IP Library Granted Patent US 8,954,431
Granted Patent B2
US 8,954,431 · App. 13/156,568 · Granted Feb 10, 2015

Smart collaborative brainstorming tool

Inventors: Akiko Okazaki (Gero, JP); Joshua Mateo (Medford, NY); Edward Werner (Rochester, NY); Robert Hendricks (Hilton, NY); Alexandra Woodbury (Arlington, VA); Tong Sun (Penfield, NY); Gregory Cameron (Coeymans Hollow, NY)
Assignee: Xerox Corporation
G06F3/0488G06F3/04815G10L15/26
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,954,431
App. No.
13/156,568
Filed
Jun 9, 2011
Granted
Feb 10, 2015
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2166
USPC
707/732
Abstract

Methods and a system are disclosed for a collaborate brainstorming interface that defines a collaboration session with a three dimensional holographic mind map. An intelligent agent guides a collaboration session that is structured by the interface. The intelligent agent detects key words, work flow steps and user interactions in the session to initiate searches that are filtered using artificial intelligence. The results are presented to developers interacting through the interface.

Claims (22)

1. A method for collaborate brainstorming executed via a processor of a computer with a memory storing executable instructions for the method, comprising:

initiating a brainstorming session with a brainstorming topic on a main display with a user interface that interconnects a plurality of developer units;

creating a mind map based on idea inputs generated in a duration of the brainstorming session including:

in the main display and developer unit displays, generating idea images and interconnect related idea images with idea links based on the idea inputs received from at least one of the developer units or the main display wherein the idea images are visually sized to represent a degree of relevance to the brainstorming topic determined by a processing engine of the computer;

dynamically evaluating the idea inputs received from the developer units and the main display by filtering input related to the brainstorming topic and retrieving related query terms;

searching for related query terms in a repository and in at least one network, wherein the searching is initiated automatically according to the input received and/or initiated by at least one of the main display and the developer units from a touch screen input received;

suggesting query terms within a search display in at least one of the main display and one or more of the developer unit displays based on the evaluating and the searching;

ranking the query terms suggested based on a relevance ranking within the mind map;

importing data stored in the repository and the network based on the brainstorming session initiated;

providing concepts suggested from at least one developer unit or the main display to respective displays of the developer units based on at least one control input received at the main display;

providing a visual re-ranking automatically of the suggested concepts based on a vote received by the developers via the developer units and the main display; and

adding/cancelling idea images from votes received at the main display, wherein the re-ranking and the visually-sized idea images are commonly displayed on a user interface screen.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

fusing search results from searches conducted on more than one of the main display and the developer units.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

providing video and/or voice data through the units and the main display from developers participating in the brainstorming session via the display and the developer units.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the idea input includes a voice input received that is processed by the processor with a speech recognition engine configured to recognize speech terms in a plurality of different languages, a touch screen interface input received from a touch screen surface of the main display and/or the developer units, and/or an input signal received from an input device.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:

converting speech to text and extracting the related terms from speech into idea images and/or idea image links representing associations therebetween into the mind map displayed.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the user interface interconnects the developer units by providing visual data, textual data, audio data and user interface input from developers concurrently through the plurality of developer units.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

providing invitation and authorization to developers to engage the brainstorming session remotely through the developer units within a predetermined time period.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 5, 2011
From: CAMERON, GREGORY
To: XEROX CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 027020/0880 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 9, 2011
From: OKAZAKI, AKIKO; MATEO, JOSHUA; WERNER, EDWARD; HENDRICKS, ROBERT; WOODBURY, ALEXANDRA; SUN, TONG
To: XEROX CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 026416/0120 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20120317108A1 · Dec 13, 2012