Process for materializing virtual interactivity between an individual and a data support

• US 5,252,077 A
• Filed: 10/04/1991
• Issued: 10/12/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Info Telecom
• Original Assignee: Info Telecom
• Inventors: Schott, Michel
• Primary Examiner(s): Apley, Richard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Richman, Glenn E.
• Application Number:
  US07/771,752
• Time in Patent Office: 739 Days
• Field of Search: 434/335, 434/317, 434/322, 434/323, 434/324, 434/327, 434/300-352, 434/362, 434/110, 434/130, 434/308, 434/169, 273/16, 273/232, 273/256, 273/278, 364/409, 364/417
• US Class Current: 434/335
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/10 all student stations being capable of presenting the same information simultaneously G09B5/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/04 characterised by modifying the teaching programme in response to a wrong answer, e.g. repeating the question, supplying a further explanation
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/073 all student stations being capable of presenting the same questions simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/38 Arrangements for distribution where lower stations, e.g. receivers, interact with the broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/002 Special television systems not provided for by H04N7/007 - H04N7/18 still pictures via a television channel H04N1/00098
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

The process permits virtual interaction between a user, and a data support, and generates in an electronic box a sequence of digits arranged according to a pseudorandom logic by the expedient of a pseudorandom generator. The user introduces into the electronic box by the expedient of a data input element a succession of data representative of the user'"'"'s choices and replies to a test suggesting replies proposed by the data support. The succession of user data is transformed in a succession of digits interpretable in relation to the sequence of digits coming from the generator and the successions thus obtained are interpreted in relation to each other. The process reproduces at the electronic box the result of this comparison in the form of sensory signals.

Claims

1. A method of virtual interactive communication with a data support that proposes at least one query to a user, comprising the steps of:

seeding a pseudorandom number generator with at least one datum to generate a sequence of digits according to a logic that is inaccessible to the user;

suggesting at least one reply to said query;

introducing data to an electronic circuit means with a data input device, said introduced data being representative of the user'"'"'s reply to said query, and being associated with predetermined members of said generated sequence;

transforming said introduced data in said electronic circuit means to yield a transformed sequence that is comparable to said generated sequence;

comparing said transformed sequence with said generated sequence; and

outputing a signal that is indicative of said comparison to a display.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said electronic circuit means comprises a time counting means for generating a time base datum, and said step of seeding is performed by the steps of transforming said time base datum and submitting said transformed time base datum to said pseudorandom number generator, said time counting means being selected from the group of a receiver of broadcast time signals and an internal clock.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein said time base datum comprises a time interval having a predetermined length, whereby errors resulting from time drift are limited.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein said time interval is centered on a period of expected use of said electronic circuit means.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of seeding is performed with an external co-seeding datum that is introduced to said pseudorandom number generator by a device selected from the group comprising said data input device, a receiver of broadcast signals, and a pickup of a characteristic selected from the group of acoustic energy, electromagnetic waves, shocks, position, and temperature.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of seeding further comprises the step of introducing an external quantifying datum to said pseudorandom number generator by a device selected form the group comprising said data input device, a receiver of broadcast signals, and a pickup of a characteristic selected from the group of acoustic energy, electromagnetic waves, shocks, position, and temperature.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of introducing an external datum to said electronic circuit means and transforming said generated sequence with said external datum therein prior to said step of comparing, said external datum being introduced by a device selected from the group comprising said data input device, a receiver of broadcast signals, and a pickup of a characteristic selected from the group of acoustic energy, electromagnetic waves, shocks, position, and temperature.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of introducing an external datum to said electronic circuit means and transforming said introduced data with said external datum therein prior to said step of comparing, said external datum being introduced by a device selected from the group comprising said data input device, a receiver of broadcast signals, and a pickup of a characteristic selected from the group of acoustic energy, electromagnetic waves, shocks, position, and temperature.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of introducing a synchronizing datum to said electronic circuit means in order to coordinate said pseudorandom number generator and electronic circuit means with temporal events occurring in said data support, said synchronizing datum being introduced by a device selected from the group comprising said data input device, a receiver of broadcast signals, and a pickup of a characteristic selected from the group of acoustic energy, electromagnetic waves, shocks, position, and temperature.