Replicated Geographic Data Display Using Hierarchical Node Tree

The patent applies copying by creating a master model of a replicated object (e.g., a tree) and generating instance references that point to this master model. Instead of storing and rendering complete copies of the object at each location, the system stores one master model and multiple instance references that tell the rendering system where to place copies. This dramatically reduces memory usage and scene resolution time while maintaining visual accuracy, as the rendering engine can efficiently instantiate and position multiple copies from the single master model definition.

The patent merges the storage and management of replicated objects by consolidating their geometric data into a single master model definition within the node tree structure. Multiple instances of the same object type share this common definition, and the system manages them collectively through instance sets and collection references rather than individually. This merging approach reduces data redundancy and enables efficient batch processing during scene resolution.

The patent employs dynamic level-of-detail adjustment that responds to scene conditions and performance metrics. The system continuously evaluates factors such as camera distance, scene density, and current frame timing to dynamically select appropriate LOD levels for different instances. This dynamic approach allows the system to maintain high perceptual quality for instances that contribute most to the visual experience while using lower LOD for instances that have minimal visual impact, thereby achieving higher frame rates without significantly compromising overall scene quality.

The patent applies local quality by allowing different level-of-detail settings for different instances based on their specific context within the scene. Rather than uniformly applying a single LOD level to all replicated objects, the system evaluates each instance's importance and visual contribution individually. Instances that are closer to the camera, more centrally located, or visually distinctive receive higher LOD, while distant or less important instances use lower LOD. This localized quality assignment optimizes the balance between perceptual quality and frame rate by concentrating rendering resources where they provide the most visual benefit.