Graphical image processing with levels of user access
First Claim
1. An image data processing system for generating an executable animation file, comprising:
- data storage means storing first graphical data, second graphical data and rendering instructions; and
processing means configured to combine said first graphical data and said rendering instructions, wherein said second graphical data comprises unlocked parameters defining second characteristics of said animation;
said first graphical data comprises locked parameters defining first characteristics of an animation and references to said unlocked parameters;
said combining process results in an executable animation file being generated, containing within it references to said unlocked parameters, such that;
said first animation characteristics are editable only at a first level of user access, prior to said combination of first graphic data and rendering instructions; and
said second animation characteristics are editable at a second level of user access, after said combining has taken place.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of generating an executable graphic file for an animation. Graphic data defines first characteristics of an animation, which are accessible via locked parameters at a first level of user access. The graphic data also contains references to unlocked parameters stored as metadata in a metafile. The metadata preferably includes, for each unlocked parameter, a value field, a range of possible values and a description, thus making it possible to construct a user interface to modify second animation characteristics without modifying the graphic data. The graphic data is combined with rendering instructions, to form an executable animation file. Preferably the executable file cannot execute after a predetermined date. Multiple instances of the animation may be created by re-use and modification of the original metafile.
10 Citations
24 Claims
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1. An image data processing system for generating an executable animation file, comprising:
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data storage means storing first graphical data, second graphical data and rendering instructions; and
processing means configured to combine said first graphical data and said rendering instructions, wherein said second graphical data comprises unlocked parameters defining second characteristics of said animation;
said first graphical data comprises locked parameters defining first characteristics of an animation and references to said unlocked parameters;
said combining process results in an executable animation file being generated, containing within it references to said unlocked parameters, such that;
said first animation characteristics are editable only at a first level of user access, prior to said combination of first graphic data and rendering instructions; and
said second animation characteristics are editable at a second level of user access, after said combining has taken place. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of generating an executable animation file in an image data processing system, in which first graphical data, second graphical data and rendering instructions are stored upon a data storage medium and these are processed by processing means in accordance with processing instructions to combine said first graphical data with instructions to generate an executable animation file, in which:
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said first graphical data comprises locked parameters defining first characteristics of an animation and references to second characteristics of said animation;
said second graphical data comprises unlocked parameters defining said second characteristics of said animation;
whereinsaid combining process results in an executable animation file being stored, containing within it references to said unlocked parameters, such that;
said first animation characteristics are locked by said combining process and are editable only at a first level of user access, prior to said combination of first graphic data and rendering instructions; and
said second animation characteristics are editable at a second level of user access, after said combining has been performed. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. A data structure on a machine-readable medium, containing instructions for processing means in an image data processing system comprising said processing means and data storage means, in which said instructions instruct said processing means to perform processing operations for generating an executable animation file, by combining first graphical data stored upon said data storage means with rendering instructions, and for generating a second graphical data file, wherein
said first graphical data comprises locked parameters defining first characteristics of an animation and references to second characteristics of said animation; -
said second characteristics being defined by second graphical data comprising a plurality of unlocked parameters;
whereinsaid combining process results in an executable animation file being generated, containing within it references to said unlocked parameters, such that;
said first animation characteristics are editable only at a first level of user access, prior to said combination of graphic data and rendering instructions; and
said second animation characteristics are editable at a second level of user access, after said combining has taken place. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. An image processing system for generating animated visual images, including processing means and data storage means, in which an executable animation file and a editable data file are stored upon said data storage means, wherein
said executable animation file includes rendering instructions and animation data which in combination define first characteristics of an animation, said animation data including locked animation parameters and references to unlocked animation parameters; -
said editable data file comprises said unlocked animation parameters defining second characteristics of said animated images such that said second characteristics are modifiable without changing said executable animation file; and
said processing means is configured to render a sequence of image frames by processing said editable data file in accordance with said rendering instructions in the executable animation file. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
(a) reading an unlocked parameter definition from said editable data file;
(b) generating an interface for said unlocked parameter by analysing said parameter definition;
(c) modifying the unlocked parameter in response to user interactions with said generated interface; and
(d) updating said editable data file with said modified parameter value.
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19. An image processing system according to claim 16, wherein said metadata is in XML (Extensible Markup Language).
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20. A data structure on a machine-readable medium, containing instructions for processing means in an image processing system comprising said processing means and data storage means, in which said instructions instruct said processing means to perform processing operations for generating animated visual images, by processing graphical data with an editable data file stored upon said data storage means;
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said data structure includes rendering instructions and animation data which in combination define first characteristics of an animation, said animation data including locked animation parameters and references to unlocked animation parameters; and
said editable data comprises values for said unlocked parameters defining second characteristics of said animation data;
whereinsaid rendering instructions for said processing means render a sequence of image frames by processing said editable data in combination with said animation data. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
(a) reading an unlocked parameter definition from said metadata file;
(b) generating an interface for said unlocked parameter by analysing said parameter definition;
(c) modifying the unlocked parameter in response to user interactions with said generated interface; and
(d) updating said metadata file with said modified parameter value.
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23. A data structure according to claim 20, including conditional instructions that prohibit rendering after a certain date.
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24. A data structure according to claim 21, including instructions for interpreting said metadata as XML (Extensible Markup Language).
Specification