Abstract: In an automatic editing device for an English letter, text data of the English letter is input by operating character keys and a space key, and an automatic edit key is then operated. The input text data is displayed at a left end portion of a display, and the layouts of four typical letter formats identified as numerals 1-4 are also displayed at a central portion of the display. In this condition, when one of numeral 1-4 keys is operated, a letter format flag corresponding to the numeral is set to select a desired one of the four letter formats. Then, the input text data is automatically edited to the selected letter format. The edited text data is stored into a work memory, and the layout of the stored text data is displayed at a right end portion of the display. Thus, when an operator merely inputs the text data of the English letter, the automatic editing device operates to automatically edit the input text data to a desired letter format.

Abstract: In a window and notification based computer system, a browser class, a browser item layout class, a browser item data cell layout class and a browser item class are provided to the window object class hierarchy for applications to provide collection browsers on a display. An application provides a collection browser by creating a browser item layout object, zero or more browser item data cell layout objects, a browser object, and zero or more browser item objects as class instances of the four enumerated classes, and providing procedures for servicing events generated by a user interacting with the objects presented in the collection browser using a cursor control device and/or a keyboard. As a result applications may provide collection browsers in a more efficient and consistent manner.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for editing color LUTs that are utilized for converting color data from a first display device having a corresponding first color space to a second display device having a corresponding second color space is described. The method of the present invention includes initially displaying on an editor display screen, a graphical representation of a first draft of a previously created color LUT. The graphical representation of the previously created table is embodied as a lattice structure, where each element in the lattice structure represents one or more color values stored in the color LUT. Also displayed on the editor display screen is a set reference images and a set of sample images. The reference images represent the appearance that the user wants the color image to look like on the second display device. Initially, sample images reflect the manner in which the reference image would be displayed on the second device when processed through the previously created color LUT.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing a display of the hardware configuration of a data processing system comprising at least one processor and at least one device attached to the processor. The processor has a configuration table for defining the logical connections between the device and the processor and the system having a display device for displaying the configuration of the system. Within the processor, a configuration display memory space is created for constructing a display of the logical connections between the processor and the at least one device. The display device is able to access the configuration display memory space and display the contents of the configuration display memory space in a visually comprehensible form.

Abstract: A graphical user interface, i.e., multimedia communications application program, for setting up and handling a multimedia call is disclosed that employs realistic metaphors of real life face-to-meetings in setting up and handling a multimedia call to establish a virtual meeting which is automatically reconfigured in response to user action. This is realized by taking advantage of prospective virtual meeting participants' already existing knowledge of how real life face-to-face meetings operate. To this end, the multimedia communications application program enables the virtual meeting participants through direct manipulation of the realistic graphical metaphors to establish a realistic virtual meeting room which is displayed on the screen of their workstation monitor. The virtual meeting room includes a table and chairs arranged in a realistic manner in the virtual meeting room.

Abstract: A gray-scale display device such as a general display for a personal computer or work station, a laser printer or a color printer. A gray-scale font generating apparatus used in the display device includes an input unit for inputting the information representative of a font code, and control unit for acquiring a blend ratio in accordance with the ratio of a font area and a background area in the contour of the shape data of the font corresponding to the information representative of a font code, and making the gradation display of the font with the blend ratio thus acquired. Since the blend ratio is acquired without using work memory, a gray-scale font can be created and output at high speed.

Abstract: In an apparatus and method for generating a straight line using the Bresenham algorithm, when the XY coordinates of a start point and an end point of the line are given, the lattice point to be displayed can be freely selected when the desired straight line passes directly between two lattice points. A reference coordinate determination means determines a reference coordinate and a judge coordinate based on the differences in absolute values between the X coordinates of the start and end points, and the Y coordinates of the start and end points. The Bresenham values are calculated and a constant input means selectively inputs one of two constants, the inputted constant indicating which one of the two lattice points is to be displayed when the desired line passes at a midpoint of the two lattice points. Further, a constant registration means registers the constant according to each of eight combinations, such that 2.sup.8 (256) lines can be drawn.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for storing and retrieving synchronized audio/video "filmclips" to and from a data file of a multimedia computer workstation includes a storage means for a workstation to store audio and video data as digital data packets to the data file, and retrieval means for the workstation to retrieve audio and video data from the data file. The video data is presented as an image on the display of the workstation, while the audio data is sent to either amplified speakers or headphones. An audio data stream is stored to the data file such that the audio data can be retrieved from the data file and reconstructed into a continuous audio signal. The video data is stored to the data file such that each frame of video data is inserted into the stored audio data stream without affecting the continuity of the audio signal reconstructed by the workstation.

Abstract: An image synthesizing system is provided which can output a high-quality image in real time through the texture mapping without preventing the hardware from being increased in speed and reduced in scale. A 3-D image is formed by a game space processing unit (13) and image supply unit (10) to perform a 3-D computation. At a processor unit (30), coordinates for each dot in a polygon and the corresponding texture coordinates are determined. A field buffer unit (40) stores the texture coordinates at an address specified by the coordinates for each dot. A texture data storage unit (42) has stored a rendering data. The texture coordinates are read out from the field buffer unit (40) and then used to read out the rendering data from the texture coordinate storage unit (42) to synthesize and output a pseudo 3-D image. By thus storing the texture coordinates in the field buffer unit (40), the subsampling/interpolation and the like may be carried out.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus for use in three-dimensional graphics has a frame buffer in a single device with a SAM port for simultaneously storing image information and depth information per pixel. For high speed pattern filling, the frame buffer has an image buffer for storing image information of a predetermined number of horizontal pixels in response to individual write permit signals for each pixel and a Z buffer for simultaneously outputting stored depth information and storing new depth information in response to write permit signals. A circuit identifying whether an image to be plotted is a horizontal line causes the predetermined number of pixels write permit signal output circuits to simultaneously calculate new depth information, compare the depth information read from the Z buffer with the calculated depth information and simultaneously output the write permit signals relative to the image buffer and Z buffer based on the comparison.

Abstract: In a 3-dimensional animation generating apparatus which uses a computer, the user generates a number of static images having parent-child relationships and which serve as key frames in the sequence from the start to the end of the animation, a number of animation frames specified by the user being automatically inserted between the key frames by means of interpolation. In this 3-dimensional animation generating apparatus, the times of each of the key frames as specified by the user are stored, the parent object coordinates and child object coordinates generated by the user are stored in a world coordinate system, along with parent-child relationship in each of the key frames.

Abstract: A display control system employing a character display mode. When a character code determining circuit determines, during a display period, that character code data read out from a character code data memory is a specified character code such as a space code, or when a raster address determining circuit determines that a raster address of character information displayed on a display device is a specified raster address, an address selector selects a CPU address in accordance with a selection signal output from a selector control circuit. Access to a font data memory is then performed in accordance with the selected CPU address.

Abstract: Occulting apparatus for use with an image generator that provides for multiple-level occulting of image data. The occulting apparatus comprises a mask buffer and control logic for processing image data to construct and store an obscurance mask in the mask buffer. Foreground entities contained in the image data are logically ORed into the mask buffer until the entities extend beyond a predefined range from a predetermined image viewpoint. Thereafter, the mask is used by the control logic to reject entities contained in subsequently processed image data that are fully obscured by the foreground entities comprising the obscurance mask. The control logic includes an obscurance manager, a region processor, an object processor, a polygon processor, and insertion logic. The obscurance manager is a controller for building and applying the obscurance mask to the image data.

Abstract: A data processing system directed to the preparation of complex forms. The system integrates a powerful graphics based form generator with embedded, form-specific logic and provides output of a form Specification Report. The system operates in an interactive manner allowing the user to review modifications to the form as it develops. The system then accesses embedded logic for selecting industry standards default values, compares the user modifications or set-up attributes to the industry standard values, and if need be, augments the user modifications or set-up attributes consistent with the industry standards for form production. Upon completion, the form includes specifications required to control a high speed printing operation. Various ancillary functions are provided, such as programmed strike positions for controlling subsequent fill-in by computer.

Abstract: A system for generating voice activated computer data entry forms includes a scanner to scan an existing data entry form and to generate a digitized representation of the data entry form. Stored in the system's computer memory is a database for storing information, a voice dictionary and voice syntax files representing voice recognition information. A set of form definition procedures include an imaging procedure for displaying the scanned data entry form on the display and a region definition procedure for enabling a user to indicate regions of the displayed data entry form. Object definition procedures enable a user to define a multiplicity of objects, including form sections, text boxes, and checkbox buttons, and for specifying properties of the defined objects.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for managing a plurality of output devices to generate images from graphic image files. Each of the output devices is associated with a respective control system which includes a first queue for storing the graphic image files. The graphic image files are rasterized to develop raster image data that is stored in a second queue. A job controller selects images represented by data in the graphic image files stored in the first queue for rasterizing on a real time basis. The job controller is responsive to parameters of the graphic image files, the second queue, and the associated output device to manage the flow of image data from the first queue to a raster image processor (RIP) and from the RIP to the output device via said second queue.

Abstract: In a three-dimensional image shading method using a volume rendering algorithm, the amount of light incident to a view plane from voxels of a predetermined value or above is determined by modulating the amount of light incident to the voxels by a function of sin .THETA., where .THETA. is the angle of the surfaces of CT slices to a perpendicular line drawn from an arbitrarily selected origin of an orthogonal three-dimensional coordinate system on the view plane.

Abstract: A group of selected character codes is converted into character patterns in advance and stored in a font cache memory, and, when one of the character codes is received as the printing instruction, such pre-converted character pattern is utilized for printing. Thus the conversion into the character pattern can be dispensed with at each code reception, and the time required for such conversion can be shortened.

Abstract: A three-dimensional pattern editing apparatus used in a CAD system edits three-dimensional patterns in accordance with a user's input operation and displays the result of edition. A pattern display unit displays a plurality of three-dimensional patterns, divided into a plurality of areas, on the display device and each having the same pattern, but having different view points. A displayed pattern moving unit moves the three-dimensional pattern which is displayed on any one divided area in accordance with a predetermined input operation; A displayed pattern linking unit moves the three-dimensional pattern displayed on another are to the converted direction in accordance with on the converted amount. The real time display of pattern movement is realized by applying only a logic operation on pixel image data stored in the frame buffer rather than using the vector description of the object.

Abstract: The invention is a system for interacting with computer graphics. A scene display is generated in response to a list which includes data related to computer generated objects which are to be included in a scene display and ad application program identifier for the application programs which are the source of each computer generated object. An object in the scene is manipulated by a user command and at least one interrogation command is generated which interrogates the list to retrieve data relating to each object affected by the manipulation and an application program identifier related to each application program which is the source of an object affected by the manipulation. The data related to the objects affected by the manipulation and the application program identifier are transmitted to each application program which is a source of an object affected by the manipulation. Additional steps as are required are performed by the application programs.