System and method for an interactive knowledgebase

Abstract

An interactive knowledgebase ( 48 ) system is provided. The system comprises a server ( 14 ) and a client ( 12 ). The server ( 14 ) is operable to retrieve a plurality of informational pages with each informational page containing items and links to items. The server ( 14 ) is further operable to maintain a directory ( 172 ) of the items organized by category. The client ( 12 ) is coupled to the server ( 14 ) and operable to display the directory ( 172 ) in a first frame of a web browser ( 32 ). The client ( 12 ) is further operable to request information -pages from the server ( 14 ) and display the information pages in a second frame of the web browser ( 32 ). A user at the client ( 12 ) can participate in an exchange of items and comments regarding items with other users of the interactive knowledgebase ( 48 ).

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An interactive knowledge base 
 a client operable to generate a request for a category of information, each category having one or more informational items associated with the category, the client further operable to transmit informational items and comments about informational items; and,    a server coupled to the client comprising: 
 an interactive database comprising a plurality of informational items, each informational item associated with one or more categories of information; and,  
 an information page builder operable to automatically construct an information page using informational items stored in the interactive database and based on the request for the category of information;  
   the server further operable to receive informational items from the client and store them in the interactive database, the server further operable to associate informational items with received comments about informational items and store them in the interactive database.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the client includes a web browser operable to display the information pages.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein a navigational display bar is displayed in a frame of the web browser.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein comments about information items include endorsements and annotations about the information items.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the servewr maintains a directory of the items organized by catagories and the directory is displayed in a window at the client.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the directory is a JAVA applet.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the user can decide to serve as a subject matter expert for a particular category.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the subject matter expert can receive electronic mail message concerning a particular category when the subject matter expert is not accessing the interactive knowledge base.  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the user can decide to serve as a subject master for a particular category.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the subject master can receive electronic mail message concerning a particular category when the subject matter expert is not accessing the interactive knowledge base.  
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the subject master can delete items from a particular category.  
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the interactive knowledge base further comprising a discussion group associated with each category.  
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein any user can pose questions and comments to the discussion group.  
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the interactive knowledgebase is operable to send a posted question in the discussion group to certain expert users and wherein the expert users may read and respond to those questions without accessing the interactive knowledgebase.  
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a user is able to save a list of favorite items.  
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a user is able to complete a user profile which can be used to index a user.  
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a search screen is provided to find items quickly.  
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein any user can add an item to any category.  
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the user can set a time limit at which the item added automatically expires.  
     
     
         20 . A system of maintaining a category discussion group in an interactive knowledgebase comprising: 
 a server coupled to an interactive knowledgebase;    a first client computer coupled to the server and having a web browser program and an electronic mail client program;    a second client computer coupled to the server and having an electronic mail client; wherein the first client posts a question to the category discussion in the interactive knowledgebase; the interactive knowledgebase operable to update the category discussion to include the question, the interactive knowledgebase further operable to send an electronic mail message to the second client, the second client operable send a response to the question via the electronic mail client, the reply routed to the first client and the interactive knowledgebase, the interactive knowledgebase operable to update the category discussion with the reply.    
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the category discussion is arranged by threads.  
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein each category of interactive knowledgebase has a discussion group.  
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the second user is comprised of a group of special users of the interactive knowledgebase.  
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the second user is a subject matter expert or a subject master.  
     
     
         25 . A method for updating a category discussion group at a server comprising; 
 receiving a question from a first user currently participating in the discussion group;    adding the question to the discussion group;    formatting an electronic mail message containing the question;    sending the question to a select group of users not currently participating in the discussion group via electronic mail;    receiving an answer from one or more of the select group of users;    updating the discussion group with the answer;    forwarding the response to the first user using electronic mail;    
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the select group of users consists of subject masters and subject matter experts.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the select users receives the question without having to access the interactive knowledgebase.