Techniques for animating complex scenes
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method of facilitating animation of a scene comprising a plurality of objects, the plurality of objects represented by a plurality of models, the method comprising:
- receiving information identifying a first model to be animated from the plurality of models;
using a first representation to determine a set of models from the plurality of models that are needed for evaluation of the first model, the first representation comprising information identifying one or more inputs and outputs of the models in the plurality of models and identifying dependencies between the one or more inputs and outputs; and
loading the first model and the set of models in computer memory, wherein the plurality of models comprises at least one model that is not loaded into the computer memory.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Techniques that enable users (e.g., animators) to accurately animate models in a scene without having to load all the models involved in the scene concurrently in computer memory. For a particular model that a user wishes to animate, only a minimal set of models involved in the scene that are needed for the particular model to evaluate correctly are determined and loaded into computer memory. Additionally, if a particular model is to be unloaded from computer memory, then all models that depend, either directly or indirectly, on the particular model and that are loaded in memory are also unloaded from memory in order to avoid incorrect animation.
17 Citations
30 Claims
-
1. A computer-implemented method of facilitating animation of a scene comprising a plurality of objects, the plurality of objects represented by a plurality of models, the method comprising:
-
receiving information identifying a first model to be animated from the plurality of models;
using a first representation to determine a set of models from the plurality of models that are needed for evaluation of the first model, the first representation comprising information identifying one or more inputs and outputs of the models in the plurality of models and identifying dependencies between the one or more inputs and outputs; and
loading the first model and the set of models in computer memory, wherein the plurality of models comprises at least one model that is not loaded into the computer memory. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. A computer-implemented method of facilitating animation of a scene comprising a plurality of objects, the plurality of objects represented by a plurality of models, the method comprising:
-
receiving information identifying a first model from the plurality of models to be unloaded from computer memory;
using a first representation to determine a first set of models from the plurality of models that depend on the first model, the first representation comprising information identifying one or more inputs and outputs of the models in the plurality of models and identifying dependencies between the one or more inputs and outputs; and
unloading, from the computer memory, the first model and one or more models from the first set of models that are loaded in the computer memory. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A computer program product stored on a computer-readable medium for facilitating animation of a scene comprising a plurality of objects, the plurality objects represented by a plurality of models, the computer program product comprising:
-
code for receiving information identifying a first model to be animated from the plurality of models;
code for using a first representation to determine a set of models from the plurality of models that are needed for evaluation of the first model, the first representation comprising information identifying one or more inputs and outputs of the models in the plurality of models and identifying dependencies between the one or more inputs and outputs; and
code for loading the first model and the set of models in computer memory, wherein the plurality of models comprises at least one model that is not loaded into the computer memory. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. A computer program product stored on a computer-readable medium for facilitating animation of a scene comprising a plurality of objects, the plurality of objects represented by a plurality of models, the computer program product comprising:
-
code for receiving information identifying a first model from the plurality of models to be unloaded from computer memory;
code for using a first representation to determine a first set of models from the plurality of models that depend on the first model, the first representation comprising information identifying one or more inputs and outputs of the models in the plurality of models and identifying dependencies between the one or more inputs and outputs; and
code for unloading, from the computer memory, the first model and one or more models from the first set of models that are loaded in the computer memory. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
-
-
23. A system for facilitating animation of a scene comprising a plurality of objects, the plurality of objects represented by a plurality of models, the system comprising:
-
a processor;
a volatile memory coupled to the processor;
a storage subsystem coupled to the processor, the storage subsystem is configured to store instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to;
receive information identifying a first model to be animated from the plurality of models;
use a first representation to determine a set of models from the plurality of models that are needed for evaluation of the first model, the first representation comprising information identifying one or more inputs and outputs of the models in the plurality of models and identifying dependencies between the one or more inputs and outputs; and
load the first model and the set of models in volatile memory, wherein the plurality of models comprises at least one model that is not loaded into the computer memory. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
-
-
26. A system for facilitating animation of a scene comprising a plurality of objects, the plurality of objects represented by a plurality of models, the system comprising:
-
a processor;
a volatile memory coupled to the processor;
a storage subsystem coupled to the processor, the storage subsystem is configured to store instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to;
receive information identifying a first model from the plurality of models to be unloaded from computer memory;
use a first representation to determine a first set of models from the plurality of models that depend on the first model, the first representation comprising information identifying one or more inputs and outputs of the models in the plurality of models and identifying dependencies between the one or more inputs and outputs; and
unload, from the volatile memory, the first model and one or more models from the first set of models that are loaded in the volatile memory. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
-
-
29. An apparatus for facilitating animation of a scene comprising a plurality of objects, the plurality of objects represented by a plurality of models, the apparatus comprising:
-
means for receiving information identifying a first model to be animated from the plurality of models;
means for using a first representation to determine a set of models from the plurality of models that are needed for evaluation of the first model, the first representation comprising information identifying one or more inputs and outputs of the models in the plurality of models and identifying dependencies between the one or more inputs and outputs; and
means for loading the first model and the set of models in computer memory, wherein the plurality of models comprises at least one model that is not loaded into the computer memory.
-
-
30. An apparatus for facilitating animation of a scene comprising a plurality of objects, the plurality of objects represented by a plurality of models, the apparatus comprising:
-
means for receiving information identifying a first model from the plurality of models to be unloaded from computer memory;
means for using a first representation to determine a first set of models from the plurality of models that depend on the first model, the first representation comprising information identifying one or more inputs and outputs of the models in the plurality of models and identifying dependencies between the one or more inputs and outputs; and
means for unloading, from the computer memory, the first model and one or more models from the first set of models that are loaded in the computer memory.
-
Specification