Shape Representations with Blossoms and Buds

Abstract

Polynomials, either on their own or as components of splines, play a fundamental role for shape representations in computer-aided geometric design (CAGD) and computer graphics. This paper shows that any polynomial p(t) of degree d ≤n can be represented in the form of a blossom of another polynomial b(t) of degree d evaluated off the diagonal at the linear functions X _j (t), j=1, ..., n, chosen under some conditions expressed in terms of the elementary symmetric functions. The polynomial b(t) is called a bud of the polynomial p(t). An algorithm for finding a bud b(t) of a given polynomial p(t) is presented. Successively, a bud of b(t) can be computed and so on, to form a sequence of representations. The information represented by the original polynomial is preserved in its buds. This scheme can be used for encoding/decoding geometric design information.