Systems and methods for communicating through computer animated images
AssigneeImage Link Co., Ltd.
InventorMinoru Yamamoto
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The current method and system generates an animation sequence for a live character during communication. In response to a performer's voice and other inputs, the animation sequence of the character is generated on a real-time basis and approximates human speech. The animated character is capable of expressing certain predetermined states of mind such as happy, angry and surprised. In addition, the animated character is also capable of approximating natural movements associated with speech.
Claims14
A virtual puppet system for animating a character on the fly to communicate with an audience, comprising:
- a character presentation unit for displaying the character to the audience;
- an audience response surveying unit for surveying an audience response to the character presented by said character presentation unit;
- an operator console having a voice input unit for interactively generating an input voice signal based upon a voice input of an operator according to the audience response and a keypad for interactively generating an expression signal according to the audience response so as to specify a character animation sequence;
- and
- an animation generating unit connected to said operator console and said character presentation unit for generating the animation sequence of the character based upon the input voice signal and the expression signal.
A method of animating a character on the fly to communicate with an audience, comprising the steps of:
- a) displaying the character to the audience;
- b) surveying an audience response to the character as displayed in said step a);
- c) interactively generating an input voice signal based upon a voice input of an operator and an expression signal so as to specify a character animation sequence according to the audience response;
- and
- d) generating the animation sequence of the character based upon the input voice signal and the expression signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.