Methods and apparatus for recording and information processing, and recording method therefor

A recording method for recording data of a predetermined object in a three-dimensional space onto a recording medium, comprising the steps of:

• calculating, from the predetermined object in the three-dimensional space, data defining a basic object, said basic-object data including data of a three-dimensional curved surface and data of a three-dimensional polygon;
• calculating difference values between coordinate values of representative points of the basic object and coordinate values of corresponding points of the predetermined object;
• and
• recording the basic-object data and the difference values calculated in the calculating step as data of the predetermined object.

An information processing apparatus, comprising:

• read-out means for reading out data from a recording medium on which data of a three-dimensional object composed of a plurality of plane figures in a three-dimensional space are recorded;
• first conversion means for converting the plane figures into a curved surface composed of a number of sub plane figures, the number being determined based on the position of the object in the depth-wise direction in the three-dimensional space;
• and
• second conversion means for converting data of the curved surface obtained by the conversion by said first conversion means into two-dimensional display data, whereby efficient data processing is facilitated.

An information processing method, comprising the steps of:

• reading out data from a recording medium on which data of a three-dimensional object composed of a plurality of plane figures in a three-dimensional space are recorded;
• converting the plane figures into a curved surface composed of a number of sub plane figures the number being determined based on the position of the object in the depth-wise direction in the three-dimensional space;
• and
• converting data of the curved surface obtained by the conversion by said first conversion means into two-dimensional display data, whereby efficient data processing is facilitated.

An information processing apparatus, comprising:

• read-out means for reading out data from a recording medium on which data of a three-dimensional object composed of a plurality of plane figures in a three-dimensional space are recorded, the data comprising coordinate data indicative of the position of the object in the depth-wise direction in the three-dimensional space;
• division means for dividing the plane figures in accordance with the position of the object in the depth-wise direction;
• calculation means for calculating brightness values of the plane figures obtained by the division from brightness values of the original plane figures;
• and
• production means for producing two-dimensional display data from the brightness values of the plane figures obtained by the division, whereby efficient data processing is facilitated.

An information processing method, comprising the steps of:

• reading out, from a recording medium on which data of a three-dimensional object composed of a plurality of plane figures in a three-dimensional space are recorded, the data comprising coordinate data indicative of the position of the object in the depth-wise direction in the three-dimensional space;
• dividing the plane figures in accordance with the position of the object in the depth-wise direction;
• calculating brightness values of the plane figures obtained by the division from brightness values of the original plane figures;
• and
• producing two-dimensional display data from the brightness values of the plane figures obtained by the division, whereby efficient data processing is facilitated.

A recording apparatus for recording three-dimensional image information, comprising:

• means for supplying information defining a curved surface which forms a three-dimensional object;
• means for supplying information defining a polygon which forms the three-dimensional object, said information comprising coordinate data indicative of the position of the object in the depth-wise direction in the three-dimensional space;
• and
• means for storing the information defining the curved surface and the information defining the polygon in a packet.

A recording apparatus for recording three-dimensional image information, comprising:

• means for supplying information defining a curved surface which forms a three-dimensional object;
• means for supplying information defining a polygon which forms the three-dimensional object;
• means for storing the information defining the curved surface and the information defining the polygon in a packet;
• and
• a programmable packet engine.

A recording method for recording three-dimensional image information, comprising the steps of:

• supplying information defining a curved surface which forms a three-dimensional object;
• supplying information defining a polygon which forms the three-dimensional object, said information comprising coordinate data indicative of the position of the object in the depth-wise direction in the three-dimensional space;
• and
• storing the information defining the curved surface and the information defining the polygon in a packet.

A recording apparatus for recording three-dimensional image information, comprising:

• means for inputting information defining a curved surface which forms a three-dimensional object in a three-dimensional space and information defining a polygon which forms the three-dimensional object, the information comprising coordinate information indicative of the position of the object in the depth-wise direction in the three-dimensional space;
• means for dividing the polygon into a plurality of sub-polygons in accordance with the coordinate information defining the curved surface inputted by said inputting means;
• and
• means for producing information defining the sub-polygons obtained by said dividing means.

A recording method for recording three-dimensional image information, comprising the steps of:

• inputting information defining a curved surface which forms a three-dimensional object in a three-dimensional space and information defining a polygon which forms the three-dimensional object, the information comprising coordinate information indicative of the position of the object in the depth-wise direction in the three-dimensional space;
• dividing the polygon into a plurality of sub-polygons in accordance with the coordinate information defining the curved surface inputted by said inputting means;
• and
• producing information defining the sub-polygons obtained by said dividing means.

In a graphics system for displaying a polygon in a three-dimensional space, the combination comprising:

• means for dividing a polygon into a plurality of sub-polygons in accordance with the position of the polygon in the depth-wise direction in the three-dimensional space;
• means for calculating the brightness values of individual sub-polygons;
• and
• means for adjusting the brightness density of an image in accordance with the position of the polygon in the depth-wise direction in the three-dimensional space.

A graphical method for displaying a polygon in a three-dimensional space comprising the steps of:

• dividing a polygon into a plurality of sub-polygons in accordance with the position of the polygon in the depth-wise direction in the three-dimensional space;
• calculating the brightness values of individual sub-polygons;
• and
• adjusting the brightness density of an image in accordance with the position of the polygon in the depth-wise direction in the three-dimensional space.