FI117657B - information system - Google Patents

Description

* «117657 1: · - INFORMATION SYSTEM

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to information systems, in particular an information system, which provides calculated results based on values obtained from a plurality of uncontrolled information sources.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In conventional information systems, such as automatic control systems, the feed subsystem consists of a plurality of information sources which are controllable entities in which the content and timing of the 10 feeds from each entity follow a predetermined rule. The output of the information system thus directly reflects the state of the process and, in principle, the origin of the uncertainty brought about by the feed subsystem lies solely in the functional reliability of these entities. Functional deficiencies of entities are relatively easy to detect and prior art includes a number of procedures and methods for diagnosing and locating defective entities in information systems. However, these methods are not suitable for ensuring reliable operation in information systems where the operation of the information sources is not directly controlled by the information system operator.

* ·: 20 In the absence of predefined control mechanisms directly affecting the feed sub-system, the accuracy of the results of such information systems correlates with the number of values available: for calculations made by information sources. However, this causes a technical problem for the information system. For the system to be • · * *. · **; The 25 commercially successful Points of Interest (POIs) that it evaluates should cover as many areas of interest as possible.

On the other hand, in order to maintain a steady stream of incoming values, the information system should allow unlimited bursts of information, so that the independent tower of information sources maintains a voluntary level of freedom. This means * · · 30 that the information system input and / or output must be dynamically *: * ·: adaptive in order to be able to focus with the system at that time ·· *. interactive source of information to interested people * · ·. ·.

* ..! areas.

• · • · ··· - 117657 2 '· ί ·' '.'li' * 'I »

Prior art information systems that provide results based on values from multiple uncontrolled sources of information have essentially two categories: research-based and opinion polling. In the first type of information system, the sources of information essentially comprise parties who independently publish printed and electronic material for public use, e.g. articles, statistics, recommendations, etc. The service provider collects information from the publications from a variety of sources and then translates it into research results. existent. This procedure involves making the data from a number of different sources consistent with one another, and thus the data processing step is very laborious. Thus, while the focus of the inputs certainly remains within the area of interest of the information sources, the area covered by such systems is typically too limited to be technically and commercially successful for industrial use.

15 In the second type of information system, the information sources include opinion poll respondents and the values include responses, typically numerical representations that illustrate respondents' opinions. When an opinion poll is implemented with an information system that provides results based on values from a number of volunteers, the main consideration 20 is the valuable information generated by such calculated results. However, if the respondent is required to hand in a form filled in completely or to a certain predetermined level, he or she must also respond in a number of areas that he or she is not aware of or is not at all interested in. On the other hand, if the respondent * does not * need to hand over a fully or nearly completed form, he or she can fool the answer:: 'j with just answers here and there. This results in a · · · · · · · · · · · · lask lask etaan lask lask lask te te ellinen te puut te puut te ellinen te te te puut te te lask lask lask lask lask lask lask lask lask lask lask lask lask lask etaan lask *** *** *** *** *** *** the technical performance of the gatekeeping system suffers significantly.

• · *

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to define an information system in which the technical problem described above is alleviated. The objects of the invention are achieved by an information system, a server, a method and *: **: a computer program product characterized by what is described in the independent claims Preferred embodiments of the invention are described in the dependent claims.

• · • · 3 117657

The invention is based on an interactive reciprocity mechanism arranged between the feed subsystem, the print subsystem and the processing subsystem between them. The processing subsystem has a database comprising a plurality of records, each comprising an identifier field.

5 In the real world, each POI corresponds to a unique factor in the database and is identified by the value of the record's identifier field. The mutual hierarchy of POIs is replicated in the database hierarchy. The values of the identifier field are predefined by the information system operator, and each identifier value comprises a predetermined location indicator that allows the location of the factor to be determined in the hierarchical layer structure of the factors. The records comprise one or more value fields for storing result values calculated from input values and / or values in input records from multiple information sources.

Thus, the feeder subsystem receives the input from a particular user and generates an input record from it. The input record comprises an identifier field identifying the POI and one or more input values for that POI. The input record is delivered to the database and a new conversion value is calculated for each agent based on the conversion value of the factor currently in the database and the value of the factor received in the input record. At the same time, in response to values assigned to a particular POI-point, the user is given access to a record field that contains the result values of the factor corresponding to the original POI.

The advantage of the invention is that it enables the simultaneous provision of rounded points in several areas of interest and the control of I / O operations so that the source of information is rewarded only in proportion to the information it provides. . * * · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·. The service provider can model the hierarchy of POIs in a number of areas of interest and restrict the delivery of results to those POIs. points that were included in the feeds for that information source.

• · · • · *

O 30 LIST OF PATTERNS

In the following, the invention will be described in more detail with reference to the preferred *: ··; with reference to the embodiments, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 illustrates the functional architecture of an information system according to an embodiment of the invention; 117657: FIG. 2 comprises a functional description of an application server according to an embodiment of the invention; Figure 3 is a functional description of a client workstation according to an embodiment of the invention; Fig. 4 is an information structure applied in the present embodiment of the invention; Figure 5 shows an example of a hierarchical information structure when evaluating listed companies; Figure 6 shows an example of a single user view; Figure 7 shows an information structure 3 of Figure 5 by way of example

; V

metrics; Figure 8 shows an example of a multiadaptive attribute matrix corresponding to the information structure of Figure 6; and Figure 9 illustrates an embodiment of the method of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is applicable to any information system in which the results calculated from input values obtained from multiple independent information sources can be used as a output 20 for the same information sources. The term independent in this context refers to a mode of operation in which the information receiving element cannot directly control the • **! to roll out the scope and timing of the information provided by the information source.

> φ \: · The information source can be any element that can • give a value to a POI. In the following, the invention is illustrated by an information system with a source of information corresponding to the information system. users. However, the information source may equally well be an electronic device, e.g.

a meter, sensor, or the like, which is adapted to independently supply values in-. formaatiojärjestelmään. Such a device may be, for example, a measuring device connected to the car, adapted to measure several operating parameters of the car (e.g., travel distance, ambient temperature, humidity, etc.) each time the car is started and send parameters to the information system for use. for maintenance and / or ·: ··· research purposes.

To access multiple sources of information, multiple users must i · · access the remote database. The present invention is therefore particularly applicable to the client / server infrastructure, but without excluding the central information technology.

centralized machine infrastructures. The connection providing access may comprise S

a wired or wireless connection, or a combination thereof.

In the following, the invention will be illustrated by an information system in which evaluation information is collected from one or more participants from one or more contract partners and which provides consensus information calculated on the basis of the evaluations received. The contractor represents the subject of the assessment and may thus be, for example, an entity (company, organization) or a consumable (product or service). The participant represents the party that, for whatever reason, is interested in the company and is therefore willing to express its opinion on the factors related to the contract partner and to obtain calculated consensus information on these factors. Examples of participants in the present embodiment include investors, suppliers, principals, analysts, and the like. Such an information system is particularly suitable for studying subjective opinions about intangible things or factors, but it will be obvious to one skilled in the art that the solution of the invention can, however, advantageously be applied to the generation of any consensus information calculated by multiple evaluations of entities of interest. In addition, since intangible factors are converted into numerical data, an embodiment of the information system enables the parallel utilization of intangible and tangible factors. Typically, it is a question of multiple contractors and participants and the value of the contract partner information directly matches the number of valid evaluations · ♦ ·: *. ·. The validity of the consensus information, and thus the system performance, is critically based on the effectiveness of collecting estimates.

: 25 In the present embodiment, the invention is illustrated by an information system utilizing a client / server relationship without limiting • ♦ · ·. ···. however, to the terms and physical elements used herein.

Alternative models include, for example, master / slave and peer-to-peer configurations. However, an essential requirement is that users of the information system * ”· * 30 can perform remote operations and operate independently from their own workstations. The block diagram of FIG. 1 illustrates the functional architecture of an information system according to an embodiment of the invention. The system comprises a server 100 and one or more clients 110, 120 connected to one another by a network 130 which is preferably, but not necessarily, a packet switched network.

• · * • · * · 6 117657

An essential requirement for a system for collecting and disseminating assessment information is that it can be utilized by multiple users from distributed locations. In a network, the client / server model provides a useful way to interconnect users that are distributed in different locations. Server 100 herein refers to a computer device that provides services to other computers connected to it through a network. In the present embodiment, the connection between clients 110, 120 and server 100 is implemented via TCP / IP messaging over IP network 130 and uses the http protocol or application specific protocol to encode client requests 10 and server responses. Although TCP and IP define two protocols with specific protocol layers, TCP / IP is used herein to refer to the entire set of protocols based thereon, including telnet, FTP, UDP, and RDP. The server may be running continuously (such as a backend), waiting for incoming requests, or may be called by a higher-level backend that controls multiple servers. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that network 130 may be implemented as a radio access network or a fixed network, or a combination thereof.

Server 100 is configured such that server processes 101, 102 correspond to different types of clients. Client PA 110 illustrates a Participant Client for Participant Client Processes, corresponding to 20 Participant Server Application Processes PS 101. A Participant is a party that utilizes the service provided, i. the party providing estimates and utilizing the consensus information available as result M ·. Client CS 120 illustrates the contractual partner * '* [: Partner Partner Process for Client Processes, ^ j · which is the Partner Partner Application Process PS 102. Contract •: *: 25 Partner is the evaluator and resultant client. Sensory information is also very important.

The implementation of the described mechanisms and functionalities in the server is described with reference to FIG. 2 comprising an application server 100. functional description. The network node comprises processing means 21,

«· I

*; jf 30 ment, comprising an arithmetic-logical unit, a plurality of special registers and * · * ·; · * control circuits. Connected to the processing means are memory means 22, a medium on which computer-readable data or programs or user data can be stored. The memory means typically comprise memory units that allow both reading and writing (RAM) and memory having read-only content. The unit also comprises an interface block 23 having input means 24 for inputting data * ·· * for in-unit processing, and output means 24 for outputting data 7 117657 out of the unit's internal processes. Said input means comprise, for example, a plug-in unit which acts as a gateway for information fed to its external access points. To receive information from the application server user, the application server AS may also comprise a keypad or a touch screen, a microphone or the like. Said output members comprise, for example, a plug-in unit which supplies information to wires connected to its external access points. To send information to the application server AS user, they may also comprise a display, a touch screen, a speaker or the like. The processing means 21, the memory means 22 and the interface block 10 23 are electrically connected to each other for systematically performing operations on the received and / or stored data in accordance with predetermined, substantially programmed processes of the unit. In one embodiment of the invention, the operations comprise the functionality for implementing the server operations of the invention, as described herein.

The implementation of the described mechanisms at the client end is illustrated with reference to Figure 3, which comprises a functional description of a client workstation 110, 120 terminating in the information system illustrated. The workstation comprises processing means 310, an element comprising an arithmetic-logical unit, a plurality of special registers and control circuits. Process memory means 20 are connected to memory means 315, a medium on which computer-readable data or programs or user data can be stored. Memory devices typically include memory units that allow both reading and writing: * · [: (RAM) and read-only memory (ROM). The workstation ·: · also includes an interface block 320 having input means 325 for use with the

•; *; The processor can input data for internal processing of the unit, and the output elements I

• * * · '. 5,330 for outputting user data from internal unit processes. Mentioned. '···. the input means comprise, for example, a keyboard or touch screen, a microphone or the like. Said output means comprise, for example, a display, a touch screen. screen, speaker or similar. The workstation also comprises a communications unit 305 335 configured by the receiving means 340 to receive and process information for input to the processing means 310, and by means of the transmission means 345 to receive information pro - ·: ··· from the processing means 310 and process it for transmission. Implementation of such a communication unit is well known to those skilled in the art. The processing means 35, 310, memory 315, interface block 320, and communication unit 335 are Φ 4 '··· * electrically coupled to received and / or stored data to systematically perform operations on the unit 8 .i 117657. according to predetermined, substantially programmed processes. In one embodiment of the invention, the operations comprise the functionality of a workstation according to the invention as described herein.

An essential element of the information system of the invention is the predetermined hierarchical structure of the authors, which provides a holistic view of the relevant POIs in the applied environment and allows for bursts of information generated according to the interest and time available to the participant concerned. Figure 4 illustrates the information structure of the factors applied in the present embodiment.

The basic element of the described embodiment of the information structure is factor F 41. Factor F refers to estimation information for one unique POI and comprises an identifier field ID predefined by the information system οροί 5 and one or more value fields V for values obtained for the estimated POI. . The identifier field ID comprises a determination part DE and a position indicator part P1. The configuration elements are pre-defined by the information system operator for DE's current contractor group and are used as such for each contractor. Patch-20 dicators P1 include rules, character values, based on which the location of an attribute in a layered hierarchical structure can be determined. For example, the Pixel Indicator may include a reference to the emotion to which the current -: * · * factor is subordinate. By means of the determinant DE, factor F is preferably associated with a verbal definition which, as such, clearly defines the nature of factor ♦ ···: 25 to the user of the presented embodiment of the information system. The value (s) in the value field V contains the value given to or calculated by F! · «. evaluation. In the system presented, the authors homogenize the concept of POIs with a number of * * * '* contractors and participants, especially in continuous, repetitive use. On the other hand, the factors can be flexibly adapted to a specific application area and to different types of contract partners.

Figure 4 shows a typical matrix of predetermined factors that can be applied to a single group of contractors. Factors are organized into a hierarchical structure, where one or more factors 41 form a factor group 42, which is a member of a higher level group 43, etc. Each member of any · · · 35 group is a factor and the total depth of the hierarchical structure corresponds to the number of groups when all the predetermined actions were:; : 9 ::. <117657 are considered and each level of groups 42, 43 corresponds to a layer of the hierarchical structure. The use of the location indicators P1 allows operations to be targeted either to individual factors or to members of the hierarchical layers individually.

Figure 5 illustrates the correspondence between the hierarchy of factors and the layers of the hierarchical attri-5 butt matrix by way of an example of an industrial application for generating consensus information on non-financial value factors of listed companies in the stock market.

Consensus as such reflects the consensus reached by the group as a whole on evaluation or opinion. This means that consensus is intrinsically linked to human perception and typically includes, in contrast to more axiomatic decision making, the semantic aspect.

This has traditionally made consensus very difficult to manage, and there are currently no practical tools for modeling consensus information and thereby utilizing it. As an example, in the 15 stock markets, decisions about whether to sell or buy are made quickly, mainly based on the latest information available for the company in question, and often based on an intuitive and sudden interpretation of the value of that information.

Listed companies are required to publish certain types of news directly to the market, but most of this information relates to economic bases and technical analysis, which are inherently numerical • t · * .J facts and therefore quite easily applicable to extensive analysis. At a glance, however, it is clear that the valuation of a listed company must be based on a significantly larger number of factors than it! 25 purely metric data currently in use. A common aspect of these factors is that, although they do not directly fit into numerical calculations] ···, they are in one way or another related to human comprehension and can therefore be approached and / or approximated by consensus information. .

. Increasing emphasis on the true importance of intangible assets to key players, analysts, investors and listed companies in the stock market * ···: Business valuation has become increasingly important. However, there is currently no framework for creating, collecting, analyzing, comparing and disseminating information that also provides insight into intangible value factors.

A few opinion polls on the market typically provide their own "* * 35 list of questions, in different scales and with different emphasis. Fragile, regular inquiries have not allowed analysts to: 10 117657 spend time and energy exploring questions and factors related to a new type of opinion poll. and mechanisms and then input a large amount of facts and figures from companies, only some of which are relevant to them in some way, especially where there has been little certainty as to the appropriate consideration, ie the number of respondents or the scope of their answers would reach , where consensus emerges and really reflects the views of the market.

In the exemplary evaluation, the first level of factors is related to the identification of company 5. The next level of factors consists of six main 10 groups, which are basics 51, technical issues 52, advanced finance 53, business performance 54, management 55, and other 56. The location indicator for each factor includes a reference to the parent company 5. divided into three subgroups: Market Share 541, Product Performance 542 and Product Range 543. Each factor's location indicator 15, respectively, includes a reference to the parent factor business performance 54. Subgroup Product Range 543 is further subdivided into Innovation 543A, Design 543B, Quality 543B, 543D, Competitiveness 543E and Customer Satisfaction 543F. The position indicator for each factor accordingly includes a reference to the parent factor in the product range 543.

20 Now, for example, POIs can be '' the overall market performance of a rated company '', i.e. how the market share is distributed, how ·· ·: products have been successful, what the product portfolio looks like in terms of competitiveness, · · · • * · evaluated at the value given to the business performance values. The *: · identifier field contains the business performance attributes of '54' and the reference to its 25 'parent' company '5, which sets the attribute to the second highest level in the matrix. By entering a value of "8", the user can evaluate the business of the company. performance is satisfactory.

However, if the user so wishes, the evaluation of this factor can be taken to a deeper level by analyzing certain aspects of the author separately. The competitiveness of the POI-30 points range can be evaluated by the value given to the author * * * · “'le' product range” 543. The product factor 543 is the factor “business performance” 54 which is the factor “company” 5. This puts the Attri-: ··· Boot "Product Range" 543 at the third-highest level in the matrix. Similarly, the attribute subgroups "innovation" 543A, "" design "543B," "quality" 543C, * · * 35 "features" 543D, "competitiveness" 543E, and "customer satisfaction" 543F offer 117657 11 "; ΐ provide voluntary tools for an in-depth analysis of this particular aspect of the value factor.

The number of layers applied corresponds to the dimensions of the factor matrix, and thus the level of analysis can be selected and controlled by the factor identifier. In addition, the 5 users on each floor can decide whether to open the group for further evaluation.

The combination of factors and values to be entered in one session will be referred to below as the "track". Fig. 6 is a block diagram showing exemplary imprint factors in the illustrated embodiment of the information system. The footprint is automatically generated by user choices during the session. The highest level of the track corresponds to the highest level of factor selection. In the exemplary selection of Figure 6, the participant decides to evaluate, among all major groups A, B, C, D, the factors in major groups A, B, and C (marked in black).

This means that no subgroup of main group D is present after the session. On the second layer, the user chooses not to leave any subgroups, but on the second level, omits two factors 61 and 62 of the third subgroup of main group C and first subgroup 63 of the first subgroup of main group A. With this selection, lower layer factors 64 and 65 are automatically excluded. The participant further chooses not to rate 20 third-tier authors 66, 67, 68 and 69, who are thus left out.

These choices, where the user only gave values to the factors that are relevant to him, ·· ·: *. · * Created a trace (marked with white boxes) for this particular session.

• · ·: *. · The client workstation user interface is preferably configured to provide the user with a display that follows the hierarchical structure of the authors.

: 25 The display may, for example, be configured to display factors such that the same layer * * * · * <· '· ;. its elements are vertically along the same line as shown in Figure 5.

• · · ·. * ··. Thus, the connection to higher level attributes can be represented on the screen by 'connecting lines, indents, etc.

In its simplest form, the estimator comprises the step of assigning one or more numerical values to one or more factors. Similarly, the evaluation of a contract partner involves the assignment of numerical values to the authors based on their personal view of the current state of the PO1 ·: · *: points of the company. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that various measurement systems and scales and ranges of value can be used within the evaluation without departing from the scope of the present invention. In the presented embodiment of the system, the estimation is based on numerical values. Performer-; , 12, however, 117657 are still being improved by providing more than one metric for each factor.

Figure 7 illustrates the information structure of Figure 5, illustrated by three exemplary metrics used in this embodiment of the evaluation. The first metric is denoted by a dot S and corresponds to a scale of 1-10. The second metric is denoted by the weight W and corresponds to the relative weight of that factor in the range of 1-100% relative to other factors in the same group. The third metric is designated as information I, which measures, in the range of 1-100%, the level of knowledge that the participant believes he or she has of the 10 factors in question. The use of more than one metric provides an internal averaging mechanism that provides the appropriate proportions of factors for commercially exploiting information in a multi-adaptive attribute matrix.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the user provides his or her input to one or more factors through the client workstation user interface.

This generates an input record containing the identifier of the factor and the values of one or more metrics S, W, I applied to that factor. The client workstation may comprise a pre-processing unit for pre-processing the records at the user end, or the client workstation may be configured to send the records as such to the server, or the records may be partially processed at each of the 20 ends. The treatment results in a trace of the estimated factors and the values given.

· ·: *: During the processing phase, the attribute group related ratings are • •; is processed into the lowest subgroup grade and the grade of each lower subgroup; · the parts are processed into the upper subgroup grade and the process is continued • 25 hierarchically upwards until each grade and grade is ranked in the trace layers. In the illustrated embodiment of the information system, processing in its simplest form involves averaging values to a consensus value of the lowest subgroup and of each lower subgroup. • · · ';;;; 30 of the upper subset of the group averaging consensus values. In the illustrated embodiment of the system, grades are multiplied by weight and information values * * * ·; · *, and this number is stored as the author's own consensus value.

It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that other processing methods may be applied without departing from the scope. The calculation is performed with the total values of the consensus values of the factor matrix and the individual consensus values of each factor in the trace, and the updated consensus values of the factors are stored in a database.

• t * «• · · * 13 117657

As described above, the primary motivation and incentive for participants to engage in this type of information sharing is to provide them with valuable information in return. In the solution of the invention, this valuable information is called Reciprocal Consensus Information (RCI) 5, which refers to a mechanism in which a participant is only reciprocally informed of the factors to which he or she has given values. In Figure 7, the white triangles and the numbers in parentheses represent the current consensus values obtained by the participant after giving his or her views on the subject. For a person skilled in the art, the format of the presentation of reciprocal consensus information is not relevant to the invention. RCI thus joins the concept whereby a participant, having given its opinion on the author, has access to collective information on the opinions of other participants on the same author. In order to define the RCI for the user, the server database maintains cumulative information about the traces provided by the participant 15 by means of a multi-adaptive attribute matrix. In this context, a multi-adaptive attribute matrix refers to a dynamically changing matrix of consensus values of factors, which is continuously computed based on input records received from individual users and accessed by each user on the basis of the traces they input according to controlled reciprocity.

Figure 8 shows a hypothetical two-dimensional example of the magnitude of user traces of * *. * In successive estimation feeds made to a multiadaptive attribute matrix PAM. Each · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·, position in the multi-adaptive attribute matrix contains a consensus value Ri calculated for the author as above · · · · · · · · · In addition, for each consensus value of a factor, a consensus number N is calculated based on the number of traces that give the value to that particular factor.

• ·

The basic principle of the individual participant RCI is that it responds. directly to his or her personal feeds, a cumulative trace generated by • · · 30 traces contained in the participant's successive evaluation feeds. This means that the more factors a participant's footprint covers, the broader the view he or she has of consensus values.

* * * This is illustrated in Figure 8 by means of two separate evaluation feeds from one user. At time T1, eg on a busy day, the participant enters ♦ ♦ · 35 new tracks AI1, which merely reflects something new that the user has just become aware of. At time T2, the participant has more time and decides to go through a number of factors, including past feeds, and check if his views have changed over time. In this session, a wider trace AI2 is generated. The traces AM, AI2 of these partially overlapping estimation feeds are combined into the collective trace TR = AI1uAI2 and RCI to-5 is accomplished by allowing the participant access to all of the consensus values of the multadaptive attribute matrix (dashed in Figure 8) corresponding to the user's cumulative trace.

It is clear that the total number of point-by-point evaluations from all users directly corresponds to the consensus relevance, and therefore a consensus number of 10 is advantageously used when providing consensus values to users. Preferably, the operator may generate one or more consensus rules that further define a valid consensus. For example, it may be determined that as long as Nj <TL, where TLj is defined as trigger-so, true consensus will not be accepted. In such a case, the consensus-15 value is either not included in the RCI information to which the user has access or is displayed differently than the accepted consensus values. Separate consensus values can be defined for each group or layer of the multi-adaptive attribute matrix.

In conventional opinion polls, responses are processed immediately and the information lifetime begins to run as soon as the response time expires. The information is not updated until a new opinion poll and, over time, the accuracy of the consensus information collected * *, · * diminishes (topicality). In such conventional systems, the frequency of information updating may be controlled only by the frequency of updates. Since responding to the 25 opinion polls is a laborious task, the frequency of consecutive opinion polls must be kept to a reasonable level. In the following embodiment of the invention, the performance of the system is improved by an anti-reciprocity closing mechanism that allows validation of the information. can be guided to improve timeliness.

In the following, the mechanism is illustrated with reference to Figure 8.

··· * ···: For each participant, the server is configured with functionality to configure and maintain an RCI window. This RCI window can be used to control whether or not a user has access to the value of a multi-adaptive attribute matrix. Each element of the RCI window is responsible for the multi-adaptive attribute • · ·

: t> · '35 combinations of elements of the matrix matrix and have two possible values: OPEN

and CLOSED (denoted by reference marks o and c, respectively, in Figure 8).

15 117657

When the RCI window element is OPEN, the user has access to the consensus value corresponding to this element and when the RCI window element is CLOSED, the user does not have access to the consensus value corresponding to this element.

The state of the elements in the RCI window is determined by the reciprocal of the um-5 coefficient of reflection (REF). Initially, all elements of a participant's multi-adaptive attri butt matrix RCI window are in the CLOSED state. Each time a participant gives a trace that includes a specific factor, the corresponding element of the RCI window is updated to the state OPEN. This transition gives the participant access to the consensus values of the lagging factors, as discussed above.

10 Each time a participant enters a new trace, the REF values of the elements that match the combinations of trailing attributes are also reset. After the reset, the REF is updated, either continuously based on one or more update rules, or by the operator in response to some sudden changes in the operating environment. The state of the element in the RCI window 15 is determined based on the current value of the REF at which point in the update the element REF may reach a predetermined threshold. In this case, the state of the element changes to CLOSED and the user no longer has access to the corresponding consensus value of the multi-adaptive attribute matrix.

20 Updates to a contributor's REF may be based, for example, on: • the time since the last valuation feed: '*] · * · the number of times the author's consensus value has been presented to a participant ··· · the number of times other contributors have

Ml *:. *. 25 significant consensus value of the multi-adaptive attribute matrix *** significant, statistically significant change • significant, statistically significant change on the contractor * ·: · * 30 partner side · * · · relevant new information published by the contractor * · * to any other unspecified external event or change that the service provider deems relevant in this regard.

: * ·: 35 Update rules can be interlinked or independent. A single · · · rule may be arranged to run over the REF threshold or alternatively a combined effect of multiple rules may be required to trigger the RCI window element transition to CLOSED.

Referring to the example of Figure 8, at time T2, the factor 81 RCI window: element is updated to OPEN and the element REF is set to an initial value of 5,100 points. After time T2, the REF is updated by subtracting the points P1, P2, P3, P4, P5 obtained by the calculation according to the following rules. When the updated REF becomes negative (threshold = 0), the factor 81 RCI window element is closed.

• P1 = N * M

10 where N corresponds to a predetermined score per day and M

corresponds to the number of days in the last record that contained the factor 81 record,

I · P2 = 0 * R

where O corresponds to a predetermined score that is subtracted from 15 each time a participant requests a consensus value for this factor and M represents the number of times the participant has searched for factor 81,

• P3 = S * T

where S corresponds to a predetermined score per update by another participant for this factor and T corresponds to the number of times it is performed; 20 where factor 81 is included after another participant since the participant's last update,

· P4 = U

• · · ***: where U corresponds to the number of points the operator deems appropriate to reflect a significant change in the operating environment.

* · · ·: 25 It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that other equations and mechanisms "[·, [are] possible to determine REF and state transition trigger. In addition, the number of rules and / or parameters can be freely varied without departing from the scope of the invention. or with each other.

, The reciprocity expiration factor allows the operator to control the refresh rate of the multi-adaptive matrix. For example, the operator may decide to 5 ...: hasten the expiration of the participants' RCI window elements upon receipt: ***; some news about the contract partner. Loss of information causes participants to update their estimates earlier than otherwise anticipated, thereby reducing the likelihood of inaccurate information in the multi-adaptive attribute matrix. This directly improves the relevance of the information in the database to the timeliness.

17 1 17657

The service provided through the information system is valuable to the contractor as such, from the point of view of the participating contractor. On the other hand, system performance can be further enhanced by additional tools that serve the needs of contractors. The first-to-five system can be equipped with additional filtering tools to eliminate, for example, deliberate attempts to modify consensus. Such means may comprise, for example, a filter unit adapted to reject input values that deviate from the consensus value by a percentage more than a predetermined threshold.

10 The information system allows the operator to actively monitor sources of information related to the entities under assessment and to act when deemed appropriate. On the other hand, the reciprocity methodology can be used optimally to improve the performance of the information system also on the contractor side. The operator may configure the server with secondary 15-way reciprocity tools configured to operate such that a contract partner that actively distributes press releases containing information relevant to one or more of the multi-adaptive attribute matrix may, in response to its volunteer feeds, obtain consensus values for these factors. The definition of the scope of reciprocity 20 can be accomplished by a rule processor that correlates a contract partner voluntary transmission with a particular RCI window. Ex. Listed

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: The company can provide information on its new, revolutionary product through its user account. In response to this information, the rule processor sets the elements of the contract partner's RCI window to OPEN access to the consensus information: •: 25: with respect to the 543 product range (Figure 5).

the sor resets the REF value, which then expires in a limited time

within the cavity. This secondary counterparty counterpart * - * reciprocity mechanism increases evaluation activity, increases the refresh rate of the input information, and therefore also improves the overall performance of the information system * ;;; * 30.

With reference to the above embodiments, the flowchart of Fig. 9 shows an embodiment of the method of the present invention. Figure 9 ·: ··· illustrates the procedure followed in successive sessions by one participant. Step 910 begins at the initial state of the information system, where the database comprises an N · element multi-adaptive attribute matrix. Initially, the Participant's · · · ··· RCI window RCIW is in the CLOSED state for each N element. In step 18 117657, the 915 process is initiated by initializing to calculate the number of tracks provided by the counter / participant. In step 920, the participant transmits the trace TRj as described in connection with Figure 6. The trace TR, comprises a plurality of records, each corresponding to a factor that is identified by a combination of attributes in the record. In step 925, the reciprocity expiration factors of the elements in the RCIW RCIW window corresponding to these factors are reset. Similarly, in step 930, the RCI window elemental state of all of these factors is set to AVIN.New consensus values are calculated based on previously stored values and trace contents in the multiadaptive attribute matrix, and the values are updated to the multi-adaptive attribute matrix. The participant will then have access to the updated consensus values whose RCI window elements are in the OPEN state.

The updating of the REF values begins immediately after their resetting i 15 (step 940) according to predetermined rules and / or parameters as described in connection with FIG. 8. The system checks (step 945)

Iliana has entered another trace, and if so, increments the trace counter / (step 950) and returns to step 920. If no new trace is received, the system will continue monitoring the reciprocity information expiration. This is initiated by first determining the total number n of the elements in the RCI window that are currently in the OPEN state (step 955). Then ·· ·: initializing element calculator j (step 960). Using y ', the system scans j all n elements and checks (step 965) whether the expiration rule for the RCI window element is met. If so, the author's RCI window element is closed (step 2570). If not, the process proceeds to step 975, where it is checked * 1 1 1 whether all n elements have been checked. If not, the element calculator j inkre- | . ···. is mentored (step 980) and the process returns to step 965. If so, the process returns to step 935.

It is obvious to one skilled in the art that as technology advances, the inventive idea can be implemented in many ways. The invention and its embodiments are not limited to the examples described above, but may vary within the scope of the claims.

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* 1 * 1 1.

Claims (31)

An information system for providing results calculated on the basis of values obtained from multiple independent sources of information, the information system comprising one or more terminals; a database; connection means for providing access to the database from one or more terminals, in which the information system database comprises several data items corresponding to several predetermined mutually related factors, each data item comprising an identification field for identifying the factor and a result value calculated from the input values referring to the factor received from said one or more terminals, and wherein the factor identification field comprises a position indicator indicating the factor's subordinate relationship to the at least one of the other factors; the terminal comprises a receiver unit for receiving from a user of one or more input entries, wherein an input entry comprises identification of a factor and at least one input value related to the factor; the connection means comprise a unit for calculating a new result value based on the current result value of the factor and the value received for the factor in the input data; • ♦ The connection means comprise a control unit for the user, in response to the received input items, to open the result values and the result values for the factors that influence the factor, and for the user, in response to the input data received. close the result values for the other factors not identified in the input record; Information system according to claim 1, characterized in that the connection means comprise a server and an IP network. An information system according to claim 1, characterized in that the control means comprise a variable value associated with each factor, wherein the first value of the variable opens the result value for the user and the second value closes the result value for the user. Information system according to claim 3, characterized in that: ****. the control means further comprise an output factor which relates to: ***; An ambiguous variable for checking the condition of the ambiguous variable and * · · i: 25 1 1 7657; a rule processor for updating the respective output factor in accordance with one or more output rules, and resetting the output factor each time as a new value for the factor relating to the divalent variable is received from the user. Information system according to claim 4, characterized in that the control processor is arranged to change the output with time. Information system according to claim 4, characterized in that the control processor is arranged to change the output every time the user seeks consensus value. Information system according to claim 6, characterized in that the control processor is arranged to change the output in response to an input from the operator. Information system according to claim 1, characterized in that the connecting means comprise a threshold value corresponding to a predetermined? 15 minimum amount of input data received which is required to achieve consensus. 9. Information system according to claim 8, characterized in that the connecting means are arranged to separately indicate result values for which the threshold value has not been exceeded. Information system according to claim 1, characterized in that · for each factor three different input values are arranged and that the result value • *. '· * Corresponds to a consensus value calculated as a sum of all three input values. Information system according to claim 10, characterized by · * · «:. *. For each factor, three different types of input values have been arranged and that the binders further comprise secondary reciprocity means for calculating a secondary consensus value for the factor from all values of one type in the group on the basis of input values of said one type for the factor. 12. Server system, which includes a server and a database to provide results calculated on the basis of values obtained from multiple sources of information linked to the server system, in which server system. . The database includes several data items corresponding to several predetermined interrelated factors, each data item comprising: \: an identification field for identifying the factor and a result value calculated based on the input values associated with the factor received from said one or more terminals, and wherein the factor identification field comprises a position indicator indicating the factor's subordinate relationship to at least one of the other factors; the terminal comprises a receiver unit for receiving from a terminal of one or more input entries, wherein an input entry comprises identification of a factor and at least one input value related to the factor; the server comprises a calculator for calculating a new result value on the basis of the current result value of the factor and the value received for the factor in the input item; The Ί0 server includes a control unit for the user, in response to the received input records, to open the result values identified in the input record and the result values for the factors that are in parent relation to the factor, and for the user to close the result values for the other factors not identified in the input data item. Server system according to claim 12, characterized in that the server is connected to several terminals via an IP network. Server system according to claim 12, characterized in that the control means comprise a variable value associated with each factor, the first value of the variable opening the result value for the user and the second value closing the result value for the user. The server system according to claim 14, characterized in that the control means further comprise an output factor related to respectively: 1 · 1: a divalent variable for checking the state of the divalent variable and a control processor for updating each output factor according to: one or more multiple output rules, and re-setting the output factor each time ** V as a new value for the factor relating to the variable value is received ::: from the user. • · * ··· 1 Server system according to claim 15, characterized in that the rule processor is arranged to change the output with time. A server system according to claim 15, characterized in that the re-gel processor is adapted to change the output every time the user. seeks consensus value. • · Server system according to claim 15, characterized in that The 1 gel processor is arranged to change the output in response to an input from the operator. · · * 1 1 1 ί 117657 19. A server system according to claim 12, characterized in that the server comprises a threshold value corresponding to a predetermined minimum amount of input data received which is required to achieve consensus. 20. A server system according to claim 12, characterized by the detachable means, is arranged to separately indicate result values for which the threshold value has not been exceeded. A server system according to claim 12, characterized in that for each factor, three different input values are arranged and the result value corresponds to a consensus value calculated as a sum of all three input values. A method of providing results calculated on the basis of 1V of values obtained from multiple independent sources of information, wherein: access to a database is provided from one or more terminals, which database comprises multiple data records corresponding to several pre-determined data sources. matched mutually related factors, the respective data item comprising an identification field for identifying the factor and a result value calculated from the input values attributed to the factor received from said one or more terminals, and wherein the factor identification field comprises a position indicator which indicates a factor indicator indicating relationship to the food ministry one of the other factors; from a user, one or more input records are received, which include the identification of a factor and at least one input value related to:. factor; ····:. A new result value is calculated on the basis of the current factor of the factor and the value received for the factor in the input item; in response to the input data received, the user identified in the input item opens the result values and the result values for the factors that influence the parent. relation to the factor, and closes to the user the result values for the other factors not identified in the input record. ·· « Method according to claim 22, characterized in that a. a divalent variable is associated with the respective factor, whereby the first value of the variable opens the result value for the user and the second value closes the result • «. tat value for the user. ·· ·: 35 The method according to claim 23, characterized in that an output factor is associated with the respective variable value for controlling it. The state of the variable value and the nature of the output factor, respectively, are updated in accordance with one or more output rules, and the output factor is reset each thread as a new value for the factor relating to the variable value variable received from the user. 25. A method according to claim 24, characterized in that the output changes over time. Method according to claim 24, characterized in that the output changes every time the user seeks a consensus value. Method according to claim 24, characterized in that the output is changed in response to an input from the operator. 28. A method according to claim 22, characterized in that the number of input data received for a factor is compared with a threshold value corresponding to a predetermined minimum amount of input data required for J to achieve consensus for a factor. 15 Method according to claim 28, characterized in that the connecting means are arranged to separately indicate result values for which the threshold value has not been exceeded. The method according to claim 22, characterized in that for each factor, three different input values are input and the result value is calculated; 20 as a sum of all three input values. 31. Computer program product, which can be executed in a server linked to a database comprising several data items corresponding to several of: * · *: predetermined mutually related factors, each respective data item: · comprising an identification field for identifying the factor and a result value, • · * ·:. Calculated from the input values relating to the factor received from said one or more terminals, and wherein the factor identification field comprises a position indicator indicating the factor's subordinate relationship to ***** at least one of the other factors, characterized the execution of the computer program product in the server causes the server to receive one or more input records from a terminal, which input record • M includes identification of a factor and at least one input value related to the factor; calculate a new result value on the basis of the current result value of the factor and the value received for the factor in the input: *. * 35 in response to the received input items, open to the user the identified result values and result values for 29 Π 7657 the factors that strengthen in overall relation to the factor, and to the user close the result values for the other factors not identified in the input record. ; \ # · · · · · · · · · 1 · · · 1 · · Φ · · · ··· • 1 1 · • k 1 · 1 · 1 * 1 1 • · • · * »· '• 1 1 • · · 1 · * · · • 1 • · * · · * # · 1 * · •« · 1 · • · • · ·.! * · · ·