Patent Document ID: 9665966
Application ID: 11566081
Patent Status: 1

Claim One:
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: a spring element between the source object and the target object does not exist at the first time; and the distance between the source object and the target object at the first time is within a second distance; 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 identifying, by the computer system, on the source object, a source point that is available for creating the connection to the target object; identifying, by the computer system, on the target object, a target point that is available for creating the connection to the source object; and creating, by the computer system, the spring element having respective ends at the source point and the target point determining, by the computer system, that a distance between the source object and the target object at a third time is within the second distance, the third time being after the second time, wherein: the spring element continues to exist at the third time; and the distance between the source object and the target object at the third time is not 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.