Abstract:
A computerized interactor system uses physical, three-dimensional objects as metaphors for input of user intent to a computer system. When one or more interactors are engaged with a detection field, the detection field reads an identifier associated with the object and communicates the identifier to a computer system. The computer system determines the meaning of the interactor based upon its identifier and upon a semantic context in which the computer system is operating. The interactors can be used to control other systems, such as audio systems, or it can be used as intuitive inputs into a computer system for such purposes as marking events in a temporal flow. The interactors, as a minimum, communicate their identity, but may also be more sophisticated in that they can communicate additional processed or unprocessed data, i.e. they can include their own data processors. The detection field can be one-dimensional or multi-dimensional, and typically has different semantic meanings associated with different parts of the detection field.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/823,628, entitled COMPUTERIZED INTERACTOR SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING SAME filed Mar. 30, 2001 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,940,486 which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes, which is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/801,085 (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,262,711), entitled COMPUTERIZED INTERACTOR SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING SAME filed Feb. 14, 1997 which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/692,830, entitled COMPUTERIZED INTERACTOR SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING SAME filed Jul. 29, 1996 now abandoned which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/001,875, entitled COMPUTERIZED INTERACTOR SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING SAME filed Aug. 3, 1995 which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates generally to human/computer interfaces and more particularly to mechanical input devices for computerized systems. 
   It has become increasingly common to computerize systems, from the trivial (e.g., the computerized toaster or coffee pot) to the exceedingly complex (e.g., complicated telecommunications and digital network systems). The advantage of computerization is that such systems become more flexible and powerful. However, the price that must be paid for this power and flexibility is, typically, an increase in the difficulty of the human/machine interface. 
   The fundamental reason for this problem is that computers operate on principles based on the abstract concepts of mathematics and logic, while humans tend to think in a more spatial manner. People inhabit the real world, and therefore are more comfortable with physical, three-dimensional objects than they are with the abstractions of the computer world. Since people do not think like computers, metaphors are adopted to permit people to effectively communicate with computers. In general, better metaphors permit more efficient and medium independent communications between people and computers. 
   There are, of course, a number of human/computer interfaces which allow users, with varying degrees of comfort and ease, to interact with computers. For example, keyboards, computer mice, joysticks, etc. allow users to physically manipulate a three-dimensional object to create an input into a computer system. However, these human/computer interfaces are quite artificial in nature, and tend to require a substantial investment in training to be used efficiently. 
   Progress has been made in improving the human/computer interface with the graphical user interface (GUI). With a GUI interface, icons are presented on a computer screen which represent physical objects. For example, a document file may look like a page of a document, a directory file might look like a file folder, and an icon of a trash can be used for disposing of documents and files. In other words, GUI interfaces use “metaphors” where a graphical icon represents a physical object familiar to users. This makes GUI interfaces easier to use for most users. GUI interfaces were pioneered at such places as Xerox PARC of Palo Alto, Calif. and Apple Computer, Inc. of Cupertino, Calif. The GUI is also often commonly used with UNIX™ based systems, and is rapidly becoming a standard in the PC-DOS world with the Windows™ operating system provided by Microsoft Corporation of Redmond, Wash. 
   While GUIs are a major advance in human/computer interfaces, they nonetheless present a user with a learning curve due to their still limited metaphor. In other words, an icon can only represent a physical object: it is not itself a physical object. Recognizing this problem, a number of researchers and companies have come up with alternative human/computer interfaces which operate on real-world metaphors. Some of these concepts are described in the July, 1993 special issue of  Communications of the ACM , in an article entitled “Computer Augmented Environments, Back to the Real World.” Such computer augmented environments include immersive environments, where rooms are filled with sensors to control the settings of the room, as researched at New York University (NYU) in New York, N.Y. Another example is the electronic white boards of Wacom and others where ordinary-looking erasers and markers are used to create an electronic “ink.” Wellner describes a “DigitalDesk” that uses video cameras, paper, and a work station to move between the paper and the electronic worlds. Fitzmarice has a “Chameleon” unit which allows a user to walk up to a bookshelf and press a touch-sensitive LCD strip to hear more about a selected book. Finally, MIT Media Lab has a product known as Leggo/Logo which lets children program by snapping plastic building blocks together, where each of the building blocks includes an embedded microprocessor. 
   Bishop, who is a co-inventor of the invention described and claimed herein, has developed a “marble answering machine” which appears to store a voice mail message in a marble that drops into a cup. The marble, in fact, triggers a pointer on a small computer which stores the message. To play back the message, the marble is dropped into the machine again. 
   This marble answering machine has been publicly known at least as of June, 1993. While strides have been made in attempting to improve human/computer interfaces, there is still progress to be made in this field. Ultimately, the interface itself should disappear from the conscious thought of users so that they can intuitively accomplish their goals without concern to the mechanics of the interface or the underlying operation of the computerized system. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention improves the human-computer interface by using “interactors.” An interface couples a detection field to a controller computer system which, in turn, may be coupled to other systems. When an interactor is entered into the detection field, moved about within the detection field, or removed from the detection field, an event is detected which, when communicated to the computer system, can be used to create a control signal for either the controller computer system or to a system connected to the controller computer system. Preferably, the detection field is suitably sized and configured so that multiple users can simultaneously access the field and such that multiple interactors can be engaged with the field simultaneously. 
   By “interactor” it is meant that a physical, real world object is used that can convey information both to the controller computer system and to users. An interactor can provide identity (ID) information to the computer through an embedded computer chip, a bar code, etc. An object can also be made into an interactor by embedding higher-level logic, such as a program logic array, microprocessor, or even a full-blown microcomputer. An interactor forms part of a system wherein information is assigned by users to at least one object. 
   An interactor system in accordance with the present invention includes a detection space and a number of interactors which can be manually manipulated within the detection space. The interactors preferably have a unique ID. An interface responsive to the interactors in the detection space provides signals to communicate information concerning the interactors (e.g. ID, position, EXIT/ENTER, and “temporal” information) to the computer system. The EXIT/ENTER will often be referred to as UP/DOWN when referring to a two dimensional detection field, since an interactor is entered by putting it down on the field, and is exited by picking it up from the field. Importantly, the computer system processes the information within a semantic context to accomplish a user-desired task. By “semantic”, it is meant that the meaning of an interactor is dependent upon the context in which it is being used, both in terms of explicit and implicit assignments of function and content. 
   As will be appreciated from the above discussion, a method for controlling a computerized system includes the steps of: a) providing a detection space; b) placing a physical, identifiable interactor having a semantic meaning within the detection space; c) determining the meaning of the interactor within the semantic context; and d) controlling a computerized system in response to the semantic meaning of the interactor. 
   There are a number of specific applications for the interactor technology of the present invention. Two examples are given, one which allows for the control of an audio system to create a “virtual room”, and the other which provides an event marking system for recorded media or other time based activities. 
   In the first example, an audio system is provided which can bring a number of widely dispersed individuals together into a common auditory space. For example, the audio system can provide a “virtual room” in which individuals are brought together in the auditory sense from various locations. For example, individuals A, B, and C can be in separate physical offices, yet individual A might wish to casually chat with individuals B and C as if they were in the same office space. Individual A then uses interactors representing B and C (perhaps with their pictures on them) in a detection field to indicate that he wishes to converse with individuals B and C. The interactors detected by the detection field generate control signals within a controlling computer to control microphones, speakers, and amplifiers to make this happen. In this fashion, and by a very simple metaphor, A, B, and C can be made to inhabit the same “virtual room” for conversation and other auditory communication. 
   In the second example, a videotape “marking” system is described. A videotape player is coupled to a controlling computer, and a videotape is played and observed by one or more users on a monitor. When an event occurring on the videotape is to be logged or marked, an interactor is engaged with the detection field. The controlling computer then retrieves timing information from the videotape player and combines this with the marking event. Removal of the interactor from the detection field can signify the end of the event, or can signify nothing, depending upon the context and the desires of the users. The detection field is preferably sized and configured so that multiple viewers of the video playback can simultaneously access the detection field. By taking a group approach, each individual can be watching for and marking a specific event or a small group of events. This approach can reduce the fatigue and tedium with logging videotape. 
   By using interactors, the human/computer interface is greatly enhanced. In the example of the audio control system, it takes little or no training to use the system since the interactors and their spatial relationships are intuitive to the user. Likewise, it is a very physically intuitive gesture for a user to place a labeled or otherwise evocative interactor on a detection field in response to a certain event detected in a video playback. The present invention therefore provides a more intuitive and richer metaphor for the interaction between humans and computerized systems. Furthermore, the present invention provides a system whereby multiple users simultaneously communicate with a computerized system using the metaphor. 
   These and other advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed descriptions and studying the various figures of the drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a pictorial representation of an interactor system in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a pictorial representation of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a side elevational view of a two-dimensional detection field in accordance of the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a top plan view taken along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an interactor in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 5   a  is a schematic representation of the internal circuitry of the interactor of  FIG. 5 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram of the circuitry of the detection field illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 ; 
       FIG. 7  is a flow diagram of a computer implemented process running on the microprocessor of  FIG. 6 ; 
       FIG. 8   a  is a data word produced by the process of  FIG. 7 ; 
       FIG. 8   b  is a table illustrating the meanings associated with the state bit of the data word of  FIG. 8   a;    
       FIG. 9   a  illustrates a one-dimensional detection field; 
       FIG. 9   b  illustrates both a three-dimensional and a four-dimensional detection field; 
       FIG. 9   c  illustrates an alternative three-dimensional detection field; 
       FIG. 10  illustrates an interactor used to control an audio system; 
       FIG. 11   a  illustrates a first embodiment of the audio control system wherein the user is embodied into the system; 
       FIG. 11   b  illustrates a second embodiment of the audio control system wherein the user is not embodied into the system, i.e. is omniscient to the system; 
       FIG. 11   c  illustrates a layout of a two-dimensional detection field used for the audio control device; 
       FIG. 12  is a block diagram for an audio control system of the present invention. 
       FIG. 13  is a block diagram representing the computer implemented processes running on the computers and server of  FIG. 12 ; 
       FIG. 14  is a flow diagram illustrating the operation of the application program of  FIG. 13 ; 
       FIG. 15  is a flow diagram illustrating the operation of the network library of  FIG. 13 ; 
       FIG. 16  is a flow diagram illustrating the server software operation of  FIG. 13 ; 
       FIG. 17  is an illustration of interactors on a detection field for marking events in temporal flows; 
       FIG. 18  is a flow diagram of an event marker system in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 19  is a flow diagram illustrating the “Control Media Based On Event” step of  FIG. 18 ; 
       FIG. 20  is a flow diagram illustrating the “Process Binding Event” step of  FIG. 18 ; 
       FIG. 21  is a flow diagram of the “Mark Temporal Flow” step of  FIG. 18 ; and 
       FIG. 22  is a flow diagram illustrating the “Process Other Event” step of  FIG. 18 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   In  FIG. 1 , an interactor system  10  includes a detection space  12 , a controller computer  14 , and an optional system  16 . A number of interactors  18  (which will be discussed more fully hereafter) may be engaged with, moved around in, and removed from the detection space  12 . These interactors  18  in conjunction with the detection space  12  help define a human/computer interface that is intuitive, flexible, rich in meaning, and is well adapted for use by multiple simultaneous users. 
   As used herein, the term “detection space” or the like will refer to any n-dimensional space in the physical world. The detection space will be alternatively referred to as a “detection field,” an “event field,” and the like. Therefore, such terms as “space,” “field,” “domain,” “volume,” should be considered as synonymous as used herein. However, “field” will be used more frequently with respect to a two dimensional detection space, while “space” will be used more frequently with respect to a three dimensional detection space. 
   Since we live in a three-dimensional world, any real-world detection space will have a three-dimensional aspect. However, if only two of those dimensions are used as input to the computer  14 , we will refer to the detection field as a “two dimensional.” Likewise, if only one-dimension is used as an input to computer  14 , we will refer herein to such a field as “one dimensional.” Furthermore, in certain embodiments of the present invention, the detection space may be time-variant, allowing the inclusion of four dimensional detection spaces. Various examples of detection spaces and fields will be discussed in greater detail subsequently. 
   Computer  14  is preferably a general purpose microcomputer made by any one of a variety of commercial vendors. For example, computer  14  can be a Macintosh computer system made by Apple Computer, Inc. or a PC/AT compatible DOS computer system made by Compaq, IBM, Packard-Bell, or others. Computer  14  is coupled to the detection space  12  as indicated at  20  such that it may receive information concerning an interactor  18  placed within the detection space  12 . An interface is provided between the detection space  12  and the computer  14  which may be either internal to or external of the computer system  14 . The design and implementation of interfaces is well known to those skilled in the art, although a preferred implementation of an interface of the present invention will be discussed in greater detail subsequently. 
   By coupling the optional system  16  to computer  14 , interactors and the optional system  16  can interact within controller computer  14 . The system  16  may serve as an input to computer  14 , an output from computer  14 , or both. When used as an input to computer  14 , the system  16  can provide data on a line  22  which is used in conjunction with data on line  20  derived from the interaction of an interactor  18  with the detection space  12 . When used as an output from the computer system  14 , the system  16  can be controlled by the interaction of the interactor  18  with the detection space  12 . The system  16  can be of a standard commercial design (e.g. a videotape player), or can be a custom system designed for a particular use. 
   An interactor system  24  used to mark events in a temporal flow is illustrated somewhat schematically in  FIG. 2 . The interactor system  24  includes a detection field  26 , a computer  28 , and a video system  30 . With the interactor system  24 , a videotape or other video source can be displayed on a screen  32  of the video system  30  and events can be “marked” by engaging interactors  34  with the detection field  26 . The images on video screen  32  may be recorded such as within a recording/playback unit  35  of the video system  30 , or may be purely transitory images, such as those produced by a video camera  36  of the video system  30 . If recorded, the images can be “marked” contemporaneously with recording of the image, or after the fact. In the latter instance, the unit  35  would simply be used in its playback mode to playback an earlier recorded video tape for event marking. 
   The detection field  26  is, in this embodiment, a two-dimensional detection field in that it can detect positions of interactors  34  in both an “x” and a “y” direction. However, the detection field  26  of  FIG. 2  does not detect vertical displacement from the detection field (i.e. in the z-direction) in this present embodiment. The detection field  26  is provided with four, V-shaped channels  38  which permit the interactors  34  to be engaged with the detection field  26  at a convenient angle. A number (e.g. 12) of interactors  34  can be engaged with each of the channels  38 . 
   The detection field  26  is coupled to the computer  28  by an interface  40 . More particularly, a first cable  42  couples the detection field  26  to the interface  40 , and a second cable  44  couples the interface  40  to the computer  28 . The construction and operation of both the detection field  26  and interface  40  will be described in greater detail subsequently. 
   The video system  30  is coupled to computer  28  by a cable  46 . Preferably, the computer  28  includes an internal video interface card which engages with a suitable connector at one end of the cable  46 . Other embodiments have other arrangements for connecting the video system to the computer. Video systems  30  and video system interface cards (not shown) are commercially available from such sources as Radius Corporation of California. The video camera  36  can be coupled to the record/playback unit  35  by a cable  48 , or can be directly coupled into the computer  28  through the aforementioned video interface card (not shown). Video cameras such as video camera  36  are available from a number of manufacturers including Sony Corporation of Japan. 
     FIG. 3  is a side elevational view of detection field  26 . Shown engaged with three of the four V-shaped channels  38  are interactors  34 . Again, while only one interactor is shown engaged with each of channels  38 , a number of interactors  34  (e.g. 12) can be simultaneously engaged with each of the channels. The body  50  of the detection field  26  is preferably made from an insulating material such as wood or plastic. 
   In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of permanent magnets  52  are provided in a first wall  54  of each of the V-shaped channels  38  corresponding, one each, with positions where interactors can be engaged with the channels. The backs  56  of interactors  34  are adapted to engage the walls  54  of the channels, i.e. preferably both the walls  54  of the channels and the backs  56  of the interactors are planar in configuration. Each of the interactors  34  are also provided with a magnet  58  which is attracted to a magnet  52  when the back  56  of the interactor  34  is engaged with a wall  54  of the V-shaped channel  38 . This is accomplished by having opposing (N/S) poles of magnets  52  and  58  face each other when the interactor  34  is engaged with the channel  38 . Since the magnets  52  and  58  are slightly offset in the vertical sense when the interactor  34  is engaged with the channel  38 , a force F is exerted on each of the interactors  34  to firmly hold the back  56  against the wall  54  and to firmly hold a base  60  of the interactor  34  against an abutting wall  62  of the V-shape channels  38 . Therefore, the magnets not only hold the interactors  34  in position, they also ensure good contact between abutting surfaces of the interactor  34  and channel  38 . 
   As seen in  FIG. 4 , each of the channels  38  are provided with a number of contacts  64  and a grounding strip  66 . The contacts  64  are electrically conducting and are located in walls  54  of the channels. The grounding strips  66  are also electrically conducting and are connected near to the bottom of the walls  62  of the channels. As will be discussed in greater detail subsequently, an interactor  34  makes electrical contact with one of the contacts  64  and with the grounding strip  66  when properly engaged with the V-shaped channel  38 . The magnets  52  and  58 , in addition to urging the interactor  34  into the channel  38 , also help assure that the interactor  34  is aligned properly in the x direction so that it makes good contact with the intended contact  64 . This desired result is accomplished because the magnets  52  and  58  will create a force that will attempt to align the interactor in the x direction. The contact  64  and the grounding strip  66  can be made, for example, from copper or any other suitable conductive material. 
   In  FIG. 5 , a perspective view of an interactor  34  shows the base  60  and back  56 . The body  68  of the interactor  34  of  FIG. 5  is a rectangular prism and is made from a non-conductive material such as wood or plastic. Base  60  includes a foil member  70  which is adapted to engage the grounding strip  66  of the V-shaped channels  38 . Attached to the back  56  is a contact  72  which is adapted to engage one of the contacts  64  of the V-shaped channels  38 . The foil  70  and contact  72  are made from a suitable conductive material, such as copper. 
   The interactors  34  and the detection field  26  are sized for easy use and for the simultaneous use by several persons. For example, the interactors  34  can have dimensions of about 0.5 in.×1.5 in.×2.0 in., while the detection field can have dimensions of about 1 ft×2 ft.×3 in. in height. This permits the interactors  34  to be comfortably held in a user&#39;s hand, and allows multiple users to simultaneously interact with the detection field  26 . 
   In  FIG. 5   a , the internal circuitry of the interactor  34  is shown. The circuitry includes an identification (ID. chip  74 ), and a diode  76 . The ID chip is available from Dallas Semiconductor of Texas as part number DS2401, and provides a unique 48-bit identification (ID) when properly queried. The diode  76  prevents false keying, as is well known to those skilled in the art of keyboard design. The ID chip  74  is coupled to node  70  by the diode  76 , and is coupled to the contact  72  by a line  78 . 
   In  FIG. 6 , the internal circuitry  80  of the detection field  26  is illustrated. More particularly, the internal circuitry  80  includes the four grounding strips  66  and the contacts  64  described previously. The contacts  64  are coupled together in rows by lines  82  and are coupled to Vcc (e.g. 5 volts) by pull-up resistors  84 . Nodes of the circuitry  80  between the pull-up resistors  84  and the contacts  64  form a 12 bit bus which are input into a buffer register  86 . Likewise, grounding strips  66  are coupled into a four-bit bus and are input into the register  86 . A microprocessor  88  (such as an M68H141 made by Motorola of Austin, Tex.) communicates with the register  86  via a bus  90 . Collectively, the register  86  and the microprocessor  88  comprise the interface  40 , and the 12 bit bus and the 4 bit bus collectively forms the bus  42 . The output bus  44  is under the control of microprocessor  88 . It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the interface  40  will also include other well-known components, such as RAM for scratch-pad storage, ROM to store the control instructions for the microprocessor  88 , etc. 
   In  FIG. 7 , a computer implemented process  92  that runs on the microprocessor  88  to control the circuitry  80  will be described. The instructions for this process  92  are stored in the aforementioned ROM of the interface  40 , as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. The process  92  begins at  94  and, in a first step  96 , the microprocessor  88  clears the bit maps. By bit map, it is meant binary digits are mapped to particular locations on the board. These bit maps are preferably stored in the aforementioned RAM memory of the interface  40 . Next, in a step  98 , the rows and columns of the circuitry  80  are read and put into the current bit map. Next, in a step  100 , a debounce routine is performed. Debounce routines are well known to those skilled in the art of keyboard and computer switch design. Next, in a step  102 , locations on the detection field  26  that have “pieces” are “marked” on the bit map. As used herein, a “piece” is an interactor. By “marking” a location, a piece is engaged with the detection field  26  such that it makes electrical contact with the circuitry  80 . Next, in a step  104 , the ID of each of the pieces engaged with the detection field  26  is read, and is then compared to a list of the pieces (also stored in RAM memory of the interface  40 ). In a step  106 , if a newly read ID is not equal to an old ID for a particular position, then a report is made that a new piece has been put down (i.e. engaged with the detection field  26 ) and an old piece has been picked up from the same position. This information is added to a queue stored in RAM. In a step  108 , if the same piece is in the same position on the detection field, it is reported that the piece is still down. In a step  110 , if a new piece is detected at a position, it is reported that a piece has been placed on to the detection field  26 . Next, the bit map is scanned in a step  112  for removed pieces and, if a removed piece is detected, the ID is reported. Next, in a step  114 , the current bit map is moved into the older bit map. Subsequently, a step  116  determines if there is a user request. If not, process control is returned to step  98 . If there is a user request, that user request is handled in a step  118 . In the current preferred embodiment, this involves processing the user request to handle the commands “get board state”, “get next event”, “get all events”, “erase all events”, and “get board type (version).” After the user request has been processed, process control is again returned to step  98 . 
   In  FIG. 8   a , a digital word  120  of the present invention includes a number of bits. More particularly, the current word includes 55 bits. Of the bits, a bit B 0  indicates the state, bits B 1 -B 2  indicate the row, and bits B 3 -B 6  indicates the column of the interactor. Finally, bits B 7 - 54  hold the 48 bit ID of the interactor. This data can be passed to the computer  28  via bus  44 . 
   In  FIG. 8   b , a table of state changes is shown along with their associated meanings. As described previously, the word  120  includes a state which is essentially exit/enter (up/down) for a particular interactor (i.e. when and how long has an interactor been positioned in the detection field). If the current state value is equal to 0, and the last state value is equal to 0, the meaning is that there is no piece (interactor) at that row and column position. If the current state is 1 and the last state is 0, that means that a piece has been put down at that row and column position. If the current state is 1 and the last state is 1, that means that the piece is still down since that last time that the detection field was scanned. Finally, if the current state is 0 and the last state is 1, that means that a piece has been picked up, i.e. an interactor has been removed from the detection field. 
     FIGS. 9   a ,  9   b , and  9   c  illustrate three alternative embodiments for a detection field. In  FIG. 9   a , a detection field  122  allows an interactor  124  to be linearly placed in a multiplicity of positions along an x axis. This is an illustration of a one-dimensional detection field. It should be noted that, at the trivial extreme, if the detection field  122  is shortened sufficiently, it can be made just large enough to accept a single interactor  124 . This would comprise a zero-dimensional detection field which would simply detect the presence or absence of an interactor and its ID number, i.e. it can operate as a simple switch. 
   In  FIG. 9   b , a detection space  126  is illustrated that can accept interactors  128  in three dimensions, i.e. along x, y, and z axes. The x, y, and z positions of an interactor  128  can all be used to determine the context or meaning of the interactor. For example, the base platform  130  can have a different meaning from a first platform  132 , a second platform  134 , a third platform  136 , a fourth platform  138 , and a fifth platform  140 . Platform  136  could, for example, be dedicated to changing the identity of one of the interactors  128 . Objects on platform  138  could be “enclosing” interactors on platform  140 . The meaning and relationships of the various platforms can therefore be designed based upon desired functionalities specified by a user. 
   It should also be noted that a fourth dimension can be added to the detection space  126  of  FIG. 9   b . In other words, the detection field  126  can change with time. One way to accomplish this is to allow the platforms to move over time such that their meanings change. For example, as indicated by arrows  142 ,  144 , and  146 , platforms  134 ,  136 , and  138  can be allowed to move up and down, respectively, perhaps under the control of a motor (not shown). This permits an interactor  128  to have different meanings over a period of time. For example, the interactor  128  on platform  134  could represent a volume level for a loudspeaker which will diminish over time as the platform moves downwardly in a z direction. Therefore, it should be clear from the foregoing that the detection spaces or fields can be n-dimensional where n is 0, 1, 2, 3, etc. 
   In the previous examples of detection fields and spaces, the detection fields and spaces have always been mapped by Cartesian (x, y, z) coordinates. In  FIG. 9   c , a detection space  148  in the form of a spherical globe is provided where a number of interactors have been adhered (such as by magnets) to its surface. With such spherical detection spaces or fields, it may be more convenient to determine the position of the interactors using a spherical coordinate system. It should also be noted that other forms of detection fields can be provided including detection fields of irregular shapes. 
   The present invention will be described more particularly in the form of the following two examples. It will be appreciated, however, that there are many other applications in which the interactor methods and systems can be used with good effect. 
   EXAMPLE 1 
   An Audio Control System 
   In  FIG. 10 , an interactor  152  is shown which will be used for a particular implementation of the present invention. The interactor  152  includes a body  154  that operates functionally in a fashion very similar to that of the interactor  34  illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 5   a . The interactor  152  can be used with a detection field similar to or identical with detection field  26  as illustrated in  FIGS. 3 ,  4 , and  6 . The detection field  26  used with the interactor  152  can also use the same interface  40  to interconnect the field with a computer system  28 . 
   The difference between interactor  152  and the previously described interactor  34  is therefore design related and not computational in nature in that they support different metaphors. With the interactor  152 , a doll&#39;s head  156  or other talisman is provided with a peg  158  which can engage a hole  160  in the body  154 . A small piece of white board  162  is removably attached to the body  154  by a pair of hook-and-pile (e.g. Velcro®) members  164   a  and  164   b . The hook-and-pile member  164   a  is attached to a surface of body  154  while member  164   b  is attached to the back of the white board  162 . In this way, the white board  162  can be removably attached to the body  154  of the interactor  152 . A name, label, or other indicia can be provided on the white board  162  with a marker  166  as illustrated by the name “Fred.” Therefore, the interactor  152  can be used to represent a person named Fred both by means of the head configuration  156  and the name on the white board  162 . It is a useful feature of the present invention in that interactors can be given distinct visual, aural or other sensory identities which aid in the metaphor of the human-computer interface. 
   In  FIG. 11   a , a detection field  166  has a number of interactors  168  that can be positioned at various locations. In this instance, one of the interactors  168   a  represents the user herself. The other interactors  168  in this example represent other people. As noted, the pieces can be moved around such that their relative x, y positions change with respect to each other. It is therefore possible with the interactors of the present invention to create a “virtual room” wherein the utterances made by various persons represented by the interactors appear to be spatially located as indicated by the interactors. Therefore, the interactors and detection fields of the present invention can be used as a controller for forming groups in a “virtual room” and for varying the relative location of the various members of the group. 
   For example, in  FIG. 11   a , before the user&#39;s interactor has been moved, two people would appear to be talking to the left of the user and two people would appear to be talking in front of and to the right of the user. After the interactor  168   a  has been moved to the new position  168   a ′, the two people that were apparently to the left of the user would now be behind the user, and the two people that were to the front and right of the user would be directly to the right of the user. By removing any one of the interactors  168  from the “virtual room,” that person would no longer be part of the conversation, and removing the user&#39;s interactor  168   a  from the room (i.e. removing the interactor from the detection field  166 ) would eliminate the “virtual room.” Of course, a suitable number of loudspeakers would be required to create the desired illusion. 
   In  FIG. 11   b , a slightly altered detection field  166 ′ is used for substantially the same purpose as previously described. However, in the previous embodiment, an interactor representing the user herself is within the detection field  166 , but in the embodiment of  FIG. 11   b , the user does not have an interactor representing herself on the detection field  166 ′. In the previous embodiment as illustrated in  FIG. 11   a , the user is said to be “embodied” in that she is on the detection field and can move on the detection field relative to other interactors. However, in the “non-embodied” or “omniscient” version shown in  FIG. 11   b , the position of the user is fixed at some point, either off or on the detection field  166 ′. For example, the user might be positioned at a point  170  just off of the detection field  166 ′. However, the other people represented by interactors  168  can be adjusted relative to the user to obtain much of the effect obtainable by the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 11   a.    
   In  FIG. 11   c , a potential “layout” of a detection field  166  is illustrated. If an interactor is placed near the back of the field, the volume associated with the person represented by that interactor is at its softest. Placing the interactor near the front of the field will make the associated person the loudest. Special positions on the left and right edges and down the center of the detection field can perform special functions, such as “pan”, “get info”, or “assign.” 
   In  FIG. 12 , an interactor system  172  in accordance with the present invention includes an audio server  174  and a number of workstations  176 . As a system, the interactor system  172  can perform the functionality described with respects to  FIGS. 11   a  and  11   b.    
   The audio server  174  includes a data server  178 , a MIDI timepiece  180 , a number of MIDI devices  182 , and an audio concentrator  184 . The data server  178  receives data from a network bus  186  and is connected to the MIDI timepiece  180  by a bus  188 . The MIDI timepiece  180  is connected to a rack of MIDI devices  182  by a bus  190 , and the output of the MIDI devices  182  are coupled to the concentrator  184  by a bus  192 . The concentrator  184  has, as inputs, a number of audio lines  194 . 
   Each workstation  176  includes a computer  196 , interfaces  198 , and detection fields  200  as described previously. The detection fields  200  can have one or more interactors  202  placed upon their surfaces as previously illustrated and described with reference to  FIGS. 11   a  and  11   b . The workstation further includes a pair of stereo loudspeakers  204  and a pair of stereo microphones  206 . The loudspeakers  204  are coupled directly into a control box  208  which include loudspeaker amplifiers. The microphones are coupled to a pre-amplifier  210  which, in turn, are coupled to the control box  208 . The control box  208  also includes microphone amplifiers. The audio lines  194  carry the microphone signals to the concentrator  184 , and the loudspeaker signals from the concentrator  184  to the various speakers  204 . 
   The software operating the interactor system  172  is conceptually illustrated in block diagram form in  FIG. 13 . The databus  186  carries the data necessary to interconnect the various components of the system  172  and can, for example, be implemented on an Apple LocalTalk or Ethernet network protocol. It should be understood, however, that other network protocols such as Novell Netware or custom network software can also be used to provide the networking functions of the network bus  186 . 
   Three software routines are used to implement the interactor system  172  of the present invention. Namely, each of the workstations  176  operate an application program and a network library, and a data server  178  operates data server software and the network library. The application program  212  runs on the computer  196  of each of the workstations  176  that are part of the interactor system  172 . Network libraries  214  likewise each run on a computer system  196 . The network library communicates with the network bus  186  via a conceptual link  216  and with the application program via a conceptual link  218 . The application program  212  communicates with the network bus  186  via a conceptual link  220 . The links  216 ,  218 , and  220  are considered conceptual in that they are not physical links to the bus but, rather, logical links through operating system software, network software, internal buses, network cards, etc. 
   The software running on the data server  178  includes the network library  222  and the data server software  224 . The network library has a conceptual link  226  to the network bus and a conceptual link  228  to the data server software  224 . The data server software has a conceptual link  230  to the network bus  186 . 
   In the present implementation, the conceptual links  220  and  230  from the network bus  186  to the application programs  212  and to data server software  224 , respectively are AppleEvents created by an Apple networking system. The conceptual links  216  and  226  between the network library and the network bus  186  are preferably standard AppleTalk or Ethernet data packages. 
     FIG. 14  illustrates the application program  212  running on the workstations  176 . The process  212  begins at  232  and, in a step  234 , the process is initialized with the board type, and the current board space. Next, in a step  236 , the state of all persons on the system is communicated based upon the board state and board type. After the initialization and communication steps, the process enters an event queue  238  to await the next event. If the next event is a “pick-up” event, a step  240  determines whether the interactor is in a control space. As used herein, a control space is a dedicated portion of a detection field used to control the process. If it is an assignment control space (where meanings are assigned to interactors) control is returned to the step  238 . If the control space is a people control space, the audio is cut off in a step  242  and process control is again returned to step  238 . 
   If step  240  determines that the interactor is not in a control space, it is determined in step  246  if the board (i.e. the detection field) is self-embodied. If yes, it is determined in a step  248  if the interactor representing the user (“self”) has been removed from the board. If not, the system provides an audio feedback and a new state to the server in a step  250 . If the interactor representing the user has been removed from a self-embodied board, a step  252  provides audio feedback and turns off the sound to all users. 
   If the event queue detects an interactor being put down on the detection field, a step  254  determines whether it was put down into a control space. If yes, people information is provided in a step  256 . If it was put into an assignment space, a step  258  inputs the assignment to the interactor. After either step  256  or  258  are completed, process control is returned to step  238 . Next, in a step  260 , it is determined whether there is a self-embodied board. If yes, a step  268  determines whether an interactor representing the user has been placed on the detection field. If not, or if step  260  determines that is not a self-embodied board, a step  264  provides audio feedback and resets the data concerning the person represented by the interactor. Otherwise, step  268  determines an interactor representing the user has been placed on the detection field, audio feedback is provided, and a reset of all of the people represented by the interactors on the board is initiated. After steps  264  or  266  is completed, process control is returned to step  238 . 
   In  FIG. 15 , the functionality of the network library  214  of  FIG. 13  is shown in greater detail. The functionality of network library  222  is substantially the same. The process  214  begins at  268  and, in a step  270 , it is determined whether a function call has been received. If not, the process  214  goes into an idle loop awaiting a function call. If a function call “receive event” has been received, a step  272  provides a requesting program with the information regarding the event. If a functional call corresponding to “send event” is received, an AppleEvent is created from the function call to communicate with other programs in a step  274 . Process control is returned to the function call event loop  270  after the completion of either steps  272  or  274 . 
   In  FIG. 16 , the operation of data software server  224  of  FIG. 13  is illustrated in greater detail. A process  224  begins at  276  and, in a step  278 , it is determined whether an AppleEvent has been received. Again, this process  224  is Macintosh® specific, and like or equivalent processes can be used in other types of computer systems. If an AppleEvent has not been received, the AppleEvent loop  278  repeats until that AppleEvent is received. If the AppleEvent is a “value change” AppleEvent, a step  280  determines whether there is a privacy violation. If yes, a step  282  notifies an error handler to handle the privacy violation. Process control is then returned to step  278 . If there is not privacy violation detected by step  280 , there is an update of dynamic information database in a step  284 . Next, in a step  286 , MIDI data is calculated and sent. In a subsequent step  288 , users with a vested interest in the function are notified, and process control is returned to step  278 . If a “value inquiry” AppleEvent is detected, a step  290  determines whether there is a privacy violation. If yes, a step  292  notifies the network library with the error function and process control is returned to step  278 . If there is not a privacy violation as determined by step  290 , information is retrieved from the database in a step  294 . Finally, in a step  296 , the network library is called to reply and process control is returned to step  278 . 
   EXAMPLE 2 
   Videotape Marking System 
   In this second example, an interactor system such as interactor system  24  is controlled to “mark” or “log” events in a videotape. In  FIG. 17 , a detection field  298  includes three zones  300   a ,  300   b ,  300   c  and a number of interactors  302 . Each of the interactors has a semantic meaning due to its identity, due to their position in the various zones  300   a ,  300   b , and  300   c  of the detection field  298 , and due to their amount or “type” of time they have been present in the detection field (up/down or, as sometimes referred to herein, exit/enter). The various objects  302  can be used mark and control the temporal flow of a recorded medium as described previously with regards to  FIG. 2 . 
   As used herein, “temporal flow” will refer to the flow of events, either in real time or in some other time related context. Therefore, either events can be marked in a temporal flow, or events that have been previously recorded or that are being concurrently recorded can be marked in the temporal flow. The “marking” may only be literally temporal (such as in real time), temporal with regard to a specific origin (such as seconds since the start of the tape), or temporal only in the sense that the measure could be translated into a temporal stream (such as feet of tape or frame number). While the present example relates to a recorded video medium, the marking and control of the temporal flow of another medium, such as an audio medium, may also be carried out. 
   In  FIG. 18 , a computer implemented process  304  operating on a computer  28  of  FIG. 2  for marking and controlling a temporal flow begins at  306  and, in a step  308 , it is determined whether a non-board event has been received. If so, this “other” type of event is processed in a step  310  and process control is returned to step  308 . Next, in a step  312 , it is determined whether a board event has been received. If not, process control is returned to step  308 . If a board event has been received, the board is polled in a step  314  and it is determined in a step  316  whether a null board event has been received. A null board event may be that no interactors have been perceived in the detection field, or that no changes have been detected in the state of the interactors in the detection field. If so, process control returns to  308 . However, if a board event has been received (i.e. it is not a null board event), the board event is parsed in a step  318 . Next, in a step  320 , it is determined the event type based upon any combination (e.g., any one, any two, or all three) of the interactor&#39;s ID, location, and whether it is up or down (i.e. the time period of the interactor in the detection field). Next, in a step  332 , the parsed event is processed by type. If it is a media event, a step  324  controls the media based upon the event. If it is a binding event, a step  326  processes the binding event. If it is a marking event, a step  324  marks the temporal flow. In this instance, the temporal flow is marked by receiving frame information from the video player and storing that frame information along with the event type in a database on the computer  28 . If the event type is unrecognized, or after steps  324 ,  326 , or  328  have been processed, process control returns to step  308 . 
   Step  324  of  FIG. 18  is illustrated in greater detail in  FIG. 19 . To control a media based upon the event, process  324  begins at  320  and, in a step  332 , the meaning of the interactor in the detection field is determined from its ID, its location, and whether it is up or down. The meaning may be determined based upon any combination of the presence of the interactor (up/down), the ID of the interactor, and the location of the interactor. Next, in a step  334 , this meaning is converted into control commands (e.g. stop, fast-forward, speed etc.) for the media system. The process  324  is completed at  336 . 
   Step  326  of  FIG. 18  is illustrated in greater detail in  FIG. 20 . Process  326  begins at  338  and, in a step  340 , the current meaning of the interactor is displayed. The system then determines whether the user wants to redefine the current meaning of the interactor in a step  342 . If not, the process  326  is completed as indicated at  352 . If the user does wish to redefine the meaning of a particular interactor, it is determined in a step  344  what type of redefinition is desired. If the meaning of the location is “re-bind the ID”, then a step  346  redefines the binding of the ID to the meaning. If the meaning of the object is “re-define the location”, the system redefines the binding of the location to the meaning in a step  348 . If the meaning of the location or the ID is “re-define the proximity”, a step  350  is redefines the binding of the proximity to the meaning. As used herein, a definition for “proximity” is a measure of distance between the interactor and the detection field, or the position of an interactor in a detection space. After the completion of the binding steps of  346 ,  348 , or  350 , the process  326  itself is completed as indicated at  352 . 
   The step  238  of  FIG. 18  is illustrated in greater detail in  FIG. 21 . The process  328  begins at  352  and, in a step  354 , the current temporal value of the media is retrieved. Next, in a step  356 , a mark is stored with a temporal value and meaning based upon the ID, location, and how the interactor has been placed “up or down” in the detection field. The process  328  is then completed at  358 . 
   The step  310  of  FIG. 18  is illustrated in greater detail in  FIG. 22 . The process  310  begins at  360  and, in a step  362 , an event type is determined. If the event type is board control, a step  364  issues board control commands. If the event type is “database,” a step  366  manipulates the database of marks. If the event type is “navigate media,” a media control command is issued by step  368 . If the event type is “device control,” a device to control is selected in a step  370 . After the completion of steps  364 ,  366 ,  368 , or  370 , the process  310  is completed as indicated at  372 . 
   While this invention has been described in terms of several preferred embodiments and two specific examples, there are alterations, permutations, and equivalents which fall within the scope of this invention. It is therefore intended that the following appended claims be interpreted as including all such alterations, permutations, and equivalents as fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.