Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Computer graphics processing – Animation
Reexamination Certificate
1998-04-14
2001-03-27
Vo, Cliff N. (Department: 2671)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Computer graphics processing
Animation
C345S474000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06208357
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the field of character animation. More specifically, the invention provides a system for creating and animating characters, in which the characters may have one or more associated behaviors and in which the characters can act and react appropriately in a dynamically changing environment.
BACKGROUND
Animated characters are used in a variety of applications, such as movies, cartoons, computer-based games, and computer-based simulations. Existing applications are available for creating two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) static character models. These existing programs include 3D Studio Max™ manufactured by Kinetix of San Francisco, Calif. and Adobe Photoshop™ manufactured by Adobe Systems Inc. of San Jose, Calif.
Existing systems are available to animate a character. These existing systems animate characters by requiring a sequence of key frames to be created (e.g., by animators or artists) and filling in the in-between frames automatically. Generally, this sequence of key frames is environment-specific. Thus, to generate similar character movement in a different environment, a separate sequence of key frames must be created and the in-between frames generated.
For linear applications of character animation (such as those in movies and television), where the environment and the character's movement within it can be predetermined, these sequential animation systems may be sufficient, although not necessarily efficient. The inefficiency is due to the low-level key frame animation that needs to be created by hand, particularly for complex interaction among a large number of characters and between each character and the environment.
For real-time interactive applications of character animation (such as those in computer games and other computer-based simulations) where the environment and the interaction of the characters with the environment may be changing dynamically, these sequential animation systems are not sufficient. Today, these sequential animation systems are being used to pre-generate animation sequences for character animation. During runtime, based on the situation and the desired motion of the character, the appropriate animation sequence is selected and executed to animate the character in the desired manner. By doing that, the interaction between the character and the environment is limited by the number of pre-generated movements available. Certain interactions between the character and the environment may appear unrealistic because a pre-generated movement does not exist for every possible situation and every possible interaction between the character and the environment. For example, a character may have a pre-generated movement that causes the character to grasp an object. Depending on the location of the object to be grasped, the character may need to reach for the object or bend down to pick up the object. Unless a particular sequence of frames has been generated for the required movement in the specific environment, then the motion of the character may appear unrealistic.
Additionally, the pre-generation of movements is time-consuming and expensive. Each pre-generated movement is associated with a particular character movement in a particular environment. Thus, as the number of potential movements increases or the number of potential environments increases, the number of pre-generated movements also increases. For example, if a particular character may grasp an object that can be positioned in twenty different locations, a pre-generated grasping motion may be required for each of the twenty locations.
Using existing systems, since a designer cannot provide a pre-generated movement for every possible character interaction in every possible environment the designer must limit the number of possible situations encountered by the character. This puts a severe limitation on content design.
The use of pre-generated movements by existing systems also requires a significant amount of bandwidth to transmit the pre-generated movements to the system implementing the character. A system requiring a high bandwidth may not be practical in certain network-based applications. In particular, systems requiring high-bandwidth communication links are not well-suited for Internet use. In bandwidth-limited environments, the use of pre-generated movements may not be permitted or may result in the irregular and unrealistic movement of the character.
It is therefore desirable to provide a character animation system that produces a realistic interaction between the character and its environment, even when the environment is changing dynamically, without requiring the generation of environment-specific motion sequences. It is also desirable to provide a character animation system that requires minimal bandwidth to implement the character animation in a network environment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention provide a character animation system that produces motion sequences that represent a realistic interaction between the character and its environment, without requiring environment-specific sequences of key frames to be specified. Embodiments of the present invention also provide a character animation system that requires minimal bandwidth to implement the character animation in a network environment.
An embodiment of the invention provides a system for displaying an animated character by identifying a character for display. The system then identifies at least one skill associated with the identified character and determines at least one behavior associated with the identified character. The identified character is then animated automatically based on the skill and the behavior associated with the identified character.
In a particular embodiment of the invention, animation of the identified character is further based on an environment in which the identified character is displayed.
In another embodiment of the invention, the behavior associated with the animated character is environment-independent.
Other embodiments of the invention use a hierarchical finite state machine to represent the behavior associated with the identified character.
Another embodiment of the invention provides a system for creating an animated character by selecting a character model associated with the animated character. The system then associates a set of skills with the animated character and associates a behavior with the animated character. Both the skills and the behavior associated with the animated character adapts to multiple environments.
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Annesley Geoffrey T.
Becker Craig
Koga Yoshihito Y.
Svihura Michael J.
Zhu David J.
Avid Technology Inc.
Milik Kenneth L.
Monks Lawrence E.
Vo Cliff N.
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