SYSTEM AND METHOD TO RENDER 3D IMAGES FROM A 2D SOURCE

1 . A method to render 3D images from a 2D image source, comprising:

providing a depth map and a 2D image;

creating at least two view angles on each 3D scene to represent an intraocular distance using a graphics rendering device; and

presenting both of at least two view angles on a display using the graphics rendering device for at least one of two view angles.

2 . The method of claim 1 where at least one of the view angles is normal to the original image and the other view angle is offset.

3 . A method to render 3D images from a 2D image source, comprising:

providing textures and depth-maps to describe an object in a 3D scene;

creating an offset view angle on the 3D scene to represent an intraocular distance using a graphics rendering device;

presenting at least two view angles on a display using the graphics rendering device wherein one of the view angles is normal to the original and the other is the offset view angle that visually introduces horizontal tilt.

4 . The method of claim 3 wherein the provided texture is one of a graphics texture and a video texture.

5 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the original image is provided for viewing by one eye of a viewer and the 3D core provides a second rendered image for viewing by the other eye of the viewer wherein the amount of work for the 3D core is halved and the effective frame-rate is increased.

6 . The method of claim 3 wherein the frame rate is increased by at least a factor of two.

7 . A method to render 3D images from a 2D source, comprising:

providing a graphics rendering device ( 100 ) to estimate depth of a 2D image;

providing video textures ( 40 ) and depth-maps ( 20 ) to describe an object ( 50 ) in a 3D scene;

creating at least two view angles on the 3D scene to represent an intraocular distance using the graphics rendering device; and

presenting both of the at lest two view angles on a display using the graphics rendering device.

8 . The method as claimed in claim 7 wherein the graphics rendering device is one of compliant to a programming language and compliant to OpenGL or OpenGLES.

9 . A method to render a 3D image from a 2D source, comprising:

providing a graphics rendering device to generate a depth-map of a 2D image;

providing video textures to describe an object in a 3D scene,

calculating a depth-map of a graphics system in the 3D scene within a graphics core to describe the object;

creating at least two view angles on the scene to represent an intraocular distance;

presenting both view angles on a display using the graphics rendering device.

10 . The method as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the graphics rendering device is one of compliant to a programming language and compliant to OpenGL or OpenGLES.

11 . The method of claim 7 , comprising:

rendering another object in the 3D scene by using draw capabilities of the graphics rendering device to represent at least one of occlusion and transparency of the objects.

12 . The method as claimed in claim 7 , comprising:

rendering optional transparency settings on the video texture.

13 . The method as claimed in claim 7 , comprising:

providing the transparency settings on the video texture per pixel, gradation, or fixed.

14 . The method as claimed in claim 7 , comprising:

manipulating the object as per any 3D texture.

15 . The method as claimed in claim 7 , comprising:

using a vertex shader to move vertices in a 3D space to mimic a page turn;

changing the shape of the 3D object; and

applying the texture to the 3D object.

16 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the step of rendering the transparency settings is performed on a window-manager, wherein part of object is occluded or partial transparency depending on which window in total display is active.

17 . The method as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the 2D image and the depth-map is used as part of a resource for rendering scenes.

18 . A communications system, comprising:

a graphics rendering device;

a display;

said graphics rendering device is configured to render 2D content as delivered from a content delivery source on said display.

19 . The communications system as claimed in claim 18 , wherein said graphics rendering device is a processor included in a set top box.

20 . A method of providing a display customization, comprising:

using a 3D rendering capability at a set top box to implement a customization of a display.