System for image manipulation and animation using embedded constraint graphics

A method for the manipulation of graphic images, comprising the steps of:

• generating a plurality of parametric image examples;
• defining a model containing a state space which comprises a zone having vertices;
• associating said image examples with respective vertices in said state space;
• defining a first state which comprises a set of interpolation weights respectively associated with the example images corresponding to a given one of said zones;
• displaying an image which corresponds to said first state;
• directly manipulating at least one configuration parameter associated with the image;
• determining a second state which corresponds as closely as possible to the manipulated parameter;
• and
• displaying an image which corresponds to the second state.

A method for the manipulation of graphic images, comprising the steps of:

• generating a plurality of parameterized image examples;
• defining a model containing a state space which comprises a plurality of zones having vertices, with at least one of said zones having at least three vertices;
• associating said image examples with respective vertices in said state space;
• establishing a sequence of states within said model, wherein each state comprises a set of interpolation weights respectively associated with the image examples corresponding to a given one of said zones;
• determining a transformation value for each state in said sequence;
• sequentially displaying images which correspond to each of said states;
• and
• shifting a frame of reference for each displayed image in accordance with its transformation value.

A system for manipulating graphic images, comprising:

• a data structure containing information pertaining to a set of parameterized image examples, and information which defines subsets of said set of images which can be interpolated with one another, wherein each individual subset contains less than all of the images in said set and all of the subsets together contain all of the images in said set;
• means for designating a desired state for an image to be displayed;
• and
• means for generating an interpolated image that corresponds to said desired state, said interpolated image being composed of a weighted combination of the images in one of said subsets of images which can be interpolated with one another.

A method for manipulating graphic images, comprising the steps of:

• defining a data structure containing information pertaining to a plurality of parameterized image examples, and information which defines subsets of said set of images which can be interpolated with one another, wherein each individual subset contains less than all of the images in said set and all of the subsets together contain all of the images in said set;
• displaying an image that is composed of a weighted combination of the images in one of said subsets of images which can be interpolated with one another;
• directly manipulating a configuration parameter of the displayed image;
• determining a state in one of said subsets of images that corresponds to the configuration parameter of the component as manipulated;
• and
• displaying an image that corresponds to the determined state.

A method for the manipulation of graphic images, comprising the steps of:

• generating a parameterized image;
• defining a model that contains a state space, said state space being composed of a plurality of zones having vertices which respectively correspond to plural examples of said image in which at least one configuration parameter differs from example to example;
• defining a sequence of said models that are isomorphic to one another, in which another configuration parameter of the image differs from model to model;
• establishing a state which comprises a set of interpolation weights respectively associated with the example images corresponding to a given one of said zones;
• and
• sequentially displaying images which correspond to said state from respective ones of said models.

A method for the remote manipulation of graphic images, comprising the steps of:

• generating a plurality of parameterized image examples;
• storing a model containing a state space at a first computer, said state space being composed of a plurality of zones having vertices, respectively corresponding to said image examples, with at least one of said zones having at least three vertices;
• establishing a sequence of states within said state space at said first computer, wherein each state comprises a set of interpolation weights respectively associated with the example images corresponding to a given one of said zones;
• transmitting said sequence of states to a second computer that is remote from said first computer;
• and
• sequentially displaying images which correspond to each of said states in a model which is stored at said second computer.