Distributed system for interactive collaboration

• US 8,768,882 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2012
• Issued: 07/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IQ Holdings, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: Reign V Co LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Frees, Ann, Frees, Lewis
• Primary Examiner(s): Gofman, Alex
• Application Number:
  US13/619,922
• Publication Number:
  US 20130080530A1
• Time in Patent Office: 655 Days
• Field of Search: 707/608, 715/751, 709/204
• US Class Current: 707/608
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting

Abstract

A distribution management system can facilitate synchronous and asynchronous communications, take advantage of electronic scheduling tools, support a facilitator paradigm, and store meeting communications for later retrieval. The system can create a collaborative environment for members of a team in communication with a computer network. An interactive thrum can be provided in the collaborative environment in a manner offering varying degrees of structure for collecting information from the members of the team. The information can then be used to arrive at a collaboratively derived decision.

Claims

1. A computer-readable memory device, excluding a propagating transitory signal, storing instructions configured to, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform operations for using a computer network for interactive collaboration, the operations comprising:

receiving, from a facilitator, a process agenda defining a predefined sequence of multiple collaborative activities, wherein the predefined sequence defines an order among the multiple collaborative activities, and wherein the presence in the sequence of each collaborative activity is independent of an outcome of all previous collaborative activities in the order;

creating a collaborative environment for members of a team in communication with the computer network, the collaborative environment configured to present, in the predefined sequence, each of the multiple collaborative activities irrespective of the outcome of any of the collaborative activities, wherein at least two collaborative activities in the predefined sequence are each associated with a different collaborative input tool;

collecting information from the members of the team through the predefined sequence of multiple collaborative activities; and

facilitating a collaboratively derived decision using the information collected from at least two of the multiple collaborative activities.

2. The computer-readable memory device of claim 1 wherein the operations further comprise supporting an interactive process having a topic to be considered by the team members.

3. The computer-readable memory device of claim 2 wherein at least one of the multiple collaborative activities includes employing techniques to collect data from the team members regarding the topic or process.

4. The computer-readable memory device of claim 3 wherein the techniques include a request to the members to rate at least one option regarding the topic.

5. The computer-readable memory device of claim 3 wherein the data is returned in the form of an absolute metric, relative measure, or free-form input.

6. The computer-readable memory device of claim 2 wherein the operations further comprise automatically informing team members of the topic in an asynchronous manner.

7. The computer-readable memory device of claim 6 wherein the operations further comprise providing a direct link to the members for providing information.

8. The computer-readable memory device of claim 1 wherein the operations further comprise:

conveying a coaching solicitation from a selected team member; and

conveying, in response to the solicitation, a coaching communication to the selected team member.

9. A computer-readable memory device, excluding a propagating transitory signal, storing instructions configured to, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform operations for using a computer network for interactive collaboration, the operations comprising:

creating a collaborative environment for members of a team in communication with the computer network, the collaborative environment comprising a sequence of multiple collaborative activities, each collaborative activity offering collaborative input tools;

assigning permissions to at least one team member to use a collaborative input tool;

soliciting information from the team members for a present state of the topic, an end state of the topic, and proceeding from the present state to the end state;

displaying information collected from the team members; and

facilitating a collaboratively derived decision based on the collected information.

10. The computer-readable memory device according to claim 9 wherein the sequence of multiple collaborative activities is predefined by the facilitator in a process agenda, wherein the predefined sequence defines an order among the multiple collaborative activities, and wherein the sequence is independent of an outcome of a previous collaborative activity in the order.

11. The computer-readable memory device of claim 9 wherein the operations further comprise building the team in a manner that allows a member to be coached on the problem solving process in a manner driven by the team member.

12. The computer-readable memory device of claim 9 wherein the operations further comprise presenting a focus topic to a team by a facilitator or team leader.

13. The computer-readable memory device of claim 9 wherein at least one of the collaborative input tools may be activated, and wherein the operations further comprise activating one or more collaborative input.

14. The computer-readable memory device of claim 9 wherein the operations further comprise operating an interactive forum between a start time and end time as defined by a facilitator or team leader for team members to provide information.

15. The computer-readable memory device of claim 9 wherein the sequence comprises:

topic identification and generating an action plan;

wherein the topic identification is prior to generating an action plan in the sequence.

16. The computer-readable memory device of claim 9 wherein the operations further comprise accepting information into the collaboration in a manner defined by a facilitator or team leader.

17. The computer-readable memory device of claim 9 wherein at least one of the collaboration tools support synchronous collaborative interaction between team members.

18. The computer-readable memory device of claim 9 wherein at least one of the collaboration tools support asynchronous collaborative interaction between team members.

19. The computer-readable memory device according to claim 9 wherein the operations further comprise archiving the information collected from the team members and the collaboratively derived decisions.

20. A computer-readable memory device, excluding a propagating transitory signal, storing instructions configured to, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform operations for using a computer network for interactive collaboration, the operations comprising:

receiving, from a facilitator, a process agenda defining a predefined sequence of multiple collaborative activities, wherein the predefined sequence defines an order among the multiple collaborative activities, and wherein the presence in the sequence of each collaborative activity is independent of an outcome of all previous collaborative activities in the order;

collecting a plurality of information elements through the predefined sequence of collaborative activities, wherein;

each information element is from a different member of a team;

each collaborative activity in the predefined sequence is associated with a collaborative input tool; and

at least two collaborative activities in the predefined sequence are each associated with a different collaborative input tool;

combining information elements from at least two of the collaborative activities into a single result set; and

displaying the result set to a facilitator, the displayed result set configured to enable the facilitator to assess and compare the information elements.

21. The computer-readable memory device according to claim 20 wherein the operations further comprise receiving input from the facilitator, the input comprising at least one of:

adjusting at least one of the information elements;

or

selecting a decision based on the displayed result set.