Volumetric Data Flat File Format for Direct GPU Rendering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Processing volumetric data in different file formats for real-time volume rendering in 3D computer games is computationally expensive and time-consuming due to large memory overhead and unbalanced allocations, making it difficult to render digital assets efficiently.
Innovation Solution
A volumetric data processing system that converts volumetric data into a unified flat file format, allowing real-time rendering by using a pre-processor unit to convert source formats into a flat file format, enabling direct processing on a GPU without CPU intervention, and utilizing parallel computational units to decode and unpack data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If volumetric data is processed using traditional hierarchical file formats, then the data can be structured and organized, but the processing becomes computationally expensive and time-consuming due to large memory overhead and unbalanced allocations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments volumetric data into individual frames stored in a flat file format, where each frame is independently accessible. This segmentation eliminates the hierarchical structure overhead and allows direct memory mapping of specific frames without traversing parent-child relationships, thereby improving rendering speed and reducing processing time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary actions by pre-allocating memory buffers and pre-organizing volumetric data in a flat structure during data import or idle periods. This allows the rendering system to directly access and process frames without dynamic memory allocation during real-time rendering, thus improving productivity while minimizing time loss.
2Reliability
If volumetric data is stored in hierarchical structures with vertices and color-based formats, then the data representation is detailed and flexible, but memory allocation becomes unbalanced and computationally expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies homogeneity by storing all volumetric frames in a uniform flat file format with consistent memory layout. Each frame occupies a fixed, predictable memory region, eliminating the unbalanced and irregular memory allocation patterns inherent in hierarchical structures. This simplifies memory management while maintaining data accuracy through consistent formatting.
3Productivity
If CPU is used to process and move volumetric data to GPU, then data processing is flexible and controllable, but resource overhead increases and real-time rendering performance decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the data movement function from the CPU by implementing direct memory-mapped file access that allows the GPU to read volumetric frame data directly from storage without CPU intervention. This extraction eliminates the CPU as an intermediary in the data transfer path, reducing CPU resource consumption and increasing rendering throughput.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements self-service by enabling the GPU to autonomously access and process volumetric data directly from the flat file format through memory mapping. The GPU independently loads and renders frames without requiring CPU preprocessing or data transfer management, thereby reducing CPU energy usage while maintaining high rendering throughput.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and a method of volumetric data processing include receiving volumetric data corresponding to a digital asset, the digital asset including a plurality of frames; creating a file to represent the volumetric data in a flat file format, the flat file format representing the plurality of frames arranged in a plurality of buffers in the file, each of the plurality of buffers being assigned with a fixed number of frames; and providing the file to a client device for a rendering of the digital asset.