Abstract: A method and an apparatus for document formatting, capable of reflecting the preference of the operator and overall balance, such that the desired formatting can be obtained efficiently without tedious post-processing operations. In the apparatus, document data representing the document, including figure data representing figure elements of the document, and region data indicating layout region to which the document is to be laid out, are inputted, candidate layouts for each figure element to be laid out are generated, one of the generated candidate layouts is selected, and the document is formatted in the layout region, according to the selected one of the candidate layouts.

Abstract: A three-dimensional, texture mapping display system for displaying three-dimensional projected polygons with texture map on a two-dimensional raster display screen includes a host processor and a graphics co-processor. The host processor is responsive to input data from a host memory defining an overall image that is to be displayed on a three-dimensional form on a raster display device for generating command signals, screen coordinates on the display device, and corresponding texture space coordinates on a texture memory. The graphics co-processor is responsive to the command signals, screen coordinates, and corresponding screen space coordinates for determining destination addresses for each pixel on the screen space of the display device and for determining a corresponding source address applying surface texture data to the image for each destination address.

Abstract: Watercolor effects are simulated in computer graphics by defining a brush shape and brush type, selecting a wetness level for the drawing area and, in accordance with the selected wetness level, causing the brush stroke to merely interpolate the brush color with the pre-existing color in the stroked area, create a texture effect of diminishing brush color, or create a smearing effect by interpolating the pre-existing color at a new brush position with that of the previous brush position before interpolating it with the brush color. Apparatus is also disclosed for selecting various brush attributes and brush color parameters.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for outline font character generation in dot matrix devices including a point transform engine, a parametric equation generator, an adaptive forward differencing engine, a transition detection engine, a transition processor, an intermediate storage, and a bitmap converter. The point transform engine performs a linear transformation on the input control points to produce a set of control points corresponding to the description of the scaled image. The parametric equation generator computes a set of coefficients used in generating polysegments. The adaptive forward differencing engine generates a set of controlled length vectors representing the image, while the transition detection engine determines the transition pixels by scanning the vectors both horizontally and vertically to determine whether a scanline is crossed by the vector. The transition processor enhances the image quality and alters the number and location of the previously determined transition pixel.

Abstract: To render a three-dimensional object by using a plurality of dots, surfaces forming the three-dimensional object are divided into several regions based on curvature of the surfaces forming the object. A plurality of dots are arranged on the surfaces forming the object in accordance with rules which are different with respect to the different regions. To render a sphere by using a plurality of dots, spherical surfaces of the sphere are divided into polar regions and the equatorial region. In polar regions, dots whose number increase in accordance with radius around the axis of revolution are distributed at an equal interval on coaxial circumferences on polar regions. In the equatorial region, a certain number of dots are distributed at an equal interval on coaxial circumferences on the equatorial region so that a dot on the circumference are placed between dots on adjacent circumferences in the equatorial region.

Abstract: A multimedia document form system enables the definition, manipulation, storage and editing of a form which contains multimedia objects. Image objects and text objects can be displayed on the form in the conventional manner. Nonvisual presentation objects such as video objects and audio objects are represented by check boxes on the form. If a nonvisual object is to be associated with the form, then a mark is applied to the corresponding check box on the form. When the form is scanned-in in an optical scanner, presence of a mark in the check box prompts the operator to enter the nonvisual object. For example an audio object will be entered in digitized form and stored in association with the form. When the form is then displayed on a visual display device, the corresponding check box is highlighted to indicate to the operator the presence of a nonvisual presentation object which is stored in association with the form.

Abstract: A personal computer system has source of input video data containing digitized pixel color values, and a display operated with palette quantized colors including non-linear palette quantized colors. A conversion table is stored in the system for converting blocks of pixel color values into palette colors, the conversion table comprising a plurality of error diffusion arrays covering the color range of pixel color values. Each array in the conversion table corresponds to a different color value, each array being accessed using said corresponding color value as an index into said table. Each array in the table has "n" fields respectively containing palette color values ordered in accordance with an order matrix by sorted luminance values.

Abstract: A system in which a characteristic of individual picture points is provided to an accuracy of m binary bits but conveyed by n bits, where n is less than m. The value of a lower order bit of the n bit signal is switched to cause said binary value to represent, for any one picture point, either a value above or a value below the original value. The new values are distributed without order among the picture points with a probability dependent upon the value of the (m-n) lowest order bits of the desired value.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating perspective views of a scene. With a viewing position at the center of to be cylindrical environment map, different views can be obtained by rotating the viewing direction either horizontally or vertically. The horizontal construction method of the present invention generally involves the steps of: determining the portion of the cylindrical map to be viewed; vertically interpolating pixel values in the portion of the cylindrical map to be viewed and mapping to a viewing plane; and displaying the viewing plane. The vertical construction method of the present invention generally involves the steps of: determining the portion of the cylindrical map to be viewed; vertically interpolating pixel values in the portion of the cylindrical map robe viewed and mapping to a vertical plane; horizontally interpolating pixel values in the vertical plane and mapping to the viewing plane; and displaying the viewing plane.

Abstract: An image layout processing method for simulating on a display screen an arrangement of a plurality of image objects to be transferred to a prepress mechanical. An image memory plane is divided into a ground area, a key object area, and a display work area. A plurality of objects other than a key object fetched from an external storage are written as priority data to the ground area in an order of priority for superposition of the objects. Data of a selected key object are written to the key object area. The data in the ground area are unconditionally copied to the display work area, while the data in the key object area are copied to a designated position in the display work area with a condition based on a designated priority. Respective pixel data successively read from the display work area are converted by a lookup table into color data to be displayed on a cathode ray tube (CRT) whereby the key object is presented as inserted between desired objects.

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 for transferring parameters and local programs. A plurality of local computing units are connected to the system bus. Each local computing unit has a local program storage memory for storing one or more local programs, and RISC processor for executing the local programs. A local memory storage module is connected to each local computing unit. Each local memory storage module has a set of memory storage elements, each of which is capable of storing one or more voxel data elements. A plurality of the memory storage elements in the local memory storage modules are indexed so as to represent the three-dimensional memory storage array in 3-D space characterized by three coordinate directions.

Abstract: Shading values are generated for the vertices of a polygon clipped by a view volume without performing unnecessary lighting calculations for polygons lying entirely outside the view volume. Each polygon vertex is transformed and tested to determine whether it is within the view volume. If a tested vertex lies within the view volume, lighting calculations are performed for that vertex. If the polygon lies entirely outside the view volume, no lighting calculations are performed for any of the vertices of the polygon, and only a subset of the coordinate transformation calculation is performed. Complete transformation and lighting calculations are performed for vertices lying outside the view volume only if necessary for determining by interpolation the values for new vertices formed by clipping.

Abstract: The process makes it possible to modify the content of a sequence of images which can be represented as a pixel matrix. For that a non-deformable target zone to be replaced in the images is identified and is characterized, both in position and in dimensions, by reference to marks located close to each other and having an unchanging geometrical relation with the target zone in each image. The position, with respect to the marks, to be assigned to a model or pattern which can be superimposed on the target zone, stored in digital form, is determined. For each particular image of a same shot the geometrical transformation to be carried out on the model so that it corresponds to variations in the appearance of the target zone in all the successive images in the same shot is determined automatically by a correlation based on the marks. Last the pixels representative of the model are substituted for the pixels representative of the target zone in the image.

Abstract: A system and method to accurately simulate digitally the rendering of a printed articulation, stroke, or mark of a donor natural medium used in graphic arts, such paints, pencils, erasers, or other implements. Using a computer (1) or other hardware the system and method of the invention allows a digital representation of dye-concentration color mixing, receptor grain and variable grain penetration, and a smooth and continuous brush stroke without visible artifacts. Other objects of the system and method of this invention include methods for varying the shape of the tip of an implement across the stroke for the purpose of accurately simulating brushes and other donor-receptor articulations common to natural media, and for rendering a brush stroke in multiple strokes to accurately simulate digitally brush bristles.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for constructing edit mask entry fields for display panel data, in a system including a host processor, a workstation controller, and a number of workstations, each workstation having a keyboard and display screen. The edit mask entry field mask positions are protected when display panel information is modified, by special hardware and software operations performed within the workstation controller. In particular, certain keyboard edit function keystrokes are processed by the workstation controller to permit the edit functions to be performed, without disturbing the position or display panel presentation of preselected edit mask characters.

Abstract: Signal transformations of inputted data brought about by 58 new subroutines in combination with other subroutines to display world maps or other display items with the unique capability of performing the following functions in complete generality. (1) Arbitrary selection of map center and coverage, including global displays, (2) filling of all land and lake areas defined by polygons composed of an arbitrary number of vertices, (3) clipping of map features and overlays at map boundaries and poles, (4) selection from any of nineteen currently implemented map projections with provision to install any other projection topologically similar to an oblique conic, (5) calculation of latitude/longitude for any point on a map without the need for inverse mapping equations, and (6) an efficient method of plotting polyline segments along great circles. These are a number of feature functions provided by this inventive concept.

Abstract: A method for constructing object-local sampling histories for efficient path tracing. The present invention provides a technique for efficiently producing computer generated two-dimensional synthetic images of three-dimensional scenes. Objects within in the scene (10) are assigned packs (30,36) containing one or more elements (32,38). For light reflective objects (19,O1), each element (32) of the object's pack (30) represents a region of the object's reflection hemisphere (30) through which incident light is equally likely to be reflected. For light transmissive objects (19,O1), the elements (32) represent analogous regions of equal transmission. For light emitting objects (L1), each element (38) of the object's pack (36) represents a region of equal light emission probability.

Abstract: A system updates the z-values corresponding to pixels of a computer graphics screen. An integral part of the system comprises a controller/memory module which employs preliminary determinations as to whether or not a z-value has been previously stored for a pixel, multiple comparators, and partial read and write operations to achieve a significantly higher memory bandwidth. The bandwidth can be further increased by configuring a plurality of such modules in a parallel architecture.

Abstract: A layout displaying apparatus has the capability to display a layout of a text in at least one layout display region of a display. The layout displaying apparatus includes a layout display control for displaying a single page of stored data in each layout display region and an extension layout display control for alternatively displaying two adjacent pages of stored data in each layout display region in the form of a double column display.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating complex 3D stereo images in response to real time viewer head movement by dynamically accessing pairs of stereo images selected from among a precomputed set of images. The precomputed images correspond to a predetermined set of possible viewpoints, and are accessed based upon a prediction of viewer head movement. The arrangement of predetermined viewpoints may be along one, two, or three dimensions.