Patent ID: 9159110
Filing Date: 2015-10-13
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
1. A method for facilitating propagation of inquiries and answers thereto in connection with a website, which allows users registered with the website to network with each other, wherein each user is allowed to maintain a network list of other users to share information, the network list further including a number that the other users have answered questions or a number that the other users have forwarded questions, the method comprising: receiving, by a server of the website, an inquiry from a first user with a first command to send the inquiry to at least one user from a first network list of the first user; sending, by the server, the inquiry to the at least one user from the first network list, wherein the at least one user includes a second user; receiving, by the server, a second command from the second user to send the inquiry to at least one user from a second network list of the second user; sending, by the server, the inquiry to the at least one user from the second network list, wherein the at least one user from the second network list includes a third user, and the first user does not have an established acquaintanceship with the third user; tracking, by the server, the propagation of the inquiry so as to generate tracking information indicating that the inquiry is propagated from the first user to the at least one user from the first network list, that the inquiry is further propagated from the second user to the at least one user from the second network list; receiving, by a terminal associated with the first user, a first notification when the second user sends, by the server, the inquiry to the third user; receiving, by the server, an answer to the inquiry from a user accessible to the inquiry; determining, by the server, that the inquiry originated from the first user using the tracking information; and notifying the first user that the answer is available; wherein acquaintanceship between users registered with the website comprises primary acquaintanceship and secondary acquaintanceship, and inquiries are sent only between users having the primary acquaintanceship.