Abstract: An architecture for performing real-time image processing on multiple image data streams using compressed or uncompressed image data includes a switch for forwarding data from multiple input sources to multiple destinations on a video processing device. The video processing device includes two independent processing pipelines for processing two different data streams. The switch may couple one or both input data stream to be multiple different destinations. Multiple video processing devices may be coupled via the switch to increase the number of data streams capable of being processed at any given time. Mixers are coupled in a cascaded fashion using the switch, thereby providing selective keying capability and allowing for multiple keying events to be entered during one phase of processing. Each of the processing pipelines on the video processing device includes dedicated processing logic, compression logic and frame buffer storage. Logic is provided with each frame buffer to support motion effects.

Abstract: A device (1) for presenting 3D graphics comprises means for defining one or more polygons for objects to be presented, means (2, 3, 4) for bump mapping, which comprises means (6) for storing a bump map and means (5) for fetching the bump map from the bump map storing means (6), and means for defining a direction vector of bump map normal at each vertex of a polygon, and means (13, 14, 17, 18, 19) for rasterizing images on a display device. The device (1) comprises further means (7) for producing an angle value which is used to rotate the direction vector of the bump map.

Abstract: An image rendering apparatus that comprises an input path through which the rendering apparatus can receive three-dimensional graphics data, a pixel/depth buffer, a reference buffer and a rendering engine. The three-dimensional graphics data include polygon data and additionally include texture data defining a texture. The texture data include texture size data and sets of pattern data. The pattern data in each of the sets represent the texture with a different resolution. The pattern data constitute a majority of the texture data. The pixel/depth buffer and the reference buffer respectively include first memory cells and second memory cells that correspond to the pixels of a rendering screen. The rendering engine performs an initial rasterizing operation using only the polygon and texture size data to generate and to store in the reference buffer, for each of the pixels of the rendering screen, a texture identifier, a layer depth value indicating a texture resolution, and texture coordinates.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for creating a display list permitting multiple states of the same type for a single primitive. By introducing a plurality of state variables of the same type in a predetermined order in a display list before a primitive description, different state variables of the same type are applied to different vertex descriptors of the primitive. In one embodiment, the state variables introduced are starting addresses of the groups of vertices addressable by vertex indices of the primitive. In a case where the primitive is a triangle, up to three different starting addresses might be introduced into the display list (one corresponding to each vertex of the triangle). By introducing multiple starting addresses, the vertex indices of the triangle description can be significantly shortened, the concern about variable length inputs can be eliminated, and each index is independent of its predecessor in the master display list.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing a stroked-based font defined by a stroke representation displayable in high-resolution and low-resolution space. The stroke representation includes defining a basic stroke with key points and width values as its primary parameters and feature points and curve features as the secondary parameters. Hinting information for certain key points provide information for displaying quality strokes in low resolution space. A CAD tool allows a font designer to easily select the parameters for the design of basic strokes.

Abstract: A method for creating and maintaining a dual scene graph for the display of a computer generated object. The user creates a user scene graph which has a number of node in a hierarchical organization which represents an object. This user scene graph is organized according to the dictates of the user for ease of human comprehension. The computer system automatically converts this user scene graph into a separate scene graph. The organization of this second scene graph is optimized so that the object can be rendered faster and more efficiently. Thereby, the first scene graph is displayed to the user so that the user can add, delete, or otherwise modify the object. Any changes made to the user scene graph are automatically made to the second scene graph, transparent to the user. The object is rendered for display according to the second scene graph.

Abstract: A user selects an optimum balance between two different methods for clipping or compressing the colors of an image so that they all fall within the color gamut of an output device. By choosing a balance between two different clipping or compression methods, which are typically implemented with different color models, the user can quickly and easily adjust the colors of an image to produce the most desired image. If a color monitor can display all or nearly all of the colors of the output device, the image can be displayed on a color monitor and the user can very quickly choose between alternative adjustments of the balance between the two clippings or compression methods.

Abstract: A method of and system for editing a parametric function curve initializes tangent handles at selected keys, up-dates the parametric function curve responsive to the dragging of one of the tangent handles, verifies whether the up-dated parametric function curve is monotonic, and if not monotonic, repeatedly modifies the tangent handles until the parametric function curve is monotonic.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for rendering a two dimensional (2D) patch associated with an object to achieve a smooth shading across the object where the 2D patch defines a complex gradient including at least one foldover edge. The method includes subdividing the patch until each subpatch includes no more than one foldover edge, grouping the subpatches into regions divided by a foldover edge, defining a ordering for displaying the regions and rendering the regions in order.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses described herein automate and confer additive properties to morphs (modification of a starting graphical image to a destination graphical image). The enhanced automated additive morphs created by this invention extend the currently limited scope of animation techniques, creating: moving morphs, where characters can speak, move, and emote during the morphing process; parametric character creation, where features can be sequentially added to a character to create a wide variety of resulting characters; behavioral transference, where character behavior can be automatically transferred to newly created characters, and behavioral layering whereby sequential behavior patterns can be concurrently transferred or imparted to a character. The present invention allows an animator to create, animate, control and transform two and three dimensional images instantaneously and fluidly.

Abstract: A map display apparatus for displaying perspective image of a map. The apparatus includes an image display device for displaying the perspective image of the map and a map data storage device for storing map data. Map drawing means is included for preparing map drawing data using the map data and for displaying a perspective image of the map on the display device on the basis of the drawing data. The map drawing means transforms coordinate data of a map into data suitable for display of the perspective image of the map. The data transformation is accomplished by perspectively projecting the coordinate data onto a predetermined projection plane with a view point at a desired position. The projection plane is determined on the basis of two predetermined points in the map data, such as the current position of a vehicle and the destination, so that drawing positions of the two points after the perspectively projecting operation are coincident with predetermined positions.

Abstract: A plurality of character train primitives existing on a CAD picture plane can be simultaneously inputted and edited on a document picture plane and character trains are inputted and edited. A character train converting module converts the character train primitives on the CAD picture plane into the character train on the document picture plane and displays. On the contrary, the character train converting module converts the character train on the document picture plane into the character train primitives on the CAD picture plane and displays. While the character train converted and displayed from the character train primitives on the CAD picture plane is being edited on the document picture plane, a CAD reflection processing module reflects the edition contents on the document picture plane to the character train primitives on the CAD picture plane.

Abstract: Picture information intended for being displayed on a picture screen contains not only the main information such as film pictures, but also overlay information such as graphic information or subtitles. The overlay information is transmitted separately from the main information and is encoded in packets of digital symbols in which a page of overlay information is represented by a group of packets. All the packets include identification information sufficient for a receiver to identify whether all packets of a group have. This makes it possible to ascertain whether a page of overlay information has been received completely, which allows incomplete pages or combinations of parts of pages from being displayed on the picture screen. This is advantageous in the case of interruptions of picture signal reception, such as a disturbed TV signal, or when a video disc or tape is used in trick modes such as Fast Forward.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and software product interpolates inbetween shapes of a two- or three-dimensional geometric model between a sequence of key poses of the model using a new type of parametric curve with shape parameters for providing independent control over the properties of the curve. The shape parameters provide the animator with full control over the behavior of the interpolated shapes between one key pose to the next. More specifically, these shape parameters independently control the direction, absolute magnitudes, and relative magnitudes of the incoming and outgoing tangent vectors at each key pose.

Abstract: An object comprising a Web document is transferred by a server to a client over a client-server data communications network. Alternatively, the object comprising the Web document can be executed by the server. The object, in turn, causes each object contained therein to execute and output a representation of the object in whatever format is requested by the client. For example, a client can send a request to the server over the data communications network. The requests specifies a particular Web document. The server searches its collection of objects in its object space for the object requested. The server, upon finding the object, and depending upon the nature of the client's request, will transmit the object as is to the client, or execute the object. The object outputs a representation of each object contained within the object in a format specified by the client.

Abstract: A method of interacting with one or more objects in a virtual reality (VR) space. A user input establishes a pointing mode, whereupon a visual indicator, such as a pointer, is displayed on the user's viewing device, and the visual indicator is moved on the viewing device to refer to an object in the VR space, in response to actuation of a pointing device such as a mouse, joystick or pen. An image of the user's avatar may also be displayed in the VR space, and the avatar may have an appendage or pointing appliance to point to a target in the 3-D space. A user can point in this manner with high precision, as well as draw illustrations, etc. Other users (viewers) of the same VR space can see the first user's avatar pointing to the target. Another viewer's display can be dynamically adjusted to present an appropriate perspective of the VR space to show the target.

Abstract: Image data is processed consisting of a first data set representing a polarity of moving objects and a second data set derived from two dimensional video frames. Three dimensional video objects are perceived as moving in three dimensional space in response to a trajectory definition. The trajectories of the moving objects is modified in response to the position of the two dimensional video frames. The modification may be affected in response to a matte or key signal derived from the video images, allowing the foreground video image to be combined with three dimensional moving particles.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for controlling image display arranged to enable an entire image to be recognized in one window. Image data is compressed in the direction of width so that the width defined by the image data is adjusted to the width of the window. Image data thereby compressed is is divided with respect to first to third storage areas. An image corresponding to the second storage area is directly displayed in a second display area in the window. Images corresponding to the first and third storage areas are displayed in first and third display areas in the window by being compressed in the vertical direction.

Abstract: A process for efficiently drawing subdivision surfaces. The present invention operates within a computer system for visually displaying 3 dimensional (3D) surfaces on a display. The present invention pulls polygons from a polygon mesh of a 3D surface. The polygons are stored into a 2 dimensional array such that the vertices of the polygons occupy nodes of the 2 dimensional array and are readily accessed. The polygons are subsequently divided into a plurality of resulting polygons. The resulting polygons are then sent to a graphics pipeline, wherein the graphics pipeline renders the resulting polygons into a 3D image on the computer display.

Abstract: A multimedia server system includes a disk array subsystem including a plurality of multimedia files, e.g., movies, a media file system manager for managing the storage of the plurality of multimedia files within the disk array subsystem, and a playlist which includes a list of titles of specific multimedia files to be played at designated times. The multimedia server system advantageously includes synchronization parameters associated with each of titles specified by the playlist. The synchronization parameters are programmed to specify the manner in which particular files should be truncated in order to compensate for admission delays. An admission delay synchronization unit receives the synchronization parameters and truncates the multimedia files as specified by the synchronization parameters. In one implementation, a first synchronization parameter is used to specify that the current file should be truncated at the time for the play of the next file.