Embedded 3D Animation Playback with Worker-Thread Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing 3D file formats require specialized software and skills to play embedded animations, limiting their use in productivity applications like word processing, spreadsheet, and slide presentation software.
Innovation Solution
A system that allows playback of 3D animations in productivity applications using a worker thread separate from the main thread, enabling user control over animation parameters and preserving animation features during transcoding, with a user interface for easy interaction and adjustment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If professional software like Framer Form, Maya, or Cinema 4D is used to play 3D animations, then animation playback quality and control are improved, but the complexity of the system and the skill level required increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary component that bridges between professional 3D animation software and productivity applications. This intermediary handles the complex animation playback operations while presenting a simplified interface to end users, effectively mediating between the need for high-quality animation playback and the desire for simple integration into productivity tools.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the complex animation playback functionality from professional software into a separate, standalone component or service. This extracted component can then be integrated into productivity applications without requiring the full complexity of professional software, allowing animation playback capabilities to be used in simplified contexts.
2Ease of operation
If professional software with specialized knowledge is used, then animation control and fidelity are improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the animation control functionality into distinct, manageable components with specialized interfaces. Different levels of control are provided through segmented interfaces - basic controls for general users and advanced controls for power users - allowing the system to maintain ease of operation for common tasks while preserving animation control fidelity when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic interface adaptation where the complexity of the control interface adjusts based on user needs and context. The system can dynamically simplify or expand controls, providing ease of operation for basic tasks while maintaining the capability for precise animation control when required, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of use and control fidelity.
3Productivity
If 3D animations are integrated into productivity applications, then productivity and engagement are improved, but the complexity of the application architecture increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal animation playback component that can be integrated across multiple productivity applications (word processing, spreadsheet, slide presentation, email). This multi-functional component handles animation playback consistently across different application types, reducing overall system complexity by avoiding the need for separate animation implementations in each application.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary layer between the animation playback engine and various productivity applications. This intermediary handles the complexity of animation management, thread coordination, and parameter control, allowing productivity applications to integrate 3D animations without directly dealing with the underlying architectural complexity.
4Ease of operation
If animation playback is handled on the main thread, then integration with the application is simplified, but the application's responsiveness and ability to handle other content deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a thread intermediary or message passing mechanism that allows animation playback to occur on a separate worker thread while maintaining clean integration with the main application thread. The intermediary handles communication between threads, preserving integration simplicity while enabling concurrent animation playback without blocking the main application responsiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces direct mechanical coupling between animation playback and the main application thread with an asynchronous communication mechanism. Instead of the animation playback directly interfering with the main thread's processing of other content, a decoupled communication system (such as events, callbacks, or message queues) is used to coordinate between threads, maintaining both integration simplicity and application responsiveness.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 2C
AI summary
A system and method of playing back 3D animations includes receiving user selection of a 3D file that contains animation parameters of an animated 3D model such as a preset animation or an embedded customized animation and inserting the animated 3D model into a 2D display canvas while preserving the animation parameters of the animated 3D model described in the 3D file. The animated 3D model is played and paused on the 2D display canvas under user control independent of a main thread that enables interaction with and editing of other content besides the animated 3D model in the 2D display. User adjustment of animation parameters of the animated 3D model during playback are received and the animated 3D model with the received user adjusted animation parameters are presented to the 2D display canvas on a display device.