Conversation agent for collaborative search engine

Abstract

A chatbot in the context of a chat group messaging is described. The chat group can include a plurality of users and a chatbot. A set of rules can be defined for the users of the group granting each user a privilege status. The chatbot can receive a request through a message transmitted to the chat group. The chatbot can discern a task associated with the message, and perform the task or ask another module to perform the task. Once the task is performed, the chatbot can report the results to the chat group. The chatbot can include a conflict resolution module which can resolve conflicts. The conflict resolution module can use each user's privilege status to resolve the conflicts.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method comprising:
 receiving, from a primary client device, a first message including a first query, the first message being received through a group messaging interface;   receiving, from a secondary client device, a second message including a second query, the second message being received through the group messaging interface;   determining, at a chatbot, if there is a conflict between the first query and the second query, wherein there is a conflict between the first query and the second query when there is no overlap between a first search result based on the first query and a second search result based on the second query;   if there is the conflict, resolving the conflict in favor of the primary client device by selecting the first query as an output query;   if there is no conflict, selecting the second query as the output query;   transmitting, from the chatbot, the output query to a task server;   receiving a task result from the task server, wherein the task result includes at least one search hit in response to searching the output query and the at least one search hit includes a link; and   transmitting the task result as a third message to the group messaging interface such that the third message is accessible by the primary client device and the secondary client device, wherein the third message is configured to cause the primary client device and the secondary client device display a preview photo retrievable from the link.   
     
     
         22 . The method of claim Error! Reference source not found., wherein the chatbot is configured to access a profile associated with each of the primary client device and the secondary client device. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising customizing the output query based on the profile. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the profile includes a search history. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the profile is associated with a social media platform. 
     
     
         26 . The method of claim Error! Reference source not found., further comprising assigning a preference weight to each of the primary client device and the secondary client device. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising resolving the conflict in favor of the primary client device using the preference weight assigned to each of the primary client device and the secondary client device. 
     
     
         28 . The method of claim Error! Reference source not found., further comprising prompting each of the primary client device and the secondary client device to display a poll and receiving a response to the poll from each of the primary client device and the secondary client device. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising resolving the conflict in favor of the primary client device using the response to the poll. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising resolving the conflict in favor of the primary client device using the response to the poll after waiting a predetermined period. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the predetermined period is an average inactivity period for the primary client device or the secondary client device. 
     
     
         32 . The method of claim Error! Reference source not found., wherein the secondary client device is associated with a privilege level defined by the primary client device. 
     
     
         33 . The method of claim Error! Reference source not found., further comprising prompting the primary client device to select a filter when the first search result exceeds a first threshold value. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the chatbot determines the filter based on a profile associated with each of the primary client device and the secondary client device. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising transmitting an efficacy rate for the filter to the group messaging interface. 
     
     
         36 . The method of claim Error! Reference source not found., further comprising transmitting to the group messaging interface a number of the first search result, and prompting the primary client device to select a filter. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , further comprising receiving a selection of the filter. 
     
     
         38 . A method comprising:
 transmitting a first message including a first query from a primary client device to a group messaging interface;   receiving, at the primary client device, a second message including a second query from a secondary client device through the group messaging interface; and   receiving, at the primary client device, a task result as a third message transmitted through the group messaging interface, wherein the third message is configured to cause the primary client device and the secondary client device display a preview photo retrievable from a link;   wherein a chatbot is a member of the group messaging interface and the chatbot is configured to:
 determine if there is a conflict between the first query and the second query, wherein there is a conflict between the first query and the second query when there is no overlap between a first search result based on the first query and a second search result based on the second query; 
 if there is the conflict, resolve the conflict in favor of the primary client device by selecting the first query as an output query; 
 if there is no conflict, select the second query as the output query; 
 transmit the output query to a task server; and 
 receive the task result from the task server, wherein the task result includes at least one search hit in response to searching the output query and the at least one search hit includes the link. 
   
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the secondary client device is associated with a privilege level defined by the primary client device. 
     
     
         40 . A method comprising:
 receiving, from a primary client device, a first message including a first query, the first message being received through a group messaging interface;   receiving, from a secondary client device, a filter condition, wherein:
 the filter condition is a search condition that can narrow a scope of the first query; and 
 the filter condition is a vehicle year, a vehicle make, a vehicle model, or a vehicle body type; 
   generating an output query based on the first query and the filter condition;   transmitting, from a chatbot, the output query to a task server;   receiving a task result from the task server, wherein the task result includes at least one search hit in response to searching the output query and the at least one search hit includes a link; and   transmitting the task result as a third message to the group messaging interface such that the third message is accessible by the primary client device and the secondary client device, wherein the third message is configured to cause the primary client device and the secondary client device display a preview photo retrievable from the link.