Computer based system for training workers

• US 9,224,303 B2
• Filed: 01/11/2007
• Issued: 12/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Silver Tree Media LLC
• Original Assignee: Silver Tree Media LLC
• Inventors: Colvin, Richard Thurston, Ball, William Russell, Gauvin, Jennifer Lynn, Smith, Benjamin Joseph, Smith, Nathaniel Thomas, Smith, Thomas Roy II
• Primary Examiner(s): Egloff, Peter
• Application Number:
  US11/653,090
• Publication Number:
  US 20070238085A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,274 Days
• Field of Search: 434/219, 434/262, 434/365, 715/836
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/00 Teaching not covered by other main groups of this subclass teaching or practice apparatus for gun-aiming or gun-laying F41G3/26
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/00 Electrically-operated educational appliances working with questions and answers G09B7/00; simulators G09B9/00; advertising or displaying in general G09F
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/06 with both visual and audible presentation of the material to be studied

Abstract

A computer based system having one or more computers is provided. In one embodiment, the system comprises a plurality of trainee client computers. The system can include at least one controlled digital character and a non-trainee digital entity, a plurality of models, and a rendering module for rendering the models on a display. The system is usable in training workforce teams and in a wide variety of additional applications.

Claims

1. A computer based system for training first and second trainees in relation to a work subject, the computer based system comprising:

(a) first and second trainee client computers each having a respective display and a rendering module for rendering three dimensional models, the computer based system including a first trainee model distributed into said second trainee client computer corresponding to said first trainee, a second trainee model distributed into said first trainee client computer corresponding to said second trainee, and a work subject model distributed into said first and second trainee client computers corresponding to said work subject, the computer based system being configured to run plurality of animation routines for each of said first trainee model, said second trainee model, and said work subject model, the first trainee client computer having a user interface for enabling said first trainee to initiate communications controlling animation routines of said first trainee model, the second trainee client computer having a user interface for enabling said second trainee to initiate communications controlling animation routines of said second trainee model, wherein during a simulation run mode said rendering modules of said first and second trainee client computers render on said displays of said first and second trainee client computers at a certain time different perspective first and second first person views of a common scene, the first perspective first person view rendered on said display of said first trainee client computer including a rendering of said work subject model, the second perspective first person view rendered on said display of said second trainee client computer including a rendering of said work subject model;

(b) wherein said computer based system is configured so that said computer based system is in communication with a personnel database retaining data respecting said first trainee, the computer based system being configured to utilize information extracted from said personnel database in determining a characteristic of said first trainee model, wherein said information extracted from said personnel database includes an image file representing said first trainee.

2. The computer based system of claim 1, wherein said computer based system utilizes said information extracted from said personnel database in determining a set of possible animation routines that can be run for said first trainee model.

3. The computer based system of claim 1, wherein said computer based system utilizes said information extracted from said personnel database in determining a set of possible animation routines that can be run for said first trainee model the information being selected from the group consisting of an experience parameter, a job title parameter, a salary parameter, an educational attainment parameter, an age parameter, and a sex parameter.

4. The computer based system of claim 1, wherein said computer based system utilizes said information extracted from said personnel database in determining a characteristic of said first trainee model, the information being selected from the group consisting of a job title parameter, a sex parameter, a height parameter, an age parameter, a hair color parameter, an eye color parameter.

5. The computer based system of claim 1, wherein said personnel database is a legacy database pre-existing installation of one or more of said first and second trainee client computers.

6. The computer based system of claim 1, wherein said computer based system further comprises an administrator client computer.

7. The computer based system of claim 6, wherein said personnel database is a legacy database pre-existing installation of one or more of said first and second trainee client computers, and said administrator client computer.

8. The computer based system of claim 1, wherein said computer based system determines a face of said first trainee model based on a processing of said image file representing said first trainee.

9. The computer based system of claim 1, wherein said computer based system has an administrator model distributed into said second trainee client computer corresponding to an administrator, and wherein said computer based system utilizes an image file corresponding to said administrator in determining a characteristic of said administrator model.

10. A computer based system for training first and second trainees in relation to a work subject, the computer based system comprising:

(a) first and second trainee client computers for use by trainees each having a respective display and a rendering module for rendering three dimensional models, the computer based system including a first trainee model distributed into said second trainee client computer corresponding to said first trainee, a second trainee model distributed into said first trainee client computer corresponding to said second trainee, and a work subject model distributed into said first and second trainee client computers corresponding to said work subject, the computer based system being configured to run a plurality of animation routines for each of said first trainee model, said second trainee model, and said work subject model, the first trainee client computer having a first trainee user interface for enabling said first trainee to initiate communications controlling animation routines of said first trainee model, the second trainee client computer having a second trainee user interface for enabling said second trainee to initiate communications controlling animation routines of said second trainee model, wherein during a simulation run mode said rendering modules of said first and second trainee client computers render on said displays of said first and second trainee client computers at a certain time different perspective first and second first person views of a common scene, the first perspective first person view rendered on said display of said first trainee client computer including a rendering of said work subject model, the second perspective first person view rendered on said display of said second computer including a rendering of said work subject model;

(b) an administrator client computer for use by an administrator, the administrator client computer having a display, an administrator user interface and a rendering module for rendering three dimensional models, the administrator client computer having distributed therein said first trainee model, said second trainee model and said work subject model, the rendering module of said administrator client computer rendering said common scene and having a user interface;

(c) wherein said administrator user interface is configured differently from said first trainee user interface and said second trainee user interface, and wherein said computer based system is configured so that at least one communication can be initiated by an administrator utilizing said administrator user interface that is not among communications that can initiated by said first trainee utilizing said first trainee user interface or by said second trainee utilizing said second trainee user interface, wherein said computer based system is operative so that responsively to a communication initiated by an administrator using said administrator user interface a set of actions that can be activated by the first trainee using the first trainee user interface of the first trainee client computer changes from a first set to a second set.

11. The computer based system of claim 10, wherein said at least one communication comprises a communication selected from the group consisting of a state change command, a scenario change command, a command to return to a previous point, a command to reverse play previous frames, a command to display a view presently rendered on said first trainee client computer, a command to simultaneously render views presently being rendered on said first and second client computers, a command to enter an administrator character mode of operation, a command to enable voice communications between said administrator client computer and each of said trainee client computers, a command to selectively enable voice communications between said administrator client computer and said first trainee client computer, and a command to run a voice animation when communicating voice messages.

12. The computer based system of claim 11, wherein said at least one communication comprises a command to enter an administrator character mode of operation.

13. The computer based system of claim 11, wherein said at least one communication comprises a command to selectively enable voice communications between said administrator client computer and each of said trainee client computers.

14. The computer based system of claim 10, wherein said at least one communication comprises a plurality of communications including:

a state change command, a scenario change command, a command to return to a previous point, a command to reverse play previous frames, a command to display a view presently rendered on said first trainee client computer, a command to simultaneously render views presently being rendered on said first and second client computers, a command to enter an administrator character mode of operation, a command to enable voice communications between said administrator client computer and each of said trainee client computers, a command to selectively enable voice communications between said administrator client computer and said first trainee client computer, and a command to run a voice animation when communicating voice messages.

15. The computer based system of claim 10, wherein prior to the communication initiated by an administrator, there is rendered on said display of said first trainee client computer a first number of action request initiating hotspots, and wherein subsequent to the communication initiated by an administrator there is rendered a second number of action request initiating hotspots, and wherein the first number is not equal to the second number.

16. A computer based system for training first and second trainees in relation to a work subject, the computer based system comprising:

(a) first and second trainee client computers each having a respective display and a rendering module for rendering three dimensional models, the computer based system including a first trainee model distributed into said second trainee client computer corresponding to said first trainee, a second trainee model distributed into said first trainee client computer corresponding to said second trainee, and a work subject model distributed into said first and second trainee client computers corresponding to said work subject, the computer based system being configured to run a plurality of animation routines for each of said first trainee model, said second trainee model, and said work subject model, the first trainee client computer having a user interface for enabling said first trainee to initiate communications controlling animation routines of said first trainee model, the second trainee client computer having a user interface for enabling said second trainee to initiate communications controlling animation routines of said second trainee model, wherein during a simulation run mode said rendering modules of said first and second trainee client computers render on said displays of said first and second trainee client computers at a certain time different perspective first and second first person views of a common scene, the first perspective first person view rendered on said display of said first trainee client computer including a rendering of said work subject model, the second perspective first person view rendered on said display of said second computer including a rendering of said work subject model;

(b) an administrator client computer in communication with said first and second trainee client computers, the administrator client computer also having a display and a rendering module for rendering three dimensional models, the administrator client computer having distributed therein said first trainee model, said second trainee model and said work subject model, the rendering module of said administrator client computer rendering said common scene and having a user interface, the computer based system being configured so that by initiating a communication using said user interface of said administrator client computer an administrator can alter a simulation being run during a simulation mode in a manner that is in conflict with rules of the simulation.

17. The computer based system of claim 16, further including a central server facilitating said communication between said administrator client computer and said first and second trainee client computers.

18. The computer based system of claim 16, wherein the computer based system is configured so that by initiating a communication using said user interface of said administrator client computer an administrator can cause, during a simulation run mode, a certain animation routine for the work subject model to be run.

19. The computer based system of claim 16, wherein the computer based system is configured so that by initiating a communication using said user interface of said administrator client computer an administrator can cause, during a simulation run mode, a certain texture for the work subject model to be rendered.

20. The computer based system of claim 16, wherein the computer based system is configured so that by initiating a communication using said user interface of said administrator client computer an administrator can cause, during a simulation run mode, a change in a user interface of one of said trainee client computers.

21. The computer based system of claim 16, wherein the computer based system is configured so that by initiating a communication using said user interface of said administrator client computer an administrator can cause, during a simulation run mode, a model change of said work subject model.

22. The computer based system of claim 16, wherein the computer based system is configured so that by initiating a communication using said user interface of said administrator client computer an administrator can cause an animation routine to be run without alternating a state list of the simulation.

23. A computer based system for training first and second trainees in relation to a work subject, the computer based system comprising:

(a) first and second trainee client computers each having a respective display and a rendering module for rendering three dimensional models, the computer based system including a first trainee model distributed into said second trainee client computer corresponding to said first trainee, a second trainee model distributed into said first trainee client computer corresponding to said second trainee, and a work subject model distributed into said first and second trainee client computers corresponding to said work subject, the computer based system being configured to run a plurality of animation routines for each of said first trainee model, said second trainee model, and said work subject model, the first trainee client computer having a user interface for enabling said first trainee to initiate communications controlling animation routines of said first trainee model, the second trainee client computer having a user interface for enabling said second trainee to initiate communications controlling animation routines of said second trainee model, wherein during a simulation run mode said rendering modules of said first and second trainee client computers render on said displays of said first and second trainee client computers at a certain time different perspective first and second first person views of a common scene, the first perspective first person view rendered on said display of said first trainee client computer including a rendering of said work subject model, the second perspective first person view rendered on said display of said second computer including a rendering of said work subject model;

(b) an administrator client computer having a display and a rendering module for rendering three dimensional models, the administrator client computer having distributed therein said first trainee model, said second trainee model and said work subject model, the rendering module of said administrator client computer rendering said common scene and having a user interface, the computer based system being configured so that by initiating a communication using said user interface of said administrator client computer an administrator can cause, during a simulation run mode, one or more of the following;

(i) a certain animation routine for the work subject model to be run;

(ii) a certain texture for the work subject model to be rendered;

(iii) a change in a user interface one of said trainee client computers; and

(iv) a model change of said work subject model;

wherein said administrator client computer is operative to render at said certain time a perspective third person view of said common scene different from said first and second first person perspective views and including renderings of said work subject model, and of said first and second trainee models.

24. The computer based system of claim 23, wherein said computer based system is configured so that said computer based system maintains a coordinate position and camera position of controlled digital characters at a time at which said communication by said administrator is initiated, and utilizes said coordinate position and said camera position in rendering a scene at said first and second client computers after said communication by said administrator is initiated.

25. The computer based system of claim 23, wherein said administrator client computer is configured so that by using a user interface of said administrator client computer during a simulation run mode, an administrator can cause said administrator client computer to render on its respective display at said certain time said first perspective first person view.

26. The computer based system of claim 23, wherein said administrator client computer is configured so that by using said user interface of said administrator client computer during a simulation run mode, an administrator can cause said administrator client computer to render on its respective display at said certain time said first perspective first person view and said second perspective first person view.

27. The computer based system of claim 23, wherein said computer based system is configured record a simulation, and wherein said administrator client computer is configured so that by using said user interface of said administrator client computer during a simulation run mode, an administrator client computer can cause said computer based system to return to prior point of said simulation.

28. The computer based system of claim 23, wherein said computer based system is configured record a simulation, and wherein said administrator client computer is configured so that by using said user interface of said administrator client computer during a simulation run mode, an administrator client computer can cause said computer based system to return to prior point of said simulation, wherein said computer based system is configured so that said administrator client computer is equipped with an audio input device and said client computers are equipped with audio output device, the computer based system being configured so that said administrator can input a voice message into said audio input device for output at said audio output devices.

29. The computer based system of claim 23, wherein said administrator client computer is configured so that by using said user interface of said administrator client computer during a simulation run mode, an administrator can cause said computer based system to enter an administrator character mode of operation, wherein during said administrator character mode of operation said rendering modules of said first and second trainee client computers render on their respective displays an administrator model corresponding to said administrator, and wherein further during said administrator character mode of operation an administrator can control animation routines of said administrator model.

30. The computer based system of claim 23, wherein said system is configured so that a trainee can initiate a communication cause a movement animation to be run by actuating a hotspot displayed on a trainee client computer.

31. The computer based system of claim 23, wherein said perspective third person view at said certain time comprises a field of view larger than a field of view each of the first and second first person views at said certain time.

32. The computer based system of claim 23, wherein said computer based system maintains a field of view of said perspective third person view rendered at said administrator client computer at a size larger than a concurrently rendered field of view at each of the first trainee client computer and second trainee client computer.

33. A computer based system for training first and second trainees in relation to a work subject, the computer based system comprising:

(a) first and second trainee client computers each having a respective display and a rendering module for rendering three dimensional models, the computer based system including a first trainee model distributed into said second trainee client computer corresponding to said first trainee, a second trainee model distributed into said first trainee client computer corresponding to said second trainee, and a work subject model distributed into said first and second trainee client computers corresponding to said work subject, the computer based system being configured to run a plurality of animation routines for each of said first trainee model, said second trainee model, and said work subject model, the first trainee client computer having a user interface for enabling said first trainee to initiate communications controlling animation routines of said first trainee model, the second trainee client computer having a user interface for enabling said second trainee to initiate communications controlling animation routines of said second trainee model, wherein during a simulation run mode said rendering modules of said first and second trainee client computers render on said displays of said first and second trainee client computers at a certain time different perspective first and second first person views of a common scene, the first perspective first person view rendered on said display of said first trainee client computer including a rendering of said work subject model, the second perspective first person view rendered on said display of said second computer including a rendering of said work subject model;

(b) an administrator client computer, the administrator client computer also having a display and a rendering module for rendering three dimensional models, the administrator client computer having distributed therein said first trainee model, said second trainee model and said work subject model, the rendering module of said administrator client computer rendering said common scene and having a user interface;

(c) wherein said administrator client computer is configured so that by using a user interface of said administrator client computer during a simulation run mode, an administrator can cause said administrator client computer to render on its respective display at said certain time said first perspective first person view so that there is displayed on said display of said administrator client computer at said certain time a same perspective view being displayed on said display of said first trainee client computer.

34. The computer based system of claim 33, wherein said computer based system is configured so that said computer based system maintains a coordinate position and camera position of controlled digital characters at a time at which a communication by said administrator is initiated, and utilizes said coordinate position and said camera position in rendering a scene at said first and second client computers after said communication by said administrator is initiated.

35. The computer based system of claim 33, wherein said rendering module of said administrator client computer is further configured so that said administrator client computer can render at said certain time a perspective third person view of said common scene different from said first and second first person perspective views and including renderings of said work subject model, and of said first and second trainee models.

36. The computer based system of claim 33, wherein said administrator client computer is configured so that by using said user interface of said administrator client computer during a simulation run mode, an administrator can cause said administrator client computer to render on its respective display at said certain time said first perspective first person view and said second perspective first person view.

37. The computer based system of claim 33, wherein said computer based system is configured to record a simulation, and wherein said administrator client computer is configured so that by using said user interface of said administrator client computer during a simulation run mode, an administrator client computer can cause said computer based system to return to prior point of said simulation.

38. The computer based system of claim 33, wherein said computer based system is configured record a simulation, and wherein said administrator client computer is configured so that by using said user interface of said administrator client computer during a simulation run mode, an administrator client computer can cause said computer based system to return to prior point of said simulation, wherein said computer based system is configured so that said administrator client computer is equipped with an audio input device and said client computers are equipped with audio output devices, the computer based system being configured so that said administrator can input a voice message into said audio input device for output at said audio output devices.

39. The computer based system of claim 33, wherein said administrator client computer is configured so that by using said user interface of said administrator client computer during a simulation run mode, an administrator can cause said computer based system to enter an administrator character mode of operation, wherein during said administrator character mode of operation said rendering modules of said first and second trainee client computers render on their respective displays an administrator model corresponding to said administrator, and wherein further during said administrator character mode of operation an administrator can control animation routines of said administrator model.

40. The computer based system of claim 33, wherein said system is configured so that a trainee can initiate a communication cause a movement animation to be run by actuating a hotspot displayed on a trainee client computer.

41. The computer based system of claim 33, wherein said administrator client computer is configured so that by using said user interface of said administrator client computer during a simulation run mode, an administrator can cause said administrator client computer to render on its respective display at said certain time said second perspective first person view so that there is displayed on said display of said administrator client computer at said certain time a same perspective view being displayed on said display of said second trainee client computer.

42. The computer based system of claim 33, wherein said administrator client computer is configured so that by using said user interface of said administrator client computer during a simulation run mode, said administrator can cause said administrator client computer to render on its respective display at said certain time said first perspective first person view and said second perspective first person view so that there is displayed on said display of said administrator client computer at said certain time a same perspective view being displayed on said display of said first trainee client computer and on said display of said second trainee client computer.

43. The computer based system of claim 33, wherein said user interface of said administrator client computer is configured differently from said user interface of said first trainee client computer and said user interface of said second trainee client computer, and wherein said computer based system is configured so that at least one communication can be initiated by an administrator utilizing said user interface of said administrator client computer that is not among communications that can initiated by said first trainee utilizing said user interface of said first trainee client computer or by said second trainee utilizing said user interface of said second trainee client computer.

44. A computer based system for training first and second trainees in relation to a work subject, the computer based system comprising:

(a) first and second trainee client computers each having a respective display and a rendering module for rendering three dimensional models, the computer based system including a first trainee model distributed into said second trainee client computer corresponding to said first trainee, a second trainee model distributed into said first trainee client computer corresponding to said second trainee, and a work subject model distributed into said first and second trainee client computers corresponding to said work subject, the computer based system being configured to run a plurality of animation routines for each of said first trainee model, said second trainee model, and said work subject model, the first trainee client computer having a first trainee user interface for enabling said first trainee to initiate communications controlling animation routines of said first trainee model, the second trainee client computer having a second trainee user interface for enabling said second trainee to initiate communications controlling animation routines of said second trainee model, wherein during a simulation run mode said rendering modules of said first and second trainee client computers render on said displays of said first and second trainee client computers at a certain time different perspective first and second first person views of a common scene, the first perspective first person view rendered on said display of said first trainee client computer including a rendering of said work subject model, the second perspective first person view rendered on said display of said second computer including a rendering of said work subject model;

(b) an administrator client computer having a display and a rendering module for rendering three dimensional models, the administrator client computer having distributed therein said first trainee model, said second trainee model and said work subject model, the rendering module of said administrator client computer rendering said common scene and having an administrator user interface, wherein said administrator user interface is configured differently from said first trainee user interface and said second trainee user interface, and wherein said computer based system is configured so that at least one communication can be initiated by an administrator utilizing said administrator user interface that is not among communications that can initiated by said first trainee utilizing said first trainee user interface or by said second trainee utilizing said second trainee user interface;

(c) wherein said computer based system is operative so that said rendering modules of said first and second trainee client computers render on their respective displays an administrator model corresponding to said administrator.

45. The computer based system of claim 44, wherein said computer based system is configured so that said computer based system maintains a coordinate position and camera position of controlled digital characters at a time at which said communication by said administrator is initiated, and utilizes said coordinate position and said camera position in rendering a scene at said first and second client computers after said communication by said administrator is initiated.

46. The computer based system of claim 44, wherein said rendering module of said administrator client computer is further configured so that said administrator client computer can render at said certain time a perspective third person view of said common scene different from said first and second first person perspective views and including renderings of said work subject model, and of said first and second trainee models.

47. The computer based system of claim 44, wherein said administrator client computer is configured so that by using a user interface of said administrator client computer during a simulation run mode, an administrator can cause said administrator client computer to render on its respective display at said certain time said first perspective first person view.

48. The computer based system of claim 44, wherein said computer based system is configured to record a simulation, and wherein said administrator client computer is configured so that by using said user interface of said administrator client computer during a simulation run mode, an administrator client computer can cause said computer based system to return to a prior point of said simulation.

49. The computer based system of claim 44, wherein said computer based system is configured record a simulation, and wherein said administrator client computer is configured so that by using said user interface of said administrator client computer during a simulation run mode, an administrator client computer can cause said computer based system to return to a prior point of said simulation, wherein said computer based system is configured so that said administrator client computer is equipped with an audio input device and said client computers are equipped with audio output device, the computer based system being configured so that said administrator can input a voice message into said audio input device for output at said audio output devices.

50. The computer based system of claim 44, wherein said administrator client computer is configured so that by using said user interface of said administrator client computer during a simulation run mode, an administrator can cause said computer based system to enter an administrator character mode of operation, wherein during said administrator character mode of operation said rendering modules of said first and second trainee client computers render on their respective displays said administrator model corresponding to said administrator, and wherein further during said administrator character mode of operation an administrator can control animation routines of said administrator model.

51. The computer based system of claim 44, wherein said system is configured so that a trainee can initiate a communication cause a movement animation to be run by actuating a hotspot displayed on a trainee client computer.

52. The computer based system of claim 44, wherein the computer based system is configured so that by using said administrator user interface an administrator can cause said computer based system to enter an administrator character mode of operation in which said rendering modules of said first and second trainee client computers render on their respective displays an administrator model corresponding to said administrator, wherein said computer based system is configured so that said first and second trainee client computers do not render on their respective displays an administrator model corresponding to said administrator unless said computer based system has entered said administrator character mode of operation.

53. The computer based system of claim 44, wherein said computer based system is operative so that during said simulation run mode said administrator can control an animation routine run for said administrator model to demonstrate a proper procedure performed in relation to the work subject.

54. The computer based system of claim 44, wherein said computer based system is operative so that said administrator can transmit live voice messages to said first trainee computer wherein said computer based system is further operative so that during said simulation run mode said administrator model is rendered in a manner to result in an appearance of a rendered administrator model talking when live voice messages are transmitted by said administrator.