Abstract: The present invention handles fully-lined, semi-lined and line-less cell tables by identifying the cells and cell separators during page recomposition processes as part of optical character recognition processes. The invention accomplishes such by iteratively identifying cell separators and cells. The processes accomplishes this by iteratively merging word boxes into cells, iteratively finding separators, and iteratively merging cells bounded by the same separators, and repeating these steps until the correct cell structure is found. With this method, rows are estimated, close words are merged into cells, columns are then estimated, cells within columns are merged, columns re-estimated, cells in the same row and column are merged into bigger cells, and then rows and cells are merged according to the detection of various table styles. This invention handles large complex tables with multiple lines of symbols per cell. This method handles multiple line cells in lined, semi-lined and line-less tables.

Abstract: A computer graphics system having a processor for generating objects for display, a multi-layered Z-buffer for storing data according to their relative depths, the processor also compositing the data stored in the Z-buffer, a frame buffer for storing composited data, a display for displaying an image as a number of pixels responsive to the composited data in the frame buffer, and two registers for facilitating the Z-buffering process is disclosed. One of the registers stores a number indicating how many of the layers in the Z-buffer contain visible data dependent on opacity of existing objects. In the other register, a number of addresses corresponding to each of the layers of the Z-buffer are stored. Each address specifies a location where data of one of the layers is stored. A determination is made as to which layer data associated with an incoming object is to be inserted.

Abstract: A 3-D image synthesis apparatus maintains an "object database" (OBJ) defining a 3-D world to be represented on a 2-D display screen (DIS). The object database includes light sources (LS) which have non-uniform distributions of illumination. To simplify calculations of the illumination of an object surface (P.sub.O), the apparatus pre-stores (606) one or more look-up tables. The look-up table (606) is then addressed by polar coordinates (.theta.,.phi.) calculated per pixel of the output image, to incorporate the dependency of illumination on direction. Several tables may be stored for each light source, each representing the illumination pattern at a different distance (D) from the light source. Smooth variations can be achieved by interpolation between integer values of .theta.,.phi. and D.

Abstract: A system for rendering visual images that combines sophisticated anti-aliasing and pixel blending techniques with control pipelining in hardware embodiment. A highly-parallel rendering pipeline performs sophisticated polygon edge interpolation, pixel blending and anti-aliasing rendering operations in hardware. Primitive polygons are transformed to subpixel coordinates and then sliced and diced to create "pixlink" elements mapped to each pixel. An oversized frame buffer memory allows the storage of many pixlinks for each pixel. Z-sorting is avoided through the use of a linked-list data object for each pixlink vector in a pixel stack. Because all image data values for X, Y, Z, R, G, B and pixel coverage A are maintained in the pixlink data object, sophisticated blending operations are possible for anti-aliasing and transparency. Data parallelism in the rendering pipeline overcomes the processor efficiency problem arising from the computation-intensive rendering algorithms used in the system of this invention.

Abstract: A method for controlling the level of detail displayed in a computer generated screen display of a complex structure in which the structure is modeled as a root volume bounding all of the parts of the structure, with the individual parts comprising sub-objects bounded in sub-volumes. The method begins by selecting the root volume (202) and then enters the step of determining whether or not all sub objects within the selected volume are turned off (204). If they are, the entire display is culled. If they are not, the system then computes the screen coordinates of the selected volume (208). The method proceeds to the step of determining whether or not the selected volume is on the screen or off. If it is off the screen, the entire volume is culled. If it is on screen, however, a determination is made as to whether or not all sub-objects are turned on (214). If all sub-objects are turned on, the number of screen pixels for the selected volume is computed (216).

Abstract: A modelling apparatus including a three-dimensional information input unit for measuring and inputting three-dimensional information concerning objects in a space. An environmental model processing unit constructs an environmental model for each object in the space by comparing prestored object data to the three-dimensional information. A picture composing unit composes an artificial picture from a specific viewpoint within the space according to the environmental model constructed by the environmental model processing unit. An analyzing unit validates the environmental model by comparing the artificial picture composed by the picture composing unit with the three-dimensional information from the specific viewpoint. An observation control unit controls the measurement and input operation of the three-dimensional information input unit according to the result of validation by the analyzing unit.

Abstract: A graphical editing system is provided which allows a user to draw number of commonly used gestures called primitive command gestures together in essentially one stroke. The primitive gestures are chosen to represent gestural syntax, analogous to a textual command syntax. The primitive gestures are concatenated. i.e., connected in a series of commands by a gestural operator called a break feature. Every input composite gesture is scanned to detect the break features. When found, the composite gesture is broken up into primitive gestures and each gesture is interpreted and executed in the order in which the individual gestures were drawn. The preferred break feature is sharp angle drawn between consecutive primitive gestures. In a composite gesture consisting of two primitive gestures, one being the selection gesture, the break feature is recognized as any departure from the selection gesture.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating interactive computer graphics images using projective texture mapping. The projective texture mapping of the present invention involves the mapping of a texture map onto a scene being rendered from the perspective of an arbitrarily positioned and oriented projection light source. The visual effect is as if the texture map were a slide being displayed onto the objects comprising the scene. During this process, homogeneous texture map coordinates are generated for corresponding geometric primitive vertex points. The vertex points of the geometric primitive are defined in terms of a world coordinate system. The homogeneous texture map coordinates of the vertex points are generated using transformation matrices of world coordinates to screen/clip coordinates and world coordinates to light source/texture map coordinates.

Abstract: A virtual workstation includes a virtual environment controller for creating a display of a virtual representation of a work area and tools and assets therein. A virtual interface processes inputs from a user and provides environmental control signals to the environmental controller which adjusts the display to provide an image which allows the user to move within the work area and access tools and assets virtually. An intuitive controller activates the tools and assets in background for virtual access by anticipating access based on virtual motion within the environment. A first embodiment provides a realistic three dimensional office representation in a network of workstations facilitating remote management and supervision by providing virtual or real images of coworkers on intuitive command. A second embodiment provides a virtual trade show with live or virtual imagery allowing the user to attend remotely as the trade show happens.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing external inclusions in a document processing language. The external inclusions can have varying formats and each of these varying formats are handled efficiently. A picture/pageset stack is used to keep track of the hierarchical levels of the document and refers to a data structure used for keeping track of the information pertaining to the external inclusion. It is possible for the external inclusion to include other external inclusions and an input stack and an input list data structure is used for keeping track of the various input files which may be open. It is possible for the external inclusion to have a plurality of nested tags having the same name and a tag mark stack is used in order to keep track of these elements within the external inclusion. In order to keep track of an external entity defined within a <|DOCTYPE element occurring at the beginning of an external inclusion, a location entity linked list data structure is used.

Abstract: An apparatus for parallel image generation has four geometric data buffers for storing four partial geometric data, respectively, and four image generators connected respectively to the four geometric data buffers. Each image generator generates a partial image data for every pixel in a frame. Further provided are four image mergers connected respectively to the four image generators. The four image mergers are also connected in series. An initial image generator for generating a background image is connected to the first image merger for merging the background image data and the partial image data from the first image generator. Each of the second to fourth image merger merges an output merged data from the previous image merger and the partial image data from the corresponding image generator.

Abstract: A parallel computing system producing, storing and processing voxel data elements in parallel within a three-dimensional memory storage array, and producing and buffering pixel data elements in parallel for use in volume visualization of the stored voxel data elements. The parallel computing system includes a system bus and a plurality of local computing units connected to the system bus. Each local computing unit has a local program storage memory for storing one or more local programs, including a local voxelization program, and RISC process for executing the local programs. A local memory storage module is operably connected to each local computing unit. A control computing unit is operably connected to the plurality of local computing units by way of the system bus, for coordinating (i.e., synchronizing) parallel execution of the local programs by the plurality of local computing units.

Abstract: A universal computer display adapter is provided for a computer having a first memory accessed by applications running on the computer. Each such application acquires a portion of such first memory dedicated to its use. Such dedicated memory serves as a virtual adapter for each respective application whereby the particular application, either during setup or runtime, independently declares its respective virtual adapter to be of a particular desired video display type or mode. A secondary memory is provided to refresh a computer display interconnected to the computer in a conventional manner. Disposed between the first and second memories is a signal processor which may take the form of a digital signal processor (DSP). The processor reformats the image from each such virtual adapter into the common second memory for display. Such reformatting is under control of an operating system specifying position, size, precedence, transparency, and the like of each image window.

Abstract: An image processing method and apparatus using the method allows a target object to be displayed in a 3-D manner. A number of types of shape data with different resolutions for displaying the object are provided and the resolution of shape data used for the 3-D image display is decided in accordance with a display condition. The object is displayed in the form of a 3-D image by employing the shape data with the decided resolution.

Abstract: Techniques for displaying an intermediate level of detail in a computer system. The techniques are employed in a system for discovering information about a large body of software. The system displays representations of up to 40,000 lines of code in a single window. Included in the techniques for displaying the intermediate level of detail are the use of color and shape to indicate characteristics of lines, the linking of all of the lines which share a certain characteristic, and selection at the levels of the line, the characteristic, and the file. The software information system further includes one or more code viewers for simultaneously displaying selected lines of code. A cursor may be attached to or detached from a single one of the code viewers.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for creating shadowed scenes for interactive image generation. Shadowing is effected by generation of a shadowing coefficient for each pixel, which is then used when the scene is rendered. The present invention utilizes z-buffer and projective texture mapping facilities of an image generation system.

Abstract: A method of generating an automatic, three-dimensional, locally-unstructured, hybrid grid for geological formations with a sloping fault. The grid generation system replaces the portion of an existing finite-difference grid around the sloping fault with a finite-element grid made of triangular prisms and tetrahedrons. The process comprises decomposing the part of the reservoir around the sloping fault into topologically and geometrically simple volume, face and line components, generating a wire-frame construction of the domain by discretization of the line components, calculating the exact crossings of horizons with the fault, generating a finite-element grid for the face components using an automatic triangulation process, generating a finite-element grid for the volume elements using an automatic tetrahedronization process and assembling the finite-element grid for all volume elements and the finite-difference grid to create a locally-unstructured hybrid grid with enhanced detail around the sloping fault.

Abstract: A method and system for approximating a Phong shading calculation for 3D renderings of realistic graphic images. The new method uses only a modest number of multiplies and adds to approximate a calculation that required divides, square roots and powers. The approximation uses approximate normalization, vector differences, and a shape function to simplify the processing and to improve performance significantly while still generating a graphic rendering that is very realistic.

Abstract: A computer program product and method of browsing the World Wide Web of the Internet using a client machine (e.g., a personal computer) supporting a graphical user interface and an Internet browser. The method locally stores, retrieves and outputs information objects to reduce the waiting time normally associated with the download of hypertext documents having high resolution graphics. In one embodiment, the method begins as a web page is being displayed on the graphical user interface, the web page having at least one link to a hypertext document preferably located at a remote server. In response to the user clicking on the link, the link is activated by the browser to thereby request downloading of the hypertext document from the remote server to the graphical user interface of the client. While the client waits for a reply and/or as the hypertext document is being downloaded, the browser displays a previously-cached information object.

Abstract: A CT scanner non-invasively examines a volumetric region and generates voxel values. A user adjustable 3D axis system defines mutually orthogonal sections and volume reprojections thus defining a cross reference relation between them. An affine transform translates and rotates the axis system from object space to image space whereby each axis defines the orientation of origin intersecting sections in one view port and the viewing direction of volume reprojections in another view port. An operator console selects an angular orientation of the coordinate axis. A cursor position designates coordinates in image space causing the cursor, typically crossed axes, to be displayed on a monitor at a corresponding location in each displayed image. The view port rotation and translation of the projected crossed cursors are reverse affine transformed to rotate and translate the axis system.