Method and system for distributing simulated physical objects and systems in a networked environment

A system and method for distributing simulated objects and systems on a computer network wherein:

• A “generator” creates a simulation consisting of components and instructions for assembling those components into a complete simulation;
• A “manager” stores, manages, and distributes simulations, and identifiers corresponding to those simulations;
• One or more “servers” store and transfer documents;
• One or more “clients” receive, store, and manage components, instructions, and identifiers;
• receive documents from servers and find identifiers corresponding to simulations;
• and generate the simulations from the components and instructions.

A system for distributing simulated objects and systems on a computer network comprising:

• A “generator” having the means to create a computer simulation of an object or system, and to separate that simulation into “components” and “instructions” for assembling those components into the simulation,
• A “manager” having the means to receive, store, manage, and distribute the simulations provided by the generator;
• also the means to acquire, create, store, manage, and distribute “identifiers” uniquely associated with particular simulations;
• One or more “servers” having the means to store and deliver documents that may contain said identifiers over a network connection;
• One or more “clients” having the means to receive, store, and manage components, instructions, and identifiers from the manager;
• also the means to receive and display documents from the servers;
• also the means to examine the received documents to locate valid identifiers of specific simulations;
• and also the means generate the simulations from the components and instructions for display on the client computer.

A method of distributing simulated objects and systems on a computer network comprising two steps, wherein:

• In the first step, the system is prepared according to the following actions:
• A “simulation” is generated in the form of a set of “components” and “instructions”, such that the instructions can be used to assemble the components into a simulated object or system;
• The instructions are placed on a “manager” computer and the components are placed on a client computer, the manager and client being connected only through a communications link such as a network;
• A set of “identifiers” is generated that correspond to unique simulations (=sets of components and instructions), and the identifiers are placed on the “client” computer;
• And wherein in the second step, the system is used according to the following actions:
• The client requests a document from a “server” computer across the communications link, and the server responds by sending the requested document to the client;
• The client searches the document for content that matches one or more previously stored identifiers, and if a match is found, uniquely identifies the corresponding simulation;
• The client uses the identified instructions to assemble the identified components into the identified simulation.