Abstract: By selecting a template, a crop boundary (98a) is displayed on an image on a screen. The crop boundary has a corresponding shape to that of a frame of the selected template, and is variable in size while keeping the same shape and being centered on a reference point (98e). Upper and lower horizontal lines (98b, 98c) are also displayed inside the crop boundary to define an internal zone (98d), and the center point on the upper horizontal line is defined as the reference point. By placing the reference point on the top of the head of a human subject contained in the displayed image and then moving the lower horizontal line to align it with the chin, the internal zone is adjusted to the head of the human subject. In cooperation with the movement of the lower reference line, the crop boundary is automatically enlarged or reduced so as to keep the internal zone in a predetermined proportion and position relative to the crop boundary.

Abstract: An image processing device method and system that enables overprint reproduction even for a composite output, despite its simple configuration. In a print server, when a construction command of a path is detected, if a trap width is set, object information is extracted from a drawing command and saved, and when the path is constructed, information which can specify the constructed path is extracted and saved with the object information. Moreover, when a drawing process is executed, a trapping process is executed on the path using saved object information. As a result, a corresponding object can be drawn by overprinting.

Abstract: The present invention provides a technology that enables related portions of multiple pages of images to be displayed simultaneously. A projection display apparatus comprises: an image extraction section that extracts at least a portion of given first image data as an extraction image; an extraction image memory for storing extraction image data representing the extraction image; an image overlay section that generates overlaid image data by superimposing the extraction image on an original image represented by given second image data; a light modulation unit that is driven responsive to the overlaid image data pixel by pixel; and an optical system for projecting onto the screen the overlaid image obtained by the light modulation unit. A projection display apparatus can display related portions of multiple pages of images simultaneously.

Abstract: A coordinate system R is set in which P0 is a coordinate origin, P0P1 conforms to a first U axis to have a unit length, P0P2 conforms to a second V axis to have a unit length, and P0P1×P0P2 is a unit vector conforming to a third N axis. A transforming matrix M that transforms an ordinary coordinate system into the coordinate system R and the u-, v- and n-coordinate values of the both ends of the line segment are calculated. It is determined whether or not the line segment intersects with the triangle, on the basis of the u-, v- and n-coordinate values. The u-, and v-coordinate values of the intersection point are calculated. It is determined whether or not the intersection point is positioned inside the triangle, on the basis of the u-, and v-coordinate values of the intersection point.

Abstract: A method and system for enabling a user to import a user-defined graphics edit into at least one template, the method including the steps of selecting, by the user, at least one first editable object, editing, by the user, at least part of the at least one first editable object, thereby producing a user-defined graphics edit, saving the user-defined graphics edit, selecting, by the user, a template containing at least one second editable object; and applying at least part of the user-defined graphics edit to at least part of the at least one second editable object within the template.

Abstract: Disclosed is a tangible computer-readable medium encoded with an image-based clipping computer program. This image-based clipping computer program when executed by one or more processors should cause the processor(s) to generate a clipped pattern. To generate this clipped pattern, the processors preferably select a pattern using coordinates from an original shape; initialize a clipped pattern to the selected shapes pattern; calculate a first and second pixel where an original triangle intersects the bounds of a view volume; calculate a cutting edge which runs through the first pixel and the second pixel; select a clipping pattern(s) according to the relative position of cutting edge and the bounding box and perform a logical AND operation with the clipped shape and the selected clipping pattern(s).

Abstract: A method of performing a blending operation between a first pixel having a first pixel alpha value and a first pixel color data value and a second pixel having a second pixel alpha value and a second pixel color data value using a pre-defined set of logical operations and an associated set of pre-computed constant that includes calculating a first pixel blending factor and a second pixel blending factor based upon a selected Porter-Duff compositing equation, the first pixel alpha value, and the second pixel alpha value, such that there are no decisions to be made in an innermost calculation loop.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing a primitive (for potential display as a part of a graphical image on a display device) cause attribute data to be received by a graphics processor as a function of whether the primitive is capable of being viewable in the graphical image on the display device. Before taking that action, however, the method and apparatus assemble the primitive as a function of its positional data, and then determine if the primitive is capable of being viewable in the graphical image on the display device.

Abstract: Automated electronic document design systems and methods for combining identified images and layouts into electronic product templates for displaying to a user. A plurality of images and a plurality of layouts are retained. Stored images are identified based on keyword input by the user. Stored layouts contain one or more image containers and are identified based on product type and number of layout images input by the user. Images are automatically sized and cropped to fit image containers. Sizing and cropping constraints are applying to control image quality.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically reading all images from all sequences of images from a specified location, automatically cropping each of the images to produce active region data for the current image, and automatically designating key frames in the sequences of images. In one embodiment, a stand-alone program that achieves these tasks produces an output file comprised of active region data for key frames of all sequences of images. In such an embodiment, the output file serves as a script or control file which a compositing program runs to initially process sequences of images. In another embodiment, these automatic tasks are achieved via a plug-in module to a compositing program such that the plug-in module is run before performing other tasks. The automation of these three formerly manual tasks increases the efficiency of compositing programs by providing automatically pre-processed sequences of images from which to start the compositing process.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus implementing a technique for preparing one or more vector data objects for rendering. In general, in one aspect, the technique includes receiving an object that is a vector data object and defining clipping states of the object. Each clipping state of the object represents an appearance of the object for a region of the object. The technique includes, for each clipping state, determining whether a clipping path is needed to render the appearance of the object represented by the clipping state and generating clipping instructions in accordance with the determining. The technique includes, for each clipping state, generating rendering instructions for rendering the appearance of the region of the object represented by the clipping state. The technique includes associating the generated clipping and rendering instructions to the corresponding clipping states.

Abstract: A system for traversing and rendering a graphic primitive, comprising a setup engine that outputs representative values of a graphic primitive; and a raster engine that receives the representative values of the graphic primitive and forms therefrom representative pixels, the raster engine having at least a scan module that scans only pixels within the graphic primitive and assigns data values to each of the pixels and a look-ahead module that identifies pixels that are inside of the primitive.

Abstract: The present invention is in the field of digital imaging. It relates to a method for determining the coordinates of a subject of interest in a digital image, so as to be able to then display this subject of interest on the screen of a terminal with low display capacity. The present invention enables, from the screen of a terminal with sufficient display capacity, at least one subject of interest in an original still digital image to be selected, and the coordinates of said subject of interest to be determined. The application of the present invention consists in preparing the display operation of subjects of interest of digital images on the screens of terminals with low display capacity.

Abstract: A method for cropping a computer generated original image on a display, comprising the steps of: adjusting a user-selected movable boundary on the original image to define a cropped image within the boundary, the boundary defined by two or more points on the original image; and, distorting the original image in regions surrounding the points, whereby the boundary is accurately positioned for cropping. And, a method for measuring within a computer generated original image on a display, comprising the steps of: adjusting a user-selected movable line segment on the original image to define points on the original image for measuring between; and, distorting the original image in regions surrounding the points, whereby the points are accurately positioned for measuring.

Abstract: A multi-function unit for occlusion testing primitives being processed in a graphics system and for updating a Z pyramid data structure used for occlusion testing. The Z pyramid data structure is updated on the fly, i.e., as primitives are being occlusion tested. The apparatus comprises multi-function unit is configured to create the Z pyramid data structure and to perform occlusion testing. The Z pyramid data structure comprises a plurality of levels, each of which comprises a plurality of regions. Each region comprises a plurality of subregions, each of which corresponds to a single Z value. Each region corresponds to a plurality of Z values and has a maximum region Z value, which corresponds to the largest Z value of the region. The multi-function unit compares the minimum Z value of each primitive with the maximum Z value of a region associated with the tested primitive to determine whether or not the tested primitive is fully occluded.

Abstract: A flowchart containing objects A–C is displayed on a computer screen. Object B is subordinate to object A and object C is subordinate to object B. If a user selects object B, object B is deleted, and simultaneously objects A and C are connected. In this case, object C is subordinate to object A.

Abstract: A technique for performing clear operations in a region having a subregion. Responsive to a first clear command: perform an initialization in which stale information is eliminated from pixels outside the subregion. Responsive to subsequent clear commands: update a current clear count for the region; and write the updated current clear count into clear count values associated with pixels outside the subregion. Prior to creating the subregion, a conventional fast clear technique may be employed in the region. After creating the subregion and during its life, the inventive technique may be employed. After the subregion is discontinued, the conventional technique may once again be employed. The inventive technique may be employed optionally depending on the percentage of the region's area occupied by the subregion.

Abstract: An image editing method comprises storing original images, storing alpha masks corresponding to the original images, respectively, superposing in turn object images that are extracted from the original images by the alpha masks, to display a composite image on a first display region of a display screen, modifying selectively the alpha masks on a second display region of the display screen to modify the composite image as necessary, and displaying the composite image reflecting modification of at least one of the alpha masks on the second display region.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing fast clip-testing operations in a general purpose processor are provided. This is accomplished by executing a single instruction for comparing a first value x to a second value y and, as a result of the comparison, determining whether x is less than y and whether x is less than negative y. The values x and y are stored in respective source registers of the processor specified by the instruction. Finally, as a result of the determination, one or more binary values representing the results of the determination are inserted into a destination register of the processor also specified by the instruction. Accordingly, the invention advantageously provides a general purpose processor with the ability to execute a clip-testing function with a single instruction compared with prior art general purpose processors that require multiple instructions to perform the same function.

Abstract: An image cropping system utilizes memory, an object detector, and an image cropper. A set of digital data that defines a graphical image is stored in the memory. The object detector analyzes the set of digital data and automatically identifies a portion of the digital data that defines an image of a particular object. The image cropper then uses the identified portion to determine a position of the object image within the graphical image. Based on the position of the object image within the graphical image, the image cropper automatically crops the digital data. In this regard, the position of the object image within the graphical image serves as a reference for determining which portions of the set of digital data should be cropped.

Abstract: The present invention provides texture roaming via dimension elevation. A degree elevated texture is used to contain level of detail (LOD) levels (or tiles) of a clip-map across a degree elevated coordinate space. For example, a three-dimensional (3D) texture is used for two-dimensional (2D) clip-mapping, a four-dimensional (4D) texture is used for 3D clip-mapping, and a 2D texture is used for one-dimensional (1D) clip-mapping. Once the levels of a clip-map are placed in an extra dimension coordinate space, the extra dimension texture coordinate value can be computed based on clip-mapping rules.

Abstract: The shape processor is a rendering module that may be used to stream graphical objects having a predefined format into a frame buffer or a physical display. Documents to be rendered by the shape processor may be decomposed into primitive graphical objects and passed to the shape processor, which may in turn compose the objects for display. Composed objects are then blended into current video data on an object by object basis.

Abstract: The steps of obtaining three-dimensional shape data representing a three-dimensional shape model, designating a portion required to be corrected of the three-dimensional shape model, displaying a surface to be joined to the designated portion, modifying a shape of the surface corresponding to a change of a designated parameter of the surface, and re-displaying the modified surface are provided. Filling of a lack portion of a part of the tree-dimensional shape model is achieved by an easy input operation.

Abstract: The present invention is in the field of digital imaging. It relates to a method and a system for selecting a subject of interest in a digital image, so as to be able to then display this subject of interest on the screen of a terminal with low display capacity. The present invention enables the display directly and automatically on the screen of a terminal with low display capacity, of subjects of interest, previously selected in an original image. This is done based on a simple operation or request executed from the terminal with low display capacity. This enables the image to be exploited correctly, by viewing the subjects of interest of the original image, in the best possible conditions of image rendering, given the display capacity of said terminal. The application of the present invention is in the area of the users of terminals with low display capacity.

Abstract: An image cut-away/display system is disclosed. Images are taken in continuous view areas by several cameras, etc. The images are combined for forming a single wide-area view image. View-point data is generated for each of users. Images are cut away for each user from the single wide-area view image based on the view-point data for each user. The cut-away images are displayed on a head-mount display for each user at a view point of each user.

Abstract: A video object clipping method includes storing, in a storage unit, original images each including a video object to be clipped and reference alpha images representing objects prepared, determining a criteria original image and a criteria reference alpha image from the original images and the reference alpha images, determining a deformation parameter by deforming the criteria reference alpha image to correspond to the criteria original image, and deforming remaining ones of the reference alpha images according to the determined deformation parameter to generate output alpha images corresponding to the original images.

Abstract: Binning polygons in a three-dimensional graphics system includes constructing a first bounding box around a first-level polygon, the first bounding box including tiles that contain the first-level polygon, subdividing the first-level polygon into second-level polygons if the first bounding box exceeds a predetermined size, and constructing bounding boxes around each second-level polygon. The second bounding box includes fewer tiles than the first bounding box.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing graphics primitives that includes a trivial discard guard band. Such a trivial discard guard band is used for comparison operations with the vertices of graphics primitives to determine whether the graphics primitives can be trivially discarded such that no further processing of the primitives is performed. The trivial discard guard band may be based on the specific dimensions of primitives such as one-half of the width of the line primitives or the radial dimension of point primitives such that the rasterization area of such primitives is taken into account when trivial discard decisions are performed.

Abstract: A method of rendering image data for full parallax autostereoscopic displays. The method is based on a double frustrum camera technique, where two cameras provide image data from opposing sides of an image plane. The near clipping plane is located on the image plane. The distance between the near clipping plane and the eyepoint of the camera frustra is adjusted to minimize or avoid clipping.

Abstract: A computerized method and computer readable medium for adjusting a digital image obtained from scanning a document. An application processes the digital image to discern a border portion from an image portion. The application processes the digital image to determine whether an image portion of the digital image corresponds to a target orientation. If the image portion does not correspond to a target orientation, the application adjusts the image portion to correspond to the target orientation. The application further crops the adjusted image to entirely eliminate the border portion of that image.

Abstract: An image processing method converts line vectors of an input graphic path and an input clip path into run sets in dot coordinates passed by the line vectors, and generates a region run describing a closed region represented by the entire path from the run sets, so as to obtain a graphic region run and a clip region run, and extracts an overlapping portion of the graphic region run and the clip region run to generate a plot region run. The scan line conversion and the clipping form a rasterizing process.

Abstract: A clock control unit (7) detects completion of data processing based on a busy signal BSY1 output by a geometry processing unit (4) and a busy signal BSY2 output by a rendering processing unit (5). The clock control unit (7) controls supply of a clock signal CLK1 to the geometry processing unit (4) and supply of a clock signal CLK2 to the rendering processing unit (5) so as to cause the geometry processing unit (4) and the rendering processing unit (5) to alternately operate.

Abstract: There is disclosed an image synthesizing apparatus for producing a synthetic image that consists of a background image and at least a main image superimposed on the back ground image. An input image is displayed in a main display area of a control screen, whereas an outer frame and at least an inner frame are displayed in a sub display area of the control screen in accordance with a selected template. First a crop boundary having a similar shape to the outer frame is displayed on the image in the main display section. The crop boundary is movable on the image and changeable in size. After pasting a cropped area of the image as the background image in the outer frame, a second image is selected and displayed in the main display area. Then, a crop boundary having a similar shape to the inner frame is displayed on the second image, so a cropped area of the second image is pasted in the inner frame, to be printed as the main image.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method and apparatus for graphics processing in a handheld device including a transform engine capable of receiving vertex information. The transform engine generates a plurality of vertices from the vertex information, wherein each of the vertices includes a corresponding bin identifier. The method and apparatus further includes view frame factors defining a clipping region such that when any of the plurality of vertices is within the clipping region, a clip identifier is generated for that vertex using the corresponding bin identifier. A vertex shader coupled to a clipping module, wherein the clipping module generates supplemental vertices and the vertex shader receives the supplemental vertices therefrom. The vertex shader combines the supplemental vertices with the bin identifiers and are provided to a vertex buffer.

Abstract: A client-server arrangement for camera viewing using digital cameras across a computer network. A camera server controls a motorized gimbal which determines the viewing angle of a camera, according to signals from a client computer which is equipped with an eye movement tracking system. Movements of the viewer's eyes result in changes in viewing angle of the remote cameras. The original full-resolution image is divided into a foveal area and a peripheral area. Subsequently, if a change in the peripheral area of a field of view is detected relative to the most recently displayed image, the viewing angle of the cameras is changed to center on the detected change, and an image is captured of this anticipated future field of view. When the viewer eventually changes his or her point of interest to the area of detected change, the pre-captured image is transmitted immediately for viewing.

Abstract: A technique for performing clear operations in a region having a subregion. Responsive to a clear command: a current clear count for the region is left unchanged; a predetermined value is written into the pixels of the subregion; and the current clear count is written into pixel clear counts of the subregion. Prior to creating the subregion, clear commands may be handled according to a conventional fast clear technique. After creating the subregion and during the life of the subregion, clear commands may be handled according to the inventive technique. After the subregion is discontinued, clear commands may once again be handled according to the conventional technique. The inventive technique may be employed optionally depending on the percentage of the region's area occupied by the subregion.

Abstract: A method and system for enabling a user to import a user-defined graphics edit into at least one template, the method including the steps of selecting, by the user, at least one first editable object, editing, by the user, at least part of the at least one first editable object, thereby producing a user-defined graphics edit, saving the user-defined graphics edit, selecting, by the user, a template containing at least one second editable object; and applying at least part of the user-defined graphics edit to at least part of the at least one second editable object within the template.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing a primitive for potential display on a display device (having a plurality of pixels) determines if the primitive intersects at least a predetermined number of pixel fragments on the display device. The predetermined number is no less than one. The method and apparatus then cull the primitive as a function of whether the primitive intersects at least the predetermined number of pixel fragments. If it is culled, the primitive is not raster processed (i.e., not subjected to raster processing, whether or not complete).

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention efficiently support rendering of high resolution images under zone rendering. In particular, a bin array rectangle and binner clipping rectangle for determining primitive-zone intersections. Both of these rectangles are defined by graphics device state variables containing the screen-space location of the rectangle corners. In particular, the binner clipping rectangle is used to define the visible region in screen coordinates. Objects completely outside the binner clipping rectangle in one or more directions will be discarded. Objects that cannot be trivially rejected are subjected to bin determination. The bin array rectangle handles color buffer resolutions larger than could otherwise be accommodated by the optimally-renderer image limits.

Abstract: A graphics sub-system manages a two-dimensional coordinate space which includes a plurality of rectangular regions. The two-dimensional coordinate space is represented by a hierarchical linked list of nodes. Each node represents a rectangular region of two-dimensional coordinate space. Each node acts as a bounding box for all descendant nodes in the hierarchical linked list of nodes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating depth values in a programmable graphics system. Depth values are calculated under control of a pixel program using a variety of sources as inputs to programmable computation units (PCUs) in the programmable graphics systems. The PCUs are used to compute traditional interpolated depth values and modified depth values. Th PCUs are also used to compute arbitrary depth values which, unlike traditional interpolated depth values and modified depth values, are not dependent on the coordinates of the geometry primitive with which the arbitrary depth values are associated. Several sources are available as inputs to the PCUs. Clipping with optional clamping is performed using either interpolated depth values or calculated depth values, where calculated depth values are arbitrary depth values or modified depth values. Final depth values, used for depth testing, are selected from interpolated depth values and arbitrary depth values after clipping is performed.

Abstract: A method is described that involves clipping to a displayable screen area edge a primitive edge that extends from outside a guard band region to the displayable screen area edge. The guard band region surrounds the displayable screen area.

Abstract: A computer implemented method of clipping to a clip polygon and trapezoid formation employs an edge array rather than a set linked list from an array of pointers equal in number to the number of scan lines. This eliminates storage of linked list pointers which in the prior art included many null pointers resulting in better memory utilization. This method sorts the active edge table only at edge intersections and vertices, thus eliminating much unneeded sorting. This method permits integrated clipping of a subject polygon by a clip polygon and forming trapezoids filling the clipped area by activating trapezoid formation at every vertex of either polygon and at every edge intersection.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods, apparatus (1) and computer readable media for rendering at least one graphic object (80, 90) described by at least one edge (82-86, 92-98) into a raster pixel image (78) having a plurality of scan lines and a plurality of pixel locations on each scan line. For each scan line, coordinates of intersection of those edges of the objects that intersect the scan line are determined in a predetermined order. This is preferably achieved by processing edge records (418) using a number of buffers (402, 404, 406, 412, 420, 422) thereby enabling efficient sorting of edge intersections into order. For each adjacent pair of edge intersections, information (530) associated with the corresponding object is examined to determining a set of active objects (508, 510) for a span of pixel locations between the corresponding pair of edge intersections. For each span of pixel locations, the corresponding set of active objects is used to determine (600) a value for each of the locations within the span.

Abstract: When the E-mail key is pressed, and the E-mail attaching of picked-up image is then indicated, after pick-up, the size of image to be attached is selected.

Abstract: Methods and-apparatus implementing a technique for forming a trap polygon which does not interfere with the print quality of other trap polygons or objects. Edges in close proximity to a color transition edge (“CTE”) are checked for potential interference. A trap polygon is formed for the CTE that avoids any interfering edges or trap polygons for those edges. The technique can be applied to form a trap polygon for each edge in a page to be printed.

Abstract: A map data transmitting method for transmitting a map through communication comprises steps of setting a specific route, specifying map data contained in a slicing range within a predetermined distance from the route having been set based upon map data that include road data and background data, newly creating new polygon data if an original polygon data contained in the background data included in the specified map data is partially contained in the slicing range and another portion of the polygon is outside the slicing range, by removing polygon data corresponding to the portion outside the slicing range from the original polygon data and transmitting a road map specified in conformance to the map data and background data containing the new polygon data.

Abstract: An image editing apparatus capable of accurately registering a texture pattern from a document has the following configuration. The image data of a read document is displayed on a liquid crystal display. A user designates a point C therein and designates a range P2 for incorporating texture pattern around the point. The user also designates the size and range of the texture pattern used for displaying the texture using cursors S and E so that the texture patterns can be displayed smoothly connected when displayed serially in the vertical and horizontal direction.

Abstract: In an image editing device of the present invention, a noticing area in an image is calculated by a noticing area calculating section. Also, a trimming method is designated by a trimming rule designating section. Also, a trimming scope (shape) is designated by a trimming shape designating section, or a template is selected by a template selecting section according to the designated trimming method. Also, a distribution ratio of the noticing area in the trimming scope or the template is calculated by a noticing area error calculating section. Also, the image, the trimming scope, and the template are enlarged, contracted, and rotated by an image processing section so as to adjust the distribution ratio of the noticing area in the trimming scope or the template. By doing this, it is possible to provide an image editing device which can trim the noticing area in the image automatically and easily.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer instructions for processing graphics data in a graphics adapter for a set of clip areas in a clip region. Trivial rejection is performed on primitives to reject any primitive outside of the set of clip rectangles, wherein a set of identified primitives is formed in which the set of identified primitives contain unrejected primitives. The set of identified primitives is sent to a memory in the graphics adapter as a command stream to form a set of stored commands. A hardware clipper in the graphics adapter is set to an unprocessed clip rectangle within the set of clip rectangles. The set of identified primitives for the unprocessed clip rectangle is processed using the hardware clipper with the set of stored commands in the memory. The setting of the hardware clipper and the rendering of the set of identified primitives is repeated for each unprocessed clip rectangle until all of the clip rectangles in the set of clip rectangles are processed.