Meeting Facilitation System Using Mind Map Topic Correlation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing meeting facilitation technologies lack functions to explicitly avoid irrelevant discussions, which can lead to prolonged and inefficient meetings.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented system that uses a server computer to display a mind map of a center topic, analyze participant statements to extract topics, calculate correlations, and generate warnings when discussions deviate from the center topic or become repetitive, thereby facilitating smoother meeting proceedings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the meeting process is accelerated to improve efficiency, then productivity increases, but the quality of deeper discussions and common understandings deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors discussion topics in real-time, compares them against the center topic and mind map structure, and provides immediate feedback through visual indicators (color-coded nodes, warning messages) to participants when discussions deviate from relevant topics, enabling rapid course correction without sacrificing discussion depth
Solution Approach 2:
The mind map and topic hierarchy are prepared in advance before the meeting begins, establishing the framework for relevant discussions beforehand. This preliminary structuring allows the meeting to proceed efficiently by having discussion boundaries and relevant topics predefined, eliminating the need for lengthy in-meeting deliberations about what topics to explore
2Reliability
If irrelevant discussions are allowed to ensure deeper understanding, then discussion quality improves, but meeting duration increases and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Real-time monitoring of discussion topics with immediate visual feedback through the mind map interface allows participants to self-regulate their discussions. When irrelevant topics are detected, the system highlights this through color changes and warning messages, enabling the group to quickly return to relevant discussions without a facilitator needing to explicitly intervene and halt the meeting flow
Solution Approach 2:
The system empowers participants to autonomously manage their own discussions by providing them with real-time information about topic relevance through the mind map display. Participants can see which topics are currently being discussed and their correlation with the center topic, allowing them to self-correct their discussion direction without external control, thus maintaining both discussion quality and meeting efficiency
3Productivity
If manual facilitation is used to avoid irrelevant discussions, then meeting focus improves, but device complexity and facilitator workload increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs automatic topic detection, correlation calculation, and mind map updating without requiring facilitator intervention. The facilitation functions are self-executing through automated speech-to-text processing, topic extraction, and correlation analysis, eliminating the need for complex manual facilitation procedures while maintaining meeting focus
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual facilitation mechanics with automated computational processes. Speech recognition algorithms, natural language processing for topic extraction, and automated correlation calculations substitute for the facilitator's cognitive and manual efforts, simplifying the system architecture while achieving effective meeting management
4Reliability
If topics are repeatedly discussed to ensure understanding, then discussion depth improves, but meeting duration increases and time is wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The system allows discussions to continue on relevant topics without artificial interruption, permitting sufficient time for deep understanding to emerge naturally. The automated monitoring ensures that even extended discussions remain on-topic, eliminating the need for premature facilitator interruptions while still preventing excessive time consumption through continuous relevance validation
Data Source
AI summary
A method, system and computer program product for facilitating a meeting is implemented in a server computer and provides a graphical user interface to one or more client devices. The server displays a mind map of a center topic on the clients. The server collects statements of participants, and extracts words and phrases therefrom, to identify topics that are currently being discussed. The server determines whether a transition has occurred between the topics, and then calculates a correlation between the topics that are currently being discussed and the center topic. The server determines a location of the topics that are currently being discussed on the mind map, based on the calculated correlation, and displays an updated mind map on the clients. The server generates a warning on the clients when the server determines that the meeting proceedings are being retarded, based on the calculated correlation.