Online system and method for enabling social search and structured communications among social networks

• US 20080307320A1
• Filed: 09/05/2007
• Published: 12/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Circleup, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Circleup, Inc.
• Inventors: Payne, John M., Tung, Douglas W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,726,169 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/751
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/52 for supporting social networking services

Abstract

A system and method for enabling structured communication among a social network is disclosed. The system enables a user to formulate a question and answer pattern including potential responses to the question based upon the form of question. The system then translates and transmits a message including the question and answer pattern to users over a plurality of different messaging platforms for eliciting responses to the question using the answer pattern. The system then aggregates responses to the question and presents the responses in a summary format. A language for defining messages according to static and dynamic content and other attributes is disclosed. Collaborative filtering reduces the decision space and as a result increases the possible range of specialized communications a user can choose from and apply or the message processing space available to contemplate alternatives resulting in more effective choices.

Claims

1. A method for enabling structured communication among a social network, the method comprising:

formulating a question;

generating an answer pattern including potential responses to the question based upon the form of question;

translating and transmitting a message including the question and answer pattern to users over a plurality of different messaging platforms for eliciting responses to the question using the answer pattern;

aggregating responses to the question; and

presenting the responses in a summary format.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the formulating step further comprises suggesting the question based upon previously asked questions or a list of generic questions.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the generating step comprises suggesting answer patterns based upon the question.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising forming a message that includes the question and answer pattern and one or more elements selected from the list comprising textual and graphical content of the message, presentation of message while authoring, structure of data and parameters underlying the message;

presentation of the message while responding;

structure of response data from an individual recipient, aggregation of the response data into results, structure of result data, presentation of the result data and relationship of the message to sequences of messages.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising creating a further question by specifying, referencing or extending one or more elements of a prior message created by a same or different author.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the formulating step comprises recommending content based on one or more of user preferences, past use, or current context.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the message includes audio and/or video components.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising responding to a question without explicitly registering for a service.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising crediting a response to an unregistered user.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising assigning a level of trust for one or more users;

and transmitting the question to a subset of users based on the level of trust.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising specifying a group of users without specifying the addresses of the individual users.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the transmitting step comprises selecting a send address for user based on sender, recipient, group preferences and available addresses and messaging channels

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising assigning an access level to a user and restricting access to groups of users based upon the level of access.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising sharing users and groups without sharing addressing information

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the transmitting step comprises sending messages across different messaging channels, including channels in which a user may not have direct access to the channel.

16. The method of claim 4, further comprising specifying how new messages are derived from data from a previous message or response in a sequence.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising defining a range of possible derived messages from a given message.

18. The method of claim 16 further comprising providing validations and transforms for specifying timing and workflow.

19. The method of claim 4, further comprising containing the elements in either a single document or a network of referenced documents

20. The method of claim 4 wherein the formulating step comprises formulating a question based upon changes or extensions to a previous question.

21. The method of claim 1, further comprising submitting a question and answer pattern as part of the body of user contributed content;

and referencing and extending the content to formulate new question and answer patterns.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the aggregating step comprises aggregating responses from users in a group without disseminating all responses to all participants.

23. The method of claim 1, further recommending content and patterns and elements of patterns for re-use based upon the measured effectiveness of the message.

24. The method of claim 1, further comprising crediting authors for their contribution to a message content or pattern based upon the measured effectiveness of the message.

25. A system for enabling structured communication among a social network, the system comprising:

a question writing module for formulating a question;

a question management system coupled to a database adapted for generating an answer pattern including potential responses to the question based upon the form of question;

a messaging hub adapted for translating and transmitting the question and answer pattern to users over a plurality of different messaging platforms for eliciting responses to the question using the answer pattern;

widgets and plugins adapted to communicate with one or more different platforms, software applications, browsers or other environments;

wherein the question management system is adapted for aggregating the responses to the question and presenting the responses in a summary format.