Abstract: A design and production supporting system for component arrangement and routing comprises a three-dimensional (3-D) component mapping means based on two-dimensional logical connection information of plant components and 3-D arrangement space information. To the 3-D component mapping means, an interactive mapping means and an automatic mapping means are provided. The interactive mapping means has a means for displaying the components arranged on the assigned plane of the arrangement space in the 3-D space keeping connection relationship among the components and a means for interactively moving these components in the arrangement space with keeping connection relationship among the components by using the dragging method. The automatic mapping means has a means for distinguishing the arranged spaces from the non-arranged spaces and arranging the components on the non-arranged spaces, and a means for searching the shortest route of pipes, etc., for the arranged components.

Abstract: A method of controlling the intercharacter spacing between adjacent characters in automatic typography systems. The method ensures that the autohinter creates even spacing between two adjacent characters as the resolution and font size varies. The left and right sidebearings of each character are hinted to one of a plurality of numbers of pixels to produce a hinted left sidebearing and a hinted right sidebearing. Next, a predetermined number of pixels are subtracted from one of the hinted sidebearings and added to the other of the hinted sidebearings. At font sizes less than a predetermined threshold, the plurality of numbers of pixels are such that the left and right sidebearings are hinted to a nearest integer plus one-half pixel, and at all font sizes greater than the predetermined threshold, the left and right sidebearings are hinted to a nearest integer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a data processing system, and method of operation of such a system, for creating a surface on a model of a 3D object, the model being stored as data in a storage device. The system comprises input means (10) for enabling a user to define lines representing features of the object, the lines being stored as model data in the storage device (40), and means (30, 50) to generate and display an image representing the model from the model data. Further the system is characterised by: identification means (60) for identifying data representing a plurality of the lines that form a first closed loop consisting of edges meeting at nodes, and for retrieving such data from the storage device (40); and processing means (20) for generating data defining a series of additional loops to represent a candidate surface bound by the first closed loop.

Abstract: The document processing system which performs a function of storing in a memory data of a bracket input by an input device and positional data of starting and ending points of the bracket located in the document. The document processing system then determines an appropriate size of the bracket based on the positional data stored in the memory so as to properly lay out the bracket in the document. The system then generates and displays the appropriately sized bracket in a position specified by the positional data.

Abstract: An information output apparatus which outputs guide information in combination with image, text, voice and sign-language so that hearing impaired, handicapped people can easily recognize the guide information. The sign-language is automatically generated by computer graphics on the basis of text information inputted to the apparatus. A user can edit the generated sign-language. When it is desired to perform a generating operation over additional sign-language information, a transitional picture is automatically inserted between the sign-language words to provide clear discrimination between the words. The inserting manner can be specified by the user.

Abstract: A reproduction structure in a computer is based on a hierarchical structure of consistency relations between objects. As a function of one or more objects of a given hierarchical level, each relation specifies one or more incremental objects at a next-higher level. Variable incremental objects are situated at the lowest level. After a user interaction, modifying one or more variable incremental objects, the consistency is restored as follows. First a set of value inconsistencies is signaled for the incremental objects during a bottom-up signaling step. Subsequently, on the basis of each element of said set during a top-down updating step the value of the hierarchically higher object is updated on the basis of a change of value, if any, of associated, specifying variable incremental objects and/or incremental objects.

Abstract: On a computer, components forming a development subject are arranged on a scenario editor by using basic component parts, and the component data are set. And a procedure call sequence is defined by specifying procedures of defined components in order of call. The call sequence data is generated in the computer as scenario data. Then, the defined group of scenarios are selected and reflected on the model editor. A whole requirement is created. At that time, a procedure name to be called subsequently on the connection line between components is acquired from the defined procedure sequence data, and a program for effecting animation is generated. Finally, by executing the generated animation program, the procedure call sequence is displayed in an animation form and the requirement is created.

Abstract: A video editing method that includes displaying a two-dimensional projection of a representation of a projection surface. This projection is derived from a three-dimensional position of the surface. A handle is displayed attached to the projection, and the position of the surface is updated in a manner corresponding to the displacement of a cursor at the handle. The method further includes displaying a second projection derived from the updated position, and redisplaying the handle attached to it.

Abstract: A graphical user interface for a computer system that includes one or more intelligent assistants. The interface includes composite icons comprising a graphical representation of a human figure, a representation of a desk, and a mini-icon that associates an assistant with the object it supports. The assistant's desk can be opened to show its contents and the human figure can move from its position next to the desk to a position on the computer display screen next to a suggestions dialog box that displays suggested actions to the user.

Abstract: A computer text and symbol editor, such as a word processing software program, has a bracket editing software tool to insert and revise bracket symbols. The document information processing device includes an input means for inputting document text information and symbolic information including bracket symbols that extend over a plurality of horizontal or vertical lines of screen text. The input device has a corresponding input position indicating means for indicating an input position in the document information; and a symbol-inputting-position determining means for determining a position of inputting the bracket symbol. The device may include a bracket symbol length discriminating means for judging the symbol length, and a retrieving means for retrieving the bracket symbol information in a document storage means from the position specified by the input position indicating means.

Abstract: Disclosed is a text justification program (20) that runs on a computer (22) in accordance with the invention. The text justification program provides an improved method for justifying text by introducing random character modifications throughout the text so that characters modified for justification purposes do not stand out.

Abstract: The positions where back-projection lines from a plurality of images pass through a predetermined voxel slice of a 3D space are calculated. Letting a predetermined one of the plurality of images be defined as a basic image and the other remaining images as reference images, information about back-projection lines from the basic image is stored in a basic back-projection line information storage part and information about the back-projection lines from the reference images are stored, as information associated with voting, in a voting information storage part. A count is taken of reference back-projection lines which pass through the same passing position of each basic back-projection line, and this count value is used to update the information about the basic back-projection line. After execution of each processing in all voxel slices of the 3D space, the information about the basic back-projection line information is read out of the basic back-projection line information storage part.

Abstract: A device gamut boundary surface in a device independent color space (DICS) is defined by a set of small triangles. Each triangle in the DICS corresponds to a triangle on the surface of a 3D or 4D color cube in a device dependent color space (DDCS). The triangles in the DICS are derived based on a look-up table which can be obtained by measuring a set of color patches produced from the given device. A small set of carefully selected gamut boundary points in the DICS are determined, and their corresponding points or signals on the surface of the color cube in the DDCS are computed. These data are stored in a table called a gamut descriptor. Points in a gamut descriptor can be determined by a convex polyhedral cone inclusion process, and their corresponding points in the DDCS can be determined by triangle interpolation. The gamut descriptor usually includes gamut boundary points at a number of lightness layers along a series of predetermined hue angles.

Abstract: An example page taken from each document in a document database is processed by a page processor to yield an iconic representation for the example page. To form the iconic representation, the example page is segmented into text regions, line art regions, photograph regions, etc., and each region is reduced in a manner appropriate for that image type. Text is replaced with a block font and reduced, while graphics are reduced in level and/or spatial resolution). The reduced regions of the example page are then reassembled into the icon. When multiple icons are printed on a guide page, a user can visually identify the icon for an example page of a target document and supply the icon, or a label for the icon, to a document retrieval system, which selects candidate matching documents from the document database. For simplified processing characters can be blocked and words formed into solid line segments with lengths proportional to word lengths.

Abstract: An apparatus for adjusting a line width of an outline font includes an original outline data storing device for storing attribute data in advance. The attribute data indicates whether a data point, which represents a contour line of a character of an outline font, is a point at which line width is to be adjusted. The attribute data is stored in correspondence with original coordinate-value data of the data point. Also provided is an original line-width data storing device for storing data representing original line width in correspondence with original outline data of each character; and a line-width converting device for converting original line-width data into fraction-processed output line-width data in conformity with a mesh size corresponding to a designated character size.

Abstract: A method for creating a scalable graphic image for display by a pixel-oriented display device. A pixel-based design of the desired graphic image is created and thereafter separated into constituent parts. A geometric descriptor is created for each constituent part. These geometric descriptors are then hinted to ensure that the constituent parts represented by these descriptors can be overlaid or combined to form a display of the desired graphic image for various point sizes. The hinted geometric descriptors for the graphic image are stored in a font file that can be accepted by a rasterizer. In response to a request to display a graphic image, the rasterizer reads the corresponding hinted geometric descriptors from the font file and generates character bitmaps defining the pixels to be illuminated to display the constituent parts. This allows the scaling of the displayed graphic image at different sizes based upon the particular requirements of the user.

Abstract: A computer controlled graphics system for processing an image using full spectral representations. An object in an image has an associated full spectral surface reflectance function. Each illumination source is represented by a light vector whose components represent the weights of predetermined basis functions, so that said illumination vector represents a light source in full spectral representation. A plurality of sensors each has an associated sensor response function. A user may select, either directly or indirectly such as through a graphics program, the surface reflectance function, each light source, and the sensor response functions. At a point on an object, the color processing system determines a surface matrix responsive to the surface reflectance function at said point, the plurality of predetermined basis functions, and the plurality of sensor response functions.

Abstract: A system for processing 3-D multiple-view images which can render an image of a 3-D object as seen from any arbitrary viewpoint based on the 3-D multiple-view images, provided with an image acquisition unit for acquiring 3-D multiple-view images of a 3-D object as seen from a plurality of viewpoints, an image analysis unit for analyzing 3-D multiple-view images comprised of a plurality of images and finding the layered feature trajectory information comprised of trajectories linking identical points of the 3-D object, an image interpolation unit for rendering by interpolation an image of the 3-D object as seen from a specified (by user) viewpoint based on the layered feature trajectory information, an image compression unit for approximating the shape and color and texture information for the individual trajectories of the layered feature trajectory information for compression coding, a memory unit for storing the coded layered feature trajectory information, and an image reconstruction unit for reconstructin

Abstract: A system and method for providing computerized forms completion and processing. A forms designer utilizes a forms creation module that includes a scripting feature to create an electronic form. The scripting feature provides flow of control statements and a variety of functions useful in forms, e.g., such as questionnaires. These functions include data validation, field navigation/control (e.g., skip), context sensitive help, data formatting, alert sounds and dialog boxes. The scripting feature ensures that skip patterns are followed correctly and that the form is completed accurately. The forms creation program generates a field description record for each field created by the forms designer. The set of field description records that define the electronic form is then transferred to a handheld computer, such as a personal digital assistant (PDA). A user of the form, such as a respondent to a survey, utilizes the PDA to respond to the statements or questions that are part of the form.

Abstract: A computer system having a visual display which displays a Palladian menu is disclosed. The Palladian menu includes a circular portion and a rectangular portion. High-frequency commands may be placed as selectable command options within wedges of the circular portion of the Palladian menu, while the less frequent command options are placed in the rectangular portion of the menu. The Palladian menu is preferably a "pops up" menu, with the high-frequency commands specific and equal distance within the circular portion of the menu and located a specific and equal distance from the mouse pointer when the menu is initially selected.