Method and apparatus for conducting an information brokering service

Abstract

A system and method is provided that provides an early indication of consensus of opinion among a number of users regarding an event or observation indicated by a user. Such an opinion may be interesting to an information consumer, who may be interested in determining the outcome of the consensus relating to the event or observation, or may otherwise desire to perform surveillance or survey of a particular issue or subject. Such recognition of early events or observations may be useful where initial observations, if provided early, allow resulting decisions to be made much earlier. The opinion may, for instance, be used as an early indicator of problem with a product, company, etc. that would permit an information consumer to perform an action at a much earlier point than if he/she relied on traditional sources of information. Thus, such opinion information may be invaluable as a tool for monitoring events.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A system for conducting an online information brokering service, the system comprising:
 a memory storing a plurality of tickets each including ticket information, the ticket information including at least one of a description, a specialty, and at least one keyword;   at least one processor operatively coupled to the memory;   a user interface component executed by the at least one processor and configured to permit access to an online community by a plurality of users and to display a plurality of views to at least one user of the plurality of users, the plurality of views comprising:
 a home view personalized for the at least one user, the home view configured to present information regarding previous transactions in the online community associated with the at least one user and to present information indicating a status of the at least one user in the online community; and 
 a ticket creation view configured to receive content generated by the at least one user, the content including information defining at least one ticket. 
   
     
     
         22 . The system according to  claim 21 , wherein user interface component is further configured to limit access of the at least one user to the plurality of tickets responsive to a user type associated with the at least one user. 
     
     
         23 . The system according to  claim 21 , wherein the ticket creation view is further configured to receive a description including information associated with the ticket. 
     
     
         24 . The system according to  claim 23 , wherein the ticket creation view is further configured to display at least one keyword associated with the ticket responsive to receiving the description. 
     
     
         25 . The system according to  claim 24 , wherein the ticket creation view is further configured to display a parameter indicative of a quantity of existing tickets associated with the at least one keyword. 
     
     
         26 . The system according to  claim 21 , wherein the home view is further configured to display at least one of a name associated with the at least one user, a date, and a status associated with the at least one user. 
     
     
         27 . The system according to  claim 21 , wherein the home view includes a control configured to transition the display from the home view to the ticket creation view responsive to the control being activated. 
     
     
         28 . The system according to claim  1 , wherein the plurality of views further includes a ticket search view configured to receive search criteria and display tickets matching the search criteria, the search criteria including at least one of a keyword and a specialty. 
     
     
         29 . The system according to  claim 28 , wherein the home view includes a control configured to transition the display from the home view to the ticket search view responsive to the control being activated. 
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 28 , wherein the ticket search view is further configured to display the tickets matching the search criteria in an order based on a rank of the generating user in the online community. 
     
     
         31 . A computer implemented method for interacting with an online environment, the method comprising:
 permitting, by a computer system, access to an online community by a plurality of users;   displaying, by a computer system, a home view personalized for at least one user of the plurality of users, the home view including information regarding previous transactions in the online community associated with the at least one user and to present information indicating a status of the at least one user in the online community;   displaying, by the computer system, a ticket creation view to the at least one user;   receiving, by the computer system, ticket information defining at least one ticket in the ticket creation view, the ticket information including at least one of a description, a specialty, and at least one keyword;   storing, by the computer system, the received ticket information defining the at least one ticket.   
     
     
         32 . The method according to  claim 31 , further comprising limiting access to the at least one ticket based on a user type associated with a user of the plurality of users requesting access to the at least one ticket. 
     
     
         33 . The method according to  claim 31 , wherein receiving ticket information includes receiving a description including information associated with the ticket. 
     
     
         34 . The method according to  claim 33 , wherein displaying the ticket creation view includes display at least one keyword associated with the ticket responsive to receiving the description. 
     
     
         35 . The method according to  claim 34 , wherein displaying the ticket creation view includes displaying a parameter indicative of a quantity of existing tickets associated with the at least one keyword. 
     
     
         36 . The method according to  claim 31 , wherein displaying the home view includes displaying at least one of a name associated with the at least one user, a date, and a status associated with the at least one user. 
     
     
         37 . The method according to  claim 31 , wherein displaying the home view includes displaying a control configured to transition the display from the home view to the ticket creation view responsive to the control being activated. 
     
     
         38 . The method according to  claim 31 , further comprising:
 displaying a ticket search view;   receiving search criteria, the search criteria including at least one of a keyword and a specialty; and   displaying tickets matching the search criteria responsive to receiving the search criteria in the ticket search view.   
     
     
         39 . The method according to  claim 38 , wherein displaying the home view includes displaying a control configured to transition the display from the home view to the ticket search view responsive to the control being activated. 
     
     
         40 . The method according to  claim 38 , wherein displaying the ticket search view includes displaying the tickets matching the search criteria in an order based on a rank of the generating user in the online community.