Abstract: A line symmetrical graphic arrangement device comprises a characteristic quantity computing unit for computing characteristic quantity depending on the shape of an input graphic and selecting a characteristic point used for the graphic arrangement, a proposed symmetry axis computing unit and a symmetry judging unit for requiring proposed symmetry axes of the input graphic based on the characteristic of the shape and the quality of the symmetry axes in the input graphic, a base point computing unit and an axis angle deciding unit for modifying the proposed symmetry axes on the basis of the quality of the symmetry axes, so as to obtain the symmetry axes of the input graphic, and a characteristic point position computing unit for relocating the characteristic points selected by the characteristic quantity computing means with the obtained symmetry axes as reference, so as to create a symmetrical graphic with respect to the symmetry axes.

Abstract: A data processing system graphical user interface that is customizable to any user-selected color bitmap image is provided. According to the present invention, a user-selected color bitmap image containing a plurality of major objects is imported into the data processing system and set as a scene for the data processing system's graphical user interface. Major objects in the scene are then automatically identified, wherein a major object is one having a plurality of pixels of a selected characteristic. An identified major object is then selected and associated with a set of data, such that when the major object is subsequently selected, a particular data processing system operation is automatically performed utilizing the associated data set.

Abstract: A method for graphically displaying audio data within a computer system is disclosed. A frame size is first selected for an audio data file and the audio data file is divided into a multiple number of frames. Except for the last frame, each frame contains a substantially equal number of audio data samples. Then a multiple of variables is initialized. For each frame, a first data value, a high data value, a low data value, and a last data value are selected. Each of these four data values is stored in the appropriate variable. The data selection process continues until the last frame of the data file is reached. Finally, a line connecting all the selected data value points for each frame is displayed on a graphic display.

Abstract: A computer program product comprises a computer-readable storage medium including a program for extracting boundary characteristics of a foreground object from a foreground image; determining a feathering function based on the extracted boundary characteristics of the foreground object; compositing the foreground object with a background image; and resynthesizing the boundary characteristics of the foreground object with the background image.

Abstract: In a compression system, three-dimensional geometry is first represented as a generalized triangle mesh, a data structure that allows each instance of a vertex in a linear stream to specify an average of two triangles. Individual positions, colors, and normals are quantized, preferably quantizing normals using a novel translation to non-rectilinear representation. A variable length compression is applied to individual positions, colors, and normals. The quantized values are then delta-compression encoded between neighbors, followed by a modified Huffman compression for positions and colors. A table-based approach is used for normals. Decompression reverses this process. The decompressed stream of triangle data may then be passed to a traditional rendering pipeline, where it is processed in full floating point accuracy.

Abstract: A texture compositing apparatus and method for combining multiple independent texture colors in a variety of ways in a single execution pass using a single texture compositing unit (TCU) per texture. The TCU receives a control signal, a blend factor, a local data signal(C.sub.local /A.sub.local) and an output data signal (C.sub.in /A.sub.in) generated by another TCU, the local data signal and the output data signal represent a texture color in a RGBA format. Based upon the control signal, the TCU can generate an output signal based on a variety of functions. The outputs that can be generated include but are not limited to: (1) zero; (2) one; (3) C.sub.in ; (4) C.sub.local ; (5) C.sub.in +C.sub.local ; (6) C.sub.in -C.sub.local ; (7) C.sub.in *C.sub.local ; (8) C.sub.in *C.sub.local +A.sub.local ; (9) C.sub.in *A.sub.local +C.sub.local ; (10) (C.sub.in -C.sub.local)* F.sub.blend +C.sub.local ; and (11) (C.sub.in -C.sub.local)*(1-F.sub.blend)+C.sub.local.

Abstract: A system for improved shadowing of images using a multiple pass, depth buffer approach includes rendering a scene from the perspective of a light source to construct a shadow depth map in a rasterization buffer. The system computes depth values for the two nearest geometric primitives to the light source for pixels, and stores these depth values in the rasterization buffer. Once the shadow map is constructed, it is stored in shared memory, where it can be retrieved for subsequent rendering passes. The two depth values for each element in the shadow map can be used in combination with a global bias to eliminate self-shadowing artifacts and avoid artifacts in the terminator region. The system supports linear or higher order filtering of data from the shadow depth map to produce smoother transitions from shadowed and un-shadowed portions of an image.

Abstract: In a compression system, three-dimensional geometry is first represented as a generalized triangle mesh, a data structure that allows each instance of a vertex in a linear stream to specify an average of two triangles. Individual positions, colors, and normals are quantized, preferably quantizing normals using a novel translation to non-rectilinear representation. A variable length compression is applied to individual positions, colors, and normals. The quantized values are then delta-compression encoded between neighbors, followed by a modified Huffman compression for positions and colors. A table-based approach is used for normals. Decompression reverses this process. The decompressed stream of triangle data may then be passed to a traditional rendering pipeline, where it is processed in full floating point accuracy.

Abstract: In an image processing system, a method for generating a images includes rendering graphical models comprising a scene to separate image layers called "gsprites," and then compositing these image layers to generate an image. An image processor can retrieve gsprites from memory, transform them, and composite them for display at video rates. Gsprites can be re-rendered or updated at different rates. Reducing the rendering overhead of the system, the image processor can perform an affine transformation on the gsprite to approximate motion of the graphical object that it represents, rather than re-render the object. Objects in a scene can be queued for re-rendering based on a predefined update rate, or based on the accuracy of representing the object with a transformed gsprite, rendered for a previously displayed image.

Abstract: A method for rendering graphical objects in a scene to generate a display images includes dividing the geometric primitives of models in a scene among portions or "chunks" of the view space to which the primitives will be rendered, and then rendering geometry referenced to the chunks in series in a common depth buffer. Geometry for a chunk can be rendered, including sophisticated anti-aliasing and translucency computations, using a minimum of memory. Serially rendering object geometry in chunks provides an effective form of compression because pixel fragments can be generated for one chunk at a time and then resolved. Pixel fragments can be resolved in a post-processing step for one chunk while primitives for another chunk are rasterized.

Abstract: A graphics system includes triangle-engine for real-time rendering into a displayable frame-buffer of image data derived from vertex-based deferred instructions. The system uses homogeneity values (1/w values) for z-buffer-like occlusion mapping as well as for texture mapping. Depth resolution is enhanced for both occlusion mapping and texture mapping by representing (1/w), (u/w) and (v/w) values in a block-fixed format.

Abstract: A data processing system that is capable of providing dynamically adjusted renderings of images is disclosed. The data processing system uses an operating system that provides a graphical user interface (GUI) displayable in a first color scheme. The data processing system further includes a least one, preferably more, device drivers supporting a second color scheme. More particularly, the system performs dynamically adjusted rendering from the first color scheme to the second color scheme. To perform such rendering, the system renders a graphic primitive in the first color scheme to a second color scheme and stores the rendered graphic primitive as a new second color scheme surface. This is repeated iteratively until such a time as the rendered surface has been completed. Preferably, the second color scheme is CYAN, MAGENTA, and YELLOW (CMY) and may further include BLACK (K).

Abstract: The final viewable color of each pixel to be displayed responsive to specular reflected illumination intensity from a polygon is determined by generating a data signal, setting a specular component of the present pixel illumination intensity for the associated color, as the product of the intensity of a light source illuminating the polygon, a specular coefficient for that polygon, and a shading term proportional to the exponentiation of the rendered Gouraud Shading Intensity (GSI) for each of a plurality of selected primary colors of a sequence of pixels to be displayed as defining that polygon, by S, a shininess exponent (S) specified for that polygon.

Abstract: A method for generalized flipping of pixmaps and other arrays of image data in a software display device interface for computer generated graphics applications. The display device interface enables application programs to create flipping surface structures representing on and offscreen pixmaps, textures, sprites, overlays, etc. The display device interface includes a flip function to control the flipping of these flipping structures. It also includes functions to synchronize access to the surfaces represented by the flipping structure. Applications and other processes can use these access synchronization functions to manipulate surfaces represented by the flipping structure without conflicting with a client's use of the surface. Clients other than the display controller can act as clients of the flipping operation. For instance, flipping structures can be used to implement video texture mapping, where the client of a texture flipping structure is a 3D rendering system.

Abstract: A graphical user interface for use in connection with computer display systems such as computer controlled multi-media editing systems. The interface utilizes the components of color (e.g., hue, luminance and saturation) to convey information to a user. Each of these components are mapped to variables that are displayed via the interface. The value of a particular variable may be represented by a gradient of one of the color components or by a discrete value of one of the color components.

Abstract: A three-dimensional graphic apparatus generates a three-dimensional image using computer graphics, in which the positional relationship between matters, such as furniture in a three-dimensional image, can be changed readily and accurately. A moving object indication unit indicates one of the matters in the three-dimensional image as an object matter. A search direction indication unit indicates a search direction of a base polygon constituting a base matter coming into contact with the object matter, from a notice point of a line of sight. A base polygon search unit selects, from among polygons located on a straight line extending from the notice point in the search direction, a polygon closest to the notice point as the base polygon. An object polygon selection unit selects an object polygon, which is a polygon to be brought into contact, from among polygons constituting the object matter.

Abstract: According to the method of synthesizing a image from a plurality of images, each of the luminance I.sub.p1xy -I.sub.pNxy of each of the pixel p.sub.1xy -p.sub.Nxy positioned at the same coordinates (x,y) of N images P.sub.1 -P.sub.N are compared with each of the predetermined threshold luminance T.sub.1 -T.sub.N corresponding to images P.sub.1 -P.sub.N, wherein "N" is a natural number greater than 1. If the luminance I.sub.p1xy -I.sub.pNxy of the pixels p.sub.1xy -p.sub.Nxy are all greater than the corresponding threshold T.sub.1 -T.sub.N of corresponding image, the synthesized pixel p.sub.xy at the coordinate (x,y) of a synthesized image is determined by synthesizing the pixels p.sub.1xy -p.sub.Nxy with predetermined synthesis ratio for each of the images P.sub.1 -P.sub.N. If the condition described above is not satisfied, the synthesized pixel p.sub.

Abstract: A system that obtains thin slices of an object for which a three dimensional model is to be constructed. Each slice is photographed and the photographic image data input to a computer system and placed in a three dimensional array, wherein the X-Y pixel data is placed into two dimensions of the array, with each slice occupying one position of the third dimension. The data stored for each slice is called a reference plane. The array data is then processed to create at least one estimated plane between each pair of reference planes. Each estimated plane is created by determining the poisson distribution of data over a range of planes on either side of the estimated plane. Once the estimated places have been created, a z-axis plane can be created using a columnar slice at each X position within the array.

Abstract: Projection lines from related elements are used to connect the related elements in aligned views and points on an auxiliary foldline are used to connect projection lines from related elements in two offset non-aligned views. 2-dimensional constraints are automatically generated between the related elements and the respective projection lines, and between each point on the auxiliary foldline and the two respective projection lines through that point, to represent a corresponding 3-dimensional constraint between the related elements. The 3-dimension constraints may include "coplanar" (two lines representing a common plane normal to the planes of two views), "line-on" (a line represented by a point in one view is on a plane represented by a line in another view), and "tangent plane" (a plane represented by a line in one view is tangent to a cylinder represented by a circle in another view).

Abstract: A method for generating information regarding a 3D object from at least one 2D projection thereof, the method comprising providing at least one 2D projection of a 3D object, generating an array of numbers described by:.alpha..sub.ijk =v.sub.i 'b.sub.jk -v.sub.j "a.sub.ik (i,j,k=1,2,3),where a.sub.ij and b.sub.jk are elements of matrices A and B respectively and v.sub.i ' and v.sub.i " are elements of vectors v' and v" respectively, wherein the matrices and vectors together describe camera parameters of three views of the 3D object and employing the array to generate information regarding the 3D object.