Using Simultaneous Localization And Mapping (SLAM) methods become more and more common in Augmented Reality (AR). To achieve real-time requirement and to cope with scale factor and the lack of absolute positioning issue, we propose to decouple the localization and the mapping step. We explain the benefits of this approach and how a SLAM strategy can still be used in a way that is meaningful for the end user. The method we proposed has been fully implemented on various smartphone in order to show its efficiency.

Using Simultaneous Localization And Mapping (SLAM) methods become more and more common in Augmented Reality (AR). To achieve real-time requirement and to cope with scale factor and the lack of absolute positioning issue, we propose to decouple the localization and the mapping step. We explain the benefits of this approach and how a SLAM strategy can still be used in a way that is meaningful for the end user.

This paper presents a method for camera pose tracking that uses a partial knowledge about the scene. The method is based on monocular vision simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM). With respect to classical SLAM implementations, this approach uses previously known information about the environment (rough map of the walls) and profits from the various available databases and blueprints to constraint the problem. This method considers that the tracked image patches belong to known planes (with some uncertainty in their localization) and that SLAM map can be represented by associations of cameras and planes. In this paper, we propose an adapted SLAM implementation and detail the considered models. We show that this method gives good results for a real sequence with complex motion for augmented reality (AR) application.

The MPEG-2 video coding standard offers great latitude in implementation and covers a wide variety of applications. The DVFLEX video encoder allows one to take advantage of this flexibility by making the whole coding loop including the bitstream generation, software programmable. The DVFLEX architecture is basically an array of linearly-connected processing modules. These modules are based on the MVP (TMS320C80) and include dedicated I/O ports for video, bitstream and inter-processor communications. All these I/O ports allow the processing to be performed in parallel with I/Os. The processing workload is distributed among these modules on an image region per processor basis. As for the on-chip MVP processors, tasks assignment is much more constrained because of the bitstream handling problems. Although suboptimal, the solution we describe is simple and gives satisfactory results. However, the on-chip to off-chip memory I/Os have to be carefully handled so as to keep the processors busy.

The use of Monte-Carlo integration together with stochastic sampling is very useful for dealing with the scattering phenomena that occur in the propagation and reflection of light. In this paper, these techniques have been applied to the implementation of a physicsbased global illumination model. The theoretical basis of this approach is presented briefly and various applications to realistic image rendering are then described. This concerns the rendering of penumbra and scattered reflection effects, antialiasing and accurate color modelling through spectral integration. For all these applications, both theoretical and implementation aspects are developed and it is shown that stochastic techniques can provide very simple and efficient algorithms.

30-picture synthesis systems used for instance in the audiovisual field or networked services require the implementation of easy-to-use aids to composition. This particular composition software realizes the sizing and locating of even complex CSG objects in a simple and direct manner. The Ray-casting method is used for display and designation.

Abstract Ray‐casting techniques provide a very general framework in which many problems can be solved in a much easier way than with conventional methods. This is particularly true for the illumination model when a high level of realism is required. Another interesting feature of ray‐casting is its ability to display a wide class of algebraic surfaces with a minimum of approximation. Both aspects are developed in this paper where a full lighting model, based on a theoretical approach, is presented. Then, an algorithm for the display of surfaces of revolution is described. Computation time is the major drawback of ray‐tracing. Special purpose parallel processors seem to offer a good price/performance ratio compared to the use of supercomputers.