Rules-Based System for Customizable Object Rendering

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Solution Overview

Problem

In interactive environments like video games, users face challenges in customizing characters without encountering rendering issues such as interpenetration or other artifacts, as some customization choices are incompatible from a gameplay perspective.

Innovation Solution

A rules-based system that processes user selections using exclude override rules and wildcards to maintain the object's aesthetic appeal and 'on-model' traits, allowing users to customize objects while ensuring compatibility and preserving their choices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If users are allowed to freely customize character appearance, then user control and customization freedom are improved, but rendering problems and incompatibility artifacts occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecustomization freedomVSAvoidrendering consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-establishes a comprehensive rule set covering all possible customization attribute combinations before users make selections. These rules define valid and invalid combinations in advance, allowing the system to proactively prevent rendering issues rather than reactively fixing them after user input.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

A rules-based mediation layer is introduced between user customization inputs and the character rendering system. This intermediary layer evaluates user selections against predefined rules and automatically adjusts incompatible combinations, acting as a buffer that preserves both user freedom and rendering consistency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If hard-coded constraints are used to prevent rendering problems, then rendering consistency is improved, but user control and customization flexibility are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverendering consistencyVSAvoidcustomization freedom

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The constraint system transitions from static hard-coded limitations to dynamic rules that are applied contextually based on user selections. The rules engine evaluates each customization combination dynamically, applying constraints only when necessary to prevent rendering issues while allowing maximum flexibility otherwise.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the parameter of constraint application from fixed (hard-coded) to variable (rules-based). Instead of immutable constraints, the system uses configurable rules that can be adjusted based on the specific combination of customization attributes, allowing the constraints to adapt to different scenarios.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If user selections are strictly enforced, then user control is improved, but rendering artifacts and incompatibility occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser controlVSAvoidrendering artifacts

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements a feedback mechanism where user selections are evaluated against rules, and when conflicts are detected, the system automatically provides corrective adjustments. This feedback loop maintains user control by preserving their intent while eliminating harmful rendering artifacts through automated rule-based corrections.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system converts potentially harmful rendering artifacts into beneficial automatic corrections. When user selections would cause rendering issues, the rules engine transforms these problematic combinations into valid ones by applying predefined correction rules, turning what would be errors into automatic quality improvements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

4Manufacturing precision

If customization rules are applied to maintain object aesthetic, then object aesthetic quality is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaesthetic qualityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The rule system is segmented into modular, independently manageable rule units, each handling specific aspects of aesthetic quality. This segmentation allows complex aesthetic requirements to be broken down into discrete, easily maintainable rule components that can be developed and adjusted independently.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS9480924B2Rules based system for managing user selections in customizable objects

Publication Date: 2016.11.01 DISNEY ENTERPRISES INC

AI summary

A rules-based system which processes user selections to determine what content is actually loaded and used for a given object model in video games or other online or interactive digital environments. The disclosed rules-based system also allows for rules exceptions, which support the prioritization of the user's most recent selections over the rules.