Query processing for online social networks

A system comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• memory coupled to the processor and storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the system to perform operations comprising:
• receiving, from a first computing device of a first member of an online social network, an electronic communication transmitted over the Internet containing a query regarding a topic;
• retrieving, from a database, a plurality of profiles of a respective plurality of members of the online social network;
• analyzing content of the retrieved profiles to identify a subset of members from the plurality of members of the online social network having a connection within the social network to the first member and experience with the topic;
• transmitting, over the Internet, an electronic communication containing the query to a second computing device of a second member of the online social network from the subset of members;
• receiving, over the Internet, an electronic communication containing a response to the query by the second member from the second computing device;
• determining a level of sufficiency for the response to the query by the second member;
• and
• in response to determining that the level of sufficiency of the response to the query by the second member does not meet at least a predetermined threshold, transmitting an electronic communication containing the query to a third computing device of a third member of the online social network from the subset of members.

A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a server computer system, cause the server computer system to perform operations comprising:

• receiving, from a first computing device of a first member of an online social network, an electronic communication transmitted over the Internet containing a query regarding a topic;
• retrieving, from a database, a plurality of profiles of a respective plurality of members of the online social network;
• analyzing content of the retrieved profiles to identify a subset of members from the plurality of members of the online social network having a connection within the social network to the first member and experience with the topic;
• transmitting, over the Internet, an electronic communication containing the query to a second computing device of a second member of the online social network from the subset of members;
• receiving, over the Internet, an electronic communication containing a response to the query by the second member from the second computing device;
• determining a level of sufficiency for the response to the query by the second member;
• and
• in response to determining that the level of sufficiency of the response to the query by the second member does not meet at least a predetermined threshold, transmitting an electronic communication containing the query to a third computing device of a third member of the online social network from the subset of members.