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Computer controlled animation system based on definitional animated objects and methods of manipulating same

  • US 5,261,041 A
  • Filed: 12/28/1990
  • Issued: 11/09/1993
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/28/1990
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A computer implemented process for generating and manipulating animated objects in a computer system, said computer system including a processor, a memory means coupled to said processor, a display means coupled to said processor, and a master clock coupled to said processor for maintaining a global time, said process comprising the computer implemented steps of:

  • generating a plurality of animated objects represented by an object database residing in said memory means, each of said animated objects comprising state data representing a state of said object and each of said animated objects comprising methods representing a behavior of said object, said state data and said methods located within said object database;

    animating said animated objects by executing said methods thereby causing said animated objects to transition from a first state to a second state, said first state and said second state represented by said state data;

    manipulating a descriptive representation of said object, said descriptive representation comprising a plurality of image frames representing said object at different instants of time, said descriptive representation manipulated when said method associated with said animated objects is activated by said computer system that manipulates said descriptive representation; and

    manipulating a mathematical representation of said objects, said mathematical representation comprising a plurality of functions for operating upon a plurality of parameters associated with said objects, said mathematical representation manipulated when said method associated with said animated objects is activated by said computer system that manipulates said mathematical representation.

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