Abstract: In some embodiments, a method is provided. A sinusoidal signal is generated that is representative of a wave at an average surface of a liquid. A distance between the average surface of the liquid and a bottom of the liquid is determined. A characteristic of the sinusoidal signal is adjusted as a function of the distance.

Abstract: A system and method to provide a hierarchical stencil buffer, the method including creating, for a light source of a graphics scene, a hierarchical stencil buffer (HSB) to store stencil values relative to the light source for a plurality of hierarchical levels of pixels, and storing the stencil values in the HSB in a compressed state. In some embodiments, a shadow test may be performed on a pixel to determine whether the pixel is in shadow relative to the light source, wherein the determining references a stored stencil value for a first hierarchical level in the HSB.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system are provided for reducing register file bandwidth using bypass logic control. According to one embodiment, a source code is translated into an intermediate code, which is then to be translated into an executable code. A bypass control logic description file is accessed to perform a lookup of description information at the description file. The description information is then used to compile the intermediate code into the executable.

Abstract: A system may include a graphics memory, a data bus, a processor, and a vertex shader. The data bus may be operatively connected to the graphics memory. The processor may send vertex data to the graphics memory via the data bus. The vertex shader may read the vertex data from the graphics memory and may subdivide the vertex data into subdivided vertex data. The vertex shader may also write the subdivided vertex data to the graphics memory.

Abstract: Colors are obtained and used to shade two-dimensional non-photo realistic images of three-dimensional models. The colors are stored as texels in texture maps. The texels are chosen to shade the images based on their orientation in a scene. The colors may be obtained once, in a pre-rendering process. The colors may then be selected in a run-time process.

Abstract: Colors are obtained and used to shade two-dimensional non-photo realistic images of three-dimensional models. The colors are stored as texels in texture maps. The texels are chosen to shade the images based on their orientation in a scene. The colors may be obtained once, in a pre-rendering process. The colors may then be selected in a run-time process.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for providing a reward-based digital mobile coupon environment, where the digital coupons may be shared among peers. Consumers utilize mobile digital coupon carriers having digital representations of coupons. Sharing of coupons among peers may be rewarded with additional discounts or points. The digital coupon carriers communicate with electronic coupon terminals at retail locations for automatic coupon redemption. A coupon may correspond to a globally unique identifier in order to track usage, sharing and redemption. Coupon use and sharing may be dependent upon stored user profiles, merchant profiles and policies, or programs embedded in the coupon.