U.S. patent application number 11/227001 was filed with the patent office on 2006-03-23 for distributed scripting for presentations with touch screen displays.
Invention is credited to Nicholas T. Hariton.
Application Number | 20060064643 11/227001 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36075387 |
Filed Date | 2006-03-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060064643 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hariton; Nicholas T. |
March 23, 2006 |
Distributed scripting for presentations with touch screen
displays
Abstract
A live presentation may be prepared and displayed by providing a
primary scripting room for preparing a presentation script and a
control computer in the primary scripting computer for use by a
control operator to view and/or edit possible contributions to the
presentation script and for saving the presentation script being
preparing. At least one remote scripting room may be connected to
the primary scripting room by network to form a virtual scripting
room therewith. A remote computer may provided in the remote
scripting room for operation by a contributor to provide possible
contributions to the presentation script viewable by the remote
operator. At least portions of the saved scripted presentation may
be presented on a display computer as the live presentation.
Inventors: |
Hariton; Nicholas T.;
(Tarzana, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
IRELL & MANELLA LLP
1800 AVENUE OF THE STARS
SUITE 900
LOS ANGELES
CA
90067
US
|
Family ID: |
36075387 |
Appl. No.: |
11/227001 |
Filed: |
September 14, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60609796 |
Sep 14, 2004 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
715/751 ;
348/E5.022; 707/E17.009; 715/201; 715/716; 715/731; G9B/27.012 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 16/4393 20190101;
G06F 3/0484 20130101; G06F 40/174 20200101; H04N 5/222 20130101;
G11B 27/034 20130101; G06F 16/40 20190101; G06F 3/0481 20130101;
G06F 3/04883 20130101; H04L 65/4076 20130101; G09B 19/00
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
715/751 ;
715/500.1; 715/716; 715/731 |
International
Class: |
G06F 17/21 20060101
G06F017/21; H04N 5/44 20060101 H04N005/44; G06F 17/00 20060101
G06F017/00; G06F 17/24 20060101 G06F017/24 |
Claims
1. A method of preparing and presenting a live presentation,
comprising: providing a primary scripting room for preparing a
presentation script: providing a control computer in the primary
scripting computer for use by a control operator to view and/or
edit possible contributions to the presentation script and for
saving the presentation script being preparing; connecting at least
one remote scripting room to the primary scripting room by network
to form a virtual scripting room therewith; providing a remote
computer in the remote scripting room for operation by a
contributor to provide possible contributions to the presentation
script viewable by the remote operator; and presenting at least
portions of the saved scripted presentation on a display computer
as the live presentation.
2. The invention of claim 1 further comprising: displaying the
contributor in the remote scripting room on a monitor in the
primary scripting room for the control operator so that the
contributor's potential interaction with the display computer
during the live presentation may be considered during the saving of
the scripted presentation by the control operator.
3. The invention of claim 1 wherein the display computer further
comprises: using a touch screen version of a large screen display
as the display monitor responsive to the saved scripted
presentation to display child windows of the scripted presentation
in response to interaction by a presenter.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the priority of U.S. provisional
application Ser. No. 60/211,912, filed Jun. 16, 2000, U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 09/881,133, filed Jun. 14, 2001 and U.S.
provisional application 60/609,779 filed Sep. 14, 2004.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates generally to a method and a
system for preparing and presenting multimedia presentations.
[0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0005] In preparing a multimedia presentation, the sources,
including individuals and documents) are typically in the same
physical location, called a scripting room, as the scripting
technician. Within the context of a lawsuit, for example (and as
shown in FIG. 1), a trial consultant or technician ("Operator" or
controller or control operator), meets with one or more
contributors, such as attorneys, clients, witnesses and/or experts
in the Scripting Room and together they utilize multimedia software
to create a scripted presentation of evidence relating to a
specific witness or the opening/closing of a trial. Software for
creating such a scripted presentation is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
5,473,744, which is incorporated herein in its entirety by
reference. As an alternative, the contributors may provide the
Operator with an outline of an examination, opening statement, or
closing statement.
[0006] In the Scripting Room, the Control Operator creates a script
corresponding to the outline. A physical scripting room as
currently utilized in the art may include contributors 11 and 12
working with an Operator 10 (trial consultant or technician) to
script a multimedia presentation. The Operator utilizes multimedia
software and data source material on a CPU 14 and associated
display monitor 15, which the contributors (and the Operator) view
on a large screen display 16 linked to the Operator's CPU.
[0007] Regardless of how the scripted presentation is initiated,
the contributors and the Operator still must physically meet to
review the scripted presentation and work together in the Scripting
Room to make final revisions to the scripted presentation. This
entails synchronizing the schedules of potentially a large number
of persons, and will typically involve the additional expense and
effort of travel.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] A live presentation may be prepared and displayed by
providing a primary scripting room for preparing a presentation
script and a control computer in the primary scripting computer for
use by a control operator to view and/or edit possible
contributions to the presentation script and for saving the
presentation script being preparing. At least one remote scripting
room may be connected to the primary scripting room by network to
form a virtual scripting room therewith. A remote computer may
provided in the remote scripting room for operation by a
contributor to provide possible contributions to the presentation
script viewable by the remote operator. At least portions of the
saved scripted presentation may be presented on a display computer
as the live presentation.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a view of a Scripting Room.
[0010] FIG. 2 is a view of a court room in which the presentation
prepared in the Scripting Room is displayed.
[0011] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating distributed scripting.
[0012] FIG. 4 is another diagram illustrating distributed
scripting.
[0013] FIGS. 5a, 5b and 5c represent various system functionality
components;
[0014] FIG. 6 is a diagram of functions that may be performed by a
Presentation Creator.
[0015] FIG. 7 is a diagram of functions that may be performed by a
Presenter.
[0016] FIG. 8 is a diagram of functions that may be performed by an
Application Administrator.
[0017] FIG. 9 is a sketch of a scripting facility including a
virtual scripting facility with a touch screen display.
[0018] FIG. 10 is a sketch of a Court Room in which the
presentation script is presented with a touch screen display.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0019] With reference to the previous example of a scripted
presentation prepared within the context of a lawsuit, FIG. 2
depicts a typical courtroom in which the scripted presentation
would be displayed to enhance the effective presentation of visual
evidence, including but not limited to documents, video taped
depositions, photographs, etc. and ultimately to assist the
presenting attorney to control juror focus. The Control Operator 17
is utilizing multimedia software to display the scripted
presentation and associated data source material from her CPU and
associated hard drives at the direction of the speaking attorney
24. The scripted presentation is displayed on a conveniently
positioned large screen display 18 to both the judge 19 and the
jury 20. In addition, there are display devices on counsel table
21, in front of the judge 22, in front of the witness (not shown),
and in front of the Operator 23.
[0020] Common terms used throughout the specification are defined
as follows. A scripted presentation is a series of presentation
segments that will be used during a trial. A segment is a logically
grouped set of graphical components that make up a single element
of a script. Using a variety of windows on the screen's real
estate, a segment may integrate animation, video deposition
segments, live action video, graphics, document images, text, and
any other type of information that may be visually displayed. An
exhibit is a collection of files that will be used for display as a
single entity. For example, several TIFF files may be placed in an
exhibit. A case is a unit used to identify a group of scripts. The
main office refers to the physical facility where the Operator and
scripting room are located.
[0021] The physical Scripting Room may be replaced by a virtual one
("Virtual Scripting Room"). As shown in FIG. 3, the Operator and
the scripting computer are located in the Scripting Room, while the
contributors may be situated in their offices wherever located. The
Operator and the contributors are in effect together in the Virtual
Scripting Room connected by the Internet (or directly connected via
Intranet, fiber optic cable, satellite, ISDN or other high-speed
transmission line or facility). The connection may either be in
real time (synchronous) or time shifted (asynchronous).
[0022] The scripting computer executes software that enables
communication between the Operator and the various contributors, as
well as the development of the scripted presentation itself. The
interactive nature of the software facilitates time shifting and
collaboration in general. Elements of the scripted presentation
(video, documents, graphics and text) may be streamed between the
Operator and the contributors. Each contributor has the ability to
utilize the software's tools to modify existing script segments, to
create new script segments, and to append comments to any scripted
segment. The revisions may be stored as temporary script segments
and identified by creator and revision number (example: contributor
Able working on script segment 6 first revision: Segment 6A-1;
second revision: 6A-2; etc.). However, only the changes made or
accepted by the Operator become final in a scripted presentation.
The Operator may view a single script segment, all of its
renditions, and its modifications and comments simultaneously as
thumbnails sized proportionally to fill the screen, and may open
and activate each by a left mouse click. The Virtual Scripting Room
may be equipped with video teleconferencing running on each
contributors' monitor and on a second monitor for the Operator.
[0023] With further reference to FIG. 3, contributors 25 and 26 are
shown working with an Operator 27 to script a multimedia
presentation in the Virtual Scripting Room. In this example,
contributor 25 is located in his office in the State of Washington,
while contributor 26 is located in the City of New York. The
Operator is located in the Los Angeles Scripting Room. Each of the
CPUs of the contributors and the Operator are connected over the
Internet (or directly connected via Intranet, fiber optic cable,
satellite, ISDN or other high-speed transmission line). The
Operator is utilizing two display devices: a monitor 28 to show
script segments, suggested revisions, suggested new segments and
notes from the contributors, and another monitor 29 to provide the
visual image of the contributors to the Operator via video
teleconferencing. The Operators' CPU includes a storage device (not
shown) as is known in the art (e.g. hard drive, CD-ROM, DVD, zip
drive, tape drive) for storing the presentation and any segments
contributed by the contributors. The contributors are able to view
the scripted segments and the work in progress on their respective
display devices 30 and 31. They may also be able to view the real
time image of the Operator on their display devices, when each
contributor and the Operator have digital video cameras for video
teleconferencing 32, 33 and 34.
[0024] All contributors may make changes to the script, but only
the Operator has the ability to save the scripted presentation and
thus the final authority on the form and components of the final
scripted presentation. The Operator, and/or an Application
Administrator, can confer such privileges upon some of the
contributors. A contributor may also choose to work independently
on a working copy of the scripted presentation, and may save this
working copy independently of the final copy, and may further
provide this working copy for review by the other contributors
and/or the Operator for possible incorporation into the final
scripted presentation. As the contributors make changes to the
script, each contributor's actions are saved in a log for later
recall and accountability.
[0025] Data source material including Image, Video, Audio, Text,
CAD and Graphic Files located outside of the Scripting Room may be
used. The software may enable this feature by tracking and storing
in a scripted presentation the complete path, including access
codes, to each data source element. Each contributor in the Virtual
Scripting Room may contribute data source material either by
scripting such material or providing the Operator access to such
contributor's hard drives or other media storage devices (cd-rom
drives, DVD drives, zip drives, optical drives, tape drives,
magneto-optical drives, etc.). This feature is particularly suited
to utilizing data stored in Internet based repositories, such as
FTP servers or on "Internet hard drives", such as those provided by
Xdrive, i-drive, and others. Of course, any storage device
connected to the same network as the contributors and Operator may
be used to supply data for inclusion into the scripted
presentation.
[0026] Each individual component of any one segment may thus be
remotely located on a different storage device. In this embodiment,
the scripted presentation contains a path for each component of
each segment, so that the scripted presentation is completely
portable and does not rely on default paths or storage devices that
must be connected to the computer upon which the scripted
presentation is being executed (such as a computer in the court
room). Thus, data supplied by the contributors for inclusion into
the scripted presentation may be transferred to the scripting
computer for local storage together with the scripted presentation,
and upon displaying the presentation, the data is available locally
on the same computer as the scripted presentation. Alternatively,
the data may be transferred `on-the-fly` from the original source
when displaying the presentation, without the need of first saving
the data on the computer on which the scripted presentation is
being executed. This feature offers additional flexibility in
incorporating last-minute changes in the presentation while
actually displaying the presentation, and eliminates the need for
downloading and locally storing all data that may possibly be
required during the presentation.
[0027] Trial presentation services may be provided from a single
main office to contributors nationwide and worldwide. The delivery
of worldwide services may be further facilitated by the use of
regional service providers (each a "Local Provider") as depicted in
FIG. 4. Each Local Provider may not only provide local support, but
may also source regional litigation clients. Typically, Local
Providers would be litigation photocopy companies with the ability
to scan and create document images, but could be any type of
litigation support entity, including court reporters. Digital video
and other graphics may be created regionally or in the main office.
The Local Provider would gather the source data and provide it to
the main office either physically or electronically. The Local
Provider may also provide contributors with a remote scripting
facility linked over the Internet to the Virtual Scripting Room in
the main office. In an alternative embodiment, regional attorney
contributors would work with a Trial Consultant/Technician Operator
in the main office from their own computers, connecting via the
Internet to the Virtual Scripting Room.
[0028] Because the software will have communication capability,
remote users could monitor the preparation of the scripted
presentation via Web browsers such as Internet Explorer or Netscape
by logging on to a web site, optionally entering a password, and
viewing the scripted presentation as the Operator and contributors
build it and edit it.
[0029] Once Scripting has been completed, a Trial Consultant could
provide in-court presentation services. The role of the Trial
Consultant can be a function of the ability of the software to: (i)
create software rather than graphic based "slides" prior to trial
containing segments of video, documents and/or graphics; (ii) order
the "slides" into a scripted presentation paralleling the
attorney's examination outline; and (iii) as a result of the
"slides" being maintained as a software matrix rather than as a
single graphic file, modify existing "slides", randomly access and
display any slide within a scripted presentation, and incorporate
new or revised animations, video deposition segments, live action
video, graphics, and document images during trial. The Trial
Consultant may also assist in the analysis of evidentiary issues
arising in connection with the multimedia presentation of evidence
both as a sword (how far to go) and as a shield (when to object to
the other side's use of evidence).
[0030] In some cases, the regional attorney contributors or
personnel provided by the Local Provider could do the in-court
presentation of scripts. In this scenario, the main office could
provide daily supplemental Scripting and support either through a
Virtual Scripting Room, or by the now on-site Trial Consultant.
[0031] FIG. 4 depicts the use of Distributed Scripting with the
assistance of a Local Provider 35 to provide multimedia support
services to a trial team in a remote location. The contributors 36
and 37 are working with an Operator 38 (trial consultant or
technician) to script a multimedia presentation in the Virtual
Scripting Room. Once again, contributor 36, perhaps an expert, is
located in his office in the State of Washington, while contributor
37 is located in the City of New York. The Operator is located in
the Los Angeles Scripting Room. Each of the CPUs of the
contributors, and perhaps the Local Provider, and the Operator are
connected over the Internet (or directly connected via Intranet,
fiber optic cable, satellite, ISDN or other high-speed transmission
line or facility).
[0032] As in FIG. 3, the Operator 38 is utilizing two display
devices: a monitor to show script segments, suggested revisions,
suggested new segments and notes from the contributors, and another
monitor to provide the visual image of the contributors to the
Operator via video Tele-conferencing. The contributors are able to
view the scripted segments and the work in progress on associated
display devices. The Local Provider may act to gather the source
data and provide it to the main office either physically or
electronically. The Operator is utilizing multimedia software to
display a scripted presentation and associated data source material
from not only her CPU and associated hard drives, but may also
utilize remote storage devices 39 such as Internet hard drives. The
scripted presentation and other visual evidence will be displayed
to the trier of fact located in a remote courtroom 40, by an
in-court Operator 37, by the speaking attorney 35, by the Local
Provider (not shown), or even by an Operator 38 located in the main
office. Most typically, the main office Operator 38 will
electronically transfer a compressed scripted presentation and
underlying data source material to the in-court Operator 37. For a
remote Operator to present evidence in the courtroom, or an
Operator located in a courtroom to pull scripted source data from
remote hard drives, the courtroom must have telecommunication
facilities such as access to the Internet. Alternatively, remote
telecommunication devices such as cellular telephones may be used
to access the Internet or other communication network.
[0033] The communications capability of the software may also
permit the broadcast of the presentation over the network (e.g. the
Internet) as the presentation is made in court. Thus, attorneys
located remotely may track the presentation; the presentation may
also be provided to a news service such as CNN for live TV
broadcast. The software may also be compatible with Web browsers
such as Microsoft Internet Explorer and Netscape, and allow the
presentation to be viewed by remote users accessing the Internet
through such browsers.
Software
[0034] The following subsection presents in greater detail a model
of the system functionality as may be implemented in a software
embodiment. The graphical depictions in this subsection are Use
Case diagrams. Use Case diagrams map each user role to the tasks
associated with that role and the key software components that
service those tasks. They are composed using the following
symbols:
[0035] Actor--an Actor represents anyone or anything that interacts
with the system. An actor is a stick figure; see FIG. 5a.
[0036] Use Case--a Use Case represents a task or task grouping that
the system performs. A Use Case is represented by an oval with text
inside describing the task (Edit List) or a group of tasks (List
Manager); see FIG. 5b.
[0037] Relationship--A Relationship provides information about how
Actors and Use Cases interact with each other. They are depicted as
lines with arrowheads. A line with an arrowhead on each end
indicates a 2-way communication. A line with an arrowhead on one
end indicates that one diagram object is using the one that is
pointed to by the arrow; see FIG. 5c.
[0038] A common misunderstanding is not differentiating a person's
responsibilities from the roles they play in the business. In some
businesses, for example, the database administrator, system
administrator, and application administrator are different
individuals, each of whom has only one role. However, other
businesses have a single individual who is responsible for more
than one role. Combining the database administrator and application
administrator is common, for instance. For a system to be flexible
enough to accommodate these differences in operating styles, it
should be designed with the assumption that a single individual can
perform one or more roles in the system.
[0039] The Presentation Creator typically builds the multimedia
presentation from components like documents, audio recording, video
recording, animations, and pictures, as shown in FIG. 6. The
Presenter manages the presentation for the lawyer. Usually the
Presentation Creator and the Presenter are the same person, as
depicted in FIG. 7. The Application Administrator handles all
technical tasks required to install, operate, and fix the
application. In order to perform these tasks, in particular the
problem resolution tasks, they can temporarily assume any role in
the system, as shown in FIG. 8.
Functional Requirements
[0040] This subsection describes the functions in a preferred
software implementation of the system.
[0041] The text in a document may be extracted into separate
(child) windows ("child" refers to client nomenclature, not
object-oriented nomenclature).
[0042] The text in a window may be enlarged or diminished in
2-point increments using one button.
[0043] The text in a window may be highlighted in color.
[0044] The text in a window may be highlighted and underlined in
separate colors.
[0045] The text in a window may be selected and circled or boxed
using precise drawing elements like circles and rectangles.
[0046] The text in a window may be selected and marked in the
following ways: [0047] strikethrough [0048] highlight [0049]
underline
[0050] The text in a window may selectively be marked by graphical
elements like checkmarks and bullets.
[0051] The text in a window may selectively be obscured from
view.
[0052] Freehand drawing may be performed on a text window.
[0053] Text may be selected and highlighted while all other text is
changed to a different color, for instance, grayed out.
[0054] Individual text highlighting may be "undone" or removed
without affecting other highlighted text.
[0055] Individual text formats like strikethrough, etc. may be
"undone" or removed without affecting other text formats.
[0056] Individual text edits that obscure text may be "undone" or
removed without affecting other obscured (or redacted) text.
[0057] Each text edit may be individually removed or undone.
[0058] All text highlighting on a segment may be removed with one
action.
[0059] Individual documents in a segment containing multiple
documents may be brought to front with a single keystroke and/or
mouse action (mouse roller wheel selection). Repeating the
keystroke and/or mouse action may cycle through each document,
raising it to the front in turn.
[0060] Documents in a segment may be expanded to full screen.
[0061] The system may allow the user to page forward and backwards
through the document a page at a time. In addition, there may be a
way provided to jump to the beginning and end of the document.
Finally, there may be a method to jump to a specific page
number.
[0062] Documents may be rotated by 90 degree angles.
[0063] Subsections of pictures may be selected (either with a oval
or rectangle) and highlighted.
[0064] Subsections of pictures may be selected (either with a oval,
or rectangle) and turned opaque.
[0065] Subsections of pictures may be selected (either with a oval,
or rectangle), extracted into a separate window and blown up.
[0066] A picture subsection window may be incrementally magnified
or diminished with a single button, one for magnifying and one for
decreasing the size of the subsection.
[0067] Freehand drawing may be performed on a graphic window.
[0068] Pictures in a segment may be expanded to full screen.
[0069] Subsections of video may be selected (either with a circle,
or rectangle) and highlighted.
[0070] Subsections of video may be selected (either with a circle,
or rectangle) and extracted and enlarged as a still picture into a
separate window.
[0071] A video recording may be slowed and sped up incrementally
using single user actions for each.
[0072] A video recording may be slowed to a stop and then advanced
one frame at a time.
[0073] When a video recording is being advanced one frame at a
time, the full still picture may be captured and extracted to a
separate window.
[0074] The volume may be controlled on a per video basis. The
volume may be set during segment building and controlled during
presentation.
[0075] The volume may be modulated for a minimum and maximum
volume. For instance, a sound below the minimum may be increased to
the minimum and a sound above the maximum may be reduced the
maximum.
[0076] Multiple marks may be created in a video recording.
[0077] A repeating loop may be run between video recording
marks.
[0078] The video may be set to run to a mark and pause until some
action is taken that runs it to the next mark.
[0079] The video recording may be caused to rewind or fast forward
and automatically stop on the first encountered mark.
[0080] A video recording(s) may be synchronized with positions in a
document(s). That is, when the user clicks a particular section of
the document (transcript), the video jumps to the synchronized
position in the video recording and vice versa.
[0081] A video recording may be synchronized with other video
recordings. That is, when the user re-positions in one video, it
causes the synchronized video to automatically re-position and stay
in sync.
[0082] Freehand drawing may be performed on a video window.
[0083] Video in a segment may be expanded to full screen.
[0084] Full video controls may be provided, similar to those found
on a VCR.
[0085] A segment or set of segments may be cut and pasted into a
different script.
[0086] Annotations may be created and attached to any segment
component.
[0087] Segment may be saved using a single action like a keystroke,
button, or mouse click.
[0088] A script may be merged with another script.
[0089] A script may be copied to another script.
[0090] A set of segments may be re-ordered in a script.
[0091] A set of segments may be extracted and saved as a
script.
[0092] Each segment may have an identification reflecting its order
in the script.
[0093] A "hot save" function for saving a segment along with or
without its association may be provided. For example, it would be
named "HS3_filename".
[0094] The "hot save" function may put the saved segment at the end
of the segment list in script.
[0095] Elements that are not part of the script or segment may be
added to the presentation and worked in. File select needs to be
unobtrusive.
[0096] Saving process in script mode may include a hot key to save
all segments and the script.
[0097] Full segment edit capabilities may be provided in
presentation mode.
[0098] Segments may be shown in script order or select and display
on the fly.
[0099] A small segment identification may be shown on screen for
the current segment.
[0100] While playing video, the system may provide the ability to
have scripted documents show up at specific, timed points in the
video.
[0101] The system may allow the user to create document scrolling
in synchronization with video.
[0102] The system may print scripts.
[0103] The system may print individual or selected or all
segments.
[0104] The system may print a slide show format of the segments in
a script (proof sheet).
[0105] The system may print a slide show w/barcodes (proof sheet
w/barcodes).
[0106] The system may print segment components.
[0107] The system may print a segment description-barcode
cross-reference.
[0108] The system may print a barcode-file name cross-reference
within a specified directory. The user can select which files will
be included in the cross-reference.
[0109] Saving a segment containing multiple elements may retain the
dominance (i.e. which document is in front) seen on the screen.
[0110] An element's size may be set individually within a
segment.
[0111] The software may be able to interface with a wide variety of
other software, e.g. word processors (MS Word, WordPerfect, etc.),
presentation software (Power Point, etc.), databases (Oracle,
Dbase, etc.), case management software (Summation, etc.), video
preparation and editing software (e.g. QuickTime), image
preparation and editing software (e.g. Photoshop), and others. The
software may convert certain files into a preferred format (e.g.
convert all Word files into RTF format) and save them in this
preferred format. However, the software may also be able to read
and display any format on-the-fly.
[0112] This function will enable the Presenter to incorporate new
components into segment at a moment's notice even if the new
components are located remotely and are not available on the CPU
running the scripted presentation in court. In this manner, the
Presenter may be able to access new information located anywhere in
the world, provided that the information is accessible remotely
(e.g. stored on servers connected to the Internet), and incorporate
the information into the presentation scripted presentation as may
be required by new and unanticipated developments.
Potential Uses and Markets
[0113] Other services may be provided in addition to the in-court
presentation of evidence. Such additional services may be further
aided by the addition of two supplemental software features, as
described below.
1) Interactive Text Objects
[0114] This feature may take the form of an utility that permits a
form or other text document to be treated as a scripting object in
a fashion similar to other data source material, with the exception
that the Operator may at any time add text to the form and save
both the form and the new text in a script segment together with
other objects (graphics, photographs, etc). This utility may be
used in the medical and insurance fields, for instance, where a
physician in a medical testing facility could in the course of
evaluating an Ultra Sound or NMR image complete an electronic
medical evaluation/diagnosis form and script the image and
completed form together in a single script segment. In this
situation, the scripted presentation represents a patient's medical
file rather than a witness examination. The patient scripted
presentation could be maintained by the main office in the role of
the Operator, while the testing facility physician, the treating
physician, the specialist (surgeon) and the hospital would each
have the role of a contributor. The resulting scripted presentation
may be transmitted to other facilities for viewing, diagnosis,
patient treatment, or for billing and insurance reimbursement.
2) Distributed Presentation
[0115] Ultimately a scripted presentation, whether created in a
physical or virtual scripting room, may be presented either: (a) to
an audience physically in the presence of the Operator, as in the
case of a jury in a courtroom where a lawyer is presenting evidence
with assistance of an Operator; or (b) to an audience connected to
the Operator over the Internet (or directly connected via Intranet,
fiber optic cable, satellite, ISDN or other transmission line;
"Distributed Presentation"), as in the case of Internet based
marketing--e.g. the Victoria's Secret fashion shows, General Motors
introduction of new car models, or the latest Microsoft software
introduction. The audience may be a single individual, a group of
individuals sitting together or a geographically distributed group
located throughout the world.
[0116] Each of the following examples may utilize Distributed
Scripting and/or Distributed Presentation.
[0117] Insurance claim Processing and Reimbursement--The scripted
presentation is the claim file; the contributors are the claim
adjuster, the investigators, repair or replacement sources, the
claims manager and the payer; the Operator is either the Insurance
Company or the main office.
[0118] Medical Diagnostic and Payment--The scripted presentation is
the patient file; the contributors are the testing facility
physician, the treating physician, the specialist (surgeon), the
hospital and ultimately the insurer; the Operator is the main
office.
[0119] Corporate Presentations and Marketing--The scripted
presentation is the presentation topic; the contributors are the
internal team members responsible for the project, external
consultants and in some cases the audience; the Operator is the
corporation.
[0120] Development of Corporate Collateral and Marketing--The
scripted presentation is the assemblage of the corporate collateral
being created; the contributors are the in-house marketing
personnel, the in-house executive in charge of the project, the
senior executive who ultimately approves the project, the external
marketing/advertising executive in charge of the project, the
graphic designers; the Operator is either the corporation or the
marketing entity.
[0121] Advertising Graphic Development and Delivery--The scripted
presentation is the advertising campaign being created; the
contributors are the in-house marketing personnel, the in-house
executive in charge of the project, the senior executive who
ultimately approves the project, the external advertising executive
in charge of the project, the graphic designers and other team
members; the Operator is the advertising company.
[0122] Corporate Road Shows--The scripted presentation is the
offering materials, company history and prospects; the contributors
are the senior management of the corporation, the auditors, the
investment bankers and attorneys; the Operator is either the lead
investment bank or the main office.
[0123] Internet Conferencing--The scripted presentation is the
presentation topic; the contributors are the internal team members
responsible for the project, external consultants and in some cases
the audience; the Operator is either the Web hosting corporation,
or the main office.
[0124] Project Development and Oversight: Architecture,
Construction and Finance--The scripted presentation is the project,
including the development contract, the finance contract, and the
plans, progress reports and testing; the contributors are the
financing entity, the architects, subcontractors, the general
contractor and inspectors; the Operator is the owner/buyer.
[0125] Banking: Finance Packages and Loan Processing--The scripted
presentation is the borrower and the loan package; the contributors
are the borrower, the loan officer, the approval committee; the
Operator is the bank or lending institution.
[0126] Aircraft, Satellite and Space Craft Construction Management
and Reporting--The scripted presentation is the individual
aircraft, satellite or space craft, including the development
contract, the finance contract, and the plans, progress reports and
testing; the contributors are the financing entity, the architects,
subcontractors, the manufacturer, the construction managers, safety
inspectors and regulatory agencies; the Operator is the
owner/buyer.
[0127] Shipbuilding--The scripted presentation is the vessel,
including the construction contract, the finance contract, and the
plans, progress reports and testing; the contributors are the
financing entity, the architects, subcontractors, the builder, the
project manager, safety inspectors and certification societies; the
Operator is the owner/buyer.
[0128] Focus Group Results--The scripted presentation is the
research results, statistical charts and conclusions; the
contributors are the researcher and/or the facilitator, the entity
paying for the study; the audience are the financial backers of the
study, the studio executives, in the case of a movie, the product
line executives, in the case of a new product release; the Operator
is either the entity putting on the research or the main
office.
[0129] Focus Group Results: Litigation--The scripted presentation
is the research results, statistical charts, case themes and
conclusions; the contributors are the jury consultant, the
facilitator, the attorneys on the trial team involved in the
litigation; the audience are the trial team members, the client
party to the litigation and/or the client representative; the
Operator is either the jury consulting firm or the main office.
[0130] Referring now to FIG. 9, scripting room 42 is the physical
room in which control operator 44, using scripting computer 46,
accepts, rejects and or modifies script contributions made by
various contributors, located either in scripting room 42 or in
various remote locations as described below. The scripted
presentation may be stored in whole or in part in storage device 48
connected to scripting computer 46 or in whole or in part in
devices at other locations connected to scripting room 42 via
network 50, including, for example, the Internet.
[0131] In particular, the script or outline Script 52 for the
scripted presentation is stored in storage device 48 of scripting
computer 46 and provides at a minimum the order in which documents
or other materials to be displayed are scheduled for display during
the scripted presentation. This order may be modified during the
presentation of the scripted presentation in accordance with
information made available during the presentation.
[0132] For example, as shown below with regard to court room 76 in
FIG. 10, control operator 44 may modify the order in which the
documents or other materials to be displayed are displayed during
the scripted presentation in accordance with instructions from
trial counsel who may be presenter 94 or may be watching the judge
or jury during a portion of the scripted presentation being
presented by a witness acting as presenter 94.
[0133] Some of the documents or other information to be displayed,
such as documents 51, may also be stored in storage device 48 of
scripting computer 46 together with the script. In addition, links
to other documents or information to be displayed during the
presentation of the scripted presented, such as links 49, may be
stored in storage device 48. Links 49 are used by scripting
computer 96 to gain access, via network 50 for example, to
documents or other information to be displayed which are stored on
a computer related to a remote contributor, such as documents 63
stored on virtual scripting room computer 64 in virtual scripting
room 64.
[0134] Further, links 47 may be stored in storage device 48 for
access via network 50 to documents or other information to be
displayed which are stored on other remote sources, such as remote
document source 91.
[0135] Scripted presentation 52 may be displayed on scripting
computer 46 while large screen display 54 may display
teleconferenced image 56 of presenter 58, in front of 2.sup.nd
large screen display 60, in virtual scripting room 62. Large screen
display 54 may also display teleconferenced images 64 of various
other contributors as discussed below.
[0136] For example, virtual scripting room 62 may also include
contributor 66 as well as contributor 66 working on virtual
scripting room computer 68. Contributors 65 and 66 may therefore be
included within teleconferenced images 64 displayed in scripting
room 42. Virtual scripting room 62 may also include teleconference
display 70 showing teleconferenced images of the contributors not
present in virtual scripting room 62 as well as control operator
44.
[0137] Script 52 for the scripted presentation may be displayed on
virtual scripting room computer 68 for comment, modification or
whole or partial replacement by contributors 58, 65 and/66 and
forwarded to scripting room 42 via network 50. It is important to
note that the final version of the scripted presentation, which
resides in storage device 48 attached to scripting computer 46 or
elsewhere attached to network 50, is under the control of control
operator 44. That is, proposed contributions from contributors,
although they may be visible to other contributors, do not become
part of the final scripted presentation until accepted and saved by
control operator 44, usually in response to approval by lead trial
counsel.
[0138] In a preferred embodiment, large screen display 60 in
virtual scripting room 62 may advantageously be a touch screen
display or may be modified to be a touch screen display.
Pi.sup.tTouch Screen Bezels are available from Large Screen
Displays of Santa Ana, Calif. which may be added to various large
screen displays so that a touch of the screen emulates the
clicking, dragging, double-clicking and right clicking operations
of a mouse attached to the computer driving the display.
[0139] The use of a touch screen version of large screen display 60
advantageously provides interaction between contributor 58 who may
be a presenting attorney or witness and scripted presentation 52.
Although the interaction may be used by contributor 58 to provide a
contribution to the scripted presentation, a far more advantageous
use of the touch screen capabilities of large screen display 60 may
be to permit contributor 58 to practice the formal presentation to
provided in court, as shown below with regard to FIG. 10.
[0140] Contributor 58 may, for example, touch various parts of the
scripted presentation displayed on display 60 in order to make the
presentation in the order scripted and or to touch parts of the
display in response to questions or reactions from observers, such
as jury 72 or judge 74 in court room 76 shown in FIG. 10. A judge,
for example, may ask about the detailed background of an exhibit
included in the scripted presentation and by touching the exhibit,
presenter 58 may be able to display the requested background
materials. Similarly, the presenter's interaction with witnesses,
on direct or cross examination, may be dramatically enhanced
especially in complex trials by timely display of relevant matter
in response to his touch.
[0141] In particular, part of the scripting of the presentation may
the interaction between presenter 58 and touch screen display 60.
For this reason, it is advantageous to have this interaction
visible during creation and rehearsals of the presentation to more
than just the contributors then present in virtual screening room
62. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, the image of presenter 58
interacting with scripted presentation image 52 on touch screen
display 60, is provided via teleconferencing over network 50, or
other convenient facility, for display as teleconferenced image 56
on large screen display 54 in scripting room 42 for viewing by
control operator 44.
[0142] Similarly, teleconferencing image 56 may also be provided
for display on large screen display 72 by contributor 74 in remote
location 76. If contributor 74 is another attorney, such as
in-house counsel for a corporate litigant, or an expert witness,
during a synchronous connection between virtual scripting room 62
and remote location 76, contributor 74 may both provide
contributions to the scripted presentation via remote location
computer 78 as well as comments and contributions related to the
interaction between presenter 58 and touch screen display 60 in
virtual scripting room.
[0143] In addition, it may be advantageous to use a touch screen
system, as noted above, as part of large screen display 72 so that
remote location 76 becomes another virtual scripting room operating
in parallel with virtual scripting room 62. For example, after
observing an interaction between presenter 52 and display 60,
contributor 74 may propose an alternate way of doing that
interaction by interacting with touch screen display 72.
[0144] Notes concerning the possible methods of interacting with
the scripted presentation by any contributor and/or control
operator 44 may be submitted as contributions and controlled in the
same manner as other contributions. That is, in one embodiment
control operator 44 may save the selected interaction notes as part
of script 51 at his own discretion or upon approval by lead trial
counsel who could be any of the contributors whether or not then
present. Similarly, authorization by control operator 44 could be
given so that contributors 58 or 74 could enter final contributions
into the final script, again typically upon approval of lead trial
counsel who could be contributor 58 or 72 or another.
[0145] The displays in virtual scripting room 62 may both be large
screen displays, although only display 60 need be a touch screen
display if that facility is desired. Display 70 may be a convenient
sized, separate display showing teleconferenced images of other
contributors. An alternate approach, as shown in scripting room 42
as well as in remote location 76, is that large screen displays 64
and 72 may be set up in a split screen format so that the script,
and/or the presenter's interaction with the script, is shown on one
portion of the large screen display while teleconferenced images of
contributors in other locations could be displayed.
[0146] A still further arrangement may include a split screen
display showing both the scripted presentation and teleconference
images on a normal sized display, such as computer monitor 80 of
remote scripting computer 82 in remote split screen facility 84. A
split screen display attached to a scripting monitor may
conveniently be configured to permit the use to select a portion of
the split screen display, such as the scripted performance, or one
or more of the teleconferenced images of other contributors, to
fill the display. A return function to return to the full display
should also be provided.
[0147] Advantageously, computer 80 may also be a touch screen
display so that the shift from split screen display to full screen
display of a portion of the split screen, and return, may be
accomplished by the operator simply by touching touch screen
monitor 80.
[0148] Similarly, in client or expert witness facility 76, in the
absence of a touch screen large scale display, the shift from split
screen display to full screen display of a portion of the split
screen, and return, may be accomplished by contributor 74
interacting with scripting computer 78 by, for example, operating a
device attached thereto such as mouse 86 or keyboard 88.
[0149] Referring now to synchronous collaborator 90, it should be
noted that the collaborative nature of presentation scripting
activities, exemplified by trial presentation preparation, strongly
benefits from synchronous contributions from the various
contributors. That is, the contributors typically synchronously
propose changes to any part of the script during teleconferenced
discussions in order to benefit from discussions among them about
the portion of the script being changed.
[0150] The control operator, under the authority perhaps of a lead
presenter such as lead trial counsel, then selects and/or edits the
contribution finally selected to be included in the final scripted
presentation to be actually presented. As a result, the final
presentation includes not only contributions in each portion of the
scripted presentation from all contributors who elected to
contribute but also the combined wisdom of all contributors who
elected to comment on the contributions to that portion. That is,
the inputs provided by synchronous contributors are made
interactively during discussions with other contributors so that
the reactions and comments and preferences of all synchronous
contributors can be combined or at least considered before control
operator 44 saves any particular contribution to the final
script.
[0151] However, it may be necessary to permit time shifted or
asynchronous contributions to be considered, for example for time
shifted contributor 92, as a result of other exigencies such as the
difference in local time between contributors. Contributions
proposed by time shifted contributor 92 may then be advantageously
synchronously discussed and evaluated by other contributors before
control operator 44 saves the final scripted presentation.
[0152] Referring now to FIG. 10, the final scripted presentation
for litigation embodiments is typically presented in court room 76
by presenting attorney or witness 94 in front of judge 74 and jury
72, if present. Control operator 44 may advantageously be present
in court room 76 and may operate scripting computer 96 (which may
have generally the same functions as scripting 46 shown in FIG. 9),
to make changes to the actual presentation during the presentation,
typically in response to instructions from presenter 94. For
example, during cross examination of a hostile witness, presenter
94 may chose to use a portion of the scripted presentation out of
the order in which the scripted presentation has been saved, and/or
use a portion of the scripted presentation not scripted to be
presented unless requested. One example of a portion of the
scripted presentation selected to be displayed out of the order in
which it was scripted, or a portion not scripted to be presented
unless requested, may further detail about the background or dating
of a document being presented.
[0153] In any event, control operator 44 may cause portions of the
scripted presentation to be displayed on large screen display 98
during trial in court room 76 as a result of input received during
the final presentation from judge 74, jury 76 and presenting
attorney or witness 98 and/or non-presenting witness 100. A
separate display, such as judicial computer 75 may be made
available for viewing by judge 74. Large screen display 98 may
advantageously be, or be modified to be, a touch screen display so
that presenter 94 may also change the order the displays of the
scripted presentation or even cause the display of a portion of the
scripted presentation to be displayed only if requested. In this
embodiment, some or all of the functions of control operator 44 in
court room 76 may be supplanted, or at least enhanced, by
interaction of presenter 94 with touch screen display 98.
[0154] Touch screen display 98, and judicial computer 75 may be
connected by network 50 to scripting computer 96 and, if desired,
to other displays not shown for use by jury 72 and/or others. The
script for the scripted presentation, including documents and/or
links may be stored in scripting computer 96 and/or made available
to scripting computer 96 via network 50. Similarly, some of the
documents or other information to be displayed may also be made
accessible to scripting computer 96 via network 50 from remote
subscribers via storage device 60 and/or from remote document
source 91.
[0155] It may be particularly convenient in some applications, for
example when documents or other information to be displayed is made
available on the Internet, or other such remote portion of network
50, to prepare and store the script for the scripted presentation
in the form of HTML codes as are used for website.
* * * * *