Knowledge filter

• US 7,031,952 B1
• Filed: 10/05/2000
• Issued: 04/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gravel Rating Systems LLC
• Original Assignee: Knowledge Filter Inc.
• Inventors: Heumann, Michael Carl, Cooley, Keith
• Primary Examiner(s): Kindred, Alford W.
• Application Number:
  US09/685,165
• Time in Patent Office: 2,021 Days
• Field of Search: 707 1- 5, 707100-102, 707/200, 707/500, 707/513, 706/14, 706 45- 46, 706/61, 700/45, 700/104, 715/500, 715/513
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 5/022 Knowledge engineering; Knowledge acquisition
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99932 Access augmentation or optimizing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99935 Query augmenting and refining, e.g. inexact access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Abstract

A method and system for sharing knowledge is disclosed. The method and system comprises receiving information input into a database and organizing items of information in the database. The method and system further includes collecting ratings and comments associated with each item of information and allowing users to access and sort items of information according to selected rating criteria in order to find the most reliable and/or valuable information from the database. In a second aspect, the present invention including an interface for providing information concerning a subject is disclosed. The interface comprises a first area that shows the subject and contributor name; and a second area that shows the content of the information item. The interface includes a third area that shows rating related to the subject; and a fourth area that allows users to submit ratings for the information item. Accordingly, a knowledge sharing system and interface are provided which allows every member of a knowledge sharing group to benefit from aggregate knowledge, experience and opinions of other members of the group. The system and method allows individual members to easily locate the information from a collectively generated knowledge base that is most consistent with that individual'"'"'s personal measures of value in the information.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for sharing knowledge comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving items of information input into a database;

(b) organizing the items of information in the database;

(c) collecting ratings and comments associated with each item of information;

(d) using data generated by the ratings and comments to allow users to access and sort the items of information according to selected rating criteria in order to find the most reliable and/or valuable information from the database;

(e) allowing users to locate and access selected items of information in a graphic display format, wherein the graphic display format provides a side-by-side display of comments supporting or disputing the content submission allowing individuals to make informed decisions and choices of what to believe or what methods to use or accomplish a particular goal wherein the graphic display format provides graphic symbols for representing the aggregate rating scores for each criteria and for representing the level of comment support for the content submission; and

(f) tracking and controlling the rating process to prevent a user from voting more than once on a particular item.

2. The method of claim 1 which includes the step of (e) adding content, multi-criteria ratings and comment data to the database.

3. The method of claim 2 which includes the step of (f) calculating and displaying rating scores for each item of information.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the organizing step (b) further comprises the step of:

(b1) constraining the input according to subject and topic classifications choices made by user prior to contributing items of information.

5. The method of claim 1 where a color of the subject descriptions corresponding to information items provides visual indicators of overall rating scores of an information item.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the graphic display format provides a display of other comments providing additional information, links or opinions on the content submission.

7. The method of claim 1 which includes the step of (i) displaying the result of an aggregate group rating.

8. The method of claim 7 which includes the step of (j) displaying the level of support for an item of information as calculated from the ratio of positive to negative comments submitted for an item.

9. The method of claim 8 which includes the step of (k) allowing users to sort within a topic according to personally selected rating criteria, thereby causing the most useful content to rise to the top of the sorted list.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the rating criteria comprises weighted combinations of rating criteria.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the user is asked to select personal preferences indicating the importance of each rating criteria to them.

12. The method of claim 11 which includes the step of (1) allowing users to rate contributors.

13. The method of claim 11 which includes the step of (1) allowing users to communicate with contributors by automatic communication links.

14. The method of claim 1 which includes the step of (m) allowing users to search on a given subject or within an information item by entering key words.

15. The method of claim 1 which includes the step of (n) allowing users to add new subject or topic divisions to the knowledge base.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the graphic display format provides a knowledge base map that is automatically generated as topics and sub-topics are added to the knowledge base.

17. The method of claim 1 in which ratings associated with individual contributors are tracked, allowing content submissions to be sorted by source or contributor ranking.

18. The method of claim 1 in which content submissions are displayed under a topic in order of submission date, allowing new submissions to be exposed to the group for initial ratings and comment feedback.