Abstract: A porthole window system for computer displays allows a user to look at a portion of a window which could otherwise not be seen. A porthole window acts as an opening in a window of the usual type through which underlying windows may be seen. A porthole window can have different features as desired, including links to selected source and target windows, real time movement on the display screen, and the ability to be updated when a target window is updated. The porthole system runs concurrently with the normal window handling system of the computer.

Abstract: Apparatus for preparing a letter, including a stationery item. The apparatus includes a structure for printing and for providing a signal representative of letter data corresponding to information having a format. The information includes a plurality of parts. The apparatus also includes a computer. The computer includes a structure for receiving the signal, and is programmed for reformatting the letter data. The reformatted letter data includes a plurality of parts, and each of the information parts corresponds to a different one of the data parts. The computer is also programmed for selecting at least one of the data parts and for causing the printing structure to print on the stationery item each information part corresponding to each selected data part.

Abstract: A method and system for effecting a transformation of video image on a video screen applicable to a system for producing a special visual effect on, e.g., a television screen, in which a two-dimensional address plane is defined within a memory area, input video image is stored within the memory area, a cylinder shaped virtual image is placed on the address plane, a part of the address plane is wound on the cylinder shaped image, and when the cylinder shaped image is displaced along a predetermined direction on the address plane with a radius of a circle in vertical section thereof being varied with time, the address plane can be viewed as if it were turned over. If the input address data within the memory area is read out on the basis of output address data indicating the above-described displacement of the address plane, the output video image on the video screen can be viewed therethrough as if the video image were being turned over.

Abstract: An electronic printing system for printing digitally stored images which achieves extremely high throughputs as a consequence of control of the addressing of various memory sections being allocated to hardware assist units which operate independently of the processing unit. The processing unit rotates words retrieved from a font storage memory with respect to word boundaries in a page memory of a raster storage unit at high speed to achieve proper positioning of the words for storage in the page memory. The system further has a readout system for reversing the order of readout of the significance of pixels of words stored in both the font storage memory and from the combined output of the raster storage unit and the raster form storage unit which cuts in half the necessary storage requirements of character orientations in the font storage unit for duplex printing and printing on either side of a page for pages which have been punched for storage in ring binders.

Abstract: An output control system for use in a typewriter, computer or the like. In particular, this system is suitable to output the information of characters, numerals, symbols, etc. and the information which is added thereto, such as the underlined characters, bold characters, or the like. This system also includes a storage unit having a first storage section to store output parameters of the information that should be outputted and a second storage section to store a part of those output parameters; a processing unit which can process the output parameters stored by the storage unit; and an output unit for outputting the information to be outputted on the basis of the output parameters form the storage unit or the processing unit. With this output control system, the number of character selection times cna be reduced and the printing operation time can be decreased.

Abstract: A computer aided drafting (CAD) procedure presents, for a three dimensional (3D) object to be modeled in a general purpose computer, dimensional and tolerance parameters appropriate to changes of view or parameters. The procedure requires but one model, the three dimensional solid model, for producing both dimensioned displays of the model and dimensioned drawings of views of the model. Dogleg extension lines are used to express 3D dimensions without ambiguity. These dogleg extension lines facilitate the presentation of information on paper or on a display screen and permit convenient alteration of presentations of 3D illustrations, with automatic correction of dimension and tolerance presentation. The operator of the CAD system enters dimension and tolerance information on a plan or elevation view, and this information is automatically converted to an appropriately corrected and presented axonometric presentation.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for rendering a spacial contour texture map onto a generally planar polygon for display on the screen of a video monitor in a computer graphic system includes a memory for storing spacial distance measures between the individual texels of the contour texture map and a boundary on the contour texture map as well as an indentifier flag to define whether the texel is on one side of the boundary or the other. The contour texture map is applied to a modeled polygon by computing the intersection of each direction vector extending from an eyepoint through the center of a selected pixel to the contour texture map in a map space coordinate system. The projected size of a pixel on the contour texture map is also computed. The distance between the intersection point of each direction vector and the boundary of the contour texture map is computed and is projected onto the pixel space, that is, the screen of the display monitor.

Abstract: Automation of retrieval of stored graphs in a multi-user system having a central processing facility with processes that create and translate graphical representation into varying levels of readable expression. The created, translated representations are stored in system storage in the form of graph files. The invention is expressed as a method that tabularizes stored graph files by table entries, each identifying a specific graph and including a listing of the corresponding graph files produced for the graph. When a user of the system identifies a graph by table entry and specifies a machine output or modification function to be performed on the identified graph, the tabularized entries are searched to locate an entry for the identified graph.

Abstract: Method for the generation of line segments having a specific thickness and having round extremities on a homogeneous raster, the raster points of which form a number of parallel raster lines, between a start point and an end point, the line segment being stored in a bit map memory in the form of a large number of image points or pixels, comprising: the determination of the coordinates of the center points of the line segment in the consecutive raster lines; the generation of a disc having a diameter which corresponds to the thickness of the line segment: and the placing of the bit-representation of the disc at the start point of the line segment in the bit-map memory, the center point of the disc corresponding to the coordinates of the start point of the line segment.

Abstract: A system for the interactive control of a display such as a CRT (cathode ray tube) or the like, produces a visual representation of at least one variable in the form of a trend or bar graph. The system includes a personal computer having a cursor control and a display. The system operator can select a variable for display, and then select a location within which the visual representation of the variable is to appear and a range of the variable which is to be displayed within the selected region. The system responds to the operator's selections for producing a visual representation in the form of a trend or bar graph of the selected variable within the selected range at the operator-selected location.

Abstract: A character generator, comprising: a font memory for storing dot patterns of fonts; a first-in first-out memory for loading dot pattern data in unit of one byte successively, which generates a load request signal when the memory has empty spaces; an input control unit for accessing a dot pattern of a font to be printed and for transmitting a dot array data of one byte to the first-in first-out memory when the load request signal is received; and an output control unit for sending an output request signal to the first-in first-out memory to receive dot array data from the first-in first-out memory, and for transmitting the dot array data to a dot-image printer synchronously with a load request signal from the dot-image printer.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for analyzing a 2-dimensional sensory-input field containing three or more distinct classes of objects. The field is represented by a 2-dimensional array of elements in which each separate class of objects in the field has a separate classification value. The field is scanned with a 2.times.2 window containing the element being scanned and three adjacent and connected window elements, where each of the adjacent window elements has been previously assigned an object label which identifies one object containing that element. If the element being scanned has the same classification value as any of the adjacent window element, it is assigned the object label of that same-classification window element. Otherwise, the element being scanned is assigned a new label. If the element being scanned has the same classification value as two adjacent and orthogonal elements, and these orthogonal elements have been previously given different object labels, the two different object labels are merged.

Abstract: A method for generating an accurate perspective drawing of an object as it would appear from a freely chosen viewpoint, utilizing only data from conventional plan and elevation drawings, arranged according to a prescribed way. This permits an architect or engineer to obtain one or more perspective views of a project which is in the design stage, using only the elevation and plan drawings, which are required anyway. Its practical application is to use a personal computer to carry out the steps of the process, especially if this method is integrated into an existing 2D CAD system. The geometrical and mathematical steps are such that anyone familiar with the software of such a system can provide a suitable routine to enable a user to employ the method. This method allows a change of viewpoint to be made, by simply entering information defining the new viewpoint.

Abstract: A data display system in which input-output display devices are connected to a central processor, and users select application programs that are run on the central processor. The control system of the central processor includes a display manager control system and a windowing control mechanism which allows a plurality of tasks to be performed concurrently and the results displayed in areas of a display screen. The windowing control mechanism includes, a task manager control program which runs as an application in the display manager control system and includes means to interact, via the display manager, with the operator to allow applications to be initiated, means to create tasks to control the processing of the application in such a way that the applications can be suspended or resumed according to whether the operator is ready for them, and means to identify to the display manager a coordination controller that the display manager can call to allow the task manager to suspend and resume applications.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for using an image of the human body to control real time computer events wherein data regarding a participant are acquired through any means of imaging without marking the participant or requiring that he or she use or wear a stimulus source, sensing device or special clothing. Perception and feature analysis are carried out by specialized circuitry and computer software, and response to perception is expressed using any device controllable by a computer. Participants generally are unaware of processing delays between action and reaction, and their perception of an event is similar to dealing with a human being or animate creature. Perception and response occur in real time with action and reaction closely coupled.

Abstract: A block processing apparatus includes a random access memory (RAM), a keyboard with breakpoint mark keys and a ruled line block key, a central processing unit (CPU), a character generator. The RAM includes a document memory for storing a character array, a block memory, a tab memory, a vertical ruled line table, a small block range table, a lateral ruled line No. memory area, an area for storing the number of large blocks, an area for storing the number of small blocks, a successive flag area, a character flag area, a carriage position memory and a cursor position memory. These memories in the RAM cooperates to convert marks entered at the keyboard to a plurality of types of ruled line patterns in accordance with the relative relationships between the characters and the marks. The resultant block document is stored in the block memory.

Abstract: An improvement in an office automation system for composing and printing text such that when the presence of an operator is required at the printer, the operator can instruct the system to delay the printing action and wait for a command to start printing. The start command may be generated by the printer itself, when a certain required action has been performed, or by the operator, by means of keying in a code at the control panel of the printer. A display at the control panel of the printer may show a message related to the cause of the delay.

Abstract: The data display-controlling device and method includes a control key used for reducing the speed at which data is displayed on a display unit. If the control key is depressed, this condition is detected by a central processing unit (CPU). Upon detection of the depression of the control key, the CPU reads current time from a timer, and determines whether a predetermined time has passed from the depression of the control key. If the predetermined time has not yet passed, the CPU executes the operating system program, and if the predetermined time has passed, data to be presented is supplied to the display unit.

Abstract: A system for automated control of the printing of a work comprises a first terminal adapted for use by a printing requester for receiving from the requester a informaton concerning parameters for the printing of the work. A second terminal is adapted for use by a printing facility for receiving from the printing facility pricing and administrative information concerning the printing of a work. A programmed computer having a memory and input/output means is provided in communication with the first and second terminals. The computer interacts with the printing requester through the first terminal for receiving and storing the printing parameter information. The computer interacts with the printing facility for receiving and storing pricing and administrative information concerning the printing of the work. The pricing and administrative information is transmitted to the first terminal for use by the printing requester.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus including an affine conversion address generator, an image read memory, and an image write memory are connected via a control bus. The image read and write memories are connected via an image bus which operates independently of the control bus. Image data, which is designated by an affine conversion address output from the affine conversion address generator onto the control bus, is read out from the image read memory. The read image data is then transferred to the image write memory together with a busy signal indicating data transfer via the image bus. The image write memory stores the transferred image data in accordance with raster addresses sequentially generated therein.