SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT

• US 20160148097A1
• Filed: 07/10/2014
• Published: 05/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ifthisthen, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Ifthisthen, Inc.
• Inventors: GENOVA, Michael Angelo III
• Application Number:
  US14/903,362
• Publication Number:
  US 20160148097A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 5/022 Knowledge engineering; Knowledge acquisition
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 5/025 Extracting rules from data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/10 Services

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for managing knowledge. Users of a knowledge management (KM) service or system may post questions, provide answers or search for answers via a user interface. For a given question, users may collectively construct and refine an answer hierarchy that may include multiple answer paths or solutions to the same question. To this end, users may add, remove and/or modify nodes of the answer hierarchy. The nodes may be of predefined types such as Step, Fork, and Goto. In addition, users may interact with a particular node and provide or modify content specific to individual nodes of the answer hierarchy such as attachments, questions, comments, or references. Given an answer hierarchy, users may select different answer paths or solutions comprising a subset of nodes in the answer hierarchy, for example, based on user-specific fact patterns or requirements.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for managing knowledge, said method under the control of one or more computer systems configured with executable instructions and comprising:

receiving, via a user interface, a question from a first user; and

providing, via the user interface, an answer hierarchy corresponding to the question, the answer hierarchy generated at least in part on responses from one or more other users different from the first user and comprising a plurality of nodes each associated with a predefined node type.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the answer hierarchy represents an aggregate answer to the question.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein each node in the answer hierarchy represents a step in a solution to the question.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the predefined node type is selected from a group comprising a Step, Fork, or Goto node type.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein the plurality of nodes includes at least a Fork node with two or more branches.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein the Fork node represents a decision point among two or more solutions corresponding to the two or more branches.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of nodes is associated with node-specific information.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein the node-specific information includes at least one of a comment, a question, a reference, or an attachment.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein providing the answer hierarchy includes allowing the one or more users to add, remove, or edit at least one node of the plurality of nodes.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein editing the at least one node includes adding, removing, or editing node-specific information associated with the at least one node.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the answer hierarchy provides at least two distinct solutions to the question.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, further comprising allowing the first user to select, via the user interface, a user-specific solution from the at least two distinct solutions based at least in part on information specific to the first user.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, wherein selecting the user-specific solution includes selecting, via the user interface, a subset of the plurality of nodes of the answer hierarchy.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, wherein the user-specific solution is displayed via the user interface.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, further comprises displaying a first selected node of the plurality of nodes while providing a preview of a second unselected node of the plurality of nodes.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, wherein the user-specific solution is stored, shared, or printed.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the first user and the one or more other users different from the first user are members of the same organization or group.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more computer systems is configured to prevent unauthorized access.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 18, wherein preventing unauthorized access comprises authenticating users of the one or more computer systems prior to providing access to the at least one of the one or more computer systems.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 19, wherein authenticating the users of the one or more computer systems includes checking user-provided credentials.

21. The computer-implemented method of claim 19, wherein authenticating the users of the one or more computer systems is performed without user intervention.

22. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more computer systems is configured to be non-public.

23. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising providing different levels of access rights with respect to the answer hierarchy to users of the one or more computer systems.

24. The computer-implemented method of claim 23, wherein providing different levels of access rights with respect to the answer hierarchy includes providing only read access to a first subset of the users and providing both read and write access to a second subset of the users.

25. The computer-implemented method of claim 24, wherein the first user is a member of the first subset of the users and at least one of the one or more users different from the first users is a member of the second subset of the users.

26. A knowledge management system, comprising:

one or more processors; and

memory, including instructions executable by the one or more processors to cause the knowledge management system to at least;

receive, via a user interface, a question from a first user; and

provide, via the user interface, an answer hierarchy corresponding to the question, the answer hierarchy generated at least in part on responses from one or more other users different from the first user and comprising a plurality of nodes each associated with a predefined node type.

27. The knowledge management system of claim 26, wherein the answer hierarchy represents an aggregate answer to the question.

28. The knowledge management system of claim 27, wherein each node in the answer hierarchy represents a step in a solution to the question.

29. The knowledge management system of claim 26, wherein the predefined node type is selected from a group comprising a Step, Fork, or Goto node type.

30. The knowledge management system of claim 27, wherein the plurality of nodes includes at least a Fork node with two or more branches.

31. The knowledge management system of claim 30, wherein the Fork node represents a decision point among two or more solutions corresponding to the two or more branches.

32. The knowledge management system of claim 26, wherein at least one of the plurality of nodes is associated with node-specific information.

33. The knowledge management system of claim 32, wherein the node-specific information includes at least one of a comment, a question, a reference, or an attachment.

34. The knowledge management system of claim 26, wherein providing the answer hierarchy includes allowing the one or more users to add, remove, or edit at least one node of the plurality of nodes.

35. The knowledge management system of claim 34, wherein editing the at least one node includes adding, removing, or editing node-specific information associated with the at least one node.

36. The knowledge management system of claim 26, wherein the answer hierarchy provides at least two distinct solutions to the question.

37. The knowledge management system of claim 36, wherein the instructions executable by the one or more processors further cause the knowledge management system to allow the first user to select, via the user interface, a user-specific solution from the at least two distinct solutions based at least in part on information specific to the first user.

38. The knowledge management system of claim 37, wherein selecting the user-specific solution includes selecting, via the user interface, a subset of the plurality of nodes of the answer hierarchy.

39. The knowledge management system of claim 37, wherein the user-specific solution is displayed via the user interface.

40. The knowledge management system of claim 38, wherein the instructions executable by the one or more processors further cause the knowledge management system to display a first selected node of the plurality of nodes while providing a preview of a second unselected node of the plurality of nodes.

41. The knowledge management system of claim 37, wherein the user-specific solution is stored, shared, or printed.

42. The knowledge management system of claim 26, wherein the first user and the one or more other users different from the first user are members of the same organization or group.

43. The knowledge management system of claim 26, wherein the instructions executable by the one or more processors further cause the knowledge management system to prevent unauthorized access.

44. The knowledge management system of claim 43, wherein preventing unauthorized access comprises authenticating users of the knowledge management system prior to providing access to the knowledge management system.

45. The knowledge management system of claim 44, wherein authenticating the users of the knowledge management system includes checking user-provided credentials.

46. The knowledge management system of claim 44, wherein authenticating the users of the knowledge management system is performed without user intervention.

47. The knowledge management system of claim 26, wherein the knowledge management system is configured to be non-public.

48. The knowledge management system of claim 26, wherein the instructions executable by the one or more processors further cause the knowledge management system to provide different levels of access rights with respect to the answer hierarchy to users of the knowledge management system.

49. The knowledge management system of claim 48, wherein providing different levels of access rights with respect to the answer hierarchy includes providing only read access to a first subset of the users and providing both read and write access to a second subset of the users.

50. The knowledge management system of claim 49, wherein the first user is a member of the first subset of the users and at least one of the one or more users different from the first users is a member of the second subset of the users.

51. One or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media having collectively stored thereon executable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a knowledge management system, cause the system to at least:

receive, via a user interface, a question from a first user; and

provide, via the user interface, an answer hierarchy corresponding to the question, the answer hierarchy generated at least in part on responses from one or more other users different from the first user and comprising a plurality of nodes each associated with a predefined node type.

52. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 51, wherein the answer hierarchy represents an aggregate answer to the question.

53. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 52, wherein each node in the answer hierarchy represents a step in a solution to the question.

54. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 51, wherein the predefined node type is selected from a group comprising a Step, Fork, or Goto node type.

55. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 52, wherein the plurality of nodes includes at least a Fork node with two or more branches.

56. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 55, wherein the Fork node represents a decision point among two or more solutions corresponding to the two or more branches.

57. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 51, wherein at least one of the plurality of nodes is associated with node-specific information.

58. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 57, wherein the node-specific information includes at least one of a comment, a question, a reference, or an attachment.

59. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 51, wherein providing the answer hierarchy includes allowing the one or more users to add, remove, or edit at least one node of the plurality of nodes.

60. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 59, wherein editing the at least one node includes adding, removing, or editing node-specific information associated with the at least one node.

61. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 51, wherein the answer hierarchy provides at least two distinct solutions to the question.

62. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 61, wherein the instructions executable by the one or more processors further cause the knowledge management system to allow the first user to select, via the user interface, a user-specific solution from the at least two distinct solutions based at least in part on information specific to the first user.

63. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 62, wherein selecting the user-specific solution includes selecting, via the user interface, a subset of the plurality of nodes of the answer hierarchy.

64. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 62, wherein the user-specific solution is displayed via the user interface.

65. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 63, wherein the instructions executable by the one or more processors further cause the knowledge management system to display a first selected node of the plurality of nodes while providing a preview of a second unselected node of the plurality of nodes.

66. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 62, wherein the user-specific solution is stored, shared, or printed.

67. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 51, wherein the first user and the one or more other users different from the first user are members of the same organization or group.

68. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 51, wherein the instructions executable by the one or more processors further cause the knowledge management system to prevent unauthorized access.

69. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 68, wherein preventing unauthorized access comprises authenticating users of the knowledge management system prior to providing access to the knowledge management system.

70. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 69, wherein authenticating the users of the knowledge management system includes checking user-provided credentials.

71. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 69, wherein authenticating the users of the knowledge management system is performed without user intervention.

72. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 51, wherein the knowledge management system is configured to be non-public.

73. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 51, wherein the instructions executable by the one or more processors further cause the knowledge management system to provide different levels of access rights with respect to the answer hierarchy to users of the knowledge management system.

74. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 73, wherein providing different levels of access rights with respect to the answer hierarchy includes providing only read access to a first subset of the users and providing both read and write access to a second subset of the users.

75. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 74, wherein the first user is a member of the first subset of the users and at least one of the one or more users different from the first users is a member of the second subset of the users.

76. A computer-implemented method for managing knowledge, said method under the control of one or more computer systems configured with executable instructions and comprising:

providing a user interface that enables a plurality of users to collectively edit an answer hierarchy that incorporates responses of the plurality of users to a user-provided question, the answer hierarchy comprising a plurality of nodes each associated with a predefined node type;

receiving, via the user interface, a user-selection of a subset of the plurality of nodes; and

providing a solution to the user-provided question based at least in part on the user-selected subset of the plurality of nodes.

77. The computer-implemented method of claim of claim 76, wherein the answer hierarchy represents an aggregate answer to the question.

78. The computer-implemented method of claim of claim 77, wherein each node in the answer hierarchy represents a step in a solution to the question.

79. The computer-implemented method of claim 76, wherein the predefined node type is selected from a group comprising a Step, Fork, or Goto node type.

80. The computer-implemented method of claim 76, wherein the plurality of nodes includes at least a Fork node with two or more branches.

81. The computer-implemented method of claim 80, wherein the Fork node represents a decision point among two or more solutions corresponding to the two or more branches.

82. The computer-implemented method of claim 76, wherein at least one of the plurality of nodes is associated with node-specific information.

83. The computer-implemented method of claim 82, wherein the node-specific information includes at least one of a comment, a question, a reference, or an attachment.

84. The computer-implemented method of claim 76, wherein editing the answer hierarchy includes adding, remove, or editing at least one node of the plurality of nodes.

85. The computer-implemented method of claim 84, wherein editing the at least one node includes adding, removing, or editing node-specific information associated with the at least one node.

86. The computer-implemented method of claim 76, wherein providing the solution to the question comprising displaying, via the user interface, the user-selected subset of the plurality of nodes.

87. The computer-implemented method of claim 86, wherein providing the solution to the question further comprises storing, sharing, or printing the solution.

88. The computer-implemented method of claim 76, further comprising displaying a first selected node of the plurality of nodes while providing a preview of a second unselected node of the plurality of nodes.

89. The computer-implemented method of claim 76, further comprising preventing unauthorized access.

90. The computer-implemented method of claim 89, wherein preventing unauthorized access comprises authenticating the plurality of users prior to providing access.

91. The computer-implemented method of claim 90, wherein authenticating the plurality of users includes checking user-provided credentials.

92. The computer-implemented method of claim 90, wherein authenticating the plurality of users is performed without user intervention.

93. The computer-implemented method of claim 76, further comprising providing different levels of access rights with respect to the answer hierarchy to users.

94. The computer-implemented method of claim 93, wherein providing different levels of access rights with respect to the answer hierarchy includes providing only read access to a first of the users and providing both read and write access to a second subset of the users.

95. A knowledge management system, comprising:

one or more processors; and

memory, including instructions executable by the one or more processors to cause the knowledge management system to at least;

provide a user interface that enables a plurality of users to collectively edit an answer hierarchy that incorporates responses of the plurality of users to a user-provided question, the answer hierarchy comprising a plurality of nodes each associated with a predefined node type;

receive, via the user interface, a user-selection of a subset of the plurality of nodes; and

provide a solution to the user-provided question based at least in part on the user-selected subset of the plurality of nodes.

96. The knowledge management system of claim 95, wherein the answer hierarchy represents an aggregate answer to the question.

97. The knowledge management system of claim 96, wherein each node in the answer hierarchy represents a step in a solution to the question.

98. The knowledge management system of claim 95, wherein the predefined node type is selected from a group comprising a Step, Fork, or Goto node type.

99. The knowledge management system of claim 95, wherein the plurality of nodes includes at least a Fork node with two or more branches.

100. The knowledge management system of claim 99, wherein the Fork node represents a decision point among two or more solutions corresponding to the two or more branches.

101. The knowledge management system of claim 95, wherein at least one of the plurality of nodes is associated with node-specific information.

102. The knowledge management system of claim 101, wherein the node-specific information includes at least one of a comment, a question, a reference, or an attachment.

103. The knowledge management system of claim 95, wherein editing the answer hierarchy includes adding, remove, or editing at least one node of the plurality of nodes.

104. The knowledge management system of claim 103, wherein editing the at least one node includes adding, removing, or editing node-specific information associated with the at least one node.

105. The knowledge management system of claim 95, wherein providing the solution to the question comprising displaying, via the user interface, the user-selected subset of the plurality of nodes.

106. The knowledge management system of claim 105, wherein providing the solution to the question further comprises storing, sharing, or printing the solution.

107. The knowledge management system of claim 95, wherein the instructions executable by the one or more processors further cause the knowledge management system to display a first selected node of the plurality of nodes while providing a preview of a second unselected node of the plurality of nodes.

108. The knowledge management system of claim 95, wherein the instructions executable by the one or more processors further cause the knowledge management system to prevent unauthorized access.

109. The knowledge management system of claim 108, wherein preventing unauthorized access comprises authenticating the plurality of users prior to providing access.

110. The knowledge management system of claim 109, wherein authenticating the plurality of users includes checking user-provided credentials.

111. The knowledge management system of claim 109, wherein authenticating the plurality of users is performed without user intervention.

112. The knowledge management system of claim 95, wherein the instructions executable by the one or more processors further cause the knowledge management system to provide different levels of access rights with respect to the answer hierarchy to users of the knowledge management system.

113. The knowledge management system of claim 112, wherein providing different levels of access rights with respect to the answer hierarchy includes providing only read access to a first of the users and providing both read and write access to a second subset of the users.

114. One or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media having collectively stored thereon executable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a knowledge management system, cause the system to at least:

provide a user interface that enables a plurality of users to collectively edit an answer hierarchy that incorporates responses of the plurality of users to a user-provided question, the answer hierarchy comprising a plurality of nodes each associated with a predefined node type;

receive, via the user interface, a user-selection of a subset of the plurality of nodes; and

provide a solution to the user-provided question based at least in part on the user-selected subset of the plurality of nodes.

115. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 114, wherein the answer hierarchy represents an aggregate answer to the question.

116. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 115, wherein each node in the answer hierarchy represents a step in a solution to the question.

117. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 114, wherein the predefined node type is selected from a group comprising a Step, Fork, or Goto node type.

118. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 114, wherein the plurality of nodes includes at least a Fork node with two or more branches.

119. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 118, wherein the Fork node represents a decision point among two or more solutions corresponding to the two or more branches.

120. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 114, wherein at least one of the plurality of nodes is associated with node-specific information.

121. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 120, wherein the node-specific information includes at least one of a comment, a question, a reference, or an attachment.

122. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 114, wherein editing the answer hierarchy includes adding, remove, or editing at least one node of the plurality of nodes.

123. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 122, wherein editing the at least one node includes adding, removing, or editing node-specific information associated with the at least one node.

124. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 114, wherein providing the solution to the question comprising displaying, via the user interface, the user-selected subset of the plurality of nodes.

125. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 124, wherein providing the solution to the question further comprises storing, sharing, or printing the solution.

126. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 114, wherein the instructions executable by the one or more processors further cause the knowledge management system to display a first selected node of the plurality of nodes while providing a preview of a second unselected node of the plurality of nodes.

127. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 114, wherein the instructions executable by the one or more processors further cause the knowledge management system to prevent unauthorized access.

128. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 127, wherein preventing unauthorized access comprises authenticating the plurality of users prior to providing access.

129. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 128, wherein authenticating the plurality of users includes checking user-provided credentials.

130. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 128, wherein authenticating the plurality of users is performed without user intervention.

131. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 114, wherein the instructions executable by the one or more processors further cause the knowledge management system to provide different levels of access rights with respect to the answer hierarchy to users of the knowledge management system.

132. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 131, wherein providing different levels of access rights with respect to the answer hierarchy includes providing only read access to a first of the users and providing both read and write access to a second subset of the users.

133. A computer-implemented method for managing knowledge, said method under the control of one or more computer systems configured with executable instructions and comprising:

receiving, via a user interface, a question from a first user; and

displaying, via a user interface, an answer hierarchy that incorporates one or more solutions to a user-provided question, the answer hierarchy comprising a plurality of nodes each associated with a predefined node type, each of the one or more solutions corresponding to a subset of the plurality of nodes; and

allowing one or more users to perform, via the user interface, one or more predefined operations associated with the answer hierarchy, the one or more predefined operations comprising at least adding, removing, or editing at least one node of the plurality of nodes.

134. The computer-implemented method of claim 133, wherein the answer hierarchy represents an aggregate answer to the question.

135. The computer-implemented method of claim 134, wherein each node in the answer hierarchy represents a step in a solution to the question.

136. The computer-implemented method of claim 133, wherein the predefined node type is selected from a group comprising a Step, Fork, or Goto node type.

137. The computer-implemented method of claim 134, wherein the plurality of nodes includes at least a Fork node with two or more branches.

138. The computer-implemented method of claim 137, wherein the Fork node represents a decision point among two or more solutions corresponding to the two or more branches.

139. The computer-implemented method of claim 133, wherein at least one of the plurality of nodes is associated with node-specific information.

140. The computer-implemented method of claim 139, wherein the node-specific information includes at least one of a comment, a question, a reference, or an attachment.

141. The computer-implemented method of claim 133, wherein editing the at least one node comprises adding, removing, or editing node-specific information associated with the at least one node.

142. The computer-implemented method of claim 133, further comprising:

receiving, via the user interface, a user-selection of a subset of the plurality of nodes; and

providing one of the one or more solutions to the user-provided question based at least in part on the user-selected subset of the plurality of nodes.

143. The computer-implemented method of claim 142, wherein providing one of the one or more solutions comprises displaying the solution via the user interface.

144. The computer-implemented method of claim 143, wherein providing one of the one or more solutions further comprises storing, sharing, or printing the solution.

145. The computer-implemented method of claim 133, further comprising displaying a first selected node of the plurality of nodes while providing a preview of a second unselected node of the plurality of nodes.

146. The computer-implemented method of claim 133, wherein at least one of the one or more computer systems is configured to prevent unauthorized access.

147. The computer-implemented method of claim 146, wherein preventing unauthorized access comprises authenticating users of the one or more computer systems prior to providing access to the at least one of the one or more computer systems.

148. The computer-implemented method of claim 147, wherein authenticating the users of the one or more computer systems includes checking user-provided credentials.

149. The computer-implemented method of claim 148, wherein authenticating the users of the one or more computer systems is performed without user intervention.

150. The computer-implemented method of claim 133, wherein at least one of the one or more computer systems is configured to be non-public.

151. The computer-implemented method of claim 133, further comprising providing different levels of access rights with respect to the answer hierarchy to users of the one or more computer systems.

152. The computer-implemented method of claim 151, wherein providing different levels of access rights with respect to the answer hierarchy includes providing only read access to a first subset of the users and providing both read and write access to a second subset of the users.

153. A knowledge management system, comprising:

one or more processors; and

memory, including instructions executable by the one or more processors to cause the knowledge management system to at least;

display, via a user interface, an answer hierarchy that incorporates one or more solutions to a user-provided question, the answer hierarchy comprising a plurality of nodes each associated with a predefined node type, each of the one or more solutions corresponding to a subset of the plurality of nodes; and

allow one or more users to perform, via the user interface, one or more predefined operations associated with the answer hierarchy, the one or more predefined operations comprising at least adding, removing, or editing at least one node of the plurality of nodes.

154. The knowledge management system of claim 153, wherein the answer hierarchy represents an aggregate answer to the question.

155. The knowledge management system of claim 154, wherein each node in the answer hierarchy represents a step in a solution to the question.

156. The knowledge management system of claim 154, wherein the predefined node type is selected from a group comprising a Step, Fork, or Goto node type.

157. The knowledge management system of claim 154, wherein the plurality of nodes includes at least a Fork node with two or more branches.

158. The knowledge management system of claim 157, wherein the Fork node represents a decision point among two or more solutions corresponding to the two or more branches.

159. The knowledge management system of claim 153, wherein at least one of the plurality of nodes is associated with node-specific information.

160. The knowledge management system of claim 159, wherein the node-specific information includes at least one of a comment, a question, a reference, or an attachment.

161. The knowledge management system of claim 153, wherein editing the at least one node comprises adding, removing, or editing node-specific information associated with the at least one node.

162. The knowledge management system of claim 153, wherein the instructions executable by the one or more processors further cause the knowledge management system to:

receive, via the user interface, a user-selection of a subset of the plurality of nodes; and

provide one of the one or more solutions to the user-provided question based at least in part on the user-selected subset of the plurality of nodes.

163. The knowledge management system of claim 162, wherein providing one of the one or more solutions comprises displaying the solution via the user interface.

164. The knowledge management system of claim 163, wherein providing one of the one or more solutions further comprises storing, sharing, or printing the solution.

165. The knowledge management system of claim 153, wherein the instructions executable by the one or more processors further cause the knowledge management system to display a first selected node of the plurality of nodes while providing a preview of a second unselected node of the plurality of nodes.

166. The knowledge management system of claim 153, wherein the knowledge management system is configured to prevent unauthorized access.

167. The knowledge management system of claim 166, wherein preventing unauthorized access comprises authenticating users of the knowledge management system prior to providing access to the at least one of the knowledge management system.

168. The knowledge management system of claim 167, wherein authenticating the users of the knowledge management system includes checking user-provided credentials.

169. The knowledge management system of claim 168, wherein authenticating the users of the knowledge management system is performed without user intervention.

170. The knowledge management system of claim 153, wherein the knowledge management system is configured to be non-public.

171. The knowledge management system of claim 153, wherein the instructions executable by the one or more processors further cause the knowledge management system to provide different levels of access rights with respect to the answer hierarchy to users of the knowledge management system.

172. The knowledge management system of claim 171, wherein providing different levels of access rights with respect to the answer hierarchy includes providing only read access to a first subset of the users and providing both read and write access to a second subset of the users.

173. One or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media having collectively stored thereon executable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a knowledge management system, cause the system to at least:

display, via a user interface, an answer hierarchy that incorporates one or more solutions to a user-provided question, the answer hierarchy comprising a plurality of nodes each associated with a predefined node type, each of the one or more solutions corresponding to a subset of the plurality of nodes; and

allow one or more users to perform, via the user interface, one or more predefined operations associated with the answer hierarchy, the one or more predefined operations comprising at least adding, removing, or editing at least one node of the plurality of nodes.

174. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 173, wherein the answer hierarchy represents an aggregate answer to the question.

175. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 174, wherein each node in the answer hierarchy represents a step in a solution to the question.

176. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 174, wherein the predefined node type is selected from a group comprising a Step, Fork, or Goto node type.

177. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 174, wherein the plurality of nodes includes at least a Fork node with two or more branches.

178. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 177, wherein the Fork node represents a decision point among two or more solutions corresponding to the two or more branches.

179. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 173, wherein at least one of the plurality of nodes is associated with node-specific information.

180. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 179, wherein the node-specific information includes at least one of a comment, a question, a reference, or an attachment.

181. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 173, wherein editing the at least one node comprises adding, removing, or editing node-specific information associated with the at least one node.

182. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 173, wherein the instructions executable by the one or more processors further cause the knowledge management system to:

receive, via the user interface, a user-selection of a subset of the plurality of nodes; and

provide one of the one or more solutions to the user-provided question based at least in part on the user-selected subset of the plurality of nodes.

183. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 182, wherein providing one of the one or more solutions comprises displaying the solution via the user interface.

184. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 183, wherein providing one of the one or more solutions further comprises storing, sharing, or printing the solution.

185. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 173, the instructions executable by the one or more processors further cause the knowledge management system to display a first selected node of the plurality of nodes while providing a preview of a second unselected node of the plurality of nodes.

186. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 173, wherein the knowledge management system is configured to prevent unauthorized access.

187. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 186, wherein preventing unauthorized access comprises authenticating users of the knowledge management system prior to providing access to the at least one of the knowledge management system.

188. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 187, wherein authenticating the users of the knowledge management system includes checking user-provided credentials.

189. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 188, wherein authenticating the users of the knowledge management system is performed without user intervention.

190. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 173, wherein the knowledge management system is configured to be non-public.

191. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 173, wherein the instructions executable by the one or more processors further cause the knowledge management system to provide different levels of access rights with respect to the answer hierarchy to users of the knowledge management system.

192. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 191, wherein providing different levels of access rights with respect to the answer hierarchy includes providing only read access to a first subset of the users and providing both read and write access to a second subset of the users.