Creation and playback of computer-generated productions using script-controlled rendering engines
First Claim
1. A method for providing a visual production on a computer system, wherein the computer system includes a processor executing a rendering engine to produce images on a display, wherein the computer is coupled to a network, wherein a data source is also coupled to the network so that a stored plurality of predefined control commands derived from a script created by a human author can be transferred from the data source to the computer system via the network the method comprising the steps ofreceiving the control commands from the data source at the computer system;
- rendering a character on the display in response to a first control command;
rendering an object on the display in response to a second control command;
animating the character to perform an action with the object in response to a third control command; and
changing the view of a scene being rendered in the computer system in response to a fourth control command.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for controlling a rendering engine by using specialized commands. The commands are used to generate a production, such as a television show, at an end-user'"'"'s computer that executes the rendering engine. In one embodiment, the commands are sent over a network, such as the Internet, to achieve broadcasts of video programs at very high compression and efficiency. Commands for setting and moving camera viewpoints, animating characters, and defining or controlling scenes and sounds are described. At a fine level of control math models and coordinate systems can be used make specifications. At a coarse level of control the command language approaches the text format traditionally used in television or movie scripts. Simple names for objects within a scene are used to identify items, directions and paths. Commands are further simplified by having the rendering engine use defaults when specifications are left out. For example, when a camera direction is not specified, the system assumes that the viewpoint is to be the current action area. The system provides a hierarchy of detail levels. Movement commands can be defaulted or specified. Synchronized speech can be specified as digital audio or as text which is used to synthesize the speech.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method for providing a visual production on a computer system, wherein the computer system includes a processor executing a rendering engine to produce images on a display, wherein the computer is coupled to a network, wherein a data source is also coupled to the network so that a stored plurality of predefined control commands derived from a script created by a human author can be transferred from the data source to the computer system via the network the method comprising the steps of
receiving the control commands from the data source at the computer system; -
rendering a character on the display in response to a first control command;
rendering an object on the display in response to a second control command;
animating the character to perform an action with the object in response to a third control command; and
changing the view of a scene being rendered in the computer system in response to a fourth control command. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A machine-readable medium including instructions for providing a visual production on a computer system, wherein the computer system includes a processor executing a rendering engine to produce images on a display, wherein the computer is coupled to a network, wherein a data source is also coupled to the network so that a stored plurality of predefined control commands derived from a script created by a human author can be transferred from the data source to the computer system via the network, the machine-readable medium including instructions for performing the following:
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receiving the control commands from the data source at the computer system;
rendering a character on the display in response to a first control command;
rendering an object on the display in response to a second control command;
animating the character to perform an action with the object in response to a third control command; and
changing the view of a scene being rendered in the computer system in response to a fourth control command.
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13. An apparatus for providing a visual production on a computer system, wherein the computer system includes a processor executing a rendering engine to produce images on a display, wherein the computer is coupled to a network, wherein a data source is also coupled to the network so that a stored plurality of predefined control commands derived from a script created by a human author can be transferred from the data source to the computer system via the network, the apparatus comprising:
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a processor for executing instructions;
a machine-readable medium including instructions for receiving the control commands from the data source at the computer system;
rendering a character on the display in response to a first control command;
rendering an object on the display in response to a second control command;
animating the character to perform an action with the object in response to a third control command; and
changing the view of a scene being rendered in the computer system in response to a fourth control command.
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14. A computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave including instructions for providing a visual production on a computer system, wherein the computer system includes a processor executing a rendering engine to produce images on a display, wherein the computer is coupled to a network, wherein a data source is also coupled to the network so that a stored plurality of predefined control commands derived from a script created by a human author can be transferred from the data source to the computer system via the network, the computer data signal including instructions for performing the following:
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receiving the control commands from the data source at the computer system;
rendering a character on the display in response to a first control command;
rendering an object on the display in response to a second control command;
animating the character to perform an action with the object in response to a third control command; and
changing the view of a scene being rendered in the computer system in response to a fourth control command.
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Specification