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DARPA Files Patent On Predictive Simulation

Posted by Zonk on from the looking-to-the-past-for-the-future dept.

An anonymous reader writes "New Scientist has a post on a patent filed by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), seeking to control a new potent predictive simulation. The patent outlines the process, which may someday allow researchers to accurately predict the behavior of observed subjects. They're not there yet, but not for lack of trying. It already works in some military war game scenarios, says the patent. 'Parunak says his model can successfully detect players' emotions, and then predict future actions accordingly. He believes the technique could one day be applied to predict the behavior of adversaries in military combat situations, competitive business tactics, and even multiplayer computer games. The patent application gives an interesting insight into DARPA's goals. The agency has pumped a lot of money into AI in recent years without reaping major rewards. One day computers may find a way to accurately second-guess humans, but I suspect we may have to wait a little longer yet.'"

3 of 150 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Prior art by ebonum · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Interesting point. In someway you have "reproduced" invention.

    For a patent to be granted, someone skilled in the art should be able to take the patent and build it.

    "The patent statute requires that the application describe the invention in its "best mode" to enable an individual skilled in the art relevant to the invention to be able to repeat the invention."

    If they can't actually build it, this SHOULD be a mute point.

  2. Re:are you sure this is a good idea? by Dragonslicer · · Score: 4, Insightful

    What you really need is a random strategy generator. "Professionals are predictable; amateurs are dangerous."
  3. This is either great or awful by melted · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Depending on the legal interpretation. On one hand as a government agency all work done by DARPA should be public domain. On the other hand they somehow managed to patent this. Does this mean that this is an anti-patent, i.e. no one else can patent this anymore and everyone can use it? Or did they find a legal loophole which could prevent everyone else from using the tech? If it's the latter, it's pretty horrible. DARPA pays for a heck of a lot of fundamental innovation each year (with taxpayer money, of course). If they start patenting it a lot of things will come to a grinding halt.

    Any lawyers on the thread?