METHOD, APPARATUS, AND COMPUTER READABLE STORAGE FOR TRAINING HUMAN SEARCHERS

• US 20080021721A1
• Filed: 07/19/2007
• Published: 01/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ChaCha Search, Inc.
• Original Assignee: ChaCha Search, Inc.
• Inventors: Cooper, Thomas E., Jones, Scott A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,762,289 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/205 Education administration or guidance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/2057 Career enhancement or continuing education service
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/04 characterised by modifying the teaching programme in response to a wrong answer, e.g. repeating the question, supplying a further explanation

Abstract

A method for enhancing search skills of human searchers in an information search system. The invention allows human searchers to be trained when they are not particularly busy fielding search queries from information seekers. The training can allow the searcher to increase their performance rating, thereby allowing greater effectiveness in fielding search queries for information seekers. The method can include determining whether a searcher is eligible to receive or provide training; and training an idle searcher with training queries, and/or search results.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

determining whether a searcher is available for training; and

training a selected searcher with a training query.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising, before said determining, dividing human searchers into groups based on search skills of the human searchers.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said dividing includes dividing the human searchers into groups based on search skills of the human searchers.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein said dividing includes dividing the human searchers into groups based on training skills of the human searchers.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein said dividing includes dividing the human searchers into apprentices, pros, and masters.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said apprentices are human searchers who only receive training.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein said pros are human searchers who can only receive training.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein said masters are human searchers who can receive and provide training.

9. The method of claim 5, further comprising subdividing at least one of the apprentices, pros, and masters into classes.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising, after said determining, accepting an election by said selected searcher to be trained.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising, after said determining, automatically presenting said selected searcher with notification to initiate search training for said selected searcher.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said notification occurs via a pop-up window.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected searcher is trained to select advertisements.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein at least one training query was provided to the selected searcher without searcher interaction.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising, after said determining, selecting at least one training query according to a skill set of the selected searcher.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the training comprises one of training with a query, a search result, an advertisement, or a keyword.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein said selecting comprises:

identifying searcher keywords and/or searcher categories to which the selected searcher has been assigned; and

matching the searcher keywords and/or searcher categories with query keywords and/or query categories pertaining to the at least one training query.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising receiving a search results response from the selected searcher to the at least one training query.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said search results response is compared to a stored model response.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising comparing advertisements of responses to stored advertisements designated for the training query.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising comparing the search results response to stored search results designated for the training query.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein said receiving includes receiving a response via a graphical user interface through which an information seeker interacts with the system during normal system operation.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein said receiving includes receiving a response via the graphical user interface, said graphical user interface including a preliminary results section, an advertisement section, and a results section.

24. A computer readable storage for controlling a computer, comprising:

a searcher database including;

a searcher identification field;

a searcher busy status field; and

a searcher training query field.

25. A computer readable storage for controlling a computer, comprising:

a query database including;

a query field; and

a search results field.

26. A system, comprising:

a searcher computer system for transmitting search queries;

a trainee computer system that receives the search queries and provides search results to the search queries; and

a search system for conducting interaction between the trainee computer system, the searcher computer system, and said search system;

consulting a searcher database to monitor a busy status of a searcher;

determining whether the searcher is a pro searcher when the searcher status indicates that the searcher is idle;

determining whether an apprentice searcher is logged-in;

receiving a training request from a master searcher;

alerting said apprentice searcher, a pro searcher, or a master searcher to which training is to be provided with a message to participate in query training;

searching a query database to obtain a training query at searcher ranking and matching keywords to which said apprentice searcher, said pro, or said master searcher is assigned;

transmitting a search query to said apprentice searcher, said pro searcher, or said master searcher when the searcher desires to participate in query training or is selected to participate in query training;

comparing search results produced by said apprentice searcher, said pro searcher, or said master searcher to previously provided search results;

assigning a grade to said apprentice searcher, said pro searcher, or said master searcher;

sending feedback to said apprentice searcher, said pro searcher, or said master searcher regarding performance;

marking training query as completed for said apprentice searcher, said pro searcher, or said master searcher;

determining whether ranking of said apprentice searcher, said pro searcher, or said master searcher requires adjustment; and

adjusting rank of said apprentice searcher, said pro searcher, or said master searcher when required, and

wherein said trainee computer system, searcher computer system, and search system are communicatively coupled via a network.

27. A method for training a human searcher for use with a computer, comprising:

consulting a searcher database to monitor a busy status of a searcher;

determining whether the searcher is a pro searcher when the searcher status indicates that the searcher is idle;

determining whether an apprentice searcher is logged-in;

receiving a training request from a master searcher;

alerting said apprentice searcher, a pro searcher, or a master searcher to which training is to be provided with a message to participate in query training;

searching a query database to obtain a training query at searcher ranking and matching keywords to which said apprentice searcher, said pro, or said master searcher is assigned;

transmitting a search query to said apprentice searcher, said pro searcher, or said master searcher when the searcher desires to participate in query training or is selected to participate in query training;

comparing search results produced by said apprentice searcher, said pro searcher, or said master searcher to previously provided search results;

assigning a grade to said apprentice searcher, said pro searcher, or said master searcher;

sending feedback to said apprentice searcher, said pro searcher, or said master searcher regarding performance;

marking training query as completed for said apprentice searcher, said pro searcher, or said master searcher;

determining whether ranking of said apprentice searcher, said pro searcher, or said master searcher requires adjustment; and

adjusting rank of said apprentice searcher, said pro searcher, or said master searcher when required.