Method, apparatus, and computer readable storage for training human searchers

• US 8,762,289 B2
• Filed: 07/19/2007
• Issued: 06/24/2014
• 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): Casler, Traci
• Application Number:
  US11/780,241
• Publication Number:
  US 20080021721A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,532 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1, 434/157, 434/219, 434/224, 434/350, 434/362
• US Class Current: 705/328
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/205 Education administration or guidance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/2057 Career enhancement or continuing education service
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/04 characterised by modifying the teaching programme in response to a wrong answer, e.g. repeating the question, supplying a further explanation

Abstract

A method for enhancing search skills of human searchers in an information search system. The invention allows human searchers to be trained when they are not particularly busy fielding search queries from information seekers. The training can allow the searcher to increase their performance rating, thereby allowing greater effectiveness in fielding search queries for information seekers. The method can include determining whether a searcher is eligible to receive or provide training; and training an idle searcher with training queries, and/or search results.

Claims

1. A computer readable storage medium having a program embodied therein for controlling a computer to execute operations, comprising:

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

determining whether the searcher is a pro searcher when the searcher status indicates that the searcher is idle;

determining whether an apprentice searcher is logged-in;

receiving a training request from a master searcher;

alerting said apprentice searcher, a pro searcher, or a master searcher to which training is to be provided with a message to participate in query training said alerting emulating processing of a user request;

obtaining a training query from a query database at a searcher ranking and matching keywords to which said apprentice searcher, said pro searcher, or said master searcher is assigned;

receiving from said apprentice searcher, said pro searcher, or said master searcher, an acceptance of the training query as the user request;

determining whether the training query has been previously provided to said apprentice searcher, said pro searcher, or said master searcher;

transmitting the training query to emulate a request from a user to said apprentice searcher, said pro searcher, or said master searcher when the searcher is selected to participate in query training when determining that the training query has not been previously provided to said apprentice searcher, said pro searcher, or said master searcher;

comparing search results produced by said apprentice searcher, said pro searcher, or said master searcher to previously provided search results;

assigning a grade to said apprentice searcher, said pro searcher, or said master searcher;

sending feedback to said apprentice searcher, said pro searcher, or said master searcher regarding performance when determining that a user provides feedback for the user request;

marking the training query as completed for said apprentice searcher, said pro searcher, or said master searcher;

determining whether ranking of said apprentice searcher, said pro searcher, or said master searcher requires adjustment; and

adjusting rank of said apprentice searcher, said pro searcher, or said master searcher based on said determining.

2. A system, comprising:

a searcher computer system for transmitting simulated search queries;

a trainee computer system that receives the simulated search queries and provides search results to the simulated search queries; and

a search system for conducting an interaction between the trainee computer system, the searcher computer system, and said search system;

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

determining whether the searcher is a pro searcher when the searcher status indicates that the searcher is idle;

determining whether an apprentice searcher is logged-in;

receiving a request to provide training by a first master searcher;

alerting said apprentice searcher, a pro searcher, or a second master searcher to which training is to be provided with a message to participate in query training said alerting emulating processing of a user request;

obtaining a training query from a query database matching a ranking and matching keywords to which said apprentice searcher, said pro searcher, or said second master searcher is assigned;

receiving from said apprentice searcher, said pro searcher, or said second master searcher, an acceptance of the training query as the user request;

transmitting a simulated search query to said apprentice searcher, said pro searcher, or said second master searcher when the searcher is selected to participate in query training, the simulated search query being selected by the first master searcher based on whether the acceptance is received from said apprentice searcher, said pro searcher, or said second master searcher;

comparing search results produced by said apprentice searcher, said pro searcher, or said second master searcher to previously provided search results;

assigning a grade to said apprentice searcher, said pro searcher, or said second master searcher;

sending feedback to said apprentice searcher, said pro searcher, or said second master searcher regarding performance when determining that a user provides feedback for the user request;

determining whether ranking of said apprentice searcher, said pro searcher, or said second master searcher requires adjustment; and

adjusting rank of said apprentice searcher, said pro searcher, or said second master searcher when required, and

wherein said trainee computer system, searcher computer system, and search system are communicatively coupled via a network.

3. A computer-implemented method for training a human searcher for use with a computer, comprising:

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

determining whether the searcher is a pro searcher when the searcher status indicates that the searcher is idle;

determining whether an apprentice searcher is logged-in;

receiving a training request from a master searcher;

alerting said apprentice searcher, a pro searcher, or a master searcher to which training is to be provided with a message to participate in query training said alerting emulating processing of a user request;

obtaining a training query from a query database at a searcher ranking and matching keywords to which said apprentice searcher, said pro searcher, or said master searcher is assigned;

receiving from said apprentice searcher, said pro searcher, or said master searcher, an acceptance of the training query as the user request;

determining whether the training query has been previously provided to said apprentice searcher, said pro searcher, or said master searcher;

transmitting the training query to emulate a request from a user to said apprentice searcher, said pro searcher, or said master searcher when the searcher is selected to participate in query training when determining that the training query has not been previously provided to said apprentice searcher, said pro searcher, or said master searcher;

comparing search results produced by said apprentice searcher, said pro searcher, or said master searcher to previously provided search results;

assigning a grade to said apprentice searcher, said pro searcher, or said master searcher;

sending feedback to said apprentice searcher, said pro searcher, or said master searcher regarding performance when determining that a user provides feedback for the user request;

marking the training query as completed for said apprentice searcher, said pro searcher, or said master searcher;

determining whether ranking of said apprentice searcher, said pro searcher, or said master searcher requires adjustment; and

adjusting rank of said apprentice searcher, said pro searcher, or said master searcher based on said determining.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, further comprising, before said determining, dividing human searchers into groups based on skills of the human searchers, and

conducting training based on the groups.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein said human searchers are divided into the groups based on search skills of the human searchers subsequent to determining whether the searcher is available for training, and

conducting said training based on the groups.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein said dividing includes dividing the human searchers into the groups based on training skills of the human searchers, and

conducting said training based on the groups.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein said dividing includes dividing the human searchers into apprentices, pros, and masters, and

conducting said training based on the dividing.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein said apprentices are human searchers who only receive the training.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein said pros are human searchers who receive the training and user requests.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein said masters are human searchers who provide the training.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, further comprising subdividing at least one of the apprentices, pros, and masters into classes, and conducting said training based on the subdividing.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, further comprising, prior to said consulting, accepting an election by said searcher to respond to user queries associated with a keyword of a generated query.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, further comprising, after said alerting, presenting said searcher with a notification to initiate a search for a response to the query.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, wherein said notification occurs via a pop-up window.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein a search result includes selection of an advertisement from a plurality of advertisements.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein the query is selected for the searcher by the master searcher providing the training request based on training skills of the master searcher associated with a keyword of the query.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, further comprising:

selecting the query according to a skill set of the searcher.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein the training comprises responding with one of a search result, an advertisement, and a keyword.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 17, wherein said selecting comprises:

identifying searcher keywords or searcher categories to which the searcher has been assigned; and

matching the searcher keywords or searcher categories with query keywords or query categories pertaining to the query.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, further comprising:

receiving a search result from the searcher responsive to the query.

21. The computer-implemented method of claim 20, wherein said search result is compared to a stored search result of a master searcher.

22. The computer-implemented method of claim 15, further comprising comparing the advertisement to a stored advertisement designated for the query.

23. The computer-implemented method of claim 20, further comprising comparing the search result to a stored search result designated for the query.

24. The computer-implemented method of claim 20, wherein said search results are provided as a response via a graphical user interface through which an information seeker interacts with a system to request assistance with a query.

25. The computer-implemented method of claim 24, wherein said receiving includes receiving the response via the graphical user interface, said graphical user interface including a preliminary results section, an advertisement section, and a results section.