Formation of special interest groups

US8346866B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• International Business Machines Corporation · US

Inventors

• Simon Gilbert Canning · Gold Coast, AU
• Craig Robert William Forster · Austin, US
• Neil I. Readshaw · Gold Coast, AU

Key dates

• Filing date: May 5, 2010
• Grant date: Jan 1, 2013
• Expiry date: Sep 10, 2030

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06Q10/06
• WIPO field: IT methods for management
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

Special interest subgroups are formed by a group of participants by establishing a profile for each participant. The profile defines contribution attributes dealing with contributions the profiled participant might make to a subgroup and attribution attributes dealing with benefits the profile participant might receive from participating in the subgroup. For each possible pairing of participants in the group, an overall contribution score and an overall benefit score is calculated for each participant. A mutual benefit score is calculated by combining the benefit scores for both participants in the pair. Participants are assigned to subgroups as a function of participant contribution and mutual benefit scores.