Systems and methods for facilitating group collaborations

Abstract

There are disclosed systems, method and tools for facilitating group collaborations. In an embodiment, collaborative ideas are represented in a modified tree data structure in which ideas are stored in nodes of the tree (an 'idea tree'). Each node may be associated with data storage means, such as a table of records, in which different kinds of data can be stored. Data stored in the idea tree, ora part thereof, may be created, modified, deleted or organized by using various types of collaboration tools. A participant's interaction with the idea tree, or a part thereof, using a particular collaboration tool may be mapped as a transformation of the idea tree from one state to another. Other participants may simultaneously or successively interact with the idea tree, or a part thereof, using the same or a different collaboration tool. A coherent representation of collaborative ideas can be developed and organized without excessive manual effort.

Description

Systems and methods for facilitating group collaboration technical field The present invention relates to systems, methods and tools for facilitating group collaboration. Background technique Technology-enabled group collaboration is now common: many types of tools have been built to support and expand the range of things that can be done among geographically dispersed participants. Some of these tools include, for example, Internet RelayChat (IRC, Internet Relay Chat), message boards, online polls, and collaborative document creation and viewing. While these tools may represent an advancement over what previously existed, they may still show certain limitations when used in collaborative work involving large numbers of people. Improved systems, methods and tools for facilitating group collaboration are needed. Contents of the invention The present invention relates to systems, methods and tools for facilitating group collaboration. Collaborative ideas collected fro...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

While these tools may represent an advancement over what previously existed, they may still show certain limitations when used in collaborative work involving large numbers of people

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