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Expertise referrals using a real-time communication system

  • US 8,468,194 B2
  • Filed: 12/30/2008
  • Issued: 06/18/2013
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2008
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A computer-implemented method of providing expertise based referrals, the method comprising:

  • receiving, from a first messaging client associated with a first user, a voucher specifying a second user associated with a second messaging client seeking expertise and a third user associated with a third messaging client as a potential subject matter expert, wherein the voucher is a programmatic object representing a right of an individual to query another about a particular subject or topic;

    assigning a role of potential maven to the first user and a role of potential subject matter expert to the third user;

    responsive to execution of the voucher, establishing an instant messaging session between the second messaging client and the third messaging client;

    receiving an input from the second messaging client indicating whether a question posed by the second user is resolved; and

    when the question is resolved, assigning a role of maven to the first user and a role of subject matter expert to the third user, and storing, as part of a referral transaction, a transcript of the instant messaging session between the second messaging client and the third messaging client, a reference to the first user with the assigned role, and a reference to the third user with the assigned role.

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