INTERNET-BASED METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR HUMAN-HUMAN QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSIONS IN DELAYED AND REAL TIME

• US 20070259325A1
• Filed: 04/23/2007
• Published: 11/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Rock L. Clapper
• Original Assignee: Rock L. Clapper
• Inventors: Clapper, Rock L.
• Application Number:
  US11/739,009
• Publication Number:
  US 20070259325A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 434/350
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/14 with provision for individual teacher-student communication

Abstract

Technology and a process allow one human to ask any question and have another human who is pre-qualified as an authority on the topic to respond directly via a wired or wireless connection over the Internet immediately or in a delayed manner. Third parties may be involved to provide rewards or incentives to promote the question and answer process.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

an interface for receiving a question electronically or telephonically from an individual or an entity inquirer;

a processor in a computer system which analyzes the received question to identify one or more responders for the question according to the question and profiles of responders in a responder database;

an interface to a communication channel for contacting one of the identified responders regarding the received question;

an interface for receiving a response from the contacted responder; and

a processor in the computer system for processing the received response.

2. A system as in claim 1, wherein the response is provided electronically or telephonically.

3. A system as in claim 1, wherein the computer system includes a classifier for classifying the received question into one or more predetermined topics.

4. A system as in claim 1, wherein the computer system includes a classifier for classifying the received question into one or more automatically generated topics.

5. A system as in claim 4, wherein the automatically generated topics are created based on one or more of:

data analysis programs, communication from experts and the questions posed to the system.

6. A system as in claim 1, the computer system further comprising a database for storing previously posed questions and previously provided responses, wherein when the computer system recognizes the question as a previously posed question archived in the database, the computer system retrieves and returns to the inquirer the corresponding previously provided response.

7. A system as in claim 1, wherein the computer system identifies responders based on one or more of the following characteristics:

profession, demographic data, hobby information, and personal preferences.

8. A system as in claim 1, further comprising a processor that identifies one or more third parties interested in communicating with either the responder or the inquirer.

9. A system as in claim 8, wherein the third parties provide incentives to the inquirer or responder to patronize their products or services.

10. A method, comprising:

receiving a question electronically or telephonically from an individual or an entity inquirer;

analyzing the received question to identify one or more responders for the question according to the question and profiles of responders in a responder database;

contacting one of the identified responders regarding the received question; and

receiving and processing a response from the contacted responder.

11. A method as in claim 10, wherein the response is provided electronically or telephonically.

12. A method as in claim 10, wherein analyzing the received question includes classifying the received question into one or more predetermined topics.

13. A method as in claim 10, wherein analyzing the received question includes classifying the received question into one or more automatically generated topics.

14. A method as in claim 13, wherein the automatically generated topics are created based on one or more of:

data analysis programs, communication from experts and the questions posed to the system.

15. A method as in claim 10, further comprising:

providing a database for storing previously posed questions and previously provided responses;

determining whether or not the question as a previously posed question archived in the database;

upon determining that the question was previously posed and previously provided, retrieving and returning the corresponding previously provided response to the inquirer.

16. A method as in claim 10, wherein identifying responders including scoring the responders based on one or more of the following characteristics:

profession, demographic data, hobby information, and personal preferences.

17. A method as in claim 10, further comprising identifying, based on the results of analyzing the received question, one or more third parties interested in communicating with either the responder or the inquirer.

18. A method as in claim 16, wherein the third parties provide incentives to the inquirer or responder to patronize their products or services.