COMPUTERIZED METHOD OF MEDIATING DISPUTED ISSUES

• US 20120198357A1
• Filed: 01/28/2011
• Published: 08/02/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Christine Margaret Tozzi
• Original Assignee: Christine Margaret Tozzi
• Inventors: Tozzi, Christine Margaret
• Application Number:
  US13/016,597
• Publication Number:
  US 20120198357A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/753
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/182 Alternative dispute resolution

Abstract

A computerized Internet web server/browser method of mediating disputed issues. Here a semi-anonymous mediation network, optionally linked to a pre-existing social network, containing various members interested in providing disputes to mediate and mediating these disputes, is created. Members may post disputes according to various issue types, have these disputes analyzed and commented on by other members, who will then receive feedback according to the success of their analysis. The system keeps track of member expertise in resolving these disputes, thus determining which members have better track records at resolving various types of problems. The system additionally may contain various analytical and graphical tools to enable members to analyze mediation responses according to the characteristics of the response givers. Members may additionally post general questions to other members and receive responses. Certain data may be shared with advertisers, who may post ads relevant to the disputed issues.

Claims

1. A computerized method of mediating disputed issues, said method comprising:

Creating a mediation network comprising a membership database of a plurality of member individuals interested in participating in mediation activities, said membership database comprising at least email addresses, login identification, passwords, aliases, ages, genders, a mediation experience counter, a mediation history file, and approximate locations of said plurality of member individuals, said membership database connected to at least one Internet web server;

making at least said alias, age, gender, mediation experience counter, and mediation history file for said plurality of member individuals publically available on said mediation network;

entering a first set of facts related to a disputed issue involving at least one first member (dispute member) individual into a web browser running in the graphical user interface of an internet connected computerized device, and uploading said first set of facts to an issue database connected to an Internet web server;

transmitting the existence of said disputed issue to the web browser of at least one second member (mediation member) individual, so that when said at least one second member individual is logged in to said mediation network, said at least one second member individual can choose to participate in mediating said disputed issue;

wherein if said at least one second member individual chooses to participate in mediating said disputed issue, said mediation network transmits said first set of facts to said at least one second member, and invites said at least one second member to transmit back at least one mediation decision to said at least one first member individual;

wherein if said at least one second member individual chooses to enter said mediation decision, transmitting said at least one mediation decision back to said at least one first member individual, and incrementing the mediation experience counter(s) associated with said at least one second member; and

providing at least one feedback web page to said at least one first member wherein said at least one first member may enter in feedback relating to the quality or success of said mediation decision into the mediation history file(s) associated with said at least one second member.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said approximate locations comprises one or more location information data selected from the group consisting of country, state, county, city, and zipcode information.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said first set of facts comprises one or more facts selected from the group consisting of text descriptions and photographs.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one first member individual can additionally set a mediation response deadline or a minimum number of second member mediation responses deadline.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said mediation database additionally provides one or more statistical analysis and/or graphical analysis software modules to enable said at least one first member individual to analyze said at least one mediation decision according to said age, gender, mediation experience counter, mediation history file, or approximate geographical location of said at least one second member(s).

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one second member(s) may exchange comments between said at least one first member individual and other said at least one second member(s), and in which said comments are automatically screened for inappropriate words using an automated or human text checker.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein if said at least one first member comprises more than one first members, said first members may both enter and edit said first set of facts related to said disputed issue prior to transmitting said first set of facts to said at least one second member(s).

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one first member may further include human witness email links, telephone numbers, or other hypertext links in said first set of facts.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one first member may select said at least one second member(s) from said membership database, and invite said at least one second members to participate in a mediation panel.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said Internet web server presents a list of disputes to said least one second member(s), and said at least one second members select said disputed issue from said list of disputes and elect to participate in mediating said disputed issue.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said Internet web server provides a list of suggested dispute mediation responses to said at least one second member(s), and said at least one second member(s) enter their mediation response by selecting at least one element from said list of suggested dispute mediation responses.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein if said at least one first member comprises more than one first members, and at least some of said first members comprise plaintiff first members (plaintiff dispute members) and defendant first members (defendant dispute members) who cannot agree on said first set of facts, then providing for said first set of facts to be divided between a plaintiff first set of facts and a defendant first set of facts, allowing said plaintiff first members to edit said plaintiff first set of facts, allowing said defendant first members to edit said defendant first set of facts, and presenting both said plaintiff first set of facts and defendant first set of facts to said least one second members.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said mediation network members with a mediation experience counter or a mediation history file that exceeds a preset limit are designated by the mediation network as judges, and said judges are authorized by said mediation network to conduct mediation sessions between said plaintiff first members and said defendant first members.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein mediation network members with real world legal, mediation, or counseling experience are given extra credit in their mediation experience counter and/or mediation history file.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein said plaintiff first members and/or said defendant first members place funds in a escrow account, and said escrow account is released upon receiving said mediation decision.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein said mediation network limits said at least one first member individuals to a preset number of disputed issues that have not received mediation decisions.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein said age, gender, approximate geographic location, and type of mediation issue are provided to advertisers, said advertisers upload advertising media to said mediation network, and said mediation network transmits said advertising media to mediation network members that meet advertiser specified criteria for age, gender, approximate geographic location, and type of mediation issue.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein said membership database is obtained from a social network membership database, and said mediation network is linked to and is accessible from a social network.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein said first member individuals may additionally post questions to at least some of said mediation network members, and receive question responses from said at least some of said mediation network members.

20. A computerized method of mediating disputed issues, said method comprising:

Creating a mediation network comprising a membership database of a plurality of member individuals interested in participating in mediation activities, said membership database comprising at least email addresses, login identification, passwords, aliases, ages, genders, a mediation experience counter, a mediation history file, and approximate locations of said plurality of member individuals, said membership database connected to at least one Internet web server;

making at least said alias, age, gender, mediation experience counter, and mediation history file for said plurality of member individuals publically available on said mediation network;

entering a first set of facts related to a disputed issue involving at least one first member individual into a web browser running in the graphical user interface of an internet connected computerized device, and uploading said first set of facts to an issue database connected to an Internet web server;

wherein if said at least one first member comprises more than one first members, said first members may both enter and edit said first set of facts related to said disputed issue prior to transmitting said first set of facts to said at least one second member(s);

wherein said at least one first member may select said at least one second member(s) from said membership database, and invite said at least one second members to participate in a mediation panel;

wherein said at least one first member individual can additionally set a mediation response deadline or a minimum number of second member mediation responses deadline;

transmitting the existence of said disputed issue to the web browser of at least one second member individual, so that when said at least one second member individual is logged in to said mediation network, said at least one second member individual can choose to participate in mediating said disputed issue;

wherein if said at least one second member individual chooses to participate in mediating said disputed issue, said mediation network transmits said first set of facts to said at least one second member, and invites said at least one second member to transmit back at least one mediation decision to said at least one first member individual;

wherein if said at least one second member individual chooses to enter said mediation decision, transmitting said at least one mediation decision back to said at least one first member individual, and incrementing the mediation experience counter(s) associated with said at least one second member;

wherein said mediation database additionally provides one or more statistical analysis and/or graphical analysis software modules to enable said at least one first member individual to analyze said at least one mediation decision according to said age, gender, mediation experience counter, mediation history file, or approximate geographical location of said at least one second member(s); and

providing at least one feedback web page to said at least one first member wherein said at least one first member may enter in feedback relating to the quality or success of said mediation decision into the mediation history file(s) associated with said at least one second member.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said at least one second member(s) may exchange comments between said at least one first member individual and other said at least one second member(s), and in which said comments are automatically screened for inappropriate words using an automated or human text checker.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein said age, gender, approximate geographic location, and type of mediation issue are provided to advertisers, said advertisers upload advertising media to said mediation network, and said mediation network transmits said advertising media to mediation network members that meet advertiser specified criteria for age, gender, approximate geographic location, and type of mediation issue.

23. A computerized method of mediating disputed issues, said method comprising:

Creating a mediation network comprising a membership database of a plurality of member individuals interested in participating in mediation activities, said membership database comprising at least email addresses, login identification, passwords, aliases, ages, genders, a mediation experience counter, a mediation history file, and approximate locations of said plurality of member individuals, said membership database connected to at least one Internet web server;

making at least said alias, age, gender, mediation experience counter, and mediation history file for said plurality of member individuals publically available on said mediation network;

entering a first set of facts related to a disputed issue involving at least one first member individual into a web browser running in the graphical user interface of an internet connected computerized device, and uploading said first set of facts to an issue database connected to an Internet web server;

wherein if said at least one first member comprises more than one first members, and at least some of said first members comprise plaintiff first members and defendant first members who cannot agree on said first set of facts, then providing for said first set of facts to be divided between a plaintiff first set of facts and a defendant first set of facts, allowing said plaintiff first members to edit said plaintiff first set of facts, allowing said defendant first members to edit said defendant first set of facts, and presenting both said plaintiff first set of facts and defendant first set of facts to said least one second members;

transmitting the existence of said disputed issue to the web browser of at least one second member individual, so that when said at least one second member individual is logged in to said mediation network, said at least one second member individual can choose to participate in mediating said disputed issue;

wherein said mediation network members with a mediation experience counter or a mediation history file that exceeds a preset limit are designated by the mediation network as judges, and said judges are authorized by said mediation network to conduct mediation sessions between said plaintiff first members and said defendant first members;

wherein if said at least one second member individual chooses to participate in mediating said disputed issue, said mediation network transmits said first set of facts to said at least one second member, and invites said at least one second member to transmit back at least one mediation decision to said at least one first member individual;

wherein if said at least one second member individual chooses to enter said mediation decision, transmitting said at least one mediation decision back to said at least one first member individual, and incrementing the mediation experience counter(s) associated with said at least one second member; and

providing at least one feedback web page to said at least one first member wherein said at least one first member may enter in feedback relating to the quality or success of said mediation decision into the mediation history file(s) associated with said at least one second member.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein said plaintiff first members and/or said defendant first members place funds in a escrow account, and said escrow account is released upon receiving said mediation decision.