Methods and apparatus for delivering 3D graphics in a networked environment
US6377257B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 4, 1999 |
| Grant date | Apr 23, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 4, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N21/47205
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A system and method for seamlessly combining client-only rendering techniques with server-only rendering techniques. The approach uses a composite stream containing three distinct streams. Two of the streams are synchronized and transmit camera definition, video of server-rendered objects, and a time dependent depth map for the server-rendered object. The third stream is available to send geometry from the server to the client, for local rendering if appropriate. The invention can satisfy a number of viewing applications. For example, initially the most relevant geometry can stream to the client for high quality local rendering while the server delivers renderings of less relevant geometry at lower resolutions. After the most relevant geometry has been delivered to the client, the less important geometry can be optionally streamed to the client to increase the fidelity of the entire scene. In the limit, all of the geometry is transferred to the client and the situation corresponds to client-only rendering system where local graphics hardware is used to improve fidelity and reduce bandwidth. Alternatively, if a client does not have local three-dimensional graphics capability then th…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.