System and method for communication within a community

• US 7,634,546 B1
• Filed: 10/31/2001
• Issued: 12/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alexander Peter Globa, Stefan Edward Strickholm
• Original Assignee: Alexander Peter Globa, Stefan Edward Strickholm
• Inventors: Globa, Alexander Peter, Strickholm, Stefan Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Vaughn, Jr.; William C
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHAW, PELING ANDY
• Application Number:
  US10/004,384
• Time in Patent Office: 2,967 Days
• Field of Search: 709204-207, 709217-219
• US Class Current: 709/207
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail

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.

Claims

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.

2. A method for enhancing communication within a community according to claim 1 wherein said establishing a hierarchical structure further comprises:

creating a top-level hierarchy having at least one top-level subject;

creating at least one mid-level hierarchy, each of said at least one mid-level hierarchy having at least one mid-level subject related to at least one of said at least one top-level subject; and

creating a low-level hierarchy having at least one low-level subject related to at least one of said at least one mid-level subject, wherein each of said stored communications becomes an item indexed to at least one of said at least one low-level subject.

3. A method for enhancing communication within a community according to claim 2 wherein said distributing control through inherited parameters of said hierarchical structure further comprises:

assigning at least one top-level leader for each of said at least one top-level subject;

assigning at least one mid-level leader for each of said at least one mid-level subject; and

assigning at least one low-level leader for each of said at least one low-level subject.

4. A method for enhancing communication within a community according to claim 3 wherein said distributing control through inherited parameters of said hierarchical structure further comprises:

assigning at least one of said inherited parameters to each of said at least one top-level subject, wherein said at least one of said inherited parameters controls input or access to a database function by said at least one top-level leader associated with said at least one top-level subject;

assigning at least one of said inherited parameters to each of said at least one mid-level subject, wherein said at least one of said inherited parameters controls input or access to a database function by said at least one mid-level leader associated with said at least one mid-level subject; and

assigning at least one of said inherited parameters to each of said at least one low-level subject, wherein said at least one of said inherited parameters controls input or access to a database function by said at least one low-level leader associated with said at least one low-level subject.

5. A method for enhancing communication within a community according to claim 4:

wherein said at least one of said inherited parameters assigned to each of said at least one low-level subject is inherited from said at least one mid-level subject related to said at least one low-level subject, and

further wherein said at least one of said inherited parameters assigned to each of said at least one mid-level subject is inherited from said at least one top-level subject related to said at least one mid-level subject, and

further wherein said at least one of said inherited parameters assigned to each of said at least one top-level subject is inherited from a web master.

6. A method for enhancing communication within a community according to claim 5:

wherein said at least one parameter inherited by each of said at least one low-level subject is the same as, or narrower in scope, than said at least one parameter assigned to each of said at least one mid-level subject related to said at least one low-level subject, and

further wherein said at least one parameter inherited by each of said at least one mid-level subject is the same as, or narrower in scope, than said at least one parameter assigned to each of said at least one top-level subject related to said at least one mid-level subject.

7. A method for enhancing communication within a community according to claim 6:

wherein said at least one of said inherited parameters assigned to each of said at least one top-level subject is inherited from a web master, and

further wherein said at least one parameter inherited by each of said at least one top-level subject is the same as, or narrower in scope, than said at least one parameter assigned to each of said at least one top-level subject by said web master.

8. A method for enhancing communication within a community according to claim 7:

wherein each of said inherited parameters comprises a one of a privacy parameter, screening parameter, input parameter, user ID parameter, and an approval parameter.

9. A method for enhancing communication within a community according to claim 8:

wherein each of said inherited parameters has at least one access level, wherein a higher one of each of said at least one access level provides more management control than a lower one of each of said at least one access level.

10. A method for enhancing communication within a community according to claim 7 wherein said distributing control through inherited parameters of said hierarchical structure further comprises:

allowing said at least one top-level leader associated with said at least one top-level subject, said at least one mid-level leader associated with said at least one mid-level subject, and said at least one low-level leader associated with said at least one mid-level subject, to change respectively said at least one access level of said inherited parameters at any time.

11. A method for enhancing communication within a community according to claim 1 wherein said establishing a hierarchical structure for organizing communications further comprises:

utilizing a database for establishing said hierarchical structure,

wherein said at least a portion of said communications are stored in said hierarchical structure in said database.

12. A method for enhancing communication within a community according to claim 11 further comprising:

recording and storing a communication from a user in said database when said user is not accessing said database at the time said communication is initiated.

13. A method for enhancing communication within a community according to claim 1 wherein said enabling dynamic interaction further comprises:

stratifying said selected portion of said communications into at least one item type.

14. A method for enhancing communication within a community according to claim 13 wherein said at least one item type is a one of an idea, question, event, review, survey, newsletter, and action item.

15. A method for enhancing communication within a community according to claim 1 wherein said presenting a selected portion of said communications further comprises:

filtering said at least a portion of said communications yielding a filtered portion of communications;

consolidating said filtered portion of communications yielding a consolidated portion of communications;

sorting said consolidated portion of communications yielding a sorted portion of communications; and

presenting said sorted portion of communications according to a predetermined level of content review.

16. A method for enhancing communication within a community according to claim 1 wherein said storing in said hierarchical structure further comprises:

attaching a resource to at least one of said at least a portion of said communications,

wherein said resource is a one of an internal database link, a document/file attachment, and an external Internet link.

17. A method for enhancing communication within a community according to claim 1 wherein said enabling dynamic interaction further comprises:

alerting said at least one of said plurality of users to an activity within the community,

wherein said activity is a one of a topic within said hierarchical structure, an item type within said hierarchical structure, a response from an individual user within the community, a response from any one of a member of a group of users within the community, a new posting from an individual user within the community, and a new posting from any one of a member of a group of users within the community.

18. A method for enhancing communication within a community according to claim 1 wherein said enabling dynamic interaction further comprises:

alerting said at least one of said plurality of users to a message within the community,

wherein said message is sent to at least a one of a home page of said at least one of said plurality of users, to an e-mail account of said at least one of said plurality of users, to a voice mail box of said at least one of said plurality of users, and to some other type of communications device of said at least one of said plurality of users.

19. A method for enhancing communication within a community according to claim 1 wherein said enabling dynamic interaction further comprises:

alerting a select group of others within the community to an activity or a message of said at least one of said plurality of users,

wherein said activity is a one of a topic within said hierarchical structure, an item type within said hierarchical structure, a response from said at least one of said plurality of users, a new posting from said at least one of said plurality of users, and

further wherein said message is sent to at least a one of a home page of said select group of others within the community, to an e-mail account of said select group of others within the community, to a voice mail box of said select group of others within the community, and to some other type of communications device of said select group of others within the community.

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.

21. A computer system for enhancing communication within a community according to claim 20 wherein said application platform is a one of a centralized application platform architecture and a distributed application platform architecture,

wherein said distributed application platform architecture has a plurality of databases for storing distributively said plurality of communications.

22. A computer system for enhancing communication within a community according to claim 21 further comprising:

for said distributed application platform architecture, an inherited parameters synchronization module for determining a one of a plurality of application platforms of said distributed application platform that contains a portion of said plurality of communications sought by a one of said plurality of users, and for routing said one of said plurality of users to said one of a plurality of application platforms; and

a content synchronization module for exchanging and synchronizing content between said plurality of databases.

23. A computer system for enhancing communication within a community according to claim 20 wherein said application further comprises:

a content access interface for determining a current hierarchical structure of said database accessible by said plurality of users;

an interaction control module for determining a dynamic interaction capability for said plurality of users with said plurality of communications stored in said database to which said plurality of users have access rights in conjunction with said inherited parameters responsibility module; and

a content prioritizing interface for sorting and prioritizing the order said plurality of communications are presented to each of said plurality of users for review.

24. A computer system for enhancing communication within a community according to claim 20 further comprising:

a recording module accessible by said plurality of communication devices,

wherein said recording module, after a user input is received in a one of said plurality of communication devices on a record option, queries said database causing said database to deliver to said one of said plurality of communication devices said hierarchical structure of said plurality of communications, and

further wherein said recording module receives a user selection input of a topic within said hierarchical structure with which to associate a communication from said one of said plurality of communication devices, and

further wherein said recording module records and stores in said database said communication sent from said one of said plurality of communication devices.

25. A computer system for enhancing communication within a community according to claim 24 wherein said recording module resides on said one of said plurality of communication devices.

26. A computer system for enhancing communication within a community according to claim 24 wherein said recording module resides on said application and is accessed over a communication channel by a user input on said record option selected from a tool bar displayed on said one of said plurality of communication devices.

27. A computer system for enhancing communication within a community according to claim 20 wherein said inherited parameters responsibility module further comprises:

a hierarchy initiation module for creating a plurality of headings in a top-level hierarchy and for assigning at least one heading leader for each of said plurality of headings, and

for creating a plurality of categories in a mid-level hierarchy and for assigning at least one category leader for each of said plurality of categories, and

for creating a plurality of topics in a low-level hierarchy and for assigning at least one topic leader for each of said plurality of topics,

wherein each of said stored plurality of communications becomes an item indexed to at least one of said plurality of topics.

28. A computer system for enhancing communication within a community according to claim 20 wherein said input module further comprises:

a resource attachment module for attaching a resource to at least a one of said plurality of communications,

wherein said resource is a one of an internal database link, a document/file attachment, and an external Internet link.

29. A computer system for enhancing communication within a community according to claim 20 wherein said thread synchronization module further comprises:

wherein said initial priority-based content placement module is configured so that when reviewed by a one of said plurality of users accessing said application, said initial communication is reviewed in proper relationship to a portion of said plurality of communications related to said initial communication; and

wherein said response priority-based content placement module is configured so that when reviewed by a one of said plurality of users accessing said application, said response communication is reviewed in proper relationship to a portion of said plurality of communications related to said response communication.

30. A computer system for enhancing communication within a community according to claim 20 wherein said reviewing module further comprises:

a filter module for setting at least one filter parameter,

wherein said at least one filter parameter is at least a one of a filter out parameter that filters out a first portion of said synchronized plurality of communications and a filter in parameter that filters in a second portion of said synchronized plurality of communications for review by a user; and

a consolidation reviewing interface for setting a level of content review,

wherein said set level of content review is a one of a full review, a summary only review, a title only review, and an all responses review.

31. A computer system for enhancing communication within a community according to claim 20 wherein said reviewing module further comprises:

a customized interactive reviewing module for creating a digital binder,

wherein said customized interactive reviewing module allows each of said plurality of users to aggregate in said digital binder a specific portion of said plurality of communications most useful to each of said plurality of users.

32. A computer system for enhancing communication within a community according to claim 31 wherein said input module and said thread synchronization module update said digital binder in real time with new content received in said application related to said specific portion of said plurality of communications aggregated in said digital binder.

33. A computer system for enhancing communication within a community according to claim 20 wherein said application further comprises:

an alerts module for setting automatic alerts,

wherein a select group of said plurality of users can be automatically alerted to at least one activity or at least one message, wherein said at least one activity is a one of a topic within said hierarchical structure, an item type within said hierarchical structure, a response from an individual user within the community, a response from any one of a member of a group of users within the community, a new posting from an individual user within the community, and a new posting from any one of a member of a group of users within the community,

and further wherein said at least one message is sent to at least a one of a home page of said select group of said plurality of users, to an e-mail account of said select group of said plurality of users, to a voice mail box of said select group of said plurality of users, and to some other type of communications device of said select group of said plurality of users.

34. A method for enhancing communication within a community, the method comprising the steps of:

(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.

35. A method according to claim 34 wherein said current database hierarchy comprises:

a top-level hierarchy having at least one top-level subject;

at least one mid-level hierarchy, each of said at least one mid-level hierarchy having at least one mid-level subject related to at least one of said at least one top-level subject; and

a low-level hierarchy having at least one low-level subject related to at least one of said at least one mid-level subject,

wherein said initial input becomes an item indexed to at least one of said at least one low-level subject.

36. A method according to claim 35 wherein said current database hierarchy further comprises:

at least one top-level leader assigned to each of said at least one top-level subject;

at least one mid-level leader assigned to each of said at least one mid-level subject; and

at least one low-level leader assigned to each of said at least one low-level subject.

37. A method according to claim 35 wherein said current database hierarchy further comprises:

at least one top-level authorization parameter and at least one top-level interaction control parameter associated with each of said at least one top-level subject;

at least one mid-level authorization parameter and at least one mid-level interaction control parameter associated with each of said at least one mid-level subject; and

at least one low-level authorization parameter and at least one low-level interaction control parameter associated with each of said at least one low-level subject.

38. A method according to claim 37 wherein said at least one low-level authorization parameter and said at least one low-level interaction control parameter associated with each of said at least one low-level subject is inherited from said at least one mid-level subject related to said at least one low-level subject, and

further wherein said at least one mid-level authorization parameter and said at least one mid-level interaction control parameter associated with each of said at least one mid-level subject is inherited from said at least one top-level subject related to said at least one mid-level subject, and

further wherein said at least one top-level authorization parameter and said at least one top-level interaction control parameter associated with each of said at least one top-level subject is inherited from a web master.

39. A method according to claim 34 wherein said determining dynamic interaction capability further comprises:

stratifying said portion of said information into at least one item type.

40. A method according to claim 39 wherein said at least one item type comprises a one of an idea, question, event, review, survey, newsletter, and action item.

41. A method according to claim 34 wherein each of said authorization parameters has at least one access level, wherein a higher one of each of said at least one access level provides more management control than a lower one of each of said at least one access level.

42. A method according to claim 34 wherein each of said interaction control parameters has at least one control level, wherein a higher one of each of said at least one control level provides more management control than a lower one of each of said at least one control level.

43. A method according to claim 34 wherein said presenting step further comprises:

presenting alerts to said user to an activity within the community,

wherein said activity is a one of a topic within said hierarchical structure, an item type within said hierarchical structure, a response from an individual user within the community, a response from any one of a member of a group of users within the community, a new posting from an individual user within the community, and a new posting from any one of a member of a group of users within the community.

44. A method according to claim 34 wherein said presenting step further comprises:

presenting alerts to said user to a message within the community,

wherein said message is sent to at least a one of a home page of said user, to an e-mail account of said user, to a voice mail box of said user, and to some other type of communications device of said user.

45. A method according to claim 34 wherein said outputting step further comprises:

outputting said initial input as an alert to a select group of users,

wherein said initial input is output to at least a one of a home page of said select group of users, an e-mail account of said select group of users, a voice mail box of said select group of users, and to some other type of communications device of said select group of users.

46. A method for enhancing communication within a community, the method comprising the steps of:

(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.

47. A method according to claim 46 wherein said current database hierarchy comprises:

a top-level hierarchy having at least one top-level subject;

at least one mid-level hierarchy, each of said at least one mid-level hierarchy having at least one mid-level subject related to at least one of said at least one top-level subject; and

a low-level hierarchy having at least one low-level subject related to at least one of said at least one mid-level subject,

wherein said response input becomes an item indexed to at least one of said at least one low-level subject.

48. A method according to claim 47 wherein said current database hierarchy further comprises:

at least one top-level leader assigned to each of said at least one top-level subject;

at least one mid-level leader assigned to each of said at least one mid-level subject; and

at least one low-level leader assigned to each of said at least one low-level subject.

49. A method according to claim 47 wherein said current database hierarchy further comprises:

at least one top-level authorization parameter and at least one top-level interaction control parameter associated with each of said at least one top-level subject;

at least one mid-level authorization parameter and at least one mid-level interaction control parameter associated with each of said at least one mid-level subject; and

at least one low-level authorization parameter and at least one low-level interaction control parameter associated with each of said at least one low-level subject.

50. A method according to claim 49 wherein said at least one low-level authorization parameter and said at least one low-level interaction control parameter associated with each of said at least one low-level subject is inherited from said at least one mid-level subject related to said at least one low-level subject, and

further wherein said at least one mid-level authorization parameter and said at least one mid-level interaction control parameter associated with each of said at least one mid-level subject is inherited from said at least one top-level subject related to said at least one mid-level subject, and

further wherein said at least one top-level authorization parameter and said at least one top-level interaction control parameter associated with each of said at least one top-level subject is inherited from a web master.

51. A method according to claim 46 wherein said determining dynamic interaction capability further comprises:

stratifying said portion of said information into at least one item type.

52. A method according to claim 51 wherein said at least one item type comprises a one of an idea, question, event, review, survey, newsletter, and action item.

53. A method according to claim 46 wherein each of said authorization parameters has at least one access level, wherein a higher one of each of said at least one access level provides more management control than a lower one of each of said at least one access level.

54. A method according to claim 46 wherein each of said interaction control parameters has at least one control level, wherein a higher one of each of said at least one control level provides more management control than a lower one of each of said at least one control level.