Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for displaying data. Each entry in a plurality of entries for an overlay window attribute table (WAT) is set with identical information in which a window identifier is unnecessary for accessing the information in the overlay WAT. Information in a color WAT is retrieved using the set of window identifiers in response to receiving a set of window identifiers. The information in the overlay WAT is retrieved without requiring the window identifier. Pixels are displayed on a display screen using the information retrieved from the color WAT and the information retrieved from the overlay WAT.

Abstract: A fashion photography system is provided in close proximity to a clothing store fitting room to allow a customer to try on outfits and/or articles and then to take photographs of themselves in the selected articles. The photographs are stored in a computer system to be reviewed by the customer for selecting from the articles that they tried on.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for encoding images, more particularly to an encoding unit in conjunction with a library of pictorial entities and image qualifiers. The method and apparatus provide encoding an image by using a code factor table in conjunction with a set of element codes. The resulting image code allows the set pictorial elements of an image and their associated image qualifiers to be represented by a compact code uniquely representing a given configuration of pictorial elements. The use of the resulting image code facilitates the transmission and storage of images requiring only the code to be sent or stored. The invention further provides a computer readable medium comprising a program element that direct a computer to implement the encoding process.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for encoding images, more particularly to an encoding unit in conjunction with a library of pictorial entities and image qualifiers. The method and apparatus provide encoding an image by using a code factor table in conjunction with a set of element codes. The resulting image code allows the set pictorial elements of an image and their associated image qualifiers to be represented by a compact code uniquely representing a given configuration of pictorial elements. The use of the resulting image code facilitates the transmission and storage of images requiring only the code to be sent or stored. The invention further provides a computer readable medium comprising a program element that direct a computer to implement the encoding process.

Abstract: A makeover system and method for using the system is provided for providing a user with an image of how a person would look with different hair, glasses, makeup, etc. Using a before picture of the person, the system displays an item on the before picture and resizes the item to fit the size of the person according to user input. Therefore, the makeover system can superimpose an item over an image of a person regardless of the size of the image of the person on a computer screen. The system then provides an after picture representing a composite image of the superimposed selected overlay item over the image of the person.

Abstract: A method of representing an image, comprising: determining one or more characteristic lines over which the profile of the image changes considerably; and storing, for each of the one or more characteristic lines, one or more cross section profiles including data on the brightness of the line and of one or more background points adjacent the line having a brightness substantially different from the brightness of the line.

Abstract: Determining a displayable color in a self-overlapping region of a variable color object by determining for each point in the region, the color of each portion of the object present at that point. At each point averaging the colors present at that point and outputting the averaged colors for reproduction within the region.

Abstract: Display data comprising text and a background are processed. A combination of the text and background is evaluated against one or more objective criteria to provide one or more objective values. A determination is made whether the one or more objective values exceed one or more respective thresholds that are indicative of text-background combinations that are difficult to read. The text or the background or both are adjusted if any of the one or more thresholds is exceeded, so that the one or more thresholds are no longer exceeded after the adjusting.

Abstract: An image generating device for displaying a model comprised of a plurality of polygons set in a virtual 3D space and simulating an object having at least one flat plane, the image generating device comprises: polygon storage means for storing coordinates of uneven polygon set; texture storage means for storing object textures to be adhered to the respective polygons of the uneven polygon set; coordinate processing means for moving the uneven polygon set by a specified amount in a specified direction; and texture displacement control means for displacing the adhering coordinates of the object textures to the respective polygons by the specified amount in an opposite direction from the specified direction.

Abstract: In a system and a method for generating an image that contains superimposed or fused image data, a first system acquires an image dataset from a subject and a second system obtains a video image of the subject. The positions of the first, the second systems in the acquisition of the image datasets are determined with the an arrangement for position determination, such as a navigation system, with reference to which the position of the image dataset acquired with the first system and the position of the video image dataset can be determined in space, so that the two image datasets can be superimposed or fused with one another. An arrangement also can be provided for generating a video image expanded with image data of the image dataset acquired with the first system.

Abstract: An image generator is organized into a plurality of rendering engines, each of which renders an image of a part scene and provides the part image to a merge engine associated with that rendering engine. The image is a part image in that it usually contains less than all of the objects in the image to be rendered. The merge engine merges the part image from its associated rendering engine with the part image provided by a prior merge engine and provides the merged part image to a next merge engine. One or more merge engines are designated the output merge engines and these output merge engines output a merged part image that is (a portion of) the ultimate output of the image generator, the full rendered image. Each merge engine performs its merge process on the pixels it has from its rendering engine and from its prior neighbor merge engine, in a pipelined manner and without necessarily waiting for all of the pixels of the part image or the merged part image.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for storing earthwork design templates in an on-board system on a work machine. The machine operator may select one or more of the templates and place and orient the template on a topographic map displayed on a screen. The operator may adjust the position and heading in the x-y plane and adjust the elevation, slope, and cross slope of the template relative to the map.

Abstract: A graphics integrated circuit chip is used in a set-top box for controlling a television display. The graphics chip processes analog video input, digital video input, and graphics input. The chip includes a single polyphase filter that preferably provides both anti-flutter filtering and scaling of graphics. Anti-flutter filtering may help reduce display flicker due to the interlaced nature of television displays. The scaling of graphics may be used to convert the normally square pixel aspect ratio of graphics to the normally rectangular pixel aspect ratio of video.

Abstract: An efficient method and system for displaying integrated transparent objects and animation with a window, such as an Internet Web page is described. The present invention implements a plugin-control, such as a Netscape plugin or ActiveX control, in the host program, such as a Web browser, wherein the plugin-control provides at least one graphics buffer in addition to the buffers used by the host program. The plugin-control can function according to the host program Application Programming Interface (API) for the plugin-control under which the at least one additional buffer is used to composite a “compositing plane” containing the transparent objects and animation with the host program window and where the resulting composited scene is returned to the host program buffers as part of the regular host program draw pipe. Additionally, the host program API may be circumvented and the resulting composited scene may be written directly to the front buffer for display on the display device.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically generating composite images from component images selected by a system user and incorporating the composite images into an image of a custom product. The user can select component images in any sequence and can delete, add, replace or change component images and colors during the design process. The library of component images is organized into categories and subcategories for presentation to the user.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a composite of stored dynamic background activities with newly filmed or captured live foreground activities, thereby providing a real-time and on-site guide to actors and directors.

Abstract: A user of a computer aided design (CAD) system graphically places fire alarm appliances, such as smoke detectors and sirens, in a drawing area. After elements are placed and physical paths are determined, a series of electrical circuit connections between alarm source elements and alarm appliance elements are determined. The electrical circuit connections define wire gauges and lengths passing through the physical paths. The wire types may be determined by predefined rules, and multiple wires may be placed in a single physical path. Subsequently, the CAD system performs electrical calculations associated with the alarm system. The electrical calculations may be based on a supervisory mode of operation as well as an alarm mode of operation. The resistance of wires in the alarm system may be based on a scaled wire length and/or a schematic (non-scaled) wire length. In one example, a backup battery capacity requirement is calculated.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed in which a browser application animates web page construction. The animated construction involves the browser associating each web object with an animated mover character. The web object and animated mover character are moved from outside a boundary area of the web page to its programmed location within the web page wherein the movement simulates that the animated mover character is building the web page. The browser processes all of the web objects to display the entire web page with all of the web objects.

Abstract: An intelligent shape is displayed in conjunction with a CAD application program, wherein the intelligent shape selectively displays positioning and alignment aids on the monitor of the computer to assist a user in operating one or more functions of the host application program. When invoked, the intelligent shape displays plugs and sockets related to the shapes on the monitor and aids the user in positioning, aligning, rotating, and connecting shapes together.

Abstract: A graphics system including a custom graphics and audio processor produces exciting 2D and 3D graphics and surround sound. The system includes a graphics and audio processor including a 3D graphics pipeline and an audio digital signal processor. Textured surfaces are created using indirect texture tiling. A set of direct and indirect texture coordinates are defined. The indirect coordinates are used in an indirect lookup operation in an indirect tile index map to obtain tile select offsets. The offsets are used to modify the direct texture coordinates, and the modified texture coordinates are then used to obtain a texture tile from a tile definitions map. The selected tile is then displayed. In another embodiment, the offsets are biased and combined with the direct texture coordinates to produce a second set of modified texture coordinates. The second set is used to obtain a second texture tile from the tile definitions map.

Abstract: This invention provides a technique capable of always keeping digital watermark information embedded in image data having the embedded digital watermark information by an optimum scheme on the basis of a time factor, or removing a digital watermark, or erasing the image data. An apparatus for achieving the above object has functions of holding image data having additional information embedded as a digital watermark, detecting time information related to the image data, and changing the embedding scheme for the additional information as the digital watermark embedded in the image data on the basis of the detected time information.

Abstract: A designing apparatus comprises symbol mark memory for storing fluid controllers usable in fluid control devices in terms of symbol marks representing the functions, fluid channels and contours of the controllers, and a flowchart preparing device for preparing a flowchart of a fluid control device represented by symbol marks. The flowchart preparing device successively selects controllers, such as valves and massflow controllers, from a symbol mark file in the memory, arranges the selected controllers on a screen as suitably positioned, automatically selects a suitable coupling member for interconnecting adjacent two of the controllers from a coupling member data file and automatically arranges te controllers and the coupling members thus selected to prepare a flowchart.

Abstract: An interactive karaoke system includes a microphone developing an audio input from at least one karaoke performer; a camera producing a series of video frames including the at least one karaoke performer; and a karaoke processor system including a video environment and a related audio environment for the karaoke performer. The karaoke processor system is coupled to the camera to create extracted images of the at least one karaoke performer from the series of video frames and to composite the extracted images with a background derived from the video environment. The video environment is affected by at least one of a position and a movement of the at least one karaoke performer. A karaoke network includes a local area network, a local karaoke server coupled to the local area network and storing local karaoke content; and a number of karaoke systems coupled to the local area network, each of which can request karaoke content from the local karaoke server.

Abstract: A system for full-scene anti-aliasing and stereo three-dimensional display control. The system includes a receiving buffer, a geometry offset generator, a rendering engine, and a blending engine. The receiving buffer receives a geometry, and the geometry offset generator receives stereo parameters and FSAA parameters, calculates first and second stereo offsets according to the stereo parameters, and calculates first and second FSAA offsets according to the FSAA parameters. The rendering engine combines the first and second stereo offsets with the first FSAA offset respectively to obtain first and second new offsets, combines the first and second stereo offsets with the second FSAA offset respectively to obtain third and fourth new offsets, and re-renders the geometry according to the first, second, third, and fourth new offsets respectively, so as to obtain first, second, third, and fourth new geometry.

Abstract: A method for copying and pasting a selected portion of an image from a TWAIN compliant image source includes scanning the selected image portion to fit in a target area of a destination image. Dimensional information regarding the selected portion of the source image is made available to the application. The application compares dimensions of the target area with the dimensional information of the selected source image portion and determines resizing parameters. The application requests a scan of the selected portion of the source image based on the resizing parameters and pastes the resulting image in the target area. An image processing system operative to carry out the method includes and a TWAIN compliant application that is adapted to calculate resizing parameters and request scans basted on the resizing parameters. In a xerographic environment, the image processing system includes a xerographic printer.

Abstract: A decoding LSI adaptable to MPEG4 is provided with a padding means for performing padding on decoded texture data, an arithmetic decoding means for performing arithmetic decoding on coded shape data, and a composition means for compositing a plurality of texture data to generate composite image data. The padding means, the arithmetic decoding means, and the composition means are implemented by hardware circuits, i.e., a padding engine, an arithmetic decoding engine, and a composition engine, respectively. Therefore, the decoding LSI can perform high-speed decoding on a bitstream corresponding to plural objects, such as images, which are compressively coded by the MPEG4 coding method, with reduced cost of the hardware circuits performing the decoding process.

Abstract: A preferred method for producing a composite digital video data stream, which contains data corresponding to an image to be rendered, includes the steps of: receiving multiple digital video data streams, each of the multiple digital video data streams corresponding to at least a portion of an image to be rendered; and combining the multiple digital video data streams into the composite digital video data stream. Devices also are provided.

Abstract: A method of forming a surgical splint to receive a patient's dentition and thereby align the upper jaw and the lower jaw during surgery includes generating a CT computer model of bone structure, generating a digital dental computer model of the patient's dentition, and then combining the CT computer model and the digital dental computer model to form a composite computer model. The composite computer model may be displayed, and at least one of the upper jaw and lower jaw repositioned relative to the patient's skull and the composite computer model to form a planned position computer model. Using this desired position computer model, a computer model surgical splint of the patient's dentition may be formed, which is then input into a fabrication machine to form a surgical splint. The method also includes forming and displaying the composite computer model. A workstation includes a CT machine, a digital scanner, a computer, an input command mechanism, a display, and a fabricating machine.

Abstract: A coordinate light source calculating unit 103 calculates 3D coordinates for points forming one or more objects and performs clipping. A rendering unit 104 performs rendering and outputs the formed CG image to a frame buffer 108. The coordinate light source calculating unit 103 calculates 3D coordinates forming a video display surface. A perspective projection unit 105 calculates 2D coordinates for each point forming the video display surface. An image decoder 106 decodes a video frame, and an image transform unit 107 transforms this image and outputs it to the frame buffer 108, enabling the video frame to be pasted onto the CG image.

Abstract: In a method for the automated joining of two-dimensional objects, two equally large sets of points of both objects are selected, one point of the second set being assigned precisely to each point the first set, and vice versa. An equation system is solved which can be obtained by setting up a transformation equation Pi′=T(Pi) for the set of points Pi with variable parameters aj and by determining those values of parameters aj for which the sum of all the squared distances between the transformed points Pi′ and the assigned points Gi of the second set assumes a minimum and the first object is plotted on the second one with the aid of the transformation equation thus obtained. The method is suitable in particular for the automatic joining of maps in a motor vehicle navigation system.

Abstract: An on-screen display (OSD) processor, processing method and article of manufacture are provided having a color mapped mode, direct color mode, and 4:2:2 profile mode. The OSD processor implements both color mapped OSD region processing capability and direct color OSD region processing capability, along with an ability to store quantizer coefficients for the 4:2:2 profile mode of a video decoder coupled to the OSD processor. The capabilities of the OSD processor are implemented using a common embedded memory within the processor. During color mapped OSD region processing, color table data is temporarily stored within the embedded memory, while in direct color OSD region processing, direct color descriptions are stored within the embedded memory. When the video decoder is decoding a 4:2:2 formatted image, the embedded memory of the OSD processor is used to temporarily store inverse quantization data for the decode function.

Abstract: A three-dimensional shape model indicating a first part is constructed and a three-dimensional shape that works as a transparent screen is disposed thereon continuously. A sight line direction is set and the three-dimensional shape model is displayed after rotated in accordance with the set sight line direction. A first two-dimensional image is constructed in accordance with the sight line direction, and a second two-dimensional image is constructed. The first two-dimensional image and the second two-dimensional image are combined with each other so as to construct a combined two-dimensional image. The combined two-dimensional image is assigned so that the part thereof corresponding to the first two-dimensional image agrees with the three-dimensional shape model, and the combined two-dimensional image is displayed visually.

Abstract: A preferred method includes the step of receiving multiple digital video data streams. Preferably, a first of the multiple digital video data streams contains processed pixel data corresponding to at least a portion of the image to be rendered, and a second of the multiple digital video data streams contains processed pixel data corresponding to at least a portion of the image to be rendered as well as information, such as a chroma-key value, associated with at least some of the processed pixel data. The embodiment also preferably includes the step of combining the multiple digital video data streams into the composite digital video data stream by referencing the chroma-key values. Devices also are provided.

Abstract: A method for realistically implanting a non-floating. Computer Graphic Image object into a real camera image sequence filmed scene, and for obtaining roaming capabilities therein, including modeling a picture into which a Computer Graphic Image object is to be implanted by creating therefor imaginary borders, providing a three-dimensional vector representing the movement of the camera between each frame, and expanding said vector to a plane by calculating the movement of the camera while marinating its original angles; and therewith by respectively using an imaginary camera to render a 3D object on a screen of a computer and by respectively coordinating the filming camera's angle with the imaginary camera for implanting the Computer Graphic Image object in the image sequence filmed scene; wherein the method is characterized by implementing angular noise from the filming camera's angle to the object rendered by the imaginary camera.

Abstract: On-screen-display graphics data is transmitted from a source device to a display device over an IEEE 1394-1995 serial bus network utilizing an isochronous data format. The on-screen-display graphics data is generated by the source device and transmitted to a display device, as a stream of isochronous data, separate from video data. Each packet of isochronous data within the stream of on-screen-display graphics data includes an address value corresponding to a memory address within the display device forming a buffer. When received by the display device the on-screen-display graphics data is loaded into the appropriate memory locations within the buffer corresponding to the address values. At the display device, an embedded stream processor is utilized to strip the header information from each packet and determine the appropriate memory location that the data is to be stored. A trigger packet is sent at the end of the data stream for a screen of on-screen-display graphics.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a system and method for accurately displaying superimposed images on a display screen of a computer. The method includes storing a base image having a first feature and a second feature in a storage device of a computer. Data is received which is indicative of a full-scale dimension between the first feature and the second feature. The base image is scaled to have a predefined dimension between the first feature and the second feature when displayed. An accessory image is scaled based upon at least a ratio between the predefined dimension and the full-scale dimension. The scaled accessory image is superimposed onto the scaled base image and displayed to a system user.

Abstract: An image fusion is carried out using a look-up table. The look-up table is addressed by the different kinds of images that will be used to carry out the fusion. Each address in the look-up table contains a precomputed image fusion between the two different kinds of images.

Abstract: A display engine of a video and graphics system includes one or more processing elements and receives graphics from a memory. The graphics data define multiple graphics layers, and the processing elements process two or more graphics layers in parallel to generate blended graphics. Alpha values may be used while blending graphics. The processing elements may be integrated on an integrated circuit chip with an input for receiving the graphics data and other video and graphics components. The display engine may also include a graphics controller for receiving two or more graphics layers in parallel, for arranging the graphics layers in an order suitable for parallel processing, and for providing the arranged graphics layers to the processing elements. The blended graphics may be blended with HDTV video or SDTV video, which may be extracted from compressed data streams such as an MPEG Transport stream.

Abstract: An image composing method and apparatus is provided which can compose a mixed image with no increased hardware scale and no reduced processing speed. A subtracting means (13) is used to calculate a difference in pixel value between a first image and a second image, each having three color information components and one additional information component. Each of the first and second image pixel values may have all the pixel values of zero. The result of subtraction is multiplied by a mixing factor in a multiplying means (15). For the mixing factor, any one of the additional information components or fixed values of the first and second image pixel values are selected. The components are of a same value. In a adding means 17, any of two image pixel values is added to the result of multiplication to produce a mixed image.

Abstract: A system receives and/or generates a first input image and a second input image. The system generates a first low frequency image as a function of the first input image, and a second low frequency image as a function of the second input image. Subsequently, the system generates the resulting image as a function of the first low frequency image, the second low frequency image and the second input image. A user may observe the first input image when the user views the resulting image at a first predetermined distance. In addition, the user may observe the second input image when the user views the resulting image at a second predetermined distance.

Abstract: A computer implemented method registers an image with a 3D physical object by first acquiring a 3D graphics model of an object. Multiple 3D calibration points a surface of the object and corresponding 3D model calibration points in the 3D graphics model are identified. The object is illuminated with a calibration image using a projector at a fixed location. The calibration image is aligned with each of the 3D calibration points on the surface of the 3D physical object to identify corresponding 2D pixels in the calibration image, and then a transformation between the 2D calibration pixels and the corresponding 3D model calibration points is determined to register the projector with the 3D physical object.

Abstract: In an apparatus for editing an application having a model and a view separated from each other, there is provided an application A execution module for editing a first model in the application, a model converter for converting the first model into a second model, and an application B execution module for displaying the second model in its view on a display device. The application B execution module includes an event generator for generating an event based on an update made to the second model when the second model is updated and changes the view displayed on the display device based on the event generated by the event generator.

Abstract: A 3-dimensional image apparatus based on a polarizing method is disclosed.

Abstract: A method for representing an image includes identifying characteristic lines of the image and the visual relationships among the characteristic lines. The visual relationships include proximities and crossings of the characteristic lines. The method further includes defining a background of the image, the background including a slow-scale background, background patches and background textures. Mathematical models representing the characteristic lines, the visual relationships among the characteristic lines and the background, respectively, are assembled and aggregated.

Abstract: Computer program product for supporting a user in designing a sealing system of a hydraulic cylinder by indicating at least one sealing system component related to one of: seals, guide rings and rod end bearings for application in the hydraulic cylinder based on the working conditions of the hydraulic cylinder. The computer program product is arranged to obtain sealing system component information items from a database. Each sealing system component information item is arranged to include: a sealing system component text information item; a duty level information item; a sealing system component graphic information item; and a rod end information item. The computer program product is arranged to receive design criteria in the form of duty level information and rod end information of the hydraulic cylinder to be designed.

Abstract: A method is described for taking a three-dimensional virtual model of the dentition and associated anatomical structures of a patient and isolating individual teeth from the rest of the anatomical structure, e.g. gums, to thereby produce individual, virtual three-dimensional tooth objects. The individual tooth objects can be displayed on the display of an orthodontic workstation and moved independently from each other, and thereby form the basis of planning treatment for the patient. The individual, virtual three-dimensional tooth objects are created by comparing the virtual model of the dentition to virtual, three-dimensional template teeth that are stored in memory in a process described in detail herein. The template teeth can include roots as well as crowns. The template teeth can be stored objects acquired from some external source or alternatively developed from a database of patient scans. Virtual three-dimensional brackets are also stored in the memory of the workstation.

Abstract: When displaying a scene on a display screen in which a translucent object and a background object of the translucent object overlap in a virtual space, data of a background object stored in a storage device is continuously read, a translucent calculation is performed between data of the background object and data of the translucent object overlapping the background object, and data of the result of the translucent calculation is continuously written into the storage device. Here, read of the background object data and the translucent calculation, or the translucent calculation and write of data of the translucent calculation result can be simultaneously performed. Further, the translucent calculation can be divided into a plurality of calculations, and the plurality of calculations can be performed simultaneously. With this method, translucent calculation can be performed in a short time.

Abstract: A graphics system applies multiple layers of texture information to triangles. The graphics system includes a hardware accelerator, a frame buffer and a video output processor. The hardware accelerator receives vertices of a triangle, identifies fragments of a sampling space which intersect the triangle, and applies the multiple layers of texture to the intersecting fragments. The multiple layers of textures may be stored in a texture memory external to the hardware accelerator. The hardware accelerator switches to a next texture layer after applying the textures of a current layer to all the fragments of the triangle. The hardware accelerator includes (or couples to) a texture accumulation buffer which stores color values associated with the triangle fragments between the application of successive texture layers. The frame buffer stores the samples and pixels generated from the samples by filtration. The video output processor transforms the pixels into a video signal.

Abstract: In an image composition method, a first image signal which forms a first image space including an object of an arbitrary shape and includes a shape signal indicating the shape of the object and a texture signal indicating the texture of the object, is composited with a second image signal which forms a second image space and includes a texture signal indicating the texture of the image, thereby generating a composite image signal which forms a third image space.

Abstract: The present invention comprises the first step of dividing a first image and a second image for each triangular patch having three adjacent feature points as vertexes, and calculating a planer projective transform matrix for the triangular patch, and the second step of finding a coordinate value, on the first image, corresponding to each of pixels in each of the triangular patches, on the second image using the planer projective transform matrix calculated for the triangular patch, and finding a coordinate value, on the first image, corresponding to each of the pixels which does not belong to any of the triangular patches on the second image using a planer projective transform matrix calculated for the triangular patch closest to the pixel.