Content management system for creating and maintaining a database of information utilizing user experiences

• US 20050060283A1
• Filed: 09/16/2004
• Published: 03/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Streetsmarts Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Streetsmarts Incorporated
• Inventors: Cramer, Lisa J., Leonard, Lisa L., Petras, Gregory J., Mason, Andrew F.
• Application Number:
  US10/944,495
• Publication Number:
  US 20050060283A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9532 Query formulation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9538 Presentation of query results

Abstract

A system for automatically creating and maintaining a database of information utilizing user knowledge about sales related subjects. Described is an Internet-based system for assisting/motivating a population of users interested in information about certain categories of sales related subjects to automatically maintain the database content and to improve the usefulness and quality of the database information without any substantial management by the website owner-manager. The user opinions are primarily in the form of both comments and ratings of which sales-related subjects best provide assistance in completing a sale. Also a system for permitting users to access selected functions of the system for creating and viewing subjects from within other software applications.

Claims

1. ) An Internet client-server system, relating to assisting a group of users with at least one common goal to capture and search, in at least one database, offered knowledge, relevant to such at least one common goal, of a plurality of such users for the benefit of at least one of such users, comprising:

a) computer interface means for individually capturing at least one experience of at least some of such plurality of such users;

b) computer database means for storing such captured at least one experience associated with at least one of a plurality of kinds of experience;

c) computer interface means for user-searching to select at least one desired kind of such stored at least one experience;

d) computer processor means for performing such user-searching;

e) computer interface means for presenting search results of such performed user-searching;

f) computer processor means for automatically selecting, relating to at least one request formulated to request specified knowledge about at least one of such plurality of kinds of experience, at least one user of such plurality of users to receive such at least one request for such specified knowledge;

g) computer processor means for automatically sending such at least one request for such specified knowledge to such at least one user;

h) computer processor means for receiving at least one reply from such at least one user to such at least one request for such specified knowledge; and

i) computer processor means for adding such received specified knowledge to such at least one database.

2. ) An Internet client-server system relating to assisting a group of users with at least one common goal to capture and search, in at least one database, offered knowledge, relevant to such at least one common goal, of a plurality of such users for the benefit of at least one of such users, comprising:

a) computer interface means for individually capturing at least one experience of at least some of such plurality of such users;

b) computer database means for storing such captured at least one experience associated with at least one of a plurality of kinds of experience;

c) computer interface means for user-searching to select at least one desired kind of such stored at least one experience;

d) computer processor means for performing such user-searching;

e) computer interface means for presenting search results of such performed user-searching; and

f) computer integration means for providing from within at least one other computer-based system at least one first button for accessing such interface means for user-searching to select at least one desired kind of such stored at least one experience.

3. ) The Internet client-server system according to claim 2 further comprising:

a) computer integration means for providing from within such at least one other computer-based system at least one second button for accessing such computer interface means for individually capturing at least one experience of at least some of such plurality of such users; and

b) computer integration means for providing from within such at least one other computer-based system at least one third button for accessing computer interface means for formulating at least one request for such specified knowledge.

4. ) The Internet client-server system according to claim 2 further comprising:

a) computer integration means for providing from within such at least one other computer-based system at least one other button for accessing computer interface means for approving such at least one stored experience;

b) computer integration means for providing from within such at least one other computer-based system at least one additional other button for accessing computer interface means for responding to such at least one formulated request for such specified knowledge;

c) computer integration means for providing from within such at least one other computer-based system at least one yet additional other button for accessing computer interface means for displaying at least one web page of such Internet client-server system.

5. ) The Internet client-server system according to claim 2 wherein such at least one other computer-based system comprises at least one computer-based email system.

6. ) The Internet client-server system according to claim 2 wherein such at least one other computer-based system comprises at least one computer-based word processing system.

7. ) The. Internet client-server system according to claim 2 wherein such at least one other computer-based system comprises at least one computer-based spreadsheet system.

8. ) The Internet client-server system according to claim 2 wherein such at least one other computer-based system comprises at least one computer-based presentation preparation system.

9. ) The Internet client-server system according to claim 2 wherein such at least one other computer-based system is manufactured by Microsoft Corporation.

10. ) The Internet client-server system according to claim 2 further comprising:

a) computer processor means for automatically selecting, for at least one request formulated for such specified knowledge about at least one of such plurality of topics, at least one user of such plurality of selected users to receive such at least one request for such specified knowledge;

b) computer processor means for automatically sending such at least one request for such specified knowledge to such at least one user;

c) computer processor means for receiving at least one reply from such at least one user to such at least one request for such specified knowledge; and

d) computer processor means for adding such received specified knowledge to such at least one database.

11. ) An Internet client-server program, relating to assisting at least one group of users having at least one common goal to capture and search, in at least one database, offered knowledge, relevant to such at least one common goal, of a plurality of such users for the benefit of at least one of such users, comprising the steps of:

a) individually capturing for such at least one database at least one experience of at least some of such plurality;

b) storing in such at least one database such experience;

c) user-searching to select at least one desired kind of stored experience;

d) performing such user-searching; and

e) presenting search results;

f) wherein such at least one database may be initially and continuously seeded by the steps of

i) formulating at least one request for such knowledge relevant to such at least one common goal,

ii) automatically selecting at least one user of such group of users to receive such at least one request for such relevant knowledge,

iii) automatically sending such at least one request for such relevant knowledge to such at least one user,

iv) receiving at least one reply from such at least one user to such at least one request for such relevant knowledge, and

v) adding such received relevant knowledge to such at least one database.

12. ) An Internet client-server program, relating to assisting at least one group of users having at least one common goal to capture and search, in at least one database, offered knowledge, relevant to such at least one common goal, of a plurality of such users for the benefit of at least one of such users, comprising the steps of:

a) individually capturing for such at least one database at least one experience of at least some of such plurality;

b) storing in such at least one database such experience;

c) user-searching, using at least one natural-language word, to select at least one desired kind of stored experience;

d) performing such user-searching;

e) presenting search results; and

f) providing from within at least one other computer-based system at least one first button for user-searching to select at least one desired kind of stored experience.

13. ) The Internet client-server program according to claim 12 further comprising the steps of:

a) providing from within such at least one other computer-based system at least one second button for individually capturing for such at least one database at least one experience of at least some of such plurality; and

b) providing from within such at least one other computer-based system at least one third button for formulating at least one request for such specified knowledge.

14. ) The Internet client-server program according to claim 12 further comprising the steps of:

a) providing from within at least one other computer-based system at least one other button for approving such at least one stored experience;

b) providing from within at least one other computer-based system at least one additional other button for responding to such at least one formulated request for such specified knowledge;

c) providing from within at least one other computer-based system at least one yet additional other button for displaying at least one web page of such Internet client-server system.

15. ) The Internet client-server program according to claim 12 wherein such at least one other computer-based system comprises at least one computer-based email system.

16. ) The Internet client-server program according to claim 12 wherein such at least one other computer-based system comprises at least one computer-based word processing system.

17. ) The Internet client-server program according to claim 12 wherein such at least one other computer-based system comprises at least one computer-based spreadsheet system.

18. ) The Internet client-server program according to claim 12 wherein such at least one other computer-based system comprises at least one computer-based presentation preparation system.

19. ) The Internet client-server program according to claim 12 wherein such at least one other computer-based system is manufactured by Microsoft Corporation.

20. ) The Internet client-server program according to claim 12 further comprising the steps of:

a) initially and continuously seeding such at least one database;

b) wherein such step of initially and continuously seeding such at least one database comprises the steps of

i) formulating at least one request for such knowledge relevant to such at least one common goal,

ii) automatically selecting at least one user of such group of users to receive such at least one request for such relevant knowledge,

iii) automatically sending such at least one request for such relevant knowledge to such at least one user,

iv) receiving at least one reply from such at least one user to such at least one request for such relevant knowledge, and

v) adding such received relevant knowledge to such at least one database.

21. ) A business system, for a developer, relating to use by customers having websites, of web computer systems of the type involving supporting a community of users interacting with at least one database to search for particular subject information, comprising the steps of:

a) providing such computer systems to comprise software management systems to directly manage such at least one database and such community of users essentially without customer website management; and

b) providing variables in such software management systems to be configurable by such customer without affecting such direct management operations;

c) wherein such software management systems comprise

i) automatically measuring efforts of each user of such community,

ii) automatically setting of goals for each user of such community, and

iii) automatically managing at least one reward system to reward management efforts of each user of such community;

d) wherein such at least one database may be initially and continuously seeded by the steps of

i) formulating at least one request for such particular subject information;

ii) automatically selecting at least one such user to receive such at least one request for such particular subject information;

iii) automatically sending such at least one request for such particular subject information to such at least one user;

iv) receiving at least one reply from such at least one user to such at least one request for such particular subject information; and

v) adding such received particular subject information to such at least one database.

22. ) A business system, for a developer, relating to use by customers having websites, of web computer systems of the type involving supporting a community of users interacting with at least one database to search for particular subject information, comprising the steps of:

a) providing for such computer systems to comprise software management systems to directly manage such at least one database and such community of users essentially without customer website management;

b) providing for variables in such software management systems to be configurable by such customer without affecting such direct management operations; and

c) providing from within at least one other computer-based system at least one first button to so search for such particular subject information; and

d) wherein such software management systems comprise

i) automatically measuring efforts of each user of such community,

ii) automatically setting of goals for each user of such community, and

iii) automatically managing at least one reward system to reward management efforts of each user of such community.

23. ) The business system according to claim 22 further comprising:

a) providing from within such at least one other computer-based system at least one second button to individually capture for such at least one database at least one such particular subject information; and

b) providing from within such at least one other computer-based system at least one third button for formulating at least one user request for at least one such particular subject information.

24. ) The business system according to claim 22 further comprising:

a) providing from within such at least one other computer-based system at least one other button for approving at least one such particular subject information;

b) providing from within such at least one other computer-based system at least one additional other button for responding to such at least one request for such particular subject information; and

c) providing from within such at least one other computer-based system at least one yet additional other button for displaying at least one web page of such web computer system.

25. ) The business system according to claim 22 wherein such at least one other computer-based system comprises at least one computer-based email system.

26. ) The business system according to claim 22 wherein such at least one other computer-based system comprises at least one computer-based word processing system.

27. ) The business system according to claim 22 wherein such at least one other computer-based system comprises at least one computer-based spreadsheet system.

28. ) The business system according to claim 22 wherein such at least one other computer-based system comprises at least one computer-based presentation preparation system.

29. ) The business system according to claim 22 wherein such at least one other computer-based system is manufactured by Microsoft Corporation.

30. ) The business system according to claim 22 wherein such at least one database may be initially and continuously seeded by the steps of:

a) formulating at least one request for such particular subject information;

b) automatically selecting at least one such user to receive such at least one request for such particular subject information;

c) automatically sending such at least one request for such particular subject information to such at least one user;

d) receiving at least one reply from such at least one user to such at least one request for such particular subject information; and

e) adding such received particular subject information to such at least one database.

31. ) A business system, supplied by a developer, relating to use by customers having websites comprising web server computer systems of the type involving supporting a community of users, having client computer systems, interacting with at least one database to search for particular subject information, comprising providing, for website use:

a) computer software means for direct automatic management of such at least one database and such community of users essentially without customer website management; and

b) computer software means for permitting such customer to configure a large set of variables in such computer software means for direct automatic management of such at least one database and such community of users without affecting full operation of such direct automatic management;

c) wherein such computer software means for direct automatic management of such at least one database and such community of users essentially without customer website management comprises

i) computer software means for automatically measuring efforts of each user of such community,

ii) computer software means for automatic setting of goals for each user of such community, and

d) computer software means for automatically managing a reward system to reward efforts of each user of such community; and

e) computer software means for

i) formulating at least one request for such particular subject information,

ii) automatically selecting at least one such user to receive such at least one request for such particular subject information,

iii) automatically sending such at least one request for such particular subject information to such at least one user,

iv) receiving at least one reply from such at least one user to such at least one request for such particular subject information, and

v) adding such received particular subject information to such at least one database.

32. ) A business system, supplied by a developer, relating to use by customers having websites comprising web server computer systems of the type involving supporting a community of users, having client computer systems, interacting with at least one database to search for particular subject information, comprising providing, for website use:

a) computer software means for direct automatic management of such at least one database and such community of users essentially without customer website management; and

b) computer software means for permitting such customer to configure a large set of variables in such computer software means for direct automatic management of such at least one database and such community of users without affecting full operation of such direct automatic management;

c) wherein such computer software means for direct automatic management of such at least one database and such community of users essentially without customer website management comprises

i) computer software means for automatically measuring efforts of each user of such community,

ii) computer software means for automatic setting of goals for each user of such community, and

iii) computer software means for automatically managing a reward system to reward efforts of each user of such community; and

d) computer integration means for providing from within at least one other computer-based system at least one first button for accessing at least one such client computer system to so search for such particular subject information.

33. ) The business system according to claim 32 further comprising:

a) computer integration means for providing from within such at least one other computer-based system at least one second button to individually capture for such at least one database at least one such particular subject information; and

b) computer integration means for providing from within such at least one other computer-based system at least one third button for formulating at least one user request for at least one such particular subject information.

34. ) The business system according to claim 32 further comprising:

a) computer integration means for providing from within such at least one other computer-based system at least one other button for approving at least one such particular subject information;

b) computer integration means for providing from within such at least one other computer-based system at least one additional other button for responding to such at least one request for such particular subject information; and

c) computer integration means for providing from within such at least one other computer-based system at least one yet additional other button for displaying at least one web page of such web computer system.

35. ) The business system according to claim 32 wherein such at least one other computer-based system comprises at least one computer-based email system.

36. ) The business system according to claim 32 wherein such at least one other computer-based system comprises at least one computer-based word processing system.

37. ) The business system according to claim 32 wherein such at least one other computer-based system comprises at least one computer-based spreadsheet system.

38. ) The business system according to claim 32 wherein such at least one other computer-based system comprises at least one computer-based presentation preparation system.

39. ) The business system according to claim 32 wherein such at least one other computer-based system is manufactured by Microsoft Corporation.

40. ) A business system, supplied by a developer, relating to use by customers having websites comprising web server computer systems of the type involving supporting a community of users, having client computer systems, interacting with at least one database searching for particular subject information, comprising providing, for website use:

a) computer software means for direct automatic management of such at least one database and such community of users essentially without customer website management;

b) computer software means for permitting such customer to configure a large set of variables in such computer software means for direct automatic management of such at least one database and such community of users without affecting full operation of such direct automatic management;

c) wherein such computer software means for direct automatic management of such at least one database and such community of users essentially without customer website management comprises

i) computer software means for automatically measuring efforts of each user of such community,

ii) computer software means for automatic setting of goals for each user of such community, and

iii) computer software means for automatically managing a reward system to reward efforts of each user of such community;

d) computer processor means for

i) formulating at least one request for such particular subject information,

ii) automatically selecting at least one such user to receive such at least one request for such particular subject information,

iii) automatically sending such at least one request for such particular subject information to such at least one user,

iv) receiving at least one reply from such at least one user to such at least one request for such particular subject information, and

v) adding such received particular subject information to such at least one database; and

e) computer integration means for providing from within at least one other computer-based system at least one first button for accessing at least one such client computer system to so search for such particular subject information.

41. ) A computer system, relating to assisting automatic request and receipt of specified information about at least one plurality of topics from at least one plurality of selected users to create at least one database of such information and to improve the usefulness and quality of such at least one database without substantial management, comprising the steps of:

a) formulating at least one request for such specified information about at least one of such plurality of topics;

b) automatically selecting at least one user of such plurality of selected users to receive such at least one request for such specified information;

c) automatically sending such at least one request for such specified information to such at least one user;

d) receiving at least one reply from such at least one user to such at least one request for such specified information; and

e) adding such received specified information to such at least one database.

42. ) The computer system according to claim 41, wherein the step of formulating at least one request for such specified information about at least one of such plurality of topics comprises the steps of:

a) identifying at least one topic for which such specified information is to be requested;

b) formulating such at least one request for such specified information about at least one of such plurality of topics;

c) assigning at least one priority to each such at least one request; and

d) assigning each such at least one request to at least one primary topic.

43. ) The computer system according to claim 41, wherein the step of automatically sending such at least one request for such specified information to such at least one user comprises the steps of:

a) setting the daily maximum number of such requests to be sent to such at least one user;

b) specifying the timeframe for re-sending each such at least one request to such at least one user;

c) selecting each such at least one user to receive such at least one request;

d) sending such at least one request to such at least one user;

e) recording content of such at least one request and delivery information for such at least one user; and

f) adding at least one transmittal record, which includes at least one identifier of such at least one request, of delivery information for such at least one user and date and time of transmission, to such at least one database.

44. ) The computer system according to claim 43, wherein the step of sending such at least one request to such at least one user comprises the steps of:

a) identifying such plurality of users with known expertise in such primary topic of such at least one request;

b) for each such at least one request, referring to the latest such at least one transmittal record for each identified at least one user and such at least one request combination;

c) selecting only those users who have not received such request within the defined timeframe;

d) limiting the number of such requests sent daily to each of such selected users knowledgeable about such at least one of such plurality of topics;

e) limiting the number of such selected users which may receive such at least one request to a daily maximum percentage of all possible such selected users; and

f) sending such at least one request to selected at least one user who has not received such at least one request within such specified timeframe for each such at least one request.

45. ) The computer system according to claim 41, wherein the step of adding such received specified information to such at least one database comprises the steps of:

a) adding at least one receipt record, which includes at least one identifier of such at least one request, reply information for such at least one user and date and time of receipt of, to such at least one database;

b) approval of such at least one reply information by such at least one authorized user;

c) adding such at least one reply information to such at least one database.

46. ) The computer system according to claim 41 wherein the specified information about the at least one plurality of topics comprises at least one rating of at least one reply of at least one other user.

47. ) The computer system according to claim 46 wherein such at least one selected user comprises a person knowledgeable about such at least one selected topic.

48. ) A computer system, relating to assisting automatic request and receipt of specified information about at least one plurality of topics from at least one plurality of selected users to create at least one database of such information and to improve the usefulness and quality of such at least one database without substantial management:

a) processor means for automatically selecting, for at least one request formulated for such specified information about at least one of such plurality of topics, at least one user of such plurality of selected users to receive such at least one request for such specified information;

b) processor means for automatically sending such at least one request for such specified information to such at least one user;

c) processor means for receiving at least one reply from such at least one user to such at least one request for such specified information; and

d) processor means for adding such received specified information to such at least one database.

49. ) The computer system according to claim 48, wherein such processor means for automatically selecting, for at least one request formulated for such specified information about at least one of such plurality of topics, at least one user of such plurality of selected users to receive such at least one request for such specified information comprises:

a) processor means for identifying at least one topic for which such specified information is to be requested;

b) computer input means for assisting formulating such at least one request for such specified information about at least one of such plurality of topics;

c) computer input means for assisting assigning at least one priority to each such at least one request;

d) computer input means for assisting assigning each such at least one request to at least one primary topic; and

e) processor means for automatically selecting at least one user of such plurality of selected users to receive such at least one request for such specified information.

50. ) The computer system according to claim 48, wherein such processor means for automatically sending such at least one request for such specified information to such at least one user comprises:

a) computer input means for assisting setting the daily maximum number of such requests to be sent such to at least one user;

b) computer input means for assisting specifying the timeframe for re-sending each such at least one request to such at least one user;

c) processor means for selecting each such at least one user to receive such at least one request;

d) processor means for sending such at least one request to such at least one user;

e) processor means for recording content of such at least one request and delivery information for such at least one user; and

f) processor means adding at least one transmittal record, which includes at least one identifier of such at least one request, of delivery information for such at least one user and date and time of transmission, to such at least one database.

51. ) The computer system according to claim 50, wherein such processor means for sending such at least one request to such at least one user comprises:

a) processor means for identifying such plurality of users with known expertise in such primary topic of such at least one request;

b) for each such at least one request, processor means for referring to the latest such at least one transmittal record for each identified at least one user and such at least one request combination;

c) processor means for selecting only those users who have not received such request within the defined timeframe;

d) processor means for limiting the number of such requests sent daily to each of such selected users knowledgeable about such at least one of such plurality of topics;

e) processor means for limiting the number of such selected users which may receive such at least one request to a daily maximum percentage of all possible such selected users; and

f) processor means for sending such at least one request to selected at least one user who has not received such at least one request within such specified timeframe for each such at least one request.

52. ) The computer system according to claim 48, wherein such processor means for adding such received specified information to such at least one database comprises:

a) processor means for adding at least one receipt record, which includes at least one identifier of such at least one request, reply information for such at least one user and date and time of receipt of, to such at least one database;

b) processor means for approval of such at least one reply information by such at least one authorized user; and

c) processor means for adding such at least one reply information to such at least one database.

53. ) The computer system according to claim 48 wherein the specified information about the at least one plurality of topics comprises at least one rating of at least one reply of at least one other user.

54. ) The computer system according to claim 53 wherein such at least one selected user comprises a person knowledgeable about such at least one selected topic.

55. ) A computer method relating to automatically transferring displayed information between computer programs comprising the steps of:

a) establishing at least one inter-program link between at least one first computer program and at least one second computer program;

b) starting such at least one first computer program;

c) highlighting information within at least one first display area controlled by such at least one first program;

d) accessing such at least one second computer program using such at least one inter-program link; and

e) automatically transferring such highlighted information to at least one second display area controlled by such at least one second computer program.