Abstract:
The invention relates to a method for facilitating decision-making related to goal attainment, the steps of the method including providing a pool of prospective category-specific advisors, each of which have joined a membership community; selecting from the pool of category specific advisors, a subset thereof sufficient to define an online forum qualified for consideration of a given goal-related question; and then syntactically refining the goal-oriented question expressed by a system user by resolving the question into components, the refining step including (i) reviewing for and providing accuracy of forum of the components by a language processing agent of the system; and (ii) reviewing for accuracy of substantive meaning by the system user of the goal oriented question components. The method further comprises the step of providing the refined question components to the forum for consideration; and then providing from the forum to the system user respective answers or opinions of the forum in response to the goal oriented question and components of it.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit under 35 USC 119(e) of the provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/659,283, filed Jun. 13, 2012, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to a method for the provision to a system user of a forum of social media, for guidance with respect to goal-related issues with which the system user may be concerned. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Software, since it was developed for use with personal computers in the 1990s, has for the most part addressed the improvements and uses of new hardware and its or applications. However, in general, software has rarely addressed problems of a human, personal or physiological character. 
         [0004]    The first appearance, known to within inventor of such software, occurred within business environments in which the objective was to enhance the efficiency of an employee or individual within an organization such that goals dictated by the business organization or management thereof could be more efficiently accomplished. An example of such software appears in U.S. Pat. No. 5,369,732 (1994) to Lynch et al, entitled Method and Apparatus For Goal Processing Memory Management. 
         [0005]    Other related software, known to the applicant, is concerned primarily with the assisting of project managers within a business to accomplish their goals, this as is reflected in U.S. Pat. No. 7,774,220 (2010) to Sullivan et al, entitled Project Management System For Aiding Users In Attaining Goals. 
         [0006]    Only recently have personal assistants or so-called personal coach software of any kind appeared, an example thereof being U.S. Patent Application Publication US2008/0082465 (2008) to Meijer et al, entitled “Guardian Angel,” held by the Microsoft Corporation. This invention amounts to a “robotic life advisor,” the object thereof being to enable the “guardian angel” and its supporting hardware to function as a protector and assistant in substantially every area of decision-making of human concern or enterprise. 
         [0007]    A related but more goal-specific adaptation of the Microsoft Guardian Angel appears in U.S. Pat. No. 7,827,050 (2010) to Bangel et al, entitled Comprehensive Goal Management With The Use of Integrated Software Application, held by the IBM corporation. Such software as is reflected in Meijer and Bangel are too complicated and, for most users, too costly for use in a social media context or related application. As such, the prior art, as set forth above, is indicative that certain software, in combination with appropriate hardware can provide interesting and helpful goal-related suggestions to users thereof but none exist in systems having ongoing interaction with persons or groups thereof (hereinafter “forums”) who have been recruited in a social media context and in which they have volunteered to participate to assist parties seeking assistance to facilitate decisions relative to specific goals in life regardless of how important or unimportant such goals may be from a larger perspective of society or business. 
         [0008]    The present invention therefore seeks to adapt the capability of social media to several of the goal processing and management issues previously addressed strictly through software and its supporting hardware, but mainly for business purposes. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The invention relates to a method for facilitating decision-making related to goal attainment, the steps of the method comprising providing a pool of prospective category-specific advisors, each of which have joined a membership community; selecting from said pool of category specific advisors, a subset thereof sufficient to define an online forum qualified for consideration of a given goal-related question; and then syntactically refining the goal-oriented question expressed by a system user by resolving said question into components, said refining step including (i) reviewing for and providing accuracy of forum of said components by a language processing agent of said system; and (ii) reviewing for accuracy of substantive meaning by the system user of said goal oriented question components. The method further comprises the step of providing said refined question components to said forum for consideration thereby; and then providing from said forum to the system user respective answers or opinions of the forum in response to said goal oriented question and components thereof. 
         [0010]    It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a method by which selectable, qualified sub-groups of a social media membership community may render assistant to community members having a need therefore for in the making of decisions related to personal goal attainment and in the formulation of steps by which such goals may be attained. 
         [0011]    It is another object to provide a method and system of the above type in which participants at all aspects thereof, inclusive of the individual requesting decision-making assistance, members acting upon a specific goal-attainment related inquiry, and parties, providing a system oversight to the interaction occurring between anonymous forums and users requesting assistance, all receive promotional credits of varying types which credits may be expressed a various merchant benefits through the membership community and its merchant members. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIGS. 1 and 2  are generic flow diagrams showing the Merlin application at a conceptual level. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a flow diagram concerning the procedure for resolving user goal oriented questions into constituent components and sub-components. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a flow diagram, connection to diagram of  FIG. 3  at node B, showing further steps in the process of parsing or refining a goal-oriented question of the system user. 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a flow diagram, further to that of  FIGS. 3 and 4  in which nodes C, E, F, G and I thereof connect to corresponding nodes of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a flow diagram view showing the timing of action steps in which node A thereof relates to node A of  FIG. 3 , node D thereof relates to node D of  FIG. 4  and node J thereof relates to node J of  FIG. 5 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a flow diagram view of a further portion of the present invention showing further steps in the question parsing process and showing user evaluation process. 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  is a further diagrammatic view relating mainly to the interaction between a system user and a forum member. 
           [0019]      FIG. 9  is a further diagrammatic view addressing largely the function of a category-specific anonymous forum in which nodes L, M, N and Q thereof relate to nodes L, M, N and Q of  FIG. 8 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 10  is a further flow diagrammatic view of the present system in which node R thereof relates to node R of  FIG. 3 , nodes K and T thereof relate to nodes K and T of  FIG. 8 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0021]    The present system and method provides a means for helping people break down their goals into subparts while providing anonymous advice in the event the person is unsure of how to pursue a goal. 
         [0022]    The disclosed software helps a user resolve one&#39;s goals into subparts and then each subpart is resolved into further subparts. If, at any time the user is unsure of what to do, the software will prompt the user to ask for advice anonymously from a network of people who are themselves anonymous or the user may ask for help from a network of life coaches. This process continues until each subpart of the goal cannot be resolved any further. The software, at each subpart, asks the user to make at least three appointed times, one is for when they wish to take action toward a goal, another is for when the software is to ask the user how things went. The other time is when the user wishes to be reminded prior or at the time of when the component takes place. When the appointed time for action arrives, the system will notify the user of the appointment. The software will then ask the user if he/she succeeded at accomplishing that subpart. If the subpart did not act as planned, the software will then offer to reschedule, edit the subpart, or anonymously ask for advice from a network of people who are anonymous as well, or the user may ask for help from a network of life coaches. 
         [0023]    With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the generic concept of the goal resolution system may be appreciated. More particularly, in  FIG. 1 , the enrollment process is shown at step  100 , while forum selection criteria as applied to community members is shown at step  200 . Ultimately, after an appropriate procedure, as below described, a category-specific question or issue of concern to the system user is defined. This is shown at step  300 . Providing of the goal-related question or issue of the system user is a central aspect of the present invention and, with respect to  FIG. 2 , may be seen to include a user interface which categorizes into components the question or goal shown in block  600 . Therefrom, the initially expressed question or goal is resolved into components and, where appropriate, sub-components, as is shown at block  620 . An artificial intelligence (“AI”) of the present system, shown at block  640 , provides for the tagging of components and sub-components of the system, more fully described below, by particular system indicators in order, inter alia, that a particular question may be assigned to a forum having an interest or qualifications relevant to the question asked. 
         [0024]    The timeline of the question resolution process is shown generically in  FIG. 2  at block  700 , and is more fully described below. Connection node N of  FIG. 2  relates to connection node N of  FIG. 1  indicating that after the tagging of components and sub-components by system indicators has occurred the result, shown in block  660  is that of a syntactically refined goal-oriented question from the user, expressed in component/sub-component form which includes semantic, guidance and other parameter indicators furnished thereto as a result of the function in block  640 . The question of the system user, when so refined, is then fed into a category-specific anonymous forum  300  which operates upon the question which has been resolved. This is shown as element  300  in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0025]    A sample of categories which may be selected by a system user or the AI  640  of the system constitute choices for components or sub-goals including:
       Location/Venue   Money/Investment   Transportation   Homework/Practice   Education/Research   Speech/Presentation   Perform/Sing/Act   Obtain or Give Resources   Recruit/Enroll/Hire   Communicate   Find Employment   Build/Create   Advertise/Market   Entertainment/Fitness   Clean/Prepare   Go Shopping       
 
         [0042]    The user to find help anonymously 
         [0043]    The user may choose to enter a component manually. The ability to ask for help is available later, as is below described. 
         [0044]    The anonymous forum which becomes assigned to a question of the system user results in written or other responses by the forum to user questions, this shown at block  350 . If necessary, the question may be reiterated, as shown at  355  of  FIG. 1 , such that the forum may provide a second round of responses to the system user. Steps  350  and/or  355  lead to a user evaluation process indicated by step  400  in  FIG. 1  which, as may be necessary, may result in a reiteration  475  of the entire process in which case the question will again be syntactically refined at step  660  as above set forth. 
         [0045]    The conceptual or expression of the invention as set forth in  FIGS. 1-2  may be more fully appreciated with respect to the detailed programming set forth in  FIGS. 3-10  below. More particularly, with reference to  FIG. 3 , there is shown a more detailed treatment of steps  600 ,  620 ,  640  and  660  above. Therein, at step  602 , the system attempts to determine the user&#39;s goal, while at steps  702  attempting to determine the timeframe which is associated with such goal. Timing is further refined at step  704  of  FIG. 3  after which at point  706  all date-related questions has been resolved. The system, at decision diamond  604  determines whether the user has input any components that are necessary for the expression of the goal. If he has not, the program proceeds to steps  606  in which the user may ask for help. If the user has input some components but not all necessary for a forum needed to consider the user&#39;s goal, the program proceeds to step  608 . Ultimately, the system user must approve the question generated, this as indicated at decision diamond  650 . If further refinement of the question, in the opinion of the user, is necessary, the system proceeds to block  662  which permits the AI editor to re-create the question in a fashion that may be more acceptable to the user. To be certain that the question is properly categorized, and proper forum matching as above described is accomplished, the system ask the user his opinion as to what category, as shown on a provided drop down list of categories, the question should be in. This is shown in block  664  in  FIG. 3 . Therefrom, the system proceeds along line  670  and to submission of the question, as now properly parsed as to form and category, into the categories of a specific anonymous forum indicated in step  300  in  FIGS. 1 and 3 . 
         [0046]    At step  666 , the system accesses all components entered and a final review of the question occurs. 
         [0047]    As may be noted to the left of  FIG. 3 , after the system begins at start  120 , the system prompts the user to input a goal of interest, shown as step  601 . Thereafter, in step  701 , the system prompts the user to input a date at which he wishes to have accomplished his stated goal so that he can eventually become a part of the decision diamond  702 , above described. Step  701  is followed by a display  632  to the system user of all possible components having potential relevancy to the question asked. This assists the AI of the system, as shown generally in step  660  of  FIG. 1 . To resolve the question or goal into all components which it can discern within the question as asked. If more components are wanted, node A of  FIG. 3  connects to node A of  FIG. 6  where further question resolution occurs. The user may also request help anonymously. That is, proceeding to diamond  634  in  FIG. 3 , the system determines if the user has asked for help. If such is the case, line  635  is followed upon which the system assembles the question for the user, this as shown at block  636 . However, if the user does not ask for assistance at diamond  634 , the program proceeds to access all entered components as shown at block  666 . Thereupon the system proceeds to node B (see  FIG. 4 ) and diamond  638 , that is, “Are there other components that have no user description?” If the answer is “yes,” the system proceeds to block  652 . Therein, the system searches for the earliest created components containing no user description. Thereupon, at function  654 , the system asks the user to input the best manner to resolve the component or, alternatively, the user may ask for help anonymously. This is monitored at diamond  656 . If the user did ask for help anonymously, the system proceeds to decision diamond  658 , asking “Is there a descriptor in the last component of record?” If the answer to this question is “yes,” the system proceeds to step  671  in which the user asks for help indicating to the system that he is attempting to establish a component description. However, if there is a requisite description, at decision  658 , of the pending component description, the system proceeds to step  672  of  FIG. 4  in which the user request help in determining a proper title of the component he is considering. This step will lead to decision diamond  674 , related to the above-described block  660  of  FIG. 1 , and asks “Is there a component description or goal that the current component is pointing to?” In this program, the terms “pointing” and “indicator” are used interchangeably. If the answer to the question of diamond  674  is “yes,” the system proceeds to node I (see  FIG. 5 ) and proceeds to block  675  wherein the system searches for a component description that is pointed to or indicated by that component with which the user needs help. 
         [0048]    This process leads to decision diamond  674 A in which the system asks “Is there a component description, component title or goal that the current component description is pointing to?” If the answer thereto is “yes,” the system proceeds to the left as shown in  FIG. 5  in order to establish a component description, component title or goal description, as is shown at  677 . If however is the answer to the question of diamond  674 A is in the negative, the system proceeds to block  678  at which the system then creates a dialog box for the user and, therein, he will describe the reason that help, in his opinion, is needed at that point in the program. An example of a reason why a user might need help is shown at step  679  of  FIG. 5 . This will lead the user to decision diamond  650   a , similar to decision diamond  650 A, above described with respect to  FIG. 3 , which asks if the user approves of the generated question. If the answer is “yes,” the system submits the question into a private forum  300 A, in analogous fashion to submission into the anonymous forum  300  above-described in  FIG. 3 . However, if the answer to the question at decision diamond  650 A is in the negative, the system proceeds to step  662 A, analogous to step  662  of  FIG. 3 , in which the system opens its syntax editor to enable the user to edit or to recreate a question or to cancel a pending question. 
         [0049]    Further to  FIG. 4 , following decision diamond  656 , if the answer to the question of diamond  656  is in the negative, the program proceeds to block  680  at which the system creates a description of the component if the user has entered the description. Thereafter, at step  710 , the system asks the user when in the timeline (see block  700  of  FIG. 2 ) a component of a question needs to be resolved. In other words, the system provides the possibility that not all components of a given question or goal would need to be resolved simultaneously. 
         [0050]    The system then proceeds to decision diamond  712  which asks whether the time for the accomplishment for each component of the system has been indicated. If the answer thereto is “yes,” the system then proceeds to block  714  and indicates a time-specific signature for the corresponding component. However, if the answer to decision diamond  712  is negative, the system proceeds to block  716  at which the system provides an indicator that no date has been provided for the indicator component. Therefrom the system proceeds to node G which in turn leads to diamond  675  (see  FIG. 5 ) which asks “Are there components which that have no user description?” This question, (shown at the left of  FIG. 5 ) is the end result of a series of steps which begin at block  714  at the lower left of  FIG. 4 , that is, connection node F in which the system asks the user when to place the reminder alert, this shown as step  722  of  FIG. 5 . From such step, the system leads into diamond  724  which asks “Is there a time at which the user should be reminded with respect to some aspect of a component necessary to his question or goal?” If the response thereto is in the negative, the program proceeds downward along line  725  and into decision diamond  675  as above described. However, if the response to diamond  724  is in the positive, the system will enter the indicated time at which the user should be reminded with respect to an issue relative to a component of the question which is asked. This is indicated as block  726 . Therefrom, at block  728 , the system asks the user when he would like to review his performance or progress in regard to selection of a given component of a given question. Thereafter, the question at diamond  730  asks if a given time to review a given component is indicated. If the answer thereto is in the negative, the program proceeds to diamond  675  above-described. However, if the answer thereto is in the affirmative, the system proceeds to block  732  at which the system arbitrarily creates a time at which a component review is to occur. 
         [0051]    Diamond  675  asks, “Are there components that have no use or user description?” If affirmative, the program will proceed to connection mode C or if negative, to connection mode J. Connection mode C is shown in  FIG. 4  and below block  652  above described, whereas connection node J is then shown at the upper left of  FIG. 6  and, as in the case of connection node D shown at the top of  FIG. 4 , feeds into block  680  in which the system finds a first component having a descriptor but lacking an indicator or pointer. The system, following block  680 , then at  682  proceeds to ask, if there exists any components that are needed to resolve a component or sub-component indicated at that time. If the user, at decision diamond  684  indicates that he wishes to consider more components in the parsing of his question of goal description, the system will then lead either to connection node A, also shown at the left of  FIG. 3 , or if the response is in the negative, the system, at block  686  creates an indicator that a given component is not to be addressed for any further degree or parsing. This in turn leads to decision diamonds  688  which asks is there are components that do not have a solicitation indicator for further breakdown but have not date set by the user. If the response thereto is in the affirmative, the program returns to step  680 , shown in  FIG. 6 . If the response to decision diamond  688  is in the negative, the system proceeds to block  736  in which the system asks for a date and time for a first component within a last set of components that is lacking in a date indicated by the user. Therefrom the program proceeds upward to decision diamond  738  which asks the user if he wishes to schedule when to work further on a component of his question. When the user is ready to work on such component, the system, as indicated at block  740 , opens up, that is, provides a means of options for editing of the pending components. The system then, at decision diamond  742  asks if the user inputted a date to be associated with the component at issue. At block  744 , the system may offer the user extra reminders and time for the review of performance of a component within the larger context of the goal-oriented question of interest. Finally, in terms of the time sequencing of the task shown in block  660  of  FIG. 1  of syntactically refining the goal-oriented question of the user, the system, asks, at diamond  746  if a date for resolution of all components has been established by the user. If the answer is no, this part of the program stops as is indicated at  748  in  FIG. 6 . 
         [0052]    With reference to  FIG. 7 , there is shown a user retrospective routine within the inventive system which enables the user to review and, as necessary, modify inputs response to the system above described. More particularly, following the start symbol shown a the left of  FIG. 7 , the system at step  402  asks the user how well a scheduled component of his goal-oriented question has performed during the forum process. Thereafter, at diamond  404 , the system asks the user if he is satisfied with the performance of that component. If the response is in the affirmative, the program proceeds to step  356  wherein the system asks if any details of the goal have been changed, which in turn leads to the questions of diamond  661 , namely, “Does the user wish to edit his goal or any other of the components?” If he does wish to do so the system, block  410  will then display the existing goal and all components thereof in which the user may choose to modify or edit the same. If however the response to question  661  is in the negative, the system, at step  412  will close and provide praise or congratulations to the user upon successful completion of the question de-composition process. 
         [0053]    Returning to the left hand side of the routine of  FIG. 7 , if the response of a user to question  404  is in the negative, the program will proceed will proceed to step  414  at which the system displays a choice for the user. For example, either the user will have missed an appointed time regarding comment about a component or the user may have failed at accomplishing or identifying a particular component. Therefrom, if the user does not indicate such failure, he will proceed to block  752  indicating that the user simply missed an appointment time with respect to comment upon a component and thereupon is permitted to open the component of the question for further editing (block  662  and  662 A described above). If however, the user, following a failure in accomplishing resolution of a component (step  605 ), the system proceeds to step  606  in which the system tells the user to either try the component again, request advice or make changes to the goal and/or to components thereof which have presented an issue for the user. If the user wishes to further try to correct problem, he proceeds to block  676  wherein the user will indicate an interest in trying again to identify a suitable component and the system will assist in displaying such component for potential editing. 
         [0054]    Alternatively, following step  606 , the user may ask the system for advice, as is indicated at block  607 . If such advice is sought, the user proceeds to step  609  in which he will indicate the issue, by typing into a dialog box, remarks to the effect of “I tried a component description or component title and don&#39;t know what I did wrong. This is what happened,” which would be followed by the user&#39;s description of the problem as he understands it. This step, possibly with the help of a system administrator, is followed by decision diamond  651  which then asks if the user is satisfied with the question as reconfigured. If the response is in the negative, the system proceeds to block  662 A. See also block  662  in  FIG. 3 ) in which the system will open an editor for the user to edit or recreate a question or for the user to cancel a pending question. From there, the system will proceed to block  300 A if the user is able to recreate the question. Similarly, if the response to decision diamond  651  is in the affirmative, the system will also proceed to block  300 A in which the system submits the question to the private and anonymous forum (see also block  300  in  FIG. 4  and block  300 A in  FIG. 5 ). At that point, the anonymous forum  300  (see  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 4 ) will begin to function. 
         [0055]    A further perspective of the present inventive system for providing a system responsive to a goal-oriented question is shown in  FIGS. 8-10 . More particularly, in  FIG. 8  is shown the start function upon which the user sees screens  102 . Therein the system authenticates the user, reviews the user&#39;s profile and scans for special indicators which may be applicable to the user, including particular questions and answers which may help to categorize a question for initial parsing (per block  600  of  FIG. 2 ) and explains rules relative to voting, first time user information, new user&#39;s response and guidance, new user&#39;s sample or actual questions, methods by which points are earned, and timeframes in which credits are furnished to the user, (typically on a monthly basis). From introductory screens  102 , the system proceeds to decision diamond  104  asking if there exists a particular indicator for the new user. If the user&#39;s response is in the negative, the system will proceed to screen  105  which enables the new user to access an introduction routine which shows the user how to employ each of the system components, win points, redeem points for prizes or coupons, and other more detailed information not encompassed within screens  102 . 
         [0056]    Returning to decision diamond  104 , if a response thereto is in the affirmative, the system proceeds to decision diamond  106  asking whether it is the end of the month or are there new points to be awarded? If the answer thereto is yes, the system proceeds to connection node K of  FIG. 10 , described below. 
         [0057]    If however the response to decision diamond  106  is in the negative, the program proceeds to decision diamond  603  in which there is asked the question “Is there an indicator for question creating?” If the response thereto is in the affirmative, the system proceeds to block  620 A (see also block  620  in  FIG. 2 ) in which the system accesses question and question categories and the system enters the question into the forum and lists questions in the question category which have been indicated by the function of steps  620 ,  640 , and  660  of  FIGS. 1 and 2  in addition to those more specific questions parsed steps in the above discussed with respect to  FIGS. 3-5 . Following step  620 A, the system will proceed to step  301  in which the system provides to the user a menu to assist in his navigation of the forum. 
         [0058]    If the user&#39;s response to decision diamond  603  is in the negative, the system proceeds to decision diamond  605  which asks “Is there an indicator for the pending question requiring editing?” If the response thereto is in the affirmative, the system proceeds to step  610  by which the system then opens a display for purposes of goal editing before submission to a forum. However, if the response to decision diamond  605  is in the negative, the user is then brought to the display menu  301  for navigation of the forum, as above described. Following these steps, the user proceeds to decision diamond  302  which is a menu choice in which a prospective forum member is asked to indicate whether he wishes to participate in a given forum. If the party&#39;s response is in the affirmative, the program proceeds to connection node Q and therefrom into the routine of the program shown in  FIG. 9 . That is, connection node Q brings the user to step  304  in which the system describes the category choices to the forum member and the question posed by a system user. Therefrom the system will proceed to decision diamond  306  in which the forum participant is asked to chose a category within which to answer the question, given that ambiguity may exist as to which category a given question of a user may fall into. Thereafter the system proceeds to step  308  in which the system displays question, expiration date of a given question, and number of responses for each question under the category chosen by the user. From there the system proceeds to decision diamond  310  in which a prospective forum member is asked whether he has picked a question to review. If the response is in the negative, the system returns to step  304  and the loop  306 / 308 / 310  is repeated. 
         [0059]    Proceeding from decision diamond  310 , the system will then ask whether prospective forum member selected a question to answer. Therein, the system also evaluates whether a prospective forum member has exhausted his answer or voting privileges. There will exist a limit as to how many questions and answers are available per day to a system user and forum member. The inventor contemplates the number of questions per day will be three and the amount of answers per day will, as well, be three. The amount of votes permitted, which relate to the degree of satisfaction of the system participants, is limited to seven per day. 
         [0060]    It is noted that if a user flags a question or answer as inappropriate (see block  800  in  FIG. 1 ) that is counted as a vote. However, there exists an unlimited number of response questions. Users who ask the original question are rewarded for their response to a response question in the forum (see step  355  in  FIG. 1 and 324  in  FIG. 9 ). 
         [0061]    Proceeding from decision diamond  312 , the user continues to step  314  in which the system displays a dialog box for the user&#39;s entry, this corresponding to responsive block  350  in  FIG. 1 . Therefrom, at decision diamond  316 , the system asks whether a forum member submitted an answer. If so, at block  318 , the system places the user&#39;s answer underneath the question or underneath the last entered answer. Thereafter, at block  110 , the system creates an indicator that the user has exhausted one question for that particular day. 
         [0062]    Returning to decision diamond  312  of  FIG. 9 , the prospective forum member is provided with an alternative if he does not like the question  312 . That is, at decision diamond  320 , a prospective forum member is asked whether he selected a question to vote on or respond to. If the response is in the affirmative, the system proceeds upwardly to step  350 A (see step  350  of  FIG. 1 ) and, therefrom to decision diamond  326  which asks “Did the user choose an answer to vote upon?” Therefrom the system proceeds to block  328  in which the system adds a vote, that is, a credit for the answer of the forum user has chosen to provide. Therefrom, at block  112 , the system creates an indicator that the user has used up one vote for one day. 
         [0063]    Returning to decision diamond  320 , the user may, further alternatively, proceed to decision diamond  322  in which the forum member is asked if a selected flag of particular question as inappropriate. If the answer thereto is in the affirmative, the system proceeds to step  802  in which the system displays a question or answer which the user or forum member may flag as inappropriate. This is confirmed at decision diamond  330 . If so, the system proceeds to step  114  in which the system adds a value of one credit to a flag counter of selected questions or answers of the user and the system evaluates whether the question exceeded the maximum number allowed. That is, a user is rewarded for recognizing an inappropriate question or answer. From step  114 , the system proceeds to decision diamond  116  and asks if the flag of value is equal or greater than a given value? From decision diamond  116 , the answer may be either yes or no. If yes, the system proceeds to block  118  whereby the system removes the inappropriate answer or question so that it is no longer visible to other users of the system. However, if the response to diamond  116  is negative the system simply proceeds to block  112  and therefrom to connection node L which leads to start-up screen  102 . 
         [0064]    Finally with respect to  FIG. 9 , if the user, proceeding upward from diamond  310  declines decision diamonds  310 ,  320  and  322 , he may proceed to decision diamond  324  which asks if the user chose to ask a question about the original question, this corresponding to step  355  in  FIG. 1 . If the answer thereto is in the negative, the system returns to categoric display step  304  as above described. However, if a response to decision diamond  324  is in the affirmative, the system proceeds up to step  326  and the system then displays the question and an empty dialog box into which the user may enter his question. The system then asks, at diamond  328  whether a question was submitted. If so, at block  477 , the system place an indicator to designate the existence of the original question. Therein the user is provided with the option to return to the main menu  102  or to the categoric menu  304  to look for more questions. The AI of the system may also amend a given question at this step. 
         [0065]    With regard to  FIG. 10 , the same, firstly, indicates that, at node K operates as an offshoot or in communication with node K of  FIG. 8 . The first decision diamond in  FIG. 10  is  603  in which the user is asked if he wishes to create a goal. This relates closely to the sub-routine shown to the right of  FIG. 10 . 
         [0000]    Alternative to diamond  603 , the user may proceed to diamond  661 A (which is closely related to step  662  of  FIG. 3 ), in which the system asks if the user wants to edit his goal. 
         [0066]    Alternative to diamond  661 A, the user may proceed to a menu of diamond  105 , in which the user is asked if he wishes to review his file. Yet further alternative to decision diamonds  603 ,  661 A and  105 , the user may proceed to decision diamond  502  which is a further menu choice but one relative to the commercial function of the present system in which the user is asked to indicate if he wishes to redeem his points or credits. If he so indicates, the system proceeds to step  504  and thereat displays a list of all categories of prizes. An input from node K (from  FIG. 8 ) to step  504  is provided. As above noted, node K is offshoot of diamond  106  as shown in  FIG. 8 . Proceeding to the right hand side of  FIG. 10 , at decision diamond  505 , the user is asked if he has selected a prize category. If the answer thereto is in the affirmative, the system displays a list of prize subcategories that may be of interest to the user. The system, at diamond  507  then asks if the user picked a prize subcategory of interest. If so, the system proceeds to diamond  508  and determines if there exists a list of businesses which are applicable to the prize sub-category selected by the user at  507 . If the answer thereto is in the negative, the program returns to step  506 . However, if in the positive, it proceeds to diamond  510  asking “Did the user select a business on the sub-category list?” If so, the system proceeds to step  512  and displays all businesses in the sub-sub-category of interest. 
         [0067]    While there has been shown and described above the preferred embodiment of the instant invention it is to be appreciated that the invention may be embodied otherwise than is herein specifically shown and described and that, within said embodiment, certain changes may be made in the form and arrangement of the parts without departing from the underlying ideas or principles of this invention as set forth in the Claims appended herewith.