ML-Based Task Risk Prediction in Collaborative Projects

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Solution Overview

Problem

In collaborative project management, team members often face challenges in coordinating and organizing tasks to meet milestones and deadlines, leading to tasks being at risk of failure to be completed on time, which can result in personal and team losses.

Innovation Solution

A computing system that includes a machine learning model configured to predict task risks by processing telemetry data based on task attributes, providing alerts when tasks are at risk of not being completed by a predetermined due date, and incorporating feedback for improved accuracy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual task monitoring and coordination is used in collaborative project management, then team members can maintain control over task organization, but tasks are at risk of not being completed on time due to human oversight limitations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetask completion reliabilityVSAvoidtime loss from delayed task completion
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical monitoring of tasks with an automated machine learning system that processes telemetry data and predicts task completion risks. The system automatically analyzes task progress, user behavior patterns, and project metadata to generate risk predictions, eliminating the need for manual task monitoring while improving detection accuracy and timeliness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a machine learning model as an intermediary between raw telemetry data and task risk assessment. This intermediary processes and interprets complex telemetry data patterns, transforming them into actionable risk predictions that help project managers identify at-risk tasks before deadlines are missed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If automated machine learning prediction is implemented to identify at-risk tasks, then task completion reliability improves through early risk detection, but system complexity increases due to telemetry data processing infrastructure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetask risk prediction accuracyVSAvoidsystem infrastructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the machine learning model multi-functional by enabling it to perform both training and inference operations within the same collaborative project management system. The model can be trained on historical telemetry data and then used to predict risks for current tasks, eliminating the need for separate dedicated prediction systems and reducing overall infrastructure complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements self-service capabilities where the machine learning model automatically trains itself on collected telemetry data and continuously improves its predictions without requiring manual intervention. The system autonomously manages its own data collection, processing, and model refinement, reducing the operational complexity of maintaining the prediction infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Measurement precision

If continuous telemetry data collection is performed to improve risk prediction accuracy, then measurement precision of task status improves, but loss of information increases due to the volume of data generated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetask status measurement precisionVSAvoidinformation loss from data volume
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the most relevant features from the collected telemetry data for input into the machine learning model. Instead of processing all raw telemetry data, the system identifies and extracts key features such as task progress metrics, user activity patterns, and temporal information, reducing the data volume while maintaining prediction accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the telemetry data collection and processing into distinct components: data collection, feature extraction, model training, and inference. This segmentation allows the system to manage large volumes of telemetry data efficiently by processing different segments independently and combining results, preventing information loss while maintaining measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS12002012B2Identification of tasks at risk in a collaborative project
Publication Date: 2024.06.04 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC
  • US12002012B2 patent drawing
  • US12002012B2 patent drawing
  • US12002012B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A computing system for identifying tasks at risk in a collaborative project includes one or more processors configured to execute, during an inference-time phase, a collaborative project management program and a machine learning model. The collaborative project management program is configured to receive telemetry data associated with a task, process the telemetry data based at least in part on one or more task attributes, and output at least one feature associated with the task. The machine learning model is configured to receive, as inference-time input, the at least one feature associated with the task, and, responsive to receiving the at least one feature, output a risk prediction for the task. The system is configured to output an alert when the task is predicted to be at risk of not being completed by a predetermined due date.