INTERACTIVE 3D ANIMATED CHARACTER DELIVERY OVER A NETWORK

• US 20090204909A1
• Filed: 02/12/2009
• Published: 08/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Scelzi Enterprises, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Scelzi Enterprises, Inc.
• Inventors: Hornbaker, Ron A.
• Application Number:
  US12/370,031
• Publication Number:
  US 20090204909A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/757
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/409 Data transfer via television network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234318 by decomposing into objects, e.g. MPEG-4 objects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47205 for manipulating displayed content, e.g. interacting with MPEG-4 objects, editing locally
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4781 Games
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8545 for generating interactive applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

Fully-rendered three-dimensional characters are delivered to a client over a network. A logic file and brief pre-rendered video clips are downloaded from a server. The video clips are downloaded only once and then cached locally for subsequent use. A software application uses the logic file to piece the video clips together in a seamless fashion to display a life-like character. The character is responsive to various trigger events, including user actions, elapsed time, and semi-random occurrences as directed by the logic file.

Claims

1. A method of delivering an interactive, fully-rendered three-dimensional character over a network to a player on a client, the method comprising:

storing a plurality of brief, pre-rendered video clips, each video clip showing a sequence of animation of a character;

storing state information describing a state of the character;

responsive to a first request from the player,

creating a logic file including the state of the character and a playlist of video clips from the plurality of stored video clips, the logic file providing instructions for causing the player to play video clips according to the playlist to simulate a life-like character, and

sending the logic file to the player;

responsive to the player executing the logic file and a user'"'"'s interactions with the character, receiving a second request from the player for a video clip from the playlist; and

responsive to the second request, sending the video clip to the player.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving information describing user interactions with the character at the player; and

updating the state information stored in the database responsive to the received information.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the logic file further provides instructions for causing the player to play video clips responsive to trigger events, wherein the trigger events comprise semi-random occurrences, expiration of time periods, and user interactions.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein each video clip in the plurality of brief, pre-rendered video clips is an animation of a three-dimensional character performing an action.

5. A method of delivering an interactive, fully-rendered three-dimensional character over a network to a player on a client, the method comprising:

responsive to a first request from the player, receiving a logic file including a playlist of a plurality of brief, pre-rendered video clips, each video clip showing a sequence of animation of a character, the logic file providing instructions for causing the player to play video clips according to the playlist and user interactions;

executing the logic file;

downloading video clips of the character responsive to the playlist;

displaying the downloaded video clips of the character according to the logic file instructions to simulate a life-like character;

receiving a user'"'"'s interaction with the character;

responsive to the execution of the logic file and the user'"'"'s interaction with the character, requesting a video clip of the character from the playlist; and

responsive to receiving the requested video clip and to the logic file instructions, displaying the requested video clip of the character.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the logic file further provides instructions for causing the player to play video clips responsive to trigger events, wherein the trigger events comprise semi-random occurrences, expiration of time periods, and user interactions.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein each video clip in the plurality of brief, pre-rendered video clips is an animation of a three-dimensional character performing an action.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein downloading video clips of the character responsive to the playlist comprises:

storing downloaded video clips in a local cache; and

responsive to determining that a video clip from the playlist is not in the local cache, downloading the video clip.

9. A computer-readable storage medium storing executable computer program instructions for delivering an interactive, fully-rendered three-dimensional character over a network to a player on a client, the computer program instructions comprising instructions for:

storing a plurality of brief, pre-rendered video clips, each video clip showing a sequence of animation of a character;

storing state information describing a state of the character;

responsive to a first request from the player,

creating a logic file including the state of the character and a playlist of video clips from the plurality of stored video clips, the logic file providing instructions for causing the player to play video clips according to the playlist to simulate a life-like character, and

sending the logic file to the player;

responsive to the player executing the logic file and a user'"'"'s interactions with the character, receiving a second request from the player for a video clip from the playlist; and

responsive to the second request, sending the video clip to the player.

10. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the computer program instructions further comprise instructions for:

receiving information describing user interactions with the character at the player; and

updating the state information stored in the database responsive to the received information.

11. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the logic file further provides instructions for causing the player to play video clips responsive to trigger events, wherein the trigger events comprise semi-random occurrences, expiration of time periods, and user interactions.

12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein each video clip in the plurality of brief, pre-rendered video clips is an animation of a three-dimensional character performing an action.

13. A computer-readable storage medium storing executable computer program instructions for delivering an interactive, fully-rendered three-dimensional character over a network to a player on a client, the computer program instructions comprising instructions for:

responsive to a first request from the player, receiving a logic file including a playlist of a plurality of brief, pre-rendered video clips, each video clip showing a sequence of animation of a character, the logic file providing instructions for causing the player to play video clips according to the playlist and user interactions;

executing the logic file;

downloading video clips of the character responsive to the playlist;

displaying the downloaded video clips of the character according to the logic file instructions to simulate a life-like character;

receiving a user'"'"'s interaction with the character;

responsive to the execution of the logic file and the user'"'"'s interaction with the character, requesting a video clip of the character from the playlist; and

responsive to receiving the requested video clip and to the logic file instructions, displaying the requested video clip of the character.

14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the logic file further provides instructions for causing the player to play video clips responsive to trigger events, wherein the trigger events comprise semi-random occurrences, expiration of time periods, and user interactions.

15. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein each video clip in the plurality of brief, pre-rendered video clips is an animation of a three-dimensional character performing an action.

16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the computer program instructions for downloading video clips of the character responsive to the playlist comprise instructions for:

storing downloaded video clips in a local cache; and

responsive to determining that a video clip from the playlist is not in the local cache, downloading the video clip.