Multi-level Lighting System for Interactive Gameplay
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems that facilitate lighting of objects during interactive gameplay are limited by the available computing power on client platforms, leading to inconsistencies in lighting techniques between high-end and low-end devices.
Innovation Solution
The system employs a dual approach by pre-processing lighting information for secondary sets on lower-end platforms, which includes 'baked-in' light maps, while higher-end platforms handle real-time lighting processing, ensuring consistent lighting effects across different hardware capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If real-time lighting processing is used on high-end platforms, then lighting quality and detail are improved, but computing power requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments lighting processing into two distinct approaches: pre-computed lighting (baked-in light maps) for static scenes and real-time lighting processing for dynamic elements. This segmentation allows high-end platforms to use computationally intensive real-time processing only where necessary (dynamic objects, moving light sources) while relying on pre-computed lighting for static portions, thereby maintaining high lighting quality without requiring full real-time processing power for the entire scene.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs preliminary action by pre-computing lighting information during level design and asset creation phases. Light maps are generated in advance for static geometry, and lighting parameters are pre-configured for various scenarios. This pre-processing transfers computational burden from runtime (when computing power is limited) to offline preparation phases, enabling high-quality lighting on platforms with constrained real-time processing capabilities.
2Adaptability or versatility
If different lighting features are targeted for high-end and low-end platforms, then adaptability to different hardware is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal lighting system that can operate in multiple modes depending on platform capabilities. The same lighting infrastructure supports both pre-computed light map rendering (for low-end platforms) and real-time dynamic lighting (for high-end platforms). The system automatically selects the appropriate rendering path based on detected hardware capabilities, eliminating the need for separate lighting systems for different platforms and reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic adaptation where the lighting system automatically adjusts its behavior based on runtime detection of platform capabilities. The engine queries hardware features and dynamically selects between different lighting pipelines (baked-in vs. real-time). This dynamic approach allows a single codebase to serve multiple platform tiers without requiring manual configuration or separate development tracks for each platform type.
3Power
If pre-processed light maps are used on low-end platforms, then computing power requirements are reduced, but lighting flexibility and responsiveness to viewpoint changes decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges pre-computed light maps with real-time lighting calculations to achieve both efficiency and flexibility. The system combines baked-in ambient and static direct lighting with real-time computations for dynamic light sources, moving objects, and viewpoint-dependent effects. This hybrid approach allows low-end platforms to use resource-efficient light maps for the bulk of lighting while adding minimal real-time processing to handle dynamic elements and viewpoint changes, thereby recovering lighting flexibility without sacrificing computing efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for facilitating lighting of objects during interactive gameplay by users on client computing platforms distinguishes activities performed prior to interactive gameplay and during interactive gameplay. Different client computing platforms may have different levels of graphics performance. Lighting may be defined by characteristics of one or more light sources that illuminate one or more objects in a multi-dimensional volume in a virtual space. Different lighting techniques or lighting features may be combined to create lighting during interactive gameplay. Some lighting techniques or lighting features may only be available and/or supported on high-performance computing platforms, whereas other lighting features may be available even on low-performance computing platforms.