3D Model Rendering via Hierarchical Skipping and Fusing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for rendering three-dimensional models with varying resolutions are inefficient, leading to high computational complexity, excess bandwidth usage, and undesirable visual quality changes due to the need to download and render all levels of detail, especially when dealing with large models and heavy textures.

Innovation Solution

The method involves creating a hierarchical tree representation of multiple three-dimensional models with varying resolutions, applying a skipping heuristic to bound changes in visual quality by skipping certain nodes based on screen space error and level index, and using bivariate visibility testing to accurately render overlapping heterogeneous surfaces, ensuring efficient data traversal and seamless blending of different levels of detail.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If all levels of detail are downloaded and rendered, then visual quality is maintained, but rendering time and data transfer overhead increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisual qualityVSAvoidrendering time
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the 3D model into a hierarchical tree structure with multiple levels of detail (LODs), where each node represents a specific resolution. This allows the system to selectively render only the necessary portions of the model at appropriate detail levels, rather than loading and rendering all levels completely. The hierarchical segmentation enables efficient traversal and rendering based on viewing distance and importance, resolving the contradiction between maintaining visual quality and reducing rendering time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by allowing different regions of the 3D model to be rendered at different levels of detail simultaneously. Important regions (such as those closer to the camera or containing critical features) are rendered at higher detail levels, while less important regions are rendered at lower detail levels. This selective quality approach maintains overall visual quality where needed while significantly reducing the total rendering time and data transfer requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Manufacturing precision

If all levels of detail are downloaded and rendered, then visual quality is maintained, but data transfer overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisual qualityVSAvoiddata transfer overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and utilizes only the necessary portions of the 3D model data required for rendering, rather than transferring all level of detail data. By implementing a hierarchical tree structure and using visibility testing algorithms, the system identifies and extracts only the relevant nodes and geometry needed for the current view, eliminating the need to transfer unnecessary high-detail data for distant or occluded regions. This extraction approach maintains visual quality for visible elements while dramatically reducing data transfer overhead.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies partial action by loading and rendering only a subset of the available level of detail data - specifically, only those portions necessary to achieve acceptable visual quality for the current viewing conditions. Rather than transferring all possible detail levels completely, the system performs partial transfers and renders only the essential portions, achieving sufficient visual quality with minimal data transfer.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Manufacturing precision

If high resolution models are rendered, then visual quality is improved, but computational complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisual qualityVSAvoidcomputational complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamics by making the level of detail rendering adaptive and dynamic based on real-time viewing conditions. The system continuously evaluates factors such as camera distance, viewing angle, and object importance to dynamically determine which LOD levels to render and at what quality. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to maintain high visual quality when necessary while automatically reducing computational complexity when full detail is not required, resolving the contradiction between quality and computational load.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the resolution parameter of rendered models based on hierarchical level indices and visibility criteria. Instead of consistently rendering at maximum resolution, the system adjusts the resolution parameter dynamically according to the hierarchical tree structure, rendering higher resolution only for important visible regions and lower resolution for less critical areas. This parameter adjustment maintains visual quality where needed while significantly reducing overall computational complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Productivity

If nodes are skipped in the hierarchical tree, then rendering efficiency is improved, but visual quality may deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverendering efficiencyVSAvoidvisual quality
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms through visibility testing algorithms that continuously evaluate whether skipping nodes in the hierarchical tree will result in acceptable visual quality. The system uses screen space error metrics and importance weighting to provide feedback on the quality impact of potential node skips, allowing it to make intelligent decisions about which nodes can be safely skipped and which require rendering. This feedback-driven approach maintains visual quality by preventing skips that would cause noticeable degradation while allowing skips that improve efficiency without quality loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite rendering approach by combining multiple LOD levels and using visibility testing to determine the appropriate composite representation. Instead of simply skipping nodes or rendering all nodes, the system composites information from different hierarchical levels, using higher LOD data where needed and lower LOD data where sufficient, creating a blended representation that maintains visual quality while improving rendering efficiency. This composite approach allows flexible node skipping based on the combined information from multiple levels.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentUS9865085B1Systems and methods for 3D modeling using skipping heuristics and fusing
Publication Date: 2018.01.09 CESIUM GS INC
  • US9865085B1 patent drawing
  • US9865085B1 patent drawing
  • US9865085B1 patent drawing

AI summary

Systems and methods for three dimensional modeling using skipping heuristics and fusing are disclosed herein. An example method includes obtaining a plurality of three dimensional models of a target, each of the models having a unique resolution level, assembling an aggregate three dimensional model using a hierarchical tree representation of the plurality of three dimensional models by skipping levels of detail in the hierarchical tree and rendering the levels of the hierarchical tree that were not skipped. Fusing overlapping sections of the aggregate model can be accomplished using bivariate visibility testing.