System, method and computer program product for a collaborative decision platform

• US 8,005,777 B1
• Filed: 07/27/2010
• Issued: 08/23/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: Aloft Media, LLC (Oso IP, LLC)
• Inventors: Owen, Daniel L., Kusnic, Michael W.
• Primary Examiner(s): HOLMES, MICHAEL B
• Application Number:
  US12/844,814
• Time in Patent Office: 392 Days
• Field of Search: 706/46
• US Class Current: 706/46
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 20/00 Machine learning
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0635 Risk analysis of enterprise or organisation activities

Abstract

A decision making system, method and computer program product are provided. Initially, a plurality of attributes is defined. Thereafter, first information regarding the attributes is received from a receiving business. Second information is then received regarding proposed products or services in terms of the attributes. Such second information is received from a supplying business. In use, a decision process is executed based on the first information and the second information.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

causing execution of a process that is related to decision-making associated with identification of one or more products or services that is suitable for a receiving entity, utilizing an application that is a real estate-related application, a medical-related application, a corporate-related application, a product supply-related application, a service supply-related application, or a financial-related application;

receiving first information regarding a plurality of attributes in association with the receiving entity;

receiving second information regarding the one or more products or services in terms of the attributes;

supporting the process that is related to the decision-making, utilizing the first information and the second information;

causing display of a first interface that allows a user to provide input indicative of a boundary condition that is related to the decision-making, wherein the boundary condition is capable of being modified;

causing display of a second interface that allows the user to provide input indicative of aspects related to the decision-making, wherein the aspects are capable of being modified;

causing display of a third interface that displays a plurality of alternatives that include alternate choices, based, at least in part, on the boundary condition and the aspects;

causing display of a fourth interface that displays relative value associated with each of the alternatives;

receiving third information that includes public information, wherein the third information is received from a source separate from the receiving entity and a supplying business, and relates to a value of at least one aspect of the one or more products or services and measures a retrospective value creation for a plurality of customers, wherein the process that is related to the decision-making is further supported utilizing the third information; and

providing source information that specifies the source, the source information including at least one person'"'"'s name;

wherein the first interface, the second interface, the third interface, and the fourth interface include web pages.

2. A computer program product embodied on a non-transitory computer readable medium, comprising:

computer code for causing execution of a process that is related to decision-making associated with identification of one or more products or services of a supplying business that is suitable for a receiving entity, utilizing an application that is a real estate-related application, a medical-related application, a corporate-related application, a product supply-related application, a service supply-related application, or a financial-related application;

computer code for receiving first information regarding a plurality of attributes in association with the receiving entity;

computer code for identifying second information regarding the one or more products or services in terms of the plurality of attributes;

computer code for supporting the process that is related to the decision-making, utilizing the first information and the second information;

computer code for causing display of a first interface that allows a user to provide input indicative of a boundary condition that is related to the decision-making, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the boundary condition is capable of being modified;

computer code for causing display of a second interface that allows the user to provide input indicative of aspects related to the decision-making, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the aspects are capable of being modified;

computer code for causing display of a third interface that displays a plurality of alternatives that include alternate choices, based, at least in part, on the boundary condition and the aspects;

computer code for causing display of a fourth interface that displays relative value associated with each of the plurality of alternatives; and

computer code for receiving third information that includes public information, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the third information is received from a source separate from the receiving entity and the supplying business, and relates to the one or more products or services and measures a retrospective value creation for a plurality of customers, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the process that is related to the decision-making is further supported utilizing the third information;

wherein the computer program product is operable such that the first interface, the second interface, the third interface, and the fourth interface include dynamic web pages.

3. The computer program product as recited in claim 2, wherein the computer program product is operable to provide an ability to allow different people to input data into at least one display at different times, and from different places, in order to support the decision-making.

4. The computer program product as recited in claim 2, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the boundary condition involves price.

5. The computer program product as recited in claim 2, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the customers are customers of the supplying business.

6. The computer program product as recited in claim 2, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the identifying the second information includes receiving the second information.

7. The computer program product as recited in claim 2, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the plurality of attributes include price.

8. The computer program product as recited in claim 2, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the first information is received utilizing the Internet.

9. The computer program product as recited in claim 2, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the plurality of attributes are bundled.

10. The computer program product as recited in claim 2, further comprising computer code for hierarchical expansion of each of the plurality of attributes.

11. The computer program product as recited in claim 2, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the plurality of attributes includes price and relates to equipment.

12. The computer program product as recited in claim 2, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the process includes a dialogue decision process.

13. The computer program product as recited in claim 2, wherein the process that is related to the decision-making is implemented utilizing software components including:

a first software component that is capable of being used to initialize the process,

a second software component that is capable of being used to develop decision-related alternatives in the process,

a third software component that is capable of being used to analyze the decision-related alternatives in the process, and

a fourth software component that is capable of being used to process the decision-related alternatives to develop a solution.

14. The computer program product as recited in claim 2, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the one or more products or services include products.

15. The computer program product as recited in claim 14, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the products include non-existent products.

16. The computer program product as recited in claim 14, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the products include existent products.

17. The computer program product as recited in claim 2, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the first information regarding the plurality of attributes is capable of being entered by the receiving entity.

18. The computer program product as recited in claim 2, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the first interface is an element of a framing interface.

19. The computer program product as recited in claim 2, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the plurality of alternatives are displayed in a table.

20. The computer program product as recited in claim 19, wherein the computer program product is operable such that at least one aspect of input received from the user via the first interface drives a column heading in the table with the plurality of alternatives for the column heading arranged therebeneath.

21. The computer program product as recited in claim 2, further comprising computer code for displaying sources of value in each of the plurality of alternatives.

22. The computer program product as recited in claim 2, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the third information is utilized as a function of the user input.

23. The computer program product as recited in claim 2, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the third information relates to one or more of the plurality of attributes.

24. The computer program product as recited in claim 2, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the third information relates to a value of one or more of the plurality of attributes.

25. The computer program product as recited in claim 2, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the third information is utilized in association with a collaborative decision platform.

26. The computer program product as recited in claim 2, further comprising computer code for allowing the receiving entity to provide insight in association with the source.

27. The computer program product as recited in claim 2, further comprising computer code for allowing the receiving entity to provide insight in association with the source, in order to reduce risk associated with the decision-making.

28. The computer program product as recited in claim 2, further comprising computer code for allowing the receiving entity to effect a modification in association with the third information of the source.

29. The computer program product as recited in claim 2, further comprising computer code for allowing the receiving entity to provide a confirmation in association with the source.

30. The computer program product as recited in claim 2, further comprising computer code for allowing the user to provide insight in association with the source.

31. The computer program product as recited in claim 2, further comprising computer code for allowing the user to provide insight in association with the source, in order to reduce risk associated with the decision-making.

32. The computer program product as recited in claim 2, further comprising computer code for allowing the user to modify the third information of the source.

33. The computer program product as recited in claim 2, further comprising computer code for allowing the user to provide a confirmation in association with the source.

34. The computer program product as recited in claim 2, further comprising computer code for providing source information that specifies the source.

35. The computer program product as recited in claim 34, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the source information includes a directory.

36. The computer program product as recited in claim 34, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the source information includes at least one person'"'"'s name.

37. The computer program product as recited in claim 34, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the source information specifies a plurality of sources of the third information.

38. The computer program product as recited in claim 2, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the application is the product supply-related application.

39. The computer program product as recited in claim 2, wherein the computer program product is operable such that real-time collaborative decision-making is provided between the receiving entity and the supplying business.

40. The computer program product as recited in claim 2, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the application is the product supply-related application and the product supply-related application relates to marketing at least one product.

41. The computer program product as recited in claim 2, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the application is the corporate-related application and the corporate-related application relates to marketing.

42. The computer program product as recited in claim 2, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the process is related to a business-to-business transaction.

43. The computer program product as recited in claim 2, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the first interface, the second interface, the third interface, and the fourth interface, each is an interface object.

44. The computer program product as recited in claim 2, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the first interface, the second interface, the third interface, and the fourth interface, each is an interface element.

45. The computer program product as recited in claim 2, wherein the computer program product is operable such that at least one of the web pages includes a video.

46. The computer program product as recited in claim 2, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the first interface allows the user to form a plurality of boundary conditions.

47. The computer program product as recited in claim 2, further comprising computer code for negotiating a delivery agreement.

48. The computer program product as recited in claim 2, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the receiving entity includes a business entity.

49. The computer program product as recited in claim 2, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the process that is related to decision-making includes a process that supports decision-making.

50. The computer program product as recited in claim 2, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the second information regarding the one or more products or services is received in association with a single supplying business.

51. The computer program product as recited in claim 2, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the second information regarding one or more products or services is received from a plurality of supplying businesses.

52. The computer program product as recited in claim 2, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the first information and the second information are received at and processed by an intermediate entity that is separate from the supplying business and the receiving entity.

53. The computer program product as recited in claim 2, wherein the computer program product is operable such that real-time decision-making is supported.

54. The computer program product as recited in claim 2, and further comprising computer code for providing a delivery agreement.

55. The computer program product as recited in claim 2, wherein at least a portion of the computer program product includes a plurality of objects associated with an object-oriented programming language.

56. The computer program product as recited in claim 55, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the plurality of objects associated with the object-oriented programming language include at least one object that is capable of being used to initialize the process.

57. The computer program product as recited in claim 55, wherein the computer program product is operable such that at least one of the plurality of objects associated with the object-oriented programming language is capable of providing a framing functionality.

58. The computer program product as recited in claim 55, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the plurality of objects associated with the object-oriented programming language include at least one object that is capable of being used to develop decision-related alternatives in the process.

59. The computer program product as recited in claim 55, wherein the computer program product is operable such that at least one of the plurality of objects associated with the object-oriented programming language is capable of providing an alternatives functionality.

60. The computer program product as recited in claim 55, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the plurality of objects associated with the object-oriented programming language include at least one object that is capable of being used to analyze alternatives in the process.

61. The computer program product as recited in claim 55, wherein the computer program product is operable such that at least one of the plurality of objects associated with the object-oriented programming language is capable of providing an analysis functionality.

62. The computer program product as recited in claim 55, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the plurality of objects associated with the object-oriented programming language include at least one object that is capable of being used to process decision-related alternatives to develop a solution.

63. The computer program product as recited in claim 55, wherein the computer program product is operable such that at least one of the plurality of objects associated with the object-oriented programming language is capable of providing a connection functionality.

64. The computer program product as recited in claim 55, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the plurality of objects include:

a first object that is capable of being used to initialize the process,

a second object that is capable of being used to develop decision-related alternatives in the process,

a third object that is capable of being used to analyze the decision-related alternatives in the process, and

a fourth object that is capable of being used to process the decision-related alternatives to develop a solution.

65. The computer program product as recited in claim 55, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the plurality of objects communicate utilizing encapsulation that enforces data abstraction.

66. The computer program product as recited in claim 55, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the plurality of objects are implemented utilizing class libraries.

67. The computer program product as recited in claim 66, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the class libraries are capable of being utilized for generating a user interface.

68. The computer program product as recited in claim 55, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the plurality of objects are implemented utilizing subclassing and inheritance to extend or modify objects by deriving additional objects from classes.

69. The computer program product as recited in claim 2, wherein the user is affiliated with the receiving entity.

70. The computer program product as recited in claim 2, wherein the receiving entity includes a receiving business.

71. The computer program product as recited in claim 2, and further comprising code for causing display of a fifth interface including a dynamic web page and a decision sensitivity display.

72. The computer program product as recited in claim 2, and further comprising code for causing display of a fifth interface including a decision sensitivity display for further supporting the process that is related to the decision-making.

73. The computer program product as recited in claim 2, wherein the dynamic web pages include Java-script.

74. The computer program product as recited in claim 2, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the alternatives are described in terms of an effect on the plurality of attributes.

75. The computer program product as recited in claim 2, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the alternatives are described in terms of an effect on the plurality of attributes.

76. A computer program product embodied on a non-transitory computer readable medium, comprising:

computer code for causing execution of a process that is related to decision-making associated with identification of one or more products or services of a supplying business that is suitable for a receiving entity, utilizing an application that is a real estate-related application, a medical-related application, a corporate-related application, a product supply-related application, a service supply-related application, or a financial-related application;

computer code for receiving first information regarding a plurality of attributes in association with the receiving entity;

computer code for identifying second information regarding the one or more products or services in terms of the plurality of attributes;

computer code for supporting the process that is related to the decision-making, utilizing the first information and the second information;

computer code for causing display of a first interface that allows a user to provide input indicative of a boundary condition that is related to the decision-making, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the boundary condition is capable of being modified;

computer code for causing display of a second interface that allows the user to provide input indicative of aspects that is related to the decision-making, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the aspects are capable of being modified;

computer code for causing display of a third interface that displays a plurality of alternatives that include alternate choices, based, at least in part, on the boundary condition and the aspects;

computer code for causing display of a fourth interface that displays relative value associated with each of the plurality of alternatives;

computer code for receiving third information that includes public information, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the third information is received from a plurality of sources separate from the receiving entity and the supplying business, and relates to a retrospective value creation for a plurality of customers, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the process that is related to the decision-making is further supported utilizing the third information;

computer code for providing source information that specifies at least one of the sources, the source information including at least one person identifier; and

computer code for allowing the user to provide input in association with at least one of the sources, the input including a confirmation;

wherein the computer program product is operable to provide an ability to allow different people to input data into at least one display at different times, and from different places, in order to support the process that is related to the decision-making;

wherein the computer program product is operable such that the first interface, the second interface, the third interface, and the fourth interface include web pages.

77. A computer program product embodied on a non-transitory computer readable medium, comprising:

computer code for causing execution of a process that is related to decision-making associated with identification of one or more products or services of a supplying business that is suitable for a receiving entity, utilizing an application that is a real estate-related application, a medical-related application, a corporate-related application, a product supply-related application, a service supply-related application, or a financial-related application;

computer code for receiving first information regarding a plurality of attributes in association with the receiving entity;

computer code for identifying second information regarding the one or more products or services in terms of the plurality of attributes;

computer code for supporting the process that is related to the decision-making, utilizing the first information and the second information;

computer code for causing display of a first interface that allows a user to provide input indicative of a boundary condition that is related to the decision-making, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the boundary condition is capable of being modified;

computer code for causing display of a second interface that allows the user to provide input indicative of aspects related to the decision-making, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the aspects are capable of being modified;

computer code for causing display of a third interface that displays a plurality of alternatives that include alternate choices, based, at least in part, on the boundary condition and the aspects;

computer code for causing display of a fourth interface that displays relative value associated with each of the plurality of alternatives;

computer code for receiving third information that includes public information, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the third information is received from a source separate from the receiving entity and the supplying business, and relates to a value of at least one aspect of the one or more products or services and measures a retrospective value creation for a plurality of customers, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the process that is related to the decision-making is further supported utilizing the third information;

computer code for providing source information that specifies the source, the source information including at least one person identifier; and

computer code for allowing the user to provide input in association with the third information such that the third information is utilized as a function of the user input;

wherein the computer program product is operable to provide an ability to allow different people to input data into at least one display at different times, and from different places, in order to support the process that is related to the decision-making;

wherein the computer program product is operable such that the first interface, the second interface, the third interface, and the fourth interface include web pages.

78. A computer program product embodied on a non-transitory computer readable medium, comprising:

computer code for causing execution of a process that is related to decision-making associated with identification of one or more products or services of a supplying business that is suitable for a receiving entity, utilizing an application that is a real estate-related application, a medical-related application, a corporate-related application, a product supply-related application, a service supply-related application, or a financial-related application;

computer code for receiving first information regarding a plurality of attributes in association with the receiving entity;

computer code for identifying second information regarding the one or more products or services in terms of the plurality of attributes;

computer code for supporting the process that is related to the decision-making, utilizing the first information and the second information;

computer code for causing display of a first interface that allows a user to provide input indicative of a boundary condition that is related to the decision-making, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the boundary condition is capable of being modified;

computer code for causing display of a second interface that allows the user to provide input indicative of aspects related to the decision-making, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the aspects are capable of being modified;

computer code for causing display of a third interface that displays a plurality of alternatives that include alternate choices, based, at least in part, on the boundary condition and the aspects;

computer code for causing display of a fourth interface that displays relative value associated with each of the plurality of alternatives;

computer code for receiving third information that includes public information, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the third information is received from a source separate from the receiving entity and the supplying business, and relates to a value of at least one aspect of the one or more products or services and measures a retrospective value creation for a plurality of customers, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the process that is related to the decision-making is further supported utilizing the third information; and

computer code for providing source information that specifies the source, the source information including at least one person identifier;

wherein the computer program product is operable to provide an ability to allow different people to input data into at least one display at different times, and from different places, in order to support the process that is related to the decision-making;

wherein the computer program product is operable such that the first interface, the second interface, the third interface, and the fourth interface include web pages.

79. A computer program product embodied on a non-transitory computer readable medium, comprising:

computer code for causing execution of a process that is related to decision-making associated with identification of one or more products or services of a supplying business that is suitable for a receiving entity, utilizing an application that is a real estate-related application, a medical-related application, a corporate-related application, a product supply-related application, a service supply-related application, or a financial-related application;

computer code for receiving first information regarding a plurality of attributes in association with the receiving entity;

computer code for identifying second information regarding the one or more products or services in terms of the plurality of attributes;

computer code for supporting the process that is related to the decision-making, utilizing the first information and the second information;

computer code for causing display of a first interface that allows a user to provide input indicative of a boundary condition that is related to the decision-making, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the boundary condition is capable of being modified;

computer code for causing display of a second interface that allows the user to provide input indicative of aspects that is related to the decision-making, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the aspects are capable of being modified;

computer code for causing display of a third interface that displays a plurality of alternatives that include alternate choices, based, at least in part, on the boundary condition and the aspects;

computer code for causing display of a fourth interface that displays relative value associated with each of the plurality of alternatives;

computer code for receiving third information that includes public information, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the third information is received from a source separate from the receiving entity and the supplying business, and relates to a value of at least one aspect of the one or more products or services and measures a retrospective value creation for a plurality of customers, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the process that is related to the decision-making is further supported utilizing the third information;

computer code for providing source information that specifies the source, the source information including at least one person identifier;

computer code for allowing the user to provide user input in association with the source such that the source is utilized as a function of the user input; and

computer code for allowing the user to provide insight in association with the source;

wherein the computer program product is operable such that the first interface, the second interface, the third interface, and the fourth interface include web pages.

80. A computer program product embodied on a non-transitory computer readable medium, comprising:

computer code for providing a process that is related to decision-making associated with one or more products or services of a supplying business that is suitable for a receiving entity, utilizing a product supply-related application;

computer code for receiving first information regarding a plurality of attributes;

computer code for receiving second information regarding the one or more products or services;

computer code for supporting the process that is related to the decision-making, utilizing the first information and the second information;

computer code for causing display of a first interface that allows a user to provide input indicative of a boundary condition that is related to the decision-making, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the boundary condition is capable of being modified;

computer code for causing display of a second interface that allows the user to provide input indicative of aspects related to the decision-making, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the aspects are capable of being modified;

computer code for causing display of a third interface that displays a plurality of alternatives that include alternate choices, based, at least in part, on the boundary condition and the aspects;

computer code for causing display of a fourth interface that displays relative value associated with each of the plurality of alternatives;

computer code for receiving third information that includes public information, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the third information is received from a source separate from the receiving entity and the supplying business, and relates to a value of at least one aspect of the one or more products or services and measures a retrospective value creation for a plurality of customers, wherein the computer program product is operable such that the process that is related to the decision-making is further supported utilizing the third information;

computer code for providing source information that specifies the source, the source information including at least one person identifier;

computer code for allowing the user to provide user input in association with the source such that the source is utilized as a function of the user input; and

computer code for allowing the user to provide insight in association with the source;

wherein the computer program product is operable such that the first interface, the second interface, the third interface, and the fourth interface include dynamic web pages.