Method for providing a private and confidential web-based discussion forum where participants can develop ideas and solutions to various problems in a controlled and managed environment

摘要

We present a method to provide a private and confidential web-based discussion forum where participants can develop ideas and solutions to various problems in a controlled and managed environment. The primary user of the method posts a challenge, inquiry for solutions to problems, or ideas on a website accessible only upon permission by the primary user. The primary user invites a targeted group of people, hereinafter referred as participants, of her choice to post comments, ideas, and feedback towards finding a solution to the primary user's challenge, inquiry or idea. Upon access to the website the participants post their comments, ideas, feedback to the original challenge and to the subsequent ideas, comments and suggestions. The resulting discussion and exchange of ideas and opinions between participants leads to understanding of the issues and problems associated to the challenge, creations of ideas and maturing of ideas towards finding the best solution to the original challenge. Consequently the invention provides the user with a means to tap into the collective brain power of groups of people such as organizations, customers, and institutions in a crowd-sourcing way.