Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Computer graphics processing – Graph generating
Reexamination Certificate
1998-06-16
2001-07-03
Zimmerman, Mark (Department: 2772)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Computer graphics processing
Graph generating
C345S440000, C345S440000, C345S473000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06256044
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to the integration of computer graphics and video to provide a realistic three dimensional virtual reality experience.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The display of a three dimensional world to a viewer requires considerable computation power, and it is typically costly to develop the necessary highly detailed models required for doing so. In order to simplify the problem, a portion of the world that is in the distance may be represented as a video displayed on a surface, e.g., a screen. By video it is meant the common usage of the term, such as the placing or projecting of predefined images on the surface, e.g., the electronic version of filmed moving pictures. Thus, such a world is essentially truncated in length to the screen on which the video is displayed. A great reduction in computation power and cost can be achieved by such an arrangement.
A limitation of such a world occurs when an object represented by computer graphics undergoes a trajectory that takes it to a location in the world that is not represented as computer graphics but instead is within the field represented by the video. If the object is generated at its proper location using computer graphic techniques, without further processing such an object becomes invisible to a viewer in front of the video screen, because the object is blocked from a viewer's view by the video screen. In U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/906215 it was recognized that, when a computer graphic object undergoes a trajectory that takes it to a location in the world that is not represented as computer graphics, but instead is within the field represented by the video, that such an object should be represented as video on the screen, rather than computer graphics. Doing so prevents the object from becoming invisible as it would if it was generated at its proper location using computer graphic techniques, since it would be blocked from view by the video screen. Thus, the computer graphics object “goes into the video” as video and remains visible to a viewer in front of the video screen.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
We have recognized that when a computer graphic object is located at, or undergoes a trajectory that takes it to, a location in the world that is not represented as computer graphics, but instead is within a field represented by video, one may wish to maintain the object as computer graphics, yet still have the object be visible to a viewer and appear as if the object was at its proper location within the video. This can be achieved, in accordance with the principles of the invention, by a) determining when a computer graphic object is located at, or undergoes a trajectory that takes it to, a location in the world that is not represented as computer graphics, but instead is within the field represented by the video, and b) representing such an object as a computer graphic which is in front of the screen and to which at least one transformation, e.g., a perspective transformation, is applied. The perspective transformation may be at least a function of the distance beyond the video screen at which the object would actually be located if it were to be drawn using the same representation employed prior to its crossing the video screen. In other words, instead of the computer graphics object “going into the video” as video, the object as computer graphics is made to appear as if it went into the video by using perspective techniques. Thus, the object remains visible to a viewer in front of the video screen rather than becoming invisible because it is blocked from view by the video screen as would have occurred had the object been generated at its proper location.
REFERENCES:
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Carraro Gianpaolo U.
Edmark John T.
Ensor James Robert
Lucent Technologies - Inc.
Rosenthal Eugene J.
Stevenson Philip
Zimmerman Mark
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