Abstract: Improved techniques for real-time collaborative development in an authoring system, especially suited for the production of multimedia applications and games, are described. In an exemplary embodiment, collaborative live development involves: (i) loading digital resources of a structured binary format in a host device that manages synchronization and versioning, (ii) establishing a communication session between the host device and a client device, (iii) synchronizing digital files of a structured binary format between the client device and the host device using devices similar to Source Control Management systems, and (iv) incorporating any resource changes in the Live Programming execution environment in a non-intrusive manner on the basis of predefined criteria.

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.

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.