Variable Font Glyph Animation via Keyframe Interpolation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing techniques for animating glyphs in multi-axis fonts require significant frame-over-frame processing time and storage space, and are not scalable across different output resolutions, leading to inefficiencies in caching and reuse of font instances.

Innovation Solution

The system calculates keyframes along an animation path for multi-axis variable fonts, constructs glyph outline data at keyframe positions, and generates intermediate data by interpolation, allowing for efficient rendering and reduced storage needs by avoiding the need for repeated redrawing of text.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If traditional font caching is used for animation, then font instances can be reused across applications, but the cache requires significant storage space and processing time due to the large number of font instances created for animation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefont instance reuse efficiencyVSAvoidcache storage space

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the animation process into keyframes and intermediate frames. Only keyframes are cached in the font cache, while intermediate frames are generated on-demand through interpolation. This segmentation reduces the number of font instances that need to be cached, directly addressing the storage space problem while maintaining animation quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary computation of keyframes and caches them in advance. The intermediate frames are pre-computed through interpolation when needed, but the full animation sequence is not pre-rendered. This allows the system to have animation data ready without storing every single frame, improving both storage efficiency and retrieval speed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If multiple font instances are created for animation frames, then smooth animation can be achieved, but the cache overflow causes eviction of shareable font instances

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveanimation smoothnessVSAvoidfont instance shareability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting animation into keyframes and intermediate frames, the patent ensures that only essential keyframe data is cached permanently. Intermediate frames are generated temporarily during animation playback and not stored in the cache, preventing cache overflow while maintaining animation smoothness through interpolation between keyframes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If GIF animation format is used, then animated glyphs can be displayed, but significant processing time is required to decode each image frame

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveanimation display capabilityVSAvoidframe decoding time

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the image-based GIF animation system with a mathematical interpolation system. Instead of decoding image frames, the system computes glyph outlines mathematically by interpolating between keyframe data. This substitution eliminates the need for image decoding while maintaining animation capability, directly reducing processing time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Ease of operation

If pre-defined animated fonts are used, then animation can be achieved, but the fonts are not scalable across different output resolutions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveanimation functionalityVSAvoidresolution scalability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the font system dynamic by using variable fonts with multiple axes of variation. The interpolation system dynamically adjusts glyph parameters based on the animation path and keyframes, allowing the same font data to adapt to different resolutions and animation requirements. This dynamic approach replaces static pre-defined animations with flexible, resolution-independent animation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameters of glyphs dynamically during animation by interpolating between keyframe parameter sets. The variable font technology allows continuous adjustment of multiple parameters (weight, width, italics, etc.) along animation paths, enabling the same font to scale and adapt to different resolutions without requiring separate font files for each resolution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS10242480B2Animated glyph based on multi-axis variable font

Publication Date: 2019.03.26 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

AI summary

Methods and devices for animating variable fonts may include receiving a request to animate one or more glyphs of a variable font in a design space based on one or more animation parameters. The methods and devices may also include determining an animation path in the design space for the one or more glyphs based on the animation parameters and calculating a set of keyframes having respective keyframe positions along the animation path. The methods and devices may include constructing glyph outline data of the one or more glyphs for each keyframe in the set of keyframes. The methods and devices may include generating intermediate glyph outline data at one or more intermediate positions between the keyframe positions and transmitting the glyph outline data and the intermediate glyph outline data.