Abstract: A system and method for multiple map image projecting and fusing in an object oriented computer environment. The multiple map image projecting and fusing method may provide a flexible and efficient architecture for generating combined map images from one or more map data sources. One or more map image objects may be coupled to map data objects, map projection objects and other map image objects according to a contemplated use of the invention.

Abstract: Upon applying a demosaicing process to a photographic image, a display image is generated from the photographic image to which the demosaicing process is applied, and an instruction indicating a reference region on the display image, and an adjustment instruction of parameters for a development process are input. Then, an image region having a high correlation with the reference region is extracted as a similar region, and display images of the reference region and similar region are generated by applying the parameters for the development process to the photographic image before the demosaicing process, which corresponds to the reference region, and that before the demosaicing process, which corresponds to the similar region.

Abstract: A method of animating feather elements includes: specifying initial positions for a skin surface and for feather elements; specifying positions for the skin surface at an animated time; determining a feather-ordering sequence for placing the feather elements on the skin surface; determining positions for skirt elements that provide spatial extensions for the skin surface at the animated time; determining positions for feather-proxy elements that provide spatial extensions for the feather elements at the animated time; and determining positions for the feather elements at the animated time by extracting the feather elements from the feather-proxy elements. The feather-proxy elements are determined from the skirt elements according to the feather-ordering sequence, and the feather-proxy elements satisfy a separation criterion for avoiding intersections between the feather-proxy elements.

Abstract: A digital image composition method is adapted to eliminate a ghost image produced by a digital image-capturing apparatus due to handshakes in shooting. The method includes the steps. In a pre-shooting process, a base image and a comparison image are respectively captured. A base pixel is selected from the base image, and a core window is set with the base pixel at the center. A comparison pixel is selected from the comparison image, and a search window is set with the comparison pixel at the center. Each area of the search window is compared through the core window, and an absolute error sum value between the base image and the comparison image is calculated. It is determined how to change the brightness of the base pixel according to the normalized region difference value. The above steps are repeated to adjust each pixel in the base image.

Abstract: An image processing system embeds at least one image inside a second image. The images are displayed together as a composite image. The first and second images are each tiled and have image pyramids comprising representations at different resolutions formed for them. The image processing system allows a user to zoom into and out of the embedded image, to a desired depth, using its image pyramid.

Abstract: An exemplary method includes receiving a trimap for an image that specifies a background region, a foreground region and an unknown region for the image wherein a boundary exists between the foreground region and the unknown region and wherein another boundary exists between the unknown region and the background region, solving a set of Poisson equations having boundary conditions for the two boundaries to provide a matte that distinguishes a foreground region from a background region in the unknown region, and refining the matte by solving a set of Poisson equations for a local unknown region. Various other exemplary technologies are also presented.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for mosaicing multiple input images, captured by one or more remote sensors, into a seamless mosaic of an area of interest. Each set of input images captured by the remote sensors within a capture interval are ortho-rectified and mosaiced together into a composite image. Successive composite images, along a given flight path, are then mosaiced together to form a strip. Adjacent strips are then mosaiced together to form a final image of the area of interest.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for full-resolution light-field capture and rendering. A radiance camera is described in which the microlenses in a microlens array are focused on the image plane of the main lens instead of on the main lens, as in conventional plenoptic cameras. The microlens array may be located at distances greater than f from the photosensor, where f is the focal length of the microlenses. Radiance cameras in which the distance of the microlens array from the photosensor is adjustable, and in which other characteristics of the camera are adjustable, are described. Digital and film embodiments of the radiance camera are described. A full-resolution light-field rendering method may be applied to flats captured by a radiance camera to render higher-resolution output images than are possible with conventional plenoptic cameras and rendering methods.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and apparatus for capturing information that is pertinent to physical surroundings with respect to a device, the information including at least one of visual information or audio information. Overlay information for use in generating a transparent overlay via the device is obtained using at least a portion of the captured information. The transparent overlay is then superimposed via the device using the overlay information, wherein the transparent overlay provides one or more transparent images that are pertinent to and in correlation with the physical surroundings.

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: The present invention provides systems and methods that provide images of an environment to the viewpoint of a display. The systems and methods define a mapping surface at a distance from the image source and display that approximates the environment within the field of view of the image source. The system methods define a model that relates the different geometries of the image source, display, and mapping surface to each other. Using the model and the mapping surface, the systems and methods tile images from the image source, correlate the images to the display, and display the images. In instants where two image sources have overlapping fields of view on the mapping surface, the systems and methods overlap and stitch the images to form a mosaic image. If two overlapping image sources each have images with unique characteristics, the systems and methods fuse the images into a composite image.

Abstract: A method for test-wearing image producing method for a personal product includes the steps of: posting a base image layer which contains an image of a wearer; defining a display area and a masking area on the base image layer in responsive to the personal product being physically worn by the wearer; selecting a product image layer containing an image of the personal product to locate on the base image layer; and creating a test-wearing image, wherein a portion of the image of the personal product within the display area is visibly shown on the image of the wearer while a portion of the image of the personal product within the masking area is invisibly hidden, such that the test-wearing image contains a virtual appearance of the wearer physically wearing the personal product.

Abstract: A system that provides graphics commands that represent graphics or an image, to a consuming process. The graphics commands are represented by a visual tree which includes objects and resources describing the objects. The objects and resources are communicated to a composition engine that creates an analogous composition tree that is analogous to the visual tree. The composition tree is used to render the graphics or image.

Abstract: There is provided a method for augmented reality guided instrument positioning. At least one graphics proximity marker is determined for indicating a proximity of a predetermined portion of an instrument to a target. The at least one graphics proximity marker is rendered such that the proximity of the predetermined portion of the instrument to the target is ascertainable based on a position of a marker on the instrument with respect to the at least one graphics proximity marker.

Abstract: In a brush tool of an electronic graphics design application, a single composite brush may include one or more brush components which are applied to the same stroke trail defined by a single pen down and pen up event. An interaction operation of the brush component(s) may be indicated such as merging of individual brush component stamps and/or trails of the brush components. A merging operator may define the composite brush component interaction which may be additive (e.g., a union), or subtractive (e.g., an intersection or a cut-away). The interaction may define the order of application of the merging operator to the brush components marks, such as sequential, hierarchical, and the like.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for automatically rendering information on a display screen of a building information system. Following generation of a plan image, such as a floor or site plan image, the plan image is modified and subsequently rendered on the display screen. The plan image is modified by adjusting the contrast ratio of the plan image such that, when graphical elements, such as icons representing elevators, evacuation stairways and fire hydrants, are rendered on the display screen overlaying the modified plan image, the graphical elements are visually distinct from the modified plan image.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus and method combine images to form one combined image by using an image formed by clipping, from images including the same person, parts of a face and a body of the person and combining the parts. The apparatus and method select, from images stored in advance, images to be combined in image combination frames of a template for the combined image, the template being stored in advance and including the image combination frames for which image editing conditions are defined, edit the selected images according to each of the image editing conditions for each of the image combination frames of the template and arrange the edited images in the image combination frames of the template and combining the arranged images.

Abstract: A system for generating and providing a simulated image. Based upon a source image and first parameters for a first display device, the system generates and displays a simulated image on second display device having second parameters. The first parameters are different from the second parameters, and the simulated image displayed on the second display device provides a visual indication of how the source image would appear when displayed on the first display device. The parameters can include a resolution in pixels per inch and a fill factor for the display device. The system can also be used to provide a visual indication of how the source image would appear when displayed on the second display device under varying lighting conditions and viewing angles.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method and system transforms a first sequence of video frames of a first dynamic scene to a second sequence of at least two video frames depicting a second dynamic scene. A subset of video frames in the first sequence is obtained that show movement of at least one object having a plurality of pixels located at respective x, y coordinates and portions from the subset are selected that show non-spatially overlapping appearances of the at least one object in the first dynamic scene. The portions are copied from at least three different input frames to at least two successive frames of the second sequence without changing the respective x, y coordinates of the pixels in the object and such that at least one of the frames of the second sequence contains at least two portions that appear at different frames in the first sequence.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and a method for designing geometric shapes for automobiles or any other manufactured objects. The method of a vehicle design system is for analyzing constraints on parameters of a vehicle model, the vehicle design system including a catalog of exemplars from which a user may select exemplar input and at least one engineering criteria having a plurality of criteria values from which a user may select criteria values. The method includes providing a morphable vehicle model generated from exemplar input, selecting a first criteria, evaluating the morphable model with respect to the first criteria to determine the value, selecting a new target criteria value from the plurality of criteria values, and updating the morphable model shape to achieve this value.

Abstract: A method of compositing a plurality of ordered image layers which include a group of consecutive layers. The group has a shape effect and a composition effect. Any image layers under the group are composited to generate a first intermediate image. A first subset of the plurality of image layers is composited to generate a second intermediate image, the first intermediate image is composited with the second intermediate image according to the composition effect to generate a third intermediate image, and the third intermediate image is composited with a second subset of the plurality of image layer to generate a fourth intermediate image. The first intermediate image is cross-faded with the fourth intermediate image according to the shape effect to generate a fifth intermediate image. The fifth intermediate image is composited with any remaining image layers to generate a final image.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and apparatus for uniquely identifying multiple real estate parcels and integrating image data sourced from disparate image data capture devices. Disparate image data capture device can gather data from proximate locations viewing different directions. In addition, multiple continuums of image data can be virtually traverse by a user to emulate the human visual experience.

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: 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 image display apparatus includes: an image signal processing unit which adjusts an input grayscale values included in an input image signal according to a predetermined grayscale characteristic; a display unit which displays an image based on an image signal included in an output grayscale value adjusted by the image signal processing unit; and a grayscale characteristic changing unit which changes a correlation between the input and output grayscale values defined based on the grayscale characteristic.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for assembling graphics information as a graphics display for presentation on a visual interface, the graphics information including a plurality of image tiles stored in a data store. The system and method comprise a management module for receiving a graphics request message and for coordinating processing of a selected number of the image tiles to generate at least one representative image tile as the graphics display in response to the graphics request message. The system and method also comprise a graphics system coupled to the management module for receiving processing information from the management module to facilitate access to the selected number of the image tiles. The selected number of image tiles are processed as a combination to generate the least one representative image tile, such that the graphics system includes graphics hardware such as a GPU/VPU configured for processing the graphics information.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus is disclosed in which input images are processed to generate texture map data for texture rendering a generated three-dimensional computer model of object(s) appearing in the images. In order to select the portions of the images utilised, confidence data is generated indicative of the extent portions of the surface of a model are visible in each of the images. The images are then combined utilizing this confidence data, where image data representative of different spatial frequencies are blended in different ways utilizing the confidence data.

Abstract: A system and method for repairing an object in image data of an event. An image of the event is obtained from a camera, and an object is detected in the image. For example, the event may be a sporting event in which the object is a participant. Moreover, a portion of the object is occluded in a viewpoint of the camera. For instance, a limb of the participant may be occluded by another participant. The object is repaired by providing a substitute for the occluded portion. A user may perform the repair via a user interface by selecting part of an image from an image library and positioning the selected portion relative to the object. A textured 3d model of the event is combined with data from the repaired object, to depict a realistic virtual viewpoint of the event which differs from a viewpoint of the camera.

Abstract: 3d textured objects are provided for virtual viewpoint animations. In one aspect, an image of an event is obtained from a camera and an object in the image is automatically detected. For example, the event may be a sports event and the object may be a stationary object which is detected based on a known location, color and shape. A 3d model of the object is combined with a textured 3d model of the event to depict a virtual viewpoint which differs from a viewpoint of the camera. The textured 3d model of the event has texture applied from an image of the event, while the 3d model of the object does not have such texture applied, in one approach. In another aspect, an object in the image such as a participant in a sporting event is represented in the virtual viewpoint by a textured 3d kinematics model.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for extensible real-time workflows are described. The present invention allows a user of a transaction processing system, such as a customer relationship management (CRM) tool or an automatic call distribution (ACD), for example, to easily add new event sources without recompiling the core workflow server engine of the transaction processing system. The invention also supports features such as the adding of new services, the exchange of events and parameters with other systems, real-time collection and display of workflow statistical information, the use of a centralized configuration database, incremental loading and unloading of workflows and rules, and exception handling.

Abstract: The edge evaluation technique, in accordance with one embodiment of the present technology, includes determining a number of edges of a given primitive to be evaluated. The technique also includes sequencing evaluation of a first edge by a first edge evaluation circuit and a second edge by a second edge evaluation circuit during a first clock cycle. The technique further includes sequencing evaluation of a third edge by the first edge evaluation circuit and a fourth edge by the second edge evaluation circuit during a second clock cycle if three or more edges are to be evaluated.

Abstract: An information processing method and apparatus enables one or more further users to share a mixed reality space image including a virtual object superimposed in a space where a first user exists. A first stereo image is acquired based on a stereo video captured by a first stereo capturing section mounted on the first user and a virtual object image created based on the position and orientation of the first stereo capturing section. A second stereo image is acquired based on a stereo video captured by a second stereo capturing section provided in the space where the first user exists and a virtual object image created based on the position and orientation of the second stereo capturing section. An image is selected from the first stereo image and the second stereo image according to an instruction of the further user. The selected image is presented to the further user.

Abstract: A method of adding information to a displayed electronic image includes receiving a search request based on information from the displayed electronic image, locating at least one information responsive to the search request, and receiving identification of a selected information of the at least one information. The method also includes receiving selection of a position on the displayed electronic image at which the selected information is to be added and adding the selected information at the position on the displayed electronic image.

Abstract: A musical video is made at a first time of a dancer whose head is stationary but whose feet and body are moving in synchronism with a dance song. The dancer's head is then removed from the video. At a festive occasion (e.g., a birthday party) at a subsequent time, the dance song is replayed and a video is made of the response of the head, in a stationary position, of one or more of the celebrants at the festive occasion to the dance song. The celebrant's head is combined with the dancer's body to produce two (2) videos are then combined into a single video in which the celebrant's head appears on the dancer's body.

Abstract: A media integration layer including an application programming interface (API) and an object model allows program code developers to interface in a consistent manner with a scene graph data structure in order to output graphics. Via the interfaces, program code adds child visuals to other visuals to build up a hierarchical scene graph, writes Instruction Lists such as geometry data, image data, animation data and other data for output, and may specify transform, clipping and opacity properties on visuals. The media integration layer and API enable programmers to accomplish composition effects within their applications in a straightforward manner, while leveraging the graphics processing unit in a manner that does not adversely impact normal application performance. A multiple-level system includes the ability to combine different media types (such as 2D, 3D, Video, Audio, text and imaging) and animate them smoothly and seamlessly.

Abstract: In a radiographic image connection processing method of connecting plural partial radiographic images, the partial radiographic images are selected, and if appropriate the operation mode is changed, e.g., from an image position adjustment mode, for adjusting a position of the selected partial radiographic image, to an image measurement mode, for measuring the selected partial radiographic image, or vice versa. The selected partial radiographic images are connected. Thus, it is possible to achieve image position adjustment and image measurement during radiographic image connection, and it is also possible to achieve smooth performance of the operations for image position adjustment and image measurement.

Abstract: A rendering processing device which performs rendering processes of a plurality of inputted rendering process commands, categorizes the plurality of rendering process commands into a plurality of rendering command groups, assigns computation resources in order to execute rendering process commands for each of the plurality of rendering command groups, generates images by performing rendering processes based on the rendering process commands included in the rendering command groups, using the computation resources assigned, stores the images generated for each of the plurality of rendering command groups in a memory, and composites the images stored in the memory for each of the rendering command groups, wherein more computational resources are assigned to the rendering command group with higher priority.

Abstract: The object of the invention is to easily and simply output a document including an image in a desired layout. A script generation device 10 generates a script used to control a layout of a printer 20, and transfers the generated script to the printer 20. The script includes multiple drawing control commands that individually adjust output positions with regard to a plurality of images to be output in a preset output range. The sequence of arrangement of the multiple drawing control commands specifies the overlapping state of the plurality of images. The script of this construction enables the user to readily define and change the overlapping state and thereby attain a desired layout.

Abstract: Various techniques are disclosed for easily and accurately estimating the amount of overlap between two or more polygons. With various examples of these techniques, a pattern of objects, such as points, is provided over the entire area of the first polygon. The amount of objects within the first polygon then is determined, as is the amount of objects within the first polygon that also are located within the second polygon. The ratio of the amount of objects located within both the first polygon and the second polygon to the total amount of objects located within the first polygon then provides an estimate of the amount of the first polygon overlapped by the second polygon.

Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatus, including computer program products, for processing a computer graphics illustration having pieces of artwork.

Abstract: A telestrator system is disclosed that allows a broadcaster to annotate video during or after an event. For example, while televising a sporting event, an announcer (or other user) can use the present invention to draw over the video of the event to highlight one or more actions, features, etc. In one embodiment, when the announcer draws over the video, it appears that the announcer is drawing on the field or location of the event. Such an appearance can be performed by mapping the pixels location from the user's drawing to three dimensional locations at the event. Other embodiments include drawing on the video without obscuring persons and/or other specified objects, and/or smoothing the drawings in real time.

Abstract: A caricature generating system and method. The caricature generating system comprises an edge tracing and stroking unit, a posterizing and texturing unit, an image blending unit, a facial image adjusting unit, a cartoon theme composition unit, a styling parameters database comprising a plurality of styling parameters including the control parameters for edge tracing, stroking, posterizing, and texturing, a face adjusting parameter database comprising a plurality of face adjusting parameter set, and a cartoon theme database comprising a plurality of cartoon themes, thereby creating a caricature from a facial image. The styling parameters (including the control parameters for edge tracing, stroking, posterizing, and texturing), created manually or by a software, comprise oil paint, pastel, a wax crayon, marker pen, pen drawing, tempera paint, glue color paint, halftone, watercolor paint, block print, woodcut, color pencil, charcoal and their combinations.

Abstract: A virtual-space shift control apparatus includes a detecting element that detects a touch operation or a drag operation of a pointing device having a plurality of pointing elements, performed on a display screen and a viewpoint-position information generator that generates viewpoint position information of a virtual space image based on the detected touch or drag operation of the detecting element. A three-dimensional image generator is provided that generates data on the virtual space image seen from a viewpoint indicated by the viewpoint position information and outputting a three dimensional image to the display.

Abstract: The generation of characters within computer animations is currently a labor intensive and expensive activity for a wide range of businesses. Whereas prior art approaches have sought to reduce this loading by providing reference avatars, these do not fundamentally overcome the intensive steps in generating these reference avatars, and they provide limited variations. According to the invention a user is provided with a method for establishing the physical characteristics of an avatar by using a process based upon inheritance. The inheritance based avatar generator allows, for example, the user to select a first generation of four grandparents based upon selected characteristics, the generator thereupon determining the physical characteristics of a second generation, being the parents of the final avatar, and then determining the physical characteristics of the third generation off-spring.

Abstract: The generation of characters within computer animations is a labor intensive and expensive activity. Whereas prior art approaches have sought to reduce this loading by providing reference avatars, these do not fundamentally overcome the intensive steps in generating these reference avatars, and they provide limited variations to the businesses employing them. Accordingly the invention provides the user with a simple and intuitive mechanism to affect the weightings applied in establishing the physical characteristics of an avatar generated using an inheritance based avatar generator. The inheritance based generator allowing, for example, the user to select a first generation of four grandparents, affect the weightings in generating the second generation parents, and subsequently affect the weightings in generating the third generation off-spring avatar from these parents, therein providing a wide range of avatars from an initially limited set of avatars.

Abstract: The present invention provides a processing system for enabling modifications to be made to a virtual design in a CAD system, in particular a collaborative CAD system with a number of spatially distributed users. An indication is constantly provided as to the degrees of freedom of the components involved in any modification and the effects on the degrees of freedom of any changes to be made.

Abstract: Image acquisition refers to the taking of digital images of multiple views of the object of interest. In the processing step, the constituent images collected in the image acquisition step are selected and further processed to form a multimedia sequence which allows for the interactive view of the object. Furthermore, during the Processing phase, the entire multimedia sequence is compressed and digitally signed to authorize it viewing. In the Storage and Caching Step, the resulting multimedia sequence is sent to a storage servers. In the Transmission and viewing step, a Viewer (individual) may request a particular multi-media sequence, for example, by selecting a particular hyperlink within a browser, which initiates the downloading, checking of authorization to view, decompression and interactive rendering of the multi-media sequence on the end-users terminal, which could be any one of a variety of devices, including a desktop PC, or a hand-held device.

Abstract: A map display apparatus includes a view transformation matrix generation unit which generates a view transformation matrix, including four rows and four columns, for transforming a global coordinate of a three-dimensional object into a view coordinate system; a view transformation matrix change unit which (i) changes, to 0, (a) the value of the first row in the second column and (b) the value of the third row in the second column in the view transformation matrix, in the case where the coordinate transformation is executed by multiplying a coordinate with the view transformation matrix from the left side of the coordinate, and (ii) changes, to 0, (a) the value of the second row in the first column and (b) the value of the second row in the third column in the view transformation matrix, in the case where the coordinate transformation is executed by multiplying the coordinate with the view transformation matrix from the right side of the coordinate; and a view transformation unit which transforms the global co

Abstract: The present invention relates to video communication technology and discloses a system and method for generating animated video images. The present invention provides a system for generating animated video images, including a video image capture module, an animation capture module and an overlay module, for the purpose of overcoming the disadvantages of current video interaction system, such as poor video interaction experience and dull images. The present invention also provides a method for generating animated video images, comprising capturing video images, obtaining animation frames and overlaying the video images with the animation frames.

Abstract: In general, the present disclosure describes various techniques for overlaying or combining a set of rendered graphics surfaces onto a single graphics frame. One example device includes a first processor that selects a surface level for each of a plurality of rendered graphics surfaces prior to the device outputting any of the rendered graphics surfaces to a display. The device further includes a second processor that retrieves the rendered graphics surfaces, overlays the rendered graphics surfaces onto a graphics frame in accordance with each of the selected surface levels, and outputs the graphics frame to the display.