Computer-based learning system

• US 7,401,295 B2
• Filed: 08/15/2003
• Issued: 07/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Simulearn Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Simulearn Incorporated
• Inventors: Aldrich, Clark, Kupersmith, Ken
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu; Kieu D.
• Application Number:
  US10/641,748
• Publication Number:
  US 20040103148A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,796 Days
• Field of Search: 715/753, 715/758, 715/757, 715/706, 715/715
• US Class Current: 715/758
• 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: G09B 7/02 of the type wherein the student is expected to construct an answer to the question which is presented or wherein the machine gives an answer to the question presented by a student

Abstract

The present invention enables a user to develop his/her leadership skills by participating in virtual business meetings with animated characters. The animated characters are managers and/or employees who work for the user in a fictitious corporation. Utilizing real-time animation and an advanced artificial intelligence and physics system, the software program enables the user to introduce, support, and oppose ideas and characters during virtual meetings. The logic of the program is built around a novel three-to-one leadership methodology. The user may participate in a number of meetings—each meeting configured to build upon the prior meeting. The user'"'"'s progress is measured by metrics that graph various aspects of the user'"'"'s and the animated characters'"'"' activity during each meeting based upon the three-to-one leadership methodology and provide a story-line continuation based upon the outcome of each meeting.

Claims

1. A computer interface on a computer display, comprising:

(i) a meeting scene including one or more animated characters displayed on a monitor of a computer, the one or more animated characters rendered dynamically in real time by a physics system in response, at least in part, to data received from a micro-strategy system comprising rules within an artificial intelligence system;

(ii) a first progressive opinion bar expanding from a position of about no support to a position of about full support, said first progressive opinion bar associated with each of the one or more animated characters enabling a system user to input data indicative of support or opposition for each respective animated character, such inputted data resulting in a gesture from a character representative of the system user that conforms with the inputted data and is utilized by the micro-strategy system and physics system so that the one or more animated characters are rendered dynamically in real time in conformance with the inputted data;

(iii) one or more idea windows displayed in the meeting scene, each idea window including an idea for consideration by the system user and the one or more animated characters, the position of each idea window indicative of a status of each respective idea;

(iv) a second progressive opinion bar expanding from a position of about no support to a position of about full support, said second progressive opinion bar associated with each of the one or more idea windows enabling the system user to input data indicative of support or opposition for each respective idea, such inputted data resulting in a gesture from the character representative of the system user that conforms with the inputted data and is utilized by the micro-strategy system and physics system so that the one or more animated characters are rendered dynamically in real time in conformance with the inputted data; and

(v) a progress bar associated with each of the one or more idea windows depicting the degree to which each idea is accepted by the user and the animated characters.

2. A computer interface as recited in claim 1, wherein the physics system includes a dialogue system and an animation system to dynamically render and animate the one or more animated characters in response to data received from the micro-strategy system in real time.

3. A computer interface as recited in claim 1, wherein the micro-strategy system is configured to received input from the system user and signals based on gestures made by the animated characters, and the physics system is configured to animate each animated character in response signals received from the micro-strategy system which send signals to the animated characters to respond.

4. A computer interface as recited in claim 3, wherein the dynamically rendered gestures made by the animated characters include dialogue gestures and physical gestures in real time.

5. A computer interface as recited in claim 1, wherein an idea is under consideration when it is positioned in the lower central portion of the meeting scene.

6. A computer interface as recited in claim 1, wherein said first progressive opinion bars associated with the one or more animated characters include a first portion for inputting opposition to an animated character and a second portion for inputting support for the animated character and a third portion to input neutrality.

7. A computer interface as recited in claim 1, wherein said second progressive opinion bar associated with the one or more idea windows include a first portion for inputting data indicating opposition to an idea and a second portion for inputting data indicating support for the idea and a third portion for inputting neutrality for the idea.