Abstract: Method of wavelets-based multiresolution representation of a 3D image object. A center of an original 3D mesh image is set as an original of a new coordinate system, and respective coordinates of the original 3D mesh image is converted to the new coordinate system. After the coordinate conversion, the 3D mesh image is divided into a plurality of local meshes, of which boundary and inner coordinates are mapped. Next, a division level for the basis meshes is determined, and the basis meshes are divided accordingly. A parameter for local meshes divided from the basis meshes is determined. By a composition of boundaries of the reconstructed local meshes, the original 3D image object can be converted into an object to which wavelets can be applied, and as a result, the converted object can be represented at various resolutions with coefficients.

Abstract: A system and method for generating images of three-dimensional objects. The system includes one or more tracing processors, and one or more shading processors. Each of the tracing processors may be configured to (a) perform a first set of computations on a corresponding group of primary rays emanating from a viewpoint resulting in a ray tree and a set of one or more light trees for each primary ray of the corresponding group, (b) transfer the ray trees and associated light trees to one of the shading processors, and (c) repeat (a) and (b). Each of the shading processors may be configured to (d) receive ray trees and associated light trees from one of the tracing processors, (e) perform a second set of computations on the received ray trees and associated light trees to determine pixel color values, and (f) repeat (d) and (e) a plurality of times.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for motion artifact detection and correction, where an apparatus includes a scanning device for receiving two-dimensional image slices of an object, a rendering device in signal communication with the scanning device for rendering a three-dimensional volume representation of the two-dimensional image slices, and a correction device in signal communication with the rendering device for correcting motion artifacts within the three-dimensional volume representation; and a corresponding method for detecting motion artifacts within scan data of a region comprising an object includes creating a three-dimensional representation with volume elements of the region based on the scan data, analyzing the volume elements along a boundary of the object, and determining the existence of a motion artifact in response to the analyzing.

Abstract: A method is provided of processing data representing pixel color having a luminance component and color difference components. The data is divided into first and second data portions, the first data portion comprising the luminance components and the second data portion comprising the color difference components. First and second instructions from a combined instruction word, and the first and second date portions are processed in parallel using first and second parallel processors within a processor architecture, the first and second parallel processors operating according to the first and second instructions, respectively. The processed first and second data portions are combined to provide processed pixel color data. This method uses parallel processor sections to process the luminance and color difference components. The parallel processor sections can then use instructions suited to the type of data being processed, providing an efficient method of processing the graphics data.

Abstract: A system and method for generating a image, where the image comprises both a graphical user interface (GUI) and a subject graphics image. A first graphics pipeline renders the subject graphics image. A second graphics pipeline renders the GUI graphics data. A compositor then composites together the rendered subject graphics data that is produced by the first graphics pipeline, and the rendered GUI graphics data that is produced by the second graphics pipeline.

Abstract: Displaying a funnel from clickstream data as a hierarchy to a user for analysis wherein the funnel represents an ordered path of web pages successively viewed by the user. The invention includes clickpath visualization software to enable the user to easily analyze and evaluate clickpaths by focusing only on subpaths of interest. The invention software provides the user with various functions including, but not limited to, zoom, sort, expand, reverse, preview, and activate.

Abstract: The present invention provides systems, methods, and computer readable media for manipulating and formatting data sets (e.g., 105, 106) described using different coordinate systems. One version of the invention provides a method for formatting data sets described using different coordinate systems into a single format (136). The method includes the steps of a) acquiring (310) a first coordinate system data set, b) formatting (320) the first coordinate system data set into non-Cartesian representation (NCR) format (136), and c) storing (330) the resulting formatted data sets in NCR format. The method can further include the step of acquiring a second coordinate system data set and formatting the second coordinate system data set in NCR format.

Abstract: A method and system for clearing depth and color buffers in a real time graphics rendering system 10. The method and system are able to improve both depth and color buffer clearing. The method and system may utilize a frame flag, a depth clearing module, and a fast color and frame flag clearing module. The system assigns a frame flag to each pixel, which is used to determine whether the current Z value for the pixel is valid. The frame flag may be attached to Z value in the depth buffer. Instead of filling entire depth and color buffers with background values, the system only fills the holes that were not drawn in the previous frame. The fast color and frame flag clearing module traverses a rectangular area, tile by tile, where a tile is a block of pixels, to determine whether each pixel is background by checking the frame flags that are read from the depth buffer.

Abstract: A method and system for synchronized visualization of two partial scenes, in particular for three-dimensional rendering of contour surfaces of two workpieces, is described. A user opens several partial scenes and selects those partial scenes which are to be synchronized. The user then pushes a button on the taskbar (e.g., “Share-Camera”) corresponding to the scenes. The partial scenes are synchronized by associating all synchronized partial scenes with a main camera, whereby manipulation of the scene content of one window affects the (all) synchronized partial scenes of the other windows. The synchronization is independent of the mode of visualization in the individual window. In this way, several partial scenes can be visualized simultaneously within an application. Advantageously, the partial scenes can be manipulated independently of each other.

Abstract: A method and a system for visualizing differences of three-dimensional contour surfaces, in particular of three-dimensional contour surfaces produced by virtually machining a workpiece, are described. The method determines a first and second surface and spatial and/or volume differences between the contours of these surfaces. One of the surfaces together with the determined spatial and/or volume differences between the contours of the surfaces can be graphically rendered, wherein the differences are rendered as an additional attribute of the one surface, for example, in a different color.

Abstract: In a character provision service system for providing users with characters such as interface agents and virtual characters in virtual spaces on computers or in TV games, charges for use of a provided character is computed according to a motion made by the character. This system enables each user to easily purchase with security a character capable of moving according user's need, and also enables character data providers to collect charges according to motions made by provided characters and to provide various characters without anxiety about unauthorized use of the characters.

Abstract: The number of graphic objects in a visual tile rendered varies as a function of distance between the tile and a viewpoint in a simulation. Fewer objects are rendered when the tile is far from the viewpoint, and vise versa. A level of detail (LOD) value is pseudo-randomly selected and associated with each object, indicating the maximum distance at which the object will be visible. A current LOD value is determined for the tile. An object is rendered if its LOD value is equal or greater than the current LOD value of the tile. Objects are faded into and out of view by modulating an opacity value as the current LOD value changes. Texture values of an object are adjusted as a function of ambient and direct components of light on the object, to achieve lighting corresponding to time of day, current season, and/or region in the simulated world.

Abstract: A method of motion compensation within a displayable video stream using shared resources of a Graphics Processor Unit (GPU). Image data including a sequential series of image frames is recieved. Each frame includes any one or more: frame-type; image texture; and motion vector information. At least a current image frame in analysed, and the shared resources of the GPU are controlled to generate a motion compensated image frame corresponding to the current image frame, using one or more GPU commands.

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 transmited 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 transmision time. The invention is particularly suitable for network (Internet or Internet) implementations wherein graphical images often need transferred.

Abstract: An image of a first aspect ratio is modified to be displayed in a display area with a second aspect ratio. In doing so, the aspect ratio of some of the image content is approximately maintained, yet the aspect ratio of other areas of the image content is stretched so that the entire resulting image fills the display area. This may be done by either using texture mapping to map a strip of content (treated as a texture) into a strip of the destination image. It may also be done by modifying the image content to an intermediate image, which is then uniformly stretched to fill the intended aspect ratio. The areas of image content closest to one or more focus areas is approximately maintained, while other areas are allowed more distortion.