Virtual environment navigation
US6034692A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 1, 1997 |
| Grant date | Mar 7, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 1, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S345/957
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An interactive entertainment apparatus is provided having means (10,14) for modelling a virtual environment populated by modelled characters, with each of the characters being controlled by respective rule-based agents. A camera control function (58) within the apparatus processor periodically monitors at least one compiled behavior per character agent, together with the respective locations within the virtual environment for each of the characters. The processor (10) generates clusters of adjacent characters within the virtual environment in accordance with predetermined clustering criteria such as relatively proximity and commonality of behavioral characteristics, and generates a respective cluster value derived from the current settings of the monitored behaviors within that cluster. In operation, one cluster is selected in dependence on the derived cluster values and, following determination of the location of that cluster within the virtual environment, the viewpoint from which the image of the virtual environment is rendered is shifted to a further viewpoint overlooking the selected cluster.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.