Methods and apparatus to facilitate 3d object visualization and manipulation across multiple devices

Abstract

Methods and apparatus to facilitate 3D object visualization and manipulation across multiple devices are disclosed. Example apparatus disclosed herein include a viewpoint determiner, a visible shard determiner, and a laminate assembler. The viewpoint determiner determines a viewpoint location of a viewpoint corresponding to a viewing device, the viewpoint location being in a reference frame of a three-dimensional (3D) model. The visible shard determiner determines a visible shard set of the 3D model based on the viewpoint location. The laminate assembler generates a two-dimensional (2D) image of the visible shard set.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a viewpoint determiner to determine a viewpoint location of a viewpoint corresponding to a viewing device, the viewpoint location being in a reference frame of a three-dimensional model;   a visible shard determiner to determine a visible shard set of the three-dimensional model based on the viewpoint location; and   a tile compositor to generate a two-dimensional image associated with the reference frame of the determined viewpoint location of the three-dimensional model, wherein:
 the generated two-dimensional image is based on the visible shard set of the three-dimensional model, and 
 the three-dimensional model existed prior to the generation of the two-dimensional image. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the visible shard set is retrieved from a database. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the visible shard determiner communicates the visible shard set to the tile compositor. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the generated two-dimensional image is based on transparency data associated with a visible shard ray intersection point. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein an individual visible shard of the visible shard set is based on transparency data, color data and depth data associated with that individual visible shard. 
     
     
         6 . A system comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory device that stores a plurality of instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
 determine a viewpoint location of a viewpoint corresponding to a viewing device, the viewpoint location being in a reference frame of a three-dimensional model; 
 determine a visible shard set of the three-dimensional model based on the viewpoint location; and 
 generate a two-dimensional image of the visible shard set associated with the reference frame of the determined viewpoint location of the three-dimensional model, wherein the three-dimensional model existed prior to the generation of the two-dimensional image. 
   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the memory device stores a plurality of further instructions, that when executed by the processor, cause the processor to retrieve the visible shard set from a database. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the memory device stores a plurality of further instructions, that when executed by the processor, cause the processor to assign individual shards of the visible shard set. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the memory device stores a plurality of further instructions, that when executed by the processor, cause the processor to generated the two-dimensional image based on transparency data associated with a visible shard ray intersection point. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein an individual visible shard of the visible shard set is based on transparency data, color data and depth data associated with that individual visible shard. 
     
     
         11 . A method comprising:
 determining, by a processor, a viewpoint location of a viewpoint corresponding to a viewing device, the viewpoint location being in a reference frame of a three-dimensional model;   determining, by the processor, a visible shard set of the three-dimensional model based on the viewpoint location; and   generating, by the processor, a two-dimensional image associated with the reference frame of the determined viewpoint location of the three-dimensional model, wherein the generated two-dimensional image is based on the visible shard set of the three-dimensional model, and the three-dimensional model existed prior to the generation of the two-dimensional image.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein generating the two-dimensional image includes retrieving the visible shard set from a database. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising assigning individual shards of the visible shard set. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the generated two-dimensional image is based on transparency data associated with a visible shard ray intersection point. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein an individual visible shard of the visible shard set is based on transparency data, color data and depth data associated with that individual visible shard.