Method, system, and apparatus for providing advice to users

• US 20090210405A1
• Filed: 02/15/2008
• Published: 08/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Molander, Mark E., Ortega, Kerry A., Brugler, Thomas, Eischeid, Todd Michael
• Application Number:
  US12/031,753
• Publication Number:
  US 20090210405A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

In one embodiment of this invention, one can record and provide answers to users problems. When a user selects a command (e.g., Show Tips) on the user interface (UI), the mouse pointer is changed, so when the user clicks on an aspect of the UI, a web window displays all of the problems that the users have entered on the particular clicked item by querying a forum knowledge base. One embodiment provides capability to expand the search, e.g., to anything the user clicked on recently or items which are related to the selected item.

Claims

1. A method of providing tips to a user in a graphical user interface application, said method comprising:

providing a function to give hint or solution for a problem;

said user invoking said function, by clicking, pointing, or selecting, using a mouse, keyboard, menu, pointing device, or shortcut;

said user specifying said problem;

searching for a forum dealing with said problem;

querying said forum about said problem;

said forum providing live and delayed hint or solution for said problem, by searching prior chat or advice recordings, by providing similar topics, by providing comment trails between said forum'"'"'s participants, by invoking an agent or robot, and by engaging live chats with experts in said forum;

providing a report for said user;

wherein said report comprising ranking, relevance rating, and expertise rating;

searching for other users interested in said problem, using prior discussions;

grouping said other users into a first group;

determining e-mail preference of all members of said first group;

ranking said all members of said first group based on their expertise level, related to said problem, and their availability during a specified period of time;

based on said ranking of said all members of said first group, selecting a first member of said first group;

if said e-mail preference of said first member of said first group is receiving e-mail, then sending an e-mail along with said report to said first member of said first group; and

if said e-mail preference of said first member of said first group is receiving instant-message, then sending an instant-message invitation along with said report, to both said first member of said first group and to said user, to participate in an instant message session.