Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Iain A McFadzen

Christian F Huitema

Nicholas David Burton

Yancey Christopher Smith

David James Quinn

Royal D Winchester

Carol Clark

David T Hill

Andrew John Bastable

Peter Alan Ridgway

Daniel James Chalk

Sam Chester

A method of automatically generating a three-dimensional entity is described. A sequence is generated comprising sets of blend shapes in order of increasing priority. Each set of blend shapes comprises one or more blend shape identifiers and parameters defining candidate blend weights for each blend shape. For each of the sets of blend shapes in the sequence and in order of increasing priority: the one or more blend shape identifiers in the set are added to a set of blend shapes for the entity. Dependent upon whether blend shape identifier that is added is already present in that set, the parameters for the blend shape are either added or updated. One or more blend shapes from the set of blend shapes for the entity are then added to a mesh of the entity using a randomization method and the resultant mesh is stored in memory.

Automatic generation of three-dimensional entities

Technology is disclosed for automatically generating a facial avatar resembling a user in a defined art style. One or more processors generate a user 3D head model for the user based on captured 3D image data from a communicatively coupled 3D image capture device. A set of user transferable head features from the user 3D head model are automatically represented by the one or more processors in the facial avatar in accordance with rules governing transferable user 3D head features. In some embodiments, a base or reference head model of the avatar is remapped to include the set of user head features. In other embodiments, an avatar head shape model is selected based on the user 3D head model, and the transferable user 3D head features are represented in the avatar head shape model.

Generating an avatar from real time image data

Growing community of inventors

Leicestershire, United Kingdom

Iain A McFadzen