Apple Inc.

G Allen Cypher

David Canfield Smith

Enio Ohmaye

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 method and apparatus for constructing subroutines to define the behavior of simulation objects is provided. The apparatus includes a display, a processor, and an input device. The processor generates on the display a GRR set region associated with a simulation object. A user operates the input device to place visual representations of rules and/or subroutines within the GRR set region. When a visual representation of a rule or subroutine is placed within a GRR set, computer step sequences that implement the behavior specified for the rule or subroutine are generated for the simulation object. A user may operate the input device to activate a control on a visual subroutine indicator to cause a subroutine region to appear. When a visual representation of a rule or subroutine is placed within a subroutine region, the behavior specified for the rule or subroutine is incorporated into the subroutine associated with the subroutine region. Different types of subroutines are provided, where the type of a subroutine determines how the rules within the subroutine are processed during a simulation. Pretests may be specified for subroutines so that the behavior represented by the rules within the subroutine will not be exhibited unless the current state of the simulation satisfies the conditions of the pretest. During the performance of a simulation, the processor displays images associated with simulation objects on the display. The processor causes the images to behave according to the generalized computer step sequences that have been generated based upon the rules and/or subroutines represented in the GRR set regions for the respective objects.

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Palo Alto, CA, United States of America

G Allen Cypher