PATH MATCHING PRODUCT FOR INFORMATION SYSTEMS

Abstract: The path matching product (10) - used with information systems (100) - has a mark component (11) causing recording of person generated mark data (20), has an event component (12) causing recording of event generated event data (60), and has a score component (13) causing calculation and communication of variances (41) between mark data and event data.

Description: TITLE Path Matching Product for Information Systems BACKGROUND The product records person generated data, records event generated data, calculates variances, and communicates variances to advise users. Prior art - e.g. shown in U.S. patents 3,671 ,668 and 3,718,759 by Reiffel - does not suggest this invention. SUMMARY The product comprises a computer-readable signal-bearing medium having a mark component causing recording of person generated mark data, an event component causing recording of event generated data, and a score component causing calculation of mark data-event data variance and causing communication of variance to advise users. DRAWINGS FIG. 1 depicts product inputs and outputs. FIG. 2 depicts product outputs. DESCRIPTION The product 10 is depicted in use with an information system 100 in FIG. 1. The product comprises a computer-readable signal-bearing medium having a mark component 11, an event component 12, and a score component 13. The mark component 11 causes recording of mark data 20 representing mark coordinates of a mark path start 21 connected by mark path segments 22 to a mark path end 23 depicted in FIG. 2 on a display device 101 connected with the information system. The mark data are person generated. The event component 12 causes recording of event data 60 representing event coordinates of an event path start 61 connected by event path segments 62 to an event path end 63. The event data are event generated. The score component 13 causes calculation of score data 40 comprising basic score data representing variances 41 between event data and mark data and causes communication of the score data to advise users. A user can be the person, can be one or more people other than the person, can be a combination of these, and can be another system. The score component can have elements causing calculation of score data also comprising relative score data representing relative variances 43 between basic score data and additional score data 80. Additional score data can be self data representing previous score data of a person, can be competition data representing competition score data of a group of persons not including the person, and can be a score combination of self data and competition data. In each case the score component appropriately updates additional data. The mark component 11 can have elements causing recording of second mark data 30 representing second mark coordinates of a second mark path start 31 connected by second mark path segments 32 to a second mark path end 33, second mark data being person generated. Mark data and second mark data are examples of mark data in a general case where the mark component has elements causing recording of mark data comprising N mark data sets representing N sets of mark coordinates of N sets of mark path segments, N being a number. In the general case the mark data are person generated by a member from the mark group consisting of a person member where all of the N mark data sets are generated by one person, a persons member where only one of the N mark data sets is generated per person by N persons, and a mark member where several of the N mark data sets are entered per person by many persons. Self-guided entities are intended in the meaning of "person" here. The event component 12 can have elements causing recording of second event data 70 representing second event coordinates of a second event path start 64 connected by second event path segments 65 to a second event path end 66, second event data being event generated. Event data and second event data are examples of a general case where the event component has elements causing recording of event data comprising M event data sets representing M sets of event coordinates of M sets of event path segments, where M is a number. Score data and second score data are examples for a general case where the score component 13 has elements which cause calculation of score data according to one-to-one, one-to-many, and some-to-many correspondences between event data sets and mark data sets. The event can be a dance with the event path segments 62 being generated by motion of a hand of a dancer and the second event path segments 65 being generated by motions of a leg of the dancer. The mark path segments 22 can be generated by motion of a hand of a person. Mark leg data can represent mark leg coordinates of a mark leg path start 24 connected by mark leg path segments 25 to a mark leg path end 26 with the mark leg path segments being generated by motion of a leg of the person. Second mark path segments 32 can be generated by motion of a hand of a second person. Second mark leg data can represent coordinates of second mark leg coordinates of a second mark leg path start 34 connected by second mark leg path segments 35 to a second mark leg path end 36 with the second mark leg segments being generated by a leg of the second person. Score data comprise hand variances 41 between event data 62 and mark data 22 and comprise relative hand variances 43 between 41 and hand averages of previous score data of the person where hand averages are elements of additional data. Similarly, score data comprise leg variances 42 between second event data 65 and mark leg data 25 and comprise relative leg variances 44 between 42 and leg averages of previous score data of the person where leg averages are elements of additional data. Second score data comprise second hand variances 51 between event data 62 and second mark data 32 and comprise second relative variances 53 between 51 and second hand averages of previous basic score data of the second person where second hand averages are elements of additional data. Second score data comprise second leg variances 52 between second event data 64 and second mark leg data 35 and comprise second relative leg variances 54 between 52 and second leg averages of previous second leg scores of the second person where second leg averages are elements of additional data. The score component can cause calculation of variances between some and all of the spatial and temporal coordinates of the mark and event data. The calculations can use various algorithms known in the art such as least squares analysis. Mark data can be calibrated with event data by means known in the art such as comparing mark data end points separating a known distance with event data end points separating a known distance. Mark data and event data are not just endpoints of paths but are path segments between the end points. Though several path segments are shown as connected member segments, each, and all, can have gaps between member segments. The score component can interpolate over gaps. Event data and mark data - which can be recorded by various means known in the art - are preferably recorded via multi-source retro reflector data input like that taught in patent application PCT/US00/07538 (which is incorporated herein by reference). For complex paths it is advantageous for the retro reflectors to be spheres at least approximately. Retro-reflecting objects symmetric about an axis of revolution, such as spheres, cylinders, cones, ellipsoids of revolution and polyhedra approximating these, all present an invariant, uniformly bright shape to an imager regardless of angle of view around the axis of rotation. Multiple retro reflectors can be used to lessen occultation effects. Though communications of score data are depicted as numerical, various graphical, audible, and tactile means can be used to communicate score data to a user. The result "advise a user" can take on several meanings here. In learning examples this can mean advice to help a person learn by trials how to reduce variances. In competitive examples this can mean advice about current variances, advice about current variances relative to past variances, and advice about current variances relative to variances of competitors. In training examples score data can be communicated to an organism to cause the organism to reduce variances and move along a path. In self-guided device examples score data can be communicated to device guidance systems to cause the device to move along a path. In rehabilitation examples score data can be communicated to a system helping a person activate muscles. Score data can be communicated as early mark path segments are recorded so that a user can reduce variances between later mark path segments and event data. This feedback can be personalized and related to additional data. Immediate feedback makes the product useful to aid learning, such as learning a dance and improving a skill involving paths. An algorithm can be used to fit movements - such as golf swings - to a person. In the golf example, the person can use the product to reduce variances between an actual swing - mark data - and a fit swing - event data. In the dance example a person and a second person can compete to achieve lowest variances. The event can be a sporting event and, mark data can be predictions of event data such as paths of a ball and key players in the contest. Participants can each generate sets of mark data to predict event data - e.g. to predict paths in a sporting event - and compete for lowest variance in score data. Various one-to-one, one-to-many, and many-to- many competitions and challenges are enabled. A challenge could be made as a part of an event transmission. Any person, and any team, can consult historical data 90 for aid in generating mark data. Historical data can be personal, shared, and commercial data. Historical data can be used to establish odds for event data. Sets of mark data can be used to establish odds for event data. Calculations of variance can be weighted by factors such as level of skill and level of difficulty. An event can be like the dance example where event data are known to a person. Events can be like sporting events where event data are not known to a person at the time mark data are recorded. Events can have event data with a known portion and also have a second unknown portion as taught in U. S. patent application 90/280, 603 which is incorporated herein by reference. Event data can be generated by a first person - e.g. representing the path of a soccer kick - and mark data can be generated by a second person - e.g. representing the path of a soccer goalie. Labels "mark" and "event" are interchangeable in such cases. The medium can have a chaff component generating sets of chaff data with chaff data path segments being displayed along with mark data and event data path segments so that a person generating mark data cannot identify displayed event data path segments amidst chaff data path segments. The person can recognize displayed mark data path segments generated by the person because of correspondences between data generation and display. To the same end colors and cursors identifying displayed paths can be changed. The chaff component can be part of one, and more, of the medium components and can be a separate medium component. The computer-readable signal-bearing medium can be a transmitted signal, a data storage medium, and a combination of a transmitted signal and a data storage medium. The transmitted signal can be any of various point-to-point and broadcast forms of energy transmission - wireless and via wires, cables, and fibers - known in the art. Parts of the signal can reside with one form of the transmitted signal, parts can reside with a second form of transmitted signal, and parts can reside with various combinations of transmitted signals. The data storage medium can be any of various mechanical, electrical, magnetic, optical, molecular, atomic, and quantum data storage media known in the art. Parts of the computer-readable signal can reside with a data storage medium, parts can reside with a second data storage medium, parts can reside with the transmitted signal, parts can reside with a second transmitted signal, and parts can reside with various combinations data storage media and transmitted signals. The information system can be a special purpose computer and can be a general purpose computer. Either computer can be standalone, can be part of a network, and can be stand-alone and part of a network in alternate time intervals. Event data and mark data can be recorded in the information system separate from the computer-readable signal-bearing medium, can be recorded in the medium, and can be recorded in both totally, in separate parts, and in redundant parts. Mark data can be deleted and new mark data recorded before at least some of corresponding score data are calculated. The medium can have a fee component so that a fee for each use of the computer product can be charged directly by requiring payments before the product operates. A fee can be collected indirectly by presenting at least one advertisement 121 paid for by a third party as part of at least one part of operation of the product.

Claims: CLAIMS Claimed is: 1. A path matching product - used with information systems - comprising: a computer-readable signal-bearing medium; a mark component of the medium causing recording of mark data representing mark coordinates of mark path segments, mark data being person generated; a event component of the medium causing recording of event data representing event coordinates of event path segments, event data being event generated; and a score component of the medium, the score component causing calculation of score data comprising basic score data, basic score data representing variances between event data and mark data, the score component also causing communication of score data to advise a user. 2. The product of claim 1 wherein the score component causes calculation of score data also comprising relative score data, relative score data representing relative variances between basic score data and additional score data, additional score data being chosen from the additional score group consisting of self data representing previous score data of a person, competition data representing competition score data of a group of persons, and a score combination of self data and competition data. 3. The product of claim 1 wherein the medium is chosen from the medium group consisting of a transmitted signal, a recordable data storage medium, and a combination of a transmitted signal and a recordable data storage medium. 4. The product of claim 1 wherein mark data are input via multi- source retro reflector data input. 5. The product of claim 1 wherein the event is chosen from the event group consisting of a known event wherein event data are known to a person, an unknown event wherein event data are not known to the person, and a mixed event wherein a first event data portion is known to the person and a second event data portion is unknown to the person. 6. The product of claim 1 wherein a person consults historical data to aid generation of mark data. 7. The product of claim 1 wherein mark data path segments and event data path segments are displayed. 8. The product of claim 7 further comprising a chaff component of the medium which generates chaff data with chaff data path segments being displayed so that a person generating mark data cannot identify event data path segments amidst chaff data path segments. 9. The product of claim 1 further comprising a fee component. 10. A path matching product - used with information systems - comprising: a computer-readable signal-bearing medium chosen from the medium group consisting of a transmitted signal, a recordable data storage medium, and a combination of a transmitted signal and a recordable data storage medium; a mark component of the medium causing recording of mark data representing N sets of mark coordinates of N sets of mark path segments, mark data being person generated by a member from the mark group consisting of a person member where all of the N sets of mark data are generated by a person, a persons member where only one of the N sets is generated per person by N persons, and a mark member where several of the N sets are entered per person by many persons, the N sets of mark data being input via multi-source retro reflector data input; a event component of the medium causing recording of event data representing M sets of event coordinates of M sets of event path segments, event data being generated, by an event chosen from the event group consisting of a known event wherein event data are known to members of the mark group, an unknown event wherein event data are not known to members of the mark group, and a mixed event wherein an event data portion is known to members of the mark group and a second event data portion is not known to members of the mark group; and a score component of the medium, the score component causing calculation of score data, the score data comprising basic score data representing variances between event data and mark data, and comprising relative score data representing relative variances between basic score data and additional score data, additional score data being chosen from the additional group consisting of self data representing previous score data of the person, competition data representing competition score data of a group of persons not including the person, and a score combination of self data and competition data, and the score component causing communication of score data to advise a user.

Inventors: REIFFEL LEONARD, REIFFEL NANCY, REIFFEL, LEONARD, REIFFEL, NANCY
Applicants: REIFFEL LEONARD, REIFFEL NANCY, REIFFEL, LEONARD, REIFFEL, NANCY
Application year: 2000
Main classification: G06F13
IPC codes: A63B71, G06Q30