System and method for supporting multiple question and answer fora in different web sites

Abstract

A method and system, executed by a server, is disclosed for receiving questions from users regarding one or more topics and providing answers from a set of experts. Users can direct questions to one or more specific experts, who in turn can answer the questions, refer the questions to other experts, or both. The server automatically organizes and stores questions and answers in various fora dedicated to one or more topics, such as medical treatment for specific health conditions. Responses generated by the experts to the questions asked by the users may, in turn, be reviewed by peer review personnel. The system may be deployed at multiple network sites to provide a question and answer forum to users who visit different sites. Each network site in which the system is deployed may selectively decide whether to post at its network site the responses by experts and/or peer review personnel to questions originating from other network sites. In addition, each network site can selectively decide whether the responses by experts and/or peer review personnel to questions originating at their network site should be permitted to be posted on other network sites. Methods for funding a network site according to the present invention include the provision of advertising banners, receiving subscription payments or fees from user/subscribers for receiving expert opinions, and receiving payments from third party sponsors. Users who access the site may, in turn, receive benefits in exchange for soliciting such expert opinions.

1 . A method for providing a question and answer forum on at least one network site, the forum being accessible by at least one user and at least one expert, the forum having a topic, the method comprising deploying the question and answer forum at a plurality of network sites.  
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising receiving a question from the user accessing the forum at one of the network sites.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising: 
 transmitting the question to the expert;    receiving a response from the expert; and    posting the response generated by the expert to one of the network sites.    
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the forum from which the question is derived is the source forum, and the source forum is generated in a source network site and at least one non-source forum is generated in a network site other than the source network site, the posting an answer step further comprises posting the answer to the question to one of (a) the source forum and the non-source forum, (b) the source forum and excluding the non-source forum and (c) the non-source forum and excluding the source forum.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein when the answer is posted to the forum in the two different network sites, the posting occurs at substantially the same time.  
   
   
       6 . The method in accordance with  claim 3 , wherein the response is posted in the forum at the network site from which the question originated.  
   
   
       7 . The method in accordance with  claim 6 , wherein the response further is posted in a second forum at a second network site other than the network site of the forum from which the question originated.  
   
   
       8 . A method for providing a question and answer forum on at least two network sites, the forum being accessible by at least one user and at least one expert, the forum having a topic, the method comprising: 
 generating the question and answer forum at a first network site;    generating the question and answer forum at a second network site; and    receiving a question from the user accessing the forum at the second network site.    
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising: 
 transmitting the question to the expert;    receiving a response from the expert; and    posting the response to one of the first network site and the second network site.    
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising posting the response on both the first network site and the second network site.  
   
   
       11 . A method, executed by a server, for providing answers from at least one expert to questions posed by a plurality of users, the server communicating with the users via at least one client interface, the client interface being identified to the users as a forum on a predetermined subject matter and as presenting at least one expert on the subject matter, the method comprising: 
 generating the forum in at least two network sites different from each other;    receiving one of the questions from one of the users via the forum at one of the network sites;    routing the question to the expert;    receiving a command from the expert in response to the question; and    posting an answer to the question to the forum at at least one of the two different network sites.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the command comprises one of an instruction to post the answer to the question, an instruction to selectively post the answer in one of the two different network sites and a presentation of the answer to the expert for verification.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the forum from which the question is derived is the source forum, and the source forum is generated in a source network site and at least one non-source forum is generated in a network site other than the source network site, the posting an answer step further comprises posting the answer to the question to one of (a) the source forum and the non-source forum, (b) the source forum and excluding the non-source forum and (c) the non-source forum and excluding the source forum.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein when the answer is posted to the forum in the two different network sites, the posting occurs at substantially the same time.  
   
   
       15 . The method in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein the response is posted in the forum at the network site from which the question originated.  
   
   
       16 . The method in accordance with  claim 15 , wherein the response further is posted in a second forum at a second network site other than the network site of the forum from which the question originated.  
   
   
       17 . A method, executed by a server, for providing answers from at least one expert to questions posed by at least one user, the server communicating with the user via at least one client interface, the client interface being identified to the user as a forum on a predetermined subject matter and as presenting at least one expert on the subject matter, the method comprising: 
 providing a question and answer forum for access by at least one user and at least one expert, the forum being generated at at least two different network sites; and    receiving a question from a user accessing the forum of one of the network sites.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising: 
 transmitting the question to the expert;    receiving a response from the expert; and    posting the response generated by the expert to at least one of the network sites.    
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the forum from which the question is derived is the source forum, and the source forum is generated in a source network site and at least one non-source forum is generated in a network site other than the source network site, the posting an answer step further comprises posting the answer to the question to one of (a) the source forum and the non-source forum, (b) the source forum and excluding the non-source forum and (c) the non-source forum and excluding the source forum.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein when the answer is posted to the forum in the two different network sites, the posting occurs at substantially the same time.  
   
   
       21 . The method in accordance with  claim 18 , wherein the response is posted in the forum at the network site from which the question originated.  
   
   
       22 . The method in accordance with  claim 21 , wherein the response further is posted in a second forum at a second network site other than the network site of the forum from which the question originated.  
   
   
       23 . A system for providing a question and answer forum on at least one network site, the forum being accessible by at least one user and at least one expert, the forum having a topic, the system comprising a server deploying the question and answer forum at a plurality of network sites.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23  further comprising the server receiving a question from the user accessing the forum at one of the network sites.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24  further comprising: 
 the server transmitting the question to the expert;    the server receiving a response from the expert; and    the server posting the response generated by the expert to one of the network sites.