Methods, apparatuses, and systems for generating group solutions

Abstract

One feature pertains to a computer-readable storage medium having instructions for generating group solutions stored thereon, the instructions when executed by at least one processor causes the processor to receive a plurality of solution statements from a plurality of users, determine that two or more solution statements of the plurality of solution statements are positively and significantly correlated with each other, and generate a group solution that includes the two or more solution statements determined to be positively and significantly correlated with each other. The two or more solution statements having the positive and significant correlation tending to be included concurrently in the plurality of solution statements received from the plurality of users.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for generating group solutions, the apparatus comprising:
 a communication interface adapted to receive a plurality of solution statements provided by a plurality of users, the plurality of solution statements including at least two or more solution statements that are different in meaning from one another, and at least one user of the plurality of users provide the two or more solution statements;   a memory circuit adapted to store one or more solution statements of the plurality of solution statements; and   a processing circuit communicatively coupled to the communication interface and the memory circuit, the processing circuit adapted to
 determine that the two or more solution statements are statistically positively and significantly correlated with each other by determining that the two or more solution statements have a correlation value that is greater than or equal to a preselected positive correlation threshold value, 
 generate a group solution that includes the two or more solution statements determined to be statistically positively and significantly correlated with each other, and 
 store the group solution in the memory circuit. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein receive the plurality of solution statements includes receive a first solution statement and a second solution statement, and the processing circuit is further adapted to:
 determine that the first solution statement is substantially same in meaning as the second solution statement but not identical in wording and/or phrasing; and   replace one or more solution statements that are same as the second solution statement with the first solution statement.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein receive the plurality of solution statements includes receive a first solution statement and a second solution statement, the second solution statement provided by a first user of the plurality of users, and the processing circuit is further adapted to:
 determine that the first solution statement is substantially same in meaning as the second solution statement but not identical in wording and/or phrasing; and   prompt the first user an option to replace the second solution statement provided with the first solution statement.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the processing circuit is further adapted to:
 replace one or more solution statements of the plurality of solution statements that are same as the second solution statement with the first solution statement.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the two or more solution statements provided by the at least one user are received concurrently in a set of solution statements from the at least one user. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein determine that the two or more solution statements are statistically positively and significantly correlated includes:
 determine that the correlation value has a confidence interval that is greater than or equal to a preselected confidence interval threshold value.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the processing circuit is further adapted to:
 transmit one or more queries to the plurality of users;   receive one or more responses to the one or more queries from the plurality of users; and   assign at least two or more of the plurality of users to a plurality of sub-groups based on the one or more responses received.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the processing circuit is further adapted to:
 generate at least a first sub-group solution based on the solution statements received from a first sub-group of users of the plurality of users assigned to a first sub-group; and   generate at least a second sub-group solution based on the solution statements received from a second sub-group of users assigned to a second sub-group.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the processing circuit is further adapted to:
 receive one or more changes to one or more solution statements received from at least one user of the plurality of users;   regenerate the group solution based on the one or more changes received; and   store the regenerated group solution in the memory circuit.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the processing circuit is further adapted to:
 provide the plurality of users with a project solution interface, the project solution interface configured to be displayed on a display of a client device associated with each of the plurality of users, the project solution interface enabling each of the plurality of users to perform at least one of:
 at least one of view, submit, and/or modify one or more of their own solution statements provided to and received at the apparatus; 
 view one or more solution statements associated with other users of the plurality of users; and/or 
 view the group solution. 
   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the processing circuit is further adapted to:
 receive a first set of solution statements from a first user of the plurality of users;   compare the first set of solution statements received to sets of solution statements received from other users of the plurality of users;   determine that the first set of solution statements does not include at least one solution statement included in the sets of solution statements received from the other users; and   prompt the first user to add the at least one solution statement included in the sets of solution statements received from the other users.   
     
     
         12 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions for generating group solutions stored thereon, the instructions which when executed by at least one processor causes the processor to:
 (a) receive a plurality of solution statements from a plurality of users;   (b) store the plurality of solution statements at a solution statement memory;   (c) identify a most common solution statement from the plurality of solution statements stored at the solution statement memory;   (d) insert the most common solution statement identified in (c) into a primary group solution;   (e) identify a next most common solution statement from the plurality of solution statements stored at the solution statement memory that has not yet been inserted into the primary group solution;   (f) determine that the next most common solution statement is statistically positively and significantly correlated with all solution statements of the primary group solution by determining that a first correlation value between the next most common solution statement and the solution statements of the primary group solution is greater than or equal to a preselected positive correlation threshold value;   (g) insert the next most common solution statement into the primary group solution;   (h) generate the primary group solution by repeating (e), (f), and (g) until no next most common solution statement is identified, and store the primary group solution in a memory circuit.   
     
     
         13 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 12 , wherein the most common solution statement is received from a subset of users of the plurality of users, and the next most common solution statement identified in (e) is identified from solution statements received from the subset of users and stored in the solution statement memory. 
     
     
         14 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 12 , wherein the next most common solution statement is semantically different than all other solution statements of the primary group solution. 
     
     
         15 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 12 , wherein all solution statements of the primary group solution are semantically different from one another. 
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of solution statements stored at the solution statement memory includes a first solution statement and a second solution statement, and the instructions when executed by the processor further cause the processor to:
 determine that the first solution statement is substantially same in meaning as the second solution statement but not identical in wording and/or phrasing; and   replace the second solution statement stored at the solution statement memory with the first solution statement.   
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of solution statements stored at the solution statement memory includes a first solution statement and a second solution statement, the second solution statement provided by a first user of the plurality of users, and the processing circuit is further adapted to:
 determine that the first solution statement is substantially same in meaning as the second solution statement but not identical in wording and/or phrasing; and   prompt the first user an option to replace the second solution statement provided with the first solution statement.   
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 12 , wherein the instructions when executed by the processor further cause the processor to:
 (i) identify those solution statements of the plurality of solution statements that are statistically negatively and significantly correlated to the most common solution statement;   (j) identify and insert a most common negatively correlated solution statement from the solution statements identified in (i) into an alternative group solution;   (k) identify a next most common negatively correlated solution statement from the solution statements identified in (i) and that has not yet been inserted into the alternative group solution and is positively correlated with all other solution statements of the alternative group solution;   (l) insert the next most common negatively correlated solution statement identified in (k) into the alternative group solution;   (m) generate the alternative group solution by repeating (k) and (l) until no next most common negatively correlated solution statement is identified; and   (n) store the alternative group solution in the memory circuit.   
     
     
         19 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions for generating group solutions stored thereon, the instructions which when executed by at least one processor causes the processor to:
 receive a plurality of solution statements from a plurality of client devices, the plurality of solution statements received includes at least one solution statement from each of the client devices and one or more sets of solution statements from one or more of the client devices, the sets of solution statements each including two or more solution statements;   determine that at least two solution statements of the plurality of solution statements are statistically positively and significantly correlated with each other in that the at least two solution statements are included in at least one set of solution statements received;   generate a group solution that includes the at least two solution statements determined to be statistically positively and significantly correlated with each other; and   transmit the group solution to one or more of the client devices.   
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 19 , wherein receive the plurality of solution statements includes receive a first solution statement and a second solution statement, and the instructions when executed by the processor further cause the processor to:
 determine that the first solution statement is substantially same in meaning as the second solution statement but not identical in wording and/or phrasing; and   replace one or more solution statements that are same as the second solution statement with the first solution statement.