Software cinema

Abstract

The invention comprises a system and method for employing video in development processes. A new theory of operation for mapping video to formal models is disclosed. The present invention combines a runtime component and an object memory with an transformer component and offers several inputs and outputs. At least one capture device allows input of video. Video is structurally decomposed into shots and annotated following a semiology-based video model and stored in object memory. A runtime component determines the shots that are played back on one or more displays. A spectator may influence the runtime component by changing its state via at least one controller. One or more downstream development processes can access the object memory to extract customary models for requirements specification.

1 . A method for automatically transforming a collection comprising time-based media and metadata into at least one model for developing a product or process. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one model is an object-oriented model. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the metadata is used for at least one of:
 designation of individual objects in the time-based media,   designation of relationships between individual objects, and   designation of relationships between relationships.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the metadata is stored in a semiology-based model comprising a plurality of signifiers and a semiotic encoding that assigns a signified meaning to each signifier. 
     
     
         5 . A method for enriching a process of developing a product or process, the method comprising:
 capturing time-based media of activities related to the product or process to be developed,   embedding information as metadata to form a rich film comprising the time-based media and the metadata,   showing the rich film to stakeholders in the process of developing the product or process,   changing the rich film based on recommendations of the stakeholders, and transforming the rich film into at least one model for developing the product or process.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the time-based media comprises at least one of video, audio, and animations. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the time-based media comprises at least one of motion paths and event traces. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the stakeholders experience a simulation of use of the product or process to be developed. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising accessing a knowledge representation which stores a semiology-based model. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the semiology-based model comprises a plurality of signifiers and a semiotic encoding that assigns a signified meaning to each signifier. 
     
     
         11 . A system for enriching a process of developing a product or process, the system comprising:
 a player component which is adapted to present a rich film, the rich film comprising time-based media and metadata, and   a transformer component which is adapted to transform the rich film into at least one model, the transformer component accessing a knowledge representation which stores a semiology-based model.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the semiology-based model comprises a plurality of signifiers and a semiotic encoding that assigns a signified meaning to each signifier. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 an importer component which is adapted to import the rich film, and   an exporter component which is adapted to export the at least one model.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising at least one editor that is adapted for allowing stakeholders in the processes of developing the product or process to change the semiology-based model. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein changing the semiology-based model comprises at least one of editing activities related to the product or process to be developed and editing components related to the activities and attaching information to elements of the semiology-based model and changing properties of elements of the semiology-based model.