50 results about "Computer-generated imagery" patented technology

A system, method, and computer program product for automatically combining computer-generated imagery with real-world imagery in a portable electronic device by retrieving, manipulating, and sharing relevant stored videos, preferably in real time. A video is captured with a hand-held device and stored. Metadata including the camera's physical location and orientation is appended to a data stream, along with user input. The server analyzes the data stream and further annotates the metadata, producing a searchable library of videos and metadata. Later, when a camera user generates a new data stream, the linked server analyzes it, identifies relevant material from the library, retrieves the material and tagged information, adjusts it for proper orientation, then renders and superimposes it onto the current camera view so the user views an augmented reality.

The present invention provides a cost effective, reliable system for producing a virtual scene combining live video enhanced by other imagery, including computer generated imagery. In one embodiment it includes a scene camera with an attached tracking camera, the tracking camera viewing a tracking marker pattern, which has a plurality of tracking markers with identifying indicia. The tracking marker pattern is positioned proximate so that when viewed by the tracking camera, the coordinate position of the scene camera can be determined in real time. The present invention also includes novel filtering algorithms, that vary based on camera motion and maintain accurate positioning.

A system and process for digitally representing a plurality of surface-attached geometric objects on a model. The system and process comprises generating a plurality of particles and placing the plurality of particles on a surface of the model. A first plurality of curves are generated and placed at locations on the model. Characteristics are defined for the first plurality of curves. A second plurality of curves is interpolated from the first plurality of curves at locations of the particles. A plurality of surface-attached geometric objects is generated that replaces all of the particles and the second plurality of curves.

A video playback system for assisting on-location film production. One embodiment of the invention includes a computer system capable of generating computer generated imagery (CGI) and receiving live video feed from a camera. The computer system is also coupled to a first display screen for displaying computer generated images and a second display screen for displaying the live video feed overlaid with computer generated images. In one embodiment of the present invention, a portion of the first display screen containing computer generated images can be selected for overlaying on the live video feed. The video playback system of the present invention is also capable of storing the live video feed and the images resulted from overlaying the computer generated images and the live video feed. The present invention provides the advantages of allowing live/CGI composites to be played and viewed on the director's monitor for review while on-location.

An image combining method for combining an image obtained by image sensing real space with a computer-generated image and displaying the combined image. Mask area color information is determined based on a first real image including an object as the subject of mask area and a second real image not including the object, and the color information is registered. The mask area is extracted from the real image by using the registered mask area color information, and the real image and the computer-generated image are combined by using the mask area.

This disclosure relates to computer-generated imagery (CGI) and computer-aided animation. More specifically, this disclosure relates to techniques for preserving the shape of simulated and dynamic objects for use in CGI and computer-aided animation.

A cluster computer system including multiple network accessible computers that are each coupled to a network. The network accessible computers implement host computer programs which permits the network accessible computers to operate as host computers for client computers also connected to the network, such that input devices of the client computers can be used to generate inputs to the host computers, and such that image information generated by the host computers can be viewed by the client computers. The system also includes a cluster administration computer coupled to the multiple network accessible computers to monitor the operation of the network accessible computers. A method for providing access to host computers by client computers over a computer network includes receiving a request for a host computer coupled to a computer network from a client computer coupled to the computer network, wherein the relationship of the host computer to the client computer is to be such that after the client computer becomes associated with a host computer, an input device of the client computer can be used to generate inputs to the host computer, and such that image information generated by the host computer can be viewed by the client computer. Next, a suitable host computer for the client computer is determined, and the client computer is informed of the network address of the suitable host computer.

A system, method, and computer program product for automatically combining computer-generated imagery with real-world imagery in a portable electronic device by retrieving, manipulating, and sharing relevant stored videos, preferably in real time. A video is captured with a hand-held device and stored. Metadata including the camera's physical location and orientation is appended to a data stream, along with user input. The server analyzes the data stream and further annotates the metadata, producing a searchable library of videos and metadata. Later, when a camera user generates a new data stream, the linked server analyzes it, identifies relevant material from the library, retrieves the material and tagged information, adjusts it for proper orientation, then renders and superimposes it onto the current camera view so the user views an augmented reality.

A system, method, and computer program product for automatically combining computer-generated imagery with real-world imagery in a portable electronic device by retrieving, manipulating, and sharing relevant stored videos, preferably in real time. A video is captured with a hand-held device and stored. Metadata including the camera's physical location and orientation is appended to a data stream, along with user input. The server analyzes the data stream and further annotates the metadata, producing a searchable library of videos and metadata. Later, when a camera user generates a new data stream, the linked server analyzes it, identifies relevant material from the library, retrieves the material and tagged information, adjusts it for proper orientation, then renders and superimposes it onto the current camera view so the user views an augmented reality.

A system, method, and computer program product for automatically combining computer-generated imagery with real-world imagery in a portable electronic device by retrieving, manipulating, and sharing relevant stored videos, preferably in real time. A video is captured with a hand-held device and stored. Metadata including the camera's physical location and orientation is appended to a data stream, along with user input. The server analyzes the data stream and further annotates the metadata, producing a searchable library of videos and metadata. Later, when a camera user generates a new data stream, the linked server analyzes it, identifies relevant material from the library, retrieves the material and tagged information, adjusts it for proper orientation, then renders and superimposes it onto the current camera view so the user views an augmented reality.

Determining intersections between rays and triangles is at the heart of most Computer Generated 3D images. The present disclosure describes a new method for determining the intersections between a set of rays and a set of triangles. The method is unique as it processes arbitrary rays and arbitrary primitives, and provides the lower complexity typical to ray-tracing algorithms without making use of a spatial subdivision data structure which would require additional memory storage. Such low memory usage is particularly beneficial to all computer systems creating 3D images where the available on-board memory is limited and critical, and must be minimized. Also, a pivot-based streaming novelty allows minimizing conditional branching inherent to normal ray-tracing techniques by handling large streams of rays. In most cases, our method displays much faster times for solving similar intersection problems than preceding state of the art methods on similar systems.

Imaging systems which include an augmented reality feature are provided with automated means to throttle or excite the augmented reality generator. Compound images are presented whereby an optically captured image is over late with a pewter generated image portion to form the complete augmented image for presentation to a user. Upon the particular conditions of the imager, imaged scene and the Imaging environment, these imaging systems include automated responses. Computer-generated images which are overlaid optically captured images are either bolstered all in the detail and content where an increase in information is needed, or they are tempered where a decrease in information is preferred as determined by prescribed conditions and values.

A rocket-powered race for entertaining spectators wherein computer-generated images are optionally provided to at-least partially define a race-course.

A weapons reflex sight including a display substrate mounted on a weapon, and an optics module, disposed in a housing, the optics module including a computer-generated imagery (CGI) system and optical elements for generating images and projecting a beam of the images on the display substrate, the images including an aimpoint for aiming at a target and information related to use of the weapon.

An image recognition approach employs both computer generated and manual image reviews to generate image tags characterizing an image. The computer generated and manual image reviews can be performed sequentially or in parallel. The generated image tags may be provided to a requester in real-time, be used to select an advertisement, and/or be used as the basis of an internet search. In some embodiments generated image tags are used as a basis for an upgraded image review. A confidence of a computer generated image review may be used to determine whether or not to perform a manual image review. Images and their associated image tags are optionally added to an image sequence.

A computer implemented system and method to produce display screen images intended to be seen clearly by users with various eye problems such as myopia and astigmatism. Here the system receives input regarding the desired optical correction needed to allow the user to see the image clearly, such as by determining the distance to the user and also optionally calibrating the system according to the degree of optical correction needed by the user. In some embodiments, the display screen may have a plurality of pixel addressed light deflectors configured to change the angle of light emitted by the display screen at various locations in order to bring the computer generated image in better focus. In other embodiments, the system may convolute the display images in order to compensate for eye abnormalities such as astigmatism. In other embodiments, both light deflectors and image convolution methods may be used.

Data representing animated hair in a computer generated imagery (CGI) scene may be compressed by treating hair data as arrays of parameters. Hair data parameters may include control vertices, hair color, hair radius, and the like. A principal component analysis (PCA) may be performed on the arrays of hair data. PCA may yield new basis vectors, varying in length, with the largest basis vector corresponding to a new dimension with the largest variance in hair data. The hair data may be quantized based on the varying lengths of new basis vectors. The number of bits allocated for quantizing each new dimension corresponding to each new basis vector may be determined based on the relative lengths of new basis vectors, with more bits allocated to dimensions corresponding to longer basis vectors. The quantized hair data may be bit-packed and then compressed using lossless entropy encoding.

An image recognition approach employs both computer generated and manual image reviews to generate image tags characterizing an image. The computer generated and manual image reviews can be performed sequentially or in parallel. The generated image tags may be provided to a requester in real-time, be used to select an advertisement, and/or be used as the basis of an internet search. In some embodiments generated image tags are used as a basis for an upgraded image review. A confidence of a computer generated image review may be used to determine whether or not to perform a manual image review.