[in Japanese]

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In fractal image coding, optimal contractive mapping should be determined to minimize the difference between the original image and a reconstruction of it. Though this can be determined by an exhaustive search, this approach is impractical because of its heavy calculation cost. Therefore, to reduce calculation cost, conventional methods determine an suitable contractive mapping by minimizing the difference between the original image and the collage. However, the obtained mapping cannot necessarily reconstruct a high quality image and this does not minimize reconstruction errors. Hence, in order to always obtain high-quality reconstructed images, we propose a new fractal image coding to minimize the errors by using genetic algorithms.

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This paper describes a method that uses video imaging and foot pressure distribution to estimate a person's lower body posture when walking. The method first estimates the position, posture, and size of the subject, from his or her foot pressure distribution.These estimates are represented by stick models, which are then projected onto video images to estimate the skeletal position. This method was tested on 90 walking patterns of 9 women, and the results show that most of the estimated skeletal structure lies inside the leg, thus confirming that this method functions effectively by repositioning the structure to the center of the leg and matching it to the edge of the video image.

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A noble microstrip patch antenna with the capability to control the operating frequency continuously is proposed that is an example of the basic research on “Reconfigurable” microwave circuits. The antenna is composed of a planar patch and variable capacitors integrated on the patch conductor. The bias voltage fed to the variable capacitors to control the surface current on the patch can continuously control the operating frequency. The basic performance of the antenna has been successfully verified by both FDTD analysis and a primary experiment.

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Coupling loop interference (CLI) between transmitting and receiving antennas must be suppressed to achieve broadcast wave relay in single frequency network (SFN) for digital terrestrial broadcasting. To avoid this interference, we have developed and demonstrated the effectiveness of a CLI canceller. An important step toward to achieving a relay station in SFN is to understand the propagation characteristics of CLI. This paper describes the measured and analytical results of the coupling, fluctuation and delay spread of CLI.

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Many attempts have been made to reduce the burden and difficulty of CG (Computer Graphics) in movie production. One of the biggest evolutions is an automatic control approach driven by commands or language, instead of traditional CG production. In this paper, we propose methods and tools for automatic and directorial camera control that are invoked by a text script. This approach is based on the knowledge base of cinematographic rules and movie analysis imformation. We suggest considering directorial differences and optimal constraint satisfaction for adjusting CG camera work. An algorithm is implemented and checked in the DMP (Digital Movie Producer) system that aims at visualizing scripts written in simple natural language.

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This paper describes a software system designed to automate the production of digital movies with various visual effects like three-dimension animation, real image, and their composition. The production system can understand user's input screenplay through a parser then automatically interprets it into a relevant motion picture under the direction of a virtual director in place of a human one. The virtual director achieves user's intentions through knowledge-based approach by setting a scene, determining the corresponding shot types and shot sequence, and planning virtual camerawork dependent on the cinematic expertise stored in a domain knowledge base. We model the filmmaking knowledge and rule-based reasoning strategies in expert system language CLIPS. Video data is encoded in XML and tracked by the MPEG-7 standard.

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Achieving high linear density is indispensable for high density in perpendicular magnetic recording. Therefore, a narrow reproducing pulse is important. The degradation of the resolution of a narrow track GMR head is a concern due to the resolution degradation in track edge. The sensitivity function and output of a shielded GMR head with different read track widths were investigated by using a commercial software JMAG-Studio which was based on 3 dimensional finite element method. The results were compared with calculation by using the two-dimensional finite element method and analytical expression. Although the sensitivity function in the track center became narrower when the read track width was narrower, almost no changes in the all track output by reciprocity occurred, for either perpendicular or longitudinal reproduction. Based on this calculation, our work showed that read track width had almost no influence on the reading resolution of a shielded GMR head.

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We will introduce a simulation system for the human arm that will allow researchers in areas such as biometrics and orthopedics etc, to analyze and synthesize muscular activity. We made the human motion simulation model based on forward dynamics and precise muscular skeleton data, such as muscular insertion position and maximum muscle force. Based on this simulation system, we can construct an interface that can calculate joint torque and muscle force from EMG signals. In this paper, we propose a practial human arm model suitable for applications such as muscle work and joint control. This model will also help us to visualize simulated muscle functions in human motions.

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To show the relationship between the actual camerawork and the subjective quality of coded video, we conduct a subjective assessment test of several camerawork and filming speeds. In the case of high speed, we found that the subjective quality of coded video is more significantly reduced than the estimated subjective frame quality.

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The authors have developed a 3D work space system using collaborative imaging devices. A stereoscopic display enables this system to project 3D information. We describe a see-through 3D viewer with a parallax polarizer barrier. The advantage of the parallax polarizer barrier is that the resolution of presented parallax images is much greater than that of a conventional display and see-through 3D images can be observed, because the 3D screen can multiplex projected images with horizontal and vertical polarization to display stereo views.

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This paper presents an RMP (Rights Management and Protection) system for Digital Broadcasting Based on Home Servers to be used with receivers and home storage devices. We clarified the requirements required for rights protection of contents in Digital Broadcasting Based on Home Servers, and developed an RMP system that meets those requirements. This RMP system enables rights protection and advanced access control (term of validity, usage and charge condition, etc.) of content stored on home storage devices. We have also proposed a method for multiplexing scramble keys synchronous with MPEG-2 TS video packets, to achieve a non-linear playback function of contents encrypted by the developed RMP system. We confirmed that non-linear playback and trick-play function of contents encrypted by the developed RMP system can be processed in real time.

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To elicit voluntary saccades, subjects were placed in complete darkness and then subjected to a repeatedly flashing stimulus. They were asked to look at a target located 10 degrees to the right of the flashing stimulus. Several flashes were produced in a basic saccade direction. The stimulus was halted after onset of the saccade in time. The subjects were asked to report the position of the rightmost flash in the perceived flashes. In one experimental condition, clear background stimuli (the saccade target, fixation point, etc.) were presented and in others none were presented. Our results showed that background stimuli affected the perceived position of the rightmost flash. Our previous study suggested the perceived position of the rightmost flash was affected by the locations subjects were asked to direct the attention during the experiment. The results of the present study are discussed in this report related to predicted attention behavior during the experiment as influenced by background stimuli.

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