Chacha Search, Inc.

Other

Thomas E Cooper

Scott A Jones

Brad Bostic

Eugene Murphy O'Donnell

Mark Gamache

Chris Lenzo

Michael B Burroughs

Mark Stephen Malseed

Chris Navta

Jeffrey Glen Jockisch

Jeff G Jockisch

A system and method for improving the relevance of search results is disclosed. Voters who may be human searchers or guides may review search results or other review items associated with a search request or other reference item. A review may be activated based on a usage indicator(s) which may improve utilization of guides. A vote by a voter may be weighted based on a voting history associated with the voter and one or more reference voters who may be designated by the system. A voter may be presented with a group of items for review including simultaneously. A number of comparison voting sessions or elections may be used to determine a rating or ranking of a review item associated with a reference item.

Method and system for improvement of relevance of search results

A method and system of improving utilization of human searcher(s) in a search system provides an ambassador guide who may categorize and structure a request, interact with a user, provide a search result, and review a search result. The ambassador guide improves response time, automation, and efficiency of use of searchers and resources of the search system. A toolset may be provided to an ambassador to assist in rapidly executing relevant tasks.

Method and system for improving utilization of human searchers

A method for providing a viewable search results log to allow determination of the effectiveness of search strategies and sharing results of searches with others. The search results log reveals search strategies utilized by a human searcher with which the search results log is associated. The search results produced by at least one human searcher are stored in the search results log and presented according to a view format selected by a viewer. The search results log can be interrelated to other systems such as a blog or a search engine.

Electronic previous search results log

A method and system providing a response to an unrestricted request for information responsive to an unrestricted triggering condition. A request is associated with a condition which initiates an information search. A result associated with a request and a condition may be provided to a user via any or all communication services and/or devices associated with the user. A response may be delivered according to instructions from a user.

Method and system for triggering a search request

A user using a chat or instant message, mobile message or email type of interface, for example, an information seeker, can connect via an instant message, mobile message, email or chat type of service provider, for example, an America On-line Instant Messenger (AIM) server. The message server connects the user to a routine that allows the user to utilize his or her service interface in combination with the services provided by the information search system. After connection has been established via the message interface, for example, an instant message is received via the chat process. A query string can then be extracted from the instant message and passed to the search system, which can respond with search results.

Method and system for accessing search services via messaging services

A method and system for matching a search request to a human assistant and/or other items based on information indicated in a profile associated with the search request is described. A ranking of a guide is determined based on matching of information associated with the guide and information associated with a search request. Profile information such as demographic, geographic, personality, areas of interest, people, hobbies, etc. may be used in addition to other information such as keywords or categories which are associated with a request in order to select a guide. Items such as a search result, an advertisement, a search resource, a previous query, etc. may be selected based on profile information associated with the item. Profile information may be associated with an item based on profile information associated with a guide and/or a user who has expressed an opinion regarding the item.

Method and system of managing and using profile information

A method and system for enhancing search skills of human guides in an information search system. The method allows human guides to be trained when they are not particularly busy fielding search queries from information seekers. The method can include determining whether a guide is idle and presenting to a human guide at least one video or audio source for training the human guide. The video training can include a demonstration of the most effective method for providing search results for an information search query, thereby enabling a guide to learn effective strategies and skills for conducting information searching. The training can contribute to the likelihood of the guide being promoted to a level of a more experienced human guide, thereby allowing greater effectiveness in fielding search queries for information seekers.

Method, system, and computer readable storage for podcasting and video training in an information search system

A method and system are described for creating a recurring or triggered search request. A search request is associated with a condition which initiates an information search. A search result, including a search query associated with a search request and a condition may be provided to a user via any or all communication services and/or devices associated with the user. A tool is provided to enable a user to select an existing search request and/or search result which may be used to create a triggered or 'favorite' search query which may be triggered as designated. Triggered search requests may be suggested to a user using automated and/or human assisted techniques.

Method and system of triggering a search request

A system and method for creating and utilizing content is described. Content is generated which includes a query and a response to the query. A primary query may be used to generate a plurality of variant queries which may be matched to a request. A content owner or curator may review a query, a response, and/or alternate queries, and may provide access to media which may be used to generate queries and responses.

Method and system of providing verified content

A method for enhancing search skills of human searchers in an information search system. The invention allows human searchers to be trained when they are not particularly busy fielding search queries from information seekers. The training can allow the searcher to increase their performance rating, thereby allowing greater effectiveness in fielding search queries for information seekers. The method can include determining whether a searcher is eligible to receive or provide training; and training an idle searcher with training queries, and/or search results.

Method, apparatus, and computer readable storage for training human searchers

A system and method of processing a request including improving usage and/or performance of resources is disclosed. Information relating to a user request may be provided to one or more resources which process the information and provide a result. A result and/or other information may be provided to a human assistant or guide who may process information to produce a result and/or review a result(s). Information provided by a guide may be processed and provided to a resource, which may improve the performance of a resource. A resource(s) and/or a guide(s) may be selected and/or provided with activities based on ratings and/or rankings associated with a request, which may optimize usage of system resources. Information obtained may be provided for various purposes.

Method and system for improvement of request processing

A method and system for correlating a work request to a provider based on content of the work request and delegating the work request to the provider using an instant message (IM) service. An instant message service including those offered by existing IM service providers is used to notify a provider that a request has been received requesting work to be performed. The instant message may include a link to details of the work being requested, establish an electronic mail communication, point to a web site or initiate an application that communicates with web-enabled services on a server connected to the Internet.

Method for notifying task providers to become active using instant messaging

A method and system for qualifying keyword(s) or phrase(s) to formulate a query string for submitting a search request when the query string contains one or more keywords that may have multiple meanings associated therewith. Database information containing keywords and associated meanings or forms of the keywords is maintained and a requester is prompted to identify one or more of the meanings of a keyword when building the query string. One or more advertisements pertaining to the associated meanings or forms of the keywords in the query string is presented to the requester submitting a search request.

Method and system for qualifying keywords in query strings

A method and system of promoting service(s) of a search system are disclosed. A monitoring software or a search monitor may be operative on a user device. A user may be notified of an alternate search result(s) when such a result is identified. Condition(s) whereby a notification is presented to a user may be modified based on user action(s) and/or other information.

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Indianapolis, IN, United States of America

Thomas E Cooper