1-20. (canceled)
21. Device for providing a playable sequence which is modifiable, the modified sequence being provided in renderable manner, the device comprising:
a providing unit for providing defined functions, said functions for applying playable effects to modify play of objects, said defined functions being provided as markup,
a time unit for adding time boundaries to said defined functions, to provide time bounded functions,
an ordering unit for ordering said defined time bounded functions into a sequence, and
a translation unit for applying translations to said objects in accordance with said playable effects, thereby to modify play of said objects.
22. The device of claim 21, wherein at least one of said objects is an actor in a scene.
23. The device of claim 21, wherein said ordering unit comprises a layered model for layering said time bounded defined functions to define interrelationships between said functions.
24. The device of claim 21, wherein said providing unit is configured to provide a single effect to a plurality of objects, thereby to generate a compound effect.
25. The device of claim 24, wherein said sequence comprises multiple code blocks to be executed simultaneously within a timeline.
26. The device of claim 25, configured to associate each of said multiple code blocks with a respective execution frame, and to associate each execution frame with a respective time graph.
27. The device of claim 26, wherein said time graph comprises nodes and said nodes comprise invocation objects for invoking methods for said rendering.
28. The device of claim 27, wherein said ordering comprises resolving said time graph.
29. The device of claim 28, wherein said ordering unit is configured such that said resolving said time graph is carried out simultaneously with setting up a layered model for effects within said execution frame.
30. The device of claim 28, wherein there is further provided a high level execution frame, and resolving a time graph of said high level execution frame follows resolving of time graphs of lower level execution frames.
31. The device of claim 21, wherein said objects are for location in a virtual universe, said virtual universe having a universe system for defining transformations of objects therewithin, and defining a snapshot thereof.
32. The device of claim 31, wherein said playable media is video, and wherein one of said objects is a location object, said location object defining a filming location.
33. The device of claim 32, wherein said location object comprises a virtual stage and at least one virtual sensor, each of said stage and said sensor having a location within said location object.
34. The device of claim 33, wherein one of said sensors is a virtual camera, and said virtual camera is configured to translate a snapshot of a viewpoint from said location to a raster image by tracing rays of light emanating from the matter in the snapshot towards the camera.
35. The device of claim 24, wherein said ordering unit is configured to use a tree structure to define said ordering.
36. Method for providing a playable sequence whose play is modifiable, the sequence with the modification being provided in renderable manner, the method comprising:
providing defined functions, said functions for applying playable effects to modify play of playable objects, the defined functions being provided as markup;
adding time boundaries to said defined functions, to provide time bounded functions,
ordering said time bounded defined functions into a sequence, and
applying translations to said objects using said ordered time-bounded defined functions, thereby to modify play of said objects in accordance with said effects.
37. Method for rendering a playable sequence provided as stage instructions for an acting object, comprising:
defining a stage area,
defining a virtual camera to view said stage,
providing at least one actor object for acting on said stage in accordance with said stage instructions, said stage instructions being available and defining said acting, and
rendering a view calculated to said virtual camera of said stage including said actors.
38. Method according to claim 37, wherein said virtual camera comprises a viewing angle, and said rendering a view comprises rendering the view within the viewing angle.
39. Method according to claim 37, further comprising providing to said virtual camera at least one of pan and zoom features to change said view of said stage.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A folding mechanism for a treadmill comprising:
a) a main frame having a motor imparting a rotary motion to a worm gear, the main frame being rigidly connected to a base frame with an open side;
b) a platform having front and rear rollers on the under surface thereof, a continuous moving belt being rotatable about the platform, the front rollers being slidably connected to the base frame; and
c) a shaft mounted on the main frame, a yoke consisting of a crossbar and two supporting arms being rotatably mounted on the shaft, the crossbar having a worm wheel engaging with the worm gear, the free end of the supporting arms being pivotally connected to both sides of the platform, respectively,
whereby, when the worm gear is driven by the motor in rotation, the rotary motion of the worm gear is converted by the worm wheel to bring the platform in a flat and in an inclined position for use due to the fact that the two axes of the worm gear and the crossbar are at right angles.
2. The folding mechanism for a treadmill of claim 1 further comprising a locking element for confining the front rollers within the base frame, wherein the platform is folded in a storage position.