JPS5842492B2 - Device for acquiring data for sequential control of active expressions - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention generally relates to apparatus for generating, storing, and manipulating digital data for selective retrieval.

More particularly, the present invention relates to a programmable apparatus for use in a data processing system to assemble and manipulate stored data to control an active image.

Stored digital data may be used for educational, entertainment, and entertainment purposes, such as controlling the activities or shows seen at Disneyland in Anaheim, California, and Disney World in Orlando, Florida. Used in a system programmed according to the invention.

Generally, when using a system such as the one in which the present invention is utilized, both analog and digital animation information is input and stored in digital form and used to control the active images and associated show functions. selectively read out.

The active image may be of a very complex type, modeled after a completely living human being, or it may be of a simple type, such as a cartoon.

However, in either type, I am moved and positioned in a realistic manner under the control of stored digital data.

Often, controlled movements, such as lip movements, are synchronized with a recorded sound rack.

Associated show functions include lights, sound levels,
Includes controllable items such as stage movement, opening and closing.

The system also generates and stores such digital data.

The animation operator (movement giver) inputs information in analog and digital form to the central computer via his console.

The programmed computer accepts this information and
Organize it properly and finally store it in disk memory for later reading.

It is believed that a brief description of the type of active expression controlled by the system in which the invention is utilized will be helpful in understanding the field in which the invention is utilized.

As used herein, the term "show" or "an expression" refers to one or more active images and/or on-off devices.

Such images are imitations of iruma, animals, comic book objects, or fantastical creatures.

Examples of on-off devices are stage movement, lights, sound, curtain movement, statue blinking, water flow, etc.

Shows are typically accompanied by a sound trunk of music recordings, dialogue recordings, or both.

For example, the representation in which the present invention is practiced uses a statue of Abraham Lincoln.

In this expression, the audience is now seated in the performance hall, then the main lights are dimmed and the stage curtain is opened.

And an equal-sized statue of Lincoln will be seated on the stage.

After the music is put in, the statue stands up, and its head,
Give a speech with arm and body movements.

The words spoken are synchronized with the movements of the mouth and body.

Following the speech, the statue is seated, after which the lighting is changed and the music continues.

When this expression is finished, the curtain is lowered, the interior lights are turned on, and the door to the performance hall is opened.

The overall order of the show is automatically controlled by the system of which the present invention is a part.

The apparatus of the present invention can either store original data and retrieve it later to control the show, or assemble previously stored blocks of animation data.
It is used either to control the show or to control the show.

A second type of representation makes use of vehicles, for example to transport spectators.

As each vehicle moves through the show, signals indicating the vehicle's location are sent to the system controlling the show.

Appropriate animation data is then specified for the vehicle's general passing locations.

In this way, the statue is activated through expression in synchronization with the progress of the vehicle.

Furthermore, the entire representation is automatically controlled.

A number of known methods have been developed for moving puppets, puppets, or otherwise imitative or fantasy creatures.

The earliest such devices were probably moveable puppets used by puppeteers.

Each puppet usually had numerous degrees of motion.

The degree of each movement was controlled by hand by one or more puppeteers.

Generally, puppets were operated in synchronization with recorded dialogue or music.

Obviously, the number of moving parts is limited by the skill of the puppeteer.

Realism and repeatability of motion are thereby limited.

Subsequently, a number of automated operations were introduced by providing motion control by moving cam surfaces.

This type of animation control was developed by Schimmel (Sch.
U.S. Patent No. 1,409,415 to Imrnel);
Mr. Tadakuma's US Patent No. 1,
No. 732,197, Mr. Veltschl
), U.S. Pat. No. 2,615,282 and Oppenhelm, U.S. Pat. No. 3,024,5.
It is disclosed in No. 51.

In each of these, a cam follower controls the movement of the automatically operated image via a linkage.

Although a greater number of movements can be controlled simultaneously and repeatably than known hand-operated puppets, there are still numerous imperfections.

For example, cams are difficult and expensive to manufacture.

Therefore, active expressions cannot be easily changed.

Synchronization of dialogue with recordings or music is not as easily provided as with hand-operated puppets.

Eventually, as the complexity of cam-controlled expressions increases,
In a practical sense, it is readily apparent that the maximum number of controllable movements is quickly reached.

It has long been recognized that realistic animation of human figures requires lifelike synchronized lip and mouth movements.

Numerous patents have been granted for various methods of achieving such results, usually through electrical control.

These patents include Bailer U.S. Patent No. 2,213,521, Deity U.S. Patent No. 2,247,329, and Kenwar thy U.S. Patent No. 2. ,89
No. 0,535.

An electrical signal is typically derived that is proportional to the desired mouth movement.

The actual movement is usually controlled by a solenoid.

In many cases, the solenoid actuation signal is derived from the acoustic signal to ensure some synchronization of acoustics and motion.

In at least one example, such as the Baylor patent No. 2,213,512, the solenoid actuation signal is derived from a track recorded in synchronization with the soundtrack.

The synchronization of sound and movement obtained from such systems is imperfect at best.

Furthermore, existing systems do not include facilities for changing the temporal relationship between acoustics and mechanical motion when a recognized synchronization problem arises.

Electrical control solutions have been extended to manipulate many animation movements in addition to mouth movements.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,700,250 to Williams;
U.S. Pat. No. 2,867.049 to Rogers; U.S. Pat. No. 2,131 to Rogers
No. 497; and Rogaz et al., US Pat. No. 3,277.
The system disclosed in No. 594 utilizes electrical control of numerous degrees of motion and is
Patent No. 3,767.901 to ack) et al. relates to similar subject matter.

The Bratzkenzie, Loggers, Loggers et al., and Black et al. patents are now owned by Walt Disney Productions, Inc., the assignee of the present invention.
Disney Productions, Inc.).

In general, in the electrical control of active images where multiple degrees of motion are involved, problems are eventually encountered such as how to route animation signals to the appropriate motion actuators. .

In the patents of Mr. Bratzkenzie and Mr. Loggers et al.
Signals are recorded at separate frequencies.

All read signals are then fed to multiple filters in parallel.

This allows the various animation signals to be properly routed to only the appropriate motion actuators.

In Williams' patent, the electrical connection is direct.

That is, the signal to control a given movement is provided only to the actuator for that movement.

However, in all these solutions there is a maximum in the number of movements that can be controlled.

Likewise, the problem of synchronization between sound and movement continues.

Therefore, the complexity and realism of the controlled animation show or expression is limited.

Digital data technology also appears to have limited use in controlling similar entertainment devices.

For example, Kawamura et al. Patent No. 3,461,457 discloses a digital electrical system for operating controllable fountain water valves in synchronization with recorded music.

However, in the Kawamura et al. system, the control signal consists of separate pulses, each of which activates a single separate circuit.

As a result, only the on-off function can be controlled.

And, as noted above, on-off circuits cannot be used to achieve a high degree of realism in animation systems.

To obtain the highest sense of realism in active representations, it is necessary to provide proportional control to the degree of movement of each activated image.

Furthermore, accurate synchronization between the image movement and the recorded sound track must be provided.

Unlike any known patent, these results are obtained with the system of which the present invention forms a part.

A process already used in the motion picture industry, and broadly relevant to the focus of the present invention, is the stocking of feet of film.

In such standard practice, movie studios maintain a library of common or stock scenes.

Stock footage of footage often appears in films to connect scenes or provide special subject matter.

In the animation data system in which the present invention is used, an animation operator inputs animation data via a console, as described above.

The console is equipped with a number of different potentiometer devices and separate devices or switches.

By making appropriate inputs via the console control switches, the animation operator can direct any one console potentiometer to any one proportional control circuit or channel of the active image.

Each proportional control circuit or channel to which a potentiometer is assigned controls one degree of movement of the active image.

For example, any one potentiometer may be designated via a console controller to receive data for moving the active image's right thumb by an amount proportional to the displacement of the potentiometer.

In practice, the animation operator can work with one output circuit and potentiometer at a time, or alternatively multiple output circuits and potentiometers.

The entered data will later be combined on a time basis, so
The selection of the number of output circuits or channels to be active at any given time is arbitrary.

The animation data input according to the above procedure is stored in relation to the retrieval order or timing signal.

In the preferred embodiment, this timing signal is referred to as feet and frame numbers.

This number is defined in more detail below, but it is noted here that each separate foot and frame number defines a frame time, or a time span of 42 milliseconds, at standard .35 film projection speed. It will be enough if you keep it.

The frame is 1 foot (30m) long, which is the standard 35mm film length.
), so a given foot and frame number defines a single 1042 millisecond time span that occurs at a defined length of time after the starting point.

In the system in which the present invention is used, the animation operator then determines, via a potentiometer device, the value of the data to be used for positioning one or more variously positionable devices. Enter
These are combined to form an active image.

A timing device generates feet and frame numbers at a constant predetermined rate.

As each new foot and frame number is generated, data values based on the position of one or more activated potentiometers are stored with that foot and frame number.

The animation data values are later retrieved in an order determined by the feet and frame numbers with which they are stored.

Each data value is also stored in association with an address, in the sense used in digital technology, of the number of the variously positionable device or channel that the data value is to control.

Accordingly, the system generates and stores animation data units for use in controlling variously positionable devices, which together constitute an active representation.

Generated and stored with these data units are the addresses of the devices to be controlled and search order signals.

In order for the activated device to move smoothly and realistically, it is necessary to rely on successive data units that are close enough in time and sufficiently spaced so that the movement does not appear abrupt or jerky. must be controlled.

This is of course not a continuum of separate data units, but the effect is the same as a continuum of still photographs, as in movie projection.

When implementing this animation system as in motion picture technology, new data units must be provided to the moving active device approximately 24 times each second, or at intervals of 42 milliseconds.

At this interval, the resulting motion appears constant and smooth to the human eye.

In accordance with the present invention, segments of animation data that have already been generated and stored can be used at different times or for different presentations than they were originally generated.

According to a second aspect of the invention, segments of animation data can be moved within the same representation data so that they can be retrieved in separate intervals.

As explained above, each unit of animation data is stored in association with a timing number, referred to as a retrieval order or foot and frame number.

In some cases, the animation operator may find it necessary to move or shift the data segments comprising the retrieval order numbers, feet and frame numbers, within the same representation.

In other cases, the animation operator desires to duplicate previously input animation data in another portion of the representation.

In each case the method of the invention achieves the desired results.

An example of the first case of shifting data in relation to feet and frame numbers is that the input animation data often controls the motion of an active figure slightly out of sync with the sound track. There are some things that the operator can understand.

This occurs, for example, due to the inertial drag of the mechanical parts making up the mouth of the active image.

Through experimentation, the animation operator can determine how much lead or lag there is between the mouth movements and the sound track.

For example, if this is determined to be seconds, the control data must be shifted by 6 frames (6 frames is 0.252
seconds).

Each data unit is then shifted six frames forward or backward within the disk from where it was originally stored.

As an example of the second case, Disney World's activity show is based on three fictional isophone bears, Bubbles (B).
Bunny and Beulah.

At the beginning of preparing the animation data for this show, the animation operator entered the data necessary to control Bubbles to perform a short dance.

Near the end of the show, Beulah performs the same dance to different music.

Rather than re-entering the data for storage in association with another foot and frame number, the animation operator must input the data already entered for storage in association with another foot and frame number. It is simply a shifted copy of Zoke.

According to a second aspect of the invention, standard segments of animation data are generated and stored for controlling the standard activities.

Thereafter, a composite representation of the data is assembled by assembling standardized short segments.

In this way, the active image can be controlled by already generated data segments.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for assembling and handling already generated digital animation data.

Although the apparatus of the present invention can be implemented in any suitable hardware system, including a general purpose programmable digital computer, it is best described by reference to the system in which it is used in the preferred embodiment. I can understand.

In order that the invention may be fully understood, a brief description of the system in which the preferred embodiment is implemented is provided.

The system to be described operates in two main modes, and each mode will be briefly explained.

As shown in FIG. 13, the first system mode to be discussed is that of animation data generation and storage.

Inputting such data into the system generally indicated at 2000 is performed by an animation operator using a specially designed console 2020.

This console has multiple variable potentiometers 20
25. m and a separate device or switch 20301-m.

Console control buttons 2035. , the animation operator can designate any one potentiometer 2025, -□ to a single output proportional control circuit 2050, -□, or channel of the active image.

For the purposes of this description, the active image may take the form of a cartoon object, such as Disney's Mickey Mouse, or a human figure, such as Abraham Lincoln.

It should be understood that this is for illustrative purposes only, as the active device can take any desired form.

Each proportional control circuit of the active image, where a console potentiometer is specified, has an associated servo loop 2060□
−□ controls the degree of movement of the image.

For example, any one potentiometer 2025□-
□ is a console control button 203 that moves the active image's right thumb by an amount proportional to the displacement of the potentiometer.
51-.

In practice, the animation operator can select a single output circuit controlled by one potentiometer, or alternatively multiple output circuits controlled by multiple potentiometers.

Since the input data is later combined on a time basis by the computer, the selection of the number of output circuits to be active at any given time is arbitrary.

Similarly, separate switches are designated to separate output circuits by console control buttons.

For example, any one switch may be designated to turn on or turn off a given light or motor.

Therefore, analog data is input via potentiometers 2025, -□ on the animation operator's console 2020, and control data is input via buttons 20350.
．． Input via .

When data is input, the data is transferred to the clock circuit 206.
5 and is labeled with a time reference called the foot and frame number, which is used in registers 2040 throughout the system.

Each separate foot and frame number corresponds to frame time or 4
Define 2 milliseconds.

(At normal 35 mm film speeds, one frame time is 41.66 milliseconds; the 42 millisecond figure used here is an approximation.

) This foot and frame number that accompanies each input data unit determines the exact time and order in which the data unit is later retrieved from storage to control the active image during presentation or show.

Clock circuit 2065 clocks selected indicator button 207
5□-1 is preset by inputting the time indicator, followed by the potentiometer signal being input in real time.

That is, clock circuit 2065 is increased by an integer number of frames.

The use of time markers allows the animation operator to input data into one output control circuit at a time.

For example, if the animation operator begins inputting a right thumb movement at the same foot and frame number as a previously input left thumb movement, then the two data units will be marked at the same frame time, i.e. System mode (described below) to control the show within a 42 ms time span
later read from memory.

The two thumbs then move at virtually the same moment.

In this way, the animation operator can construct expressions in which hundreds of changes occur during the same frame time.

Potentiometer 2025□- entered via the animation operator's control console with associated time indicators.
Data from □ is converted to digital form by A/D converter 2027 and transmitted to computer 2100.

The computer accepts each data unit and presses button 20351. Each data unit is added to a number indicating the identity or address of the output circuit or channel to which the data unit is directed when selected by.

For example, if a left thumb movement input is received by the computer, the computer adds to each data unit a number that is the address of the circuit that controls the left thumb.

Computer 2100 then transfers the animation information along with the feet, frame number, and address number to disk storage device 2200.

At the same time, the animation data and address numbers are routed by the computer through demultiplexer 2700 to circuits 2050 - -
□ controls the motion of the active image via servo loop 2060, -□.

If the transmitted address is, for example, the address of a circuit that controls the left thumb of the statue, the left thumb is moved to the position indicated by the input data.

While generating data in the first system mode, the image moves in response to the input data.

This movement is intended to assist the animation operator and is not absolutely necessary for animation data generation and storage.

Similarly, switch 2030 on control console 2020
The operation of □-1 is linked to the computer with the feet and frame number.

This switch is designated via the console control button 2035□1 to open the curtains, turn on the lights, switch on the speakers, etc.

As with animation data, the computer stores separate signals with addresses, such as curtain motors, and their associated feet and frame numbers in a disk storage device.

At the same time, the separate data are transmitted by the computer to designated output circuits, allowing the animation operator to instantly view the results of the inputs.

At the end of the animation task, the disk storage device 2200 contains 100 or 100 animation data units, each data unit associated with a foot and frame number and a specified address. There is.

During an animation task, data is input to the same output circuit at different times, so data units with the same foot and frame number and address are
It is dispensed at pre-designated locations throughout the disc.

Computer 2100, in response to the combination instructions entered via the animation operator's console, executes a program that effectively sorts the data to disk by foot and frame number.

As a result, the data classified by ascending feet and frame numbers is transferred to the tape or disk device 2500.
The data is then read out to another storage device such as .

This further storage device 2500 contains all animation data input during a single animation task and its associated feet and frame numbers and addresses.

For example, if the device is a tape, the tape is removed from the drive and stored until the animation is to be continued at a later time.

When the animation continues, the previous data is combined with the data entered during the next subsequent animation task.

This data combination is repeated from task to task until a complete representation of animation data is assembled on a single storage device.

The first mode is nearly complete when a single storage device 2500 is finally loaded with animation data.

According to commands input through the computer terminal 2101, all animation data related to feet, frame numbers, and addresses are loaded into the disk storage device 2600.

Under software control, instruction tracks for indexing data are written to the disk.

The disk is then ready to control the active presentation via the second major system mode, show control mode.

The loaded disk is transferred to the input of the show controller or demultiplexer 2700.

Thereafter, animation data is selectively retrieved depending on the address for controlling each servo loop 20601-m.

In addition to loading the show control disk and writing the instruction tracks, the final disk-loading program also includes data and inserts updates every 30 frames.

Compressing data involves removing a data input that remains constant.

Of course this is done to conserve disk space.

However, this data compression is especially done by updating 30 frames.

This procedure allows each output circuit to output data (at least every 30 frames).
The data unit is inserted to ensure that the receiver receives the updated (updated) data.

The purpose of this 30 frame update is to control the mechanical output device to maintain its position if its data input is unchanged.

To implement this second principal mode, the disk loaded with data during the data generation mode is physically removed from the computer and connected to the show controller.

Essentially, the show controller retrieves animation data from disk based on externally supplied or internally generated timing signals and transmits this retrieved data to the active representation. It is a subsystem of

The most common external timing signal source is a tape reader that emits successive foot and frame numbers.

This device plays a tape having a timing track and one or more audio tracks.

A timing trunk signal consisting of feet and frame number is provided to the show controller.

An audio signal synchronized with this timing signal is routed to speakers located in the presentation area.

The show controller receives and receives the feet and frame number;
It searches the data disk for data with a corresponding foot and frame number and outputs the data serially via a line connected to the device being controlled in active representation.

In this way, data is applied to the active image in synchronization with the audio track, independent of slight variations in speed of the tape reader.

The feet and frame numbers may be received from sources other than the tape reader.

In the second timing mode, the synchronization signal is transmitted from the show area.

This mode is used when the audience is passed through the show asynchronously and various parts of the entire presentation must be performed when the audience reaches a predetermined position.

A third timing mode uses an internal counter to sequentially supply feet and frame numbers.

However, in each of these three timing modes, data is read from the disk in response to externally supplied feet and frame numbers.

This data is then transmitted to the active image and a separate device.

In this manner, the data received sequentially activates the image and activates various separate devices such as lights and curtains.

In this way, all this active expression is controlled by digital data technology.

As described in detail above, the apparatus of the present invention allows an animator to not only turn the active image on or off, but also proportionally control the amount of movement of the active image.

That is, the active image moves through various ranges proportional to the value set by the operator using the potentiometer, and thus
You can make more practical movements.

Such a proportional control function is realized by the animator operating the potentiometers 2025□-□ of the control console 2020 to specify a certain amount of movement, and operating the switches 20301-n.

This displacement or potentiometer value is labeled with an identification address and read into the computer or processor unit 2100.

The output of the computer or processor unit is connected via a demultiplexer 2700 to an appropriately selected movement actuator, for example, for the arms of the Donald Duck figure or the legs of the Mickey Mouse figure.

The amount of movement is proportional to the amount of voltage read out to the servo loop 1-m connected to the moving part of the active image.

In contrast, with conventional devices, the amount of movement of the movable part of the active image cannot be changed proportionally in this way, and therefore, with conventional devices, the movement of the active image is impractical and does not look realistic. It had become something missing.

Furthermore, the device of the invention allows accurate acoustic synchronization.

That is, according to the device of the present invention, each input movement value has:
It is labeled with an identifying address, feet and frame number, with each frame representing a 42 millisecond time period.

The data is manually addressed by console control button 2075 and foot and frame numbered in real time by clock 2065.

As a result, it is possible to correct the lag time caused by the friction inherently present in the movable part of the active image, that is, the delay time of the movable part.

With conventional equipment, there is no way to make such corrections.
Also, it was not possible to achieve accurate synchronization with the audio track.

In contrast, in the device of the present invention, such modification is accomplished by shifting the data through a shift register to its search address.

For example, if the operator knows that the lag time is 84 milliseconds, the input data only needs to be shifted by two pulses (one pulse is 42 milliseconds) with respect to the search address. .

Additionally, the device of the invention allows the operator to program two different moving parts to move simultaneously within a 42 millisecond time period.

This allows the animator to create a show that has variations in narrow necks during the same frame time.

This kind of thing was not possible with conventional equipment.

Furthermore, the apparatus of the present invention allows for the creation of a tangible record of previously input animation data, and also for the creation of copies from that tangible record.

That is, computer 2100 can store separate data animation signals and their associated addresses on a disk storage device, and the signals and addresses stored on the disk storage device can be read out to tape.

And that tape can be duplicated.

Accordingly, standard segments of animation data can be recorded on tape and stored as a series of standard animation data tapes, which can be used repeatedly by an operator as needed.

Conventional devices do not have this kind of functionality.

Also in terms of construction, the conventional device is completely different from the device of the present invention.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,131,497 and 3,27, discussed above.
In the prior art device disclosed in No. 7.594, the signals are recorded at different frequencies and duplicated by a plurality of filters, thus ensuring that only the appropriate movement actuator signals are passed to the circuit for them. .

Therefore, in such conventional devices, the selection of the correct movement actuator is preset and fixed by hardware.

In contrast, rather than generating different frequencies to perform such operations, the device of the present invention converts the various analog voltages into separate digital signals, which are read into a computer unit and processed there. That's what I'm trying to do.

Therefore, in the apparatus of the present invention, programming by the operator as described above is possible, and these digital signals are reconverted to analog signals, and the reconverted various voltages are applied to the movable part of the active image. The servo loop 2060□-□ connected to is driven.

The apparatus of the present invention is used in the first mode described above in which animation data is stored and later retrieved via the animation operator's console.

Before describing the flowcharts of the accompanying drawings in detail, certain definitions necessary for understanding the program are given.

The program described in this embodiment is called Macro Call.

Generated and formed beforehand.

The animation data segments to be animated are referred to as macros in program source listings and flowcharts.

The definition of a macro is a specifically definable block of animation data that is moved, shifted, or otherwise copied by an animation operator in creating a show.

In the program of the present invention, a macro is defined by four parameters: program number; channel set number; start foot frame; and end foot frame. .

The program number identifies a show and a sub-show containing desired data.

In the terminology applied to the programs of the present invention, a show is an active representation of less than 1000 controlled functions or channels.

An example of this control function or channel is a proportional device that controls the movement of the active image's right thumb.

Details regarding the hardware devices included in a single control function or channel can be found in other patent application drawings as well as in the Black et al. patent No. 3,767.
See the explanation in No. 901.

A subshow is a control function that controls less than 250 channels.

A maximum of four subshows constitute one show.

The macro or animation data segment thus consists of the Mickey Mouse Review number 4 and sub-shot number 2.
You can find it in

The program number where the macro is located is 042 in this example.

A channel set number is either a name or an identification number given to a set or arbitrary group of channels or control functions that the animation operator is currently operating.

A channel set may consist of one or 25 or more channels.

This only needs to be a subset of the show.

For example, the above show 0420 channel set number 13 has number 88 opening its mouth and number 93
It consists of two channels with a twisting body.

This set is simply an identification of less than all control channels.

The start foot frame is the frame number at which the first unit of animation data is positioned.

As explained above, feet and frames are the timing mechanisms used in the present invention, which are taken from the movie industry.

Each foot has 16 pieces, and each piece has 4
The time length is 2 milliseconds.

Therefore, an example of a start feet frame is 10 feet, 10 frames, which means that the animation data stored in association with the feet and frame number starts at 7.098 seconds after the start of the show. .

The end foot frame is, of course, the number of the frame in which the last desired animation data unit is stored.

Continuing with the above example, this end foot piece is 2
It should be 0 feet and 10 pieces.

In this example, the micro is set to 7 after the start of the show.
．． Data stored in relation to feet and frame numbers starting at 098 seconds and 14 seconds after the start of the show.
data stored in relation to feet and frame numbers starting at 616 seconds.

Therefore, the macro has macro number 042-13-1
It is defined as 0.10-20.10.

This precisely defines the segments of animation data units, each data unit consisting of an 8-bit word of positioning data combined with an 8-bit address word.

In order to call the program of the present invention, called a Macpo Call, the parameters of the macro call must be supplied to the computer via the animation operator's console.

The purpose of this parameter is to determine which macros should be searched if a macro is to be inserted.

The four required parameters are: macro number;
Channel set number; start feet
and end foot pieces.

The macro number is, of course, the number defined above.

The number identifies animation data that should be obtained elsewhere for movement.

An example of this macro number is the number 042-13-10.10-20,10 given above.

The channel set number identifies the channel of the currently generated expression into which the macro will be inserted.

At this time, two channel set numbers are defined: the macro channel set number included in the macro definition, and the channel set number of the new expression into which the macro is to be inserted.

The start foot and end foot frames are similar to those described above, except that the numbers refer to the new expression being generated.

As is readily apparent, macro definitions (Macr.

The number of macro feet defined in the macro call must be exactly the same length as the number of feet specified in the macro call.

That is, if a macro consists of 5 feet of data (e.g., 340 feet of zero frames, or 345 feet of zero frames), then the new representation must have exactly the same length so that the macro can be inserted. number of feet, must be 5 feet.

The steps of the present invention can change or shift data within the same representation, or can cause already formed data segments to be transferred to a new representation.

As is readily apparent, it is contemplated that the entire active representation can be constructed from already generated macrosegments.

The following description refers to seven accompanying drawings that illustrate high-level flowcharts of macrocall programs.

Although a substantial effort has been made to summarize the standard steps in a flowchart, there are many steps whose effects will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art of programming.

The following description does not treat all stages in equal detail.

The macro call program of this invention is entry (manpower)
After step 20, console index step 22 is entered.

The index stage 22 controls the setting of the software index number corresponding to the console of the animation operator who invoked the program.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, up to four animation operator consoles may be used at any given time.

Any one of the four consoles can call a program, but the program can only act on data supplied by one console at a time.

A console index is a software index used by programs to identify which data belongs to which console.

After the console index is set, step 2
3 determines whether peripheral devices such as disks and tapes were previously requested by another program.

As explained below, it is necessary for macro-call programs to utilize various memory storage locations for human-generated and computed data.

Step 23 determines whether the necessary peripherals are available during program execution.

If it is found that the peripheral has already been requested, control is passed to step 25 which establishes the queuing procedure for this console.

A standby light is turned on on this console.

This light remains on until the queue procedure re-empowers the program and the macro call procedure completes.

After the queuing procedure is set up, the program goes to step 2.
Exit through 7.

If the necessary peripherals are found to be available, control is transferred to step 29 which determines whether a macro call program is in use, i.e. whether it has been called by another animation operator's console. decide whether

If a program is found to be in use, it is dispatched through queue stage 25 as described above.

If the macro call program is found not to be in use, step 30 requests the necessary peripherals and step 3
Move control to 2.

This step places human parameters in working storage that is part of the core that has already been defined.

As explained above, the input parameters entered via the animation operator's console are the macro number, channel set number, start foot frame, and end foot frame.

Step 34 then determines whether the called macro is already defined.

As explained above, the called macro is identified by four parameters in the macro definition.

If it is not defined, the program cannot proceed and is sent via error message stage 36 and junction 37.

The appropriate error message in this and each of the following cases is transmitted to the system teletype and printed according to the steps of FIG. 12, as described below.

Except for the explanation of FIG. 12, the occurrence of errors will not be explained in detail again.

Steps 40 and 41 determine whether the macrocall's start frame number is less than the start frame of the current program definition or greater than the end frame of the current program definition.

The current program definition is entered when the animation task is started when the animation operator's console signals the start.

This consists of a set of channels consisting of feet and frames of the desired length of the representation to be active.

Typically, the starting feet and frame number are zero feet and zero frames.

The maximum number of feet allowed in this representation is 4096 feet.

At a presentation rate of 24 frames per second, the maximum duration of a presentation is 45.5 minutes.

If the tested condition is found to be unsatisfactory by steps 40, 41, the program is exited via error message steps 42, 43 and junctions 45, 46.

If the test for the condition is satisfactory, control is passed via junctions 48 and 49 to the macro definition stage 50 (FIG. 2).

Only the fact that the macro number specified by the computer was entered manually as one of the parameters of the macro call is canceled.

Step 50 controls the computer to set up to the index on disk to read the four parameters entered manually during macro definition.

Step 51 controls reading of macro definition parameters.

For these steps, and all future disk and tape read and write steps, the flowcharts are not shown in detail.

These tasks are likely to be well known to ordinary programs.

However, the source list that forms part of the present invention includes various read and write instructions.

In reading macro definitions from disk as controlled by step 51, steps 53 and 54 make the normal determination of whether a parity error occurred during the read, and if a parity error occurred. The program passes through the connector 55 and returns to the normal error message stage.

If it is found that there is no parity error, step 57
transfers the macro definition to working storage, an allocated buffer area within the core.

In this regard, the four parameters of the macro definition,
The program number, channel set number, start foot frame, and end foot frame are included in the core.

Macro data is not yet man-powered. Additionally, a determination has not yet been made as to whether the storage device currently accessed by the computer contains animation data for the macro.

Step 59 determines whether the macro definition number fits into working storage.

The allocated core area is divided among the four consoles and the available space for each console is dynamically allocated.

If all four consoles attempt to use the macro call program within a short period of time, one of the consoles that lags will not be able to find enough space in working storage.

In such cases, the program issues normal error messages through steps 60 and 61.

Steps 63, 64 and 65 control the determination of whether the required channel sets have been defined.

If not defined, normal error message exit (EXIT) is controlled.

Following a finding that the required channel set has been defined, control is passed to step 68 which determines that the number specified for the defined channel set is 500.
Determine whether it is greater than 0.

This refers to a separate procedure for generating single channel macros, described below.

For purposes of illustration in this regard, assume that the channel set number entered to invoke the macro call program is less than 5000 and control passes to step 70.

Step 70 controls the determination of whether a macro call's manually defined channel set is present on the working tape.

Working tape is the name given here to the tape containing previous and current animation manpower.

As is clear, if a channel set is found to be on this working tape, a tape reading routine is established.

If the channel set is found to be on disk, a disk read routine is set up.

However, the purpose of each is simply to force a channel set to a specified core in a macro call.

In this regard, there are two channel sets, and the first channel set number is the one found in the macro definition dictated by the macro call manual macro number. , and also note that the second channel set number was found in the macro call itself.

The first channel set number points to the macro data source and the second channel set number points to the location where the macro will be transferred.

If step 70 determines that the manually defined channel set is on the working tape, control passes to step 72 for determining whether the working tape is attached to a tape device. be transferred.

If not, steps 73 and 75
To load the tape, an error message requiring computer operation is transmitted via the teletype.

The program is then issued via the coupling section 77.

If it is determined that a tape is present in the tape device, step 76 controls the settings for reading the channel set from the tape.

Steps 79.81 and 82 determine whether a tape read error has occurred as usual.

Control then passes to the first step 85 in FIG.

Returning to the stage shown in Figure 2, tape determination stage 7
0 means that the macro call channel set is not on the work tape.

In such case, control passes to step 87.

The step determines whether the macro call manually identified channel set is on the disk.

If not, the channel set does not exist, an appropriate error message is transmitted to the teletype according to step 89, and the program exits through connector 90.

If a channel set is found on the disc, step 88 controls the settings necessary for reading the disc.

The macro call's channel set is then read from disk, after which steps 93, 95 and 96 perform normal read error determinations.

The first step 85 in FIG. 3 is then entered.

There is an alternative procedure to the above that allows an animation operator to rapidly generate a single channel set of channels.

For example, if a previous representation contained a channel set consisting of data for five channels, and one of these channels was channel 7, which is mouth movement, the animation operator would A single channel 7 can be specified by manually inputting the channel set number 5007.

Similarly, the macrocall's channel set number includes normal channel numbers in the 5000s.

The advantage of this is that macro data for a single channel becomes available quickly.

Step 68 then determines whether the macro-defined channel set pointed to by the macro number was thicker than 5000.

If so, control passes to step 99, which sets the channel set for one channel as described above.

Control then passes to the first step 85 in FIG.

At this point, animation data is not being read or moved.

However, the program now has at its core a channel set that defines the macro data to be moved and the location where that data is to be moved.

Referring to FIG. 3, the first step 85 controls the determination of whether the manually defined channel set of the macro call is a subset of the current program-defined channel set.

This step is used to verify that all channels identified by the start signal should be included in the incoming animation data, either via a macro from the animation operator's console or directly by hand. It simply checks for the presence of signal human power.

If it is found in step 85 that the channel of the macro call was not included in the current program definition, normal error messages are issued in steps 101 and 102.
It is done through.

If the appropriate subset relationship is found at step 85, control passes to step 105, which determines whether the channel set indicated by the number in the macro call input has been previously defined. .

If not defined, normal error message issuing is performed through steps 106 and 107.

Step 108 determines whether the channel set number entered with the macro call input was greater than 5000.

If it is large, the channel set should consist of a single channel, as described above.

A single channel channel set is generated by step 110.

Macro call channel set number is 500
If it is less than 0, control is transferred to step 111, which determines whether the program number of the macro definition is equal to the program number of the program definition.

The significance of this decision is that it indicates the location of macro data.

If these numbers are found to be equal,
The macro data is among the data stored for the representation currently being activated: if the numbers are not equal, the macro data is positioned within the old representation previously generated and the appropriate tape is must be loaded.

If the above numbers are not equal, the control goes to step 11.
3 and 114, these steps determine whether a tape containing the required macro data is on the drive;
and determine whether it can be used.

If this tape is not in the drive and is not available, an appropriate error message is transmitted via coupling 116.

When tape is found to be available, step 115 determines whether the required channel set is on the tape.

If it is not on tape, the normal error routine is exited at step 12o.

121.

Step 117 performs normal tape setting, and control passes through coupling sections 123 and 125 to tape reading step 127.
will be moved to

Step 127 reads the macro-defined channel set from the tape.

If an error is found during reading in step 128,
Appropriate error messages are transmitted via steps 132 and 133.

If no errors are found, step 130 determines whether the channel sets of the macro call and the macro definition have the same number of channels.

Of course, it is necessary that each set contains the same number of channels.

There must be a location to store all of the transferred macro data in the new channel set.

If no channel with the same number is found, an error routine exists and the error occurs in steps 134 and 1.
This is done via 36.

Returning to step 112, if at this step it is determined that the current program is active and the macro-defined channel set is not on tape, then the channel set is or an error condition exists.

Step 140 tests this conclusion and if the channel set is not found on the disk, issuing an error message is carried out via steps 141, 143.

If macro data is found on the disk, step 145 sets up the disk for the read routine called in step 146.

Thereafter, the tests described above in steps 148 and 130 are performed.

After the various step activities of FIG. 3, if no error conditions are found, the control returns to test step 15 of FIG.
Move from 0 to 155.

The steps in FIG. 4 will not be described in detail since these legends seem to make their effects self-evident.

The point of the various tests is to determine whether the animation operator has signaled the start with the required data, and if so, the data is on disk, otherwise the data is on tape.

If the test determines that the data is on disk, control passes through junctions 157, 158 to step 160.
will be moved to

Step 160 performs normal configuration procedures.

Thereafter, step 161 determines whether the macro data should be moved forward or backward.

This step is important if the animation operator is shifting the animation data by, for example, 2.3 frames forward or backward within the same representation.

If so, the macro data must be read and rewritten in a way that does not destroy itself.

Following such determination, steps 162 and 163 set the appropriate pointers to move either the first or last piece first.

Step 165 sets up a buffer for the first animation macro input.

Control is then transferred to steps 170 and 171 of FIG. 7 to begin the disk read routine.

If a reading error is found, an appropriate error message is sent and the program exits.

If no error is detected, control is transferred to the steps of FIG.

Returning to FIG. 4, if it is determined that the required macro data resides on tape rather than on disk, control is transferred to the step of FIG. 6.

Steps 180 and 181 determine whether a tape containing the required data is present in the tape device.

If it is not on the tape device, an appropriate request message is transmitted according to step 183 and the program is issued.

If tape is available, control continues with steps 187 and 1.
89, these steps set the appropriate points to transfer the macro data from the tape.

Control then passes to the stage of FIG.

Following the steps of FIGS. 6 and 7, the first macro data is read from the channel set position defined by the channel set number of the macro definition.

The remaining main steps are to populate the microcall manually defined channel set.

Referring to FIG. 8, step 193 determines whether a previous read step placed a frame of the macro in the manual buffer.

The response to this is generally positive.

In some cases, e.g. when there are intervening interrupts,
Macro data still reaches the core until time of stage 1931
．． It happens that it is not.

In this case step 194 establishes a queue routine.

Step 195 determines whether the macro data is being queued from disk or tape.

If from disk, the steps are transferred to the step of FIG. 9, and if from tape, the steps are transferred to the step of FIG. 10.

The loop procedure then continues until step 193 of FIG. 8 finds the macro data in the core's human buffer.

Steps 200-203 concern the validity checks performed on the data after transfer to the manual buffer.

Normal validity checks are performed. If an error is detected, normal error messages will be issued.

Step 205 determines whether the core's second buffer, referred to as the work buffer, is full.

This working buffer is the second buffer of the core where data transfers take place, as is clear from the source listing here.

If it is determined that this buffer is not full, steps 206 and 209 establish a queue routine and transfer control to the step of FIG. is called.

After reading this disc, a return is made to step 193 of FIG.

After step 205 determines that the work buffer is full, steps 212-215 repeat step 200.
The validity of the same data as in steps 203 to 203 is checked.

Furthermore, standard checks of the accuracy of the transmitted data units are carried out.

In this regard, the core human buffer contains frames of macro data.

The work buffer contains frames of current program data to be replaced.

Step 217 then controls the macro frame in the human buffer to replace the current program frame in the work buffer.

It is at this point that the insertion of macro data is controlled.

After transferring a frame of the macro, step 221 determines whether the last frame of macro data has been transferred.

If not transferred, the coupling parts 230, 231
After that, the process returns to the stage shown in Figure 8.

The loop through the steps of FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 continues until the macro has been loaded into the buffer.

When the last frame is reached, step 220 writes the contents of the working buffer to disk and finishes replacing the current data with the macro.

Returning to step 195 of FIG. 8, the determination of whether data is being queued from a disk device, tape device, or the like is canceled at this point.

If from disk, control is provided by couplings 197 and 23
3, the process moves to the stage shown in FIG.

Referring to FIG. 9, step 234 makes the settings necessary to read six frames of macro data from the disc.

Step 236 calls the disk read routine, after which steps 237-239 issue normal error messages if a parity error is detected.

A return to the macro transfer stage of FIG. 8 then takes place.

If step 195 determines that the macro data is to be transferred from a tape device, control transfers to coupling unit 1.
99 and 242, the process proceeds to step 241 in FIG.

Step 241 sets the tape to read one frame of macro data from the tape into the manual buffer.

The tape read routine is called by step 244, after which normal data validity checks and error messages are issued by steps 245, 247 and 248.

Step 249 determines whether the appropriate frame number has been read into the input buffer.

If not, the loop procedure continues from step 250 to step 241 until the appropriate frame number is read.
is started through.

Comparison of frame numbers indicates that the read frame number is thicker than the frame of the current macro in steps 250 and 251.
If it is determined that an error condition exists and an appropriate error message is sent via steps 253-257.

If it is found at step 251 that the frame of the appropriate macro has been loaded into the manual buffer, a return is made via connection 258 to the step of FIG.

In this way, the loop moves all segments of macro data from tape or disk to the human buffer, from the human buffer to the working buffer, and from the working buffer to disk where the current frame of data is moved. This continues until they are replaced or assembled into a composite display.

Referring to FIG. 11, the final stage of the macro call program is shown.

Step 263 controls the tape device containing the working tape to rewind the tape.

Steps 264 and 265 set an appropriate error pointer if an error occurs during the program.

Step 267 sets the real-time switch to process successive commands and the macro call program is issued via connector 268.

The occurrence of various error messages in this program all cause control to be transferred to the step shown in FIG.

Step 270 sets the appropriate message.

Step 271 controls waiting until a teletype is available and steps 274 and 275 control the requesting of the teletype and the appropriate message to be displayed on the teletype.

The steps of FIG. 11 are then entered via connections 276 and 260.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a high-level flowchart of the manual portion of the software method according to the present invention, in which the illustrated steps consist of inputting the information necessary to start the program and an error routine required for the program. FIG. 2 is a high-level flowchart of a portion of the software method according to the present invention, including the transfer of necessary program definitions to the core buffer, error routines, and Figure 3 includes steps such as determining the type of animation data to be run.
4 is a high-level flowchart of a portion of a software method according to the present invention, including steps such as program definition checking, error routines, and transfer of data definitions to temporary storage; FIG. FIG. 5 is a high-level flowchart of a portion of a software method according to the present invention, including steps for controlling a test to determine that data to be moved has been located; FIG. FIG. 6 is a high-level flowchart of a portion of a software method, including the step of determining whether data is to be moved forward or backward in the representation; FIG. 7 is a high-level flowchart of a portion of a software method according to the present invention, including the steps of setting pointers and addresses necessary to obtain animation data to be transferred from a tape device; FIG. Figure 8 is a high-level flowchart of a portion of the software method according to the present invention, including the steps of setting the pointers and addresses necessary to obtain the animation data to be moved from the disk drive. FIG. 9 is a high-level flowchart of a software method according to the present invention including the steps of moving selected animation data from a previous location to a storage disk device. A diagram including the steps of movement,
FIG. 10 is a high-level flowchart of a software method according to the present invention, including the steps of moving selected animation data from a previous location to a storage tape device; FIG. 11 is a high-level flowchart of a software method according to the present invention; Figure 12 is a high level flowchart of the software method according to the present invention, including the steps of controlling storage device resetting after transfer of animation data, and illustrates some possible errors throughout the program. FIG. 13 includes steps for controlling an error routine following detection of any of the
The figure is a block diagram of a system for use with the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 1-12. 2000...System, 2020...Console,
2025, ... potentiometer, 20301-
nm...Switch, 2035...Console control button, 20751-p...Sign button, 2040...
Register, 2065...Clock circuit, 2100...
- Computer, 2200... Disk storage device, 2500... Tape or disk device, 260
0...Disk storage device, 2700...Demultiplexer, 2050, -□...Output proportional control circuit, 20601 m...Related servo loop.

Claims (1)

Claims: 1. An apparatus for acquiring data for sequentially controlling an active representation, comprising: a plurality of units proportionally positioned according to a supply unit of transmitted data and each connected to control said active representation; a variable positioning device capable of various positioning; manual positioning means capable of being manually positioned for setting according to a selected one position of the variable positioning device; and for generating an electrical signal in accordance with said setting by the manual positioning means. a timing signal generating means for generating a timing signal that increases at a predetermined rate; a storage means for storing the electric signal in relation to the timing signal; and separate storage means for the timing signal. shifting means for shifting said electrical signal in said storage means for storage in association with said storage means; and retrieving said electrical signal from said storage means to said selected one of said variable positioning devices. A device characterized in that it is provided with a search transmission means for transmitting.