Abstract: A motion-estimation scheme is provided that employs a combination of motion estimation and compensation techniques. Low resolution images are computed from two consecutive image frames, and feature points are determined and matched between the two low resolution images. Statistical methods are used to estimate the motion in terms of a translation and rotation of the image plane. Corresponding feature points in the original images are matched, based on the estimated motion of the low-resolution images. Statistical techniques are then applied to determine a homography matrix that describes the motion between the corresponding feature points in the original images, and this matrix is used to align the original images. Differences between the aligned images are identified, to indicate the movement of one or more objects in the image.

Abstract: A graphic interface device produces a video signal for a display such that the user may select between landscape and portrait image display modes. The graphic interface device has a pixel data memory array from which a video output signal is derived. A primary graphics engine renders graphics in a landscape orientation in conjunction with a frame buffer. The primary landscape graphics engine stores rendered graphics to the pixel data memory array and also copies selected graphics in data blocks within the frame buffer called surfaces. In order to provide other display modes to display images in different physical orientations, a mode control is provided in conjunction with a rotated pixel data array buffer to facilitate the rendering of portrait oriented graphics by the primary landscape graphics engine. In addition, to facilitate the efficiency and speed of rendering portrait oriented graphics, a secondary portrait graphics engine is provided.

Abstract: A sensor, such as, for example, a gravity-responsive sensor, provides an output used to select an orientation of a display of a display device. For example, the output may indicate that the orientation of the display should comprise a portrait or landscape orientation, an orientation rotated, such as, for example, ninety degrees (90°), one hundred and eighty degrees (180°), two hundred and seventy degrees (270°), or the like. In addition, one or more manual switches, buttons, or display icons may be actuated or otherwise selected to manually set the orientation of the display.

Abstract: A method of stabilizing and registering a video image in multiple video fields of a video sequence provides accurate determination of the image change in magnification, rotation and translation between video fields, so that the video fields may be accurately corrected for these changes in the image in the video sequence. In a described embodiment, a key area of a key video field is selected which contains an image which it is desired to stabilize in a video sequence. The key area is subdivided into nested pixel blocks and the translation of each of the pixel blocks from the key video field to a new video field is determined as a precursor to determining change in magnification, rotation and translation of the image from the key video field to the new video field.

Abstract: The present invention provides a display controlling method that can easily generate various interface displays. A user generates a program including: nodes n1 to n9, for example, each serving as a data group indicating a static attribute of a link to referential data or actual referential data and each serving as a constitutive unit of a drawing; and views v1 to v4, for example, each serving as a data group for specifying the node carrying out the drawing and a drawing style on a screen of the node, and in accordance with the program, the view is automatically selected, and an image corresponding to the node specified by the selected view is displayed on a screen in the drawing style specified by the view.

Abstract: A removable vehicle entertainment system is provided. The system includes a video display screen for displaying entertainment to an occupant of the vehicle. The system can be removed from the docking bracket in the vehicle, and attached to an external docking station such that the system can be used independently of the power supply and speakers of the vehicle. Further, the system can be used as a self-contained personal entertainment system. The system includes mechanical and/or electrical componentry that determines the orientation of the video display screen, and allows the electronics of the system to display an image on the screen in an appropriate orientation, thus avoiding upside-down images in the various uses of the system.

Abstract: An image-based walkthrough system and process that employs pictures, panoramas, and/or concentric mosaics captured from real scenes to present a photo-realistic environment to a viewer. This is generally accomplished by dividing a walkthrough space into a horizontally sectioned grid. The viewer moves through the walkthrough space and in doing so, “enters” and “exits” the various cells of the grid. Each cell of the grid is assigned at least one source of image data from which an image of a part or all of the surrounding scene as viewed from that cell can be rendered. Whenever the viewer moves into one of the grid cells, the image source(s) associated with that cell, as well as the source(s) associated with the adjacent cells are considered. Specifically, the distance between the viewer's currently selected viewing position, and each picture viewpoint, panorama center, and nearest concentric mosaic wandering circle point, in the considered cells is computed.

Abstract: A moving-path editor for editing a moving path of a multimedia object and the editing method using the same are provided. The moving-path editor includes a browser interface, an input module and a combination module. The browser interface provides a transition parameter group, a rotation parameter group and a scale parameter group for storing a plurality of preloaded settings, respectively. The input module is used to receive the input of the user and select at least one transition setting, one rotation setting and one scale setting selected, respectively, from the preloaded settings. The combination module combines all selected settings and creates the moving path of the designated multimedia object.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus and an information processing method adapted for representing objects of various shapes as two-dimensional graphic or three-dimensional graphic to change corresponding object so as to take various states within three-dimensional virtual space. Among prepared plural three-dimensional attitudes of object, attitude A0 is selected as reference attitude. Vectors serving as rotation axes when rotation is made from the reference attitude to attitudes A1, A2 are multiplied by their rotational angles as length, and are multiplied by weighting coefficients corresponding to an input signal inputted by allowing user to operate an input unit. Further, those vectors are synthesized to thereby synthesize (generate) vector serving as new axis of rotation. By rotating the object in the state where that vector is caused to be axis of rotation and its length is caused to be rotation angle, target attitude An is obtained.

Abstract: In an interactive image generation method and apparatus, excellent operability is provided when the operator selects a figure to be operated on from among a plurality of figure units displayed on the picture surface of a display unit. In such a method and apparatus, respective units for measuring the visual point and the direction of the line of sight of the operator observing the display device are provided, and a figure unit displayed at a position viewed by the operator on the picture surface is identified. Accordingly, the operator can be sure of correctly selecting the target figure by a direct operation of looking at the figure, and therefore excellent operability can be obtained.

Abstract: A method and apparatus utilizes a three dimensional rendering engine to rotate an image based on user selected or otherwise determined screen orientation. A vertex coordinate transformation is defined for a rotated destination image. The source image is used as a texture for texture mapping during rendering operation to produce rotated image. In one embodiment, a separate set of software instructions is used for each orientation mode. Accordingly, a non-pixel by pixel based 3D rotation may be carried out using a 3D rendering engine to avoid a single parameter based seriatim pixel by pixel based orientation.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a data dividing section for dividing digital data into a plurality of blocks of data. A first parallel shift control section controls, block by block, first parallel shift for shifting the blocks of digital data to positions coinciding with an angle of rotation of an image. A second parallel shift control section subdivides the digital data in each of the blocks into subblock data, and controls second shift for shifting the subblock data in each block to positions coinciding with the angle of rotation of the image such that a color image is correctly displayed. The apparatus is capable of rotating a color image correctly and rapidly with a simple circuit arrangement.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electronic device having a rotary switch and a display screen for displaying information. It is the object of the invention further to develop such a device to the effect that it permits operation which is as universal as possible and simple. The invention is defined by the fact that the rotary switch is provided for the two-dimensional movement of at least one display element of the display screen, that a rotary movement of the rotary switch is provided for selecting the direction of movement of the display element, and that a first axial movement of the rotary switch is provided for moving the display element in the selected direction of movement.

Abstract: Two-dimensional pen tables with texture for a low pressure, a medium pressure and a high pressure are provided for each pen. According to the pen pressure, pen tables are interpolated to generate drawing data for one patch. The image data in the stroke and the drawing data of an unprocessed patch are mixed together to generate new image data. This processing is repeated till the completion of the processing of the stroke. Next, the data of the image memory and the data of the stroke are made to modify the data in the image memory.

Abstract: A user interface and navigator is provided that improves the viewer's viewing experience and provides improved access to programs, including interactive features. The user interface includes arrow keys and a select key, and may be embodied in a remote control device. Corresponding icons may then be displayed in an overlay fashion on a program, such as a television program. The navigator includes one or more solid, rotatable objects, with each of the objects having at least one face containing a selectable feature. In an embodiment, the solid, rotatable objects are cubes, and each of the cubes may have at least one feature corresponding to each of the six faces of the cubes.

Abstract: A method for increasing multimedia data accessibility is presented and more specifically increasing the interactivity with images shown on a display device. A series of images is displayed according to a user's position relative to a display screen by displaying a first image, receiving information regarding a change in the user's position relative to the display screen, and displaying a second image in response to the change in the user's position. The series of images are packaged, compressed and transmitted in a manner that makes it feasible to simultaneously receive, display and interact with the series of images. The scale of a portion of the images is manipulated based on interaction therewith.

Abstract: A method for increasing multimedia data accessibility is presented and more specifically increasing the interactivity with images shown on a display device. A series of images is displayed according to a user's position relative to a display screen by displaying a first image, receiving information regarding a change in the user's position relative to the display screen, and displaying a second image in response to the change in the user's position. The series of images are packaged, compressed and transmitted in a manner that makes it feasible to simultaneously receive, display and interact with the series of images. The scale of a portion of the images is manipulated based on interaction therewith.

Abstract: A graphical object in an object-oriented environment is comprised of a plurality of child graphical objects. The parent graphical object and each of the child graphical objects have a property corresponding to the orientation of a representation of the respective object. A connection tree is formed from the parent graphical object which has the initial values of each property of the child graphical objects. During operation, the value of the property of the graphical object may be altered corresponding to a change in the position of the object's graphical representation. The altered value is broadcast through the connection tree to allow recalculation of each child object's property based upon its initial value so that the parent object and its child objects can be graphically displayed based on the changed position.

Abstract: The present invention is a device and method for converting a display of a portable electronic device, such as a PDA-type device, from a first display orientation and/or configuration to a second orientation and/or configuration via a single action. The device provides a “one-touch” or single-action change in the orientation and/or configuration of the viewing area of the display via a hard key, a soft key, or an orientation sensing/switching device within the electronic device.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically rotating a visual display unit which is capable of rotating a display screen of the visual display unit manually or automatically according to a viewer's desire, and of automatically rotating the display screen rightward and leftward according to a body temperature of the viewer after the body temperature is sensed by using an infrared light radiated from the front surface of the visual display unit, so that the viewer can watch television comfortably and easefully, and its method.

Abstract: An interface apparatus for use with a computer system. The apparatus in the preferred embodiment having three concentric annular rings. The outer most of which is a solid ring, the two inner rings each being segmented into for equal arcs, which arcs form four pairs of two buttons each. The interface also has at its center two buttons. The interface is used to position an object for imaging and also to manipulate and position the image of an object for comparison and analysis. The two center buttons and the outside annular ring are used to generate signals to rotate an object or the image of the object in a common reference frame. The four pairs of arcs of the two inner concentric rings are used to generate signals for translational motion of the object or the image of the object. The four pairs of arcs being positioned to move the object or the image of the object in one of four perpendicular directions within the common reference frame.

Abstract: In computer animation a system and method for portraying animated characters which convey human-like emotions, by body movements, and human-like body movements. The gestures, for example, arm movements, are synthesized using controlled stochastic functions.

Abstract: The preferred embodiment provides a system and method for georeferencing digital raster maps by associating specific points on the raster map with corresponding points on a georeferenced vector map or another georeferenced raster map. According to the preferred embodiment, a raster map and a corresponding vector map are simultaneously displayed to a user. The user then locates a common geographic point or feature on each map, and marks each of them as a unique point-pair. When the user has marked at least two point-pairs, the system then computes a georeferencing function, based on the pixel-coordinates of the points marked on the raster map and the corresponding geographic coordinates of the points on the vector map. Thereafter the geographic coordinates of any point on the map may be easily computed. The preferred embodiment provides that as more point-pairs are identified, the georeferencing function is modified for increased accuracy.