MXPA97003409A - Improvements in methods and equipment for the registration and processing of information, and means of registration for the mis - Google Patents

Abstract

A recording medium, an apparatus and methods of recording and processing information by means of which efficient processing of data and a high processing speed can be easily achieved, at a lower cost. A main CPU converts the polygon coordinates in response to a manual operation of an operating unit by a user, and transmits the polygon data to a programmable packet engine through a main bus collector. The pack engine calculates a Z value representative of the position of the polygon in the direction of depth of the coordinate values of the polygon pencils supplied from the main CPU, divides the polygon into a number of subpolygons corresponding to the value of Z, converts the coordinate values of the pencils of the sub-polygons according to a normal vector and the parameters of the curved surface, and produces a curved surface composed of sub-polygons. A graphics processing unit describes the pixel data of the sub-polygons produced by the programmable packet engine in a transient frame buffer and performs the yield processing.

Description

E \ "IMPROVEMENTS IN METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR THE REGISTRATION AND PROCESSING OF INFORMATION, AND MEANS OF REGISTRATION FOR THE SAME" This application claims priority under the Convention International based on Japanese Patent Application Number P08-116301, filed May 10, 1996.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 10 FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to improvements in methods and apparatus for recording and processing information and a recording means for them, and more particularly, to a new and improved recording medium, information registration and processing systems that facilitate the registration and processing of information. efficient processing and high speed, at reduced cost.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED TECHNIQUE Recently, television gaming machines for home use or personal computers that perform high-image image processing speed to allow a user to enjoy a game or similar, have been less expensive and have extended to a large number of houses. In order to produce computer graphics (CG) or to develop software using computer graphics, a graphic computer is used that performs image drawing processing at a higher speed. These television gaming machines for home use, personal computers and graphic computers as described above, typically include an image drawing apparatus composed of a memory, a CPU (central processing unit) and other operating circuits. In the image drawing apparatus, the data of the image to be presented in a presentation section of a television receiver, or a presentation unit for exclusive use, that is, the presentation data, is produced by the CPU , and the data produced in this way is sent to a transient frame buffer which is provided to retain values for pixels of the presentation section, so that a high speed image drawing processing is performed by the drawing circuit of images for exclusive use. The CPU of the image drawing apparatus performs geometry processing, such as coordinate conversion, trimming and light source calculation to produce image drawing controls to draw a graphic form of a three-dimensional solid object in the form of a combination of basic planar figures (polygons) that have configurations such as triangles or quadrangles and supplies the image drawing commands to the image drawing circuit. The image drawing circuit calculates the values of the pixels that construct the polygons of color data of the apices of the polygons and Z values indicating the positions of the polygons in the direction of depth in the three-dimensional space presented two-dimensionally in the section of default presentation, in accordance with the image drawing commands received from the CPU, and then write the values into the transient storage of frames (which yields processing) and draw an image of the polygons. This image drawing circuit as described above is directly coupled to the CPU by a bus collector for exclusive use to prevent the otherwise possible concentration of a load (data transmitted and received through a bus collector) in a different bus collector commonly used together with a different circuit (for example, a recording device or a memory that retains data). It should be noted that, when the image drawing processing is to take place, for example, at a speed of approximately Polygon / second (yielding 15 processing, 10 * 5 polygons are executed for one second) using the bus collector differently used 5 commonly together with the different circuit, the amount of data that is communicated along the bus manifold commonly used together with the different circuit reaches 100 MB / second up to 200 MB / second (100 to 200 megabytes per second) . Correspondingly, a 10 bus manifold of a large capacity is required for the commonly used bus manifold.

The data sent from the CPU is stored once in a FIFO buffer (output in order of attrition) interposed between the CPU and the drawing circuit of images and are supplied in the order registered to the image drawing circuit. The FIFO buffer / • * - ».. stores successively in it and supplies the stored data to an image drawing circuit in such a way that when the data delivery regime By means of the CPU it is temporarily higher than the processing speed of the image drawing circuit, the amount of data stored thereof is gradually increased, but the stored amount of data thereof gradually decreases when the rate of The supply of the data by the CPU is less than the processing speed of the image drawing circuit. In this way, the FIFO buffer absorbs an imbalance between the data delivery rate of the CPU and the processing speed of the image drawing circuit. However, when the CPU data delivery rate exceeds the processing speed of the large image drawing circuit, or when a condition where the CPU data delivery rate is higher than the speed of the processing of the image drawing circuit continues for a prolonged period of time due to load conditions towards the CPU and the image drawing circuit, the unprocessed data gradually accumulate in the FIFO buffer. Then, when the amount of this non-processed data exceeds the capacity of the FIFO buffer, the data co-residence is lost and, consequently, the operation of the CPU and the image drawing circuit is stopped. Therefore, this image drawing apparatus has a disadvantage since it is difficult to carry out the processing in an efficient manner. Another disadvantage of the image drawing apparatus is that, in order to perform image drawing processing at a high speed, as the amount of data to be processed for image drawing increases, the capacity of the memory and the capacity of the recording medium requires an increase and, correspondingly, it is difficult to achieve cost reduction. Also, the above-described image drawing apparatus suffers from a further disadvantage that, as the amount of data to be processed increases, the time required to read the data from the memory recording medium increases and, consequently it is difficult to achieve a high processing speed. Accordingly, there has been a need that exists for a new and improved means of registration and information recording and processing systems that facilitate efficient processing and high speed at a reduced cost. The present invention clearly meets these needs.

COMPENDIUM OF THE INVENTION In short, and in general terms, the present invention provides a recording means and an information processing apparatus and method by which efficient data processing and high processing speed can be achieved and cost reduction can be easily achieved. More particularly, by way of example and not necessarily by way of limitation, the present invention provides a means of recording wherein it retains therein, as data of a predetermined object in a three-dimensional space, the identification information of a basic object. which makes a reference and difference values between the coordinate values of the apices 10 of the basic object, and coordinate values of the apices of the predetermined object. With the recording medium, since it retains therein as data of a predetermined object in a three-dimensional space, the identification information of a basic object that makes a reference and values of difference between the coordinate values of the apices / '"" Of the basic object, and apex coordinate values of the default object, the amount of data for each individual object is relatively small.

Accordingly, the recording medium can retain data for a comparatively large number of objects therein. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a recording apparatus is provided for Recording data from a predetermined object in a three-dimensional space to a recording medium, comprising the calculation number for calculating, from the object in the three-dimensional space, the identification information of a basic object that makes a reference and difference values between the apex coordinate values of the basic object and apex coordinate values of the predetermined object, and the recording means for recording the identification information and the difference values calculated by the calculation means as data of the predetermined object. The present invention further provides a recording method for recording data from a predetermined object in a three-dimensional space to a recording medium, comprising the steps of computing, from the predetermined object in the three-dimensional space, the identification information of a basic object which makes a reference and difference values between the coordinate values of the apices of the basic object and apex coordinate values of the predetermined object, and which records the identification information and the difference values calculated in the calculation step as data of the default object. With the recording apparatus and registration method described above since from a predetermined object in a three-dimensional space the identification information of a basic object that makes a reference and values of difference between the values of apex coordinates of the basic object and values of Apex coordinates of the predetermined object are calculated, and the identification information and the difference values calculated in this way are recorded as data of the predetermined object, a registration number which holds data of a comparatively large number of objects in the same. The present invention also provides an information processing apparatus comprising a reading means for reading, from a recording medium where the data of a three-dimensional object composed of a plurality of flat figures in a three-dimensional space are recorded, the data, the first conversion means for converting the planar figures to a curved surface composed of a number of planar figures corresponding to a presentation size in a predetermined presentation section, and second means conversion means for converting the data of the curved surface s obtained by the conversion by means of the first conversion means into two-dimensional presentation data. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing method comprising the steps of reading, of a recording medium wherein the data of a three-dimensional object composed of a plurality of flat figures in a space is recorded. three-dimensional, the data, convert the flat figures into a curved surface composed of a number of flat figures corresponding to a presentation size of a predetermined presentation section, and convert the data of the curved surface obtained by conversion by the first medium conversion in two-dimensional presentation data. With this information processing apparatus and the information processing method, since a flat figure becomes a curved surface composed of a number of flat figures corresponding to a presentation size in a predetermined presentation section, the amount of data that will be handled can be reduced and the load to a bus collector can be reduced. In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing apparatus comprising a reading means for reading, a recording medium where the data of a three-dimensional object composed of a plurality of flat figures in a three-dimensional space, the data, the medium are recorded. of division to divide the planar figures according to the presentation size in a predetermined presentation section, the calculation means for calculating the brightness values of the flat figures obtained by dividing the 5 brightness values of the original flat figures , and a production means for producing two-dimensional presentation data of the brightness values of the flat figures obtained by division.

In addition, the present invention provides a The method of information processing comprising the steps of reading a recording medium in which the data of a three-dimensional object composed of a plurality of flat figures in a three-dimensional space, the data, is recorded, dividing the flat figures in accordance with a size of presentation in a predetermined presentation section, calculate the brightness values of the "-S-" flat figures obtained by dividing the brightness values of the original flat figures, and produce two-dimensional presentation data of the brightness values of the flat figures obtained by division. Correspondingly, with the apparatus and method of information processing of the present invention, since a flat figure is divided in accordance with a The display size in a default display section and the brightness values of the flat figures obtained by division are calculated from the brightness values of the original flat figure, the amount of data to be handled can be reduced and the load to A bus collector can be reduced.

Therefore, the present invention satisfies a long-standing need for a new and improved recording medium and registration and recording systems. * ™ * - information processing that facilitates efficient and high-speed processing at reduced cost.

The above objects, features and advantages and others of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description and appended claims when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like parts or elements are represented by reference characters. same.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS twenty Figure 1 is a plan view showing a gaming machine for domestic use to which an information processing apparatus of the present invention is applied; r * ~. Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the gaming machine of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side elevation view of the gaming machine of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a plan view showing a CD-ROM that can be reproduced by the gaming machine of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a functional diagram of the system for the gaming machine of Figure 1; Figure 6 is a functional diagram of a programmable packet engine shown in Figure 5; Figure 7 is a flow chart illustrating the drawing processing of the image of a polygon in the gaming machine of Figure 1; Figure 8A is a diagrammatic view that • v. shows a polygon processed by the gaming machine of Figure 1; Figure 8B is a chart showing a data format of the polygon; Figures 9A and 9B are diagrammatic views illustrating the different stages of dividing a polygon; Figure 10 is a diagrammatic view showing the different division of a polygon; Figures HA to 11B are schematic views illustrating a three-dimensional object presented in accordance with a variety of Z-values; Figure 12 is a flow chart illustrating the processing details in a polygon division step of the flow chart shown in Figure 5; Figure 13 is a table showing a data format of a polygon processed by the game machine of Figure 1; Figures 14A to 14C are perspective views illustrating the different division varieties of the polygon illustrated in Figure 13; Figure 15A is a diagrammatic view showing a polygon produced by dividing the polygon of Figure 13; Figure 15B is a chart illustrating the data of the polygon shown in Figure 15A; Figure 16 is a table showing the different amounts of data handled by the programmable packet engine shown in Figure 5; Figure 17A is a diagrammatic view showing another polygon processed by the gaming machine of Figure 1; Figure 17B is a table showing a data format of the polygon shown in Figure 17A; Figures 18A to 18C are schematic views illustrating the calculation of a brightness value of a polygon produced by dividing the polygon of Figures 17A and 17B; Figure 19A is a schematic view showing an additional polygon produced by dividing the polygon of Figure 17; Figure 19B is a table showing a data format of the polygon in Figure 19A; Figures 20A and 20B are perspective views showing a three-dimensional object and a corresponding template; Figure 21 is a table showing a data format representing a three-dimensional object that makes use of a template; and Figures 22A and 22B are functional diagrams showing the production apparatus as a recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITY Referring now to the drawings, the Figures 1 to 3 show an example of the TV gaming machine for domestic use to which an information processing apparatus of the present invention is applied.

This game machine 1 for home use is composed of a game machine body 2, and an operation unit 17 and a registration unit 38 which can be connected to the body 2 of the game machine. The body 2 of the gaming machine is formed in an essentially quadrangular shape as shown in Figures 1 to 3 and has, in a central position thereof, a station 3 for loading discs where a CD-ROM (ROM) of compact disc (read-only memory)) 40 which is a optical disk as shown in Figure 4 and serving as a means for a game to be loaded, and having as in appropriate positions of the body of the game machine, a reset switch 4 to arbitrarily readjust a game, a supply switch 5 energy for switching a power supply in on / off relation, a disk operating switch 6 for operating the loading of a disk, and connecting sections 7A and 7B for connecting the operating unit 17 for carrying out operations of a game similar and the registration unit 38 where the installation of this game will be recorded. The connecting sections 7A and 7B each are formed in two stages as shown in Figures 2 and 3.

In the upper stage of each of sections 7A and 7B , a registration insert section 8 is provided for the connection of the registration unit 38 and in the lower stage, a connection terminal insertion section 12 is provided for the connection of the operation unit 17. The register insert section 8 has an insertion hole of rectangular shape elongated in horizontal directions and has, inside the insertion hole, a terminal memory connection member (not shown) in which the unit 38 is connected. register. Further, as shown in Figure 2, the registration insert section 8 has a shutter 9 which is provided therein to protect the memory connection terminal member of the powder and so on. It will be noted that the registration unit 38 has an electrical rewrite ROM so that data related to a game can be recorded. In order to assemble the registration unit 38, a user will push, at one end of the registration unit 38, the shutter 9 in an inward direction and further push the registration unit 38 towards the insertion hole until it connects with the registration unit 38. the terminal member of memory connection. The connection terminal insert section 12 has, as shown in Figure 2, an insertion hole of a rectangular shape elongated in horizontal directions and a connection terminal 12A for the connection of a connection terminal member 26 of the unit 17 of operation.

The operating unit 17 has a structure where as seen in Figure 1, can be held by the palms of both hands and the five fingers can move freely to operate / - ^ manually the operation unit 17, and has operating sections 18 and 19 placed in a symmetrical leftward and rightward relation thereto, a selection switch 22 and a start switch 23 which are provided in an intermediate portion between the operating sections 18 and 19, the operating members 24 and 25 positioned in the sides of the front surface of the operating sections 18 and 19, and the connecting terminal member 26 and a cable 27 for connection to the body 2 of the gaming machine.

Figure 5 shows an exemplary electrical construction 20 of the body 2 of the gaming machine described above.

The body 2 of the gaming machine has two bus collectors including a main bus collector 41 and a bus sub-collector 42. The bus collectors 41 and 42 are connected to each other via a bus collector controller 43.

Connected to the main bus 41 are a main CPU 44 formed of a microprocessor or the like and serving as the reading means and coordinate conversion means, a main memory 45 formed of a RAM (read only memory), a controller main direct memory access (main DMAC) 46, an MPEG decoder (MDEC) 47, a programmable packet engine (PPP) 48 that serves as the first conversion means, a means of division and a means of calculation and a unit of graphic processing CPU) 49 which serves as the second means of conversion and a means of production.

Meanwhile, connected to the bus sub-collector 42 are a sub-CPU 50 formed of a microprocessor or the like, a sub-memory 51 formed of a RAM, a sub-direct memory access controller (sub-DMAC) 52, a ROM 53 where programs such as an operating system, a sound processing unit (SPU) 54, a communication control section (ATM) 55, a CD-ROM driver 56 that also serves as the disk loading station 3, a section 57 of input and a graphics processing unit 49.

The controller 43 of the bus collector connects the main bus collector 41 and the bus sub-connector 42 with each other and sends data from the main bus collector 41 to the bus sub-connector 42 and sends data from the bus sub-collector 42. 42 to the main sub-collector 41. The main CPU 44 reads, during the start-up of the game machine body 2, a boot program from the ROM 53 connected to the bus sub-connector 42 to • • * = via the controller 43 of the bus collector and carries out the program of starting so that the operating system can operate. The main CPU 44 controls the impusor 56 of the CD-ROM to read an application program or data from the CD-ROM 40 loaded in position on the impeller 56 of the CD-ROM 15 and stores the application program or data in the main memory. The CPU 44 princiapl includes a geometry calculation engine or a graphics transfer engine (GTE) 71 to perform the geometry calculation, such as Conversion of coordinates for data (coordinate values of the apices (representative points) and so on, of a polygon,) of a three-dimensional object formed of a plurality of basic figures, ie, polygons, and a packet engine (PKE) ) 72 to transmit the data calculated by the graphics transfer motor r as a packet to the programmable packet engine 48 through the main bus 41. The graph transfer engine 71 includes a plurality of operating elements for calculating a real number of the floating point and performs the floating point calculations in parallel. The packet engine 72 supplies the data of a polygon calculated by the graphics transfer engine 71 as a packet to the engine 48. ^ of programmable package through bus collector 41 main. The programmable packet engine 48 converts, from the information of a polygon included in the package supplied thereto with the packet engine 72 of the main CPU 44, the polygon to a curved surface composed of a plurality of small polygons and sends data from the curved surface to the unit 49 of ^ Graphic processing. Figure 6 shows an exemplary construction of the programmable packet engine 48. The package engine 91 receives a packet transferred from the packet engine 72 of the main CPU 44 and temporarily stores the packet in a RAM 92. Then, the packet engine 91 stores, from among the data included in the packet, the data designating a program. to process a polygon (these data will be described below) to an instruction RAM 93 and stores the other data (coordinate data of the apices of the polygon) in a source data RAM 94.

A sub-CPU 95 operates in accordance with a problem stored in a ROM 96, and reads, when the data is stored in the instruction RAM 93 the data and divided, based on a program designated by the data v "(the program is always present in the sub-CPU 95) of the data of a polygon (coordinates data of the apices of the polygon and so on) stored in the RAM 94 of source data, the polygon in a number (in particular, a number that corresponds to a presentation size when the polygon is to be presented in the default presentation section) of polygons (sub-15 polygons) that correspond to the position (Z value) of the polygon in the direction of depth in three-dimensional space.

In this case, the sub-CPU 95 produces sub-polygons along a curved reference surface 20 represented by curved surface parameters (which will be described below) included in a packet supplied thereto from the packet engine 72 (it is say, produces a curved surface composed of a plurality of sub-polygons).

Then, the sub-CPU 95 stores in the coordinate values of the apices and a plurality of polygons produced in this way towards a target data RAM 97, so that they can be supplied to the unit 49. graphic processing. Referring again to Figure 5, the graphics processing unit 49 reads the data of the (three-dimensional) coordinate values of the polygons ? - after the division and so on, from RAM 97 destination data of the programmable packet engine 48. Then, the graphic processing unit 49 converts the three-dimensional coordinate values into two-dimensional coordinate values for the predetermined presentation section, produces pixel data corresponding to the polygons of the data, write the pixel data in a transient storage of frames and perform the v-, processing performance. It will be noted that, in this case, the graphical processing unit 41 calculates, from the three-dimensional coordinate values (x, y, z), values of two-dimensional coordinates (X, Y) for presentation making use of the following expressions (conversion in perspective). X = x / z, Y = y / z The main direct memory access controller 46 performs control, such as a DMA transfer for the various circuits connected to the main bus 41. In addition, the main direct memory access controller 46 can also perform control such as the DMA transfer for the various circuits connected to the bus sub-connector 42 in response to a state of the bus collector controller 43. Meanwhile, the MPEG decoder 47 operates in parallel with the main CPU 44 and decompresses the compressed data by / "- the MPEG system or the JPEG system.

The sub-CPU 50 performs the various operations according to a program stored in the ROM 53. The direct memory subaccess controller 52 performs the control such as the DMA transfer for the various circuits connected to the bus sub-collector 42 only in a condition wherein the main bus collector 41 and the bus sub-collector 42 are disconnected from each other by the 'controller 43 of the bus collector.

The sound processing unit 54 reads the sound data from a sound memory 59 in response to a sound control supplied from the sub-CPU 50 or the direct memory subaccess controller and sends the sound data as an audio output.

The communication control section 55 (ATM in Figure 5) is connected to a public network and performs the "" - transmission and reception of data through the public network.

The input section 57 includes the connection terminal 12A for the connection of the unit 17 of , a video input circuit 82 for receiving video data from a different apparatus (not shown), and an audio input circuit 83 for ? -, receive the audio data from the different device.

Subsequently, the operation of the machine 1 of television games for domestic use during the processing of the drawing of images of a polygon, will be described with reference to a flow graph of the Figure 7 First, in step SI, the main CPU 44 receives a signal corresponding to a manual operation • »» of the operating unit 17 by a user through an input section 57. Then, the main CPU 44 reads the data of a polygon (coordinate values of the apices, a normal vector, data of a curved reference surface 20 (parameters of the curved surface)) (read from the CD-ROM 40 beforehand ) from the main memory 45 and converts the coordinates of the polygon by the graphics transfer engine 71 in response to user operation.

Then, in step S2, the packet engine 72 of the main CPU 44 transmits the coordinate values of the apices of the polygon, the normal vector of the polygon, the parameters of the curved surface to be used by the packet engine 48 programmable and an identifier designating a program to be used for the production of a curved surface to be composed of a plurality of polygons, by the programmable packet engine 48 as a single package of the package engine 41 and the engine 48 of programmable package through the main bus 41 bus. It should be noted that the packet can otherwise be transmitted to the programmable packet engine 48 by using the main direct memory access controller 46. For example, if a quadrangular polygon having apexes PO to P3 is produced, as shown in Figure 8A by means of the coordinate conversion of the graphics transfer engine 71, then the packet engine 72 transmits a packet that includes, as shown in FIG. shows in Figure 8B an identifier (Code in Figure 8B) designating a program, a normal vector (Nx, Ny, Nz in Figure 8B) of the polygon, the parameters of the curved surface representative of a curved reference surface, the coordinate values (Xi, Yi, -v Zi) (i = O, ..., 3) that correspond to the apex PO to P3, the values (ui, vi) (i = 0, ..., 3 ) of the parameters (which will be described below) of the curved reference surface corresponding to the coordinate values and the data values to RGBi colors (i = 0, ..., 3) to the packet engine 91 of the 48 programmable pack motor. It should be noted that the package format is established in accordance with the identifier code so that the program designed by the identifier code can be processed. It should be noted that, for example, when a program for processing a curved reference surface as a quadratic surface is designed by the identifier code, the curved reference surface 15 (x, y, z) is represented, using parameters u and v , by the following expressions: x = fx (u, v) = a ?? u2 + ani v2 + an2 uv + a03 u a03 v + a04 y = fy (u, v) = an u2 + a v2 + a 2 uv 20 + a? 3 u + a? 3 v + a ^ 4 z = fz (u, v) = a2? u2 + a2i v2 + a22 uv + a23 u + a23 v + a24 Then, of the constants ani to a24 in the aforementioned expressions, a predetermined number of constants aj_j that are not zero are transmitted as parameters of the curved surface to the programmable packet engine 48. In addition, when a program for processing a curved surface of reference as a spherical surface is designed by an Identifier Code, a spherical surface with a radius R and central coordinates (xc, e, zc) represented by the following expressions, making use of the parameters u and v, is used as a curved reference surface (x, y, z): x = R eos v eos u + x c y = R without v + e z = R eos v without u + zc Then, the radius R and the center coordinates (xc, e, zc) of the spherical surface are transmitted as parameters of the curved surface to the programmable packet engine 48. Referring again to Figure 7 in step S3, the packet engine 91 of the programmable packet engine 48 stores the packet supplied thereto from the packet engine 72 of the main CPU 44 once it is in the RAM 92 and it stores, from among the data included in the packet, the identifier (Code) that designates a program to the instruction RAM 93 and stores the coordinate values of the apices of the - ,. polygon, the values of the parameters, the normal vector of the polygon and the parameters of the curved surface to the RAM 94 of source data. In step S4, the sub-CPU 95 of the programmable packet engine 48 reads the identifier code from the instruction RAM 93, then the sub-CPU 95 carries out the processing using a program corresponding to the value of the identifier code. In addition, the sub-CPU 95 reads the data such as the coordinate values of the 10 apices of the polygon, and calculates a Z-value representative of the position of the polygon in the depth direction. Then, in step S5, the sub-CPU 95 reads the values of the parameters u and the parameters of the curved surface from the source data RAM 94, 15 calculates an intermediate point between the apices of the polygon in a space ((uv , v) space) defined by the uyvy parameters produces the sub-polygons from the intermediate point and the apices of the polygon, in other words, divides the polygon. 20 It should be noted that, since the intermediate point produced in space (u, v) is placed on the curved reference surface, projecting it (x, y, z) into space using the expression of the curved reference surface represented by the parameters of the curved surface, sub-polygons are formed along the curved reference surface from the intermediate point and the apices of the polygon, that is, a curved surface composed of sub-polygons is produced.

Then, the sub-CPU 95 recursively divides the 5 sub-polygons until the presentation size (presentation area A) of the sub-polygons becomes smaller than a predetermined reference value D. jr * ~ The sub-CPU 95 stores the coordinate values of the apexes of the sub-polygons produced in this way, to the target data RAM 97.

For example, if the polygon shown in Figures 8A and 8B is supplied to the programmable packet engine 48, sub-CPU 95 first divides quadrant ABCD into a triangle ABC and another triangle ACD and calculates the area A of presentation. of the ABC triangle. Then, if it is discriminated that the presentation area A is smaller than the reference value D, an intermediate point E is produced as shown in Figure 9A to produce a sub-polygon ABE and another sub-polygon BCE. By way of Similarly, the area A of presentation of the ACD triangle is calculated if the area A of presentations smaller than the reference value D is discriminated, then the intermediate point E is produced, as shown in Figure 9B to produce a sub-area. ECD polymer and another AED sub-polygon.

A 'If then, if those sub-polygons (sub-polygon ABE, sub-polygon BCE, sub-polygon ECD, sub-polygon AED) are further divided, then eight sub-polygons are produced as shown in Figure 5 10 In this way as the division is repeated, the curved surface composed of the sub-polygons approaches a spherical surface which is the curved reference surface. J ~ - Similarly, when a spherical object as shown in Figure HA is to be represented, if the object appears smaller in the default presentation section, then, for example, a parallelepiped (cube) with eight apexes (12 polygons) is presented as shown in Figure 11B. For other part, if the object appears somewhat larger, then an object more like a sphere than the object of the '"' -V Figure 11B is presented with 14 apices (24 polygons) as shown in Figure 11C, but if the object appears even larger, then, for example, one more object similar to a sphere that the object of Figure 11C presents with 26 apices (48 polygons) as shown in Figure 11D. Referring again to Figure 7, as in step S6, the graphics processing unit 41 reads the data of the coordinate values of the apices of the r sub-polygons and so on from the RAM 97 and the destination data of the programmable packet engine 48. Then, the graphics processing unit 49 produces pixel data of the sub-polygons, writes the pixel data 5 into a transient frame store, and performs the performance processing. In this way the polymer is divided according to the Z-value into an image of the polygons j "* obtained by division (sub-polygons along the the curved reference surface) is drawn. By drawing an image of a predetermined number of polygons, a three-dimensional object composed of those polygons is presented. As described above, since the calculation of geometry such as the conversion of coordinates is carried out by the graphics transfer engine 71 of the main CPU 44 and the programmable packet engine 48 performs only the local calculation for the polygons, the scale of the circuit can be reduced and a parallel arrangement is allowed . Subsequently, the details of the division processing for a polygon in step S5 will be described with reference to the flow chart of Figure 12. First, in step S21, the sub-CPU 95 divides a supplied quadrangular polygon to the same in two triangular polygons and calculates the area A of the triangular polygons (area when the triangular polygons are presented in the default presentation section). Then, in step S22, the sub-CPU 95 discriminates 5 if the area A of the polygons is or is not larger than the predetermined reference value D. If it is discriminated that the area A is greater than the reference value D, then the control sequence proceeds to step S23. On the other hand, *!. when it is discriminated that area A is smaller than reference value D, sub-CPU 95 terminates the polygon division. In step S23, the sub-CPU 95 produces an intermediate point placed in the middle between two apices of the polygon in a space (u, v) defined by the parameters u and v, and divide the polygon into two sub-polygons (sub-polygons A and B) with the three apices of the polygon and the - * 'V intermediate point. For example, in Figure 9A, the intermediate point E is produced and the polygon ABC is divided into sub-polygon ABE and the sub-polygon BCE. 20 When the apices of the polygon ABC in space (u, v) defined by the parameters u and v are, for example A = (/ 4, / 4), B = ((3/4), / 4) and C = ((5/4), / 4), the intermediate point F between the apices A and B is calculated as F = (/ 2, / 4) averaging the components of apices A and B.

However, when the average ((ul + u2) / 2) of the components u of the two predetermined apices ((ul, vi), (u2, v2)) is the intermediate point, since a point whose component u does not is defined by the 5 expressions that will be provided next, then it is determined as (0, 12). Since the average of the components u of the apices A and C is (= (5/4) - / 4), the coordinate values of the intermediate point E between the The apexes A and C are (0, / 2) .10 It should be noted that if the curved reference surface is then, for example, a spherical surface where the radius R is R = 1 and the coordinates (xc, ye, zc) of the center are (xc, ye, zc) = (0, -2, 2), then the values of the coordinates (x, y, c) of the apex A in the The three-dimensional space are, from the expression given above (expression of the spherical surface) (x, y, z) = (1/2, l / (21/2) - 2, 5/2). Similarly, the apex B coordinate values are (x, y, z) = (-1/2, 1 / Í21 / 2) - 2, 5/2). Further, the values of the apex coordinates C are (x, y, z) = (-1/2, l / (21/2) - 2, 3/2). Then, the values of the coordinates of the intermediate point E are (x, y, z) = (0, - 1, 2). Furthermore, if the perspective conversion is carried out for the coordinates of the apices to obtain n- two-dimensional coordinate values for display, then the values of the coordinates (X, Y) of the apex A are, from the expression of the conversion in perspective provided in the foregoing (X, Y) = (1/5, ((21- / 2) - 5 4) / 5). Similarly, the coordinates of apex B are (-1/5, ((21/2) - 4) / 5). In addition, the apex C coordinate values are (X, Y) = (-1/3, ((2 ^ - ') - 4) / 3). Then, the values of the coordinates «* Of intermediate point E are (x, y) = (0, -1/2). 10 In this way, when the intermediate point occurs in space (u, v), the intermediate point is not placed at the intermediate point in the three-dimensional space or the two-dimensional space for presentation, but is placed on the curved surface of the reference (Figure 9A). Then, in step S24, the sub-CPU 95 performs the sub-polygon production processing for the sub-polygon A. In particular, the polygon division processing having been described herein is carried out for the sub-polygon A. For example, the polygon division processing for the sub-polygon ABE produced in step S23, is started from step S21. Further, in step S25, the sub-CPU 95 performs the sub-polygon production processing for the sub-polygon B. In particular, the polygon division processing described herein is carried out for sub-polygon B. By carrying out this processing recursively in steps S24 and S25 in this manner, each polygon 5 obtained by division is further divided and the processing is repeated until the sub-polygons having sizes smaller than the D value of reference are obtained by division. In this case, since each intermediate point occurs in space (u, v) defined by the parameters u and v, a curved surface is formed along the curved reference surface by the polygons obtained by division as described above. It should be noted that even in the processing described above the curved reference surface is a spherical surface, the surface y. Curved reference can be another curved surface. For example, the polynomial of the parameters u and v that are provided by the following expressions can be use as the curved reference surface (x, y, z): x = (1 - v) ((1 - U) XQ + uxt_) + v ((1 - u) x3 + UX2) + Nxf (u, v) y = (1 - v) ((1 - u) or + uyi) + v ((1 - u) y3 + y2) + Nyf (u, v) rz = (1 - v) ((1 - U) ZQ + uz] _) + v ((l - u) Z3 + UZ2) + Nzf (u, v) In this case, even if the parameters u and v remain fixed towards four points of (u, v) = (0, 0), 5 (1, 0), (1, 1) and (0, 1) in advance in the program designed by the identifier code, the constants xi, yi, zi (i = 0, ..., 3) are supplied as data to the programmable packet engine 48 so that the values of the ^ ***. coordinates of the four points in the three-dimensional space 10 are calculated. f (u, v) of the above expression is a quadratic expression of the parameters u and v, and the coefficients of the terms are supplied as parameters of the curved surface to the programmable packet engine 48. For example, when f (u, v) is represented by the following expression: f (u, v) = a u2 + b 7 + c v2 + dv + e the coefficients aae are supplied as parameters of curved surface to the motor 48 of package 20 programmable. Correspondingly, in this case, a packet that includes the identifier code and the normal vector Nx, Ny, Nz, the parameters of the curved surface, the constants xi, yi, zi (i = 0, ..., 3) and the color data (RGBi) (i = 0, ..., 3) which correspond to the four points as shown in Figure 13, is supplied to the programmable packet engine 48. It should be noted that, by providing a digital differential analyzer (DDA) for the programmable packet engine 48, the expression of the curved reference surface can be calculated simply by using a recurring formula. The polygon supplied in the form of a data packet, as shown in Figure 13, is divided according to the Z value, by the programmable packet engine 48 in a manner similar to when the curved reference surface is a spherical surface. For example, when the value Z is high and the polygon is placed distant in the depth direction, that is, where the polygon is small in the predetermined presentation section, the sub-CPU 95 of the programmable packet engine 48 does not divide the polygon, or in other words, the division number is graded to 1 as seen in Figure 14A, and store the values of the coordinates of the apices of the polygon, in the target data RAM 97. On the other hand, when the Z-value is rather low and the polygon is placed rather closely in the depth direction, that is, where the polygon appears larger in the predetermined presentation section, the sub-CPU 95 divides the polygon into four, t "that is, the division number is graduated up to four as seen in Figure 14B, in order to produce four sub-polygons in accordance with the curved reference surface, and stores the values of coordinates of the 5 apexes of the cautro sub-polygons in the RAM 97 destination data.

However, when the value of Z is low and the polygon is placed close to the depth direction, that is, where the polygon appears large in the default presentation section, the sub-CPU 95 due to the polygon at 16, that is, the number of divisions of 16 as seen in Figure 14C, in order to produce 16 sub-polygons in accordance with the curved reference surface and stores the coordinate values of the apexes of the 16 sub-polygons in the target data RAM 97.

For example, when the polygon is divided into 16 polygons, as shown in Figure 14C, the 16 sub-polygons have 25 apices PO to P24, as shown in Figure 15A. Therefore, the sub-CPU 95 forms coordinate values and color data values (Xi, Yi, Zi, RGBi) (i = 0, ..., 24) of the apices in such a manner as shown in FIG. Figure 15B and store them in destination data RAM 97.

It should be noted that the present example of division makes use of quadrangular polygons (su-polygons).

In this way, the shape of an object is varied according to the size (presentation size) when presented in the default presentation section and when the presentation size is small, an object that has a small apex number is presented as a predetermined object and the number of operations necessary to present it is reduced. On the other hand, when the presentation size is large, an object having a comparatively large apex number is presented as a predetermined object so that a user can feel a difference in the form between the original object and the presented object.

Further, by transmitting the data of a polygon of a comparatively large size to the programmable packet engine 48 and dividing the polygon in accordance with the display area by the programmable packet engine 48, the amount of data to be supplied to the CPU 44 Main to the programmable packet motor 48 through the main bus 41 can be reduced in order to reduce the load on the main bus 41.

Even though the amount of data (amount of output data) sent from the programmable packet engine 48 to the graphic processing unit 49 increases in accordance with a division number of a polygon as shown in Figure 16, the amount of data (amount of input data) supplied from the main CPU 44 to the programmable packet engine 48 through the main bus 41 is set independently of the polygon's division number (in the packet of Figure 13, six words per polygon ). Consequently, the load to the main bus 41 can be set. Furthermore, by this means, the data is compressed as indicated by the data compression ratio of Figure 16 and the amount of data to be handled (amount of data communicated along the main bus 41 and so on). it is reduced of course.

It should be noted that, since the graphics processing unit 49 performs the processing of the individual polygons while retaining the data of four apices of each one of them, when the graphics processing unit 49 uses the data of the apices supplied above by four or more again, the programmable packet engine 48 supplies the apex data one more time. Correspondingly, the amount of output data (number of words) from the programmable packet engine 48 is larger than the number of apices of the polygons obtained by division. For example, a case where the data of the polygon of Figure 15 divided into 16 sub-polygons having in total 25 apices PO to P24 that are to be supplied to the graphics processing unit 49 is examined of course. First, the programmable packet engine 48 supplies the data from the apex PO to P3 to the graphic processing unit 49 and the graphic processing unit 49 performs the processing of the polygon having the apex PO to P3. Then, the programmable packet engine 48 supplies the data of the apices P4 and P5, and the processing unit 49 performs the processing of the polygon having the apices Pl, P3, P4 and P5. Similarly, the programmable packet engine 48 supplies the data of the apices P6 to P9 in order, and the graphics processing unit 49 successively carries out the processing of the polygon having the apices P4 to P7 and the polygon having the apices P6 to P9. Then, the programmable packet engine 48 supplies data from the apices P2, P3, PIO and Pll, to the graphic processing unit 49, and the graphic processing unit 49 carries out the processing of the polygon having the apices P2, P3, PIO and Pll. In addition, the programmable packet engine 48 supplies the data of the apices P5 and P12, and the graphics processing unit 49 carries out the processing of the polymer having the 5 apices P3, P5, Pll and P12. Similarly, the programmable packet engine 48 supplies the data of the apices P7, P9, P13 and P14, and the graphic processing unit 49 successively carries out the processing of the polymer having the apices P5, P7, P12 and P13 and the polygon that has the apices P7, P9, P13 and P14. Then, the programmable packet engine 48 supplies data from the PIX to P24 apices to the graphics processing unit 49 and the graphics processing unit 49 successively performs the processing of the graphics processing units 49. individual polygons in a similar way. Since the pack engine 48 / "- programmable supplies the apex data of the individual polygons to the graphical processing unit 49 in a manner as described in which above, the data of the 15 apices including the apices P2, P3, P5, P7 and P9, and the apices PÍO to P19 are supplied twice to the unit 49 of graphic processing. Correspondingly, since data giving a total of 40 apices (= 25 + 15) are supplied to unit 49 of In the case of graphical processing, the amount of data output from the programmable packet engine 48 when the polygon is divided by 16 is 40 words, as shown in Figure 16. The data supplied in this way is called a band mesh. Although in the embodiment described above the parameters of the curved surface representative of the curved reference surface are supplied to the programmable packet engine 48, a parameter representative of the position of a light source can be supplied together with the coordinate values. from the apices of the polygon to the programmable packet engine 48 so that, after the polygon is divided according to the value of Z, the brightness values of the polygons (sub-polygons) obtained by division can be calculated from the representative parameter of the position of the light source. For example, data that includes a luminous source parameter representative of the position of a light source together with the coordinate values (Xi, Yi, Zi, (i = 0, ..., 3) of the apex PO to P3 of this polygon, as shown in Figure 17A, a normal vector (Nx, Ny, Nz) and an identifier (Code in Figure 17A) that designates a program to carry out the division processing of a polygon, are recorded previously on the CD-ROM 40, and the data is read and stored in the main memory, then, after the conversion of the coordinates into the main memory, and the data is carried out. They are read and stored in the main memory 5. Then, after the conversion of the coordinates is carried out, the polygon by the graphics transfer engine 71, those data are supplied as a packet to the programmable packet engine 48 as shown in Figure 17B by the packet engine 72 e) Then the package engine 48 programmable after the division of the polygon, calculates the brightness values of the individual sub-polygons from the parameter of the light source. It should be noted that when a point light source is used, the coordinates (Lx, Ly, Lz) of the point light source and color information (Lr, Lg, Lb) of the light source are supplied as parameters of (/ • "- the light source to the programmable packet engine 48.

The programmable packet engine calculates, from the parameters of the light source supplied to it, the coordinates (pO, qO) of a point of intersection between a perpedicular from the light source and a two-dimensional plane (p, q) that includes the polygon shown in Figure 18a, and the height h of the light source from the plane two-dimensional (p, q) and also calculates, from the coordinate values (p, q) of the apices of the individual sub-polygons, the brightness values L (which increase in inverse proportion to the square of the distance from the light source) at the apices of the sub-polygons of conformity with the following expression: L = h2 / (h2 + (p - p0) 2 + (q - qO) 2) For example, when a polygon is divided into eight > * - sub-polygons, the programmable packet engine 48 calculates ^ the brightness value for each of the apices of the sub-polygons. Then, the graphic processing unit 49 calculates the brightness values of the sub-polygons from the brightness values of the apices of the sub-polygons and effects the presentation of the polygon as shown in Figure 18B. Similarly, when a polygon is divided into 32 sub-polygons, the packet engine 48 programmable calculates the brightness values for the individual apices of the sub-polygons. Then, the graphic processing unit 49 calculates the brightness values of the sub-polygons from the brightness values of the apices of the sub-polygons, and carries out the presentation of the polygon as shown in Figure 18C. By calculating the brightness values for the individual polygons of a predetermined polygon in this manner, the brightness value of the surface of an object can be finely varied.

Then, the brightness values calculated in this way for the individual apices (25 apices in this case) of the sub-polygons produced, for example, by division between 16 as shown in Figure 19A, are sent together with the values of coordinates of the individual apices of the programmable packet engine 48 to the graphics processing unit 49, as shown in Figure 19B (the brightness values are read by the graphic processing unit 49 from the engine destination data RAM 97 48 of programmable package). By dividing a polygon and calculating the brightness values of the individual sub-polygons in the manner as described above, the density in variation of the brightness value can be adjusted according to the presentation size of the polygon. Furthermore, by this means, since the graphics processing unit 49 is required only to carry out the linear calculation such as luminescence shading or in other words since the graphics processing unit 49 does not need to carry out complicated computing calculation. light source, the load to the unit 49 of the graphic processing can be reduced. It should be noted that, in this case, the polygon is divided linearly into the three-dimensional space as shown in Figure 19A.

Furthermore, even when in the embodiment described above the coordinates of the apices of the polygon forming a three-dimensional object are read from the CD-ROM 40, it is possible to store a basic object (template 5 (model)) having a shape basic three-dimensional (such as a spherical, cylindrical, cubic or planar shape) to the programmable packet engine 48 (ROM 96) above, which represents a three-dimensional object f * ~ "predetermined with an identification number (ID pattern) of the template) that corresponds to the template and the difference values in the representative points of the template (deviation between the representative points of the template and the points of the three-dimensional object corresponding to the representative points), and records the on the CD-ROM 40. For example, this form of a rotation body as shown in FIG. 20A, ie, a rotation body symmetrical with respect to a predetermined axis of rotation, is represented by an ID pattern. of template defining a cylindrical template shown in Figure 20B and the deviations (difference values) nij from the template at the representative points Pij (i = 0, ..., 9) of the cylindrical template. When a template is used as described above, the main CPU 44 reads the ID pattern of ** * the template, the coordinate values of the object and the nij deviations of the template from the CD-ROM 40, and transmits the numerical values as a packet together with an identifier code that designates a program for processing this polygon as shown in Figure 21 to the programmable packet engine 48. Then, during the reception of the packet, the programmable packet engine 48 carries out the processing of the data of the three-dimensional object included in the package using a program designed by the identifier code included in the package, and refers to the pattern ID of the template to read the data of a template corresponding to the pattern ID of the plate from ROM 96. Then, the motor 48 of programmable package specifies the shape of the three-dimensional object from the data and deviations nij from the template. Representing a three-dimensional object with a template ID pattern that designates a template and deviations nij from the template in this way, the The amount of data to be recorded on the CD-ROM or the number of times of operation for the conversion of coordinates and so on, can be reduced based on the symmetry of the form of the template. For example, in a cylindrical template, as shown in Figure 20B, The shape shown in Figure 20A can be represented only with deviations in a radius (one-dimensional) direction. Figure 22 shows a different exemplary production apparatus for producing the CD-ROM 40. The production apparatus 5 of Figure 22A is constructed in such a way that it records a predetermined three-dimensional object in a data format in units of a polygon shown in Figure 13. However, the production apparatus of the / *** - Figure 22B is a recording device to which the The present invention is constructed in such a way that it records a predetermined three-dimensional object in a data format that makes use of the template as shown in Figure 21. In the production apparatus of Figure 22a, a Moderator 112 receives a signal corresponding to a manual operation of a designer, that is, a person who produces an image, from an input apparatus 111 and produces a three-dimensional object in response to a manual operation of the designer. The modeler 112 supplies the information related to a curved surface of the three-dimensional object produced to an operation circuit 113, and supplies the coordinate values of the apices of the polygons forming the object Three-dimensional produced to a recording apparatus 114.

? The operation circuit 113 calculates the parameters of the curved surface corresponding to the individual polygons from the information of the curved surface supplied from the moderator 112, and 5 supplies the parameters of the curved surface to the recording apparatus 114. The recording apparatus 114 radiates a laser beam r *. on a master disk to record the data, that is, the data record supplied to it from the modeler 112 and operation circuit 113 on the master disk. It should be noted that the master disk has a photoresist material applied to a surface thereof and is irradiated by the recording apparatus 114 in order to be optically sensitized in the ways of stings that correspond to the registration data. Then, the master disk is revealed. Then, from the master disc having concave and convex parts on the surface thereof, a stamper is produced. In addition, a large number of CD-ROMs are produced as duplicate discs of the stamping. By irradiating, during the production of a stamper for CD-ROMs, a laser beam in the master disk in accordance with the registration data in this manner, the registration data including the parameters of the curved surface and the coordinate values A < > including the parameters of the curved surface and coordinate values of the apices, are recorded in the individual tracks. Then, transcribing in addition a stamper to which the master disk has been transferred, the CD-ROM that has pitting forms corresponding to the registration data, is produced of course. Subsequently, in the production apparatus of Figure 22B, a modeler 112 receives a signal that (* corresponds to a manual operation of a designer 10 from an input apparatus 111 and produces a three-dimensional object corresponding to a manual operation of the designer.) Then, the modeler 112 supplies the information of the three-dimensional object produced to a circuit 115 of operation and supplies the values of the coordinates of the representative points of the three-dimensional object produced, to the recording apparatus 114. The operating circuit 115 that serves as the calculation means selects from within the information of the three-dimensional object supplied from the modeler 112, a template corresponding to the three-dimensional object, calculates an identification number of the template and the values of difference between the representative points of the template and represents points of the three-dimensional object produced by the modeler 112, V- and supplies the identification number and difference values to the recording apparatus 114. The recording apparatus 114 which serves as the recording medium, irradiates a laser beam on a master disc 5 for recording the registration data (a template ID pattern and the difference values at the representative points) supplied thereto from the modeler 112 and the operation circuit 115, towards the master disk. Then the CD-ROMs are produced from the master disk of similarly as in the production apparatus of Figure 22A. A CD-ROM that retains a pattern ID of the template and the values of difference in representative points as data represented in them, is produces in such a manner as that described above. Therefore, the present invention satisfies a long-standing need for a new and improved recording medium and registration and recording systems. information processing that facilitate efficient processing and high speed at reduced cost. It should be noted that, although a CD-ROM is used as the recording medium in the modality described above, any other means of recording may be used. proper record.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that, although the specific forms of the invention have been illustrated and described, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not intended to be limited except by the appended claims. r ~.

Claims (23)

/ R E I V I N D I C A C I O N E S:

1. A registration means, comprising: a registration element; and 5 a record in the element having as data of a predetermined object in a three-dimensional space, the identification information of a basic object that makes a reference and values of difference between the coordinate values of the apices of the basic object and 10 values of the coordinates of the apices of the predetermined object, by means of which efficient data processing is facilitated.

2. A recording device to record data of a predefined object in a three-dimensional space, 15 to a recording medium, comprising: a calculation means for calculating, from the object in a three-dimensional space, the identification information of a basic object that makes a reference and values of difference between the coordinate values of 20 the apices of the basic object and coordinate values of the apices of the predetermined object; and a recording means for recording the identification information and the difference values calculated by the calculation means, as data of the object 25 predetermined. -

3. A recording method for recording data from a predetermined object in a three-dimensional space to a recording medium, comprising the steps of: calculating, from the predetermined object in the three-dimensional space, the identification information of an object Basic that makes a reference and difference values between the apex coordinate values of the basic object and the apex coordinate values of the object - default; and recording the identification information and the reference values calculated in the calculation step as data of the predetermined object.

4. An information processing apparatus, comprising: a reading means for reading the data of a recording medium in which the data of a three-dimensional object composed of a plurality of flat figures in a three-dimensional space are recorded; a first conversion medium to convert 20 the flat figures on a curved surface composed of a number of flat figures corresponding to a presentation size in a predetermined presentation section; and a second conversion means to convert the 25 data of the curved surface obtained by the conversion by the first conversion means into two-dimensional presentation data, whereby efficient data processing is facilitated.

5. An information processing apparatus 5 according to claim 4, and further comprising: means of converting coordinates to ** • convert the coordinates of the apices of the flat figures read by the reading means.

6. An information processing method, comprising the steps of: reading data from a recording medium in which the data of a three-dimensional object composed of a plurality of flat figures are recorded in a three-dimensional space; converting the flat figures into a curved surface composed of a number of flat figures corresponding to a presentation size of a predetermined presentation section; and converting the data of the curved surface obtained by the conversion by means of the first conversion means into bidimensional presentation data by means of which efficient data processing is facilitated.

7. An information processing apparatus, comprising: a reading means for reading the data from a recording medium in which the data of a 5 three-dimensional object composed of a plurality of flat figures in a three-dimensional space; a means of division to divide the figures / * -. flat according to a presentation size in a predetermined presentation section; 10 a calculation means for calculating the brightness values of the flat figures obtained by dividing from the brightness values of the original flat figures; and a production means of producing data from 15 bidirectional presentation from brightness values /... of the flat figures obtained through the division, by means of which the efficient processing of data is facilitated.

8. An information processing method, comprising the steps of: reading, from a recording medium where the data of a three-dimensional object composed of a plurality of flat figures are recorded in a three-dimensional space; and dividing the flat figures according to a presentation size, in a predetermined presentation section; calculating the brightness values of the flat figures obtained by dividing the brightness values of the original flat figures; Y produce two-dimensional presentation data / "** • from the brightness values of the flat figures obtained by division, whereby efficient data processing is facilitated.

9. A means of registration, comprising: a registration element; Y a record in the element that has data defining a curved surface that forms a three-dimensional object in a three-dimensional space and define a "" polygon forming the three-dimensional object, the data being recorded as an information packet in the record element.

10. A recording medium according to claim 9, wherein the data defining the curved surface includes an identifier designating a processing program for the information.

11. A recording apparatus for recording information of the three-dimensional image, comprising: / "a means for supplying the information defining a curved surface forming a three-dimensional object, a means for supplying the information that defines a polygon that forms the object three-dimensional, and a means for storing the information defining the curved surface and the information defining the polygon in a package 12.

A recording apparatus in accordance with claim 11, and which also includes a programmable packet engine.

A recording apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the information defining the curved surface includes an identifier designating a 15 processing program for information.

14. A recording method for recording the information of the three-dimensional image, comprising the steps of: supplying the information defining a curved surface forming a three-dimensional object; supply the information of defines a polygon that forms the three-dimensional object; and storing the information that defines the curved surface and the information that defines the polygon in a package.

15. A registration method according to claim 14, wherein the information defining the curved surface includes an identifier designating a processing program for the information.

16. A recording apparatus for recording the information of the three-dimensional image, comprising: a means for admitting information defining a curved surface forming a three-dimensional object in a three-dimensional space in the information defining a polygon that forms the three-dimensional object; a means for dividing the polygon into a plurality of sub-polygons in accordance with the information defining the curved surface, admitted by means of the input means; and a means to produce the information that defines the sub-polygons obtained by the means of division.

17. A recording apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the sub-polygons are quadrangular.

18. A recording apparatus according to any of claims 15 or 16, wherein the information defining the curved surface includes an identifier designating a processing program for the information. / * -.

19. A registration method for recording the information of the three-dimensional image, comprising the steps of: admitting the information defining a curved surface that forms a three-dimensional object in a three-dimensional space and the information that defines a polygon that forms the object three-dimensional; dividing the polygon into a plurality of sub-polygons in accordance with the information defining the curved surface admitted by the input means; and produce the information that defines the sub-polygons obtained through the means of division.

20. A registration method according to claim 19, wherein the sub-polygons are 15 home runs.

21. A registration method according to claim 19, wherein the information defining the curved surface includes an identifier designating a processing program for the information.

22. In a graphical system, the combination comprising: a means for dividing a polygon into a plurality of sub-polygons; a means for calculating the brightness values of the individual sub-polygons; and a means for adjusting the brightness density of an image in accordance with the presentation size of the polygon.

23. A graphical method comprising the steps of: a means for dividing a polygon into a plurality of sub-polygons; a means for calculating the brightness values of the individual sub-polygons; and a means for adjusting the brightness density of an image in accordance with the presentation size of the polygon.