Patent US6199030B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6199030B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Heightened realism for computer-controlled units in real-time activity simulation
Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC
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Filing: 1998-06-19
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Granted: 2001-03-06
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Expires: 2018-06-19
Abstract
Abstract Enhanced realism of a real-time simulator having multiple computer-controlled units results from making the units capable of reacting to only those other units that each of them can be aware of because of their spatial relationships to the unit. Awareness is based upon probabilities; it can persist after a relationship changes; and it can be influenced by a unit's designation of a target. Each unit selects a target based upon a score incorporating multiple aspects of its tactical situation, and can change targets when the situation changes. A unit selects a strategy in response to which of a set of tactical configurations exist between the unit and its target; the strategy can change short of completion when the configuration changes. A plan produces guidance commands from the high-level strategy. The guidance commands are converted into control settings for guiding the subject unit using a physics engine for simulating the physical dynamics of the unit. The control settings can interact with each other under certain conditions. The time rate at which each computer-controlled unit performs the above operations varies with the tactical situation, and can be different for different units. The operator for each unit precomputes some data required for multiple calculations in performing the operations.
Inventors
- 👤 Jeremy D. Stone
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 14:58
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63F; A63F13/00; A63F13/60; A63F13/10; A63F13/45; A63F13/50; A63F13/52; A63F13/80; A63F13/803; A63F2300/00; A63F2300/60; A63F2300/6027; A63F2300/63; A63F2300/64; A63F2300/80; A63F2300/8017; A63F2300/8076
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
119 words
A method for performing a simulation of a subject computer-controlled unit in a simulated environment having at least one other unit within the region, the method comprising: updating a first portion of the simulation at a first rate; updating a second portion of the simulation at a second rate; computing predetermined information relating to the second portion only once during one time interval defined by the second rate; storing the predetermined information during the same one time interval; performing further calculations during the same one time interval, the further calculations referring to the same predetermined information multiple times during the same one time interval; and repeating the preceding three steps during further time intervals defined by the second rate.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
119 words
A method for performing a simulation of a subject computer-controlled unit in a simulated environment having at least one other unit within the region, the method comprising: updating a first portion of the simulation at a first rate; updating a second portion of the simulation at a second rate; computing predetermined information relating to the second portion only once during one time interval defined by the second rate; storing the predetermined information during the same one time interval; performing further calculations during the same one time interval, the further calculations referring to the same predetermined information multiple times during the same one time interval; and repeating the preceding three steps during further time intervals defined by the second rate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
A computer-usable medium carrying instructions and data for causing a programmable digital computer to execute the method of claim 1 .
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined information comprises data representing location of the subject unit within the simulated environment.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 3 , wherein the predetermined information comprises data representing a spatial relationship between the subject unit and the other unit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising: computing a tactical score in response to at least some of the stored information; and determining whether to select the other unit as an object of attention in response to the tactical score.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the second portion of the simulation includes selecting a strategy with respect to the other unit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 6 , wherein the second portion of the simulation further includes issuing a set of guidance commands for directing the computer-controlled unit.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
149 words
A method for performing a simulation of multiple computer-controlled units in a simulated environment, the method comprising: updating a first portion of the simulation of all of the units at the same first rate; updating a second portion of the simulation of each of the units at one of a plurality of different second rates independently of the second rates of the other units; and computing separate sets of predetermined information relating to the second portion only once for each of units during a respective interval defined by its second rate; storing the separate sets of predetermined information during the respective time interval; performing further calculations for each of the units during its respective time interval, the further calculations referring to the same predetermined information multiple times during the same respective time interval; and repeating the preceding three steps during further respective time intervals for each of the units.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
149 words
A method for performing a simulation of multiple computer-controlled units in a simulated environment, the method comprising: updating a first portion of the simulation of all of the units at the same first rate; updating a second portion of the simulation of each of the units at one of a plurality of different second rates independently of the second rates of the other units; and computing separate sets of predetermined information relating to the second portion only once for each of units during a respective interval defined by its second rate; storing the separate sets of predetermined information during the respective time interval; performing further calculations for each of the units during its respective time interval, the further calculations referring to the same predetermined information multiple times during the same respective time interval; and repeating the preceding three steps during further respective time intervals for each of the units.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
A computer-usable medium carrying instructions and data for causing a programmable digital computer to execute the method of claim 8 .
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 8 , wherein different ones of the computer-controlled units have different second rates simultaneously.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 8 , wherein the predetermined information includes data representing the relative locations of the units with respect to each other in the simulated environment.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
104 words
A simulator implemented on a programmed digital computer for controlling a subject unit in a simulated environment containing at least one other unit, the simulator comprising: a first module operating at a first rate; a rate generator for producing one of a plurality of different second rates; and a second module responsive to the rate generator operating at the one second rate for computing predetermined information only once during every time interval defined by the one second rate and for performing further calculations during the same time interval, the further calculations referring to the same predetermined information multiple times during the same time interval.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
104 words
A simulator implemented on a programmed digital computer for controlling a subject unit in a simulated environment containing at least one other unit, the simulator comprising: a first module operating at a first rate; a rate generator for producing one of a plurality of different second rates; and a second module responsive to the rate generator operating at the one second rate for computing predetermined information only once during every time interval defined by the one second rate and for performing further calculations during the same time interval, the further calculations referring to the same predetermined information multiple times during the same time interval.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
12 words
The simulator of claim 12 , wherein the first rate is constant.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
The simulator of claim 13 , wherein none of the second rates exceeds the first rate.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
The simulator of claim 12 , wherein the second module is a target selector for designating the other unit as an object of attention.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
The simulator of claim 12 , wherein the second module is a strategy selector for determining a strategy with respect to the other unit.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
The simulator of claim 12 , wherein the second module is a guidance module issuing guidance commands for directing the subject unit with respect to the other unit.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
154 words
A programmed computer, comprising: input devices for accepting a sequence of commands from a user for directing a simulated player unit; a plurality of controllers each controlling one of a plurality of subject units, each controller including— a first module operating at a first rate, a rate generator for producing one of a plurality of different second rates, and a second module responsive to the rate generator operating at the one second rate for computing predetermined information only once during every time interval defined by the one second rate and for performing further calculations during the same time interval, the further calculations referring to the same predetermined information multiple times during the same time interval; a simulator responsive to the guidance commands for simulating the units in an environment; a rendering module responsive to the simulator for calculating representations of the units; and output devices responsive to the rendering module for displaying the representations.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
154 words
A programmed computer, comprising: input devices for accepting a sequence of commands from a user for directing a simulated player unit; a plurality of controllers each controlling one of a plurality of subject units, each controller including— a first module operating at a first rate, a rate generator for producing one of a plurality of different second rates, and a second module responsive to the rate generator operating at the one second rate for computing predetermined information only once during every time interval defined by the one second rate and for performing further calculations during the same time interval, the further calculations referring to the same predetermined information multiple times during the same time interval; a simulator responsive to the guidance commands for simulating the units in an environment; a rendering module responsive to the simulator for calculating representations of the units; and output devices responsive to the rendering module for displaying the representations.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
13 words
The computer of claim 18 , further comprising a set of storage devices.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
14 words
The computer of claim 19 , wherein the storage devices hold the predetermined information.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
21 words
The computer of claim 18 , wherein the simulator includes a physics engine for simulating at least one of the units.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
23 words
The computer of claim 21 , wherein the physics engine simulates both the player unit and at least one of the computer-controlled units.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-03-05 | 2004-09-04 | 2005-03-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-03-05 | 2008-09-04 | 2009-03-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-03-05 | 2012-09-04 | 2013-03-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |