3D World Simulation with Cell Parameter Flows and Influence Maps

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional virtual worlds are static and require significant time and resources to implement changes, limiting dynamic evolution and impacting user immersion.

Innovation Solution

A virtual world simulation system using cellular automata to simulate cells with parameters that update based on neighboring cells, allowing dynamic evolution through heat, pressure, and gravity interactions, and influence maps to aggregate properties for dynamic updates.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional virtual worlds use hardcoded changes for seasonal transitions, then the world can be modified to reflect different times of year, but the process is time-consuming and resource-intensive requiring creation of numerous new assets

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseasonal theme adaptationVSAvoidtime to implement changes

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The virtual world transitions from static hardcoded changes to dynamic procedural generation. The system uses a cellular automata grid where each cell's state (vegetation, water, sand, rock) automatically updates based on simulated environmental factors like temperature, precipitation, and evaporation rates, enabling real-time seasonal transitions without manual asset creation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes physical parameters (temperature, precipitation, evaporation rates) of each cell in the virtual world to simulate seasonal transitions. By modifying these parameters rather than replacing assets, the world dynamically adapts to different times of year through procedural generation of vegetation and water states

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If conventional virtual worlds use hardcoded changes for seasonal transitions, then the world can be modified to reflect different times of year, but the process requires creation of numerous new assets which is resource intensive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseasonal theme adaptationVSAvoidnumber of assets required

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

A single set of cellular automata rules and physical parameters serves multiple functions: simulating temperature effects, precipitation patterns, evaporation rates, and resulting vegetation changes. This universal simulation framework replaces the need for separate asset files for different seasonal conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The virtual world simulates its own seasonal transitions through internal cellular automata interactions. Each cell automatically updates its state based on neighbor cell conditions and physical parameters, generating seasonal variations without external intervention or manual asset loading

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If conventional virtual worlds make abrupt wholesale changes for seasonal transitions, then the world can be updated efficiently, but the changes are not realistic and impact user immersion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveupdate efficiencyVSAvoidrealism of changes

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The virtual world is divided into a grid of individual cells, each independently simulated. This segmentation allows gradual, cell-by-cell transitions based on local environmental conditions, creating realistic progressive seasonal changes rather than abrupt wholesale updates across the entire world

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The cellular automata system uses feedback mechanisms where each cell's state depends on the states of neighboring cells and simulated environmental factors. This creates realistic feedback loops for heat transfer, moisture movement, and vegetation growth, producing natural seasonal transitions that enhance user immersion

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables realistic, dynamic evolution of virtual worlds with reduced resource intensity, allowing for persistent changes and improved user immersion.

Implementation Method 1

a cooler cell next to a warmer cell is heated and vice versa

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

the resource density of a lower-pressure cell next to a higher-pressure cell increase and vice versa

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure gradient: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 3

heat, pressure, and gravity interactions

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentUS20250391140A1Generating a Three-Dimensional World with Parameter Flows Between Simulation Blocks

Publication Date: 2025.12.25 PLAYABLE WORLDS INC

AI summary

A virtual world simulation system builds worlds from cells. Each cell is assigned parameters such as resource type, temperature, pressure, density, adhesion, or support, etc. The parameters for a cell are updated using the parameters of surrounding cells. Properties for groups of cells of one or more group sizes can be aggregated to form influence maps at one or more scales. The aggregated properties of feature maps may be used to update properties of cells or objects within the corresponding region of the virtual world.