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US 8,508,537 B2Granted
System and method for dependency graph evaluation for animation
AssigneeDisney Enterprises, Inc.
InventorsBryant E. Collard, Bradley A. Edwards, Antony K. Jones, Adam T. Clayton, Tyler J. Colbert, Fraser H. Graham
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Aspects include systems, devices, and methods for evaluating a source dependency graph and animation curve with a game system. The dependency graph may be evaluated at an interactive rate during execution of a game. The animation curve may describe change in a state of a control element over time. Subnetworks of the dependency graph may be identified and evaluated using a plurality of processors.
Claims36
A game animation system, comprising:
- one or more processors configured to execute a game, wherein the game includes one or more objects, and wherein an object includes one or more control elements and one or more elements;
- non-transitive electronic storage storing:
- source animation curve data, the source animation curve data representing an animation curve of an object, wherein the source animation curve data describes change in a state of a control element over time, wherein a change in the state of the control element affects a position and/or orientation of elements of the object, where the elements of the object are different simulated physical portions of the object;
- secondary source animation curve data, the secondary source animation curve data representing a secondary animation curve of a secondary object, the secondary object being separate, discrete, and unconnected to the object in the game, wherein the secondary animation curve data describes change in a secondary state of a secondary control element over time;
- a description of a first dependency graph defining transforms for the source animation curve data, wherein the first dependency graph includes nodes representing hierarchically interrelated elements of the object;
- and
- a secondary description of a secondary dependency graph defining transforms for the secondary source animation curve data, wherein the secondary dependency graph includes nodes representing interrelated elements of the secondary object;
- wherein the one or more processors are further configured to execute a game engine configured to evaluate an interaction of the object related to the first dependency graph and the secondary object related to the secondary dependency graph to simulate a releasable engagement between the object and the secondary object in the game, where evaluation of the interaction is based on grouping a first element of the object and a second element of the secondary object into a meta network, wherein the meta network includes a functional node that is connected to the first element and the second element during the simulated releasable engagement.
5 more elements
A computer-implemented method of executing a game including one or more objects on a game animation system, wherein an object is associated with one or more control elements and one or more elements, the method comprising:
- identifying source animation curve data, the source animation curve data representing an animation curve of an object, wherein the source animation curve data describes change in a state of a control element over time, wherein a change in a state of a control element affects a position and/or orientation of elements of the object in the game, where the elements of the object are different simulated physical portions of the object;
- identifying secondary source animation curve data, the secondary source animation curve data representing a secondary animation curve of a secondary object, the secondary object being separate, discrete, and unconnected to the object in the game, wherein the secondary animation curve data describes change in a secondary state of a secondary control element over time;
- identifying a description of a first dependency graph, the dependency graph defining transforms for the source animation curve data, wherein the first dependency graph includes nodes representing hierarchically interrelated elements of the object;
- identifying a secondary description of a secondary dependency graph, the secondary dependency graph defining transforms for the secondary source animation curve data, wherein the secondary dependency graph includes nodes representing interrelated elements of the secondary object;
- and
- evaluating an interaction of the object related to the first dependency graph and the secondary object related to the secondary dependency graph at an interactive rate while executing the game to simulate a releasable engagement between the object and the secondary object in the game, where evaluating the interaction includes grouping a first element of the object and a second element of the secondary object into a meta network during the simulated releasable engagement, wherein the meta network includes a functional node that is connected to the first element and the second element.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.