Programmable computer graphic objects

US6329994A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Zapa Digital Arts Ltd. · IL

Inventors

• Eyal Gever · Nes Ziona, IL
• Nir Hermoni · Or Yehuda, IL
• Orit Bergman · Nes Ziona, IL
• Gil Tayar · Givatayim, IL
• Eilon Reshef · Nes Ziona, IL
• Doron Gill · Givatayim, IL
• Addy Feuerstein · Nes Ziona, IL
• Yaron Caneti · Nes Ziona, IL
• Roy Oppenheim · Nes Ziona, IL
• Eran Etam · Nes Ziona, IL
• Zohar Shpeizer · Nes Ziona, IL
• Yoav Borer · Nes Ziona, IL
• Eyal Livine · Kfar Sava, IL
• Ruth Kikin · Nes Ziona, IL
• Oren Zuckerman · Ramat Gan, IL
• Ron Kaas · Lod, IL

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 14, 1997
• Grant date: Dec 11, 2001
• Expiry date: Mar 14, 2017

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06T2213/12
• WIPO field: Computer technology
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A method for producing an animation sequence on a graphic display driven by a computer, including defining an object that includes a geometrical description of an animated character and characteristics of social behavior of the character and animating an image of the character responsive to the characteristics. The character is programmed with a predetermined response, such as a rule governing motion of the character, to a sensitivity condition occurring externally to the object. The geometrical description of the object includes a geometrical skeleton characterized by a hierarchy of sub-objects connected by joints, the rule governing motion defines motions of the joints.