Abstract:
A server system receives a question from an inquirer at a client. In response, the server system identifies a plurality of information items corresponding to the question. At least one of the information items has associated classification data profiling the information therein. The server system generates a profile for the question based on the classification data of the information items and identifies one or more consultants for the question among a plurality of candidates in accordance with a comparison of the question profile and the candidates' respective user profiles. The server system submits the question to at least one of the consultants for answer. After receiving an answer to the question from the consultant, the server system forwards the answer to a client for display to the inquirer.
Abstract:
A server system receives a partial search query from a search requestor prior to the search requestor signaling completion of a search query that includes the partial search query. The server system responds to receipt of the partial search query by obtaining a set of complete queries previously submitted by a community of users. The complete queries correspond to the partial query and are ordered in accordance with ranking criteria. The server system sends the set of ordered complete queries to the search requestor. The server system obtains the set of complete queries by generating scores for a plurality of the obtained complete queries previously submitted by the community of users in accordance with an interest profile of the search requestor and ordering the obtained complete queries in accordance with the generated scores and the ranking criteria.