Abstract: This invention provides a realistic 3-dimensional graphical representation of a publication on a display means such as a computer monitor or virtual reality goggles in which the publication includes a smooth fluid page-turn. The user interface to provide the publication on the display allows a user to request a subsequent page and produce a sequence of animated frames of the publication with the page progressively turned and recalculates the rotation of the page with respect to the publication and the orientation of the publication with respect to the user for each frame. In this manner the user can move around the publication in 3D space while the page is turning and still obtain an accurate view of the publication from each new angle assumed by the user.

Abstract: Representing quasi-homogenous materials is described. In one aspect, quasi-homogenous materials are modeled to generate a material model of a physical sample. The material model identifies how light is scattered by the quasi-homogenous materials. The material model, independent of an object model of the physical sample, provides information that is useful to texture surfaces of arbitrary types and sizes of mesh models (e.g., representing the physical sample or other objects) with the quasi-homogenous materials.

Abstract: A method for translating an arc definition into a series of conic curve definitions in a form usable by an imager includes first defining a given ellipse. Two intersecting vectors each intersect the ellipse to determine the exact beginning and ending points of the desired arc. The arc is then broken down into a series of sub-arcs no larger than 90 degrees each. The sub-arcs are then represented as conic curve definitions that are usable by an imager to accomplish imaging or clipping against a specified arc.

Abstract: Large mesh deformation using the volumetric graph Laplacian is described. In one aspect, information is received from a user, wherein the information indicates how an original mesh is to be deformed. The original mesh is then deformed based on the information and application of a volumetric differential operator to a volumetric graph generated from the original mesh.

Abstract: A system and a method for rendering data associated with a 3-D scene description are provided. The system includes a graphics processing unit configured to operably communicate with a communications bus. The graphics processing unit is further configured to receive the 3-D scene description from the communications bus and to generate a 3-D image data set comprising at least a first 2-D data field based on the 3-D scene description. The graphics processing unit is further configured to transmit the 3-D image data set through the communication bus.

Abstract: Techniques and tools for rendering procedural graphics are described. For example, an architecture is provided which allows evaluation of geometric, transform, texture, and shading procedures locally for a given set of procedure parameter values. This evaluation is performed in parallel for different parameter values on a single-instruction, multiple-data array to allow parallel processing of a procedure set. In another example, a sampling controller is described which selects sets of parameter points for evaluation based on information in tag maps, rate maps, and parameter maps.

Abstract: A method of rendering a plurality of graphical objects, each having a predetermined object outline, a predetermined z-order, and an associated fill, the object outline for a particular object defining an area in which the particular object is filled, includes the steps of (a) combining each of the objects to form a grouped object, the grouped object having a grouped object outline and an associated compound fill, the compound fill comprising a plurality of fill data structures describing the fills associated with the graphical objects, and (b) rendering the grouped object according to the grouped object outline, wherein one or more fills used to render the grouped object are determined according to the compound fill.

Abstract: A method for simultaneous generation of motion paths depending on changes of internal and external sizes of an object by a direction map for a 2-dimensional geometric figure, includes respectively expressing specific obstacle A and object B inputted through an input unit, by direction maps; merging the direction maps respectively expressing the obstacle and the object; determining Minkowski operation after sizes of the obstacle and the object are determined; performing a necessary group unit based size control operation for a direction map obtained by merging each of the direction maps of the obstacle and the object in the second step; performing collinear elimination for the result obtained in the fourth step, performing a direction map inverse operation, and performing a trimming operation to generate the motion path; and calculating a c-space obstacle for obstacle and object having different external and internal sizes.

Abstract: To allow any image to be viewed naturally and to determine a scene structure as close to a real object as possible, frame memories store therein three types of basic depth models indicating the depth values of three basic types of scene structures, one basic depth model for each scene structure. A composition ratio is determined according to the high frequency component estimation values or activity values of the luminance signal of a received non-3D image that are received from a top activity unit and a bottom activity unit and, based on the composition ratio, the three types of basic depth models are composed. The R signal of the non-3D image is superimposed on the composed basic depth model in an adder to produce final depth estimation data.

Abstract: A method for rendering participating media effects is disclosed. At least one object having a surface is defined and a lattice, aligned with a camera, is also defined that encompasses the at least one object. A volumetric line integral is computed from the camera to lattice points in a neighborhood of a particular point on the surface of the object to obtain a value. The obtained value is filtered to obtain a volumetric line integral value for the particular point on the surface. Additionally, the set of values may be cached in memory and may be used in computing additional volumetric line integrals when applicable. The set of values determined for lattice points is filtered to determine the volumetric line integral value for a particular point on the surface.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing an exploded view of an assembly. The invention includes an input unit, a geometrical data memory for storing geometrical data of parts composing an assembly, a/m for storing assembling process data composed of parts to be attached and attaching directions, a calculating unit for displaying the assembly to a display based on geometrical data, and apparatus for determining arranged positions of the parts in a disassembled state based on assembling process data and geometrical data, thereby producing an exploded view of the display corresponding to the arranged positions.

Abstract: A texture projection is generated from a plurality of initial polygonal curved surfaces. Specifically, each of the initial polygonal curved surfaces are divided to form a plurality of second-generation polygonal curved surfaces. Each second-generation polygonal curved surface is then divided to form a third-generation polygonal curved surface. In one embodiment of the present invention, each polygonal curved surface of the same generation has the same area. The texture projection formed using polygonal curved surfaces is more efficient than conventional texture projection because each facet of the texture projection formed using polygonal curved surfaces maps to a spherical area.

Abstract: A system and corresponding method for organ wall analysis are provided, the system including a processor, an imaging adapter in signal communication with the processor for receiving organ scan data indicative of an organ, a distance mapping unit in signal communication with the processor for providing a three-dimensional distance map of a segmented outer surface of an organ, and a ray-casting unit in signal communication with the processor for providing a maximum intensity projection substantially normal to the segmented outer surface for each of a plurality of rays, and for forming a ray collection by casting each of the plurality of rays from a center of the organ through the respective maximum intensity projection to the segmented outer surface; and the corresponding method including providing a three-dimensional distance map of a segmented outer surface of an organ, providing a maximum intensity projection substantially normal to the segmented outer surface for each of a plurality of rays, and forming a r

Abstract: A system and corresponding method for organ rendering are provided, where the system includes a processor, an imaging adapter in signal communication with the processor for receiving organ scan data indicative of an organ, a segmentation unit in signal communication with the processor for segmenting an outer surface of the organ, and a ray-casting unit in signal communication with the processor for providing a maximum intensity projection substantially normal to the segmented outer surface for each of a plurality of rays, and for forming a ray collection by casting each of the plurality of rays from a center of the organ through the respective projection to the segmented outer surface; and where the method includes segmenting an outer surface of an organ, providing a maximum intensity projection substantially normal to the segmented outer surface for each of a plurality of rays, and forming a ray collection by casting each of the plurality of rays from a center of the organ through the respective projection t

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for optimizing the geometric stretch of a parametrization scheme. Given an arbitrary mesh, the systems and methods construct a progressive mesh (PM) such that all meshes in the PM sequence share a common texture parametrization. The systems and methods minimize geometric stretch, i.e., small texture distances mapped onto large surface distances, to balance sampling rates over all locations and directions on the surface. The systems and methods also minimize texture deviation, i.e., “slippage” error based on parametric correspondence, to obtain accurate textured mesh approximations. The technique(s) begin by partitioning the mesh into charts using planarity and compactness heuristics. Then, the technique(s) proceed by creating a stretch-minimizing parametrization within each chart, and by resizing the charts based on the resulting stretch. Then, the technique(s) simplify the mesh while respecting the chart boundaries.

Abstract: Operation of a multi-variable drilling-rig is carried out within an envelope defined by convex hulls (TC,BC) that are derived from sets of historical values for the variables accumulated in a store (3) from previous operations. A display unit (5) shows the real-time values (Q01–Q10) of the variables on parallel axes (X01–X10) together with upper and lower limits (Up01–Up10, Lp01–Lp10) of the viable ranges for each variable to remain within the envelope, taking into account the current value of each other variable. The adjustment of the value of a variable (Q03) required to correct for a variable (Q08) found to be outside its viable range, is determined tentatively before implementation, by adjusting that value in the display to bring about re-calculation and display of the changes in viable ranges that would result from such adjustment.

Abstract: A monitoring system includes a picture capturing unit, a storage unit for storing original images composed of still images captured by said picture capturing unit, or a compressed images composed of compressed still images generated by compressing the still images, an image display unit, a designating unit for designating a region in an image displayed on the image display unit, and a control unit. The control unit controls said image display unit to display a panoramic entire image composed of the stored original images or compressed images, and updates only an image in the designated region in the entire image.

Abstract: A memory efficient method and apparatus for displaying large overlaid camera images. According to one aspect of the invention, overlay image data are stored in a memory, fetched, up-scaled, and then combined with main image data to form composite image data for rendering on a graphics display device. According to another aspect of the invention, the overlay image data are stored in a memory, fetched, and then combined with main image data streamed from a source of the main image data.

Abstract: In a server, a client for improving a three-dimensional air excursion and a method and programs thereof, a three-dimensional data can be automatically produced from aerial pictures or satellite images, and the three-dimensional air excursion on a three-dimensional solid map can be provided to a lot of users via the Internet. In the automatic producing of the three-dimensional image, a device for improving the produced images having defects is provided via the Internet. A particular user such as an owner or a manager of a particular structure such as a building, a monument in a park or the like can correct the images of the structure using a correction application via the Internet to obtain the more accurate images.

Abstract: Systems and methods are presented for processing and rendering image data during a single pass through the image data. A method includes loading scanlines of image data into a rolling band buffer, performing a windowing technique on the image data, and determining if a class change was experienced by any window having a portion in an output scanline of the buffer. The method further includes processing image data in the output scanline for a window portion that experienced a class change, using a blended rendering algorithm. If no class change is detected, the method includes processing image data in the output scanline for the window portion using a class-based rendering algorithm. The method optionally includes rendering processed image data for the output scanline to a rendering device. According to other features, an apparatus includes a rolling band buffer, a windowing processor, class-based rendering algorithms, and a blended rendering algorithm.