Dynamic Virtual Group Membership Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for managing group membership in collaborative sessions are static and do not adapt to changing situational information, such as resource availability and need, leading to inefficiencies and potential errors.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that dynamically control group membership by monitoring environmental, contextual, and purpose-related situational information to modify session membership in real-time, using event detection logic and membership modification logic to add or remove members based on changing conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If static data structures are used to define group membership, then the system is simple to implement, but the system cannot adapt to changing situational information and resource availability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to changing situational informationVSAvoidcomplexity of membership management system

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic group membership management by continuously monitoring situational information (environmental, contextual, purpose-related) and automatically modifying group membership in response to detected changes. The system transitions from static predefined groups to dynamic groups that adapt their composition based on real-time conditions, enabling flexible resource allocation and collaboration optimization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system establishes a feedback loop where situational information is continuously monitored, changes are detected, and membership modifications are implemented based on this feedback. The event detection logic processes incoming situational data and triggers appropriate membership changes, creating a closed-loop system that learns from and responds to changing conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Productivity

If manual membership management is used, then control is precise and flexible, but workflow efficiency is reduced and errors increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveworkflow efficiencyVSAvoidaccuracy of resource allocation

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-service by automatically monitoring situational information and making membership decisions without requiring manual intervention. The event detection logic and membership modification logic work autonomously to add or remove members based on detected changes, eliminating manual administrative tasks and reducing human error while improving workflow efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical processes of membership management with automated electronic systems. Instead of manual review and decision-making, the system uses computer-based event detection and logic to automatically process situational information and execute membership changes, improving both efficiency and accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Adaptability or versatility

If group membership is fixed at establishment, then decisions are made quickly at the point in time, but the system cannot respond to subsequent changes in resource availability or collaboration needs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflexibility in resource participationVSAvoidtime delay in responding to situational changes

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system prepares for future changes by continuously monitoring situational information in advance and pre-positioning membership modifications before critical changes occur. The event detection logic is ready to immediately respond when changes are detected, minimizing response time and enabling proactive adaptation to changing resource availability and collaboration needs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system maintains continuous monitoring of situational information throughout the collaboration session, ensuring that membership can be adjusted at any time without interruption. This continuous observation enables real-time response to changing conditions, eliminating delays associated with periodic reviews and ensuring ongoing optimization of resource participation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentUS9280758B2Method and apparatus for managing membership of dynamic virtual groups

Publication Date: 2016.03.08 AVAYA INC

AI summary

A method and system is provided that may be used to dynamically modify membership of a collaboration group participating in a collaboration session using dynamic situational information associated with collaboration session and/or collaboration group member candidates. The dynamic situational information may include collaboration session information, environmental information and context information. A change in collaboration session purpose may trigger a modification of group membership in accordance with a concomitant change in group membership criteria. A change of situational information associated with any group member candidate may trigger the modification of group membership, to add or delete the candidate from the group. The method and apparatus of the present invention may advantageously be embodied in a service that is used by existing communication and collaboration systems to enhance workflow efficiency by exploiting system knowledge to improve the use of resources, reduce the incidence of errors and eliminate redundancy.