Methods and systems for propagating information in collaborative decision-making

• Main Authors: JONATHAN MARK DUNSDON, MARIA LOUISE WATSON, MARK THOMAS HARRINGTON, TONY CECIL RAMSAROOP, RAJESH V SUBBU, BERNHARD JOSEPH SCHOLZ
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 12.11.2014
• Subjects: CALCULATING; COMPUTER SYSTEMS BASED ON SPECIFIC COMPUTATIONAL MODELS; COMPUTING; COUNTING; DATA PROCESSING SYSTEMS OR METHODS, SPECIALLY ADAPTED FORADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL, SUPERVISORYOR FORECASTING PURPOSES; PHYSICS; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE,COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL, SUPERVISORY OR FORECASTINGPURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

A system and method for automated collaborative decision making comprising a plurality of devices 231 networked to a computer 105; itself, comprising a processor 115 and a memory device 110. The computer is configured to process the following steps of a) receiving decision-making criteria (fig 3, 305) from at least one of at least a portion of a plurality of agents 230 associated with a plurality of agent devices 231, the memory device, and a user 125, b) generating valid decision combinations (fig 3, 310) using at least a portion of received decision-making criteria, c) transmitting, to the plurality of agents, valid decision combinations, d) receive, from a deciding agent, a decision (fig 3, 315), and e) constraining, using the received decision, valid decision combinations. The computer is configured to f) return to c) until determining that no more decisions can be received. The computer is configured to g) transmit a final decision set (fig 3, 320) to the plurality of agents upon determining that no more decisions can be received. The final decision set represents a complete combination of decisions including at least a portion of received decisions. Examples of suitable uses include coordinating airline operations (such as organising overbooked flights or where an aircraft is unservicable) and planning a family vacation.