Method and apparatus for creating virtual worlds using a data flow network
First Claim
1. An apparatus for creating a virtual world, the virtual world including a virtual object which represents a physical object, wherein a first point of the virtual object represents a first part of the physical object and the first point moves in relation to second and third points of the virtual object which represent second and third parts of the physical object, wherein a movement of the first point is based on changes in inputs to a data flow network, the data flow network describing the movement of the first point in relation to the second and third points when the movement of the first point is not based on either one of a rotation and a translation of the virtual object, the apparatus comprising:
- a computer display; and
means, connected to the computer display, for generating a data flow network for calculating a movement of a first point of a virtual object in a virtual world in relation to a second point and a third point of the virtual object when the movement is not based on either one of a rotation and a translation of the virtual object, the data flow network including a plurality of interconnected units, and the plurality of interconnected units including at least one input unit representing at least one source of input data for providing input data to the data flow network, a plurality of function units which transform the input data, and a plurality of output units each representing one dimension of a corresponding vector of the first point in a three-dimensional coordinate system, wherein the corresponding vector of the first point generates a first spatial position and a first orientation of the first point in the three-dimensional coordinate system in the virtual world.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A computer display displays a data flow network as a plurality of interconnected units. An interactive program allows the appearance of the plurality of interconnected units to be changed. The data flow network then is automatically altered to correspond with the visual changes. The interconnected units of the data flow network represent inputs, functions and outputs of the data flow network. Inputs represent control signals to manipulate the data flow network, functions modify the value of inputs according to the type of the function unit and outputs represent the x, y or z value of a point in a three-dimensional coordinate system of the virtual world.
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Citations
42 Claims
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1. An apparatus for creating a virtual world, the virtual world including a virtual object which represents a physical object, wherein a first point of the virtual object represents a first part of the physical object and the first point moves in relation to second and third points of the virtual object which represent second and third parts of the physical object, wherein a movement of the first point is based on changes in inputs to a data flow network, the data flow network describing the movement of the first point in relation to the second and third points when the movement of the first point is not based on either one of a rotation and a translation of the virtual object, the apparatus comprising:
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a computer display; and means, connected to the computer display, for generating a data flow network for calculating a movement of a first point of a virtual object in a virtual world in relation to a second point and a third point of the virtual object when the movement is not based on either one of a rotation and a translation of the virtual object, the data flow network including a plurality of interconnected units, and the plurality of interconnected units including at least one input unit representing at least one source of input data for providing input data to the data flow network, a plurality of function units which transform the input data, and a plurality of output units each representing one dimension of a corresponding vector of the first point in a three-dimensional coordinate system, wherein the corresponding vector of the first point generates a first spatial position and a first orientation of the first point in the three-dimensional coordinate system in the virtual world. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 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)
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38. A method for creating a virtual world, the virtual world including a virtual object which represents a physical object, wherein a first point of the virtual object represents a first part of the physical object and the first point moves in relation to second and third points of the virtual object which represent second and third parts of the physical object, wherein a movement of the first point is based on changes in inputs to a data flow network, the data flow network describing the movement of the first point in relation to the second and third points when the movement of the first point is not based on either one of a rotation and a translation of the virtual object, the method comprising the steps of:
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generating a data flow network for calculating a movement of a first point of a virtual object in a virtual world in relation to a second point and a third point of the virtual object when the movement is not based on either one of a rotation and a translation of the virtual object, the data flow network including a plurality of interconnected units, and the plurality of interconnected units including at least one input unit representing at least one source of input data for providing input data to the data flow network, a plurality of function units which transform the input data, and a plurality of output units each representing one dimension of a corresponding vector of the first point in a three-dimensional coordinate system, wherein the corresponding vector of the first point generates a first spatial position and a first orientation of the first point in the three-dimensional coordinate system in the virtual world; and calibrating said at least one source of input data to restrict said input data to a corresponding range. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42)
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Specification