Determining relevant contacts based on expertise and availability
First Claim
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1. A computer method for determining knowledgeable and available contacts in an instant messaging system, the method comprising the actions of:
- receiving a keyword related to an area of expertise;
searching for the keyword in correspondence of users of an instant messaging system, the correspondence including real-time and historical information associated with each user of the instant messaging system;
identifying, based on results of the searching, a plurality of users having used the keyword in the correspondence;
determining an availability of each of the identified plurality of users; and
ranking the identified plurality of users based on predefined criteria, the predefined criteria including at least one of the determined availability of each of the identified plurality of users, and an incidence of the keyword in correspondence of each of the identified plurality of users, the incidence including both a number and a location of the keyword in the correspondence, wherein the keyword located near a beginning of the correspondence indicates a greater expertise in the area of expertise than the keyword located near an end of the correspondence.
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Abstract
A method for identifying knowledgeable and available contacts in a given instant messaging system for possible communication purposes. The method includes a computer receiving a keyword and searching for the keyword in correspondence files of users of the instant messaging system. Based on the results of the search, the computer identifies users that have used the keyword in their correspondence. The computer determines the availability of each of the identified users and ranks the identified users based on predefined criteria, which includes at least the determined availability.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A computer method for determining knowledgeable and available contacts in an instant messaging system, the method comprising the actions of:
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receiving a keyword related to an area of expertise; searching for the keyword in correspondence of users of an instant messaging system, the correspondence including real-time and historical information associated with each user of the instant messaging system; identifying, based on results of the searching, a plurality of users having used the keyword in the correspondence; determining an availability of each of the identified plurality of users; and ranking the identified plurality of users based on predefined criteria, the predefined criteria including at least one of the determined availability of each of the identified plurality of users, and an incidence of the keyword in correspondence of each of the identified plurality of users, the incidence including both a number and a location of the keyword in the correspondence, wherein the keyword located near a beginning of the correspondence indicates a greater expertise in the area of expertise than the keyword located near an end of the correspondence. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A computer program product to determine knowledgeable and available contacts in an instant messaging system, the computer program product comprising:
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one or more computer-readable storage devices and program instructions stored on at least one of the one or more tangible storage devices, the program instructions comprising; program instructions to receive a keyword related to an area of expertise; program instructions to search for the keyword in correspondence of users of an instant messaging system, the correspondence including real-time and historical information associated with each user of the instant messaging system; program instructions to identify, based on results of the search, a plurality of users having used the keyword in the correspondence; program instructions to determine an availability of each of the identified plurality of users; and program instructions to rank the identified plurality of users based on predefined criteria, the predefined criteria including at least one of the determined availability of each of the identified plurality of users and an incidence of the keyword in correspondence of each of the identified plurality of users, the incidence including both a number and a location of the keyword in the correspondence, wherein the keyword located near a beginning of the correspondence indicates a greater expertise in the area of expertise than the keyword located near an end of the correspondence. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A computer system to determine knowledgeable and available contacts in an instant messaging system, the computer system comprising:
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one or more processors, one or more computer-readable memories, one or more computer-readable tangible storage devices, and program instructions stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, the program instructions comprising; program instructions to receive a keyword related to an area of expertise; program instructions to search for the keyword in correspondence of users of an instant messaging system, the correspondence including real-time and historical information associated with each user of the instant messaging system; program instructions to identify, based on results of the search, a plurality of users having used the keyword in the correspondence; program instructions to determine an availability of each of the identified plurality of users; and program instructions to rank the identified plurality of users based on predefined criteria, the predefined criteria including at least one of the determined availability of each of the identified plurality of users and an incidence of the keyword in correspondence of each of the identified plurality of users, the incidence including both a number and a location of the keyword in the correspondence, wherein the keyword located near a beginning of the correspondence indicates a greater expertise in the area of expertise than the keyword located near an end of the correspondence. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification