US3944796A
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System and method of recording event information for subsequent analysis
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1975-02-07
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Granted: 1976-03-16
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Expires: 1995-02-07
Abstract
Abstract A conventional stereo tape recorder is used to record a series of reference pulses on each of the two channels or magnetic tape tracks followed in each instance by intermediate event pulses representative of behaviorial phenomena or units. The delay or time interval between reference pulses and event pulses is indicative of the particular behavior that has been observed. An astable or free running multivibrator for each channel provides the reference pulses, whereas a monostable or one-shot multivibrator, which is triggered by its companion astable multivibrator, provides the event pulses. A key-controlled resistance-capacitance circuit connected in the monostable circuitry functions to vary the delay or position of the event pulses with respect to the reference pulses. Individual keys, or combination of keys, are assigned codes representative of the various behaviors and subjects to be observed and recorded. The recorder at some later time is interfaced with an appropriately programmed computer, the computer then processing the tape signals on a time basis provided by the computer clock and converting such signals to binary values representative of the various time delays or time positions of the intermediate event pulses with respect to the reference pulses. The computer can perform various logical functions, such as ratioing, averaging and sorting, and then store the results in its memory for appropriate analysis, such as determining behavior patterns of the subjects that have been previously observed.
Inventors
- 👤 Lawrence J. Fitzpatrick
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 21:58
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/002
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
143 words
In a system for storing information pertaining to events as they are observed, the system comprising a plurality of manually actuatable keys or pushbuttons representative of certain events to be observed, first means providing a sequence of reference pulses having a given repetition rate, second means providing intermediate pulses between at least some of said reference pulses, means controlled by at least one of said keys or pushbuttons for establishing the position of at least some of said intermediate pulses with respect to said reference pulses in accordance with the actuation of a selected key or pushbutton, or selected keys or pushbuttons, in order to denote one or more of said certain events, and means for recording said signals derived from both said reference and intermediate pulses on a recording medium in the same time sequence provided by said first and second means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
143 words
In a system for storing information pertaining to events as they are observed, the system comprising a plurality of manually actuatable keys or pushbuttons representative of certain events to be observed, first means providing a sequence of reference pulses having a given repetition rate, second means providing intermediate pulses between at least some of said reference pulses, means controlled by at least one of said keys or pushbuttons for establishing the position of at least some of said intermediate pulses with respect to said reference pulses in accordance with the actuation of a selected key or pushbutton, or selected keys or pushbuttons, in order to denote one or more of said certain events, and means for recording said signals derived from both said reference and intermediate pulses on a recording medium in the same time sequence provided by said first and second means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system as set forth in claim 1 in which said recording medium is a magnetic tape and the signals derived from said first and second means are electromagnetic pulses.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
A system as set forth in claim 2 including a computer for receiving and processing said recorded signals in accordance with the relative time elapsing between those recorded signals derived from said reference pulses and those recorded signals derived from said intermediate pulses.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
A system as set forth in claim 3 in which said computer includes means for producing a sequence of clock pulses having a greater repetition rate than said reference pulses, said computer also including means for processing said recorded signals in accordance with the time relation between said clock pulses and said recorded signals.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
A system as set forth in claim 4 in which said computer processing means includes a processor and a memory having a plurality of address locations, said control means delivering data processed by said processor to selected locations in said memory, and means for storing said data.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
86 words
A system as set forth in claim 1 in which said first means includes an astable multivibrator or oscillator to provide said reference pulses and said second means includes a monostable multivibrator or oscillator triggered by said astable multivibrator, said key-controlled means including an R-C circuit having a resistive portion for each key or pushbutton to change the timing cycle of said monostable multivibrator or oscillator in accordance with the R-C constant determined by the key or pushbutton, or the keys or pushbuttons that are actuated.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
A system as set forth in claim 6 including a high-pass filter connected to said monostable mutivibrator or oscillator for producing said intermediate pulses as influenced by the R-C constant determined by the key or pushbutton, or the keys or pushbuttons that are actuated.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
A system as set forth in claim 7 in which said recording means sequentially records the reference pulses produced by said astable multivibrator or oscillator and the intermediate pulses produced by said high-pass filter.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
A system as set forth in claim 8 in which said recording means is a tape recorder having a magnetic tape on which electromagnetic pulses derived from said reference and intermediate pulses are recorded in the order of their occurrence.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
A system as set forth in claim 9 including a computer for converting the pulses from said tape to binary data in accordance with the time relationship of said intermediate pulses with respect to said reference pulses.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
160 words
A system as set forth in claim 1 including a second plurality of keys or pushbuttons, an additional first means for providing a sequence of reference pulses having a given repetition rate, an additional second means for providing intermediate pulses between at least some of the reference pulses provided by said additional second means, and additional means controlled by at least one of said second plurality of keys or pushbuttons for changing the position of at least some of said intermediate pulses from said additional second means with respect to the reference pulses of said additional first means in accordance with the actuating of a selected key or pushbutton of said second plurality of keys or pushbuttons, said recording means constituting a two-channel tape recorder for recording on one channel thereof the pulse information derived from said first and second means, and simultaneously recording on the second channel thereof the pulse information derived from said additional first and second means.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
54 words
A method of recording events as they are observed comprising the steps of producing a reference pulse, producing a pulse at a time interval after said reference pulse which interval is indicative of an observed event, and recording said pulses in the same time relation at substantially the same time said event is observed.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
54 words
A method of recording events as they are observed comprising the steps of producing a reference pulse, producing a pulse at a time interval after said reference pulse which interval is indicative of an observed event, and recording said pulses in the same time relation at substantially the same time said event is observed.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method as set forth in claim 12 in which a series of reference pulses is produced and a series of event pulses is produced, said event pulses being intermediate or alternating with said reference pulses and at time intervals with respect to said reference pulses which time intervals denote various events that have been observed.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method as set forth in claim 13 in which said pulses are electromagnetically recorded.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method as set forth in claim 14 including the step of subsequently feeding said electromagnetically recorded pulses to a computer for processing and storage.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method as set forth in claim 14 including the steps of producing a second series of reference pulses and a second series of event pulses, simultaneously electromagnetically recording on magnetic tape both of said series of reference pulses, and both of said series of event pulses.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method as set forth in claim 16 including the step of simultaneously feeding said two series of recorded reference pulses and said two series of recorded event pulses to a computer for analysis.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method as set forth in claim 13 in which said events pertain to behavioral activity.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method as set forth in claim 18 including the step of actuating a selected key or pushbutton to alter said time intervals between reference pulses and event pulses, the selected key or pushbutton being representative of a particular behavior act.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
64 words
The method as set forth in claim 19 in which the actuation of the selected key or pushbutton is maintained by the observer during the duration of the behavior act so that the successively recorded event pulses possessing substantially the same time interval relationship with the preceding reference pulses will not only indicate the particular behavioral act but will also indicate the duration thereof.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-03-16 | 1979-09-15 | 1980-03-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-03-16 | 1983-09-15 | 1984-03-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-03-16 | 1987-09-15 | 1988-03-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |