Automated moderation of discussion lists

• US 20070016642A1
• Filed: 07/12/2005
• Published: 01/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Sapek, Adam
• Granted Patent: US 7,945,625 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

Within a network-based discussion environment, a moderation mechanism is implemented to encourage posts of high relevancy. The moderation mechanism is configurable so as to support distributed access control. In one case, the moderation mechanism is configured to support an allocation of a limited number of responses to a user based on the number of new threads the user has started.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for encouraging relevant posts within a network-based discussion environment, the method comprising allocating a limited number of responses to a user based on the number of new threads the user has started.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising, when the user reaches the limited number of responses, adjusting a system setting so as to discourage the user from posting an additional response until a new thread is started.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein adjusting a system setting comprises configuring so as to terminate the ability of the user to post any additional responses without starting a new thread.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein adjusting a system setting comprises configuring so as to displaying a warning when the user attempts to post any additional responses without starting a new thread.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein adjusting a system setting comprises adjusting a setting associated with client-side system utilized by the user.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein adjusting a system setting comprises adjusting a setting associated with a server-side system accessed by the user through a client system.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein adjusting a system setting comprises configuring so as to allow the user to post the additional response but flagging the additional response with an indication that it was posted outside of the user'"'"'s limited number of responses.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising enabling other users to filter out a plurality of flagged responses, including said the additional response.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising, when the user is about to reach the limited number of responses, configuring a system setting to display a warning when the user attempts to post an additional response without starting a new thread.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein allocating further comprises performing a comparison of a threshold value to the number of posts the user has posted, the threshold value being the number of new threads the user has started multiplied by an adjustable variable.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising, based on the comparison, adjusting a system setting so as to discourage the user from posting an additional response until a new thread is started.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising performing an evaluation of a proposed new thread submitted by the user.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein performing an evaluation is a step performed by a human moderator that subjectively determines whether or not to allow the proposed new thread to become a new thread.

14. A network-based discussion system, the system comprising:

a set of discussion threads;

a plurality of user components configured to be manipulated by a user so as to add one or more discussion threads to the set, the user components being further configured to add one or more responses to one or more of the discussion threads in the set; and

a moderation component configured to limit to a maximum number the total number of responses that can be posted to the set of threads, wherein the maximum number varies depending upon the number of threads in the set.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the moderation component is implemented on a server accessed by a client system associated with each of the plurality of user components.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the moderation component is implemented on all client machines associated with the plurality of user components.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the moderation component limits the total number of responses to a maximum value that is determined based in part on the value of a variable received from a server.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the maximum number is variable.

19. A computer-implemented method of encouraging relevant posts within a network-based discussion environment, the method comprising enforcing limitations on thread-posting so as to limit the average length of a thread to a maximum value that increases as new threads are posted.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein enforcing limitations comprises terminating a particular user'"'"'s ability to post a response until the particular user begins a new thread.