Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Computer graphics processing – Graphic manipulation
Reexamination Certificate
1999-01-19
2001-11-20
Brier, Jeffery (Department: 2672)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Computer graphics processing
Graphic manipulation
C345S418000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06320595
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the formation, manipulation and coding of graphic images and particularly, but not exclusively, to the coding of graphic objects for transmission to, and/or reception from, hand-held or mobile devices of one or more remote users.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The majority of the current generation of hand-held mobile devices are driven by text-based user interfaces. Through these interfaces, the user is enabled to browse the handsets range of functionality and select and perform the required tasks. Such mobile devices can also exchange information using protocols such as the Short Message Service (SMS) part of the Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) digital standard. These text based displays have a limited capability and lack the flexibility of display and appeal of graphical information. Increasingly there is a desire to incorporate graphical information to improve both the user interface and the exchange of information.
An example of a mobile messaging system seeking to improve the ready understandability of messages through the use of displayed graphic icons to represent or support a message is described in International patent application WO97/19429 (Motorola/Deluca et al). In the mobile telephone receiver described, a graphics database holds image data for a number of predetermined images, each identified by a respective (and standardised) code. On receipt of a paging message from another user, the handset processor scans the message firstly to identify whether it contains the code or codes for one or two of the images stored in the graphics database and, on finding these, it generates these images on a display screen of the handset. Secondly, it scans the message for any character string data which, if found, will be converted to a text message and displayed on screen below the image or images.
Whilst this arrangement can add to the appeal and understandability of the paging message, its flexibility is limited by the need for the image data to be pre-loaded to the handset although various techniques are described for updating the handset's graphic database, from manual data entry through to over-the-air downloading of graphics data files, the problem remains that the identity of each of this finite set of images must be standardised—at the very least between pairs of users who intend to utilise the service.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an extremely compact generation and coding technique for images to be displayed on the screens of hand-held or mobile apparatus, which data may be sent as the whole or part of a message.
It is a further object to provide a communications apparatus configured to receive, decode and display such coded images.
In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for generating and coding for transmission a graphic image, comprising the steps of: composing the image from a plurality of component objects from a predetermined set of object types, the composition including scaling and locating of each object within a fixed coordinate set image field; generating an ordered rendering list identifying the order in which the component objects are to be rendered on regeneration of the image; sequentially coding each object of the list as a first data word identifying the object type and one or more further words specifying coordinates for said object. By specifying the image in the form of an overlaid arrangement of objects (which may include points, polygons and text strings) the sender has great flexibility in the form of image that may be sent. Also, by the restriction to a finite set of object types, the amount of data required to transmit the image is kept very low.
In order to permit a certain amount of interactivity, receivers of the images may be enabled to select one or more of the objects making up the image, to which end the first data word may include an indicator as to whether that object is selectable from among those of the complete image by a receiver of the image. The first data word may also include an indicator as to whether the respective object is to be reproduced as outline or to be filled in: where the object is a polygon, following the first data word, the following further words may suitably specify in sequence coordinates within the image field of each vertex of said polygon, such that irregular and relatively complex polygonal shapes may be specified.
The fixed coordinate set image field (suitably 128 pixels square) enables all object coordinates to be specified relative to one another without requiring knowledge of the size or resolution of the target device display screen.
Also in accordance with the present invention there is provided a portable communications apparatus configured to receive and decode graphics images generated and coded in accordance with the method outlined above, the apparatus comprising: a display device coupled with a display driver circuit arranged to format images for display; a receiver coupled with said display driver and being configured to receive the coded image data and pass it to the display driver; and first storage means coupled with said display driver and containing said object identifier codes, said display driver being configured to reconstruct the image from the object data and output the same to the display.
Where the display differs in height and/or width compared to the image field, the apparatus may further comprise multiplication means coupled with the display driver and arranged to scale the image object coordinates to the size of the display.
Suitably, the apparatus may further comprise input means by operation of which a user may select one or more of those displayed objects identified in the code stream by its first data word as selectable, which input-means is suitably coupled with message formatting and transmission means configured to generate a signal identifying the selected object and transmit the same to the image originating source. These input means may comprise a touch screen overlaying the display or, where the apparatus further comprises a plurality of user operable controls (for example numerical keys of a portable telephone) the input means may be provided as selectable secondary functions of these user operable controls.
Thus the method provides a means for describing graphical images for display in terms of objects, in a format optimised for low bit-rate mobile data communications. The method allows objects to be displayed in a device independent manner on low to medium resolution graphical displays such as those of mobile telephones or PDA's. Additionally, in some embodiments, the scheme enables users to select objects using a variety of methods, for example touch screens or via a cursor selection. Information regarding which object is selected may be communicated back to the originator thereby enabling use in, for example, navigation and interactive displays.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5495567 (1996-02-01), Iizawa et al.
patent: 5615384 (1997-03-01), Allard et al.
patent: 5784001 (1998-07-01), DeLuca et al.
patent: 6058397 (2000-05-01), Barrus et al.
patent: 0783154A2 (1997-07-01), None
patent: WO9719429 (1997-05-01), None
Simons Paul R.
Walls Timothy J.
Brier Jeffery
Halajian Dicran
Harrison Chante
U.S. Philips Corporation
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