KR100895198B1 - Method and system for providing a texture data in virtual world - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for offering texture data in a virtual space and a system therefor are provided to offer the rendering of high graphic quality which is appropriate for the system environment of a terminal. A client terminal transmits a texture request signal in which terminal information is included to a server(S402). Based on the texture request signal, the server loads the corresponding texture(S404), converts the texture into texture data which is suitable for the terminal information(S406), and then provides the converted texture data to the client terminal(S408).

Description

Method and system for providing a texture data in virtual space

The present invention relates to a method and system for providing texture data in a virtual space, and more particularly, when a plurality of client terminals access a server and receive a model of a three-dimensional space using a three-dimensional application from a server. The present invention relates to a method and system for providing texture data in a virtual space in which a client terminal having a low specification environment for a high quality graphic rendering provided by a server can be provided with a high graphic quality rendering to suit the system environment of the terminal. .

Generally, 3D graphic data (3D graphic data) includes polygonal data and color data. The polygon data represents the vertex position of the polygon defining the surface of the three-dimensional object (3D object) located in the virtual three-dimensional space (3D space). Pixels that make up each polygon are composed of a combination of triangles, called mesh data, and textures are represented by putting colors or materials in them.

The appearance of each polygon may be defined as data of one of two types: primary color data and texture data. The primary color data represent color values assigned to polygons, and the texture data define texture color values of texture pixels pasted onto the polygons.

In three-dimensional graphics processing, each 3D object in the 3D space is projected onto a virtual two-dimensional surface corresponding to some extent to the distance and angle between the virtual point and the 3D object. At this time, the virtual two-dimensional surface is called a rendering screen, and the virtual point is called a viewpoint. Next, a surface erase operation is performed to assign color values only to the visible portion of the 3D object from the perspective. In addition, if necessary, the color value of the visible part of the 3D object from the viewpoint may be changed using a contrast factor considering the position and intensity of one or more light sources.

The primary color data assigned to a polygon usually consists of three color values for each of the three additional primary colors, red, green and blue. Red, green and blue are abbreviated as R, G and B. Similarly, texture data defining pixels of a texture pasted into one or more polygons usually consists of three color values, one for each of the three additional primary colors, red, green, and blue. Color values for different colors can be used instead, such as yellow, cyan, magenta and black. In addition, other ways of expressing the appearance of the object, such as luminance and color difference values, may instead be used as color values.

If the primary color data assigned for a polygon is used to define the color for the representation of the 3D object, the primary color data specifies only one color for each polygon. Thus, if the surface of a 3D object has a complex appearance, even if the step is simple, the surface of the object must be divided into a number of small polygons so that its appearance can be precisely defined. Increasing the number of polygons implies that very large amounts of data must be involved in the calculation of the geometric arrangement. This significantly slows down the rendering speed.

Textures are used to overcome the above problem. Textures can be used to define the appearance of the entire surface of a 3D object or a large portion of such a surface. Textures are usually bit-mapped images of surface appearance, attached to the surface of a polygon. Textures can use a relatively small amount of data to fine-tune the appearance of object surfaces. Textures can be used to define the appearance of repetitive patterns, such as brick walls or marble columns, using only a few polygons, as well as defining portions of the image that serve as the surface of an image or object.

When a texture is attached onto a polygon, the texture data defining the appearance of the texture should be translated corresponding to the distance and angle between the viewpoint and the polygon. Usually, this transformation is done by specifying the transformation coordinates of the polygon and additionally specifying one or more coordinate transformation metrics.

The use of textures to define the appearance of an object provides the advantage of defining complex patterns on the surface of a 3D object using only a few polygons as described above using only typical rendering techniques. However, the texture data is substantially composed of a large number of data, especially when the texture is complicated.

When 3D graphics data including texture data was loaded from the server to the client terminal over the network, the user had to wait before the image was displayed. In particular, when 3D graphics processing is performed in a typical network environment, all 3D graphics data, i.e. polygonal data and color data, including texture data, must be loaded before any rendering calculation begins. The time required to load 3D graphics data will be inconveniently long if the appearance of the 3D object is defined by a complex texture and a large number of texture data must be downloaded to define the texture. As a result, the latent time of displaying nothing on the screen will be unacceptably long, and fast rendering is impossible.

In order to provide 3D graphic data to the connected client terminal, the server has a texture set of upper, middle, and lower depending on the realism, and one texture set of upper, middle, and lower depending on the system environment of the client terminal. Provides 3D graphic data.

Therefore, when the system environment of the client terminal does not correspond to the lower, upper, or lower texture sets of the server, or the lower specification, the server may not provide a texture having an appropriate data capacity according to the system situation of the client terminal. There is a problem that the quality of 3D graphics is degraded or delayed in processing texture data.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a high-quality graphic rendering provided by a server when a plurality of client terminals are connected to a server and receive a model of a three-dimensional space using a three-dimensional application program from the server. In order to ensure that the client terminal having a low specification environment is provided with high graphic quality rendering to suit the system environment of the terminal, the client terminal transmits the system information to the server, so that the texture suitable for the system information of the client terminal in the server is provided. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and system for providing texture data in a virtual space, which is converted into data and provided to a client terminal.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of providing texture data in a virtual space, the method including: (a) transmitting a texture request signal including terminal information from a client terminal to a server; (b) loading the texture on the server based on the texture request signal and converting the texture into texture data suitable for the terminal information; And (c) providing, by the server, the texture data converted to be appropriate for the terminal information to the client terminal.

In addition, step (a) is performed when a character for the client terminal moves in the virtual space, the character moves in space, or the client terminal logs in on the virtual space for the first time.

Also, in the step (a), the texture request signal includes a file name of the texture and required capacity information.

In addition, in step (a), the terminal information includes system environment information designated by a user, area information where the client terminal is located, and system specification information.

In the step (c), after reading only the header of the texture file using a transmission format in which textures of various resolutions are sequentially stored, only the texture data converted according to the terminal information is provided to the client terminal. .

On the other hand, the texture data providing system according to the present invention for achieving the above object, the client terminal for transmitting the texture request signal including the terminal information wirelessly, and then receives the texture data converted appropriately for the terminal information; And a server configured to receive the texture request signal from the client terminal, load the corresponding texture on the basis of the texture request signal, convert the texture data into texture data suitable for the terminal information, and provide the converted texture data to the client terminal. do.

The server may receive the texture request signal from the client terminal when the character for the client terminal moves or spatially moves on the virtual space or when the client terminal logs in on the virtual space for the first time.

In addition, the texture request signal includes a file name of the texture and required capacity information.

The terminal information may include system environment information designated by a user, area information where the client terminal is located, and system specification information.

The server reads only the header of the texture file and provides only the texture data converted to the terminal information to the client terminal using a transmission format in which textures of various resolutions are sequentially stored.

Meanwhile, a method of providing texture data of a server according to the present invention for achieving the above object includes: (a) receiving a texture request signal including terminal information from a client terminal; (b) loading the texture based on the received texture request signal and converting the texture into texture data suitable for the terminal information; And (c) providing the texture data to the client terminal.

In addition, step (a) is performed when a character for the client terminal moves in the virtual space, the character moves in space, or the client terminal logs in on the virtual space for the first time.

Also, in the step (a), the texture request signal includes a file name of the texture and required capacity information.

In addition, in step (a), the terminal information includes system environment information designated by a user, area information where the client terminal is located, and system specification information.

In the step (c), using only a transmission format in which texture data of various resolutions are sequentially stored, only the header of the texture file is read and only the texture data converted according to the terminal information is provided to the client terminal. do.

According to the present invention, when a plurality of client terminals connect to a server and receive a model of a three-dimensional space using a three-dimensional application program from the server, the client having a low specification environment for the high quality graphic rendering provided by the server The terminal may also be provided with high graphics quality rendering to suit the system environment of the terminal.

In addition, 3D virtual spaces made of large-capacity textures can be rendered in real time even in low-end client terminal environments for high quality graphics rendering.

Then, the client terminal receives a texture having an appropriate data capacity from the server within the limit of the texture total capacity, so that the user can use the virtual space of high graphic quality overall even in a low specification environment.

Details of the object and technical configuration of the present invention and the resulting effects thereof will be more clearly understood by the following detailed description based on the accompanying drawings. Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a configuration diagram schematically showing the configuration of a texture data providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the texture data providing system according to the present invention includes a client terminal 110, a communication network 120, a virtual space providing server 130, and a virtual space database 140.

The client terminal 110 transmits the texture request signal including the terminal information by wire or wirelessly, and then receives the texture data converted according to the terminal information from the virtual space providing server 130.

Here, the texture request signal includes a file name of the texture data and necessary capacity information, and the terminal information includes system environment information designated by the user, region information where the client terminal 110 is located, and system specification information.

When the communication network 120 is a mobile communication network, the client terminal 110 may include a personal digital assistant (PDA), a cellular phone, a personal communication service (PCS) phone, a global system for mobile (GSM) phone, and wideband (W-CDMA). CDMA) phone, CDMA-2000 phone, Mobile Broadband System (MBS) phone and the like.

The client terminal 110 may be a computer terminal when the communication network 120 is an Internet Protocol (IP) network.

In addition, when the communication network 120 is a mobile communication network, the present invention provides a code division multiple access (CDMA), a wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA), and a high speed data packet access (CDMA). It can be applied to a network such as HSDPA: High Speed Data Packet Access (WSD) and Wibro.

The virtual space providing server 130 receives a texture request signal from the client terminal 110, loads the corresponding texture on the basis of the texture request signal, converts the texture data into texture data suitable for the terminal information, and converts the converted texture data into the client terminal ( 110).

The virtual space providing server 130 may be moved from the client terminal 110 when the character for the client terminal 110 moves or space moves in the virtual space, or when the client terminal 110 logs in on the virtual space for the first time. You will receive a texture request signal.

The virtual space providing server 130 reads only the header of the texture file and provides only the texture data converted to the terminal information to the client terminal 110 using a transmission format in which textures of various resolutions are sequentially stored. .

The virtual space database 140 stores image data for various types of two-dimensional or three-dimensional virtual spaces to be provided to the client terminal 110. In addition, the virtual space database 140 may store texture sets of upper, middle, and lower layers according to the realism for providing 3D graphic data.

2 is a configuration diagram schematically showing an internal configuration of a client terminal according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, the client terminal 110 according to the present invention includes a communication unit 210, a storage unit 220, a rendering part 230, a control unit 240, and a display unit 250.

Each communication unit 210, the storage unit 220, the rendering unit 230, the control unit 240, and the display unit 250 may be connected by a bus.

The communication unit 210 transmits a texture request signal including the terminal information, and receives the texture data converted according to the terminal information from the communication network 120.

The storage unit 220 includes a texture data memory for storing texture data received through the communication unit 210. In addition, the storage unit 220 serves as a buffer for some storage areas.

In addition, the storage unit 220 stores the system environment information designated by the user, the area information where the terminal is located, and the system specification information.

The storage unit 220 includes a texture mapping buffer including a depth buffer and a reference buffer.

The rendering unit 230 performs a rendering operation in response to the 3D graphic data according to the rendering program. Each rendering operation produces a set of color values in which a two-dimensional or three-dimensional image is displayed.

The controller 240 controls the received texture data to be displayed through the display unit 250.

The display unit 250 displays object and texture data for two-dimensional or three-dimensional images in a two-dimensional or three-dimensional image.

Figure 3 is a schematic diagram showing the internal configuration of the virtual space providing server according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, the virtual space providing server 130 according to the present invention includes a communication unit 310, a texture storage unit 320, a virtual space providing unit 330, a DB processing unit 340, and a control unit 350. do.

The communication unit 310 receives a texture request signal including the terminal information from the client terminal 110, and transmits texture data converted to the terminal information to the client terminal 110.

The texture storage unit 320 stores the upper, middle, and lower texture sets according to the realism for providing 2D or 3D graphic data, and stores the graphic data memory storing 2D or 3D graphic data. Include.

Here, the graphic data memory includes a polygonal data memory and a texture data memory, and the polygonal data memory stores polygonal data that defines the surface level of the 3D object. Polygon data defines the position of the highest point of the polygon in 3D space and also contains the primary color data for the polygon or the name or address of the texture provided by the polygon.

Texture data memory stores texture data defining textures that provide all or part of one or more surfaces of one or more 3D objects. The pattern data defining the appearance of each texture consists of a significant amount of texture data. Texture data for each texture includes texture height H, texture width W, layer data specifying the number of instances of the texture for which pattern data is available, and tile width (TW) and tile height (TH) of the tile into which the texture instance is split. Included. Each instance of the texture has a different resolution.

The virtual space provider 330 stores a program for providing two-dimensional or three-dimensional virtual space images to the client terminal 110 and providing two-dimensional or three-dimensional texture data in the provided virtual space. It is.

The DB processor 340 loads data about the virtual space from the virtual space DB 140 or processes the data selected or produced by the user to be stored in the virtual space DB 140.

When the controller 350 receives the terminal information from the client terminal 110, the controller 350 loads a virtual space suitable for the terminal information from the virtual space DB 140 and provides the client terminal to the client terminal or reads texture data from the texture storage unit 320. After converting to suitably with the terminal information, and controls to provide the texture data converted to the terminal information to the client terminal (110).

4 is a flowchart illustrating a method of providing texture data in a virtual space according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, the client terminal 110 accesses the virtual space providing server 130 through the communication network 120 to log in to the virtual space for the first time, move on the virtual space, or move the character for the user. In some cases, textures are required for rendering accordingly.

The client terminal 110 transmits a texture request signal including the terminal information to the virtual space providing server 130 (S402).

Here, the terminal information includes system environment information designated by the user, area information where the client terminal 110 is located, and system specification information.

The texture request signal also contains the file name of the texture and the required capacity information.

The virtual space providing server 130 receiving the texture request signal from the client terminal 110 reads an arbitrary texture set, that is, texture data from the texture storage unit 320 or the virtual space database 140 (S404).

The virtual space providing server 130 converts the read texture data into texture data suitable for the terminal information received from the client terminal 110 (S406).

That is, the virtual space providing server 130 converts the read texture data into texture data corresponding to capacity information required for texture of the client terminal 110 among the terminal information, or texture data suitable for the system specification of the client terminal 110. To convert.

Subsequently, the virtual space providing server 130 transmits the texture data converted according to the terminal information to the client terminal 110 (S408).

The virtual space providing server 130 reads only the header of the texture file and provides only the texture data converted to the terminal information to the client terminal 110 using a transmission format in which textures of various resolutions are sequentially stored. In addition, the virtual space providing server 130 in the step of producing a texture of the three-dimensional virtual space, for the convenience of the user to automatically create a transmission format, or to modify the image of a specific resolution by the user to modify the dedicated work Can be provided as a tool.

When the client terminal 110 receives the texture data converted according to its system specification from the virtual space providing server 130, the client terminal 110 stores the received texture data in the storage unit 220 and displays it through the display unit 250. (S410).

The storage unit 220 that stores the texture data converted by the client terminal 110 includes a texture data memory. The texture data memory is divided into multiple pages as shown in FIG. 5, and each page defines a texture. The subset of texture data is divided into sections that are stored. 5 is a configuration diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of a texture data memory.

In the texture data memory of FIG. 5, each page 510 includes a pattern data store (PDS) 520, a tile load list (TLL) 530, a tile pitch array (TPA) 540, a tile based array ( TBA) 550 and access map arrangement (AMA) 560.

The rendering unit 230 of the client terminal 110 performs the initial rasterization calculation using the reference buffer and stores the intermediate result. The rendering unit 230 provides a video signal derived from the generated color value to the display unit 250 to display an image.

Pattern data representing a plurality of texture instances, each having a different resolution, is stored in the pattern data storage unit 520. The tile load list 530 contains an entry for each tile whose texture is to be divided. The entry indicates the tile's pattern data acquisition situation, that is, whether the tile's pattern data needs to be loaded to render the image, and whether or not the pattern data has been loaded. Each tile pitch array 540 and tile based array 550 includes an entry for each texture step. The entry indicates the number of tiles aligned across the width of the texture stage and the number of tiles of the first tile in the texture instance. The access map array 560 includes an access map for each tile for which the texture instance was most recently loaded. Each access map contains a one-bit entry for each texture pixel of the tile. The access map is used to determine if the pattern data of the individual tiles of the texture can render the image at the optimal resolution.

Texture data of a texture includes pattern data representing multiple resolution instances of different resolutions. 6 shows how each step 602, 603, 604, 605, and 606 of the texture has the same dimension in two-dimensional texture space. In this example, five instances of the texture are shown. A given texture can have more or fewer instances. The instance number is assigned using the instance number K with the instance number of the lowest resolution instance being 1. This example also shows texture space coordinates (p, q) with discrete values corresponding to the texture pixels of the original texture instance 606.

Each texture instance is divided into tiles. The bottom, left tile of each instance 602 to 606 is individually indicated by reference numbers 607 to 611. Since each instance is made up of a number of different texture pixels, and the tiles are all made up of the same number of texture pixels, each instance of the texture is divided into different numbers of tiles. In FIG. 6, the lowest resolution instance 602 is divided into a single, the highest resolution instance 603 is divided into four tiles, the next higher resolution instance 604 is divided into 16 tiles, and the next higher resolution is A preferred texture is shown having a square aspect ratio, such as divided into 4k-1 tiles. The original resolution 602 of this embodiment is divided into 44 tiles. Texture pixels are not shown to simplify the drawing.

As mentioned above, every tile consists of the same number of texture pixels in all instances 602-606 of the texture. For example, each tile would consist of a two dimensional array of 64 ㅧ 64 texture pixels. Since the number of texture pixels in an instance increases exponentially as the layer depth of the instance increases from 1 to 4, each texture pixel represents an exponentially decreasing portion of the texture space. Thus, the resolution of each instance representing the texture increases as the layer depth of the instance increases.

As described above, according to the present invention, the client terminal transmits the system information on the server, to provide the texture data in the virtual space to the server to convert the texture data suitable for the system information of the client terminal to provide to the client terminal Methods and systems can be realized.

As those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains may implement the present invention in other specific forms without changing the technical spirit or essential features, the embodiments described above should be understood as illustrative and not restrictive in all aspects. Should be. The scope of the present invention is shown by the following claims rather than the detailed description, and all changes or modifications derived from the meaning and scope of the claims and their equivalents should be construed as being included in the scope of the present invention. do.

The present invention can be applied to a virtual space providing system in which a plurality of client terminals access a server and receive a two-dimensional or three-dimensional virtual world and characters from the server.

In addition, when providing a virtual space to a plurality of client terminals in the server, it can be applied to a system that provides texture data on the virtual space and the character.

In addition, the present invention can be applied to a system in which a client terminal accesses a server through an IP network such as the Internet or a wireless communication network such as a mobile communication network and performs a game with a counterpart or a server through a virtual space.

1 is a configuration diagram schematically showing the configuration of a texture data providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a configuration diagram schematically showing an internal configuration of a client terminal according to the present invention.

Figure 3 is a schematic diagram showing the internal configuration of the virtual space providing server according to the present invention.

4 is a flowchart illustrating a method of providing texture data in a virtual space according to an embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a configuration diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of a texture data memory.

6 is a diagram illustrating a texture having the same dimension in a two-dimensional texture space.

<Description of Symbols for Main Parts of Drawings>

110: client terminal 120: communication network

130: virtual space providing server 140: virtual space database

210: communication unit 220: storage unit

230: rendering unit 240: control unit

250: display unit 310: communication unit

320: texture storage unit 330: virtual space providing unit

340: DB processing unit 350: control unit

Claims (19)

(a) transmitting a texture request signal including terminal information from the client terminal to the server; (b) loading the texture on the server based on the texture request signal and converting the texture into texture data suitable for the terminal information; And (c) providing, by the server, the texture data converted according to the terminal information to the client terminal. In the step (c), using only a transmission format in which textures of various resolutions are sequentially stored, only the header of the texture file is read and only the texture data converted according to the terminal information is provided to the client terminal. To provide texture data in virtual space. The method of claim 1, In the virtual space, the step (a) is performed when a character for the client terminal moves in the virtual space, the character moves in the space, or the client terminal logs in on the virtual space for the first time. How to provide texture data. The method of claim 1, In the step (a), the texture request signal includes a file name of the texture and the required capacity information, characterized in that the texture data providing method in the virtual space. The method of claim 1, In the step (a), the terminal information includes the system environment information specified by the user, the area information and system specification information where the client terminal is located, characterized in that the texture data providing method in a virtual space. delete A client terminal wirelessly transmitting a texture request signal including terminal information and thereafter receiving texture data converted according to the terminal information; And A server configured to receive the texture request signal from the client terminal, load the corresponding texture on the basis of the texture request signal, convert the texture data into texture data suitable for the terminal information, and provide the converted texture data to the client terminal; , The server reads only the header of the texture file and provides only the texture data converted according to the terminal information to the client terminal using a transmission format in which textures of various resolutions are sequentially stored. Provide system. The method of claim 6, The server may receive the texture request signal from the client terminal when the character for the client terminal moves or spatially moves on the virtual space or when the client terminal logs in on the virtual space for the first time. Texture data provision system. The method of claim 6, And the texture request signal includes a file name of the texture and required capacity information. The method of claim 6, And the terminal information includes system environment information designated by a user, region information where the client terminal is located, and system specification information. delete A texture storage unit for storing a texture set according to a step of realism for providing two-dimensional or three-dimensional graphic data and storing respective texture data in the texture set; A virtual space providing unit which provides a virtual space to the client terminal with the graphic data of the 2D or 3D; And And a controller configured to control the texture data to be provided to the client terminal when the terminal information is received from the client terminal. The control unit controls to provide only the texture data converted according to the terminal information to the client terminal after reading only the header of the texture file using a transmission format in which textures of various resolutions are sequentially stored. Texture data provision server. The method of claim 11, A virtual space database storing graphic data of the two-dimensional or three-dimensional virtual space to be provided to the client terminal; A communication unit configured to receive a texture request signal including the terminal information from the client terminal and to transmit texture data converted according to the terminal information to the client terminal; And A database processor configured to load graphic data of the virtual space from the virtual space database or to process data selected or produced by a user to be stored in the virtual space database; Texture data providing server further comprises. The method of claim 11, And the terminal information includes system environment information designated by a user, region information where the client terminal is located, and system specification information. delete (a) receiving a texture request signal including terminal information from a client terminal; (b) loading the texture based on the received texture request signal and converting the texture into texture data suitable for the terminal information; And (c) providing the texture data to the client terminal; In the step (c), using only a transmission format in which texture data of various resolutions are sequentially stored, only the header of the texture file is read and only the texture data converted according to the terminal information is provided to the client terminal. How to provide texture data from the server. The method of claim 15, The step (a) is performed when the character for the client terminal moves in the virtual space, the character moves in the space, or when the client terminal logs in on the virtual space for the first time. How to provide data. The method of claim 15, In the step (a), the texture request signal includes a texture name and the necessary capacity information of the texture, characterized in that the server provides the texture data. The method of claim 15, In the step (a), the terminal information includes the system environment information specified by the user, the area information and system specification information where the client terminal is located, characterized in that the server provides the texture data. delete

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