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US6154222A
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Method for defining animation parameters for an animation definition interface
Assignee: AT&T Inc
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Filing: 1998-03-27
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Granted: 2000-11-28
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Expires: 2018-03-27
Abstract
Abstract A process is defined for the rapid definition of new animation parameters for proprietary renderers. The process accommodates the peculiarities of proprietary models. In a first step, a proprietary model is animated in a standard modeler and the animated models are saved as VRML files. A converter is used to extract the meaning of a newly defined animation parameter by comparing two or more of the VRML files. Thus, the output of this process is the model and a table describing the new animation parameter. This information is read by the renderer and used whenever the animation parameter is required. The process can easily be used to generate new shapes from the original model.
Inventors
- 👤 Erich Haratsch
- 👤 Joern Ostermann
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 18:58
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T13/00; G06T9/00; G06T9/001; H; H04; H04N; H04N19/00; H04N19/20; H04N19/27
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
125 words
A method for defining a set of computer animation parameters for an object to be animated electronically, wherein said animation is achieved by electronically altering at least a portion of said object in a controlled manner, said method comprising the steps of: obtaining an electronic reference model of said object to be animated; altering said reference model to form a modified model corresponding to a first animation parameter; determining the physical differences between said reference model and said modified model and storing said differences as said first animation parameter; repeating said altering and said determining steps for each of said animation parameters to be defined; and providing said stored parameters to a rendering device for generation of said animation in accordance with said stored parameters.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
125 words
A method for defining a set of computer animation parameters for an object to be animated electronically, wherein said animation is achieved by electronically altering at least a portion of said object in a controlled manner, said method comprising the steps of: obtaining an electronic reference model of said object to be animated; altering said reference model to form a modified model corresponding to a first animation parameter; determining the physical differences between said reference model and said modified model and storing said differences as said first animation parameter; repeating said altering and said determining steps for each of said animation parameters to be defined; and providing said stored parameters to a rendering device for generation of said animation in accordance with said stored parameters.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 further including the step of storing said animation parameters as a lookup function in a table.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 2 further including the step of converting said animation parameters to a format for downloading to rendering device along with said reference model.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 further including the definition of an object as a scenegraph and the definition of high level animation parameters to allow rigid and flexible deformation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 3 wherein said high level animation parameters correspond to rigid motion and rigid and flexible deformation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 3 further including the step of downloading said object to a client that animates the model.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 3 further including the step of downloading said object to a player that animates the model with animation parameters.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 1 further including the step of defining a major animation parameter, said step includes the sub-steps of: defining a plurality of associated animation parameters representing an animation sequence; and storing said plurality of associated animation parameters as said major parameter.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 8 further including the step of defining a plurality of said major animation parameters, wherein each of said major animation parameters presents a different animation sequence.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 9 further including the step of defining a super animation parameter, said step includes the sub-steps of: combining a plurality of said major animation parameters; and storing said plurality of major animation parameters as said super animation parameter.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 9 further including the step of defining a plurality of said major animation parameters, wherein each of said major animation parameters presents a different human expression.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 11 further including the step of defining a super animation parameter, said step includes the sub-steps of: combining a plurality of said major animation parameters; and storing said plurality of major animation parameters as said super parameter.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said object includes characteristics of a human being and said method further includes the step of defining a major animation parameter representing a human expression, said step includes the sub-steps of: defining a plurality of animation parameters representing said human expression; and storing said plurality of animation parameters as said major parameter.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 13 further including the step of storing said animation parameters as functions in a look up table.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 13, wherein said major animation parameter represents a smile.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 13, wherein said major animation parameter represents a frown.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 13, wherein said major animation parameter represents the movement of an eye.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 13, wherein said major animation parameter represents an eye wink.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 13, wherein said major animation parameter represents a tongue roll.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 13, wherein said major animation parameter represents the movement of a mouth.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 13, wherein said major animation parameter represents simulated speech.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 13, wherein said major animation parameter represents a human gesture.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 13, wherein said major animation parameter represents visemes.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 13, wherein said major animation parameter represents deformation at the joints of a simulated human skeleton.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said animation is described by spline functions.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said animation is described by rational polynomial functions.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said animation is described by general functions.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said determining step includes the sub-step of comparing the vertex positions of said modified model to the vertex positions of said reference model.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 28, wherein said determining step further includes the step of determining said animation parameters in accordance with the differences between said vertex positions of said modified model and said vertex positions of said reference model.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 29 wherein said determining step further includes computing a spline function from a plurality of differences.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 29 wherein said determining step further includes computing arbitrary functions.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 29 wherein said determining step further includes the step of computing three dimensional displacement vectors defining the differences between said vertex positions of said modified model and said vertex positions of said reference model.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 32 wherein said determining step further includes the step of storing said displacement vectors in a table as said animation parameters.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said determining step includes the step of approximating the differences between said reference model and said modified model and storing said differences as said first animation parameters.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5854634A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-11-28 | 2004-05-29 | 2004-11-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-11-28 | 2008-05-29 | 2008-11-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-11-28 | 2012-05-29 | 2012-11-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |