Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for resolving artifacts in view-dependent components. The system and method apply a different stereo camera pair to view-dependent versus non-view-dependent or independent rays. In this way the lighting components may be independently dialed to art direct specular components versus diffuse components.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for altering character body animations to improve subsequent cloth animations. In particular, based on a character body animation, an extra level of processing is performed, prior to the actual cloth simulation. The extra level of processing removes potential areas of pinching or tangling in input character body simulation data, ensuring that the output of the cloth simulation will be have reduced pinches and tangles.

Abstract: Systems and methods according to principles disclosed here provide a screen space transform, e.g., implemented as a node, that may be employed to correct alignment issues between left and right eyes of a native stereo plate. The transformations may be in a number of homographic ways, including via translation, rotation, and scaling. By properly aligning stereographic images, subsequent images are properly aligned throughout the animation pipeline. In addition, the viewer experience is significantly improved.

Abstract: A system and method for organizing media assets of a media project. The method includes storing a plurality of versions of media assets of the media project, including an original version of the media asset and at least one modified version of the media asset. Each of the plurality of versions of the media assets include a plurality of components, and the modified versions of the media assets include at least one modified component. Metadata for each of the plurality of components is generated. The metadata indicates whether each of the plurality of component is a modified component, and the metadata of the modified component indicates a type of modification made to the modified component.

Abstract: Capturing metadata, including: a data capture device, wherein the data capture device captures notes made by a user and stores the notes as captured data; a data ingest computer, including a connection interface to connect to the data capture device and receive the captured data from the data capture device, and a data conversion component to convert the captured data to formatted data; and a data repository, connected to the data ingest computer, wherein the data repository is connected to a network. Keywords include smart pen and on set metadata acquisition.

Abstract: Capturing playback key events to override a default behavior of key strokes during playback, includes: receiving a user operation initiated by a user; receiving a notice that a non-default behavior of the key strokes is being masked; notifying the user that there are adverse consequences of overriding the default behavior of the key strokes; and overriding the default behavior of the key strokes. Keywords include User Operation Mask Table and Playback Key Events.

Abstract: Provided are systems and methods to perform ray marching for production ray tracing in inhomogeneous participating media. The systems and methods allow a reduction of the quadratic complexity without giving up the benefits of accurate ray traced lighting. In one implementation, the task of ray marching is reformulated into a task of transforming an unknown, spatially varying volume into a collection of piecewise homogeneous segments. Being homogeneous, inexpensive analytical formulas may be employed for evaluating and sampling the transmission term at arbitrary points in the segments.

Abstract: Generating event-triggered actions, including: detecting at least one event occurring on a mobile device; generating and presenting an event action parameter for the at least one event; and receiving and processing the event action parameter using a media action table to generate at least one action instruction.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed to create a realistic and dynamic model of an animated object, such as hair or cloth, by employing control vertices and control entities that make up an animated object. The control vertices are used as polyhedral vertices in the creation of a polyhedral mesh, such as a tetrahedral mesh, and a constraint is employed during simulation in which the polyhedral volume is preserved. Using the systems and methods, the workflow may be significantly improved and costs significantly lowered.

Abstract: Capturing facial surface using marker patterns laid out on the facial surface by adapting the marker patterns to contours of the facial surface and motion range of a head including: generating a facial action coding system (FACS) matrix by capturing FACS poses; generating a pattern to wrap over the facial surface using the FACS poses as a guide; capturing and tracking marker motions of the pattern; stabilizing the marker motions of the pattern using a head stabilization transform to remove head motions from the marker motions; and generating and applying a plurality of FACS matrix weights to the stabilized marker motions.

Abstract: Providing a VOD service using BD data available to a BD player includes: preparing VOD data such that the BD player can use the VOD data to provide the VOD service; inserting the VOD data onto a BD; preparing VOD selections and VOD metadata based on the VOD data read from the BD; and delivering the content item selected by a user from a menu of VOD selections. Keywords include Blu-ray, BD-Live, Video-on-Demand.

Abstract: Systems and methods presented here allow recreation of prior scenes, even if assets used in the scenes have evolved over time. The systems and methods employ query of a database to obtain data for backup and retrieval, e.g., information about shots made at prior points in time, where a “shot” refers to a scene or associated set of sequential frames (a single image may also be considered a shot in some instances), rendered or not depending on context. In the VP-VCR systems and methods, information may be obtained about rendered scenes which allow knowledge and subsequent use of each asset employed in the scene, including its proper version and representation at the time of the rendering. Such may be employed not only to obtain prior versions of shots, but also to allow modification of assets in prior shots to obtain new effects.

Abstract: Rendering a stereoscopic image of a 3-D environment, including: tracing a path of ray from a camera to a light source for every pixel in a view window; determining shading of all pixels in the view window; and adjusting the shading for all pixels to show horizontal displacement but substantially reduce vertical displacement in the stereoscopic image. Keywords include shading and horizontal displacement.

Abstract: Rendering a 3-D scene using bent ray, including; tracing a path of the bent ray from a camera to an object for each pixel in a view window, wherein the amount of bending in the bent ray is a function of the distance from the camera; rendering the each, pixel in the view window until all pixels in the view window have been rendered; and outputting the rendered view window as a rendered 3-D scene. Keywords include bent rays and object depth.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed to provide a highly convenient and practically automated system for creation of highly-realistic menisci for CG characters. Creating the meniscus in the correct place and maintaining its correlation with moving eyes and eyelids was in the past difficult. The systems and methods disclosed provide a highly-realistic way to create and control such features. The systems and methods may create the meniscus in a procedural fashion, allowing the meniscus to properly track movements of character eyes and eyelids and to be animated in a highly-realistic fashion.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided that allow for the rapid creation of multiple novel views for applications. These multiple views may allow for not only stereo views but also for different viewpoints of a stereographic scene to be presented, or for a time progression of the stereo scene to be presented, where a viewpoint is altered with respect to time. The systems and methods may be employed to create the content for auto-stereographic displays or multiple view systems that use a plurality of novel views to display stereo media. Such displays or multiple view systems may include those employing parallax barriers or lenticular lenses.

Abstract: Implementing a web browser in a BD platform, including: receiving a HyperText Markup Language (HTML) page of a web browser; converting the HTML page including user interface (UI) widgets into graphical elements including HAVi widgets; and displaying the HTML page in the BD platform. Keywords include HAVi, Widgets, and BD platform.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to implement a technique for providing 3D content, such as on optical media like Blu-ray® discs. In one implementation, a 3D authoring tool executing on a computer system manages how to construct an image for replication where the image handles jumps without buffer underruns, the jumps caused by layer switching or by moving from or to branches in a multi-branch story line.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to create better-looking animated eyes for CG characters. The systems and methods set the rigging of each eye to, rather than precisely converge on a target location, converge but be rotationally or angularly offset by a certain amount to simulate correct physical eye positioning and movements. In addition, the systems and methods provide even more realistic eye appearance by taking account of the refractive properties of the cornea, e.g., which can make the pupil appear larger than it actually is. The systems and methods may further take account of a shadowing effect of the upper eye caused by the brow, eyelashes, and upper lid (as well as an effect caused by reflection from the underside of the eyelashes). This darkening of the upper portion of the eye addresses vertical eyeline discrepancies caused by the visual and optical illusion of incorrect lighting.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided to implement a technique for adjusting images, such as for addressing lens distortions. In one implementation, a computer system uses un-warping to address differences between two camera lenses. After unwarping two stereo images, the images are re-warped but re-warped using a common set of parameters.