/*
 * Copyright (C) 2011-2015, Peter Abeles. All Rights Reserved.
 *
 * This file is part of Geometric Regression Library (GeoRegression).
 *
 * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
 * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
 * You may obtain a copy of the License at
 *
 *   http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
 *
 * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
 * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
 * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
 * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 * limitations under the License.
 */

package georegression.struct;

import java.io.Serializable;

/**
 * 

 * Any transform which has an unique inverse. T(u) = v and u = T-1(v).
 * 
 * 

 * Functions are provided to determining the dimensionality of the transform, inverting the transform,
 * and concating two transforms.
 * 
 * 

 * Design Note: A function to apply the transform has not been provided to any
 * data structures (e.g. {@link GeoTuple}).  Instead that has been pushed off onto specialized static
 * functions in other classes due to the large number of needed functions.
 * 
 *
 * @author Peter Abeles
 */
public interface InvertibleTransform extends Serializable {

	/**
	 * Returns the dimension of the space which this transform operates on.
	 *
	 * @return space's dimension
	 */
	public int getDimension();

	/**
	 * Creates a new instance of the same SpecialEuclidean as this class.
	 *
	 * @return A new instance.
	 */
	public T createInstance();

	/**
	 * Assigns 'this' to the value of target.
	 *
	 * @param target The new value of 'this'.
	 */
	public void set( T target );

	/**
	 * 

	 * Computes a transform which is the equivalent to applying 'this' then
	 * the 'second' transform.
	 * 
	 * 

	 * For example:

	 * 

	 * Point A = tran2( tran1( A ) );

	 * Point A = tran12( A );

	 * 

	 * where tran12 = tran1.concat( tran2 , null );
	 * 
	 *
	 * 

	 * NOTE: 'second', 'result', and 'this' must all be unique instances.
	 * 
	 *
	 * @param second The second transform which is applied.  Not modified.
	 * @param result A transform which is equivalent to applying the first then the second.
	 *               If null then a new instance is declared. Modified.
	 * @return The equivalent transform.
	 */
	public T concat( T second, T result );

	/**
	 * 

	 * Computes a transform which is the inverse of this transform. The 'this' matrix can be passed
	 * in as an input.
	 * 
	 * 

	 * Example:

	 * Point A = tran(B);

	 * Point B = inv(A);

	 * 

	 * where inv = invert( tran );
	 * 
	 *
	 * @param inverse Where the inverse will be stored.  If null a new instance is created.  Modified.
	 * @return The inverse transform.
	 */
	public T invert( T inverse );

	/**
	 * Sets the transform to its initial state of no transform.
	 */
	public void reset();
}