Client/server-based animation software, systems and methods
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system for producing animated works, the system comprising:
- an animation client computer in communication with the animation server computer, the animation client computer comprising a first processor, a display device, at least one input device, and animation client software comprising;
a) instructions executable by the first processor to accept a set of input data from the at least one input device, the set of input data indicating a desired position for an animated object, the animated object comprising a set of one or more polygons and a set of one or more textures to be applied to the set of one or more polygons; and
b) instructions executable by the first processor to transmit the set of input data for reception by an animation server computer; and
an animation server computer comprising a second processor and animation server software comprising;
a) instructions executable by the second processor to receive the set of input data from the animation client computer;
b) instructions executable by the second processor to process the set of input data to determine the desired position of the animated object;
c) instructions executable by the second processor to calculate a set of joint rotations defining the desired position of the animated object; and
d) instructions executable by the second processor to transmit the set of joint rotations for reception by the animation client computer;
wherein the animation client software further comprises;
a) instructions executable by the first processor to receive the set of joint rotations defining the position of the animated object;
b) instructions executable by the first processor to calculate, based on the set of joint rotations, a set of positions for the set of one or more polygons; and
c) instructions executable by the first processor to apply to the set of one or more polygons at least one of the textures from the set of one or more textures to render the animated object in the desired position.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Various embodiments of the invention provide novel software, systems and methods for animation and/or filmmaking. In a set of embodiments, for example, a client-server system provides the ability to control various aspects of a live-action and/or an animated scene, including cameras and/or light sources (either real and/or virtual), animated characters, and other objects. This can include, merely by way of example, moving cameras, light and/or the like, as well as rendering animated objects (e.g., based on movements of the objects themselves and/or based on movements of cameras, lights, etc.).
-
Citations
46 Claims
-
1. A system for producing animated works, the system comprising:
-
an animation client computer in communication with the animation server computer, the animation client computer comprising a first processor, a display device, at least one input device, and animation client software comprising;
a) instructions executable by the first processor to accept a set of input data from the at least one input device, the set of input data indicating a desired position for an animated object, the animated object comprising a set of one or more polygons and a set of one or more textures to be applied to the set of one or more polygons; and
b) instructions executable by the first processor to transmit the set of input data for reception by an animation server computer; and
an animation server computer comprising a second processor and animation server software comprising;
a) instructions executable by the second processor to receive the set of input data from the animation client computer;
b) instructions executable by the second processor to process the set of input data to determine the desired position of the animated object;
c) instructions executable by the second processor to calculate a set of joint rotations defining the desired position of the animated object; and
d) instructions executable by the second processor to transmit the set of joint rotations for reception by the animation client computer;
wherein the animation client software further comprises;
a) instructions executable by the first processor to receive the set of joint rotations defining the position of the animated object;
b) instructions executable by the first processor to calculate, based on the set of joint rotations, a set of positions for the set of one or more polygons; and
c) instructions executable by the first processor to apply to the set of one or more polygons at least one of the textures from the set of one or more textures to render the animated object in the desired position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
-
-
5. A system for producing animated works, the system comprising:
-
an animation client computer, the animation client computer comprising a first processor, a display device, at least one input device, and animation client software comprising;
a) instructions executable by the first processor to accept a set of input data from the at least one input device, the set of input data indicating a desired position for an object; and
b) instructions executable by the first processor to transmit the set of input data for reception by an animation server computer; and
an animation server computer in communication with the animation client computer, the animation server computer comprising a second processor and animation server software comprising;
a) instructions executable by the second processor to receive the set of input data from the animation client computer;
b) instructions executable by the second processor to transmit for reception by the animation client computer a set of position data, based on the set of input data received from the animation client computer;
wherein the animation client software further comprises;
a) instructions executable by the first processor to receive the set of position data from the animation server computer; and
b) instructions executable by the first processor to place the object in the desired position, based at least in part on the set of position data. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
-
-
40. An animation client computer for producing animated works, the animation client computer comprising at least one input device, a processor and animation client software comprising:
-
instructions executable by the processor to accept a set of input data from the at least one input device, the set of input data indicating a desired position for an animated object comprising a set of one or more polygons and a set of one or more textures to be applied to the set of one or more polygons;
instructions executable by the processor to transmit the set of input data for reception by an animation server computer; and
instructions executable by the processor to receive from the animation server computer a set of joint rotations defining the desired position of the animated object, the set of joint rotations being calculated based on the set of input data;
instructions executable by the processor to calculate, based on the set of joint rotations, a set of positions for the set of one or more polygons; and
instructions executable by the processor to apply to the set of one or more polygons at least one of the textures from the set of one or more textures to render the animated object in the desired position. - View Dependent Claims (41)
-
-
42. An animation server computer for producing animated works, the animation server computer comprising a processor and animation server software comprising:
-
instructions executable by the processor to receive from an animation client computer a set of input data obtained from at least one input device, the set of input data indicating a desired position for an animated object comprising a set of one or more polygons and a set of one or more textures to be applied to the set of one or more polygons;
instructions executable by the processor to process the set of input data to determine a desired position of the animated object;
instructions executable by the processor to calculate a set of joint rotations defining the desired position of the animated object; and
instructions executable by the processor to transmit for reception by the animation client computer the set of joint rotations, such that the animation client computer can use the set of joint rotations to render the animated object in the desired position.
-
-
43. A system for producing animated works, the system comprising:
-
a first animation client computer, the first animation client computer comprising a first processor, a first display device, at least one first input device, and first animation client software comprising;
a) instructions executable by the first processor to accept a first set of input data from the at least one input device, the first set of input data indicating a desired position for a first object; and
b) instructions executable by the first processor to transmit the first set of input data for reception by an animation server computer; and
an animation server computer in communication with the animation client computer, the animation server computer comprising a second processor and animation server software comprising;
a) instructions executable by the second processor to receive the first set of input data from the first animation client computer;
b) instructions executable by the second processor to calculate a first set of position data, based on the first set of input data received from the first animation client computer;
d) instructions executable by the second processor to render the first object, based at least in part on the first set of position data;
wherein the first animation client software further comprises;
a) instructions executable by the first processor to display the first object in the desired position. - View Dependent Claims (44)
-
-
45. An animation software package embodied on at least one computer readable medium, the animation software package comprising:
-
an animation client component comprising;
a) instructions executable by a first computer to accept a set of input data from at least one input device at the first computer, the input data indicating a desired position for an object; and
b) instructions executable by a first computer to transmit the set of input data for reception by a second computer; and
an animation server component comprising;
a) instructions executable by a second computer to receive the set of input data from the first computer;
b) instructions executable by a second computer to transmit for reception by the first a set of position data, based on the set of input data received from the animation client computer;
wherein the animation client component further comprises;
a) instructions executable by the first computer to receive the set of position data from the second computer; and
b) instructions executable by the first computer to place the animated object in the desired position, based at least in part on the set of position data.
-
-
46. A method of creating an animated work, the method comprising:
-
accepting at an animation client computer a set of input data from at least one input device, the input data indicating a desired position for an object;
transmitting the set of input data for reception by an animation server computer;
receiving at the animation server computer the set of input data from the animation client computer;
transmitting for reception by the animation client computer a set of position data, based on the set of input data received from the animation client computer;
receiving at the client computer the set of position data from the animation server computer; and
based at least in part on the set of position data, placing the object in the desired position.
-
Specification