Virtual Architectural Visualization Interaction via Server Offloading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current architectural computer-aided design programs are complex and not user-friendly, lacking intuitive interfaces for interacting with elements within virtual architectural models, and they require substantial computing power for high-quality visualizations, making them impractical for widespread use, especially in real estate sales offices.
Innovation Solution
A system that allows users to interact with virtual architectural visualizations using intuitive controls like head-mounted displays and spatially tracked hand input devices, providing a heads-up display with interactive maps, editable objects, and real-time rendering, while offloading processing to an application server, enabling efficient rendering and transmission of architectural visualizations to client devices without the need for high processing power.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional architectural computer-aided design programs are used, then high-quality architectural visualizations can be generated, but the device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate due to complex interfaces requiring substantial computing power
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses pre-rendered thumbnail images as simplified copies of complex architectural visualizations. These thumbnails represent full-scale high-quality renderings but require minimal processing power to display and interact with, allowing users to navigate architectural models without needing substantial computing resources on client devices
Solution Approach 2:
The architectural visualization system is divided into segments: thumbnail-sized preview images are generated and stored separately from full-resolution visualizations. Users first interact with segmented thumbnail representations, and only specific segments (full visualizations) are rendered on-demand when selected, reducing overall system complexity and computing requirements
2Manufacturing precision
If traditional architectural computer-aided design programs are used, then high-quality architectural visualizations can be generated, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to lack of intuitive user interfaces
Solution Approach 1:
Thumbnail images serve as intuitive visual copies that users can easily recognize and interact with. Instead of dealing with complex technical parameters and rendering settings, users simply select from visual thumbnail representations, making the system intuitive while maintaining the ability to generate high-quality visualizations when needed
3Manufacturing precision
If architectural visualizations are rendered locally on client devices, then high-quality visualizations can be produced, but the use of energy and device requirements increase substantially
Solution Approach 1:
A server acts as an intermediary between the user and the architectural visualization system. The server performs the computationally intensive rendering tasks, while client devices only need to display pre-rendered thumbnails and transmit user selections. This intermediary approach allows high-quality visualization generation without requiring substantial computing power or energy at the client device level
Data Source
AI summary
A method of providing interaction with elements in a virtual architectural visualization is disclosed which includes the steps of providing an application server configured with at least a rendering engine for an architectural visualization, the application server further configured to communicate with at least one client device via a network; generating a predetermined architectural visualization in response to a request from said at least one client device; transmitting a video signal depicting the predetermined architectural visualization to the client device over the network; and, receiving input data from the client device and updating the architectural visualization in response to the input data.