METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR EMBEDDING 2D IMAGE CONTENT INTO 3D MODELS

A method and apparatus for combining two dimensional (2D) images with three dimensional (3D) polygonal models of objects so as to encode 2D image content information into the 3D objects, thereby providing an efficient rendering and transmission of complex scenes. The occurrence of an occlusion error in a digital data processing system that has a display is avoided. The method has steps of (a) encoding a specification of a two dimensional background image into at least one three dimensional foreground object that overlies and occludes a portion of the background image; and (b) displaying to a viewer the background image and the at least one overlying foreground object. A further step operates in response to a movement of the foreground object that makes a portion of the background image visible to the viewer, for (c) displaying the portion of the background image that has become visible. The step of displaying uses the encoded specification that is retrieved from the foreground object. For example, the step of encoding can store color-related data into unused portions of an indexed list of vertices that are descriptive of the foreground object.