Network repository of digitalized 3D object models, and networked generation of photorealistic images based upon these models
First Claim
1. A method using digital 3D models and/or textures in and for the remote rendering of photorealistic images upon a computer network, the method comprising:
- storing in one or more server computers upon a computer network a collection of three-dimensional digital models of items which models are sufficiently detailed so as to permit photorealistic images of these items to be rendered;
requesting at a client computer from the one or more server computers, and receiving, a relatively low resolution and therefore non-proprietary stand-in scene model, and using this model to develop a 3D scene that includes the item; and
furtherformulating at this client computer upon the computer network a 3D scene file which contains (1) identities, and (2) any of sizes, locations, spatial orientations, colorations, patterns, textures and illuminations, of one or more items in the scene;
wherein the client computer does not have access to digital models of the identified items of resolution sufficient to render a photorealistic image thereof even should it attempt to do so;
sending the 3D scene file so formulated at the client computer from the client computer to the one or more server computers upon the computer network;
receiving the formulated information at the one or more server computers, and using this information to first identify one or more corresponding high resolution three-dimensional models and any of associated high-resolution patterns and colorations and textures, and then using the one or more identified three-dimensional models and any associated patterns and colorations and textures along with the other scene file information to render a photorealistic image of the identified or more items located, spatially oriented, colored, patterned, textured and illuminated in the scene;
wherein formulation and preview of the scene transpires at the client computer, but photorealistic rendering of the scene using, one or more high resolution three-dimension models that reside solely on one or more servers, permits the remote photorealistic image rendering top transpire exclusively, and only, at the one or more server computers.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In a network-linked computer graphics image rendering system serving to render images of objects in scenes, these objects are so rendered from high-resolution 3D models and textures that are, in particular, stored and maintained on one or more server computers in one or more libraries that are secure. Using stand-in object models and textures, design professionals at client computers are able to “fine-tune” and preview designs that incorporate objects stored securely in the server'"'"'s(s'"'"') models'"'"' library(ies). Yet the high-resolution, 3D, relatively expensive, and proprietary object models remain completely secure at one (i.e., centralized) or more (i.e., distributed) server computers. 2D perspective-view or stereo in-situ photorealistic images of scenes incorporating these objects are rendered at the one or more sever computers, for subsequent remote viewing at the one or more client computers.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A method using digital 3D models and/or textures in and for the remote rendering of photorealistic images upon a computer network, the method comprising:
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storing in one or more server computers upon a computer network a collection of three-dimensional digital models of items which models are sufficiently detailed so as to permit photorealistic images of these items to be rendered; requesting at a client computer from the one or more server computers, and receiving, a relatively low resolution and therefore non-proprietary stand-in scene model, and using this model to develop a 3D scene that includes the item; and
furtherformulating at this client computer upon the computer network a 3D scene file which contains (1) identities, and (2) any of sizes, locations, spatial orientations, colorations, patterns, textures and illuminations, of one or more items in the scene; wherein the client computer does not have access to digital models of the identified items of resolution sufficient to render a photorealistic image thereof even should it attempt to do so; sending the 3D scene file so formulated at the client computer from the client computer to the one or more server computers upon the computer network; receiving the formulated information at the one or more server computers, and using this information to first identify one or more corresponding high resolution three-dimensional models and any of associated high-resolution patterns and colorations and textures, and then using the one or more identified three-dimensional models and any associated patterns and colorations and textures along with the other scene file information to render a photorealistic image of the identified or more items located, spatially oriented, colored, patterned, textured and illuminated in the scene; wherein formulation and preview of the scene transpires at the client computer, but photorealistic rendering of the scene using, one or more high resolution three-dimension models that reside solely on one or more servers, permits the remote photorealistic image rendering top transpire exclusively, and only, at the one or more server computers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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8. The method according to claim 7
wherein at least some of the secure three-dimensional digital models and/or textures at the one or more server computers are proprietary.
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9. A method of doing business in photorealistic rendering, from digital 3D models of items, photorealistic images of these items within scenes, the method conducted upon a computer communications network, the method comprising:
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maintaining a secure repository of proprietary high-resolution digital models and/or textures of objects at one or more server computers upon a computer communications network; receiving at the one or more server computers a request from a client computer upon the computer communications network to render a photorealistic image of one of more of the items as have corresponding digital models to be any one or ones of selectively sized, located, spatial oriented, colored, textured and illuminated in a selected scene; and rendering at the one or more server computers a photorealistic image of the selected one or more items, using the proprietary models and/or textures that reside on the one or more server computers, as may be selectively sized, located, spatially oriented, colored, textured and illuminated in the selected scene; and transmitting upon the computer communications network the rendered photorealistic image to the requesting client computer; wherein a party controlling the sever computer or computers can charge manufacturers of items for which high-resolution digital models and/or textures are maintained on the server for the purpose of allowing rendering of images showing the items without allowing direct access to the proprietary models and/or textures themselves, and can also charge a party(ies) controlling the requesting client computer for the images rendered and the transmitting and/or the printing of the photorealistic image, or can charge both the manufacturers and the party(ies). - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. A server computer upon a communications network, the server computer:
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maintaining a secure repository of proprietary high-resolution digital models and textures of objects; receiving (1) a request, (2) data specifying one or more objects, (3) scene data, and (4) data specifying any of size, location, spatial orientation, color, textured and illumination of the one or more objects in the scene, from a client computer upon the computer communications network; and
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, in response to the (1) request and the (2)-(4) data,rendering a photorealistic image of the (2) one of more of the objects as have corresponding digital models in the (3) scene, the rendered objects being any one or ones of selectively sized, located, spatial oriented, colored, textured and illuminated in the scene as was specified by the (4) data; and transmitting upon the communications network the rendered photorealistic image to the requesting client computer; where a party controlling the sever computer or computers charges manufacturers of objects for which high-resolution digital models and/or textures are maintained on the server for the rendering of scene images showing the objects while maintaining confidential and proprietary the models and/or textures themselves, or charges a party(ies) controlling the requesting client computer for the photorealistic images rendered and the transmitted, or charges both the manufacturers and the party(ies).
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Specification