Computerized knowledge brokerage system

• US 7,027,993 B1
• Filed: 03/09/2000
• Issued: 04/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Habbe, Ruth, Verdi, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Hafiz, Tariq R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Heck, Michael C.
• Application Number:
  US09/522,162
• Time in Patent Office: 2,224 Days
• Field of Search: 705/7, 345/751, 345/758, 709/203, 709/223, 709/249
• US Class Current: 705/7.11
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063 Operations research, analysis or management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

This invention relates to a user-driven system, apparatus, and method for generating and sharing knowledge over a computer network. More particularly, this invention relates to a system, apparatus, and method for permitting users of a computer network to procure on-line consulting services.

Claims

1. A method for computer networked consulting comprising;

a) establishing a predetermined group comprising more than two members;

b) receiving at a central location over a wide-area computer network, within a predetermined first time period for receipt of first electronic messages, a first electronic message from a first member of the group;

c) providing the first message to a consultant for defining of a first query based on the first message;

d) electronically sending the first query from the central location to at least a portion of the predetermined group and automatically starting monitoring of a predetermined second time period upon said sending;

e) receiving over the wide-area computer network at the central location, within said predetermined second time period, at least one electronic message from at least one second member of the group comprising a response to the first query;

f) preparing an analysis at the central location related to the first query and the response to it;

g) electronically sending the analysis over the wide-area computer network from the central location to the predetermined group;

h) electronically sending the first query from the central location to at least one non-group member if no messages are received within the predetermined second time period based on said monitoring;

i) preparing a non-group analysis related to the non-group member responses to the first query; and

j) electronically sending the non-group analysis from the central location to at least the first member of the group.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein step (g) further comprises sending the analysis only to said first member and those members of the predetermined group that responded to the first query.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of submitting the first query from the central location to the first member for approval before sending the first query from the central location to the portion of the group.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein step (d) further comprises sending the first query to the predetermined group.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of storing the first analysis in the central location such that it is accessible to members of the predetermined group.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein:

(i) in step (a), said establishing a predetermined group comprises assembling a predetermined group comprising two or more members that are required to respond to queries sent to them from a central location;

(ii) in step (d) said sending the first query from the central location to the predetermined group comprises sending the first query to said two or more members that are required to respond; and

(iii) in step (g) said sending the analysis from the central location to the predetermined group comprises sending the analysis to said two or more members that are required to respond.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the identity of the first member is kept anonymous.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the identity of the second member is kept anonymous.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the identities of the members of the predetermined group are kept anonymous.

10. A method for computer networked consulting, comprising:

a) establishing a predetermined group comprising two or more members;

b) receiving at a central location over a wide-area computer network, within computer network, within a predetermined first time period for receipt of first messages, a plurality of first electronic messages from members of the predetermined group;

c) generating at least one set of queries by a consultant based on at least a portion of the first messages;

d) electronically sending the at least one set of queries from the central location to the predetermined group and automatically starting monitoring of a second predetermined time period upon said sending;

e) receiving at the central location over the wide-area computer network, within a predetermined second time period, a plurality of second electronic messages responsive to at least a portion of the set of queries;

f) preparing at least one analysis based on a query in the set and any corresponding responses;

g) electronically sending the analysis from the central location to the predetermined group;

h) electronically sending the at least one set of queries from the central location to at least one non-group member if no messages are received within the predetermined second time period based on said monitoring;

i) preparing at least one non-group analysis related to non-group member responses to a query in the set of queries and any corresponding responses; and

j) electronically sending the non-group analysis from the central location to the predetermined group.