Scripted text discussion system

Abstract

A text discussion script data structure is stored on a computer-readable medium in association with a real-time computer discussion. The text discussion script data structure is specified by an author to guide a real-time, multi-user, text discussion or “chat.” The text discussion script includes one or more successive scenes having roles for each of one or more discussion participants. For each scene and role, the author provides instructions and background information that guide the discussion participants, but do not provide the explicit text of the real-time discussion. Accordingly, the text discussion script is adapted to guide real-time computer discussions or chats in a scalable, replicable way, while allowing participants to generate the actual discussion dialog. The text discussion script data structure may be specified by markup language tags that, together, form a markup language tag schema.

1 . In a real-time computer discussion system having a central computer system with which each of multiple participant computers are in communication such that messages are transmitted among the participant computers as substantially real-time messages of a discussion between participants, the system including a computer-readable medium that stores computer software instructions for operating the system, a data structure stored on the computer-readable medium in association with a real-time computer discussion, comprising: 
 a discussion script field that identifies a predefined real-time text discussion script;    plural predefined scene fields that identify descriptions of plural successive scenes in the real-time text discussion, the plural predefined scene fields identifying descriptions of the plural successive scenes prior to initiation of the real-time computer discussion; and    plural role fields are associated with each of the plural predefined scene fields to identify descriptions of plural roles that guide participants in each of the successive scenes of the real-time text discussion, in which at least one of the plural predefined scene fields has associated with it a predefined scene advance criterion field that prior to initiation of the real-time computer discussion describes a criterion upon which plural predefined participants can designate advancement of the real-time discussion to a subsequent scene, the plural predefined participants being identified in the at least one scene field with reference to the roles of the participants and corresponding role fields, and in which the one or more specified participants are designated in the at least one scene field by one or more role identifiers that specify participants according to the roles they assume.    
   
   
       2 . In a real-time computer discussion system having a central computer system with which each of multiple participant computers are in communication such that messages are transmitted among the participant computers as substantially real-time messages of a discussion between participants, the system including a computer-readable medium that stores computer software instructions for operating the system, a data structure stored on the computer-readable medium in association with a real-time computer discussion, comprising: 
 a discussion script field that identifies a predefined real-time text discussion script;    plural predefined scene fields that identify descriptions of plural successive scenes in the real-time text discussion, the plural predefined scene fields identifying descriptions of the plural successive scenes prior to initiation of the real-time computer discussion; and    plural role fields are associated with each of the plural predefined scene fields to identify descriptions of plural roles that guide participants in each of the successive scenes of the real-time text discussion, each field is identified by one or more markup language tags, and the markup language tags are in an extensible markup language format.    
   
   
       3 . In a real-time computer discussion system having a central computer system with which each of multiple participant computers are in communication such that messages are transmitted among the participant computers as substantially real-time messages of a discussion between participants, the system including a computer-readable medium that stores computer software instructions for operating the system, a markup language tag schema stored on the computer-readable medium in association the real-time computer discussion system, comprising: 
 a discussion script tag for designating a predefined real-time text discussion script; and    plural predefined scene tags for designating descriptions of plural successive scenes in the real-time text discussion, the plural predefined scene tags identifying descriptions of the plural predefined scenes prior to initiation of the real-time computer discussion in which the tags elicit a response from a discussion participant to guide the chat.    
   
   
       4 . The schema of  claim 3 , in which the scene tag has associated with it a scene advance criterion parameter for describing a criterion upon which a participant can designate advancement of a real-time discussion from one scene to another.  
   
   
       5 . The schema of  claim 3 , in which the markup language tags are in an extensible markup language format.  
   
   
       6 . In a scripted real-time computer discussion system having a central computer system with which each of multiple participant computers are in communication such that messages are transmitted among the participant computers as substantially real-time messages of a discussion between participants, the system including a computer-readable medium that stores computer software instructions for operating the system, a markup language tag schema stored on the computer-readable medium in association with the real-time computer discussion system, comprising: 
 a discussion script tag for designating a predefined, and author guided, real-time text discussion script; and    plural role tags for designating descriptions of and instructions for plural predefined roles that guide participants in the real-time text discussion prior to initiation of the real-time computer discussion so that an author of the text discussion script guides the participants in their discussion by providing script and role tags as discussion prompts.    
   
   
       7 . A method of providing a script discussion in a real-time computer discussion system comprising the acts of: 
 assigning a role to a participant of a plurality of discussion participants;    providing pre authored script instructions to the participant of the plurality of discussion participants; and    providing background information to the participant of the plurality of discussion participants in which the text discussion script is adapted to guide real-time computer discussions in a replicable way while the plurality of discussion participants generate the actual discussion dialog.    
   
   
       8 . A method of providing a text discussion script in a real-time computer discussion system comprising the acts of: 
 providing a script introduction for a user to utilize to determine if he wishes to participate in a discussion guided by the text discussion script;    providing a programmed scene advancement criterion;    determining when a scene is to be advanced, by designated participants    proceeding to a subsequent scene    
   
   
       9 . The method of providing a text discussion script in a real-time computer discussion system of  claim 8 , in which the scene advancement criteria is time based.  
   
   
       10 . The method of providing a text discussion script in a real-time computer discussion system of  claim 8 , in which the scene advancement criteria is participant controlled.  
   
   
       11 . A method of providing a text discussion script comprising the acts of: 
 providing a script introduction;    providing a plurality of scenes;    defining for each scene of the plurality of scenes instructions to guide a group of discussion participants;    defining for each scene of the plurality of scenes background information to guide the group of discussion participants;    defining for each scene of the plurality of scenes a role for a discussion participant who is a member of the group of discussion participants, in each scene;    defining for the role, instructions to guide the discussion participant in generating a discussion dialog; and    defining for the role, background information to guide the discussion participant ingenerating the discussion dialog;    whereby the text discussion script produced guides a real-time computer discussion, in which the group of discussion participants generate the discussion dialog.    
   
   
       12 . The method of providing a text discussion script of  claim 11 , in which the script introduction displays introductory text used by a discussion participant to determine if he wishes to join the discussion dialog.  
   
   
       13 . The method of providing a text discussion script of  claim 11 , in which the script introduction describes the text discussion script.  
   
   
       14 . The method of providing a text discussion script of  claim 11 , in which the script introduction describes the role.  
   
   
       15 . The method of providing a text discussion script of  claim 11 , in which the scene of the plurality of scenes includes a plurality of roles.  
   
   
       16 . The method of providing a text discussion script of  claim 15 , in which each role of the plurality of roles includes background information and instructions that are separately provided to guide each discussion participant.  
   
   
       17 . The method of providing a text discussion script of  claim 15 , in which a role of the plurality of roles includes background information and instructions that conflict with another role of the plurality of roles.  
   
   
       18 . The method of providing a text discussion script of  claim 11 , further including the step of providing a scene goal.  
   
   
       19 . The method of providing a text discussion script of  claim 11 , further including the step of providing advancement criterion.  
   
   
       20 . The method of providing a text discussion script of  claim 11 , further including the step of providing advancement criterion based upon time.  
   
   
       21 . The method of providing a text discussion script of  claim 19 , further including the step of authorizing a discussion participant to determine when a scene is completed.  
   
   
       22 . A method of generating a graphical user interface comprising the acts of: 
 generating a script title area on a display;    generating a background information area;    generating a text chat history area;    generating a participant list area, and a text input area;    whereby an author may provide instructions, and background information to guide a user participating in a chat.    
   
   
       23 . A method of generating a graphical user interface of  claim 22 , further including the act of generating a check box for each user designated by an author to control advancement to a next scene.  
   
   
       24 . A method of providing a scripted discussion comprising: 
 providing a pre-authored script for guiding a real-time text discussion;    displaying a script introduction to a potential participant in the real-time text discussion;    displaying a plurality of roles to the potential participant;    displaying scene and role information;    admitting to the real-time text based discussion a new participant based upon the new participants selection of the role and scene information;    receiving an indication that a scene advancement criteria has been met;    inquiring to determine if the current scene in the text based discussion is the final scene; and    terminating the text based discussion after the final scene has been completed.    
   
   
       25 . The method of providing a scripted discussion of  claim 23 , in which the script introduction includes introductory text that describes the test discussion script and a plurality of roles.  
   
   
       26 . The method of providing a scripted discussion of  claim 23 , in which the scene advancement criteria is based upon indications made by at least one designated participant.  
   
   
       27 . A method of providing a text discussion script represented by markup language tags, comprising the acts of: 
 designating a text discussion script by an initiating script tag and an ending script tag;    attaching to the initiating script tag, a parameter setting the maximum number of participants;    attaching to the initiating script tag, a parameter setting the minimum number of participants;    designating an initiating script title tag and an ending script title tag containing the title of the script;    designating an initiating script introduction tag and an ending script introduction tag containing introductory text displayed to a user considering whether or not to participate in a scripted discussion;    designating an initiating help tag and an ending help tag containing help text for a help entry, and a label parameter;    designating a stand alone role information tag to provide information about a given role;    designating an initiating scene tag and an ending scene tag that define and contain a scene within a script;    designating an initiating scene background tag, and an ending scene background tag, to define and contain a title of the scene in within the tags;    designating an initiating scene title tag, and an ending scene title tag, to define and contain    designating an initiating scene chat tag, and an ending scene chat tag;    designating an initiating scene advance button name tag and an ending scene advance button name;    designating an initiating scene chat name tag and an ending scene chat name tag that causes a user name to be displayed in a text discussion area; and    designating an initiating scene user list name tag and an ending scene user list name tag that cause a user name to be displayed in a text discussion area.    
   
   
       28 . The method of providing a text discussion script represented by markup language tags of  claim 27 , in which the markup language tags are compatible with extensible Markup Language.  
   
   
       29 . The method of providing a text discussion script represented by markup language tags of  claim 27 , in which the label parameter is labeled role help.  
   
   
       30 . The method of providing a text discussion script represented by markup language tags of  claim 27 , in which the label parameter is labeled introduction.  
   
   
       31 . The method of providing a text discussion script represented by markup language tags of  claim 27 , in which the label parameter is labeled role summaries.  
   
   
       32 . The method of providing a text discussion script represented by markup language tags of  claim 27 , in which the label parameter is labeled about, and provides information including credits and edit history.  
   
   
       33 . The method of providing a text discussion script represented by markup language tags of  claim 27 , in which the help tags are positioned within the script tags, and outside of a particular scene.  
   
   
       34 . The method of providing a text discussion script represented by markup language tags of  claim 27 , in which the role information tag specifies an order in which roles appear, during a role selection.  
   
   
       35 . The method of providing a text discussion script represented by markup language tags of  claim 27 , in which the role information tag specifies a number of participants for the role.  
   
   
       36 . The method of providing a text discussion script represented by markup language tags of  claim 27 , in which the role information tag specifies a password must be entered, before a role is available to the user.  
   
   
       37 . The method of providing a text discussion script represented by markup language tags of  claim 27 , in which the role information tag is positioned within the script tags, and outside of the scene.  
   
   
       38 . The method of providing a text discussion script represented by markup language tags of  claim 27 , a plurality of scenes demarcated by paired initiating scene tags and ending scene tags, in which the scenes are disposed within the script file in chronological order.  
   
   
       39 . The method of providing a text discussion script represented by markup language tags of  claim 27 , in which the initiating screen tag includes an advance parameter that establishes a criteria for advancing to a next scene of a plurality of scenes.  
   
   
       40 . The method of providing a text discussion script represented by markup language tags of  claim 27 , in which the advance parameter is an elapsed time.  
   
   
       41 . The method of providing a text discussion script represented by markup language tags of  claim 27 , in which the advance parameter is satisfied when any participant of the plurality of participants votes to advance to a next scene.  
   
   
       42 . The method of providing a text discussion script represented by markup language tags of  claim 27 , in which the advance parameter is satisfied when all participants of the plurality of participants votes to advance to a next scene.  
   
   
       43 . The method of providing a text discussion script represented by markup language tags of  claim 27 , in which a plurality of scene backgrounds are provided corresponding to a plurality of roles.  
   
   
       44 . The method of providing a text discussion script represented by markup language tags of  claim 43 , in which the plurality of scene backgrounds corresponding to the plurality of roles provide guidance regarding how to act, to a participant fulfilling a role.  
   
   
       45 . The method of providing a text discussion script represented by markup language tags of  claim 27 , in which the user name is an alias.