Patent ID: 7548243
Filing Date: 2009-06-16
Classification: G06T

Abstract:
1. A method for rendering a frame of animation in a computer system having a computer memory, the method comprising: retrieving scene descriptor data associated with the frame of animation, wherein the scene descriptor data includes a first specification of at least one object, the first specification being associated with a first user-defined purpose for rendering the frame of animation, wherein the scene descriptor data includes a second specification of the at least one object, the second specification being associated with a second user-defined purpose for rendering the frame of animation, and wherein the first and second specifications are separately derived; receiving a selection of a first rendering option corresponding to the first user-defined purpose or a second rendering option corresponding to the second user-defined purpose; querying a database external to the computer system for a first representation of the one object in response to the first specification of the object when the selection is of the first rendering option; receiving the first representation of the object from the database external to the computer system when the selection is of the first rendering option; loading the first representation of the object into the computer memory when the selection is of the first rendering option; and rendering the object for the frame of animation using the first representation of the object when the selection is of the first rendering option; wherein the first representation of the object is not loaded into the computer memory when the selection is of the second rendering option.