Patent EP0549944A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0549944A2
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EP
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Multi-resolution graphic representation for interactive visualization applications
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1992-12-14
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2012-12-14
Abstract
Abstract A method for execution by a data processor that prepares an object for display. The method includes a step of processing a first model of the object so as to produce a simplified model thereof, the step of processing including the steps of (a) superimposing a first plurality of grid cells on the first model; for any one of the first plurality of grid cells containing more than one vertex of the first model, (b) combining the vertices into a first representative vertex; (c) generating a first simplified model that includes the first representative vertex or first representative vertices; and (d) storing the first simplified model for subsequent use. The method encompasses a number of criteria for use by the step of combining the vertices within a grid cell. These criteria include: (a) selecting a center of the grid cell as a position of the representative vertex; (b) selecting a position of a predetermined one of the vertices within the grid cell as a position of the representative vertex; (c) selecting an average position of the vertices as a position of the representative vertex; (d) selecting a position of a vertex that is nearest to the average position as a position of the representative vertex; and (e) selecting a position of a vertex that represents a locally extreme point within the grid cell as a position of the representative vertex.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul Borrell
- 👤 Jaroslaw Roman Rossignac
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 12:29
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T17/00; G06T17/005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
107 words
A method for execution by a data processor to prepare an object for display on a display means, comprising the steps of: processing a first model of the object so as to produce a simplified model thereof, the step of processing including the steps of, superimposing a first plurality of grid cells on the first model; for any one of the first plurality of grid cells containing more than one vertex of the first model, combining the vertices into a first representative vertex; generating a first simplified model that includes the first representative vertex or first representative vertices; and storing the first simplified model for subsequent use.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
106 words
A method as set forth in Claim 1 and further including a step of processing the first model to produce a second simplified model thereof, including the steps of: superimposing a second plurality of grid cells on the first model, the second plurality of grid cells being larger than the first plurality of grid cells; for any one of the second plurality of grid cells containing more than one vertex of the first model, combining the vertices into a second representative vertex; generating a second simplified model that includes the second representative vertex or second representative vertices; and storing the second simplified model for subsequent use.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
111 words
A method as set forth in Claim 1 or 2 and further including a step of processing the first simplified model to produce a second simplified model thereof, including the steps of: superimposing a second plurality of grid cells on the first simplified model, the second plurality of grid cells being larger than the first plurality of grid cells; for any one of the second plurality of grid cells containing more than one vertex of the first simplified model, combining the vertices into a second representative vertex; generating a second simplified model that includes the second representative vertex or second representative vertices; and storing the second simplified model for subsequent use.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
179 words
A method as set forth in Claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the step of combining includes a step of selecting a center of the grid cell as a position of the representative vertex, or wherein the step of combining includes a step of selecting a position of a predetermined one of the vertices within the grid cell as a position of the representative vertex, or wherein the step of combining includes a step of determining an average position of the vertices within the grid cell, and a step of selecting the average position as a position of the representative vertex, or wherein the step of combining includes a step of determining an average position of the vertices within the grid cell, and a step of selecting a position of a vertex that is nearest to the average position as a position of the representative vertex, or wherein the step of combining includes a step of selecting a position of a vertex that represents a locally extreme point within the grid cell as a position of the representative vertex.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
61 words
A method as set forth in any one of the claims 1 to 4 wherein the step of processing includes an initial step of triangulating the faces of the object, and wherein the step of generating a first simplified model includes a step of detecting and eliminating degenerate and duplicate triangles that result from the execution of the step of combining.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
124 words
A method as set forth in any one of the claims 1 to 5 and further including a step of selecting the first model or the simplified model for display on the display means, or wherein the step of selecting includes a step of determining a size of a projection of the object onto the display means, and wherein the step of selecting selects either the first model or the simplified model as a function of at least the determined size of the projection, or wherein the step of selecting includes a step of determining a number of faces of the object, and wherein the step of selecting selects the first model if the number of faces is below a threshold number of faces.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
69 words
A method as set forth in any one of the claims 1 to 6 wherein, in response to a required motion of the object on the display means, the step of selecting selects the first model if the time required to display the first model is not inconsistent with providing realtime motion of the object on the display means, otherwise the step of selecting selects the first simplified model.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
114 words
A method for execution by a data processor to prepare an object for display on a display means, comprising the steps of: triangulating faces of the object to produce a first model of the object; superimposing a first plurality of three dimensional grid cells on the first model; for any one of the first plurality of three dimensional grid cells containing more than one vertex of the first model, combining the vertices into a first representative vertex in accordance with a combination criteria; generating a first simplified model that includes the first representative vertex or first representative vertices; storing the first model for subsequent use; and storing the first simplified model for subsequent use.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
80 words
A method as set forth in Claim 8 wherein the combination criteria selects a center of the grid cell as a position of the representative vertex, or wherein the combination criteria selects a position of a predetermined one of the vertices within the grid cell as a position of the representative vertex, or wherein the combination criteria selects a position of a vertex that represents a locally extreme point within the grid cell as a position of the representative vertex.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method as set forth in Claim 8 or 9 wherein the step of selecting includes a step of determining an average position of the vertices within the grid cell, and wherein the combination criteria selects the average position as a position of the representative vertex.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
56 words
A method as set forth in Claim 8, 9 or 10 wherein the step of combining includes a step of determining an average position of the vertices within the grid cell, and wherein the combination criteria selects a position of a vertex that is nearest to the average position as a position of the representative vertex.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method as set forth in Claim 8, 9, 10 or 11 wherein each of the three dimensional grid cells is of substantially equal size, or wherein a plurality of the three dimensional grid cells are of different sizes.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
121 words
Graphics display apparatus for displaying at least one object, comprising: memory means for storing a model of an object and for storing at least one simplified model of the object, the model having a first plurality of vertices and the at least one simplified model having a second plurality of vertices that is less than the first plurality of vertices; means, responsive to a command from a user of the apparatus, for indicating that a motion of the displayed object is to occur; and processing means, coupled to and responsive to the indicating means, for accessing the memory means to select for display either the model of the object or one of the at least one simplified models of the object.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
92 words
Graphics display apparatus as set forth in Claim 13 wherein said processing means includes means for processing the model of the object so as to produce said at least one simplified model thereof, said processing means including, means for superimposing a plurality of cells on the model; means, responsive to one of the plurality of cells containing more than one vertex of the model, for combining the vertices within the cell into a representative vertex; and means for generating said at least one simplified model so as to include the representative vertex.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
96 words
Graphics display apparatus as set forth in Claim 13 or 14 and further including means for storing a tree data structure containing vertices of the model, or further including means for storing a linked list data structure containing vertices of the model, or further including means for storing limit values related to a size of a projection of the object on a display screen means, and wherein said processing means is responsive to a determined size of a projection of the object, and to said stored limit values, to select one of said models for display.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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