Rewinding time-based script sequences
First Claim
1. A method for rewinding a time-based script, for use with a plurality of data objects each having a state, the script comprising an ordered sequence of commands for modifying the state of one or more of the data objects over time, each command associated with a corresponding time value, and one or more of the commands being conditional, said method comprising the following steps:
- generating a sequence of time values in real-time, using a clock, starting from an initial time value;
executing, using a digital computer, the script command associated with each generated time value;
tagging each data object created by the script commands;
interactively specifying a desired time value earlier than a currently generated time value;
deleting one or more of the tagged data objects, thereby restoring each data object to its state as of the initial time value, using the digital computer;
after the preceding step, skipping ahead to the desired time value by restoring each data object to its state as of the desired time value, in less time than the difference between the initial time value and the desired time value; and
resetting the clock to the desired time value, thereby rewinding the time-based script to the desired time value.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The system of the present invention provides a mechanism for executing a script sequence containing a plurality of commands and associated time for executing the commands. The system allows a user of the script sequence to specify an arbitrary time, either forward or backward from a current time, and the result of the execution reflects the cumulative effects of executing the script sequence from the beginning up to the arbitrary time. The system provides for a skip ahead mechanism in which commands are executed without waiting for the occurrence of their associated time. The system also provides for rewind and key-frame features.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A method for rewinding a time-based script, for use with a plurality of data objects each having a state, the script comprising an ordered sequence of commands for modifying the state of one or more of the data objects over time, each command associated with a corresponding time value, and one or more of the commands being conditional, said method comprising the following steps:
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generating a sequence of time values in real-time, using a clock, starting from an initial time value; executing, using a digital computer, the script command associated with each generated time value; tagging each data object created by the script commands; interactively specifying a desired time value earlier than a currently generated time value; deleting one or more of the tagged data objects, thereby restoring each data object to its state as of the initial time value, using the digital computer; after the preceding step, skipping ahead to the desired time value by restoring each data object to its state as of the desired time value, in less time than the difference between the initial time value and the desired time value; and resetting the clock to the desired time value, thereby rewinding the time-based script to the desired time value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A digital computer-based apparatus for rewinding a time-based script, the script comprising an ordered sequence of commands, each command associated with a corresponding time value, said apparatus comprising:
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a plurality of data objects, each one of the data objects having a state, the commands being operable to modify said states, and one or more of the commands being conditional; a clock for generating a sequence of time values in real-time, starting from an initial time value; means for executing the script command associated with each generated time value; means for tagging each data object created by the script commands; means for interactively specifying a desired time value earlier than the currently generated time value; means for deleting one or more of the tagged data objects, said means being operable to restore each data object to its state as of the initial time value; means for skipping ahead to the desired time value in the script sequence, by restoring each data object to its state as of the desired time value, in less time than the difference between the initial time value and the desired time value; and means for resetting the clock to the desired time value, thereby rewinding the time-based script to the desired time value. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification