Method and apparatus for structuring and managing human communications by explicitly defining the types of communications permitted between participants

• US 5,208,748 A
• Filed: 06/19/1989
• Issued: 05/04/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/1985
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Action Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Action Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Graves, Michael J., Ludlow, Juan J., Flores, Carlos F., Mora, Raul M., Winograd, Terry A., Bell, Chauncey F. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Hayes, Gail O.
• Application Number:
  US07/368,179
• Time in Patent Office: 1,415 Days
• Field of Search: 364/419
• US Class Current: 704/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

A method for managing communications between individuals utilizing a programmed computer system. The method involves several definitional steps that are critical to achieving a practicable methodology for conversation management. The integrated concepts of "moves in conversations" of two basic types (Conversation for Action and Conversation for Possibilities), conversational roles, types of incompletions, and logical/functional relationships between moves, incompletions, and roles, provide a set of constructs on which a powerful and practicable methodology for conversation management may be built. They provide a basis for defining a meaningful conversation record format which can be integrated into a conversation data base using standard data base building and management tools. A system for managing communications which incorporates the methodology of this invention provides a powerful framework for structuring human conversations. The method further involves creating a body of recommended declarative text for each move which the participant may include in the message as part of the data elements of the move. The method also features a variety of conversation database access facilities using different record sort or collection criteria including the individual incompletions, the domains of the conversation, the participants, and dates. The invention and the conversation record management and retrieval which it facilitates enables time and date commitments related to calendar activities, such as meeting schedules, appointments and appointments and the like, to be integrated into the database.

Claims

1. The machine-implemented method for managing business, social, and/or personal communications in which a communication among a set of participants is treated as a move in one of a first type of conversation for declaring specific realizable possibilities and a second type of conversation for producing action to complete a specific declared possibility, said method utilizing a computer system including a user input/output interface and a record storage system and being based on

a predefined set of conversational roles played by participants in said conversations, with each participant playing at least one conversational role in any one of said conversations;

a preselected set of types of incompletions which occur recurringly within said conversations, including a first type in which a conversational move by at least one participant to declare at least one specific realizable possibility is missing, and a second type in which a conversational move by at least one participant to complete a specific realizable possibility is missing;

a set of types of permitted moves for each of said first type of conversation and said second type of conversation, including at least one predefined initial type of move and subsequent types of moves preselected on the basis of a functional relationship among said types of incompletions, said conversational roles, and a specific subset of said types of incompletions produced by each of said initial and subsequent types of moves;

a preselected set of associated data for each of said initial and subsequent types of moves;

a predefined conversation record format for each of said conversations comprising identities and roles of participants, incompletions, and a pre-defined body of data associated with each move in the coversation, including the type of move;

said method comprising the steps of;

a. presenting to one participant via said user input/output interface device a selection menu comprising menu elements for selecting one of Task 1 comprising opening a new conversation of one of said first type and second type, Task 2 comprising selecting an existing conversation in which to make a subsequent type of move, and Task 3 comprising reviewing one of all initial types of moves and subsequent types of moves by other participants in all conversations in which said one participant plays one of said conversational roles;

b. responding to a selection by said one participant of said Task 1 via said interface device by performing a sequence of steps comprising;

b.1. prompting said one participant via said interface device to select an initial move in one of said first and second types of conversations;

b.2. prompting said one participant via said interface device to enter said set of associated data for said selected initial move; and

b.3. responding to entry of said set of associated data by creating and storing in said record storage system a new conversation record corresponding to said conversation record format, including said associated data and said types of incompletions produced by said selected initial type of move;

c. responding to a selection by said one participant of said Task 2 via said interface device by performing a sequence of steps comprising;

c.1. deriving from said stored conversation record of said selected existing conversation a subset of said set of moves comprising currently permitted moves for said one participant;

c.2. prompting said one participant via said interface device to select one of said currently permitted moves;

c.3. prompting said one participant via said interface device to enter said set of associated data for said selected one of said currently permitted moves; and

c.4. responding to entry of said set of associated data by updating and storing in said record storage system said conversation record corresponding to said selected conversation, including said associated data and said types of incompletions produced by said selected one of said currently permitted moves.

2. The method of claim 1 adapted for use by a predetermined community of participants in conversations, wherein said set of types of permitted moves is provided by selecting a particular name for each of said moves which will enable said participants to distinguish the characteristics of said move according to the common understanding of said community.

3. The method of claim 1 adapted for use by participants in different predetermined communities having different languages or different terminologies for the same conversational move and said set of types of permitted moves is based on selecting a particular set of names for each of said moves corresponding to said different communities with each name for each community enabling participants in that community to distinguish the characteristics of said move according to the common understanding of that community;

and said steps a., b., and c. are based on a preselected one of said sets of move names.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of creating for each of said predefined types of moves an explanatory help text discussing the distinctions of said move;

and said steps b.1. and c.2. include the step of providing a facility for said participants to access said explanatory help text for each of said initial and permitted moves.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein each of a plurality of said defined types of moves has associated therewith a body of recommended declarative text pertinent to said move;

and said steps b.2. and c.3. includes the step of displaying to said participant said body of recommended declarative text associated with said selected move for possible use by said participant as an element of data associated with said move.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said first type of defined incompletions specifically includes RESPONSE IS MISSING and said second type of defined incompletions specifically includes FULFILLMENT IS MISSING;

and said Task 2 includes

providing facilities for use of each participant to select one or more sort criteria from a predefined set of conversation record sort criteria comprising;

said participant'"'"'s RESPONSE IS MISSING,

another participant'"'"'s RESPONSE IS MISSING,

said participant'"'"'s FULFILLMENT IS MISSING,

another participant'"'"'s FULFILLMENT IS MISSING,

any incompletions present, and

no incompletions present;

gathering conversation records in accordance with said selected sort criteria; and

displaying data from said gathered conversation records to said participant in a prearranged display format.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said predefined set of conversation record sort criteria further comprises:

domain of possibilities,

identity of participant,

specific current incompletions

which participant'"'"'s move is currently missing.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said incompletions in said conversation record format comprise tokens associating time with at least some of said incompletions;

and said steps b.2. and c.d. each include providing a facility for said participant to enter time data for any incompletions which are created or altered in making said initial move or said selected move.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said Task 2 including the steps of:

providing a facility for use of each participant to select a sort criteria in the form of a specific moment in time or a period of time;

gathering conversation records in accordance with said selected sort criteria; and

displaying data from said gathered conversation records to said participant in a prearranged display format.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein said said set of types of incompletions includes a third type of incompletion in which what is incomplete is the realization of the declared possibility that a physical entity be located in a specified location, or be employed for a specified purpose, at a particular time;

and

said set of types of permitted moves includes a single type of permitted calendar move by a participant by declaring said third type of incompletion;

and said method includes the steps of;

providing facilities for each participant to make said single type of permitted calendar move, including entering the appointed time and duration of said incompletions and entering declarations regarding said specific location or said specific purpose;

providing a facility for said participant making said single type of permitted calendar move to link said move to an existing conversation or to open a new conversation with said move;

creating a new conversation record for said move if it opens a new conversation by assembling said incompletions and said declarations according to said conversation record format, and storing said new conversation record in at least one file;

updating the conversation record of said existing conversation if said move is linked thereto by said participant, said updating including storing said incompletions and said declarations according to said conversation record format;

providing a facility for each participant to select a sort criteria for conversation records comprising a date or a range of dates;

gathering conversation records in accordance with said selected sort criteria; and

displaying data from said gathered conversation records to said participant in a prearranged display format.

11. The method of claim 1, further including the steps of:

providing facilities for each participant to select a subset of sort criteria from a predefined set of conversation record sort criteria including a plurality of incompletions;

gathering conversation records in accordance with said selected sort criteria; and

displaying data from said gathered conversation records to said participant in a prearranged display format.

12. The method of claim 1 adapted for use in situations wherein each of at least a plurality of participants is utilizing a separate programmed computer system and said separate systems are linked by a communication channel,

wherein said conversation record format includes a conversation identification token;

said step b.3. includes the steps of creating a unique conversation identifier for said new conversation and entering said identifier into said identification token of said conversation record;

and said conversation management program further includes the steps of;

assembling a predefined packet of data associated with each move by a participant in a new or existing conversation which includes another participant using a separate system, said packet including said conversation identifier for said conversation;

providing a facility to send and receive said predefined packet of data via said communication channel;

using said conversation identifier in each received packet of data to determine whether said packet is associated with a new conversation or an existing conversation;

creating a new conversation record for each of said received packets of data associated with a new conversation; and

retrieving and updating a stored conversation record for each of said received packets of data associated with an existing conversation.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said step b. includes the step of providing a facility for a participant to initiate a multiple participant conversation by designating a plurality of other participants as principal participants in the conversation, and said method further includes

maintaining a separate set of conversation records for each of said designated participants;

providing a facility for each designated participant to make a move in said multiple participant conversation; and

managing incompletions and the state of said multiple participant conversation in said conversation records for each of said designated participants based on a preselected algorithm which includes the current state in said participants conversation record and the role of said participant in said multiple participant conversation.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein one of said permitted moves in said set of types of permitted moves is a DELEGATE move which opens a separate subconversation between at least a Participant-Delegator and a Participant-Delegatee, and said method further includes:

maintaining a common conversation record identifier for both the initial conversation and the delegate conversation in the conversation records of said Participant-Delegator;

storing in said conversation record of said Participant-Delegator a set of tokens of incompletion relating both to the initial conversation and said delegate conversation; and

maintaining in said conversation record of said Participant-Delegator records of all moves in both the initial conversation and said delegate conversation.

15. Apparatus for managing an electronic conversation between at least a first and a second participant with said electronic conversation being defined by a set of assigned roles for said participants, a set of unique conversation states including an initial state and a final state with each of said states being defined in accordance with a prearranged set of incompletions represented by token data elements, and a set of permitted moves for each of said participants including an initial move, comprising

conversation opening means for providing a first participant with a facility to open an electronic conversation with at least a second participant by selecting an initial electronic move, including means for recording in a conversation record associated with each of said participants prearranged data elements including said assigned roles, a conversation state consisting of said initial state, and a set of token data elements comprising incompletions based on said assigned roles and said initial electronic move;

and

conversation continuing means for presenting to one of said participants a list of permitted electronic moves in said electronic conversation based on data elements in said conversation record, including said assigned role of said one participant and said conversation state, and for responding to and recording a move selected by said one participant from said list, including means for updating said conversation record based on said selected electronic move with a conversation state comprising the current conversation state after said selected electronic move and a set of token data elements comprising current incompletions after said selected electronic move.

16. Apparatus for managing communications among a plurality of participants comprising

means for providing each participant with a facility to open an electronic conversation with a plurality of other participants with an initial electronic move, said electronic conversation being defined by a plurality of unique states, said unique states each being defined by a set of incompletions represented by token data elements, including means for assigning unique roles in said electronic conversation to each of said participants based on said initial electronic move and means for recording in a separate record associated with each participant prearranged data elements associated with said initial electronic move including a separate set of incompletions for each said participant based on said assigned roles and said initial electronic move;

and

means for presenting to one of said participants a list of permitted electronic moves in said electronic conversation based on said record associated with said participant, including said role of said participant, and for responding to and recording a move selected by said participant from said list of permitted electronic moves, including means for recording data associated with said selected electronic move and for updating said record of incompletions associated with each of said particpants based on said selected electronic move and the role of each said participant in said conversation.

17. Apparatus for managing communications among a plurality of participants comprising

a plurality of participant specific computer systems and means for communicating data among said participant specific computer systems, each of said participant specific computer systems comprising

means for providing a participant with a facility to open an electronic conversation with a plurality of other participants with an initial electronic move, said electronic conversation being defined by a plurality of unique states, said unique states each being defined by a set of incompletions represented by token data elements, including means for assigning unique roles in said electronic conversation to each of said participants based on said initial electronic move, means for recording in a record prearranged data elements associated with said initial electronic move including a set of incompletions for said participant based on said participants assigned role and said initial electronic move, and means for transmitting a record of said initial electronic move to each of said participant specific computer systems associated with said other participants over said communicating means;

means for receiving via said communicating means an initial electronic move from another participant and for recording in a record prearranged data elements associated with said initial electronic move including a set of incompletions for said participant based on said participants assigned role and said initial electronic move;

means for receiving via said communicating means a new electronic move by another particpant in an existing conversation and for updating said record of incompletions associated with said particpant based on said new electronic move;

means for providing said participant with a facility to continue an electronic conversation with one of said other participants, including means for selecting one of a plurality of conversations, means for displaying data associated with prior moves in said conversation, means for presenting to said particpant a list of permitted electronic moves in said electronic conversation based on said record associated with said conversation and for responding to and recording a move selected by said participant from said list of permitted electronic moves, including means for recording data associated with said selected electronic move and for updating said record of incompletions associated with said particpant based on said selected electronic move, and means for transmitting a record of said selected electronic move to each of said participant specific computer systems associated with said other participants in said conversation over said communicating means.

18. Apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein said means for selecting one of a plurality of conversations includes means for selectively displaying a list of all electronic conversations in which an initial move or a new move has been received or a list of all electronic conversations which share a preselected set of values of tokens of incompletion.

19. The machine implemented method for managing communications utilizing a computer system including a user input/output display and selection interface and a record storage system comprising the steps of:

(a) presenting to a participant via said user input/output interface a listing of initial electronic moves available for opening an electronic conversation being defined by a plurality of unique states with said unique states being defined in terms of a set of incompletions represented by token data elements and having associated therewith a preselected set of permitted moves,

(b) responding to selection by said participant of an initial electronic move by

(b-1) assigning a role to said particpant based on said initial electronic move,

(b-2) recording in said record storage system a record comprising prearranged data elements associated with said initial electronic move including a set of incompletions based on said assigned role and said initial electronic move;

(c) presenting to a participant via said user input/output interface a list of permitted electronic moves in said electronic conversation based on said record, and

(d) responding to selection by said participant of one of said permitted electronic moves via said user input/output interface by

(d-1) recording data associated with said selected electronic move in said record storage system, and

(d-2) updating said set of incompletions in said record based on said selected electronic move.