Method and system for facilitating the exchange of information between human users in a networked computer system
First Claim
1. A computer implemented method for facilitating the exchange of information between human users in a networked computer environment, comprising the steps of:
- receiving an information request from a human customer user via a customer computer, wherein the information request does not specify a source from which the requested information can be obtained;
determining, based upon the information request and a set of consultant qualification information, at least one qualified human consultant user qualified to provide the requested information;
soliciting the requested information from the qualified consultant user;
determining whether the qualified consultant user wishes to provide the requested information;
in response to an indication that the qualified consultant user wishes to provide the requested information, receiving the requested information from the qualified consultant user via a consultant computer; and
sending the requested information to the customer user via the customer computer.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In a networked computer system including a customer computer associated with a human customer, one or more consultant computers associated with one or more human consultants, and a server computer, the human customer sends an information request to the server via the customer computer. The request, which includes a question that the customer wishes to have answered, does not specify a consultant from which the answer may be obtained. In response, the server determines which one or ones of the consultants is qualified to provide the requested information. The server then solicits the requested information from one or more of the qualified consultants. If at least one of the qualified consultants decides to provide the requested information, then the server receives the information from the consultant via one of the consultant computers. Thereafter, the server sends the information to the customer via the customer computer. In this manner, the server matches the human customer with the question with a human consultant with the answer. By doing so, the sever enables the customer to obtain an answer to his question without knowing up front which consultant has sufficient knowledge to provide the answer.
370 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A computer implemented method for facilitating the exchange of information between human users in a networked computer environment, comprising the steps of:
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receiving an information request from a human customer user via a customer computer, wherein the information request does not specify a source from which the requested information can be obtained; determining, based upon the information request and a set of consultant qualification information, at least one qualified human consultant user qualified to provide the requested information; soliciting the requested information from the qualified consultant user; determining whether the qualified consultant user wishes to provide the requested information; in response to an indication that the qualified consultant user wishes to provide the requested information, receiving the requested information from the qualified consultant user via a consultant computer; and sending the requested information to the customer user via the customer computer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A system for facilitating the exchange of information between human users in a networked computer environment, comprising:
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a mechanism configured to receive an information request from a human customer user via a customer computer, wherein the information request does not specify a source from which the requested information can be obtained; a mechanism configured to determine, based upon the information request and a set of consultant qualification information, at least one qualified human consultant user qualified to provide the requested information; a mechanism configured to solicit the requested information from the qualified consultant user; a mechanism configured to determine whether the qualified consultant user wishes to provide the requested information; a mechanism configured to receive, in response to an indication that the qualified consultant user wishes to provide the requested information, the requested information from the qualified consultant user via a consultant computer; and a mechanism configured to send the requested information to the customer user via the customer computer. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A computer program product for facilitating the exchange of information between human users in a networked computer environment, comprising:
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code for causing one or more processors to receive an information request from a human customer user via a customer computer, wherein the information request does not specify a source from which the requested information can be obtained; code for causing one or more processors to determine, based upon the information request and a set of consultant qualification information, at least one qualified human consultant user qualified to provide the requested information; code for causing one or more processors to solicit the requested information from the qualified consultant user; code for causing one or more processors to determine whether the qualified consultant user wishes to provide the requested information; code for causing one or more processors to receive, in response to an indication that the qualified consultant user wishes to provide the requested information, the requested information from the qualified consultant user via a consultant computer; and code for causing one or more processors to send the requested information to the customer user via the customer computer. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification