Importance

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Abstract

A method of programming an interactive scenario on a multi-track storage media is disclosed. The interactive scenario includes a number of time-synchronized frames on separable data streams which are related in content to one-another. The interactive scenario is played back on an apparatus which selectively retrieves the data streams at a given time. A derision-making goal is defined for the interactive scenario. Once the goal has been defined, a set of rules is developed, preferably using knowledge derived from an expert, which lead to the defined goal. The rules relate hierarchically whereby the conclusions of at least some of the rules are premises for other rules. The rules also logically relate whereby the conclusion of a final rule or rules corresponds to the decision making goal. If the rules require premises to be obtained, queries are generated to interactively ask for the premises. The rules, premises, and queries are mapped into time-synchronized frames on a plurality of data streams. The streams are stored in a storage media for future retrieval. The frames may be arranged according to the hierarchy for providing a continuous flow of interactive conversation to ultimately reach the decision-making goal. The frames alternatively may be arranged to correspond to a 'folded' hierarchy in order to conserve the number of required data streams. The retrieval method may dynamically provide the stored data streams to conserve the number of data streams required at any one time by the interactive scenario.

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First Claim