Quan, Kevin2007-01-232007-01-232007-01-232006http://hdl.handle.net/10012/2686The current problem-solving paradigm for software developers revolves around using a search engine to find knowledge about the problem and its solutions. This approach provides the developer with search results that are only restricted by the context of the keywords they used to search. Problem-Resolution Dissemination (PRD) is a system and method for collecting, filtering, storing and distributing knowledge that users discover and access when solving a problem. The method involves an agent running on a user's (Alice’s) browsing client which is enabled when Alice is solving a problem. After Alice indicates that she has solved the problem, the agent will collect all web pages visited when solving the problem and filter out the pages that are not relevant. Pointers to the remaining pages (URIs) are tagged with Alice’s identity and stored in the central repository. When another user (Bob) attempts to solve the same problem, the above repository is queried based on Bob's social context. This social context is defined by Bob as a group of other users who have one of three trust levels: team, peer or community. The results are displayed by ranking them within each of the above contexts. In the event that no results are relevant to the Bob, he has the option of following traditional problem solving approaches. When Bob has solved his problem, the web pages he visited are added to the repository and made available to future users. In this manner, PRD incorporates relationships and previous experiences to improve the relevancy of results and thus efficiency in problem solving.997678 bytesapplication/pdfencollaborative searchingsocial computingMaster ThesisElectrical and Computer Engineering