WO1991004541A1 - Graphic file directory and spreadsheet - Google Patents
Graphic file directory and spreadsheet Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO1991004541A1 WO1991004541A1 PCT/US1990/001625 US9001625W WO9104541A1 WO 1991004541 A1 WO1991004541 A1 WO 1991004541A1 US 9001625 W US9001625 W US 9001625W WO 9104541 A1 WO9104541 A1 WO 9104541A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- images
- matrix
- files
- cells
- graphic
- Prior art date
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06T—IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL
- G06T11/00—2D [Two Dimensional] image generation
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F16/00—Information retrieval; Database structures therefor; File system structures therefor
- G06F16/50—Information retrieval; Database structures therefor; File system structures therefor of still image data
- G06F16/53—Querying
- G06F16/532—Query formulation, e.g. graphical querying
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F40/00—Handling natural language data
- G06F40/10—Text processing
- G06F40/166—Editing, e.g. inserting or deleting
- G06F40/177—Editing, e.g. inserting or deleting of tables; using ruled lines
- G06F40/18—Editing, e.g. inserting or deleting of tables; using ruled lines of spreadsheets
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10S345/00—Computer graphics processing and selective visual display systems
- Y10S345/949—Animation processing method
- Y10S345/96—Iterative display of preconfigured images
Definitions
- This invention relates to the visual manipulation of graphic data on a computer, and more particularly to a combination graphic directory and spreadsheet system for creating, modifying, combining and displaying graphic data files.
- the animated picture may contain many individually moving components, each of which may occupy many different positions in the various frames of a moving picture sequence.
- each graphic file to be created or manipulated must have an alphanumeric file name in the file directory for storage and retrieval.
- DOS directory approach can rapidly become quite awkward for a human operator to use.
- the invention simultaneously provides the user with a graphic file directory featuring a visual indication of the contents of the files in the directory, and with the ability to display, edit or combine files selected in the directory in accordance with a wide variety of selectable functions. More specifically, graphic files are stored full-size in memory. A matrix of cells is then created, the cells being addressable individually or in groups. Any file in memory can be associated at will with any desired cell, and any cell can also be associated with a function designed to create a new file or to modify, combine or display the graphic information in the file associated with the cell.
- a graphic file directory is provided by displaying a grid of cells corresponding to a selected portion of the matrix, each cell in the grid being displayed in the form of a miniaturized version of the graphic contents of the file associated with that cell. In that manner, it is unnecessary for the user to know the names of the files in memory as they can be visually identified in the displayed grid.
- Individual cells or groups of cells in the displayed grid can be selected by any convenient means, e.g. by using a mouse, and graphic functions can be assigned to the selected cell or cells just as mathematical functions can be assigned to the cells of a spreadsheet.
- graphic functions might include producing an enlarged version of an object in a designated other cell; producing a graphic file like that of another cell but with an object moved a certain distance; combining the graphics of one or more cells; displaying a cell full-size on a monitor for a certain length of time; reproducing the graphics of another cell in a different color; or displaying the graphics of a cell for manual editing by the user.
- changing the graphic contents of any cell also changes the contents of all cells whose functions refer to the changed cell.
- Fig. 1 is a block diagram of the apparatus involved in the practice of the invention
- Fig. 2 is a representation of the editing monitor window or screen
- Figs. 3a and 3b are perspective illustrations of a three-dimensional directory matrix
- Fig. 4 is a readout diagram for producing a frame
- Fig. 5 is a partial representation of a window showing level 1 in a preferred illustrative embodiment
- Fig. 6 is a partial representation of a window showing level 2 in a preferred illustrative embodiment
- Fig. 7 is a partial representation of a window showing level 3 in a preferred embodiment.
- Figs. 8 and 9 show frames derived by applying Fig. 4 to Figs. 5-7. Description of the Preferred Embodiment
- FIG. 1 A central processor unit (CPU) 10 with its associated mass storage memory 12 is under the control of the system program 14.
- Graphic file data can be entered into the CPU 10 by one or more input devices 16 which, in the example decribed below, may be a scanner, video camera, electronic drawing tool, light pen, or any other device capable of creating graphic data.
- the memory 12 contains two kinds of information: cell information and file information.
- Cell information consists of registers containing the location or address 15 (Fig. 3a) of any cell 27 in an infinite multidimensional matrix 32 (Fig. 3b), the contents or identity (17) of the graphic file associated with that cell, and a graphic function 19 associated with the cell 27.
- File information consists of the contents of individual graphic files which can be manipulated by the system of this invention.
- the directory created by this invention displays, on an editing monitor 18, miniaturized images of the graphic files associated with the cells 27 of selectable portions of the matrix 32.
- the portion of the matrix 32 to be displayed can be selected by an operator control 20 which may be a mouse or other appropriate control device.
- the output of the system may take the form of an output buffer 21 feeding one or more graphic output devices 22 such as a monitor, video recorder, printer, or other suitable apparatus.
- the editing monitor 18 displays a scrollable window 24 composed of selected miniaturized images 25.
- it may also display a function information in a function bar 26, as well as selectable control buttons 28 for selecting functions or operating the various manipulative features of the system program as discussed below.
- the control buttons 28 may be selectable, for example, by a mouse and pointer, or they may be touch-sensitive portions of the screen of monitor 18 which initiate and control, in a conventional manner, the grpahic functions mentioned above.
- the editing monitor 18 may, if desired, display a note area 30 (which scrolls together with the rows of the matrix 32) for annotating selected rows of the matrix 32.
- Indicators 31 may also be provided to advise the operator which level and which area of the matrix 32 are being displayed in the window 24.
- Figs. 3a and 3b illustrate the makeup of the cell matrix 32.
- the matrix 32 is shown as a three-dimensional array; however, it will be understood that it may have more or fewer dimensions as the circumstances of a particular application may dictate.
- the matrix 32 is preferably as large in each of its dimensions as the physical limitations of the memory 12 will allow. Any part 24 of the matrix 32 may be selected by an operator for display on the editing monitor 18 as shown in Fig. 2.
- Fig. 3a shows the makeup of the individual cells 27 of the matrix 32.
- Each cell 27 contains an address 15 (which may simply be its physical location in the memory 12), a graphics section 17 (which may preferably be the memory address, name, or other identification of a graphics file in memory 12 so that graphics files can be associated at will with different cells), and a function section 19 (which determines what is to be done to or by the graphics file identified in the graphics section 17).
- the graphic contents of each cell 27 are displayed in miniature in the window 24.
- the address 15 is preferably not displayed because it is evident from the position of the cell display in the window 24; nor is the function 19 displayed because it is typically evident from the appearance of the displayed file contents, or else it can advantageously be displayed in the function bar 26.
- the graphics in the file associated with any cell 27 can be used, created or manipulated in a wide variety of ways.
- the function 19 for a given cell might be "enlarge center portion of left-adjacent cell two times", or “combine all displayed graphics in this row in left-to-right hierarchical position", or “display this cell on output monitor for 1/30 second following display of above-adjacent cell", or "copy left-adjacent cell with red circles changed to blue triangles", or "display this cell on output monitor for manual modification".
- an animated picture includes a background against which moving picture components move.
- Each component may have its own motion which, in the course of a, say 60 frame sequence (2 seconds of video) may or may not match the motion of other components.
- each frame of a moving picture depicting, for example, a child throwing a ball to a dog in front of a street might be composed of a background (the street), and several independently moving components (the child, the dog, the ball, and cars on the street).
- the child in turn, may be composed of a body, legs, and arms, each of which have a different motion in the sequence.
- Fig. 4 illustrates the manner in which graphics from various files are combined to create a new file which is a combination of its component files.
- 19 is a linking function which ties together a series of cells for combination into a composite image.
- Cell 40b calls up the graphic (called File 1-1 in Fig. 4) shown in column 50 of row 70 of Fig. 5 and conveys it to the output buffer 21.
- the reference File 1-1 may also be entered in section 37 of cell 40a.
- graphic data is associated with both cell 40d (corresponding to Fig. 5) and 40e (corresponding to Fig. 6)
- the program therefore conveys the File 2-2 graphic and the File 1-2 graphic to the output buffer 21, and combines these two graphics into a new file whose name can be entered in cell 40c.
- the buffer 21 contains the complete graphic of the output image of Fig. 8.
- the back-to-front hierarchical order of the graphics in cells 40a through 40n is dictated by the relative column addresses.
- the order of the graphics in a composite image or frame is preferably controlled by the relative left-to-right position of the individual images 25 in the window 24.
- Graphic files to be manipulated by the dynamic directory of this invention may be created in a number of ways. For example, files to be used in successive rows of a given column may be successive video images recorded by a video camera; or they may be individual scans of a series of pictures; or they may be individual computerized drawings of picture components in successive positions.
- the output images beginning with that of Fig. 8 and ending with that of Fig. 9 are contained in cells 27 which are programmed with the further function of displaying each of the output images for 1/30 second in sequence.
- this sequence may be set out in a sequence list (26 in Figs. 2 and 5-7) which appears on the editing monitor 18 and identifies the frame with which a given row is associated.
- Fig. 8 shows the output image of the first frame of a 60-frame action sequence
- Fig. 9 shows the output image of the last frame of the sequence
- Fig. 5 shows the level 1 components of these images
- Fig. 6 the level 2 components
- Fig. 7 the level 3 components.
- the street background is in column 50 of the window 24; the truck, in column 52; the car in column 54; the child's right arm and leg, and the dog's left paws all in column 56; the ball in column 58; the child's and dog's bodies in column 60; and the child's left arm and leg, as well as the dog's right paws, in column 62.
- these placements are, of course, dictated by the relative back- to-front hierarchical values of these components.
- Fig. 5 shows the child in level 1.
- cell 72 contains the initial position of the child's right hand
- cell 74 the initial position of the body
- cell 76 the initial position of the child's left hand.
- cells 78, 80 and 82 respectively, contain the final positions of those components in the sequence.
- the intermediate cells are, of course, filled with the appropriate intermediate positions which can be simply created by, e.g., entering in each cell of each row following row 70 a function calling for reproducing the graphic of the above- adjacent cell with a stated displacement in a stated direction.
- Level 2 in this example may be the dog (Fig. 6) with the same layout. Because the ball, car body, truck body and background all have different hierarchical values, they may be included in level 1. The car's wheels and the truck's wheels, which have different motions than their vehicles' bodies but may be of the same hierarchical value, are preferably in level 2.
- Level 3 (Fig. 7) may be the combination of levels 1 and 2 into partial images. Each column of level 3 is selected by the operator, through an indexing program such as that of Fig. 4, to call up and superimpose therein the graphics of the corresponding columns 50 through 62 of levels 1 and 2. In this manner, each row of level 3 produces a complete frame when its cells are called out as described in connection with Fig.
Abstract
A combined visual directory and spreadsheet for graphic files is disclosed. Graphic files can be selectively associated with cells of a matrix (32). A selectable portion of the matrix (32) containing miniaturized versions of the graphic files associated with the cells of that portion is displayed on an editing monitor (18). Graphic functions of various kinds can be assigned to displayed cells by the operator to produce modification, animation, or display of graphics associated with selected cells.
Description
GRAPHIC FILE DIRECTORY AND SPREADSHEET
Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the visual manipulation of graphic data on a computer, and more particularly to a combination graphic directory and spreadsheet system for creating, modifying, combining and displaying graphic data files.
Background of the Invention
In many scientific and commercial applications, it is necessary to combine and manipulate massive amounts of graphic data existing in the form of large numbers of individual bit-mapped data files. For example, in creating animation, the animated picture may contain many individually moving components, each of which may occupy many different positions in the various frames of a moving picture sequence. Various techniques exist for drawing, modifying, cutting, posting, importing and exporting graphic data in a graphic file, but none of these techniques allow the operator to cause several graphic files to interact with each other in accordance with operator-selected rules or functions.
Furthermore, in the conventional disk operating system (DOS), each graphic file to be created or manipulated must have an alphanumeric file name in the file directory for storage and retrieval. When large numbers of graphic files are stored in memory, the normal DOS directory approach can rapidly become quite awkward for a human operator to use. Summary of the Invention
The invention simultaneously provides the user with a graphic file directory featuring a visual indication
of the contents of the files in the directory, and with the ability to display, edit or combine files selected in the directory in accordance with a wide variety of selectable functions. More specifically, graphic files are stored full-size in memory. A matrix of cells is then created, the cells being addressable individually or in groups. Any file in memory can be associated at will with any desired cell, and any cell can also be associated with a function designed to create a new file or to modify, combine or display the graphic information in the file associated with the cell.
In accordance with the invention, a graphic file directory is provided by displaying a grid of cells corresponding to a selected portion of the matrix, each cell in the grid being displayed in the form of a miniaturized version of the graphic contents of the file associated with that cell. In that manner, it is unnecessary for the user to know the names of the files in memory as they can be visually identified in the displayed grid.
Individual cells or groups of cells in the displayed grid can be selected by any convenient means, e.g. by using a mouse, and graphic functions can be assigned to the selected cell or cells just as mathematical functions can be assigned to the cells of a spreadsheet.
As a matter of example, graphic functions might include producing an enlarged version of an object in a designated other cell; producing a graphic file like that of another cell but with an object moved a certain distance; combining the graphics of one or more cells; displaying a cell full-size on a monitor for a certain length of time; reproducing the graphics of another cell in a different color; or displaying the graphics of a cell for manual editing by the user.
Just as in a spreadsheet, changing the graphic contents of any cell also changes the contents of all cells whose functions refer to the changed cell. Brief Description of the Drawings Fig. 1 is a block diagram of the apparatus involved in the practice of the invention;
Fig. 2 is a representation of the editing monitor window or screen;
Figs. 3a and 3b are perspective illustrations of a three-dimensional directory matrix;
Fig. 4 is a readout diagram for producing a frame;
Fig. 5 is a partial representation of a window showing level 1 in a preferred illustrative embodiment;
Fig. 6 is a partial representation of a window showing level 2 in a preferred illustrative embodiment;
Fig. 7 is a partial representation of a window showing level 3 in a preferred embodiment; and
Figs. 8 and 9 show frames derived by applying Fig. 4 to Figs. 5-7. Description of the Preferred Embodiment
The basic hardware components of the inventive system are shown in Fig. 1. A central processor unit (CPU) 10 with its associated mass storage memory 12 is under the control of the system program 14. Graphic file data can be entered into the CPU 10 by one or more input devices 16 which, in the example decribed below, may be a scanner, video camera, electronic drawing tool, light pen, or any other device capable of creating graphic data.
The memory 12 contains two kinds of information: cell information and file information. Cell information consists of registers containing the location or address 15 (Fig. 3a) of any cell 27 in an infinite multidimensional matrix 32 (Fig. 3b), the contents or identity (17) of the graphic file associated with that cell, and a graphic function 19 associated with the cell 27. File information
consists of the contents of individual graphic files which can be manipulated by the system of this invention.
The directory created by this invention displays, on an editing monitor 18, miniaturized images of the graphic files associated with the cells 27 of selectable portions of the matrix 32. The portion of the matrix 32 to be displayed can be selected by an operator control 20 which may be a mouse or other appropriate control device. The output of the system may take the form of an output buffer 21 feeding one or more graphic output devices 22 such as a monitor, video recorder, printer, or other suitable apparatus.
As best seen in Fig. 2, the editing monitor 18 displays a scrollable window 24 composed of selected miniaturized images 25. In the preferred embodiment, it may also display a function information in a function bar 26, as well as selectable control buttons 28 for selecting functions or operating the various manipulative features of the system program as discussed below. The control buttons 28 may be selectable, for example, by a mouse and pointer, or they may be touch-sensitive portions of the screen of monitor 18 which initiate and control, in a conventional manner, the grpahic functions mentioned above. In addition, the editing monitor 18 may, if desired, display a note area 30 (which scrolls together with the rows of the matrix 32) for annotating selected rows of the matrix 32. Indicators 31 may also be provided to advise the operator which level and which area of the matrix 32 are being displayed in the window 24. Figs. 3a and 3b illustrate the makeup of the cell matrix 32. In these figures, the matrix 32 is shown as a three-dimensional array; however, it will be understood that it may have more or fewer dimensions as the circumstances of a particular application may dictate. As best shown in Fig. 3b, the matrix 32 is preferably as large
in each of its dimensions as the physical limitations of the memory 12 will allow. Any part 24 of the matrix 32 may be selected by an operator for display on the editing monitor 18 as shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 3a shows the makeup of the individual cells 27 of the matrix 32. Each cell 27 contains an address 15 (which may simply be its physical location in the memory 12), a graphics section 17 (which may preferably be the memory address, name, or other identification of a graphics file in memory 12 so that graphics files can be associated at will with different cells), and a function section 19 (which determines what is to be done to or by the graphics file identified in the graphics section 17). When specified cells of Fig. 3a are selected for display on the editing monitor 18, the graphic contents of each cell 27 are displayed in miniature in the window 24. The address 15 is preferably not displayed because it is evident from the position of the cell display in the window 24; nor is the function 19 displayed because it is typically evident from the appearance of the displayed file contents, or else it can advantageously be displayed in the function bar 26.
Just as. a number in a conventional spread sheet cell can be computed or used by a wide variety of mathematical functions, the graphics in the file associated with any cell 27 can be used, created or manipulated in a wide variety of ways. For example, the function 19 for a given cell might be "enlarge center portion of left-adjacent cell two times", or "combine all displayed graphics in this row in left-to-right hierarchical position", or "display this cell on output monitor for 1/30 second following display of above-adjacent cell", or "copy left-adjacent cell with red circles changed to blue triangles", or "display this cell on output monitor for manual modification".
Because the function in a cell of the inventive system can refer back to the graphics of another cell, any change in the latter automatically translates into a corresponding change in the former. The operation of the invention is best illustrated by the example shown in Figs. 4-8. This example illustrates the use of the invention in producing an animated video pictue. Typically, an animated picture includes a background against which moving picture components move. Each component may have its own motion which, in the course of a, say 60 frame sequence (2 seconds of video) may or may not match the motion of other components.
Consequently, each frame of a moving picture depicting, for example, a child throwing a ball to a dog in front of a street might be composed of a background (the street), and several independently moving components (the child, the dog, the ball, and cars on the street). The child, in turn, may be composed of a body, legs, and arms, each of which have a different motion in the sequence.
The same is true of the dog and the cars, but not of the ball which moves as a unit.
Fig. 4 illustrates the manner in which graphics from various files are combined to create a new file which is a combination of its component files. In Fig. 4, the function
19 is a linking function which ties together a series of cells for combination into a composite image.
If it is desired, for example, to combine the images of row 70 in Fig. 5 with those of the corresponding row in Fig. 6 to produce the composite images in the corresponding row of Fig. 7, and eventually to combine the composite images of Fig. 7 into the output image of Fig. 8, an appropriate operator selection of these images will cause the pertinent cells 27 of the matrix 32 to be linked in the manner shown in Fig. 4.
Because the first column (50 in Fig. 6) contains no graphic data, the first-row first-column level-3 (R1 C1L3) cell of Fig. 7 (40a in Fig. 4) is linked by a two-level offset 44 directly to the corresponding R1C1L1 cell 40b associated with column 50 in Fig. 5. Cell 40b calls up the graphic (called File 1-1 in Fig. 4) shown in column 50 of row 70 of Fig. 5 and conveys it to the output buffer 21. Alternatively, the reference File 1-1 may also be entered in section 37 of cell 40a. In the second column (52 in Figs. 5-7), graphic data is associated with both cell 40d (corresponding to Fig. 5) and 40e (corresponding to Fig. 6) The program therefore conveys the File 2-2 graphic and the File 1-2 graphic to the output buffer 21, and combines these two graphics into a new file whose name can be entered in cell 40c.
This process is repeated for each of the columns of Figs. 5-7. When the graphic of the last cell 40n has been conveyed to the output buffer and all the conveyed graphics have been superimposed on each other in the buffer, the buffer 21 contains the complete graphic of the output image of Fig. 8.
The back-to-front hierarchical order of the graphics in cells 40a through 40n (i.e. which graphic is hidden by a higher-order graphic) is dictated by the relative column addresses. Inasmuch as selections in a row are usually read from left to right in the window 24, the order of the graphics in a composite image or frame is preferably controlled by the relative left-to-right position of the individual images 25 in the window 24. Graphic files to be manipulated by the dynamic directory of this invention may be created in a number of ways. For example, files to be used in successive rows of a given column may be successive video images recorded by a video camera; or they may be individual scans of a
series of pictures; or they may be individual computerized drawings of picture components in successive positions.
In order to create a moving output display, the output images beginning with that of Fig. 8 and ending with that of Fig. 9 are contained in cells 27 which are programmed with the further function of displaying each of the output images for 1/30 second in sequence. For editing purposes, this sequence may be set out in a sequence list (26 in Figs. 2 and 5-7) which appears on the editing monitor 18 and identifies the frame with which a given row is associated.
In the example described herein, Fig. 8 shows the output image of the first frame of a 60-frame action sequence, and Fig. 9 shows the output image of the last frame of the sequence. Fig. 5 shows the level 1 components of these images, Fig. 6 the level 2 components, and Fig. 7 the level 3 components.
In all levels described in this example, the street background is in column 50 of the window 24; the truck, in column 52; the car in column 54; the child's right arm and leg, and the dog's left paws all in column 56; the ball in column 58; the child's and dog's bodies in column 60; and the child's left arm and leg, as well as the dog's right paws, in column 62. In the preferred embodiment, these placements are, of course, dictated by the relative back- to-front hierarchical values of these components.
The choice of levels in this example is a matter of convenience, the only criterion being that objects of the same order must not cross each other in the sequence. Thus, Fig. 5 shows the child in level 1. In row 70 (the first row of the sequence), cell 72 contains the initial position of the child's right hand, cell 74 the initial position of the body, and cell 76 the initial position of the child's left hand. In row 77, (the last row of the sequence) cells 78, 80 and 82, respectively, contain the final positions of
those components in the sequence. The intermediate cells (not shown) are, of course, filled with the appropriate intermediate positions which can be simply created by, e.g., entering in each cell of each row following row 70 a function calling for reproducing the graphic of the above- adjacent cell with a stated displacement in a stated direction.
Level 2 in this example may be the dog (Fig. 6) with the same layout. Because the ball, car body, truck body and background all have different hierarchical values, they may be included in level 1. The car's wheels and the truck's wheels, which have different motions than their vehicles' bodies but may be of the same hierarchical value, are preferably in level 2. Level 3 (Fig. 7) may be the combination of levels 1 and 2 into partial images. Each column of level 3 is selected by the operator, through an indexing program such as that of Fig. 4, to call up and superimpose therein the graphics of the corresponding columns 50 through 62 of levels 1 and 2. In this manner, each row of level 3 produces a complete frame when its cells are called out as described in connection with Fig. 4, and superimposed on each other in their proper hierarchical order, by the operator's display command. Each complete frame (Figs. 8 and 9) of the moving output display thus produced by the superposition of graphic data files in the manner of Fig. 4 may be temporarily stored in output buffer 21 , from which the output device 22 can read it out. It will be understood that the functions and procedures described above can be provided by conventional computer software produced by computer graphics programmers of ordinary skill, or by conventional hardware and manual operations.
It will be seen that the present invention provides a convenient method of causing graphic files to interact with each other in a wide variety of operator-selectable ways while at the same time providing a visual directory of the files for easy identification and selection. The invention is defined by the following claims and is not to be deemed limited by the illustrative example described above.
Claims
CLAIMS 1 . A combination visual directory and spreadsheet system for graphic files, comprising: a) means for storing graphic files; b ) means for establishing a matrix of cells; c) means for associating selected ones of said files with selected cells of said matrix; and d ) means for associating selected functions with selected cells of said matrix;
2. A system as in Claim 1, further comprising: e) means for associating selected functions with selected cells of said matrix; and f) means for carrying out the function associated with a selected cell on graphic files associated with that cell.
3. The system of Claim 2, in which said function is the creation of a modified copy of a graphic file.
4. The system of Claim 2, in which said function is the creation of a combination of a plurality of graphic files.
5. The system of Claim 2, in which said function is a sequential output of a series of graphic files.
6. The system of Claim 2, in which said function is a full-size display of a selected graphic file for editing.
7. A system for producing animated graphics, comprising: a) means for storing a plurality of graphic files containing component images to be assembled into a composite image; b ) means for establishing a matrix of cells; c) means for associating selectged cells of said matrix with selected ones of said graphic data files; and d ) display means for selectively displaying portions of said matrix, the cells within said portions being displayed as miniaturized images of the graphic data files associated with the cells of said displayed matrix portions.
8. A system as in Claim 7 further comprising: e) means for selecting component images thus displayed; and f) means for producing a graphic file containing a composite image composed of a combination of said selected component images.
9. A system as in Claim 8 further including: g) means for sequentially displaying a series of said composite images.
10. The system of Claim 8, including means for combining said images in a hierarchical order determined by the position in said matrix of said cells associated with said images.
1 1 . The system of Claim 8, including: g) means for combining selected images in a hierarchical order determined by a first dimension of said displayed matrix portion; and h ) means for sequentially reading out said combined images in a time sequence determined by a second dimension of said displayed matrix portion.
12. The system of Claim 11, in which said matrix is three-dimensional, and including: i) means for combining said images with images in corresponding cells of other levels of said matrix.
13. A method of visually manipulating large numbers of graphic data files on a computer, comprising the steps of: a) storing files of graphic data; b ) establishing a matrix of cells; c) associating selected ones of said files with selected ones of said cells; and d ) simultaneously displaying miniaturized images of the files associated with a selected portion of said matrix.
14. The method of Claim 13 further including: e) interactively manipulating said files by selecting said miniaturized images and selecting a function to be carried out thereon.
15. The medthod Claim 14, in which said interactive manipulation includes combining selected images.
16. The method of Claim 13, including combining said images in a hierarchical order determined by the position in said matrix of said cells associated with said images.
17. The method of Claim 14, in which said function is time, and said method includes the further step of sequentially reading out selected images or combinations thereof at time intervals determined by said function.
18. A method of producing a moving picture from component images contained in graphic data files in a computer, comprising the steps of: a) storing said graphic data files; b ) displaying miniaturized images of said files in a first-level array of images, one dimension of said array being indicative of the hierarchical order of said images, and another dimension being indicative of their sequence in time; c) combining said images along said one dimension to produce frames of said moving picture; and d) sequentially reading out enlarged versions of said combinations of miniaturized images in said other dimensions.
19. The method as in Claim 18 further including: e) displaying miniaturized images of said files in a second-level array of images, one dimension of said array being indicative of the hierarchical order of said images and another dimension being indicative of their sequence in time;
f) combining said first-level images with respective second-level images; and g) then combining said combined images along said one dimension to produce said frames of said moving picture.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US07/412,281 US5093907A (en) | 1989-09-25 | 1989-09-25 | Graphic file directory and spreadsheet |
US412,281 | 1989-09-25 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO1991004541A1 true WO1991004541A1 (en) | 1991-04-04 |
Family
ID=23632374
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/US1990/001625 WO1991004541A1 (en) | 1989-09-25 | 1990-03-27 | Graphic file directory and spreadsheet |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US5093907A (en) |
JP (1) | JPH05500576A (en) |
AU (1) | AU5354490A (en) |
WO (1) | WO1991004541A1 (en) |
Cited By (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0603892A1 (en) * | 1992-12-25 | 1994-06-29 | Casio Computer Co., Ltd. | Object-image display apparatus |
EP0644500A2 (en) * | 1993-09-17 | 1995-03-22 | Xerox Corporation | Method and system for producing a table image having focus and context areas showing direct and indirect data representations |
US5632009A (en) * | 1993-09-17 | 1997-05-20 | Xerox Corporation | Method and system for producing a table image showing indirect data representations |
GB2320789A (en) * | 1996-12-27 | 1998-07-01 | Fujitsu Ltd | Extracting management information from image |
US6628312B1 (en) | 1997-12-02 | 2003-09-30 | Inxight Software, Inc. | Interactive interface for visualizing and manipulating multi-dimensional data |
Families Citing this family (80)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5388202A (en) * | 1990-02-02 | 1995-02-07 | Viacom International Inc. | Method and apparatus for generating window borders having pictorial frame elements |
US5255363A (en) * | 1990-06-19 | 1993-10-19 | Mentor Graphics Corporation | Graph-based programming system and associated method |
US5513306A (en) * | 1990-08-09 | 1996-04-30 | Apple Computer, Inc. | Temporal event viewing and editing system |
US5969704A (en) * | 1990-09-04 | 1999-10-19 | Mikohn Gaming Corporation | Configurable led matrix display |
WO1992004678A1 (en) * | 1990-09-10 | 1992-03-19 | Lotus Development Corporation | Apparatus and method for reformattable spreadsheet |
JPH0685144B2 (en) * | 1990-11-15 | 1994-10-26 | インターナショナル・ビジネス・マシーンズ・コーポレイション | Selective controller for overlay and underlay |
US5359729A (en) * | 1991-05-31 | 1994-10-25 | Timeline, Inc. | Method for searching for a given point in regions defined by attribute ranges, then sorted by lower and upper range values and dimension |
US5459830A (en) * | 1991-07-22 | 1995-10-17 | Sony Corporation | Animation data index creation drawn from image data sampling composites |
DE69222102T2 (en) * | 1991-08-02 | 1998-03-26 | Grass Valley Group | Operator interface for video editing system for the display and interactive control of video material |
EP0528631B1 (en) * | 1991-08-13 | 1998-05-20 | Xerox Corporation | Electronic image generation |
JP2865454B2 (en) * | 1991-08-20 | 1999-03-08 | 富士通株式会社 | Drawing display device |
EP0529121A1 (en) * | 1991-08-24 | 1993-03-03 | International Business Machines Corporation | Graphics display tool |
US5742779A (en) * | 1991-11-14 | 1998-04-21 | Tolfa Corporation | Method of communication using sized icons, text, and audio |
US5848187A (en) * | 1991-11-18 | 1998-12-08 | Compaq Computer Corporation | Method and apparatus for entering and manipulating spreadsheet cell data |
JP3162773B2 (en) * | 1992-01-06 | 2001-05-08 | キヤノン株式会社 | Image processing method and apparatus |
US5416895A (en) * | 1992-04-08 | 1995-05-16 | Borland International, Inc. | System and methods for improved spreadsheet interface with user-familiar objects |
AU4279893A (en) * | 1992-04-10 | 1993-11-18 | Avid Technology, Inc. | A method and apparatus for representing and editing multimedia compositions |
US6002865A (en) * | 1992-05-28 | 1999-12-14 | Thomsen; Erik C. | Location structure for a multi-dimensional spreadsheet |
US5502807A (en) * | 1992-09-21 | 1996-03-26 | Tektronix, Inc. | Configurable video sequence viewing and recording system |
US5473744A (en) * | 1992-09-28 | 1995-12-05 | Optical Magnetic Imaging Corporation | Computer-assisted interactive method and apparatus for making a multi-media presentation |
JPH06153158A (en) * | 1992-11-02 | 1994-05-31 | Fujitsu Ltd | Reproduction control system for moving picture data |
US5604857A (en) * | 1993-01-15 | 1997-02-18 | Walmsley; Simon R. | Render system for the rendering of storyboard structures on a real time animated system |
US5303146A (en) * | 1993-03-11 | 1994-04-12 | Borland International, Inc. | System and methods for improved scenario management in an electronic spreadsheet |
US5517605A (en) * | 1993-08-11 | 1996-05-14 | Ast Research Inc. | Method and apparatus for managing browsing, and selecting graphic images |
DE69428849T2 (en) * | 1993-08-31 | 2002-11-14 | Sun Microsystems Inc | Method and device for rendering objects on a display device with more reality |
JP2701724B2 (en) * | 1993-12-28 | 1998-01-21 | 日本電気株式会社 | Scenario editing device |
US5544305A (en) * | 1994-01-25 | 1996-08-06 | Apple Computer, Inc. | System and method for creating and executing interactive interpersonal computer simulations |
US5819055A (en) * | 1994-12-13 | 1998-10-06 | Microsoft Corporation | Method and apparatus for docking re-sizeable interface boxes |
US5644694A (en) * | 1994-12-14 | 1997-07-01 | Cyberflix Inc. | Apparatus and method for digital movie production |
AU4783796A (en) * | 1995-02-22 | 1996-09-11 | Plougmann, Ole | Graphical environment for managing and developing applications |
US5657460A (en) * | 1995-04-11 | 1997-08-12 | Data View, Inc. | System and method for storing and displaying data |
US6034676A (en) * | 1995-04-11 | 2000-03-07 | Data View, Inc. | System and method for measuring and processing tire depth data |
USD423485S (en) * | 1995-05-05 | 2000-04-25 | Apple Computer, Inc. | Computer display screen with a computer generated menu design |
US5973694A (en) * | 1995-06-02 | 1999-10-26 | Chatham Telecommunications, Inc., | Method of communication using sized icons, text, and audio |
JPH09128466A (en) * | 1995-10-26 | 1997-05-16 | Casio Comput Co Ltd | Method and device for processing table |
WO1997035280A2 (en) | 1996-03-15 | 1997-09-25 | Zapa Digital Arts Ltd. | System for producing animation sequence according to character behaviour characteristics |
JP3735187B2 (en) * | 1997-08-27 | 2006-01-18 | 富士通株式会社 | Data conversion apparatus and method for encoding and editing time-series data |
US6310648B1 (en) | 1997-09-12 | 2001-10-30 | Eastman Kodak Company | User interface for electronic image viewing apparatus |
USD427576S (en) * | 1998-05-01 | 2000-07-04 | Apple Computer, Inc. | Menu design for a computer display screen |
USD428398S (en) * | 1998-05-07 | 2000-07-18 | Apple Computer, Inc. | Menu design for a computer display screen |
US6188399B1 (en) | 1998-05-08 | 2001-02-13 | Apple Computer, Inc. | Multiple theme engine graphical user interface architecture |
US6185582B1 (en) | 1998-06-17 | 2001-02-06 | Xerox Corporation | Spreadsheet view enhancement system |
US6256649B1 (en) | 1998-06-17 | 2001-07-03 | Xerox Corporation | Animated spreadsheet for dynamic display of constraint graphs |
US6230170B1 (en) | 1998-06-17 | 2001-05-08 | Xerox Corporation | Spatial morphing of text to accommodate annotations |
US6584479B2 (en) | 1998-06-17 | 2003-06-24 | Xerox Corporation | Overlay presentation of textual and graphical annotations |
US6496832B2 (en) | 1998-10-20 | 2002-12-17 | University Of Minnesota | Visualization spreadsheet |
US7542921B1 (en) | 1999-09-30 | 2009-06-02 | Jpmorgan Chase Bank, N.A. | Network-based financial planning system and method |
USD757052S1 (en) | 2000-01-04 | 2016-05-24 | Apple Inc. | Computer display screen with graphical user interface |
WO2001061432A2 (en) * | 2000-02-17 | 2001-08-23 | The National University Of Singapore | Multiple data type processing and presentation grid |
US20020019845A1 (en) | 2000-06-16 | 2002-02-14 | Hariton Nicholas T. | Method and system for distributed scripting of presentations |
US7031935B1 (en) * | 2000-07-31 | 2006-04-18 | J.P. Morgan Advisory Services Inc. | Method and system for computing path dependent probabilities of attaining financial goals |
US7295999B1 (en) | 2000-12-20 | 2007-11-13 | Jpmorgan Chase Bank, N.A. | System and method for determining eligibility and enrolling members in various programs |
US7895098B2 (en) | 2001-03-01 | 2011-02-22 | Jpmorgan Chase Bank, N.A. | System and method for measuring and utilizing pooling analytics |
US7756896B1 (en) | 2002-03-11 | 2010-07-13 | Jp Morgan Chase Bank | System and method for multi-dimensional risk analysis |
US8751391B2 (en) | 2002-03-29 | 2014-06-10 | Jpmorgan Chase Bank, N.A. | System and process for performing purchase transactions using tokens |
US7606756B2 (en) * | 2002-08-02 | 2009-10-20 | Jpmorgan Chase Bank, N.A. | Synthetic funds having structured notes |
GB2391967A (en) * | 2002-08-16 | 2004-02-18 | Canon Kk | Information analysing apparatus |
US20040148566A1 (en) * | 2003-01-24 | 2004-07-29 | Jp Morgan Chase Bank | Method to evaluate project viability |
US7624068B1 (en) | 2003-08-18 | 2009-11-24 | Jpmorgan Chase Bank, N.A. | Method and system for dynamically adjusting discount rates for a card transaction |
US20050060252A1 (en) * | 2003-09-11 | 2005-03-17 | Andrew Doddington | Graphical software tool for modeling financial products |
US7974895B1 (en) | 2004-07-16 | 2011-07-05 | Jp Morgan Chase Bank | System and method for developing finance rate information |
US20060064643A1 (en) | 2004-09-14 | 2006-03-23 | Hariton Nicholas T | Distributed scripting for presentations with touch screen displays |
US20110161958A1 (en) * | 2005-01-03 | 2011-06-30 | Jp Morgan Chase Bank | Method and system for managing business calculations using multi-dimensional data |
US7890343B1 (en) | 2005-01-11 | 2011-02-15 | Jp Morgan Chase Bank | System and method for generating risk management curves |
US8151213B2 (en) * | 2005-03-25 | 2012-04-03 | International Business Machines Corporation | System, method and program product for tabular data with dynamic visual cells |
US8095866B2 (en) | 2005-09-09 | 2012-01-10 | Microsoft Corporation | Filtering user interface for a data summary table |
US8601383B2 (en) | 2005-09-09 | 2013-12-03 | Microsoft Corporation | User interface for creating a spreadsheet data summary table |
US7627812B2 (en) | 2005-10-27 | 2009-12-01 | Microsoft Corporation | Variable formatting of cells |
US7962396B1 (en) | 2006-02-03 | 2011-06-14 | Jpmorgan Chase Bank, N.A. | System and method for managing risk |
US7770100B2 (en) * | 2006-02-27 | 2010-08-03 | Microsoft Corporation | Dynamic thresholds for conditional formats |
US7496852B2 (en) * | 2006-05-16 | 2009-02-24 | International Business Machines Corporation | Graphically manipulating a database |
US7707192B1 (en) | 2006-05-23 | 2010-04-27 | Jp Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. | Confidence index for assets |
US8020088B2 (en) * | 2007-01-24 | 2011-09-13 | International Business Machines Corporation | Visual responsibility matrix for technical designs or solutions |
US20080215959A1 (en) * | 2007-02-28 | 2008-09-04 | Lection David B | Method and system for generating a media stream in a media spreadsheet |
US20090158139A1 (en) * | 2007-12-18 | 2009-06-18 | Morris Robert P | Methods And Systems For Generating A Markup-Language-Based Resource From A Media Spreadsheet |
US20090164880A1 (en) * | 2007-12-19 | 2009-06-25 | Lection David B | Methods And Systems For Generating A Media Stream Expression For Association With A Cell Of An Electronic Spreadsheet |
US20090204921A1 (en) * | 2008-02-07 | 2009-08-13 | Vestyck Anthony R | System and Method for Organizing, Managing, and Using Electronic Files |
US8478637B1 (en) | 2008-04-08 | 2013-07-02 | Jpmorgan Chase Bank, N.A. | Index for assessing discount potential |
US9990350B2 (en) | 2015-11-02 | 2018-06-05 | Microsoft Technology Licensing, Llc | Videos associated with cells in spreadsheets |
US9934215B2 (en) * | 2015-11-02 | 2018-04-03 | Microsoft Technology Licensing, Llc | Generating sound files and transcriptions for use in spreadsheet applications |
Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4513390A (en) * | 1979-06-08 | 1985-04-23 | Planning Research Corporation | System for digital transmission and synthesis of integrated data |
US4580782A (en) * | 1982-10-29 | 1986-04-08 | Sega Enterprises, Ltd. | Memory mapping scheme for one-dimensional memory storage system |
US4760390A (en) * | 1985-02-25 | 1988-07-26 | Computer Graphics Laboratories, Inc. | Graphics display system and method with enhanced instruction data and processing |
US4849745A (en) * | 1984-06-15 | 1989-07-18 | Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba | Multiple memory image display apparatus |
US4864517A (en) * | 1985-06-03 | 1989-09-05 | Computer Graphics Laboratories, Inc. | Graphics display system using frame buffers |
US4876596A (en) * | 1988-10-25 | 1989-10-24 | Faroudja Y C | Film-to-video converter with scan line doubling |
Family Cites Families (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JPS5763586A (en) * | 1980-10-03 | 1982-04-17 | Canon Kk | Pattern generator |
US4567480A (en) * | 1982-12-13 | 1986-01-28 | John Fluke Mfg. Co., Inc. | Touch-sensitive overlay |
US4531120A (en) * | 1983-01-20 | 1985-07-23 | International Business Machines Corporation | Superposing graphic patterns |
JPS61290520A (en) * | 1985-06-19 | 1986-12-20 | Nippon Texas Instr Kk | Electronic equipment |
JPH0727448B2 (en) * | 1985-08-07 | 1995-03-29 | 株式会社日立製作所 | Data input device |
FR2616243B1 (en) * | 1987-06-05 | 1992-07-24 | Thomson Csf | MODIFIABLE CONFIGURATION KEYBOARD |
-
1989
- 1989-09-25 US US07/412,281 patent/US5093907A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
1990
- 1990-03-27 WO PCT/US1990/001625 patent/WO1991004541A1/en unknown
- 1990-03-27 AU AU53544/90A patent/AU5354490A/en not_active Abandoned
- 1990-03-27 JP JP2505548A patent/JPH05500576A/en active Pending
Patent Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4513390A (en) * | 1979-06-08 | 1985-04-23 | Planning Research Corporation | System for digital transmission and synthesis of integrated data |
US4580782A (en) * | 1982-10-29 | 1986-04-08 | Sega Enterprises, Ltd. | Memory mapping scheme for one-dimensional memory storage system |
US4849745A (en) * | 1984-06-15 | 1989-07-18 | Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba | Multiple memory image display apparatus |
US4760390A (en) * | 1985-02-25 | 1988-07-26 | Computer Graphics Laboratories, Inc. | Graphics display system and method with enhanced instruction data and processing |
US4864517A (en) * | 1985-06-03 | 1989-09-05 | Computer Graphics Laboratories, Inc. | Graphics display system using frame buffers |
US4876596A (en) * | 1988-10-25 | 1989-10-24 | Faroudja Y C | Film-to-video converter with scan line doubling |
Cited By (12)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0603892A1 (en) * | 1992-12-25 | 1994-06-29 | Casio Computer Co., Ltd. | Object-image display apparatus |
US6219024B1 (en) | 1992-12-25 | 2001-04-17 | Casio Computer Co., Ltd. | Object image displaying apparatus |
US6433783B2 (en) | 1992-12-25 | 2002-08-13 | Casio Computer Co., Ltd. | Object-image displaying apparatus |
EP0644500A2 (en) * | 1993-09-17 | 1995-03-22 | Xerox Corporation | Method and system for producing a table image having focus and context areas showing direct and indirect data representations |
EP0644500A3 (en) * | 1993-09-17 | 1996-12-18 | Xerox Corp | Method and system for producing a table image having focus and context areas showing direct and indirect data representations. |
US5632009A (en) * | 1993-09-17 | 1997-05-20 | Xerox Corporation | Method and system for producing a table image showing indirect data representations |
US5880742A (en) * | 1993-09-17 | 1999-03-09 | Xerox-Corporation | Spreadsheet image showing data items as indirect graphical representations |
US5883635A (en) * | 1993-09-17 | 1999-03-16 | Xerox Corporation | Producing a single-image view of a multi-image table using graphical representations of the table data |
US6085202A (en) * | 1993-09-17 | 2000-07-04 | Xerox Corporation | Method and system for producing a table image having focus and context regions |
GB2320789A (en) * | 1996-12-27 | 1998-07-01 | Fujitsu Ltd | Extracting management information from image |
US6327387B1 (en) | 1996-12-27 | 2001-12-04 | Fujitsu Limited | Apparatus and method for extracting management information from image |
US6628312B1 (en) | 1997-12-02 | 2003-09-30 | Inxight Software, Inc. | Interactive interface for visualizing and manipulating multi-dimensional data |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
AU5354490A (en) | 1991-04-18 |
US5093907A (en) | 1992-03-03 |
JPH05500576A (en) | 1993-02-04 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US5093907A (en) | Graphic file directory and spreadsheet | |
Burtnyk et al. | Computer-generated key-frame animation | |
US4841291A (en) | Interactive animation of graphics objects | |
US4952051A (en) | Method and apparatus for producing animated drawings and in-between drawings | |
US4760390A (en) | Graphics display system and method with enhanced instruction data and processing | |
JP2642021B2 (en) | Display systems | |
US7012602B2 (en) | Virtual three-dimensional display for product development | |
US5838938A (en) | Multimedia user interface employing components of color to indicate the values of variables | |
US5434966A (en) | System and method for storing and retrieving three dimensional shapes using two dimensional contrast images | |
JP3173067B2 (en) | Graph creation apparatus and method | |
JPS606994A (en) | Computer terminal display method and apparatus | |
JPH0644339A (en) | Graphic object operation system and method | |
EP0613145A2 (en) | Card file graphical user interface with visual representation of video data | |
Hansen et al. | Overview of the SRI cartographic modeling environment | |
US7692657B2 (en) | Animation editing apparatus | |
Kaufman | The CUBE workstation—a 3-D voxel-based graphics environment | |
EP0644500B1 (en) | Method and system for producing a table image having focus and context areas showing direct and indirect data representations | |
JPS6260069A (en) | Image processor | |
Myers | Special Feature Interactive Compuer Graphics: Poised for Takeoff? | |
JP2585311B2 (en) | How to create a program | |
Anstis et al. | Programs for visual psychophysics on the Amiga: A tutorial | |
JPH06176079A (en) | Image reference device | |
Lorenceau et al. | A multipurpose software package for editing two-dimensional animated images | |
JP2846165B2 (en) | Character learning device | |
Green | A System for Designing and Animating Objects with Curved Surfaces |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AK | Designated states |
Kind code of ref document: A1 Designated state(s): AU BR CA JP KR NO SU |
|
AL | Designated countries for regional patents |
Kind code of ref document: A1 Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE DK ES FR GB IT LU NL SE |
|
NENP | Non-entry into the national phase |
Ref country code: CA |