CROWD-SOURCED QUESTION AND ANSWERING
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A computer-implemented method of retrieving information in response to an input query, performed by a computer with a processor, the method comprising:
- receiving the input query;
searching a data store, with the processor, based on the input query, and identifying factors that augment information in the input query to further define a problem defined in the input query and that are associated with the input query;
searching the data store, with the processor, to identify a first set of proposed solutions to the problem defined by the input query;
identifying, with the processor, the first set of proposed solutions as solutions that are relevant to the input query and that are associated with at least some of the factors that are associated with the input query;
displaying, with a user interface component, the first set of proposed solutions along with the factors associated with the first set of proposed solutions, and a user interface element that receives clarifying information that clarifies the problem defined by the input query; and
displaying a second set of proposed solutions, along with factors associated with the second set of proposed solutions, based on the input query and the clarifying information.
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Abstract
In a crowd-sourced question answering system, the user is allowed to provide clarifying information to eliminate some of the most probable solutions or answers. This allows the user to find less common solutions to a query.
84 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method of retrieving information in response to an input query, performed by a computer with a processor, the method comprising:
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receiving the input query; searching a data store, with the processor, based on the input query, and identifying factors that augment information in the input query to further define a problem defined in the input query and that are associated with the input query; searching the data store, with the processor, to identify a first set of proposed solutions to the problem defined by the input query; identifying, with the processor, the first set of proposed solutions as solutions that are relevant to the input query and that are associated with at least some of the factors that are associated with the input query; displaying, with a user interface component, the first set of proposed solutions along with the factors associated with the first set of proposed solutions, and a user interface element that receives clarifying information that clarifies the problem defined by the input query; and displaying a second set of proposed solutions, along with factors associated with the second set of proposed solutions, based on the input query and the clarifying information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A question response system, comprising:
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a user interface component that receives an input query that defines a problem; a data store that stores community-authored queries, solutions and factors, the factors providing additional information related to the queries and solutions; a factor association component generating associations between the factors and both the queries and the solutions, and among the factors; a community interface component receiving, and storing in the data store, the community authored queries, solutions and factors; a search and ranking component that identifies a stored similar query as being similar to the input query, that identifies factors associated with the stored, similar query and that uses the stored, similar query and its associated factors to identify a first set of proposed solutions to the problem defined by the input query, the user interface component displaying the first set of proposed solutions and the associated factors and displaying a selectable element that receives a user input changing the factors to be used by the search and ranking component, the search and ranking component identifying a second set of proposed solutions based on the changed factors; and a computer processor that is a functional component of the system and that is activated by the user interface component, the factor association component, the community interface component, and the search and ranking component to facilitate generating associations, receiving community authored solutions and factors, and identifying similar queries and factors and proposed solutions. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. A computer implemented method, comprising:
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receiving an input query; identifying a first set of proposed solutions, authored by a community of users, that are most likely to address the input query, based on the input query and a set of factors associated with the input query; displaying the first set of proposed solutions and an indication of the set of factors that were considered in identifying the first set of proposed solutions; displaying a user interface element that receives a user input changing the set of factors; identifying a second set of proposed solutions based on the input query and a changed set of factors obtained based on the user input; displaying the second set of proposed solutions and the changed set of factors considered in identifying the second set of proposed solutions; receiving user approval of one of the second set of proposed solutions; modifying associations among proposed solutions and factors based on the user approval; and generating an incentive for a community member that authored the one proposed solution approved by the user. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification