Office Action 2: Notice of Allowance (2025-02-28)

CLAIMS:
Amendments to the Claims

The following listing of claims will replace all prior versions, and listings, of claims in the application:

Listing of Claims:

1\. (Currently Amended) A virtual object control method performed by a computer device, and the method comprising:displaying a virtual object in a virtual scene region of a first level;
in response to a task execution instruction for the virtual object, controlling the virtual object to perform a task corresponding to the first level in the virtual scene region;
when the virtual object completes the task, displaying level identifiers of at least two second levels adjacent to the first level;
in response to an interaction instruction for a target level identifier in the level identifiers of the at least two second levels, controlling the virtual object to perform an interaction operation on the target level identifier; \[\[and\]\] when the interaction operation is completed,
controlling the virtual object to move to a virtual scene region of a second level corresponding to the target level identifier;
obtaining a score associated with the task when the virtual object completes the task;
displaying an automatic movement of the virtual object to the virtual scene region of the second level corresponding to the target level identifier; and
displaying a moving effect corresponding to the score in parallel to the movement of the virtual object;
when the interaction operation is not completed,randomly selecting one second level from a plurality of second levels; and
displaying an automatic movement of the virtual object to a virtual scene region of the randomly selected second level.
2\. (Original) The method according to claim 1, wherein the controlling the virtual object to perform an interaction operation on the target level identifier comprises:

controlling the virtual object to use a shooting prop to shoot a projectile towards the target level identifier, to trigger the interaction operation on the target level identifier; and
determining that the interaction operation is completed when the projectile moves to a position of the target level identifier.

3\. (Original) The method according to claim 1, wherein the controlling the virtual object to perform an interaction operation on the target level identifier comprises:controlling the virtual object to throw a virtual prop towards the target level identifier, to trigger the interaction operation on the target level identifier; and
determining that the interaction operation is completed when the virtual prop moves to a position of the target level identifier.
4\. (Original) The method according to claim 1, wherein the controlling the virtual object to perform an interaction operation on the target level identifier comprises:
controlling the virtual object to use a virtual prop to perform an attack operation on the target level identifier, the attack operation being used as the interaction operation on the target level identifier; and
determining that the interaction operation is completed when an attack result of the attack operation represents that the target level identifier is attacked successfully.

5\. (Original) The method according to claim 1, wherein the displaying level identifiers of at least two second levels adjacent to the first level comprises:obtaining region information of the virtual scene region corresponding to the first level;
using image elements associated with the region information as the level identifiers of the second levels; and
displaying the image elements in one-to-one correspondence to the second levels in the virtual scene region corresponding to the first level.

6\. (Original) The method according to claim 1, wherein the controlling the virtual object to move to a virtual scene region of a second level corresponding to the target level identifier comprises:displaying a moving path that connects a current position of the virtual object and the

virtual scene region of the second level corresponding to the target level identifier;controlling the virtual object to move along the moving path; and
controlling the virtual object to stop moving when the virtual object moves to the virtual scene region of the corresponding second level along the moving path, so that the virtual object is in a static state in the virtual scene region of the corresponding second level.

7\. (Original) The method according to claim 1, wherein the controlling the virtual object to move to a virtual scene region of a second level corresponding to the target level identifier comprises:obtaining a scene type of the second level corresponding to the target level identifier;
displaying a virtual vehicle adapted to the scene type in the virtual scene region corresponding to the first level; and
controlling the virtual object to take the virtual vehicle to move to the virtual scene region of the corresponding second level.

8\. (Original) The method according to claim 1, wherein the controlling the virtual object to move to a virtual scene region of a second level corresponding to the target level identifier comprises:obtaining a character type corresponding to the virtual object; and
controlling the virtual object to move to the virtual scene region of the second level corresponding to the target level identifier in a moving manner adapted to the character type.

9\. (Canceled)

10\. (Canceled)

11\. (Original) The method according to claim 1, wherein the virtual scene region corresponding to the first level comprises at least one target object interacting with the virtual object; andthe controlling the virtual object to perform a task corresponding to the first level in the virtual scene region comprises:
controlling the virtual object to attack the target object in the virtual scene region;
determining, when the target object is attacked, that a health value of the target object

is reduced; anddetermining, when the health value of the target object is reduced to zero, that the virtual object completes the task corresponding to the first level.

12\. (Currently Amended) A computer device, comprising:a memory, configured to store executable instructions; and
a processor, configured to perform a virtual object control method when executing the executable instructions stored in the memory, the method including:
displaying a virtual object in a virtual scene region of a first level;
in response to a task execution instruction for the virtual object, controlling the virtual object to perform a task corresponding to the first level in the virtual scene region;
when the virtual object completes the task, displaying level identifiers of at least two second levels adjacent to the first level;
in response to an interaction instruction for a target level identifier in the level identifiers of the at least two second levels, controlling the virtual object to perform an interaction operation on the target level identifier; \[\[and\]\] when the interaction operation is completed,
controlling the virtual object to move to a virtual scene region of a second level corresponding to the target level identifier;
obtaining a score associated with the task when the virtual object completes the task;
displaying an automatic movement of the virtual object to the virtual scene region of the second level corresponding to the target level identifier; and
displaying a moving effect corresponding to the score in parallel to the movement of the virtual object;
when the interaction operation is not completed,randomly selecting one second level from a plurality of second levels; and
displaying an automatic movement of the virtual object to a virtual scene region of the randomly selected second level.

13\. (Original) The computer device according to claim 12, wherein the controlling the virtual object to perform an interaction operation on the target level identifier comprises:controlling the virtual object to use a shooting prop to shoot a projectile towards the target level identifier, to trigger the interaction operation on the target level identifier; and
determining that the interaction operation is completed when the projectile moves to a position of the target level identifier.

14\. (Original) The computer device according to claim 12, wherein the controlling the virtual object to perform an interaction operation on the target level identifier comprises:controlling the virtual object to throw a virtual prop towards the target level identifier, to trigger the interaction operation on the target level identifier; and
determining that the interaction operation is completed when the virtual prop moves to a position of the target level identifier.

15\. (Original) The computer device according to claim 12, wherein the controlling the virtual object to perform an interaction operation on the target level identifier comprises:controlling the virtual object to use a virtual prop to perform an attack operation on the target level identifier, the attack operation being used as the interaction operation on the target level identifier; and
determining that the interaction operation is completed when an attack result of the attack operation represents that the target level identifier is attacked successfully.

16\. (Original) The computer device according to claim 12, wherein the displaying level identifiers of at least two second levels adjacent to the first level comprises:obtaining region information of the virtual scene region corresponding to the first level;
using image elements associated with the region information as the level identifiers of the second levels; and
displaying the image elements in one-to-one correspondence to the second levels in the virtual scene region corresponding to the first level.

17\. (Original) The computer device according to claim 12, wherein the controlling the virtual object to move to a virtual scene region of a second level corresponding to the target level identifier comprises:displaying a moving path that connects a current position of the virtual object and the virtual scene region of the second level corresponding to the target level identifier;
controlling the virtual object to move along the moving path; and
controlling the virtual object to stop moving when the virtual object moves to the virtual scene region of the corresponding second level along the moving path, so that the virtual object is in a static state in the virtual scene region of the corresponding second level.

18\. (Original) The computer device according to claim 12, wherein the controlling the virtual object to move to a virtual scene region of a second level corresponding to the target level identifier comprises:obtaining a scene type of the second level corresponding to the target level identifier;
displaying a virtual vehicle adapted to the scene type in the virtual scene region corresponding to the first level; and
controlling the virtual object to take the virtual vehicle to move to the virtual scene region of the corresponding second level.

19\. (Canceled)

20\. (Currently Amended) A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, storing executable instructions, the executable instructions, when executed by a processor of a computer device, causing the computer device to implement a virtual object control method including:displaying a virtual object in a virtual scene region of a first level;
in response to a task execution instruction for the virtual object, controlling the virtual object to perform a task corresponding to the first level in the virtual scene region;
when the virtual object completes the task, displaying level identifiers of at least two second levels adjacent to the first level;
in response to an interaction instruction for a target level identifier in the level identifiers of the at least two second levels, controlling the virtual object to perform an

interaction operation on the target level identifier; \[\[and\]\] when the interaction operation is completed,controlling the virtual object to move to a virtual scene region of a second level corresponding to the target level identifier;
obtaining a score associated with the task when the virtual object completes the task;
displaying an automatic movement of the virtual object to the virtual scene region of the second level corresponding to the target level identifier; and
displaying a moving effect corresponding to the score in parallel to the movement of the virtual object;
when the interaction operation is not completed,randomly selecting one second level from a plurality of second levels; and
displaying an automatic movement of the virtual object to a virtual scene region of the randomly selected second level.

21\. (New) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 20, wherein the displaying level identifiers of at least two second levels adjacent to the first level comprises:obtaining region information of the virtual scene region corresponding to the first level;
using image elements associated with the region information as the level identifiers of the second levels; and
displaying the image elements in one-to-one correspondence to the second levels in the virtual scene region corresponding to the first level.

22\. (New) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 20, wherein the controlling the virtual object to move to a virtual scene region of a second level corresponding to the target level identifier comprises:displaying a moving path that connects a current position of the virtual object and the virtual scene region of the second level corresponding to the target level identifier;
controlling the virtual object to move along the moving path; and

controlling the virtual object to stop moving when the virtual object moves to the virtual scene region of the corresponding second level along the moving path, so that the virtual object is in a static state in the virtual scene region of the corresponding second level.

23\. (New) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 20, wherein the controlling the virtual object to move to a virtual scene region of a second level corresponding to the target level identifier comprises:obtaining a scene type of the second level corresponding to the target level identifier;
displaying a virtual vehicle adapted to the scene type in the virtual scene region corresponding to the first level; and
controlling the virtual object to take the virtual vehicle to move to the virtual scene region of the corresponding second level.

OFFICE ACTION:
DETAILED ACTION
Notice of Pre-AIA  or AIA  Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1 to 8, 11 to 18, and 20 to 23 (independent Claims 1, 12, and 20, and their dependent claims) are allowed.
REASONS FOR ALLOWANCE
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance: The closest prior art is Zhang (Chinese patent publication CN112717386 A, cited on the IDS and the ISR for the parent PCT case).  Zhang discloses controlling a game virtual character (Paras. 49 to 160, Figs. 1, 4, 6, & 7) comprising: a landscape level picture is displayed, the landscape level picture displaying a virtual character located at a first sub-level; a user can control the virtual character to move or attack in the first sub-level; in response to the virtual character passing through the settlement position of the first sub-level, settlement information of the first sub-level is displayed by means of display information or pop-up prompt information on the landscape level picture; the virtual character is controlled to continue moving until the virtual character moves to a second sub-level, and when the user operates the virtual character to enter the second sub-level from the first sub-level, there is no loading switching process in a traditional level switching process.  See especially Claims 1 to 3 and Abst. of Zhang.  Zhang does not suggest distinguishing the two second levels on conjunction with the rest of the limitations as claimed.
The present claims pertain to: “a virtual object control method performed by a computer device, and the method comprising: displaying a virtual object in a virtual scene region of a first level; in response to a task execution instruction for the virtual object, controlling the virtual object to perform a task corresponding to the first level in the virtual scene region; when the virtual object completes the task, displaying level identifiers of at least two second levels adjacent to the first level; in response to an interaction instruction for a target level identifier in the level identifiers of the at least two second levels, controlling the virtual object to perform an interaction operation on the target level identifier; when the interaction operation is completed, controlling the virtual object to move to a virtual scene region of a second level corresponding to the target level identifier; obtaining a score associated with the task when the virtual object completes the task; displaying an automatic movement of the virtual object to the virtual scene region of the second level corresponding to the target level identifier; and displaying a moving effect corresponding to the score in parallel to the movement of the virtual object; when the interaction operation is not completed, randomly selecting one second level from a plurality of second levels; and displaying an automatic movement of the virtual object to a virtual scene region of the randomly selected second level.”  In the typical prior art games, after a task of a level in a virtual scene is completed, a level selection interface is generally displayed, and a user triggers a selection operation of a level based on the level selection interface, and then a virtual scene picture of the level corresponding to the selection operation is displayed.  Due to the need for a page jump, the consistency between levels is poor, and image display resources and computing resources are wasted.  The present claims have the overall advantage of implementing selection of levels in an efficient manner with low resource consumption.  The examiner respects that the applicant may have different reasons for allowance.
Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, should preferably accompany the issue fee.  Such submissions should be clearly labeled “Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance.”
Conclusion

APPLICANT REBUTTAL: REMARKS
This amendment responds to the office action mailed October 1, 2024. In the office action, the Examiner:
* rejected claims 1-20 under 35 U.S.C. 101 because the claimed invention is
directed to a judicial exception without significantly more; and
* rejected claims 1-20 under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Zhang (CN
112717386 A), in view of Luo et al. (CN 108421255 A).
I
NTERVIEW SUMMARY
Applicant's attorneys thank Examiner Hoel for the opportunity to discuss the
application during a telephone interview on November 19, 2024 with Yalei Sun. In the interview, the Examiner agreed that amending claim 1 would overcome the current rejection under 35 U.S.C. §101 and §103 but requires an updated search. Claim 1 has been amended accordingly. Analogous amendments have been made to claims 12 and 20.
REMARKS CONCERNING CLAIMS
Claims 1, 12 and 20 have been amended by incorporating the subject matter of claims
9 and 10 as well as additional claim features.
Claims 9, 10 and 19 have been canceled.
Claims 21-23 have been added, which correspond to the original claims 16-18, respectively.
Support for the amendments can be found in at least the original claims 9 and 10 as well as paragraph [0128] of the application as filed. No new matter has been added.
With respect to all amendments, Applicant has not dedicated or abandoned any
unclaimed subject matter. Moreover, Applicant has not acquiesced to any characterizations of the invention, nor any rejections or objections of the claims, made by the Examiner. Moreover, the Applicant hereby rescinds any prior disclaimer of claim scope, to the extent they exist, made during the prosecution of this application or made during the prosecution of any patent or other related patents/applications, and advises the Examiner that any such previous disclaimers and the cited references that they were made to avoid may need to be revisited.
After entry of this amendment, the pending claims are: claims 1-8, 11-18 and 20-23.
REMARKS CONCERNING REJECTIONS UNDER 35 U.S.C. 101
I.    REJECTION OF CLAIMS 1-20 UNDER 35 U.S.C. 101 BECAUSE THE CLAIMED
INVENTION IS DIRECTED TO A JUDICIAL EXCEPTION WITHOUT SIGNIFICANTLY MORE
As noted above, the Examiner agrees that the amended claim 1 has overcome the 101 rejection by integrating the additional claim features into a practical application that are sufficient to overcome the judicial exception with significantly more features.
In view of the above, the Applicant respectfully submits that the rejection of claims 1- 8, 11-18 and 20-23 under 35 U.S.C. §101 should be withdrawn.
REMARKS CONCERNING REJECTIONS UNDER 35 U.S.C. 103
II.   REJECTION OF CLAIMS 1-20 UNDER 35 U.S.C. 103 AS BEING UNPATENTABLE OVER
ZHANG, IN VIEW OF LUO
Claim 1 has been amended to recite that:
when the interaction operation is completed,
controlling the virtual object to move to a virtual scene region of a
second level corresponding to the target level identifier;
obtaining a score associated with the task when the virtual object
completes the task;
displaying an automatic movement of the virtual object to the
virtual scene region of the second level corresponding to the
target level identifier; and
displaying a moving effect corresponding to the score in
parallel to the movement of the virtual object;
when the interaction operation is not completed,
randomly selecting one second level from a plurality of second
levels; and
displaying an automatic movement of the virtual object to a
virtual scene region of the randomly selected second level.
Emphasis Added.
As highlighted above, the movement of the virtual object from the virtual scene
region of the first level to the virtual scene region of the second level happens automatically regardless of where the virtual object is located and whether or not the interaction action has been completed or not.
In contrast, Zhang requires that "a virtual character [be] positioned at a first sub-gate" after completing the required interactions before entering into the next level (abstract). Luo fails to salvage the deficiencies of Zhang.
Moreover, neither Zhang nor Luo teaches "displaying a moving effect corresponding to the score in parallel to the movement of the virtual object" as required by the pending claims.
Finally, the Examiner agrees that the amended claim 1 has overcome the current rejection based on Zhang in view of Luo. Claims 12 and 20 have been amended in a substantially similar manner as claim 1.
In view of the above, the Applicant respectfully submits that the rejection of claims 1-8, 11-18 and 20-23 under 35 U.S.C. 103 should be withdrawn.
CONCLUDING REMARKS
By responding in the foregoing remarks only to particular positions asserted by the examiner, the Applicant does not necessarily acquiesce in other positions that have not been explicitly addressed. In addition, the Applicant's arguments for the patentability of a claim should not be understood as implying that no other reasons for the patentability of that claim exist.
In light of the above amendments and remarks, the Applicant respectfully requests that the Examiner reconsider this application with a view towards allowance. The Examiner is invited to call the undersigned attorney at (650) 843-7558, if a telephone call could help resolve any remaining items.
Respectfully submitted,


CITED REFERENCE SUMMARIES: Ref US11425312B2: Claims:
A non-transitory computer-readable medium including an image processing program for causing a server to perform functions to control synthesis of a real space image and a virtual object image, the functions comprising: obtaining the real space image and positional information of a user terminal from the user terminal, the user terminal including a first photographing device configured to photograph the real space image; referring to a storage that stores light source related information defined in advance and the positional information associated with each other; specifying light source related information corresponding to the positional information of the user terminal; setting a virtual light source for a virtual object on a basis of the specified light source related information; generating a virtual object image on a basis of the set virtual light source; synthesizing the virtual object image and the real space image into a synthetic image; and outputting the synthetic image, wherein the obtaining the real space image and the positional information of the user terminal comprises obtaining, from the user terminal, another image on a display screen of the user terminal photographed by a second photographing device different from the first photographing device, and wherein the setting the virtual light source comprises using the real space image and the another image when the virtual light source is set.
obtaining the real space image and positional information of a user terminal from the user terminal, the user terminal including a first photographing device configured to photograph the real space image;
referring to a storage that stores light source related information defined in advance and the positional information associated with each other;
specifying light source related information corresponding to the positional information of the user terminal;
setting a virtual light source for a virtual object on a basis of the specified light source related information;
generating a virtual object image on a basis of the set virtual light source;
synthesizing the virtual object image and the real space image into a synthetic image; and
outputting the synthetic image,
wherein the obtaining the real space image and the positional information of the user terminal comprises obtaining, from the user terminal, another image on a display screen of the user terminal photographed by a second photographing device different from the first photographing device, and
wherein the setting the virtual light source comprises using the real space image and the another image when the virtual light source is set.
The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 1 , wherein the functions further includes obtaining, from predetermined external equipment, complementary information for complementing the light source related information, and using the complementary information when the virtual light source is set.
wherein the functions further includes obtaining, from predetermined external equipment, complementary information for complementing the light source related information, and
using the complementary information when the virtual light source is set.
The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 1 , wherein the referring includes specifying, as at least a part of the light source related information, information regarding illumination provided in a building on a basis of the positional information of the user terminal, the user terminal being positioned in the building.
wherein the referring includes specifying, as at least a part of the light source related information, information regarding illumination provided in a building on a basis of the positional information of the user terminal, the user terminal being positioned in the building.
The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 1 , wherein the referring includes specifying, as at least a part of the light source related information, information regarding a shielding object on a basis of the positional information of the user terminal, the shielding object being provided in a building in which the user terminal is positioned.
wherein the referring includes specifying, as at least a part of the light source related information, information regarding a shielding object on a basis of the positional information of the user terminal, the shielding object being provided in a building in which the user terminal is positioned.
The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 1 , wherein the functions further includes setting a character operated in accordance with a user operation to the virtual object.
wherein the functions further includes setting a character operated in accordance with a user operation to the virtual object.
The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 1 , wherein the functions further includes obtaining time information corresponding to the real space image, and wherein the referring includes specifying the light source related information on a basis of the time information.
wherein the functions further includes obtaining time information corresponding to the real space image, and
wherein the referring includes specifying the light source related information on a basis of the time information.
An image processing system for controlling synthesis of a real space image and a virtual object image in response to a user operation, the image processing system comprising: a communication network; a server; a user terminal comprising: a first photographing device configured to photograph the real space image; and a second photographing device configured to photograph another image on a display screen of the user terminal; a storage stores first light source related information defined in advance and positional information associated with each other; and a controller configured to: obtain the real space image, the another image and positional information of the user terminal; refer to the storage comprising the first light source related information; specify the second light source related information corresponding to the positional information of the user terminal among the first light source related information; set a virtual light source for a virtual object on a basis of the specified second light source related information using the real space image and the another image; generate the virtual object image on a basis of the set virtual light source; synthesize the generated virtual object image and the real space image into a synthetic image; and output the synthetic image.
a communication network;
a user terminal comprising: a first photographing device configured to photograph the real space image; and a second photographing device configured to photograph another image on a display screen of the user terminal;
a first photographing device configured to photograph the real space image; and
a second photographing device configured to photograph another image on a display screen of the user terminal;
a storage stores first light source related information defined in advance and positional information associated with each other; and
a controller configured to: obtain the real space image, the another image and positional information of the user terminal; refer to the storage comprising the first light source related information; specify the second light source related information corresponding to the positional information of the user terminal among the first light source related information; set a virtual light source for a virtual object on a basis of the specified second light source related information using the real space image and the another image; generate the virtual object image on a basis of the set virtual light source; synthesize the generated virtual object image and the real space image into a synthetic image; and output the synthetic image.
obtain the real space image, the another image and positional information of the user terminal;
refer to the storage comprising the first light source related information;
specify the second light source related information corresponding to the positional information of the user terminal among the first light source related information;
set a virtual light source for a virtual object on a basis of the specified second light source related information using the real space image and the another image;
generate the virtual object image on a basis of the set virtual light source;
synthesize the generated virtual object image and the real space image into a synthetic image; and
output the synthetic image.
A non-transitory computer-readable medium including an image processing program for causing a user terminal to perform functions to control synthesis of a real space image and a virtual object image, the functions comprising: obtaining the real space image obtained by photographing a real space and positional information of the user terminal; referring to a storage that stores light source related information defined in advance and the positional information associated with each other; specifying light source related information corresponding to the positional information of the user terminal: setting light source for a virtual object on a basis of the specified light source related information; generating a virtual object image on a basis of the set virtual light source; synthesizing the virtual object image and the real space image into a synthetic image; and outputting the synthetic, wherein the obtaining the real space image and the positional information of the user terminal comprises obtaining, from the user terminal, another image on a display screen of the user terminal photographed by a second photographing device different from the first photographing device, and wherein the setting the virtual light source comprises using the real space image and the another image when the virtual light source is set.
obtaining the real space image obtained by photographing a real space and positional information of the user terminal;
specifying light source related information corresponding to the positional information of the user terminal:
setting light source for a virtual object on a basis of the specified light source related information;
outputting the synthetic,
Ref US20100251185A1: Claims:
A method of controlling the appearance of an object in a virtual environment of a computer game, in which the computer game is arranged to move the object within the virtual environment, the method comprising: associating with the object a three-dimensional array of nodes by storing, for each node, data defining a position of that node in a coordinate system for the object; defining a first shape of the object by associating each of a first plurality of locations on the object with a respective predetermined position relative to one or more of the nodes; detecting a collision of the object with an item in the virtual environment; adjusting the position of one or more of the nodes to represent the collision, thereby adjusting the first shape of the object; and outputting an image of the object based on the adjusted first shape of the object.
associating with the object a three-dimensional array of nodes by storing, for each node, data defining a position of that node in a coordinate system for the object;
defining a first shape of the object by associating each of a first plurality of locations on the object with a respective predetermined position relative to one or more of the nodes;
detecting a collision of the object with an item in the virtual environment;
adjusting the position of one or more of the nodes to represent the collision, thereby adjusting the first shape of the object; and
outputting an image of the object based on the adjusted first shape of the object.
A method according to claim 1 , in which the first plurality of locations on the object are vertices of respective triangles that define a surface of the object.
A method according to claim 1 , comprising defining a second shape of the object by associating each of a second plurality of locations on the object with a respective predetermined position relative to one or more of the nodes; wherein detecting a collision of the object with an item comprises detecting that one or more of the second plurality of locations lies within the item.
A method according to claim 3 , in which the second plurality of locations has fewer locations than the first plurality of locations.
A method according to claim 3 , wherein adjusting the position of one or more of the nodes to represent the collision comprises simulating applying one or more respective forces at the one or more of the second plurality of locations that lie within the item.
A method according to claim 5 , comprising: storing rigidity data representing a degree of elasticity between the nodes; and calculating the one or more forces based, at least in part, on the rigidity data.
storing rigidity data representing a degree of elasticity between the nodes; and
calculating the one or more forces based, at least in part, on the rigidity data.
A method according to claim 6 , comprising determining, for each of the one or more of the second plurality of locations that lie within the item, a respective depth that that location is within the item, wherein calculating the one or more forces is based, at least in part, on the respective depths.
A method according to claim 7 , comprising, for at least one of the one or more of the second plurality of locations that lie within the item, setting the respective depth for that location to a predetermined threshold depth associated with that location if the determined depth exceeds that threshold depth.
A method according to claim 6 , comprising determining the one or more forces based, at least in part, on a relative speed between the object and the item.
A method according to claim 1 comprising: defining a second shape of the object by associating each of a second plurality of locations on the object with a respective predetermined position relative to one or more of the nodes, such that adjusting the position of one or more of the nodes to represent the collision results in adjusting the second shape of the object; detecting whether, as a result of adjusting the position of one or more of the nodes to represent the collision, a predetermined one of the first plurality of locations has been displaced by more than a threshold distance; and if that predetermined one of the first plurality of locations has been displaced by more than the threshold distance, then outputting the image of the object based on the adjusted second shape of the object instead of the adjusted first shape of the object.
defining a second shape of the object by associating each of a second plurality of locations on the object with a respective predetermined position relative to one or more of the nodes, such that adjusting the position of one or more of the nodes to represent the collision results in adjusting the second shape of the object;
detecting whether, as a result of adjusting the position of one or more of the nodes to represent the collision, a predetermined one of the first plurality of locations has been displaced by more than a threshold distance; and
if that predetermined one of the first plurality of locations has been displaced by more than the threshold distance, then outputting the image of the object based on the adjusted second shape of the object instead of the adjusted first shape of the object.
A method according to claim 1 , comprising associating with each of the nodes a respective texture value representing a degree of texture for that node; wherein outputting the image of the object comprises applying a texture to a surface of the object based on the texture values.
A method of executing a computer game, the method comprising carrying out the method of claim 1 at each time point of a first sequence of time points.
A method according to claim 12 , the method comprising, after the collision has been detected, displaying a sequence of images of the object, each image corresponding to a respective time point of a second sequence of time points, the time difference between successive time points of the second sequence of time points being smaller than the time difference between successive time points of the first sequence of time points, by: determining a point in time at which the collision occurred; for each time point of the second sequence of time points that precedes the determined point in time, using the positions of the nodes prior to the collision to determine a shape of the object for display; for each time point of the second sequence of time points between the determined point in time and the time point of the first sequence of time points at which the collision is detected, interpolating between the positions of the nodes prior to the collision and the adjusted positions of the nodes to determine intermediate positions of the nodes to determine a respective shape of the object for display.
determining a point in time at which the collision occurred;
for each time point of the second sequence of time points that precedes the determined point in time, using the positions of the nodes prior to the collision to determine a shape of the object for display;
for each time point of the second sequence of time points between the determined point in time and the time point of the first sequence of time points at which the collision is detected, interpolating between the positions of the nodes prior to the collision and the adjusted positions of the nodes to determine intermediate positions of the nodes to determine a respective shape of the object for display.
An apparatus arranged to execute a computer game and control the appearance of an object in a virtual environment of the computer game, in which the computer game is arranged to move the object within the virtual environment, the apparatus comprising: a memory storing: (a) data associating with the object a three-dimensional array of nodes, the data comprising, for each node, data defining a position of that node in a coordinate system for the object; and (b) data defining a first shape of the object by associating each of a first plurality of locations on the object with a respective predetermined position relative to one or more of the nodes; and a processor comprising: a collision detection module for detecting a collision of the object with an item in the virtual environment; an adjustment module for adjusting the position of one or more of the nodes to represent the collision, thereby adjusting the first shape of the object; and an image output module for outputting an image of the object based on the adjusted first shape of the object.
a memory storing: (a) data associating with the object a three-dimensional array of nodes, the data comprising, for each node, data defining a position of that node in a coordinate system for the object; and (b) data defining a first shape of the object by associating each of a first plurality of locations on the object with a respective predetermined position relative to one or more of the nodes; and
(a) data associating with the object a three-dimensional array of nodes, the data comprising, for each node, data defining a position of that node in a coordinate system for the object; and
(b) data defining a first shape of the object by associating each of a first plurality of locations on the object with a respective predetermined position relative to one or more of the nodes; and
a processor comprising: a collision detection module for detecting a collision of the object with an item in the virtual environment; an adjustment module for adjusting the position of one or more of the nodes to represent the collision, thereby adjusting the first shape of the object; and an image output modu
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