Abstract: A method of segmenting an image of a scene captured using one of a plurality of cameras in a network. A mask of an image of a scene captured by a first one of said cameras is received. A set of pixels in the mask likely to be in a foreground of an image captured by a second one of said cameras is determined based on the received mask, calibration information, and a geometry of the scene. A set of background pixels for the second camera is generated based on the determined set of pixels. The generated set of background pixels is transmitted to the second camera. The image of the scene captured by the second camera is segmented using the transmitted background pixels.

Abstract: A system and method of generating a virtual view of a scene captured by a network of cameras. The method comprises simultaneously capturing images of the scene using a plurality of cameras of the network; determining, using the captured images, a model of atmospheric conditions in the scene; and defining a virtual camera relative to the scene. The method further comprises rendering the scene from a viewpoint of the virtual camera by adjusting pixels of the captured images corresponding to the viewpoint, the adjusting based on a three-dimensional model of the scene, locations of the plurality of cameras relative to the scene, the viewpoint of the virtual camera, and the geometric model of atmospheric conditions.

Abstract: A method of segmenting an image of a scene captured using one of a plurality of cameras in a network. A mask of an image of a scene captured by a first one of said cameras is received. A set of pixels in the mask likely to be in a foreground of an image captured by a second one of said cameras is determined based on the received mask, calibration information, and a geometry of the scene. A set of background pixels for the second camera is generated based on the determined set of pixels. The generated set of background pixels is transmitted to the second camera. The image of the scene captured by the second camera is segmented using the transmitted background pixels.

Abstract: A system and method of generating a virtual view of a scene captured by a network of cameras. The method comprises simultaneously capturing images of the scene using a plurality of cameras of the network; determining, using the captured images, a model of atmospheric conditions in the scene; and defining a virtual camera relative to the scene. The method further comprises rendering the scene from a viewpoint of the virtual camera by adjusting pixels of the captured images corresponding to the viewpoint, the adjusting based on a three-dimensional model of the scene, locations of the plurality of cameras relative to the scene, the viewpoint of the virtual camera, and the geometric model of atmospheric conditions.

Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method of reproducing visual content are described. The method comprises capturing a reference image of a calibration pattern projected on a surface at an initial position and at an offset position, the offset position relating to a projection offset from the initial position by shifting the calibration pattern a predetermined amount; and determining, using the reference image, a spatial capture offset for the calibration pattern between the initial position and the offset position, the spatial capture offset measuring a spatial shift of the calibration pattern in the reference image. The method further comprises determining a scale using the spatial capture offset and the projection offset; decoding a portion of a captured image, the captured image including the visual content and the calibration pattern, to determine a position within the calibration pattern by applying the determined scale, and reproducing the visual content based on the determined position.

Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method of reproducing visual content are described. The method comprises capturing a reference image of a calibration pattern projected on a surface at an initial position and at an offset position, the offset position relating to a projection offset from the initial position by shifting the calibration pattern a predetermined amount; and determining, using the reference image, a spatial capture offset for the calibration pattern between the initial position and the offset position, the spatial capture offset measuring a spatial shift of the calibration pattern in the reference image. The method further comprises determining a scale using the spatial capture offset and the projection offset; decoding a portion of a captured image, the captured image including the visual content and the calibration pattern, to determine a position within the calibration pattern by applying the determined scale, and reproducing the visual content based on the determined position.

Abstract: A method of aligning two portions of an image, the portions being projected by projectors on a surface to form respective projected portions of the image, a calibration pattern being embedded in each of the two portions, the method comprising capturing from the surface an image of the pattern from the projected portions, the calibration pattern extending across a combined projection area of the projectors; locating an overlap area according to locations of calibration points; determining projector image coordinates dependent upon locations in the overlap area; and aligning the two portions of the image according to the locations of control points and the locations in the overlap area.

Abstract: A page description language representation of the page is received, the page description language representation having a plurality of sequential graphic objects ordered by drawing order. One or more groups of sequentially adjacent graphic objects of the plurality of sequential objects is formed according to the drawing order. An intermediate representation for each of the groups is generated, the intermediate representation comprising a set of regions where each region of the set of regions is associated with a set of operations required to render at least one of the adjacent graphic objects of one of the groups that intersect the region. An adjacently located set of the intermediate representations is merged to render the page.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of rendering a plurality of graphical objects. The method generates a region graph using at least a plurality of intersection points of the graphical objects. The intersection points identify disjoint regions each representing a particular combination of the graphical objects, in which the region graph has at least one region graph link, and defines a relationship between the regions. A contributing level and an activating direction are assigned to at least one of the region graph links, the level and the activation direction defining an appearance of the region associated with said region graph link. The method then renders the plurality of graphical objects using the assigned contributing level and activating direction of the region graph links by traversing the region graph to determine at least one contributing level for each region in the region graph using the assigned contributing level and the activating direction.

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 aligning two portions of an image, the portions being projected by projectors on a surface to form respective projected portions of the image, a calibration pattern being embedded in each of the two portions, the method comprising capturing from the surface an image of the pattern from the projected portions, the calibration pattern extending across a combined projection area of the projectors; locating an overlap area according to locations of calibration points; determining projector image coordinates dependent upon locations in the overlap area; and aligning the two portions of the image according to the locations of control points and the locations in the overlap area.

Abstract: A method of rasterizing a document using a plurality of threads interprets objects of the document by performing interpreting tasks associated with the objects. Objects associated with different pages are interpreted in parallel. A plurality of rasterizing tasks associated with the performed interpreting tasks are established, each performed interpreting task establishing a plurality of rasterizing tasks. The method estimates an amount of parallelisable work available to be performed using the plurality of threads. The amount of parallelisable work is estimated using the established rasterizing tasks and an expected number of interpreting tasks to be performed. The method selects, based on the estimated amount of parallelisable work, one of (i) an interpreting task to interpret objects of the document, and (ii) a rasterizing task from the established plurality of rasterizing tasks, and then executes the selected task using at least one thread to rasterize the document.

Abstract: A method of rendering an image using a number of threads, by receiving edge data for the image comprising edges identified by indices, each edge having edge scan line crossing coordinates, arranging the coordinates into partitions indexed by the indices to form a data structure that is randomly accessible by a coordinate of a portion of the image; each partition comprising a list of edge scan line crossing coordinates associated with an edge that is identified by the edge index indexing the partition, and rendering the portions of the image concurrently, using corresponding threads by identifying, by randomly accessing a partition in the indexing data structure using a coordinate of said portion in the image, at least one edge in the indexing data structure associated with said portion of the image.

Abstract: A method of displaying an image using at least a first projector and a second projector includes projecting a calibration pattern using the first projector, the calibration pattern being embedded in a first portion of an image projected by the first projector. The method determines a contribution of the second projector to projecting a second portion of the image to an overlap area, the overlap area having a contribution from the first and second projectors, wherein the contribution is an intensity of a color channel. The determined contribution of the second projector to the overlap area is modified to allow the calibration pattern of the first projector to be detectable to a capture device, the modification having a pattern corresponding to the calibration pattern. The image is then displayed using the first projector and the modified contribution of the second projector.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods of allocating tasks for a print job in a multi-threaded system. One method determines a utilisation measure of at least one of a plurality of intermediate data generating threads, and a complexity limit of a intermediate data generation task. The complexity limit is decreased if the determined utilisation measure of the intermediate data generating thread is under a predetermined threshold. The complexity limit limits a processing load of the intermediate data generation task to be allocated to the intermediate data generating thread. The method then compares the processing load of the intermediate data generation task to be allocated with the determined complexity limit, and allocates the intermediate data generation task to the intermediate data generating thread for processing in an event that the processing load of the intermediate data generation task satisfies the complexity limit.

Abstract: A method of rendering an image using a number of threads, by receiving edge data for the image comprising edges identified by indices, each edge having edge scan line crossing coordinates, arranging the coordinates into partitions indexed by the indices to form a data structure that is randomly accessible by a coordinate of a portion of the image; each partition comprising a list of edge scan line crossing coordinates associated with an edge that is identified by the edge index indexing the partition, and rendering the portions of the image concurrently, using corresponding threads by identifying, by randomly accessing a partition in the indexing data structure using a coordinate of said portion in the image, at least one edge in the indexing data structure associated with said portion of the image

Abstract: A method of rasterising a document using a plurality of threads interprets objects of the document by performing interpreting tasks associated with the objects. Objects associated with different pages are interpreted in parallel. A plurality of rasterising tasks associated with the performed interpreting tasks are established, each performed interpreting task establishing a plurality of rasterising tasks. The method estimates an amount of parallelisable work available to be performed using the plurality of threads. The amount of parallelisable work is estimated using the established rasterising tasks and an expected number of interpreting tasks to be performed. The method selects, based on the estimated amount of parallelisable work, one of (i) an interpreting task to interpret objects of the document, and (ii) a rasterising task from the established plurality of rasterising tasks, and then executes the selected task using at least one thread to rasterize the document.

Abstract: A method of determining a thread from a plurality of threads to execute a task in a multi-processor computer system. The plurality of threads is grouped into at least one subset associated with a cache memory of the computer system. The task has a type determined by a set of instructions. The method obtains an execution history of the subset of plurality of threads and determines a weighting for each of the set of instructions and the set of data, the weightings depending on the type of the task. A suitability of the subset of the threads to execute the task based on the execution history and the determined weightings, is then determined. Subject to the determined suitability of the subset of threads, the method determining a thread from the subset of threads to execute the task using content of the cache memory associated with the subset of threads.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method (2500) of determining, for a rendering job (2402) comprising one or more page building jobs, a start time for a print engine (195) to print the rendering job (2402), the method including determining (2502) for the rendering job a current start time for printing based on at least a predicted finishing time of a page building job, determining (2503) a difference between the predicted finishing time and an actual finishing time of the page building job, determining (2504) if, based on the difference, a predetermined condition is satisfied, and if the predetermined criterion is satisfied, determining (2505) an updated start time for printing the rendering job based on information relating to the actual finishing time of the page building job, and starting (2509) the print engine to print the rendering job at the updated start time.

Abstract: A page description language representation of the page is received, the page description language representation having a plurality of sequential graphic objects ordered by drawing order. One or more groups of sequentially adjacent graphic objects of the plurality of sequential objects is formed according to the drawing order. An intermediate representation for each of the groups is generated, the intermediate representation comprising a set of regions where each region of the set of regions is associated with a set of operations required to render at least one of the adjacent graphic objects of one of the groups that intersect the region. An adjacently located set of the intermediate representations is merged to render the page.