3D Map Rendering with Selective Transparency for Obscured Objects
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current 3D map display technologies struggle to effectively visualize obscured objects in three-dimensional spaces, leading to visual clutter and obscuration issues, where background elements are not adequately rendered when obscured by foreground objects.
Innovation Solution
A method employing a set of rules for rendering 3D maps, where foreground and background objects are treated differently based on their visibility, with parameters controlling transparency, opacity, and stroke styles to ensure that obscured background elements are visible through transparent or semi-transparent foreground objects, while maintaining clarity and reducing visual clutter.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If foreground objects are rendered with opaque fill to ensure clarity, then visual clarity is improved, but background objects become completely obscured and invisible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different transparency properties to different parts of the same object. Foreground building surfaces are rendered with transparency to allow background visibility, while icons and labels on those same buildings remain opaque to maintain their visibility and readability. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by allowing both background visibility and foreground element clarity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses color and transparency modifications to differentiate between foreground and background elements. By adjusting the transparency and visual properties of foreground objects, the system allows background objects to be seen through foreground surfaces while maintaining the visual prominence of important foreground elements through color and opacity variations.
2Loss of information
If all objects are rendered with the same opacity to maintain consistency, then rendering simplicity is improved, but the ability to visualize obscured background elements deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the rendering process into distinct styles for foreground and background objects. Different rendering styles are applied based on object depth and importance: foreground objects receive styles optimized for visibility and interaction, while background objects receive styles optimized for visibility through foreground elements. This segmentation allows complex multi-style rendering to be managed systematically.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic rendering style selection based on the object's position in the scene and its relationship to other objects. The rendering engine automatically adjusts transparency and style properties based on whether an object is in the foreground or background, allowing the system to adapt rendering parameters dynamically without manual intervention for each object.
3Loss of information
If foreground objects are made transparent to see background elements, then background visibility is improved, but the foreground objects lose their visual prominence and clarity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies transparency selectively to specific surfaces and elements rather than uniformly to entire objects. Building surfaces may be transparent to allow background visibility, while icons, labels, and interactive elements on those buildings remain opaque and visually prominent. This local quality approach maintains foreground element clarity while enabling background visibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite rendering approaches where different visual properties are combined within the same object. Foreground buildings are rendered as composite entities with transparent surfaces for structural visibility and opaque surfaces for interactive elements, creating a multi-layered visual representation that satisfies both visibility requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
A system, method and software application implement a visualization scheme for presenting information in a 3D map. A set of rules specifies the visualization scheme, particularly with respect to how the system renders background objects that are obscured by a foreground object. The objects include elements such as building surfaces, streets, pointers, icons, labels, floor plans, and the like. The rules specify details such as stroke, fill, transparency, opacity, and visibility of the elements. Some of the rules may specify relationships between an object and elements that are considered “internal” to the object, while others of the rules may specify relationships between an object and other elements considered “external” to the object.