US 2022/0028150 A1 · SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR COMPUTER ANIMATION USING AN ORDER OF OPERATIONS DEFORMATION ENGINE

Abstract

A method for computer animation includes receiving, by a processor executing a multi-platform deformation engine system in association with a third-party game engine system, an input file that includes an asset geometry, where the asset geometry defines an asset mesh structure, where the asset geometry may exclude an internal support frame, and where logic for custom deformation steps may be included, altogether in a fashion portable and made to produce consistent results across multiple different software and/or hardware platform environments and/or across real-time and/or offline scenarios. The method also includes applying at least one deformer to the asset mesh structure, where the at least one deformer includes a plurality of user-selectable deformer channels, and where each deformer channel is associated with at least a portion of the asset mesh structure and configured to adjust a visual appearance of the associated portion of the asset mesh structure. The method also includes receiving a customizable order of operations for evaluation of at least a subset of the plurality of deformer channels, the order of operations specifying an order in which each deformer channel of the subset is to be evaluated in real-time during animation of the asset geometry.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method for computer animation, the method comprising:

receiving, by a processor executing a multi-platform deformation engine system in association with a third-party game engine system, an input file that includes an asset geometry, the asset geometry defining an asset mesh structure;
applying, by the processor, at least one deformer to the asset mesh structure, the at least one deformer including a plurality of user-selectable deformer channels, each deformer channel associated with at least a portion of the asset mesh structure and configured to adjust a visual appearance of the associated portion of the asset mesh structure;
receiving, by the processor and based on a user input, a customizable order of operations for execution of at least a subset of the plurality of deformer channels, the order of operations specifying an order in which each deformer channel of the subset is to be executed in real-time during animation of the asset geometry;
and
generating, by the processor, an output file that includes the asset geometry, the at least one deformer instance, and the order of operations.

2 more elements

A tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon, which when executed by a processor executing a multi-platform deformation engine system in association with a game engine system, are configured to cause the processor to at least:

receive an input file that includes an asset geometry, the asset geometry defining an asset mesh structure, the asset geometry excluding an internal framework;
associate at least one deformer instance with the asset mesh structure, the at least one deformer instance including a plurality of user-selectable deformer channels, each deformer channel associated with at least a portion of the asset mesh structure and configured to adjust a visual appearance of the associated portion of the asset mesh structure;
receive, based on a user input, a customizable order of operations for evaluation of at least a subset of the plurality of deformer channels, the order of operations specifying an order in which each deformer channel of the subset is to be evaluated in real-time during animation of the asset geometry;
and
generate an output file that includes the asset geometry, the at least one deformer instance, and the order of operations.

2 more elements

A system for computer animation, the system comprising

a memory device;
and
a processor configured to execute instructions stored on the memory device, which when executed, cause the processor to at least:
receive an input file that includes an asset geometry, the asset geometry defining an asset mesh structure, the asset geometry excluding an internal framework;
associate at least one deformer instance with the asset mesh structure, the at least one deformer instance including a plurality of user-selectable deformer channels, each deformer channel associated with at least a portion of the asset mesh structure and configured to adjust a visual appearance of the associated portion of the asset mesh structure;
receive, based on a user input, a customizable order of operations for evaluation of at least a subset of the plurality of deformer channels, the order of operations specifying an order in which each deformer channel of the subset is to be evaluated in real-time during animation of the asset geometry;
and
generate an output file that includes the asset geometry, the at least one deformer instance, and the order of operations.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Systems and methods for computer animation using an order of operations deformation engine

Life of this patent

Systems and methods for computer animation using an order of operations deformation engine

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20