US6448971B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Audio driven texture and color deformations of computer generated graphics
Assignee: Creative Technology Ltd
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Filing: 2000-01-26
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Granted: 2002-09-10
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Expires: 2020-01-26
Abstract
Abstract A technique for changing the appearance of visual images mapped on a 3D object rendered by a computer includes the stepped of remapping texture coordinates to vertices of a 3D object at discrete time intervals and blending the remapped images. The control intervals are triggered by events in monitored signal such as an audio feed or a video stream. The images of the video stream can be the textures mapped to the 3D object.
Inventors
- 👤 Alan Seefeldt
- 👤 Alan Peevers
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 21:01
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T15/00; G06T15/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
143 words
A method for deforming computer generated graphic images comprising the acts of: forming a mapped image by mapping distinct sets of texture coordinates to a plurality of vertices existing in the virtual 3D image environment, with each set of texture coordinates describing a specific point of an image that is to be mapped to a surface defined by the vertices; monitoring an external signal to detect triggering events; generating an animation control signal when a triggering event is detected, with an animation control signal having a duration equal to a control interval; remapping different sets of texture coordinates to said vertices at discrete time intervals during said control interval to animate the appearance of said mapped image on said surface; and blending newly mapped texture coordinates mapped at different time intervals with the current vertex texture coordinates to smoothly animate the mapped image.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
143 words
A method for deforming computer generated graphic images comprising the acts of: forming a mapped image by mapping distinct sets of texture coordinates to a plurality of vertices existing in the virtual 3D image environment, with each set of texture coordinates describing a specific point of an image that is to be mapped to a surface defined by the vertices; monitoring an external signal to detect triggering events; generating an animation control signal when a triggering event is detected, with an animation control signal having a duration equal to a control interval; remapping different sets of texture coordinates to said vertices at discrete time intervals during said control interval to animate the appearance of said mapped image on said surface; and blending newly mapped texture coordinates mapped at different time intervals with the current vertex texture coordinates to smoothly animate the mapped image.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
72 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of: mapping distinct colors to said vertices; smoothly interpolating mapped colors on the surface between vertices; remapping different sets of distinct colors to said vertices at discrete time intervals during said control interval to animate said mapped colors on said surface; and blending sets of newly mapped colors mapped at different time intervals with the current vertex colors to smoothly animate the colors.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 where said act of remapping comprises the acts of: translating and spiraling the mapped image on the surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the act of: utilizing a video stream as the image to be mapped.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
75 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising a method of restoring a remapped image to a restored configuration, further comprising the acts of: restoring remapped texture coordinates to a default configuration to said vertices at discrete time intervals to change said remapped image on said surface to a default configuration; and blending the default texture coordinates with the remapped texture coordinates to smoothly animate the remapped image from a modified configuration to the default configuration.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the acts of: randomizing the remapping and blending of the texture coordinates.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 where said act of blending further comprises the acts of: providing a blending function which ripples symmetrically from the origin of the texture coordinates.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
182 words
A computer program product comprising: a computer readable storage structure embodying program code thereon, said program code comprising: program code for causing a computer to form a mapped image by mapping distinct sets of texture coordinates to a plurality of vertices existing in the virtual 3D image environment, with each set of texture coordinates describing a specific point of an image that is to be mapped to a surface defined by the vertices; program code for causing a computer to monitor an external signal to detect triggering events; program code for causing a computer to generate an animation control signal when a triggering event is detected, with an animation control signal having a duration equal to a control interval; program code for causing a computer to remap different sets of texture coordinates to said vertices at discrete time intervals during said control interval to animate the appearance of said mapped image on said surface; and program code for causing a computer to blend newly mapped texture coordinates at different time intervals with current vertex texture coordinates to smoothly animate the mapped image.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
182 words
A computer program product comprising: a computer readable storage structure embodying program code thereon, said program code comprising: program code for causing a computer to form a mapped image by mapping distinct sets of texture coordinates to a plurality of vertices existing in the virtual 3D image environment, with each set of texture coordinates describing a specific point of an image that is to be mapped to a surface defined by the vertices; program code for causing a computer to monitor an external signal to detect triggering events; program code for causing a computer to generate an animation control signal when a triggering event is detected, with an animation control signal having a duration equal to a control interval; program code for causing a computer to remap different sets of texture coordinates to said vertices at discrete time intervals during said control interval to animate the appearance of said mapped image on said surface; and program code for causing a computer to blend newly mapped texture coordinates at different time intervals with current vertex texture coordinates to smoothly animate the mapped image.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
153 words
A method for animating computer generated images comprising the acts of: forming a mapped image by mapping distinct sets of texture coordinates to a plurality of vertices existing in the virtual 3D image environment, with each set of texture coordinates describing a specific point of an image that is to be mapped to a surface defined by the vertices; monitoring an external signal to detect triggering events; generating an animation control signal when a triggering event is detected, with an animation control signal having a duration equal to a control interval; mapping distinct colors to said vertices; smoothly interpolating mapped colors on the surface between vertices; remapping different sets of distinct colors to said vertices at discrete time intervals during said control interval to animate said mapped colors on said surface; and blending sets of newly mapped colors mapped at different time intervals with the current vertex colors to smoothly animate the colors.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
153 words
A method for animating computer generated images comprising the acts of: forming a mapped image by mapping distinct sets of texture coordinates to a plurality of vertices existing in the virtual 3D image environment, with each set of texture coordinates describing a specific point of an image that is to be mapped to a surface defined by the vertices; monitoring an external signal to detect triggering events; generating an animation control signal when a triggering event is detected, with an animation control signal having a duration equal to a control interval; mapping distinct colors to said vertices; smoothly interpolating mapped colors on the surface between vertices; remapping different sets of distinct colors to said vertices at discrete time intervals during said control interval to animate said mapped colors on said surface; and blending sets of newly mapped colors mapped at different time intervals with the current vertex colors to smoothly animate the colors.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-09-09 | 2006-03-11 | 2006-09-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-09-09 | 2010-03-11 | 2010-09-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-09-09 | 2014-03-11 | 2014-09-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |