Peer Directory Question Router Algorithm
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing peer directory systems fail to efficiently match users with relevant experts, leading to wasted time in finding suitable peers and low question and answer rates in community forums, as they provide too many potential matches and lack automated filtering and response assurance.
Innovation Solution
A peer directory system implemented on a digital computer network that uses a user interface to collect and index user profile information, applying a peer relevancy algorithm to assign weights based on categories like initiative, vendor, OS, and industry, and a question router algorithm to automatically route questions to relevant peers, reducing manual intervention and increasing engagement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If prior art systems provide many potential matches between requester and available contacts, then the requester has more options to choose from, but the requester's time is wasted sorting through matches and the best match may not be found
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical process of sorting through matches with an automated computer-based relevancy algorithm. The system automatically calculates relevancy scores based on multiple criteria (past responses, expertise matching, availability) and ranks matches, eliminating the need for requesters to manually evaluate numerous potential contacts.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces multiple parameters for evaluating match quality including past response rate, expertise relevance, current availability, and engagement level. By changing from a simple list of contacts to a multi-parameter relevancy scoring system, the system automatically filters and ranks matches to present only the most relevant options to requesters.
2Adaptability or versatility
If prior art systems provide many potential matches, then more options are available, but the requester may settle for a less relevant match instead of carefully considering each match
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces subjective human judgment with an automated relevancy algorithm that objectively evaluates matches based on predefined criteria. The system calculates relevancy scores using multiple factors including past response rates, expertise matching, and current availability, ensuring consistent and precise measurement of match quality without human bias or fatigue.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback loops where past interaction data (response rates, connection acceptance) is continuously fed back into the relevancy algorithm to improve future match quality. This feedback mechanism allows the system to learn from previous outcomes and refine its matching precision over time.
3Productivity
If manual intervention is used to maintain community dynamics by answering questions, then question and answer rates can be maintained, but the process is very manual and time intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-service automated system where the community forum automatically routes questions to relevant experts based on their profiles, past responses, and availability. The system independently manages the entire process from question posting to expert notification, eliminating the need for manual community manager intervention while maintaining high question and answer rates.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical process of community management with an automated computer-based system. The relevancy algorithm automatically identifies suitable experts, sends notifications, and tracks responses, substituting human labor with automated computational processes that can handle large volumes of questions simultaneously.
4Productivity
If automated routing is implemented to increase question and answer rates, then manual intervention is reduced, but the system must accurately identify relevant peers automatically
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs multiple parameters for automated peer identification including expertise tags, past response quality, current availability status, and engagement metrics. By using a multi-parameter relevancy scoring system rather than simple keyword matching, the system achieves accurate automatic identification of relevant peers while maintaining high question and answer rates.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from past interactions (response rates, connection acceptance, engagement quality) to continuously refine its automated peer identification. This feedback loop allows the relevancy algorithm to learn and improve its accuracy over time, ensuring reliable automatic routing while reducing manual intervention.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer network implemented peer forum system and method enabling question and answer rates to be increased by automatically routing questions and receiving answers to and from peers. Information is input into network via a user interface. A peer forum system enables users to ask and answer questions. A forums database captures questions and answers provided via the peer forum system. A stage database pulls and stores questions from the forums database. A question router pulls the questions from the stage database and finds peers who can answer the questions using a peer search module that uses implicit and explicit user profiles to determine the best subject matter experts to answer the questions. A set of throttle rules is associated with the question router for determining if a peer is eligible to answer a question. A delivery system delivers a communication to eligible peers requesting an answer to the question.