Patent Document ID: 8457979
Application ID: 13439728
Patent Status: 1

Claim One:
1. A method of verifying experts on an online consultation system, the method comprising: receiving identity information and credential information at a web server from a device associated with a potential expert; verifying the identity information and at least a portion of the credential information received from the potential expert; determining whether to accept the potential expert as an expert based in part on a result of the verifying of the identity and credential information; determining whether the potential expert meets minimum requirements in a selected category, wherein the minimum requirements are based on characteristics of other experts in the selected category; administering a customer service skill test to the potential expert; automatically suggesting to the potential expert the selected category best suited to the expert's qualifications; and activating, using one or more processors, an account associated with the potential expert on the web server to allow the potential expert to become an expert and to allow the expert to provide answers on the consultation system when the potential expert is accepted.