SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DEVELOPING FEATURES FOR A PRODUCT

• US 20090063481A1
• Filed: 08/31/2007
• Published: 03/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Red Hat, Inc. (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Red Hat, Inc. (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Inventors: Faus, Norman L., Pierce, Darryl L.
• Application Number:
  US11/849,227
• Publication Number:
  US 20090063481A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/205 Parsing

Abstract

An embodiment relates to a method for developing features for a product. The method includes monitoring a forum for messages and parsing a newly posted message in the forum. The method also includes determining whether the newly posted message contains a new feature comment and posting the new feature comment on a future feature list in response to the newly posted message contains a new feature comment.

Claims

1. A method of developing features for a product, the method comprising:

monitoring a forum for messages;

parsing a newly posted message in the forum;

determining whether the newly posted message contains a new feature comment;

posting the new feature comment on a new feature list in response to the newly posted message contains a new feature comment.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the parsing the newly posted message in the forum further comprises applying a key word search to the newly posted message.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprises ceasing processing of the newly posted message in response to the key word search not matching a predetermined key word search match threshold.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising applying a latent semantic analysis to the newly posted message to determine a content of the newly posted message.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising posting the content of the newly posted message to a new feature list.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

associating the new feature list with a vendor; and

notifying the vendor in response to the posting of the content of the newly posted message to the new feature list.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising providing a reward for the vendor to develop any feature on the new feature list.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising receiving a request from the vendor for payment from an originator of the newly posted message.

9. An apparatus for developing features for a product, the apparatus comprising:

a forum interface adapted to monitor a forum;

a control module configured to couple with the forum interface;

a key word dictionary coupled to the control module, the key word dictionary comprising a set of key word terms; and

a natural language processor module configured to be couple with the control module, wherein the control module is configured to receive a new message posted in the forum through the forum interface;

to determine whether the new message contains a new feature comment by applying a key word search using terms from the key word dictionary and the natural language processor module; and

to post the new feature comment on a future feature list in response to the newly posted message containing the new feature comment.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the control module is further configured to cease processing of the new message in response to the key word search not matching a predetermined key word search match threshold.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the control module is further configured to determine a content of the newly posted message using the natural language processor module.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the control module is further configured to forward the content of the newly posted message to a first available service agent for approval.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the control module is further configured to post the content of the newly posted message to a new feature list.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the control module is further configured to associating the new feature list with a vendor and to notify the vendor in response to the posting of the content of the new message to the new feature list.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the control module is further configured to provide a reward for the vendor to develop any feature on the new feature list.

16. A system for developing features for a product, the system comprising:

a network configured to provide a communication channel for a plurality of users; and

a web service portal coupled to the network and configured to provide products and services to the plurality of users, wherein the web-service portal further comprises;

at least one forum associated with at least one product and service; and

a feature module coupled to the at least one forum, wherein the feature module is configured to monitor the at least one forum for messages;

to parse a newly posted message in the at least one forum;

to determine whether the newly posted message contains a new feature comment; and

post the new feature comment on a new feature list in response to the newly posted message contains the new feature comment.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the feature module is configured to apply a key word search to the new posted message.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the feature module is configured to cease processing of the new posted message in response to the key word search not matching a predetermined key word search match threshold.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the feature module is further configured to apply a latent semantic analysis to the new posted message to determine a content of the newly posted message.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the feature module is further configured to post the content of the new posted message to a new feature list.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the feature module is further configured to associate the new feature list with a vendor and to notify the vendor in response to the posting of the content of the new posted message to the new feature list.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the feature module is further configured to provide a reward for the vendor to develop any feature on the new feature list.