Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Computer graphics processing – Animation
Reexamination Certificate
1995-08-21
2001-06-19
Breene, John (Department: 2177)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Computer graphics processing
Animation
C345S215000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06249293
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a computer graphics (CG) animation editing system, and more particularly to a computer graphics animation editing system for editing CG animation so that objects in the CG animation start or stop moving when the objects enter into predetermined states.
(2) Description of the Related Art
As a result of the progress of computer technology, we have frequent opportunities to use computer graphics animation by which a virtual world can be experienced. The CG animation has been developed such that a complex world having a higher reality can be experienced. For example, in a virtual world experienced by means of recent CG animation, not only is a line-of-sight moved, but also various CG objects are moved.
A conventional CG animation editing system can edit in detail motions of objects constructing a virtual world. Further, a succession of motions of an object can be edited based on an animation making method using a framing technique. The succession of motions of an object in a CG animation are represented by conditions under which the motions start.
However, in the conventional CG animation editing system, as to the succession of motions of objects in a CG animation, only simple editing can be performed. For example, a simple succession of motions defined by using a condition that subjects are brought into contact with each other can be edited. Also a simple succession of motions defined by using a timer can be edited.
Thus, the conventional CG animation editing system can not edit a complex succession of motions of objects as desired by a user.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, a general object of the present invention is to provide a novel and useful computer graphics animation editing system in which the disadvantages of the aforementioned prior art are eliminated.
A specific object of the present invention is to provide a computer graphics animation editing system in which complex succession of motions of objects in a CG animation can be easily edited by a user.
The above objects of the present invention are achieved by a computer graphics animation editing system comprising: storage means for storing a status switch data unit including a starting data block and a response data block, the starting data block indicating a condition of a virtual world, the response data block indicating a response which should occur when the condition indicated by the starting data block is satisfied; calculation means for calculating an updated condition of the virtual world; checking means for determining whether the updated condition of the virtual world calculated by the calculation means is equal to the condition indicated by the starting data block of the status switch data unit; start processing means for causing the response indicated by the response data block to start when the checking means determines that the updated condition of the virtual world is equal to the condition indicated by the starting data block of the status switch data unit; and display means for displaying the virtual world including the result obtained by the start processing means.
According to the present invention, since motions of objects in the virtual world are controlled using the status switch data unit, complex succession of motions of the objects can be easily edited.
The above objects of the present invention are also achieved by a computer graphics animation editing system comprising: first storage means for storing an interference switch data unit including a starting data block and a response data block, the starting data block indicating objects interfering with each other in a virtual world, the response data block indicating a first response which should occur when interference with the objects indicated by the starting data block starts or stops; second storage means for storing a status switch data unit including a starting data block and a response data block, the starting data block indicating a condition of the virtual world, the response data block indicating a second response which should occur when the condition indicated by the starting data block is satisfied; provisional calculation means for provisionally calculating an updated condition of the virtual world; interference determination means for determining whether or not the objects interfere with each other in the virtual world under the updated condition calculated by the provisional calculation means; start determination means for determining, based on a result obtained by the interference determination means, whether or not the first response indicated by the response data block of the interference switch data unit should occur; interference start processing means for, when the start determination means determines that the first response should occur, causing the first response to start; condition decision means for deciding a condition in the virtual world, based on existence or nonexistence of interference of the objects, by accepting the result from the provisional calculation means, by canceling the result from the provisional calculation means or by recalculating using the provisional calculation means; checking means for determining whether the condition of the virtual world decided by the condition decision means is equal to the condition indicated by the starting data block of the status switch data unit; start processing means for causing the second response indicated by the response data block of the status switch data unit to start when the checking means determines that the condition decided by the condition decision means is equal to the condition indicated by the starting data block of the status switch data unit; and display means for displaying the virtual world including the result obtained by the start processing means.
According to the present invention, since motions of objects in the virtual world are controlled using both the interference switch data unit and the status switch data unit, a more complex succession of motions of objects can be easily edited.
The above objects of the present invention are also achieved by a computer graphics animation editing system comprising: first storage means for storing time schedule data indicating a time schedule by which motions of objects proceed step by step; second storage means for storing a status switch data unit including a starting data block and a response data block, the starting data block indicating a condition of the virtual world, the response data block indicating a response which should occur when the condition indicated by the starting data block is satisfied; time calculation means for calculating a time in a next step; schedule determination means for determining, with reference to the time schedule data stored in the first storage means, whether or not there is an object to be moved at the time calculated by the time calculation means; scheduled start processing means for, when the schedule determination means determines that there is an object to be moved, causing a motion of the object to start; calculation means for calculating an updated condition of the virtual world including the moved object; checking means for determining whether the updated condition of the virtual world calculated by the calculation means is equal to the condition indicated by the starting data block of the status switch data unit; start processing means for causing the response indicated by the response data block to start when the checking means determines that the updated condition of the virtual world is equal to the condition indicated by the starting data block of the status switch data unit; and display means for displaying the virtual world including the result obtained by the start processing means.
According to the present invention, since motions of objects in the virtual world are controlled using the time schedule data and the status switch data unit, a more complex succession of motions of objects can be easily edited.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5261041 (1993-11-01),
Kasai Satoshi
Suzuki Kaori
Tada Atsuko
Yumoto Asako
Breene John
Fujitsu Limited
Staas & Halsey , LLP
LandOfFree
Virtual world animation using status and response for... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Virtual world animation using status and response for..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Virtual world animation using status and response for... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2495610