Virtual Reality Interface for Show Control

Abstract

A system for designing light and sound systems for use in stage productions. Virtual reality interfaces facilitate the selection and location of lighting and sound displays by providing a real-time simulation of the devices and the display produced thereby. The system also calculates parameters with respect to structural elements used for mounting the lighting and sound equipment. In addition, the virtual reality interface permits the simulation of the packing of the lighting and sound equipment and the automatic calculation of parameters relating to packing space, package weight, preferred location, and order of packing.

1 . A method for packing objects in an transportation enclosure comprising:
 inputting and storing a set of storage conditions and parameters for each object including at least a packing size of each object;   inputting a set of conditions and parameters relating to a packable size of the transportation enclosure;   generating a two-dimensional simulation of the packing of objects in the enclosure in specified locations in response to input by a user;   displaying the simulation of the enclosure and objects in a simulation of three-dimensional space, the simulation reflecting the placement of the objects into the enclosure in locations defined by the user;   determining whether the placement of the objects violates any of the conditions and parameters for each object or for the enclosure including whether the packing sizes are collectively larger than the packable size; and   displaying to the user the nature of the violation when said condition or parameter is violated.   
     
     
         2 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein said enclosure is a freight handling portion of a truck, and said parameters include a size of the truck. 
     
     
         3 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein said conditions and parameters include a size of the enclosure, and said violation comprises objects that will not fit in the enclosure. 
     
     
         4 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein said conditions and parameters include a weight handling capability of the enclosure, and said violation comprises objects that are too heavy to fit within the weight handling capability. 
     
     
         5 . A method as in  claim 4 , wherein said determining a violation takes into account a center of gravity of said object. 
     
     
         6 . A method as in  claim 5 , wherein said determining a violation includes determining whether too much weight is placed on top of another package. 
     
     
         7 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein said determining a violation includes determining whether the packages exceed a maximum unbalanced load parameter. 
     
     
         8 . A method of simulating, comprising:
 inputting data indicative of an area where a plurality of lights and/or sound equipment will be located, at least one of said light and/or sound equipment being hung from an overhead holder;   determining weights of said equipment;   simulating placing a plurality of different items of said equipment at a plurality of different locations in said area;   showing the different equipment in the different locations on a display;   calculating whether weights of said equipment exceed a maximum loading for different parts of said area; and   wherein said showing comprises showing a warning if any load parameter has been exceeded.   
     
     
         9 . A method as in  claim 8 , further comprising simulating a lighting effect created by said equipment at said different locations. 
     
     
         10 . A method as in  claim 8 , wherein said area includes coordinate locations where the equipment can be located. 
     
     
         11 . A method as in  claim 8 , wherein said area is a three-dimensional space, and wherein said simulating comprises allowing moving said equipment three-dimensionally within the three-dimensional space. 
     
     
         12 . A method as in  claim 11 , further comprising recalculating whether the weights exceed the maximum loading when said equipment is moved. 
     
     
         13 . A method as in  claim 8 , wherein said equipment includes trusses, lamps, racks and consoles. 
     
     
         14 . A method as in  claim 11 , further comprising simulating cabling diagrams showing a routing of cables within the three dimensional space. 
     
     
         15 . A method as in  claim 14 , further comprising creating a list of cables which include cable numbers for each of a plurality of cables, and includes lengths for each of a plurality of cables. 
     
     
         16 . A method as in  claim 14 , further comprising comparing a length of each of a plurality of cables with a maximum allowable length for said cable, and indicating a violation if the cable length is exceeds said maximum allowable length. 
     
     
         17 . A method as in  claim 8  wherein said warnings include a critical warning that cannot be overridden by a user, and a noncritical warning that can be overridden by a user. 
     
     
         18 . A method as in  claim 8 , further comprising determining storage conditions of said equipment, said storage conditions including at least a packing size of each object. 
     
     
         19 . A method as in  claim 18 , further comprising calculating a packed size of said equipment. 
     
     
         20 . A method of simulating, comprising:
 receiving data indicative of an area where a plurality of lights and/or sound equipment will be located, at least one of said light and/or sound equipment being hung from an overhead holder;   simulating placing a plurality of different items of said equipment at a plurality of different locations in a simulated three dimensional space representing said area;   showing the different equipment, in the different locations, on a display;   determining routing of cables within the three dimensional space to at least some of the different equipment; and   creating a list of cables which include cable numbers for each of a plurality of cables, and includes lengths for each of a plurality of cables.   
     
     
         21 . A method as in  claim 20 , further comprising calculating whether weights of said equipment exceed a maximum loading for different parts of said area; and
 wherein said showing comprises showing a warning if any load parameter has been exceeded.   
     
     
         22 . A method as in  claim 20 , further comprising comparing a length of cable with a maximum allowable length for said cable, and indicating a violation if the cable length is exceeds said maximum allowable length. 
     
     
         23 . A method as in  claim 20 , wherein said simulating comprises allowing moving said equipment three-dimensionally within in the three-dimensional space. 
     
     
         24 . A method as in  claim 23 , further comprising recalculating whether the weight exceeds the maximum loading when said equipment is moved. 
     
     
         25 . A method as in  claim 20 , further comprising simulating a lighting effect created by said equipment at said different locations. 
     
     
         26 . A method as in  claim 20  wherein said warnings include a critical warning that cannot be overridden by a user, and a noncritical warning that can be overridden by a user. 
     
     
         27 . A method as in  claim 20 , further comprising determining storage conditions of said equipment, said storage conditions including at least a packed size of each object. 
     
     
         28 . A method as in  claim 26 , further comprising calculating the packed size of said equipment.