A method and system for the processing, compressing, streaming, efficient transmission, and interactive rendering of 3d color image data are presented. A 3d color image is defined as a collection of 3d xyz locations that possess red-green-blue (RGB ) color components just as a conventional 2d color image is a set of 2d xy locations (pixel centers) that possess RGB color components. One major difference is that 2d color images are generally dense and specifically organized on a 2d pixel grid whe re 3d color images are generally sparse and not organized on a dense-voxel grid in their raw data formats. The described method uses 3d sampling techniques and view-dependent point- size rendering algorithms to provide real-time interactive displays of compl ex textured 3d objects and scenes without the use of specialized texture mapping support fo r polygons within 3d graphic display systems. By combining this point-based rendering a nd modeling approach with an efficient data compression technique that offers a high compression ratio, interactive, realistic 3d graphics can be delivered over relatively l ow bandwidth channels to devices without custom texture-mapping graphics capabilities.</S DOAB>
METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROCESSING, COMPRESSING, STREAMING ANDINTERACTIVE RENDERING OF 3D COLOR IMAGE DATA