Abstract: A method is provided to progressively load and further process data in a hierarchical lock-free structure. The method includes generally four steps: (a) defining the hierarchical lock-free structure, (b) loading the data into the hierarchical lock-free structure; (c) processing the loaded data, and (d) repeating steps (b) and (c) such that progressively more data are loaded and become available for processing. The hierarchical lock-free structure includes a first level of data including data segments, wherein each of the data segments forms a second level of data. The structure is such that each of the data segments in the second level of data becomes available for further processing when the data segment is referenced in the first level of data. Thus, during the loading step (b), a reference is set in the first level of data to each of the data segments in the second level of data as the data segment is loaded.

Abstract: A method is provided for rendering 3D voxel data including plural voxel sets, while eliminating artifacts that may result from the plural voxel sets colliding with each other (“voxel interpenetration”). In one aspect, the method involves an extension of the splatting approach, and uses a z-buffer associated with each pixel to indicate the z-depth of a voxel to be painted onto the pixel. According to the method, first, the z-buffer for each pixel is reset (cleared). Next, for each of the plural voxel sets, one voxel set at a time (sequentially), voxels within the voxel set are traversed until an occupied voxel is found. If a z value of the occupied voxel is less than a z value stored in the z-buffer, the z value of the occupied voxel is stored in the z-buffer and the occupied voxel is painted onto an associated pixel. Then, the next occupied voxel is considered.