Generating animation data

• US 20040012594A1
• Filed: 12/06/2002
• Published: 01/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kaydara, Inc. (Autodesk, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Kaydara, Inc. (Autodesk, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lanciault, Robert, Gauthier, Andre
• Application Number:
  US10/314,024
• Publication Number:
  US 20040012594A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/473
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 13/40 of characters, e.g. humans, animals or virtual beings

Abstract

An apparatus and method are provided for generating animation data, including storage means comprising at least one character defined as a hierarchy of parent and children nodes and animation data defined as the position in three-dimensions of said nodes over a period of time, memory means comprising animation instructions, wherein said processing means are configured by said animation instructions to perform the steps of animating said character with first animation data; selecting nodes within said first animation data when receiving user input specifying second animation data in real-time; respectively matching said nodes with corresponding nodes within said second animation data; respectively interpolating between said nodes and said matching nodes; and animating said character with second animation data having blended a portion of said first animation data with said second animation data.

Claims

1. Apparatus for generating animation data, including storage means comprising at least one character defined as a hierarchy of parent and children nodes and animation data defined as the position in three-dimensions of said nodes over a period of time, memory means comprising animation instructions, wherein said processing means are configured by said animation instructions to perform the steps of

animating said character with first animation data;

selecting nodes within said first animation data when receiving user input specifying second animation data in real-time;

matching said nodes with corresponding nodes within said second animation data;

interpolating between said nodes and said matching nodes; and

animating said character with second animation data, having blended a portion of said first animation data with said second animation data in real-time.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said processing means are further configured by said animation instructions to perform the step of configuring input data to be generated in real time by user-operable input devices.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said storage means comprises a plurality of characters, whereby said processing means animate a plurality of characters with first and second animation data.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said nodes include at least one root node and one pivot point.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said matching step includes comparing node names or node references or portions thereof.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said interpolation is linear.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said interpolation is cubic.

8. Apparatus according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the velocity of said interpolation is a function of the velocity of said nodes in said first animation data.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said velocity is constant.

10. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said animation is keyframe-based, forward kinematics-based or inverse kinematics-based.

11. A method of generating animation data, including at least one character defined as a hierarchy of parent and children nodes and animation data defined as the position in three-dimensions of said nodes over a period of time, wherein said method comprises the steps of

animating said character with first animation data;

selecting nodes within said first animation data when receiving user input specifying second animation data in real-time;

matching said nodes with corresponding nodes within said second animation data;

interpolating between said nodes and said matching nodes; and

animating said character with second animation data having blended a portion of said first animation data with said second animation data in real-time.

12. A method according to claim 11, further comprising the step of configuring input data to be generated in real time by user-operable input devices.

13. A method according to claim 11, further including a plurality of characters, whereby said method further comprises the step of animating a plurality of characters with first and second animation data.

14. A method according to claim 11, wherein said nodes include at least one root node and one pivot point.

15. A method according to claim 11, wherein said matching step includes comparing node names or node references or portions thereof.

16. A method according to any of claim 11, wherein said interpolation is linear.

17. A method according to any of claim 11, wherein said interpolation is cubic.

18. A method according to claims 16 or 17, wherein the velocity of said interpolation is a function of the velocity of said nodes in said first animation data.

19. A method according to claim 18, wherein said velocity is constant.

20. A method according to claim 11, wherein said animation is keyframe-based, forward kinematics-based or inverse kinematics-based.

21. A computer-readable medium having computer readable instructions executable by a computer, such that said computer performs the steps of:

animating a character defined as a hierarchy of parent and children nodes with first animation data defined as the position in three-dimensions of said nodes over a period of time;

selecting nodes within said first animation data when receiving user input specifying second animation data in real-time;

matching said nodes with corresponding nodes within said second animation data;

interpolating between said nodes and said matching nodes; and

animating said character with second animation data having blended a portion of said first animation data with said second animation data in real-time.

22. A computer-readable medium according to claim 21, further comprising the step of configuring input data to be generated in real time by user-operable input devices.

23. A computer-readable medium according to claim 21, further including a plurality of characters, whereby said computer further performs the step of animating a plurality of characters with first and second animation data.

24. A computer-readable medium according to claim 21, wherein said nodes include at least one root node and one pivot point.

25. A computer-readable medium according to claim 21, wherein said matching step includes comparing node names or node references or portions thereof.

26. A computer-readable medium according to claim 21, wherein said animation is keyframe-based, forward kinematics-based or inverse kinematics-based.

27. A computer system programmed to process image data, including storage means configured to store at least one character defined as a hierarchy of parent and children nodes and animation data defined as the position in three-dimensions of said nodes over a period of time, memory means configured to store animation instructions and processing means configured by said animation instructions to perform the steps of;

animating said character with first animation data;

selecting nodes within said first animation data when receiving user input specifying second animation data in real-time;

matching said nodes with corresponding nodes within said second animation data;

interpolating between said nodes and said matching nodes; and

animating said character with second animation data, having blended a portion of said first animation data with said second animation data in real-time.

28. A computer system programmed according to claim 27, further comprising the step of configuring input data to be generated in real time by user-operable input devices.

29. A computer system programmed according to claims 27 and 28, further including a plurality of characters, whereby said method further comprises the step of animating a plurality of characters with first animation data.

30. A computer system programmed according to any of claims 27 to 29, wherein said nodes include at least one root node and one pivot point.

31. A computer system programmed according to any of claims 27 to 30, wherein said matching step includes comparing node names or node references or portions thereof.

32. A computer system programmed according to claim 27, wherein said animation is keyframe-based, forward kinematics-based or inverse kinematics-based.