1. A computer implemented system for dividing a fee for a group activity between a group of users, comprising:
a coordinating computer accessing a knowledge base, wherein the knowledge base stores data about one or more existing group tables designated by a venue specifically for multiple parties to reserve for a single predetermined fee, wherein the group table has a predetermined number of seats available for multiple participants engaging in a group activity offered by the venue, wherein the seats are not available to be individually reserved separate from the table, and wherein the venue requires payment of the single predetermined fee in order to reserve the group table for a group activity;
a host module configured for use with a host personal computing device, wherein the host module accepts input from a host user defining terms for participating in the group activity offered by the venue that includes reserving a group table, wherein the input includes terms for invitees to collaborate with the host user to pay the single predetermined fee to reserve the group table and participate in the group activity together, the terms including a fee splitting arrangement dividing the predetermined fee; and
a participant module configured for use with the personal computing devices of invitees, wherein the participant module communicates input from the invitees to the coordinating computer about the invitees acceptance of the terms in the invitations, and information about payment commitments made by invitees agreeing to pay a portion of the predetermined fee;
wherein the host personal computing b the host module to control a network to communicate an invitation including the terms for participating in the group activity, the host module inviting invitees to collaborate to pay the predetermined fee and in order to reserve the reserved table as a group under the terms, the host module controlling the participant module via the network, the participant module controlling the personal computing devices of invitees to display the terms;
wherein the personal computing devices of invitees are configured by the participant module to control the network to communicate individual invitee responses to the terms in the invitation the sarticisant module controlling the host module via the network the host module controlling the host personal computing device to display the invitee responses;
wherein the system controls the network to initiate a funds transfer from the invitees who have accepted the invitation to share the reserved table offered by the venue; and
wherein the system controls the network to communicate the reservation for the reserved table to the venue when the predetermined number of participants and the predetermined fee is satisfied and initiates a transfer of the predetermined fee to the venue.
2. The system of claim 1, comprising:
a search module on the personal computing device configured to accept search criteria from a user and control the knowledge base to perform a search based on the search criteria;
wherein the knowledge base is configured to receive the search criteria and to search for user or group activity information matching the search criteria; and
wherein the knowledge base is configured to return to the search module the user or group activity information matching the search criteria.
3. The system of claim 2, wherein the search criteria includes a location automatically provided by the personal computing device.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein the host module is configured to allow the host user to deny participation for an invitee that has accepted an invitation.
5. The system of claim 1, comprising:
a terms module on the personal computing device configured to accept input from a user defining proposed changes to the terms defined by the host user, and wherein the terms module is configured to control the personal computing devices of invitees using the network in order to notify the invitees of the changes to the terms.
6. The system of claim 5, wherein the terms module is configured to allow the user to propose changes to the fee splitting arrangement changing how the predetermined fee is divided between the host and the invitees.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein the coordinating computer is configured to send reservation metadata to the venue when the reservation is sent to the venue.
8. The system of claim 7, wherein the venue analyzes and uses the metadata to define the predetermined fees required to reserve group tables for future group activities.
9. The system of claim 1, wherein the personal computing device with the host module and the coordinating computer are the same computing device.
10. A computer implemented method of dividing a fee for a group activity between a group of users, comprising:
receiving information about one or more existing group tables from a venue and storing the group activity information in a knowledge base using a coordinating computer, wherein the one or more group tables are offered by the venue exclusively for multiple parties to reserve for a single predetermined fee, wherein the one or more group tables include a predetermined number of seats available for a corresponding predetermined number of participants engaging in a group activity offered by the venue, wherein the seats are not available to be individually reserved separate from the corresponding table of the one or more group tables, and wherein the venue requires payment of the single predetermined fee in order to reserve the group table for a group activity;
receiving input from a host personal computing device used by a host user, the host personal computing device coupled to a network in communication with the coordinating computer, the host personal com utin device usin the network to control the coordinating computer to accept the input, wherein the input defines one or more invitees collaborating with the host user to pay the single predetermined fee to reserve the group table and participate in the group activity together with the host user, and wherein the input defines a fee splitting arrangement dividing the predetermined fee;
sending invitations to the invitees requesting the invitees to collectively reserve the group table and participate in the group activity with the host user under the fee splitting arrangement, wherein the invitations are sent to the invitees using the coordinating computer communicating with the personal computing devices of invitees, wherein the coordinating computer controls the personal computing devices of invitees using the network, the personal computing devices of invitees displaying the invitations on corresponding display devices of the individual personal computing devices;
receiving information from the invitees confirming acceptance of the invitation and agreeing to pay part of the predetermined fee, wherein the information is received using the coordinating computer in communication with the personal computing devices of invitees, wherein the personal computing devices of invitees control the coordinating computer using the network to accept the information from the corresponding personal computing devices of invitees;
transferring funds from the invitees using the coordinating computer when a count of confirmed invitees satisfies the predetermined number of participants and the sum of confirmed payments satisfies the single predetermined fee required to reserve the group table; and
reserving the group table for the confirmed invitees using the coordinating computer when the action of transferring the funds is successfully completed.
11. The method of claim 10, comprising:
accepting input modifying the fee splitting agreement after the invitation has been sent, the input received from a user using the personal computing device; and
notifying the invitees of the modified fee splitting agreement using the coordinating computer, wherein the coordinating computer controls the personal computing devices of invitees using the network, the personal computing devices displaying the modified fee splitting agreement on display devices of the corresponding personal computing devices.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the user modifying the fee splitting agreement is an invitee.
13. The method of claim 10, comprising;
accepting search criteria identifying characteristics of users, group tables, or group activities a searching user is interested in participating in, the search criteria received by the coordinating computer from a personal computing device;
using the coordinating computer to control the knowledge base to execute a search to find information about users, group tables, and group activities matching the search criteria, wherein the coordinating computer controls the knowledge base via the network; and
sending search results with information about matching users, group tables, and group activities to the personal computing device of the searching user.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the search criteria includes a location automatically provided by the personal computing device.
15. The method of claim 10, wherein the personal computing device of the host and the coordinating computer are the same computing device.
16. A computer implemented method of dividing a fee for a group activity between a group of users, comprising:
using a personal computing device to access information about one or more existing group tables designated by a venue exclusively for multiple parties to reserve for a single predetermined fee the personal computing device controlling a coordinating computer to provide the information about one or more group tables using a network coupled to the personal computing device and the coordinating computer,
wherein the information about the group tables is stored in a knowledge base accessed by the coordinating computer,
wherein the coordinating computer queries the knowledge base to retrieve the information about the one or more group tables accessed by the personal computing device,
wherein the group tables have a predetermined number of seats available for multiple participants engaging in a group activity offered by the venue,
wherein the seats are not available to be individually reserved separate from the corresponding table of the one or more group tables, and
wherein the venue requires payment of the single predetermined fee in order to reserve the group table for a group activity offered by the venue;
using the personal computing device to display a user interface configured to accept input defining terms of participation in a group activity previously offered by the venue that includes reserving a group table, wherein the terms of participation include collaborating with other participants to pay the single predetermined fee to reserve the group table, and wherein the terms of participation include a fee splitting arrangement dividing the predetermined fee;
using the personal computing device to control the respective personal computing devices of one or more invitees, wherein the individual personal computing devices of one or more invitees receives information about the terms of participation from the personal computing device and displays information about the terms on a display device, and wherein the personal computing device uses the network to control the personal computing devices of one or more invitees;
receiving confirmation information from the one or more invitees who have confirmed acceptance of the terms of participation and have agreed to pay part of the predetermined fee, wherein the confirmation information is received using the personal computing device responding to control input received from at least one of the respective personal computing devices of one or more invitees;
transferring funds to the venue according to the terms of the fee splitting agreement using the personal computing device wherein the personal com utin device controls the network to transfer the funds to the venue; and
receiving confirmation from the venue that the group table has been reserved, wherein the confirmation information is received using the personal computing device responding to control input received from the coordinating computer.
17. The method of claim 16, comprising:
using the personal computing device to define search criteria specifying characteristics of potential participants, group tables, or group activities;
controlling the knowledge base to execute a search based on the search criteria using the personal computing device, wherein the personal computing device controls the knowledge base via the network; and
receiving information from the knowledge base about potential participants and group activities via the network using the personal computing device, wherein the information from the knowledge base matches the search criteria.
18. The method of claim 16, wherein sending the terms of participation to one or more invitees includes electronically publishing information about the terms of participation in a public forum.
19. The method of claim 16, comprising:
receiving a message from the venue indicating that the group table has a new predetermined fee that is different from the original predetermined fee, wherein the message is received using the personal computing device responding to control input received from the coordinating computer;
changing the terms of participation to include a new fee splitting arrangement dividing the updated fee using the personal computing device; and
using the personal computing device to control the respective personal computing devices of one or more invitees, wherein the individual personal computing devices of one or more invitees receives the changed terms of participation from the personal computing device and displays information about the changed terms on a display device, and wherein the personal computing device uses the network to control the personal computing devices of one or more invitees.
20. The method of claim 16, comprising:
denying participation for an invitee using the personal computing device, wherein the invitee has previously accepted the terms of participation using that invitee’s corresponding personal computing device.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A method for determining R-waves in an ECG signal, comprising:
measuring at least one reference ECG signal using an ECG measuring device;
measuring at least one reference breathing signal using a breathing device;
in a processor, determining at least one reference R-wave using the reference ECG signal and the reference breathing signal;
in said processor, determining at least one reference value using the reference ECG signal and the reference breathing signal;
in said processor, creating at least one comparison rule on the basis of the at least one reference value;
measuring ECG signals using the ECG measuring device and measuring breathing signals, in which R-waves are to be determined, using the breathing device;
in said processor, comparing the measured ECG signals and breathing signals with the at least one reference value using the at least one comparison rule; and
in said processor, determining at least one R-wave using the measured ECG signals and breathing signals, and making an electronic signal representing said at least one R-wave available at an output of said processor.
2. The method as claimed in claim 1, comprising measuring the at least one reference ECG signal and the at least one reference breathing signal by use of breathing commands.
3. The method as claimed in claim 2, comprising measuring at least two reference ECG signals and at least two reference breathing signals that correspond to at least two different breathing commands, respectively.
4. The method as claimed in claim 3, comprising determining the at least one R-wave is determined using the measured ECG signals and breathing signals according to a breathing position.
5. The method as claimed in claim 2, comprising using a breathing command that comprises a signal that indicates successful determination of the at least one reference R-wave.
6. The method as claimed in claim 1, comprising creating the comparison rule according to a pattern recognition method.
7. The method as claimed in claim 1, comprising scaling at least one of the at least one reference breathing signal and the breathing signal.
8. The method as claimed in claim 1, comprising determining the at least one reference value using values of the reference ECG signal and the reference breathing signal that occur in a time interval that begins before the at least one reference R-wave of the ECG signal and lasts until the occurrence of the at least one reference R-wave at most.
9. The method as claimed in claim 1, comprising determining the at least one reference value using values of the reference ECG signal and the reference breathing signal that occur in a time interval that begins before the at least one reference R-wave of the ECG signal and lasts over the occurrence of the at least one reference R-wave.
10. The method as claimed in claim 1, comprising, after the determination of the at least one R-wave using the measured ECG signals and breathing signals, emitting a trigger signal based on at least one positive result of the comparison.
11. The method as claimed in claim 1, comprising determining the at least one reference value as a signal value of a channel of the ECG measuring device at a time within a duration selected from the group consisting of said time interval, the first time derivative of said time interval and the second time derivative of said time interval.
12. The method as claimed in claim 11, comprising determining the reference value in each case over an entirety of time interval.
13. The method as claimed in claim 12, comprising creating the comparison rule using a matched filter and emitting a similarity value as the result.
14. The method as claimed in claim 13, comprising emitting of a trigger signal after the determination of the at least one R-wave using the measured ECG signals and breathing signals on the basis of at least one positive result of the comparison, if the result of the matched filter deviates from an ideal value of the similarity value of the matched filter by a predefinable value at most.
15. The method as claimed in claim 1, comprising determining the at least one reference value as signal values of two channels of the ECG measuring device at a time within a duration selected from the group consisting of said time interval, the first time derivative of said time interval and the second time derivative of said time interval.
16. The method as claimed in claim 15, comprising creating the at least one comparison rule as a determination of a deviation in the reference value from a corresponding value of the measured ECG signal.
17. The method as claimed in claim 16, comprising creating the at least one comparison rule wherein the deviation occurs by a determination of an error.
18. The method as claimed in claim 15, comprising emitting a trigger signal after the determination of the at least one R-wave using the measured ECG signals and breathing signals based on at least one positive result of the comparison, if the determined deviation lies below a predefinable threshold value.
19. The method as claimed in claim 15, comprising determining the reference value in each case over an entirety of time interval.
20. The method as claimed in claim 15, comprising creating the comparison rule using a matched filter and emitting a similarity value as the result.
21. The method as claimed in claim 15, comprising determining the at least one reference value as a combined magnitude of the respective signal values of the at least two channels.
22. The method as claimed in claim 15, comprising determining the at least one reference value as a reference angle between two of the signal values respectively of the at least two channels.
23. The method as claimed in claim 22, comprising creating the at least one comparison rule as a determination of a deviation in the reference value from a corresponding value of the measured ECG signal as the result, and the emission of a trigger signal, which is emitted after the determination of the at least one R-wave using the measured ECG signals and breathing signals on the basis of at least one positive result of the comparison, occurs if the result of this comparison shows that the corresponding value of the measured ECG signal deviates from the reference angle by a predefinable angular range at most.
24. The method as claimed in claim 1, comprising applying the at least one comparison rule to a plurality of reference values and their corresponding values of the measured ECG signal.
25. The method as claimed in claim 1, comprising, after the determination of the at least one R-wave using the measured ECG signals and breathing signals, emitting a trigger signal based on at least one positive result of the comparison, and wherein all results of the comparison must be positive for a trigger signal to be emitted.
26. The method as claimed in claim 25, comprising applying a smoothing filter to said ECG signals in order to determine reference values before the determination of the at least one reference value, and to measured ECG signals before the comparison.
27. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ECG measuring device comprises two channels whose signal values or whose first or second time derivatives are determined as the reference value, wherein the two signal values or the first or second time derivative thereof are presented as a complex value whose real part is the signal value or its first or second time derivative of the first channel, and whose imaginary part is the signal value or its first or second time derivative of the second channel, andor wherein the signal values of a plurality of channels are presented as a vector.
28. The method as claimed in claim 1, comprising, after the determination of the at least one R-wave using the measured ECG signals and breathing signals, emitting a trigger signal based on at least one positive result of the comparison, and emitting a trigger signal only if, after receiving the at least one positive result, an extreme condition is also met within a predefinable maximum duration in the measured ECG signal.
29. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one reference value is a signal value of a channel of the ECG measuring device at one instant at least in the time interval, andor its first andor second time derivative(s), which reference value is used to create a comparison rule for determining a deviation in the reference value from a corresponding value of the measured ECG signal on the basis of the determination of an error, in particular the total of the error squares, andor on the basis of a matched filter.
30. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one reference value is a value obtained as a combined magnitude of the signal values of at least two channels of the ECG measuring device at one instant in a duration selected from the group consisting of the first derivative of the time interval, the time interval and second time derivative of the time interval, and using the reference value to create a comparison rule for the determination of a deviation of the reference value from a corresponding value of the measured ECG signal on the basis of at least one of a determination of an error, and a matched filter.
31. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one reference value is a reference angle determined from respective signal values of two channels, and using the reference value to create a comparison rule for the determination of a deviation in the reference value from a corresponding value of the measured ECG signal.
32. An imaging apparatus comprising:
a medical imaging scanner;
an ECG measuring device configured to measure at least one reference ECG signal;
a breathing device configured to measure at least one reference breathing signal;
a processor configured to determine at least one reference R-wave using the reference ECG signal and the reference breathing signal;
said processor being configured to determine at least one reference value using the reference ECG signal and the reference breathing signal;
said processor being configured to create at least one comparison rule on the basis of the at least one reference value;
said ECG measuring device being configured to measure ECG signals, and said breathing device being configured to measure breathing signals, in which R-waves are to be determined;
said processor being configured to compare the measured ECG signals and breathing signals with the at least one reference value using the at least one comparison rule; and
said processor being configured to determine at least one R-wave using the measured ECG signals and breathing signals, and to make an electronic signal representing said at least one R-wave available at an output of said processor.
33. An ECG measuring device as claimed in claim 32, wherein the processor comprises a smoothing filter that smoothes said ECG signals.
34. A non-transitory, computer-readable data storage medium encoded with programming instructions, and storage medium being loaded into a control computer of a medical imaging apparatus, which also comprises a medical imaging scanner, said programming instructions causing said control computer to:
receive at least one reference ECG signal measured using an ECG measuring device;
receive at least one reference breathing signal measured using a breathing device;
determine at least one reference R-wave using the reference ECG signal and the reference breathing signal;
determine at least one reference value using the reference ECG signal and the reference breathing signal;
creating at least one comparison rule on the basis of the at least one reference value;
receive ECG signals measured using the ECG measuring device, and breathing signals measured using the breathing device, in which R-waves are to be determined;
compare the measured ECG signals and breathing signals with the at least one reference value using the at least one comparison rule; and
determine at least one R-wave using the measured ECG signals and breathing signals, and make an electronic signal representing said at least one R-wave available at an output of said control computer.