Apparatus and method for creating versions of computer models and creating communications incorporating created versions therefrom

Claim 2

In a computer system, a method comprising the steps of: modifying a first version of a representation of information by an application program running in the computer system to create a plurality of additional versions; and storing the difference between the first version and each of the plurality of additional versions as a plurality of difference vectors as each version is created, wherein each of the difference vectors comprises a plurality of parameters used to display a distinct representation of information by the application program, each difference vector being context independent of any other difference vector, wherein each of the plurality of difference vectors may be accessed independently of the other difference vectors, such that additional versions corresponding to difference vectors so accessed may be obtained and interacted with in a live operating environment substantially similar to an environment in which said plurality of additional versions were created.

Claim 3

The method defined in claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of difference vectors includes a first portion indicative of the differences between the additional version and the first version and a second portion indicative of the manner in which said additional version may be returned to the first version.

Claim 4

The method defined in claim 1 further comprising the step of accessing one of the plurality of additional versions by its vector independently of the vectors of any other additional versions.

Claim 5

The method defined in claim 1 further comprising the steps of: accessing at least one of the additional versions by its vector; placing said at least one of the additional versions into a temporal sequence, wherein the temporal sequence of versions corresponding to the accessed vectors may be played back.

Claim 8

The method defined in claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of difference vectors includes a first portion indicative of the differences between the additional version and the first version and a second portion indicative of the manner in which said additional version may be returned to the first version.

Claim 11

The method defined in claim 7 further comprising the step of annotating the temporal sequence.

Claim 12

The method defined in claim 8 wherein the temporal sequence is annotated using an audio annotation.

Claim 13

The method defined in claim 8 wherein the temporal sequence is annotated using a video annotation.

Claim 14

The method defined in claim 8 wherein the temporal sequence is annotated using a text annotation.

Claim 17

The method defined in claim 12 further comprising the step of interacting with the temporal sequence in the live environment.

Claim 18

The method defined in claim 13 wherein the temporal sequence may be interacted with in the live environment while the temporal sequence is being replayed.

Claim 19

The method defined in claim 12 wherein the step of ordering comprises the steps of: selecting said at least one of the plurality of additional versions; creating a vector for each of said at least one of the plurality of additional versions, such that at least one vector is generated for said at least one of the plurality of versions; and placing said at least one of the plurality of vectors into a temporal sequence, such that the version corresponding to each of said at least one of the plurality of vectors is displayed when encountered during the replaying of the temporal sequence.

Claim 20

The method defined in claim 15 wherein the step of creating a vector includes creating a first portion indicative of the differences between the additional version and the first version and a second portion indicative of the manner in which said additional version may be returned to the first version.

Claim 23

A computer system for providing a communication comprising: processing means for modifying a first version of a representation of information by an application program running therein to create a plurality of additional versions; a first storage means coupled to the processing means for storing the plurality of additional versions as a plurality of difference vectors as each version is created, wherein each of the difference vectors comprises a plurality of parameters used to display a distinct representation of information by the application program; means coupled to the first storage means for ordering at least one of the plurality of versions into a temporal sequence, such that a communication is produced; means for replaying the temporal sequence to view the communication, wherein the means for replaying is coupled to the means for ordering, wherein said at least one of the additional versions is presented in the application environment during replaying for manipulation therein.

Claim 24

A computer system for providing a communication comprising: processing means for modifying a first version of a representation of information by an application program running therein to create a plurality of additional versions; a first storage means coupled to the processing means for storing the plurality of additional versions as a plurality of difference vectors as each version is created, wherein each of the difference vectors comprises a plurality of parameters used to display a distinct representation of information by the application program; means coupled to the first storage means for ordering at least one of the plurality of versions into a temporal sequence, such that a communication is produced; means for replaying the temporal sequence to view the communication, wherein the means for replaying is coupled to the means for ordering, wherein said at least one of the additional versions is presented in the application environment during replaying for manipulation therein.

Claim 25

The computer system defined in claim 18 further comprising means for interacting with the temporal sequence after the temporal sequence has begun being replayed.

Claim 26

The computer system as defined in claim 18 wherein the means for ordering comprises: means for selecting said at least one of the plurality of additional versions; means for determining the difference between the first version and each of the plurality of additional versions as a plurality of difference vectors, each of which is context independent of any other difference vector, such that each of the plurality of difference vectors may be accessed independently of the other difference vectors; and means for placing said at least one of the plurality of vectors into a temporal sequence, wherein the means for placing is coupled to the means for determining, such that the version corresponding to each of said at least one of the plurality of vectors is displayed when encountered during the replaying of the temporal sequence.

Claim 27

A computer system comprising: a bus; a processor coupled to the bus and running a representation of information by an application program running in the computer system to create a plurality of additional versions of the computer model; and a first storage coupled to the processor storing the difference between the first version as each version is created and each of the plurality of additional versions as a plurality of difference vectors, wherein each of the difference vectors comprises a plurality of parameters used to display a distinct representation of information by the application program, each difference vector being context independent of any other difference vector, wherein each of the plurality of difference vectors may be accessed independently of the other difference vectors, such that additional versions corresponding to difference vectors so accessed may be obtained and interacted with a live operating environment substantially similar to an environment in which said plurality of additional version were created.

Claim 28

A computer system comprising: a bus; a processor coupled to the bus and running a representation of information by an application program running in the computer system to create a plurality of additional versions of the computer model; and a first storage coupled to the processor storing the difference between the first version as each version is created and each of the plurality of additional versions as a plurality of difference vectors, wherein each of the difference vectors comprises a plurality of parameters used to display a distinct representation of information by the application program, each difference vector being context independent of any other difference vector, wherein each of the plurality of difference vectors may be accessed independently of the other difference vectors, such that additional versions corresponding to difference vectors so accessed may be obtained and interacted with a live operating environment substantially similar to an environment in which said plurality of additional version were created.

Claim 29

The computer system defined in claim 21 wherein said plurality of vectors are stored immediately after their creation.

Claim 30

The computer system defined in claim 21 wherein each of the plurality of difference vectors includes a first portion indicative of the differences between the additional version and the first version and a second portion indicative of the manner in which said additional version may be returned to the first version.

Claim 31

The computer system defined in claim 21 further comprising the means for accessing one of the plurality of additional versions by its vector independently of the vectors of any other additional versions.

Claim 32

The computer system defined in claim 21 further comprising: means for accessing at least one of the additional versions by its vector; means coupled to the means for accessing for placing said at least one of the additional versions into a temporal sequence, wherein the temporal sequence of versions corresponding to the accessed vectors may be played back.

Claim 33

A computer system that produces a communication based on a computer model, said computer system comprising: a bus; an execution environment running a representation of information by an application program running in the computer system to create a plurality of additional versions of the computer model; a capture mechanism coupled to the execution environment to capture the plurality of additional versions; a storage coupled to the capture mechanism storing the difference between the first version and each of the plurality of additional versions as a plurality of difference vectors as each version is created, wherein each of the difference vectors comprises a plurality of parameters used to display a distinct representation of information by the application program, each difference vector being context independent of any other difference vector, such that each of the plurality of difference vectors may be accessed independently of the other difference vectors; wherein the execution environment accesses the storage to obtain at least one of the additional versions by its vector independently of the vectors of any other additional versions and orders said at least one of the additional versions into a temporal sequence, wherein playback of the temporal sequence of versions corresponding to the accessed vectors results in presentation of and interaction with said at least one of the additional versions in a live operating environment substantially similar to an environment in which said at least one of the additional versions were created.

Claim 34

A computer system that produces a communication based on a computer model, said computer system comprising: a bus; an execution environment running a representation of information by an application program running in the computer system to create a plurality of additional versions of the computer model; a capture mechanism coupled to the execution environment to capture the plurality of additional versions; a storage coupled to the capture mechanism storing the difference between the first version and each of the plurality of additional versions as a plurality of difference vectors as each version is created, wherein each of the difference vectors comprises a plurality of parameters used to display a distinct representation of information by the application program, each difference vector being context independent of any other difference vector, such that each of the plurality of difference vectors may be accessed independently of the other difference vectors; wherein the execution environment accesses the storage to obtain at least one of the additional versions by its vector independently of the vectors of any other additional versions and orders said at least one of the additional versions into a temporal sequence, wherein playback of the temporal sequence of versions corresponding to the accessed vectors results in presentation of and interaction with said at least one of the additional versions in a live operating environment substantially similar to an environment in which said at least one of the additional versions were created.