Selective Color Contribution Sampling for Rendering Efficiency

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current rendering systems perform unnecessary computations when determining the final color of pixels in computer graphics images, as they sample color contribution values for all render elements regardless of their contribution to the image quality, leading to increased computational resources and time.

Innovation Solution

The method involves determining, for each render element, whether to sample additional color contribution values based on the current color data for the element and its neighboring pixels, thereby reducing unnecessary computations by only sampling for elements that require further contribution values.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If color contribution values are sampled for all render elements regardless of their contribution to image quality, then the completeness of color data is improved, but the computational resources and time required increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompleteness of color dataVSAvoidrendering efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by differentiating the sampling process for each render element based on its specific contribution to image quality. Instead of uniformly sampling all render elements, the system evaluates each element's importance and applies sampling only where necessary to achieve the desired quality threshold, thereby optimizing the balance between color data completeness and rendering efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements partial action by sampling color contribution values only for render elements that require them to meet the quality threshold, rather than sampling for all elements. The system performs partial sampling based on the actual needs of each render element, avoiding unnecessary computations for elements that already satisfy quality requirements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

2Manufacturing precision

If color contribution values are sampled for all render elements, then the accuracy of final pixel color is improved, but the computational load increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccuracy of final pixel colorVSAvoidcomputational resources
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies local quality by assessing each render element's individual contribution to pixel color accuracy and applying sampling selectively. High-importance elements receive full sampling treatment while low-importance elements use fewer samples, maintaining overall accuracy while reducing computational energy consumption

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses partial action by performing color contribution sampling only for render elements where it is necessary to achieve the desired accuracy. The system determines a quality threshold and samples only until that threshold is met, avoiding excessive sampling for elements that already provide sufficient accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Reliability

If sampling is performed for all render elements, then the quality threshold is reliably met, but the rendering time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvequality threshold assuranceVSAvoidrendering time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by evaluating each render element's contribution to the quality threshold and applying sampling selectively. Elements with higher contributions are sampled more thoroughly to ensure the quality threshold is met, while elements with lower contributions require fewer samples, thereby reducing overall rendering time while maintaining reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

4Productivity

If unnecessary sampling is avoided for render elements meeting quality threshold, then computational efficiency is improved, but the complexity of determining sampling necessity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomputational efficiencyVSAvoidsampling determination complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-establishing quality thresholds and contribution criteria for each render element before the actual sampling process. This preliminary setup includes defining importance metrics and quality benchmarks, which simplifies the subsequent sampling determination process by providing clear decision rules for whether additional sampling is necessary

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS9679398B2Rendering images using color contribution values of render elements
Publication Date: 2017.06.13 CHAOS SOFTWARE
  • US9679398B2 patent drawing
  • US9679398B2 patent drawing
  • US9679398B2 patent drawing

AI summary

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for rendering an image. One of the methods includes, for each of a plurality of pixels of the image: maintaining current color data for each of a plurality of render elements generated by sampling color contribution values for the render element for the pixel; determining, for each of the plurality of render elements, whether or not to sample another color contribution value for the render element from the current color data for the render element for the pixel and the current color data for the render element for one or more pixels that neighbor the pixel in the image; and sampling a new color contribution value only for the render elements for which it was determined to sample another contribution value.