Compression of three-dimensional graphics data including quantization, delta-encoding, and variable-length encoding

• US 5,867,167 A
• Filed: 11/04/1997
• Issued: 02/02/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Deering, Michael F.
• Primary Examiner(s): POWELL, MARK R
• Application Number:
  US08/964,165
• Time in Patent Office: 455 Days
• Field of Search: 345/202, 345/418-21, 345/430-36, 345/501-3, 382/197, 382/199, 382/202-203, 382/232, 382/240-243, 364/715.02, 341/50-51, 341/65, 341/106-7, 395/888
• US Class Current: 345/419
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 9/001 Model-based coding, e.g. wire frame

Abstract

In a compression system, three-dimensional geometry is first represented as a generalized triangle mesh, a data structure that allows each instance of a vertex in a linear stream to specify an average of two triangles. Individual positions, colors, and normals are quantized, preferably quantizing normals using a novel translation to non-rectilinear representation. A variable length compression is applied to individual positions, colors, and normals. The quantized values are then delta-compression encoded between neighbors, followed by a modified Huffman compression for positions and colors. A table-based approach is used for normals. Decompression reverses this process. The decompressed stream of triangle data may then be passed to a traditional rendering pipeline, where it is processed in full floating point accuracy.

Claims

1. A method for representing 3-D geometry data, wherein said 3-D geometry data includes a first value of a first parameter which corresponds to a first vertex, wherein said first parameter is a surface characteristic of a three-dimensional graphical object which includes said first vertex, said method comprising:

determining a level of resolution for said first value, wherein said level of resolution specifies a number of bits to use in representing said first value;

encoding said level of resolution for said first value in a data stream;

quantizing said first value according to said number of bits specified by said level of resolution, thereby generating a quantized first value; and

encoding said quantized first value in said data stream.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising encoding a scale factor in said data stream, wherein said scale factor corresponds to said first value and is usable to scale said quantized first value to a first numeric range.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said first parameter is position, and wherein said first value specifies a position value of said first vertex.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said first value specifies said position value of said first vertex in x-y-z coordinates.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein said quantizing includes representing an original floating-point position value as a fixed point number.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said first parameter is color, and wherein said first value specifies one or more color values of said first vertex.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said first value includes a plurality of color components.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said plurality of color components are selected from the group consisting of:

(i) linear reflectivity values, (ii) non-linear reflectivity values, (iii) linear emissive values, and (iv) non-linear emissive values.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said plurality of color components correspond to a color type selected from the group consisting of:

(i) ambient color (ii) diffuse color, and (iii) specular color.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising forming values of said plurality of components by quantizing original values corresponding to each of said plurality of components.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said plurality of color components includes red, green, and blue component values.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein each of said red, green, and blue component values are selected from the group consisting of:

(i) linear reflectivity values, (ii) non-linear reflectivity values, (iii) linear emissive values, and (iv) non-linear emissive values.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein said plurality of color components further includes an α

component value.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein said α

component value is selected from the group consisting of;

(i) linear opacity value and (ii) non-linear opacity value.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising including said α

component value in said plurality of color components in response to a color alpha present bit being set within said 3-D geometry data.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein said first parameter is normal data, and wherein said first value represents a first normal which corresponds to said first vertex.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising performing a variable-length encoding of a length of said first value.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said first value is specified as an absolute value.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein said first value is specified relative to a previous value.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein said variable-length encoding is performed by a technique selected from the group consisting of:

(i) Huffman compression, (ii) a variant of Huffman compression, (iii) arithmetic coding, and (iv) a variant of arithmetic coding.

21. A method for representing 3-D geometry data, wherein said 3-D geometry data includes a first value of a first parameter which corresponds to a first vertex, wherein said first parameter is a surface characteristic of a three-dimensional graphical object which includes said first vertex, said method comprising:

encoding an initial value of said first parameter, wherein said initial value corresponds to a initial vertex;

delta-encoding said first value of said first parameter with respect to said initial value.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said first parameter is position, and wherein said first value specifies a delta-encoded position value of said first vertex relative to a position value of said initial vertex.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein said first value includes an x coordinate delta value, a y coordinate delta value, and a z coordinate delta value.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein said first parameter is color, and wherein said first value specifies a delta-encoded color value of said first vertex relative to a color value of said initial vertex.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein said delta-encoding includes specifying a red color component delta value, a green color component delta value, and a blue color component delta value for said first value.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein said first value further includes an α

opacity component delta value.

27. The method of claim 21, wherein said first parameter is normal data, and wherein said first value corresponds to a first normal, wherein said first normal is delta-encoded with respect to an initial normal, and wherein said initial normal corresponds to said initial vertex.

28. A method for representing 3-D geometry data, comprising:

receiving said 3-D geometry data, wherein said 3-D geometry data includes a plurality of vertex parameter values of varying lengths, wherein said plurality of vertex parameter values includes a first value of a first parameter which corresponds to a first vertex, wherein said first parameter is a surface characteristic of a three-dimensional graphical object which includes said first vertex;

generating a variable-length encoding of said first value, wherein said variable-length encoding is usable to determine a length of said first value.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein said variable-length encoding is performed by a technique selected from the group consisting of:

(i) Huffman compression, (ii) a variant of Huffman compression, (iii) arithmetic coding, and (iv) a variant of arithmetic coding.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein said first parameter is position, and wherein said first value specifies a position value of said first vertex.

31. The method of claim 29 wherein said position value of said first vertex is absolutely specified.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein said position value of said first vertex includes an x coordinate, a y coordinate, and a z coordinate.

33. The method of claim 30, wherein said first value specifies a delta-encoded position value of said first vertex relative to a position value of a second vertex of said three-dimensional graphical object.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein said first value includes an x coordinate delta value, a y coordinate delta value, and a z coordinate delta value.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein said variable-length encoding further specifies lengths of said x coordinate delta value, said y coordinate delta value, and said z coordinate delta value.

36. The method of claim 28, wherein said first parameter is color, and wherein said first value specifies a color value of said first vertex.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein said first value is absolutely specified.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein said first value includes a plurality of color components.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein said first value also includes an opacity component.

40. The method of claim 36, wherein said first value specifies a delta-encoded color value of said first vertex relative to a color value of a second vertex of said three-dimensional graphical object.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein said first value includes a red color component delta value, a green color component delta value, and a blue color component delta value.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein said variable-length encoding further specifies lengths of said red color component delta value, said green color component delta value, and said blue color component delta value.

43. The method of claim 41, wherein said first value further includes an α

opacity component delta value.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein said variable-length encoding further specifies lengths of said red color component delta value, said green color component delta value, said blue color component delta value, and said α

opacity component delta value.

45. The method of claim 28, wherein said first parameter is normal data, and wherein said first value specifies a normal value of said first vertex.

46. A method for compressing 3-D geometry data, wherein said 3-D geometry data includes information which describes a plurality of vertices usable to form a plurality of triangle primitives, wherein said plurality of triangle primitives are usable to represent a three-dimensional graphical object, said method comprising:

converting said 3-D geometry data into a generalized triangle mesh format, wherein said generalized triangle mesh format includes commands which describe said plurality of vertices, wherein selected ones of said commands reference storage locations in a mesh buffer in order to form selected ones of said plurality of triangle primitives, and wherein said mesh buffer stores vertex parameters in a fixed maximum number of said storage locations, and wherein said fixed maximum number is substantially less than the number of said plurality of vertices;

determining a first quantization threshold for a first value represented within said generalized triangle mesh format, wherein said first value corresponds to a first vertex parameter of a first vertex;

quantizing said first value to a first number of bits specified by said first quantization threshold, wherein said quantizing produces a quantized first value;

delta-encoding said quantized first value, thereby producing a delta-encoded first value; and

performing a first variable-length encoding of a length of said delta-encoded first value, wherein said first variable-length encoding is usable to determine said length of said delta-encoded first value.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein said first variable-length encoding includes an indication that said first value is delta-encoded.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein said 3-D geometry data includes a second value of said first vertex parameter, wherein said second value corresponds to a second vertex of said plurality of vertices.

49. The method of claim 48, further comprising:

determining a second quantization threshold for said second value;

quantizing said second value to a second number of bits specified by said second quantization threshold, thereby producing a quantized second value;

performing a second variable-length encoding of a length of said quantized second value;

and wherein said second variable-length encoding includes an indication that said second value is encoded as an absolute value, wherein said second variable-length encoding is usable to determine said length of said quantized second value.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein said first variable-length encoding and said second variable-length encoding are performed by a technique selected from the group consisting of:

(i) Huffman compression, (ii) a variant of Huffman compression, (iii) arithmetic coding, and (iv) a variant of arithmetic coding.

51. The method of claim 46, wherein said first parameter is position, and wherein said first value is a position value of said first vertex.

52. The method of claim 51, wherein said first value specifies a delta-encoded position value of said first vertex relative to a position value of a previously specified vertex of said three-dimensional graphical object.

53. The method of claim 52, wherein said first value includes an x coordinate delta value, a y coordinate delta value, and a z coordinate delta value.

54. The method of claim 53, wherein said variable-length encoding specifies lengths of said x coordinate delta value, said y coordinate delta value, and said z coordinate delta value.

55. The method of claim 46, wherein said first parameter is color, and wherein said first value specifies a color value of said first vertex.

56. The method of claim 55, wherein said first value specifies a delta-encoded color value of said first vertex relative to a color value of a previously specified vertex of said three-dimensional object.

57. The method of claim 56, wherein said first value includes a red color component delta value, a green color component delta value, and a blue color component delta value.

58. The method of claim 57, wherein said variable-length encoding specifies lengths of said red color component delta value, said green color component delta value, and said blue color component delta value.

59. The method of claim 57, wherein said first value further includes an α

opacity component delta value.

60. The method of claim 59, wherein said variable-length encoding specifies lengths of said red color component delta value, said green color component delta value, said blue color component delta value, and said α

opacity component delta value.

61. The method of claim 46, wherein said first parameter is normal data, and wherein said first value specifies a first normal.

62. The method of claim 61, wherein said first normal is delta-encoded relative to a previously specified normal of said three-dimensional graphical object.

63. The method of claim 62, wherein a value of said first normal corresponds to a first point on a sphere which is centered on an origin of a given coordinate system, and wherein said first point is located at the intersection of said sphere and a vector extended from the center of said sphere in a direction specified by said first normal.

64. The method of claim 63, wherein a value of said previously specified normal corresponds to a second point on said sphere, and wherein said second point is located at the intersection of said sphere and a vector extended from said center of said sphere in a direction specified by said previously specified normal.

65. The method of claim 63, wherein said first value includes a plurality of delta values corresponding to values of a first set of coordinate axes usable to locate said first point relative to said second point.

66. The method of claim 63, wherein said first point and said second point are located within a particular octant of said sphere.

67. The method of claim 63, wherein said first point and said second point are located within a particular sextant of a particular octant of said sphere.

68. The method of claim 63, wherein said first point is located in a particular sextant of a particular octant of said sphere, and wherein said second point is located in a neighboring sextant to said particular sextant of said particular octant.

69. The method of claim 68, wherein said neighboring sextant shares an edge with said particular sextant of said particular octant.

70. The method of claim 65, wherein said plurality of delta values includes a delta value of a first coordinate component and a delta value of second coordinate component.

71. The method of claim 70, wherein said given coordinate system is an xyz coordinate system which includes an x axis, a y axis, and a z axis.

72. The method of claim 71, wherein said delta value of said first coordinate component is a delta angle θ

value, wherein said delta angle θ

value is measured relative to an angle θ

value of said previously specified normal, wherein said angle θ

value of said previously specified normal is measured about said y-axis of said xyz coordinate system to a given point on said sphere which corresponds to said previously specified normal.

73. The method of claim 72, wherein said delta value of said second coordinate component is a delta angle φ

value, wherein said delta angle φ

value is measured relative to an angle φ

value of said previously specified normal, wherein said angle φ

value of said previously specified normal is measured from the plane defined by y=0 to said given point on said sphere, wherein said given point is usable to determine said previously specified point which corresponds to said second normal, and wherein said delta angle θ

value and said delta angle φ

value are usable to determine said first point from said second point, wherein said first point specifies said first normal.

74. The method of claim 65, wherein said variable-length encoding specifies lengths of each of said plurality of delta values.

75. The method of claim 70, wherein said variable-length encoding specifies lengths of said delta value of said first coordinate component and said delta value of said second coordinate component.

76. The method of claim 73, wherein said variable-length encoding specifies lengths of said delta angle θ

value and said delta angle φ

value.

77. A method for compressing 3-D geometry data, wherein said 3-D geometry data includes information describing a plurality of vertices, wherein said plurality of vertices are usable to form a plurality of triangle primitives in order to represent a three-dimensional graphical object, said method comprising:

receiving said 3-D geometry data;

determining connectivity information for said plurality of triangle primitives formed from said 3-D geometry data;

specifying a vertex traversal order of said plurality of triangle primitives based on said connectivity information, wherein said specifying includes identifying selected ones of said plurality of vertices to be pushed into a mesh buffer, and wherein said specifying further includes referencing said selected ones of said plurality of vertices from said mesh buffer in order to form selected ones of said plurality of triangle primitives;

quantizing vertex parameter values included in said 3-D geometry data according to quantization thresholds specified for said vertex parameter values, thereby producing quantized vertex parameter values;

delta-encoding selected ones of said quantized vertex parameter values, thereby producing delta-encoded vertex parameter values;

generating a plurality of variable-length encodings for compressed data which includes said delta-encoded vertex parameter values and quantized vertex parameter values which are absolutely specified;

outputting decompression table entries usable to decompress said compressed data; and

traversing said plurality of vertices using said vertex traversal order, wherein said traversing includes outputting a data stream which includes said plurality of variable-length encodings and a plurality of data fields representing packets of said compressed data, wherein each of said plurality of variable-length encodings describes a length of a corresponding one of said packets of said compressed data.

78. The method of claim 77, further comprising generating histograms for lengths of said compressed data, wherein said histograms are usable for said generating said plurality of variable-length encodings.

79. The method of claim 77, wherein said vertex parameter values are selected from the group consisting of (i) position, (ii) color, and (iii) normals.

80. A method for compressing 3-D geometry data, wherein said compressed 3-D geometry data includes information describing a plurality of vertices, and wherein said plurality of vertices are usable to form a plurality of triangle primitives which represent a three-dimensional graphical object, said method comprising:

encoding a first vertex parameter value which corresponds to a first vertex of said plurality of vertices, wherein said first vertex parameter value includes a first plurality of components;

delta-encoding a second vertex parameter value in relation to said first vertex parameter value, wherein said second vertex parameter value corresponds to a second vertex of said plurality of vertices, and wherein said second vertex parameter value includes a second plurality of components, and wherein said delta-encoding includes representing said second plurality of components in relation to said first plurality of components;

generating a single variable-length encoding for said second vertex parameter value, wherein said single variable-length encoding is usable to represent lengths corresponding to each of said second plurality of components.

81. The method of claim 80, wherein said single variable-length encoding is performed by a technique selected from the group consisting of:

(i) Huffman compression, (ii) a variant of Huffman compression, (iii) arithmetic coding, and (iv) a variant of arithmetic coding.

82. The method of claim 80, wherein said vertex parameter value is a position value.

83. The method of claim 82, wherein said first plurality of components include an x coordinate, a y coordinate, and a z coordinate.

84. The method of claim 83, wherein said second plurality of components includes an x coordinate delta value, a y coordinate delta value, and a z coordinate delta value.

85. The method of claim 80, wherein said vertex parameter value is a color value.

86. The method of claim 85, wherein said first plurality of components include an red color component value, a green color component value, and a blue color component value.

87. The method of claim 86, wherein said second plurality of components includes an red color component delta value, a green color component delta value, and a blue color component delta value.

88. The method of claim 87, wherein said first plurality of components further includes an α

opacity component value, and wherein said second plurality of components includes an α

opacity component delta value.

89. The method of claim 80, wherein said vertex parameter value is a normal value.

90. A method for compressing 3-D geometry data, wherein said 3-D geometry data includes a plurality of vertex parameter values corresponding to a plurality of vertices, comprising:

quantizing selected ones of said plurality of vertex parameter values to various levels of resolution, thereby producing quantized vertex parameter values;

delta-encoding selected ones of said quantized vertex parameter values, thereby producing delta-encoded vertex parameter values.

91. The method of claim 90, further comprising performing variable-length encoding for said delta-encoded vertex parameter values.

92. The method of claim 90, wherein said variable-length encoding is performed by a technique selected from the group consisting of:

(i) Huffman compression, (ii) a variant of Huffman compression, (iii) arithmetic coding, and (iv) a variant of arithmetic coding.

93. A method for compressing 3-D geometry data, wherein said 3-D geometry data includes a plurality of vertex parameter values corresponding to a plurality of vertices, comprising:

quantizing selected ones of said plurality of vertex parameter values to various levels of resolution, thereby producing quantized vertex parameter values;

delta-encoding selected ones of said quantized vertex parameter values, thereby producing delta-encoded vertex parameter values; and

performing a variable-length encoding of length values of said delta-encoded vertex parameter values.

94. The method of claim 93, wherein said variable-length encoding is performed by a technique selected from the group consisting of:

(i) Huffman compression, (ii) a variant of Huffman compression, (iii) arithmetic coding, and (iv) a variant of arithmetic coding.

95. A computer system for compressing 3-D geometry data, wherein said 3-D geometry data includes information which describes a plurality of vertices usable to form a plurality of triangle primitives, wherein said plurality of triangle primitives are usable to represent a three-dimensional graphical object, said computer system comprising:

a central processing unit (CPU);

a memory coupled to said CPU;

wherein said CPU is configured to execute a program stored in said memory which is operable to implement the steps of;

converting said 3-D geometry data into a generalized triangle mesh format, wherein said generalized triangle mesh format includes commands which describe said plurality of vertices, wherein selected ones of said commands reference storage locations in a mesh buffer in order to form selected ones of said plurality of triangle primitives, and wherein said mesh buffer stores vertex parameter values in a fixed maximum number of said storage locations, and wherein said fixed maximum number is substantially less than the number of said plurality of vertices;

determining a first quantization threshold for a first value represented within said generalized triangle mesh format, wherein said first value corresponds to a first vertex parameter of a first vertex;

quantizing said first value to a first number of bits specified by said first quantization threshold, wherein said quantizing produces a quantized first value;

delta-encoding said quantized first value, thereby producing a delta-encoded first value; and

performing a first variable-length encoding of a length of said delta-encoded first value, wherein said first variable-length encoding is usable to determine said length of said delta-encoded first value.

96. The computer system of claim 95, wherein said variable-length encoding is performed by a technique selected from the group consisting of:

(i) Huffman compression, (ii) a variant of Huffman compression, (iii) arithmetic coding, and (iv) a variant of arithmetic coding.

97. The computer system of claim 95, wherein said first parameter is selected from the group consisting of (i) position, (ii) color, and (iii) normals.

98. A computer system for compressing 3-D geometry data, wherein said compressed 3-D geometry data includes information which describes a plurality of vertices, said computer system comprising:

a central processing unit (CPU);

a memory coupled to said CPU;

wherein said CPU is configured to execute a program stored in said memory which is operable to implement the steps of;

encoding a first vertex parameter value which corresponds to a first vertex of said plurality of vertices, wherein said first vertex parameter value includes a first plurality of components,

delta-encoding a second vertex parameter value in relation to said first vertex parameter value, wherein said second vertex parameter value corresponds to a second vertex of said plurality of vertices, and wherein said second vertex parameter value includes a second plurality of components, and wherein said delta-encoding includes representing said second plurality of components in relation to said first plurality of components;

generating a single variable-length encoding for said second vertex parameter value, wherein said single variable-length encoding is usable to represent lengths corresponding to each of said second plurality of components.

99. The computer system of claim 98, wherein said single variable-length encoding is performed by a technique selected from the group consisting of:

(i) Huffman compression, (ii) a variant of Huffman compression, (iii) arithmetic coding, and (iv) a variant of arithmetic coding.

100. The computer system of claim 99, wherein said second vertex parameter value is selected from the group consisting of (i) position, (ii) color, and (iii) normals.

101. A memory media which stores program instructions for compressing 3-D geometry data, wherein said 3-D geometry data includes a first value of a first parameter which corresponds to a first vertex, wherein said first parameter is a surface characteristic of a three-dimensional graphical object which includes said first vertex, wherein said program instructions are executable to implement the steps of:

determining a level of resolution for said first value, wherein said level of resolution specifies a number of bits to use in representing said first value;

encoding said level of resolution for said first value in a data stream;

quantizing said first value according to said number of bits specified by said level of resolution, thereby generating a quantized first value; and

encoding said quantized first value in said data stream.

102. A memory media which stores program instructions for compressing 3-D geometry data, wherein said 3-D geometry data includes a first value of a first parameter which corresponds to a first vertex, wherein said first parameter is a surface characteristic of a three-dimensional graphical object which includes said first vertex, wherein said program instructions are executable to implement the steps of:

encoding an initial value of said first parameter, wherein said initial value corresponds to a initial vertex;

delta-encoding a first value of said first parameter, wherein said first value corresponds to said first vertex, wherein said first value represents a delta between said first value and said initial value.

103. A memory media which stores program instructions for compressing 3-D geometry data, wherein said program instructions are executable to implement the steps of:

receiving said 3-D geometry data, wherein said 3-D geometry data includes a plurality of vertex parameter values of varying lengths, wherein said plurality of vertex parameter values includes a first value of a first parameter which corresponds to a first vertex, wherein said first parameter is a surface characteristic of a three-dimensional graphical object which includes said first vertex;

generating a variable-length encoding of said first value, wherein said variable-length encoding is usable to determine a length of said first value.

104. The memory media of claim 103, wherein said variable-length encoding is performed by a technique selected from the group consisting of:

(i) Huffman compression, (ii) a variant of Huffman compression, (iii) arithmetic coding, and (iv) a variant of arithmetic coding.

105. A memory media for storing compressed 3-D geometry data, wherein said compressed 3-D geometry data includes a plurality of values corresponding to a plurality of vertices, wherein said plurality of values includes a first value of a first parameter, wherein said first value corresponds to a first vertex, wherein said first parameter is a surface characteristic of a three-dimensional graphical object which includes said first vertex, wherein said compressed 3-D geometry is represented in a generalized triangle mesh format, and wherein said generalized triangle mesh format includes references to a mesh buffer, wherein said mesh buffer stores vertex parameters in a fixed number of locations, and wherein said fixed number is substantially less than the number of said plurality of vertices.

106. The memory media of claim 105, wherein said first parameter is selected from the group consisting of (i) position, (ii) color, and (iii) normals.

107. The memory media of claim 106, wherein said compressed 3-D geometry data includes a quantized version of said first value of said first parameter.

108. The memory media of claim 107, wherein said compressed 3-D geometry data further includes a delta-encoded value of said first parameter, wherein said delta-encoded value is generated by delta-encoding said quantized version of said first value of said first parameter in relation to a second value of said first parameter.

109. The memory media of claim 108, wherein said compressed 3-D geometry data further includes a variable-length encoding corresponding to said delta-encoded value of said first parameter, wherein said variable-length encoding of said first parameter includes a plurality of components, and wherein said variable-length encoding specifies length values for each of said plurality of components.

110. The method of claim 109, wherein said variable-length encoding is performed by a technique selected from the group consisting of:

(i) Huffman compression, (ii) a variant of Huffman compression, (iii) arithmetic coding, and (iv) a variant of arithmetic coding.

111. A method for compressing 3-D geometry data which includes information describing vertices of a plurality of geometric primitives representing a surface of a three-dimensional graphical object, said method comprising:

determining a first quantization threshold for a first vertex parameter value, wherein said first vertex parameter value corresponds to a first vertex of said vertices of said plurality of geometric primitives;

compressing said first vertex parameter value to a number of bits specified by said first quantization threshold, thereby producing a quantized first parameter value;

associating a first tag value with said quantized first parameter value, wherein said first tag value is usable to determine a length of said quantized first parameter value during decompression; and

encoding said first tag value and said quantized first parameter value in a compressed data stream.

112. The method of claim 111, wherein said first tag value is usable to access a first set of decompression parameters during decompression, wherein said first set of decompression parameters include an indication that said quantized first parameter value is encoded as an absolute value.

113. The method of claim 111, wherein said first tag value is usable to access a first set of decompression parameters during decompression, wherein said first set of decompression parameters include a first normalization coefficient which is usable to scale said quantized first parameter value to a first numeric range during decompression.

114. The method of claim 111, wherein said first tag value is usable to present to a decompression table during decompression in order to obtain a first set of decompression parameters.

115. The method of claim 114, wherein said first set of decompression parameters are selected from the group consisting of:

(i) length of said quantized first parameter value, (ii) an indication that said quantized first parameter value is encoded as an absolute value, and (iii) a first normalization coefficient for scaling said quantized first parameter value to a first numeric range.

116. The method of claim 111, wherein said length of said quantized first parameter value is encoded using said first tag value by a technique selected from the group consisting of:

(i) Huffman compression, (ii) a variant of Huffman compression, (iii) arithmetic coding, and (iv) a variant of arithmetic coding.

117. The method of claim 111, wherein said first vertex parameter value is selected from the group consisting of:

(i) position value, (ii) normal value, (iii) color value, (iv) texture map coordinates, and (v) surface material properties.

118. The method of claim 111, further comprising:

delta-encoding a second vertex parameter value relative to said first vertex parameter value with a delta-encoded first parameter value;

determining a second quantization threshold for said delta-encoded first parameter value;

compressing said delta-encoded first parameter value to a number of bits specified by said second quantization threshold, thereby producing a quantized second parameter value;

associating a second tag value with said quantized second parameter value, wherein said second tag value is usable to determine a length of said second quantized parameter value during decompression; and

encoding said second tag value and said quantized second parameter value in said compressed data stream.

119. The method of claim 118, wherein said second tag value is usable to access a second set of decompression parameters during decompression, wherein said second set of decompression parameters include an indication that said quantized second parameter value is encoded as an delta-encoded value.

120. The method of claim 118, wherein said second tag value is usable to access a second set of decompression parameters during decompression, wherein said second set of decompression parameters include a second normalization coefficient which is usable to scale said quantized second parameter value to a second numeric range during decompression, thereby producing a scaled delta value.

121. The method of claim 120, wherein said scaled delta value is usable to add to said first vertex parameter value to obtain said second vertex parameter value during decompression.

122. The method of claim 118, wherein said second tag value is usable to present to a decompression table during decompression in order to obtain a second set of decompression parameters.

123. The method of claim 122, wherein said second set of decompression parameters are selected from the group consisting of:

(i) length of said quantized second parameter value, (ii) an indication that said quantized second parameter value is encoded as a relative value, and (iii) a second normalization coefficient for scaling said quantized second parameter value to a second numeric range.

124. The method of claim 118, wherein said length of said quantized second parameter value is encoded using said second tag value by a technique selected from the group consisting of:

(i) Huffman compression, (ii) a variant of Huffman compression, (iii) arithmetic coding, and (iv) a variant of arithmetic coding.

125. The method of claim 118, wherein said second vertex parameter value is selected from the group consisting of:

(i) position value, (ii) normal value, (iii) color value, (iv) texture map coordinates, and (v) surface material properties.

126. A method for compressing 3-D geometry data which includes information describing vertices of a plurality of geometric primitives representing a surface of a three-dimensional graphical object, said method comprising:

delta-encoding a first vertex parameter value relative to a previously specified vertex parameter value, thereby producing a delta-encoded first parameter value, wherein said delta-encoded first vertex parameter value corresponds to a first vertex of said vertices of said plurality of geometric primitives;

determining a first quantization threshold for said delta-encoded first vertex parameter value;

compressing said delta-encoded first vertex parameter value to a number of bits specified by said first quantization threshold, thereby producing a quantized first parameter value;

associating a first tag value with said quantized first parameter value, wherein said first tag value is usable to determine a length of said quantized first parameter value during decompression; and

encoding said first tag value and said quantized first parameter value in a compressed data stream.

127. A system for compressing 3-D geometry data which includes information describing vertices of a plurality of geometric primitives representing a surface of a three-dimensional graphical object, said system comprising:

a central processing unit (CPU);

a memory coupled to said CPU, wherein said memory includes said 3-D geometry data and a compression program executable for representing said 3-D geometry data in a compressed format;

wherein said CPU is configured to execute said compression program in order to represent said 3-D geometry in said compressed format, wherein said compression program is executable to determine a first quantization threshold for a first vertex parameter value, wherein said first vertex parameter value corresponds to a first vertex of said vertices of said plurality of geometric primitives, and wherein said compression program is further executable to compress said first vertex parameter value to a number of bits specified by said first quantization threshold, thereby producing a quantized first parameter value, and wherein said compression is still further executable to associate a first tag value with said quantized first parameter value, wherein said first tag value is usable to determine a length of said quantized first parameter value during decompression, and wherein said compression program is additionally executable to encode said first tag value and said quantized first parameter value in a compressed data stream.

128. The system of claim 127, wherein said compression program is executable to delta-encode a second vertex parameter value relative to said first vertex parameter value, thereby producing a delta-encoded first parameter value, and wherein said compression program is further executable to determine a second quantization threshold for said delta-encoded first parameter value and compress said delta-encoded first parameter value to a number of bits specified by said second quantization threshold, thereby producing a quantized second parameter value, and wherein said compression program is next executable to associate a second tag value with said quantized second parameter value, wherein said second tag value is usable to determine a length of said quantized second parameter value during decompression, and wherein said compression program is finally executable to encode said second tag value and said quantized second parameter value in said compressed data stream.