Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for automatically generating a terrain model for display during a simulated flight along a predefined mission route. The apparatus includes a mission profiler that automatically determines the area containing the mission route for which the terrain source data is required and the respective resolution of different regions within the area. The apparatus also includes an apparatus for automatically collecting the terrain source data including a search engine for automatically searching electronic collections of terrain source data to identify terrain source data covering the area containing the mission route. The apparatus also includes an image engine for processing the terrain source data into one or more predefined formats and a terrain engine for automatically compiling the processed data to create a terrain model for display during flight simulation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for automatically generating a terrain model for display during a simulated flight along a predefined mission route. The apparatus includes a mission profiler that automatically determines the area containing the mission route for which the terrain source data is required and the respective resolution of different regions within the area. The apparatus also includes an apparatus for automatically collecting the terrain source data including a search engine for automatically searching electronic collections of terrain source data to identify terrain source data covering the area containing the mission route. The apparatus also includes an image engine for processing the terrain source data into one or more predefined formats and a terrain engine for automatically compiling the processed data to create a terrain model for display during flight simulation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for automatically generating a terrain model for display during a simulated flight along a predefined mission route. The apparatus includes a mission profiler that automatically determines the area containing the mission route for which the terrain source data is required and the respective resolution of different regions within the area. The apparatus also includes an apparatus for automatically collecting the terrain source data including a search engine for automatically searching electronic collections of terrain source data to identify terrain source data covering the area containing the mission route. The apparatus also includes an image engine for processing the terrain source data into one or more predefined formats and a terrain engine for automatically compiling the processed data to create a terrain model for display during flight simulation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for automatically generating a terrain model for display during a simulated flight along a predefined mission route. The apparatus includes a mission profiler that automatically determines the area containing the mission route for which the terrain source data is required and the respective resolution of different regions within the area. The apparatus also includes an apparatus for automatically collecting the terrain source data including a search engine for automatically searching electronic collections of terrain source data to identify terrain source data covering the area containing the mission route. The apparatus also includes an image engine for processing the terrain source data into one or more predefined formats and a terrain engine for automatically compiling the processed data to create a terrain model for display during flight simulation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for automatically generating a terrain model for display during a simulated flight along a predefined mission route. The apparatus includes a mission profiler that automatically determines the area containing the mission route for which the terrain source data is required and the respective resolution of different regions within the area. The apparatus also includes an apparatus for automatically collecting the terrain source data including a search engine for automatically searching electronic collections of terrain source data to identify terrain source data covering the area containing the mission route. The apparatus also includes an image engine for processing the terrain source data into one or more predefined formats and a terrain engine for automatically compiling the processed data to create a terrain model for display during flight simulation.

Abstract: A visual display system, such as a flight simulation system, includes a number of display screens and a number of associated video projectors which project predetermined video images on the display screens in response to control signals provided by an operator. In one embodiment, the display screens are circumscribed by an imaginary sphere having a predetermined radius and centered about the design eye of the visual display system. The design eye is generally positioned in a predetermined fixed relation to the operator such that the distortion of the displayed video image is reduced. In another embodiment, the video projectors are mounted in a linear side-by-side relationship on a rear side of the display screens, thereby reducing the overall size of the visual display system.

Abstract: A visual display system, such as a flight simulation system, includes a number of display screens and a number of associated video projectors which project predetermined video images on the display screens in response to control signals provided by an operator. In one embodiment, the display screens are circumscribed by an imaginary sphere having a predetermined radius and centered about the design eye of the visual display system. The design eye is generally positioned in a predetermined fixed relation to the operator such that the distortion of the displayed video image is reduced. In another embodiment, the video projectors are mounted in a linear side-by-side relationship on a rear side of the display screens, thereby reducing the overall size of the visual display system.

Abstract: A visual display system, such as a flight simulation system, includes a number of display screens and a number of associated video projectors which project predetermined video images on the display screens in response to control signals provided by an operator. In one embodiment, the display screens are circumscribed by an imaginary sphere having a predetermined radius and centered about the design eye of the visual display system. The design eye is generally positioned in a predetermined fixed relation to the operator such that the distortion of the displayed video image is reduced. In another embodiment, the video projectors are mounted in a linear side-by-side relationship on a rear side of the display screens, thereby reducing the overall size of the visual display system.

Abstract: A visual display system and method according to the present invention includes an inset image generator for producing video signals representative of a plurality of inset images and an inset image projection means for generating a plurality of inset images, each having a smaller size and a higher resolution than a background image, in response to the video signals. The inset image projection means includes an inset image projector having a number of video lines and dividing means for dividing the plurality of video lines into a number of subraster blocks, each of which can generate an inset image. Each subraster block is individually positioned by deflection means such that the high resolution of inset images can be individually positioned relative to the background image.

Abstract: A coding method and apparatus that supports bidirectional scanning is disclosed for sequences of fields of variable length and/or type. Symmetric difference separators of the two immediately adjacent data field types are generated by exclusive-OR addition and utilized as punctuation marks to support bidirectional scanning. Parity checking techniques and hardware are utilized to resolve boundary alignment problems when a separator is in error. An extension of the concept of the invention to hierarchical parenthesized structures permit skipping over subtrees without scanning their contents.