Client/server-based animation software, systems and methods

• US 20060109274A1
• Filed: 10/28/2005
• Published: 05/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Accelerated Pictures, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Accelerated Pictures, LLC
• Inventors: Parry, Mark, Alvarez, Donald
• Application Number:
  US11/262,492
• Publication Number:
  US 20060109274A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/473
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/409 characterised by using manual data input [MDI] or by using control panel, e.g. controlling functions with the panel; characterised by control panel details or by setting parameters G05B19/408, G05B19/4093 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/35438 Joystick
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/35448 Datasuit, arm sleeve, actor, operator wears datasuit and generates motion
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04815 Interaction with a metaphor-based environment or interaction object displayed as three-dimensional, e.g. changing the user viewpoint with respect to the environment or object
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 13/00 Animation
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2200/16 involving adaptation to the client's capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2213/08 Animation software package
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/695 Control of camera direction for changing a field of view, e.g. pan, tilt or based on tracking of objects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/222 Studio circuitry; Studio devices; Studio equipment cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors, or control thereof H04N23/00

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.).

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.

2. A system as recited by claim 1, wherein the animation client software comprises further instructions executable by the first processor to:

display on the display device the rendered animated object.

3. A system as recited by claim 1, wherein the animation server software comprises further instructions executable by the second processor to:

store at a data store associated with the animation server computer the set of joint rotations.

4. A system as recited by claim 1, wherein:

the animation client computer is a plurality of animation client computers comprising a first animation client computer and a second animation client computer;

the first animation client computer comprises the at least one input device;

the second animation client computer comprises the display device;

the animation server computer receives the set of input data from the first animation client computer;

the animation server computer transmits the set of joint rotations for reception by the second animation client computer, and

the second animation client computer is configured to;

a) receive the set of joint rotations;

b) based on the set of joint rotations, calculate a set of positions for the set of one or more polygons;

c) 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; and

d) display on the display device the rendered animated object.

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.

6. A system as recited by claim 5, wherein the object is a virtual object.

7. A system as recited by claim 5, wherein the scene is physical object.

8. A system as recited by claim 5, wherein the object is an animated character.

9. A system as recited by claim 8, wherein the animated character comprises a set of polygons and at least one texture, and wherein placing the object in the desired position comprises rendering the animated character in the desired position.

10. A system as recited by claim 5, wherein the object is a device in communication with the client computer and is selected from the group consisting of a camera and a light source.

11. A system as recited by claim 5, wherein the object is selected from a group consisting of a virtual camera and a virtual light source.

12. A system as recited by claim 5, wherein the set of position data comprises a set of joint rotations defining a position of the object.

13. A system as recited by claim 5, wherein the set of position data comprises a set of joint rotations defining a deformation of a rig describing the object.

14. A system as recited by claim 5, wherein the set of position data comprises a position and/or orientation of a real or virtual camera, and wherein the position of the object in the scene is affected by the position and/or orientation of the real or virtual camera.

15. A system as recited by claim 5, wherein the animation client software further comprises instructions executable by the first processor to process a set of raw input data received from the at least one input device to produce a set of processed input data, such that the set of processed input data is transmitted for reception by the animation server computer.

16. A system as recited by claim 5, wherein the set of input data and/or the set of position data is protected prior to transmission.

17. A system as recited by claim 5, wherein the animation server has an associated data store configured to hold a set of one or more object definition files for the animated object, the set of one or more object definition files collectively specifying a set of polygons and textures that define the object.

18. A system as recited by claim 17, wherein the animation client software further comprises instructions executable by the first processor to download from the animation server computer at least a portion of the set of one or more object definition files necessary to render the object.

19. A system as recited by claim 18, wherein the object definition files are protected prior to transmission.

20. A system as recited by claim 18, wherein the object definition files comprise one or more textures associated with the object.

21. A system as recited by claim 18, wherein the at least a portion of the set of one or more object definition files is insufficient to independently recreate the animated object without additional data resident on the animation server computer.

22. A system as recited by claim 18, wherein the animation client computer is unable to upload to the animation server computer any modifications of the at least a portion of the set of one or more object definition files.

23. A system as recited by claim 18, wherein:

the animation client software comprises further instructions executable by the first processor to modify the at least a portion of the set of one or more object definition files to produce a set of modified object definition files; and

the animation server software comprises further instructions executable by the second processor to receive the set of modified object definition files.

24. A system as recited by claim 23, wherein the animation server software comprises further instructions executable by the second processor to track changes to the set of object definition files.

25. A system as recited by claim 23, wherein the animation server software comprises further instructions executable by the second processor to:

identify a user of the animation client computer; and

based on an identity of the user of the animation client computer, determine whether to accept the set of modified object definition files.

26. A system as recited by claim 23, wherein:

the animation client computer is a first animation client computer; and

the animation server software comprises further instructions executable by the second processor to distribute the set of modified object definition files to a set of animation client computers comprising at least a second animation client computer.

27. A system as recited by claim 17, wherein the data store is configured to hold a plurality of sets of one or more object definition files for a plurality of animated objects.

28. A system as recited by claim 27, wherein the animation server software comprises further instructions executable by the second processor to determine whether to provide to the animation client computer one or more of sets of the object definition files based on (a) a set of payment or billing information, or (b) an identity of a user of the animation client computer.

29. A system as recited by claim 5, wherein the animation server software further comprises:

instructions executable by the second processor to identify a user of the animation client computer; and

instructions executable by the second processor to determine, based at least on an identification of the user, whether to allow the animation client computer to interact with the animation server software.

30. A system as recited by claim 5, wherein the animation server software comprises further instructions executable by the second processor to determine whether to allow the animation client computer to interact with the animation server software based on a set of payment or billing information.

31. A system as recited by claim 5, wherein the animation server software comprises further instructions executable by the second processor to store at a data store associated with the animation server computer the set of position data.

32. A system as recited by claim 31, wherein the animation server software further comprises:

instructions executable by the second processor to store a plurality of sets of position data, each of the sets of position data based on a separate set of input data; and

instructions executable by the second processor to track a series of changes to a position of the object, based on the plurality of sets of position data.

33. A system as recited by claim 5, wherein:

the animation client computer is a first animation client computer; and

the system comprises a second animation client computer in communication with the animation server computer, the second animation client computer comprising a third processor, a second display device, a second input device, and a second animation client software comprising;

a) instructions executable by the third processor to accept a second set of input data from the second input device, the second set of input data indicating a desired position for a second object; and

b) instructions executable by the third processor to transmit the second set of input data for reception by the animation server computer;

wherein;

the animation server software further comprises;

a) instructions executable by the second processor to receive the second set of input data from the animation client computer; and

b) instructions executable by the second processor to transmit for reception by the second animation client computer a second set of position data, based on the second set of input data received from the second animation client computer; and

the second animation client software further comprises;

a) instructions executable by the third processor to receive the second set of position data from the animation server computer; and

b) instructions executable by the third processor to place the second object in the desired position, based at least in part on the second set of position data.

34. A system as recited by claim 33, wherein the second object and the first object are the same object.

35. A system as recited by claim 34, wherein:

the animation server software further comprises;

a) instructions executable by the second processor to transmit the second set of position data for reception by the first animation client computer; and

the animation client software on the first animation client computer further comprises;

a) instructions executable by the first processor to place the object in a position defined by the second set of position data, such that the first display displays the object in a position desired by a user of the second animation client computer.

36. A system as recited by claim 33, wherein the second set of position data has no impact on a rendering of the first object on the first client computer, and wherein the first set of position data has no impact on a rendering of the second object on the second client computer.

37. A system as recited by claim 5, wherein the at least one input device comprises a device selected from the group consisting of a joystick, a game controller, a mouse, a keyboard, a steering wheel, an inertial control system, and an optical control system.

38. A system as recited by claim 5, wherein the at least one input device comprises a full or partial body motion capture unit.

39. A system as recited by claim 5, wherein the at least one input device comprises an optical, mechanical or electromagnetic system configured to capture the position or motion of an actor, puppet or prop.

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.

41. An animation client computer as recited in claim 40, further comprising a display device, wherein the animation client software further comprises:

instructions executable by the processor to display on the display device the rendered animated object.

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.

44. A system as recited by claim 43, wherein:

the system comprises a second animation client computer comprising a third processor, a second display device, at least one second input device, and second animation client software comprising;

a) instructions executable by the third processor to accept a second set of input data from the at least one input device, the set of input data indicating a desired position for a second object; and

b) instructions executable by the third processor to transmit the second set of input data for reception by the animation server computer;

the animation server software further comprises;

a) instructions executable by the second processor to receive the second set of input data from the second animation client computer; and

b) instructions executable by the second processor to transmit for reception by the second animation client computer a second set of position data, based on the second set of input data received from the second animation client computer; and

the second animation client software further comprises;

a) instructions executable by the third processor to receive the second set of position data from the animation server computer; and

b) instructions executable by the third processor to place the second object in the desired position for the second object, based at least in part on the second set of position data.

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.