Method for processing animated graphics

• US 4,918,435 A
• Filed: 12/06/1988
• Issued: 04/17/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Okuma Tekkosho
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Okuma Tekkosho
• Inventors: Shibata, Akihito, Ryouki, Masato
• Primary Examiner(s): Brigance, Gerald
• Application Number:
  US07/281,901
• Time in Patent Office: 497 Days
• Field of Search: 340/747, 340/723, 340/724, 340/725, 340/703, 340/798, 340/799
• US Class Current: 345/24
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 13/80 2D [Two Dimensional] animation, e.g. using sprites
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/346 for systems having a bit-mapped display memory

Abstract

In a method for processing animated graphic in which a graphic symbol is displayed on a displaying unit on the basis of data preliminarily set in a video RAM and the displayed graphic symbol is totally shifted by a predetermined amount, the graphic symbol to be shifted is initially described in an original graphics storing area and a graphic symbol transfer area is provided so as to include the graphic symbol initially described in the original graphics storing area and includes a non-display area at the outer periphery thereof. The data corresponding to the transfer area is then transferred into the video RAM the transferred data including the sizes or dimensions and the coordinate of the reference point of the transfer area.

Claims

1. A method for processing animated graphics, the animation being effected by shifting displayed symbols, the method comprising the steps of:

displaying a graphic symbol which is to be shifted on a display means so as to thereby effect animation, the displaying beingon the basis of display data preliminarily set in a video RAM;

initially describing said graphic symbol in an original graphic storage area, wherein said graphic symbol is initially described only once in said original graphic storing areas;

defining a transfer area including an area containing said graphic symbol initially described once in said original graphic storing area and further including a non-display area at the outer periphery thereof, wherein graphics contained within said transfer area are to be moved so as to effect animation; and

entering data corresponding to said transfer area including said graphic symbol into said video RAM so that said graphic symbol is moved by a preselected distance on said display means, the movement of said graphic symbol thereby effecting animation.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said method further comprises the steps of inputting sizes or dimensions of said transfer area and a coordinate of a reference point of said transfer area by using a data inputting means and transferring the inputted size or dimension data and the inputted coordinate data into said video RAM respectively.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein said transfer area is of a rectangular shape.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein said display means is a CRT and wherein data transferred from said video RAM is displayed on the CRT.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein said method further comprises the step of inputting at least one of original graphic describing commands and original graphic data registration commands and original graphic data transfer commands by using a data inputting means, wherein said oroginal graphics describing commands are defined to be commands used to enter original graphic data corresponding to an original graphic in said original graphic storing area and said oroginal graphic data registratin commands are defined to be commands used to register said original graphic data in an oriiginal graphic data registrtion area and said original graphic data transfer commands are defined to be commands used to transfer said original graphic data from said original graphic storing area to said video RAM.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein said method further comprises the steps of determining if original graphic describing commands have been generated and if so, storing graphic dot information in the said original graphic storing area.

7. A method according to claim 5, wherein said method further comprises the steps of determining if original graphic describing commands have been generated and if not, determining if original graphic data transfer commands have been generated and if so, transferring said original graphic data to said original graphic storing area.

8. A method according to claim 5, wherein said method further comprises the steps of determining if original graphic describing commands have been generated and if not, determining if original graphic data transfer commands have been generated and if not, determining if original graphic data registration commands have been generated and if so, registering said original graphic data in said original graphic data registration unit.