Multiple personality articulation for animated characters

Abstract

A method for a computer system includes determining a model for a first personality of a component of an object, wherein the model for the first personality of the component is associated with a component name and a first personality indicia, determining a model for a second personality of the component of the object, wherein the model for the second personality of the component is associated with the component name and the second personality indicia, determining a multiple personality model of the object, wherein the model of the object includes the model for the first personality of the component, the model of the second personality of the component, the first personality indicia, and the second personality indicia, and storing the multiple personality model of the object in a single file.

1. A method for a computer system includes:
 determining a model for a first personality of a component of an object, wherein the model for the first personality of the component is associated with a component name and a first personality indicia;  
 determining a model for a second personality of the component of the object, wherein the model for the second personality of the component is associated with the component name and the second personality indicia;  
 determining a multiple personality model of the object, wherein the multiple personality model of the object includes the model for the first personality of the component, the model of the second personality of the component, the first personality indicia, and the second personality indicia; and  
 storing the multiple personality model of the object in a single file.  
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 
 retrieving the multiple personality model of the object within a working environment;  
 receiving a specification of the first personality indicia and the component name within the working environment;  
 receiving a manipulation value for the component of the object; and  
 applying the manipulation value for the component to the model of the first personality of the component in response to the component name, the specification of the first personality indicia, and to the manipulation value.  
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2  further comprising:
 determining a representation of an image including a representation of the manipulation value being applied to the model of the first personality of the component; and  
 displaying the image to a user.  
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3  wherein the working environment is selected from a group consisting of: an animation environment, a gaming environment. 
     
     
       5. A method for a computer system includes:
 retrieving a multiple personality model of an object from a file, wherein the multiple personality model of the object includes a model of a first personality of a component, wherein the model for the first personality of the component is associated with a component name, and a first personality indicia, wherein the multiple personality of the model of the object includes a model of a second personality of the component, wherein the model for the second personality of the component is associated with the component name and a second personality indicia;  
 determining a desired personality indicia associated with the component;  
 determining a plurality of manipulation values associated with the component;  
 associating the plurality of manipulation values to the model for the first personality of the component when the desired personality indicia comprises the first personality indicia; and  
 associating the plurality of manipulation values to the model for the second personality of the component when the desired personality indicia comprises the second personality indicia.  
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1  further comprising rendering an image using the model of the first personality of the component when the desired personality indicia comprises the first personality indicia.