Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for retrieving information through the use of a multi-stage interaction with a client to identify particular knowledge content associated with a knowledge map. The present invention is an application program running on a server accessed via the world-wide web or other data network using standard Internet protocols, a web browser and web server software. In addition to an automated portion, the present invention allows a human dialog designer to model the way the system elicits information, giving a human feel to the dialog and a better customer experience. In operation, users start a dialog by directing their web browser to a designated web page. This web page asks the user some initial questions that are then passed to a dialog engine. The dialog engine then applies its methods and algorithms to a knowledge map, using dialog control information\ and the user's responses to provide feedback to the user.

Abstract: This document discusses, among other things, systems, devices, and methods for implementing an efficient and cost-effective automated content provider that effectively steers a user to relevant stored documents. Word or text features are extracted from user query language, and matched to substantially similar concept features. The concepts are organized in primary groups, such as Activities, Objects, Symptoms, and Products groups, which may be implemented as taxonomies. Documents that include the concept feature are tagged to that concept. A list of links or other document indicators tagged to the matched concepts is displayed for the user. Derived groups map relationships between concepts in the same or different primary groups, so that a particular matched concept results in the display of related concepts for restricting or otherwise changing the documents in play that are displayed for the user. This document also describes techniques for ranking the related concepts for display to the user.

Abstract: This document discusses, among other things, systems and methods for implementing at least partially automated customer relationship management (CRM) distributed across various enterprises or entities. Such entities may include an anchor or affinity enterprise vending a “whole product” to consumers, and various secondary or tenant enterprises vending components of the whole product. Such entities may also include a reseller or other value-adder as the affinity enterprise, and the product manufacturer as the secondary enterprise. By providing a distributed CRM content provider, documentation or other content can be substantially independently created, managed, and/or updated by the particular entity most capable of doing so. Autocontextualization of documents and/or user-provider dialog to concepts allows efficient and inexpensive content management.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for retrieving information through the use of a multi-stage interaction with a client to identify particular knowledge content associated with a knowledge map. The present invention is an application program running on a server accessed via the world-wide web or other data network using standard Internet protocols, a web browser and web server software. In addition to an automated portion, the present invention allows a human dialog designer to model the way the system elicits information, giving a human feel to the dialog and a better customer experience. In operation, users start a dialog by directing their web browser to a designated web page. This web page asks the user some initial questions that are then passed to a dialog engine. The dialog engine then applies its methods and algorithms to a knowledge map, using dialog control information\ and the user's responses to provide feedback to the user.