Apple Inc.

Enio Ohmaye

Arthur James

G Allen Cypher

David L Maulsby

A method and apparatus for providing dynamic classification of objects. The system provides for dynamic classification of objects within a simulator environment and also contains a graphical user interface related to the simulator environment. The apparatus includes a display, a processor, and an input device. A processor generates a simulation environment on a display screen and a user interfaces to the system with a user input device. Objects within a simulation take on user specified rules and properties that define their behavior. A graphical representation is provided for categorizing classes of objects. A graphical representation of a jar provides a label for defining the identity of the jar and a first region into which items (e.g., icons representing instances or classes of objects) can be dragged and dropped. These items become members of the dynamic class defined by the jar. A second region of the jar defines items that are specifically excluded from the set of items defined by the contents of the first region. Items can be dragged and dropped into the second region. Since scope of the contents of a jar is wide, jars allow a user to define and redefine a class of unrelated objects without being confined to a hierarchical data structure. Behavior can be defined with respect to items categorized by a particular jar. Further, jar membership is inherited in that any instances having an ancestor class occurring in the jar belong to the jar themselves.

Dynamic classes and graphical user interface for same

A system and method for creating and executing interactive interpersonal computer simulations comprises an authoring editor. The authoring editor presents an authoring user interface with a comic book metaphor form for the creation of simulations. The authoring editor also provides constructs that represent chapter objects, cell objects, character objects, message objects, and thought objects to create a simulation. The authoring editor interprets the constructs and their arrangement and creates an executable simulation stored in an active simulation memory. The system also includes an engine that reads the active simulation memory, recognizes the data objects, and executes subroutines corresponding to the data objects. The engine outputs the results of the execution of the objects to the user through a simulation user interface.

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Sunnyvale, CA, United States of America

Enio Ohmaye