Method and apparatus for iterative computer-mediated collaborative synthesis and analysis
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method for synthesizing and analyzing user input in a collaborative work session, the method comprising:
- monitoring a plurality of inputs submitted by a group of users in the collaborative work session, wherein at least some of the plurality of inputs include natural language content;
algorithmically analyzing the natural language content in real time in order to parse a plurality of ideas from the plurality of inputs;
algorithmically identifying similarities among the plurality of ideas;
clustering the plurality of ideas into a set of clusters based on the similarities; and
presenting the clusters to the group of users during the collaborative work session,wherein the algorithmically analyzing, the algorithmically identifying, and the clustering are each performed at least in part using a processor, andwherein at least one user of the group of users is a synthetic participant that is independent from a moderator for the collaborative work session.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for iterative computer-mediated collaborative synthesis and analysis synthesizes a first focus topic in accordance with ideas collected from a plurality of cooperating users. The first focus topic triggers an analysis of that focus topic. The conclusions of this analysis indicate shortcomings in the first focus topic and trigger a further synthesis of the first focus topic. The further synthesis results trigger further analysis, and so on, on an iterative basis. The cooperating users follow a process template comprises of a scripted series of synthesis and analysis activities. Facilitation support is provided to the cooperating users to assist the cooperating users in accomplishing each activity in sequence. In further embodiments, a second focus topic is synthesized in response to the conclusion implied by the analysis of the first focus topic, and an analysis of the second focus topic is triggered.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for synthesizing and analyzing user input in a collaborative work session, the method comprising:
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monitoring a plurality of inputs submitted by a group of users in the collaborative work session, wherein at least some of the plurality of inputs include natural language content; algorithmically analyzing the natural language content in real time in order to parse a plurality of ideas from the plurality of inputs; algorithmically identifying similarities among the plurality of ideas; clustering the plurality of ideas into a set of clusters based on the similarities; and presenting the clusters to the group of users during the collaborative work session, wherein the algorithmically analyzing, the algorithmically identifying, and the clustering are each performed at least in part using a processor, and wherein at least one user of the group of users is a synthetic participant that is independent from a moderator for the collaborative work session. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A computer readable storage device containing an executable program for synthesizing and analyzing user input in a collaborative work session, where the program performs steps of:
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monitoring a plurality of inputs submitted by a group of users in the collaborative work session, wherein at least some of the plurality of inputs include natural language content; algorithmically analyzing the natural language content in real time in order to parse a plurality of ideas from the plurality of inputs; algorithmically identifying similarities among the plurality of ideas; clustering the plurality of ideas into a set of clusters based on the similarities; and presenting the set of clusters to the group of users during the collaborative work session, wherein at least one user of the group of users is a synthetic participant that is independent from a moderator for the collaborative work session. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. An apparatus for synthesizing and analyzing user input in a collaborative work session, the apparatus comprising:
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means for monitoring a plurality of inputs submitted by a group of users in the collaborative work session, wherein at least some of the plurality of inputs include natural language content; means for algorithmically analyzing the natural language content in real time in order to parse a plurality of ideas from the plurality of inputs; means for algorithmically identifying similarities among the plurality of ideas; means for clustering the plurality of ideas into a set of clusters based on the similarities; and means for presenting the set of clusters to the group of users during the collaborative work session, wherein at least one user of the group of users is a synthetic participant that is independent from a collaborative work session moderator.
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Specification