Abstract: A method for an accurate approximation to Slerp function that is much faster to compute on current processors. Specifically, the present invention provides a method for obtaining an interpolated quaternion comprising forming a first product of a first quaternion and a first scaling function; forming a second product of a second quaternion and a second scaling function; and forming a sum of the first product and the second product, wherein the first scaling function is approximated by obtaining a first polynomial and wherein the second scaling function is approximated by obtaining a second polynomial, thus obtaining an interpolated quaternion that is in between the first quaternion and the second quaternion.

Abstract: The mapping of playing objects from one game to another. In one embodiment, generic attributes of an object may be mapped to game-specific attributes. The mapping may either change or maintain the look and feel of an object. For example, a fast but lightly-armed starship in one game may be mapped to a quick but weak warrior in another game.

Abstract: An information delivery system including a head end broadcasting a data stream of media objects, the head end being coupled to a broadcast television interface and at least one information service provider and including an encoder for encoding information in the media object is disclosed. The system may deliver and implement a programming guide delineating programming information available on the information delivery system in one or more media objects in the data stream in an encoded fashion by the encoder. A user terminal is coupled to the head-end and receives the media objects. The user terminal has an output and includes a decoder for the media objects. Also provided in one aspect is a user interface, at least partially stored in the user-terminal, which selects a user-defined subset of media objects for provision to the output of the user terminal. Further, an information navigation system for an information delivery system is provided.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for updating a color look up table and expanding video data for use in various applications such as a multimedia computer. The color look up table updating scheme permits selective updating of one entry in the table or up to all of the entries in the table. Updating of the color look up table is preferably performed during the horizontal blanking period. The table may be comprised of two buffers, and a combined output of these two buffers further enhances a multiplicity of colors available to a user.

Abstract: A digital image differential pulse code modulation decompressor for simultaneously generating, during a cycle of operation of said decompressor, a decompressed value for a plurality of selected pixels located on a diagonal of an array of pixels. A storage stores an error value for each selected pixel to be processed during a cycle of operation of the decompressor. A processor simultaneously generates a decompressed value for each selected pixel where the decompressed value is derived from the error value for each selected pixel and a predicted value generated by the processor for each selected pixel. The predicted value is derived from a predictor which is at least a second order, two dimensional predictor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a 2:1 compression of a digital audio signal including 1) a compression operation for compressing a sixteen bit sample of the audio signal as both an exact value and a delta value, and 2) a regeneration operation for regenerating the compressed exact and delta values once again into a sixteen bit word. The regenerated exact and delta values are then compared against the original sample. Whichever regenerated value most closely matches the original sample has its corresponding compressed value encoded onto a storage medium.

Abstract: Linked lists of spryte control blocks are prepared in memory and traversed by a spryte rendering engine. Each spryte control block controls the rendering of a respective spryte into the display buffer, and contains such information as a pointer to source data for the corresponding spryte, positional and incrementing specifications for a destination quadrilateral, a control word for manipulations to be performed on the spryte image source data, and an indication of which of several available formats the spryte image source data is packed in. Once the linked list is prepared, the spryte rendering engine can be called by writing certain values into specific memory-mapped hardware registers, and then writing dummy data to an address recognized by the hardware as a command to initiate the spryte rendering operation.

Abstract: A system for continuously presenting audio/video data. The data for the entire program is too large to be completely loaded into memory at one time; therefore, the data is divided into a set of overlapping zones. Each zone is divided into subzones. Two overlapping zones overlap because they both share a common (or overlapping) subzone. When a user moves from a first zone to a second zone, the user will first move into the overlapping subzone prior to moving to the second zone. While the user is in the overlapping subzone, data for the second zone is loaded into memory. Thus, when the user leaves the overlapping zone and enters the second zone, data for the second zone is presented in a continuous fashion.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for processing digital image data to produce realism-imparting effects such as shadowing, highlighting, color filtering, colored reflections rendering and the like. An image processing apparatus in accordance with the invention includes three independent processing units for processing the Red, Green and Blue components of a supplied set of image-defining signals. The apparatus provides either homogeneous intensity scaling for all three colors or intensity scaling on a color-by-color basis. Means are provided for changing the imparted effects in real time on a pixel-by-pixel basis. Means are provided for using one signal to control the effect imparted on a second signal.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for use with a sampled input signal having an input sampling frequency F.sub.S. The apparatus including M digital filters, each receiving the input signal, each having a respective transfer characteristic h.sub.m [n] and each producing a respective output signal updated at the input sample rate F.sub.S, each m'th one of the filters updating its output signal in response to a respective m'th phase of the input sample clock, M.gtoreq.2. The apparatus then combines the output signals of the digital filters to produce a combined output signal having a sample rate of at least MF.sub.S. The apparatus may also be viewed as a hybrid digital/analog filter. The method includes steps of receiving the sampled input signal, filtering the sampled input signal through P filters, combining the outputs of the P filters to produce M output signals, 1<M.ltoreq.P, each m'th one of the M output signals being updated in time for respective m'th one of the phase of the input sampling frequency F.sub.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for managing color modification of a raster based image on a real time, line-by-line basis and for managing real-time of new imagery into buffers whose data is displayable.

Abstract: A digital filter transfer function is implemented using at least two implementing filters, one of which has a transfer function which guarantees an output which is unconditionally within a predefined output compliance range, and the other of which has a transfer function equal to the difference between the overall desired transfer function and the transfer function of the first implementing filter. Typically, the output samples produced by the two implementing filters are summed to provide an overall output sample. However, if the sum of an output sample from one of the implementing filters and the corresponding output sample from the other implementing filter falls either above or below predetermined threshold values, then the output of the first implementing filter, instead of the summed output, is provided as the sample output of the overall filter. Transient undershoots and overshoots are thus prevented, while the response of the filter is degraded only when necessary to avoid compliance range violation.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for enhancing apparent image resolution by way of multi-line interpolation. A method for enhancing the resolution of low-resolution image-data includes the steps of: providing a memory having independently addressable storage banks; storing the low-resolution image-data in the memory such that low-resolution image-data defining a first low-resolution row resides in a first of said storage banks and such that low-resolution image-data defining a second low-resolution row, adjacent to the first low-resolution row, resides in a second of said storage banks; extracting first through Nth low-resolution pixel signals from the memory, said signals representing values of low-resolution pixels in the adjacent first and second low-resolution rows of the low-resolution image-data; and producing a high-resolution pixel signal from said first through Nth low-resolution pixel signals in accordance with a distance-weighted algorithm.

Abstract: Gamma correction is performed by dividing the total gamma transfer function input value range into a plurality of segments. The source RGB data is then mapped into an associated x-position in a "standard" segment, and gamma correction is performed on the mapped value as if it was initially in that standard segment. The resulting corrected value is then de-mapped back into the original input value segment. Only the portion of the gamma correction curve which is within the "standard" segment is processable by the circuitry. The segments into which the input value range is divided may occupy ratiometrically increasing portions of the input value range, with the high-order half of the range designated as the standard segment. The lowest-order portion may be approximated linearly. Mapping into the standard segment then involves shifting the input value to the left until the highest order logic 1 is in the highest order bit position.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for digital multiplication based on sums and differences of finite sets of powers of two. It is observed that for a given multiplicand signal A, multiples of the form A.multidot.P/Q can be defined by adding or subtracting term signals when each term signal (T.sub.i,T.sub.j) is selectively made representative either of the multiplicand (A) multiplied by a power of two (T=A*2.sup.-i) or representative of a nullity (T=0*A). A mapping unit is provided for controlling responsive barrel shifters and for controlling one or more responsive adder/subtractor units so that the resultant system has a transfer function equivalent to that of an n-bits by m-bits multiplier.

Abstract: A method for producing three dimensional sound associated with an object that is moving from a first position to a second position with respect to the listener. The method includes the effects of doppler shifting, head shadowing, distance on frequency components of the sound as well as the volume of the sound, and the natural sensitivity of the human ear in the 7-8 kHz range. The method provides a sequence of digital sound samples which when converted into analog waveforms and for production of audio signals will provide an audio signal which will provide sound queues to the listener for the location of the sound in three dimensional space.