System for designing and rendering personalities for autonomous synthetic characters

Abstract

Personality traits displayed on a workbench are grouped into a character profile that is utilized in determining the personality and/or specific actions of a synthetic character. The personality traits are selectable by an operator from graduated dials. The personality traits may also be displayed in the form of selectable attributes or trait indicative behaviors that, when selected, are mapped into predetermined amounts of each trait in the character profile. The character profile is utilized to compute activation levels for primary behaviors, which are selected to influence or direct behavior of the synthetic character. Secondary behaviors are also selected, but discarded if conflicting with the selected primary behaviors. When behaviors are selected, the corresponding behaviors are translated into classes of ‘personality effectors’ that modulate the synthetic character's behavioral expression to reflect the desired set of traits.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A system for designing personalities for synthetic characters, comprising: 
 a personality trait selection device that displays at least one selectable personality trait; and    a personality builder that groups the selected personality traits into a character profile.    
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said personality trait selection device comprises at least one trait indicator, each trait indicator representing an amount of a corresponding one of the selectable personality traits; and    said personality builder weights each selected personality trait in said character profile according the amount of each selected personality trait represented in the corresponding trait indicator.    
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein the trait indicators are graduated dials operating between a high anchor and a low anchor.  
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 a personality attribute selection device that displays at least one selectable personality attribute; and    a mapper configured to map each selected personality attribute into amounts of the trait indicators according to an amount each selected personality attribute is represented in the selectable personality traits.    
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein the selectable personality traits include at least one primary trait of dominance, warmth, conscientiousness, emotional stability, and openness.  
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 a trait indicative behavior selection device that displays at least one selectable trait indicative behavior; and    a mapper configured to map each selected trait indicative behavior into amounts of the trait indicators according to an amount each selected personality attribute is represented in the selectable personality traits.    
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said character profile comprises a translation of the selected personality traits into a weighted set of personality traits.  
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a physical modification device configured to modify physical characteristics of said synthetic character based on the character profile.    
     
     
         9 . A method of rendering a personality, comprising the step of: 
 rendering at least one behavior of a synthetic character based on a character profile having selected personality traits.    
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein said step of rendering includes the step of: 
 specifying at least one trait indicative behavior; and    implementing behaviors consistent with the trait indicative behaviors.    
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein: 
 said trait indicative behaviors include at least one primary behavior;    said step of specifying includes the step of specifying a set of releasing mechanisms associated with the specified primary behaviors; and    said step of rendering includes the steps of, 
 interpreting stimuli external to said personality based on said set of releasing mechanisms, and  
 rendering said at least one behavior of the synthetic character based on the interpreted external stimuli.  
   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein said step of rendering comprises the steps of: 
 specifying at least one secondary behavior; and    implementing the secondary behaviors as one of persistent and episodic behaviors.    
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein said step of rendering comprises the step of: 
 modulating an existing behavior based on the character profile.    
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein said step of rendering comprises the step of: 
 modifying a construal process utilized by the personality.    
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein said construal process includes processes for perception and assessment of situations in an environment of which the personality is located.  
     
     
         16 . A method of selecting behavior for a synthetic character, comprising the steps of: 
 computing an primary activation level of primary behaviors in each of plural nodes at a given level of a modified behavior hierarchy;    selecting a node having a highest activation level; and    executing the primary behavior in accordance with an action defined by the selected node.    
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , further comprising the steps of: 
 computing an secondary activation level for at least one trait indicative secondary behavior in each of plural nodes at the given level of the behavior hierarchy;    disregarding secondary behaviors that conflict with the selected primary behavior;    selecting secondary behaviors based on the secondary behavior activation level computed;    repeating said steps of computing, disregarding, and selecting until no degrees of freedom unused by the primary and selected secondary behaviors sufficient to activate any remaining secondary behaviors exist; and    executing the selected secondary behaviors.    
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein: 
 said step of computing comprises, 
 determining values, including at least one of a level of interest, a value of inhibitory links, a value of releasing mechanisms, a level of fatigue, and a value of endogenous variables associated with a behavior, for factors related to whether a behavior should be activated, and  
 computing said primary activation level based on the values determined.  
   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , further comprising the step of: 
 increasing said level of fatigue associated with a behavior based on a length of time said behavior has been activated.    
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , further comprising the step of: 
 biasing an activation level for plan steps based on a plan.