SYSTEM FOR GENERATING AN INTERACTIVE OR NON-INTERACTIVE BRANCHING MOVIE SEGMENT BY SEGMENT AND METHODS USEFUL IN CONJUNCTION THEREWITH

• US 20110126106A1
• Filed: 04/07/2009
• Published: 05/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Turbulence Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Turbulence Ltd.
• Inventors: Ben Shaul, Nitzan, Ben Arie, Udi, Avneyon, Guy, Knoller, Noam
• Application Number:
  US12/936,824
• Publication Number:
  US 20110126106A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/723
• CPC Class Codes: A63J 25/00 Equipment specially adapted for cinemas cinematographic projection means G03B
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D

Abstract

A system and method for generating an interactive or non-interactive filmed branching narrative, the method comprising receiving a plurality of narrative segments, receiving and storing ordered links between individual ones of the plurality of narrative segments and generating a graphic display of at least some of the plurality of narrative segments and of at least some of the ordered links Additionally or alternatively, a system or method for generating a branched film, the method comprising generating an association between video segments and respectively script segments thereby to define film segments; and receiving a user'"'"'s definition of at least one CTP defining at least one branching point from which a user-defined subset of said film segments are to branch off, and generating a digital representation of the branching point associating the user defined subset of the film segments with the CTP, thereby to generate a branched film element.

Claims

1. A system for generating a filmed branching narrative, the system comprising:

apparatus for receiving a plurality of narrative segments; and

apparatus for receiving and storing ordered links between individual ones of said plurality of narrative segments and for generating a graphic display of at least some of the plurality of narrative segments and of at least some of the ordered links.

2. A system according to claim 1 and also comprising a track player operative to accept a viewer'"'"'s definition of a track through said filmed branching narrative and to play said track to the viewer.

3. A system according to claim 1 wherein said narrative segment comprises a script segment including digital text.

4. A system according to claim 1 wherein said narrative segment comprises a multi-media segment including at least one of an audio sequence and a visual sequence.

5. A system according to claim 1 and also comprising apparatus for receiving and storing, for at least one individual segment from among the plurality of narrative segments, at least one segment property characterizing the individual segment.

6. A system according to claim 1 wherein said ordered links each define a node interconnecting individual ones of said plurality of narrative segments and wherein said system also comprises for receiving and storing, for at least one said node, at least one node property characterizing said node.

7. A system according to claim 5 and also comprising:

a linking rule repository storing at least one rule for generating a linkage characterization characterizing a link between individual segments as a function of at least one property defined for said individual segments; and

a linkage characterization display generator displaying information pertaining to said linkage characterization.

8. A system according to claim 5 wherein said at least one segment property includes a set of characters associated with said segment.

9. A system according to claim 5 wherein said at least one segment property includes a plot outline associated with said segment.

10. A system according to claim 1 wherein said receiving and storing includes selecting a point on said graphic display corresponding to an endpoint of a first narrative segment and associating a second narrative segment with said point.

11. A system according to claim 6 and also comprising a linking rule repository storing at least one rule for generating a linkage characterization characterizing a link between individual segments as a function of at least one property defined for said individual nodes;

and

a linkage characterization display generator displaying information pertaining to said linkage characterization.

12. A system according to claim 1 and also comprising a track generator operative to accept a user'"'"'s definition of a track through said filmed branching narrative, to access stored segment properties associated with segments forming said track, and to display said stored segment properties to the user.

13. A system according to claim 5 wherein said at least one segment property includes a characterization of the segment in terms of conflict.

23. A system according to claim 1 wherein said ordered links each comprise a graphically represented CTP and wherein said apparatus for receiving and storing is operative to allow a new segment to be connected between any pair of CTPs.

24. A system according to claim 23 wherein said apparatus for receiving and storing is operative to allow a new segment to be connected between an existing CTP and at least one of the following:

an ancestor of the existing CTP; and

a descendant of the existing CTP.

25. A system according to claim 1 and also comprising an editing functionality allowing each narrative segment to be text-edited independently of other segments.

26. A system according to claim 2 wherein said apparatus for receiving and storing includes an option for connecting at least first and second user-selected segments each including at least one CTP, by generating a segment starting at a CTP of the first segment and ending at a CTP in the second segment.

28. A system according to claim 5 wherein said segment property includes a characterization of a segment as one of an opening segment, regular segment, connecting segment, looping segment, and ending segment.

29. A system according to claim 28 and wherein said graphic display of at least some of the plurality of narrative segments and of at least some of the ordered links comprises a graphic display generated in accordance with an interlacer condition, wherein said interlacer condition comprises a request to display all ending segments.

30. A system according to claim 28 and wherein said graphic display of at least some of the plurality of narrative segments and of at least some of the ordered links comprises a graphic display generated in accordance with an interlacer condition, wherein said interlacer condition comprises a request to display all looping segments.

31. A system according to claim 5 wherein said segment property includes a list of at least one obstacle present in said segment.

32. A system according to claim 31 wherein each obstacle is associated with a character in said segment.

33. A system according to claim 32 wherein said graphic display of at least some of the plurality of narrative segments and of at least some of the ordered links comprises a graphic display generated in accordance with an interlacer condition, wherein said interlacer condition comprises a request to display obstacles for character x in an order of appearance defined by a previously determined order of said segments.

34. A system according to claim 5 wherein said segment property includes a segment plot outline.

35. A system according to claim 34 wherein said graphic display of at least some of the plurality of narrative segments and of at least some of the ordered links comprises a graphic display generated in accordance with an interlacer condition, wherein said interlacer condition comprises a request to display segment plot outlines in an order of appearance defined by a previously determined order of said segments thereby to facilitate identification by a human user of lacking plot information to be filled in when two segments are to be interlaced.

36. A system according to claim 35 wherein said graphic display of at least some of the plurality of narrative segments and of at least some of the ordered links comprises a graphic display generated in accordance with an interlacer condition, wherein said interlacer condition comprises a request to display segment plot outlines that precede an ending segment in an order of appearance defined by a previously determined order of said segments thereby to facilitate identification by a human user of lacking plot information to be filled in for generating multi-track consistent end segments.

37. A system according to claim 5 wherein said segment property includes a list of at least one “

user pov value”

.

38. A system according to claim 5 wherein the segment property includes a list generated in accordance with an interlacer condition, wherein said interlacer condition comprises a request to display a segment “

user pov valued”

to facilitate assessment by a human user of a segment'"'"'s dramatic structure from the point of view of its effect upon an interactor.

39. A system according to claim 5 wherein said segment property includes a list of at least one “

character”

.

40. A system according to claim 39 wherein said list is generated in accordance with an interlacer condition, wherein said interlacer condition comprises a request to display all segments including a user-defined subset of character'"'"'s X and character/s Y to facilitate the writing of future scenes by a human user for X and Y together, offering their shared or exclusive knowledge/experiences.

41. A system according to claim 39 wherein said segment property is associated with at least one “

conflict” and

one “

goal”

in said segment.

42. A system according to claim 41 wherein said segment properties are generated in accordance with an interlacer condition, wherein said interlacer condition comprises a request to display a list of segment character conflicts and goals in an order of appearance defined by a previously determined order of said segments thereby to facilitate identification by a human user of a character'"'"'s recurring or shifting conflicts and goals for its consistency and future development.

43. A system according to claim 39 wherein X'"'"'s segment properties are associated with Y'"'"'s segment properties generated in accordance with an interlacer condition, wherein said interlacer condition comprises a request to display a list of all characters that share the same conflict, the same goal or a different goal to facilitate a human user to match characters for them to work together towards the same goal or be antagonistic to each other when their goals do not match.

44. A system according to claim 6 wherein said node property comprises a characterization of each node as at least a selected one of:

a splitting node, non-splitting node, expansion node, contraction node, breakaway node.

45. A system according to claim 34 wherein said graphic display of at least some of the plurality of narrative segments and of at least some of the ordered links comprises a graphic display generated in accordance with an interlacer condition, wherein said interlacer condition comprises a request to display all non-splitting nodes, thereby to facilitate identification by a human user of potential splittings.

50. A system according to claim 25 wherein said editing functionality includes at least some Word XML editor functionalities.

51. A system according to claim 2 wherein said track player is operative to accept a viewer'"'"'s definitions of a plurality of tracks through said filmed branching narrative and to play any selected one of said plurality of tracks to the viewer.

14. A method for playing an interactive movie, the method comprising:

receiving a hyper-narrative structure that comprises multiple narrative movie tracks, each narrative movie track is divided into dramatic segments culminating in an ending dramatic segment, and crucial transitional points;

wherein a crucial transitional point facilitates a user'"'"'s interactive transition from one dramatic segment of a first narrative movie track to at least one of another dramatic segment in that track and a dramatic segment of a second narrative movie track wherein upon transiting to some of the ending dramatic segments no further transitions and crucial transitional points are available; and

repeating the stages of;

playing to a user a dramatic segment; and

allowing the user, at a crucial transitional point, to interactively transit to another dramatic segment or continue playing at least one dramatic segment without the user'"'"'s intervention wherein upon transiting to some ending dramatic segments no further transitions and crucial transitional points are available.

15. A method for generating an interactive movie, the method comprising:

receiving a hyper-narrative structure that comprises multiple narrative movie tracks, each narrative movie track is divided into dramatic segments culminating in an ending dramatic segment, and crucial transitional points;

wherein a crucial transitional point facilitates a user'"'"'s interactive transition from one dramatic segment of a first narrative movie track to at least one of another dramatic segment in that track and a dramatic segment of a second narrative movie track wherein upon transiting to some ending dramatic segments no further transitions and crucial transitional points are available; and

generating a graphical representation of the hyper-narrative structure.

16. A method for generating an interactive movie, the method comprising:

receiving a hyper-narrative structure that comprises multiple narrative movie tracks, each narrative movie track is divided into dramatic segments culminating in an ending dramatic segment, and crucial transitional points;

wherein a crucial transitional point facilitates a user'"'"'s interactive transition from one dramatic segment of a first narrative movie track to at least one of another dramatic segment in that track and a dramatic segment of a second narrative movie track wherein upon transiting to some ending dramatic segments no further transitions and crucial transitional points are available; and

storing the hyper-narrative structure.

17. A system for playing an interactive movie, the system comprising:

a memory unit for storing a hyper-narrative structure that comprises multiple narrative movie tracks, each narrative movie track is divided into dramatic segments culminating in an ending dramatic segment, and crucial transitional points;

wherein a crucial transitional point facilitates a user'"'"'s interactive transition from one dramatic segment of a first narrative movie track to at least one of another dramatic segment in that track and a dramatic segment of a second narrative movie track wherein upon transiting to some ending dramatic segments no further transitions and crucial transitional points are available;

a media player module that is adapted to play to the user a dramatic segment out of the stored dramatic segments; and

an interface that is adapted to allow the user, at a crucial transitional point, to interactively transit to another dramatic segment or if user does not intervene, to continue playing at least one dramatic segment and until the ending dramatic segment.

18. A system for generating an interactive movie, the system comprising:

an interface that is adapted to receive a hyper-narrative structure that comprises multiple narrative movie tracks, each narrative movie track is divided into dramatic segments culminating in an ending dramatic segment, and crucial transitional points;

wherein a crucial transitional point facilitates a user'"'"'s interactive transition from one dramatic segment of a first narrative movie track to at least one of another dramatic segment in that track and a dramatic segment of a second narrative movie track wherein upon transiting to some of the ending dramatic segments no further transitions and crucial transitional points are available; and

a graphical module that is adapted to generating a graphical representation of the hyper-narrative structure.

19. A system for generating an interactive movie, the system comprising:

an interface, adapted to receive a hyper-narrative structure that comprises multiple narrative movie tracks, each narrative movie track is divided into dramatic segments culminating in an ending dramatic segment, and crucial transitional points;

wherein a crucial transitional point facilitates a user'"'"'s interactive transition from one dramatic segment of a first narrative movie track to at least one of another dramatic segment in that track and a dramatic segment of a second narrative movie track wherein upon transiting to some of the ending dramatic segments no further transitions and crucial transitional points are available; and

a memory unit, adapted to store the hyper-narrative structure.

20. A computer readable medium that stores a hyper-narrative structure and to store instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to repeat the stages of:

playing to a user a dramatic segment and allowing the user, at a crucial transitional point, to interactively transit to another narrative dramatic segment or if user does not intervene, to continue playing at least one dramatic segment and until an ending dramatic segment;

wherein the hyper-narrative structure comprises multiple narrative movie tracks, each narrative movie track is divided into dramatic segments culminating in an ending dramatic segment, and crucial transitional points;

wherein a crucial transitional point facilitates a user'"'"'s interactive transition from one dramatic segment of a first narrative movie track to at least one of another dramatic segment in that track and a dramatic segment of a second narrative movie track wherein upon transiting to some of the ending dramatic segments no further transitions and crucial transitional points are available.

21. A computer readable medium that stores instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to:

receive a hyper-narrative structure that comprises multiple narrative movie tracks, each narrative movie track is divided into dramatic segments culminating in an ending dramatic segment, and crucial transitional points;

wherein a crucial transitional point facilitates a user'"'"'s interactive transition from one dramatic segment of a first narrative movie track to at least one of another dramatic segment in that track and a dramatic segment of a second narrative movie track wherein upon transiting to some of the ending dramatic segments no further transitions and crucial transitional points are available; and

generate a graphical representation of the hyper-narrative structure.

22. A computer readable medium that stores instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to repeat the stages of:

playing to a user a dramatic segment of a hyper-narrative structure and allowing the user, at a crucial transitional point, to interactively transit to another dramatic segment or if user does not intervene, to continue playing at least one dramatic segment and until an ending dramatic segment;

wherein the hyper-narrative structure comprises multiple narrative movie tracks, each narrative movie track is divided into dramatic segments culminating in an ending dramatic segment, and crucial transitional points;

wherein a crucial transitional point facilitates a user'"'"'s interactive transition from one dramatic segment of a first narrative movie track to at least one of another dramatic segment in that track and a dramatic segment of a second narrative movie track wherein upon transiting to some of the ending dramatic segments no further transitions and crucial transitional points are available.

27. A system for generating a branched film, the system comprising:

apparatus for generating an association between video segments and respectively script segments thereby to define film segments; and

a CTP manager operative to receive a user'"'"'s definition of at least one CTP defining at least one branching point from which a user-defined subset of said film segments are to branch off, and to generate a digital representation of said branching point associating said user defined subset of said film segments with said CTP, thereby to generate an interactive or non-interactive determined branched film element.

46. A system according to claim 27 and also comprising a branched film player operative to play branched film elements generated by the CTP manager.

47. A method for generating a filmed branching narrative, the method comprising:

receiving a plurality of narrative segments;

receiving and storing ordered links between individual ones of said plurality of narrative segments and generating a graphic display of at least some of the plurality of narrative segments and of at least some of the ordered links.

48. A method for generating a branched film, the method comprising:

generating an association between video segments and respectively script segments thereby to define film segments; and

receiving a user'"'"'s definition of at least one CTP defining at least one branching point from which a user-defined subset of said film segments are to branch off, and generating a digital representation of said branching point associating said user defined subset of said film segments with said CTP, thereby to generate a branched film element.

49. A computer program product, comprising a computer usable medium having a computer readable program code embodied therein, said computer readable program code adapted to be executed to implement any of the methods shown and described herein.

52. A hyper narrative authoring system comprising:

apparatus for generating a schema object which passes on, to a production environment, a set of at least one condition including computation of how to translate user'"'"'s behavior to a next segment to play.

53. A system according to claim 52 wherein said schema object is structured to support a human author'"'"'s use of natural language pertaining to narrative to characterize branching between segments and to associate said natural language with at least one of an input device and a hotspot used to implement said branching.

54. A system according to claim 52 wherein said schema object is operative to store a breakdown of natural language into objects.

55. A system according to claim 54 wherein said objects comprise at least one of “

idioms” and

“

targets”

.

56. A system according to claim 52 wherein said system is also operative to display simulations of interactions.

57. A system according to claim 52 wherein said conditions are stored in association with respective nodes interconnecting branching narrative segments.

58. A system according to claim 57 wherein said conditions are defined over CTP properties defined for at least one of said nodes.