Method, system, and computer readable storage for podcasting and video training in an information search system

• US 8,327,270 B2
• Filed: 07/19/2007
• Issued: 12/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ChaCha Search, Inc.
• Original Assignee: ChaCha Search, Inc.
• Inventors: Cooper, Thomas E., Jones, Scott A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pitaro, Ryan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pan, Yongjia
• Application Number:
  US11/780,297
• Publication Number:
  US 20080022211A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,965 Days
• Field of Search: 715/739
• US Class Current: 715/733
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/06 with both visual and audible presentation of the material to be studied
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/00 Electrically-operated teaching apparatus or devices working with questions and answers mechanically operated G09B3/00; computing arrangements G06F

Abstract

A method and system for enhancing search skills of human guides in an information search system. The method allows human guides to be trained when they are not particularly busy fielding search queries from information seekers. The method can include determining whether a guide is idle and presenting to a human guide at least one video or audio source for training the human guide. The video training can include a demonstration of the most effective method for providing search results for an information search query, thereby enabling a guide to learn effective strategies and skills for conducting information searching. The training can contribute to the likelihood of the guide being promoted to a level of a more experienced human guide, thereby allowing greater effectiveness in fielding search queries for information seekers.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

a processor evaluating a condition associated with a rank of a guide to determine eligibility of the guide for training;

determining whether the rank of the guide has changed based on a log of searches performed by the guide responsive to queries from a user, the queries indicating a keyword, the keyword being assigned to the guide, and the queries being directed to the guide based on the keyword;

retrieving a training material corresponding to the condition and the keyword when determining that the condition has changed;

providing the training material based on a priority of the training material relative to secondary activities including a task providing compensation to the guide; and

training the eligible guide by providing the training material.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said condition is evaluated based on a sorting of the keyword.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein said training comprises interactive training materials including scripts and applications.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said training material includes video or audio training material.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising, sending a message alerting the eligible guide when the change affects a primary activity of the guide.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, further comprising, after said sending, determining whether the eligible guide accepted a training suggestion in said message.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein after said eligible guide accepts said training suggestion, searching for training material that relates to a keyword to which the eligible guide is assigned and that is suitable for a ranking of the eligible guide.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, further comprising, after said searching results in locating a video, determining whether the video was previously sent to the eligible guide.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein said training includes displaying said video when said eligible guide elects to execute the video online, after said video is located from said searching.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said training includes presenting the eligible guide with an opportunity to download a video when said eligible guide desires to access the video.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising, after said training, prompting said eligible guide for a video rating and comments regarding said training material.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, further comprising, after said prompting, entering the video rating and the comments into a video database.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, further comprising marking video training as completed for said eligible guide.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 13 further comprising updating a training log after said marking.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said training material is generated by an idle guide for other guides associated with the keyword.

16. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium for controlling a computer including a guide database, comprising:

a guide identification field;

a guide busy status field;

a guide rank field; and

a media file presented field, where a media file is delivered to a guide based on a dynamic determination of eligibility of the guide for a plurality of prioritized secondary activities, delivering the media file associated with a condition is selected from said plurality of prioritized secondary activities based on a priority associated with delivering the media file and a determination whether the condition associated with a rank of the guide and a keyword has changed, the condition is evaluated based on searches performed by the guide responsive to user queries assigned to the guide, and

the secondary activities include a task providing compensation to the guide.

17. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium for controlling a computer including a video training database, comprising:

a video field; and

a comments/video rating field, where delivering a media file to a guide is effected based on a determination of eligibility of the guide for a plurality of secondary activities, delivering the media file is selected from said plurality of secondary activities based on a change in a condition associated with a rank of the guide and a priority associated with delivering the media file including based on whether the condition associated with the rank of the guide has changed, the condition is evaluated based on searches performed by the guide for queries indicating a keyword, and

a primary activity includes servicing of a task submitted by a user, the task being assigned to the guide based on the keyword.

18. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

consulting a guide database to monitor busy status of a guide;

determining, via a computer, whether the guide is eligible when the guide is not busy;

alerting the guide to which training is to be provided with a message to participate in training when determining that training is a highest priority secondary activity among secondary activities comprising a task providing compensation to the guide;

searching a database for a highest ranking media file associated with a highest ranking keyword to which the guide is assigned, said searching being based on a determination of whether a condition associated with the keyword and a rank of the guide has changed based on logs of searches performed by the guide responsive to user queries assigned to the guide indicating the keyword;

transmitting the highest ranking media file to the guide when the guide is eligible to participate in training and is selected to participate in training based on the condition;

prompting the guide for a rating and comments regarding the media file;

entering the comments and the rating into the database;

marking training as completed for the guide; and

updating a training log of the guide to reflect training.

19. A system, comprising:

a guide computer system for providing training via a video or audio source;

a search computer system for controlling operations related to said training, said search

computer system communicatively coupled with a guide database and a training database and communicatively coupled to the guide computer system via a network,

wherein said search computer system;

consults said guide database status of a guide;

determines whether the guide is eligible;

alerts the guide with a message to participate in video training based on a priority of video training among secondary activities and a condition;

searches a video database for a highest ranking video associated with a highest ranking keyword to which the guide is assigned, said video database being searched based on a determination of whether the condition associated with a rank of the guide and the keyword has changed based on logs of searches performed by the guide responsive to queries indicating the keyword;

transmits the highest ranking video to the guide when the guide is eligible to participate in video training and is selected to participate in video training based on the condition and a priority of a secondary activity for which compensation is provided and whether the condition affects a primary activity of the guide;

prompts the guide for a rating and comments regarding the video;

enters the comments and the rating into the video database;

marks the video as completed for the guide; and

updates a training log of the guide to reflect the training.