Abstract: A network arrangement for the delivery and presentation of multimedia applications includes one or more file servers, containing multimedia assets and program objects connected to the network. A user terminal connected to the network includes a display for displaying a plurality of timelines. The terminal also includes a graphical user interface for placing icons representing multimedia assets on one timeline and icons representing program objects on another timeline. The terminal has a processor which integrates multimedia objects from the multimedia assets associated with the first timeline with the program objects associated with the second timeline to produce an interactive multimedia application. A user input device cooperates with the user terminal to retrieve from the file server(s) and to playback or execute one or more objects at a relative time presented on the interactive multimedia application.

Abstract: A squared character region for a letter is partitioned into three partitive regions arranged in a longitudinal direction to partition the letter. Thereafter, a right fit position of a portion of the letter placed at the most right side in a partitive region is determined for each of the partitive regions. Therefore, the right fit positions indicate right shape features of the letter. Thereafter, a right minimum fit position indicating the most right position among the right fit positions is determined, a right proportional position is regarded as a right kerning position in a partitive region relating to the right minimum fit position, and another right kerning position is set between the right minimum fit position and the right fit position for each of remaining partitive regions. Also, a left kerning position is determined in the same manner for each of the partitive regions.

Abstract: In a computer system for creating images of three-dimensional objects, an apparatus and method for processing depth values representing the relative depths of the objects. The depth values are transformed according to projections in order to give the appearance of depth when the objects are displayed on a two-dimensional computer screen. These transformed depth values are then interpolated using N bits of precision. Next, the depth values are encoded into a format whereby the depth values have less than N bits. These encoded depth values are stored into memory. In displaying the objects, the encoded depth values are read from memory and compared to determine the relative depths of the objects.

Abstract: A data processing system corrects handprinted character input represented as a sequence of points described by a writing path of a pointing device. The system receives a writing path signal from a pointing device in the data processing system, describing a first hand printed character input. The system performs character recognition on the writing path signal to provide a first character string. The system then displays the first character string in an edit pad area. The system then receives a correcting writing path signal in the edit pad area from the pointing device, describing a correction to the first hand printed character input. The system then performs character recognition on the correcting writing path signal to provide a second character string.

Abstract: A computer system comprises a processor, a program memory, coupled to the processor, for storing programs executed by the processor, and a display, coupled to the processor, for displaying images under control of the programs executed by the processor. The programs stored in the program memory including at least one menu driven program for creating a graphical display on the display. Further, the computer system comprises a menu generating system, cooperating with the at least one menu driven program, for displaying a menu on the display. Each menu comprises a focus position, and a plurality of rings concentrically arranged around the focus position, each ring having at least one command heading displayed therein.

Abstract: In a compression system, three-dimensional geometry is first represented as a generalized triangle mesh, a data structure that allows each instance of a vertex in a linear stream to specify an average of two triangles. Individual positions, colors, and normals are quantized, preferably quantizing normals using a novel translation to non-rectilinear representation. A variable length compression is applied to individual positions, colors, and normals. The quantized values are then delta-compression encoded between neighbors, followed by a modified Huffman compression for positions and colors. A table-based approach is used for normals. Decompression reverses this process. The decompressed stream of triangle data may then be passed to a traditional rendering pipeline, where it is processed in full floating point accuracy.

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 for interactively formatting a document uses event-based rules to trigger auto-formatting actions as the user types. An event monitor intercepts user input events such as the typing of characters on the keyboard to detect predefined events. In response to these predefined events, a rule-based event engine schedules rules dependent on the events in event interval sections of a rule base. The event engine evaluates rules scheduled in an event interface section of the rule base when an event interval occurs. When a rule is evaluated, further rules can be scheduled for evaluation in the same event interval section or other interval sections. A special type of rule, called an action rule, can generate autoformat actions when it is evaluated. When an action rule is evaluated and is satisfied, the event engine places the action or actions associated with the action rule in a queue. The event monitor then invokes actions in the queue to automatically format the document as the user types.

Abstract: Before being used in an interactive graphics environment, control points defining Bezier curves are processed to determine the curvature of the patch. This value is then used to determine the number of recursive iterations required to divide the patch into a plurality of renderable polygons. A value is determined by considering the cosine of the turning angle between vectors connecting the control points of Bezier curves. For each vector connecting the control points a respective vector of unit length is calculated. Cosine values are then calculated by producing the dot product of said unit vectors. Cosine values for two turning angles are calculated for each Bezier curve and a value indicative of curvature is determined by adding these cosine values together. The curvature of the whole patch is taken to be equivalent to the curvature of the most curved curve defining the patch.

Abstract: An image processor for displaying a predetermined moving figure includes a reference point memory for storing data on a plurality of reference points; each reference point is for displaying the figure in according to a series of movements of the figure. The image processor also includes, a control point memory for storing data for a plurality of control point. Each control point is for determining another position of the figure relative to each reference point. The image processor also includes, an operation unit for outputting a movement command to the figure and an image display unit for performing an image process to display the figure in an area of a coordinate system determined by the reference point and the control point in accordance with the movement command. When the control point is changed to another position, the position and disposition of the figure in the predetermined coordinate system are immediately calculated.

Abstract: Methods are proposed for visually evenly spacing of two successive characters taking into account outline shape modifications induced by character grid-fitting. Visually even spacing of characters is obtained by converting the geometric space between two characters into its visually perceived equivalent space. Converting between geometric and visually perceived spaces requires transformations applied to the character outlines for smoothing out the character borders and replacing them by virtual borders which represent the boundaries of the perceived intercharacter space. The optimal visual distance between the origins of two successive characters is obtained by requiring the characters to have a perceived visual space equal or close to an ideal perceived visual space called ideal optical intercharacter space extracted from by design optimally spaced character pairs such as "nn" for lower-case characters and "HH" for capital letters.

Abstract: In a multi-media document editing and reproducing system, a multi-media document is created and edited, using scene data as structurization units of the document, by an editor which edits a reproduction sequence relation of multi-media information elements, the relation between scene data is represented in terms of a link between the scene data, while at the time of reproduction, information element data as constituent elements are read out from a multi-media information element control device in the unit of scene data and in accordance with the multi-media document structure created by the editor, then the information elements are reproduced successively and the reproduction of scene data is performed while following the links.

Abstract: An interpolation operation is performed between a pair of stereo images to produce plural intermediate images. The interpiolation operation involves estimating the velocity vector field of the intermediate images. The estimation for a particular intermediate image includes constraining the search for the correspondences between the two images in the horizontal direction allowing the system to arrive at a more optimal solution. Excessive gap filling by smoothing is not necessary. At the same time the process vertically aligns the entirety of the images.

Abstract: Techniques for transmitting graphical images in a network environment are described. According to the techniques, the amount of data of the graphical images that is transmitted is customized in accordance with client and/or server supplied information. The techniques enable graphical images to be transmitted more efficiently than previously possible, thus saving precious network bandwidth and reducing transmission time. The invention is particularly suitable for network (intranet or Internet) implementations wherein graphical images often need to be transferred.

Abstract: A graphical programming application is provided that is intended to be run under a graphic user interface operating system. When running the graphical programming software application, a user can select a graphic object and an associated event, and define actions that occur when the event happens, to develop or modify the graphical program as desired. In addition to a graphic editor view mode, the user may optionally view a plain text listing corresponding to the graphic program, or use a Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) code editor in which statements corresponding to the graphic program are displayed, or activate a mode in which both code editors are visible at one time on the screen, so that changes made to the VBA statements are immediately reflected in the graphical program and vice versa. Since the user is able to view the VBA code that corresponds to the graphical program steps, proficiency in programming with VBA text-based code is more rapidly developed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for adjusting the text height within a displayed image. A preferred absolute text height is input to the computer system by a user and is stored. When text images are displayed by the computer system, a selected section of text is determined. The stored preferred absolute text height is then retrieved, and the displayed text images are scaled by a scale factor such that the selected text section is displayed at the preferred absolute text height.

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 method and system are provided for drawing one or more surfaces. The system includes a drawing processor, a frame buffer with z buffer and a display device, such as a display monitor. The drawing processor can perform all of the following steps. A first pixel in a first row is selected. The first pixel is near a first point at which a projection onto a plane of view of a first edge of a first surface intersects the first row of pixels in the plane of view. A first distance from the first point to a second point on the first surface is determined. The first point is a projection onto the plane of view of the second point. The first distance is then corrected by a first value representing a difference in distance between the first distance and a distance from the first pixel to a third point on the first surface. The first pixel overlies, e.g., and is centered at, a point that is a projection onto the plane of view of the third point.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for reducing flicker of a display image defined in HTML format for display on a television monitor. One embodiment of the present invention incorporates a tag that may be attached to an image to be displayed on a television monitor. This is done so by a particular tag that designates a file name which includes object of image data stored in a file. The tag identifies an image as either having a frequency profile that will result in interlace flicker or as having a frequency profile that will not result in interlace flicker. When a World Wide Web (WWW) browser employing this embodiment encounters such a tag, it will apply flicker reduction filtering to the image when the tag identifies the image as having a frequency profile that results in interlace flicker. Otherwise, the browser displays the image as is.

Abstract: The invention discloses an apparatus for conveying higher dimensional tabular information to people using a lower dimensional output device. The apparatus is such that original information in the higher dimensional expression can be mapped to the lower dimensional output device, while preserving invariant a content and relationship of the original information.