Method and engine for automating the creation of simulations for demonstrating use of software
First Claim
1. A system for producing a simulation illustrating a procedure in a software program using a computer, comprising:
- (a) a display on which images are displayed;
(b) a memory for storing machine instructions comprising the software program and used for effecting production of the simulation, and for storing a script comprising a plurality of commands that define actions to be implemented during the simulation; and
(c) a central processor for executing the machine instructions, said machine instructions, when executed by the central processor, causing the central processor to;
(i) execute the software program;
(ii) execute the commands of the script to effect the plurality of actions defined by the script within the software program; and
(iii) capture and store a plurality of images in the memory, said images showing the actions that are implemented within the software program in accord with the commands of the script.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A simulation demonstrating or teaching a procedure used in a software program based on a script of commands that are executed by a script engine. The script engine interprets the commands using libraries of functions that interact with the software program and the operating system of the computer on which the script engine is executed. The commands are control actions implemented within the software to emulate the actions of an expert carrying out the procedure being simulated. For example, the commands cause a mouse cursor to select a specified item from a drop down menu list as if the cursor were being controlled by the expert in an appropriate display screen of the software program. A plurality of images are thus created showing the cursor in different positions as it moves on the display screen. Text is entered in response to the commands, causing images showing each letter (or phrase) being entered, as if by the expert. The images are converted into an animation that can be run from within the software program or as a stand alone demo. Author selected text and numeric tokens within the commands are added to a translation table and associated with text in a different language or other numeric values to create simulations in other languages. Modification of a simulation in response to changes in the software program or to correct errors is readily accomplished by editing the commands in the script and rerunning the creation of the images and animation file.
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Citations
37 Claims
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1. A system for producing a simulation illustrating a procedure in a software program using a computer, comprising:
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(a) a display on which images are displayed; (b) a memory for storing machine instructions comprising the software program and used for effecting production of the simulation, and for storing a script comprising a plurality of commands that define actions to be implemented during the simulation; and (c) a central processor for executing the machine instructions, said machine instructions, when executed by the central processor, causing the central processor to; (i) execute the software program; (ii) execute the commands of the script to effect the plurality of actions defined by the script within the software program; and (iii) capture and store a plurality of images in the memory, said images showing the actions that are implemented within the software program in accord with the commands of the script. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for automatically producing a simulation illustrating a procedure in a software program using a computer, comprising the steps of:
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(a) creating a script of commands, said commands indicating a plurality of actions to be implemented by the computer in producing the simulation; and (b) controlling the software program in accord with the commands in the script to produce a plurality of images, said plurality of images sequentially showing the actions comprising the simulation being implemented within the software program as it is executed by the computer, said plurality of images thereby visually simulating the procedure. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An article of manufacture for use with a computer to automatically produce a simulation illustrating a procedure in a software program executed on the computer, comprising:
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(a) a nonvolatile memory storage device; and (b) a plurality of machine instructions stored on the nonvolatile memory storage device, said plurality of machine instructions enabling production of the simulation as determined by a simulation creator by causing a central processor on which the plurality of machine instructions are executed to; (i) execute the software program; (ii) execute a script that includes a series of commands entered by the simulation creator to effect a plurality of actions within the software program while it is being executed by the computer; and (iii) capture and store a plurality of images, said images showing the actions that are implemented within the software program in accord with the commands entered by the simulation creator, thereby visually simulating the procedure in the software program. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method for automatically producing a simulation illustrating a procedure that can be implemented in a software program, using a computer, comprising the steps of:
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(a) creating a script of commands, said commands indicating a plurality of actions to be implemented by the computer in producing the simulation; (b) controlling an operating system and the software program in accord with the commands in the script to produce and capture a plurality of images, said plurality of images sequentially showing the actions of the simulation being implemented within the software program, including the simulated actions of input devices being implemented within the operating system; (c) creating an animation for displaying the plurality of images sequentially at a rate sufficiently fast so that the actions shown in the images appear continuous, said animation thereby visually simulating the procedure in the software program; and (d) automatically replacing a first natural language text used in the simulation with a second natural language text to produce a second simulation in a second natural language. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A system for producing a simulation illustrating a procedure in a software program, using a computer, comprising:
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(a) a display on which images are displayed; (b) a memory for storing machine instructions comprising the software program and machine instructions for effecting production of the simulation, and for storing a plurality of commands that define actions to be implemented to produce the simulation; and (c) a central processor for executing the machine instructions, said machine instructions, when executed by the central processor, causing the central processor to; (i) execute the software program; (ii) execute the commands to effect a plurality of actions within the software program and operating system; (iii) store a plurality of images generated within the software program that is displayed on the display in response to the commands; (iv) simulate use of an input device by a user; (v) enable selective conversion of the simulation from a first language text into a simulation that uses a second language text; and (vi) create an animation using the plurality of images, said animation visually simulating the procedure in the software program. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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Specification