Method and apparatus for analysis

• US 6,648,649 B2
• Filed: 02/09/2001
• Issued: 11/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Agewell PC
• Original Assignee: Agewell PC
• Inventors: Rappaport, Stephen A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hughes, S. Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): ADAMS, CHANDA L
• Application Number:
  US09/780,645
• Publication Number:
  US 20010044099A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,012 Days
• Field of Search: 434/236, 434/238, 434/170, 434/118, 434/365, 707/5, 600/300, 345/1.1, 345/2.2, 345/719, 705/2, 705/3
• US Class Current: 434/236
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/16 Devices for psychotechnics using teaching or educational appliances G09B1/00 - G09B7/00; Testing reaction times ; Devices for evaluating the psychological state
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/411 Detecting or monitoring allergy or intolerance reactions to an allergenic agent or substance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4824 Touch or pain perception evaluation A61B5/4821 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/743 Displaying an image simultaneously with additional graphical information, e.g. symbols, charts, function plots
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/00 Teaching not covered by other main groups of this subclass teaching or practice apparatus for gun-aiming or gun-laying F41G3/26
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/20 for electronic clinical trials or questionnaires
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/70 relating to mental therapies, e.g. psychological therapy or autogenous training

Abstract

An apparatus and method for analysis involving a first factor and a second factor. The first and second factors are related as expressed by a first relationship. The apparatus comprises a base divided into first, second and third sections, where the second section is positioned between the first and third sections. The first, second and third sections are representative of the first factor, the first relationship, and the second factor, respectively. The method of the present invention involves the steps of providing the apparatus and engaging in a dialogue of questions related to both the first and second factors. The apparatus and method of the present invention may be used in a variety of applications, such as biopsychosocial analysis, and analysis of the intellectual capital of a business, for example. The apparatus and method may be used for analysis involving more than two factors and presumes that some relationships exist between the factors. In one embodiment, an electronic representation of the apparatus and electronically converse with the user to lead to suggestions for treatments and/or changes needed to address the problem explained by use of the electronic system.

Claims

1. A system for analysis involving a first factor and a second factor, wherein the first and second factors are related as expressed by a first relationship, the system comprising:

a software system;

a network capable of bidirectional communication;

the network operably connected to the software system;

a user system operable connected to the network such that the software system and user system may communicate bidirectionally, the user system including output means for asking one or more questions of a user operating the user system, an input means to allow the user to respond to the one or more questions, and a visual display means; and

a software means residing on the software system and/or the user system, alone or in combination, the software means operable to output on the output means the one or more questions and to input with the input means responses to the one or more questions, the software means further operable to display on the visual display means first, second, and third graphical areas, the first graphical area representative of the first factor, the second graphical area representative of the first relationship, and the third graphical area representative of the second factor, each of the first, second, and third graphical areas further divided into first and second subsections, each of the first subsections indicative of a symptom, event, experience, problem or causal relation, and each of the second subsections indicative of a solution, treatment, needed change or adjustment.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the software system comprises a server, the network comprises the Internet, and the user system comprises a computer.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the software means comprises a first software program residing on the software system and a browser residing on the user system.

4. A method for analysis of a first factor and a second factor, wherein the first and second factors are related as expressed by a first relationship, the method comprising the steps of:

a. providing a system of analysis, the system comprising;

a software system;

a network capable of bidirectional communication;

the network operably connected to the software system;

a user system operable connected to the network such that the software system and user system may communicate bidirectionally, the user system including output means for asking one or more questions of a user operating the user system, an input means to allow the user to respond to the one or more questions, and a visual display means; and

a software means residing on the software system and/or the user system, alone or in combination, the software means operable to output on the output means the one or more questions and to input with the input means responses to the one or more questions, the software means further operable to display on the visual display means first, second, and third graphical areas, the first graphical area representative of the first factor, the second graphical area representative of the first relationship, and the third graphical area representative of the second factor, each of the first, second, and third graphical areas further divided into first and second subsections, each of the first subsections indicative of a symptom, event, experience, problem or causal relation, and each of the second subsections indicative of a solution, treatment, needed change o'"'"'r adjustment; and

b. posing at least one question to the user with the output means.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of:

responding to the at least one question with at least one answer with the input means.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of:

displaying on the visual display means a response indicative of the at least one answer.