Abstract: A graphics pipeline system with an integrated masking operation is provided. Included is a transform module adapted for being coupled to a buffer to receive graphics data therefrom. Such transform module is positioned on a single semiconductor platform for transforming the graphics data from a first space to a second space. Also included is a lighting module coupled to the transform module and positioned on the same single semiconductor platform as the transform module. The lighting modules serves for performing lighting operations on the graphics data received from the transform module. In use, a masking operation is further performed on the single semiconductor platform.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and article of manufacture are provided for a transform system for graphics processing as a computer system or on a single integrated circuit. Included is an input buffer adapted for being coupled to a vertex attribute buffer for receiving vertex data therefrom. A multiplication logic unit has a first input coupled to an output of the input buffer. Also provided is an arithmetic logic unit having a first input coupled to an output of the multiplication logic unit. Coupled to an output of the arithmetic logic unit is an input of a register unit. An inverse logic unit is provided including an input coupled to the output of the arithmetic logic unit or the register unit for performing an inverse or an inverse square root operation. Further included is a conversion module coupled between an output of the inverse logic unit and a second input of the multiplication logic unit. In use, the conversion module serves to convert scalar vertex data to vector vertex data.

Abstract: A graphics hardware system and method are provided for graphics processing. Such system includes a transform module positioned on a single semiconductor platform for transforming graphics data. Coupled to the transform module is a lighting module which is positioned on the single semiconductor platform for lighting the graphics data. Also included is a rasterizer coupled to the lighting module and positioned on the single semiconductor platform for rendering the graphics data. As an option, the graphics hardware system may further be equipped with skinning, swizzling and masking capabilities.

Abstract: An animation wireframe is modified with three-dimensional (3D) range and color data having a corresponding shape surface. The animation wireframe is vertically scaled based on distances between consecutive features within the 3D range and color data and corresponding distances within the generic animation wireframe. For each animation wireframe point, the location of the animation wireframe point is adjusted to coincide with a point on the shape surface. The shape surface point lies along a scaling line connecting the animation wireframe point, the shape surface point and an origin point. The scaling line is within a horizontal plane.

Abstract: In a computer graphics system, wherein three-dimensional data is processed to produce dynamic displays, two-dimensional texture images are sequentially mapped onto objects in the display to form movable animated figures. Objects receiving two-dimensional texture maps may be transparent and take specific forms for certain effects, for example, intersecting planes, stamps, moving objects, and so on. Texture maps are composed utilizing a variety of source devices including: computer graphics systems, video cameras, two-dimensional scanners.

Abstract: A process for architecting a figure input/output interface of an instance is provided in an object-oriented design supporting system or the like. An applicable graphic editor is provided with a figure editor, which expands a function for defining a method to draw a user figure and also a function for defining a slot of a figure attribute when the user figure is designated; and furthermore expands a function to produce an instance when the user figure is drawn and also a function for coupling the instances when the figures are connected with each other. Then, input/output figures of a design component are defined and inputted with employment of this applicable graphic editor. In the output, a slot of the displayed instance is updated and then a display is deformed. As a result, the formation of the figure input/output for the instance such as the design component is available by only operating the screen of the applicable graphic editor.

Abstract: A color image region management system suitable for retrieving a region having a specified color. Color class is determined for each picture element of image data in which the color data of each picture element is expressed by a trichromatic system. In the trichromatic system, it is determined to which color class the color of the picture element belongs of a plurality of color classes divided on the basis of a perceptual color system. There is a color index memory for constructing tree structure data reaching a root node with blocks each including at least one picture element as a leaf node, and calculating, for each node in the tree structure data and for each color class in regards to the picture elements included in the node, the frequency of picture elements having a color belonging to the color class. The calculated frequency of the picture elements is stored as a color index for each color class.

Abstract: A system and method for processing moving images employ an interactive particle system comprising virtual image processing elements, or paintbrushes, in order to avoid problems of noise amplification and sensitivity to temporal discontinuities in source images. Attributes and parameters of paintbrushes may be specified by the user, and may vary dependent on the content of the source image. Paintbrushes may interact and may respond to virtual forces of various types. The system and method provide mechanisms by which the user may specify force parameters, by which source images can become forces, and by which force attributes may diffuse throughout the display field.

Abstract: A document with document information is produced. Whether some blocks of a plurality of the document information are the same as each other is judged. Document data with at least one block of the some blocks of the document information judged to be the same as each other and at least one block of the document information other than those judged to be the same is produced.

Abstract: A system and method of interactively generating computer graphic images for incorporating three dimensional textures. The method of the present invention includes defining an orientation of a polygon relative to a plurality of three dimensional (3D) texture data sets, determining a level of detail of a pixel associated with the polygon, and selecting a first 3D texture data set and a second 3D texture data set from the plurality of 3D texture data sets in accordance with the pixel level of detail. The method also includes mapping the pixel to a first position within the first 3D texture data set and to a second position within the second 3D texture data set in accordance with the orientation, and generating a display value for the pixel in accordance with the mapping of the pixel to the first and second positions.

Abstract: A user interface includes an object oriented graphic user interface having overlapping windows and provides an access window having topics, index and look for button functions for selection by a user. Through the use of the topics, index or look for functions, a help inquiry is defined. The selection of one of the button functions results in the generation and display of entries in a predefined area of the access window. Upon the selection of one of the entries by a user, phrases related to the selected entry are displayed in a working area of the access window. The selection of one of the phrases results in the display of a presentation window containing help instruction data to guide the user in the particular help task specified by the entry and phrase selection. To further assist the user, visual cues in the form of coach marks are generated for identifying features on the display which relate to the information disposed within the presentation window, but may identify any feature on the display.

Abstract: A screen-oriented application tool is integrated into a computer-aided software development system including one or more software development tools for performing predefined software development tasks. An interface program controls communication between the software development system and a screen-oriented application tool that contains a representation of a display screen. The interface program monitors inputs and outputs of the application tool and generates a trigger when a predefined application tool event has occurred within a predefined region of the display screen. The event region of the display screen is defined by a start row, an end row, a start column and an end column. The application tool events include cursor events wherein the cursor enters or exits the predefined region, text events wherein the text within the predefined region is modified and expression events wherein the text within the predefined region is modified and the new text matches a desired pattern.

Abstract: A method and computer system for coaching a user how to perform application program tasks is provided. The user activates the coaching program of the present invention while an application program is running on the computer system. If the user needs such assistance, the coaching program helps the user determine the next task the user wishes to perform in the application program. The coaching program then determines if the application program is in the correct state for performance of the next task. If the application program is not in the correct state, the coaching program guides the user through performing essential preliminary tasks that place the application program in the correct state for performance of the next task. The computer system simultaneously displays on the display screen output, such as application program instructions, generated by the coaching program and a user interface display generated by the application program.

Abstract: A multi-user digital laser imaging system for imaging film from bar coded cartridges as a function of image values representative of the images to be printed. The imaging system includes memory for storing transfer functions and film models for each of several users. The transfer functions characterize the relationships between image values and expected imaged film transmittance quantities. The film models characterize the relationship between the transmittance quantities and laser drive values that will provide the appropriate film exposure. An image management subsystem generates lookup tables characterizing the relationship between image values and laser drive values on the basis of user-selected transfer functions and film models selected by the system through the use of film identification information read from the bar code. During imaging operations the image management subsystem accesses the lookup tables as a function of the image values to obtain the appropriate laser drive values.

Abstract: A console operates a computer which includes a multiplicity of processors. The console displays an activate icon, a grouping icon and a multiplicity of icons which represent the multiplicity of processors, respectively. The console supports the definition of a group of the processors based on user selection of two or more of the processor icons and the grouping icon. In response to the definition, the console displays a group icon which represents the selected processors. The console also supports activation of the group of processors by selecting the group icon and the activate icon. After the group of processors is activated, the console can still display the group icon. Thus, further action can be taken on the group as a whole without redefining the group. A second group of processors containing one or more of the processors of the first group and one or more other processors can also be defined as described above. The console displays both group icons.

Abstract: An output window is created on the user's terminal screen when a parallel program is executing. This window displays an array of graphical elements (each preferably a small square area), which are partitioned into groups of one or more graphical elements per group, each partition representing a task or thread of the parallel program. These graphical elements are capable of assuming any one of several (or many) different graphical states (each of these states preferably being a different color for the graphical clement). A task running on a parallel processor system can set its associated graphical elements to different states (e.g., colors) during execution of the task generally through a special instruction in the task that specifics which graphical clement (of the graphical elements assigned to that task) should be set and to what state. When such an instruction is executed by a processor running that task, a message is sent to the module that controls the graphical element display at the user's terminal.

Abstract: Signal transformations of inputted data brought about by 58 new subroutines in combination with other subroutines to display world maps or other display items with the unique capability of performing the following functions in complete generality. (1) Arbitrary selection of map center and coverage, including global displays, (2) filling of all land and lake areas defined by polygons composed of an arbitrary number of vertices, (3) clipping of map features and overlays at map boundaries and poles, (4) selection from any of nineteen currently implemented map projections with provision to install any other projection topologically similar to an oblique conic, (5) calculation of latitude/longitude for any point on a map without the need for inverse mapping equations, and (6) an efficient method of plotting polyline segments along great circles. These are a number of feature functions provided by this inventive concept.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for adjusting the format of a table. The table comprises a column with a first, second, third, and fourth edges. The method comprises selecting a first edge of the column, the first edge residing in a first position on a page. Then, the first edge is moved to a second position on a page. Text of the column is reflowed to fit within the first, second, third, and fourth edges. The means for selecting comprises a mouse, in a preferred embodiment, and a means for selecting comprises a selection button on the mouse.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the coding and efficient display of overlapping windows with transparency. Each pixel within a window which is not to be displayed may be coded as a "transparent" pixel. The method identifies those pixels which have been coded as transparent and displays non-transparent pixels contained in windows of lower display priority in place of the transparent pixels contained in windows of higher display priority. A pixel coded as transparent may have associated with it an integer representative of the number of successive pixels in the window which are also transparent. A pixel may be coded as transparent by assigning to it a preselected data value which is distinct from values otherwise used to indicate, e.g., the color and/or intensity for each displayed pixel. The method and apparatus may include one or more windows which contain full motion video (i.e., television) images, each of which may also contain transparent pixels.

Abstract: The foregoing has described a method of providing a template in a computer system graphical user interface by supplying a visual cue which readily identifies the template and by supplying a direct template manipulation feature to increase the ease by which users can create objects. The template visual cue is provided to distinguish an instance of an object from its template form. Any object of any class which contains data and settings can be made into a template by turning on its template setting. When an object becomes a template, the icon which represents it is immediately altered. In particular, its icon becomes miniaturized or scaled down and superimposed on top of a normal size icon which resembles a pad of sheets of paper. This metaphor or visual cue is used to symbolize a stack of objects, of which new objects can be peeled off the top of the stack. With a drag and drop mouse action, a new object can be picked off of a template stack and dropped into any folder.