Patent Issued for Systems And Methods For Remote Huddle Collaboration (USPTO 10,789,574)

2020 OCT 12 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Insurance Daily News -- From Alexandria, Virginia, NewsRx journalists report that a patent by the inventors Casale, Robert (Bristol, CT); O’Malley, Abigail (Brighton, MA); Teller, Kedzie (Brookline, MA), filed on December 15, 2017, was published online on October 12, 2020.

The patent’s assignee for patent number 10,789,574 is Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (Springfield, Massachusetts, United States).

News editors obtained the following quote from the background information supplied by the inventors: “Conventionally, team members working on one or more projects within a company may get together in a huddle or micromeeting on a regular basis to share information, discuss topics, evaluate performance, identify issues, and/or solve problems collaboratively. Since the introduction of the huddle, whiteboards have acted as the traditional tool for storing all information collected during an active huddle session. However, one drawback of the current huddle methodology is that it may not be possible for all participants in a meeting to be in the same physical location at the same time.

“Alternatives to overcome the challenge of gathering team members who may be at different locations for a huddle, may include the use of one or more collaboration tools such as conference phone calls, video conferences, Internet relay chat (IRC), email, and instant messaging, among others. Nevertheless, the whiteboard is still the most commonly used tool during huddles, because the aforementioned collaboration tools are generic ways to connect people and may not offer a consistent way to realize the benefits of the team huddle. As a result, all team members must be physically located in the same room in order to be fully engaged in the huddle session.

“Conventional approaches to meetings amongst remote users fail address all of the deficiencies of the conventional collaboration tools. A web meeting may allow a user to share a computer desktop with another user in a remote location. But the user must select which application should be presented on the computer desktop, so there is no ability to present a page that has information from multiple sub-applications that are dynamically updated. Further, the user cannot include annotations overlaid on the page that are simultaneously presented to the remote user and also stored with that particular page such that the particular page can be retrieved at a later date along with those annotations.

“Moreover, conventional extranets are capable of sharing information from a common source, but these extranets do not offer real-time collaboration through real-time updates and simultaneous displays to other users. Further, these conventional extranets do not utilize sub-applications that dynamically display data associated with users simultaneously accessing the extranet. Conventional computer solutions do not offer the desired collaboration, real-time updating, dynamic presentation of data, and linking of additional content to the displayed data.

“Therefore, there is a need for systems and methods which may enable remote huddle collaboration between team members of a given project that may overcome these and other drawbacks.”

As a supplement to the background information on this patent, NewsRx correspondents also obtained the inventors’ summary information for this patent: “The present disclosure describes systems and methods for remote huddle collaboration.

“According to an embodiment, a computer-implemented huddle collaboration system may include different components which may dynamically interact with each other through network connections. The huddle collaboration system may include one or more internal databases operatively coupled to a huddle management system, among other components. The huddle management system may include one or more authentication modules, one or more data processing modules, and one or more module managers, among other software modules. The huddle collaboration system may also include any suitable user interface through which users, such as huddle leaders and huddle participants, may interact with the huddle management system by means of a computing device. The computing device may be any computer type device that may receive, process, and/or transmit digital data including a bus which may enable the communication between components such as input/output devices, an interface, a memory, a storage device, and a central processing unit (CPU), among others.

“According to another embodiment, a computer-implemented method for remote huddle collaboration may allow users to perform actions for accessing the huddle collaboration system, entering the user’s credentials, entering the user’s huddle boards, selecting a huddle board, and entering the huddle board summary. If the user is joining a huddle board as a leader, then the method may also allow a leader to perform actions for selecting ‘start’ a huddle session, entering the huddle board, conducting the huddle board by selecting one or more sub-applications to edit/view the content in the huddle board, ending the huddle session, and exiting the huddle collaboration system, among others. If the user is joining a huddle board as a participant, then the method may allow a participant to perform actions for selecting ‘join’ a huddle session, entering a waiting state for the huddle session until the huddle is active or entering the huddle board if the huddle is already active, engaging in the huddle session, ending the huddle session, and exiting the huddle collaboration system, among others. If the user is not joining a huddle board but wants to edit/view the content in a huddle board, then the method may allow users to perform actions for selecting one or more sub-application to edit/view the content in the huddle board, and exiting the huddle collaboration system, among others.

“According to a further embodiment, a computer-implemented huddle summary user interface may enable one or more users to view/edit the content in one or more sub-applications in the huddle board, where the huddle leader may control the sub-applications that the huddle participants may access in the huddle and the viewing and/or editing rights they may have over the content in each of the sub-applications. The huddle summary may include sub-applications which may be standard for every user’s huddle and others which the user may decide should be shown, according to the user’s and/or project’s requirements. The huddle summary may also include a huddle-up menu which may enable users to join a huddle board in an active session and to access a sub-applications library that may allow users to add one or more sub-applications to the huddle board, among other features. When a user joins an active huddle, the huddle leader may start the huddle and then, conduct the huddle by viewing and/or editing the content in it, while simultaneously huddle participants engage in the huddle session by viewing and/or editing the content as needed. In an additional embodiment, a huddle member may join an active huddle session as a note taker, who may be responsible for taking notes of the information generated during an active huddle session.

“Systems and methods for remote huddle collaboration may enable huddle members to remotely connect to huddles in a consistent way, which may reinforce the company’s management system approach across multiple levels in the organization. In addition, the system may promote a clear alignment of goals and strategies while enhancing the productivity of the huddle and leveraging the human and information technology resources.

“In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method comprises receiving, by an authentication module of a huddle management server, a user credential of a first user transmitted from a computing device of the first user; authenticating, by the authentication module of the huddle management server, the user credential of the first user; determining, by the authentication module of the huddle management server, which huddle collaboration files are associated with the first user; granting, by the authentication module of the huddle management server, access to the first user for the huddle collaboration files associated with the first user upon authentication of the user credential; receiving, by a data processing module of the huddle management server, a selection by the user of a huddle collaboration file associated with the first user; designating, by the data processing module of the huddle management server, the selected huddle collaboration file as an active huddle; receiving, by the authentication module of the huddle management server, a user credential of a second user transmitted from a computing device of the second user; authenticating, by the authentication module of the huddle management server, the user credential of the second user; determining, by the authentication module of the huddle management server, which huddle collaboration files are associated with the second user; granting, by the authentication module of the huddle management server, access to the second user for the huddle collaboration files associated with the second user upon authentication of the user credential; determining, by the authentication module of the huddle management server, whether any of the huddle collaboration files associated with the second user are designated as an active huddle; identifying, by a data processing module of the huddle management server, at least two sub-applications associated with the selected collaboration file designated as the active huddle; instructing, by the data processing module of the huddle management server, execution of each of the at least two sub-applications associated with the selected collaboration file, wherein each of the sub-applications dynamically queries a database for data records associated with the first and second users; presenting, by the data processing module of the huddle management server, a graphical representation of the selected huddle collaboration file on the computing device of the first user, wherein the graphical representation comprises an initial view of the at least two sub-applications having a first set of information for each of the least two sub-applications simultaneously displayed in the graphical representation; simultaneously presenting, by the data processing module of the huddle management server, a synchronized version of the selected huddle collaboration file on a computing device of the second user located remotely from the computing device of the first user, wherein the graphical representation comprises the initial view of the at least two sub-applications having the first set of information for each of the least two sub-applications simultaneously displayed in the graphical representation; upon receiving a selection of one of the at least two sub-applications from the computing device of the first user or the computing device of the second user, presenting, by the data processing module of the huddle management server, a second graphical representation of the selected huddle collaboration file on the computing device of the first user, wherein the second graphical representation comprises a second view of the selected sub-application having a second set of information associated with the selected sub-application displayed in the second graphical representation; and simultaneously presenting, by the data processing module of the huddle management server, the second graphical representation of the selected huddle collaboration file on the computing device of the second user, wherein the second graphical representation comprises the second view of the selected sub-application having the second set of information associated with the selected sub-application displayed in the second graphical representation; and upon receiving input data from an input device of the computing device of the first user or the second user, presenting, by the data processing module of the huddle management server, the input data as an overlay on the first graphical representation or the second graphical representation that was being displayed when the input data was received by the huddle management server; and associating, by the data processing module of the huddle management server, the input data with the first graphical representation or the second graphical representation that was being displayed when the input data was received by the huddle management server.

“In another embodiment, a collaboration system comprises a data store including a description associated with a huddle board display page having at least two sub-applications and an association with more than one user, wherein the first huddle board display page has information from a first sub-application and a second sub-application, and wherein the huddle board display page has a first huddle board display page having a first link associated with an object of the information from the first sub-application for a second huddle board display page having information from a first sub-application a second link associated with an object of the information from the second sub-application for a third huddle board display page having information from a second sub-application; and a computer processor coupled to the data store and in communication through the Internet and programmed to: receive a signal indicating activation of the first or second links displayed by the first huddle board display page or the second huddle board display page, upon receiving an indication that a sub-application has been activated by a user computer in Internet communication with the first huddle board display page, serve the second huddle board display page based upon the description in the data store and with content generated by the activated sub-application, and upon receiving an input from the user computer to annotate the huddle board display page, serve a third huddle board display page based upon the description in the data store, content generated by any sub-applications associated with the huddle board display page, and the input presented as an overlay on the huddle board display page.

“Numerous other aspects, features and benefits of the present disclosure may be made apparent from the following detailed description taken together with the drawing figures.”

The claims supplied by the inventors are:

“What is claimed is:

“1. A server-implemented method comprising: generating, by a huddle management server, a session associated with a huddle board record for an electronic interaction between a plurality of user computers including a first user computer and a second user computer; generating, by the huddle management server during the session, a huddle board display page having a plurality of sub-applications and an association with more than at least one user, wherein an initial view of the huddle board display page has information from a first sub-application of the plurality of sub-applications and a second sub-application of the plurality of sub-applications, and wherein the initial view of the huddle board display page has: a first huddle board display page having a first link associated with an object of the information from the first sub-application configured to activate a secondary view of the huddle board display page having information from the first sub-application, a second huddle board display page having a second link associated with an object of the information from the second sub-application configured to activate a secondary view of the huddle board display page having information from the second sub-application; receiving, by the huddle management server, a signal indicating activation of the first or second links displayed by the first huddle board display page or the second huddle board display page; upon receiving an indication that a sub-application has been activated by the second user computer in a network communication with the huddle board display page, determining, by the huddle management server, if the second user computer is authorized to activate the sub-application based upon access rights in the huddle board record; generating, by the huddle management server, the secondary view of the huddle board display page associated with the activated sub-application based upon the description in the data store and with content generated by the activated sub-application; upon receiving an input from the user computer to annotate the secondary view of the huddle board display page, generating, by the huddle management server, a tertiary view of the huddle board display page based upon the description in the data store and content generated by any activated sub-applications including the input of updated information associated with the huddle board display page presented as an overlay on the huddle board display page, and associating, by the huddle management server, the input with the first or the second huddle board display page in the huddle board record based on which sub-application was active at the time the input was received.

“2. The server-implemented method of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of sub-applications comprises a pre-defined content and has a standard layout.

“3. The server-implemented method of claim 2, wherein the pre-defined content is selected from a group consisting of morale field, recognition field, announcements field, company news field, and calendar field.

“4. The server-implemented method of claim 1, wherein at least one sub-application of the plurality of sub-applications corresponds to a software tool enabling remote collaboration between users in a digital huddle environment.

“5. The server-implemented method of claim 1, wherein at least one sub-application of the plurality of sub-applications corresponds to an image-based sub-application, wherein the image-based sub-application comprises a library of images for selection by users.

“6. The server-implemented method of claim 1, wherein at least one sub-application of the plurality of sub-applications corresponds to a text-based sub-application, wherein the text-based sub-application comprises a text column of a pre-defined characters for writing by users.

“7. The server-implemented method of claim 1, wherein at least one sub-application of the plurality of sub-applications corresponds to a text-based sub-application, wherein the text-based sub-application comprises a text column for users to publish text for sharing with other users.

“8. The server-implemented method of claim 1, wherein at least one sub-application of the plurality of sub-applications corresponds to a text-based sub-application to provide news and alerts to users during active huddle.

“9. The server-implemented method of claim 1, wherein at least one sub-application of the plurality of sub-applications corresponds to a fillable calendar application for users to share dates with one another.

“10. The server-implemented method of claim 1, wherein at least one sub-application of the plurality of sub-applications comprises a configurable content editable by users upon authorization.

“11. A collaboration system comprising: a data store, wherein the data store comprises a description associated with a huddle board display page associated with a huddle board record having a plurality of sub-applications and an association with more than one user, wherein an initial view of the huddle board display page has information from a first sub-application of the plurality of sub-applications and a second sub-application of the plurality of sub-applications, and wherein the initial view of the huddle board display page comprises: a first huddle board display page having a first link associated with an object of the information from the first sub-application configured to activate a secondary huddle board display page having information from the first sub-application, and a second huddle board display page having a second link associated with an object of the information from the second sub-application configured to activate a secondary huddle board display page having information from the second sub-application; and a computer processor coupled to the data store and in communication through the Internet and programmed to: generate a session associated with the huddle board record for an electronic interaction between a plurality of user computers including a first user computer and a second user computer; receive a signal indicating activation of the first or second links displayed by the first huddle board display page or the second huddle board display page, upon receiving an indication that a sub-application has been activated by the second user computer in Internet communication with the huddle board display page, determine if the second user computer is authorized to activate the sub-application based upon access rights in the huddle board record; serve the secondary view of the huddle board display page associated with the activated sub-application based upon the description in the data store and with content generated by the activated sub-application, upon receiving an input from the user computer to annotate the secondary view of the huddle board display page, serve a tertiary view of the huddle board display page based upon the description in the data store, and including content generated by any activated sub-applications associated with the huddle board display page and the input presented as an overlay on the huddle board display page, wherein the input includes updated information associated with the huddle board display page, and associate the input with the first or the second huddle board display page in the huddle board record based on which sub-application was active at the time the input was received.

“12. The collaboration system of claim 11, wherein at least one sub-application of the plurality of sub-applications corresponds to a software tool enabling remote collaboration between users in a digital huddle environment.

“13. The collaboration system of claim 11, wherein at least one sub-application of the plurality of sub-applications corresponds to an image-based sub-application, wherein the image-based sub-application comprises a library of images for selection by users.

“14. The collaboration system of claim 11, wherein at least one sub-application of the plurality of sub-applications corresponds to a text-based sub-application, wherein the text-based sub-application comprises a text column of a pre-defined characters for writing by users.

“15. The collaboration system of claim 11, wherein at least one sub-application of the plurality of sub-applications corresponds to a text-based sub-application, wherein the text-based sub-application comprises a text column for users to publish text for sharing with other users.

“16. The collaboration system of claim 11, wherein at least one sub-application of the plurality of sub-applications corresponds to a text-based sub-application to provide news and alerts to users during active huddle.

“17. The collaboration system of claim 11, wherein at least one sub-application of the plurality of sub-applications corresponds to a fillable calendar application for users to share dates with one another.

“18. The collaboration system of claim 11, wherein at least one sub-application of the plurality of sub-applications comprises a configurable content editable by users upon authorization.

“19. The collaboration system of claim 11, wherein at least one sub-application of the plurality of sub-applications comprises a pre-defined content and has a standard layout.

“20. The collaboration system of claim 19, wherein the pre-defined content is selected from a group consisting of a morale field, a recognition field, an announcements field, a company news field, and a calendar field.”

For additional information on this patent, see: Casale, Robert; O’Malley, Abigail; Teller, Kedzie. Systems And Methods For Remote Huddle Collaboration. U.S. Patent Number 10,789,574, filed December 15, 2017, and published online on October 12, 2020. Patent URL: http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=10,789,574.PN.&OS=PN/10,789,574RS=PN/10,789,574

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