Asynchronous search platform for mobile device users

Abstract

Apparatus for an asynchronous search platform is provided in which a user may submit a request for information via a mobile device and receives a response from a researcher. In one example, the apparatus includes a server operable to receive a user-generated request from a mobile device, communicate the request to a researcher (i.e., a person) for formulating a response to the request, and communicate the response to the mobile device. Each received request is sent to a researcher that attempts to generate a response to the request for sending to the user's mobile device. The researcher may further access user information for generating the response. The process operates asynchronously where, for example, a user's request is queued until an actual person, i.e., a researcher, is available to serve the request by obtaining the information requested. The quality and relevancy of information obtained may be improved over automated systems that rely solely on computers to serve such requests.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.