Dynamically modifying visual rendering of a visual element comprising pre-defined characteristics

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10964106-B2
Application number	US-201815941981-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 30, 2018
Priority date	Mar 30, 2018
Publication date	Mar 30, 2021
Grant date	Mar 30, 2021

Abstract

Method and system for dynamically modifying visual rendering of a visual element in a computer generated environment from an interactive computer simulation. Pre-identified distinctive visual characteristics are associated with the visual element. A tangible instrument module is sued to provide one or more commands for controlling a simulated vehicle of the interactive computer simulation. At the interactive computer simulation station, dynamically modifying the one or more pre-identified distinctive visual characteristics of the visual element is performed considering at least a relative directional vector between the simulated vehicle and the visual element in the computer generated environment, the relative directional vector being determined in real-time during execution of the interactive computer simulation prior to rendering the visual element for display.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for dynamically modifying, in an interactive computer simulation station, visual rendering of a visual element in a computer generated environment from an interactive computer simulation, wherein one or more pre-identified distinctive visual characteristics are associated with the visual element, the method comprising:
receiving, via a tangible instrument module, one or more commands from a trainee of the interactive computer simulation station for controlling, in the computer generated environment, a simulated vehicle of the interactive computer simulation; and
at the interactive computer simulation station and during execution of the interactive computer simulation, dynamically modifying the one or more pre-identified distinctive visual characteristics of the visual element considering at least a relative directional vector between the simulated vehicle and the visual element in the computer generated environment, the relative directional vector being determined in real-time during execution of the interactive computer simulation prior to rendering the visual element for display.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein dynamically modifying the one or more pre-identified distinctive visual characteristics of the visual element is performed for the visual element when the visual element enters a minimum visual range from the simulated element in the interactive computer simulation.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the minimum visual range is defined considering at least one of an identity of the trainee, an identifier of the visual element and display capabilities of the simulation station.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein dynamically modifying the one or more pre-identified distinctive visual characteristics of the visual element is performed by associating a highlighting three-dimensional mesh with the visual element to highlight the one or more pre-identified distinctive visual characteristics of the visual element.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising dynamically affecting a visual contouring of the visual element considering both:
a distance factor between the simulated vehicle and the visual element in the computer generated environment; and
a relative contrast between the pre-defined visual characteristics of the visual element and underlying computer generated environment elements.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein dynamically affecting the visual contouring of the visual element considering the relative contrast comprises modulating a plurality of pixels surrounding the visual element for obtaining a target contrast level with the underlying computer generated environment elements.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the visual contouring is provided by a hollow three-dimensional mesh associated with the visual element to increase contour thickness of the visual element.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the one or more tailoring parameters are further applied when dynamically modifying the one or more pre-identified distinctive visual characteristics of the visual element is performed.

9. The method of claim 5 , wherein affecting the visual contouring is performed by applying one or more tailoring parameters determined considering at least one of an identity of the trainee and an identifier of the visual element.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein dynamically modifying the one or more pre-identified distinctive visual characteristics of the visual element is performed by applying one or more tailoring parameters determined considering at least one of an identity of the trainee and an identifier of the visual element.

11. The interactive computer simulation station of claim 10 , wherein the processor module dynamically modifies the one or more pre-identified distinctive visual characteristics of the visual element by applying one or more tailoring parameters determined considering at least one of an identity of the trainee and an identifier of the visual element.

12. An interactive computer simulation station comprising:
a tangible instrument module for receiving one or more commands from a trainee thereof for controlling, in a computer generated environment from an interactive computer simulation, a simulated vehicle in the interactive computer simulation;
a display system for displaying rendered images of the computer generated environment comprising a visual element having associated therewith pre-defined visual characteristics;
a processor module, comprising a dedicated graphics unit, that during execution of the interactive computer simulation:
dynamically modifies the one or more pre-identified distinctive visual characteristics of the visual element considering at least a relative directional vector between the simulated vehicle and the visual element in the computer generated environment, the relative directional vector being determined by the processor module in real-time during execution of the interactive computer simulation prior to rendering the visual element by the dedicated graphics unit.

13. The interactive computer simulation station of claim 12 , wherein the processor module dynamically modifies the one or more pre-identified distinctive visual characteristics of the visual element for the visual element when the visual element enters a minimum visual range from the simulated element in the interactive computer simulation.

14. The interactive computer simulation station of claim 13 , wherein the minimum visual range is defined considering at least one of an identity of the trainee, an identifier of the visual element and display capabilities of the simulation station.

15. The interactive computer simulation station of claim 12 , wherein the processor module dynamically modifies the one or more pre-identified distinctive visual characteristics of the visual element by associating a highlighting three-dimensional mesh with the visual element to highlight the one or more pre-identified distinctive visual characteristics of the visual element.

16. The interactive computer simulation station of claim 12 , wherein the processor module further dynamically affects a visual contouring of the visual element considering both:
a distance factor between the simulated vehicle and the visual element in the computer generated environment; and
a relative contrast between the pre-defined visual characteristics of the visual element and underlying computer generated environment elements.

17. The interactive computer simulation station of claim 16 , wherein the processor module dynamically affects the visual contouring of the visual element considering the relative contrast by modulating a plurality of pixels surrounding the visual element for obtaining a target contrast level with the underlying computer generated environment elements.

18. The interactive computer simulation station of claim 16 , wherein the visual contouring is provided by a hollow three-dimensional mesh associated with the visual element to increase contour thickness of the visual element.

19. The interactive computer simulation station of claim 16 , wherein the processor module affects the visual contouring by applying one or more tailoring parameters determined considering at least one of an identity of the trainee and an identifier of the visual element.

20. The interactive computer simulation station of claim 19 , wherein the one or more tailoring parameters are further applied when the processor module dynamically modifies the one or more pre-identified distinctive visual characteristics of the

Assignees

• Cae Inc

Inventors

• Lasnier Sylvain

Classifications

• G09B9/063

  by using visual displays · CPC title

• G09B9/04

  for teaching control of land vehicles · CPC title

• G09B9/003

  for military purposes and tactics · CPC title

• G09B9/36

  Simulation of night or reduced visibility flight · CPC title

• G09B9/006 Primary

  for locating or ranging of objects · CPC title