Game Map Boundary Rendering with Fuzzy Grid Expansion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for rendering map area boundaries in games face challenges such as high computational load, jagged boundary lines, and visibility issues at different focal lengths, especially with hexagonal map pixels, which affect user experience.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that render a fuzzy boundary by expanding it inward along the normal direction, forming a boundary grid, and using convolutional incremental expansion to render color and transparency within specific ranges, ensuring clear visibility and smooth interaction across various focal lengths.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If area coloring method is adopted to distinguish game maps, then map area differentiation is achieved, but boundary rendering becomes complex and computationally intensive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveboundary rendering simplicityVSAvoidboundary rendering complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The boundary rendering is divided into multiple segments: a fuzzy boundary obtained by expanding the original boundary inward, and a boundary grid formed by extending lines from boundary vertices. This segmentation allows complex boundary rendering to be broken down into simpler, more manageable operations that reduce computational load while maintaining visual clarity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary boundary grid structure that mediates between the original boundary and the final rendering. By extending lines from boundary vertices to form a grid, and using this grid to determine rendering ranges, the system simplifies the boundary rendering process while ensuring clear visibility at different focal lengths.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Area of stationary object

If hexagonal map pixels are used, then map area coverage is improved, but boundary calculation load increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemap area coverageVSAvoidboundary calculation load

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary actions by pre-calculating the fuzzy boundary through inward expansion and pre-forming the boundary grid by extending lines from vertices. These preliminary computations are done once when the boundary is needed, avoiding repeated complex calculations during rendering operations, thus reducing overall computational energy consumption while maintaining hexagonal map coverage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Speed

If rapid updates are required when map areas expand and contract, then dynamic responsiveness is improved, but rendering stability becomes difficult to maintain

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveboundary update speedVSAvoidboundary rendering stability

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamics by using a flexible boundary representation system that can rapidly adapt to changes. When map areas expand or contract, the fuzzy boundary and boundary grid can be quickly updated by re-expanding from new boundary vertices, allowing fast response while maintaining rendering stability through the consistent use of normal direction expansion and grid formation methods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Manufacturing precision

If boundary lines are rendered smoothly during map zooming, then visual quality is improved, but rendering complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveboundary line smoothnessVSAvoidrendering complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dimensionality change by transitioning from a simple 1D boundary line to a 2D fuzzy boundary region through inward expansion along the normal direction. This dimensional expansion creates a broader rendering target that maintains smooth appearance during zooming operations while reducing the complexity of precise line rendering, as the expanded region provides more forgiving geometric tolerances.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS11887255B2Method and system for rendering boundary of map area within game map, and computer-readable storage medium

Publication Date: 2024.01.30 SHANGHAI LILITH NETWORK TECH CO LTD

AI summary

A method and a system for rendering a boundary of a map area within a game map, a computer readable storage medium, and a method for rendering includes: obtaining a boundary of a map area within a game map, and expanding the boundary toward the inside of the boundary along a normal direction of the boundary to form a fuzzy boundary; obtaining each boundary vertex of the fuzzy boundary, and linearly extending a preset distance from the boundary vertex along the normal direction of the fuzzy boundary to form a boundary grid; rendering a boundary color within a first range between the fuzzy boundary and the boundary grid, and rendering a boundary transparency within a second range that expands a preset distance from the fuzzy boundary to the inside of the boundary; rendering the boundary color from the first range with convolutional incremental expansion until the second range is covered.