Abstract: Methods, and apparatus implementing the methods, that provide useful resolution-independent representations of the perimeter of a bitmap object. The methods find the boundary pixels in a bitmap and identify each boundary pixel edge that actually contributes to the object perimeter. The methods distinguish objects that appear to share a common edge because they share boundary pixels, when in fact the objects are separated by a pixel width. The polygon can be encoded in a digital, compact, compressible format, and can be used to define traps in a vector-based trapping environment. A finite state machine for generating the polygon is disclosed. A bitmap object is encode by calculating a sequence of direction codes based on tracing around the bitmap object along the boundary, where each direction code represents a direction from an eight-connected pixel to an adjacent eight-connected pixel.

Abstract: A method for use in a three dimensional browsing environment is described. The method, in one embodiment, includes receiving a jump request from one viewing point to another. The method also includes determining a destination from the current viewing point with respect to the jump request. The method further includes calculating a trajectory to the destination from the current viewing point. The method stills includes displaying a set of views in animation form along the trajectory and displaying a view corresponding to the destination.

Abstract: A technique for high-resolution motion capture according to the present invention includes a high-resolution makeup scheme and calibration object to optimize data capture. Data reduction and processing techniques reduce noise in the raw data and result in sufficient captured data to permit the use of several different image-processing techniques alone or in combination. The processed image data may be used to drive an animated character. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Abstract: A plurality of presentation expressing data produced by different directors according to one game scenario are stored so as to correspond to progress data of the game scenario and identification data of the directors. When one of the directors is selected by a game player, the corresponding presentation expressing data is read out using the identification data of the selected director. CG images are produced based on the read-out presentation expressing data and displayed. If the game player selects another director during the progress of the game scenario, the corresponding presentation expressing data is read out so that CG images are produced based on the presentation expressing data of the different director and displayed.

Abstract: A system for viewing a scene from a remote location. The system includes a client machine. The system includes a network connected to the client machine. The system includes a server machine having a 3D environment stored in it. The server machine is connected to the network and remote from the client machine, wherein the client machine predicts a next view of the 3D environment based on a previous view of the 3D environment by the client machine, and the server machine predicts the next view also based on the previous view and sends to the client machine by way of the network only the difference between the predicted view and the previous view. Methods for viewing a scene from a remote location.

Abstract: The present invention is embodied in systems and methods for determining structure and motion of a three-dimensional (3D) object using two-dimensional (2D) images of the object obtained from multiple sets of views with different projection models, such as from a full perspective view and a weak perspective views. A novel fundamental matrix is derived that embodies the epipolar geometry between a full perspective view and a weak perspective view. The systems and methods of the present invention preferably uses the derived fundamental matrix together with the 2D image information of the full and weak perspective views to digitally reconstruct the 3D object and produce results with multi-resolution processing techniques. These techniques include recovering and refining motion parameters and recovering and refining structure parameters of the fundamental matrix. The results can include, for example, 3D positions of points, camera position between different views, texture maps, and the like.

Abstract: A method for accelerating 3D animation production, the method comprising: inputting a text string command; analyzing grammar of the text string command to find out the subject, the verb and the object or the quantity and object, through a main program. Then, the main program deliveries order to a subprogram which controlling the subject, to execute judgment and treatment of the action and behavior of the subject. After that, the subprogram finds out the default parameters relating to the relative coordinate and relationship between the subject and object, the current state of the subject, the actions and behaviors to be executed by the subject as well as environmental factors and personality of the subject. Finally, the subprogram judges and integrates those default parameters to control the subject executing appropriate actions or behaviors in response to the text string command.

Abstract: A method for visualizing a spatially resolved data set, the data of which are in each case associated with a volume element of which the position is described by coordinates in a non-Cartesian measurement coordinate system, the data M(rk, &thgr;j, zi) are loaded into a graphics engine [(1)] as texture maps (Trk, T&thgr;j, Tzi) and then a pictorial representation is generated through superposition of texture maps (Trk, T&thgr;j, Tzi).

Abstract: A method for generating a three-dimensional stereographic image on the basis of a two-dimensional planar image for one eye and depth information of the image stored in the Z-buffer. The first two-dimensional image for one eye of a viewer is created by rendering a three-dimensional model. Color information and depth information of the first two-dimensional image are stored in the frame buffer and the Z-buffer, respectively. The second two-dimensional image for the other eye of the viewer is created on the basis of the first two-dimensional image, the color information stored in the frame bufer, and the depth information stored in the Z-buffer. A stereographic image is generated on the basis of the first two-dimensional image and the second two-dimensional image.

Abstract: A system, method and article of manufacture are provided for decomposing surfaces for rendering purposes during computer graphics processing. Initially, an interior mesh of primitives is defined in a surface to be rendered. Next, a plurality of surrounding meshes is defined along sides of the interior mesh. The exterior sides of the surrounding meshes each include a plurality of equally sized segments and at least one fractional segment that is a fraction of the equally sized segments. With this configuration, a pattern of triangles is used that permits the number of triangles to be varied continuously from frame to frame while accommodating incremental evaluation techniques such as forward differencing without visual artifacts such as popping.

Abstract: The map 3D-converter system for converting 2D maps into a 3D map, of the present invention, comprises: a 2D map data storage device for storing 2D map data with an attribute indicating that the 2D map data includes horizontal positions of the top view, or vertical positions of a side view; a 3D conversion instructor for specifying an identification value for identifying a target map and a reference position for developing the target map in a 3D space; a 3D converter for converting the 2D map data, read from the 2D map data storage device, into 3D map data, based on the identification value and the reference position specified by the 3D conversion instructor; and a 3D map data storage device for storing the 3D map data produced by the 3D converter.

Abstract: A method and computer program product are presented for converting an arbitrary mesh to a subdivision surface. Where the subdivision surface is to have an odd degree d=2m+1 on the regular part of the mesh, the method includes the steps of subdividing the mesh in a linear fashion, then iteratively smoothing the subdivided mesh m times. Where the subdivision surface is to have an even degree d=2m on the regular part of the mesh, the method includes the steps of subdividing the mesh, calculating the dual of the subdivided mesh, and iteratively smoothing the dual m−1 times. In either case, the resulting subdivision surfaces generalize uniform tensor product B-spline surfaces of any degree to meshes of arbitrary topology. The method uses subdivision rules that involve direct neighbors.

Abstract: A progressive hull sequence is provided that approximates the outer surface geometry of a three dimensional object to be rendered. The progressive hull sequence is an adaptation of the earlier progressive mesh representation developed for level-of-detail control and progressive transmission of geometry. The progressive hull representation of an object is a sequence of lower and lower resolution mesh geometries with the property that the volume within each successive lower resolution mesh contains the volume defined by the previous higher resolution mesh. This requirement is met by ensuring that, as each edge is collapsed, each new vertex generated by the collapse is placed in the convex volume defined by the intersection of the half spaces above the face planes touching the collapsed edge. In addition, to ensure that the hull representation is as accurate as possible as edges are collapsed, it is desirable to minimize the increase in volume from hull to hull in the sequence of progressive hulls.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing live video on a three-dimensional object begins by receiving a video stream into a capture buffer. The process then continues by mapping, directly from the capture buffer, the video stream onto the three-dimensional object. Having mapped the live video onto the three-dimensional object it is rendered into a frame buffer and subsequently displayed on a display device.

Abstract: In computer graphics, polygons constituting two polygon models are matched to realize spontaneous morphing. Each of first and second polygon models is split into corresponding parts, such as ear, eye or face, and polygons making up a part of the first polygon model are matched to polygons making up a part of the second polygon corresponding to the first-stated part. A connection relational graph, as a two-dimensional graph representing the connection relation between polygons making up the respective parts, is prepared from the two matched parts, and the connection relational graphs of the two matched parts are rendered co-morphic to match the polygons constituting the two parts.

Abstract: A system and method of interactively determining and displaying geometric relationships between three dimensional (3D) objects includes the steps of and apparatus for detecting the position of an input device, moving a selected 3D graphic object relative to a graphic pointing symbol in a 3D representation based on position of the input device, determining if the selected graphic object is moved to occlude an underlying 3D graphic object, and positioning and displaying the selected graphic object with respect to the underlying graphic object according to predetermined geometric constraints and the position of the input device. The system and method further dynamically moves and displays the selected graphic object according to movement of the input device and the predetermined geometric constraints while the selected graphic object occludes the underlying graphic object.

Abstract: A backface culling technique for clusters of polygons, as well as a method for generating efficient clusters from a set of triangle strips. The cluster backface test is directly derived from the traditional single-polygon test, and has about the same complexity. Memory requirements are 40 bytes per test. The cluster backface tests may be arranged hierarchically, with frontface tests added for symmetry. Experiments show graphics performance improvements of up to 50% in terms of number of effective polygons rendered per second.

Abstract: A method of producing a multi-resolution mesh is provided. A vertex array and a face array are constructed, wherein the vertex records and face records are ordered in the respective arrays by resolution. These arrays therefore comprise ordered vertices and faces to be added or removed for each incremental change in resolution. A vertex update record associated with each vertex contains face update records which specify what existing faces must be updated when adding or removing the vertex, and contains a new faces record indicating the number of faces from the face array to be added to or deleted from the mesh when adding or removing the vertex.

Abstract: A method of processing an image of a three-dimensional object, including the steps of providing a morphable object model derived from a plurality of 3D images, matching the morphable object model to at least one 2D object image, and providing the matched morphable object model as a 3D representation of the object. A method of generating a morphable object model includes the steps of generating a 3D database comprising a plurality of 3D images of prototype objects, subjecting the data of the 3D database to a data processing providing correspondences between the prototype objects and at least one reference object, and providing the morphable object model as a set of objects comprising linear combinations of the shapes and textures of the prototype objects.

Abstract: The invention relates to a data signal for animation of a graphic scene to be used by means for constructing images that can be displayed on at least one screen, a signal in which the scene is described in the form of a set of animation objects, each of which is associated with at least one characterization field defining a parameter of the object, comprising at least one quantization object, for which the characterization fields define the quantization rules for the characterization fields of the animation objects, each applicable to at least two distinct characterization fields, such that most or all of the characterization fields of the animation objects with a numeric value can be quantized. The invention also relates to the corresponding process and device.