Abstract: Systems and methods for optimizing tickets sales for an event at an event venue parse ticket sale data to identify seats that are presently unsold and which may be difficult to sell. An attempt is then made to identify an adjacent group of seats that were sold together as a group. If an adjacent group of seats that were sold together is identified, the ticket sale data is again parsed to identify an alternate location for the purchaser of that group of seats. If an alternate location is identified, the system sends an offer to the purchaser of the group of tickets to ask if the purchaser would exchange his existing group of tickets for a group of tickets for the seats at the alternate location. If the purchaser agrees, the ticket sale data is adjusted accordingly. As a result, the seats located adjacent to the unsold seats are freed up for sale as a group with the previously unsold seats.

Abstract: A handheld device includes: an input control configured to control and modify a virtual scene including a virtual camera; and a display that shows a representation of the controlled and modified virtual scene generated by the virtual camera. A system includes: a computer system configured to execute program instructions for generating a virtual scene including a virtual camera; and handheld device configured to communicate with the computer system for controlling and modifying the virtual scene, the handheld device comprising: an input control configured to control and modify the virtual scene; and a display that shows a representation of the controlled and modified virtual scene generated by the virtual camera.

Abstract: A handheld device includes: an input control configured to control and modify a virtual scene including a virtual camera; and a display that shows a representation of the controlled and modified virtual scene generated by the virtual camera. A system includes: a computer system configured to execute program instructions for generating a virtual scene including a virtual camera; and handheld device configured to communicate with the computer system for controlling and modifying the virtual scene, the handheld device comprising: an input control configured to control and modify the virtual scene; and a display that shows a representation of the controlled and modified virtual scene generated by the virtual camera.

Abstract: A handheld device includes: an input control configured to control and modify a virtual scene including a virtual camera; and a display that shows a representation of the controlled and modified virtual scene generated by the virtual camera. A system includes: a computer system configured to execute program instructions for generating a virtual scene including a virtual camera; and handheld device configured to communicate with the computer system for controlling and modifying the virtual scene, the handheld device comprising: an input control configured to control and modify the virtual scene; and a display that shows a representation of the controlled and modified virtual scene generated by the virtual camera.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for animation. An animation application creates an animation environment. An input device receives input from a user to the animation application. An output device displays output to the user of the animation application. The animation application is configured to have a mode of operation that includes displaying, through the output device, a 3D animation view of the animation environment overlain by a 2D edit view of the animation environment.

Abstract: A 3D animation environment that includes an animation object is generated. A movement speed is assigned to object the 3D animation environment. An animation path containing at least first and second waypoints is generated. An animation sequence is generated by identifying a first section of the animation path connected to the first waypoint. A first animation of the animation object is generated in which the animation object moves along the first section of the path at the movement speed. A spatial gap in the animation path is identified between the first and second waypoints. A second animation of the animation object is generated in which the animation object moves, by keyframe animation, from the first waypoint to the second waypoint. A third animation of the animation object is generated in which the animation object moves along at least a second portion of the path at the movement speed.

Abstract: A first input is received in an animation creation application having a user interface showing a virtual-space area for first objects, and a timeline area for second objects representing events. To generate the first input, a user presses and holds an input control while a cursor is over one of the first or second objects. It is determined whether the input control is held for at least a predefined duration. If so, a copy of the object is assigned to the cursor, and the copy is subsequently pasted at another location in the user interface upon the input control ceasing to be held after the cursor is moved to the other location. If the input control does not remain held for at least the predefined duration the copy of the object is not assigned to the cursor.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for handling a modification of an animation having a constraint includes detecting a user modification of an animation that involves at least first and second objects, the first object constrained to the second object during a constrained period and non-constrained to the second object during a non-constrained period. The method includes, based on the user modification, selecting one of at least first and second compensation adjustments for the animation based on a compensation policy; and adjusting the animation according to the selected compensation adjustment.

Abstract: A system includes a computing device that includes a memory configured to store instructions. The computing device also includes a processor configured to execute the instructions to perform a method that includes defining at least one of a location in a virtual scene and a time represented in a timeline as being associated with a performance of an animated character. The method also includes aggregating data that represents actions of the animation character for at least one of the defined location and the defined time. The method also includes presenting a user interface that includes a representation of the aggregated actions. The representation is editable to adjust at least one action included in the aggregation.

Abstract: Interaction between a 3D animation and a corresponding script includes: displaying a user interface that includes at least a 3D animation area and a script area, the 3D animation area including (i) a 3D view area for creating and playing a 3D animation and (ii) a timeline area for visualizing actions by one or more 3D animation characters, the script area comprising one or more objects representing lines from a script having one or more script characters; receiving a first user input corresponding to a user selecting at least one of the objects from the script area for assignment to a location in the timeline area; generating a timeline object at the location in response to the first user input, the timeline object corresponding to the selected object; and associating audio data with the generated timeline object, the audio data corresponding to a line represented by the selected object.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes, among other things, systems, methods and program products for generating animation keyframes and a corresponding 3D animation sequence from a plurality of 2D images.

Abstract: A first input is received in an animation creation application having a user interface showing a virtual-space area for first objects, and a timeline area for second objects representing events. To generate the first input, a user presses and holds an input control while a cursor is over one of the first or second objects. It is determined whether the input control is held for at least a predefined duration. If so, a copy of the object is assigned to the cursor, and the copy is subsequently pasted at another location in the user interface upon the input control ceasing to be held after the cursor is moved to the other location. If the input control does not remain held for at least the predefined duration the copy of the object is not assigned to the cursor.

Abstract: A first input is received in an animation creation application having a user interface showing a virtual-space area for first objects, and a timeline area for second objects representing events. To generate the first input, a user presses and holds an input control while a cursor is over one of the first or second objects. It is determined whether the input control is held for at least a predefined duration. If so, a copy of the object is assigned to the cursor, and the copy is subsequently pasted at another location in the user interface upon the input control ceasing to be held after the cursor is moved to the other location. If the input control does not remain held for at least the predefined duration the copy of the object is not assigned to the cursor.

Abstract: A 3D animation environment that includes an animation object is generated. A movement speed is assigned to object the 3D animation environment. An animation path containing at least first and second waypoints is generated. An animation sequence is generated by identifying a first section of the animation path connected to the first waypoint. A first animation of the animation object is generated in which the animation object moves along the first section of the path at the movement speed. A spatial gap in the animation path is identified between the first and second waypoints. A second animation of the animation object is generated in which the animation object moves, by keyframe animation, from the first waypoint to the second waypoint. A third animation of the animation object is generated in which the animation object moves along at least a second portion of the path at the movement speed.

Abstract: Interaction between a 3D animation and a corresponding script includes: displaying a user interface that includes at least a 3D animation area and a script area, the 3D animation area including (i) a 3D view area for creating and playing a 3D animation and (ii) a timeline area for visualizing actions by one or more 3D animation characters, the script area comprising one or more objects representing lines from a script having one or more script characters; receiving a first user input corresponding to a user selecting at least one of the objects from the script area for assignment to a location in the timeline area; generating a timeline object at the location in response to the first user input, the timeline object corresponding to the selected object; and associating audio data with the generated timeline object, the audio data corresponding to a line represented by the selected object.

Abstract: A system includes a computing device that includes a memory configured to store instructions. The computing device also includes a processor configured to execute the instructions to perform a method that includes defining at least one of a location in a virtual scene and a time represented in a timeline as being associated with a performance of an animated character. The method also includes aggregating data that represents actions of the animation character for at least one of the defined location and the defined time. The method also includes presenting a user interface that includes a representation of the aggregated actions. The representation is editable to adjust at least one action included in the aggregation.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for handling a modification of an animation having a constraint includes detecting a user modification of an animation that involves at least first and second objects, the first object constrained to the second object during a constrained period and non-constrained to the second object during a non-constrained period. The method includes, based on the user modification, selecting one of at least first and second compensation adjustments for the animation based on a compensation policy; and adjusting the animation according to the selected compensation adjustment.

Abstract: A first input is received in an animation creation application having a user interface showing a virtual-space area for first objects, and a timeline area for second objects representing events. To generate the first input, a user presses and holds an input control while a cursor is over one of the first or second objects. It is determined whether the input control is held for at least a predefined duration. If so, a copy of the object is assigned to the cursor, and the copy is subsequently pasted at another location in the user interface upon the input control ceasing to be held after the cursor is moved to the other location. If the input control does not remain held for at least the predefined duration the copy of the object is not assigned to the cursor.