Method and system for generating objects for a multi-person virtual world using data flow networks
First Claim
1. A simulating apparatus comprising:
- modeling means for creating a model of a physical environment in a computer database;
first body sensing means, disposed in close proximity to a part of a first body, for sensing a physical status of the first body part relative to a first reference position;
second body sensing means, disposed in close proximity to a part of a second body, for sensing a physical status of the second body part relative to a second reference position;
first body emulating means, coupled to the first body sensing means, for creating a first cursor in the computer database, the first cursor including plural first cursor nodes and emulating the physical status of the first body part, the first body emulating means including a first point hierarchy and a first data flow network, the first point hierarchy for controlling a shape and an orientation of the first cursor and for attaching each of the plural first cursor nodes hierarchically with at least one other of the plural first cursor nodes, the first data flow network for controlling motion of the first cursor and the first data flow network including a first interconnection of first input units, first function units and first output units, the first input unity receiving the physical status of the first body part, each first function unit including at least one input and at least one output and calculating, based on the at least one input, a value for each of the at least one output, and the first output units for producing position and orientation values for a portion of the plural first cursor nodes;
first integrating means, coupled to the modeling means and to the first emulating means, for integrating the first cursor with the model;
second body emulating means, coupled to the second body sensing means, for creating a second cursor in the computer database, the second cursor including plural second cursor nodes and emulating the physical status of the second body part, the second body emulating means including a second point hierarchy and a second data flow network, the second point hierarchy for controlling a shape and an orientation of the second cursor and for attaching each of the plural second cursor nodes hierarchically with at least one other of the plural second cursor nodes, the second data flow network for controlling motion of the second cursor and the second data flow network including a second interconnection of second input units, second function units and second output units, the second input units receiving the physical status of the second body part, each second function unit including at least one input and at least one output and calculating, based on the at least one input, a value for each of the at least one output, and the second output units for producing position and orientation values for a portion of the plural second cursor nodes; and
second integration means, coupled to the modeling means and to the second body emulating means, for integrating the second cursor with the model.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A computer model of a virtual environment is continuously modified by input from various participants. The virtual environment is displayed to the participants using sensory displays such as head-mounted visual and auditory displays which travel with the wearer and track the position and orientation of the wearer'"'"'s head in space. Participants can look at each other within the virtual environment and see virtual body images of the other participants in a manner similar to the way that people in a physical environment see each other. Each participant can also look at his or her own virtual body in exactly the same manner that a person in a physical environment can look at his or her own real body. The participants may work on a common task together and view the results of each other'"'"'s actions.
167 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A simulating apparatus comprising:
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modeling means for creating a model of a physical environment in a computer database; first body sensing means, disposed in close proximity to a part of a first body, for sensing a physical status of the first body part relative to a first reference position; second body sensing means, disposed in close proximity to a part of a second body, for sensing a physical status of the second body part relative to a second reference position; first body emulating means, coupled to the first body sensing means, for creating a first cursor in the computer database, the first cursor including plural first cursor nodes and emulating the physical status of the first body part, the first body emulating means including a first point hierarchy and a first data flow network, the first point hierarchy for controlling a shape and an orientation of the first cursor and for attaching each of the plural first cursor nodes hierarchically with at least one other of the plural first cursor nodes, the first data flow network for controlling motion of the first cursor and the first data flow network including a first interconnection of first input units, first function units and first output units, the first input unity receiving the physical status of the first body part, each first function unit including at least one input and at least one output and calculating, based on the at least one input, a value for each of the at least one output, and the first output units for producing position and orientation values for a portion of the plural first cursor nodes; first integrating means, coupled to the modeling means and to the first emulating means, for integrating the first cursor with the model; second body emulating means, coupled to the second body sensing means, for creating a second cursor in the computer database, the second cursor including plural second cursor nodes and emulating the physical status of the second body part, the second body emulating means including a second point hierarchy and a second data flow network, the second point hierarchy for controlling a shape and an orientation of the second cursor and for attaching each of the plural second cursor nodes hierarchically with at least one other of the plural second cursor nodes, the second data flow network for controlling motion of the second cursor and the second data flow network including a second interconnection of second input units, second function units and second output units, the second input units receiving the physical status of the second body part, each second function unit including at least one input and at least one output and calculating, based on the at least one input, a value for each of the at least one output, and the second output units for producing position and orientation values for a portion of the plural second cursor nodes; and second integration means, coupled to the modeling means and to the second body emulating means, for integrating the second cursor with the model. - 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, 27, 28, 29)
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26. A simulating apparatus comprising:
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a modeling means for creating a virtual world model of a physical environment in a computer database; a first sensor for sensing a first real world parameter; first emulating means, coupled to the first sensor for emulating a first virtual world phenomenon in the virtual world model, the first emulating means including a first point hierarchy and a first data flow network, the first point hierarchy for controlling a shape and an orientation of a first cursor, including plural first cursor nodes, and for attaching each of the plural first cursor nodes hierarchically with at least one other of the plural first cursor nodes, the first data flow network for controlling motion of the first cursor and the first data flow network including a first interconnection of first input units, first function units and first output units, the first input units receiving the physical status of the first body part, each first function unit including at least one input and at least one output and calculating, based on the at least one input, a value for each of the at least one output, and the first output units for producing position and orientation values for a portion of the plural first cursor nodes; a second sensor for sensing a second real world parameter; and second emulating means, coupled to the second sensor, for emulating a second virtual world phenomenon in the virtual world model, the second emulating means including a second point hierarchy and a second data flow network, the second point hierarchy for controlling a shape and an orientation of a second cursor, including plural second cursor nodes, and for attaching each of the plural second cursor nodes hierarchically with at least one other of the plural second cursor nodes, the second data flow network for controlling motion of the second cursor and the second data flow network including a second interconnection of second input units, second function units and second output units, the second input units receiving the physical status of the second body part, each second function unit including at least one input and at least one output and calculating, based on the at least one input, a value for each of the at least one output, and the second output units for producing position and orientation values for a portion of the plural second cursor nodes.
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30. A simulating method, comprising the steps of:
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creating a virtual environment; constructing virtual objects within the virtual environment using a point hierarchy and a data flow network for controlling motion of nodes of the virtual objects wherein the step of constructing includes attaching each node of the virtual objects hierarchically with at least one other of the nodes to form the point hierarchy, each of the nodes of the virtual objects having a position and an orientation, and building the data flow network as an interconnection of input units, function units and output units, wherein said input units receive data from sensors and output the received data to at least one of said function units, wherein each of said function units includes at least one input and at least one output, each function unit generating a value for the at least one output based on at least one of data received from at least one of the input units and data received from an output of at least one other of said function units, and wherein the output units generate the position and the orientation of a portion of the nodes of the virtual objects; inputting data from sensors worn on bodies of at least two users; converting the inputted data to position and orientation data; modifying by using the data flow network, the position and the orientation of the nodes of the virtual objects based on the position and orientation data; determining view points of said at least two users; receiving a synchronization signal; calculating image frames for each eye of each of said at least two users; displaying the image frames to each of said eyes of said at least two users; obtaining updated position and orientation values of said at least two users; determining if the virtual environment has been modified; redefining positions and orientations of the nodes of the virtual object if the virtual environment has been modified; recalculating the image frames for each of said eyes of said at least two users; and displaying the recalculated image frames to each of said eyes of said at least two users.
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Specification