Distributed collaborative environment definition system and method

1. A system having a processor for generating a reusable virtual environment item to be integrated into a visual computer simulation wherein the reusable virtual environment item is generated using object data gathered from a plurality of developers, the system comprising:

a centralized knowledge management module for storing a plurality of objects wherein each object is of a pre-defined object class wherein the object class defines a structure for the object, an exporter for the object, a build setting for the object and a behavior for the object;

a plurality of distributed workspaces communicatively connected to the knowledge management module wherein each workspace gathers object class information from the knowledge management module, gathers object data from a developer such that the object data conforms to the object class, and provides the gathered object data to the knowledge management module;

a content repository operable to store graphical information relating to the objects stored in the knowledge management module;

a content production tool which builds the reusable virtual environment item by gathering a plurality of objects from the knowledge management module wherein for each gathered object, the content production tool uses the object's exporter to export the object data from the knowledge management module;

gathers graphical information related to the object from the content repository; and

generates the reusable virtual environment item using the build setting for the object wherein the reusable virtual environment item conforms to the behavior for the object.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the content production tool comprises a build engine.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the content production tool comprises a compiler.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the computer simulation is an aircraft maintenance training simulation.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the computer simulation is an aircraft simulator.

6. A method for generating a reusable virtual environment item to be integrated into a visual computer simulation wherein the reusable virtual environment item is generated using object data gathered from a plurality of developers, the method comprising the steps of:

storing a plurality of objects in a centralized knowledge management module, wherein each object is of a pre-defined object class, wherein the object class defines a structure for the object, an exporter for the object, a build setting for the object and a behavior for the object;

gathering object class information from the knowledge management module, gathering object data from a developer such that the object data conforms to the object class, and providing the gathered object data to the knowledge management module via a plurality of distributed workspaces communicatively connected to the knowledge management module;

storing in a content repository, graphical information relating to the objects stored in the knowledge management module;

building the reusable virtual environment item by gathering a plurality of objects from the knowledge management module wherein for each gathered object, using the object's exporter to export the object data from the knowledge management module;

gathering graphical information related to the object from the content repository; and

generating the reusable virtual environment item using the build setting for the object wherein the virtual environment item conforms to the object behavior.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the generating step further comprises:

generating computer source code which implements the behavior of the object;

compiling the generated source code using the build settings; and

building an executable computer file from the compiled source code.

8. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

preparing a list of objects stored in the knowledge management module; and

generating the virtual environment object using the list of objects stored in the knowledge management module.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein the distributed workspace communicates with the knowledge management module via a network.

10. The method of claim 6 wherein storing object data in the centralized knowledge management module comprises:

concurrently gathering via a plurality of distributed workspaces only the items specified in the object class.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein object data is gathered concurrently from an artist and an engineer.