Knowledge Sharing Broker for Expert Matching
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Solution Overview
Problem
The lack of knowledge about participants in knowledge-sharing interactions, such as live chats, leads to hesitation and a vicious cycle of unsuccessful requests, as users may not feel comfortable initiating chats with strangers and may not receive responses from experts, reducing the likelihood of future successful interactions.
Innovation Solution
A knowledge sharing system that includes a negotiation broker or match-making broker to selectively forward questions to experts and manage responses, presenting them to users in a way that encourages engagement and increases the success rate of knowledge sharing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If users initiate knowledge sharing requests to unknown experts, then knowledge sharing can occur, but user comfort and response reliability deteriorate due to lack of knowledge about participants
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by proactively identifying and notifying suitable experts about incoming knowledge sharing requests before users initiate direct contact. This allows experts to prepare and users to have pre-vetted connections, eliminating the hesitation of contacting strangers while ensuring reliable responses.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary system (knowledge sharing system with broker) that mediates between users and experts. The broker matches users with appropriate experts based on expertise areas, providing a trusted intermediary layer that resolves the discomfort of direct stranger-to-stranger interaction while maintaining high response reliability.
2Reliability
If users hesitate to initiate chats with strangers, then user comfort improves, but knowledge sharing productivity deteriorates due to fewer initiated interactions
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary matching and notification actions so that when users do initiate contact, they are reaching out to pre-validated experts in their field rather than random strangers. This maintains user comfort while significantly increasing the likelihood of successful knowledge sharing interactions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where experts receive notifications about relevant requests and can indicate availability or expertise alignment. This feedback loop ensures users connect with responsive experts while maintaining comfortable, informed interaction choices, thereby increasing both comfort and productivity.
3Productivity
If the system proactively notifies experts about knowledge sharing requests, then expert response rate improves, but system complexity increases due to additional monitoring and notification mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The broker system operates autonomously to match users with experts and send notifications without requiring manual intervention. Experts receive automated notifications and can respond through simple interface actions, allowing the system to manage the complexity internally while presenting a simple interface to users and experts alike.
Solution Approach 2:
The knowledge sharing system performs multiple functions through a single integrated platform: user registration, expert identification, request routing, notification delivery, and response tracking. This multi-functionality consolidates what would otherwise require multiple separate systems, managing complexity while maintaining high expert response rates.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of knowledge sharing using a computer system is provided. The method includes: receiving a question electronically submitted by a user; forwarding the question and at least one response option to at least one expert using a first computer interface; monitoring selected response options from the at least one expert; and selectively presenting the selected response options to the user using a second computer interface.