decision lists having edit decisions with edit data, representing the type of edit to take place, and frame range data, representing the frames over which the edit is to take place. An input device applies input data to the processing system in response to user manipulations specifying changes in the edit data. The processing device is configured to identify an associated function of the identified edit data, calculate modifications to the range data in response to the identified function and write the modified range data to storage.

Abstract: A test generator generates tests by randomly traversing a description of the interface of a program being tested, thereby generating tests that contain randomly selected actions and randomly generated data. When executed, these tests randomly manipulate the program being tested.

Abstract: An image data editing facility produces a sequence of output image frames. A wipe animation is produced over a sequence of output frames such that an increasing proportion of the output image is derived from a second sequence of frames and a decreasing proportion of the output image is derived from a first sequence of frames, under the control of a moving boundary defined by a wipe animation. The rate of expansion of boundary is controlled with reference to an animation parameter and the animation parameter is derived from processing at least one stored position parameter with reference to a selected animation starting location.

Abstract: Image data is generated for a scene, in which the scene includes object surfaces in three-dimensions. Intersecting or touching surfaces are identified by analyzing the surfaces within a hierarchy of bounding volumes. Thereafter, a multi-resolution representation of a radiosity equation is constructed for the scene, wherein one of the identified surfaces is considered separately for light emission on either side of a previously identified line of contact or intersection.

Abstract: Original video data is a first format is edited. The first format video data has jitter frames (626) inserted therein and is displayed at a first frame rate. The original video data is read from a video tape recorder (301) in the first format and converted into a second format with no jitter frames, displayable at a second display rate. Time-code of the converted video data is related to time-code of the original video data so as to identify frame types for the converted video data. A portion (603-606) of the converted video data is modified to produce modified video data in the second format. New video data is generated in the first format by processing the modified video data. An edit processor is configured to replace an edit portion of the stored original data with the new data by defining an edit range with reference to the new data, selecting an edit field with reference to the frame type so as to initiate an edit on a data boundary.