Split-scene rendering of a three-dimensional model

• US 8,237,703 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2007
• Issued: 08/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Geosim Systems Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Geosim Systems Ltd.
• Inventors: Shenkar, Victor, Eilam, Yigal
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Xiao M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Buttram, Todd
• Application Number:
  US12/519,543
• Publication Number:
  US 20100091014A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,692 Days
• Field of Search: 345419-427, 345/581, 345619-625, 345/629, 345/630, 345/632, 345/660
• US Class Current: 345/419
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/30 Clipping

Abstract

A method for generating 3D visualization of a large-scale environment comprising the steps of: acquiring a 3D model of the large-scale environment; dividing the 3D model into a near-field part and a far-field part; rendering an array of images of the far-field part; creating a 3D visualization of the near-field part combined with the array of rendered images of the far-field part and displaying the combined rendered images.

Claims

1. A method for generating 3D visualization of a large-scale environment, the method comprising:

acquiring a 3D model of said large-scale environment;

determining a point of view;

determining a far-field radius;

dividing said 3D model into a near-field part and a far-field part, wherein said near-field part and said far-field part are divided by a surface defined according to said point of view and said far-field radius;

creating at least one rendered image representing at least one perspective view of said far-field part; and

creating 3D visualization of said near-field part combined with said at least one rendered images of said far-field part,

wherein said 3D model comprises a plurality of 3D-modeling units, and

wherein said step of dividing said 3D model into a near-field part and a far-field part comprises locating at least one of said 3D-modeling units in said far-field part if, and only if, no point of said 3D-modeling unit is closer to said point of view than said far-field radius.

2. A method for generating 3D visualization according to claim 1 wherein said rendered images of said far-field part constitute a panoramic view of said far-field part of said large-scale environment.

3. A method for generating 3D visualization according to claim 2 wherein said panoramic view comprises an array of images (“

panels”

) projected on at least a part of a surface of a sphere.

4. A method for generating 3D visualization according to claim 3 wherein said panels are flattened.

5. A method for generating 3D visualization according to claim 2 wherein said panoramic view comprises a plurality of two-dimensional panels arranged to form at least a part of a surface of a sphere.

6. A method for displaying a 3D view according to claim 1 additionally comprising, before creating rendered images of said far-field part:

eliminating 3D-objects included in said near-field part from said far-field part.

7. A method for generating 3D visualization according to claim 1 additionally comprising:

determining a step factor, said step factor being smaller then said far-field radius;

determining a plurality (a “

matrix”

) of points of view, wherein said points of view are equally spaced at said step factor;

creating a plurality of rendered images of said far-field part for each of said points of view; and

storing said plurality of rendered images of said far-field parts for a later use.

8. A system for 3D visualization of a large-scale environment, the system comprising:

a server comprising a 3D model of the large-scale environment; and

a terminal device, communicating with said server, and operative to render an image of said large-scale environment,

wherein said server is operative to

determine a point of view,

determine a far-field radius,

divide said 3D model into a near-field part and a far-field part, wherein said near-field part and said far-field part are divided by a surface defined according to said point of view and said far-field radius,

create rendered images of said far-field part, and

send to said terminal device said near-field part of said 3D model and said rendered images of said far-field part,

wherein said terminal device is operative to create 3D visualization of said near-field part combined with said rendered images of said far-field part,

wherein said 3D model comprises a plurality of 3D-modeling units, and

wherein dividing said 3D model into a near-field part and a far-field part comprises locating at least one of said 3D-modeling units in said far-field part if, and only if, no point of said 3D-modeling unit is closer to said point of view than said far-field radius.

9. A terminal device for 3D visualization of a large-scale environment, the terminal device comprising:

a communication unit communicating with a server;

a processing unit;

a storage unit; and

a display,

wherein said processing unit is operative to

receive from said server

a near-field part of a 3D model of said large-scale environment, and

rendered images of a far-field part of said 3D model of said large-scale environment, and

create 3D visualization of said near-field part combined with said rendered images of said far-field part,

wherein said 3D model comprises a plurality of 3D-modeling units, and

wherein dividing said 3D model into a near-field part and a far-field part includes

determining a point of view,

determining a far-field radius, and

locating at least one of said 3D-modeling units in said far-field part if, and only if, no point of said 3D-modeling unit is closer to said point of view than said far-field radius.

10. A server for 3D visualization of a large-scale environment, the server comprising:

a processing unit;

a storage unit; and

a communication unit communicating with a terminal device,

wherein said server is operative to;

divide said 3D model into a near-field part and a far-field part,

create an array of rendered images of said far-field part, and

send said near-field part of said 3D model and said array of rendered images of said far-field part to said terminal device,

wherein said 3D model comprises a plurality of 3D-modeling units, and

wherein dividing said 3D model into a near-field part and a far-field part includes

determining a point of view,

determining a far-field radius, and

locating at least one of said 3D-modeling units in said far-field part if, and only if, no point of said 3D-modeling unit is closer to said point of view than said far-field radius.

11. A computer program product comprising:

non-transitory, computer-readable media; and

computer-readable instructions stored on said non-transitory, computer-readable media, and operative to cause a programmable processor to

receive from a server;

a near-field part of a 3D model of said large-scale environment; and

an array of rendered images of a far-field part of said 3D model of said large-scale environment, and

create 3D visualization of said near-field part combined with said rendered images of said far-field part,

wherein said 3D model comprises a plurality of 3D-modeling units, and

wherein dividing said 3D model into a near-field part and a far-field part includes

determining a point of view,

determining a far-field radius, and

locating at least one of said 3D-modeling units in said far-field part if, and only if, no point of said 3D-modeling unit is closer to said point of view than said far-field radius.

12. A computer program product comprising:

non-transitory, computer-readable media; and

computer-readable instructions stored on said non-transitory, computer-readable media, and operative to cause a programmable processor to

divide a 3D model into a near-field part and a far-field part,

create an array of images of said far-field part, and

send said near-field part of said 3D model and said array of rendered images of said far-field part to a terminal device,

wherein said 3D model comprises a plurality of 3D-modeling units, and

wherein dividing said 3D model into a near-field part and a far-field part includes

determining a point of view,

determining a far-field radius, and

locating at least one of said 3D-modeling units in said far-field part if, and only if, no point of said 3D-modeling unit is closer to said point of view than said far-field radius.