EP0365960A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Computer animation production system
Assignee: Walt Disney Co
•
Filing: 1989-10-14
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2009-10-14
Abstract
Abstract A computer animation production system (2) for processing digital image data is disclosed. The computer animation production system (2) contains at least one information processing device (44-76) for enabling at least one user to develop, utilize and enhance digital image data. The information processing device (44-76) is associated with a first (4) and a second (6, 8, 10, 12 and 14) global area network (4). The first global area network (4) is for communicating digital control information to at least one information processing device. The digital control information includes image database information. The second global area network (6, 8, 10, 12 and 14) is for communicating the digital image data to the at least one information processing device (44-76). The digital image data includes pixel characteristic information for image reproduction on the information processing device. The second global area network (6, 8, 12 and 14) also includes a means for arbitrating (36, 38, 40, 42 or 43) access of the digital image data to the information processing device (44-76). Associated with the means for arbitrating is a temporary memory means (28, 30, 32, 34 or 35) for storing the digital image data likely to be accessed by the information processing device (44-76). A relational database management system (23) maintains the digital control information for production scheduling and tracking purposes.
Inventors
- 👤 Lemuel L. Davis
- 👤 Mark Kimball
- 👤 Vahe Sarkissian
- 👤 Dylan W. Kohler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 14:14
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T13/00; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 52
Claim 1
Independent Claim
140 words
A computerized information processing apparatus for storing, updating and transferring digital image data, said apparatus comprising: a first global area network for communicating digital control information to at least one information processing device, said digital control information including database information, a second global area network for communicating said digital image data to said at least one information processing device, said digital image data including pixel characteristic information for image reproduction and enhancement on said at least one information processing device, said second global area network further including at least one means for arbitrating access of said digital image data for said at least one information processing device, and associated with each said at least one means for arbitrating, a temporary memory means for storing said digital image data likely to be accessed by said at least one information processing device.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
140 words
A computerized information processing apparatus for storing, updating and transferring digital image data, said apparatus comprising: a first global area network for communicating digital control information to at least one information processing device, said digital control information including database information, a second global area network for communicating said digital image data to said at least one information processing device, said digital image data including pixel characteristic information for image reproduction and enhancement on said at least one information processing device, said second global area network further including at least one means for arbitrating access of said digital image data for said at least one information processing device, and associated with each said at least one means for arbitrating, a temporary memory means for storing said digital image data likely to be accessed by said at least one information processing device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said second global area network further comprises archival memory means for storing said digital image data for long periods of time.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said archival memory means is one or more optical disk configurations for storing said digital image data.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said archival memory means is one or more high capacity tape drive systems for storing said digital image data.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first global area network further comprises memory means for storing said digital control information.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first global area network and said second global area network further comprise a memory means for storing both said digital control information and said digital image data.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said first network memory means is an optical disk configuration for storing said digital control information.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said first network memory means is a high capacity tape drive system for said storing digital image data.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said first global area network further comprises computing means for arbitrating access of said digital control information on said first network first memory means for storing said digital control information.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said second global area network further comprises computing means for arbitrating access of said digital image data on said archival memory means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least one information processing device is a computerized user workstation for enabling at least one user to develop, utilize and enhance said digital image data.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
190 words
A method for use with a computer animation production system for processing digital image data, said computer animation system comprising at least one information processing device for enabling at least one user to develop, utilize and enhance said digital image data, said at least one information processing device associated with a first and a second network, said first network for communicating digital control information to said at least one information processing device, said digital control information including database information, and said second network for communicating said digital image data to said at least one information processing device, said digital image data including pixel characteristic information for image reproduction on said at least one information processing device, said method comprising the steps of: requesting a segment of said digital image data for further processing at one of said information processing devices, determining the location of said segment of digital image data, and operative when said requested segment of digital image data is not located at said requesting information processing device, transferring said requested segment of digital image data over said second network to said requesting information processing device for further processing.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
190 words
A method for use with a computer animation production system for processing digital image data, said computer animation system comprising at least one information processing device for enabling at least one user to develop, utilize and enhance said digital image data, said at least one information processing device associated with a first and a second network, said first network for communicating digital control information to said at least one information processing device, said digital control information including database information, and said second network for communicating said digital image data to said at least one information processing device, said digital image data including pixel characteristic information for image reproduction on said at least one information processing device, said method comprising the steps of: requesting a segment of said digital image data for further processing at one of said information processing devices, determining the location of said segment of digital image data, and operative when said requested segment of digital image data is not located at said requesting information processing device, transferring said requested segment of digital image data over said second network to said requesting information processing device for further processing.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
60 words
The method of claim 12 wherein said second network further comprises a plurality of temporary memory means for storing said digital image data, each said temporary memory means corresponding to at least one of said information processing devices and said step of requesting further including the step of sending said request over said second network to said temporary memory means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 13 wherein said step for determining the location of said requested segment of digital image data further includes the step of determining whether said requested segment of digital image data is located at said temporary memory means corresponding to said requesting information processing device.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said step for transferring said requested segment of digital image data further includes the step of transferring an identical representation of said requested segment of digital image data from said temporary memory means to said requesting information processing device.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
73 words
The method of claim 14 wherein each said temporary memory means corresponds to a plurality of information processing devices where one of said information processing devices is said requesting information processing device, and said step for determining the location of said requested segment of digital image data further includes the step of determining whether said requested segment of digital image data is located at a different one of said corresponding information processing devices.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 16 wherein said step for transferring said requested segment of digital image data further includes the step of transferring said requested segment of digital image data from one of said corresponding information processing devices to said requesting information processing device.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
68 words
The method of claim 16 wherein said first network further includes memory means for storing said digital control information in the form of a database, said digital control information database comprising content information on said digital image data stored on each said temporary memory means, and said step for requesting further including the step of sending said request over said first network to said first network memory means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 18 wherein said step for determining the location of said requested segment of digital image data further includes the step of referencing said digital control information database to determine which temporary memory means contains said requested segment of digital image data.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 19 further including the step of transferring said requested segment of digital image data from said temporary memory means containing said requested segment of digital image data to said temporary memory means associated with said requesting information processing device.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
96 words
The method of claim 20 wherein said second network further includes an archival memory means for storing said digital image data for long periods of time and said digital control information database stored on said first network memory means further comprises content information related to said digital image data stored in said archival memory means and said step for determining the location of said requested segment of digital image data further includes the step of referencing said digital control information database to determine whether said archival memory means contains said requested segment of digital image data.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 21 wherein said step of transferring said requested segment of digital image data further comprises the step of transferring said requested data from said archival memory means to said temporary memory means associated with said requesting information processing device.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 22 wherein said step for transferring further comprises the step of sending an identical representation said requested segment of digital image data from said temporary memory means to said requesting information processing device.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
65 words
The method of claim 18 wherein said digital control information database further comprises a worklist corresponding to each of said users associated with each of said information processing devices of said computer animation system, said worklist for providing each of said users work assignments and said method further including the step of providing said corresponding worklist to said user at said associated information processing device.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
82 words
The method of claim 24 wherein said digital control information database further comprises an permission list associated with each of said users of said computer animation system, said permission list for providing each of said users permission status for amending said requested segment of digital image data and said step of requesting further including the step of referencing said permission list to determine whether said permission status for said user enables said user to amend said requested segment of digital image data.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 25 wherein said permission status is read-only status and said step for requesting further includes the step of disabling said user capability to permanently amend said requested segment of digital image data.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 25 wherein said permission status is read-write status and said step for requesting further includes the step of enabling said user capability to permanently amend said requested segment of digital image data.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 27 further including the step of saving said requested segment of digital image data prior to said step of permanently amending said requested segment of digital image data.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method of claim 25 wherein said permission status is limited read/write status and said step for requesting further includes the step of enabling said user access to only a subset of said requested segment of digital image data and enabling said user capability to permanently amend said subset of said said requested segment of digital image data.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 29 further including the step of saving said subset of said requested segment of digital image data prior to said step of permanently amending said subset of said requested segment of digital image data.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
193 words
An apparatus for use with a computer animation production system for processing digital image data, said computer animation system comprising at least one information processing device for enabling at least one user to develop, utilize and enhance said digital image data, said at least one information processing device associated with a first and a second network, said first network for communicating digital control information to said at least one information processing device, said digital control information including database information and said second network for communicating said digital image data to said at least one information processing device, said digital image data including pixel characteristic information for image reproduction on said at least one information processing device, said apparatus comprising: means for requesting a segment of said digital image data for further processing at one of said information processing devices, means for determining the location of said segment of digital image data, and operative when said requested segment of digital image data is not located at said requesting information processing device, means for transferring said requested segment of digital image data over said second network to said requesting information processing device for further processing.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
193 words
An apparatus for use with a computer animation production system for processing digital image data, said computer animation system comprising at least one information processing device for enabling at least one user to develop, utilize and enhance said digital image data, said at least one information processing device associated with a first and a second network, said first network for communicating digital control information to said at least one information processing device, said digital control information including database information and said second network for communicating said digital image data to said at least one information processing device, said digital image data including pixel characteristic information for image reproduction on said at least one information processing device, said apparatus comprising: means for requesting a segment of said digital image data for further processing at one of said information processing devices, means for determining the location of said segment of digital image data, and operative when said requested segment of digital image data is not located at said requesting information processing device, means for transferring said requested segment of digital image data over said second network to said requesting information processing device for further processing.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
59 words
The apparatus of claim 31 wherein said second network further comprises a plurality of temporary memory means for storing said digital image data, each said temporary memory means corresponding to at least one of said information processing devices and said means for requesting further including means for sending said request over said second network to said temporary memory means.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 32 wherein said means for determining the location of said requested segment of digital image data further includes means for determining whether said requested segment of digital image data is located at said temporary means corresponding to said requesting information processing device.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 33 wherein said means for transferring said requested segment of digital image data further includes means for transferring an identical representation of said requested segment of digital image data from said temporary memory means to said requesting information processing device.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
74 words
The apparatus of claim 34 wherein each said at least one temporary memory means corresponds to a plurality of information processing devices where one of said information processing devices is said requesting information processing device, said means for determining the location of said requested segment of digital image data further includes means for determining whether said requested segment of digital image data is located at a different one of said corresponding information processing devices.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 35 wherein said means for transferring said requested segment of digital image data further includes means for transferring said requested segment of digital image data from one of said corresponding information processing devices to said requesting information processing device.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
67 words
The apparatus of claim 36 wherein said first network further includes memory means for storing said digital control information in the form of a database, said digital control information database comprising content information on said digital image data stored on each said temporary memory means and said means for requesting further including means for sending said request over said first network to said first network memory means.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 37 wherein said means for determining the location of said requested segment of digital image data further includes means for referencing said digital control information database to determine which temporary memory means contains said requested segment of digital image data.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 38 further including means for transferring said requested segment of digital image data from said temporary memory means containing said requested segment of digital image data to said temporary memory means associated with said requesting information processing device.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
94 words
The apparatus of claim 39 wherein said second network further includes archival memory means for storing said digital image data for long periods of time and said digital control information database stored on said first network memory means further comprising content information related to said digital image data stored in said archival memory means and said means for determining the location of said requested segment of digital image data further includes means for referencing said digital control information database to determine whether said archival memory means contains said requested segment of digital image data.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 40 wherein said second network further comprises means for transferring said requested data from said archival means to said temporary memory means associated with said requesting information processing device.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 41 wherein said means for transferring further comprises means for sending an identical representation of said requested segment of digital image data from said temporary memory means to said requesting information processing device.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
68 words
The apparatus of claim 42 wherein said digital control information database further comprises a worklist corresponding to each of said users associated with each of said information processing device of said computer animation system, said worklist for providing each of said users work assignments, and said apparatus further including means for providing said corresponding worklist to at least one of said users at said associated information processing device.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
82 words
The apparatus of claim 43 wherein said digital control information database further comprises an permission list associated with each of said users of said computer animation system, said permission list for providing each of said users permission status to access said requested segment of digital image data and said means for requesting further including means for referencing said permission list to determine whether said permission status for said user enables said user to amend said said requested segment of digital data exists.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus of claim 44 wherein said permission status is read only and said means for requesting further includes means for enabling said user access to said requested segment of digital image data and means for disabling said user capability to amend said requested segment of digital image data.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus of claim 44 wherein said permission status is read-write and said means for requesting further includes means for enabling said user access to said requested segment of digital image data and means for enabling said user capability to amend said requested segment of digital image data.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 46 further including means for saving said requested segment of digital image data operative prior to said means for permanently amending said requested segment of digital image data.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
56 words
The apparatus of claim 44 wherein said permission status is limited read-write and said means for requesting further includes means for enabling said user access to only a subset of said requested segment of digital image data and means for enabling said user capability to amend said subset of said requested segment of digital image data.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 48 further including means for saving said subset of said requested segment of digital image data operative prior to said means for permanently amending said subset of said requested segment of digital image data.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.