Abstract: An illustrative multi-access server receives a request from a client system, the request indicating a requested rendering operation. The multi-access server also accesses input data from an asset data source. The multi-access server performs a rendering pass on the input data, the rendering pass performed in accordance with the requested rendering operation to generate a render pass output dataset. The render pass output dataset is representative of a renderable image depicting image content in a first form having limited quality or detail. The render pass output dataset is also configured for use in generating fully-rendered image data that depicts the image content in a second form having additional quality or detail beyond the limited quality or detail of the first form. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: An illustrative shader construction system accesses a plurality of instructions based on a shader construction request. The plurality of instructions is associated with a shader component indicated in the shader construction request and includes a first instruction that relates to a selected platform indicated in the shader construction request and a second instruction that relates to a non-selected platform and that is incompatible with the selected platform. The shader construction system assembles a shader based on the plurality of instructions. The assembled shader is configured for use with the selected platform to perform a shader function implemented by the shader component. The shader construction system provides the assembled shader to a graphics rendering system configured to use the assembled shader to perform the shader function as part of rendering an image. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: An illustrative image rendering system separate from and communicatively coupled to a presentation device detects a pre-modeled scene within a captured frame received from the presentation device. The pre-modeled scene is associated with a model asset accessible to the image rendering system. Based on the captured frame and the model asset, the image rendering system generates an augmentable representation of the pre-modeled scene and, based on the augmentable representation, generates an augmented version of the captured frame. The generating of the augmented version of the captured frame includes a plurality of render passes each configured to simulate a different virtualized element of a plurality of virtualized elements augmenting the pre-modeled scene within the augmented version of the captured frame. The image rendering system provides the augmented version of the captured frame to the presentation device. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: An illustrative multi-access server receives a request from a client system, the request indicating a requested rendering operation. The multi-access server also accesses input data from an asset data source. The multi-access server performs a rendering pass on the input data, the rendering pass performed in accordance with the requested rendering operation to generate a render pass output dataset. The render pass output dataset is representative of a renderable image depicting image content in a first form having limited quality or detail. The render pass output dataset is also configured for use in generating fully-rendered image data that depicts the image content in a second form having additional quality or detail beyond the limited quality or detail of the first form. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: An exemplary rendering assistance system is implemented by a multi-access edge compute (“MEC”) server. The system receives a request from a client system that is separate from the MEC server. The system parses the request to identify a requested rendering operation selected from a plurality of rendering operations supported by the system. The parsing of the request also identifies an asset pointer based upon which the system accesses input data from an asset data source. The system then performs a rendering pass on the input data in accordance with the requested rendering operation. By performing the rendering pass, the system partially renders an image that, when fully rendered, is to be presented to a user by way of a media player device. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: An exemplary object modeling system determines a set of directional occlusion values associated with a surface point on a surface of a virtual object. The directional occlusion values are representative of an exposure of the surface point to ambient light from each direction of a set of directions defined by a radiosity basis. The object modeling system also stores the set of directional occlusion values as part of texture data defining the surface point and provides the texture data that includes the set of stored directional occlusion values associated with the surface point. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: An illustrative shader construction system accesses a plurality of instructions based on a shader construction request. The plurality of instructions is associated with a shader component indicated in the shader construction request and includes a first instruction that relates to a selected platform indicated in the shader construction request and a second instruction that relates to a non-selected platform and that is incompatible with the selected platform. The shader construction system assembles a shader based on the plurality of instructions. The assembled shader is configured for use with the selected platform to perform a shader function implemented by the shader component. The shader construction system provides the assembled shader to a graphics rendering system configured to use the assembled shader to perform the shader function as part of rendering an image. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: An exemplary rendering assistance system is implemented by a multi-access edge compute (“MEC”) server. The system receives a request from a client system that is separate from the MEC server. The system parses the request to identify a requested rendering operation selected from a plurality of rendering operations supported by the system. The parsing of the request also identifies an asset pointer based upon which the system accesses input data from an asset data source. The system then performs a rendering pass on the input data in accordance with the requested rendering operation. By performing the rendering pass, the system partially renders an image that, when fully rendered, is to be presented to a user by way of a media player device. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: An exemplary shader construction system receives a shader construction request that indicates a set of selected shader components and a platform indicator. The set of selected shader components is selected from a library of available shader components accessible to the shader construction system and includes first and second shader components configured to perform, respectively, first and second shader functions. The platform indicator is indicative of a selected platform for which a shader is to be constructed. Based on the shader construction request, the shader construction system accesses instructions associated with the first and second shader components. Based on these instructions, the shader construction system assembles a shader that implements the first and second shader functions. The shader is configured for use with the selected platform by a graphics rendering system to render an image. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: An exemplary object modeling system determines a set of directional occlusion values associated with a surface point on a surface of a virtual object. The directional occlusion values are representative of an exposure of the surface point to ambient light from each direction of a set of directions defined by a radiosity basis. The object modeling system also stores the set of directional occlusion values as part of texture data defining the surface point and provides the texture data that includes the set of stored directional occlusion values associated with the surface point. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: An exemplary directional occlusion system includes an object modeling system and a media player device. The object modeling system accesses a model of a virtual object to be integrated into a three-dimensional (“3D”) scene, the model including texture data defining respective sets of directional occlusion values for surface points on a surface of the virtual object. The object modeling system further generates a set of directional irradiance maps. The object modeling system provides the directional irradiance maps and the model storing the directional occlusion values to the media player device. The media player device receives the model and the directional irradiance maps and, based on this received data, renders the virtual object so as to appear to a user to be integrated into the 3D scene.

Abstract: An exemplary directional occlusion system includes an object modeling system and a media player device. The object modeling system accesses a model of a virtual object to be integrated into a three-dimensional (“3D”) scene, the model including texture data defining respective sets of directional occlusion values for surface points on a surface of the virtual object. The object modeling system further generates a set of directional irradiance maps. The object modeling system provides the directional irradiance maps and the model storing the directional occlusion values to the media player device. The media player device receives the model and the directional irradiance maps and, based on this received data, renders the virtual object so as to appear to a user to be integrated into the 3D scene.