System and method for communication within a community
First Claim
1. A method for enhancing communication within a community, the method comprising:
- (a) establishing a hierarchical structure for organizing communications between a plurality of users within the community;
(b) distributing control through selection of inherited parameters of said hierarchical structure to at least one of said plurality of users, wherein said inherited parameters comprise access parameters defining access by said plurality of users to said communications organized within said hierarchical structure and wherein said access parameters are selected from the group consisting of an inclusive access in which access to each of said stored communications in said hierarchical structure is allowed except where excluded by said inherited parameters and an exclusive access in which access to each of said stored communications in said hierarchical structure is allowed only where explicitly assigned;
(c) storing in said hierarchical structure at least a portion of said communications received from said plurality of users from at least one of a plurality of input devices in relation to at least one of a plurality of topics that is user selected;
(d) providing a link to a resource associated with said at least a portion of said communications that is stored, wherein said link is available for access by authorized users of said plurality of users;
(e) prioritizing said at least a portion of said communications within said hierarchical structure, wherein an initial thread of said plurality of communications is assigned a higher priority than a response to a thread of said plurality of communications;
(f) presenting to at least a one of said plurality of users through said at least one of a plurality of input devices a selected portion of said communications stored in said hierarchical structure, wherein said selected portion of said communications are related under said at least one of a plurality of topics that is user selected;
(g) enabling dynamic interaction through further contributions of communications by said at least a one of said plurality of users through said at least one of a plurality of input devices in response to presentation of said selected portion of said communications within said hierarchical structure, wherein said further contributions of communications are stored and accessed within said hierarchical structure in relation to said topic, wherein said further contributions are associated with at least one discussion thread comprising a recorded communication under said at least one of a plurality of topics that is conducted between participating users of said plurality of users; and
(h) presenting to at least a one of said plurality of users at least a portion of said plurality of communications based on said prioritization.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A communications tool that combines a software application and various communication systems that parallel natural styles of knowledge sharing and problem solving. It merges with normal patterns of relationship to create a seamless and transparent extension of community. By using computer, Internet, telephone, e-mail, and other communications technologies, the present invention brings these communities of practice to a new level of immediacy and relevance—one not encumbered by time or place. The invention is issue-centered versus document-centered, incorporates a leader-controlled structure, which is distributive and transparent, and enables stratification of items to allow multiple and simultaneous uses of the invention (e.g. dynamic FAQ, electronic whiteboard, expert center, committee review tool, etc.). Leaders control through inherited parameters. The present invention more effectively captures and leverages “tacit” knowledge (that which exists in the minds of participants and has not been written down), by connecting communities and adapting to their forms of interrelationships.
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Citations
54 Claims
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1. A method for enhancing communication within a community, the method comprising:
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(a) establishing a hierarchical structure for organizing communications between a plurality of users within the community; (b) distributing control through selection of inherited parameters of said hierarchical structure to at least one of said plurality of users, wherein said inherited parameters comprise access parameters defining access by said plurality of users to said communications organized within said hierarchical structure and wherein said access parameters are selected from the group consisting of an inclusive access in which access to each of said stored communications in said hierarchical structure is allowed except where excluded by said inherited parameters and an exclusive access in which access to each of said stored communications in said hierarchical structure is allowed only where explicitly assigned; (c) storing in said hierarchical structure at least a portion of said communications received from said plurality of users from at least one of a plurality of input devices in relation to at least one of a plurality of topics that is user selected; (d) providing a link to a resource associated with said at least a portion of said communications that is stored, wherein said link is available for access by authorized users of said plurality of users; (e) prioritizing said at least a portion of said communications within said hierarchical structure, wherein an initial thread of said plurality of communications is assigned a higher priority than a response to a thread of said plurality of communications; (f) presenting to at least a one of said plurality of users through said at least one of a plurality of input devices a selected portion of said communications stored in said hierarchical structure, wherein said selected portion of said communications are related under said at least one of a plurality of topics that is user selected; (g) enabling dynamic interaction through further contributions of communications by said at least a one of said plurality of users through said at least one of a plurality of input devices in response to presentation of said selected portion of said communications within said hierarchical structure, wherein said further contributions of communications are stored and accessed within said hierarchical structure in relation to said topic, wherein said further contributions are associated with at least one discussion thread comprising a recorded communication under said at least one of a plurality of topics that is conducted between participating users of said plurality of users; and (h) presenting to at least a one of said plurality of users at least a portion of said plurality of communications based on said prioritization. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A computer system for enhancing communication within a community, the computer system comprising:
a storage medium containing code instructions that when executed on a processor in the computer system provide; an application platform running an application that organizes a plurality of communications, said application further comprising; a database for storing said plurality of communications; an inherited parameters responsibility module for establishing a hierarchical structure for said plurality of communications and for distributing control of said hierarchical structure to a plurality of users within the community, through selection of inherited parameters comprising access parameters defining access by said plurality of users to said plurality of communications organized within said hierarchical structure and wherein said access parameters are selected from the group consisting of an inclusive access in which access to each of said stored communications in said hierarchical structure is allowed except where excluded by said inherited parameters and an exclusive access in which access to each of said stored communications in said hierarchical structure is allowed only where explicitly assigned; an input module for capturing said plurality of communications within said hierarchical structure sent by said plurality of users from a plurality of communication devices and storing at least a portion of said plurality of communications in relation to at least one of a plurality of topics that is user selected, wherein said plurality of communications comprises at least one link to a resource associated with said at least a portion of said plurality of communications that is stored, wherein said link is available for access by authorized users; a thread synchronization module for synchronizing said plurality of communications within said hierarchical structure; an initial priority-based content placement module for determining a priority assignment for an initial communication of said plurality of communications; an authorization module for authorizing each of said plurality of users to access a portion of said plurality of communications stored in said database to which each of said plurality of users have access rights based upon an access status and in conjunction with said inherited parameters responsibility module and wherein said access status is selected from the group consisting of an inclusive access in which access to each of said stored communications in said hierarchical structure is allowed and an exclusive access in which access to each of said stored communications in said hierarchical structure is allowed only where explicitly assigned; a response priority-based content placement module for determining a priority assignment for a response communication of said plurality of communications, wherein said priority assignment for a response communication is lower than said priority assignment for an initial communication; a reviewing module for presenting said synchronized plurality of communications in said hierarchical structure to said plurality of users for dynamic interaction enabled through further contributions of communications by said plurality of users, wherein said further contributions of communications are stored and accessed within said hierarchical structure in relation to said at least one of a plurality of topics that is user selected, wherein said further contributions are associated with at least one discussion thread comprising recorded communication under said at least one of a plurality of topics that is conducted between participating users of said plurality of users; and an output module for outputting a plurality of responses to said plurality of communications from said plurality of users to said plurality of communication devices. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A method for enhancing communication within a community, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) receiving in an application in an application platform a communication sent by a user from a first communication device, wherein said communication is associated with a user selected topic of a plurality of topics such that said user selected topic is selected by said user, and receiving a link to a resource associated with said communication; (b) determining an access right said user has to information stored in a database of said application in said application platform based upon an access status and wherein said access status is selected from the group consisting of an inclusive access in which access to each of said stored communications in said hierarchical structure is allowed except where excluded by an inherited parameter and an exclusive access in which access to each of said stored communications in said hierarchical structure is allowed only where explicitly assigned; (c) accessing a current database hierarchy, authorization parameters, and interaction control parameters for said application; (d) granting access to said user, according to said access right of said user, to a portion of said information stored in said database, wherein said portion of said information is stored in association with said user selected topic; (e) determining a dynamic interaction capability for said user with said portion of said information based on said database hierarchy, said authorization parameters, and said interaction control parameters; (f) prioritizing an order of said portion of said information, wherein an initial thread of said information is assigned a higher priority than a response to a thread of said information; (g) presenting said portion of said information that is ordered to said user for review, wherein said presentation is based on said prioritization; (h) accepting an initial input from said user according to said dynamic interaction capability from said first communication device for storage in said database, wherein said initial input comprises said communication and said link; and (i) outputting said initial input from said user to at least a second communication device. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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46. A method for enhancing communication within a community, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) receiving in an application in an application platform a communication sent by a user from a first communication device, wherein said communication is associated with a user selected topic of a plurality of topics such that said user selected topic is selected by said user, and receiving a link to a resource associated with said communication; (b) determining an access right said user has to information stored in a database of said application in said application platform based upon an access status and wherein said access status is selected from the group consisting of an inclusive access in which access to each of said stored communications in said hierarchical structure is allowed except where excluded by an inherited parameter and an exclusive access in which access to each of said stored communications in said hierarchical structure is allowed only where explicitly assigned; (c) accessing a current database hierarchy, authorization parameters, and interaction control parameters for said application; (d) granting access to said user, according to said access right of said user, to a portion of said information stored in said database, wherein said portion of said information is stored in association with said user selected topic; (e) determining a dynamic interaction capability for said user with said portion of said information based on said database hierarchy, said authorization parameters, and said interaction control parameters; (f) prioritizing an order of said portion of said information, wherein an initial thread of said information is assigned a higher priority than a response to a thread of said information; (g) presenting said portion of said information that is ordered to said user for review, wherein said presentation is based on said prioritization; (h) receiving a selection input by said user an item type to respond to; (i) accepting a response input from said user according to said dynamic interaction capability from said first communication device for storage in said database, wherein said response input comprises said communication and said link; and (j) outputting said response input from said user to at least a second communication device. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54)
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Specification