MULTIPLE PARTY DECISION PROCESS

• US 20110307806A1
• Filed: 06/14/2010
• Published: 12/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Proconit, LLC
• Original Assignee: Proconit, LLC
• Inventors: Hills, Matthew, Hamilton, Cameron
• Application Number:
  US12/815,154
• Publication Number:
  US 20110307806A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/753
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/101 Collaborative creation, e.g. joint development of products or services
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0278 Product appraisal

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a multiple party decision process. The parties include an inquirer and an audience. The inquirer posts a question along with a series of weighted factors statements that are analyzed according to a function. The output of the function is represented in a visual indicator proximate to the weighted factors. The audience may modify factor statements, both existing and potential. Modifications to the quantity or weights of the factor statements may compel a recalculation of the weighted factor statements according to the function with a changed representation of the visual indicator.

Claims

1. A multiple party electronic decision process comprising:

displaying an electronically-posted two-answer question having a first preference and a second preference and viewable by an audience, predetermined in scope by said inquirer, electronically accessing said question;

defining through said inquirer a modifiable factor array composed of modifiable factors having discrete factor statements related to said question and a modifiable weight, displayed in a weight indicator, corresponding to each discrete factor statement;

depicting with said question said factor array to said audience with a visual decision board, having a distinct first preference portion and a distinct second preference portion, with a visual indicator visually proximate to said board depicting a first visual representation as a function of said weighted factors;

presenting a factor array modification field to said audience for composing a proposed modification of said factor array including at least a weight indicator adjuster, corresponding to at least one of said factor statements;

altering said factor array based on said proposed modification to create an updated factor array; and

updating said visual indicator to a second visual representation according to said function based upon said updated factor array.

2. The process of claim 1 wherein said displaying step includes displaying a polar question.

3. The process of claim 2 wherein said presenting step includes presenting a said factor array modification field with a factor statement entry field for the freestyle entry of a proposed factor statement and said weight indicator adjustor corresponding to said proposed factor statement.

4. The process of claim 1 wherein said presenting step includes presenting said factor array modification field with a factor statement entry field for the freestyle entry of a proposed factor statement and said weight indicator adjustor corresponding to said proposed factor statement.

5. The process of claim 4 wherein said presenting step includes presenting said factor array modification field with said factor statement field with a corresponding field weight indicator adjustor.

6. The process of claim 1 further comprising an exhibiting step that includes exhibiting to said audience proposed modifications to said factor array.

7. The process of claim 5 wherein said exhibiting step includes exhibiting to said audience proposed modifications including factor statement additions to said factor array modification field.

8. The process of claim 7 wherein said exhibiting step includes exhibiting to said audience proposed modifications including weighted factor statement additions to said factor array modification field.

9. The process of claim 1 further including the step of notifying said inquirer in response to said proposed modification.

10. The process of claim 1 further comprising the step of publishing a decision to said audience.

11. The process of claim 10 further comprising the step of communicating to said audience via electronic, private communication said decision.

12. The process of claim 1 further comprising the step of temporally restricting said proposed modifications.

13. The process of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

electing at least one topical category; and

alerting said audience to at least one question related to said topical category.

14. The process of claim 1 further comprising the step of storing an audience list demarcated by topical category.

15. A multiple party decision process comprising:

displaying an electronically-posted two-answer question viewable by a inquirer-selected audience;

defining through said inquirer a modifiable factor array composed of factor statements, related to said question, bearing a preference identifier relating to one of two user-defined preferences and a modifiable weight, displayed in a weight indicator, corresponding to each factor statement;

depicting with said question said factor array to said audience with a visual decision board, having a distinct first preference portion for placement of single-concept preference statements and a distinct second preference portion for placement of single-concept preference statements, with a visual indicator depicting a first visual representation as a function of said weighted factors;

presenting a factor array modification field to said audience for composing a proposed modification to said factor array;

modifying said factor array based on said proposed modification of said factor array to create an updated factor array; and

updating said visual indicator to a second visual representation according to said function based upon said updated factor array.

16. The process of claim 15 wherein said modifying step includes presenting said factor array modification field with a factor statement field for the freestyle entry of a proposed factor statement.

17. The process of claim 16 wherein said modifying step includes presenting said factor array modification field with said factor statement field and a corresponding field weight indicator adjustor.

18. The process of claim 15 wherein said two-answer question is a polar question.

19. The process of claim 16 wherein said defining step includes defining through said inquirer said modifiable factor array composed of modifiable factor statements selected from a group consisting of single-concept benefit statements, single-concept detriment statements, and combinations thereof.

20. A multiple party decision system comprising:

a polar question display adapted to display an electronically-posted polar question viewable by an inquirer-selected audience;

a factor array composed of modifiable factor statements, related to said question, and selected from a group consisting of single-concept benefit statements, single-concept detriment statements, and combinations thereof,

a modifiable weight, displayed in a weight indicator, corresponding to each factor statement;

a decision depiction bearing said question and said factor array to said public audience with a visual decision board, having a distinct positive portion for placement of single-concept benefit statements and a distinct negative portion for placement of single-concept detriment statements, with a visual indicator depicting a first visual representation as a function of said weighted factors;

a factor array modification field for audience composition of a proposed modification of said factor array including at least a weight indicator adjuster, corresponding to each of said factor statements;

an array modifier for modifying said factor array based on said proposed modification of said factor array to create an updated factor array; and

an array updater for updating said visual indicator to a second visual representation according to said function based upon said updated factor array.