Bit-Encoded Hierarchical Spatial Trees for Dynamic 3D Object Queries

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing spatial data structures struggle with memory efficiency and computational overhead when handling large, dynamic 3D environments, particularly in real-time applications like video games and simulations, due to limitations in managing dynamic objects and performing operations such as frustum culling, level of detail management, and occlusion culling.

Innovation Solution

A hierarchical tree structure is used to encode multi-dimensional object coordinates into a code, associating objects with nodes based on this code, and storing them in an array, optimizing memory usage and computational efficiency by ensuring minimal memory consumption while maintaining efficient spatial querying capabilities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If traditional spatial data structures (quad-trees, octrees, BSP trees) are used for spatial partitioning, then spatial querying capabilities are maintained, but memory efficiency deteriorates and computational overhead increases when handling large dynamic 3D environments

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespatial querying efficiencyVSAvoidmemory consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the 3D space into hierarchical octant subdivisions, where each node represents a specific spatial region. This segmentation allows the system to manage large numbers of objects by organizing them into manageable spatial groups, improving memory efficiency while maintaining fast spatial queries through the hierarchical structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transforms 3D spatial coordinates into 1D array indices through bit manipulation operations. By encoding the x, y, z coordinates into a single linear index using bit shifting and masking, the system achieves efficient memory access patterns and reduces the complexity of spatial data structure management while maintaining O(1) access time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Stability of the object's composition

If traditional spatial data structures are used, then spatial organization is achieved, but computational overhead increases for dynamic object management and real-time operations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespatial organizationVSAvoidcomputational overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex mechanical spatial data structure operations with bitwise mathematical operations. Instead of using pointer-based tree structures that require extensive memory allocation and deallocation, the system uses bit manipulation to encode spatial positions and perform arithmetic operations, significantly reducing computational overhead for dynamic object management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the representation parameters of spatial data from object-oriented node structures to numeric array indices based on bit-encoded coordinates. This parameter change enables more efficient memory access patterns and reduces the computational complexity of spatial operations, particularly for dynamic environments where objects are frequently added, removed, or moved.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Measurement precision

If hierarchical tree structures with many nodes are created to improve spatial resolution, then spatial partitioning accuracy is improved, but memory consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespatial partitioning accuracyVSAvoidmemory consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple hierarchical levels of spatial subdivision into a single unified array structure. Instead of creating separate tree nodes for each level of octant subdivision, the system uses a single array where each index corresponds to a specific spatial location across all levels, eliminating redundant memory structures while maintaining high spatial partitioning accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a compressed representation of the spatial hierarchy by encoding the essential spatial information into compact bit patterns. Rather than storing full node objects with all their properties, the system uses bit-encoded indices that can be rapidly computed and stored, achieving the same spatial partitioning accuracy with minimal memory consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentEP4586203A1Spatial management of objects using hierarchical structures
Publication Date: 2025.07.16 CLOUD IMPERIUM RIGHTS LTD
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AI summary

The present disclosure refers to a method for spatial management of objects. The method comprises providing a hierarchical tree structure with a root node and a plurality of nodes on a plurality of depth levels, wherein a node represents a cell of a spatial subdivision of the multi-dimensional space, encoding coordinates of an object in a multi-dimensional space into a code, the code including a sequence of successive sections, each section including interleaved one or more successive bits of the coordinates from each dimension of the multi-dimensional space, associating the object with a node of the plurality of nodes based on the code, wherein objects located within a cell of the spatial subdivision share a common node at a corresponding depth level in the hierarchical tree structure, and storing the object in an object array of the associated node in the memory. Furthermore, a device and a system are described.