Virtual reality modelling

A method of interpreting a computer readable model of a geometrical object, the model being interpreted on a computer having a user interface and the computer having access to a database including representations of geometrical shapes for a collection of elements, the method comprising the steps of:

• decoding bits in a data structure to identify a first set of elements from said collection and to identify positions of the elements by Integer co-ordinates that constrain the positions to integer co-ordinates within a first system of co-ordinates;
• decoding bits in the data structure to identify a second set of elements from said collection and to identify positions of the elements by integer co-ordinates that constrain the positions to integer co-ordinates within a second system of co-ordinates;
• decoding bits in the data structure to identify a spatial transformation of the second system of co-ordinates relatively to the first system of co-ordinates which transformation is not constrained to integer displacements;
• retrieving said identified representations of geometrical shapes and generating displayable data representing said geometrical shapes as their spatial interrelationship is described according to said data structure.

A computer system for generating a computer readable model of a geometrical object, comprising:

• a central processing unit;
• a memory unit comprising:
• a database including representations of geometrical shapes for a collection of elements;
• software for encoding bits in a data structure to identify a first set of elements from said collection and to represent positions of the elements by integer co-ordinates that constrain the positions to integer co-ordinates within a first system of co-ordinates;
• software for encoding bits in the data structure to identify a second set of elements from said collection and to represent positions of the elements by Integer co-ordinates that constrain the positions to integer co-ordinates within a second system of co-ordinates;
• software for encoding bits in the data structure to represent a spatial transformation of the second system of co-ordinates relatively to the first system of co-ordinates, which transformation is not constrained to integer displacements;
• software for taking said data structure as a computer readable model of a geometrical object.

A computer system for interpreting a computer readable model of a geometrical object, comprising:

• a central processing unit;
• a database including representations of geometrical shapes for a collection of elements;
• a memory unit comprising:
• a database including representations of geometrical shapes for a collection of elements;
• software for decoding bits in a data structure to identify a first set of elements from said collection and to identify positions of the elements by integer co-ordinates that constrain the positions to integer co-ordinates within a first system of co-ordinates;
• software for decoding bits in the data structure to identify a second set of elements from said collection and to identify positions of the elements by integer co-ordinates that constrain the positions to integer co-ordinates within a second system of co-ordinates;
• software for decoding bits in the data structure to identify a spatial transformation of the second system of co-ordinates relatively to the first system of co-ordinates, which transformation is not constrained to integer displacements;
• software for retrieving said identified representations of geometrical shapes and generating displayable data representing said geometrical shapes as their spatial interrelationship is described according to said data structure.