Computer simulation system and method for specifying the behavior of graphical operator interfaces

Claim 1

A real-time finite state prototype development and simulator system for graphically responding to user inputs by displaying virtual objects forming a modeled system on a monitor, comprising: a graphic input device responsive to said user inputs for deriving a positional signal; and a processor unit including: (i) an input module responsive to said positional signal and to a position of one of the virtual objects for deriving selection data, (ii) an object editor module responsive to said selection data for defining ones of said virtual objects as input and output virtual objects and ascribing to each a class of behavior, (iii) a state table editor module responsive to said selection data and to said class of behavior ascribed to said virtual objects for defining a table of parameters describing the modeled system including: (a) system states, (b) events to be monitored, (c) actions to be taken in response to the monitored events, and (d) next states to be entered by said modeled system in response to the monitored events, and (iv) an execution module for detecting events and, responsive to said table of parameters and to said detected events, for selectively displaying and manipulating said virtual objects on the monitor.

Claim 5

A method of real-time finite state simulation for graphically responding to user inputs by displaying virtual objects on a monitor, comprising the steps of: deriving a positional signal representing a position of a cursor on the monitor in response the user inputs; supplying selection data in response to (i) the positional signal representing the position of said cursor corresponding to (ii) a position of a virtual object on said monitor; defining virtual input and output type objects and associating with each a class of behavior responsive to said selection data; defining a state table in response to said selection data including: (i) states of a simulated system including the objects, (ii) simulated events to be monitored, (iii) simulated actions to be taken by the simulated system in response to the monitored events, and (iv) next states of the simulated system to be entered in response to the monitored events; and selectively displaying and manipulating said virtual objects in response to said state table, said selection data, other virtual objects and contents of variables.

Claim 7

A method of prototype development and prototype simulation, comprising the steps of: defining graphic objects for display on a monitor; associating with each of the graphic objects enumerated inputs to which each graphic object is responsive and a response of each graphic object to the respective enumerated inputs; displaying a state table having plural rows and columns on the monitor; receiving a graphic device input signal and, in response, positioning and displaying a cursor on the monitor; detecting a position of said cursor corresponding to a position of one of said graphic objects on the monitor; displaying a menu of input and responses associated with said one graphic object; selecting an input and a response from the displayed menu; and entering data corresponding to the selected input and response in said state table.

Claim 9

A method of graphically modelling a system, comprising the steps of: defining a set of graphic objects and attributing to each (i) at least one controlling parameter, (ii) a set of one or more displayable visual characteristics, and (iii) changeable features of said displayable visual characteristics responsive to said controlling parameter; describing a state table defining the operation of a finite state machine, the state table including (i) present states of the finite state machine, (ii) events to be monitored in each of the present states, (iii) controlling parameters to be generated in response to detection of a respective event to be monitored in said present states, and (iv) next states of the finite state machine in response to detection of a respective event to be monitored in said present states; operating said finite state machine responsive to said state table to display said graphic objects including (i) defining an instant one of said present states of the finite state machine defined in said state table. (ii) detecting an event of the events to be monitored in said instant present state, (iii) generating a controlling parameter in response to said detected event of said instant present state in accordance with said state table, and (iv) defining a next state of the finite state machine in response to said detected event of said instant present state in accordance with said state table; and displaying said graphic objects in response to said controlling parameter generated by said generating step.

Claim 10

A system for developing and executing interactive visual applications wherein dynamic data is mapped into coherently animated virtual objects and operator interaction facilities are provided to interact with the virtual objects, the system comprising: a central processing unit responsive to operator control signals for supplying address and control signals; random access memory providing instructions to said central processing unit in response said address signals from said central processing unit; a non-volatile storage medium for supplying said instructions to said random access memory in response to said control signals from said central processing unit; a graphics display device responsive to said control signals from said central processing unit for displaying the virtual objects; and operator input means for supplying said operator control signals to said central processing unit, said operator control signal including positional and alphanumeric signals, said operator input means including (i) a locator/trigger device for providing said positional signals to the central processing unit, and (ii) a data entry device for supplying said alphanumeric signals to said central processing unit; said instructions including functional modules for defining operations of said central processing unit, including (i) an object editor module responsive to said operator control signals for defining the virtual objects by relating a graphical appearance of said virtual objects to a behavior of said objects during execution by the system; (ii) an integration editor module responsive to said operator control signals for mapping ones of the virtual objects into names of variables, the contents of memory locations of said random access memory corresponding to said named variables, said named variables being used for redrawing the virtual objects on the graphics display to reflect changes in the contents of the memory locations associated with said named variables and said named variables further supplying graphical access to data in response to said positional signals from said locator/trigger device and to screen locations of said virtual objects, (iii) an execution facility for redrawing ones of said virtual objects in response to dynamic data stored in said random access memory and in response to operator control signals, the execution facility further responsive to predetermined logic specification data; (iv) said logic specification data specifying sets of events and corresponding reactions which should occur in response to the respective events, an respective origin of the event, a state of the system wherein said state is a finite state machine model of the system, and predetermined conditions, wherein each of said events originating from one of (A) ones of said virtual objects, (B) a system clock signal, (C) control signals from said central processing unit, (D) messages from other computer systems, or (E) changes in the contents of the named variables; (v) said logic specification further specifying the next state that the system should transition to after an event is received; (vi) said logic specification further specifying the reactions that occur under control of the logic specification, ones of which affect ones of the virtual objects displayed on the display device; and a state table editor responsive to said operator control signals for defining said logic specification by specifying: (i) system states; (ii) events and conditions to be recognized in respective ones of said states; (iii) actions to be taken in response to respective ones of said events and states; and (iv) next states to be entered in response to respective ones of said events and states.