U.S. patent application number 09/899431 was filed with the patent office on 2002-08-01 for system for knowledge transfer in a group setting.
Invention is credited to Berque, David.
Application Number | 20020101445 09/899431 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33135893 |
Filed Date | 2002-08-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020101445 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Berque, David |
August 1, 2002 |
System for knowledge transfer in a group setting
Abstract
A system for knowledge transfer in a group setting comprises a
plurality of participant work areas and a moderator work area. Each
of the plurality of participant work areas has at least one
corresponding participant input-device, and each of the participant
input-devices is adapted to define participant images that are then
included on the corresponding participant work area. The moderator
work area comprises at least one moderator input-device. The at
least one moderator input-device is adapted to define moderator
images that are then included on the moderator work area and to
select moderator images that are then simultaneously included on
each of plurality of participant work areas. The moderator
input-device is further adapted to select participant images from
any of the plurality of participant work areas that are then
included on the moderator work area.
Inventors: |
Berque, David; (Greencastle,
IN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Woodard, Emhardt, Naughton, Moriarty and McNett
Bank One Center/Tower
Suite 3700
111 Monument Circle
Indianapolis
IN
46204-5137
US
|
Family ID: |
33135893 |
Appl. No.: |
09/899431 |
Filed: |
July 3, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60265359 |
Jan 31, 2001 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
715/751 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04L 9/40 20220501; G06Q
10/10 20130101; H04L 67/131 20220501 |
Class at
Publication: |
345/751 |
International
Class: |
G09G 005/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A system for knowledge transfer in a group setting, the system
comprising: a plurality of participant work areas, each having at
least one corresponding participant input-device, and each of the
participant input-devices being adapted to define participant
images that are then included on the corresponding participant work
area; a moderator work area, comprising at least one moderator
input-device, the at least one moderator input-device being adapted
to define moderator images that are then included on the moderator
work area and to select moderator images that are then
simultaneously included on each of plurality of participant work
areas; wherein the moderator input-device is further adapted to
select participant images from any of the plurality of participant
work areas that are then included on the moderator work area.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the moderator input-device
selects moderator images that are then simultaneously included on
each of the plurality of participant work areas when the moderator
has finished defining it.
3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of display
elements adapted to display the moderator work area and the
plurality of participant work areas.
4. The system of claim 3, wherein the plurality of display elements
are substantially located to permit a user to simultaneously view
one of the display elements and hear substantially every other user
that is viewing another of the display elements.
5. The system of claim 4, wherein the user hears substantially
every other user through a form of audio transmission.
6. The system of claim 3, wherein the work areas are permitted to
have a size exceeding that which can be displayed on the display
elements.
7. The system of claim 6, wherein the work areas each comprise at
least one scroll.
8. The system of claim 7, wherein each scroll comprises a set of
practically infinite scrollable panels.
9. The system of claim 1, wherein the work areas can be stored as a
single computer file, and wherein previously-saved files can be
imported into a work area.
10. The system of claim 1, wherein the input-devices are adapted to
define the images by creating text objects and draw objects
corresponding to the images.
11. The system of claim 10, wherein the input-devices are further
adapted to define the images by creating erase objects.
12. The system of claim 10, wherein the input-devices are further
adapted to define the images by creating bitmap objects.
13. The system of claim 1, wherein additional participant work
areas can be created and added to the system while the system is in
operation.
14. A system for knowledge transfer in a group setting, the system
comprising: a plurality of participant work stations, each
comprising: a participant work area; a participant input-device
adapted to define participant images that are then included on the
corresponding participant work area, the participant images being
able to be defined by at least text objects, draw objects, erase
objects, and bitmap objects; a participant display element adapted
to display the corresponding participant work area; a moderator
work station, comprising: a moderator work area; at least one
moderator input-device adapted to define moderator images that are
then included on the moderator work area and on each of plurality
of participant work areas, the moderator images being able to be
defined by at least text objects, draw objects, erase objects, and
bitmap objects; a moderator display element adapted to display the
moderator work area; wherein the moderator input-device is further
adapted to select participant images from any of the plurality of
participant work areas that are then included on the moderator work
area; wherein the work areas comprise a scroll of panels, each
panel being permitted to have a size exceeding that which can be
displayed on the display elements; wherein the plurality of display
elements are substantially located to permit a user to
simultaneously view one of the display elements and to hear
substantially every other user that is viewing another of the
display elements; and wherein additional participant work stations
can be added to the system while the system is in use.
15. A system for knowledge transfer in a group setting, the system
comprising a plurality of work areas, each comprising a public
scroll and a private scroll, and wherein one of the plurality of
work areas is a moderator work area.
16. A network of computers programmed for knowledge transfer in a
group setting, the network comprising: a plurality of participant
workstations, each programmed to provide a participant work area
and having at least one corresponding participant input-device, and
each of the participant input-devices being adapted to create data
structures defining participant images that are then included the
participant work area; a moderator workstation, programmed to
provide a moderator work area and comprising at least one moderator
input-device, the at least one moderator input-device being adapted
to: create data structures defining moderator images that are then
included in the moderator work area, and to select moderator images
that are then simultaneously included on each of plurality of
participant work areas; wherein the moderator input-device is
further adapted to select participant images from any of the
plurality of participant work areas that are then included on the
moderator work area.
17. The network of claim 16, wherein the moderator work area
comprises a shared work area and a moderator private work area, and
each participant work area comprises a participant public work area
and a private work area.
18. The network of claim 17, wherein each participant's work
station displays images placed on the shared work area superimposed
on images placed in that participant's public work area.
19. The network of claim 16, wherein the network can be used in a
group mode and a standalone mode.
20. The network of claim 16, wherein the workstations are located
such that a first user positioned to use a workstation and a second
user positioned to use a different workstation can hear each other
speak.
21. The network of claim 20, wherein every user positioned to use a
workstation can hear every other user positioned to use any other
workstation.
22. The network of claim 16, wherein no user positioned to use a
workstation can hear any other user positioned to use a different
workstation.
23. The network of claim 16, wherein images are organized in
notebook data structures comprising at least one panel.
24. The network of claim 23, wherein the images are stored as at
least one object in a single panel.
25. The network of claim 23, wherein the images are stored as at
least one record in a relational database.
26. The network of claim 23, wherein the images are stored as at
least one record in an indexed database.
27. The network of claim 16, wherein images placed on a
participant's work area at a participant workstation may be viewed
only at that workstation unless that participant decides to permit
them to be viewed from another workstation.
28. The network of claim 27, wherein a participant can implement a
decision to permit an image placed on a participant work area to be
viewed at another workstation by setting a flag.
29. The network of claim 27, wherein a participant can implement a
decision to permit an image placed on a participant work area to be
viewed at another workstation by actively causing information
corresponding to the image to be transmitted to another
workstation.
30. The network of claim 16, further comprising
collision-correction functionality.
31. The network of claim 30, wherein the collision-correction
functionality comprises functionality permitting toggling between a
plurality of view modes.
32. The network of claim 30, wherein the collision-correction
functionality comprises functionality permitting relocation of
images on the participant work area.
33. The network of claim 32, wherein the relocation of images
occurs automatically when a collision occurs.
34. The network of claim 16, further comprising collision-avoidance
functionality.
35. The network of claim 34, wherein the collision-avoidance
functionality comprises a margin that does not have a corresponding
location of the shared work area.
36. The network of claim 34, wherein the collision-avoidance
functionality comprises functionality that permits the participant
to place footnote images on the participant work area that provide
a link between the footnote images and corresponding images placed
on a portion of the participant work area that is not superimposed
on the shared work area.
37. The network of claim 34, wherein the participant work area
comprises a participant public work area and a private work area,
wherein images placed on the participant's public work area are
generally displayed superimposed on images on the shared work
area.
38. The network of claim 34, wherein the collision-avoidance
functionality comprises functionality that permits the participant
to place footnote images in the participant public work area, the
footnote images providing a link to corresponding images located
elsewhere.
39. The network of claim 38, wherein the corresponding images are
placed on the participant's private work area.
40. The network of claim 38, wherein the footnote images are
implemented as hyperlinks which include functionality that causes
the participant's workstation to display the corresponding
images.
41. A network of computers programmed for knowledge transfer in a
group setting, the network comprising: a plurality of participant
workstations, each programmed to provide a participant work area
and having at least one corresponding participant input-device, and
each of the participant input-devices being adapted to create data
structures defining participant images that are then included on
the participant work area; a moderator workstation, programmed to
provide a moderator work area and comprising at least one moderator
input-device, the at least one moderator input-device being adapted
to: create data structures defining moderator images that are then
included on the moderator work area, and select moderator images
that are then simultaneously included on each of plurality of
participant work areas; wherein the moderator work area comprises a
moderator public scroll and a moderator private scroll, and each
participant work area comprises a participant public scroll and a
participant private scroll; wherein each participant workstation
displays images placed on the participant's public scroll by the
moderator superimposed on images placed on the participant's public
scroll by the participant; and wherein the moderator input-device
is further adapted to select participant images from any of the
plurality of participant work areas that are then included on the
moderator work area.
42. The network of claim 41, wherein the network can be used in a
group mode and a standalone mode.
43. The network of claim 41, wherein the workstations are located
such that a first user positioned to use a workstation and a second
user positioned to use a different workstation can hear each other
speak.
44. The network of claim 43, wherein every user positioned to use a
workstation can hear every other user positioned to use any other
workstation.
45. The network of claim 41, wherein the data structures defining
the images are organized in notebook data structures comprising at
least one panel.
46. The network of claim 45, wherein the data structures defining
the images comprise at least one object in a single panel.
47. The network of claim 44, wherein the data structures defining
the images comprise at least one record in a relational
database.
48. The network of claim 41, wherein images placed on a participant
work area at a participant workstation may be viewed only at that
workstation unless a participant decides to permit them to be
viewed from another workstation.
49. The network of claim 48, wherein a participant can implement a
decision to permit an image placed on a participant work area to be
viewed at another workstation by setting a flag.
50. The network of claim 48, wherein a participant can implement a
decision to permit an image placed on a participant work area to be
viewed at another workstation by actively causing information
corresponding to the image to be transmitted to another
workstation.
51. The network of claim 41, further comprising
collision-correction functionality.
52. The network of claim 51, wherein the collision-correction
functionality comprises functionality permitting toggling between a
plurality of view modes.
53. The network of claim 51, wherein the collision-correction
functionality comprises functionality permitting relocation of
images on the participant work area.
54. The network of claim 53, wherein the relocation of images
occurs automatically when a collision occurs.
55. The network of claim 41, further comprising collision-avoidance
functionality.
56. The network of claim 55, wherein the collision-avoidance
functionality comprises an area on the participant's work area that
does not have a corresponding location to any location on the
shared work area.
57. The network of claim 55, wherein the collision-avoidance
functionality comprises functionality that permits the participant
to place footnote images on the participant work area that provide
a link between the footnote images and corresponding images that
are not typically superimposed on the shared work area.
58. The network of claim 55, wherein the participant work area
comprises a participant public work area and a participant private
work area, wherein images placed on the participant public work
area are generally displayed superimposed over images on the public
scroll.
59. The network of claim 58, wherein the participant work area
comprises a participant public scroll and a participant private
scroll, wherein data structures corresponding to images placed on
the shared work area and to images placed on the participant public
work area are placed on the participant public scroll.
60. The network of claim 58, wherein the collision-avoidance
functionality comprises functionality that permits the participant
to place footnote images in the participant public work area, the
footnote images providing a link to corresponding images located in
the participant's private work area.
61. The network of claim 60, wherein the footnote images are
implemented as hyperlinks which include functionality that causes
the participant's work station to display the corresponding
images.
62. A network of computers programmed for knowledge transfer in a
group setting, the network comprising: a plurality of participant
workstations, each programmed to provide a participant work area
and having at least one corresponding participant input-device,
each of the participant input-devices being adapted to create data
structures defining participant images that are then included on
the participant work area; a moderator workstation, programmed to
provide a moderator work area and comprising at least one moderator
input-device, the at least one moderator input-device being adapted
to: create data structures defining moderator images that are then
included on the moderator work area, and to select moderator images
that are then simultaneously included on each of plurality of
participant work areas; wherein the moderator work area comprises a
shared work area and a moderator private work area, and each
participant work area comprises a participant public work area and
a participant private work area; wherein each participant work
station displays images placed on the shared work area superimposed
on images placed on the participant public work area; wherein the
moderator input-device is further adapted to select participant
images from any of the plurality of participant work areas that are
then included on the moderator work area wherein the network can be
used in a group mode and a standalone mode; and wherein the
workstations are located such that a first user positioned to use a
workstation and a second user positioned to use a different
workstation can hear each other speak.
63. The network of claim 62, wherein every user positioned to use a
workstation can hear every other user positioned to use any other
workstation.
64. The network of claim 62, wherein data structures defining
images are organized in notebook data structures comprising at
least one panel.
65. The network of claim 64, wherein the data structures defining
the images comprise at least one object in a single panel.
66. The network of claim 64, wherein the data structures defining
the images comprise at least one record in a relational
database.
67. The network of claim 62, wherein images placed on a participant
work area at a participant workstation may be viewed only at that
workstation unless a participant decides to permit it to be viewed
from another workstation.
68. The network of claim 67, wherein a participant can implement a
decision to permit an image placed on a participant work area to be
viewed at another workstation by setting a flag.
69. The network of claim 67, wherein a participant can implement a
decision to permit an image placed on a participant work area to be
viewed at another workstation by actively causing information
corresponding to the image to be transmitted to another
workstation.
70. The network of claim 62, further comprising
collision-correction functionality.
71. The network of claim 70, wherein the collision-correction
functionality comprises functionality permitting toggling between a
plurality of view modes.
72. The network of claim 70, wherein the collision-correction
functionality comprises functionality permitting relocation of
images on the participant work area.
73. The network of claim 72, wherein the relocation of images
occurs automatically when a collision occurs.
74. The network of claim 62, further comprising collision-avoidance
functionality.
75. The network of claim 74, wherein the collision-avoidance
functionality comprises an area on the participant's public work
area that does not have a corresponding location on the shared work
area.
76. The network of claim 74, wherein the collision-avoidance
functionality comprises functionality that permits the participant
to place footnote images on the participant work area that provide
a link between the footnote images and corresponding images located
elsewhere.
77. The network of claim 76, wherein the corresponding images
located elsewhere comprise images placed on the participant's
private work area.
78. The network of claim 74, wherein the participant work area
comprises a participant public work area and a private work area,
wherein images placed on the participant public work area are
generally displayed superimposed over images on the shared work
area.
79. The network of claim 78, wherein the collision-avoidance
functionality comprises functionality that permits the participant
to place footnote images in the participant's public work area, the
footnote images providing a link to corresponding images located
elsewhere.
80. The network of claim 79, wherein the footnote images are
implemented as hyperlinks which include functionality that causes
the participant's workstation to display the corresponding
images.
81. A network of computers programmed for knowledge transfer in a
group setting, the network comprising: a plurality of participant
workstations, each programmed to provide a participant work area
and having at least one corresponding participant input-device,
each of the participant input-devices being adapted to create data
structures defining participant images that are then included on
the participant work area; a moderator workstation, programmed to
provide a moderator work area and comprising at least one moderator
input-device, the at least one moderator input-device being adapted
to: create data structures defining moderator images that are then
included on the moderator work area, and to select moderator images
that are then simultaneously included on each of the plurality of
participant work areas; wherein the moderator work area comprises a
shared work area and a moderator private work area, and each
participant work area comprises a participant public work area and
a participant private work area; wherein each participant
workstation displays images placed on the shared work area by the
moderator superimposed on images placed in the participant public
work area; wherein the moderator input-device is further adapted to
select participant images from any of the plurality of participant
work areas that are then included on the moderator work area;
wherein the network can be used in a group mode and a standalone
mode; wherein every user positioned to use a workstation can hear
every other user positioned to use any other workstation; and
wherein data structures defining the images are organized in
notebook files comprising at least one panel and are stored as at
least one object in a single panel.
82. The network of claim 81, wherein images placed on a participant
work area may be viewed only at that workstation unless a
participant decides to permit them to be viewed from another
workstation.
83. The network of claim 82, wherein a participant can implement a
decision to permit an image placed on a participant work area to be
viewed at another workstation by setting a flag.
84. The network of claim 82, wherein a participant can implement a
decision to permit an image placed on a participant work area to be
viewed at another workstation by actively causing information
corresponding to the image to be transmitted to another
workstation.
85. The network of claim 81, further comprising
collision-correction functionality.
86. The network of claim 85, wherein the collision-correction
functionality comprises functionality permitting toggling between a
plurality of view modes.
87. The network of claim 85, wherein the collision-correction
functionality comprises functionality permitting relocation of
images on the participant work area.
88. The network of claim 87, wherein the relocation of images
occurs automatically when a collision occurs.
89. The network of claim 81, further comprising collision-avoidance
functionality.
90. The network of claim 89, wherein the collision-avoidance
functionality comprises an area on the participant's public work
area that does not have a corresponding location on the shared work
area.
91. The network of claim 89, wherein the collision-avoidance
functionality comprises functionality that permits the participant
to place footnote images on the participant work area that provide
a link between the footnote images and corresponding images located
elsewhere.
92. The network of claim 89, wherein the participant work area
comprises a participant public work area and a private work area,
wherein images placed on the participant public work area are
generally displayed superimposed over images on the shared work
area.
93. The network of claim 92, wherein the participant work area
comprises a participant public scroll and a private scroll, and
wherein data structures defining the images placed on the shared
work area and the participant's public work area are placed on the
participant public scroll.
94. The network of claim 93, wherein the collision-avoidance
functionality comprises functionality that permits a participant to
place footnote images in the participant's public work area, the
footnote images providing a link to corresponding images located
elsewhere.
95. The network of claim 94, wherein the corresponding images are
located on the participant's private work area.
96. The network of claim 95, wherein the footnote images are
implemented as hyperlinks which include functionality that causes
the participant's workstation to display the corresponding
images.
97. A network of computers programmed for knowledge transfer in a
group setting, the network comprising: a plurality of participant
workstations, each programmed to provide a participant work area
and having at least one corresponding participant input-device,
each of the participant input-devices being adapted to create data
structures defining participant images that are then included on
the participant work area; a moderator workstation, programmed to
provide a moderator work area and comprising at least one moderator
input-device, the at least one moderator input-device being adapted
to: create data structures defining moderator images that are then
included on the moderator work area, and to select moderator images
that are then simultaneously included on each of the plurality of
participant work areas; and collision-correction functionality;
wherein the moderator work area comprises a shared work area and a
moderator private work area, and each participant work area
comprises a participant public work area and a participant private
work area; wherein each participant workstation displays images
placed on the shared work area by the moderator superimposed on
images placed on the participant public work area; wherein the
participant work area comprises a participant public scroll and a
participant private scroll, the participant public scroll
comprising data structures defining images placed on the shared
work area and the participant's public work area; wherein the
moderator input-device is further adapted to select participant
images from any of the plurality of participant work areas that are
then included on the moderator work area; wherein a participant
must decide to permit an image to be selected by the moderator
input-device before it can be included on the moderator work area;
wherein the network can be used in a group mode and a standalone
mode; wherein every user positioned to use a workstation can hear
every other user positioned to use any other workstation.
98. The network of claim 97, wherein a participant can implement a
decision to permit an image placed on a participant work area to be
viewed at another workstation by setting a flag.
99. The network of claim 97, wherein a participant can implement a
decision to permit an image placed on a participant work area to be
viewed at another workstation by actively causing information
corresponding to the image to be transmitted to another
workstation.
100. The network of claim 97, wherein the collision-correction
functionality comprises functionality permitting toggling between a
plurality of view modes.
101. The network of claim 97, wherein the collision-correction
functionality comprises functionality permitting relocation of
images on the participant work area.
102. The network of claim 101, wherein the relocation of images
occurs automatically when a collision occurs.
103. The network of claim 97, further comprising
collision-avoidance functionality.
104. The network of claim 103, wherein the collision-avoidance
functionality comprises an area on each of the participant's public
work areas that does not have a corresponding location on the
shared work area.
105. The network of claim 104, wherein the collision-avoidance
functionality comprises functionality that permits the participant
to place footnote images on the participant work area that provide
a link between the footnote images and corresponding images located
elsewhere.
106. The network of claim 104, wherein the collision-avoidance
functionality comprises functionality that permits the participant
to place footnote images in the participant's public work area, the
footnote images providing a link to corresponding images located
elsewhere.
107. The network of claim 106, wherein the footnote images are
implemented as hyperlinks which include functionality that causes
the private window to display the corresponding images.
108. A system for knowledge transfer in a group setting, the system
comprising: a plurality of participant work stations, each
comprising: at least one participant display device; at least one
input device; a participant public scroll; and a participant
private scroll; the at least one participant input device being
adapted to permit the participant to create data structures on the
participant public scroll and participant private scroll defining
images that are displayed on the at least one participant display
device; a moderator work station, comprising: at least one
moderator display device; at least one moderator input-device; a
moderator public scroll; the at least one moderator input device
being adapted to create data structures on the moderator public
scroll and each of the participant public scrolls defining images
that are displayed on the at least one moderator display device and
on each of the at least one participant display devices.
109. The system of claim 108, wherein the moderator work station
further comprises a moderator private scroll, and wherein the at
least one moderator input device is further adapted to create data
structures on the moderator private scroll that are displayed on
the at least one moderator display device.
110. The system of claim 109, wherein the at least one moderator
display device comprises a moderator public display device and a
moderator private display device, and wherein images corresponding
to data structures on the moderator public scroll are displayed on
the moderator public display device.
111. The system of claim 108, wherein the moderator input-device is
further adapted to select participant images from any of the
plurality of participant work areas that are then included on the
moderator work area.
112. The system of claim 108, wherein at least some of the scrolls
comprise at least one practically infinite, scrollable panel.
113. The system of claim 112, wherein the size of at least some of
the panels can be increased after the panel is created.
114. The system of claim 112, wherein at least one of the display
devices can simultaneously display portions of adjacent panels on a
scroll.
115. The system of claim 108, wherein the data structures comprises
objects.
116. The system of claim 115, wherein at least one of the scrolls
comprises at least one practically infinite, scrollable panel.
117. The system of claim 116, wherein the objects are organized as
linked-lists on each panel.
118. The system of 117, wherein objects placed on a scroll can be
replayed by displaying corresponding images as the objects are
added to the display one object at a time.
119. The system of claim 118, wherein the objects are added to the
display in the order they were added to the scroll.
120. The system of claim 118, wherein the objects are added to the
display in the order they were added to a given panel.
121. The system of claim 108, wherein each of the participant input
devices can only create data structures that are placed on the
participant's scrolls unless a moderator input device is used to
permit otherwise.
122. The system of claim 118, wherein data structures included on
the moderator public scroll are automatically placed on each of the
participant public scrolls, and wherein a moderator input device
can be used to permit a data structure created by a participant
input device to be placed on other participant's scrolls by
selecting it to be included on the moderator public scroll.
123. The system of claim 118, wherein a moderator input device can
be used to permit a data structure created by a participant input
device to be included on other participant public scrolls by
causing the participant work station at which that participant
input device is located to become the moderator workstation.
124. The system of claim 123, wherein a moderator input device can
cause a participant workstation to become the moderator input
device by passing a security token.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] Software that supports cooperative work, often called
groupware, generally employs work surfaces that function according
to the "What you see is what I see" ("WYSIWIS" ) paradigm. This
means that whenever a group of users is using such software, each
has the same view. Anything written by one of the users is
immediately seen by everyone else. Although the WYSIWIS paradigm
has been the central idea behind most shared work surface
groupware, deviations from a strict interpretation of some aspects
of this paradigm have sometimes been considered.
[0002] For example, users may be distracted by a strict adherence
to the WYSIWIS "simultaneity constraint." Consider a group member
who is drawing a rectangle on the shared work surface. The other
group members may find it distracting to watch the fine grain
updates that transpire as the rectangle is sized and placed.
Therefore, it may be more appropriate for the system to delay the
process of updating the other displays until the size and placement
of the rectangle have been finalized, even though this implies the
users will not always have identical views of the shared work
surface.
[0003] Another example of an advantageous relaxing of strict
adherence to the WYSIWIS paradigm is permitting the shared work
surface to exceed the size of what can be displayed at one time,
and permitting individual users to select which portion is
displayed at their workstation.
[0004] In many situations the members of a group employing a
groupware system do not all have a common role. For example, one
valuable use of groupware is as a teaching aid in a classroom. In
this situation, a teacher or professor has the primary
responsibility for selecting the subject matter and directing the
discussion. It is therefore advantageous for this person to have
additional means of reviewing and selecting the contributions from
the other group members for the purpose of providing those that are
likely to be most helpful to the discourse.
[0005] What is needed, therefore, is a system for sharing knowledge
that uses a relaxed version of the WYSIWIS paradigm to further
facilitate the efficient transfer of useful information, while
filtering out information that is not useful or distracting. The
present invention is directed towards meeting this need.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] A first embodiment system for knowledge transfer in a group
setting comprises: a plurality of participant work areas and a
moderator work area. Each of the plurality of participant work
areas has at least one corresponding participant input-device, and
each of the participant input-devices is adapted to define
participant images that are then included on the corresponding
participant work area. The moderator work area comprises at least
one moderator input-device, the at least one moderator input-device
being adapted to define moderator images that are then included on
the moderator work area and to select moderator images that are
then simultaneously included on each of plurality of participant
work areas. The moderator input-device is further adapted to select
participant images from any of the plurality of participant work
areas that are then included on the moderator work area.
[0007] A second embodiment system for knowledge transfer in a group
setting comprises: a plurality of participant work stations and a
moderator work station. Each of the participant work stations
comprises: a participant work area; a participant input device, and
a participant display element. The participant input-device is
adapted to define participant images that are then included on the
corresponding participant work area, the participant images being
able to be defined by at least text objects, draw objects, erase
objects, and bitmap objects. The participant display element is
adapted to display the corresponding participant work area. The
moderator work station comprises: a moderator work area, at least
one moderator input-device, and a moderator display element. The at
least one moderator input-device is adapted to define moderator
images that are then included on the moderator work area and on
each of plurality of participant work areas, the moderator images
being able to be defined by at least text objects, draw objects,
erase objects, and bitmap objects. The moderator display element is
adapted to display the moderator work area. The moderator
input-device is further adapted to select participant images from
any of the plurality of participant work areas that are then
included on the moderator work area. The work areas comprise a
scroll of panels, each panel being permitted to have a size
exceeding that which can be displayed on the display elements. The
plurality of display elements are substantially located to permit a
user to simultaneously view one of the display elements and to hear
substantially every other user that is viewing another of the
display elements. Additional participant work stations can be added
to the system while the system is in use.
[0008] A third embodiment system for knowledge transfer in a group
setting comprises a plurality of work areas, each comprising a
public scroll and a private scroll, and wherein one of the
plurality of work areas is a moderator work area.
[0009] A fourth embodiment comprises a network of computers
programmed for knowledge transfer in a group setting, the network
comprising: a plurality of participant workstations and a moderator
workstation. Each of the participant workstations is programmed to
provide a participant work area and has at least one corresponding
participant input-device. Each of the participant input-devices is
adapted to create data structures defining participant images that
are then included in the participant work area. The moderator
workstation is programmed to provide a moderator work area and
comprises at least one moderator input-device. The at least one
moderator input-device is adapted to: create data structures
defining moderator images that are then included in the moderator
work area; and to select moderator images that are then
simultaneously included on each of plurality of participant work
areas. The moderator input-device is further adapted to select
participant images from any of the plurality of participant work
areas that are then included on the moderator work area.
[0010] A fifth embodiment comprises a network of computers
programmed for knowledge transfer in a group setting, the network
comprising: a plurality of participant workstations and a moderator
workstation. Each of the participant workstations is programmed to
provide a participant work area and has at least one corresponding
participant input-device. Each of the participant input-devices is
adapted to create data structures defining participant images that
are then included on the participant work area. The moderator
workstation is programmed to provide a moderator work area and
comprises at least one moderator input-device. The at least one
moderator input-device is adapted: to create data structures
defining moderator images that are then included on the moderator
work area; and to select moderator images that are then
simultaneously included on each of plurality of participant work
areas. The moderator work area comprises a moderator public scroll
and a moderator private scroll, and each participant work area
comprises a participant public scroll and a participant private
scroll. Each participant workstation displays images placed on the
participant's public scroll by the moderator superimposed on images
placed on the participant's public scroll by the participant. The
moderator input-device is further adapted to select participant
images from any of the plurality of participant work areas that are
then included on the moderator work area.
[0011] A sixth embodiment comprises a network of computers
programmed for knowledge transfer in a group setting, the network
comprising: a plurality of participant workstations and a moderator
workstation. Each of the participant workstations is programmed to
provide a participant work area and has at least one corresponding
participant input-device. Each of the participant input-devices is
adapted to create data structures defining participant images that
are then included on the participant work area. The moderator
workstation is programmed to provide a moderator work area and
comprises at least one moderator input-device. The at least one
moderator input-device is adapted to: create data structures
defining moderator images that are then included on the moderator
work area; and to select moderator images that are then
simultaneously included on each of plurality of participant work
areas. The moderator work area comprises a shared work area and a
moderator private work area, and each participant work area
comprises a participant public work area and a participant private
work area. Each participant work station displays images placed on
the shared work area superimposed on images placed on the
participant public work area. The moderator input-device is further
adapted to select participant images from any of the plurality of
participant work areas that are then included on the moderator work
area. The network can be used in a group mode and a standalone
mode. The workstations are located such that a first user
positioned to use a workstation and a second user positioned to use
a different workstation can hear each other speak.
[0012] A seventh embodiment comprises a network of computers
programmed for knowledge transfer in a group setting, the network
comprising: a plurality of participant workstations and a moderator
workstation. Each of the participant workstations is programmed to
provide a participant work area and has at least one corresponding
participant input-device. Each of the participant input-devices is
adapted to create data structures defining participant images that
are then included on the participant work area. The moderator
workstation is programmed to provide a moderator work area and
comprises at least one moderator input-device. The at least one
moderator input-device is adapted to: create data structures
defining moderator images that are then included on the moderator
work area; and to select moderator images that are then
simultaneously included on each of plurality of participant work
areas. The moderator work area comprises a shared work area and a
moderator private work area, and each participant work area
comprises a participant public work area and a participant private
work area. Each participant workstation displays images placed on
the shared work area by the moderator superimposed on images placed
in the participant public work area. The moderator input-device is
further adapted to select participant images from any of the
plurality of participant work areas that are then included on the
moderator work area. The network can be used in a group mode and a
standalone mode. Every user positioned to use a workstation can
hear every other user positioned to use any other workstation. Data
structures defining the images are organized in notebook files
comprising at least one panel and are stored as at least one object
in a single panel.
[0013] An eighth embodiment comprises a network of computers
programmed for knowledge transfer in a group setting, the network
comprising: a plurality of participant workstations and a moderator
workstation, and collision-correction functionality. Each of the
participant workstations is programmed to provide a participant
work area and has at least one corresponding participant
input-device. Each of the participant input-devices is adapted to
create data structures defining participant images that are then
included on the participant work area. The moderator workstation is
programmed to provide a moderator work area and comprises at least
one moderator input-device, the at least one moderator input-device
being adapted to: create data structures defining moderator images
that are then included on the moderator work area, and to select
moderator images that are then simultaneously included on each of
the plurality of participant work areas. The moderator work area
comprises a shared work area and a moderator private work area, and
each participant work area comprises a participant public work area
and a participant private work area. Each participant workstation
displays images placed on the shared work area by the moderator
superimposed on images placed on the participant public work area.
The participant work area comprises a participant public scroll and
a participant private scroll, the participant public scroll
comprising data structures defining images placed on the shared
work area and the participant's public work area. The moderator
input-device is further adapted to select participant images from
any of the plurality of participant work areas that are then
included on the moderator work area. A participant must decide to
permit an image to be selected by the moderator input-device before
it can be included on the moderator work area. The network can be
used in a group mode and a standalone mode. Every user positioned
to use a workstation can hear every other user positioned to use
any other workstation.
[0014] A ninth embodiment system for knowledge transfer in a group
setting comprises: a plurality of participant work stations and a
moderator work station. Each of the participant work stations
comprises: at least one participant display device; at least one
input device; a participant public scroll; and a participant
private scroll. The at least one participant input device is
adapted to permit the participant to create data structures on the
participant public scroll and participant private scroll defining
images that are displayed on the at least one participant display
device. The moderator work station comprises: at least one
moderator display device; at least one moderator input-device; a
moderator public scroll. The at least one moderator input-device is
adapted to create data structures on the moderator public scroll
and each of the participant public scrolls defining images that are
displayed on the at least one moderator display device and on each
of the at least one participant display devices.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1 is an example of an image of a binary search tree
that has been placed on a shared work area.
[0016] FIG. 2 is an example of the image of FIG. 1, superimposed
with images placed on a participant public work area, including a
footnote image having a corresponding text image on the
participant's private work area.
[0017] FIG. 3 is a diagram of certain elements of a group work area
according to the present invention.
[0018] FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams showing certain dynamic sharing
methods of a group work area according to the present
invention.
[0019] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing certain dynamic sharing methods
of a group work area according to the present invention.
[0020] FIG. 6 is a diagram of certain elements of a preferred
embodiment user work area according to the present invention.
[0021] FIG. 7 is an illustration of the evolution of an image
created by adding image objects to a panel of the preferred
embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0022] For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the
principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the
embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will
be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood
that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby
intended, such alterations and further modifications in the
illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles
of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would
normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention
relates.
[0023] A preferred embodiment system of knowledge transfer in a
group setting according to the present invention employs a
What-You-See-Is-What-I-See-One-Way ("WYSIWISOW" ) paradigm. The
WYSIWISOW paradigm is characterized by inclusion of a moderator
workstation and participant workstations in a shared work surface
system. The moderator workstation makes available to a user, called
the moderator, additional functionality that is not available
through the participant workstations to their users, known as
participants.
[0024] The preferred embodiment system comprises a group work area.
FIG. 3 illustrates the relationship between certain elements of the
group work area of the presently preferred embodiment, shown
generally at 300. The group work area 300 comprises at least one
moderator work area 310 and at least one participant work area 320,
and a shared work area 330 and a plurality of private work areas
340, one corresponding to each workstation--including one moderator
private work area 340a. The moderator adds images to the group work
area 300 by adding them to the moderator work area 310, while
participants add images to the group work area 300 by adding them
to their participant work area 320.
[0025] In the preferred embodiment, the moderator work area 310
comprises a shared work area 330 and a moderator private work area
340a. Similarly, in the preferred embodiment, each participant work
area 320 comprises a participant public work area 345 and a
participant private work area 340. When the moderator adds images
to the shared work area 330, they are simultaneously displayed at
each participant's workstation (and the moderator work station).
When the moderator places images on the moderator private work area
340a, they are displayed at the moderator workstation, but they are
not generally displayed at any participant's workstation. In
certain alternative embodiments, the moderator work area 310 does
not include a moderator private work area 340a.
[0026] When a participant adds images to the group work area 300,
they are added either to that participant's public work area 345 or
that participant's private work area 340. Images placed on a
participant's public work area 345 are typically displayed
superimposed on images on the shared work area 330, while images
placed on a participant's private work area are generally not. (In
some situations it may make a difference what order such objects
are "stacked" in--e.g., when the images involve different colors.
"Superimposed," in this context, is not meant to indicate which
image is placed "on top" of which. In certain embodiments, the
images on the participant public work area 345 are always placed
"on top" of those on the shared work area 330, while in others the
opposite is true. In certain other embodiments, the images on the
shared work area 330 and participant public work area 345 are
always "stacked" in the order in which they are created. In still
other embodiments, the order in which these images are "stacked,"
can vary, for example at the selection of the participant.) The
images on each participant work area 320 are typically initially
displayed only at that participant's workstation. In certain
embodiments, the moderator may, however, view any of the
participant work areas 320, including private work areas 340, at
the moderator workstation, and may select images from a participant
work area 320 to be included in the shared work area 330, thereby
causing them to be displayed at each workstation.
[0027] A preferred embodiment system according to the present
invention can be used in group mode or standalone mode. Typically,
the system is used in group mode to initially aid in the transfer
of information between users. Standalone mode can be used during
follow up activities in which, for example, the moderator may check
work that was produced while the system was used in group mode.
During group use, images are placed on the group work area 300. The
group work area 300 can be reviewed by individual users later, in
standalone mode, in order to aid in retention and understanding of
the information transferred. Standalone mode can also be used prior
to a group use session, for example to prepare images for placement
on the public scroll.
[0028] When used in group mode, the group typically discusses a
subject, in order for the moderator to provide information to the
participants about that subject. The moderator typically augments
verbal statements by placing images on the shared work area 330
which he or she expects to aid the participants in more fully
understanding those statements. For example, if the subject being
discussed is chemistry, the images might include chemical symbols
or equations. For another example, if the subject being discussed
is the Pythagorean Theorem, the moderator might provide a diagram
of a right triangle. The participants can supplement the images
provided by the moderator with images that the participant believes
might be helpful for remembering the relevance of the images
selected by the moderator. For example, a participant might add a
caption labeling one side of the right triangle "hypotenuse." This
caption would become part of that participant's surface 320, and
would generally be displayed only at that participant's
workstation. Note that the group work area 300 can be used in
environments where the workstations are located such that the users
can speak directly to one another--for example, in a classroom--or
in environments where some means of transmitting audio are
necessary--such as a virtual classroom, in which various users are
located remotely, and are connected via the Internet. The group
work area 300 can also be used in environments in which the users
cannot hear each other at all, such as when, for example, the users
rely completely on the group work area 300 for the transmission of
information during the group mode session.
[0029] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that,
because the moderator does not normally see images placed on a
participants' surface 320, it is possible that the moderator will
subsequently place an image on the shared work area 330 which is
superimposed on one or more images that participants have placed on
their participant public work area 345. This problem is known as
"collision." There are two general strategies for coping with
collision: collision correction and collision avoidance.
[0030] Collision correction functions to permit users to work
around the collisions that occur. For example, in certain
alternative embodiments each workstation includes functionality
that permits toggling between three view modes: one in which only
the shared work area 330 is displayed, one in which only the
participant public work area 345 is shown, and one in which both
are superimposed. In these embodiments, although the last of these
modes might include collisions, by toggling between the other two,
a participant can view any image on either their public work area
345 or the shared work area 330 without the collisions.
[0031] Another collision correction strategy involves including
functionality at each workstation that permits the participants to
relocate images on the participant work area 320 that have become
involved in collisions. In certain embodiments, the colliding
images are relocated automatically when a collision occurs.
[0032] Collision avoidance, on the other hand, functions to reduce
or eliminate the probability of collisions occurring in the first
place. For example, in certain embodiments a participant's public
work area 345 includes an area (such as a margin or window) that
does not have a corresponding location on the shared work area 330.
Thus, a participant can add images to this area and be assured that
no collisions will occur.
[0033] In the presently preferred embodiment, participant
workstations include functionality that permits the participant to
place footnote images on the public scroll 345 and private scroll
340. These footnote images provide a link between images on a
participant's public work area 345 or the shared work area 330, and
the private scroll 340, and vice versa. Preferably, these footnote
images can also provide a link between images on a participant's
public work area 345 or the shared work area 330 and some other
virtual location. For example, such a footnote image might provide
a link to a computer file, or to a URL for a website containing
information the participant believes relevant. Preferably,
participants can also add images to their private scroll 340
without regard to the danger of future collisions. Thus, a
participant can, for example, place smaller annotations directly on
their public work area 345, while placing larger annotations, with
their correspondingly larger danger of generating future
collisions, in a footnote. In the presently preferred embodiment,
the footnote images include means to display the corresponding
images. For example, if the corresponding images are located in the
participant's private work area 340, the footnote image preferably
includes functionality to cause the participant's workstation to
display the portion of the private work area 340 containing those
images.
[0034] Thus, the presently preferred embodiment group work area 300
could be used to aid in teaching the participants, for example,
about binary search trees. The moderator might select a place on
the shared work area 330, and draw an image of a binary search
tree, as shown in FIG. 5, thereby placing the image shown in FIG. 1
on the shared work area 330, and causing it to be displayed on each
of the participant workstations. The moderator might state orally
that the part of the tree containing the circled "3" is called the
root, as a part of a lengthier oral description of the properties
of binary search trees generally. A participant might place an
annotation saying "root" in his or her participant public work area
345, to identify that portion of the binary search tree. The
participant might also type a lengthier annotation on their private
work area 340, with footnote symbols saying "To Private" and "To
Public" and comprising hypertext links such that "clicking" on one
of them (either with the drawing pad, a mouse, or some other
appropriate input device) in one window causes the other window to
center on the other footnote symbol. FIG. 2 illustrates what this
might look like on the display device of the participant's
workstation. Those skilled in the art of computer operation will
recognize the "scroll bars" that provide graphical information
indicating how to scroll these scrolls up and down. Note that
either window could be independently scrolled to review images
above or below the ones shown here.
[0035] In the presently preferred embodiment, each of the
workstations is a complete and independent computer workstation
sharing a network connection to each of the other workstations.
Thus, in the presently preferred embodiment, each workstation
includes its own processor, monitor, storage media, memory, etc. In
the presently preferred embodiment, the workstations transfer
information via a dynamic TCP/IP protocol, so that no shared
storage is needed. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that
the system need not use TCP/IP, and that any suitable protocol may
be used to transmit information from workstation to workstation. In
certain alternative embodiments, in order to reduce the cost of the
workstations, some or all of them may include fewer than all of
these features. For example, in certain embodiments, the
participant workstations include a processor and monitor, but no
memory or storage media. These assets are preferably located
elsewhere in the network, such that the workstations can use
them.
[0036] As shown in FIG. 6, preferably, the moderator work area 310
and each of the participant work areas 320 are each implemented as
at least one scroll, each scroll comprising a set of practically
infinitely scrollable panels. In the presently preferred
embodiment, for example, the moderator work area 310 comprises a
moderator public scroll 610 and a moderator private scroll 612,
while each participant work area 320 comprises a participant public
scroll 620 and a participant private scroll 622. (In those
embodiments lacking a moderator private work area 340a, the
moderator private scroll 612 is excluded.) Preferably, each of the
scrolls is made up of one or more panels 650 in series, similar to
a slide-show. However, unlike a slide show, preferably, portions of
more than one panel 650 can be displayed at a time, so that an
image can be placed straddling two panels 650 and still have each
portion displayed simultaneously. "Scrollable," in this context,
means that the panels 650 can be larger than what can be displayed
on the display device, but that the portion that is being displayed
can be "scrolled" by means of a scroll bar or other appropriate
mechanism, such as would occur to a person of ordinary skill in the
art of computer use. "Practically infinite," in this context, means
limited by the ability of volatile memory to contain the entire
scroll. In certain embodiments, the panels 650 can scroll
vertically or horizontally. In certain embodiments, the panels can
scroll both vertically and horizontally. In certain alternative
embodiments, the panel's length is limited by persistent memory,
such that portions of the panel are swapped between volatile and
persistent memory as necessary when the size of the panel exceeds
what can be stored in volatile memory alone. Preferably, the panels
have a variable size. Thus, in order to conserve space, a panel
preferably is created with some relatively small size. If
additional space is needed in order to accommodate larger images,
the panel's size can be increased. Thus, in the preferred
embodiment, the user defines the actual size of each panel.
Preferably, such additional panel size can be added even after
additional panels have been added to the scroll.
[0037] In the presently preferred embodiment, each panel 650
comprises a linked-list of objects that have been added to it. Each
workstation can "play back" the evolution of the panel by adding
these objects, one at a time, to the display, in the order they
were originally added. It will be appreciated that this means that
each object generally occupies only a single panel 650. Thus, while
an image can straddle two panels 650, it will generally be
comprised of objects that do not. It will also be appreciated that
other data structures can also be used to store information
corresponding to images in panels 650. For example, the
workstations need not use an object-oriented database structure.
Panels 650 could be stored in a relational database. For another
example, the workstations need not even store the objects in an
internal data structure. In the presently preferred embodiment, the
footnote objects comprise hyperlinks that cause the corresponding
annotations to be displayed when activated, for example by clicking
on them with a mouse.
[0038] In the presently preferred embodiment, the moderator adds an
image to the shared work area 330 by adding an object corresponding
to it to the moderator public scroll 610. Information is then sent
to each participant workstation causing that object to be added to
each of the participant's public scrolls 620. The moderator places
images on the moderator private work area 340a by adding an object
corresponding to it to the moderator private scroll 612. Likewise,
a participant adds images to the participant's public work area 345
or the participant's private work area 340 by adding an object
corresponding to it to the participant's public scroll 620 or the
participant's private scroll 622, respectively. Thus, in the
preferred embodiment, images on the participant's public work area
345 are "stacked" in chronological order, without regard to who
placed them there.
[0039] In the presently preferred embodiment, the moderator
workstation includes an electronic whiteboard upon which the
moderator can draw directly, for example, using a finger, to
generate objects that are placed on the moderator's public scroll
610 or private scroll 622. In those embodiments in which at least
some of the participant workstations are proximally located, the
whiteboard can be oriented to permit participants to observe while
images are drawn on it. In this way, participants can receive
information from non-verbal cues, such as gestures the moderator
makes in relation to the images on the whiteboard. Preferably, the
whiteboard can also be oriented so that the participants cannot see
it, so that the moderator can prepare a complete image that can be
presented to the participants as a finished product. In certain
embodiments, the participant workstations are located remotely, so
that participants could not see a whiteboard. In such embodiments,
the whiteboard can be omitted.
[0040] In the presently preferred embodiment, the participant
workstations include a pen-based video tablet, which permits the
participants to place objects on the participant's public scroll
620 or private scroll 622. Preferably, the moderator workstation
also includes a pen-based video tablet. Preferably, each
workstation also includes a keyboard for entering text objects.
Other input devices, such as mice, optical scanners, etc., can also
be advantageously included at one or more of the workstations. In
those embodiments in which the moderator work area 310 includes a
moderator private scroll 612, the moderator workstation
advantageously includes at least two monitors--one for displaying
the private work area 340a, and one for displaying the shared work
area 330.
[0041] The combination of a display device and a drawing input
device (such as a whiteboard or pen-based video tablet) is
sometimes referred to as a drawing surface. The user can create an
image on the group work area 300 by drawing on the input device,
which then creates a data structure defining the image. The data
structure is placed on the appropriate scroll, and the image is
displayed on the display device. Of course, other types of images,
including graphic images stored in a graphics file, can be placed
on the group work area 300, displayed on the display devices, and
combined with drawn images. Thus, for example, a digital photograph
could be displayed, and some relevant feature highlighted by
drawing a circle or an arrow on the drawing surface.
[0042] A preferred embodiment system according to the present
invention can use dynamic or static sharing methods to transfer
information between workstations. As discussed above, the presently
preferred embodiment system uses TCP/IP to permit dynamic sharing
methods. FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 5 illustrate three such dynamic sharing
methods. For example, as shown in FIG. 4B, the moderator can select
a panel 650 from either the moderator's public scroll 610 or the
moderator's private scroll 612 to be sent to a participant's
workstation. For another example, as shown in FIG. 4A, a moderator
might pull a panel 650 from a participant's public scroll 620 or
private scroll 622 by selecting the panel 650 to pull. A message is
sent to the participant's workstation, which then sends the panel
650 back to the moderator workstation without participant
interaction. The returned panel 650 can be placed on the
moderator's public scroll 610 or the moderator's private scroll
612, at the moderator's discretion.
[0043] FIG. 5 illustrates a kind of dynamic sharing in which the
participant pushes a panel 650 either from the participant's public
scroll 620 or private scroll 622, which is then placed on the
moderator's public scroll 610 or private scroll 612, at the
moderator's discretion.
[0044] Using these methods, a moderator might place a question on a
panel 650 of the moderator's public scroll 610, and request that a
participant pass a panel 650 with the answer from their private
scroll 620 to the moderator workstation. Alternatively, the
moderator might actively select a participant's answered panel 650
and pull the panel 650 without participant interaction. Or, the
moderator could pose a question on the moderator's public scroll
610, and then "collect" the answers. The answers could be collected
by copying the panels 650 directly to the moderator's public scroll
610, or by copying the panels 650 to the moderator's private scroll
612, where they can be reviewed before pasting selected answers
into the moderator's public scroll 610 and sharing them with the
group.
[0045] A preferred embodiment system according to the present
invention can also use static sharing methods. For example, one or
more scroll panels 650 can be exported and written to a panel file.
A user can export panels 650 from either their public scroll 610 or
620, or their private scroll 340, to a panel file. The resulting
electronic files can be copied, deleted, or imported into another
session. When imported into another session, the panel file can be
placed by a participant on their private scroll 622 or their public
scroll 620, or by the moderator either on the moderators public
scroll 610 (and, consequently, each participant's public scroll
620) or the moderators private scroll 612. Panel files can also be
transferred to other users, for use in the same or other
sessions.
[0046] Thus, a user can save information, in the form of files,
corresponding to images on their work area 310 or 320. The
resulting information can be imported in another session. A
participant can place these images on their public work area 345 or
their private work area 340, while the moderator can place these
images on the shared work area 330 or the moderator private work
area 340a.
[0047] In the presently preferred embodiment, entire sessions, or
portions of sessions, can be saved in a notebook file. This permits
a session to be interrupted, and later resumed. The scrolls of a
single user's work area form a chapter in the notebook file. Thus,
for example, a participant could save only the their own work area
to a notebook file having only a single chapter. Or, for example,
the moderator could save the entire group work area 300 in a
notebook file having one chapter for each user that was involved in
the session. Notebook files can be opened, closed, copied, or
deleted. Two notebook files can be merged into a single notebook
file. Notebook files can be transferred between users. The
electronic size of a notebook is typically limited only by storage
space on persistent memory media.
[0048] Preferably, each step in the evolution of the group work
area 300 is stored in the notebook file, so that the users can
review the group discussion by watching as each new image is added,
or as an existing image is altered. FIG. 7 illustrates the
evolution of a complex image on a surface, as it is constructed
from a set of simpler images. The simplest images that can be
placed on the group work area 300 are called objects. In the
presently preferred embodiment, the available objects include
free-form draw objects, defined shapes (such as lines, circles,
rectangles, arrows, polygons, ellipses, perpendicular lines, answer
boxes, etc.), typed text, and erasures. In the presently preferred
embodiment, "erasure" objects actually just fill a region with the
background color, so that images or portions of images are masked.
They do not remove previously added objects from the data structure
of the panels 650, or the group work area 300.
[0049] In the presently preferred embodiment, objects on the
moderator's public scroll 610 are conveyed to participants'
workstation in a dynamic fashion. The moderator's objects are
typically conveyed only when the objects are complete. So, for
example, while the moderator is creating a draw object, the
participants do not see the progress of developing the draw object
on their display. After a pointer creates the draw object and the
pointer is no longer focused on the object, the object is then
conveyed to all participants, and added to their public scroll
620.
[0050] The presently preferred embodiment employs the structure of
panels 650 as a linked-list to capture and replay the creation of
objects for both moderator and participants. The system captures
information to a scroll panel 650 in a sequence of individual
objects as they are applied to the scroll panel 650. The objects
are part of the panel 650 and are not stored as separate files. The
creation sequence of objects on a scroll panel 650 may be replayed
to show the sequence in an object-by-object fashion. There is no
"capture" activation required by a user since the placement of
objects on the panel 650 is a native function. Thus, in the
preferred embodiment, there is no need for the moderator or a
participant to recognize in advance that the evolution of an image
may be useful, in order to activate a capture function (i.e. a
"record" function). Since the objects are embedded in a panel 650
the replay feature is natively available when panel files 650,
panel messages, or notebook files are communicated.
[0051] Thus, it will be appreciated that in addition to storing
images corresponding to information discussed by the group on the
series of panels 650 of the group work area 300 in a pattern
indicative of the order in which it was discussed, such as, for
example, placing them from top to bottom on the work area as they
are created (or from left to right on a horizontally scrolling
surface), sets of related images can also be stored on the work
surface within a single panel 650, as a series of modifications to
a previous image. In this way, the notebook file can store
evolution in an image that took place during the session.
[0052] For example, in a discussion about architecture, the
moderator might start by showing a basic floor plan that will serve
as a starting point for a number of points during the discussion.
In addition to simply drawing that basic floor plan during the
discussion, it might have been drawn by the moderator before the
group discussion (for example, by using the system in standalone
mode), or it might have been imported as a digital image (such as
from a jpeg file)--for example by being downloaded from the
internet--or it might have been optically scanned in by the
moderator. During the discussion, the moderator could alter the
floor plan in order to show the solution to some design problem. If
this solution introduced some new design problem, the moderator
might then alter this new floor plan. In this way, the floor plan
might go through several iterations. Rather than placing a new
image on a new location on the shared work surface 300, these
images could be stored as alterations in the previous image. Thus,
when a user later reviewed the discussion, the basic floor plan
could be shown first, and then be again replaced by each iteration
of that basic design that was included by the moderator during the
discussion. Note that in the preferred embodiment, the later review
can be done during the ongoing session, as discussed further
herein, with respect to session synchronization.
[0053] In the preferred embodiment, in which the moderator work
area 310 and participant work areas 320 are implemented as a public
scroll and a private scroll, these alterations are stored as
additional objects in series on the panel 650, including, for
example, erase objects and new draw objects.
[0054] Another example of how a set of related images might be
advantageously placed in the same apparent location of the group
work area 300 is animation. For example, in a discussion of a
rotary combustion engine, a series of images illustrating the
movement of the parts, shown in a continuous closed loop, could be
included, as a means of graphically illustrating the engine cycle.
Such animations could be stored as a looped series of objects, such
as bit maps. In certain embodiments, such animations could be
stored as an animation object.
[0055] The presently preferred embodiment includes means to
synchronize a workstation with an ongoing session. For example, a
participant may be late for the start of the discussion, or may be
interrupted during a session. The presently preferred embodiment
includes two methods for synchronization: session synchronization
and scroll panel synchronization.
[0056] In the preferred embodiment, session synchronization
transmits all moderator objects from the beginning of the session
up to the most recent object entered by the moderator to the
moderator public scroll 610. In situations where a participant was
late joining a session, session synchronization allows the
participant to obtain all panels from the beginning of the session.
It then positions the participant's public scroll to same location
as the moderator's scroll panel.
[0057] Scroll panel synchronization allows participants that start
a session with the moderator to catch up while in a session. This
feature is enabled by a continuous and automatic synchronization
process that occurs without moderator or participant intervention.
This frees the participant to not track their public scroll 620 to
the moderator's public scroll 610--that is, when the participant
can display a previous panel 650 or replay the link-list comprising
the present panel 650. For example, the participant can also review
a prior panel 650 to add local annotations which might not have
occurred to them before. During this time the moderator may
continue to present new panels 650 during the session. Scroll panel
synchronization repositions the participant's public scroll 620 so
it is at the same location as the moderator's public scroll 610. It
also ensures that all panels from the moderator's public scroll 610
are available to the participant during the period the
participant's public scroll 620 was not synchronized with the
moderator's public scroll 610.
[0058] In the presently preferred embodiment, the moderator
workstation includes functionality for an assessment mode. Certain
alternative embodiment systems include this functionality elsewhere
in the system. Regardless of where the assessment mode
functionality is implemented, panel files 650 can include
checkpoint objects. Checkpoint objects need not have any graphic
representation, though in certain embodiments they do. The
checkpoint object serves as a flag in the linked-list of a panel
file 650. When placed in assessment mode, replay of a panel 650
either begins or ends with the selected checkpoint.
[0059] For example, in certain embodiments, checkpoint objects can
be used by the moderator to mark the end of a time limit during the
discussion. For example, if a teacher wished to use the assessment
mode to present and review a question to the participating
students, the question might be created on a panel with 25 objects
(free hand draw objects, typed text objects, shapes, etc.). A
participant might begin to write an answer composed of 50 objects
or so. During the process of preparing this answer, the participant
might realize that their approach to the answer is incorrect, and
select an erase object to cover over part of their answer. The
participant then could continue to add objects to complete the
answer. At some point, the teacher will want to explain the correct
answer. The moderator can use the assessment mode to place a
checkpoint object on each participant's public scroll 620 (by
placing it on the moderator's public scroll 610), and then begin to
explain the correct answer. At this point, if a participant
realizes their answer is again mistaken, they can again erase (i.e.
cover over) the errors and add images demonstrating the correct
answer. The participant can view the corrected answer normally.
However, when the teacher pulls the panel 650 and replays it to
review the student's performance, the replay will stop at the
checkpoint, so that the teacher knows that subsequent objects were
added after the teacher began to explain the correct answer.
[0060] Note that the teacher need not pull the relevant panel 650
to review an answer. For example, the teacher could open a
student's notebook file in standalone mode instead.
[0061] In certain embodiments, another type of checkpoint object
can be inserted by the participant, in order to mark where the
teacher should begin reviewing. For example, in the example above,
the student could insert such a checkpoint object after the first
erase object. When the teacher pulls and reviews that panel in
assessment mode, the display would begin at that point, already
displaying each of the previous objects (including the erase
object), and begin adding the subsequent objects to the display one
at a time. In this way, the teacher need not spend time reviewing
work which the student has already recognized was in error. Note
that the teacher may preferably still review the earlier work,
either by overriding the student's checkpoint, or by reviewing the
panel outside of assessment mode.
[0062] In the presently preferred embodiment, the moderator
workstation can only pull images from a participant's public scroll
620 or private scroll 622 if the participant decides to permit it.
This decision may be implemented by means of a software flag, for
example. This assures the participants that they can make
annotations privately. It is believed that this guarantee of
privacy places the participants more at ease, and therefore more
able to experiment or brainstorm. Certain alternative embodiments
lack this feature. Certain other alternative embodiments can
implement sessions either including or excluding this feature, at
the option of the moderator. In these last embodiments, preferably
some visual cue, such as an icon or a background color, is included
in the participant's displays, so that they can readily identify
whether the session permits such private annotations.
[0063] In certain embodiments, the moderator workstations and
participant workstations are determined completely by software
functionality. In these embodiments, more than one of the user's
workstation can become the moderator workstation. For example, the
moderator workstation could be selected by passing a security token
from the moderator workstation to a participant workstation,
thereby causing their roles to reverse. These embodiments could
advantageously be used to facilitate the transfer of information
between members of a group in environments where the transfer is
not necessarily expected to flow primarily from one user to the
others. For example, such embodiments could advantageously be used
to facilitate information transfer in a remote conference of
employees of one or more businesses. Note that it is not necessary
in these embodiments for every workstation to have the same
devices. For example, one workstation could be a preferred
moderator workstation, having a plurality of display devices (for
example, one for displaying the shared work area 330 and one for
displaying the moderator private work area 340a), while the other
workstations could be preferred participant workstations, having
only a single display device each. Despite this limitation, the
group work area could advantageously permit any of the participant
work stations to become the moderator work station. Such
embodiments could advantageously be used, for example, in classroom
settings, where the transfer of information is generally expected
to predominantly flow from a designated moderator (the teacher), in
order to facilitate situations in which a participant turns out to
have a significant amount of information to convey to the other
users. For example, in a class focused on architecture, the teacher
might be especially interested in the perceptions of a foreign
student about some aspect of foreign or domestic architecture. In
that situation, the moderator could advantageously make the
participant's workstation the moderator's workstation, so that the
foreign student can augment his or her comments with images that
are placed directing on each of the other user's public work
areas.
[0064] While the invention has been illustrated and described in
detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be
considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it
being understood that only the preferred embodiment has been shown
and described and that all changes and modifications that come
within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected.
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