Claim and dispute resolution system and method

Abstract

Dispute or claim resolution is facilitated within an online community of users. An initial claim is used to form reference user opinions that may resolve later received claims or disputes. A semantic tree structure having various tree elements are stored for each reference user opinion. If similarity exists between a later submitted claim and the initial claim, the highest rated reference user opinion that resolves the initial claim is automatically recommended to resolve the later submitted claim.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 upon receipt by a computer server, of an initial claim or dispute, establishing a plurality of reference user opinions adapted to resolve later received claims or disputes, wherein said plurality of reference user opinions are established by accepting user opinions rendered by an online community of users to resolve the initial claim or dispute between two or more parties, wherein each one of the rendered user opinions is based on a different rule or regulation governing conduct, and storing each one of said different rendered user opinions as the plurality of reference user opinions;   accepting by the computer server, a plurality of ratings from the online community of users for each reference user opinion, the plurality of ratings rating each reference user opinion on a low to high scale such that at least a first reference user opinion is rated higher relative to a second reference user opinion, and storing the plurality of ratings including ratings for the first reference user opinion and second reference user opinion;   receiving by the computer server, a user submission of a subsequent claim or dispute between two or more parties seeking resolution of the subsequent claim;   determining by the computer server, whether the subsequent claim and the initial claim are similar by comparing elements of the subsequent claim and that of the initial claim; and   upon determining that the subsequent claim and the initial claim are similar, recommending by the computer server, the first reference user opinion rendered for the initial claim as a resolution for the subsequent claim based on the higher rating of the first reference user opinion relative to that of the second reference user opinion.   
     
     
         2 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1  further comprising
 storing for each reference user opinion, a semantic tree structure having tree elements for at least a category or subject matter of each reference user opinion, a key word within the initial or subsequent claim, the rule on which the reference user opinion is based, the resolution of the reference user opinion and the rating of the reference user opinion. 
 
     
     
         3 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1  further comprising
 providing for each of the initial and subsequent claim a semantic tree structure having at least one keyword as a tree element. 
 
     
     
         4 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 3  wherein the elements of the subsequent claim and the initial claim that are compared are semantic tree structures of the subsequent claim and the initial claim, wherein the subsequent claim and the initial claim are similar if key word similarities exist between the semantic tree structure of the subsequent claim and that of the initial claim. 
     
     
         5 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 2  wherein the tree elements include a semantic tree structure having tree elements for at least a category or subject matter of each reference user opinion, a key word within the initial or subsequent claim, the rule on which the reference user opinion is based, the resolution of the reference user opinion and the rating of the reference user opinion. 
     
     
         6 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1  wherein a rule, reference user opinion and rating are based on geographical location. 
     
     
         7 . A computer program product including a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having executable code, the code when executed by a processor is adapted for performing the following:
 upon receipt by a computer server, of an initial claim or dispute, establishing a plurality of reference user opinions adapted to resolve later received claims or disputes, wherein said plurality of reference user opinions are established by accepting user opinions rendered by an online community of users to resolve the initial claim or dispute between two or more parties, wherein each one of the rendered user opinions is based on a different rule or regulation governing conduct, and storing each one of said different rendered user opinions as the plurality of reference user opinions;   accepting by the computer server, a plurality of ratings from the online community of users for each reference user opinion, the plurality of ratings rating each reference user opinion on a low to high scale such that at least a first reference user opinion is rated higher relative to a second reference user opinion, and storing the plurality of ratings including ratings for the first reference user opinion and second reference user opinion;   receiving by the computer server, a user submission of a subsequent claim or dispute between two or more parties seeking resolution of the subsequent claim;   determining by the computer server, whether the subsequent claim and the initial claim are similar by comparing elements of the subsequent claim and that of the initial claim; and   upon determining that the subsequent claim and the initial claim are similar, recommending by the computer server, the first reference user opinion rendered for the initial claim as a resolution for the subsequent claim based on the higher rating of the first reference user opinion relative to that of the second reference user opinion.   
     
     
         8 . The computer program product of  claim 7  further comprising:
 storing for each reference user opinion, a semantic tree structure having tree elements for at least a category or subject matter of each reference user opinion, a key word within the initial or subsequent claim, the rule on which the reference user opinion is based, the resolution of the reference user opinion and the rating of the reference user opinion. 
 
     
     
         9 . The computer program product of  claim 6  further comprising:
 providing for each of the initial and subsequent claim a semantic tree structure having at least one keyword as a tree element. 
 
     
     
         10 . The computer program product of  claim 8  wherein the elements of the subsequent claim and the initial claim that are compared are semantic tree structures of the subsequent claim and the initial claim, wherein the subsequent claim and the initial claim are similar if key word similarities exist between the semantic tree structure of the subsequent claim and that of the initial claim. 
     
     
         11 . The computer program product of  claim 7  wherein the tree elements include a semantic tree structure having tree elements for at least a category or subject matter of each reference user opinion, a key word within the initial or subsequent claim, the rule on which the reference user opinion is based, the resolution of the reference user opinion and the rating of the reference user opinion. 
     
     
         12 . The computer program product of  claim 6  further comprising basing a rule, reference user opinion and rating are on geographical location.