Enhancing posted content in discussion forums

Methods and arrangements for enhancing content in discussion forums. Access to an online discussion is provided. A posting by an author participating in the discussion is accepted, and a recommendation is automatically produced for the author for amending the posting to increase the likelihood of response to the posting by other individuals participating in the discussion.

BACKGROUND

Generally, online discussion sites, community question answering sites and the like provide a valuable source of information for users. However, very little is usually done, once a question is posted on forums, to assist in obtaining answers, apart from possibly routing the information to experts. As a result, many if not most discussions fail to progress for a variety of reasons, leading to a plethora of sparse, and unhelpful and uninformative, discussion threads. Among these reasons are an insufficiency of content (e.g., there is little to no telltale information in a headpost [e.g., title+first post] to attract a viable reply), a duplication of questions (e.g., a question has already been answered elsewhere); and a poorly organized or referenced question (e.g., it is posted in the wrong place).

BRIEF SUMMARY

In summary, one aspect of the invention provides a method comprising: availing an online discussion; assimilating a posting by an author in the discussion; and producing for the author a recommendation for amending the posting to increase a likelihood of response to the posting.

Another aspect of the invention provides an apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and a computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therewith and executable by the at least one processor, the computer readable program code comprising: computer readable program code configured to avail an online discussion; computer readable program code configured to assimilate a posting by an author in the discussion; and computer readable program code configured to produce for the author a recommendation for amending the posting to increase a likelihood of response to the posting.

An additional aspect of the invention provides a computer program product comprising: a computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therewith, the computer readable program code comprising: computer readable program code configured to avail an online discussion; computer readable program code configured to assimilate a posting by an author in the discussion; and computer readable program code configured to produce for the author a recommendation for amending the posting to increase a likelihood of response to the posting.

A further aspect of the invention provides a method comprising: entering an online discussion; adding a posting to the discussion; and receiving a recommendation for amending the posting to increase a likelihood of response to the posting.

One aspect of the invention provides a method comprising: providing access to an online discussion; accepting a posting by an author participating in the discussion; and automatically producing for the author a recommendation for amending the posting to increase the likelihood of response to the posting by other individuals participating in the discussion.

Another aspect of the invention provides an apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and a computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therewith and executable by the at least one processor, the computer readable program code comprising: computer readable program code configured to provide access to an online discussion; computer readable program code configured to accept a posting by an author participating in the discussion; and computer readable program code configured to automatically produce for the author a recommendation for amending the posting to increase the likelihood of response to the posting by other individuals participating in the discussion.

An additional aspect of the invention provides a computer program product comprising: a computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therewith, the computer readable program code comprising: computer readable program code configured to provide access to an online discussion; computer readable program code configured to accept a posting by an author participating in the discussion; and computer readable program code configured to automatically produce for the author a recommendation for amending the posting to increase the likelihood of response to the posting by other individuals participating in the discussion.

A further aspect of the invention provides a method comprising: entering an online discussion; adding a posting to the discussion; automatically receiving a recommendation for amending the posting to increase a likelihood of response to the posting, wherein the recommendation addresses at least one member selected from the group consisting of: insufficiency of content, duplicative content, and organization of content; and amending the posting.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The description now turns to the figures. The illustrated embodiments of the invention will be best understood by reference to the figures. The following description is intended only by way of example and simply illustrates certain selected exemplary embodiments of the invention as claimed herein.

To facilitate easier reference, in advancing fromFIG. 1to and throughFIG. 4, a reference numeral is advanced by a multiple of 100 in indicating a substantially similar or analogous component or element with respect to at least one component or element found in at least one earlier figure amongFIGS. 1-4.

Broadly contemplated herein, in accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention, is an automated agent for monitoring discussions and making suggestions by way of improving a likelihood of receiving a reply. As such, the agent provides suggestions to authors of a thread to improve the likelihood of getting responses. Such suggestions can include, but are not limited to: changing the title, changing the description and changing the category. For descriptions, suggestions can be made as to how the description could be made more specific.

Accordingly, and proceeding along these lines,FIG. 1schematically illustrates a screenshot of a home page101of a discussion forum, in accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention. In a manner to be explained more fully below, discussion questions102a/b/ccan appear on the home page101, which have each been posted by a user, along with a user's indication of a category (e.g., “general”, “travel”). Below each question102a/b/c, a corresponding resolution field103a/b/ccan display different possibilities for resolving a problem with the question. By way of an illustrative example, each resolution field104a/b/chere contains three possibilities that each may be highlighted by way of seeking user input for resolution: “is Wrongcategory”, “changeTitle” and “Already answered”. For question102aas shown here, “is Wrongcategory” is highlighted in resolution field103a(with “changeTitle” and “Already answered” not being highlighted) to the extent that an automated agent or engine, in a manner to be discussed more fully below, has served to ascertain that this is a problem with question102athat needs to be resolved. Thus, a user will be invited to provide feedback for a category other than “general”. For question102b, “changeTitle” is highlighted in field103bto invite suggestions for new discussion titles (to replace “Help me!!”), while question102cpresents another example of a question that yields a highlighting of “is Wrongcategory” in field103c.

In accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention, it should be noted that feedback as described above can be solicited from any users, not just the one who posted a question. It should also be understood that while the screenshot inFIG. 1shows only questions that require resolution, and could be embodied, e.g., by a special or optional display that might be reached from a main page where there would have been an option offered to go to a page for questions needing resolution, the screenshot could alternatively be shown on a main or home page itself. Resolution fields103a/b/c, for their part, need only show indicators or possibilities for resolving a question that are determined by the system (or otherwise predetermined) as being important, or which the system is confident about, as opposed to showing all possible indicators or possibilities.

FIG. 2schematically illustrates a screenshot of a detailed graphical user interface (GUI) view201, in accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention. Particularly, view201can result from clicking on an individual discussion question such as those indicated at102a/b/cinFIG. 1. Among the fields in this view are question title (204), question contents (206), name of the poster (208), category (244) and feedback (246). The feedback field (246) permits users, including the original poster, to click on one or more possibilities (e.g., “is Wrongcategory”, “needsMoreDescription”, etc.) by way of suggesting a most likely remedy for improving presentation of the question. The “Pass” option can represent an option of foregoing input on the question and thus ignoring the question.

FIG. 3schematically illustrates a general process flow, in accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention. Generally, an automated agent or engine can capture implicit feedback and explicit feedback. Implicit feedback can include a posting time, the time elapsed since a posting, and the number of views organized by viewers. Classification parameters for the number of views can include “is RegisteredUser” and an expert level, such as “is Expert” or “is ExpertinCategoryPosted”.

In accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention, among other implicit feedback features that can be captured are the content of question with respect to an existing repository and the last login time or view time of the user who posted the question (e.g., by way of prioritizing new explicit feedback). Other implicit feedback features can include the characteristics of a question that is answered in a short time span. Such characteristics can include entity types for which values are specified (either in the question post or when the discussion evolved over time), an ordering for such entity types according to how much they contribute in increasing a probability of response, and category-specific characteristics. To this last point, by way of an illustrative example, for a discussion on forums seeking a place to stay, characteristics such as accommodation type and budget might be important for getting replies.

In accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention, explicit feedback can include a number of users, feedback factored by user type, e.g., “is Wrongcategory?”, “changeTitle?”, “AddMoreDescription?”, “Already answered?”. Explicit feedback can also be provided by a designated individual, such as a moderator.

In accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention, a classifier can be built to act with respect to any and all of the explicit and implicit features mentioned herein, or other or analogous features.

Proceeding with specifics of the process flow inFIG. 3, in accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention, criteria C (305) are evaluated (307). By way of an illustrative example, the criteria can involve:whether the time elapsed since a last login or view time of an author is greater than a threshold t, AND the number of replies to the question is less than a threshold R, AND: the number of views of the question is greater than a threshold V OR the number of times explicit feedback has been provided is greater than a threshold F OR a degree of similarity with respect to an existing answered question is greater than a threshold (e.g., a predetermined quantifiable similarity metric) S; ORexplicit feedback has been provided by a predetermined “special person” or other designated individual. (For instance, the “special person” could be an administrator, a moderator, or a prominent or widely recognized user.)

In accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention, if (309) none of the criteria C are satisfied, then the process reverts to step307and a reevaluation for criteria C takes place at another predetermined time, e.g., after a predetermined regular interval. Otherwise, the automated resolution agent is triggered for a thread T (311).

Generally, essentially any suitable input factors can be considered for triggering an agent for a thread T (step311), in accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention. In other words, instead of the precise set of constraints and conditions discussed herein with regard to criteria C (305) (which are discussed by way of an illustrative and non-restrictive example), any of a variety of input factors could be considered individually or in any suitable combination as possibly serving to trigger a thread T. Such input factors could include any or all of those discussed herein with respect to criteria C (305) or could include one or more other suitable factors, such as one or more technical or business constraints.

In accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention, if explicit feedback has been provided by a “special person” (313), a change is then requested by the author of the post (315). If criteria C are no longer satisfied, then the process reverts to step307. Otherwise, or alternatively if at step313the answer was “no”, a processing of thread T is undertaken319. Here, one of three (one or more) actions is suggested by the automated agent: SA1 (change category), SA2 (add more data) or SA3 (suggest solved question, e.g., a question already in repository is semantically similar to a current questions and is ascertained as having a significant number of replies with potential solutions). If SA1, and if (321) the category has not been changed a number of times above a threshold C, a “check history” process is invoked and the agent suggests to the user a possible category (325) from a historical database, and then reverts to step315. If SA2, and if (327) data have not been added a number of times above a threshold A, a “check history” process is invoked and the agent acts to ask the user to add more data (329) via a process described in more detail herebelow with respect toFIG. 4. If SA3, and if (331) the question has not already been solved elsewhere above a threshold of S times, then a “check history” process is invoked and the agent shows to the user one or more other discussions, while offering a possibility of linkage to such discussions (333), and then reverts to step315.

In accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention, if the thresholds at steps321,327or331are exceeded, then a process of administrative action is undertaken, which could involve any or all of the following actions: resolution sought by a polling of multiple users; a recommendation by others users on validity (e.g., wherein one or more users will have indicated that one or more changes is in good order and/or can assist in making changes); and marking for action (close the question, link elsewhere, etc.). The process then reverts to step307.

FIG. 4schematically illustrates a process flow for adding more data, in accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention, as following from step329ofFIG. 3. As shown, a knowledge base of category-specific ordered entity lists is consulted, this having been already automatically learned or manually entered (435). For a category to which the question belongs, an ordered list of entities and types is obtained (437). (For instance, by way of an illustrative and non-restrictive example, if the category is “places to stay New York” then some entities of interest could be: “accommodation type: hotel/B&B/house/youth hostel”, “price: range”, “size of space:——————”; “amenities: [parking, pool, etc.]; location in city: [near Central Park, near Times Square, etc.].) For entities in the ordered list that are not already specified in the question (439), a suggestion is made to a user (which could be the author of the post and/or any other users) to specify a value (441) (which, e.g., could be a value or entry for any entities/types such as those obtained in step437, e.g., a price, or a drop-down list of available options [with an option for manual input] for a location). If (443) the user wishes to continue, then the process reverts to step439; otherwise, it reverts to step315inFIG. 3.

FIG. 5sets forth a process more generally for enhancing content in discussion forums, in accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention. It should be appreciated that a process such as that broadly illustrated inFIG. 5can be carried out on essentially any suitable computer system or set of computer systems, which may, by way of an illustrative and non-restrictive example, include a system such as that indicated at12′ inFIG. 6. In accordance with an example embodiment, most if not all of the process steps discussed with respect toFIG. 5can be performed by way a processing unit or units and system memory such as those indicated, respectively, at16′ and28′ inFIG. 6.

As shown inFIG. 5, in accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention, access to an online discussion is provided (550). A posting by an author participating in the discussion is accepted (552), and a recommendation is automatically produced for the author for amending the posting to increase the likelihood of response to the posting by other individuals participating in the discussion (554).

Referring now toFIG. 6, a schematic of an example of a cloud computing node is shown. Cloud computing node10′ is only one example of a suitable cloud computing node and is not intended to suggest any limitation as to the scope of use or functionality of embodiments of the invention described herein. Regardless, cloud computing node10′ is capable of being implemented and/or performing any of the functionality set forth hereinabove. In accordance with embodiments of the invention, computing node10′ may not necessarily even be part of a cloud network but instead could be part of another type of distributed or other network, or could represent a stand-alone node. For the purposes of discussion and illustration, however, node10′ is variously referred to herein as a “cloud computing node”.

As shown inFIG. 6, computer system/server12′ in cloud computing node10is shown in the form of a general-purpose computing device. The components of computer system/server12′ may include, but are not limited to, at least one processor or processing unit16′, a system memory28′, and a bus18′ that couples various system components including system memory28′ to processor16′.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer readable medium that can direct a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer readable medium produce an article of manufacture. Such an article of manufacture can include instructions which implement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.