Tiled Image Processing Using Lookup Textures for Seamless Terrain Editing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing game development systems face inefficiencies when processing and modifying terrain data with variable resolution images, leading to delays and increased computational costs due to the need for separate processing of each tile in a tiled image region.

Innovation Solution

A game development system utilizing a lookup texture and texture array to render and process a continuous image region from a tiled image, enabling seamless and efficient modification of terrain data by performing operations in a single pass, rather than iteratively on each tile.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If variable resolution images are used to create lifelike terrain, then image quality and detail are improved, but processing efficiency and ease of editing deteriorate due to the need for separate processing of each tile

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage qualityVSAvoidprocessing efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple separate terrain tiles into a single continuous image region for processing. By combining the tiles and using a lookup texture to map pixel positions back to their source tiles, the system enables unified processing operations across all tiles simultaneously, eliminating the need to process each tile separately while maintaining the variable resolution quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Measurement precision

If separate processing is performed on each tile in a tiled image region, then processing precision is maintained, but time consumption and computational overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing precisionVSAvoidtime consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a lookup texture as an intermediary data structure that stores the mapping between pixel positions in the continuous image region and their corresponding source tiles. This intermediary enables the system to process the entire continuous image region uniformly while efficiently resolving which source tile each pixel belongs to, maintaining processing precision without the time penalty of separate tile processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Quantity of substance

If terrain data is stored as multiple separate tiles, then memory usage is optimized, but operational complexity increases when performing unified operations across the terrain

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvememory usageVSAvoidoperational complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent adds a new dimension to the terrain data structure by introducing the lookup texture layer. Instead of directly managing separate tile data structures, the system creates a unified continuous image region where the lookup texture provides the additional dimension of mapping information. This allows unified operations across the terrain while still leveraging the memory efficiency of the underlying tiled storage structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS12567196B2Seamless image processing of a tiled image region
Publication Date: 2026.03.03 ELECTRONIC ARTS INC
  • US12567196B2 patent drawing
  • US12567196B2 patent drawing
  • US12567196B2 patent drawing

AI summary

Systems and methods for performing a processing operation for a tiled image region are disclosed. The tiled image region may include a plurality of tiles or images. Further, the tiled image region may correspond to a plurality of image resolutions. A system may execute a game development application to perform the processing operation for the tiled image region. The system may identify the tiled image region corresponding to the processing operation. The system can utilize a texture array, a lookup texture, and a scaling factor to determine position data for the tiled image region. The system can then render a continuous image region that represents the tiled image region. The system can seamlessly process the continuous image region according to the processing operation and use the continuous image region to update the tiled image region.