System for animating program operation and displaying time-based relationships

A method for controlling behavior of a model embodied as interactive objects in an object oriented computer programming system, wherein the method is executed by a computer, comprising the steps of:

• defining the behavior of said model in response to a triggering event by a network of constraints, including temporal constraints, on the state of said model following said triggering event;
• creating and storing in a memory, representations of messages to be sent to said model;
• creating and storing in said memory a separate time stamp associated with each message representation, each said message causing aids model to perform an appropriate action at a time indicated by the associated time stamp to satisfy said network of constraints;
• incrementing a variable representing time;
• transmitting each of said messages stored in memory to said model when time represented by said time variable rises at least to the time indicated by the time stamp associated with the message;
• and
• generating a visible output in response to at least one of said actions performed by said interactive objects.

A method for simulating interactive elements utilizing a model embodied within an object oriented computer programming system wherein said model exhibits temporal behavior, wherein the method is execute by a computer, comprising the steps of:

• instantiating a time management object for executing procedures embodying the temporal behavior of said model, including adjusting the value of a variable representing time and maintaining an event queue for storing events, wherein an event comprises a representation of a message and wherein an event further comprises a time stamp indicating a time at which said message is to be sent, said time management object being adapted to send a message to said model when the time represented by said time variable rises at least to the time indicated by the time stamp;
• instantiating a temporal constraint object comprising a description of a triggering message for the model and a description of a temporal constraint on the behavior of the model in response to said triggering message;
• compiling a response procedure to be executed by said time management object for storing a response event in said event queue, said response event comprising a time stamp indicating a future time and representation of a temporal constraint satisfaction message to be sent to said model for causing said model to satisfy said temporal constraint;
• and
• generating a visible output in response to said behavior of said model.

A method for simulating a collection of interactive elements utilizing a model embodied within an object oriented computer programming system, wherein said model exhibits temporal behavior, the method being executed by a computer and comprising the steps of:

• instantiating a time management object for executing procedures embodying the temporal behavior of said model, including adjusting the value of a time variable representing time and maintaining an event queue for storing events, wherein an event comprises a representation of a message and a time stamp indicating a time at which said message is to be sent, said time management object sending said message to said model when the time represented by said time variable rises at least to the time indicated by said time stamp;
• instantiating a temporal constraint object comprising a description of a triggering message and a description of a temporal constraint on the behavior of time model in response to said triggering message;
• compiling a response procedure to be executed by said time management object for storing a response event in said event queue, said response event comprising a time stamp indicating a future time and a representation of temporal constraint satisfaction message to said model for causing said model to satisfy said temporal constraint, said response procedure being compiled in response to said triggering message;
• executing said response procedure whereby said time management object stores said response event in said event queue and then sends said temporal constraint satisfaction message to said model when said time represented by said time variable rises at least to said future time;
• and
• displaying an image on a screen of a computer terminal, the appearance of said image being controlled according to the temporal behavior of said model.

A method for animating the operation of an algorithm utilizing a model embodiment within an object oriented computer programming system, wherein said model exhibits temporal behavior in response to messages sent thereto, the method being executed by a computer and comprising the steps of:

• instantiating a time management object for executing procedures embodying the temporal behavior of said model, including adjusting the value of at time variable representing time and maintaining an event queue for storing events, wherein an event comprises a representation of a message and wherein an event further comprises a time stamp indicating a time at which said message is to be sent, said time management object sending said message to said model when the time represented by said time variable rises at least at least to the time indicated by said time stamp;
• instantiating a temporal constraint object comprising a description of a triggering message indicating performance of an action performed by said algorithm and a description of a temporal constraint on the behavior of said model in response to said triggering message;
• compiling a response procedure to be executed by said time management object for storing a response event in said event queue, said response event comprising a time stamp indicating a future time and a representation of a temporal constraint satisfaction message to said model for causing said model to satisfy said temporal constraint;
• and
• generating a visible output in response to said behavior of said model, said visible output representing operation of said model.

A method for animating the operation of an algorithm utilizing a model embodied within an object oriented computer programming system, wherein said model exhibits temporal behavior, the method being executed by a computer and comprising the steps of:

• instantiating a time management object for executing procedures embodying the temporal behavior of said model, including adjusting the value of a time variable representing time and maintaining an event queue for storing events, wherein an event comprises a representation of a message and a time stamp indicating a time at which said message is to be sent, said time management object being adapted to send said message to said model when the time represented by said time variable rises at least to the time indicated by said time stamp;
• instantiating a temporal constraint object comprising a description of a triggering message indicating performance of an action performed by said algorithm and a description of a temporal constraint on the behavior of said model in response to said triggering message;
• compiling a response procedure to be executed by said time management object for storing a response event in said event queue, said response event comprising a time stamp indicating a future time and said response event future comprising a representation of a temporal constraint satisfaction message to said model for causing said model to satisfy said temporal constraint, said response procedure being compiled in response to said triggering message;
• executing said response procedure whereby said time management object stores said response event in said queue and then sends said temporal constrain satisfaction message to said model when said time represented by said time variable rises at least to said future time;
• and
• displaying an image on a screen of a computer terminal, the appearance of said image being controlled according to the temporal behavior of said model and representing said action performed by said algorithm.