Method and apparatus for maintaining multiple representations of a same scene in computer generated graphics

摘要

A method for creating and maintaining a dual scene graph for the display of a computer generated object. The user creates a user scene graph which has a number of node in a hierarchical organization which represents an object. This user scene graph is organized according to the dictates of the user for ease of human comprehension. The computer system automatically converts this user scene graph into a separate scene graph. The organization of this second scene graph is optimized so that the object can be rendered faster and more efficiently. Thereby, the first scene graph is displayed to the user so that the user can add, delete, or otherwise modify the object. Any changes made to the user scene graph are automatically made to the second scene graph, transparent to the user. The object is rendered for display according to the second scene graph.