Client-Server 3D Model Visualization with Semantic Layers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems face challenges in efficiently consulting large three-dimensional digital models over low-performance workstations or remote networks due to excessive data loading times and intellectual property protection concerns, especially when interacting with complex industrial products like airplanes with millions of parts.
Innovation Solution
A client-server architecture that transmits detailed and simplified image data from a server to a user station, allowing for interactive visualization and highlighting of model parts without requiring significant computing power on the client side, while maintaining intellectual property protection by keeping detailed geometric data on the server.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If detailed geometric data defining the digital model is provided to the user's station via network, then the quality of displayed images is improved, but the data loading time becomes excessive and network bandwidth is consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the geometric data into two distinct representations: detailed geometry data for high-quality static images and simplified geometry data for interactive views. This segmentation allows the system to transmit only the necessary data portion based on the user's interaction state, thereby reducing network load and loading time while maintaining image quality when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches between detailed and simplified geometry data based on user interaction. During interactive manipulation (rotation, zooming, panning), simplified data is used for rapid response. When the user requests a detailed view or stops interacting, the system transitions to detailed geometry data for high-quality rendering. This dynamic adaptation optimizes both performance and image quality.
2Ease of operation
If detailed geometric data is stored locally on the user's workstation, then interactivity and image quality are improved, but intellectual property protection is compromised and hardware requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential geometric information needed for interaction from the complete detailed model, creating a simplified representation that retains topological and spatial relationships sufficient for user manipulation. This extracted simplified data enables full interactivity while occupying minimal local storage and not containing the full intellectual property value of the original detailed geometry.
Solution Approach 2:
The server acts as an intermediary that holds the complete detailed geometric data and securely manages intellectual property. The client workstation receives and processes only simplified geometry data for interaction purposes. This intermediary architecture allows local interactivity while protecting sensitive data from being stored on potentially insecure client systems.
3Speed
If simplified geometry data is used for interaction, then responsiveness on light workstations is improved, but image quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs periodic action by alternating between simplified geometry processing during interaction phases and detailed geometry rendering when interaction ceases or when high-quality output is requested. This periodic switching between data representations maintains responsiveness during user manipulation while ensuring high image quality is delivered when the user needs to examine details or generate formal visual outputs.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A viewing system allows a user on a thin workstation (3), specifically a client workstation (3) served by a server (2), to view and interact with a three-dimensional digital model, even a large one, by displaying detailed images produced on the server (2) from a detailed version of the digital model and, when viewing conditions are adjusted, by displaying images calculated on the client workstation (3) from simplified data representing a simplified version of the model's geometry. This simplified data is received from the server (2). The detailed images are accompanied by semantic layers indicating, for each pixel of the image, an identifier of which part is represented at the corresponding location in the image.The user selects a part of the model by indicating a pixel in the image that shows the part in question, and their workstation identifies which part it is by referring to the semantic layer associated with the image. Parts selected by the user are highlighted by displaying above the main image either an image generated from the semantic layer or a thumbnail calculated from the digital model.