Systems and methods for improving communication efficiency and reducing data redundancy in a computerized platform

Abstract

An example method for improving communication efficiency and reducing data redundancy in a computerized platform includes determining a priority value of an inquiry based on a duration of time for which the inquiry remains unanswered in the queue in comparison with other unanswered inquiries, sorting previously-obtained inquiries based on (a) a quantity of common topic labels shared between the set of topic labels associated with the inquiry and a respective set of topic labels associated with each previously-obtained inquiry in the subset and (b) a quality score associated with an answer to each previously-obtained inquiry in the subset to generate a sorted list for presentation, and routing the inquiry based on (a) user interactions, (b) the priority value of the inquiry, and (c) at least one of a user request, relation to a specialty of a healthcare professional, geographic location of the healthcare professional, or history of answers provided by the healthcare professional.

1 .- 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A computer-implemented method for improving communication efficiency and reducing data redundancy in a computerized platform, comprising:
 obtaining an inquiry from a user device connected to the computerized platform;   storing the inquiry in a queue of unanswered inquiries received from a plurality of user devices connected to the computerized platform;   determining a priority value of the inquiry based, at least in part, on monitoring respective durations of time for which individual inquiries, including the inquiry, remain unanswered in the queue, wherein the priority value of the inquiry is altered as the duration of time for which the inquiry remains unanswered in the queue increases;   routing at least the inquiry from the queue to be presented via a computer device associated with a healthcare professional based, at least in part, on the priority value of the inquiry;   determining, before obtaining an answer to the inquiry, a time limit for requesting modification of the inquiry based, at least in part, on a traffic volume of the computerized platform;   determining that the time limit has elapsed;   responsive to determining that the time limit has elapsed, transmitting to the user device a request to modify the inquiry;   responsive to presentation of the inquiry via the computer device associated with the healthcare professional, obtaining the answer to the inquiry; and   causing presentation, via the user device, of the answer to the inquiry.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein unanswered inquiries are sequenced in reverse chronological order in the queue. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein routing at least the inquiry from the queue to be presented via the computer device associated with the healthcare professional is further based on at least one of a user quest, specialty of the healthcare professional, location of the healthcare professional, or history of inquiries answered by the healthcare professional. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising providing profile information of healthcare professionals to users. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising routing one or more other inquiries to be presented via the computer device associated with the healthcare professional based, at least in part, on a measure of similarity between the one or more other inquiries and the inquiry. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising determining the measure of similarity based, at least in part, on topic tags that categorize keywords. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising causing presentation of one or more previously answered inquiries via the user device based, at least in part, on a measure of similarity between the one or more previously answered inquiries and the inquiry. 
     
     
         23 . A system, comprising:
 a plurality of user devices, each having a memory and one or more processors; and   a server positioned remote from the plurality of user devices and having a memory storing contents that, when executed by one or more processors coupled to the memory, cause the system to:
 obtain an inquiry from a user device of the plurality of user devices; 
 store the inquiry in a queue of unanswered inquiries received from the plurality of user devices; 
 determine a priority value of the inquiry based, at least in part, on monitoring respective durations of time for which individual inquiries, including the inquiry, remain unanswered in the queue, wherein the priority value of the inquiry is altered as the duration of time for which the inquiry remains unanswered in the queue increases; 
 route at least the inquiry from the queue to be presented via a computer device associated with a healthcare professional based, at least in part, on the priority value of the inquiry; 
 determine, before obtaining an answer to the inquiry, a time limit for requesting modification of the inquiry based, at least in part, on a traffic volume of the system; 
 determine that the time limit has elapsed; 
 responsive to determining that the time limit has elapsed, transmitting to the user device a request to modify the inquiry; 
 responsive to presentation of the inquiry via the computer device associated with the healthcare professional, obtain the answer to the inquiry; and 
 cause presentation, via the user device, of the answer to the inquiry. 
   
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein unanswered inquiries are sequenced in reverse chronological order in the queue. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein routing at least the inquiry from the queue to be presented via the computer device associated with the healthcare professional is further based on at least one of a user quest, specialty of the healthcare professional, location of the healthcare professional, or history of inquiries answered by the healthcare professional. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the contents further cause the system to provide profile information of healthcare professionals to users. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the contents further cause the system to route one or more other inquiries to be presented via the computer device associated with the healthcare professional based, at least in part, on a measure of similarity between the one or more other inquiries and the inquiry. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the contents further cause the system to determine the measure of similarity based, at least in part, on topic tags that categorize keywords. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the contents further cause the system to cause presentation of one or more previously answered inquiries via the user device based, at least in part, on a measure of similarity between the one or more previously answered inquiries and the inquiry. 
     
     
         30 . A computer-readable storage medium not constituting a transitory medium, the computer-readable storage medium storing contents that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform actions comprising:
 obtaining an inquiry from a user device;   storing the inquiry in a queue of unanswered inquiries received from a plurality of user devices;   determining a priority value of the inquiry based, at least in part, on monitoring respective durations of time for which individual inquiries, including the inquiry, remain unanswered in the queue, wherein the priority value of the inquiry is altered as the duration of time for which the inquiry remains unanswered in the queue increases;   routing at least the inquiry from the queue to be presented via a computer device associated with a healthcare professional based, at least in part, on the priority value of the inquiry;   determining, before obtaining an answer to the inquiry, a time limit for requesting modification of the inquiry based, at least in part, on a received traffic volume;   determining that the time limit has elapsed;   responsive to determining that the time limit has elapsed, transmitting to the user device a request to modify the inquiry;   responsive to presentation of the inquiry via the computer device associated with the healthcare professional, obtaining the answer to the inquiry; and   causing presentation, via the user device, of the answer to the inquiry.   
     
     
         31 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 30 , wherein
 unanswered inquiries are sequenced in reverse chronological order in the queue.   
     
     
         32 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 30 , wherein routing at least the inquiry from the queue to be presented via the computer device associated with the healthcare professional is further based on at least one of a user quest, specialty of the healthcare professional, location of the healthcare professional, or history of inquiries answered by the healthcare professional. 
     
     
         33 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 30 , wherein the actions further comprise routing one or more other inquiries to be presented via the computer device associated with the healthcare professional based, at least in part, on a measure of similarity between the one or more other inquiries and the inquiry. 
     
     
         34 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 33 , wherein the actions further comprise determining the measure of similarity based, at least in part, on topic tags that categorize keywords. 
     
     
         35 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 30 , wherein the actions further comprise causing presentation of one or more previously answered inquiries via the user device based, at least in part, on a measure of similarity between the one or more previously answered inquiries and the inquiry.