Device, system, method, and program for reproducing or transfering animation

• US 20040027352A1
• Filed: 04/02/2003
• Published: 02/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Minakuchi, Mitsuru
• Application Number:
  US10/398,096
• Publication Number:
  US 20040027352A1
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 13/80 2D [Two Dimensional] animation, e.g. using sprites

Abstract

When an action tag included in an animation description script of a second character is described to synchronize with an action tag included in an animation description script of a first character, a script interpreting means (106) interprets the action tag included in the animation description script of the first character on the basis of the combination with the synchronized action tag included in the animation description script of the second character with reference to a script interpretation table stored in an interpretation table storing means (105). Thus, it is possible to provide an animation reproduction device and a communication network system capable of automatic modification at reproduction of animation having a plurality of characters so that the respective actions of the plurality of characters are coordinated with each other even without modifying the animation description script of the first character.

Claims

1. An animation reproduction device for reproducing animation having a plurality of characters, comprising:

action pattern storing means for storing action information of the characters as action patterns;

script storing means for storing an animation description script described with a combination or sequence of action tags for specifying the action patterns;

interpretation table storing means for storing a script interpretation table having the action tags and the action patterns associated with each other;

script interpreting means for interpreting the animation description script and associating the animation description script with the action patterns by referring to the script interpretation table stored in the interpretation table storing means; and

animation reproducing means for moving the characters according to the action patterns associated by the script interpreting means,

wherein;

arbitrary one of the action tags included in the animation description script of a second character is described to synchronize with arbitrary one of the action tags included in the animation description script of a first character, and the script interpreting means interprets an action tag included in the animation description script of the first character by referring to an action tag which is included in the animation description script of the second character, and which is synchronized with the action tag included in the animation description script of the first character.

2. The animation reproduction device as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

script creating means for creating the animation description script.

3. The animation reproduction device as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

communicating means for receiving the animation description script from a communication device; and

script creating means for allowing a user to create the animation description script as a response while allowing the user to confirm an action of the characters based on the animation description script which has been received.

4. The animation reproduction device as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

communicating means for receiving the action patterns via a network; and

action pattern storing means for storing the action patterns thus received.

5. The animation reproduction device as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

shape data storing means for storing shape data, which is whole part of the characters or components for making up the characters, and display parameter including at least one of display position, rotation angle or enlargement ratio of the whole part or the components of the characters.

6. The animation reproduction device as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

the animation description script includes a group of unit scripts respectively indicating a range of one interpretation interpreted by the script interpreting means.

7. The animation reproduction device as set forth in claim 6, wherein:

the unit scripts are separated from each other by a blank line.

8. The animation reproduction device as set forth in claim 2, wherein:

the script creating means includes an input section for selecting an action pattern from the action patterns stored in the action pattern storing means, and for specifying duration for moving the characters according to the action pattern thus selected.

9. The animation reproduction device as set forth in claim 2, wherein:

the script creating means includes confirming means for allowing a user to confirm animation reproduced according to the animation description script which has been created.

10. The animation reproduction device as set forth in claim 3, wherein:

the script creating means includes an input section for specifying an arbitrary time of the action of the characters based on the animation description script which has been received.

11. The animation reproduction device as set forth in claim 5, further comprising:

the input section includes an instruction section for instructing the script creating means to create the animation description script based on the action pattern and the duration which have been specified.

12. The animation reproduction device as set forth in claim 5, wherein:

the script creating means includes display means for displaying the action pattern selected by the input section for confirmation of the action pattern.

16. The animation reproduction device as set forth in claim 2, wherein:

the character condition renewing means renews the condition parameter of at least one of the first and second characters based on at least one of the action tags or the condition parameters of the second character which are referred by the script interpreting means for interpreting the animation description script of the first character.

38. An animation reproduction program causing a computer to operate as the respective means included in the animation reproduction device as set forth in claim 1.

45. A computer-readable storage medium containing thereon an animation reproduction program causing a computer to operate as the respective means included in the animation reproduction device as set forth in claim 1.

52. (added) The animation reproduction device as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

the arbitrary one of the action tags included in the animation description script of the second character and the arbitrary one of the action tags included in the animation description script of the first character are synchronized with each other so that an arbitrary description included in the animation description script of the first character is quoted in the animation description script of the second character.

53. (added) The animation reproduction device as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

the arbitrary one of the action tags included in the animation description script of the second character and the arbitrary one of the action tags included in the animation description script of the first character are synchronized with each other by information of time for reproducing animation, the information being described in each of the action tags respectively included in the first and second characters.

13. An animation reproduction device for reproducing animation having a plurality of characters, comprising:

action pattern storing means for storing action information of the characters as action patterns;

character condition storing means for storing condition parameters regarding condition of the characters;

script storing means for storing an animation description script described with a combination or sequence of action tags for specifying the action patterns;

interpretation table storing means for storing a script interpretation table for associating combinations of the action tags and the condition parameters with the action patterns and correction values of the condition parameters;

script interpreting means for interpreting the animation description script and associating the animation description script with the action patterns by referring to the script interpretation table stored in the interpretation table storing means;

animation reproducing means for moving the characters according to the action patterns associated by the script interpreting means; and

character condition renewing means for interpreting the animation description script by referring to the script interpretation table stored in the interpretation table storing means so as to renew the condition parameters,

wherein;

arbitrary one of the action tags included in the animation description script of a second character is described to synchronize with arbitrary one of the action tags included in the animation description script of a first character, and the script interpreting means interprets an action tag included in the animation description script of the first character by referring to an action tag included in the animation description script of the second character, and which is synchronized with the action tag included in the animation description script of the first character.

15. The animation reproduction device as set forth in claim 13, wherein:

the character condition renewing means renews the condition parameters by using the condition parameters and the correction values of the condition parameters associated by the script interpreting means.

17. The animation reproduction device as set forth in claim 13, wherein:

the arbitrary one of the action tags included in the animation description script of the second character and the arbitrary one of the action tags included in the animation description script of the first character are synchronized with each other by description of information of time for reproducing animation.

19. The animation reproduction device as set forth in claim 13, wherein:

the arbitrary one of the action tags included in the animation description script of the second character and the arbitrary one of the action tags included in the animation description script of the first character are synchronized with each other by specifying an arbitrary description included in the animation description script of the first character.

39. An animation reproduction program causing a computer to operate as the respective means included in the animation reproduction device as set forth in claim 13.

46. A computer-readable storage medium containing thereon an animation reproduction program causing a computer to operate as the respective means included in the animation reproduction device as set forth in claim 13.

14. An animation reproduction device for reproducing animation having a plurality of characters, comprising:

action pattern storing means for storing action information of the characters as action patterns;

character condition storing means for storing condition parameters regarding condition of the characters;

script storing means for storing an animation description script described with a combination or sequence of action tags for specifying the action patterns;

interpretation table storing means for storing a script interpretation table having combinations of the action tags and the condition parameters, and the action tags associated with the combinations of the action tags and the condition parameters;

script interpreting means for interpreting the animation description script and associating the animation description script with the action patterns by referring to the script interpretation table stored in the interpretation table storing means; and

animation reproducing means for moving the characters according to the action patterns associated by the script interpreting means,

wherein;

arbitrary one of the action tags included in the animation description script of a second character is described to synchronize with arbitrary one of the action tags included in the animation description script of a first character, and the script interpreting means interprets an action tag included in the animation description script of the first character by referring to an action tag included in the animation description script of the second character, and which is synchronized with the action tag included in the animation description script of the first character.

18. The animation reproduction device as set forth in claim 14, wherein:

the arbitrary one of the action tags included in the animation description script of the second character and the arbitrary one of the action tags included in the animation description script of the first character are synchronized with each other by description of information of time for reproducing animation.

20. The animation reproduction device as set forth in claim 14, wherein:

the arbitrary one of the action tags included in the animation description script of the second character and the arbitrary one of the action tags included in the animation description script of the first character are synchronized with each other by specifying an arbitrary description included in the animation description script of the first character.

40. An animation reproduction program causing a computer to operate as the respective means included in the animation reproduction device as set forth in claim 14.

47. A computer-readable storage medium containing thereon an animation reproduction program causing a computer to operate as the respective means included in the animation reproduction device as set forth in claim 14.

21. An animation reproduction device for reproducing animation having a plurality of characters, comprising:

action pattern storing means for storing action information of the characters as action patterns;

script storing means for storing an animation description script described with a combination or sequence of action tags for specifying the action patterns;

interpretation table storing means for storing a script interpretation table for associating combinations of the action tags of a first character and the action tags of a second character with action tags after modification, and associating the action tags after modification with the action patterns;

script interpreting means for interpreting the animation description script and associating the action tags after modification with the action patterns by referring to the script interpretation table stored in the interpretation table storing means when arbitrary one of the action tags included in the animation description script of a second character is described to synchronize with arbitrary one of the action tags included in the animation description script of a first character; and

animation reproducing means for moving the characters according to the animation description script, or the action patterns associated by the script interpreting means.

22. The animation reproduction device as set forth in claim 21, wherein:

in the script interpretation table, the action tags of the first character are associated with first action tags after modification, and the action tags of the second character are associated with second action tags after modification.

23. The animation reproduction device as set forth in claim 21, wherein:

in the script interpretation table, a combination of one of the action tags of the first character and one of the action tags of the second character is associated with a plurality of action tags after modification; and

the script interpreting means selects one of the plurality of action tags after modification according to probability by referring to the script interpretation table.

24. The animation reproduction device as set forth in claim 23, wherein:

in the script interpretation table, the plurality of the action tags after modification respectively have selection probability denoting likelihood in selection.

25. The animation reproduction device as set forth in claim 21, wherein:

in the script interpretation table, a combination of one of the action tags of the first character and one of the action tags of the second character is associated with a plurality of action tags after modification; and

the script interpreting means selects one of the plurality of action tags after modification in a sequential order by referring to the script interpretation table.

41. An animation reproduction program causing a computer to operate as the respective means included in the animation reproduction device as set forth in claim 21.

48. A computer-readable storage medium containing thereon an animation reproduction program causing a computer to operate as the respective means included in the animation reproduction device as set forth in claim 21.

26. An animation reproduction system, comprising:

a first animation reproduction device; and

a second animation reproduction device,

the first animation reproduction device includes;

a first arrangement having action pattern storing means for storing action information of characters as action patterns, script storing means for storing an animation description script described with a combination or sequence of action tags for specifying the action patterns, interpretation table storing means for storing a script interpretation table having the action tags and the action patterns associated with each other, script interpreting means for interpreting the animation description script and associating the animation description script with the action patterns by referring to the script interpretation table stored in the interpretation table storing means; and

animation reproducing means for moving the characters according to the action patterns associated by the script interpreting means;

first script creating means for creating the animation description script; and

communicating means,

the second animation reproduction device includes;

a second arrangement having a same configuration as that of the first arrangement;

second script creating means for creating the animation description script; and

communicating means,

wherein;

when the animation description script of a first character created by the first script creating means is sent from the first animation reproduction device to the second animation reproduction device via the communicating means, the second script creating means creates the animation description script of a second character so that arbitrary one of the action tags included in the animation description script of the second character is synchronized with arbitrary one of the action tags included in the animation description script of the first character; and

when the animation description script of the second character is sent back from the second animation reproduction device to the first animation reproduction device via the communicating means, the script interpreting means of the first animation reproduction device interprets an action tag included in the animation description script of the first character by referring to the action tag which is included in the animation description script of the second character, and which is synchronized with an action tag included in the animation description script of the first character.

27. The animation reproduction system as set forth in claim 26, wherein:

the first and second animation reproduction devices respectively include script storing means for storing the animation description script which has been sent from one to another as a sent script.

28. The animation reproduction system as set forth in claim 26, wherein:

the first and second animation reproduction devices respectively include received script storing means for storing the animation description script which has been received as a received script.

29. An animation transfer device, comprising:

communicating means for sending and receiving an animation description script with respect to a plurality of animation reproduction devices respectively having a function of creating the animation description script described with a combination or sequence of action tags for specifying action patterns, which are action information of characters, and reproducing animation of the characters according to the animation description script, then sending and receiving the animation description script;

conversion table storing means for storing a script conversion table for associating combinations of the action tags of a first character and the action tags of a second character with action tags after conversion; and

temporary script creating means for creating a temporary animation description script of the first character from a first animation description script by referring to the script conversion table stored in the conversion table storing means, when the first animation description script of the first character created by a first animation reproduction device and a second animation description script of the second character created by a second animation reproduction device as a response to the first animation description script are received by the communicating means, and arbitrary one of the action tags included in the second animation description script of the second character is synchronized with arbitrary one of the action tags included in the first animation description script of the first character,

wherein;

the temporary animation description script is sent to the first animation reproduction device with the second animation description script.

30. The animation reproduction device as set forth in claim 29, wherein:

the arbitrary one of the action tags included in the second animation description script of the second character and the arbitrary one of the action tags included in the first animation description script of the first character are synchronized with each other by description of information of time for reproducing animation.

31. The animation reproduction device as set forth in claim 29, wherein:

the arbitrary one of the action tags included in the second animation description script of the second character and the arbitrary one of the action tags included in the first animation description script of the first character are synchronized with each other by specifying an arbitrary description included in the animation description script of the first character.

32. An animation reproduction device, comprising:

communicating means for carrying out communication with the animation transfer device as set forth in claim 29;

action pattern storing means for storing action information of characters as action patterns;

interpretation table storing means for storing a script interpretation table for associating action tags for specifying the action patterns with the action patterns;

script interpreting means for interpreting an animation description script which is described with a combination or sequence of the action tags for specifying the action patterns, and associating the animation description script with the action patterns by referring to the script interpretation table stored in the interpretation table storing means; and

animation reproducing means for moving the characters according to the action patterns associated by the script interpreting means.

33. The animation reproduction device as set forth in claim 32, further comprising:

script creating means for creating a new animation description script synchronized with an arbitrary action tag included in an arbitrary animation description script.

34. An animation reproduction system comprising:

the animation transfer device as set forth in claim 29 and the animation reproduction device as set forth in claim 32.

43. An animation transfer program causing a computer to operate as the respective means included in the animation transfer device as set forth in claim 29.

44. An animation reproduction program causing a computer to operate as the respective means included in the animation reproduction device as set forth in claim 32.

49. A computer-readable storage medium containing thereon an animation transfer program causing a computer to operate as the respective means included in the animation transfer device as set forth in claim 29.

50. A computer-readable storage medium containing thereon an animation reproduction program causing a computer to operate as the respective means included in the animation reproduction device as set forth in claim 32.

35. An animation reproduction method for reproducing animation having a plurality of characters, comprising:

a script interpreting step for associating action patterns with an animation description script described with a combination or sequence of action tags for specifying the action patterns which are action information of the characters; and

an animation reproducing step for moving the characters according to the action patterns associated with the animation description script in the script interpreting step,

wherein;

arbitrary one of the action tags included in the animation description script of a second character is described to synchronize with arbitrary one of the action tags included in the animation description script of a first character, and the script interpreting step is carried out by interpreting the action tags included in the animation description script of the first character by referring to the action tags which are included in the animation description script of the second character, and which are synchronized with the action tags included in the animation description script of the first character.

36. The animation reproduction method as set forth in claim 35, wherein:

the script interpreting step includes a step for moving a reading position of the animation description script between a plurality of animation description scripts so as to sequentially read out the plurality of animation description scripts prepared for each of the characters.

37. The animation reproduction method as set forth in claim 35, further comprising:

a step for modifying the action patterns associated with the action tags based on condition parameters regarding condition of at least one of the first and second characters, the action patterns being associated with the action tags by interpretation of the action tags included in the animation description script of the first character.

42. An animation reproduction program causing a computer to execute the respective steps included in the animation reproduction method as set forth in claim 35.

51. A computer-readable storage medium containing thereon an animation reproduction program causing a computer to execute the respective steps included in the animation reproduction method as set forth in claim 35.

54. (added) An animation reproduction device for reproducing animation having a plurality of characters, comprising:

action pattern storing means for storing action information of the characters as action patterns;

script storing means for storing an animation description script described with a combination or sequence of action tags for specifying the action patterns;

interpretation table storing means for storing a script interpretation table for associating the action tags with the action patterns;

script interpreting means for interpreting the animation description script and associating the animation description script with the action patterns by referring to the script interpretation table stored in the interpretation table storing means;

animation reproducing means for moving the characters according to the action patterns associated by the script interpreting means;

communicating means for receiving the animation description script of a character of another party from a communication device; and

script creating means for creating the animation description script of the character of a user operating the animation reproduction device as a response so that the response is synchronized with arbitrary one of the action tags included in the animation description script of the character of another party,

wherein;

when arbitrary one of the action tags included in the animation description script of the character of another party which has been received is described to synchronize with arbitrary one of the action tags included in the animation description script of the character of the user, the script interpreting means interprets an action tag included in the animation description script of the character of the user by referring to an action tag which is synchronized with the action tag included in the animation description script of the character of the user, and which is included in the animation description script of the character of another party which has been received.

55. (added) The animation reproduction device as set forth in claim 54, wherein:

the script creating means includes;

reproduction scene specifying means for specifying an arbitrary reproduction scene of animation which is reproduced according to the animation description script of the character of another party which has been received; and

inputting means for inputting an action of the character of the user for the response to correspond to the reproduction scene specified by the reproduction scene specifying means, and

the script creating means creates the animation description script of the character of the user as the response by including information to synchronize the response with the reproduction scene specified by the reproduction scene specifying means, the animation description script of the character of the user being created in a part for describing the action of the character of the user by the inputting means.