Method and program for scenario provision in a simulation system

Abstract

A simulation system ( 20 ) facilitates training for trainees ( 26 ) subject to multi-directional threats. A method for providing a scenario ( 211 ) for use in the simulation system ( 20 ) utilizes a scenario provision process ( 202 ) executable on a computing system ( 26 ). The process ( 202 ) calls for choosing a background image ( 234 ) for the scenario ( 211 ), and selecting a video clip(s) ( 386 ) of one or more actors ( 266 ) from a database ( 203 ) of video clips ( 386 ). The video clip(s) ( 386 ) are filmed using a green or blue screen technique, and include a mask portion ( 394 ) of the actor ( 266 ) and a transparent portion ( 396 ). The video clip(s) ( 386 ) are combined with the background image ( 234 ) to create the scenario ( 211 ), with the mask portion ( 394 ) forming a foreground image over the background image ( 234 ). The scenario ( 211 ) is displayed on a display of the simulation system ( 20 ).

1 . A method for providing a scenario for use in a scenario playback system, said method utilizing a computing system executing scenario creation code, and said method comprising: 
 choosing, at said computing system, a background image for said scenario;    selecting a video clip from a database of video clips stored in said computing system, said video clip having a mask portion and a transparent portion;    combining said video clip with said background image to create said scenario, said mask portion forming a foreground image over said background image; and    displaying said scenario on a display of said scenario playback system for interaction with a user.    
   
   
       2 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said background image is chosen from a plurality of background images stored in said computing system, each of which portrays an environment.  
   
   
       3 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said background image is a panoramic format image, said display includes a first screen and a second screen adjacent said first screen, and said displaying operation comprises: 
 presenting a first view of said background image on said first screen; and    presenting a second view of said background image on said second screen, said first and second views being adjacent portions of said background image.    
   
   
       4 . A method as claimed in  claim 3  further comprising manipulating said background image relative to said first and second screens to form said first and second views.  
   
   
       5 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising specifying a foreground layer from a portion of said background image, said foreground layer overlaying said mask portion of said video clip in said situational scenario.  
   
   
       6 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising recording, prior to said selecting operation, said video clips in said database, said video clips portraying an actor performing animation sequences.  
   
   
       7 . A method as claimed in  claim 6  wherein said actor is a first actor, and said method further comprises: 
 recording, prior to said selecting operation, additional video clips into said database, said additional video clips portraying a actor performing said animation sequences; and    enabling a selection of said video clips for said first actor and said additional video clips for said second actor for combination with said background image.    
   
   
       8 . A method as claimed in  claim 6  further comprising distinguishing each of said video clips in said database by an identifier characterizing one of said animation sequences.  
   
   
       9 . A method as claimed in  claim 6  wherein said recording operation comprises: 
 filming said actor performing said animation sequences against a backdrop having a single color to obtain said video clips; and    creating a matte defining said transparent portion and said mask portion such that an image of said actor forms said mask portion.    
   
   
       10 . A method as claimed in  claim 6  wherein for one of said animation sequences, said method further comprises: 
 defining zones on said mask portion;    storing, in said computing system, zone information corresponding to said zones in association with said one of said animation sequences;    detecting, in response to said presenting operation, an event within one of said zones; and    initiating, within said scenario, a response to said event.    
   
   
       11 . A method as claimed in  claim 10  wherein: 
 said defining operation defines hit zones;    said detecting operation detects discharge of a weapon into one of said hit zones; and    said initiating operation includes branching to one of said animation sequences portraying a reaction of said actor to said discharge.    
   
   
       12 . A method as claimed in  claim 10  wherein: 
 said defining operation defines a first hit zone and a second hit zone;    said detecting operation detects discharge of a weapon into one of said first and second hit zones; and    said initiating operation includes:    when said discharge is detected in said first hit zone, branching to a first one of said animation sequences portraying a first reaction of said actor to said discharge; and    when said discharge is detected in said second hit zone, branching to a second one of said animation sequences portraying a second reaction of said actor to said discharge.    
   
   
       13 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said video clips portray an actor performing animation sequences, said video clip is a first video clip of a first one of said animation sequences, and said method further comprises: 
 selecting a second video clip from said database, said second video clip being a second one of said animation sequences of said actor; and    linking said first and second video clips in a logic flow of said first and second video clips to form a behavior for said actor, and said combining operation combines said first and second video clips in said logic flow with said background image to create said scenario of said actor exhibiting said behavior.    
   
   
       14 . A method as claimed in  claim 13  further comprising: 
 selecting a third video clip from said database, said third video clip being a third one of said animation sequences of said actor;    selectively linking said third video clip with said first and second video clips in said logic flow;    assigning an event to said first video clip;    initiating said third video clip when said event occurs during said presenting operation; and    initiating said second video clip when said event fails to occur.    
   
   
       15 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein database of video clips includes of a plurality of actors performing a plurality of animation sequences, said database further includes a plurality of behaviors formed from logic flows of ones of said animation sequences, and: 
 said selecting operation comprises:    choosing a first actor from said plurality of actors;    assigning a first behavior to said first actor from said plurality of behaviors;    choosing a second actor from said plurality of actors; and    assigning a second behavior to said second actor from said plurality of behaviors; and    said combining operation includes combining said video clips of said first actor exhibiting said first behavior and said video clips of said second actor exhibiting said second behavior with said background image to create said scenario that includes said first and second actors.    
   
   
       16 . A method as claimed in  claim 15  further comprising: 
 assigning an event to one of said video clips of said first behavior; and    effecting said second behavior for said second actor in response to initiation of said event within said first behavior for said first actor.    
   
   
       17 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said combining operation comprises employing a drag-and-drop function to determine a location of said mask portion of said video clip against said background image.  
   
   
       18 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said combining operation comprises resizing said mask portion of said video clip relative to said background image to characterize a distance of said mask portion from said user.  
   
   
       19 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said combining operation comprises imposing a time delay on an appearance of said video clip in combination with said background image.  
   
   
       20 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said method further comprises: 
 assigning an event to said video clip;    linking a trigger with said video clip, said trigger being associated with said event; and    said displaying operation includes displaying a second video clip when said trigger is activated indicating an occurrence of said event.    
   
   
       21 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said video clip includes an audio signal, and said displaying operation comprises broadcasting said audio signal.  
   
   
       22 . A computer-readable storage medium containing executable code for instructing a processor to create a scenario for interactive use in a scenario playback system, said executable code instructing said processor to perform operations comprising: 
 receiving a first input indicating choice of a background image for said scenario, said background image being one of a plurality of background images stored in a memory associated with said processor, each of said background images portraying an environment;    receiving a second input indicating selection of an actor from a plurality of actors stored in said memory;    receiving a third input indicating assignment of a behavior from a plurality of behaviors stored in said memory;    accessing video clips of said actor from a database of said video clips stored in said memory, said video clips portraying said actor performing animation sequences in accordance with said behavior, each of said video clips having a mask portion and a transparent portion;    combining said video clips with said background image to create said scenario, said mask portion forming a foreground image over said background image; and    saving said scenario for presentation on a display of said scenario playback system for interaction with a user.    
   
   
       23 . A computer-readable storage medium as claimed in  claim 22  wherein said actor is a first actor, said behavior is a first behavior, and said executable code instructs said processor to perform further operations comprising: 
 receiving a fourth input indicating selection of a second actor from said plurality of actors;    receiving a fifth input indicating assignment of a second behavior from said plurality of behaviors;    accessing additional video clips of said second actor from said database, said additional video clips portraying said second actor performing said animation sequences in accordance with said second behavior, each of said additional video clips having a mask portion and a transparent portion; and    said combining operation includes combining said video clips of said first actor and said additional video clips of said second actor with said background image to create said scenario that includes said first and second actors.    
   
   
       24 . A computer-readable storage medium as claimed in  claim 23  wherein said executable code instructs said processor to perform further operations comprising: 
 assigning an event to one of said video clips of said first behavior; and    effecting said second behavior for said second actor in response to initiation of said event within said first behavior for said first actor.    
   
   
       25 . A method for providing a scenario for use in a scenario playback system, said method utilizing a computing system executing scenario creation code, and said method comprising: 
 choosing, at said computing system, a background image for said scenario;    selecting a video clip from a database of video clips stored in said computing system, said video clip having a mask portion and a transparent portion;    combining said video clip with said background image to create said scenario, said mask portion forming a foreground image over said background image, said combining operation including:    employing a drag-and-drop function to determine a location of said mask portion of said video clip against said background image; and    specifying a foreground layer from a portion of said background image, said foreground layer overlaying said mask portion of said video clip at said location; and    displaying said scenario on a display of said scenario playback system for interaction with a user.    
   
   
       26 . A method as claimed in  claim 25  wherein said background image is a panoramic format image, said display includes a first screen and a second screen adjacent said first screen, and said presenting operation comprises: 
 presenting a first view of said background image on said first screen; and    presenting a second view of said background image on said second screen, said first and second views being adjacent portions of said background image.    
   
   
       27 . A method as claimed in  claim 25  wherein said combining operation comprises resizing said mask portion of said video clip relative to said background image to characterize a distance of said mask portion from said user.  
   
   
       28 . A method as claimed in  claim 25  wherein said combining operation comprises imposing a time delay on an appearance of said video clip in combination with said background image.  
   
   
       29 . A method as claimed in  claim 25  wherein said method further comprises: 
 assigning an event to said video clip;    linking a trigger with said video clip, said trigger being associated with said event; and    initiating said event when said trigger is activated through interaction by said user during said presenting operation.    
   
   
       30 . A method as claimed in  claim 25  wherein said video clip includes an audio signal, and said displaying operation comprises broadcasting said audio signal.  
   
   
       31 . A method for providing a scenario for use in a scenario playback system, said method utilizing a computing system executing scenario creation code, and said method comprising: 
 filming an actor performing animation sequences against a backdrop having a single color to obtain video clips;    creating a matte defining a transparent portion and a mask portion of said video clips such that an image of said actor forms said mask portion;    differentiating said video clips by identifiers characterizing said animation sequences;    storing, at said computing system, said video clips in connection with said identifiers in a database; and    selecting one of said video clips from said database for combination with a background image to create said scenario; and displaying said scenario on a display of a scenario playback system, said mask portion forming a foreground image over said background image.    
   
   
       32 . A method as claimed in  claim 31  wherein said database of video clips includes of a plurality of actors performing a plurality of animation sequences, said database further includes a plurality of behaviors formed from logic flows of ones of said animation sequences, and: 
 said selecting operation comprises selecting said actor from said plurality of actors and assigning a behavior from said plurality of behaviors; and    said combining operation comprises combining said video clips of said actor exhibiting said behavior with a background image to create said scenario.