System and method for realistic terrain simulation

Abstract

A technique and system for the realistic simulation of visual scenes reduces the three-dimensional computation to two additions and further reduces the need for three-dimensional computations by displaying several screen pixels per three-dimensional computation. The approach when implemented in hardware or software significantly speeds up scene generation time while improving the resolution and realism of the rendered scene.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A method of generating a perspective visual scene, comprising the steps of: 
 a) determining the position of an observer in relation to a gaming area bounded by the observer's field of view;    b) incrementing the observer's position by one unit;    c) determining if the data quadrant at the new position is visible to the observer, wherein if the data quadrant is not visible, incrementing a quadrant step vector;    d) determining a distance from the observer to an object of interest;    e) selecting a database to be used dependent on the distance from the observer to the object of interest;    f) sampling the height data at the current position;    g) comparing the height data at the current position with the current elevation; and    h) drawing a line for any part of the height data that is above the current elevation;    i) incrementing one unit farther away from the observer;    j) repeating steps b through i until the entire visual scene is rendered;    k) displaying the visual scene on a display device.    
     
     
         2 . The method of    claim 1   , wherein the step of selecting a database further comprises: 
 expanding an expansion token if the object of interest is closer to the virtual observer than predetermined distance; and    rendering a feature represented by the expanded expansion token.