Abstract: In a virtual set a computer generated virtual image is combined with a real set. Registration data defines a transformation allowing virtual image data to be combined with image data derived from a real set. A reference plane is identified (902) in the real set which is associated (903) to a plane defined in the virtual world space. Differences in positions between the real and virtual planes are determined (904) to produce registration data.

Abstract: A method for generating subdivision surfaces in real-time for use in connection with computer graphics is provided. According to an exemplary embodiment of the method, face information and subdivision data for a subdivided face are generated. The subdivided face is made up of a number of subdivision surfaces. The face information and subdivision data for the subdivided face respectively include vertices and edges, which define the subdivided face. Furthermore, two bitflags are associated with each edge identified in the subdivision data for the subdivided face. One bitflag is used to identify whether the associated edge is being used for a second time and the other bitflag is used to indicate whether the associated edge is used twice. The subdivision data for the subdivided face is then used to generate subdivided and additional edges. Each edge identified by the subdivision data for the subdivided face is defined by a pair of subdivided edges.

Abstract: A method for reflecting color data of back or far surfaces of a plurality of transparent polygons overlapped with each other in an eyes direction, on a display screen. The method for generating image data of a virtual three-dimensional space viewed from a predetermined view point, comprises: determining a plurality of transparent primitive surfaces in the virtual three-dimensional space; operating an angle between an eyes direction at the predetermined view point and a normal direction to each of the transparent primitive surfaces; deciding a description order of the plurality of transparent primitive surfaces so as to give priority one of the transparent primitive surfaces when the angle is an acute angle over one of the transparent primitive surfaces when the angle is an obtuse angle; and describing the plurality of transparent primitive surfaces by composing color data of the transparent primitive surfaces in the description order.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved living body variable measuring apparatus equipped with a display capable of presenting a time-related graphic representation. The graphic representation is composed of crosswise arrangement of rectangles relative to abscissa and ordinate representing time and measured quantity respectively. Each time-related column has a selected rectangle representing the quantity of a measured living body variable. The horizontal time-related arrangement of narrow rectangles facilitates survey of graphic representation. The living body variable measuring apparatus permits the user to select desired data among those measured for record, preventing so selected data from invading locations allotted to others' data and vice versa.

Abstract: Methods for defining smooth and continuous coordinate systems in a volume comprised of a lattice structure of guide columns derived from arbitrarily modeled surface topologies involving polygons, nurbs, linear segments, and subdivision surfaces. Applications of these techniques in computer graphics and computer animation include: (1) the definition of pseudo-coordinate systems for use in creating geometry which must grow from said surface (2) the creation of a highly stable coordinate system involving guide columns in which Cartesian physical simulations may be carried out and rendered as well as deformed and rerendered if desired.

Abstract: A system, method and article of manufacture are provided for converting triangular patches into a form suitable for being rendered using a graphics pipeline adapted to render quadrilateral patches. First, a triangular patch is received. The received triangular patch is then divided into a plurality of quadrilateral patches. Such quadrilateral patches are suitable for being processed by a graphics pipeline specifically equipped to render quadrilateral patches.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product are provided for tracking a matrix during vertex processing. Initially, a request is received to track a matrix. Such matrix is identified in the request. The identified matrix is then tracked for vertex processing. In one aspect of the present embodiment, a version, type, and/or name of the matrix is identified in the request.

Abstract: A verification device of an effective visual field range of a display takes into account a use environment. The device includes a composing unit composing a use environment related to a verifying object of a displaying device in a virtual three-dimensional space of a computer, taking into account the use environment thereof, a setting unit setting an effective visual field of a verifying object of the displaying device by the use environment composed by the composing unit, and a display displaying visually the effective visual field set by the setting unit as an effective visual field on the displaying screen.

Abstract: An opened polygon including a transparent region for maintaining a backward drawing state is drawn. Next, a mask polygon which inhibits another polygon and texture from begin forwardly drawn afterward and maintains a backward drawing state is drawn behind the drawn opened polygon so as to be superimposed by at least the transparent region thereof. Then, in the case where a new polygon is drawn to be superimposed in front of an opened polygon, behind which the mask polygon is drawn, the new polygon is drawn in a region other than the transparent region of the opened polygon. In this manner, even in the case where another polygon is drawn to be overwritten at the boundary of a plurality of polygons having a positional relationship displayed on a game picture, it is possible to maintain a three-dimensional image.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process and system for three-dimensional (3D) relative positioning and tracking, utilizing a range image and reflectance image producer including a laser dynamic range imager (LDRI), wherein a complete suite of unique 3D relative positioning and tracking algorithms and processing methods, including cross plane correlation, subpixel tracking, focal length determination, Kalman filtering, and orientation determination, is employed to take full advantage of the range information and reflectance information provided by the LDRI to provide relative position and orientation of a target to simultaneously provide the 3-D motion of multiple points of a target without the necessity of using multiple cameras and specific targets and the relative attitude of the target with respect to a carrier of the LDRI.

Abstract: The defocused image generating methods and systems defocus an image using sets of image elements of a multi-resolution pyramid representation of the input image. Each pixel in the original image generates a region of confusion based on the image depth data for that pixel. The sets of image elements are used to represent the region of confusion using increasingly higher resolution image elements. The final defocused image is generated by compositing or combining together the sets of image elements after the region of confusion of each pixel has been decomposed into the sets of image elements.

Abstract: There is provided a design support system which supports work for designing a two-dimensional or three-dimensional shape by combining a plurality of parts and assembly data showing the arrangement relationship between the parts, and by which a desirable assembly data can be found easily. Shape display output unit displays the two-dimensional or three-dimensional shape stored in a database on a display unit. Part specification unit specifies a predetermined part displayed on the display unit. Assembly data acquisition unit acquires assembly data relating to the specified part from the database. Assembly data display output unit rearranges the acquired assembly data according to the hierarchical structure and displays the rearranged assembly data on the display unit. Level number specification unit makes a part of hierarchical structure displayed by the assembly data display output unit in a non-display state.

Abstract: A process and system for collecting data about roads located in a geographic area and using the collected data to develop representations of the locations and geometry of the roads for a geographic database. A vehicle in which data acquisition equipment is installed is driven on the roads. Using the data acquisition equipment, data are collected representing positions of the vehicle as it is being driven along the roads and data indicating the path of the vehicle as it is being driven along the roads. The data acquired while traveling may be smoothed and fused. The data acquired while traveling are processed by a program that automatically selects which of the data are necessary to provide a specified level of accuracy in a geographic database that includes data that represent the roads including data that represent positions and geometry of the roads. The data selected by the program are stored in the geographic database.

Abstract: The distance between a moving character and a fixed character which are displayed in a pseudo-three-dimensional space on a display monitor screen is calculated by identifying one of polygons which make up the fixed character and which contains a point of planar coordinates representing the position of the moving character, and calculating the distance between the moving character and the polygon which has been identified. A polygon representing a mark associated with the moving character is applied to a plane of a polygon of the fixed character by determining a normal vector which is normal to the plane of the polygon at a predetermined position thereon, determining a first vector contained in the plane of the polygon perpendicularly to the normal vector, determining a second vector contained in the plane of the polygon perpendicularly to both the normal vector and the first vector, and determining the rotation matrix from the normal matrix, the first matrix, and the second matrix.

Abstract: Non Verbal Behaviors (NVBs) are parameterized and selected for using in enhancing communicative abilities of an animated character. A parameter selection device selects the NVBs from a database of NVBs based on selection criteria consistent with a response or action generated by an animated character program. The selected NVBs are modulated based on an emphasis to be placed on the communication, and other factors, such as a personality of the animated character. The modulated NVBs are placed in a data stream of NVBs and other actions and communications, including, for example, language, that is provided to an animation system for display. The processes of the present invention allow for NVBs to be utilized to more effectively engage users of the animated character. The processes of the present invention may be applied in any animated character system including products by Microsoft (Office Assistant, Agent, etc.).

Abstract: In a navigation system using a bird's-eye view display mode, map data on a plan view map are subjected to a perspective projection conversion to obtain drawing data on a bird's-eye view map. In this case, an input of the position of a view point is accepted, and a projection plane for a bird's-eye view is determined on the basis of the coordinates of a current position and a destination and the position of the view point so that the display positions of the two points which have been subjected to perspective-projection conversion are coincident with predetermined positions. Alternatively, an input of a scale is accepted, and the position of the view point and the projection plane are determined on the basis of the coordinates of the two points and the scale so that the display positions of the two points after the perspective projection conversion are coincident with predetermined positions and the drawing scale is coincident with the input scale.

Abstract: A method and a system for obtaining visual information from an image sequence using a visual tunnel analysis are described. The present invention determines the position and orientation of rays captured in the image sequence and uses these rays to provide visual information. This visual information includes, for example, visual prediction information (whereby the extent of visibility and appearance of a virtual camera at arbitrary locations are determined) and visual planning (whereby a minimum number of images that need to be captured to visualize a desired region is determined). Generally, the visual tunnel analysis uses a subset of the plenoptic function to determine the position and orientation of every light ray passing through each point of images in the sequence. A visual tunnel associated with an input image sequence is a volume in visibility space that represents that portion of the visibility space occupied by the input image sequence.

Abstract: Efforts are made to construct a digital index that represents properties or the appearance of portions of an image so as to automatically rediscover in it a sample of the image during a subsequent search, after having set up a sample index in the same way and having compared the indices while searching for similarities. In this invention, the mesh dividing up the image or the sample into portions is founded on points of interest and is not uniform, and the index is made up of information coming, for each portion, from this same portion or from a specified assembly of neighboring portions. Furthermore, a redundant mesh is proposed (FIG. 9A) in order to describe the image several times and to attenuate the consequences of any omissions from the points of interest (E) on the other modeling (FIG. 9B).

Abstract: A system and process for efficiently representing an object and allowing the synthesizing of photo-realistic images of the object that depict both diffuse and specular reflections therefrom. This is accomplished using a sparse set of input images and a geometric model of the object. In particular, the reflectance components (i.e., diffuse and specular) are separated out of the input images based on the intensity variation of object surface points. The diffuse reflection component is characterized with a global texture map, while the specular reflection components are used to model the illumination distribution of the environment surrounding the object and to estimate the surface reflectance parameters. This framework provides a very compact representation of the object's appearance. Photo-realistic virtual images of the object from any desired viewpoint can be synthesized using the previously computed global texture map, illumination distribution, and reflectance parameters.

Abstract: More reality is given to weather phenomena reflected on an image displayed on a screen of a display unit and on operability of an operatable object. A global weather deciding part 901 decides weather in each global area obtained by dividing the whole map of a virtual world into a plurality of global areas. The weather in the global area in question is decided at intervals of a first time, in accordance with a preset behavior model and considering area information of each global area in advance. A local weather deciding part 902 decides weather in each local area obtained by dividing each global area into a plurality of local areas. The weather in the local area in question is decided at intervals of a second time, which is shorter than the first time, in accordance with the weather of the global area concerned decided by the global weather deciding part 901, and considering area information of each local area.