Weighted Value Table for Real-Time Facial Animation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for creating lifelike images of computer-deformed objects require large databases, are time-consuming, and often necessitate expert intervention, limiting real-time animation capabilities and storage efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A method using statistical regression analysis to create a weighted value table that estimates positions of specific points on deformed objects, reducing pre-processing time and storage needs by categorizing significant points and defining relationships between measurable and specific points.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional methods use large databases to store pre-processed images for animation, then image quality and variety are improved, but storage space requirements and processing time increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential geometric information (landmark points and their relationships) from complete images, storing merely the coordinates and weighted value tables rather than full image data. This extraction of critical features enables real-time animation without requiring large databases of pre-processed images, directly resolving the contradiction between image quality and storage space requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the face into multiple landmark points with specific geometric relationships, where each point's position is determined by weighted values relative to others. This segmentation allows the system to reconstruct lifelike images from discrete point data rather than storing complete images, reducing storage requirements while maintaining animation quality
2Measurement precision
If conventional methods search through large databases to find stored images for animation, then image selection accuracy is improved, but real-time animation capability deteriorates due to processing time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by pre-calculating and storing only the weighted value tables that define the geometric relationships between landmark points during neutral and expressive states. This pre-computation eliminates the need for database searching during animation, enabling real-time processing while maintaining precise control over facial expressions through the stored weighted relationships
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical database search system with a mathematical computation system based on weighted value tables. Instead of searching through stored images, the system computes landmark positions in real-time using the pre-stored weighted relationships, substituting a computationally efficient mathematical approach for the resource-intensive database search mechanism
3Manufacturing precision
If conventional methods require expert intervention to create weighted value tables based on physical features, then anatomical accuracy is improved, but system complexity and difficulty of implementation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by enabling the system to automatically learn and determine the weighted value tables through statistical regression analysis of image data, without requiring expert manual intervention. The system independently identifies landmark points and computes their geometric relationships, eliminating the need for specialist knowledge while maintaining anatomical accuracy through data-driven learning
4Productivity
If conventional methods use statistical regression analysis to create weighted value tables, then real-time animation capability is improved, but pre-processing time and computational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing the computationally intensive statistical regression analysis and weighted value table creation during an offline pre-processing phase. This allows the system to store only the compact weighted value tables, enabling rapid real-time animation execution without repeating the heavy computation, thus resolving the contradiction between real-time capability and pre-processing time
Data Source
AI summary
A method to imitate lifelike images for computer deformed objects includes the following steps, selecting a number of significant points on an object, categorizing the significant points into measurable points and specific points, defining a relationship between the measurable points and the specific points with a statistical regression model, creating a table of weighted values for the specific points and animating an object based on the weighted value table. The present invention uses the measured displacement of a number of measurable points to calculate expected positions of the specific points to reduce processing time and create real time images. The method uses a statistical analysis method to decrease access time to a database, save storage space of the database and create lifelike, real-time and animated images in accordance with the object as the object changed its surface.