Mobile event-module

• US 4,518,267 A
• Filed: 07/01/1983
• Issued: 05/21/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/1980
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Volker Hepp
• Original Assignee: Volker Hepp
• Inventors: Hepp, Volker
• Primary Examiner(s): Miska, Vit W.
• Application Number:
  US06/510,229
• Time in Patent Office: 690 Days
• Field of Search: 368/10, 368/72-74, 368/82-84, 368/155-157, 368/107-113, 364/705, 364/709, 364/710, 364/569, 340/309.1, 340/309.4, 235/92 T
• US Class Current: 368/107
• CPC Class Codes: G04F 10/00 Apparatus for measuring unknown time intervals by electric means
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 11/00 Producing optical signals at preselected times
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 1/00 Registering, indicating or recording the time of events or elapsed time, e.g. time-recorders for work people registering or indicating the working of machines or vehicles G07C3/00, G07C5/00

Abstract

An event-module is, on its lowest logical level, a universal instrument for measurement and storage of times, intervals, periods, time series and durations. It permits codification of personal and external events by means of time-marks and makes them accessible in the course of their realization. It permits the possibility of analyzing the serial structure and the correlation in time of these events in a most general way. The evolution of the present can instantaneously be compared with the anticipation of the future by use of external time-marks. Further, the introduction of a programmable dialog-logic which enables the user to find answers to specific questions of, e.g., his personal experiences is disclosed. The module helps in decisions and is not only a measurement device, but also a partner. Likewise, the module can act as an opponent of the user and e.g. sophisticated games may be played. The event-module can be considered a cybernetic system into which the human being is incorporated in contrast to conventional learning machines (TURING machine, chess computer) and which interacts with his behavior patterns (habits, orderliness, etc.). This system not only records events and their duration and displays them on demand, but it interferes due to its boundary conditions (T_e, ΔT_e) with the actual course of events. It is a mobile, interactive system with learning potential.

Claims

1. A mobile electronic device for a general correlation analysis of codified series of occurred, missed and expected events which are defined by their type, time of occurrence and/or duration, comprising:

clock means for providing clock pulses representing real time;

synchronization means for updating said clock means;

switchable means for providing timing signals representing timed occurrences, timed durations, expected occurrences and expected lapses;

codification means for marking said timing signals;

computing means including read-only memory means and register means for executing predetermined programs operating on said timing signals and being steered by a monitor program, said computing means providing resultant output signals;

instruction means for providing instruction signals to said computing means for executing specific tasks;

multiplexer and encoder means for identifying said instruction means;

random-access memory means for storing said timing signals and said instruction signals and resulting output signals of said computing means;

input-output interface means for providing input signals to and for receiving output signals from said computing means and said memory means and said clock means and said instruction means;

timer, counter and latching means in said interface means responsive to signals from said instruction means and said computing means;

display means responsive to said interface means for displaying representations of output signals from said interface means;

whereby a programmable interactive dialog is permitted between the device and user of the device in which the flow of events (codified time-marks) is controlled and modified, and which allows real-time and off-line correlation analysis.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein said synchronization means includes at least one synchronization switch for updating real time.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein said switchable means includes at least one switch for input of signals representing time-marks of a certain kind.

4. The device according to claim 2, wherein said codifying means includes at least one coding switch for supplying event-type definition.

5. The device according to claim 2, wherein said display means includes at least one LCD display.

6. The device according to claim 2, wherein said display means includes an acoustical device.

7. The device according to claim 2, wherein said instruction means includes a keyboard.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein said keyboard means with said synchronization means allows input of signals representing external time-marks of a certain kind.

9. The device according to claim 7, wherein said keyboard means allows input of a signal representing instants at which the device was interrogated.

10. The device according to claim 7, wherein the keyboard includes a plurality of keys which allows setting up of instructions which steer the monitor program, manipulate the data, control the I/O interface, interrogate the device and call specific task routines.

11. The keyboard according to claim 10, wherein the plurality of keys allows manual programming of comparisons of events from any series defined by type and kind in the most general way, wherein the device is faced to output the truth condition.

12. The device according to claim 10, wherein comparisons of events are made by the keyboard within a margin.

13. The device according to claim 10, wherein the device certifies the comparison condition and outputs the materialization of the programmed questions in the course of their occurrences.

14. The device according to claim 2, wherein the monitor program includes specific task routines such as:

control, decoding of instructions, comparisons, building up of a variable instruction list, general correlation analyses, random generator and dialog.

15. The device according to claim 14, wherein the signals representing instants at which the device was interrogated are stored in the random-access memory as another event series which can be flagged according to the previous history of the event-flow.

16. The device according to claim 15, wherein event series pertinent to series of personal occurrences can also be flagged by said computing means.

17. The device according to claim 16, wherein therapy and game applications with built-in learning strategies based on the actual status of event and May-I-Series which are flagged can be executed which are capable of learning steps and teaching steps.

18. The device in accordance with any one of claims 2-17, wherein said computing means, random-access memory, read-only memory and input/output interface means are constructed using LSI technology and the device includes a housing in the form of a wrist or pocketwatch casing for containing the various portions of the device and for providing displays and alarms to the user.