Method and apparatus for chaining two or more tweens to provide non-linear multimedia effects

Abstract

An improved method for generating non-linear multimedia effects by employing two or more tweens. Specifically, a second tween mapping is chained to a first tween mapping. A first time signal is received. The first tween is employed to map the first time signal into a second time signal. The second tween mapping is employed to map the second time signal into an output that varies in a non-linear fashion with respect to the first time signal.

1 - 17  (cancelled).  
     
     
         18 . A computer implemented method comprising: 
 receiving a first time signal at an intermediary tween;    generating, by the intermediary tween, a second time signal from the first time signal using a first tween mapping;    receiving, at a root tween, the second time signal; and    generating, by the root tween, an output suitable for transmission to a user from the second time signal using a second tween mapping.    
     
     
         19 . The computer implemented method of  claim 18  wherein the intermediary tween and the root tween comprise tweens for digital media software.  
     
     
         20 . The computer implemented method of  claim 18  wherein the first tween mapping is different from the second tween mapping.  
     
     
         21 . The computer implemented method of  claim 18  wherein the first tween mapping and the second tween mapping are non-linear.  
     
     
         22 . The computer implemented method of  claim 18  wherein the first tween mapping and the second tween mapping are linear.  
     
     
         23 . The computer implemented method of  claim 18  wherein the first tween mapping is linear, and the second tween mapping is non-linear.  
     
     
         24 . The computer implemented method of  claim 18  wherein the first tween mapping is non-linear and the second tween mapping is linear.  
     
     
         25 . The computer implemented method of  claim 18  wherein the first tween mapping is a non-linear mapping of the first time signal to the second time signal, and the second tween mapping is a mapping describing varying velocity.  
     
     
         26 . A computer readable storage medium containing executable computer program instructions which when executed by a digital processing system cause the digital processing system to perform a method comprising: 
 receiving a first time signal at an intermediary tween;    generating, by the intermediary tween, a second time signal from the first time signal using a first tween mapping;    receiving, at a root tween, the second time signal; and    generating, at the root tween, an output suitable for transmitting to a user from the second time signal using a second tween mapping.    
     
     
         27 . A method for accelerating an object along a path comprising: 
 receiving a first time signal at an intermediary tween;    employing, by the intermediary tween, a first tween mapping to map the first time signal to a second time signal;    receiving, at a root tween, the second time signal; and    employing, by the root tween, a second tween mapping to map the second time signal to a location for the object along the path,    wherein the first tween mapping and the second tween mapping vary velocity of the object along the path producing an acceleration effect.    
     
     
         28 . A computer readable storage medium containing executable computer program instructions which when executed by a digital processing system cause the digital processing system to perform a method comprising: 
 receiving a first time signal at an intermediary tween;    employing, by the intermediary tween, a first tween mapping to map the first time signal to a second time signal;    receiving, at a root tween, the second time signal; and    employing, by the root tween, a second tween mapping to map the second time signal to a location for an object along a path,    wherein the first tween mapping and the second tween mapping vary velocity of the object along the path producing an acceleration effect.    
     
     
         29 . A computer implemented method for adjusting a volume level comprising: 
 receiving a first time signal at an intermediary tween;    employing, by the intermediary tween, a first tween mapping to map the first time signal to a second time signal;    receiving, at a root tween, the second time signal; and    employing, by the root tween, a second tween mapping for mapping the second time signal to a volume level.    
     
     
         30 . The computer implemented method of  claim 29  wherein the adjustment includes fading a volume level from zero to a predetermined volume level.  
     
     
         31 . The computer implemented method of  claim 29  wherein the adjustment includes a fading out of volume level from a first predetermined number to zero.  
     
     
         32 . A computer readable storage medium containing executable computer program instructions which when executed by a digital processing system cause the digital processing system to perform a method comprising: 
 receiving a first time signal at an intermediary tween;    employing, by the intermediary tween, a first tween mapping to map the first time signal to a second time signal;    receiving, at a root tween, the second time signal; and    employing, by the root tween, a second tween mapping for mapping the second time signal to a volume level.    
     
     
         33 . A computer implemented method of moving an object forward from a first point on a path to a second point on a path and moving the object backwards from the second point on the path to the first point on the path comprising: 
 receiving a first time signal at an intermediary tween;    employing, by the intermediary tween, a first tween mapping to map the first time signal to a second time signal;    receiving, at a root tween, the second time signal; and    employing, by the root tween, a second tween mapping for defining a path for movement of the object, said path having a first point and a second point,    wherein the first tween mapping in conjunction with the second tween mapping causes an object to move forward from a first point to the second point on the path and to move backwards from the second point on the path to the first point on the path.    
     
     
         34 . A computer readable storage medium containing executable computer program instructions which when executed by a digital processing system cause the digital processing system to perform a method comprising: 
 receiving a first time signal at an intermediary tween;    employing, by the intermediary tween, a first tween mapping to map the first time signal to a second time signal;    receiving, at a root tween, the second time signal; and    employing, by the root tween, a second tween mapping for defining a path for movement of an object, said path having a first point and a second point    wherein the first tween mapping in conjunction with the second tween mapping causes an object to move forward from a first point to the second point on the path and to move backwards from the second point on the path to the first point on the path.    
     
     
         35 . The computer implemented method of  claim 18 , wherein the output suitable for transmission to a user is formatted for display.  
     
     
         36 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 26 , wherein the output suitable for transmitting to a user is formatted for display.