Abstract:
A simulated environment includes at least one circumstance requiring attention. One correct and multiple incorrect solutions for connecting the circumstance are provided. If one of the incorrect solutions is selected appropriate resource materials are recommended.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    Applicant claims priority based on provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/087,091 filed Aug. 7, 2008, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       [0002]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of a simulator according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
         [0003]      FIG. 2  is a depiction of a simulation according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
         [0004]      FIG. 3  is another depiction of the simulation according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
         [0005]      FIG. 4  is another depiction of the simulation according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
         [0006]      FIG. 5  is another depiction of the simulation according to one embodiment of the present invention; and 
         [0007]      FIG. 6  is another depiction of the simulation according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0008]    A simulation is a representation of the behavior or characteristics of one system through the use of another system. Simulations are useful in many contexts, but are specifically useful and advantageous for training purposes. Without the aid of a simulator persons and/or property would be subject to undue risk of harm during training exercises. 
         [0009]    During training exercises simulation is usually employed and administered if the use of physical equipment is prohibitively expensive or too dangerous for a novice. In such situations trainees will spend their time learning valuable lessons in a safe, virtual environment. Often the convenience is to permit trainee mistakes without causing physical or financial harm to person or property. 
         [0010]    While a simulation&#39;s employment can be advantageous its creation and implementation can be extremely costly. A real life situation includes a myriad of possible circumstances, factors and outcomes. Because a simulation typically mirrors a real world situation the simulator usually simulates such circumstances, factors, and outcomes so as to provide the trainee with an equivalent real life experience. Therefore, the simulator must be fed data comprising an abundance of information to accurately portray the real life situation to the trainee during simulation. Much work is expended to create such data thereby dramatically increasing the cost associated with the creation and employment of simulators. 
         [0011]    Utilizing the internet or other means to transmit the voluminous amounts of data needed to support a typical simulator&#39;s real life simulation is usually not practical due to the lack of adequate internet bandwidth. Acquiring enough bandwidth is usually prohibitively expensive and therefore not feasible. As such simulations are usually performed where the simulator and the data are proximate each other. 
         [0012]    Embodiments of the present invention comprise a method for providing an interactive graphical simulation environment over the internet. Because the simulator of this present invention introduces only salient and obvious circumstances, factors, and outcomes during the simulation, the simulator does not require an abundance of internet bandwidth and therefore can be implemented with ordinary internet bandwidth use. 
         [0013]    An embodiment of the invention provides a method in which a user is provided a simulated environment, a simulated circumstance in the simulated environment, directions and/or access to relevant information when the user selects an incorrect solution, at least one correct solution and explanations as to why the correct solution is correct. The user interacts with the simulator during each step, providing answers to questions and receiving feedback from the simulator. 
         [0014]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , an embodiment of the present invention  100  comprises a user interface  102 , simulation generator  116 , database  118  and payment application programming interface (hereinafter “payment API”)  120 , wherein the user interface  102  comprises a website  114 , environment  104 , circumstance  106 , correct solution  110 , and incorrect solution  112 . The user interface  102  may also comprise video  108 . The embodiment  100  may be delivered to the user via a host based system such as the internet or other online system or delivered to the user via hard media such as CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, flash media or the like. 
         [0015]    The user interface  102  further comprises a virtual environment modeled in three dimensions in a polygonal mesh with photo realistic lighting and shading. The user interacts with the virtual environment via a vector-based, animated graphical user interface. Additionally, the user interface  102  may incorporate video clips, thereby enhancing the user&#39;s learning experience. 
         [0016]    Specifically, the user interface comprises a system such as a particular machine, device, computer program or other complex tool. Preferably, the user interface  102  comprises a website  114  and provides means of input wherein the user is allowed to manipulate the system and also provides means of output wherein the system produces the effects of the user&#39;s manipulation. 
         [0017]    In addition, the user interface  102  comprises means for inputting, selecting, and displaying information and data to and from an embodiment of the present invention  100 . Such means include without limitation a graphical, textual, and/or auditory apparatus and a control sequence such as but not limited to keystrokes with a computer keyboard, movements of a computer mouse, and/or selections with a touch screen. 
         [0018]    The user interface  102  links to the simulation generator  116 , database  118  and payment API  120 . The simulation generator  116  creates the simulation environment  104  and circumstance  106  within the simulated environment  104 . For example, the simulation generator  116  can create an environment comprising a simulated room within a simulated hospital for treating simulated patients and the circumstance comprises a simulated toddler having breathing problems. 
         [0019]    The simulation generator  116  can incorporate video  108  into the website  114  such that, for example, the toddler having breathing problems is shown gasping for air via a video clip  108 . If a video clip  108  is not utilized the circumstance is depicted using three dimensional modeling, shaded and lit to simulate a real world circumstance in a real world environment. 
         [0020]    After the circumstance  106  is presented the user is prompted to supply information to the website  114  to solve the problem presented by the circumstance  106 . The user is given several choices from which to choose. If the user chooses an incorrect solution  112 , the simulation generator  116  alerts the user via the website  114  that the chosen solution is incorrect and directs the user to recognized resource materials  113  for further study, i.e., audio, video, print, etc. If, however, the user chooses the correct solution, the simulator generator  116  alerts the user via the website  114  that the chosen solution is correct and displays an explanation as to why the chosen solution is correct. 
         [0021]    The database  118  links to the simulator generator  116  and the website  114 . The database  118  comprises data relating to the information needed by the simulation generator  116  to create the environment  104 , circumstance  106  within the environment  104 , video  108 , correct solution  110 , and incorrect solutions  112 . 
         [0022]    Additionally, the payment API  120  links to the simulation generator  116  and website  114 . The payment API  120  connects to a payment processing agency such as a bank or credit card company, allowing the procurement of payment. The user submits and receives confirmation of payment via the website  114 . 
         [0023]    To commence simulation training the user selects the specific environment  104  from the website  114 . Once selected the user selects the specific circumstance  106  within the environment  104 . Video clips  108  may be integrated into the simulation. Then, the user is prompted to solve the presented problem by selecting the correct solution. If an incorrect solution  112  is selected the user is directed to recognized source materials for research by the user. However if the correct solution  110  is selected the user is provided a detailed explanation as to why the chosen solution is correct. 
         [0024]      FIGS. 2-6  illustrate an example of an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 2  depicts a simulation wherein the user is provided several different environments from which to choose. Specifically, the user may choose to generate simulation environments relating to medicine exhibited graphically on the website by the following icon buttons: electrocardiogram  202 , prescription  204 , patient charting  206 , and defibrillator  208 .  FIG. 2  depicts the selection of the prescription icon button  204 . Upon the selection of the prescription icon button  204  a dialogue box  210  is displayed wherein the dialogue box  210  comprises several different circumstances within the prescription environment: prescription drugs icon  212 , head tilt/chin lift icon  214 , heart monitoring icon  216 , or medications icon  218 . In this example the head tilt/chin lift icon  214  is chosen. 
         [0025]    Additionally,  FIG. 2  comprises text regions  220  wherein various amounts of text are displayed. Also, the background  222  of the environment is displayed in three dimensions utilizing a polygonal mesh, shaded and lit to simulate a real world environment. 
         [0026]      FIG. 3  depicts the simulation after the head tilt/chin lift icon  214  of  FIG. 2  is selected. Upon selection, the background  222 ,  314  of the environment changes through a sequence of still images, thereby simulating camera movement. 
         [0027]    As shown in  FIG. 3  a video clip  302  is incorporated into the simulation  300 . The video clip  302  comprises an infant struggling to breathe. Also, various text in text boxes  316  may provide instructions or present questions regarding the particular simulation depicted. 
         [0028]    To solve the problem presented in the video clip  302  the simulation provides active regions comprising icons for the user&#39;s selection. Each icon represents a correct or incorrect solution to the given problem. As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the user may select a prescription solution icon  304 , defibrillator solution icon  306 , head-support solution icon  308  or a patient charting solution icon  310 . With a pointing device  312 , the user of  FIG. 3  selects the head-support solution icon  308 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 4  illustrates the simulation upon the user of  FIG. 3  selecting the head-support solution icon  308 . Upon selection the user of  FIG. 4  is notified via a text box  402  and associated text that the correct solution was chosen and is provided with an explanation via text boxes  404  and associated text as to why the solution is correct. Additionally after the correct solution is selected a video clip may be incorporated into the simulation showing the implementation of the correct solution. In  FIG. 4  a video clip  406  is incorporated into the simulation showing an individual providing head-support to the infant, thereby increasing the infant&#39;s wind-passage and providing aid to the infant struggling to breathe. 
         [0030]    If, however, the user of  FIG. 3  utilizes the pointing device  506  to choose the prescription solution icon  502  as shown in  FIG. 5 , the user would have chosen an incorrect solution. Upon selection of an incorrect solution as shown in  FIG. 6  the user is notified via a text box  604  and associated text that an incorrect solution was chosen and is directed to appropriate resource materials  113 , including but not limited to audio, video, print, etc. 
         [0031]    If an incorrect solution is selected a video clip may be incorporated into the simulation showing the implementation of the incorrect solution. In  FIG. 6  a video clip  602  is incorporated into the simulation showing an individual orally providing prescription drugs to the infant and not aiding the infant&#39;s breathing. 
         [0032]    The embodiments of the present invention apply to simulations, regardless of type, function or content, user interfaces, regardless of type, function or content, environments, regardless of type, function or content, circumstances, regardless of type, function or content, videos, regardless of type, function or content, simulation generator, regardless of how the simulation is generated, and database, regardless of type, function or data content. 
         [0033]    Although the embodiments of the invention have been illustrated in the accompanying Drawings and described in the foregoing Detailed Description, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed, but is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications, and substitutions of parts and elements without departing from the spirit of the invention.