# US 8,786,610 B1 · Animation compression > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,786,610 B1 - Document ID: US8786610B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 12/793,273 - Filed: 2010-06-03 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2009-12-21 - Assignees: Lucasfilm Entertainment Company Ltd. - Applicants: Frederic P. Pighin; Jerome Scholler - Inventors: Frederic P. Pighin; Jerome Scholler - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8786610B1 ## CPC - G06T 9/001: {Model-based coding, e.g. wire frame} - G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL ## Abstract A system includes a computing device that includes a memory configured to store instructions. The computing device also includes a processor configured to execute the instructions to perform a method that includes identifying a portion of a representation of a character in an animation. The identified portion is associated with a feature of the character to be represented in a reconstructed version of the animation. The method also includes compressing the identified portion of the character representation and other portions of the character representation to produce a model of the character that is capable of reconstructing the animation. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A computer-implemented method comprising: receiving an animation including a series of frames; identifying a portion of a representation of a character in a frame of the animation, wherein the identified portion is associated with a feature of the character to be represented in a reconstructed version of the animation; assigning a weight to the identified portion to produce a prioritized input usable for compressing the animation, the weight being assigned prior to compression of the animation and representing a priority of the portion to be included in a compressed model, wherein the weight is assigned to one or more vertices corresponding to the feature of the character to produce the prioritized input including one or more weighted vertices; and compressing the animation using the one or more weighted vertices to produce the compressed model, the compressed model being usable for reconstructing the animation, wherein whether the compressed model includes the identified portion is based on the weight assigned to the portion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein assigning the weight to the identified portion of the character is based upon a rule. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein assigning the weight to the identified portion of the character is based upon user input. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the identified portion of the character includes a surface region of the character. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein assigning the weight to the identified portion of the character is based upon a facial expression of the character in the animation. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the compressed model includes a set of shapes corresponding to features of the character, the set of shapes representing information relating to one or more position changes of the identified portion across the series of frames included in the animation. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the compressed model includes a set of shapes corresponding to features of the character, the set of shapes representing information relating to a movement of a vertex represented in the series of frames included in the animation. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the compressed model includes a set of shapes corresponding to features of the character, the set of shapes representing information relating to a velocity of a vertex represented in the series of frames included in the animation. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the character feature is included in a facial expression of the character. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the compressing includes principal component analysis. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the model includes sixteen shapes. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the character is an online character included in a video game. ### Claim 13 A non-transitory computer program product tangibly embodied in an information carrier and comprising instructions that when executed by a processor perform a method comprising receiving an animation including a series of frames; identifying a portion of a representation of a character in a frame of the animation, wherein the identified portion is associated with a feature of the character to be represented in a reconstructed version of the animation; assigning a weight to the identified portion to produce a prioritized input usable for compressing the animation, the weight being assigned prior to compression of the animation and representing a priority of the portion to be included in a compressed model, wherein the weight is assigned to one or more vertices corresponding to the feature of the character to produce the prioritized input including one or more weighted vertices; and compressing the animation using the one or more weighted vertices to produce the compressed model, the compressed model being usable for reconstructing the animation, wherein whether the compressed model includes the identified portion is based on the weight assigned to the portion. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A non-transitory computer program product of claim 13, wherein assigning the weight to the identified portion of the character is based upon a rule. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) A non-transitory computer program product of claim 13, wherein assigning the weight to the identified portion of the character is based upon user input. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) A non-transitory computer program product of claim 13, wherein the identified portion of the character includes a surface region of the character. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) A non-transitory computer program product of claim 13, wherein assigning the weight to the identified portion of the character is based upon a facial expression of the character in the animation. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) A non-transitory computer program product of claim 13, wherein the compressed model includes a set of shapes corresponding to features of the character, the set of shapes representing information relating to one or more position changes of the identified portion across the series of frames included in the animation. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) A non-transitory computer program product of claim 13, wherein the compressed model includes a set of shapes corresponding to features of the character, the set of shapes representing information relating to a movement of a vertex represented in the series of frames included in the animation. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) A non-transitory computer program product of claim 13, wherein the compressed model includes a set of shapes corresponding to features of the character, the set of shapes representing information relating to a velocity of a vertex represented in the series of frames included in the animation. ### Claim 21 (depends on 13) A non-transitory computer program product of claim 13, wherein the character feature is included in a facial expression of the character. ### Claim 22 (depends on 13) A non-transitory computer program product of claim 13, wherein the compressing includes principal component analysis. ### Claim 23 (depends on 13) A non-transitory computer program product of claim 13, wherein the model includes sixteen shapes. ### Claim 24 (depends on 13) A non-transitory computer program product of claim 13, wherein the character is an online character included in a video game. ### Claim 25 A system comprising: a computing device comprising: a memory configured to store instructions; and a processor configured to execute the instructions to perform a method comprising: receive an animation including a series of frames; identify a portion of a representation of a character in a frame of the animation, wherein the identified portion is associated with a feature of the character to be represented in a reconstructed version of the animation; assign a weight to the identified portion to produce a prioritized input usable for compressing the animation, the weight being assigned prior to compression of the animation and representing a priority of the portion to be included in a compressed model, wherein the weight is assigned to one or more vertices corresponding to the feature of the character to produce the prioritized input including one or more weighted vertices; and compress the animation using the one or more weighted vertices to produce the compressed model, the compressed model being that is usable for reconstructing the animation, wherein whether the compressed model includes the identified portion is based on the weight assigned to the portion. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The system of claim 25, wherein assigning the weight to the identified portion of the character is based upon a rule. ### Claim 27 (depends on 25) The system of claim 25, wherein assigning the weight to the identified portion of the character is based upon user input. ### Claim 28 (depends on 25) The system of claim 25, wherein the identified portion of the character includes a surface region of the character. ### Claim 29 (depends on 25) The system of claim 25, wherein assigning the weight to the identified portion of the character is based upon a facial expression of the character in the animation. ### Claim 30 (depends on 25) The system of claim 25, wherein the compressed model includes a set of shapes corresponding to features of the character, the set of shapes representing information relating to one or more position changes of the identified portion across a series of frames included in the animation. ### Claim 31 (depends on 25) The system of claim 25, wherein the compressed model includes a set of shapes corresponding to features of the character, the set of shapes representing information relating to a movement of a vertex represented in the series of frames included in the animation. ### Claim 32 (depends on 25) The system of claim 25, wherein the compressed model includes a set of shapes corresponding to features of the character, the set of shapes representing information relating to a velocity of a vertex represented in the series of frames included in the animation. ### Claim 33 (depends on 25) The system of claim 25, wherein the character feature is included in a facial expression of the character. ### Claim 34 (depends on 25) The system of claim 25, wherein the compressing includes principal component analysis. ### Claim 35 (depends on 25) The system of claim 25, wherein the model includes sixteen shapes. ### Claim 36 (depends on 25) The system of claim 25, wherein the character is an online character included in a video game.