Method and system for knowledge based community solutions

• US 7,925,673 B2
• Filed: 10/16/2006
• Issued: 04/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jon Beard
• Original Assignee: Jon Beard
• Inventors: Beard, Jon
• Primary Examiner(s): Lu; Kuen S
• Application Number:
  US11/581,653
• Publication Number:
  US 20080091686A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,639 Days
• Field of Search: 707/104.1, 707/802, 707/758
• US Class Current: 707/802
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/20 Education

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing knowledge and online access to knowledge resources to users are disclosed. Features embodied in various embodiments include: 1) linking members of communities with mentors and subject matter experts that can help the member derive value from their online experience; 2) assessing and delivering online knowledge at a participant level; 3) pushing knowledge resources to participants based on the participant profile; 4) creating and updating an online personal growth plan; and 5) tracking value by participant or by community, as required by community leadership.

Claims

1. A method for providing an interactive knowledge based community solution, the community comprising multiple users, each of the multiple users belonging to a user type, the user types comprising participant, mentor, and subject matter expert, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) associating a user profile with at least one of the multiple users;

(b) matching a participant user with a mentor user based on user profiles of the participant user and the mentor user;

(c) matching a participant user with at least one subject matter expert user based on the user profile of the participant user including at least one of an industry identifier and an occupation identifier, and based on the user profile of the at least one subject matter expert user including at least one of an industry identifier and an occupation identifier; and

(d) providing a computerized terminal interface for allowing at least one user to interact with at least one other user;

wherein the computerized terminal interface displays personalized content to each participant user, and the displayed personalized content is selected on the basis of at least one of (i) a match between the participant user and a mentor user, and (ii) a match between the participant user and at least one subject matter expert user; and

wherein each mentor user and subject matter expert user differs from one another.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of recording a user profile for at least one user of the multiple users.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of recording at least one of any of a status identifier, industry identifier, occupation identifier, and area of interest for each participant user.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of matching a participant user with at least one subject matter expert user is further based on matching at least one area of interest of a participant user with at least one profile of the at least one subject matter expert user.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of collecting usage information for at least one user of the multiple users.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of collecting information from at least one participant user for assessing knowledge of the participant user relating to a selected field.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of matching a participant user with a mentor user is performed automatically after recordation of a user profile of the participant user.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of matching a participant user with at least one subject matter expert user is performed upon request of the participant user.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of providing an interface for allowing at least one user to interact with at least one other user includes allowing interaction between a participant user and mentor user matched with the participant user.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of providing an interface for allowing at least one user to interact with at least one other user includes allowing interaction between a participant user and at least one subject matter expert user matched with the participant user.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the interface further displays content including at least one of (i) news, and (ii) information relating to current affairs, that is selected on the basis of the user profile of the participant user.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the interface further displays content including at least one of (i) career-related information and (ii) job-related information, that is selected on the basis of the user profile of the participant user.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the personalized content includes at least one of (i) online courses, (ii) lectures, (iii) seminars, and (iv) webinars.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the personalized content is delivered live to the participant user and the interface enables interaction between the participant user and at least one other user concurrent with the live delivery of personalized content.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the interface allows virtual collaboration between multiple users.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing at least one additional community comprising multiple users wherein at least one user of the at least one additional community interacts with at least one user of the community.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein personalized content is pushed to a participant user by at least one of (i) a mentor user and (ii) a subject matter expert user, for display to the participant user.

18. A system for providing an interactive knowledge based community solution, the community comprising multiple users, each of the multiple users belonging to a user type, the user types comprising participant, mentor, and subject matter expert (SME), the system comprising:

(a) at least one database stored in a non-transitory data storage unit for storing a list of registered users having access to the system and a user profile associated with each user;

(b) an access element for providing access to personalized portals for the registered users;

(c) a computer-implemented mentor matching module for matching a participant user with a mentor user based on user profiles of the participant user and the mentor user;

(d) a computer-implemented subject matter expert matching module for matching a participant user with at least one subject matter expert user based on user profiles of the participant user and the at least one subject matter user each including at least one of an industry identifier and an occupation identifier;

(e) a computer-implemented interface module for at least one user to interact with at least one other user; and

(f) a computer-implemented content module for providing each of participant user with personalized content that is selected on the basis of at least one of (i) a match between the participant user and a mentor user, and (ii) a match between the participant user and at least one subject matter expert user;

wherein the mentor user differs from the at least one subject matter expert user.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the interface module enables inter-user communications including at least one of text-based chat communication, Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) communication, and threaded discussion communication.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the mentor matching module automatically matches a participant user with a mentor user after a user profile of the participant user is recorded in the at least one database.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein the at least one database stores at least one area of interest for a participant user in a user profile of the participant user.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the subject matter expert matching module matches a participant user with at least one subject matter expert user on the basis of an area of interest specified in a user profile of the participant user.

23. The system of claim 18, wherein the content module automatically delivers personalized content to each participant user.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the personalized content includes at least one of (i) online courses, (ii) lectures, (iv) personal growth plans, (v) seminars, and (vi) webinars.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein the personalized content includes at least one of (i) interviews and (ii) lectures with subject matter experts, wherein the personalized content is stored and delivered in any of a video format and an audio format.

26. The system of claim 18, further comprising a module for scheduling delivery of personalized content to a participant user based on a user profile of the participant user.

27. The system of claim 18, wherein the interface module allows at least one user to virtually collaborate with at least one other user.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the virtual collaboration uses at least one of (i) Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) communication and (ii) application sharing.

29. The system of claim 18, wherein the database stores (i) a list of at least one user from at least one additional community having access to the system and (ii) a user profile associated with the at least one user from the at least one additional community, and the system further comprises an inter-community interface module allowing the at least one user from the at least one additional community to interact with at least one user from the community.

30. The system of claim 18, wherein the at least one database is managed by a system administrator and facilitated by a sponsor.

31. The system of claim 18, wherein the system generates reports on usage and associated value of the systems for the benefit of participants.

32. The system of claim 18, wherein the system identifies job opportunities to participant users.

33. A method for providing an interactive knowledge based community solution, the community comprising multiple users, each of the multiple users belonging to a user type, the user types comprising participant, mentor, and subject matter expert, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) associating a user profile with at least one of the multiple users;

(b) matching a participant user with a mentor user based on user profiles of the participant user and the mentor user;

(c) matching a participant user with at least one subject matter expert user based on the user profile of the participant user including at least one of an industry identifier and an occupation identifier, and based on the user profile of the at least one subject matter expert user including at least one of an industry identifier and an occupation identifier; and

(d) providing a computerized terminal interface for allowing at least one user to interact with at least one other user;

wherein the computerized terminal interface displays personalized content to each participant user, and the displayed personalized content includes at least one of (i) virtual collaboration between multiple users, (ii) text-based chat communication between multiple users, (iii) remote application sharing between multiple users, (iv) Voice Over Internet Protocol communication between multiple users, (v) a web conference between multiple users, and (vi) a webinar involving multiple users; and

wherein each mentor user and subject matter expert user differs from one another.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the personalized content includes live interactive communication between multiple users.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein the personalized content displayed to a participant user is selected on the basis of the user profile of the participant user.

36. The method of claim 33, wherein the personalized content displayed to a participant user is selected on the basis of at least one of (i) a match between the participant user and a mentor user, and (ii) a match between the participant user and at least one subject matter expert user.