Method and apparatus for simulating movement in multidimensional space with polygonal projections

A method for simulating movement within a multidimensional CG or natural environment by displaying an image at a specified viewpoint and orientation within said environment, where said viewpoint and orientation specify the location and direction of a point of view, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) forming a database of the environment in a computer-readable storage medium by:
• i) determining a set of k-points in the environment, each k-point within said set having a domain within the environment and playback data associated therewith, said k-point domain forming a range of supported viewpoints and orientations, each of said k-points being defined as a center of projection;
• ii) projecting the environment onto a planar surface at a predetermined orientation to form a corresponding k-projection;
• iii) segmenting said corresponding k-projection into one or more k-polygons;
• and
• iv) for each said k-polygon, determining an e-polygon, said e-polygon being a planar polygon that approximates an area in the environment, said k-polygon being a projection of said area;
• b) finding the k-point in the database whose domain supports the specified viewpoint and orientation;
• c) mapping the k-projections at said k-point to said viewpoint and orientation to form said image;
• and
• d) displaying said image.