Subjective Query Routing via Social Network Availability Analysis

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users face challenges in obtaining timely and relevant answers to subjective queries, as existing systems often rely on search engines that provide generic information and may inconvenience or unqualify individuals who could offer more personalized insights, especially when those individuals are unavailable or not aware of the query.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that identifies qualified and available individuals from a user's social circle by analyzing social media posts and geographical location information, allowing for efficient and unobtrusive querying without interrupting busy or unqualified individuals.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If search engines are used to answer user queries, then generic information can be provided, but personalized and subjective answers cannot be obtained

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepersonalized informationVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary system that bridges users and qualified responders. This intermediary analyzes queries, identifies suitable respondents from social networks based on expertise and availability, and facilitates the interaction. This resolves the contradiction by enabling personalized information exchange without requiring users to directly manage complex social network queries themselves.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service by automatically identifying qualified responders and managing the query routing process. Users simply submit their queries, and the system autonomously finds appropriate respondents based on analyzed criteria such as expertise, availability, and relevance to the query topic, eliminating the need for manual responder selection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If users directly contact people in their social circle for answers, then personalized opinions can be obtained, but it may inconvenience unavailable or busy individuals

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveanswer qualityVSAvoidinconvenience to responders
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by analyzing responder availability status before routing queries. It checks calendars, current activity states, and historical response patterns to identify responders who are currently available and likely to respond. This preliminary filtering ensures that queries are only sent to responders who can actually answer, preventing inconvenience to unavailable individuals while maintaining answer quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If a broad audience is queried for subjective opinions, then more perspectives can be obtained, but response time increases and many unqualified individuals are contacted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveperspective diversityVSAvoidquery response time
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies local quality by tailoring the query routing to match specific query requirements with responder expertise. Rather than broadcasting to a broad audience, it analyzes the query's subject matter and routes it only to responders with relevant local expertise and availability. This targeted approach maintains perspective diversity where needed while dramatically reducing response time by excluding unqualified individuals from the outset.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

4Reliability

If multiple people are contacted for the same query, then answer reliability improves, but the complexity of managing multiple responses increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveanswer verificationVSAvoidresponse management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback mechanisms to manage multiple responses efficiently. It collects responses from multiple qualified responders, analyzes them for consistency and quality, and provides feedback to both users and responders. This structured feedback loop maintains answer reliability through verification while reducing management complexity by automating the analysis and coordination of multiple responses.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS20240256620A1Systems and methods for processing subjective queries
Publication Date: 2024.08.01 ADEIA GUIDES INC
  • US20240256620A1 patent drawing
  • US20240256620A1 patent drawing
  • US20240256620A1 patent drawing

AI summary

Methods and systems for processing subjective queries are described. A query is received from a user. The method involves determining whether the query is subjective. In response to determining that the query is subjective, a plurality of people qualified to answer the query are identified. Moreover, a subset of the plurality of people who are available to answer the query are identified, and the query is transmitted to the subset of people available to answer the query. The received responses to the transmitted query from each of the people in the subset are then generated for display.