|Publication number||US6434549 B1|
|Application number||US 09/458,836|
|Publication date||Aug 13, 2002|
|Filing date||Dec 13, 1999|
|Priority date||Dec 13, 1999|
|Publication number||09458836, 458836, US 6434549 B1, US 6434549B1, US-B1-6434549, US6434549 B1, US6434549B1|
|Inventors||Gene Linetsky, David Rubin|
|Original Assignee||Ultris, Inc.|
|Export Citation||BiBTeX, EndNote, RefMan|
|Patent Citations (24), Non-Patent Citations (2), Referenced by (107), Classifications (13), Legal Events (3)|
|External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, Espacenet|
This invention relates to searching for, and exchange of, information, using a combination of human participants and computer-based information repositories.
Today, most searches for information stored in electronic format are mediated entirely by a computer, or by one or more networks of computers. However, a computer is a quick, but inflexible, responder, and the query source presenting a query can never be confident that the query is being adequately interpreted, or that several shades of meaning of the query are being explored. Herein, a “query” can be a general or specific question, an observation, one or more key words or phrases, a statement of asserted fact or any similar interrogatory or statement. Another problem is that even after a query is adequately interpreted, there is no assurance that a satisfactory response to the query is present in the database or other information repository being searched.
What is needed is an information exchange system that provides a combination of human-mediated and computer-mediated responses to a query and that permits real time dialog between the information seeker and a human mediator to clarify and/or adjust the query, in order to focus on one or several meanings intended by the information seeker. Preferably, the system should take advantage of the collective knowledge of one or more authorities or individuals who have access to the specific information in a given knowledge area and should supplement this knowledge with knowledge available from one or more computer-mediated information repositories. Preferably, the system should be flexible so that the user or seeker can terminate the search at any of two or more levels of queries and should provide the user or seeker with earlier responses to any parallel or related queries.
These needs are met by the invention, which provides responses to a query at each of at least three levels: at a first level, where a dispatcher or coordinator classifies the query and optionally responds to the query from the dispatcher's personal knowledge; at a second level, using electronic or other searching of one or more information repositories accessible from the dispatcher's network or computer terminal; and at third and subsequent levels, using the collective knowledge of other persons with relevant expertise or access to relevant information concerning the query. Herein, a “terminal” can be a computer connected to a computer network, a wireless portable network access device, a cellular phone, a conventional landline telephone, or any other means that facilitates connecting to the network and provides the necessary local computational functionality.
The user or information seeker, together with the other persons (“responders”), provide an information exchange mechanism, in which a user or information seeker for one query may become a responder for another query. A query circulates through this information exchange network until the query is interrupted by the user or is received by one or more responders, human or computer-based, that provides a satisfactory response for the user. The user may then provide comment or feedback on some or all of the responses.
Large numbers of users or information seekers, connected to an information network such as the Internet, exchange information by presenting natural language queries to the system and receiving natural language responses from the system. At any time, a (properly authorized) user can choose to provide a response to a query posted on the network, or to indicate an interest in any subsequent response to the query. Some users may (also) serve as query dispatchers, by providing a classification or categorization of the query according to some classification format, by providing meta-data markup of one or more queries posted by others, by creating a new class or category, if needed, or by routing one or more queries to other users believed to be likely responders to the query(ies). These actions can result in multi-level information routing.
A central controller may collect all queries and responses thereto, thus adding to a potential central knowledge base, but does not attempt to classify or route the queries. The controller broadcasts or multicasts the queries to all users or information seekers, or to a selected subset of all users, who employ information filters, located at the users' computer terminals, to parse all queries and to retain relevant queries. An information filter provides rough semantic filtering based on a query's asserted classification, or upon the presence of key words. This filtering does not serve as a final decision on which queries to respond to. A user can initiate a real time conversation (chat session) with one or more other users who are sources of one or more other queries that are visible to the user, based on topics of common interest that are implicit or explicit in these queries. The user can also initiate a real time session with other users, regardless of their present or past queries, if the network addresses or other identifiers of these other users have been previously stored on the user's computer terminal.
The system optionally provides an indication of which users are presently on line. Each query is assigned a globally unique identifier at the terminal and time the query is first presented, thus eliminating use of an extensive central look-up table and enabling a user to instantly subscribe to a query and its progeny. An optional, dynamically adjustable scoring point scheme is adopted to unify and standardize the results of user feedback, the quality of the classifications and search results, and the performance and efficiency of dispatchers and responders used to supplement the searches. A scoring point scheme is used to reward top user-contributors to the information exchange and to identify users that do not adequately participate in or contribute to the exchange.
FIG. 1 illustrates an environment in which the invention can be used.
FIGS. 2(A-D) is a flow chart illustrating an overall procedure for practicing the invention.
FIGS. 3(A-B) and 4(A-B) are flow charts illustrating procedures that provide direct communication between a seeker and one or more responders concerning a query.
FIG. 1 illustrates an environment in which the invention can be used. An information network 11 facilitates communication between two or more users or information seekers on one or more topics of common interest, using an electronic or other suitable computer-based system. The network 11 includes two or more user terminals or response stations 13-i (i=1, 2, 3, etc.), each of which is preferably capable of transmitting a query or responding to receipt of a query. As indicated in the preceding, a “query” may be a question, seeking information on a specified topic, or may be a statement or comment that may invite or provoke one or more responses from other users on the network 11. Each user terminal 13-i is connected through the network 11 to one or more query dispatchers or coordinators 15-j (j=1, 2, . . . ), and each dispatcher/coordinator is in turn connected to one or more databases 17-k (k=1, 2, . . . ) that can be searched, electronically or otherwise, for information responding to a particular query. A network coordinator 15-j may be a natural person (human being), a computer, or a combination of a natural person and a computer.
FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of the invention. A user or information seeker phrases and presents a query to the information network in step 111. The user or a dispatcher preliminarily classifies the query in step 113 (optional). In step 115 (optional), a system associated with the network inquires whether the user wishes to search the knowledge base himself or herself. If the answer to the question in step 115 is “yes”, the user conducts a self-search of the knowledge base, in step 116, and optionally reviews the search results in step 117. In step 119, the system optionally inquires whether the search results are satisfactory. If the answer to the question in step 119 is “no”, the system returns to step 111, and the user optionally re-phrases and re-presents a modified query. If the answer to the question in step 119 is “yes”, the system optionally inquires if the user will rate the knowledge base system, in step 121. If the answer to the question in step 121 is “yes”, the knowledge base receives a rating of the search experience and/or search results, in step 123 (optional). Optionally, the user receives “points” or some other acknowledgment, if the user provides a rating of the search experience and/or search results. The search is completed in step 125 (optional), whether the user rates the search experience and/or search results or not.
If the answer to the question in step 115 is “no”, the system moves to step 131 and inquires which of four mutually exclusive approaches (steps 131A, 131B, 131C, 131D) the user or information seeker wishes to pursue. The user selects step 131A if the user will receive direct responses to the query and/or will review cost bids or estimated costs, if submission of such costs is appropriate for this query. The user selects step 131B if the dispatcher/coordinator will review any cost bids or estimated costs, optionally subject to a user-specified maximum bid amount. The user selects step 131C if the user maintains an account with the dispatcher or coordinator and a fixed price reply to the query is requested. The user selects step 131D if the user is requesting a free response or reply to the query, with no associated financial or other cost imposed.
From any of steps 131A, 131B, 131C and 131D, the system moves to step 133 and classifies the query. In step 135 a dispatcher or coordinator searches one or more databases, based on the query class, and determines whether one or more responses to the query are found, in step 137.
If the answer to the question in step 137 is “no”, the system moves to step 139 and determines whether the user wishes to consult one or more responders based on fixed price bidding.
If the answer to the question in step 139 is “no”, the system broadcasts or multicasts the query for bidding by a group of responders with relevant competence in the classification(s) assigned to the query, in step 141. The system receives bids or replies (which may, but need not, recite a financial cost to respond to the query) from the relevant responders and presents the bids to the user or information seeker, in step 143. In step 145, the system determines whether the user accepts one or more of the relevant responders' bids.
If the answer to the question in step 145 is “no”, the query is returned to the dispatcher/coordinator and/or the inquiry is terminated, in step 147. If the answer to the question in step 145 is “yes”, the query is responded to by one or more relevant responders, in step 161.
If the answer to the question in step 139 is “yes”, the system broadcasts or multicasts the query for fixed price bidding by a group of responders with relevant competence in the query classification(s), in step 151. The system receives fixed price bids from the relevant responders and presents the bids to the user or information seeker, in step 153. In step 155, the system determines whether the user accepts one or more of the relevant responders' bids.
If the answer to the question in step 155 is “no”, the query is returned to the dispatcher/coordinator and/or the query is terminated, in step 157. If the answer to the question in step 155 is “yes”, the query is responded to, in step 161, and the system optionally determines, in step 163, if the response is received within a specified time interval or window.
If the answer to the question in step 163 is “no”, the system or seeker optionally declines to receive a response, in step 165. If the answer to the question in step 163 is “yes”, a query response is received from one or more relevant responders, in step 167. After step 165, the system optionally moves to step 121 for a user rating of the system.
If the answer to the question in step 137 is “yes”, the response is annotated, if appropriate, and presented to the user or information seeker, in step 171. In step 173, the system determines whether the user accepts the response(s). If the answer to the question in step 173 is “yes”, the system moves to step 121 for an (optional) rating. If the answer to the question in step 173 is “no”, the system moves to step 175 and offers the user an opportunity to re-phrase the query. The system then returns to step 137.
The user or information seeker may wish to use a parallel or related query that has been presented earlier, either by the user or by another network participant, and the response(s), if any, received for the related query. One method of accomplishing this is to (optionally) (re)configure a network topical filter to search for related queries, responses and any other related information, as indicated in step 181. A search of the network is initiated using the topical filter, in step 183. The user is optionally given a choice of (1) subscribing to future responses to the related query (step 185A), (2) chatting with the originator of the related query (step 185B) and/or (3) storing the related query and responses for subsequent use (step 185C).
As indicated in steps 161, 163 and 165 in FIG. 2, the system or a user or information seeker may specify one, two or more time intervals within which a query response will be accepted. If only one time interval is specified (e.g., an interval of length 45 minutes or 16 hours, beginning at the time the query is presented), the user may decline to receive a query response that is presented after the specified time interval has ended, or may accept the proffered query response but offer reduced compensation, if any, for the tardy query response. Where two or more time intervals are specified (which may be, but need not be, overlapping), the user may offer compensation, if any, of a first amount and of a second amount for query responses received within the first time interval and within the second time interval, respectively. The first and second compensation amounts may be the same or may be different. For example, the system or the user may offer a higher compensation amount for a query response that is presented earlier rather than later.
FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating an embodiment where the user or information seeker interacts directly with one or more responders concerning the query. In step 201, the system receives a new query. In step 203, the system examines the query and determines whether the query is clearly stated. If the answer to the question in step 203 is “yes”, the system optionally creates a new class or category, in step 205, and moves to step 207 to classify the query. In step 209, the system searches an associated knowledge base for a response to the query. In step 211, the system determines whether one or more responses has been found for the query.
If the answer to the question in step 211 is “no”, the system moves the query to a new or different knowledge base level, in step 213. In step 215 (optional), the system broadcasts or multicasts the query to one or more relevant responders and moves to step 221, where the system determines whether the user or information seeker is presently on-line. If the answer to the question in step 211 is “yes”, the system also moves to step 221.
If the answer to the question in step 221 is “yes”, the system moves to step 223, annotates the query (optional) and presents the response(s) to the user or information seeker. In step 225, the system determines whether the user accepts the query response(s). If the answer to the question in step 225 is “yes”, the system moves to step 227 and terminates the query, in step 251. If the answer to the question in step 225 is “no”, the system moves to step 243 and initiates a chat session with a relevant responder to clarify the query and returns to step 203.
If the answer to the question in step 221 is “no”, the system moves to step 231, where the system annotates the query (optional) and responds to the user or information seeker by e-mail. The system then terminates the query, in step 251.
If the answer to the question in step 203 is “no”, the system moves to step 241 and determines whether the user or information seeker is presently on-line. If the answer to the question in step 241 is “yes”, the system moves to step 243, then to step 203. If the answer to the question in step 241 is “no”, the system moves to step 245 and determines whether clarification from the user by e-mail is appropriate. If the answer to the question in step 245 is “yes”, the system composes and transmits to the user an e-mail request for clarification of the query, in step 247. If the answer to the question in step 245 is “no”, the system optionally stores the request for clarification, in step 249, and terminates the session, in step 251.
FIG. 4 illustrates in greater detail some options that are available to a potential query responder in an embodiment of the invention. In step 301, after receiving a query, the responder optionally reformats or reconfigures one or more topic filters and proceeds to step 304. In step 304, the responder selects an activity from at least three alternatives: review open auction bid(s) on queries presented, in step 305; review seeker and/or dispatcher comments on queries, in step 311; and review one or more winning bids on queries, in step 321.
If the activity in step 305 is chosen, the responder proceeds to step 307 and (re)submits the bid(s) and/or query description and/or any direct response. The seeker rates the responder, in step 309 (optional), and/or the responder rates the seeker or source of the query, in step 310 (optional).
If the activity in step 311 is chosen, the responder moves to step 313 and determines if the query, as originally stated or as subsequently amended, is sufficiently clear to allow a response (or bid). If the answer to the question in step 313 is “yes”, the responder moves to step 309 and follows the path associated with step 305.
If the answer to the question in step 313 is “no”, the responder determines if the seeker is on line or otherwise available. If the answer to the question in step 315 is “yes”, the responder initiates a chat session with the seeker, in step 317; and, as a result of further discussions in the chat session, the responder returns to step 313. If the answer to the question in step 315 is “no”, the responder transmits an e-mail message to the seeker, in step 319, and awaits the seeker's response, in step 320.
If the activity in step 321 is chosen, a responder with a winning bid provides an answer or service, in step 323, and determines if the seeker accepts the answer or service, in step 325. If the answer to the question in step 325 is “yes”, the responder proceeds to the (optional) steps 309 and 310. If the answer to the question in step 325 is “no”, the responder determines whether the query and/or any further description of the query should be recharacterized. If the answer to the question in step 327 is “no”, the responder proceeds to the (optional) steps 309 and 310. If the answer to the question in step 327 is “yes”, the responder proceeds to step 315 and follows that path.
Classification of a received query, as in step 113 in FIG. 2 or as in step 207 in FIG. 3, may follow several alternatives. In a first alternative, a single human dispatcher may review the query, determine or provide a suitable classification, and direct the query to an appropriate information repository, responder or group of responders.
In a second alternative, a received query may be reviewed by two or more dispatchers, each of whom provides an independent query classification. If the two or more classifications provided are consistent with each other, the classifications are combined or unified into a single (possibly expanded) classification. If the two or more classifications are inconsistent with each other, the classification provided by the dispatcher with the highest rating, based on past experience, is selected as the classification for the received query.
In a third alternative, if the two or more classifications are inconsistent with each other, the classifications provided by each dispatcher are combined into an expanded classification, having more than one class, for the received query.
In a fourth alternative, if at least two of the classifications are inconsistent with each other, the classifications are grouped into a majority grouping of classifications that are at least broadly consistent with each other and a minority grouping of classifications (outliers), each of which is inconsistent with the majority grouping. Only the classifications in the majority grouping are retained.
In a fifth alternative, classifications are initially arranged in a hierarchical format in two or more super-broad categories, with each super-broad category having a hierarchical arrangement of classifications within itself. All query classifications within a single super-broad category are grouped under a single heading within this category that is specific as possible (as far down the list as possible). Where no other heading within this single super-category can be found that includes all the proffered query classifications within this category, the super-broad category itself becomes the classification for this group, in a “central tendency” classification.
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|U.S. Classification||707/719, 707/E17.107, 707/759, 707/749, 707/754, 707/999.003, 707/769, 707/999.005|
|Cooperative Classification||Y10S707/99933, Y10S707/99935, G06F17/30861|
|Feb 13, 2006||FPAY||Fee payment|
Year of fee payment: 4
|Feb 16, 2010||FPAY||Fee payment|
Year of fee payment: 8
|Feb 4, 2014||FPAY||Fee payment|
Year of fee payment: 12