Dynamic scene descriptor method and apparatus

A method for rendering a frame of animation in a computer system having a computer memory, the method comprising:

• retrieving scene descriptor data associated with the frame of animation, wherein the scene descriptor data specifies at least one object, wherein the object is associated with a reference to a first representation of the object, the first representation of the object being associated with a first user-defined purpose for rendering the frame of animation, wherein the object is associated with a reference to a second representation of the object, the second representation of the object being associated with a second user-defined purpose for rendering the frame of animation, and wherein the first and second specifications are separately derived;
• receiving a selection of a first rendering option corresponding to the first user-defined purpose or a second rendering option corresponding to the second user-defined purpose;
• querying a database external to the computer system for the first representation of the object when the selection is of the first rendering option;
• receiving the first representation of the object from the database external to the computer system when the selection is of the first rendering option;
• loading the first representation of the object into the computer memory when the selection is of the first rendering option;
• and
• rendering the object for the frame of animation using the first representation of the object when the selection is of the first rendering option;
• wherein the first representation of the object is not loaded into the computer memory when the selection is of the second rendering option;
• wherein the first representation of the object comprises references to representations of a first plurality of objects;
• wherein the second representation of the object comprises references to representations of a second plurality of objects;
• and
• wherein at least one object within the first plurality of objects is also within the second plurality of objects.

A computer program product for a computer system including a processor and a program memory, wherein the computer program product resides on a tangible medium, the computer program product comprising:

• code that directs the processor to retrieve scene descriptor data associated with the frame of animation into the program memory, wherein the scene descriptor data specifies at least one object, wherein the object is associated with a first representation of the object, the first representation of the object being associated with a first user-defined purpose for rendering the frame of animation, wherein the object is associated with a second representation of the object, the second representation of the object being associated with a second user-defined purpose for rendering the frame of animation, and wherein the first and second specifications are separately derived;
• code that directs the processor to determine a selection of a first rendering option corresponding to the first user-defined purpose or a second rendering option corresponding to the second user-defined purpose;
• code that directs the processor to query a database external to the computer system for the first representation of the object when the selection is of the first rendering option;
• code that directs the processor to receive the first representation of the object from the database external to the computer system when the selection is of the first rendering option;
• code that directs the processor to load the first representation of the object into the program memory when the selection is of the first rendering option;
• and
• code that directs the processor to render the object for the frame of animation in response to the first representation of the object when the selection is of the first rendering option;
• wherein the first representation of the object is not loaded into the program memory when the selection is of the second rendering option;
• wherein the first representation of the object comprises references to representations of a first plurality of objects;
• wherein the second representation of the object comprises references to representations of a second plurality of objects;
• and
• wherein at least one object within the first plurality of objects is also within the second plurality of objects.