Patent Publication Number: US-2023161830-A1

Title: Platform Device for Providing Quantitative Collective Knowledge

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/100,443, 371(c) date Sep. 6, 2016 and entitled “Platform Device for the Provision of Quantitative Swarm Information”, which is a 371 US national stage application of PCT/DE2014/100211, filed Jun. 25, 2014, which claims priority to International Patent Application No. PCT/DE2013/100399, filed Nov. 28, 2013, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties as if set forth at length. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The present invention relates to a platform device placed on a web-site and networked with a plurality of ID-identifiable users or participants for the purpose of collecting and processing items of information on the part of the users or participants, said information being stored at a plurality of storage sites of a platform which are in each case identifiable by means of predefined coding and are in each case assigned to a predefined theme. 
     Platform devices of the aforementioned type are known in the art with respect to a number of applications. They are also operated, inter alia, in the world-wide internet. However, the prior platform devices suffer from the drawback that a specific selection of presettable linkages, and linkages capable of being carried out according to predefined criteria are not realizable. This may be regarded as being due, inter alia, to the fact that the current platforms store items of information without these items of information being associated with strictly predefinable processing criteria and strictly predefinable evaluation criteria. 
     SUMMARY 
     Thus it is an object of the present invention to provide a platform device by means of which items of information providing swarm information and stored at a first storage site are utilizable by the network participants and can be added to or changed according to strictly predefined processing criteria on provision of an agreement by the network participants. 
     With regard to a platform device of the aforementioned type, this object is achieved in that the storage sites are subdivided on the platform into a plurality of themes and are in each case in the form of a dual unit (DuU) comprising in each case a first storage site assigned to a predefinable theme and provided with initial information formulated by an initial participant but not editable by any other individual user-participant, together with a second storage site which is assigned to the first storage site and is capable of being edited by the plurality of user-participants and is adapted for acceptance of inputted additional information relevant to the initial information stored at the first storage site. 
     Preferred embodiments of the invention are the subject matter of the subordinate claims. 
     With regard to the platform device of the invention, the combination of features to the effect that the storage sites are subdivided into a plurality of themes on the platform and are in each case in the form of a dual unit (DuU) comprising in each case a first storage site, assigned to a predefinable theme and provided with initial information formulated by an initial participant but not editable by any other individual user-participant, together with a second storage site assigned to the first storage site and capable of being edited by the plurality of individual user-participants and adapted for acceptance of inputted additional information relevant to the initial information stored at the first storage site has the result that the formation of dual units makes it possible for items of information relevant to very specific processing stipulations will be capable of being evaluated, processed, changed, and finally stored, while items of information of all kinds will be adapted for evaluation and processing, which items of information are subdivided according to various themes for the purpose of retrievability. 
     The use of a processing operation capable of being carried out by a plurality of users or participants serves the purpose of enabling initial information imported by an initial author to a first storage site of a dual unit to be rendered evaluatable and processible for the users or participants, in order to provide the initial information with a reliability value or reliability evaluation, which on termination of a processing operation carried out according to the invention is registered at the first storage site so as to be available as a public swarm evaluation for use by the users or participants. 
     According to a first preferred embodiment of the device of the invention, provision is made for additional information to be stored, by the users or participants, at the editable second storage site in the form of swarm values of the items of information stored at the first storage site, it being possible for the users or participants to carry out an individual evaluation by means of a predefined input, a swarm value being defined as the quantitative amount or number of inputs carried into effect by the users or participants at the second storage site. 
     The individual evaluations can, in particular, be subdivided into positive evaluations of the items of information stored at the first storage site and negative evaluations of the items of information stored at the first storage site, a first adding device being provided for the purpose of counting the individual inputted positive evaluations together with a memory for the purpose of saving this number to the second storage site, and a second adding device being provided for the purpose of counting the individual inputted negative evaluations together with a memory for the purpose of saving this number to the second storage site, it being possible for an individual evaluation to be inputted by all users or participants by means of a predefined input, while a positive swarm value is defined as the number of predefined inputs carried into effect at the second storage site that relate to a positive evaluation and a negative swarm value is defined as the number of predefined inputs carried into effect at the second storage site that relate to a negative evaluation. 
     According to an important preferred embodiment of the device of the invention, provision is made for the first adding device to be adapted to add the positive evaluations stored at the second storage site to a first number and for the second adding device to be adapted to add the negative evaluations stored at the second storage site to a second number, a first dividing device being provided for the purpose of stating the ratio of the first number to the second number in the form of a percentage value. 
     Furthermore, there is preferably provided a first copying device adapted to interpret the evaluations successively stored at the second storage site within a settable period of time as useful swarm information and to appropriately overwrite the relevant information previously stored at the first storage site. In this way there is created evaluation information. 
     According to another important and preferred embodiment of the device of the invention, there is provided a timing devise adapted to transmit, on conclusion of settable constant time intervals, reset signals to the first and second adding devices and to the first dividing device and the first copying device, in order to set the respective devices to zero on conclusion of a predefined time interval and to repeat the assigned function in a subsequent period of time of the same length.| 
     According to an embodiment of the device of the invention that is similar to the above embodiments but conceptionally slightly different therefrom, the editable second storage site is subdivided into a contents storage site, in which additional information concerning the items of information stored at the first storage site can be imported in the form of items of information supplementary to the information stored at the first storage site, and an evaluation storage site, into which exclusively evaluations of the supplementary information stored at the second storage site can be imported, and which are subdivided into positive evaluations of the supplementary information stored at the second storage site and negative evaluations of the supplementary information stored at the second storage site. 
     Likewise according to an important preferred embodiment of the device of the invention, there is provided a third adding device for the purpose of counting the individual inputted positive evaluations of the supplementary information together with a memory for the purpose of saving this number to the second storage site, wherein a fourth adding device is provided for the purpose of counting the individual inputted negative evaluations of the supplementary information together with a memory for the purpose of saving this number to the second storage site, and wherein an individual evaluation can be carried into effect by the users or participants by means of a predefined input, while a positive swarm value of the supplementary information is defined as the number of predefined inputs to the second storage site relating to a positive evaluation, and a negative swarm value of the supplementary information is defined as the number of predefined inputs to the second storage site relating to a negative evaluation. 
     In addition, the third adding device is preferably adapted such that the positive evaluations stored at the second storage site are added to a third number within a time interval of predefined length as determined by a timing device and the fourth adding device is adapted such that the negative evaluations stored at the second storage site are added to a fourth number within a time interval of predefined length as determined by a timing device, while a second dividing device is provided for the purpose of stating the ratio of the third and fourth numbers in the form of a percentage value. 
     Preferably, there is likewise provided a second copying device, which, on determination, in a second decision-making device, of a predetermined ratio of positive evaluations to negative evaluations of the supplementary information stored at the second storage site, interprets the supplementary information stored at the second storage site as being assured swarm items of information and transfers the same to the first storage site. 
     According to another important and preferred embodiment of the device of the invention, provision is made such that the third and fourth adding devices and also the second dividing device and the second copying device are adapted so as to repeat the currently assigned function on conclusion of a timer-defined time interval of defined length in an immediately following time-period of equal length after zeroing the third and fourth numbers. 
     According to another embodiment of the device of the invention that is similar to, but conceptionally slightly different from, the aforementioned embodiments, the editable second storage site is subdivided into a contents storage site, in which additional information concerning items of information stored at the first storage site in the form of corrective information of the items of information stored at the first storage site can be imported, and an evaluation storage site, in which exclusively evaluations of the corrective information stored at the second storage site can be imported, which evaluations are subdivided into positive evaluations of the corrective information stored at the second storage site and negative evaluations thereof. 
     Likewise according to an important and preferred embodiment of the device of the invention, a fifth adding device for the purpose of counting the individual inputted positive evaluations of the corrective information and a memory is provided for the purpose of saving this number to the second storage site, and a sixth adding device is provided for the purpose of counting the individual inputted negative evaluations of the corrective information and a memory is provided for the purpose of saving this number to the second storage site, wherein an individual evaluation can be carried into effect by the users or participants by means of a predefined input, while a positive swarm value of the supplementary information is defined as the number of predefined inputs to the second storage site that correspond to a positive evaluation, and a negative swarm value of the corrective information is defined as the number of predefined inputs to the second storage site that correspond to a negative evaluation. 
     In addition, the fifth adding device is preferably adapted so as to add the positive evaluations stored at the second storage site to a fifth number on termination of time intervals of predefined length as stipulated by a timing device and the sixth adding device is here so as to add the negative evaluations stored at the second storage site to a sixth number on termination of the time intervals of predefined length as stipulated by the timing device, wherein a third dividing device is provided so as to state the ratio of the fifth number to the sixth number in the form of a percentage value. 
     Likewise there is preferably provided a third copying device, which on determination, in a third decision-making device, of a predetermined ratio of positive evaluations to negative evaluations of the corrective information stored at the second storage site, interprets the corrective information stored at the second storage site as being assured swarm information and transfers it to the first storage site and overwrites the previous relevant items of information at the first storage site. 
     According to another important and preferred embodiment of the device of the invention, provision is made such that the fifth and sixth adding devices and also the third dividing device and the third copying device are adapted so as to repeat the currently assigned function on conclusion of a timer-defined time interval of defined length in an immediately following time-period of equal length after zeroing the fifth and sixth numbers. 
     A predefined input can be realized in the case of an individual positive evaluation, for example, by inputting the Arabic number+1, and a predefined input can be realized in the case of a individual negative evaluation, for example, by inputting the Arabic number−1. 
     Preferably, an initial placement of a dual unit having a first storage site and a second storage site can be achieved by each participant. 
     An input of further items of information relevant to the information stored at the first storage site can be carried out by the plurality of user-participants successively or even simultaneously. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The platform device of the invention is explained below with reference to preferred embodiments, which are illustrated in the Figures displayed in the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG.  1    shows storage sites  110  of the platform device  100  of the invention subdivided into a plurality of various themes in the form of a block diagram; 
         FIG.  2    shows a theoretical embodiment of a dual unit (DuU) that correspond to a first preferred embodiment of the platform device  100  of the invention in the form of a block diagram; 
         FIG.  3    shows a theoretical embodiment of a dual unit (DuU) that correspond to a second preferred embodiment of the platform device  100  of the invention in the form of a block diagram; 
         FIG.  4    shows a theoretical embodiment of a dual unit (DuU) that correspond to a third preferred embodiment of the platform device  100  of the invention in the form of a block diagram. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The platform device  100  of the invention placed on a web-site is networkable with a plurality of ID-detectable users or participants and adapted to collect and process items of information stored at a plurality of in each case code-identifiable and in each case theme-dependent storage sites  110  of a platform by the users or participants. 
     The storage sites  110  subdivided into a large number of different themes are formed on the platform in each case by a dual unit (DuU), wherein a dual unit (DuU) in each case comprises a first storage site  111  that is assigned to a predefined theme and provided with initial information formulated by an initial participant but is non-editable by any other individual user-participant, and a second storage site  112  assigned to the first storage site  111 , which can be edited by any of the individual user-participant and is adapted for the input of additional information by the plurality of user-participants, as is relevant to the initial information stored at the first storage site  111 . 
     According to the embodiment of the platform device  100  of the invention shown in  FIG.  1   , additional information can be provided, in the form of swarm values of the items of information stored at the first storage site  111 , by the users or participants in the editable second storage site  112 , wherein an individual evaluation can be carried into effect by the users or participants by means of a predefined input, while a swarm value is defined as the number of predefined inputs into the second storage site  112  as are carried into effect by the plurality of users or participants. 
     The individual evaluations are in this case be subdivided into positive evaluations of the items of information stored at the first storage site  111  and negative evaluations, wherein there is provided a first adding device  120  for the purpose of counting the individual inputted positive evaluations, and a memory is provided for the purpose of saving this number to the second storage site  112 , and there is provided a second adding device  130  for the purpose of counting the individual inputted negative evaluations, and a memory is provided for the purpose of saving this number to the second storage site  112 , wherein an individual evaluation can be carried into effect by the users or participants by means of a predefined input, while a positive swarm value is defined as the number of predefined inputs into the second storage site  112  that correspond to a positive evaluation, and a negative swarm value is defined as the number of predefined inputs into the second storage site  112  that correspond to a negative evaluation. 
     The first adding device  120  is adapted so as to add the positive evaluations stored at the second storage site  112  to a first number and the second adding device  130  is adapted so as to add the negative evaluations stored at the second storage site  112  to a second number, while a first dividing device  140  is provided so as to state the ratio of the first number to the second number in the form of a percentage value. 
     A first copying device  150  is provided, which successively interprets the evaluations stored at the second storage site  112  within settable time intervals as being useful swarm information and transfers it to the first storage site  111  and overwrites the previous relevant items of information at the first storage site  111 . Evaluation information is thus created in this manner. 
     A timing device  160  is provided, on conclusion of settable constant time intervals, on the first adding device  120 , while the second adding device  130  and also the first dividing device  140  and the first copying device  150  send reset signals in order to set the associated devices to zero on conclusion of a presettable time interval and in order to repeat the currently assigned function in an immediately following time-period of equal length. 
     According to the embodiment of the platform device  100  of the invention shown in  FIG.  2   , the editable second storage site  112  is subdivided into a contents storage site  113 , into which additional information concerning items of information stored at the first storage site  111  can be imported in the form of supplementary information of the items of information stored at the first storage site  111 , and an evaluation storage site  114 , into which exclusively evaluations of the supplementary information stored at the second storage site  112  can be imported, these being subdivided into positive evaluations of the supplementary information stored at the second storage site  112  and negative evaluations thereof. 
     A third adding device  180  is provided in this case for the purpose of counting the individual inputted positive evaluations of the supplementary information and a memory is provided for the purpose of saving this number to the second storage site  112 , and a fourth adding device  190  is provided for the purpose of counting the individual inputted negative evaluations of the supplementary information and a memory is provided for the purpose of saving this number to the second storage site  112 , wherein an individual evaluation can be carried into effect by the users or participants by means of a predefined input, while a positive swarm value of the supplementary information is defined as the number of predefined inputs into the second storage site  112  that correspond to a positive evaluation, and wherein a negative swarm value of the supplementary information is defined as the number of predefined inputs into the second storage site  112  that correspond to a negative evaluation. 
     The third adding device  180  is adapted so as to add the positive evaluations stored at the second storage site  112  to a third number within time intervals of predefined length as stipulated by a timing device  160 , and the fourth adding device  190  is adapted so as to add the negative evaluations stored at the second storage site  112  to a fourth number within the time intervals of predefined length as stipulated by the timing device  160 , while a second dividing device  200  is provided so as to state the ratio of the third number to the fourth number in the form of a percentage value. 
     A second copying device  210  is provided which interprets the supplementary information stored at the second storage site  112  as assured swarm information on determination, in a second decision-making device  170 , of a predetermined ratio of positive evaluations to negative evaluations of the supplementary information stored at the second storage site  112 , and transfers it to the first storage site  111 . 
     The third adding device  180  and the fourth adding device  190  and also the second dividing device  200  and the second copying device  210  are adapted so as to repeat the currently assigned function on conclusion of the time interval of defined length as stipulated by the timing device  160  in an immediately following time-period of equal length after zeroing the in each case previously ascertained third and fourth numbers. 
     According to the embodiment of the platform device  100  of the invention shown in  FIG.  3   , the editable second storage site  112  is subdivided into a contents storage site  113 , into which additional information concerning items of information stored at the first storage site  111  can be imported in the form of corrective information of the items of information stored at the first storage site  111 , and an evaluation storage site  114 , into which exclusively evaluations of the corrective information stored at the second storage site  112  can be imported, which are subdivided into positive evaluations of the corrective information stored at the second storage site  112  and negative evaluations of the corrective information stored at the second storage site  112 . 
     A fifth adding device  220  is provided for the purpose of counting the individual inputted positive evaluations of the corrective information and a memory is provided for the purpose of saving this number to the second storage site  112 , and a sixth adding device  230  is provided for the purpose of counting the individual inputted negative evaluations of the corrective information, and a memory is provided for the purpose of saving this number to the second storage site  112 , and wherein an individual evaluation can be carried into effect by the users or participant by means of a predefined input, while a positive swarm value of the corrective information is defined as the number of predefined inputs into the second storage site  112  that correspond to a positive evaluation, and a negative swarm value of the corrective information is defined as the number of predefined inputs into the second storage site  112  that correspond to a negative evaluation. 
     The fifth adding device  220  is adapted so as to add the positive evaluations stored at the second storage site  112 , on termination of time intervals of predefined length as stipulated by a timing device  160 , to a fifth number, and the sixth adding device  230  is adapted so as to add the negative evaluations stored at the second storage site  112 , on termination of the time intervals of predefined length, as stipulated by the timing device  160 , to a sixth number, wherein a third dividing device  240  is provided so as to state the ratio of the fifth number to the sixth number in the form of a percentage value. 
     A third copying device  250  is provided, which, on determination, in a third decision-making device  260 , of a predetermined ratio of positive evaluations to negative evaluations of the corrective information stored at the second storage site  112 , interprets the corrective information stored at the second storage site  112  as being assured swarm information and transfers it to the first storage site  111  and overwrites the previous relevant items of information at the first storage site  111 . 
     The fifth adding device  220  and the sixth adding device  230  and also the third dividing device  240  and the third copying device  250  are adapted so as to repeat the currently assigned function, on conclusion of the time interval of defined length as stipulated by the timing device  160 , in an immediately following time-period of equal length after zeroing the in each case previously ascertained fifth and sixth numbers. 
     In the case of all three of the above embodiments of the platform device  100  of the invention, an input of further items of information relevant to the information stored at the first storage site  111  can be carried into effect successively or simultaneously by the plurality of user-participants. 
     The exemplary embodiments of the invention explained above merely serve the purpose of acquiring a better understanding of the teaching of the invention claimed in the following claims, which is not restricted, as such, by the exemplary embodiments.