Linked information system

• US 20040194150A1
• Filed: 12/18/2003
• Published: 09/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shailen V. Banker
• Original Assignee: Shailen V. Banker
• Inventors: Banker, Shailen V.
• Granted Patent: US 7,802,283 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/135
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/958 Organisation or management of web site content, e.g. publishing, maintaining pages or automatic linking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination

Abstract

A linked information system employing evolutionary media content links is provided. In another aspect of the present invention, a media content distribution system includes selected media content accessible to remotely located users in an electronic format over a computer network. A further aspect of the present invention selects media content during the course of a human analysis based on relevance to tracked topics.

Claims

1. A media content distribution system comprising:

a distributed computer system providing remotely located users access over a computer network to;

(a) a data store of links between selected portions of information present in media content, wherein the media content is selected based on relevance to the field of economics, and the media content is available over the computer network in an electronic format;

(b) markup of linked information pointing out relevance of one portion of information to another, linked portion of information; and

(c) a data store of expert commentary providing insight on economic topics of interest and groups of related media content,

wherein the data store of links and the markup of linked information are continuously adapted to accommodate newly available media content relevant to the field of economics, and to accommodate new meanings of previously linked information as the new meanings develop over time.

2. A graphic user interface implementing a progressive organizational framework for use with a media content distribution system, comprising:

a visual display of a topic;

a plurality of active windows visually configured to convey a relationship between risk and opportunity, wherein a visual configuration of the plurality of active windows form a spectrum defined with low risk and high opportunity at substantially one end, and high risk and low opportunity at substantially another end; and

a plurality of subtopics visually populating the plurality of active windows, wherein the plurality of subtopics relate to the topic of the visual display.

3. The graphic user interface of claim 2, further comprising a simulation module allowing at least one of a user and a selected expert to customize inputs in an offline and internal manner.

4. The graphic user interface of claim 2, wherein a plurality of the subtopics correspond to expressed hypotheses concerning potential outcomes relating to the topic.

5. The graphic user interface of claim 4, wherein the plurality of active windows is operable, via activation of a particular window visually populated with a particular subtopic, to provide underlying assumptions relating to a hypothesis expressed by the particular subtopic.

6. The graphic user interface of claim 4, wherein at least one active window is populated with a subtopic corresponding to an arrow visually expressing a hypothesis relating to a present shift in probable outcomes.

7. The graphic user interface of claim 2, wherein the plurality of active windows is operable, via activation of a particular window visually populated with a particular subtopic, to convert the visual display of the topic to a new visual display of a new topic corresponding to the particular subtopic, and to repopulate the plurality of active windows with new subtopics relating to the new topic of the new visual display.

8. The graphic user interface of claim 2, wherein the plurality of active windows is operable, via activation of a particular window visually populated with a particular subtopic, to provide expert opinion relating to the particular subtopic.

9. The graphic user interface of claim 2, wherein the plurality of active windows is operable, via activation of a particular window visually populated with a particular subtopic, to provide a bibliographic list of citations to media content that is relevant to the particular subtopic.

10. The graphic user interface of claim 2, comprising a layered display of multiple frameworks simultaneously communicating multiple topics, wherein at least two topics each have a set of active windows populated with related subtopics, wherein each set of active windows forms a spectrum defined with low risk and high opportunity at substantially one end, and high risk and low opportunity at substantially another end, wherein the multiple topics are interrelated by their ability to provide information impacting a decision that a user needs to make.

11. A method of providing an interactive environment between users and experts on a computer network, the method comprising:

assembling expert resources;

developing exchanges between experts on significant questions and issues as they evolve over time;

enabling users to enter views and comments on expert opinion and to share opinion with peer users.

12. The method of claim 11, comprising facilitating and forcing discussion on significant issues and questions as they evolve by tracking and presenting key expert opinion on issues over time.

13. The method of claim 11, comprising providing a behavioral aspects index exhibiting an organized framework with topic structure organizing behavioral aspects index calculations and supporting material from selected information sources.

14. The method of claim 11, comprising providing a behavioral aspects index having a country specific index calculator adapted to integrate international aspects including at least one of:

(a) components for other countries;

(b) oil prices and supplies;

(c) behavioral aspects relating to at least one of wars, reconstruction, alliances, and terrorism.

15. The system of claim 11, further comprising providing a behavioral aspects index developed from at least one of user feedback and expert feedback relating to an initial index adapted to capture specific behavioral aspects, including at least one of:

(a) confidence in business, including corporate governance and behaviors;

(b) confidence in financial markets, including economy relating to employment;

(c) fairness and equity in management compensation, health insurance for employees, incomes, and unemployment;

(d) uncertainty about domestic political and economic factors, about interest rates, about deficits, unemployment, and the economy in general; and

(e) uncertainty about international political and economic factors, wars, reconstruction, alliances, free trade, and terrorism.

16. A method of providing interactive features for users over time via a computer network, comprising

providing users with an opportunity to offer user feedback on selection of topics and on topic content;

providing users with full text access to media content over the computer network using first and second level linkages; and

providing users access to an expert link over the computer network, wherein the expert link provides users with access to supplemental material explaining significance of selected media content.

17. The method of claim 16, comprising enabling users to share information with peers over the computer network using email, wherein the shared information includes user comments and topic content.

18. The method of claim 16, comprising:

providing users a bibliographic list of information pieces grouped by topic; and

providing users a book review type commentary for an information grouping.

19. The method of claim 16, comprising providing a behavioral aspects index exhibiting an organized framework with topic structure organizing behavioral aspects index calculations and supporting material from selected information sources.

20. The method of claim 16, comprising providing a behavioral aspects index having a country specific index calculator adapted to integrate international aspects including at least one of:

(a) components for other countries;

(b) oil prices and supplies;

(c) behavioral aspects relating to at least one of wars, reconstruction, alliances, and terrorism.

21. The system of claim 16, further comprising providing a behavioral aspects index developed from at least one of user feedback and expert feedback relating to an initial index adapted to capture specific behavioral aspects, including at least one of:

(a) confidence in business, including corporate governance and behaviors;

(b) confidence in financial markets, including economy relating to employment;

(c) fairness and equity in management compensation, health insurance for employees, incomes, and unemployment;

(d) uncertainty about domestic political and economic factors, about interest rates, about deficits, unemployment, and the economy in general; and

(e) uncertainty about international political and economic factors, wars, reconstruction, alliances, free trade, and terrorism.

22. A method of selecting topics of interest to users according to the Pareto principle, the method comprising:

selecting topics based on themes relating to a field of study;

providing information relating to the selected topics to users over a communications network, wherein the information is grouped by the selected topics and linked in a way that effectively communicates interrelationships between selected portions of information;

receiving user feedback relating to the selected topics; and

adjusting selection of the selected topics based on the user feedback.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the receiving user feedback relating to the selected topics comprises monitoring frequency of access by users to the provided information.

24. A simulation system, comprising:

a user and an expert receiving at least one of an initial index and an initial evaluation of events;

a first simulation module operably receiving input from the user to generate at least one of a user simulation index and a user simulation evaluation of events; and

a second simulation module operably receiving input from an expert to generate at least one of an expert simulation index and an expert simulation evaluation of events.

25. The simulation system of claim 24, wherein a generated simulation reflects economic information.

26. The simulation system of claim 24, wherein the simulation evaluation of events is generated and further comprises a risk/reward evaluation.