Claims
- 1. A computerized system for editing a three-dimensional (3D) animation, said system comprising:
a means for receiving 3D characters; a means for receiving time driven trigger events; a means for recording said time driven trigger events; a simulation means for generating said animation of said 3D characters in response to said means for receiving time driven trigger events.
- 2. The computerized system of claim 1 wherein said means for receiving time driven trigger events includes a means for placing said trigger events into a timeline.
- 3. The computerized system of claim 1 wherein said 3D characters include behaviors and skills responsive to said behaviors, said behaviors being responsive to said trigger events.
- 4. The computerized system of claim 1 further including:
a bake means for selectively producing animation data to generate deterministic animation.
- 5. The computerized system of claim 1 wherein said means for receiving time driven trigger events includes a means for caching said trigger events and the status of said simulation means.
- 6. The computerized system of claim 1 wherein said simulation means includes a finite state machine (FSM) for driving said behaviors in response to said trigger events.
- 7. The computerized system of claim 4 wherein said animation data includes keyframe data.
- 8. A method for producing animation data representative of a deterministic animation constructed from three-dimensional (3D) characters; said method consisting of the steps of:
receiving said 3D characters, said 3D characters having behaviors; generating trigger events for invoking at least one behavior of one of said 3D characters in response to interactively receiving instructions to configure a 3D scene; baking said 3D animation to provide said animation data.
- 9. The method of claim 8 wherein said baking step includes producing keyframe animation.
- 10. The method of claim 8 wherein said generating step includes placing said trigger events on a timeline.
- 11. The method of claim 11 wherein said trigger events are time driven.
- 12. The method of claim 10 wherein placing said trigger events on a timeline includes a visual indicator representative said trigger events to identify one of said 3D characters.
- 13. The method of claim 12 wherein said visual indicator is color-coded.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §120, and is a continuation application of:
[0002] 1. Application Ser. No. 09/909,609, filed on Jul. 20, 2001, pending, which is a nonprovisional application of provisional application Ser. No. 60/219,978, filed on Jul. 21, 2000.
[0003] This application also claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119 of:
[0004] 2. Provisional application Ser. No. 60/219,978, filed on Jul. 21, 2000;
[0005] both of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60219978 |
Jul 2000 |
US |
Continuations (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09909609 |
Jul 2001 |
US |
Child |
10818675 |
Apr 2004 |
US |