Patent · US Expired

Method for employing a hierarchical display list in global rendering

US5058042A · kind A · utility

38Cited by
6References
18Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 3, 1989
Grant dateOct 15, 1991
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 3, 2009

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06T15/55
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method for employing a hierarchical display list in global rendering comprises the steps of traversing the display list and extracting selected primitives and attributes. A bounding volume is defined for selected primitives, and data indicative of the selected primitives, attributes, and bounding volumes are stored in a global database. Global rendering may be performed by either ray tracing or radiosity based upon the data in the global database. In the event that global rendering is performed by radiosity, then a plurality of surface elements for each selected primitive is defined and also stored in the global data base. Shading attribute data for each of the surface elements is defined upon application of a radiosity rendering algorithm to the global database. An alternative display list may be defined from the global database, if desired.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.