Run-time environment for simulations and games
First Claim
1. A system for running simulations over a communications network, the system comprising:
- at least two simulation units connected together via said communication network, wherein each simulation unit comprises;
a database for storing a multiplicity of objects of a simulation and the values of their associated properties, wherein a portion of said properties are communicable properties, and for storing a second multiplicity of rules, wherein each rule defines how to change at least one of said values of at least one of said properties;
a rule evaluator for evaluating at least one of said rules and changing thereby at least one of said properties;
a database engine for updating said database whenever at least one of said properties is changed;
a triggering mechanism for activating at least said rule evaluator whenever said database engine changes at least one of said properties; and
a communication unit, activated by said triggering mechanism whenever one of said communicable properties changes, for transmitting said at least one changed communicable property to another simulation unit and for providing received communicable properties to said database engine.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A run-time environment for use with multiple multi-player, networked games and simulations includes a game model which defines the specifics of a game and a game engine which runs the game defined in the game model. The game model includes a database which stores the objects and their properties (properties include communicable properties) as well as the rules of the specific game which are to be executed on the objects and their properties. The game engine includes a rule evaluator, a database engine, a triggering mechanism and a communication unit. The rule evaluator evaluates the rules thereby changing the properties. The database engine updates the database whenever a property is changed. The triggering mechanism activates the rule evaluator whenever database engine changes a property. The communication unit is activated by the triggering mechanism whenever a communicable property changes and transmits the changed communicable property to another simulation unit. The communication unit also provides received communicable properties to the database engine.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for running simulations over a communications network, the system comprising:
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at least two simulation units connected together via said communication network, wherein each simulation unit comprises; a database for storing a multiplicity of objects of a simulation and the values of their associated properties, wherein a portion of said properties are communicable properties, and for storing a second multiplicity of rules, wherein each rule defines how to change at least one of said values of at least one of said properties; a rule evaluator for evaluating at least one of said rules and changing thereby at least one of said properties; a database engine for updating said database whenever at least one of said properties is changed; a triggering mechanism for activating at least said rule evaluator whenever said database engine changes at least one of said properties; and a communication unit, activated by said triggering mechanism whenever one of said communicable properties changes, for transmitting said at least one changed communicable property to another simulation unit and for providing received communicable properties to said database engine. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A simulator for running simulations over a communications network, the simulator comprising:
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a database for storing a multiplicity of objects of a simulation and the values of their associated properties, wherein at least a portion of said properties are communicable properties, and for storing a second multiplicity of rules, wherein each rule defines how to change at least one of said values of at least one of said properties; a rule evaluator for evaluating at least one of said rules and changing thereby at least one of said properties; a database engine for updating said database whenever at least one of said properties is changed; a triggering mechanism for activating at least said rule evaluator whenever said database engine changes at least one of said properties; and a communication unit, activated by said triggering mechanism whenever one of said communicable properties changes, for transmitting said at least one changed communicable property to another simulation unit and for providing received communicable properties to said database engine.
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19. A simulator for running simulations over a communications network, the simulator comprising:
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a database for storing a multiplicity of objects of a simulation and the values of their associated properties, wherein at least a portion of said properties are communicable properties, and for storing a second multiplicity of rules, wherein each rule defines how to change at least one of said values of at least one of said properties; a plurality of indices, wherein each index organizes at least said objects according to at least one criterion, accesses the objects associated therewith when activated, and performs actions on said objects when appropriate based on the properties and types of objects associated with said index, wherein said plurality of indices comprises a second plurality of rule indices, wherein each of said rules belongs to at least one of said rule indices.
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20. A simulator for running simulations over a communications network the simulator including a memory, the simulator comprising:
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a database stored in said memory for storing a multiplicity of objects of a simulation and the values of their associated properties, wherein at least a portion of said properties are communicable properties, and for storing a second multiplicity of rules, wherein each rule defines how to change at least one of said values of at least one of said properties; index class information stored in said memory, said index class information including index program logic which organizes at least said objects according to at least one criterion, accesses the objects associated therewith when activated, and performs actions on said objects when appropriate based on the properties and types of objects associated with said index; and rule index subclass information stored in said memory, said rule index subclass information including rule index program logic which evaluates at least one rule associated therewith.
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Specification