Method for communicating and generating computer graphics animation data, and recording media

• US 6,414,684 B1
• Filed: 04/24/1997
• Issued: 07/02/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Naka, Toshiya, Mochizuki, Yoshiyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Mark K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Kimbinh T.
• Application Number:
  US08/842,447
• Time in Patent Office: 1,895 Days
• Field of Search: 345/473, 345/474, 345/442, 345/475, 345/427
• US Class Current: 345/473
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 13/40 of characters, e.g. humans, animals or virtual beings

Abstract

A method for communicating and generating computer graphics animation data relates to transmission and reception of computer graphics animation data in a system comprising a server computer, a client computer, and a communication mediating means between the server computer and the client computer and performing generation of a computer graphics animation image in the client computer, and this method comprises the following stages: first stage of performing, in the server computer, formation and edition of animation data comprising configuration data of an object, configuration data of an environment where the object exists, attribute data, light source data, camera parameters, shading method, environment setting, environment managing and controlling method, and time series motion data for generating a motion of the object corresponding to the behavior of the object in a time series, and storing the animation data in a storage unit; second stage of transmitting the animation data stored in the storage unit of the server computer, in response to a request for transmission from the client computer, from the server computer to the client computer; third stage of storing the transmitted animation data in a storage unit of the client computer; and fourth stage of performing, in the client computer, rendering on the basis of the animation data stored in the storage unit of the client computer, and displaying a computer graphics animation image on a display unit.

Claims

1. A method for receiving and generating computer graphics animation data in a system comprising a transmitting apparatus, and a receiving apparatus, comprising:

first stage of receiving animation data comprising configuration data of an object, configuration data of an environment where the object exists, camera parameters, environment setting, and time series motion data for generating a motion of the object corresponding to behavior of the object in a time series, and storing the animation data in a storage unit of the receiving apparatus, and;

second stage of describing a move of a view point of image generation, change in direction of sight line, and change in angle of view as the time series motion data, rendering with changing the view point of image generation, the direction of sight line, and the angle of view according to the time series motion data on the basis of the animation data stored in the storage unit of the receiving apparatus, and displaying a computer graphics animation image on a display unit.

12. A method for receiving and generating computer graphics animation data as described in claim 1, wherein a binocular parallax and a binocular sight line direction are specified, and a computer graphics animation image is generated stereotypically on the basis of the binocular parallax and the binocular sight line direction.

2. A method for receiving and generating computer graphics animation data in a system comprising a transmitting apparatus, and a receiving apparatus, comprising:

first stage of receiving animation data comprising configuration data of an object, configuration data of an environment where the object exists, camera parameters, environment setting, basic behavior of the object, behavior rule of the object, and time series basic motion data for generating a motion of the object corresponding to the basic behavior in a time series, and storing the animation data in a storage unit of the receiving unit;

second stage of describing, the time series basic motion data on the basis of the behavior rule of the animation data stored in the storage unit of the transmitting apparatus, specifying a connecting period of time, generating a backward prediction curve in the connecting period, for the front motion data, for the rear basic motion data, generating a forward prediction curve in the connecting period, for the rear basic motion data and using a connection weighting function which is integrated with respect to time, monotone decrease, and becomes 1 at a connection start time and 0 at a connection end time, obtaining the product of the backward prediction curve and the connection weighting function, and the product of the forward prediciton curve and a result of substracting the connection weighting function from 1, and generating motion of the object while connecting the front basic motion data and the rear basic motion dta from the sum of these products, and;

third stage of rendering said computer graphics animation on the basis of the animation data stored in the storage unit of the receiving apparatus, and displaying a computer graphics animation image on a display unit.

11. A method for receiving and generating computer graphics animation data as described in claim 2, wherein the move of the view point of image generation, the change in direction of sight line, and change in angle of view are described as the time series basic motion data, and the view point of image generation, the direction of sight line, and the angle of view are changed while connecting the time series basic motion data.

14. A method for receiving and generating computer graphics animation data as described in claim 2, wherein said time series basic motion data comprises a front basic motion data and a rear basic motion data, which are connected, said integrated with respect to time, monotone decrease, and becomes 1 at the connection start time and 0 at the connection end time, obtaining the product of the backward prediction curve and the connection weighting function from 1, and the product of the forward prdiction curve and the connection weighting function, and generating a motion of the connection between the front basic motion data and the rear basic motion data from the sum of these products.

3. A method for receiving and generating computer graphics animation data in a system comprising a transmitting apparatus, and a receiving apparatus, comprising:

first stage of receiving animation data comprising a skeletal structure of an articulate object, configuration data to be bound to the skeletal structure, configuration data of an environment where the object exists, camera parameters, environment setting, and time series motion data for generating a motion of the skeletal structure in a time series, and storing the animation data in a storage unit;

second stage of performing initial arrangement of the environment configuration data according to the environment setting of the animation data stored in the storage unit of the receiving apparatus;

third stage of calculating in the receiving apparatus, a position and a shape of the skeletal structure at a certain time from the time series motion data of the animation data stored in the storage unit of the receiving apparatus;

fourth stage of performing binding of the configuration data of the animation data stored in the storage unit of the receiving apparatus, to the position and the shape of the skeletal structure obtained in the fifth stage, in the receiving apparatus;

fifth stage of describing change in a camera position and a camera parameter comprising a move of a view point of image generation, direction of sight line, and angle of view as the time series motion data, rendering according to the position of the position of the camera, and the camera parameters, included in the animation data stored in the storage unit of the receiving apparatus, and displaying a computer graphics image on a display unit, and;

repeating said third, fourth, and fifth stages in the receiving apparatus until an end instruction is issued, thereby generating animation of computer graphics.

4. A method for receiving and generating computer graphics animation data in a system comprising a transmitting apparatus, and a receiving apparatus, comprising:

first stage of receiving animation data comprising a skeletal structure of an articulate object, configuration data of an environment where the object exists, camera parameters, environment setting, and time series motion data for generating a motion of the skeletal structure in a time series, and storing the animation data in a storage unit of the receiving apparatus;

second stage of performing initial arrangement of the environment configuration data on the basis of the environment setting of the animation data stored in the storage unit of the receiving apparatus;

third stage of calculating a position and a shape of the skeletal structure at a certain time from the time series motion data of the animation data stored in the storage unit of the receiving apparatus;

fourth stage of generating a surface configuration of the object according to the position and the shape of the skeletal structure obtained in the third stage;

fifth stage of describing change in a camera position and camera parameter comprising a move of a view point of image generation, direction of sight line, and angle of view as the time series motion data, rendering on the basis of the position of the camera, and the camera parameters, included in the animation data stored in the storage unit of the receiving apparatus, and displaying a computer graphics image on a display unit, and;

repeating said third, fourth and fifth stages in the receiving apparatus until and end instruction is issued, thereby generating animation of computer graphics.

5. A method for receiving and generating computer graphics animation data in a system comprising a transmitting apparatus, and a receiving apparatus, comprising:

first stage of storing animation data comprising a skeletal structure of an articulate object, configuration data to be bound to the skeletal structure, configuration data of an environment where the object exists, camera parameters, environment setting, basic behavior of the object, behavior rule of the object, and time series basic motion data for generating a motion of the skeletal structure corresponding to the basic behavior in a time series in a storage unit of the receiving apparatus;

second stage of performing initial arrangement of the environment configuration data on the basis of the environment setting of the animation data stored in the storage unit of the receiving apparatus;

third stage of determining whether a certain time is within a basic behavior period or within a connection period, from the behavior rule of the animation data stored in the storage unit of the receiving apparatus;

fourth stage of calculating a position and a shape of the skeletal structure at said time from the time series basic motion data which is included in the animation data stored in the storage unit of the receiving apparatus and corresponds to the basic behavior at said time when said time is determined to be within the basic behavior period;

fifth stage of calculating a motion of the skeletal structure during the connecting period from the time series motion data which is included in the animation data stored in the storage unit of the receiving apparatus and exists before and after the connecting period, and calculating a position and a shape of the skeletal structure at said time when said time is determined to be within the connecting period;

sixth stage of performing binding of the configuration data of the animation data stored in the storage unit of the receiving apparatus, to the position and the shape of the skeletal structure obtained in the fourth stage or the fifth stage;

seventh stage of describing change in a camera position and a camera parameter comprising a move of a view point of image generation, direction of sight line, and angle of view as the time series motion data, rendering on the basis of the position of the camera, and the camera parameters, included in the animation data stored in the storage unit of the receiving apparatus, and displaying a computer graphics image on a display unit; and

repeating said fifth stage, said sixth or seventh stage in the receiving apparatus until an end instruction is issued, thereby generating animation of computer graphics.

13. A method for receiving and generating computer graphics animation data as described in claim 5, wherein said time series basic motion datqa comprises front basic motion data and a rear basic motion data, which are connected, said connection is performed by the steps of:

specifying a connecting period of time (frame number);

generating a backward prediction curve in the connecting period for the front basic motion data;

generating a forward prediction curve in the connecting period for the rear basic motion data; and

using a connecting weighting function which is integrated with respect to time, monotone decrease, and becomes 1 at the connection start time and 0 at the connection end time, obtaining the product of the backward prediction curve and the connection weighting function, and the product of the forward prediction curve and a result of substracting the connection between the front basic motioin data and the rear basic motion data from the sum of these products.

6. A method for receiving and generating computer graphics animation data in a system comprising a transmitting apparatus, and a receiving apparatus, comprising:

first stage of storing animation data comprising a skeletal structure of an articulate object, configuration data of an environment where the object exists, camera parameters, environment setting, basic behavior of the object, behavior rule of the object, and time series motion data for generating a motion of the skeletal structure corresponding to the basic behavior in a time series, and storing the animation data in a storage unit of the receiving apparatus;

second stage of performing initial arrangement of the environment configuration data on the basis of the environment setting of the animation data stored in the storage unit of the receiving apparatus;

third stage of determining whether a certain time is within a basic behavior or within a connecting period, from the behavior rule of the animation data stored in the storage unit of the receiving apparatus;

fourth stage of calculating a position and a shape of the skeletal structure at said time from the time series basic motion data which is included in the animation data stored in the storage unit of the receiving apparatus and corresponds to the basic behavior at said time when said time is determined to be within the basic behavior period;

fifth stage of calculating a motion of the skeletal structure during the connection period from the time series motion data which is included in the animation data stored in the storage unit of the receiving apparatus and exists before and after the connecting period, and calculating a position and a shape of the skeletal structure at said time when said time is determined to be within the connection period;

sixth stage of generating a surface structure configuration of the object according to the position and the shape of the skeletal structure obtained in the fourth stage or the fifth stage;

seventh stage of describing change in a camera position and camera parameter comprising a move of a view point of image generation, direction of sight line, and angle of view as the time series motion data, rendering on the basis of the position of the camera, and the camera parameters, included in the animation data stored in the storage unit of the receiving apparatus, and displaying a computer graphics image on a display unit, and;

repeating said third stage, said fourth stage or fifth stage, said sixth stage, and said seventh stage in the receiving apparatus until an end instruction is issued, thereby generating animation of computer graphics. series motion data, rendering on the basis of the position of the camera, and the camera parameters, included in the animation data stored in the storage unit of the receiving apparatus, and displaying a computer graphics image on a display unit, and;

repeating said third stage, said fourth stage or fifth stage, said sixth stage, and said seventh stage in the receiving apparatus until an end instruction is issued, thereby generating animation of computer graphics.

7. A method for receiving and generating computer graphics animation data in a system comprising a transmitting apparatus, and a receiving apparatus, comprising:

first stage of storing animation data comprising a skeletal structure of an articulate object, configuration data to be bound to the skeletal structure, configuration data of an environment where the object exists, camera parameters, environment setting, basic behavior of the object, behavior rule showing stage transition of behavior of the object to generation of an event, and time series basic motion data for generating a motion of the skeletal structure in a time series, in a storage unit of the recovering apparatus;

second stage of performing initial arrangement of the environment configuration data on the basis of the environment setting of the animation data stored in the storage unit of the receiving apparatus;

third stage of determining whether a certain time is within a basic behavior period or within a connecting period, from the behavior rule of the animation data stored in the storage unit of the receiving apparatus;

fourth stage of calculating, in the receiving apparatus, a position and a shape of the skeletal structure at said time from the time series basic motion data which is included in the animation data stored in the storage unit of the receiving apparatus and corresponds to the basic behavior at said time when said time is determined to be within the basic behavior period;

fifth stage of calculating, in the receiving apparatus, a motion of the skeletal structure during the connecting period from the time series motion data which is included in the animation data stored in the storage unit of the receiving apparatus and exists before and after the connecting period, and calculating a position and a shape of the skeletal structure at said time when said time is determined to be within the connecting period;

sixth stage of performing binding of the configuration data of the animation data stored in the storage unit of the receiving apparatus, to the position and the shape of the skeletal structure obtained in the fourth stage or the fifth stage;

seventh stage of describing change in a camera position and camera parameter comprising a move of a view point of image generation, direction of sight line, and angle of view as the time series motion data, rendering on the basis of the position of the camera, and the camera parameters, included in the animation data stored in the storage unit of the receiving apparatus, and displaying a computer graphics image on a display unit, and;

repeating said third stage, said fourth or fifth stage, said sixth stage, and said seventh stage in the receiving apparatus until an end instruction is issued, thereby generating animation of computer graphics, wherein the view point of image generation, the direction of sight line, and the angle of view are changed according to the time series motion data.

8. A method for receiving and generating computer graphics animation data in a system comprising a transmitting apparatus, and a receiving apparatus, comprising:

first stage of storing animation data comprising a skeletal structure of an articulate object, configuration data of an environment where the object exists, camera parameters, environment setting, basic behavior of the object, behavior rule showing state transition of behavior of the object to generation of event, and time series basic motion data for generating a motion of the skeletal structure corresponding to the basic behavior in a time series, and storing the animation data in a storage unit of the receiving apparatus;

second stage of performing initial arrangement of the environment configuration data on the basis of the environment setting of the animation data stored in the storage unit of the receiving apparatus;

third stage of judging whether a certain time is within a basic behavior period or within a connecting period, from the behavior rule of the animation data stored in the storage unit of the receiving apparatus;

fourth stage of calculating a position and a shape of the skeletal structure at said time from the series basic motion data which is included in the animation data stored in the storage unit of the receiving apparatus and corresponds to the basic behavior at said time when said time is determined to be within the basic behavior period;

fifth stage of calculating a motion of the skeletal structure during the connecting period from the time series motion data which is included in the animation data stored in the storage unit of the receiving apparatus and exists before and after the connecting period, and calculating a position and a shape of the skeletal structure at said time when said time is determined to be within the connecting period;

sixth stage of generating a surface configuration of the object according to the position and the shape of the skeletal structure obtained in the sixth stage or the seventh stage;

seventh stage of describing change in a camera position and camera parameter comprising a move of a view point of image generation, direction of sight line, and angle of view as the time series motion data, rendering on the basis of the position of the camera, and the camera parameters, included in the animation data stored in the storage unit of the receiving apparatus, and displaying a computer graphics image on a display unit, and;

repeating said third stage, said fourth or fifth stage, said sixth stage, and said seventh stage in the receiving apparatus until an end instruction is issued, thereby generating animation of computer graphics.

9. A method for receiving and generating computer graphics animation data in a system comprising a transmitting apparatus, and a receiving apparatus, comprising:

first stage of storing animation data comprising a skeletal structure of an articulate object, configuration data to be bound to the skeletal structure, configuration data of an environment where the object exists, camera parameters, environment setting, basic behavior of the object, behavior rule showing state transition of behavior of the object to generation of event, and time series basic motion data for generating a motion of the skeletal structure corresponding to the basic behavior in a time series, and storing the animation data in a storage unit of the receiving apparatus;

second stage of performing initial arrangement of the environment configuration data on the basis of the environment setting of the animation data stored in the storage unit of the receiving apparatus;

third stage of determining whether a certain time is within a basic behavior or within a connection period, from the behavior rule of the animation data stored in the storage unit of the receiving apparatus;

fourth stage of discriminating the environmental state condition within a period of time during which the basic behavior is performed, changing the time series basic motion data corresponding to the basic behavior according to the result of the discrimination, and calculating a position and a shape of the skeletal structure at said time from the changed time series basic motion data when said time is determined to be within the basic behavior period;

fifth stage of discriminating the environmental stage condition during the connection period, according to the time series motion data which is included in the animation data stored in the storage unit of the receiving apparatus and exists before and after the connecting period, calculating a motion of the skeletal structure during the connecting period from the result of the discrimination, and calculating a position and a shape of the skeletal structure at said time when said time is determined to be within the connecting period;

sixth stage of performing binding of the configuration data of the animation data stored in the storage unit of the receiving apparatus, to the position and the shape of the skeletal structure obtained in the sixth or seventh stage;

seventh stage of describing change in a camera position and camera parameter comprising a move of a view point of image generation, direction of sight line, and angle of view as the time series motion data, rendering on the basis of the position of the camera, and the camera parameters, included in the animation data stored in the storage unit of the receiving apparatus, and displaying a computer graphics image on a display unit, and;

repeating said third stage, said fourth or fifth stage, and sixth stage, and said seventh stage in the receiving apparatus until an end instruction is issued, thereby generating animation of computer graphics.

10. A method for receiving and generating computer graphics animation data in a system comprising a transmitting apparatus, and a receiving apparatus, comprising:

first stage of storing animation data comprising a skeletal structure of an articulate object, configuration data of an environment where the object exists, camera parameters, environment setting, basic behavior of the object, behavior rule showing state transition of the object to generation of event, and time series basic motion data for generating a motion of the skeletal structure corresponding to the basic behavior in a time series, in a storage unit of the receiving apparatus;

second stage of performing initial arrangement of the environment configuration data on the basis of the environment setting of the animation data stored in the storage unit of the receiving apparatus;

third stage of determining whether a certain time is within a basic behavior period or within a connecting period, from the behavior rule of the animation data stored in the storage unit of the receiving apparatus;

fourth stage of discriminating the environmental stage condition within a period of time during which the basic behavior is performed changing the time series basic motion data corresponding to the basic behavior according to the result of the discrimination, and calculating position and a shape of the skeletal structure at said time from the changed time series basic motion data when said time is determined to be within the basic behavior period;

fifth stage of discriminating the environmental state condition during the connecting period, according to the time series motion data which is included in the animation data stored in the storage unit of the receiving apparatus and exists before and after the connecting period, calculating a motion of the skeletal structure during the connecting period from the result of the discrimination and calculating a position and a shape of the skeletal structure at said time when said time is determined to be within the connecting period;

sixth stage of generating a surface configuration of the object according to the position and the shape of the skeletal structure obtained in the sixth or seventh stage;

seventh stage of describing change in a camera position and camera parameter comprising a move of a view point of image generation, direction of sight line, and angle of view time series motion data, rendering on the basis of the position of the camera, and the camera parameters, included in the animation data stored in the storage unit of the receiving apparatus, and displaying a computer graphics image on a display unit, and;

repeating said third stage, said fourth or fifth stage, said sixth stage, and said seventh stage in the receiving apparatus until an end instruction is issued, thereby generating animation of computer graphics.

15. A recording medium containing a program for receiving computer graphics animation data in a system comprising a transmitting appratus, and a receiving apparatus, comprising:

first stage of receiving animation data comprising configuration data of an object, configuration data of an environment where the object exists, and time series motion data for generating a motion of the object corresponding to the behavior of the object in a time series, and storing the animation data in a storage unit of the receiving apparatus, and;

second stage of describing a move of a view point of image generation, change in direction of sight line, and change in angle of view as the time series motion data, rendering with changing the view point of image generation, and direction of sight line, and the angle of view according to the time series motion data on the basis of the animation data stored in the storage unit of the receiving apparatus, and displaying a computer graphics animation image on a display unit.

26. A recording medium containing a program for receiving computer graphics animation data as described in any of claims 15-24, wherein binocular parallax and binocular sight line direction are specified, and a computer graphics animation image is generated stereoscopically according to the binocular parallax and the binocular sight line direction.

16. A recording medium containing a program for receiving and generating computer graphics animation data in a system comprising a transmitting apparatus, and receiving apparatus, comprising:

first stage of receiving animation data comprising configuration data of an object, configuration data of an environment where the object exists, camera parameters, environment setting, basic behavior of the object, behavior rule of the object, and time series basic motion data for generating a motion of the object corresponding to the basic behavior in a time series, and storing the animation data in a storage unit of the receiving unit;

second stage of, describing the time series basic motion data on the basis of the behavior rule of the animation data stored in the storage unit of the transmitting apparatus, specifying a connecting period of time (frame number), generating a backward prediction curve in the connecting period for a front basic motion data, generating a forward prediction curve in the connecting period for a rear basic motion data, and using a connection weighting function which is integrated with respect to time, monotone decrease, and becomes 1 at the connection start time and 0 at the connection end time, obtaining the product of the backward prediction crve and the connection weighting function, and the product of the forward prediction curve and a result of subtracting the connection weighting function from 1, and generating motion of the object while connecting the front basic motion data and the rear basic motion data from the sum of these products, and;

third stage of performing rendering on the basis of the animation data stored in the storage unit of the receiving apparatus, and displaying a computer graphics animation image on a display unit.

25. A recording medium containing a program for receiving computer graphics animation data as described in claim 16, a move of a view point of image generation, change in direction of sight line, and change in angle of view are described as the time series basic motion data, and the view point of image generation, the direction of sight line, and angle of view are changed while connecting the time series basic motion data.

28. A method for receiving and generating computer graphics animation data as described in any of claims 16, or 19-24 wherein said time series basic motion data comprises front basic motion data and a rear basic motion data which are connected, said connection is performed by the steps of:

specifying a connecting period of time (frame number);

generating a backward prediction curve in the connecting period for the front basic motion data;

generating forward prediction curve in the connecting period for the rear basic motion data; and

using a connection weighting function which is integrated with respect to time, monotone increase, and becomes 1 at the connection start time and 0 at the connection end time, obtaining the product of the backward prediction curve and a result of subtracting the connection weighting function from 1, and the product of the forward prediction curve and the connection weighting function, and generating a motion of the connection between the front basic motion data and the rear basic motion data from the sum of these products.

17. A recording medium containing a program for receiving and generating computer graphics animation in a system comprising a transmitting apparatus, and a receiving apparatus, comprising:

first stage of receiving animation data comprising a skeletal structure of an articulate object, configuration data to be bound to the skeletal structure, configuration data of an environment where the object exists, camera parameters, environment setting, and time series motion data for generating a motion of the skeletal structure in a time series, and storing the animation data in a storage unit;

second stage of performing initial agreement of the environment setting of the animation data stored in the storage unit of the receiving apparatus;

third stage of calculating in the receiving apparatus a position and a shape of the skeletal structure at a certain time from the time series motion data of the animation data stored in the storage uni of the receiving apparatus;

fourth stage of performing binding of the configuration data of the animation data stored in the storage unit of the receiving apparatus, to the position and the shape of the skeletal structure obtained in the fifth stage, in the receiving apparatus;

fifth stage of describing change in a camera position and camera parameter comprising a move of a view point of image generation, direction of sight line, and angle of view as the time series motion data, rendering on the basis of the position of the camera, and the camera parameters, included in the animation data stored in the storage unit of the receiving apparatus, and displaying a computer graphics image of a display unit, and;

repeating said third, fourth, and fifth stages in the receiving apparatus until an end instruction is issued, thereby generating animation of computer graphics.

18. A recording medium containing a program for receiving computer graphics animation data in a system comprising a transmitting apparatus, and a receiving apparatus, comprising:

first stage of receiving animation data comprising a skeletal structure of an articulate object, configuration data of an environment where the object exists, camera parameters, environment setting, and time series motion data for generating a motion of the skeletal structure in a time series, and storing the animation data in a storage unit of the receiving apparatus;

second stage of performing initial agreement of the environment configuration data on the basis of the environment setting of the animation data stored in the storage unit of the receiving apparatus;

third stage of calculating a position and a shape of the skeletal structure at a certain time from the time series motion data of the animation data stored in the storage unit of the receiving apparatus;

fourth stage of generating a surface configuration of the object according to the position and the shape of the skeletal structure obtained in the third stage;

fifth stage of describing change in a camera position and camera parameter comprising a move of a view point of image generation, direction of sight line, and angle of view as the time series motion data, rendering on the basis of the position of the camera, and the camera parameters, included in the animation data stored in the storage unit of the receiving apparatus, and displaying a computer graphics image on a display unit, and;

repeating said third, fourth, and fifth stages in the receiving apparatus until an end instruction is issued, thereby generating animation of computer graphics.

19. A recording medium containing a program for receiving computer graphics animation data in a system comprising a transmitting apparatus, and a receiving apparatus, comprising:

first stage of storing animation data comprising a skeletal structure of an articulate object, configuration data of an environment where the object exists, camera parameters, environment setting, basic behavior of the object, behavior rule of the object, and time series basic motion data for generating a motion of the skeletal structure corresponding to the basic behavior in a time series in a storage unit of the receiving apparatus;

second state of performing initial arrangement of the environment configuration data on the basis of the environment setting of the animation data stored in the storage unit of the receiving apparatus;

third stage of determining whether a certain time is within a basic behavior period or within a connecting period, from the behavior rule of the animation data stored in the storage unit of the receiving apparatus;

fourth stage of calculating a position and a shape of the skeletal structure at said time from the time series basic motion data which is included in the animation data stored in the storage unit of the receiving apparatus and corresponds to the basic behavior at said time when said time is determined to be within the basic behavior period;

fifth stage of calculating a motion of the skeletal structure during the connection period from the time series motion data which is included in the animation data stored in the storage unit of the receiving apparatus and exists before and after the connecting period, and calculating a position and a shape of the skeletal structure at said time when said time is determined to be within the connecting period;

sixth stage of performing binding of the configuration data of the animation data stored in the storage unit of the receiving apparatus, to the position and the shape of the skeletal structure obtained in the fourth stage or fifth stage;

seventh stage of describing change in a camera position and a camera parameter comprising move of view point of image generation, direction of sight line, and angle of view as the time series motion data, rendering on the basis of the position of the camera, and the camera parameters, included in the animation data stored in the storage unit of the receiving apparatus, and displaying a computer graphics image on a display unit, and;

repeating said fifth stage, and said sixth stage or seventh stage in the receiving apparatus until an end instruction is issued, thereby generating animation of computer graphics.

27. A method for receiving and generating computer graphics animation data as described in any of claims 19-24, wherein said time series basic motion data comprises front basic motion data and a rear basic motion data which are connected, said connection is performed by the steps of:

specifying a connecting period of time (frame number);

generating a backward prediction curve in the connecting period for the front basic motion data;

generating a forward prediction curve in the connecting period for the rear basic motion data; and

using a connection weighting function which is integrated with respect to time, monotone decrease, and becomes 1 at the connection start time and 0 at the connection end time, obtaining the product of the backward prediction curve and the connection weighting function, and the product of the forward prediction curve and a result of subtracting the connection weighting function from 1, and generating a motion of the connection between the front basic motion data and the rear basic motion data from the sum of these products.

20. A recording medium containing a program for receiving computer graphics animation data in a system comprising a transmitting apparatus, and a receiving apparatus, comprising:

first stage of storing animation data comprising a skeletal structure of an articulate object, configuration data of an environment where the object exists, camera parameters, environment setting, basic behavior of the object, behavior rule of the object, and time series basic motion data for generating a motion of the skeletal structure corresponding to the basic behavior in a time series, and storing the animation data in a storage unit of the receiving apparatus;

second stage of performing initial arrangement of the environment configuration data on the basis of the environment setting of the animation data stored in the storage unit of the receiving apparatus;

third stage of determining whether a certain time is within a basic behavior period or within a connecting period, from the behavior rule of the animation data stored in the storage unit of the receiving apparatus;

fourth stage of calculating a position and a shape of the skeletal structure at said time from the time series basic motion data which is included in the animation data stored in the storage unit of the receiving apparatus and correspond to the basic behavior at said time when said time is determined to be within the basic behavior period;

fifth stage of calculating a motion of the skeletal structure during the connecting period from the time series motion data which is included in the animation data stored in the storage unit of the receiving apparatus and exists before and after the connecting period, and calculating a position and a shape of the skeletal structure at said time when said time is determined to be within the connecting period;

sixth stage of generating a surface configuration of the object according to the position and the shape of the skeletal structure obtained in the fourth stage or the fifth stage;

seventh stage of describing change in a camera position and camera parameter comprising move of view point of image generation, direction of sight line, and angle of view as the time series motion data, rendering on the basis of the position of the camera, and the camera parameters, included in the animation data stored in the storage unit of the receiving apparatus, and displaying a computer graphics image on a display unit; and

repeating said third stage, said fourth or fifth stage, and sixth stage, and said seventh stage in the receiving apparatus until an end instruction is issued, thereby generating animation of computer graphics.

21. A recording medium containing a program for receiving computer graphics animation data in a system comprising a transmitting apparatus, and a receiving apparatus, comprising:

first stage of storing animation data comprising a skeletal structure of an articulate object, configuration data to be bound to the skeletal structure, configuration data of an environment where the object exists, camera parameters, environment setting, basic behavior of the object, behavior rule showing state transition of behavior of the object to generation of event, and time series basic motion data for generating a motion of the skeletal structure corresponding to the basic behavior in a time series in a storage unit of the receiving apparatus;

second stage of performing initial arrangement of the environment configuration data on the basis of the environment setting of the animation data stored in the storage unit of the receiving apparatus;

third stage of determining whether a certain time is within a basic behavior period or within a connecting period, from the behavior rule of the animation data stored in the storage unit of the receiving apparatus;

fourth stage of calculating, in the receiving apparatus, a position and a shape of the skeletal structure at said time from the time series basic motion data which is included in the animation data stored in the storage unit of the receiving apparatus and corresponds to the basic behavior at said time when said time is determined to be within the behavior period;

fifth stage of calculating, in the receiving apparatus, a motion of the skeletal structure during the connecting period from the time series motion data which is included in the animation data stored in the storage unit of the receiving apparatus and exists before and after the connecting period, and calculating a position and a shape of the skeletal structure at said time when said time is determined to be within the correcting period;

sixth stage of performing binding of the configuration data of the animation data stored in the storage unit of the receiving apparatus, to the position and the shape of the skeletal structure obtained in the fourth stage or the fifth stage;

seventh stage of describing change in a camera position and camera parameter comprising move of view point of image generation, direction of sight line, and angle of view as the time series motion data, rendering on the basis of the position of the position of the camera, and the camera parameters, included in the animation data stored in the storage unit of the receiving apparatus, and displaying a computer graphics image on a display unit, and;

repeating said third stage, said fourth or fifth stage, said sixth stage, and said seventh stage in the receiving apparatus until an end instruction is issued, thereby generating animation of computer graphics, wherein the view point of image generation, the direction of sight line, and the angle of view are changed according to the time series motion data.

22. A recording medium containing a program for receiving computer graphics animation data in a system comprising a transmitting apparatus, and a receiving apparatus, comprising:

first stage of storing animation data comprising a skeletal structure of an articulate object, configuration data of an environment where the object exists, camera parameters, environment setting, basic behavior of the object, behavior rule showing state transition of behavior of the object generation of event, and time series basic motion data for gathering a motion of the skeletal structure corresponding to the basic behavior in a time series, and storing the animation data in a storage unit of the receiving apparatus;

second stage of performing initial arrangement of the environment configuration data on the basis of the environment setting of the animation data stored in the storage unit of the receiving apparatus;

third stage of determining whether a certain time is within a basic behavior period or within a connecting period, from the behavior rule of the animation data stored in the storage unit of the receiving apparatus;

fourth stage of calculating a position and a shape of the skeletal structure at said time from the time series basic motion data which is included in the animation data stored in the storage unit of the receiving apparatus and corresponds to the basic behavior at said time when said time is determined to be within the basic behavior period;

fifth stage of calculating a motion of the skeletal structure during the connecting period from the time series motion data which is included in the animation data stored in the storage unit of the receiving apparatus and exists before and after the connecting period, and calculating a position and a shape of the skeletal structure at said time when said time is determined to be within the connecting period;

sixth stage of generating a surface configuration of the object according to the position and the shape of the skeletal structure obtained in the sixth stage or the seventh stage;

seventh stage of describing change in a camera position and a camera parameter comprising a move of a view point of image generation, direction of sight line, and angle of view as the time series motion data, rendering on the basis of the position of the camera, and the camera parameters, included in the animation data stored in the storage unit of the receiving apparatus, and displaying a computer graphics image on a display unit; and

,

repeating said third stage, said fourth or fifth stage, said sixth stage, and said seventh stage in the receiving apparatus until an end instruction is issued, thereby generating animation of computer graphics.

23. A recording medium containing a program for receiving and generating computer graphics animation data, and a receiving apparatus, comprising:

first stage of storing animation data comprising a skeletal structure of an articulate object, configuration data to be bound to the skeletal structure, configuration data of an environment where the object exists, camera parameters, environment setting, basic behavior of the object, behavior rule showing state transition of behavior of the object to generation of event, and time series basic motion data for generating a motion of the skeletal structure corresponding to the basic behavior in a time series, and storing the animation data in a storage unit of the receiving apparatus;

second stage of performing initial arrangement of the environment configuration data on the basis of the environment setting of the animation data stored in the storage unit of the receiving apparatus;

third stage of determining whether a certain time is within a basic behavior period or within a connecting period, from the behavior rule of the animation data stored in the storage unit of the receiving apparatus;

fourth stage of discriminating the environmental state condition within a period of time during which the basic behavior is performed, by the environment managing and controlling method of the animation data stored in the storage unit of the receiving apparatus, changing the time series basic motion data corresponding to the basic behavior according to the result of the discrimination, and calculating a position and a shape of the skeletal structure at said time from the changed time series basic motion data when said time is determined to be within the basic behavior period;

fifth stage of discriminating the environmental state condition during the connecting period, according to the time series motion data which is included in the animation data stored in the storage unit of the receiving apparatus and exists before and after the connecting period, calculating a motion of the skeletal structure during the connecting period from the result of the discrimination, and calculating a position and a shape of the skeletal structure at said time when said time is determined to be within the connecting period;

sixth stage of performing binding of the configuration data of the animation data stored in the storage unit of the receiving apparatus, to the position and the shape of the skeletal structure obtained in the sixth or seventh stage;

seventh stage of describing change in a camera position and camera parameter comprising a move of a view point of image generation, direction of sight line, and angle of view as the time series motion data, rendering on the basis of the position of the camera, and the camera parameters, included in the animation data stored in the storage unit of the receiving apparatus, and displaying a computer graphics image on a display unit, and;

repeating said third stage, said fourth or fifth stage, said sixth stage, and said seventh stage in the receiving apparatus until an end instruction is issued, thereby generating animation of computer graphics.

24. A recording medium containing a program for receiving computer graphics animation data, and a receiving apparatus, comprising:

first stage of storing animation data comprising a skeletal structure of an articulate object, configuration data of an environment where the object exists, camera parameters, environment setting, basic behavior of the object, behavior rule showing state transition of behavior of the object to the generation of event, and time series basic motion data for generating a motion of the skeletal structure corresponding to the basic behavior in a time series, in a storage unit of the receiving apparatus;

second state of performing initial arrangement of the environment configuration data on the basis of the environment setting of the animation data stored in the storage unit of the receiving apparatus;

third stage of determining whether a certain time is within a basic behavior period or within a connecting period, from the behavior rule of the animation data stored in the storage unit of the receiving apparatus;

fourth stage of discriminating the environmental state condition within a period of time during which the basic behavior is performed, changing the time series basic motion data corresponding to the basic behavior according to the result of the discrimination, and calculating a position and a shape of the skeletal structure at said time from the changed time series basic motion data when said time is determined to be within the basic behavior period;

fifth stage of discriminating the environmental state condition during the connecting period, according to the time series motion data which is included in the animation data stored in the storage unit of the receiving apparatus and exists before and after the connecting period, calculating a motion of the skeletal structure during the connecting period from the result of the discrimination, and calculating a position and a shape of the skeletal structure at said time when said time is determined to be within the connecting period;

sixth stage of generating a surface configuration of the object according to the position and the shape of the skeletal structure obtained in the sixth or seventh stage;

seventh stage of describing change in a camera position and camera parameter comprising a move of a view point of image generation, direction of sight line, and angle of view as the time series motion data, rendering on the basis of the position of the camera, and the camera parameters, included in the animation data stored in the storage unit of the receiving apparatus, and displaying a computer graphics image on a display unit, and;

repeating said third stage, said fourth or fifth stage, said sixth stage, and said seventh stage in the receiving apparatus until an end instruction is issued, thereby generating animation of computer graphics.