Apparatus, a method, and a system for animating a virtual scene

• US 7,991,401 B2
• Filed: 08/08/2007
• Issued: 08/02/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Dror, Yael, Lee, Kim Michael, Linder, Natan
• Primary Examiner(s): MIZRAHI, DIANE D
• Application Number:
  US11/889,026
• Publication Number:
  US 20080039124A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,455 Days
• Field of Search: 455/438, 455/418, 455/466, 379/93.24, 709/206, 717/379, 715/223, 715/706, 715/745, 345/646, 348/14.02, 382/294, 463/30, 463/42, 725/32
• US Class Current: 455/438
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72427 for supporting games or graphical animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails

Abstract

A method for animating a virtual scene that comprises managing a virtual scene comprising at least one virtual object, receiving a text message via a wireless communication network, identifying a pattern indicative of an animation sequence in said text message, and applying a non-facial animation on said at least one virtual object according said animation sequence.

Claims

1. A mobile communication terminal having a processor, comprising:

a repository which stores at least one virtual object;

an animation identification module configured for receiving an electronic text message comprising an animation tag indicative of an animation sequence and using the processer for identifying said animation sequence according to said animation tag; and

a scene-animating module, electronically coupled to said animation identification module, configured for locally managing using the processor a virtual scene having said at least one virtual object and applying non-facial animation to said at least one virtual object in said locally managed virtual scene according to said animation sequence.

2. The mobile communication terminal of claim 1, wherein said applying comprises applying facial animation.

3. The mobile communication terminal of claim 1, further comprising an output module configured for outputting said animated virtual scene.

4. The mobile communication terminal of claim 1, wherein said animation sequence comprising a set of instructions for animating said virtual object to graphically portray one or more behavioral motions.

5. The mobile communication terminal of claim 4, wherein behavioral motions comprise one of:

sitting, eating, fighting, bathing, singing, hugging, kissing, happiness, sadness, anger, agony, passionate attraction, fondness, and love.

6. The mobile communication terminal of claim 1, wherein the repository configured for storing of a plurality of tags associated with a plurality of animation sequences of said at least one virtual object, including said animation sequence.

7. The mobile communication terminal of claim 6, wherein said plurality of animation sequences defines a user customized language.

8. The mobile communication terminal of claim 6, wherein each said animation sequence is associated a member of the following group:

a word, an emoticon, a sentence, and a phrase.

9. The mobile communication terminal of claim 6, wherein said scene-animating module is configured for animating said at least one virtual object according a match between said animation tag and a tag of said plurality of tags.

10. The mobile communication terminal of claim 1, wherein the mobile communication terminal is a cellular phone.

11. The mobile communication terminal of claim 10, further comprising a caller identification module configured for identifying a caller identifier of a caller during a received call, said animation sequence being selected according to said caller identifier.

12. The mobile communication terminal of claim 1, wherein the repository configured for storing said virtual scene;

said virtual scene is locally managed by said scene-animating module.

13. The mobile communication terminal of claim 1, wherein said electronic text message comprises textual content.

14. The mobile communication terminal of claim 13, further comprising a screen display configured for displaying said animated virtual scene and said textual content substantially simultaneously.

15. The mobile communication terminal of claim 1, wherein said electronic text message comprises a virtual object tag, said scene-animating module being configured for selecting said at least one virtual object from a plurality of virtual objects according to said virtual object tag.

16. The mobile communication terminal of claim 1, wherein said animation tag is registered in an expression matching table mapping a plurality of animation sequences including said animation sequence, said expression matching table associates said animation tag with said animation sequence.

17. The mobile communication terminal of claim 16, wherein said expression matching table is received in said electronic text message.

18. The mobile communication terminal of claim 16, wherein said plurality of animation sequences defines a member of the following group:

the sign language, a user defined sign language, and a visual language.

19. The mobile communication terminal of claim 1, further comprising a message preparation module configured for encoding an outgoing electronic text message comprising at least one animation tag according to at least one predefined expression in a text string entered by a user.

20. The mobile communication terminal of claim 1, wherein said animation tag is indicative of an audio track, and said scene-animating module is configured for playing said audio track during said applying.

21. The mobile communication terminal of claim 1, wherein applying non-facial animation comprising one of:

specific pose, user-defined choreography, complex dance, clip, simple gesture, and complex movement of a number of poses or motions.