Abstract:
A collaboration and innovation system that creates a virtual entrepreneurial work space and facilitates individual and group innovation efforts to solve problems and/or create intellectual property and/or create business opportunities is described. The system facilitates innovation efforts being done in response to stated problems and/or opportunities identified in the system and/or business ideas coming from members of the system network.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/338,212, filed Nov. 13, 2001. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    This invention relates to collaboration systems having both data, information and knowledge sharing and team forming capabilities. The system provides a single integrated tool which allows for data, information and knowledge sharing, location of personnel with desired expertise, and problem solving by solution teams which may be formed on an ad-hoc basis among users of the system.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    The past several years have been characterized by extraordinary growth in the magnitude and capabilities of interactive networks, particularly computer networks. These networks have provided a variety of capabilities often referred to generically in the literature as “connectivity.” A whole industry has emerged to develop and improve upon practical applications that take advantage of the connectivity these networks provide. One particular area of focus is in the area of collaboration systems.  
           [0004]    Collaboration systems, may generally be thought of as any system which allows several persons to share, manipulate, and create data, information and knowledge among a group of users. Examples of a common collaboration tool include any of the commercially available email and data-sharing systems such as LOTUS NOTES or MICROSOFT OUTLOOK.  
           [0005]    Because of the widespread availability of the World Wide Web and the ease with which HTTP (including HTML, and XML) based applications may be created and deployed among a variety of users, so-called “web based” applications have become a popular mechanism for the delivery of collaboration tools.  
           [0006]    There are presently a number of web-based collaboration tools that are commercially available. These currently available systems have a wide variety of capabilities. For example, one product known as&#39; E-ROOM (http://www.eroom.com) provides a collaboration system on the world wide web (or an html intranet) that allows for document sharing, creation of work teams, and organization of project team output.  
           [0007]    Another presently available system is known as COPERNUS. This system provides a web based centralized “space” in which virtual teams can form. The system allows users to work across geographic and functional boundaries in an efficient manner. Users of the system can invite others to form teams in which data, information and knowledge may be shared in a “team space” visible to all team members.  
           [0008]    Yet another system is presently available from Tacit (http://www.tacit.com). This system is designed to inventory the skills of users of the system (by input or automatically by electronic scanning of documents placed in the system by the users) in order to allow users to find other users having a certain set of skills or expertise.  
           [0009]    There are also systems available which attempt to bring those having expertise to solve particular problems to those with a need for such expertise. For example, a system known as INNOCENTIVE (http://www.innocentive.com) allows users to post technical or scientific problems for which a solution is needed. Other users can then attempt to provide a solution to the problem in order to obtain a reward offered by the user posting the problem to be solved.  
           [0010]    There are also systems available that allow registered users to access a database of funding opportunities and provide alerts to the registered users when new funding, of interest to the user, becomes available. COMMUNITY OF SCIENCE (http://www.cos.com) is one such system.  
           [0011]    Generally, the currently available systems described above as well as others provide useful functionality. It has been found during development of the present invention that a need exists for an entrepreneurial and collaborative environment in which data, information and knowledge can be exchanged and innovation created. The past several years, have seen a marked increase in such entrepreneurial and collaborative environments as compared to prior times. It has been found during development of the present invention that such an environment can be fostered by a tool that allows a wide variety of people to interact in the manner required for such activity to occur efficiently.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0012]    In its most basic form, the invention comprises an interactive system comprising a problem posting and solution bidding forum, a general forum, and a solution and collaboration forum. The problem posting and solution bidding forum, the general forum, and the solution and collaboration forum are operatively interconnected.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
       [0013]    While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as forming the present invention, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:  
         [0014]    The FIGURE is a block diagram representing the basic components of a system of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0015]    This invention relates to collaboration systems having both data, information and knowledge sharing and team forming capabilities. In order to provide a more detailed understanding of the systems of the present invention, specific embodiments or executions of such systems will be described. These embodiments are meant to be representative and are not exhaustive examples of the manner in which the invention may be practiced.  
         [0016]    Collaboration systems of the present invention may be provided using any suitable interactive technology. These systems may be provided through the use of one or more programmable computers. It has been found during the development of the present invention, that the use of standard HTMP (including HTML and XML) based World Wide Web systems as the vehicle through which to deliver the functionality of the described systems is suitable, although other vehicles are expected to work equally well. While there is great variation subsumed within the general descriptor “world wide web,” those of skill in the art will appreciate that using the teachings of this specification it is a routine matter to provide working systems which will work on a variety of known and commonly available computer systems and which will incorporate the features of the invention described herein.  
         [0017]    The FIGURE is a block diagram that represents the basic components that may comprise a system of the present invention. It should be understood that these components shown and described are illustrative and that systems according to the present invention may have a configuration different from that shown in the FIGURE.  
         [0018]    The FIGURE shows one example of a system of the present invention in which the various capabilities or components that comprise the system are contained within dashed line  140 . Basic components that may comprise a system  140  of the present invention include a problem posting and/or solution bidding forum  1   10 , a general collaboration forum  120  and an ad-hoc solution team forum  130  that may contain a secure data, information and knowledge exchange and collaboration forum, such as database and collaboration forum  150 . These components may be provided as different “modules” within an integrated system, or could be provided as various types of functionality within a single interface. For example, different blocks of software, or even different host computers could be used for various components of the system  140  of the present invention. The various components should be functionality linked together so that users of the system can exchange data, information and knowledge with all components in an efficient an integrated manner, but the components need not be physically resident in a single location.  
         [0019]    The inner workings of the components of the system  140  and the relationship between them will be described in greater detail below. First, however, some description regarding the various types of users who may interact with the system is necessary. The FIGURE shows a representation of a system sponsor  100 . In general terms the system sponsor  100  may be thought of as the “system administrator” or “owner” of the system. The system sponsor  100  may be a single user or may refer collectively to a large group of users (such as personnel within a company). In addition to the system sponsor  100  other users may advantageously interact with the system of the present invention. All other users will collectively be referred to as “third-party” users in this specification. If the system  140  of the present invention is practiced in a web-based format on a publicly available network, then potentially anyone could be a third party user of such a system.  
         [0020]    While one or more third party users may act as a system sponsor  100 , conceptually all members of the public may be part of this group that interacts with the system  140  as a whole. This group may be completely public, such as any persons having access to the internet, or may be restricted by the system sponsor  100 , in any desired manner. For example, the third party users of the system  140  may consist of retired employees of the system sponsor  100 , a group of companies in a related industry, a group of academic communities, or any other identifiable group of otherwise non-connected persons.  
         [0021]    Third party users, together with the system sponsor  100  can interact with the system  140  in any suitable manner. In one embodiment, such interactions may take place through programmable computers having a graphical user interface, such as an HTML coded web site. Of course, any other mechanism of interaction such as voice recognition, touch pads, or other suitable interfaces may also be used.  
         [0022]    The present invention may be used to provide a mechanism through which the distributed talent, knowledge, and skills of a scattered and diverse population pool may be harnessed for business advantage. For example, a group of technically skilled, creative, business talented individuals may be known, but scattered, and not necessarily known to each other. Such groups could include retired R&amp;D employees or one or more companies, persons holding particular educational training or work experience, or those who are members in various professional societies. There is a challenge in bringing the talent of such scattered and diverse groups of persons together for their mutual business advantage and/or for the benefit of a sponsoring or investing organization.  
         [0023]    In recent years, great business and technical innovations have developed in a physical region generally referred to as “Silicon Valley.” During development of the present invention, it has been hypothesized that one reason for this highly successful business innovation is the ability of the talent pool, physically located in the region, to establish fluid working teams on an ad-hoc basis in order to create a business advantage. In other words, individuals working on problems in a particular field are frequently interacting with others in the general community. Because of the highly collaborative nature of this community, there is a likelihood that links will get made between individuals who may form working teams on a low-transaction cost basis. Such teams then quickly and efficiently can seek to create business-valuable solutions, techniques, and products that will have commercial value to the regional community at large. The Silicon Valley “network” provides a vehicle in which the desire for economic reward and the ability to form quick relationships with other appropriate members within the network facilities high levels of collaborative problem solving of an economically valuable nature.  
         [0024]    The present invention seeks to capture the “Silicon Valley” network/collaboration model and remove the geographical restrictions. In other words, the system of the present invention may allow the identification of business opportunities, collaborative team forming and problem solving (innovation work) to occur in a manner independent of the location of the participating parties.  
         [0025]    As noted above, basic components that may comprise a system  140  of the present invention include a problem posting and/or solution bidding forum  110 , a general collaboration forum  120  and an ad-hoc solution team forum  130 . The first of these basic components may be a problem posting and/or solution bidding forum  110 , hereinafter referred to as the PP/SB forum. In general terms this PP/SB forum  110  may be thought of as the mechanism by which a market is established.  
         [0026]    The PP/SB forum  110  may have a wide variety of functional capabilities and may take on any of a number of formats or characteristics. In one embodiment, the PP/SB forum  110  may consist of a database of specific technical challenges to be solved which are posted to the PP/SB forum  110  by the system sponsor  100  or any third party user of the system  140  (with or without the involvement of the system sponsor  100 ). In the FIGURE, such input to the PP/SB forum  10  is represented by input line  60  although, as noted, this is only one representation of many possible inputs to the PP/SB forum  110 . In one variation, specific monetary or other incentives may be offered for the solution to one or more technical problems desired by the problem poster. Use of the PP/SB forum  110  is not limited to concrete, specific challenges. Problems of a more hypothetical nature, or a desire for a technological capability for which a practical application is not yet fully developed may also be included in this forum. The overall concept is to populate this section of the system with subject matter that would have actual or potential economic value to one or more users of the system. In this manner, all of the users of the system can determine those subject areas in which the users collectively have an interest in new technical development or contributions.  
         [0027]    Elements of the PP/SB forum  110  may include: a database of problem and business opportunity postings that is categorized by a user relevant taxonomy which may also be full text searchable. A mechanism for the system sponsor  100  and/or authorized third party users to add/remove a problem or business opportunity to the database and track the number of times the entry is “viewed” by users of the system  140  may also be included. Problem and business opportunity postings may include: sufficient information about the problem or opportunity to allow user(s) of the system  140  to evaluate their potential to solve the problem and/or contribute to the solution or business creation; the remuneration the poster would pay for an accepted solution to the problem or the potential value for the business opportunity; a mechanism for the users to contact the problem or business opportunity poster and/or the sponsor  100  to enter into a collaboration agreement or obtain more information regarding the problem or opportunity; a mechanism to make known to other users of the system  140  a user&#39;s intent or willingness to engage in the development and/or submission of a solution for a given problem or opportunity. Potentially the posting would may also include the status of activities for the posting and/or who submitted the accepted solution to the problem or opportunity.  
         [0028]    The PP/SB forum  110  may also include a mechanism for alerting a registered user when a problem or opportunity of interest to them was posted and/or when another user, such as a partial solution provider, solicited others to join in a solution development endeavor. The PP/SB forum  110  may also include a mechanism for establishing an agreement between the problem or opportunity poster and the solution provider(s) that includes, among other rights, the intellectual property rights to the solution. The PP/SB forum  110  could potentially contain a number of “links” to data, information, knowledge or resources that would be helpful to the problem/opportunity poster or solution provider, e.g. patent lawyers, patent offices such as the United States Patent and Trademark Office, registered system users database, etc. Additionally it is envisioned that some problems/opportunities may require, as part of the solution, physical prototypes or other evidence that is beyond the capability of the primary solution provider to create. In these cases it would be helpful for the PP/SB forum  110  to contain a listing of resources that have indicated there willingness to do work for a fee or a portion of the remuneration offered by the poster.  
         [0029]    The second main component of the system  140  of the present invention may be the general collaboration forum  120  (hereinafter general forum). The general forum  120  utilizes the capabilities of known networking systems to foster open and extensive communication among the various users of the system  140 . The general forum  120  may be linked to the other parts of the system, including, for example, the PP/SB forum  110 . The linking of the PP/SB forum in combination with the general forum  120  may be advantageous. Without having to transition to another system or communication mechanism, members of the general community can begin to share ideas, generate discussion and solicit formation of an innovation team in view of general community knowledge (via the PP/SB forum  110 , for example) regarding those areas in which the community is seeking new creation. This combination allows for the free exchange of data, information and knowledge and ideas in relatively open view of the incentives that the market (i.e. the PP/SB forum  110  portion of the system  140 ) is providing at any given point in time.  
         [0030]    Any suitable format or set of functional characteristics or capabilities may be incorporated into the general forum  120 . The general forum  120  may include a wide variety of public communication and collaboration techniques. These may include voice messaging, text messaging, both real time and “email” varieties, file sharing, multi-user audio and/or video conferencing (both central site and desktop), and other similar capabilities. A general forum  120  bulletin board feature may allow the sponsor  100 , users and organizations to indirectly communicate a message, solicitation or announcement to members of the system  140  in a non-intrusive manner. The open conversations that are occurring in the general forum  120  may advantageously be categorized for example, via user relevant taxonomy and be full text searchable making it easy for users to find, track and participate in conversations of interest to them. Potentially, the general forum  120  may also facilitate the use of “peer to peer” file exchange technologies and services among the users.  
         [0031]    Additionally, the general forum  120  may contain a database of individuals, registered users, and/or organizations that would like to engage in the exchange of data, information and knowledge and/or creation of innovations. User/organization information, profiles, would enable other users, organizations and the sponsor  100  to understand the expertise of the user/organization and the areas of collaboration the user/organization would find of interest. Additionally the profiles may potentially provide links to patents and/or publications of the user or organization as well as a mechanism for contacting the user or organization directly or via the sponsor  100 .  
         [0032]    One potential feature of the general forum  120  is a mechanism for alerting the sponsor  100 , registered users, or organizations of activities that occur within the system or potentially outside the system, for example a user could be alerted when a conversation, of interest to them, is initiated in the general form  120  or when a problem/opportunity is posted in the PP/SB or when a call for collaboration is initiated or when a public “request for proposal”, RFP, is issued outside the system  140 .  
         [0033]    Another potential feature would be to directly link the general forum  120  to relevant resources to help the system users find and address opportunities, for example, academic institutions, government funding programs, contract manufactures, venture capitalists, etc.  
         [0034]    The general forum  120  may assist in facilitation of the formation of Ad-Hoc collaboration/solution teams. The sponsor  100 , registered users or organizations may desire to work with other parties in the system to develop a solution and/or address a business opportunity that is posted in the PP/SB or becomes evident via conversations in the general forum  120  or is publicized via the general forum  120  bulletin board. The solution/collaboration team may want their work to be private and secure from other parties both within and outside the system  140 . A mechanism for soliciting membership in an Ad-Hoc team and access to a secure “solution/collaboration team forum  130 ” may, therefore, be provided in the general collaboration forum  120 .  
         [0035]    The third major component of the system  140  of the present invention may comprise an Ad-Hoc Solution/Collaboration Team forum  130  (hereinafter the S/C forum). Preferably the S/C forum  130  is integrally and operably connected with both the collaboration forum  120 , and the PP/SB forum  110 . The FIGURE shows a relationship in which the PP/SB forum  110 , is connected to the general forum  120 , through means  70 , which in turn is connected to the S/C forum  130 , through means  80 . Additionally, means  95  may connect the S/C forum  130  to the PP/SB forum  110  representing an arrangement in which all three basic modules are integrally connected to each other allowing a user to freely move back and forth between them.  
         [0036]    One distinction between the general forum  120  and the S/C  130  is that the S/C forum  130  is not generally accessible to all users of the system  140 . In other words, while the general forum may be public (or at least as public as the system sponsor  100  sets up the entire system  140  to be), the S/C forum  130  may be more restricted. Preferably, the system  140  has the capacity to allow groups of users to create several S/C forum  130  areas simultaneously. These S/C forum  130  areas, may be “opened” by one or more users and populated with membership as desired by such users. The ability to access any opened S/C forum  130  may be limited to those who are invited by the user or users of the system who opened the particular S/C forum  130  in the first instance. The general forum  120  is designed to facilitate discussion and foster connection making in an area that is created in light of the market needs made visible by the PP/SB forum  110 . This connection making then leads users of the system to identify and select other users who they can work with advantageously to create solutions having economic value. Such creation may take place within the S/C forum  130 .  
         [0037]    In order to maximize the potential for creation of technology and/or solutions having value, the system sponsor  100  may allow the self-selected users to utilize the solution forum  130  without outside interference. The system sponsor  100  may set up expectations or “rules of engagement” relating to the output of the solution forums  130 . For example, the system sponsor  100  may require as a condition for use of the system  140  that solutions or technology generated in the solution forum  130  be first offered on a commercial basis to the system sponsor  100 . Alternatively, the party first creating an explicit economic incentive in the PP/SB forum  110 , may be entitled by agreement to the first option to solutions and/or technology generated in the S/C forum  130 . The fewer restrictions put on the use of the system  140 , the greater the likelihood that users will collaborate on an ad-hoc basis to create new solutions and technology having economic value. Additionally, the S/C forum  130  may contain a secure collaboration space  150  to allow ad-hoc S/C forum  130  users and invitees to conduct conversations that cannot be viewed by the general population and a secure database  150  where they could exchange data, information and knowledge in a secure manner.  
       EXAMPLES  
       [0038]    The following examples describes several series of events which may represent some typical event flows involved in use of the system of the present invention. It should be noted that these event flows are presented by way of example only. These examples are not comprehensive, nor does use of the system of the present invention in all cases require any or all of these events to occur, either in the order described or otherwise.  
       Example 1  
       [0039]    In this example, a System Sponsor  100  posts a problem in the PP/SB forum  110 . This prompts the PP/SB forum  110  to send an alert to a registered user. Such alert is sent by virtue of programming built into the functionality of the PP/SB forum in this example. The User accesses the new posting and decides to form a team to address the problem. The User posts his intention to form a team in the PP/SB  110  posting and on the general forum  120  bulletin board and submits a team formation announcement to the general forum  120 . A series of e-mail and net meeting exchanges occur among potential team members via the general forum  120 . A decision to form an Ad-Hoc solution/collaboration team is made. The team registers its intent to solve the posted problem and signs the “solution provider” contract provided by the sponsor or poster. The team requests formation of a secure team space in the S/C forum  130 . The team collaborates to develops a proposal for the solution and submits it to the poster. The poster accepts the proposal but requests a working prototype as proof of concept. The team uses the system resource links to engage a company to develop a working prototype for a percentage of the solution value. The team submits the final solution and prototype to the poster. The poster accepts the teams solution and pays the team and the sponsor  100  the agreed fees.  
       Example 2  
       [0040]    In this example, an organization offers to sell or license a business opportunity in the PP/SB forum  110 . Several users are alerted to the offer via the PP/SB forum  110 . Users start a dialog in the general forum  120 , and create a work team to develop a business plan. The work team requests an Ad-Hoc teams space in the S/C forum  130  and creates a business plan. The work team shops the business plan among venture capitalists, listed is the general forum  120 , and finds one who will fund a start-up. The created “Start-up” entity negotiates the purchase/license of the business opportunity from the posting organization. Start-up and posting organization pay fees to sponsor  100 .  
       Example 3  
       [0041]    In this example, a user posts a patented, but uncomercialized new product in the PP/SB forum  110  and the general forum  120 . Several users and organizations are alerted to the posting and an organization initiates a dialog with the poster via the general forum  120 . The poster engages a lawyer, via the listing in the general forum  120 , to manage the negotiation with the organization. The organization requires a peer review of the technology behind the product before making a purchase. The poster solicits the general forum  120  for qualifies experts to peer review the technology. The poster and organization identify several experts to conduct the review, the poster hires them and sets up a team space in the S/C forum  130 . Results of the peer review convince the organization to purchase the new product patent. Poster and organization pay fees to the system sponsor.  
         [0042]    While particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.