Method and system for efficiently streaming 3D animation across a wide area network

摘要

A method for providing 3D animation via a network in a client/server computer system. A 3D model is accessed on the client. The client then receives a series of transform updates for the 3D model via a network. The series of transform updates described for the client the manner in which to update the 3D model to implement the animation. Each of the series of transform updates are applied by the client to the 3D model to render a corresponding series of 3D images. The series of rendered 3D images are then displayed to the user to provide a 3D animation. The transform updates are streamed from the server to the client via the network. Streaming the transform updates across the network is more bandwidth efficient than streaming images. Interactivity is implemented by receiving user commands from the client via the network. In response to the user commands, the server appropriately alters the series of transform updates streamed to the user, thereby providing interactivity to the 3D animation.