US6064978A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Question and answer system using computer networks
Assignee: EXPERTS EXCHANGE LLC
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Filing: 1997-06-24
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Granted: 2000-05-16
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Expires: 2017-06-24
Abstract
Abstract A method for regulating the asking and motivating the answering of questions via a computer network. The number and complexity of questions asked is controlled by a question regulation method, and the number and quality of answers provided is controlled by an answer evaluation method. The question regulation method permits users to post more numerous or more complex questions based on factors such as viewing of advertising, or provision of marketing information. The answer measurement method may be used to reward those who supply numerous or high-quality answers with premiums, public recognition, or employment opportunities.
Inventors
- 👤 Daniel K. Gardner
- 👤 Clinton A Staley
- 👤 Matthew A. Wormley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 02:34
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q30/00; G06Q30/02; G06Q30/0201; G06Q30/0203; G09; G09B; G09B7/00; G09B7/02; G09B7/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 44
Claim 1
Independent Claim
118 words
A method for regulating the asking and answering of questions via a computer network, comprising: providing a computer network for relaying and storing questions and answers; receiving questions posed by users seeking answers to the questions via the computer network; storing the questions in the computer network; organizing the questions in the computer network; regulating a number and complexity of questions posed via the computer network; receiving the answers via the computer network; storing the answers in the computer network; organizing the answers in the computer network; receiving a quality of answer value via the computer network; displaying the quality of answer value via the computer network; and storing the quality of answer value in the computer network.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
118 words
A method for regulating the asking and answering of questions via a computer network, comprising: providing a computer network for relaying and storing questions and answers; receiving questions posed by users seeking answers to the questions via the computer network; storing the questions in the computer network; organizing the questions in the computer network; regulating a number and complexity of questions posed via the computer network; receiving the answers via the computer network; storing the answers in the computer network; organizing the answers in the computer network; receiving a quality of answer value via the computer network; displaying the quality of answer value via the computer network; and storing the quality of answer value in the computer network.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method in claim 1 wherein said step of receiving questions further comprises: receiving assigned question points for each of said questions; and storing the assigned question points for each of said questions in said computer network.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said step of regulating further comprises rejecting ones of said questions in the event said assigned question points for the ones of said questions are greater than a number of available question points.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
81 words
The method of claim 3 wherein said step of receiving said quality of answer value further comprises: accepting said answers; receiving answer values for said answers, having been accepted; storing the answer values in the computer network; awarding answer points to answerers as a function of at least one of said assigned question points and the answer values; and setting the quality of answer value equal to the answer points; and storing the quality of answer value in said computer network.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
150 words
A method of receiving questions and publishing answers via a computer network comprising: receiving a question posed by a user seeking an answer to the question and a number of assigned question points through the computer network; storing the question in the computer network; displaying the question and the number of assigned question points through the computer network; receiving a proposed answer to the question through the computer network; storing the proposed answer in the computer network; displaying the proposed answer to the question through the computer network; accepting a proposed answer through the computer network; receiving an answer value for the proposed answer having been accepted; storing the answer value in the computer network; awarding a number of answer points as a function of at least one of the number of assigned question points and the answer value; and storing the number of answer points in the computer network.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
150 words
A method of receiving questions and publishing answers via a computer network comprising: receiving a question posed by a user seeking an answer to the question and a number of assigned question points through the computer network; storing the question in the computer network; displaying the question and the number of assigned question points through the computer network; receiving a proposed answer to the question through the computer network; storing the proposed answer in the computer network; displaying the proposed answer to the question through the computer network; accepting a proposed answer through the computer network; receiving an answer value for the proposed answer having been accepted; storing the answer value in the computer network; awarding a number of answer points as a function of at least one of the number of assigned question points and the answer value; and storing the number of answer points in the computer network.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 5 further comprising displaying the proposed answer, having been accepted, through said computer network.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method of claim 5 further comprising: said awarding step including awarding said number of answer points to an answerer; displaying a total number of answer points received by the answerer as a function of said number of answer points having been awarded to the answerer; and storing the total number of answer points in said computer network.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 5 further comprising rejecting said question in the event a number of available question points is less than said number of assigned question points.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 8 further comprising escrowing said number of assigned question points following said receiving of the question and the number of assigned question points; and deducting said number of assigned question points having been escrowed from said number of available question points.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method of claim 9 further comprising deducting said number of assigned question points having been escrowed from a total number of question points following said accepting of said proposed answer, said available number of question points being equal to said total number of question points minus said number of assigned question points having been escrowed.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 5, further comprising: providing a number of available question points to one or more users in said computer network; and periodically increasing the number of available question points.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
87 words
A method of receiving and publishing questions and answers via a computer network comprising: receiving a question posed by a user seeking an answer to the question through the computer network; storing the question in the computer network; displaying the question through the computer network; receiving a proposed answer to the question through the computer network; storing the proposed answer in the computer network; displaying the proposed answer to the question through the computer network; and accepting the proposed answer having been displayed through the computer network.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
87 words
A method of receiving and publishing questions and answers via a computer network comprising: receiving a question posed by a user seeking an answer to the question through the computer network; storing the question in the computer network; displaying the question through the computer network; receiving a proposed answer to the question through the computer network; storing the proposed answer in the computer network; displaying the proposed answer to the question through the computer network; and accepting the proposed answer having been displayed through the computer network.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 12 further comprising displaying the proposed answer, having been accepted through said computer network.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 12 wherein said receiving the question step further comprises: receiving a number of assigned question points through said computer network; and storing the number of assigned question points in said computer network.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said displaying the question step further comprises displaying said number of assigned question points through said computer network.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 15 further comprising rejecting said question in the event a number of available question points is less than said number of assigned question points.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 16 further comprising: escrowing said number of assigned question points following said receiving the number of assigned question points; and deducting said number of assigned question points having been escrowed from said number of available question points.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of claim 17 further comprising deducting said number of assigned question points having been escrowed from a total number of question points following said accepting a proposed answer, said available number of question points being equal to the total number of question points minus said number of assigned question points having been escrowed.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
60 words
The method of claim 12 wherein said accepting said proposed answer further comprises: receiving an answer value to said proposed answer having been accepted; storing the subjective answer value in said computer network; awarding a number of answer points as a function of at least the subjective answer value; and storing the number of answer points in said computer network.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 19 further comprising displaying said number of answer points through said computer network.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method of claim 20 further comprising: said awarding step including awarding said number of answer points to an answerer; displaying a total number of answer points received by an answerer as a function of said number of answer points having been awarded to the answerer; and storing the total number of answer points in said computer network.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
57 words
A method of asking questions and accepting answers through a computer network comprising: transmitting a question posed by a user seeking an answer to the question over the computer network; receiving a proposed answer from the computer network; accepting the proposed answer; and transmitting a subjective answer value, having accepted the proposed answer over the computer network.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
57 words
A method of asking questions and accepting answers through a computer network comprising: transmitting a question posed by a user seeking an answer to the question over the computer network; receiving a proposed answer from the computer network; accepting the proposed answer; and transmitting a subjective answer value, having accepted the proposed answer over the computer network.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 22 wherein said step of transmitting a question further comprises transmitting a number of assigned question points over said computer network.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
69 words
A method of answering a question posed over a computer network for point values comprising: transmitting a proposed answer to a question posed by a user seeking an answer to the question over the computer network; determining through the computer network, whether the proposed answer is accepted; and receiving a number of answer points as a function of an answer value, in the event the proposed answer is accepted.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
69 words
A method of answering a question posed over a computer network for point values comprising: transmitting a proposed answer to a question posed by a user seeking an answer to the question over the computer network; determining through the computer network, whether the proposed answer is accepted; and receiving a number of answer points as a function of an answer value, in the event the proposed answer is accepted.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 24 wherein said step of receiving said number of answer points further includes receiving a number of answer points as a function of said answer value and a number of assigned question points, in the event the proposed answer is accepted.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
155 words
A method for regulating the asking and answering of questions via a computer network, comprising: providing a computer network for relaying and storing questions and answers; receiving questions via the computer network; receiving assigned question points for each of the questions; storing questions in the computer network; storing the assigned question points for each of the questions in the computer network organizing questions in the computer network; regulating a number and complexity of questions posed via the computer network; rejecting ones of the questions in the event the assigned question points for the ones of the questions are greater than a number of available question points; receiving answers via the computer network; storing answers in the computer network; organizing answers in the computer network; receiving a quality of answer value via the computer network; displaying the quality of answer value via the computer network; and storing the quality of answer value in the computer network.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
155 words
A method for regulating the asking and answering of questions via a computer network, comprising: providing a computer network for relaying and storing questions and answers; receiving questions via the computer network; receiving assigned question points for each of the questions; storing questions in the computer network; storing the assigned question points for each of the questions in the computer network organizing questions in the computer network; regulating a number and complexity of questions posed via the computer network; rejecting ones of the questions in the event the assigned question points for the ones of the questions are greater than a number of available question points; receiving answers via the computer network; storing answers in the computer network; organizing answers in the computer network; receiving a quality of answer value via the computer network; displaying the quality of answer value via the computer network; and storing the quality of answer value in the computer network.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
81 words
The method of claim 26 wherein said step of receiving said quality of answer value further comprises: accepting said answers; receiving answer values for said answers, having been accepted; storing the answer values in the computer network; awarding answer points to answerers as a function of at least one of said assigned question points and the answer values; and setting the quality of answer value equal to the answer points; and storing the quality of answer value in said computer network.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
161 words
A method of receiving questions and publishing answers via a computer network comprising: receiving a question and a number of assigned question points through the computer network; rejecting the question in the event a number of available question points is less than the number of assigned question points; storing the question in the computer network; displaying the question and the number of assigned question points through the computer network; receiving a proposed answer to the question through the computer network; storing the proposed answer in the computer network; displaying the proposed answer to the question through the computer network; accepting a proposed answer through the computer network; receiving an answer value for the proposed answer having been accepted; storing the answer value in the computer network; awarding a number of answer points as a function of at least one of the number of assigned question points and the answer value; and storing the number of answer points in the computer network.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
161 words
A method of receiving questions and publishing answers via a computer network comprising: receiving a question and a number of assigned question points through the computer network; rejecting the question in the event a number of available question points is less than the number of assigned question points; storing the question in the computer network; displaying the question and the number of assigned question points through the computer network; receiving a proposed answer to the question through the computer network; storing the proposed answer in the computer network; displaying the proposed answer to the question through the computer network; accepting a proposed answer through the computer network; receiving an answer value for the proposed answer having been accepted; storing the answer value in the computer network; awarding a number of answer points as a function of at least one of the number of assigned question points and the answer value; and storing the number of answer points in the computer network.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 28 further comprising escrowing said number of assigned question points following said receiving of the question and the number of assigned question points; and deducting said number of assigned question points having been escrowed from said number of available question points.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method of claim 29 further comprising deducting said number of assigned question points having been escrowed from a total number of question points following said accepting of said proposed answer, said available number of question points being equal to said total number of question points minus said number of assigned question points having been escrowed.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
156 words
A method of receiving questions and publishing answers via a computer network comprising: providing a number of available question points to one or more users in said computer network; receiving a question and a number of assigned question points through the computer network; storing the question in the computer network; displaying the question and the number of assigned question points through the computer network; receiving a proposed answer to the question through the computer network; storing the proposed answer in the computer network; displaying the proposed answer to the question through the computer network; accepting a proposed answer through the computer network; receiving an answer value for the proposed answer having been accepted; storing the answer value in the computer network; awarding a number of answer points as a function of at least one of the number of assigned question points and the answer value; and storing the number of answer points in the computer network.
Claim 39
Independent Claim
156 words
A method of receiving questions and publishing answers via a computer network comprising: providing a number of available question points to one or more users in said computer network; receiving a question and a number of assigned question points through the computer network; storing the question in the computer network; displaying the question and the number of assigned question points through the computer network; receiving a proposed answer to the question through the computer network; storing the proposed answer in the computer network; displaying the proposed answer to the question through the computer network; accepting a proposed answer through the computer network; receiving an answer value for the proposed answer having been accepted; storing the answer value in the computer network; awarding a number of answer points as a function of at least one of the number of assigned question points and the answer value; and storing the number of answer points in the computer network.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 31 further comprising periodically increasing said number of available question points.
Claim 41
Independent Claim
112 words
A method of receiving and publishing questions and answers via a computer network comprising: receiving a question and a number of assigned question points through the computer network; rejecting the question in the event a number of available question points is less than the number of assigned question points; storing the question and the number of assigned question points in the computer network; displaying the question through the computer network; receiving a proposed answer to the question through the computer network; storing the proposed answer in the computer network; displaying the proposed answer to the question through the computer network; and accepting the proposed answer having been displayed through the computer network.
Claim 42
Independent Claim
112 words
A method of receiving and publishing questions and answers via a computer network comprising: receiving a question and a number of assigned question points through the computer network; rejecting the question in the event a number of available question points is less than the number of assigned question points; storing the question and the number of assigned question points in the computer network; displaying the question through the computer network; receiving a proposed answer to the question through the computer network; storing the proposed answer in the computer network; displaying the proposed answer to the question through the computer network; and accepting the proposed answer having been displayed through the computer network.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 33 further comprising: escrowing said number of assigned question points following said receiving the number of assigned question points; and deducting said number of assigned question points having been escrowed from said number of available question points.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of claim 34 further comprising deducting said number of assigned question points having been escrowed from a total number of question points following said accepting a proposed answer, said available number of question points being equal to the total number of question points minus said number of assigned question points having been escrowed.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-05-16 | 2003-11-15 | 2004-05-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-05-16 | 2007-11-15 | 2008-05-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-05-16 | 2011-11-15 | 2012-05-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |