Patent ID: 8786599

Claim:
A method for representing a free-form shape in a data-processing system, the method comprising: providing an indication of a plurality of sample points defining the free-form shape; determining a set of pivot points among the plurality of sample points corresponding to maximum and minimum curvatures of the free-form shape, partitioning the plurality of sample points into a set of first groups of sample points and a set of second groups of sample points, each first group of sample points spanning around a corresponding pivot point and each second group of sample points extending according to a predefined minimum extent between a corresponding pair of adjacent first groups of sample points, associating each first group of sample points with a first circular element fitting said each first group of sample points, and associating each second group of sample points with a second circular element providing a predefined continuity with each first circular element adjacent to the second circular element; and storing an indication of said circular elements into a memory of said data-processing system.