Abstract: A system and computer program product for implementing a method to manage a usage cost of an asset. In the method, a user component of a business entity may access the asset after the asset has been developed by a development component, wherein the user component receives compensation from a compensator in response to the user component having incurred a usage burden from using the asset, and wherein the compensator may have contributed to the usage burden. Alternatively, a user component of a second business entity may access an asset after the asset is developed by a development component of a first business entity, wherein second business entity receives compensation from the first business entity in response to the user component having incurred a usage burden from using the asset. The compensation has a magnitude that is a function of the usage burden. The asset may be a software application.

Abstract: An authoring or other software tool is provided which allows users of the tool to review the creation and evolution of all or part of a content such as a multimedia title created using a tool incorporating the invention. According to the invention, an authoring tool comprises a recording mechanism for recording actions performed during the development or modification of software content in a manner that preserves, directly or indirectly, the relative chronological order of the actions and a playback mechanism for performing or otherwise simulating recorded actions. Preferably, the playback of an action includes annotation using text, recorded or computer-generated voice, video and/or graphic animation. Preferably, an authoring tool embodying the invention allows an author to specify criteria for which actions are to be played back, thereby providing an author with a mechanism for focusing on a particular subset of the recorded actions.

Abstract: An authoring or other software tool is provided which allows users of the tool to review the creation and evolution of all or part of a content such as a multimedia title created using a tool incorporating the invention. According to the invention, an authoring tool comprises a recording mechanism for recording actions performed during the development or modification of software content in a manner that preserves, directly or indirectly, the relative chronological order of the actions and a playback mechanism for performing or otherwise simulating recorded actions. Preferably, the playback of an action includes annotation using text, recorded or computer-generated voice, video and/or graphic animation. Preferably, an authoring tool embodying the invention allows an author to specify criteria for which actions are to be played back, thereby providing an author with a mechanism for focusing on a particular subset of the recorded actions.

Abstract: According to the invention, an authoring tool comprises at least one nestable graphic state and transition machine, hereinafter referred to as a "state machine", each state machine comprising one or more states and zero or more transitions, each transition interconnecting a first state, known as the "from.sub.-- state", with a second state, known as the "to.sub.-- state". The first and second states can be the same state or different states. For each state in the plurality of states there can be any number of transitions, including zero, emanating therefrom and directed thereto. Each state machine has a state designated as its "current state" which changes in response to users actions or other events. Each state machine also has an initial state which is the state that is designated as the current state when the multimedia title is launched. The authoring tool allows an author to view a state machine simultaneously in several different formats, providing a full view and a map view.

Abstract: According to the invention, a software tool such as an authoring tool provides a mechanism for manipulating transient events within a multimedia product or other content having one or more state machines, each state machine having one or more states and one or more transitions, each transition connecting a first state with a second state, the first and second states being the same as or different from each other, each transition capable of being associated with one or more transient events and a trigger such that when said trigger occurs it initiates a transition from the transition's first state to the transition's second state, the transient events associated with the transition occurring on the computer system during the transition. The invention provides a mechanism for locating a transient event and displays a graphic reference for the located transient event so that the graphic reference can be used to manipulate the transient event.

Abstract: A graphical interface for visually specifying the behavior of combinations of finite-state and continuous-state actors. The state of an actor may be controlled by the states of other actors. The motion of continuous-state actors is constrained by functions represented as, and analogous to, grooves, sockets, pins, glue, springs, and boxes. These functions may be represented graphically on the actor so that the system of constraints is readily ascertainable to the user.

Abstract: An extensible simulation system and graphical programming method enable a simulation user to program the behaviors of objects in a simulation while requiring no knowledge of computer programming concepts or languages. The simulation user defines each object's behaviors by creating Graphical Rewrite Rules through programming by demonstration. The user can selectively abstract a given Graphical Rewrite Rule (GRR) such that it applies to states within the simulation according to hierarchical object types and object property conditions. The extensible simulation system comprises a Central Processing Unit (CPU), an input device, an output device, an external storage device, predetermined amounts of Random Access Memory (RAM) and Read-Only Memory (ROM), and an extensible simulator.

Abstract: A graphical interface for visually specifying the behavior of combinations of finite-state and continuous-state actors. The state of an actor may be controlled by the states of other actors. The motion of continuous-state actors is constrained by functions represented as, and analogous to, grooves, sockets, pins, glue, springs, and boxes. These functions may be represented graphically on the actor so that the system of constraints is readily ascertainable to the user.