Method, system, and computer readable medium useful in managing a computer-based system for servicing user initiated tasks

• US 7,873,532 B2
• Filed: 07/19/2007
• Issued: 01/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ChaCha Search, Inc.
• Original Assignee: ChaCha Search, Inc.
• Inventors: Jones, Scott A., Cooper, Thomas E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jeanty, Romain
• Application Number:
  US11/780,329
• Publication Number:
  US 20080021755A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,279 Days
• Field of Search: 705/8
• US Class Current: 705/7.42
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06311 Scheduling, planning or task assignment for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06398 Performance of employee with respect to a job function

Abstract

A method for determining whether secondary activities (activities that can be executed during system “down time”) should be executed at a time, and executing at least one of the secondary activities according to a priority or interrupt scheme. The invention monitors a threshold, which can be based on several factors, to determine when system conditions are such that secondary activities should be conducted. When system conditions are such that secondary activities should occur, the invention conducts secondary activities according to an interrupt scheme.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for managing an information exchange, comprising:

monitoring, using a search computer system, a primary activity level of a user of the information exchange;

determining whether to propose a compensated secondary activity from the search computer system in accordance with said monitoring; and

facilitating the secondary activity when accepted by the user;

assigning the secondary activity a priority level; and

offering a first secondary activity for a specified percentage of time allotted for the priority level and offering a second secondary activity for a remainder percentage of the time allotted for the priority level, and

wherein the first secondary activity determines which of at least two users provides a first accepted response.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said determining is executed according to a priority scheme.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the secondary activity includes at least one of interactive query search training, video training, podcast training, polling, software testing, and transcription.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said determining includes identifying the user to participate in the secondary activity based on said monitoring.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein said identifying selects the user having a performance ranking above a threshold.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the priority level is chosen by the user.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein at least two secondary activities are assigned the same priority levels.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the priority level assigned to the secondary activity is adjusted to achieve a target.

9. A computer-implemented method for managing activities in an information exchange, comprising:

presenting a compensated secondary activity, from a search computer system, to a user of the exchange, the compensated secondary activity including at least one of master-to-apprentice training, master-to-pro training, interactive query search training, video training, podcasting training, polling, software testing, and transcription, and

where the compensated secondary activity is selected according to a priority level assigned to the compensated secondary activity, and selection of the compensated secondary activity is changed by adjusting a priority of participation in another activity, and the second activity is assigned a priority level, a first secondary activity is offered for a secondary activity for a remainder percentage of the time allotted for the priority level, and the first second activity determines which of at least two users provides a first acceptance response.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein the master-to-pro training and the video training both have a first priority level.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein the master-to-apprentice training has a second interrupt priority level higher than the first interrupt priority level and polling has a third interrupt priority level lower than the first priority level.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, further comprising:

monitoring a primary activity of the user; and

identifying the user to participate in the secondary activity.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, wherein said identifying selects the user having a performance ranking below a threshold.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein the secondary activity includes at least two secondary activities assigned the same priority levels.

15. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium for controlling a computer to perform a process of managing an electronic task marketplace, comprising:

monitoring a primary activity level of a user of the marketplace;

determining whether to propose a secondary activity to the user in accordance with said monitoring and facilitating the activity when accepted by the user,

assigning the secondary activity a priority level, and offering a first secondary activity for a specified percentage of time allotted for the priority level and offering a second activity for a remainder percentage of the time allotted for the priority level, and wherein the first secondary activity determines which of at least two users provides a first accepted response.

16. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium for controlling a computer to perform a process, comprising:

monitoring a primary activity of a user of an information exchange;

presenting a compensated secondary activity to the user, the secondary activity including an electronic task of at least one of master-to-apprentice training, master-to-pro training, video training, podcast training, polling, and software testing,

assigning the secondary activity a priority level;

offering a first secondary activity for a specified percentage of time allotted for the priority level and offering a second secondary activity for a remainder percentage of the time allotted for the priority level; and

where the secondary activity is selected according to a priority level assigned and compensation is automatically provided for the secondary activity, and

wherein the first secondary activity determines which of at least two users provides a first accepted response.

17. The computer readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the primary activity and the secondary activity are tasks which provide compensation to the user when completed.