Patent ID: 6054995
Filing Date: 2000-04-25
Classification: G06T

Abstract:
Apparatus for controlling a computer-generated animation suite, the suite comprising stored libraries of image components and component motion parameters within a three-dimensional virtual world and means for generating sequences of image frames through which one or more of the image components are moved in accordance with one or more of the motion parameters, the apparatus comprising:interface means connectable to the image generating means and including storage means holding a library of function specifications each of which, when called and applied to the image generating means, initiates one or a predetermined sequence of image component movements within the three-dimensional virtual world; anda propagating rule-based processor connected to the interface means and containing a set of rules each defining a response to a given condition with the processor generating a response and an instantaneous orientation of a generated image frame when the associated condition is satisfied;wherein the processor is coupled to receive data relating to one or more features of said generated image frame, said data satisfying the condition portion of at least one rule, and wherein the calling of each of the interface function specifications is the response portion of a respective rule.