System for knowledge transfer in a group setting

• US 20020101445A1
• Filed: 07/03/2001
• Published: 08/01/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: David Berque
• Original Assignee: David Berque
• Inventors: Berque, David
• Granted Patent: US 7,003,728 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/751
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A system for knowledge transfer in a group setting comprises a plurality of participant work areas and a moderator work area. Each of the plurality of participant work areas has at least one corresponding participant input-device, and each of the participant input-devices is adapted to define participant images that are then included on the corresponding participant work area. The moderator work area comprises at least one moderator input-device. The at least one moderator input-device is adapted to define moderator images that are then included on the moderator work area and to select moderator images that are then simultaneously included on each of plurality of participant work areas. The moderator input-device is further adapted to select participant images from any of the plurality of participant work areas that are then included on the moderator work area.

Claims

1. A system for knowledge transfer in a group setting, the system comprising:

a plurality of participant work areas, each having at least one corresponding participant input-device, and each of the participant input-devices being adapted to define participant images that are then included on the corresponding participant work area;

a moderator work area, comprising at least one moderator input-device, the at least one moderator input-device being adapted to define moderator images that are then included on the moderator work area and to select moderator images that are then simultaneously included on each of plurality of participant work areas;

wherein the moderator input-device is further adapted to select participant images from any of the plurality of participant work areas that are then included on the moderator work area.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the moderator input-device selects moderator images that are then simultaneously included on each of the plurality of participant work areas when the moderator has finished defining it.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of display elements adapted to display the moderator work area and the plurality of participant work areas.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the plurality of display elements are substantially located to permit a user to simultaneously view one of the display elements and hear substantially every other user that is viewing another of the display elements.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the user hears substantially every other user through a form of audio transmission.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein the work areas are permitted to have a size exceeding that which can be displayed on the display elements.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the work areas each comprise at least one scroll.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein each scroll comprises a set of practically infinite scrollable panels.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the work areas can be stored as a single computer file, and wherein previously-saved files can be imported into a work area.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the input-devices are adapted to define the images by creating text objects and draw objects corresponding to the images.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the input-devices are further adapted to define the images by creating erase objects.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the input-devices are further adapted to define the images by creating bitmap objects.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein additional participant work areas can be created and added to the system while the system is in operation.

17. The network of claim 16, wherein the moderator work area comprises a shared work area and a moderator private work area, and each participant work area comprises a participant public work area and a private work area.

18. The network of claim 17, wherein each participant'"'"'s work station displays images placed on the shared work area superimposed on images placed in that participant'"'"'s public work area.

19. The network of claim 16, wherein the network can be used in a group mode and a standalone mode.

20. The network of claim 16, wherein the workstations are located such that a first user positioned to use a workstation and a second user positioned to use a different workstation can hear each other speak.

21. The network of claim 20, wherein every user positioned to use a workstation can hear every other user positioned to use any other workstation.

22. The network of claim 16, wherein no user positioned to use a workstation can hear any other user positioned to use a different workstation.

23. The network of claim 16, wherein images are organized in notebook data structures comprising at least one panel.

24. The network of claim 23, wherein the images are stored as at least one object in a single panel.

25. The network of claim 23, wherein the images are stored as at least one record in a relational database.

26. The network of claim 23, wherein the images are stored as at least one record in an indexed database.

27. The network of claim 16, wherein images placed on a participant'"'"'s work area at a participant workstation may be viewed only at that workstation unless that participant decides to permit them to be viewed from another workstation.

28. The network of claim 27, wherein a participant can implement a decision to permit an image placed on a participant work area to be viewed at another workstation by setting a flag.

29. The network of claim 27, wherein a participant can implement a decision to permit an image placed on a participant work area to be viewed at another workstation by actively causing information corresponding to the image to be transmitted to another workstation.

30. The network of claim 16, further comprising collision-correction functionality.

31. The network of claim 30, wherein the collision-correction functionality comprises functionality permitting toggling between a plurality of view modes.

32. The network of claim 30, wherein the collision-correction functionality comprises functionality permitting relocation of images on the participant work area.

33. The network of claim 32, wherein the relocation of images occurs automatically when a collision occurs.

34. The network of claim 16, further comprising collision-avoidance functionality.

35. The network of claim 34, wherein the collision-avoidance functionality comprises a margin that does not have a corresponding location of the shared work area.

36. The network of claim 34, wherein the collision-avoidance functionality comprises functionality that permits the participant to place footnote images on the participant work area that provide a link between the footnote images and corresponding images placed on a portion of the participant work area that is not superimposed on the shared work area.

37. The network of claim 34, wherein the participant work area comprises a participant public work area and a private work area, wherein images placed on the participant'"'"'s public work area are generally displayed superimposed on images on the shared work area.

38. The network of claim 34, wherein the collision-avoidance functionality comprises functionality that permits the participant to place footnote images in the participant public work area, the footnote images providing a link to corresponding images located elsewhere.

39. The network of claim 38, wherein the corresponding images are placed on the participant'"'"'s private work area.

40. The network of claim 38, wherein the footnote images are implemented as hyperlinks which include functionality that causes the participant'"'"'s workstation to display the corresponding images.

14. A system for knowledge transfer in a group setting, the system comprising:

a plurality of participant work stations, each comprising;

a participant work area;

a participant input-device adapted to define participant images that are then included on the corresponding participant work area, the participant images being able to be defined by at least text objects, draw objects, erase objects, and bitmap objects;

a participant display element adapted to display the corresponding participant work area;

a moderator work station, comprising;

a moderator work area;

at least one moderator input-device adapted to define moderator images that are then included on the moderator work area and on each of plurality of participant work areas, the moderator images being able to be defined by at least text objects, draw objects, erase objects, and bitmap objects;

a moderator display element adapted to display the moderator work area;

wherein the moderator input-device is further adapted to select participant images from any of the plurality of participant work areas that are then included on the moderator work area;

wherein the work areas comprise a scroll of panels, each panel being permitted to have a size exceeding that which can be displayed on the display elements;

wherein the plurality of display elements are substantially located to permit a user to simultaneously view one of the display elements and to hear substantially every other user that is viewing another of the display elements; and

wherein additional participant work stations can be added to the system while the system is in use.

15. A system for knowledge transfer in a group setting, the system comprising a plurality of work areas, each comprising a public scroll and a private scroll, and wherein one of the plurality of work areas is a moderator work area.

16. A network of computers programmed for knowledge transfer in a group setting, the network comprising:

a plurality of participant workstations, each programmed to provide a participant work area and having at least one corresponding participant input-device, and each of the participant input-devices being adapted to create data structures defining participant images that are then included the participant work area;

a moderator workstation, programmed to provide a moderator work area and comprising at least one moderator input-device, the at least one moderator input-device being adapted to;

create data structures defining moderator images that are then included in the moderator work area, and

to select moderator images that are then simultaneously included on each of plurality of participant work areas;

wherein the moderator input-device is further adapted to select participant images from any of the plurality of participant work areas that are then included on the moderator work area.

41. A network of computers programmed for knowledge transfer in a group setting, the network comprising:

a plurality of participant workstations, each programmed to provide a participant work area and having at least one corresponding participant input-device, and each of the participant input-devices being adapted to create data structures defining participant images that are then included on the participant work area;

a moderator workstation, programmed to provide a moderator work area and comprising at least one moderator input-device, the at least one moderator input-device being adapted to;

create data structures defining moderator images that are then included on the moderator work area, and

select moderator images that are then simultaneously included on each of plurality of participant work areas;

wherein the moderator work area comprises a moderator public scroll and a moderator private scroll, and each participant work area comprises a participant public scroll and a participant private scroll;

wherein each participant workstation displays images placed on the participant'"'"'s public scroll by the moderator superimposed on images placed on the participant'"'"'s public scroll by the participant; and

wherein the moderator input-device is further adapted to select participant images from any of the plurality of participant work areas that are then included on the moderator work area.

42. The network of claim 41, wherein the network can be used in a group mode and a standalone mode.

43. The network of claim 41, wherein the workstations are located such that a first user positioned to use a workstation and a second user positioned to use a different workstation can hear each other speak.

44. The network of claim 43, wherein every user positioned to use a workstation can hear every other user positioned to use any other workstation.

45. The network of claim 41, wherein the data structures defining the images are organized in notebook data structures comprising at least one panel.

46. The network of claim 45, wherein the data structures defining the images comprise at least one object in a single panel.

47. The network of claim 44, wherein the data structures defining the images comprise at least one record in a relational database.

48. The network of claim 41, wherein images placed on a participant work area at a participant workstation may be viewed only at that workstation unless a participant decides to permit them to be viewed from another workstation.

49. The network of claim 48, wherein a participant can implement a decision to permit an image placed on a participant work area to be viewed at another workstation by setting a flag.

50. The network of claim 48, wherein a participant can implement a decision to permit an image placed on a participant work area to be viewed at another workstation by actively causing information corresponding to the image to be transmitted to another workstation.

51. The network of claim 41, further comprising collision-correction functionality.

52. The network of claim 51, wherein the collision-correction functionality comprises functionality permitting toggling between a plurality of view modes.

53. The network of claim 51, wherein the collision-correction functionality comprises functionality permitting relocation of images on the participant work area.

54. The network of claim 53, wherein the relocation of images occurs automatically when a collision occurs.

55. The network of claim 41, further comprising collision-avoidance functionality.

56. The network of claim 55, wherein the collision-avoidance functionality comprises an area on the participant'"'"'s work area that does not have a corresponding location to any location on the shared work area.

57. The network of claim 55, wherein the collision-avoidance functionality comprises functionality that permits the participant to place footnote images on the participant work area that provide a link between the footnote images and corresponding images that are not typically superimposed on the shared work area.

58. The network of claim 55, wherein the participant work area comprises a participant public work area and a participant private work area, wherein images placed on the participant public work area are generally displayed superimposed over images on the public scroll.

59. The network of claim 58, wherein the participant work area comprises a participant public scroll and a participant private scroll, wherein data structures corresponding to images placed on the shared work area and to images placed on the participant public work area are placed on the participant public scroll.

60. The network of claim 58, wherein the collision-avoidance functionality comprises functionality that permits the participant to place footnote images in the participant public work area, the footnote images providing a link to corresponding images located in the participant'"'"'s private work area.

61. The network of claim 60, wherein the footnote images are implemented as hyperlinks which include functionality that causes the participant'"'"'s work station to display the corresponding images.

62. A network of computers programmed for knowledge transfer in a group setting, the network comprising:

a plurality of participant workstations, each programmed to provide a participant work area and having at least one corresponding participant input-device, each of the participant input-devices being adapted to create data structures defining participant images that are then included on the participant work area;

a moderator workstation, programmed to provide a moderator work area and comprising at least one moderator input-device, the at least one moderator input-device being adapted to;

create data structures defining moderator images that are then included on the moderator work area, and

to select moderator images that are then simultaneously included on each of plurality of participant work areas;

wherein the moderator work area comprises a shared work area and a moderator private work area, and each participant work area comprises a participant public work area and a participant private work area;

wherein each participant work station displays images placed on the shared work area superimposed on images placed on the participant public work area;

wherein the moderator input-device is further adapted to select participant images from any of the plurality of participant work areas that are then included on the moderator work area

wherein the network can be used in a group mode and a standalone mode; and

wherein the workstations are located such that a first user positioned to use a workstation and a second user positioned to use a different workstation can hear each other speak.

63. The network of claim 62, wherein every user positioned to use a workstation can hear every other user positioned to use any other workstation.

64. The network of claim 62, wherein data structures defining images are organized in notebook data structures comprising at least one panel.

65. The network of claim 64, wherein the data structures defining the images comprise at least one object in a single panel.

66. The network of claim 64, wherein the data structures defining the images comprise at least one record in a relational database.

67. The network of claim 62, wherein images placed on a participant work area at a participant workstation may be viewed only at that workstation unless a participant decides to permit it to be viewed from another workstation.

68. The network of claim 67, wherein a participant can implement a decision to permit an image placed on a participant work area to be viewed at another workstation by setting a flag.

69. The network of claim 67, wherein a participant can implement a decision to permit an image placed on a participant work area to be viewed at another workstation by actively causing information corresponding to the image to be transmitted to another workstation.

70. The network of claim 62, further comprising collision-correction functionality.

71. The network of claim 70, wherein the collision-correction functionality comprises functionality permitting toggling between a plurality of view modes.

72. The network of claim 70, wherein the collision-correction functionality comprises functionality permitting relocation of images on the participant work area.

73. The network of claim 72, wherein the relocation of images occurs automatically when a collision occurs.

74. The network of claim 62, further comprising collision-avoidance functionality.

75. The network of claim 74, wherein the collision-avoidance functionality comprises an area on the participant'"'"'s public work area that does not have a corresponding location on the shared work area.

76. The network of claim 74, wherein the collision-avoidance functionality comprises functionality that permits the participant to place footnote images on the participant work area that provide a link between the footnote images and corresponding images located elsewhere.

77. The network of claim 76, wherein the corresponding images located elsewhere comprise images placed on the participant'"'"'s private work area.

78. The network of claim 74, wherein the participant work area comprises a participant public work area and a private work area, wherein images placed on the participant public work area are generally displayed superimposed over images on the shared work area.

79. The network of claim 78, wherein the collision-avoidance functionality comprises functionality that permits the participant to place footnote images in the participant'"'"'s public work area, the footnote images providing a link to corresponding images located elsewhere.

80. The network of claim 79, wherein the footnote images are implemented as hyperlinks which include functionality that causes the participant'"'"'s workstation to display the corresponding images.

81. A network of computers programmed for knowledge transfer in a group setting, the network comprising:

a plurality of participant workstations, each programmed to provide a participant work area and having at least one corresponding participant input-device, each of the participant input-devices being adapted to create data structures defining participant images that are then included on the participant work area;

a moderator workstation, programmed to provide a moderator work area and comprising at least one moderator input-device, the at least one moderator input-device being adapted to;

create data structures defining moderator images that are then included on the moderator work area, and

to select moderator images that are then simultaneously included on each of the plurality of participant work areas;

wherein the moderator work area comprises a shared work area and a moderator private work area, and each participant work area comprises a participant public work area and a participant private work area;

wherein each participant workstation displays images placed on the shared work area by the moderator superimposed on images placed in the participant public work area;

wherein the moderator input-device is further adapted to select participant images from any of the plurality of participant work areas that are then included on the moderator work area;

wherein the network can be used in a group mode and a standalone mode;

wherein every user positioned to use a workstation can hear every other user positioned to use any other workstation; and

wherein data structures defining the images are organized in notebook files comprising at least one panel and are stored as at least one object in a single panel.

82. The network of claim 81, wherein images placed on a participant work area may be viewed only at that workstation unless a participant decides to permit them to be viewed from another workstation.

83. The network of claim 82, wherein a participant can implement a decision to permit an image placed on a participant work area to be viewed at another workstation by setting a flag.

84. The network of claim 82, wherein a participant can implement a decision to permit an image placed on a participant work area to be viewed at another workstation by actively causing information corresponding to the image to be transmitted to another workstation.

85. The network of claim 81, further comprising collision-correction functionality.

86. The network of claim 85, wherein the collision-correction functionality comprises functionality permitting toggling between a plurality of view modes.

87. The network of claim 85, wherein the collision-correction functionality comprises functionality permitting relocation of images on the participant work area.

88. The network of claim 87, wherein the relocation of images occurs automatically when a collision occurs.

89. The network of claim 81, further comprising collision-avoidance functionality.

90. The network of claim 89, wherein the collision-avoidance functionality comprises an area on the participant'"'"'s public work area that does not have a corresponding location on the shared work area.

91. The network of claim 89, wherein the collision-avoidance functionality comprises functionality that permits the participant to place footnote images on the participant work area that provide a link between the footnote images and corresponding images located elsewhere.

92. The network of claim 89, wherein the participant work area comprises a participant public work area and a private work area, wherein images placed on the participant public work area are generally displayed superimposed over images on the shared work area.

93. The network of claim 92, wherein the participant work area comprises a participant public scroll and a private scroll, and wherein data structures defining the images placed on the shared work area and the participant'"'"'s public work area are placed on the participant public scroll.

94. The network of claim 93, wherein the collision-avoidance functionality comprises functionality that permits a participant to place footnote images in the participant'"'"'s public work area, the footnote images providing a link to corresponding images located elsewhere.

95. The network of claim 94, wherein the corresponding images are located on the participant'"'"'s private work area.

96. The network of claim 95, wherein the footnote images are implemented as hyperlinks which include functionality that causes the participant'"'"'s workstation to display the corresponding images.

97. A network of computers programmed for knowledge transfer in a group setting, the network comprising:

a plurality of participant workstations, each programmed to provide a participant work area and having at least one corresponding participant input-device, each of the participant input-devices being adapted to create data structures defining participant images that are then included on the participant work area;

a moderator workstation, programmed to provide a moderator work area and comprising at least one moderator input-device, the at least one moderator input-device being adapted to;

create data structures defining moderator images that are then included on the moderator work area, and

to select moderator images that are then simultaneously included on each of the plurality of participant work areas; and

collision-correction functionality;

wherein the moderator work area comprises a shared work area and a moderator private work area, and each participant work area comprises a participant public work area and a participant private work area;

wherein each participant workstation displays images placed on the shared work area by the moderator superimposed on images placed on the participant public work area;

wherein the participant work area comprises a participant public scroll and a participant private scroll, the participant public scroll comprising data structures defining images placed on the shared work area and the participant'"'"'s public work area;

wherein the moderator input-device is further adapted to select participant images from any of the plurality of participant work areas that are then included on the moderator work area;

wherein a participant must decide to permit an image to be selected by the moderator input-device before it can be included on the moderator work area;

wherein the network can be used in a group mode and a standalone mode;

wherein every user positioned to use a workstation can hear every other user positioned to use any other workstation.

98. The network of claim 97, wherein a participant can implement a decision to permit an image placed on a participant work area to be viewed at another workstation by setting a flag.

99. The network of claim 97, wherein a participant can implement a decision to permit an image placed on a participant work area to be viewed at another workstation by actively causing information corresponding to the image to be transmitted to another workstation.

100. The network of claim 97, wherein the collision-correction functionality comprises functionality permitting toggling between a plurality of view modes.

101. The network of claim 97, wherein the collision-correction functionality comprises functionality permitting relocation of images on the participant work area.

102. The network of claim 101, wherein the relocation of images occurs automatically when a collision occurs.

103. The network of claim 97, further comprising collision-avoidance functionality.

104. The network of claim 103, wherein the collision-avoidance functionality comprises an area on each of the participant'"'"'s public work areas that does not have a corresponding location on the shared work area.

105. The network of claim 104, wherein the collision-avoidance functionality comprises functionality that permits the participant to place footnote images on the participant work area that provide a link between the footnote images and corresponding images located elsewhere.

106. The network of claim 104, wherein the collision-avoidance functionality comprises functionality that permits the participant to place footnote images in the participant'"'"'s public work area, the footnote images providing a link to corresponding images located elsewhere.

107. The network of claim 106, wherein the footnote images are implemented as hyperlinks which include functionality that causes the private window to display the corresponding images.

108. A system for knowledge transfer in a group setting, the system comprising:

a plurality of participant work stations, each comprising;

at least one participant display device;

at least one input device;

a participant public scroll; and

a participant private scroll;

the at least one participant input device being adapted to permit the participant to create data structures on the participant public scroll and participant private scroll defining images that are displayed on the at least one participant display device;

a moderator work station, comprising;

at least one moderator display device;

at least one moderator input-device;

a moderator public scroll;

the at least one moderator input device being adapted to create data structures on the moderator public scroll and each of the participant public scrolls defining images that are displayed on the at least one moderator display device and on each of the at least one participant display devices.

109. The system of claim 108, wherein the moderator work station further comprises a moderator private scroll, and wherein the at least one moderator input device is further adapted to create data structures on the moderator private scroll that are displayed on the at least one moderator display device.

110. The system of claim 109, wherein the at least one moderator display device comprises a moderator public display device and a moderator private display device, and wherein images corresponding to data structures on the moderator public scroll are displayed on the moderator public display device.

111. The system of claim 108, wherein the moderator input-device is further adapted to select participant images from any of the plurality of participant work areas that are then included on the moderator work area.

112. The system of claim 108, wherein at least some of the scrolls comprise at least one practically infinite, scrollable panel.

113. The system of claim 112, wherein the size of at least some of the panels can be increased after the panel is created.

114. The system of claim 112, wherein at least one of the display devices can simultaneously display portions of adjacent panels on a scroll.

115. The system of claim 108, wherein the data structures comprises objects.

116. The system of claim 115, wherein at least one of the scrolls comprises at least one practically infinite, scrollable panel.

117. The system of claim 116, wherein the objects are organized as linked-lists on each panel.

119. The system of claim 118, wherein the objects are added to the display in the order they were added to the scroll.

120. The system of claim 118, wherein the objects are added to the display in the order they were added to a given panel.

121. The system of claim 108, wherein each of the participant input devices can only create data structures that are placed on the participant'"'"'s scrolls unless a moderator input device is used to permit otherwise.

122. The system of claim 118, wherein data structures included on the moderator public scroll are automatically placed on each of the participant public scrolls, and wherein a moderator input device can be used to permit a data structure created by a participant input device to be placed on other participant'"'"'s scrolls by selecting it to be included on the moderator public scroll.

123. The system of claim 118, wherein a moderator input device can be used to permit a data structure created by a participant input device to be included on other participant public scrolls by causing the participant work station at which that participant input device is located to become the moderator workstation.

124. The system of claim 123, wherein a moderator input device can cause a participant workstation to become the moderator input device by passing a security token.

118. The system of 117, wherein objects placed on a scroll can be replayed by displaying corresponding images as the objects are added to the display one object at a time.