METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ITERATIVE COMPUTER-MEDIATED COLLABORATIVE SYNTHESIS AND ANALYSIS

• US 20070226296A1
• Filed: 02/08/2007
• Published: 09/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SRI International, Inc.
• Original Assignee: SRI International, Inc.
• Inventors: Boyce, Thomas, Lowrance, John
• Granted Patent: US 9,704,128 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/204
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

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.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for synthesizing and analyzing data, the method comprising the steps of:

synthesizing a first focus topic in accordance with ideas collected from a plurality of cooperating users;

applying a first analytical structure for critiquing the first focus topic;

collecting data from at least one of the plurality of cooperating users as input to the first analytical structure, where analysis of the data in accordance with the first analytical structure implies a conclusion regarding the first focus topic; and

outputting at least the conclusion for review.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

synthesizing a second focus topic in response to the conclusion implied by the first analytical structure; and

applying a second analytical structure for critiquing the second focus topic.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the synthesizing comprises:

receiving ideas from the plurality of cooperating users that relate to a stated objective; and

merging the ideas to form the first focus topic, the first focus topic reflecting a consensus among the plurality of cooperating users.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein the merging comprises:

forwarding the ideas collected from the plurality of cooperating users to at least one of the plurality of cooperating users;

prompting the at least one of the plurality of cooperating users to group the ideas into two or more participant-defined clusters of related ideas; and

aggregating the participant-defined clusters to form the first focus topic.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the first analytical structure comprises a plurality of questions relating to the first focus topic, such that when the plurality of questions is answered, a particular argument implying the conclusion is generated.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of cooperating users is a synthetic participant.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein the synthetic participant simulates an expert in a given field.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

engaging the plurality of users in an introductory exercise prior to the generating.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

partnering a new one of the plurality of users with an existing one of the plurality of users, prior to the generating.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the synthesizing and the collecting is performed using one or more process templates that each comprise a scripted series of activities.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 10, further comprising:

providing facilitation support to assist the plurality of cooperating users in iteratively accomplishing each of the series of activities in sequence.

12. A computer readable medium containing an executable program for synthesizing and analyzing data, where the program performs the steps of:

synthesizing a first focus topic in accordance with ideas collected from a plurality of cooperating users;

applying a first analytical structure for critiquing the first focus topic;

collecting data from at least one of the plurality of cooperating users as input to the first analytical structure, where analysis of the data in accordance with the first analytical structure implies a conclusion regarding the first focus topic; and

outputting at least the conclusion for review.

13. The computer readable medium of claim 12, further comprising:

synthesizing a second focus topic in response to the conclusion implied by the first analytical structure; and

applying a second analytical structure for critiquing the second focus topic.

14. The computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein the synthesizing comprises:

receiving ideas from the plurality of cooperating users that relate to a stated objective; and

merging the ideas to form the first focus topic, the first focus topic reflecting a consensus among the plurality of cooperating users.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein the merging comprises:

forwarding the ideas collected from the plurality of cooperating users to at least one of the plurality of cooperating users;

prompting the at least one of the plurality of cooperating users to group the ideas into two or more participant-defined clusters of related ideas; and

aggregating the participant-defined clusters to form the first focus topic.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein the first analytical structure comprises a plurality of questions relating to the first focus topic, such that when the plurality of questions is answered, a particular argument implying the conclusion is generated.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein at least one of the plurality of cooperating users is a synthetic participant.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the synthetic participant simulates an expert in a given field.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 12, further comprising:

engaging the plurality of users in an introductory exercise prior to the generating.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 12, further comprising:

partnering a new one of the plurality of users with an existing one of the plurality of users, prior to the generating.

21. The computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein at least one of the synthesizing and the collecting is performed using one or more process templates that each comprise a scripted series of activities.

22. The computer readable medium of claim 21, further comprising:

providing facilitation support to assist the plurality of cooperating users in iteratively accomplishing each of the series of activities in sequence.

23. Apparatus for synthesizing and analyzing data, the apparatus comprising:

means for synthesizing a first focus topic in accordance with ideas collected from a plurality of cooperating users;

means for applying a first analytical structure for critiquing the first focus topic;

means for collecting data from at least one of the plurality of cooperating users as input to the first analytical structure, where analysis of the data in accordance with the first analytical structure implies a conclusion regarding the first focus topic; and

means for outputting at least the conclusion for review.