Abstract: A method of rendering a graphic object is disclosed. An expanded polygon is formed based on the plurality of polygons generated by tessellating the graphic object. The expanded polygon encompasses sampling points of pixels touched by edges of the graphic object. The expanded polygon is rendered in accordance with a center-intersect pixel placement rule to render the graphic object. Pixels of the expanded polygon violating an area-intersect pixel placement rule are excluded.

Abstract: A method of printing document data in page description language format using a plurality of graphics processing units. The plurality of tiles representing the document using the assigned graphics processing units are rendered in parallel with one another, and the rendered tiles are transmitted, bypassing the central processing units, from each of the graphics processing units to a corresponding one of a plurality of print head controllers, with the rendered tiles transmitted at a higher frequency than a frequency at which the plurality of tiles is output from each print head controller. The rendered tiles are repeatedly transmitted until each print head controller completes output of the previous band.

Abstract: A method of rendering a graphic object is disclosed. An expanded polygon is formed based on the plurality of polygons generated by tessellating the graphic object. The expanded polygon encompasses sampling points of pixels touched by edges of the graphic object. The expanded polygon is rendered in accordance with a centre-intersect pixel placement rule to render the graphic object. Pixels of the expanded polygon violating an area-intersect pixel placement rule are excluded.

Abstract: A method of printing document data in page description language format using a plurality of graphics processing units. The plurality of tiles representing the document using the assigned graphics processing units are rendered in parallel with one another, and the rendered tiles are transmitted, bypassing the central processing units, from each of the graphics processing units to a corresponding one of a plurality of print head controllers, with the rendered tiles transmitted at a higher frequency than a frequency at which the plurality of tiles is output from each print head controller. The rendered tiles are repeatedly transmitted until each print head controller completes output of the previous band.

Abstract: An electronically implemented method is disclosed for generating a layout for a composite image. The method starts with the steps of receiving (210) at least one content element to be included within the composite image and an external environment context image (220) indicative of the intended external environment of the composite image. The external environment context image is captured by an image capture device. Data is also received indicating the size of the composite image and/or the location of the composite image within the external environment context image. Based on the received data layout styles are generated (250) for the at least one content element based on features of the at least one content element, features of the external environment context image and the provided location of the composite image. Finally, based on the generated layout styles, the composite image (260) is generated comprising the at least one content element.

Abstract: An electronically implemented method is disclosed for generating a layout for a composite image. The method starts with the steps of receiving (210) at least one content element to be included within the composite image and an external environment context image (220) indicative of the intended external environment of the composite image. The external environment context image is captured by an image capture device. Data is also received indicating the size of the composite image and/or the location of the composite image within the external environment context image. Based on the received data layout styles are generated (250) for the at least one content element based on features of the at least one content element, features of the external environment context image and the provided location of the composite image. Finally, based on the generated layout styles, the composite image (260) is generated comprising the at least one content element.

Abstract: Access to heterogeneous data sources may be obtained by interactively determining transformations for use in mapping at least one source data component from at least one data source to a target data component. Selection of at least one the source data component is detected. A corresponding list of representative data examples is generated for each selected source data component. A resulting list of representative data examples is compiled for the target data component from the lists of representative data examples of the selected source data components, the resulting list of data examples being representative of the target data component. A modification of an example is identified from the resulting list of examples representative of the target data component, the example being modified as a single textual entity. At least one transformation is determined, by inferring from the modified example, to be applied to at least one source data component.

Abstract: A method of animating a sprite in a video production comprising a plurality of sequential video frames is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of selecting (2004) a feature, with which the sprite is to be juxtaposed, in one of said video frames, applying (2006) a feature tracking process to the video production to thereby output (2008), for a series of said plurality of video frames containing the feature, a temporal-spatial record for the feature across the plurality of video frames, and compositing (2010), with the series of said plurality of video frames, a corresponding series of instantiations of the sprite dependent upon the temporal-spatial record.

Abstract: Methods, programs (120) and apparatus (100) are disclosed for accessing and heterogenous data sources (150-153) and presenting information obtained therefrom. Specifically, the data sources may have hierarchical data, which may be presented by identifying a context data node from the data, the context data node having one or more descendent data nodes. At least one data pattern is determined in the descendent data nodes. At least one display type is assigned to the current context data node on the basis of the at least one data pattern. Thereafter, the method presents at least a subset of the descendent data nodes according to one of the assigned display types. Also disclosed is a method of browsing an hierarchically-represented data source. A user operation is interpreted to identify a context data node from the data source, the context data node having one or more descendent data nodes.

Abstract: Methods, programs (120) and apparatus (100) are disclosed for accessing heterogenous data sources (150-153). Specifically, access maybe obtained by a method of interactively defining transformations for use in mapping at least one source data component from at least one data source to a target data component, includes selecting (500) at least one source data component. For each selected source data component, a corresponding list of representative data examples is generated (510). A resulting list of representative data examples for the target data component is compiled from the lists of representative data examples of the selected source data components, the resulting list of data examples being representative of the target data component. An example (514) from the resulting list of examples representative of the target data component is then modified (516), the example being modified as a single textual entity.

Abstract: A method of animating a sprite in a video production comprising a plurality of sequential video frames is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of selecting (2004) a feature, with which the sprite is to be juxtaposed, in one of said video frames, applying (2006) a feature tracking process to the video production to thereby output (2008), for a series of said plurality of video frames containing the feature, a temporal-spatial record for the feature across the plurality of video frames, and compositing (2010), with the series of said plurality of video frames, a corresponding series of instantiations of the sprite dependent upon the temporal-spatial record.