Abstract: A computer graphics apparatus includes a walk-through function to simulate with a computer the concept of walking through a structure such as a building. Display processing time and calculation processing time for one frame of a computer graphic image are improved by an input unit which receives a viewline moving instruction to move a viewline of a computer image. A viewline control unit determines positions and directions of the viewline while a storage unit stores computer graphics data including three-dimensional data of objects, walk-through attribute data and viewline data. An image generation unit then generates images including animated images based on the position of the viewline and the computer graphics data. The resultant images are then displayed on an image display unit.

Abstract: An anti-aliasing process without sorting the polygons in depth order to improve the image quality in three-dimensional graphics system. This method comprises extra buffer memory than does a typical three-dimensional graphics display system. The Z buffer stores the depth value of nearest pixel in front Z buffer and depth value of secondary nearest pixels in back Z buffer. The color buffer stores foreground color and background color. A weighting value is used and stored in the frame buffer to blend the foreground color and the background nearest color. The weighting value is associated with each pixel, it indicates the percentage of coverage of a pixel. Every pixel in Z buffer test stage will update the depth of the nearest pixel and the depth of the second nearest in Z-buffer, foreground color and background color in the frame buffer and the weighting value according to the result of depth comparison.

Abstract: An interactive virtual telepresence system allows an Internet user to view three-dimensional objects from any perspective in a studio at a remote server. The system includes several video cameras trained on the three-dimensional objects and a computer that calculates the voxel-representation of the solid. The server broadcasts each camera view and voxel information. A user selects the viewing perspective desired, and the computer at the user's site receives the nearest camera views to the requested perspective and voxel information for the interpolation and renders the selected view.

Abstract: An image displaying configuration is arranged so that objects and scenes at the distance of the fixation point are images in focus, and objects and scenes at distances other than the distance of the fixation point are subjected to out-of-focus processing according to the distance from the fixation point, based on the fixation point position information for both right and left eyes, and based on the distance information of the shown image, whereby an image is shown. This configuration allows three-dimensional images with a sensation closer to real space to be shown, thus providing for an image processing apparatus and image processing method capable of three-dimensional images with increased sensations of reality.

Abstract: Although in my co-pending application, so-called “pyramidic panel structures” are employed to adjust the image's vanishing point(s) in accordance with the movement of the user, such structures have the disadvantage that they work primarily for so-called “corridor-like” two-dimensional images. I have recognized that, in accordance with the principles of the invention, viewpoint changes may be also dealt with by partitioning the two-dimensional image into polygon partitions, each corresponding to a surface being depicted in the image, and then coupling the vertices of the polygon partitions with the movement of the user so as to limit distortions. In this latter approach, two-dimensional images are not treated as a perspective, corridor-like image, thereby allowing a wider variety of two-dimensional images to be used with the present invention.

Abstract: An image processing is provided. There is stored character string image data created by arranging at least one character image data item formed in response to text input. Processing image data is selected from character image data created in response to the text input, nonstandard character registration image data created by nonstandard character registration, blank image data formed of data representing a blank image area, and registered image data. The registered image data is created by subjecting any of the character image data, the nonstandard character registration image data, and the blank image data, to a sizing process, and registering the resulting image data. Synthesized image data is formed by synthesizing the processing image data with at least part of the character string image data by carrying out a synthesis operation. The synthesis operation includes any of logic operations.

Abstract: A progressive coding method and apparatus of three-dimensional (3D) mesh data is provided. The method includes the steps of (a) constructing a 3D triangle mesh of one or more mesh object layers, (b) partitioning each mesh object layer into a plurality of mesh components, (c) forming bitstreams in units of mesh components and coding the same, and (d) combining the coded mesh components into compressed bitstreams and transmitting the same. Therefore, progressive 3D mesh restoration is allowed, and the entropy coding efficiency can be enhanced.

Abstract: Methods, devices and systems for transforming two-dimensional images into three-dimensional illusions. A plurality of transparent or semi-transparent rods are configured in an annular configuration and mounted to a platform. The rods are rotated by a motor. Using a light source, a two-dimensional image is projected onto the rotating rods to kinetically transform the two-dimensional image into a three-dimensional illusion that seems to move through space.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for voxelizing geometric and volumetric models of objects in 3D space, i.e. converting these 3D models into a voxel-based volume representation. Based on an unconventional way of using the 3D graphics hardware in modern graphics workstations, the present invention generates slices of the model as frame buffer images, and then stores the slices in a 3D texture memory for interactive volume rendering. Since most of the computation is carried out directly by hardware, the voxelization algorithms of the present invention are much faster than existing algorithms, and are able to achieve interactive volume rendering and manipulation of complex 3D scenes consisting of intermixed geometric models and sampled volume data sets (e.g. CT and MRI scans).

Abstract: A method of enhancing the appearance of predetermined objects in a graphic display, rendered by a computing engine, includes a step of determining the system limitations of the computing engine for displaying an object in the form of a group of pixels, wherein the group of pixels distorts representation of the object at a distant range within the graphic display. The method also includes the steps of constructing a base model of the object viewable at a normal range within the graphic display, constructing at least one enhanced model of the object to provide a first set of attributes to the group of pixels to compensate for the distortions of the object at the distant range within the graphic display, and storing the base model and at least one enhanced model in an image database. These “intelligent models” are then used in a simulation program.

Abstract: This invention relates to map displaying system, in which the reference altitude value determining means obtains a reference altitude value in accordance with the altitude data in the specific area, and the altitude data changing means performs the processing that each altitude both in the plane area and the solid area have the continuity from one area to another. And the 2-dimensional road data storage means stores the 2-dimensional ground road data and the 2-dimensional underground road data separately. Therefore, the 3-dimensional road data preparing means prepares the 3-dimensional ground road data in accordance with the 2-dimensioanl ground road data and the altitude data, while preparing the 3-dimensional underground road data in accordance with the 2-dimensional underground road data and the altitude data.

Abstract: A rendering method for generating an image similar to that with normal lighting calculation, without the calculation, when changing the position of a light source etc. in a virtual space; including waiting for an operational input of an operator or other input; changing the position of the light source or other state in accordance with any input; generating an interpolated shadow data set based on the position etc. of the light source at the current position; and drawing an object using the interpolated shadow data set, wherein when generating the interpolated shadow data set, the positional data of the light source etc. is acquired, the shadow data set relating to the positional data of the light source acquired etc. is selected from a plurality of shadow data sets corresponding to pre-set positions of the light source etc.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for user interaction with animated objects displayed in a repeatedly updated 3-D computer simulated environment using 2-D cursor and button input. The invention provides for user manipulation of 3-D objects in a simulation where conflicting goals may be simultaneously applied to the objects and resolved. All goals acting on an object are translated to equivalent information in terms of physical forces, and are applied as forces via a physically based model, where this model has no knowledge as to the source of each force. Each user is treated as an entity in the environment, with a positional presence. The positional presence of a user is represented by a user object displayed in the simulation. The invention provides a unique interface to a real-time simulation that is easy to use, by virtue of mapping a subset of the inputs to actions consistent with the expectation of the user actually being physically present within the environment.

Abstract: A three-dimensional object may be imaged from several viewpoints distributed about the object, and the image obtained at each viewpoint may be stored in conjunction with the viewpoint's coordinates about the object. The object's image can then be transmitted for display over a client-server computer network, and the user may issue commands to manipulate the object, so as to very accurately simulate manipulation of the actual three-dimensional object. The client computer may display the object's image from one of the viewpoints. If the user then wishes to manipulate the object, the user will issue a command to the server to index from the coordinates of the first viewpoint to the coordinates of some adjacent viewpoint(s). The images of the adjacent viewpoints will then be displayed in a sequence corresponding to the order in which the coordinates of the viewpoints are indexed.

Abstract: A method for compressing 3D geometry data that is capable of compressing both regularly tiled and irregularly tiled surfaces is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises examining 3D geometry data to detect the presence of regularly tiled surface portions. The 3D geometry data is then compressed by: (1) encoding any regularly tiled surface portion using a first encoding method, and (2) encoding any irregularly tiled surface portions using a second encoding method, wherein the second encoding method is different from the first encoding method. The first encoding method may encode the regularly tiled surface portions as vertex rasters, while the second method may encode the irregularly tiled surface portions by geometry compression using a generalized triangle mesh.

Abstract: Operating system enhancements that enable an application program to create and perform graphics operations on device-independent bitmaps (DIBs) efficiently. The enhancements are in the form of functions that return to the application program a handle to the DIB and a pointer to the location of the DIB in memory. With the handle, the application program can use the capabilities of the operating system to perform graphics operations on the DIB. With the pointer, the application program can use its own drawing capabilities and address the DIB directly. The operating system enhancements also streamline the design and content of graphics drivers such as display drivers by placing basic graphics functions in a graphics engine that communicates with the a graphics driver. Simple graphics operations are passed from the graphics driver to the graphics engine, allowing the driver to be limited to more complex operations that utilize special characteristics of graphics hardware associated with the driver.

Abstract: A character animation system, method, and computer program product for animating a skeleton. The skeleton has bones arranged in a hierarchy. Each bone in the skeleton is defined in relation to its parent bone and the topmost bone in the hierarchy is the root bone. When a bone in the skeleton is animated, all of the bones below the animated bone in the hierarchy are also animated. An animation for a bone is specified using a directed acyclic graph (DAG) having one or more nodes. The nodes are either data generation nodes (DG nodes) or combiner nodes. DG nodes have zero or one input and have one output that outputs animation data. DG nodes having zero inputs include fixed, pre-generated, tracking, reverse, mirror, and noise nodes. DG nodes having one input include limit and reflect nodes. Combiner nodes have two inputs for receiving animation data and one output that outputs animation data. Combiner nodes include overlay, blend, and transition nodes.

Abstract: A graphics system that employs parametric texture maps. The graphics system renders surface features of a 3D object in a manner that is direction dependent but without the time consuming and expensive calculations involved in the evaluation of lighting equations on a per pixel basis. A parametric texture map holds a set of parameters that define a surface structure in a manner in which the appearance of the surface structure varies in response to a direction vector. The direction vector may be any user-defined vector including a light source vector or a half-angle vector. The parameters are those of a predetermined equation, the evaluation of which does not involve vector calculations. The equation may take any form including a polynomial equation or a non-polynomial equation. The graphic system renders a polygon with the surface structure using the equation.

Abstract: A character is represented in a character generator as a set of polygons. The character may be manipulated using three-dimensional animation techniques. A code for a character may be used to access a set of curves defining the outline of the character. This set of curves is transformed into a set of polygons. The set of polygons may be rendered as a three-dimensional object. The set of polygons may be created by converting the curves into sets of connected line segments and then tessellating the polygon defined by the line segments. Animation properties are represented using a normalized scale along a path or over time. Animation may be provided in a manner that is independent of the spatial and temporal resolution of the video to which it is applied. Such animation may be applied to characters defined by a set of polygons. Various three-dimensional spatial transformations, lighting effects and other colorizations may be provided.

Abstract: A method for modeling three-dimensional objects to create photo-realistic animations using a data-driven approach. The three-dimensional object is defined by a set of separate three-dimensional planes, each plane enclosing an area of the object that undergoes visual changes during animation. Recorded video is used to create bitmap data to populate a database for each three-dimensional plane. The video is analyzed in terms of both rigid movements (changes in pose) and plastic deformation (changes in expression) to create the bitmaps. The modeling is particularly well-suited for animations of a human face, where an audio track generated by a text-to-speech synthesizer can be added to the animation to create a photo-realistic “talking head”.