The paint-out processing speed for the inner part of a figure is increased in the image supply unit for a printer. When a scan line is moved down to the vertex or intersection of a figure, which is expressed in the form of contour data, graphic lines present between the vertex or intersection and the next vertex or intersection are sorted in the scan direction, to form a sorting list. A fill list for designating a paint-out segment is formed on the basis of the sorting list. The paint-out processing is performed according to the fill list. The sorting is required only for the vertex or intersection, while the conventional paint-out method requires the sorting every scan line. The sorting time is reduced and the paint-out processing speed is increased.

An invention for determining a rectangular bounding box encompassing a photograph or object(s) represented within a digital image is disclosed. The rectangular bounding box is determined irrespective of the device used to acquire the digital image. First a set of contrast points is derived; these contrast points representing changes in the characteristics of a pixel from that of a traversed neighbor. After ordering the contrast points according to their radial angle around a central reference point, a list of lines is generated by selecting two points separated by q positions in the ordered list of contrast points. If the four lines generated the most often roughly form a rectangle, then they correspond to the sides of the rectangular bounding box. Else, the line with the highest count is used as a base side of the rectangular bounding box. The slopes of the other sides are readily calculated as they are either perpendicular and parallel to base side, and their positions are then determined with reference to the other lines in the list. Once the rectangular bounding box has been determined, the digital photograph is extracted, or a high-resolution scan is performed and the digital photograph is readily extracted from this new high-resolution image based on the corresponding position and size of the rectangular bounding box.

A method of configuring partitions for different circuit or other operational areas on an integrated circuit initially identifies points representing components of an integrated circuit with respect to a coordinate system having a horizontal axis and a vertical axis, and subsequently creates a first isothetic rectangular partition containing all of the identified points of the integrated circuit. The method then continues by subdividing the first isothetic rectangular partition with respect to the horizontal axis by creating a plurality of isothetic rectangular sub-partitions collectively containing all of the identified points of the integrated circuit. Each of the isothetic rectangular sub-partitions is separated by a line parallel to the horizontal axis. These isothetic rectangular sub-partitions collectively encompass a minimum area containing all of the identified points. The method also includes subdividing the first isothetic rectangular partition with respect to the vertical axis by creating a plurality of isothetic rectangular sub-partitions collectively containing all of the identified points of the integrated circuit. Each of the isothetic rectangular sub-partitions is separated by a line parallel to the vertical axis. These isothetic rectangular sub-partitions collectively encompass a minimum area containing all of the identified points. The method then includes comparing the collective area of the isothetic rectangular sub-partitions subdivided with respect to the horizontal axis to the collective area of the isothetic rectangular sub-partitions subdivided with respect to the vertical axis, and determining which of the horizontally divided or vertically divided isothetic rectangular sub-partitions have the smaller area. The method includes configuring the operational area on the integrated circuit in conformance with the isothetic rectangular sub-partitions determined to have the smaller area.

A graphics data management system that includes control tables for quickly accessing information about the display structures to be drawn. A series of control tables and hashed indexes to graphics descriptors allow structure storage editing commands to quickly and effectively edit structure details. A hierarchical graphics data language results in a hierarchical network of structure elements and associated graphic primitive commands. The editor provides a method to preserve the hierarchy while efficiently accomplishing editing tasks. Hashing tables to the structure I.D., pick I.D., label I.D. and a chained list of execute structures are maintained to rapidly access and control those elements. Structure storage is maintained in local memory with certain portions shared with the graphics control processor.

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for modeling interactions that overcomes drawbacks. The method of the present invention comprises representing two bodies undergoing translations by two swept volume representations. Interactions such as nearest approach and collision can be modeled based on the swept body representations. The present invention is more robust and allows faster modeling than previous methods.