Data compaction techniques for generation of a complex image

Claim 1

A data compaction system used in computer image generation of a complex image, said complex image being divided into a plurality of blocks, each of said blocks including an identical grid pattern for location of shapes within the block, said data compaction system comprising: a reference memory storing a limited number of a plurality of simple shapes from which a subset of said shapes are selected to generate a portion of said complex image for a specific location of the grid pattern in any one of said plurality of blocks, each of said simple shapes being assigned shape numbers and stored with their assigned shape number; a buffer memory storing bit string patterns for each of said plurality of blocks, each bit string pattern having a sequence corresponding to said shape numbers and indicating which of the simple shapes of said limited number of a plurality of simple shapes are to be generated for a specific location of the grid pattern to produce that portion of said complex image in the block, one or more simple shapes being selected for generation at the specific location with each selected shape adding a different feature to the specific location in the grid pattern; and output means for supplying data words derived from said reference memory and said buffer memory for each of said blocks, each said data word including an address field specifying stored simple shape patterns in said reference memory, said simple shape patterns being used repeatedly at different locations in said grid pattern to reduce the overall volume of data required to define an entire pattern of said complex image.

Claim 6

A method of compacting data required to generate complex images by a computer image generation system comprising the steps of: dividing a complex image into a plurality of blocks, each of said blocks including an identical grid pattern of shapes for specific locations within the block; defining a limited number of a plurality of simple shapes from which a subset of said shapes are selected to generate a portion of said complex image for a specific location of the grid pattern in any one of said plurality of blocks; assigning shape numbers to each of said simple shapes; storing said simple shapes with their assigned shape number in a computer reference memory; for each block, generating a bit string pattern of data words in a sequence corresponding to said shape numbers, said bit string pattern indicating which of the simple shapes of said limited number of a plurality of simple shapes are to be generated at a specific location of the grid pattern in the block to produce that portion of said complex image in the block, one or more simple shapes being selected for generation at the specific location with each selected shape adding a different feature to the specific location in the grid pattern, whereby a large number of complex images may be generated from the limited number of simple shapes stored in computer memory; and storing said bit string pattern of data words in a computer buffer memory for access when said complex image is generated, each said data word including an address field specifying stored patterns in said reference memory.

Claim 7

A method of compacting data required to generate complex images by a computer image generation system comprising the steps of: dividing a complex image into a plurality of blocks, each of said blocks including an identical grid pattern of shapes for specific locations within the block; defining a limited number of a plurality of simple shapes from which a subset of said shapes are selected to generate a portion of said complex image for a specific location of the grid pattern in any one of said plurality of blocks; assigning shape numbers to each of said simple shapes; storing said simple shapes with their assigned shape number in a computer reference memory; for each block, generating a bit string pattern of data words in a sequence corresponding to said shape numbers, said bit string pattern indicating which of the simple shapes of said limited number of a plurality of simple shapes are to be generated at a specific location of the grid pattern in the block to produce that portion of said complex image in the block, one or more simple shapes being selected for generation at the specific location with each selected shape adding a different feature to the specific location in the grid pattern, whereby a large number of complex images may be generated from the limited number of simple shapes stored in computer memory; and storing said bit string pattern of data words in a computer buffer memory for access when said complex image is generated, each said data word including an address field specifying stored patterns in said reference memory.

Claim 10

A method of data compaction used in generating a complex image by a computer system comprising the steps of: dividing the complex image into a plurality of blocks, each of said blocks including an identical grid pattern of shapes for specific locations within the block; defining a limited number of a plurality of simple shapes from which a subset of said shapes are selected to generate a portion of said complex image for a specific location of the grid pattern in any one of said plurality of blocks; assigning shape numbers to each of said simple shapes; storing said simple shapes with their assigned shape number in computer memory; for each block, generating a bit string pattern in a sequence corresponding to said shape numbers, said bit string pattern indicating which of the simple shapes of said limited number of a plurality of simple shapes are to be generated to produce that portion of said complex image in the block, one or more simple shapes being selected for generation at the specific location with each selected shape adding a different feature to the specific location in the grid pattern; storing said bit string pattern for each block in computer memory; accessing said computer memory to read out data for each block on a step-by-step basis; and as data for each block is read out from computer memory, accessing the bit string for that block and generating the simple shapes according to said bit string to generate the portion of said complex image in the block, thereby generating the complex image from the limited number of simple shapes stored in computer memory.

Claim 11

A method of data compaction used in generating a complex image by a computer system comprising the steps of: dividing the complex image into a plurality of blocks, each of said blocks including an identical grid pattern of shapes for specific locations within the block; defining a limited number of a plurality of simple shapes from which a subset of said shapes are selected to generate a portion of said complex image for a specific location of the grid pattern in any one of said plurality of blocks; assigning shape numbers to each of said simple shapes; storing said simple shapes with their assigned shape number in computer memory; for each block, generating a bit string pattern in a sequence corresponding to said shape numbers, said bit string pattern indicating which of the simple shapes of said limited number of a plurality of simple shapes are to be generated to produce that portion of said complex image in the block, one or more simple shapes being selected for generation at the specific location with each selected shape adding a different feature to the specific location in the grid pattern; storing said bit string pattern for each block in computer memory; accessing said computer memory to read out data for each block on a step-by-step basis; and as data for each block is read out from computer memory, accessing the bit string for that block and generating the simple shapes according to said bit string to generate the portion of said complex image in the block, thereby generating the complex image from the limited number of simple shapes stored in computer memory.