Multiple-level graphics processing with animation interval generation

In a computing environment comprising a computer processor and computer system memory, a method comprising:

• a first component receiving clock data and graphics data, the first component comprising a tree of clocks hierarchically related by synchronization rules and primitives, an event list generator, an interval generator, and a high-level timing component, and wherein the clocks correspond to clock properties received from an application program;
• the event list generator grouping together explicit interactive events with events initially scheduled by specified clock properties;
• the event list generator walking a combined list of scheduled and interactive events and inserting implicit events;
• the event list generator generating an event list from clock properties and interactive events, wherein the event list generator comprises a state machine and groups events initially scheduled by specified clock properties together with explicit interactive events received with respect to an animation into the event list and wherein the states of the state machine comprise inactive, active, pause, and resume;
• pairing off events to form intervals wherein there is an interval for every pair of consecutive events;
• an interval generator generating an interval list from the event list and the clock data;
• a second component receiving the interval list, the second component comprising a low-level timing component and a low-level computation engine;
• the second component interpolating the location of an animated object based on interval data and current time to obtain instantaneous values and the second component also controlling output based on current time and decoding instructions into rendering commands to be executed by a graphics device;
• the second component providing a progress value to a low-level animation subsystem;
• the low-level animation subsystem determining a current value for a varying property of an animated object;
• receiving a consistent time from a system clock at both the high-level timing component and the low-level timing component for enabling the first component and the second component to remain in synchronization;
• and
• using an animation function subsystem to determine a current value for varying property of the animated object.