Patents Examined by Ryan Yang
  • Patent number: 7271811
    Abstract: An array of view-dependent sprited tiles provide different views of an image texture (e.g., structure, color, shading, illumination, transparency, as well as other image attributes). The different views of the image texture correspond to different viewing angles at which a user would see the tiles when they are applied to an image geometry. In one implementation, the view dependent sprited tiles are two-dimensional projections of three-dimensional structures. The projections maintain the dimensions (including shape) of the front surfaces of three-dimensional structures at different viewing angles. A projection that meets these characteristics is the oblique parallel projection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Steven M. Drucker, James M. Mahoney
  • Patent number: 7268782
    Abstract: Data corresponding to one or more data dimensions is obtained from a data source. A smart radar chart graphical user interface is generated. The smart radar chart graphical user interface includes a visual representation of the obtained data corresponding to the one or more data dimensions. Each data dimension is displayed radiating from a central point, and data corresponding to a data dimension is displayed at a position indicating the value of the data in relation to a reference value so as to enable the identification of an exception.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Sap Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Peter S. Ebert
  • Patent number: 7262772
    Abstract: Techniques are described for selecting and displaying specific content elements from within content of a media asset, such that the content elements may be displayed within a reserved portion of a user display, thereby providing a visual summary of the media asset content. The content elements may be provided along with a graphical representation of the content elements indicating, for example, their importance within the media asset relative to one another and/or to a user preference. In this way, the user may quickly and easily assess his or her level of interest in the media asset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: SAP Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Peter S. Ebert
  • Patent number: 7262773
    Abstract: A drag-and-drop user interface (DDUI) can generate multiple charts in an integrated chart report and supports the drag-and-drop method of adding fields to the integrated chart report. When a field is dropped from a field list into a multiple chart drop zone, the DDUI will automatically generate additional charts to represent the data in the dropped field. An additional chart will be generated for each unique entry in a data field. The number of charts can be modified by selecting particular elements in the dropped field, by means of a drop-down menu. The drop-down menu enables the elimination or addition of elements of the dropped field. Each additional field dropped into the multiple chart drop zone will add a chart to the chart report. Conversely, each field dragged out of the multiple chart drop zone will eliminate a chart from the chart report. The DDUI can accommodate various chart types.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Jeff Couckuyt, Paul Davies, Jason M. Cahill
  • Patent number: 7259772
    Abstract: An apparatus, method, and medium for controlling image orientation are disclosed. An orientation mode detector measures multi-directional rotational angles of a display panel and determines an orientation mode for original image data based on the measured rotational angles. A system memory stores orientation parameters corresponding to a plurality of image orientation modes. A system controller initially acquires information indicating the orientation mode from the orientation mode detector, and it extracts orientation parameters corresponding to the acquired information from the system memory. Finally, a driver changes an orientation of the original image data according to the extracted orientation parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Ho Jin Koh
  • Patent number: 7259770
    Abstract: A printer driver generates output data adapted to the processing power of a printer. When the printer driver receives a draw command from an operating system, a complexity value of the draw command is calculated depending on the type of the command and/or the number of contour points of a clipping area included as a parameter of the command. A processing mode is selected depending on the complexity relative to first and second threshold values. In a first processing mode, a draw command to draw image data and a clip command are simply output. In a second processing mode, a draw command to draw image elements generated in accordance with a clip command is output. In a third processing mode, mask data is generated from a clip command, and a command to calculate the logical AND between image data and the mask data is output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Junichi Miyata
  • Patent number: 7253816
    Abstract: A computer graphics accelerator apparatus and method determines whether a pixel at predetermined pixel co-ordinates in an area being rasterized is within a triangle defining a sub-area of the area. The coordinate system in relation to which the triangle is defined is translated such that the pixel co-ordinates are disposed at the origin of the coordinate system. Determinants of matrices based on at least two of the coordinate values of at least two of the vertices are calculated and their signs compared. Based on this comparison a determination as to pixel location with respect to the triangle may be made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics Limited
    Inventor: Toni Brkic
  • Patent number: 7253792
    Abstract: Method for controlling stroke video generation components by creating a program to command the video generation components to provide video signals and integrating high level software constructs into the program. Integration of the high level software constructs into the program may entail integrating a GOTO command to enable repetition of a section of the program and repetition of a display sequence provided by implementation of that section, integrating a GOSUB and RETURN command to enable multiple use of a single section of the program at different locations within the program, integrating a conditional command to enable one portion of the program to be implemented when the condition is satisfied and another portion to be implemented when the condition is not satisfied, and/or integrating a DO-WHILE loop to enable repetition of a section of the program when a condition is satisfied and continuation of the program when the condition is not satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Advanced Testing Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: William Biagiotti, David Howell
  • Patent number: 7248265
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for processing graphic operations on a plurality of data structures of an image with a graphics processing unit and memory. The disclosed techniques of the system and method create an accumulation buffer of the data structures for accumulating changes to the data structures. A separate buffer is then created from at least a portion of the data structures of the accumulation buffer. The disclosed techniques read the data structures from the separate buffer with the graphics processing unit. The graphics processing unit operates on the data structures read from the separate buffer with the operation. Then, the disclosed techniques write the results of the operation onto the portion of the accumulation buffer corresponding to the separate buffer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Zimmer
  • Patent number: 7242402
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method of visualization of a part of a three-dimensional image. The part is defined by a finite predetermined volume, a sphere, for example, the center of which is located on an element of interest present in the three-dimensional image. In order to do so, a point is selected on the element of interest, a sphere is created in the three-dimensional image, the dimensions of which are predetermined and the center of which is the point on the element of interest, an intersection is made between the sphere and the three-dimensional image, and then the part of the three-dimensional image contained in the sphere is displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: G.E. Medical Systems, S.A.
    Inventors: Fabienne Betting, Jérôme Francois Knoplioch, Laurent Launay, Yves Trousset, Régis Vaillant
  • Patent number: 7239311
    Abstract: A system and process that incorporates hardware and software as elements to be combined with procedures and processes to obtain, format, store, combine, control, display, record, and visualize dynamic scenarios by interacting with accurate, realistic models and actual events within, on, and above a three-dimensional surface to be observed or modeled. One application provides a user-manipulated large-scale dynamic display of systems testing in a real world environment for real time visualization by test personnel. The Global Visualization Process (GVP) system is an integrated software solution for high-performance visualization. GVP software and process is capable of displaying extremely high resolution terrain models and imagery in real time over the entire surface of the planet, as well as a large number of moving entities and their associated graphical models. The system can display imagery at 2 cm/pixel, and infinitely detailed terrain in real time over the whole surface of a planet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: The United States Government as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Richard S. Dunn, Walter P. Gatewood, Jr., Wayne Erchak, Donald Jackson, Christopher S. Allport, Joseph A. Hamilton
  • Patent number: 7230628
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of generating a visual representation of an image based product. Where the image based product is a picture image, the method produces a framed prototype image showing the picture image framed within a frame. The method includes providing a frame image showing the frame in a perspective view. The frame image has a picture portion corresponding to the portion of the frame used to view a picture mounted in the frame. The method includes mapping the picture image to the picture portion of the frame image in order to generate the frame prototype image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Shutterfly, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul Haeberli
  • Patent number: 7224362
    Abstract: Visualization techniques tools and systems for displaying network diagrams to convey both focus and context to a user of the display. Network diagrams may be displayed to emulate a three dimensional presentation. Network diagrams may be presented with items of interest in sharp definition and the remainder of a diagram or diagrams being blurred or having relative degrees of sharpness/blurriness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Kincaid, David Moh, Allan Kuchinsky
  • Patent number: 7218330
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method and system for selecting elements in a graphical user interface (GUI) is presented. The method and system improves upon existing approaches by simplifying an element selection perimeter created in a document within a GUI. Preliminary selections and rejections of elements that are located inside or outside of an element selection perimeter, respectively, are also performed. The simplification of the element selection perimeter and the preliminary selections and rejections of elements provide element selections in a GUI quickly, using a minimized number and complexity of computations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Georges A. Winkenbach, Iain Clifford Heath, Scott M. LeGendre
  • Patent number: 7212218
    Abstract: When the combination of the image signal and contents each having various aspect ratios is displayed on the display with various aspect ratios, an image display device that generates a proper display screen with simple operation or automatically is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryoji Suzuki, Tetsuya Itani, Ikuoh Nishida, Satoshi Kato
  • Patent number: 7212219
    Abstract: Accurate drawing without position displacement is performed irrespective of different aspect ratios on the transmission side of drawing information and on the reception side. In a drawing apparatus 50, a normalized coordinate transformation section 62 transforms normalized coordinates (x3, y3) transmitted via a network into rear coordinates (x2, y3) in accordance with an inverse function g1?1 of a function g1 for normalizing an aspect ratio of an image displayed on a display, and a rear coordinate transformation section 63 transforms the rear coordinates (x2, y2) into front coordinates (x1, y1) in accordance with an inverse function f1?1 of a function f1 corresponding to the aspect ratio of the image. A drawing section 67 draws an image on the screen of the display in accordance with the front coordinates (x1, y1). The invention is applicable, for example, to an application sharing drawing information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Taizo Koutani, Masayuki Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 7199797
    Abstract: A method, computer graphical user interface tool, and computer-readable medium for generating a set of characters for display in gray scale are provided, wherein each character comprises one or more strokes/glyphs, and each stroke/glyph is defined in silhouette-oriented representation. The method includes generally six steps. First, a set of characters is displayed, wherein each character comprises one or more strokes/glyphs, and all of the strokes/glyphs are represented by a set of basic strokes/glyphs, each basic stroke/glyph topographically representing a set of similarly-shaped strokes/glyphs. Second, each basic stroke/glyph is defined in silhouette-oriented representation. Third, each stroke/glyph forming each character is defined in silhouette-oriented representation. Fourth, the set of characters is rendered in gray scale. Fifth, the proper appearance of the characters is verified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: DynaComware
    Inventor: Kuo-Young Cheng
  • Patent number: 7199798
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a description method for efficiently representing contents of motion picture with a small data volume. The organization of the present invention (1) represents a trajectory of how each object has moved over time by using reference plane representing position information of each object, (2) sets a description unit based on a type of action of each object by using changes in shape of each object, (3) has actions of each object represented as each behavioral section, and (4) comprises a description facility capable of reading and interpreting definition of an object dependent on video contents, definition of classes of actions, and definition of interpretation of a scene by interaction of plural objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
    Inventors: Tomio Echigo, Masato Kurokawa, Junji Maeda, Alberto Tomita
  • Patent number: 7196707
    Abstract: When a Bézier spline is fitted to a plurality of points the two tangent handles at each control point can be very different in length. A method of fitting a second spline to the first spline that has tangent handles of equal length at each control point is provided. A point is found on the first spline that is close to the midpoint between the two control points defining the tangent handles. This point is a new control point on the second spline. Tangent handles to the new control point are then found such that they have a slope equal to the tangent to the first spline at the new control point, the sum of their lengths is equal to the sum of the original two tangent handles and their lengths are equal to each other. A second spline found in this way closely approximates the first spline. The lengths of the tangent handles may be adjusted to provide a better fit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: Autodesk Canada Co.
    Inventor: Marc-André Davignon
  • Patent number: 7190379
    Abstract: A method for defining the size of an object displayed on a computer screen, the computer screen having a matrix of sensor points, said method comprising the steps of displaying an object on a computer screen, defining at least one screen area having a reference point associated therewith, reading an input from a sensor point in a screen area, calculating a vector between the read input and the reference point of that screen area, and defining the size of the object based on the vector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Contex A/S
    Inventor: Peter Nissen