Systems and methods for rendering 3D image independent of display size and viewing distance

A method of rendering 3D images, comprising:

• receiving a profile comprising a profile header, from a source device and independent of display screen size, a depth map, and 3D depth metadata, wherein the 3D depth metadata comprises data for multiple target display resolutions from a source device and said 3D depth metadata is independent of display screen size;
• using the depth map to derive depth data that is independent of display screen size and viewing distance, wherein the depth data comprises normalized z-axis values based on a plurality of depth points, the normalized z-axis values defining the relative position of an imaged object with respect to a human viewer, wherein the profile header comprises a layer identifier, a set identifier, and a subset identifier, and provides target resolution information for which the profile was created;
• and
• providing in their entirety over-scanned left and right eye images of the 3D images;
• wherein the plurality of depth points is based at least in part on a location where a human viewer is located, a display screen plane, and an infinity plane;
• providing the depth map in the form of a first block depth map having m rows and n columns, wherein m does not equal n;
• and
• converting the first block depth map having m rows and n columns into a reduced block depth map having p rows and q columns wherein m>p and n>q;
• wherein a first normalized z-axis value of the normalized z-axis values is defined as substantially equal to zero when the imaged object is perceived as to be located on the display screen plane, and a second normalized z-axis value of the normalized z-axis values is defined as approximately equal to −100 when the object is perceived to be located on the infinity plane;
• wherein the depth map is represented as a primary depth map and a secondary depth map, wherein the primary depth map provides depth values of an image at a pixel level or a sub-pixel level;
• and the secondary depth map is a block depth map that provides depth values at a greater-than-a-pixel level;
• wherein the converting comprises:
• partitioning the first block depth map having m rows and n columns into p×q partitions, wherein each partition comprises a plurality of depth values;
• and
• using the foremost depth values contained in each of the p×q partitions to identify corresponding depth values in the reduced block depth map having p rows and q columns, wherein the foremost value within a partition is used even when it traverses a boundary of the partition.