US6377263B1 — Intelligent software components for virtual worlds

Claim 1

Independent Claim 106 words

A software component that describes a virtual reality creature or object to be displayed on a visual display device of a computer system, said software component comprising a reference to a visual model and a reference to a behavior model, said visual model comprising at least one named part identified by a part name, said behavior model providing at least one behavioral action for said at least one named part, said at least one behavioral action identified by a behavior name, said behavior model configured to dynamically recognize said part name and dynamically reference and manipulate said named part by finding said part name at runtime.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 106 words

A software component that describes a virtual reality creature or object to be displayed on a visual display device of a computer system, said software component comprising a reference to a visual model and a reference to a behavior model, said visual model comprising at least one named part identified by a part name, said behavior model providing at least one behavioral action for said at least one named part, said at least one behavioral action identified by a behavior name, said behavior model configured to dynamically recognize said part name and dynamically reference and manipulate said named part by finding said part name at runtime.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 28 words

The software component of claim 1 , wherein said name is a logical name, said reference comprising a logical connection between said logical name and said behavior model.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 14 words

The software component of claim 1 , further comprising one or more named attributes.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 16 words

The software component of claim 1 , wherein said behavior model provides one or more behaviors.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 21 words

The software component of claim 1 , further comprising one or more additional references to one or more additional behavior models.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 17 words

The software component of claim 1 , wherein said software component is written in a VRML-like syntax.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 23 words

The software component of claim 1 , wherein said at least one named part is an element of a hierarchical structure of parts.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 43 words

The software component of claim 1 , wherein said behavior model is configured to describe rule-based relationships between a plurality of behavioral actions, said behavior model configured to identify said parts required for said behavioral actions to be applied in a valid manner.

Claim 10

Independent Claim 101 words

A method for describing a virtual reality component, comprising the acts of: specifying a visual model, said visual model including at least one named part, said at least one named part having a part definition, said part definition including a part name; referencing a first behavior model, said first behavior model providing one or more actions that specify how said visual model acts in said virtual reality; and at runtime, dynamically associating at least one part dependency of said first behavior model to said at least one named part by finding said part name in a definition of said visual model.

Claim 11

Independent Claim 101 words

A method for describing a virtual reality component, comprising the acts of: specifying a visual model, said visual model including at least one named part, said at least one named part having a part definition, said part definition including a part name; referencing a first behavior model, said first behavior model providing one or more actions that specify how said visual model acts in said virtual reality; and at runtime, dynamically associating at least one part dependency of said first behavior model to said at least one named part by finding said part name in a definition of said visual model.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 80 words

The method of claim 9 , further comprising the acts of: referencing a second behavior model, said second behavior model providing one or more actions that specify how said visual model acts in said virtual reality; associating one or more part dependencies of said second behavior model to one or more parts of said visual model; and specifying one or more rules that establish relationships between said first behavior model and said second behavior model for said virtual reality component.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 244 words

A computer graphics system for creating a visual representation of a virtual environment, said system comprising: a computer processor operatively coupled to a memory; a visual display device operatively coupled to said computer processor; one or more input devices operatively coupled to said computer processor; a browser-type software module loaded into said memory, said browser-type software module responsive to inputs from said input devices, said browser-type software module configured to: load a description of a virtual world; load one or more software components from a component library, said software components referenced by said description of said virtual world, each of said software components comprising a visual model and a reference to a behavior model, said visual model comprising at least one named part, said behavior model configured to recognize said named part at runtime and to dynamically connect to said named part at runtime; load behavior models referenced by said software components; load a description of a view into said virtual world; use said description of a view to generate a user interface into said virtual world on said computer display device, said view including a visual representation of said virtual world and user interface elements for interaction with users and said input devices for controlling and interacting with said virtual world; manipulate said software components in response to inputs from said input devices; and use said behavior models to provide interactions between at least two of said software components inhabiting said virtual world.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 244 words

A computer graphics system for creating a visual representation of a virtual environment, said system comprising: a computer processor operatively coupled to a memory; a visual display device operatively coupled to said computer processor; one or more input devices operatively coupled to said computer processor; a browser-type software module loaded into said memory, said browser-type software module responsive to inputs from said input devices, said browser-type software module configured to: load a description of a virtual world; load one or more software components from a component library, said software components referenced by said description of said virtual world, each of said software components comprising a visual model and a reference to a behavior model, said visual model comprising at least one named part, said behavior model configured to recognize said named part at runtime and to dynamically connect to said named part at runtime; load behavior models referenced by said software components; load a description of a view into said virtual world; use said description of a view to generate a user interface into said virtual world on said computer display device, said view including a visual representation of said virtual world and user interface elements for interaction with users and said input devices for controlling and interacting with said virtual world; manipulate said software components in response to inputs from said input devices; and use said behavior models to provide interactions between at least two of said software components inhabiting said virtual world.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 18 words

The computer graphic system of claim 11 , wherein said browser-type software module is an enhanced VRML browser.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 17 words

The modular graphic system of claim 11 , further comprising a database for storing said visual models.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 16 words

The modular graphic system of claim 11 , further comprising a database for storing said components.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 16 words

The modular graphic system of claim 11 , further comprising a database for storing said behaviors.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 18 words

The modular graphics system of claim 11 , wherein said view comprises scripts for controlling said referenced components.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 16 words

The modular graphics system of claim 11 , wherein said view maps I/O actions into events.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 22 words

The modular graphics system of claim 11 , wherein said visual model comprises a plurality of parts organized in a hierarchical structure.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 36 words

The modular graphics system of claim 18 , wherein different behaviors map to different parts in said hierarchical structure such that behaviors mapped to higher-level parts in said hierarchical structure affect the behavior of lower-level parts.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 59 words

The modular graphics system of claim 19 , wherein a mapping of a behavior to a first part in a first level of the hierarchical structure affects the behavior of said first part and all parts subordinate to said first part in said hierarchical structure but does not affect the behavior of parts not subordinate to said first part.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2005-04-22	2005-10-22	2006-04-23	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2009-04-22	2009-10-22	2010-04-23	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2013-04-22	2013-10-22	2014-04-23	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Intelligent software components for virtual worlds

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