System and method for animating an object in three-dimensional space using a two-dimensional input device
First Claim
1. A computer-readable medium storing computer executable-instructions for performing the steps of:
- defining a three-dimensional space with reference to a three dimensional coordinate system;
defining an object located at an initial position and orientation in the three dimensional space;
receiving user input corresponding to movement of a two-dimensional input device;
translating the two-dimensional user input into movement of the object in the direction of the object orientation in the three-dimensional space;
if the distance of the object movement during a time interval is greater than a predefined threshold, interpreting the user input as a change in the position of the object in the three-dimensional space; and
if the distance of the object movement during the time interval is not greater than the predefined threshold, interpreting the user input as a change in the orientation of the object in the three-dimensional space.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A process for creating a 3D computer animated movie or animated sequence of images. A 3D scene and actor (a class of 3D objects) are initially selected by the user. The user moves the mouse to place and orient the actor within the 3D scene without requiring additional types of input beyond 2D mouse inputs. Positioning and orienting of the actor is accomplished based on the distance and angle of mouse movement. Once the actor has been placed in the desired location and with the desired orientation, the content of the movie can be recorded. While recording, the user moves the actor along a path and selects actions or events to be performed along the path. By using a location-based recording model, editing and synchronization of the movie are enhanced. One example of an action performed by the actor is to change costumes. The costume of the actor is changed by selecting part of the actor with a single user interface operation, such as a mouse click. Repeatedly clicking upon the selected part of the actor cycles through different costumes on that part of the actor.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A computer-readable medium storing computer executable-instructions for performing the steps of:
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defining a three-dimensional space with reference to a three dimensional coordinate system; defining an object located at an initial position and orientation in the three dimensional space; receiving user input corresponding to movement of a two-dimensional input device; translating the two-dimensional user input into movement of the object in the direction of the object orientation in the three-dimensional space; if the distance of the object movement during a time interval is greater than a predefined threshold, interpreting the user input as a change in the position of the object in the three-dimensional space; and if the distance of the object movement during the time interval is not greater than the predefined threshold, interpreting the user input as a change in the orientation of the object in the three-dimensional space. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of animating an object in three-dimensional space, comprising the steps of:
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defining a three-dimensional space with reference to a three dimensional coordinate system; defining an object located at an initial position and orientation in the three dimensional space; receiving user input corresponding to movement of a two-dimensional input device; translating the two-dimensional user input into movement of the object in the direction of the object orientation in the three-dimensional space; if the distance of the object movement during a time interval is greater than a predefined threshold, interpreting the user input as a change in the position of the object in the three-dimensional space; and if the distance of the object movement during the time interval is not greater than the predefined threshold, interpreting the user input as a change in the orientation of the object in the three-dimensional space.
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19. A computer system for animating an object in three-dimensional space, comprising:
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a processing unit; an input device connected to the processing unit; and a display device coupled to the processing unit for displaying the object; the processing unit, responsive to instructions from a program module running on the computer system, being operative to; (a) define a three-dimensional space with reference to a three dimensional coordinate system; (b) define an object located at an initial position and orientation in the three dimensional space; (c) receive user input corresponding to movement of a two-dimensional input device; (d) translate the two-dimensional user input into movement of the object in the direction of the object orientation in the three-dimensional space; (e) if the distance of the object movement during a time interval is greater than a predefined threshold, interpret the user input as a change in the position of the object in the three-dimensional space; and (f) if the distance of the object movement during the time interval is not greater than the predefined threshold, interpret the user input as a change in the orientation of the object in the three-dimensional space.
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20. A method of creating an animated movie, comprising the steps of:
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defining a three-dimensional space with reference to a three dimensional coordinate system; defining an object located at an initial position and orientation in the three dimensional space; selecting one of a plurality of available three-dimensional scenes; selecting one of a plurality of available actors; displaying the selected actor at an initial position in the selected scene; receiving user input corresponding to movement of a two-dimensional input device; translating the two-dimensional user input into movement of the object in the direction of the object orientation in the three-dimensional space; if the distance of the object movement during a time interval is greater than a predefined threshold, interpreting the user input as a change in the position of the object in the three-dimensional space; and if the distance of the object movement during the time interval is not greater than the predefined threshold, interpreting the user input as a change in the orientation of the object in the three-dimensional space.
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21. A computer system for creating an animated movie, comprising:
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a processing unit; an input device connected to the processing unit; and a display device coupled to the processing unit for displaying the object; the processing unit, responsive to instructions from a program module running on the computer system, being operative to; (a) define a three-dimensional space with reference to a three dimensional coordinate system; (b) define an object located at an initial position and orientation in the three dimensional space; (c) select one of a plurality of available three-dimensional scenes; (d) select one of a plurality of available actors; (d) display the selected actor at an initial position in the selected scene; (e) receive user input corresponding to movement of a two-dimensional input device; (f) translate the two-dimensional user input into movement of the object in the direction of the object orientation in the three-dimensional space; (g) if the distance of the object movement during a time interval is greater than a predefined threshold, interpret the user input as a change in the position of the object in the three-dimensional space; and (h) if the distance of the object movement during the time interval is not greater than the predefined threshold, interpret the user input as a change in the orientation of the object in the three-dimensional space.
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22. A computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions for performing the steps of:
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defining a three-dimensional space with reference to a three dimensional coordinate system; defining an object located at an initial position and orientation in the three dimensional space; selecting one of a plurality of available three-dimensional scenes; selecting one of a plurality of available actors; displaying the selected actor at an initial position in the selected scene; receiving user input corresponding to movement of a two-dimensional input device; translating the two-dimensional user input into movement of the object in the direction of the object orientation in the three-dimensional space; if the distance of the object movement during a time interval is greater than a predefined threshold, interpreting the user input as a change in the position of the object in the three-dimensional space; and if the distance of the object movement during the time interval is not greater than the predefined threshold, interpreting the user input as a change in the orientation of the object in the three-dimensional space.
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Specification