Self-policing, rate limiting online forums
First Claim
1. A method, performed on a computer system, of regulating a user'"'"'s access to a computer-based service, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) receiving input about a first user from at least one other user of the computer- based service;
(b) evaluating the received input; and
(c) modifying the first user'"'"'s ability to access the computer-based service based on a result of such evaluating.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and means for self-policing and automatically rate-limiting multiple-user online forums. The preferred embodiment of the invention includes a set of rules that permit users to censure other users. A censured user has one or more “privileges” (which may include access to the online computer system or the effective message rate of a communications connection) taken away or diminished; the privilege is gradually restored if the censured user behaves. The censuring participant and other pertinent participants are notified of the effect of the censuring on the censured user. In another aspect of the invention, the online computer system automatically tracks the rate at which a user sends certain types of messages, and can message rate limit a user who uses too many system resources by sending a large number of messages in rapid succession.
96 Citations
57 Claims
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1. A method, performed on a computer system, of regulating a user'"'"'s access to a computer-based service, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) receiving input about a first user from at least one other user of the computer- based service;
(b) evaluating the received input; and
(c) modifying the first user'"'"'s ability to access the computer-based service based on a result of such evaluating. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 38, 39)
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15. A method, performed on a computer system, of regulating a user'"'"'s access to a computer-based service, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) computing an average message rate for messages originated by the user'"'"'s connection to the computer-based service;
(b) comparing the user'"'"'s average message rate to a rate limit threshold;
(c) if the average message rate exceeds the rate limit threshold, then modifying the user'"'"'s ability to access the computer-based service.
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18. A method, performed on a computer system, of regulating a user'"'"'s access to a computer-based service, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) computing an average message rate for messages originated by a user'"'"'s connection to the computer-based service;
(b) comparing the user'"'"'s average message rate to a rate limit threshold;
(c) if the average message rate exceeds the rate limit threshold, then modifying the user'"'"'s ability to access the computer-based service;
(d) comparing the user'"'"'s average message rate to a disconnect threshold;
(e) if the average message rate exceeds the disconnect threshold, then denying the user access to the computer-based service;
(f) allowing the user full access to the computer-based service if the average message rate falls below a clear threshold.
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23. A computer program, residing on a computer-readable medium, for regulating a user'"'"'s access to a computer-based service, comprising instructions for causing a computer to:
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(a) receive input about a first user from at least one other user of the computer-based service;
(b) evaluate the received input; and
(c) modify the first user'"'"'s ability to access the computer-based service based on a result of such evaluating.
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37. A computer program, residing on a computer-readable medium, for regulating a user'"'"'s access to a computer-based service, comprising instructions for causing a computer to:
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(a) compute an average message rate for messages originated by the user connection to the computer-based service;
(b) compare the user'"'"'s average message rate to a rate limit threshold;
(c) if the average message rate exceeds the rate limit threshold, then modify the user'"'"'s ability to access the computer-based service.
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40. A computer program, residing on a computer-readable medium, for regulating a user'"'"'s access to a computer-based service, comprising instructions for causing a computer to:
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(a) compute an average message rate for messages originated by a user'"'"'s connection to the computer-based service;
(b) compare the user'"'"'s average message rate to a rate limit threshold;
(c) if the average message rate exceeds the rate limit threshold, then modify the user'"'"'s ability to access the computer-based service;
(d) compare the user'"'"'s average message rate to a disconnect threshold;
(e) if the average message rate exceeds the disconnect threshold, then deny the user access to the computer-based service;
(f) allow the user full access to the computer-based service if the average message rate falls below a clear threshold. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57)
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45. A method, performed on a computer system, of monitoring user activity in a computer-based service, the method comprising:
- receiving input about a first user'"'"'s activities from at least one other user of the computer-based service; and
adjusting an index representative of the first user'"'"'s activities based on the received input.
- receiving input about a first user'"'"'s activities from at least one other user of the computer-based service; and
Specification