摘要:
A system enables an interactively guided heuristic search for solving a combinatorial optimization problem. The system initially performs a hill-climbing search on the combinatorial optimization problem to obtain a solution using initial default parameters. The current solution and the combinatorial optimization problem are visualized on an optimization table, a table-top display device. The parameters are altered based on the visualization of the combinatorial optimization problem and the current solution. Then, the searching, visualizing, and setting are repeated until the solution is selected as an acceptable solution of the combinatorial optimization problem. During the repeating, the parameters can be a set of probabilities, and in which case the search is a random perturbation-based search. Alternatively, the parameters can be a set of priorities, in which case the search is an exhaustive local search.
摘要:
A method packs input rectangles into a target rectangle. The rectangles are permuted into one or more an ordered list according to dimensions of the rectangles, e.g., width, height, perimeter, and area. The rectangles are then marked as unaccepted. A next unaccepted rectangle is selected from the ordered list beginning with a first rectangle in the list. Accepting the next rectangle if it is the last unaccepted rectangles, and otherwise, accepting the next rectangle with a probability p, and marking the next rectangle as accepted, and repeating the steps until all rectangles have been accepted.
摘要:
A programmable visualization apparatus processes graphical data. The apparatus includes a central processing unit for executing a visualization application and a scheduler. A third level of memory is connected to the central processing unit. The third level of memory stores the graphical data. The graphical data is partitioned into a plurality of blocks. A second level of memory is connected to the central processing unit by a system bus. The second level of memory stores a sub-set of the plurality of blocks. A first level of memory is connected to the second level of memory by a memory bus. The scheduler stores an ordered list of blocks in the first level memory. A processor element is connected to the first level of memory by a processor bus. A dispatcher is connected to the first, the second, and the third memories and the processor element. The dispatcher transfers blocks from the third, to the second, and from the second to the third level memories according to the order of the list of blocks.
摘要:
A system is disclosed for computing an initial partition of a graph comprising nodes and the edges that connect the nodes. In one embodiment this initial partition is presented for subsequent use by the Kernighan-Lin system of graph partitioning. The Subject System uses a combination of a seed-growth heuristic and a stochastic-search process to compute an initial partition. The seed-growth heuristic builds a partition by iteratively augmenting an initial set of seed nodes. The search process searches for good sets of seed nodes to use. The resulting combination of seed-growth heuristic, stochastic-search process, and the Kernighan-Lin algorithm constitutes a superior system for partitioning graphs. The Subject System can be applied to graph-partitioning problems that arise in circuit design, computer architecture, routing in computer networks, database design, distributed and parallel processing, and many other domains.
摘要:
A method traces rays through graphical data. The method partitions the graphical data into a plurality of blocks according to a scheduling grid. For each block, a ray queue is generated. Each entry in the ray queue representing a ray to be traced through the block. The ray queues are ordered spatially and temporally using a dependency graph. The rays are traced through the blocks according to the ordered list.
摘要:
A system for delineating partially- or fully-bounded areal regions of a map utilizes deformable templates, which it dynamically expands and contorts to conform to the boundaries of the regions. The system segments the map into a number of cells, with each cell relating, for example, to a pixel. The system then defines an "energy" field for the floor plan by assigning cells corresponding to boundary edges predetermined minimum energy values, cells corresponding to boundary interiors predetermined maximum energy values, and each non-boundary cell an energy value defined by the distance of the cell from the closest boundary edge cell. The system then iteratively manipulates a template over a selected region of the floor plan in an attempt to minimize the "potential" of the template, which is defined by a potential function that includes a "total energy score" and various size and test terms that encourage desired template deformations. The system determines the total energy score, by (i) scan converting the template sides, (ii) weighting the energy values of the cells through which the sides pass based on the lengths of the sides passing through the cells, and (iii) summing the scores. After determining the potential for all possible new locations for each of the vertices, the system selects next locations for each of the vertices and, as necessary, moves the vertices to these next locations to complete an iteration. At various times, the system raises the energy field and updates the template by altering the number of vertices. The system ends its manipulations of the template when it has performed a predetermined number of iterations or, in an energy field at its ceiling values, either the template vertices do not move between iterations or the potential of the template does not change. A user may then edit the template to conform the template more closely to the selected region. A user may also specify certain constraints on template deformation. In response, the system uses a modified potential function for controlling the deformation of the template.
摘要:
A method recognizes three-dimensional physical objects using three-dimensional deformable templates. A particular object is scanned with a camera to generate volumetric data representing the object. The volumetric data is compared to each of a plurality of three-dimensional deformable templates stored in a database to obtain a score for each comparison. The deforming of the template is done by optimizing an objective function.
摘要:
Apparatus for determining the structure of a hypermedia document containingext and graphics that are to be laid out on several linked pages includes a system that specifies the assignment of text and graphics to pages and the links between the pages via a reduction to graph partitioning and the use of optimization techniques for graph partitioning. In one embodiment, display items and relations between these display items are listed along with a measure of their importance. These factors are captured in terms of numeric weights for edges between nodes in the associated graph to permit the system to assign display items to pages, and determine which pages should be linked, so that a user can move between pages in the most efficient manner. In a further embodiment, to accommodate limited display area that restricts the number of display items and page links that can be displayed simultaneously, the system can take into account multistage page moves that allow the user to access display items on different pages in sequence by moving from one page to another via links on other pages, through the use of "stepping-stone" nodes in the associated graph that record possible traversal routes in the document that are not represented in other formulations of the hypermedia-document-layout task.
摘要:
A cellular telephone breeding toy includes a memory storing genetic traits of corresponding breedable virtual fish. The memory also stores sets of image templates, there being at least one genetic trait associated with each image template. A keypad is used to select one or more of the virtual fish, and to render the virtual fish according to the genetic traits and the sets of image templates. Lineage of the virtual fish can also be displayed, and the virtual fish can be traded between cellular telephones using communications protocols. Genetic traits of two virtual fish can be combined randomly to generate off-springs.
摘要:
A method for decorating a virtual world model first builds a physical model from a plurality of building blocks. Each building block includes a microcontroller coupled to a plurality of connectors. The connectros are for physically and electronically connecting the blocks in a three-dimensional structure to form the model. An arrangement of the blocks in the model is derived by connecting the model to a host computer. The arrangement is expressed as a set of logical axioms. The set of logical axioms is processed by a logic program to identify large scale structural elements of the model, and decorative attributes are assigned to the large. scale structural elements.