Paper interface for simulation environments

• US 20050149849A1
• Filed: 02/08/2005
• Published: 07/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Graham, Jamey, Hull, Jonathan J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,788,080 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/230
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/968 interface for database querying and retrieval

Abstract

Techniques for using a paper interface to replay time-based media information captured for a simulation and/or restart execution of a simulation program from a user-selectable time point. A static representation is generated for time-based media information captured during a simulation. The static representation may be printed on a paper medium. The paper medium on which the static representation is printed may be used to perform various operations such as replaying previously recorded time-based media information for a simulation from a user-selectable time point. The paper medium on which the static representation is printed may also be used to restart execution of a simulation program from a user-selectable time point from a previous run of the simulation program.

Claims

1. A method performed by a computer system of initiating execution of a simulation program, the method comprising:

receiving information identifying a first tag read from a paper document;

determining a first time point corresponding to the first tag;

determining, from state information stored for the simulation program, first state information for the first time point; and

initiating execution of the simulation program from the first time point using the first state information.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein determining the first state information comprises:

determining a first execution path of the simulation program for the first time point from a plurality of execution paths of the simulation program;

determining state information for the first execution path from the state information stored for the simulation program; and

determining the first state information for the first time point from the state information determined for the first execution path.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein determining the first execution path comprises:

outputting information identifying the plurality of execution paths; and

receiving information indicating selection of the first execution path from the plurality of execution paths.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein determining the first execution path comprises:

determining the first execution path from the first tag.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

accessing time-based media information recorded for the simulation program;

generating a static representation for the time-based media information, wherein the static representation comprises;

a visual representation of a portion of the time-based media information;

a set of tags, each tag representing a time point, the set of tags including the first tag; and

printing the static representation on a paper medium to produce the paper document.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving the information identifying the first tag comprises reading a barcode printed on the paper document.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the simulation program is a video game.

8. A method of replaying information, the method comprising:

receiving information identifying a first tag read from a paper document;

determining a first time point corresponding to the first tag;

determining, based upon the first time point, a portion of time-based media information recorded for a simulation program; and

initiating replay of the portion of the time-based media information using an output device.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein determining the portion of time-based media information comprises:

determining a first execution path of the simulation program for the first time point from a plurality of execution paths of the simulation program;

determining time-based media information for the first execution path from the time-based media information recorded for the simulation program; and

determining the portion of time-based media information from the time-based media information determined for the first execution path.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein determining the first execution path comprises:

outputting information identifying the plurality of execution paths; and

receiving information indicating selection of the first execution path from the plurality of execution paths.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein determining the first execution path comprises:

determining the first execution path from the first tag.

12. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

generating a static representation based upon the time-based media information for the simulation program, wherein the static representation comprises;

a visual representation of the portion of the time-based media information; and

a set of tags, each tag representing a time point, the sets of tag including the first tag; and

printing the static representation on a paper medium to produce the paper document.

13. A method of performing an operation based upon information read from a paper document, the method comprising:

receiving information identifying a first tag read from a paper document;

determining a first time point corresponding to the first tag;

determining a present mode;

if the present mode is determined to be a first mode;

determining, from state information stored for the simulation program, first state information for the first time point; and

initiating execution of the simulation program from the first time point using the first state information; and

if the present mode is determined to be a second mode;

determining, based upon the first time point, a portion of time-based media information recorded for the simulation program; and

replaying the portion of the time-based media information.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

receiving information identifying a second tag read from the paper medium; and

changing the present mode responsive to receiving the information identifying the second tag.

15. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

generating a static representation based upon the time-based media information for the simulation program, wherein the static representation comprises;

a visual representation of the portion of the time-based media information;

a set of tags, each tag representing a time point, the set of tags including the first tag; and

a second tag for switching between the first mode and the second mode; and

printing the static representation on a paper medium to produce the paper document.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein the simulation program is a video game.

17. A system for executing a simulation program, the system comprising:

a data processing system; and

a simulation engine in communication with the data processing system;

wherein the data processing system is configured to;

receive information identifying a first tag read from a paper document;

determine a first time point corresponding to the first tag; and

determine, from state information stored for the simulation program, first state information for the first time point;

wherein the simulation engine is configured to initiate execution of the simulation program from the first time point using the first state information.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the data processing system is configured to determine the first state information by:

determining a first execution path of the simulation program for the first time point from a plurality of execution paths of the simulation program;

determining state information for the first execution path from the state information stored for the simulation program; and

determining the first state information for the first time point from the state information determined for the first execution path.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein determining the first execution path comprises:

outputting information identifying the plurality of execution paths; and

receiving information indicating selection of the first execution path from the plurality of execution paths.

20. The system of claim 18 wherein determining the first execution path comprises determining the first execution path from the first tag.

21. The system of claim 17 further comprising:

a printer device in communication with the data processing system;

wherein the data processing system is further configured to;

access time-based media information recorded for the simulation program;

generate a static representation for the time-based media information, wherein the static representation comprises;

a visual representation of a portion of the time-based media information;

a set of tags, each tag representing a time point, the set of tags including the first tag; and

wherein the printer device is configured to print the static representation on a paper medium to produce the paper document.

22. The system of claim 17 wherein the simulation program is a video game.

23. A system for replaying information, the system comprising:

a data processing system; and

an output device coupled to the data processing system;

wherein the data processing system is configured to;

receive information identifying a first tag read from a paper document;

determine a first time point corresponding to the first tag; and

determine, based upon the first time point, a portion of time-based media information recorded for a simulation program; and

the output device is configured to replay the portion of the time-based media information.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein the data processing system is configured to determine the portion of time-based media information by:

determining a first execution path of the simulation program for the first time point from a plurality of execution paths of the simulation program;

determining time-based media information for the first execution path from the time-based media information recorded for the simulation program; and

determining the portion of time-based media information from the time-based media information determined for the first execution path.

25. The system of claim 23 further comprising a printer device coupled to the data processing system, wherein:

the data processing system is configured to generate a static representation based upon the time-based media information for the simulation program, wherein the static representation comprises;

a visual representation of the portion of the time-based media information; and

a set of tags, each tag representing a time point, the sets of tag including the first tag; and

the printer device is configured to print the static representation on a paper medium to produce the paper document.

26. A system for performing an operation based upon information read from a paper document, the system comprising:

a data processing system;

a simulation engine; and

an output device;

wherein the data processing system is configured to;

receive information identifying a first tag read from a paper document;

determine a first time point corresponding to the first tag;

determine a present mode;

determine, from state information stored for the simulation program, first state information for the first time point if the present mode is determined to be a first mode; and

determine, based upon the first time point, a portion of time-based media information recorded for the simulation program if the present mode is determined to be a second mode;

wherein the simulation engine is configured to initiate execution of the simulation program from the first time point using the first state information if the present mode is determined to be the first mode; and

wherein the output device is configured to replay the portion of the time-based media information if the present mode is determined to be a second mode.

27. The system of claim 26 wherein the data processing system is configured to:

receive information identifying a second tag read from the paper medium; and

change the present mode responsive to receiving the information identifying the second tag.

28. The system of claim 26 further comprising a printer device, wherein:

the data processing system is configured to;

generate a static representation based upon the time-based media information for the simulation program, wherein the static representation comprises;

a visual representation of the portion of the time-based media information;

a set of tags, each tag representing a time point, the set of tags including the first tag; and

a second tag for switching between the first mode and the second mode; and

the printer device is configured to print the static representation on a paper medium to produce the paper document.

29. The system of claim 26 wherein the simulation program is a video game.

30. An apparatus for initiating execution of a simulation program, the apparatus comprising:

means for receiving information identifying a first tag read from a paper document;

means for determining a first time point corresponding to the first tag;

means for determining, from state information stored for the simulation program, first state information for the first time point; and

means for initiating execution of the simulation program from the first time point using the first state information.

31. A computer-readable medium storing a plurality of instructions for controlling a data processor for initiating execution of a simulation program, the plurality of instructions comprising:

instructions that cause the data processor to receive information identifying a first tag read from a paper document;

instructions that cause the data processor to determine a first time point corresponding to the first tag;

instructions that cause the data processor to determine, from state information stored for the simulation program, first state information for the first time point; and

instructions that cause the data processor to initiate execution of the simulation program from the first time point using the first state information.