Approximate degree reduction of bezier curves

Degree reducti on of par ametric curves and surfaces is an important process in data communi cation between CAD systems. The degenerate conditi on of Bezier curves and the constrai ned optimization rrethod are used to develop a new degree reduction method for Bezi er curves. An error anal ysis of the degree reduction is also given. The degree reduction scheme is corrbined with a subdivision algorithm to generate lower degree approximations which are within some preset error tolerance of the prescri bed Bezier curve. Geometri c continuity between adjacent curve segments is also consi dered in the subdivision! degree reduction process.