Algorithm for degree reduction of \(B\)-spline curves (Q1347209)

This paper presents -- in continuation of the authors' previous work on degree elevation [ibid. 19, No. 9, 485-498 (1987; Zbl 0655.65012)] -- an algorithm for degree reduction of a given \(B\)-spline-curve. The three main steps of the new algorithm are: Decomposition of the given \(B\)- spline into Bézier pieces; degree reduction of each Bézier piece; removing of multiple knots until the desired knot multiplicity is reached. A very detailed description of the algorithm and a large number of figures illustrate the authors' ideas.