Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to improved techniques for encoding 3D media objects in a 3D authoring system. In an exemplary embodiment, encoding involves having a plurality of virtual files each representative of different 3D media objects renderable by a computer, each virtual file having a data structure including (i) first data defining a first set properties of a 3D media object which during a rendering session are not impacted by a change to a second set of properties (ii) second data defining the second set of properties of the 3D media object; and (iii) linking data to link the virtual file, during the rendering session, to other virtual files of other 3D media objects having similar data structures.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to improved techniques for real-time collaborative editing in a 3D authoring system. In an exemplary embodiment, collaborative editing involves (i) loading 3D resources as virtual files in memory of a host device (ii) establishing a communication session between the host device and a client device (iii) mirroring to the client device a copy of the set of virtual files; and (iv) receiving from the client device a change to one of the virtual files in the mirrored copy at the time it happens and automatically updating the corresponding virtual file in the host device to facilitate real-time collaborative editing.