Method and apparatus for building a real time graphic scene database having increased resolution and improved rendering speed

• US 6,456,288 B1
• Filed: 03/31/1998
• Issued: 09/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: MultiGen-Paradigm, Inc. (CAE Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Computer Associates Think Inc. (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: McDonald, Richard M., Walters, Charles B., Brockway, Dan E, Weiblen, Michael E
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Mark
• Assistant Examiner(s): Padmanabhan, Mano
• Application Number:
  US09/052,565
• Time in Patent Office: 1,638 Days
• Field of Search: 345/430, 345/425, 345/428, 345/582, 345/619, 345/848, 345/850
• US Class Current: 345/428
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/00 3D [Three Dimensional] image rendering

Abstract

A database generated off-line containing high-resolution models incorporated into source imagery. The method and apparatus builds a data intensive scene representation and renders it off-line, captures an orthographic projection of the rendered scene and stores it as a pixel representation of the rendered imagery and models. The pixel representation is stored in a database for rendering in real time. The resulting database can be rendered more efficiently in real time than databases built using previously known techniques. The database provides improved resolution and improved rendering performance. Resolution is enhanced by generating and placing images of higher-resolution models onto lower-resolution models. Performance is enhanced by reducing the number of polygons that must be rendered in real time to represent a scene. The method and apparatus provides an orthographic rendering of a scene wherein images of high-resolution models (SPLOT models) have been inserted into lower-resolution source imagery. The resulting rendered representation of a scene is stored in a database for rendering in real time.

Claims

1. A method for building a database for real time rendering of a scene comprising

(a) substituting a high-resolution polygonal feature model generated from vector feature data as a feature into three-dimensional scene source imagery in place of a lower resolution polygonal representation of the feature;

(b) systematically rendering a two-dimensional representation of the three-dimensional scene source imagery of step (a) containing the high-resolution model,

(c) capturing a two-dimensional pixel representation of said rendered scene of step (b)containing said high-resolution model;

(d) removing the inserted high resolution model from the scene source imagery and substituting the lower resolution polygonal representation of the feature into the source imagery; and

(e) storing said two-dimensional pixel representation of said rendered scene containing said high-resolution model in a database for real time rendering of said scene, wherein the two-dimensional representation of the scene is rendered on a display viewed from a first observer perspective and the three-dimensional representation of the scene is rendered on the display containing the lower resolution polygonal feature when the scene is viewed from a second observer perspective closer than the first observer perspective.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein step (b) comprises systematically rendering lower resolution data sets of an orthographic projection of said scene containing high resolution models.

3. A method for building a database for real time rendering of a scene comprising a polygonal representation having coplanar polygons and feature identification codes for polygons comprising:

(a) substituting at least one high-resolution polygonal feature model generated from vector feature data as a feature into three-dimensional scene source imagery in place of a lower resolution polygonal the feature;

(b) systematically rendering a two-dimensional representation of the three-dimensional scene source imagery of step (a) containing the high-resolution model;

(c) capturing a two-dimensional pixel representation of the rendered scene of step (b) containing said high-resolution model;

(d) removing the high resolution feature model inserted into the scene source imagery and substituting the lower resolution polygonal feature into the source imagery; and

(e) and storing said two-dimensional pixel representation of said rendered scene containing said high-resolution feature model in a database for real time rendering of said scene wherein the two-dimensional representation of the scene is rendered on a display viewed from a first observer perspective; and

the three-dimensional representation of the scene source imagery containing the lower resolution polygonal feature is rendered on the display when the scene is viewed from a second observer perspective closer than the first observer perspective.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising the steps for:

(e) removing all inserted feature model polygons having a particular feature code from said polygonal representation of scene to create a reduced polygon representation; and

(f) storing as lower resolution data sets said reduced polygonal representation of said scene in a data base for rendering in real time.

5. The method of claim 3 further comprising the steps for:

(e) removing inserted polygons from said polygonal representation of scene to create a reduced polygon representation; and

(f) storing said reduced polygonal representation of said scene in a data base for rendering in real time.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein step (b) comprises systematically rendering an orthographic projection of said scene containing high resolution models.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of:

(e) removing inserted polygons from said polygonal representation of scene to create a reduced polygon representation.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step for:

(f) storing said reduced polygonal representation of said scene in a data base for rendering in real time.

9. The method of claim 6 further comprising the step for:

(e) removing inserted polygons having a particular feature code from said polygonal representation of scene to create a reduced polygon representation.

10. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step for:

(f) storing said lower polygonal representation of said scene in a data base for rendering in real time.

11. A apparatus for building a database for real time rendering of a scene comprising:

(a) means for substituting a high-resolution polygonal feature model generated from vector data as a feature into three-dimensional scene source imagery in place of a lower resolution polygonal representation of the feature;

(b) means for systematically rendering a two-dimensional representation of the three-dimensional scene source imagery of step (a) containing the high-resolution model;

(c) means for capturing a two-dimensional pixel representation of the rendered scene of step (b) containing the high-resolution model;

(d) means for removing the high resolution model inserted into the scene source imagery;

(e) means for storing the two-dimensional pixel representation of said rendered scene containing said high-resolution model in a database for real time rendering of said scene;

(f) means for rendering the two-dimensional representation of the scene on a display viewed from a first observer perspective; and

(f) means for rendering the three-dimensional representation of the scene on the display containing the lower resolution polygonal feature when the scene is viewed from a second observer perspective closer than the first observer perspective.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein means (b) further comprises means for systematically rendering an orthographic projection of lower resolution data sets of said scene containing high resolution models.

13. An apparatus for building a database for real time rendering of a scene comprising a polygonal representation having coplanar polygons and feature identification codes for polygons comprising:

(a) means for substituting a high-resolution polygonal feature model generated from vector data as a feature into scene source imagery in place of a lower resolution polygonal representation of the feature;

(b) means for systematically rendering a two-dimensional representation of the three-dimensional scene source imagery of step (a) containing said high-resolution model;

(c) means for capturing a two-dimensional pixel representation of the rendered scene containing said high-resolution model;

(d) means for removing the inserted feature model inserted into the scene and substituting the lower resolution polygonal representation of the feature into the source imagery; and

(e) means for storing said two-dimensional pixel representation of said rendered scene containing said high-resolution model in a database for real time rendering of said scene;

(f) means for rendering the two-dimensional representation of the scene on a display at a first observer perspective; and

(g) means for rendering the three-dimensional representation of the scene on the display containing the lower resolution polygonal feature when the scene is viewed from a second observer perspective closer than the first observer perspective.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising:

means for removing inserted polygons having a particular feature code from said polygonal representation of scene to create a reduced polygon representation; and

means for storing said reduced polygonal representation of said scene in a data base for rendering in real time.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising:

means for removing coplanar polygons from said polygonal representation of scene to create a reduced polygon representation; and

means for storing reduced resolution data sets of said reduced polygonal representation of said scene in a data base for rendering in real time.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein means (b) further comprises means for systematically rendering an orthographic projection of the scene containing high resolution models.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 further comprising:

means for removing inserted polygons from said polygonal representation of scene to create a reduced polygon representation.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 further comprising:

means for storing said reduced polygonal representation of said scene in a data base for rendering in real time.

19. The apparatus of claim 16 further comprising:

means for removing inserted polygons having a particular feature code from said polygonal representation of scene to create a reduced polygon representation.

20. The apparatus of claim 18 further comprising:

means for storing said reduced polygonal representation of said scene in a data base for rendering in real time.

21. A system of interconnected programmed computer processors for building a database for real time rendering of a scene comprising:

(a) a first computer processor with storage and including processes for substituting a high-resolution polygonal feature model generated from vector data as a feature into three-dimensional scene source imagery in place of a lower resolution polygonal representation of the feature, processes for systematically rendering a two-dimensional scene of the scene source imagery containing said high-resolution model, processes for capturing a two-dimensional pixel representation of said rendered scene containing said high-resolution model, processes for removing the high resolution models inserted into the scene source imagery and substituting the lower resolution polygonal representation of the feature into the scene source imagery; and

(b) a second computer processor with storage and including processes for storing said two-dimensional pixel representation of said rendered scene containing said high-resolution model in a database for real time rendering of said scene; and

(c) a third computer processor with storage and including processes for rendering the two-dimensional representation of the scene on a display viewed from a first perspective and rendering the three-dimensional representation of the scene on the display containing the lower resolution polygonal feature when the scene is viewed from a second observer perspective closer than the first observer perspective.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein the first processor further comprises processes for systematically rendering an orthographic projection of reduced resolution data sets of said scene containing high resolution models.

23. A computer processor for building a database for real time rendering of a scene comprising a polygonal representation having coplanar polygons and feature identification codes for polygons comprising:

(a) a programmed computer processor with storage and including processes for inserting a high-resolution polygonal feature model generated from vector data as a feature into three-dimensional scene source imagery in place of a lower resolution polygonal representation of the feature, processes for systematically rendering a two-dimensional representation of said scene containing said high-resolution model, processes for capturing the two-dimensional pixel representation of said rendered scene containing said high-resolution model, processes for removing the inserted feature model inserted into the scene source imagery;

(b) data storage memory for storing said two-dimensional pixel representation of said rendered scene containing said high-resolution model in a database for real time rendering of said scene; and

(c) a programmed computer processor with storage and including processes for rendering the two-dimensional representation of the scene on a display viewed at a first observer perspective and alternately rendering the three-dimensional representation of the scene on the display when the scene is viewed from a second observer perspective closer than the first observer perspective.

24. The computer processor of claim 23 wherein the programmed computer processor further comprises process for removing inserted polygons having a particular feature code from said polygonal representation of scene to create a reduced polygon representation;

and process for storing said reduced polygonal representation of said scene in a data base for rendering in real time.

25. The computer processor of claim 23 wherein the programmed computer processor further comprises process for removing coplanar polygons from said polygonal representation of scene to create a reduced polygon representation;

and

process for storing lower resolution data sets of said reduced polygonal representation of said scene in a data base for rendering in real time.

26. The computer processor of claim 23 wherein the programmed computer processor further comprises a process for systematically rendering an orthographic projection of the scene containing high resolution models.

27. The computer processor of claim 26 further comprising:

process for removing inserted polygons from said polygonal representation of scene to create a reduced polygon representation.

28. The computer processor of claim 27 further comprising:

process for storing said reduced polygonal representation of said scene in a data base for rendering in real time.

29. The computer processor of claim 26 further comprising:

process for removing inserted polygons having a particular feature code from said polygonal representation of scene to create a reduced polygon representation.

30. The computer processor of claim 28 further comprising:

process for storing said reduced polygonal representation of said scene in a data base for rendering in real time.