Computing ECT-B-splines recursively

ECT-spline curves for sequences of multiple knots are generated from different local ECT-systems via connection matrices. Under appropriate assumptions there is a basis of the space of ECT-splines consisting of functions having minimal compact supports, normalized to form a nonnegative partition of unity. The basic functions can be defined by generalized divided differences [24]. This definition reduces to the classical one in case of a Schoenberg space. Under suitable assumptions it leads to a recursive method for computing the ECT-B-splines that reduces to the de Boor–Mansion–Cox recursion in case of ordinary polynomial splines and to Lyche's recursion in case of Tchebycheff splines. For sequences of simple knots and connection matrices that are nonsingular, lower triangular and totally positive the spline weights are identified as Neville–Aitken weights of certain generalized interpolation problems. For multiple knots they are limits of Neville–Aitken weights. In many cases the spline weights can be computed easily by recurrence. Our approach covers the case of Bézier-ECT-splines as well. They are defined by different local ECT-systems on knot intervals of a finite partition of a compact interval [a,b] connected at inner knots all of multiplicities zero by full connection matrices A ^[i] that are nonsingular, lower triangular and totally positive. In case of ordinary polynomials of order n they reduce to the classical Bézier polynomials. We also present a recursive algorithm of de Boor type computing ECT-spline curves pointwise. Examples of polynomial and rational B-splines constructed from given knot sequences and given connection matrices are added. For some of them we give explicit formulas of the spline weights, for others we display the B-splines or the B-spline curves. *Supported in part by INTAS 03-51-6637.     

A recurrence relation for generalized divided differences with respect to ECT-systems

It is well known that ordinary divided differences can be computed recursively. This holds true also for generalized divided differences with respect to complete Chebyshev-systems. In this note for extended complete Chebyshev-systems and possibly repeated nodes for the recurrence relation a simple proof is given which also covers the case of complex valued functions. As an application, interpolation by linear combinations of certain complex exponential functions is considered. Moreover, it is shown that generalized divided differences are also continuous functions of their nodes. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Cardinal ECT-splines

Cardinal ECT-spline curves are generated from one ECT-system of order n which is shifted by integer translations via one connection matrix. If this matrix is nonsingular, lower triangular and totally positive, there exists an ECT-B-spline function N₀ⁿ(x) having minimal compact support [0,n] whose integer translates span the cardinal ECT-spline space. This B-spline is computed explicitly piece by piece. Involved is the characteristic polynomial of a certain matrix which is the product of a matrix related to the connection matrix and of the generalized Taylor matrix of the basic ECT-system. This approach extends results for polynomial cardinal splines via connection matrices [6] to the more general setting of cardinal ECT-splines. The method is illustrated by two examples based on ECT-systems of rational functions with prescribed poles. Also, a Greens function involved is expressed explicitly as an ECT-B-splines series. AMS subject classification 41A15, 41A05