Method and Device for Generating a Procedural Map from an External Parameter such as an Image Characteristic

• US 20090044149A1
• Filed: 04/13/2005
• Published: 02/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Adobe Inc.
• Original Assignee: Allegorithmic
• Inventors: Deguy, Sebastien
• Granted Patent: US 8,635,558 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/853
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/001 Texturing; Colouring; Generation of texture or colour inpainting G06T5/77
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 17/00 Three dimensional [3D] modelling, e.g. data description of 3D objects

Abstract

Method to generate a procedural map (50) having a tree structure (40) comprising a plurality of levels (43), each one with at least one node (41) to which is associated at least one parameter, comprising the steps consisting in:

• • providing a tool for parameter setting adapted to parameterize the tree corresponding to the map to provide and adapted to be connected to at least one external source of parameters;
  • receiving, via the tool for parameter setting (or generation of procedural maps) the parameters of the map to be provided;
  • at least one of said parameters coming from an external source;
  • processing said parameters, in order to generate said map;

Such a map comprises parameters and a structure allowing it to provide “special” effects in the field of image processing.

The invention further provides a tool for generation and/or modification for the implementation of said method.

Claims

1. A process to generate or modify a procedural map having a tree structure comprising a plurality of levels, each one with at least a node to which is associated at least one parameter, comprising:

establishing an at least temporary connection with an external source capable to provide at least one value of at least one parameter applicable to a procedural map;

parameterizing a procedural map with the sub-steps consisting in;

providing a node selection tool, allowing the selection of at least one node of at least one level;

receiving the selection of at least one node, of at least one level, to which the parameters are intended;

providing a parameter modification tool allowing the modification of at least one parameter of the at least one selected nodes, from an external source;

applying said value of the external parameter to the selected map portion;

generating the map according at least to the value of this external parameter.

2. The process of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a selection of at least one parameter of said node to be modified;

applying said value of the external parameter to this at least one node;

processing said parameters, including the modified parameter, in order to generate said modified map.

6. The process of claim 1, in which said map thus provided, is a locally modifiable procedural map.

7. The process of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a selection of at least one another node, from at least one level;

receiving a selection of at least one parameter of this or these other nodes;

applying a new value for these nodes;

generating the map according at least to these values.

9. The process of claim 1, in which the procedural map having a tree structure can be represented by an equation of the type:

Σ

F(2^jx−

k)

(j, k)ε

T

in which;

F is a function (or “

morphlet”

) Rⁿ→

OR

x is a vector of the type (x1, x2, . . . , xn);

T is a tree comprising the nodes (j, k) and in which

j represents the selected step, among a total number of potential steps jmax (j ε

(0, 1, 2, . . . , jmax)

k is a displacement vector for each node N, of the type (x1, x2, xn)

10. The process of claim 9, in which the modifiable parameters are selected in the list comprising:

a “

morphlet”

F, the maximum number of steps (jmax).

11. The process of claim 1, in which the map may be represented by an equation of the type:

Σ

2−

^jHF(2^jx−

k)ξ

_{(j, k)}

(j, k)ε

TD, p

in which;

F is a function (or “

morphlet”

) Rⁿ→

OR

x is a vector of the type (x1, x2, . . . , xn);

TD, p represents a tree provided with an intermittency parameter (p), comprising nodes (j, k), and a displacement value (D), in which

j indicates the selected step, among a total number of potential steps jmax (j ε

(0, 1, 2, . . . jmax)

k is a displacement vector for each node N of the type (x1, x2, . . . , xn)

H represents a value of roughness;

ξ

represents a random number.

12. The process of claim 11 in which the modifiable parameters are selected in the list comprising:

a “

morphlet”

F, the maximum number of steps (jmax), the Hurst parameter (H), a random number (ξ

), an intermittency parameter (p), a displacement value (D).

14. The process of claim 1, in which the parameters are affected in a recursive way to the children nodes of the selected nodes.

15. The process of claim 1, in which the map is time dependant.

3. (canceled)

4. (canceled)

5. (canceled)

8. (canceled)

13. (canceled)

16. Tool for generation or modification of procedural maps, allowing the generation or the modification of procedural maps having a tree structure, comprising a plurality of levels, each one with at least one node to which is associated at least one parameter, comprising:

a means of connection at least temporary to at least an external source of parameter;

a nodes selection tool allowing the selection of at least one node of a level of a map;

a map parameter selection and modification tool, for on the one hand selecting a parameter to modify, and on the other hand to allow the entry of the new value of the parameter, said tool being adapted to use a parameter value coming from said external source of parameter;

a processing unit intended to generate said processing map according to at least one external parameter so that the map has a tree structure;

implementation instructions, to provide the operation of the tool and in particular of the processing unit;

an exit, allowing to transmit the produced maps.

18. The tool of claim 16, in which said parameter selection and modification tool comprises, for at least one parameter, a selector, in order to allow choosing the origin of the parameter of the tree to be generated.

19. The tool of claim 16, in which the node selection tool comprises a unit for selection of depth, allowing selecting the extent of the modification to be made on the tree.

20. The tool of claim 16, in which the nodes selection tool comprises a mobile framework for localization of node-object or of node.

17. (canceled)