Systems and methods for implementing structured asynchronous and synchronous group interaction with automatic assistance over user selected media

Abstract

An event orchestrator that enables one or more users to simply and efficiently plan, create and execute a group event through automated and intelligent group interaction where a group interaction is one or more action between two or more members of the group including making a decision, sharing information, developing a plan, sharing state information, providing assistance via reminders, coordinating logistics, confirming a task, approving an action, etc. The group orchestration engine enables one or more users to use intelligence to manage and automate communication workflow between all of the participants to ensure that each is aware of their individual responsibilities, the timing and location of the event/task, the status of each task and status of each individual (location, completion of responsibilities, timely reminders to those involved, etc.). The system provides both open and closed loop management of each task and provides for state based automated reminders to individual participants.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . In an event orchestrator, a computerized method for orchestrating events having a plurality of tasks, useful in association with a plurality of participants, the method comprising:
 defining at least one task for an event;   associating at least two participants with the at least one task, wherein at least one task association is created between each of the at least two participants and the at least one task, and wherein the at least one task association includes at least one of an action item, an approval, an opinion, a veto, a payment, a decision, a communication, a coordination, a commitment, an agreement and any other associations;   generating at least one of a notification, a communication, a reminder for a first participant of the at least two participants, wherein the at least one reminder is related to the at least one task association;   tracking progress of the at least one task; and   confirming completion of the at least one task with at   least one of the at least two participants.   
     
     
         2 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising defining at least one dependency between the at least one task association of each of the at least two participants. 
     
     
         3 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising creating a backup task association between a backup participant of the at least two participants with the at least one task association, and wherein if the at least one task association is stalled or delayed, then activating the backup participant. 
     
     
         4 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one task includes at least one of a group decision, a group reminder, a group logistic, a group communication, a group payment, a group approval, a group discussion, a group opinion, a group commitment, a group sharing, a group planning, a group execution generating at least one notification, and a communication or a reminder for the at least two participants. 
     
     
         5 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the communication, notification and reminder are automatically generated using state information representing at least one of a location of a group, a date, a time, a duration, a response to a query, a group generated state information and a status of a task. 
     
     
         6 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the state information is stored in a database and communicated automatically to at least one designated recipient, and wherein the at least one designated recipient includes at least one of a group, a collection of groups, an individual in a group and a set of individuals across a group with common roles or privileges. 
     
     
         7 . A computerized event orchestrator configured to orchestrate events having a plurality of tasks, useful in association with a plurality of participants, the event orchestrator comprising:
 a computerized events coordinator configured to:
 define at least one task for an event; 
 associate at least two participants with the at least one task, wherein at least one task association is created between each of the at least two participants and the at least one task, and wherein the at least one task association includes at least one of an action item, an approval, an opinion, a veto, a payment and any other associations; 
 generate at least one reminder for a first participant of the at least two participants, wherein the at least one reminder is related to the at least one task association; 
 track progress of the at least one task; and 
 confirm completion of the at least one task; and 
   a computerized user interface configured to:
 provide the at least one reminder to the first participant; and provide completion confirmation of the at least one task. 
   
     
     
         8 . The event orchestrator as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the events coordinator is further configured to define at least one dependency between the at least one task association of each of the at least two participants. 
     
     
         9 . The event orchestrator as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the events coordinator is further configured to define a plurality of group decision flow stages including creating an event/task, sharing the event/task, confirming the event or task and assisting during the event/tasks. 
     
     
         10 . The event orchestrator as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the events coordinator is further configured to multilevel tasks/events by having each event or task be associated with multiple other events or tasks. 
     
     
         11 . The event orchestrator as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the events coordinator is further configured to create an event or task and to define a plurality of group decision inputs including Who, What, Where and When. 
     
     
         12 . The event orchestrator as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the at least one task includes at least one of a group decision, a group reminder, a group logistic, a group communication, a group payment, a group approval, a group discussion, a group opinion, a group commitment, a group sharing, a group planning, a group execution generating at least one notification, and a communication or a reminder for the at least two participants. 
     
     
         13 . The event orchestrator as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the communication, notification and reminder are automatically generated using state information representing at least one of a location of a group, a date, a time, a duration, a response to a query, a group generated state information and a status of a task. 
     
     
         14 . The event orchestrator as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the state information is stored in a database and communicated automatically to at least one designated recipient, and wherein the at least one designated recipient includes at least one of a group, a collection of groups, an individual in a group and a set of individuals across a group with common roles or privileges.