Abstract:
A system and method for digitally classifying and analyzing exposure to behavioral influencers to probabilistically determine behaviors likely to be demonstrated by an individual or cohorts of individuals based on a combination of demographic and psychographic attributes. The system and method transforms raw data into useful data elements having associated exteroceptive values and other metadata that is useful for further evaluation, analysis, integration into a model, or other behavioral data utilization.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of U.S. Utility Application No. 13/315,602, filed Dec. 9, 2011 which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/422,001, filed Dec. 10, 2010, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates in general to systems and methods for executing computational processes as they relate to behavioral analytics. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    A data element forms the premise on which an inference may be drawn and represents the lowest level of abstraction from which information and then knowledge are derived. In humans, the perception of environment or condition is comprised of data gathered by the senses, i.e., the physiological capacity to provide input for perception. These “senses” are formally referred to as the exteroceptive senses and in humans comprise quantifiable or potential sensory data including, sight, smell, hearing, touch, taste, temperature, pressure, pain, and pleasure, the admixture of which determine the spectrum of human emotion states and resultant behaviors. 
         [0004]    Potentials in these senses work independently, or in combination, to produce unique perceptions. For instance, the sense of sight is primarily used to identify a food item, but the flavor of the food item incorporates the senses of both taste and smell. 
         [0005]    In biological terms, behavior can generally be regarded as any action of an organism that changes its relationship to its environment. Definable and measurable behaviors are predicated on the association of stimuli within the domain of exteroceptive sensation, to perception, and ultimately, a behavioral outcome. 
         [0006]    The ability to determine the exteroceptive association and impact on behavior from data that is not physical but exists only in digital form has profound implications for how data is viewed, both intrinsically and associatively. 
         [0007]    An advantage exists, therefore, for a system and method for dynamically associating digital data with values that approximate exteroceptive stimuli potentials, and from those values forecasting probabilistically the likely behavioral response to that data, thereby promoting the ability to design systems and models to predict behavioral outcomes that are inherently more accurate in determining behavioral response. In turn, interfaces and computing devices may be developed that would “expect” certain behaviors, or illicit them through the manipulation of data. Additionally, models could be constructed to classify data not only for the intrinsic value of the data but for the potential behavioral influence inherent in the data as well. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The present invention achieves the foregoing objectives by providing a system and method for digitally classifying and analyzing exposure to behavioral influencers to probabilistically determine behaviors likely to be demonstrated by an individual or cohorts of individuals based on a combination of demographic and psychographic attributes. 
         [0009]    Other details, objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the following description of the presently preferred embodiments and presently preferred methods of practicing the invention proceeds. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    The invention will become more readily apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments thereof shown, by way of example only, in the accompanying drawings wherein: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a flow diagram of a process according to the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a flow diagram depicting transformation of a discrete data element to one that is altered by the invention to include associated exteroceptive metadata; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  depicts a system for carrying out the processes of the present invention; and 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  depicts a further system for carrying out the processes of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]    Referring to the drawings, in  FIG. 1  there is generally shown a process flow diagram whereby disparate raw data or data elements  10  is collected and organized in whole or in part via sensor(s) to measure physical conditions such as temperature, or through the systematic incorporation or “digital scraping”, to constitute an external data feed or organized source of data  11 . 
         [0016]    Discrete data elements  12  derived from the feed are processed based on the structural and organizational characteristics of the originating feed itself. More particularly, the system determines whether the feed consists of a single text message document, or is part of a collection of such documents, or a stream of data from a website, or from a sensor or array of sensors. The data is then classified (tagged) with associative metadata according to type  13 , origination  14 , date  15  and time  16 . 
         [0017]    A test of data integrity  17  is conducted by looking for alternate “(n)” sources at  18   a  to confirm values for data that has been subject to the instant process and if those values are evident in single or multiple feeds. 
         [0018]    Following the data integrity test, a dynamic origination database  18   b  compares previous data element tag interactions with the present data under consideration. 
         [0019]    At  19 , data is assessed for reliability and, at  20 , all previous tagging is combined with the data element value. At  21 , the data element is evaluated against a normative table of exteroceptive values to determine the appropriate exteroceptive value(s) to be attributed to the data element, which values are then associated with the data element at  22 . Reference  23  illustrates the step of accessing a database of contextual information from previous data interactions. And, at  24 , contextual information is appended with the metadata for the initial discrete data element, which process is preferably performed recursively to strengthen the contextual association to the data. At  25 , the literal data value and its associative metadata are then transferred, as appropriate, for additional processing or modeling. 
         [0020]    Referring to  FIG. 1  in somewhat greater detail, it is seen that discrete and disparate data  10  is assembled and organized into various external repositories in a recurring manner. The discrete data  10  can be of any source and type, including but not limited to SMS or MMS text message documents, emails, web based feeds, and social media. According to the invention, at the moment when data is first encountered by the system, the data is considered to be absolute and immutable. However, a subsequent iteration of the feed (discussed below) may result in an update of the feed which might be different from the originally encountered feed, whereby the updated feed is treated as a discrete form of the initial feed. A repository of such discrete, associated data is considered to be a data feed and/or source  11  based on any number of criteria or specification. Such criteria might include locales from which the data feeds originate, or language. Discrete elements  12  of the data feed are then examined and sorted at  13  according to type such as, for example, web page content, social media status update, news report, or the like. 
         [0021]    The data is assigned associative information, i.e., meta-tagged, that identifies origin  14 , as well as temporal information including date of integration  15  and time of integration  16 . As indicated at  17 , in order to determine the validity of the data an attempt is made to identify corroborating sources or data feeds  18   a . More particularly, to determine the validity of the data and to measure the variance of the data as represented across various data feeds, multiple feeds are sourced at  18   a  and evaluated. If the data is unrecognized, the process of examination and meta-tagging of discrete data is repeated, thereby resulting in an updated, discrete form of the initial feed which is also stored at  18   a.    
         [0022]    At  18   b , an origination database is queried for past instances of similar data feed sourcing results. That is, an origination database of historical results of previous data tagging sessions  18   b  is consulted to determine validity of the data based on past data feed metatag usage. At  19 , the data is then evaluated and tagged for reliability as well as a calculated rate of decay with regard to relevance. 
         [0023]    At  20 , the tagging from step  19  is then appended to the existing metadata for the data element. In other words, all meta-tags are then combined with the discrete data element to form a union of discrete data element and associated metadata. 
         [0024]    The value of the data element and the associated metadata, is compared against a normative table of exteroceptive values and a new value of affective potential is calculated and assigned to the data element at  21 . For example, the data element may be, but is not limited to, a social media status update whereby an individual transmits via a text message: “I&#39;m eating pizza and it is delicious”. This entry would be evaluated as stimulating the exteroceptive senses of sight, smell, taste, and temperature, with a behavioral bias toward encouraging hunger/desire in the viewer of the status update. The strength of the desire is further affected by the historical data of such references when evaluated against environmental conditions such as time and location. 
         [0025]    The exteroceptive values are based on stimuli potentials necessary for human perception and cognition and are regarded to be precursors to a behavioral response when encountered. At  22 , the exteroceptive values are combined with the previous metadata associated with the discrete data element to form an updated rendition of the metadata that incorporates all previous metadata values. 
         [0026]    A database  23  of contextual observations is then accessed to determine the context of the exteroceptive values to the discrete data element and to assign appropriate contextual metadata to the data element. That is, a historical database  23  of previous classifications is queried for any contextual association that might be determined by the combined metadata values that are associated with the discrete data element. At  24 , the contextual metadata is combined with the previously existing discrete data element metadata such that any contextual proximity is reflected in an updated amending of the metadata values associated with the discrete data element. At this point the process of behavioral analysis is considered complete whereby the discrete data element is now deemed to be rendered to possess the property of exteroception. Finally, the transformed data element is transferable, at  25 , for further evaluation, analysis, integration into a predictive model, or other behavioral data utilization as may be desired. 
         [0027]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , there is shown a data-centric flow diagram which graphically illustrates the progression and transformation of a discrete data element according to the present invention, i.e., into one that incorporates class, temporal, and exteroceptive values while preserving the original discrete value. At  30 , a discrete data element is identified and allocation is made for classification by the initialization of a data repository (either internal or external) to store associative metadata. Data is first tagged by type at  31 , subsequently tagged by origin at  32 , integration date at  33  and integration time at  34 . At  35 , exteroceptive values are assigned as well to form an integrated meta-exteroceptive representation of the original data. 
         [0028]      FIG. 3  is representative of a computer system for carrying out an embodiment of the processes of the present invention. The system, identified generally by reference numeral  50 , includes at least one microprocessor or central processing unit (CPU)  52  coupled to memory  54 . System  50  may be a single computer or may be a distributed system of computers including a plurality of processors. In this regard, a distributed system of computers may include, without limitation, a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a cloud-based system or any other arrangement of computers presently known or hereinafter developed. Likewise, memory  54  may be a single memory device or multiple components capable of cooperating to store executable programming necessary to implement the methods according to the invention. Suitable memory devices may include any portable, on-board or remote computer readable storage media known in the art such as, for example, optical media, magnetic media, solid state storage, grapheme or quantum dots, and storage area networks. 
         [0029]    Continuing, system  50  includes data harvesting means in the form of one or more sensors  56  capable of detecting one or data elements including, without limitation, temperature, pressure, light, sound, motion, distance and time. The data signals received by sensor(s)  56  are converted by an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter  58  whereby the signals may be transmitted to and processed by CPU  52 . Pursuant to the instructions stored in memory  54 , CPU  52  sorts the incoming data into data feeds or sources from which discrete elements are tagged by type, origination, date and time, and checked for corresponding data sources. 
         [0030]    The instructions stored in memory  54  then direct the CPU  52  to call origination database  18   b  to search for historical application of data element tags, grade the reliability of the data, combine metadata with discrete data elements, determine exteroceptive values based on the tagged data element, and then combine the exteroceptive values with the previously tagged data element. Thereafter, the instructions direct the CPU to recursively call the context database  23  for contextual association of the tagged data element and thereafter append the contextual metadata to the data element at  24  whereby the result is a transformed data element that is tagged with exteroceptive value(s) and associated metadata suitable, at  25 , for evaluation, analysis, modeling, processing and/or other behavioral data utilization as may be desired. 
         [0031]      FIG. 4  is representative of a further embodiment of a computer system for carrying out the processes of the present invention. The system, identified generally by reference numeral  150 , includes at least one microprocessor or central processing unit (CPU)  152  coupled to memory  154 . System  150  may be a single computer or may be a distributed system of computers including a plurality of processors. In this regard, a distributed system of computers may include, without limitation, a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a cloud-based system or any other arrangement of computers presently known or hereinafter developed. Likewise, memory  154  may be a single memory device or multiple components capable of cooperating to store executable programming necessary to implement the methods according to the invention. Suitable memory devices may include any portable, on-board or remote computer readable storage media known in the art such as, for example, optical media, magnetic media, solid state storage, graphene or quantum dots, and storage area networks. 
         [0032]    Continuing, system  150  includes data harvesting means in the form of one or more digital media scrapers  156  capable of detecting one or more data elements including, without limitation, any digital data including text, graphics, audio and/or video file of any format. The data collected by the scraper(s)  156  are transmitted to and processed by CPU  152 . Pursuant to the instructions stored in memory  154 , CPU  152  sorts the incoming data into data feeds or sources from which discrete elements are tagged by type, origination, date and time, and checked for corresponding data sources. 
         [0033]    The instructions stored in memory  154  then direct the CPU  152  to call origination database  18   b  to search for historical application of data element tags, grade the reliability of the data, combine metadata with discrete data elements, determine exteroceptive values based on the tagged data element, and then combine the exteroceptive values with the previously tagged data element. Thereafter, the instructions direct the CPU to recursively call the context database  23  for contextual association of the tagged data element and thereafter append the contextual metadata to the data element at  24  whereby the result is a transformed data element that is tagged with exteroceptive value(s) and associated metadata suitable, at  25 , for evaluation, analysis, modeling, processing and/or other behavioral data utilization as may be desired. 
         [0034]    Broadly, the present invention provides a system and method for inferring and assigning exteroceptive values to a data element so that the data element can be measured and evaluated for the ability to influence behavior. The advantages of the present invention include, without limitation, the ability to automatically assign exteroceptive stimuli potentials to disparate data in real-time. 
         [0035]    While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiments, methods, and examples herein. The invention should therefore not be construed to be limited by the above described embodiments, methods, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention as claimed herein.