# US 8,542,236 B2 · Generating animation libraries > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,542,236 B2 - Document ID: US8542236B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/623,707 - Filed: 2007-01-16 - Published: 2008-07-17 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2007-01-16 - Assignees: Lucasfilm Entertainment Company Ltd. - Applicants: Steve Sullivan; Francesco G. Callari - Inventors: Steve Sullivan; Francesco G. Callari - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8542236B2 ## CPC - G06T 13/40: of characters, e.g. humans, animals or virtual beings - G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL ## Abstract A computer-implemented method includes transferring motion information from one or more motion meshes to an animation mesh. The motion mesh represents the motion of surface features of an object. A shape mesh provides a portion of the shape of the object to the animation mesh. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A computer-implemented method, the method comprising: transferring motion information in a processor from at least one motion mesh to an animation mesh, wherein the motion mesh represents the motion of surface features of an object represented by the animation mesh, a shape mesh provides a portion of the shape of the object to the animation mesh and influences the motion information provided by the motion mesh. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the motion mesh is generated from a series of images of the object captured by at least one device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the motion information includes the position of a vertex included in the motion mesh. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the motion information includes the position of a surface structure included in the motion mesh. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein the surface structure includes a curved surface structure. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein the surface structure includes a surface structure patch. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the motion information is transferred to a vertex included in the animation mesh. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the motion information is transferred to a surface structure included in the animation mesh. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein the surface structure includes a curved surface structure. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein the surface structure includes a surface structure patch. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the position of a vertex of the animation mesh represents a position of at least one vertex of the motion mesh. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the position of a vertex of the animation mesh is influenced by at least one vertex of the motion mesh. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the position of a vertex of the animation mesh is influenced by at least one vertex of the motion mesh and the shape of the shape mesh. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the position of a vertex of the animation mesh is independent of the influence of at least one vertex of the motion mesh. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the position of a vertex of the animation mesh represents an interpolated position of at least two vertices of the motion mesh. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the position of a vertex of the animation mesh changes based upon the position of a vertex of another motion mesh. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising: decomposing the motion information. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising: decomposing the motion information into principle components. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising: decomposing a portion of the motion information into principle components. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The computer-implemented method of claim 19, further comprising: storing the decomposed motion information. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the resolution of animation mesh is higher than the resolution of the motion mesh. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the motion information is stored in a data file. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the animation mesh includes vertices that are substantially uniformly distributed. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the animation mesh includes vertices that are substantially distributed across a portion of the mesh. ### Claim 25 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the animation mesh includes vertices and surface structures. ### Claim 26 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the surface features include artificial points. ### Claim 27 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the surface features include natural points. ### Claim 28 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the surface features include curves. ### Claim 29 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein transferring the motion information includes interpolating vertices included in the motion mesh. ### Claim 30 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein transferring the motion information includes interpolating vertices included in the motion mesh in a non-linear manner. ### Claim 31 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the object is a deformable object. ### Claim 32 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the object is an actor's face. ### Claim 33 A system comprising: a computer system comprising: a processor; and a motion transferor to transfer motion information from at least one motion mesh to an animation mesh, wherein the motion mesh represents the motion of surface features of an object represented by the animation mesh, a shape mesh provides a portion of the shape of the object to the animation mesh and influences the motion information provided by the motion mesh. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) The system of claim 33, wherein the motion mesh is generated from a series of images of the object captured by at least one device. ### Claim 35 (depends on 33) The system of claim 33, wherein the motion information includes the position of a vertex included in the motion mesh. ### Claim 36 (depends on 33) The system of claim 33, wherein the motion information includes the position of a surface structure included in the motion mesh. ### Claim 37 (depends on 36) The system of claim 36, wherein the surface structure includes a curved surface structure. ### Claim 38 (depends on 36) The system of claim 36, wherein the surface structure includes a surface structure patch. ### Claim 39 (depends on 33) The system of claim 33, wherein the motion information is transferred to a vertex included in the animation mesh. ### Claim 40 (depends on 33) The system of claim 33, wherein the motion information is transferred to a surface structure included in the animation mesh. ### Claim 41 (depends on 40) The system of claim 40, wherein the surface structure includes a curved surface structure. ### Claim 42 (depends on 40) The system of claim 40, wherein the surface structure includes a surface structure patch. ### Claim 43 (depends on 33) The system of claim 33, wherein motion transferring includes the position of a vertex of the animation mesh being influenced by at least a vertex of the motion mesh and the shape of the shape mesh. ### Claim 44 (depends on 33) The system of claim 33, wherein the motion transferor is capable of decomposing the motion information. ### Claim 45 (depends on 44) The system of claim 44, wherein the motion transferor is capable of storing the decomposed motion information. ### Claim 46 A computer program product tangibly embodied in a machine-readable storage device and comprising instructions that when executed by a processor perform a method comprising: transferring motion information from at least one motion mesh to an animation mesh, wherein the motion mesh represents the motion of surface features of an object represented by the animation mesh, a shape mesh provides a portion of the shape of the object to the animation mesh and influences the motion information provided by the motion mesh. ### Claim 47 (depends on 46) The computer product of claim 46, wherein the motion mesh is generated from a series of images of the object captured by at least one device. ### Claim 48 (depends on 46) The computer product of claim 46, wherein the motion information includes the position of a vertex included in the motion mesh. ### Claim 49 (depends on 46) The computer product of claim 46, wherein the motion information includes the position of a surface structure included in the motion mesh. ### Claim 50 (depends on 49) The computer product of claim 49, wherein the surface structure includes a curved surface structure. ### Claim 51 (depends on 49) The computer product of claim 49, wherein the surface structure includes a surface structure patch. ### Claim 52 (depends on 46) The computer product of claim 46, wherein the motion information is transferred to a vertex included in the animation mesh. ### Claim 53 (depends on 46) The computer product of claim 46, wherein the motion information is transferred to a surface structure included in the animation mesh. ### Claim 54 (depends on 53) The computer product of claim 53, wherein the surface structure includes a curved surface structure. ### Claim 55 (depends on 53) The computer product of claim 53, wherein the surface structure includes a surface structure patch. ### Claim 56 (depends on 46) The computer product of claim 46, wherein the position of a vertex of the animation mesh is influenced by at least a vertex of the motion mesh and the shape of the shape mesh. ### Claim 57 (depends on 46) The computer product of claim 46, further comprising instructions that when executed cause the processor to decompose the motion information. ### Claim 58 (depends on 57) The computer product of claim 57, further comprising instructions that when executed cause the processor to store the decomposed motion information. ### Claim 59 A motion capture system comprising: at least one device to capture a series of images of an object; and a computer system to execute at least one process to: generate at least one motion mesh that represents the motion of surface features of the object; and transfer the motion information of the motion mesh to an animation mesh for animation of the object being represented by the animation mesh, wherein a shape mesh provides a portion of the shape of the object to the animation mesh and influences the motion information provided by the motion mesh. ### Claim 60 (depends on 59) The motion capture system of claim 59, wherein the motion information includes the position of a vertex included in the motion mesh. ### Claim 61 (depends on 59) The motion capture system of claim 59, wherein the motion information includes the position of a surface structure included in the motion mesh. ### Claim 62 (depends on 61) The motion capture system of claim 61, wherein the surface structure includes a curved surface structure. ### Claim 63 (depends on 61) The motion capture system of claim 61, wherein the surface structure includes a surface structure patch. ### Claim 64 (depends on 59) The motion capture system of claim 59, wherein the motion information is transferred to a vertex included in the animation mesh. ### Claim 65 (depends on 59) The motion capture system of claim 59, wherein the motion information is transferred to a surface structure included in the animation mesh. ### Claim 66 (depends on 65) The motion capture system of claim 65, wherein the surface structure includes a curved surface structure. ### Claim 67 (depends on 65) The motion capture system of claim 65, wherein the surface structure includes a surface structure patch. ### Claim 68 (depends on 59) The motion capture system of claim 59, wherein the position of a vertex of the animation mesh is influenced by at least a vertex of the motion mesh and the shape of the shape mesh. ### Claim 69 (depends on 59) The motion capture system of claim 59, wherein the computer system is further capable of decomposing the motion information. ### Claim 70 (depends on 69) The motion capture system of claim 69, wherein the computer system is further capable of storing the decomposed motion information.