Patent ID: 9665966
Date: 2017-05-30
CPC Classifications: G06T

Claim:
1. A computer-implemented method for representing a connection between a source object and a target object in a simulation, the method comprising, for each of a plurality of time steps of the simulation: tracking, by a computer system, a distance between the source object and the target object, wherein the source object and the target object are both visible objects in a rendered scene; determining, by the computer system, that a distance between the source object and the target object at a first time is not within a first distance, wherein: determining, by the computer system, that a distance between the source object and the target object at a second time is within the first distance, the second time being after the first time; responsive at least to determining that the distance between the source object and the target object at the second time is within the first distance determining, by the computer system, that a distance between the source object and the target object at a fourth time is not within the second distance, the fourth time being after the third time; responsive at least to determining that the distance between the source object and the target object at the fourth time is not within the second distance, deleting, by the computer system, the spring element that forms the connection between the source object and the target object; and simulating forces applied to the source object as a result of the spring element being created and deleted during the simulation.