Patent ID: 8629875

Claim:
A computer-implemented method for animating images, the method comprising: specifying, by a processor, a first bidirectional constraint between a first object and a second object; assigning weights to the first bidirectional constraint and to at least one other constraint between the first and second objects, wherein the assigned weights correspond to a relative degree of effect on the first and second objects, and wherein a prioritization scheme determines which of the first bidirectional constraint and the at least one other constraint controls; detecting execution of a command; determining whether the command relates to the first object or to the second object; creating a first graph for a first scene based on the first bidirectional constraint in response to determining that the command relates to the first object, wherein the first graph depicts the first bidirectional constraint as a unidirectional constraint specifying a resulting change to the second object based on a first change to the first object caused by the command; creating a second graph for a second scene based on the first bidirectional constraint in response to determining that the command relates to the second object, wherein the second graph depicts the first bidirectional constraint as a unidirectional constraint specifying a resulting change to the first object based on a first change to the second object caused by the command; and rendering one or more images based on the first bidirectional constraint.