Abstract: A communication support system of the present invention provides an improved visibility of an operation by an operator without losing visibility of a content and supports accurate communication between operators in different locations. The communication support system of the present embodiment crops an image of an area having a reference image arranged therein out of a captured image obtained in another location and makes an area that is different from a person area corresponding to a person transparent in the cropped image. The communication support system displays an output image obtained by superposing the reference image as an upper layer over the captured image and further superposing the cropped image as an upper layer over the reference image.

Abstract: Disclosed is a computer implemented system that facilitates optimized panoramic stitching, comprising an interface that receives images corresponding to different camera locations. Each image comprises a first image depicting a portion of a scene from the point of view of a first camera location and a second image depicting a portion of a scene from the point of view of a second camera location.

Abstract: The present invention is applicable to the field of Internet, and provides an interactive method and apparatus based on a web picture. The method includes: obtaining a web picture including a human image; determining a region where a specific part of the human image in the web picture is located; receiving an interactive instruction in the region where the specific part is located, and generating the interactive information corresponding to the specific part. When receiving the interactive instruction in the region where the specific part is located, generating the interactive information corresponding to the specific part by determining the region where the specific part of the human image in the obtained web picture including the human image is located. The interactive method provided by the embodiment of the present invention is simple to operate, and the interactive manners are various.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a display method and a terminal. The display method comprises: identifying a background picture on a screen interface of a terminal; and when the background picture comprises a preset object, ensuring that there is no display content shielding a display region of the preset object on the screen interface. By using the technical solution of the present disclosure, it is avoided that display content on a terminal shields a preset object on a background picture, so that the preset object can be fully displayed, which helps to improve use experience of a user.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention disclosed herein provides techniques for processing an evaluation graph associated with a three-dimensional animation scene. An evaluation management system retrieves a first plurality of nodes from a memory. The evaluation management system determines that a first node included in the first plurality of nodes depends on a first output generated by a second node that also is included in the first plurality of nodes. The evaluation management system generates a third node corresponding to the first node and a fourth node corresponding to the second node. The evaluation management system generates an evaluation graph that includes the third node, the fourth node, and an indication that the third node depends on the fourth node. The evaluation management system schedules the third node for evaluation after the fourth node has been evaluated.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product provide the ability to render an animated creature in real-time. A creature diagram for a creature, having chains sections, is drawn. An effector is created for each section and each chain, and defines a target position and an orientation that is reached. A chain solving type is selected for the chains, and is used to simulate a desired biomechanical behavior of the creature. The creature diagram, including the sections, chains, and chain solving types, is mapped to a three-dimensional (3D) model. The creature is animated/rendered in a real-time 3D application based on the mapping.

Abstract: An animated visualization of data on an electronic device having a limited display area (such as a mobile device with a touch screen input) is disclosed. The limited display area is partitioned into a thumbnail view of a full data set and an expanded view of a subset of the data that is highlighted within the thumbnail. The views are correspondingly animated such that the highlighted data appears to progressively slide across the thumbnail view such that the full set of data is ultimately displayed in the expanded view. The data displayed in the expanded view is kept in context by dynamically highlighting the corresponding data within the thumbnail view. Various actions are also disclosed, such as pausing/re-starting the animation, selectively pinning data and consolidating coupled data elements—in each case at any time during the animation.

Abstract: A graphics processing architecture in one example performs vertex manipulation operations and pixel manipulation operations by transmitting vertex data to a general purpose register block, and performing vertex operations on the vertex data by a processor unless the general purpose register block does not have enough available space therein to store incoming vertex data; and continues pixel calculation operations that are to be or are currently being performed by the processor based on instructions maintained in an instruction store until enough registers within the general purpose register block become available.

Abstract: Texturing of external and/or internal surfaces, or on internal parts of 3D models representing real objects, for providing extremely real-like, vivid and detailed view on and/or within the 3D-model, is made possible using a plurality of real photographs and/or video of the real objects. The 3D models are 3D computer graphics models used in user-controlled interactions implementation purpose. The view of texture on the 3D-model that is textured using real photographs and/or video replicates view of texture as on the real 3D object. Displaying realistic texture on 3D-model surface applying video as texture is made possible replicating real view of light blinking from a physical light emitting device of real object such as head light or rear light of an automotive vehicle.

Abstract: A medical image processing device includes a port, a user interface, a processor and a display. The port acquires volume data of a biological body. The user interface receives designation of two or three regions in the volume data. The processor generates a color volume rendering image based on the volume data and the two or three regions. The display displays the color volume rendering image. The two or three regions overlap each other on a virtual ray on at least one point in the color volume rendering image. The color volume rendering image has a feature that, the color volume rendering image is separable to two or three volume rendering images corresponding to the two or three regions, by a reversible transformation.

Abstract: The use of power diagrams in accordance with embodiments of the invention enable particle based fluid simulation. One embodiment includes a processor, a memory containing a model of a fluid, where the fluid is broken into a set of cells each defining a volume with boundaries that are relative to a distance of a set of points, where the process is configured by the power particle application to: calculate a plurality of forces acting on the set of cells, move the set of cells within the model of the fluid based upon the plurality of forces, and update the model of the fluid with a new set of cells.

Abstract: A method for processing image data includes obtaining a first set of 3D volumetric image data. The 3D volumetric image data includes a volume of voxels. Each voxel has an intensity. The method further includes obtaining a local voxel noise estimate for each of the voxels of the volume. The method further includes processing the volume of voxels based at least on the intensity of the voxels and the local voxel noise estimates of the voxels. An image data processor (124) includes a computer processor that at least one of: generate a 2D direct volume rendering from first 3D volumetric image data based on voxel intensity and individual local voxel noise estimates of the first 3D volumetric image data, or registers second 3D volumetric image data and first 3D volumetric image data based at least one individual local voxel noise estimates of second and first 3D volumetric image data sets.

Abstract: There is provided an image processing device including a depth acquisition unit configured to acquire depth information of an object included in a captured image, an image combining unit configured to combine the object with an image object having depth information according to each piece of the depth information, and an effect processing unit configured to execute effect processing according to the depth information of the object.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are described for performing efficient depth test operations. For example, an apparatus in accordance with one embodiment comprises: a depth cache to store a plurality of cache lines containing depth data to be used for graphics processing operations; depth test logic to determine a current depth test function associated with a read operation and to read a cache line from a depth cache while there are still outstanding writes to the cache line if the read operation and write operation are associated with the same depth test function, the depth test logic to perform a first depth test using the data read from the cache line, the first depth test to fail or pass pixels based on a predicted range of depth values.

Abstract: A method of generating three-dimensional graphics enables the generation of performance and quality balanced sun position sensitive soft shadows for objects including three-dimensional models of buildings. The method includes identification of both convex and concave object shapes for the generation of the soft shadow meshes and the modification of the soft shadow meshes based on the position of a light source in a three-dimensional virtual environment to generate realistic shadow graphics including shadows that change shape in response to movement of the light source.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for rendering graphics using a graphics pipeline for emulating a fixed-function graphics pipeline, including selecting a first pre-compiled shader chunk from a set of pre-compiled shader chunks, selecting at least one second pre-compiled shader chunk from the set of pre-compiled shader chunks, and, concatenating the first shader chunk with the at least one second shader chunk, wherein each shader chunk corresponds to a fixed-function graphics function.

Abstract: A graphics processing unit (GPU) includes programmable shader hardware and grouping hardware. The grouping hardware receives pixels collected from a set of primitives, wherein pixel locations of each primitive have been obtained through rasterization of a set of vertices of the primitive. The grouping hardware also groups the pixels into a set of groups having a sequential order. None of the pixels in each group overlapped with each other in a display and overlapped pixels belong to different groups. The programmable shader hardware performs order-insensitive shader operations on the groups according to a first subset of an instruction set defined for a programmable shader, with two or more of the groups processed in parallel. The programmable shader hardware also performs order-sensitive shader operations on each of the groups in the sequential order according to a second subset of the instruction set defined for the programmable shader.

Abstract: A virtual site survey method at a cell site utilizing three-dimensional (3D) models for remote performance includes obtaining a plurality of photographs of a cell site comprising one or more of a cell tower and one or more buildings and interiors thereof; subsequent to the obtaining, processing the plurality of photographs to define a three dimensional (3D) model of the cell site based on one or more objects of interest in the plurality of photographs; and remotely performing a site survey of the cell site utilizing a Graphical User Interface (GUI) of the 3D model to collect and obtain information about the cell site, the cell tower, the one or more buildings, and the interiors thereof.

Abstract: Concepts and technologies are described herein for providing raster-based mesh decimation. Generally described, input data defining a model is processed to render the model as a depth map from a multitude of perspectives. By capturing depth map data from a multitude of perspectives, components of the model that are visible from the multitude of perspectives are captured in the depth map data and components that are blocked by the visible components are not captured in the depth map data. Point cloud data is generated by merging the depth map data captured from the multitude of perspectives. Output mesh data is generated by applying a surface reconstruction to the point cloud data. One or more mesh decimation algorithms may be applied to the mesh data. Image data may also be captured from the input data and applied to the output mesh data.

Abstract: A compressed format provides more efficient storage for light-field pictures. A specialized player is configured to project virtual views from the compressed format. According to various embodiments, the compressed format and player are designed so that implementations using readily available computing equipment are able to project new virtual views from the compressed data at rates suitable for interactivity. Virtual-camera parameters, including but not limited to focus distance, depth of field, and center of perspective, may be varied arbitrarily within the range supported by the light-field picture, with each virtual view expressing the parameter values specified at its computation time. In at least one embodiment, compressed light-field pictures containing multiple light-field images may be projected to a single virtual view, also at interactive or near-interactive rates.

Abstract: A method of rendering an image of three-dimensional laser scan data is described. The method includes providing a set of laser scan data for a given scan as a spherical displacement map and generating a tessellation pattern by sampling the spherical displacement map. A graphics processing unit may generate the tessellation pattern.

Abstract: An exemplary method for navigating among photos includes determining, using one or more computing devices, visual characteristics of a person depicted in a first image associated with a first location. These visual characteristics of the person are detected in a second image associated with a second location. Using the one or more computing devices, a series of intermediate images are identified based on the first location and the second location. Each intermediate image is associated with a location. The series of intermediate images and the second image are provided. Images of an intermediate destination from the series of intermediate images are selected based on a density of images at the intermediate destination. A 3D reconstruction of the intermediate destination is then generated based on the selected images. Thereafter, a visual presentation of images traversing through the 3D reconstruction of the intermediate destination to the second image is prepared for display.

Abstract: Synchronizing an augmented reality video stream with a displayed video stream includes: accessing an augmented reality video stream which corresponds to a displayed video stream and accessing synchronizing metadata associated with the augmented reality video stream for synchronizing the augmented reality video stream to the displayed video stream; the synchronizing metadata includes processed key frames of the displayed video stream. Processed key frames are selected frames from the displayed video stream which have been processed to provide data usable to compare images of frames. The displayed video stream is tracked by capturing and processing a frame of the displayed video stream. The augmented reality video stream is synchronized to the displayed video stream by matching the captured and processed frame of the displayed video stream with a processed key frame of the metadata at a known location in the augmented reality video stream.

Abstract: A capture system may capture light-field data representative of an environment for use in virtual reality, augmented reality, and the like. The system may have a plurality of light-field cameras arranged to capture a light-field volume within the environment, and a processor. The processor may use the light-field volume to generate a first virtual view depicting the environment from a first virtual viewpoint. The light-field cameras may be arranged in a tiled array to define a capture surface with a ring-shaped, spherical, or other arrangement. The processor may map the pixels captured by the image sensors to light rays received in the light-field volume, and store data descriptive of the light rays in a coordinate system representative of the light-field volume.

Abstract: A method for generating an augmented reality presentation of a region-of-interest, comprising: capturing raw image data of the region-of-interest using a first sensor mounted in an unmanned aerial vehicle flown over the region-of-interest; transferring the raw image data to a server from the unmanned aerial vehicle; using a processor, generating geo-referenced data from the raw image data at the server; transferring the geo-referenced data to a wireless device; capturing live image data of the region-of-interest using a second sensor mounted in the wireless device; and, overlaying the geo-referenced data on the live image data to generate the augmented reality presentation at the wireless device.

Abstract: Providing information associated with a view of a real environment superimposed with a virtual object, includes obtaining a model of a real object located in a real environment and a model of a virtual object, determining a spatial relationship between the real object and the virtual object, determining a pose of a device displaying the view relative to the real object, determining a visibility of the virtual object in the view according to the pose of the device, the spatial relationship and the models of the real object and the virtual object, and if the virtual object is not visible in the view, determining a movement for at least one of the device and at least part of the real object such that the virtual object is visible in the view in response to the at least one movement, and providing information indicative of the at least one movement.

Abstract: A vehicle safety-inspection apparatus is for a vehicle having a detectable-identification device fixedly mounted thereto at a predetermined visual inspection point of the vehicle. The vehicle safety-inspection apparatus includes a movable detector configured to detect the presence of the detectable-identification device in response to a user walking around the vehicle and positioning the movable detector proximate to the detectable-identification device during the vehicle safety-inspection of the vehicle. The movable detector is also configured to transmit a detection signal being configured to indicate the presence of the detectable-identification device that was detected. The recording assembly is configured to: (A) receive the detection signal from the detectable-identification device; (B) generate and store a detection-alarm record indicating that the detection signal was received by the recording assembly; and (C) transmit the detection-alarm record that was stored.

Abstract: Embodiments of hybrid sensor-enabled and autonomous electric wheels can include a plurality of systems and devices integrated into a single compact hub unit that can be retrofitted into numerous types of two-wheeled bicycles. In one embodiment, an electrically motorized bicycle wheel can include a wheel rim, a wheel hub having an electric motor, a battery pack and a control unit configured to control a drive torque of the electric motor, and a plurality of wheel spokes connecting the wheel rim to the wheel hub. The electric motor, the battery pack and the control unit can be positioned within the wheel hub of the electrically motorized bicycle wheel.

Abstract: A method and system that includes an aircraft engine that includes high pressure turbine blades, low pressure turbine blades, and a plurality of bearings, a data logging device associated with the aircraft engine to acquire engine data of the aircraft engine, and an external device that is external to the data logging device. The external device of the system includes processing circuitry to assign a failure coverage cycle to the aircraft engine.

Abstract: Processing video and sensor data associated with a vehicle Apparatus (5) is configured to: obtain first data corresponding to video data from a video camera (6) associated with a vehicle; obtain second data corresponding to sensor data from one or more sensors (8) associated with the vehicle; form a data structure including metadata and the first and second data, wherein first timing information for the first data is included in the metadata and second timing information for the second data is included in the second data, wherein the first and second timing information enable the first and second data to be temporally related.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for facilitating ticket exchange by validating ticket authenticity. Images of the barcodes of tickets are captured and decoded so that the encoded ticket information may be analyzed. Encoded ticket information is compared to event ticket information stored in a ticketing database, and the result is transmitted to prospective buyers to ensure authenticity and establish confidence in the sale. Tickets may also be pre-validated by ticket holders or designated sellers of ticketing companies, who are located near the event venue. Buyers interested in purchasing tickets may locate pre-validated tickets using GPS.

Abstract: Disclosed are an apparatus and a method for remotely managing access to an area. An access management platform, which can be an electronic lock that is installed on, e.g., a door of a house, can enable a user to establish a virtual presence at the door. In one example, a delivery person activates a doorbell button/icon of the access management platform, which sends a message to a smartphone of the owner of the platform. The owner, who is at work, uses his smartphone to initiate a video stream using a camera of the platform, and a two way audio stream. The owner sees and initiates a discussion with the delivery person. The owner uses his smartphone to unlock the door, and asks the delivery person to open the door and deliver the package inside. The owner uses his smartphone to capture his signature to acknowledge the delivery.

Abstract: Tracking, identifying and article management systems and methods for reliably and repeatedly determining one or more physically uncopiable attribute instances (of the same or varying types) from or inherent in an article of manufacture, using the selected physical uncopiable attribute(s) to produce an unforgeable identity for the article, and then integrating that unforgeable identity into computer-based tracking systems in a way that permits the tracking system to track and monitor articles for which identity information is known. Applications include documents, fashion accessories, artwork, and other objects.

Abstract: A method and system for optically detecting a user. A sequence of patterns of radiation reflected from an object in a room may be captured by a device. The patterns of radiation may be infrared radiation emitted from the device. A sequence of variations between the captured sequence of patterns of radiation and the emitted sequence of patterns of radiation may be determined and object characteristics of an object may be determined based upon the sequence of variations. The object characteristics may be a sequence of dimensions of the object and a sequence of locations of the object. The method may determine the first is a user based upon the determined object characteristics and a room profile. The room profile may include a plurality of object characteristics of one or more objects in the room.

Abstract: Improved access control systems (100) are provided which control access to resources. Among other things, improved techniques are provided for checking for access control data integrity. These techniques are not limited to access control data or systems.

Abstract: If a portable device receives a request signal from a control device that requires a response from the portable device, a first response signal is transmitted from the portable device during a common period defined in all portable devices. Thus, in a case where there is no portable device which enables wireless communication with the control device, a value of received signal strength indication of a wireless signal which is received from the portable device by the control device is very small and becomes smaller than the threshold value during a period in the common period. In this case, the control device suspends reception processing of causing a signal to be transmitted from the plurality of portable devices subsequently to the first response signal.

Abstract: A locking system and method for door and passage un-locking is provided. The system comprises a locking unit adapted to lock and unlock a door, a mounted wireless signal transceiver connected to the locking unit, and a handheld wireless signal transceiver adapted to communicate with the mounted wireless signal transceiver with a patch antenna. The mounted or handheld wireless signal transceiver is adapted to detect the signal strength of the remote wireless signal transceiver, and the locking system further comprises a calculating unit adapted to calculate if the person is on the first or second side of the door based on changes in the detected signal strength. The calculating unit is adapted to determine whether or not to unlock the door on the basis of the detected signal strength and the calculated information related to the person being on the first or second side of the door.

Abstract: A coin processing device includes a coin discriminating unit, a coin distributing unit, plural coin tubes, and a coin delivering unit that delivers coins that have been housed in the coin tubes, by delivering operation of pulling out by a payout slide. For specific denominations, a two-coin delivering coin tube and one-coin delivering coin tubes are provided. In a normal state, the coin distributing unit distributes coins that have been inserted, to at least one of the coin tubes, the at least one having the coin housing number smaller, and the coin delivering unit delivers the coins to minimize the number of times of the delivering operation. In a change-shortage state, the coin distributing unit preferentially distributes the coins that have been inserted, to the one-coin delivering coin tubes, and the coin delivering unit performs delivery from only the two-coin delivering coin tube as much as possible.

Abstract: A coin handling system performs a one or two-part coin handling and recognition process. In the first part of the two-part process, the system images bulk coins, determines the coin types or other attributes, and returns at least some of the coins to the bulk coin receptacle; in the second part, the system re-images the coins and uses the coin types or attributes determined in the first part to efficiently and economically perform machine recognition of attributes of the coins. The output is used to handle the coins and to determine a price to pay for the coins. The images are bright field images suitable for use by people.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for detecting duplicate deposit items at a point of capture are presented. In some embodiments, a computing platform may receive image data of a deposit item presented for deposit. Subsequently, the computing platform may obtain magnetic ink character recognition (MICR) information for the deposit item. Then, the computing platform may extract information from one or more visible fields of the deposit item. Next, the computing platform may compare the MICR information and the information extracted from the one or more visible fields with item history information to determine a confidence score indicative of whether the deposit item is a duplicate of a previously-deposited item. If the confidence score is less than a threshold, the computing platform may reject the deposit item at the point of capture. Alternatively, if the confidence score is not less than the threshold, the computing platform may accept the deposit item.

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a medium processing apparatus capable of efficiently processing a medium by shortening the length of a check returning path by spatially separately forming spaces for storing checks and banknotes in the medium processing apparatus.

Abstract: A vending machine dispenser mechanism in the form of a roller for receiving and dispensing bottles or cans from a vertical stack. The roller dispensing mechanism comprises a driven roller having a roller support at each end which are supported by horizontally extending front and rear support members each of which include a plurality of spaced apart apertures in which the roller supports are rotatably mounted. The apertures can include keyhole shaped openings in each of the support members, a combination of keyhole and circular openings, or various other aperture shapes and combinations which together permit fast and easy roller installation and removal. The dispensing rollers contain two or more slots or pockets, or sub-pockets, that will sequentially receive and dispense a bottle or can one at a time in a controlled and positive manner as the roller is driven through a plurality of specific degrees of rotation.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention described herein provide an apparatus and method for networked vending. According to embodiments described herein, a vending machine is provided that may be installed and managed by the venue in which it is installed. Consumers may purchase vending products from the vending machine using cashless accounts managed by an external device in communication with the vendor. The venue may manage the inventory for the vending machine by placing orders for single product inserts to be loaded in the vending machine.

Abstract: Gaming machines and games are configured with one or more wheel events or features. The wheel events or features may comprise main games or bonus games, or may comprise entertaining representations of outcomes of other games or events. The wheel events comprise the selection of one or more segments of a wheel having associated awards. Wheel events may have various entertaining configurations, including use of multiple wheels, concentric wheels and the like.

Abstract: A method of gaming at a gaming machine. The method includes designating a symbol display position of a plurality of symbol display positions as having a bonus symbol set applying to it for a game round, and selecting and displaying a symbol from the bonus symbol set at the designated symbol display position. The method also includes selecting symbols for display at the other symbol display positions from a base symbol set independently of the selection of the symbol from the bonus symbol set, and evaluating the symbols displayed at the plurality of symbol display positions to determine whether to make an award for the game round.

Abstract: A game machine uses a lottery region containing the cells, provides a game opportunity that changes symbols on the cells by causing the symbols of a symbol group to appear on the portion of the cells, determines by lottery, at least a portion of the symbols which should constitute the symbol group, causes at least the portion of the symbols constituting the symbol group to appear in the lottery region based on a lottery result so as to change at least the portion of the symbols arranged on the cells by moving the symbol group including the symbol determined by the lottery result on a movement path containing two directions and stopping the symbol group so that at least the portion of the symbols of the symbol group is arranged on the cells, and determines a prize winning based on the symbols arranged on the cells by the symbol group.

Abstract: A system for interactive gaming among a plurality of players includes a host computer system and a plurality of player terminals communicably coupled to the host computer system or gaming platform via a network. The plurality of player terminals may be located at a plurality of licensed gaming locations. The plurality of player terminals may be configured to engage the plurality of players in a common interactive game operated by the host computer system. The plurality of player terminals can include means for dispensing player winnings from the player terminal.

Abstract: A gaming system comprises gaming machines which are configured to generate gaming information and present games, such as primary games, to players, and game boards which also generate gaming information for use in presenting games, such as secondary games, to players. The game boards may be used to present the secondary games to players via player presentation devices such as a player's mobile phone, tablet, PDA, computer or the like.

Abstract: Equivalent exchange operation of exchanging a game medium for another type of game medium is performed in a shorter time. A game medium accommodation device includes: a tray mechanism configured to hold a plurality of accommodation cases stacked in an up-down direction along a reading surface continuing in the up-down direction, each of the accommodation cases accommodating a bundle of game media aligned in a horizontal direction; and an antenna board disposed on the reading surface. The game medium accommodation device reads electronic information relating to the game media and stored in the game media, by radio communication between the antenna board and the game media.

Abstract: The invention includes a system and method for planning and customizing a gaming vacation. Initially, a central controller receives preference and configuration data from a user at a user terminal. A preparation code is then determined and associated with the configuration data. The configuration data and the associated preparation code are transmitted from the central controller to a casino server. The central controller provides feedback regarding the user's requests. The feedback may include, for example, marketing offers for the user and/or configuring a gaming device according to the configuration data associated with a preparation code received from a user at the gaming device.