METHOD AND SYSTEM OF DETERMINING AND ISSUING USER INCENTIVES ON A WEB SERVER VIA ASSESSMENT OF USER-GENERATED CONTENT RELEVANCE AND VALUE

• US 20080172288A1
• Filed: 01/02/2008
• Published: 07/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Washington State University
• Original Assignee: Washington State University
• Inventors: Pilskalns, Orest J., McDonald, Adam, Karpenske, Kevin
• Granted Patent: US 8,862,497 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/10
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0222 During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0273 Determination of fees for advertising

Abstract

Provided are computer implemented methods for rewarding a user of a web-based application, comprising: providing a web-based application accessible by a plurality of users via an interface, wherein the application interface provides for user-directed posting and retrieval of content relating to the application; monitoring use by the plurality of users of user-specific content; assessing a value of the user-specific content; determining an incentive or reward, based on the assessed value of the user-specific content; and providing the specific user with the determined incentive or reward. Also provided is a computer network apparatus or system for rewarding a user of a web-based application. Further provided are methods of data mining, comprising: providing a web-based application (e.g., geospace, E-marketing, E-photo) for sharing posted application information accessible by a plurality users using client-server interfaces; monitoring use by the plurality of users of posted data content; and identifying a subset of users thereby.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for rewarding a user of a web-based application, comprising:

providing a web-based application accessible by a plurality users using client-server interfaces, wherein the application interface provides for user-directed posting and retrieval of user-provided content relating to the application;

monitoring use by the plurality of users of content posted by a specific user;

assessing a value of the content posted by the specific user;

determining an incentive or reward, based on the assessed value of the content posted by the specific user; and

providing the specific user with the determined incentive or reward.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the web-based application comprises at least one of a geospace system for sharing information in a geospatial context, an E-Marketplace web-based application, and an E-Photo Storage Site web-based application.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the content posted by the specific user comprises at least one of geospatial data, items for sale and digital images for viewing or sale.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the geospatial data comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of maps, map annotations, map modifications, map path or routes, text, hyperlinks, geospatial data associated electronic files, music files, digital photographs, images and digital multimedia files.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein monitoring use by the plurality of users of content posted by a specific user comprises the monitoring of any third party activity related to the specific user'"'"'s content.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the third party activity is selected from the group consisting of the number of ‘

hits’

the specific user'"'"'s content receives, the number of times the specific user'"'"'s content is retrieved from a database, the number of unique users viewing the specific user'"'"'s content, the number of users opening a user account after viewing the specific user'"'"'s content, and the number of sale items viewed or purchased based on specific user'"'"'s content.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein advertising information is associated with the specific user'"'"'s content, and monitoring comprises determining the total amount of advertising revenue generated based on third party viewing of the content-associated advertisement.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein third party users are charged to view the specific user'"'"'s content, and monitoring comprises determining a total amount of revenue generated by viewing of the content.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the application comprises a geospace system for sharing information in a geospatial context having a zoom level feature wherein user-specific content is associable with one or more zoom levels, and wherein monitoring comprises tracking of a combination of zoom level, location, and time spent viewing a location at a specific zoom level, uniquely allowing identification of a specific user subset.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein assessing the value of the content posted by the specific user comprises at least one of determining a number of ‘

hits’

received by the specific user'"'"'s content, determining the number of times the specific user'"'"'s content is retrieved from a database, determining the number of unique users viewing the specific user'"'"'s content, determining the number of users opening a user account after viewing the specific user'"'"'s content, determining the total amount of advertising revenue generated based on third party viewing of user-specific content-associated advertisement, determining a total amount of revenue generated by viewing of the content, and determining the number of sale items viewed or purchased based on specific user'"'"'s content.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein determining an incentive or reward, based on the assessed value of the content posted by the specific user comprises at least one of determining an amount of additional storage space on the server, determining an amount of access to special features of the web-based application, determining an amount of access to “

professional”

or subscription fee-based tools, determining an amount of access to cooperative third party web-based services, and determining an amount of free publicity or promotion.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the specific user with the determined incentive or reward comprises at least one of providing an amount of additional storage space on the server, providing an amount of access to special features of the web-based application, providing an amount of access to “

professional”

or subscription fee-based tools, providing an amount of access to cooperative third party web-based services, and providing an amount of free publicity or promotion.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a value of the user, based on the value of the user-specific content or a subset thereof.

14. A computer network apparatus or system for rewarding a user of a web-based application, comprising:

a server having a processor and at least one storage device connected to the processor;

a server-based application accessible by a plurality users using client-server interfaces, wherein the application interface provides for user-directed posting to, and retrieval from the server of user-provided content relating to the application;

a database of content posted by the plurality of users;

a stored software program operative with the processor to monitor use by the plurality of users of content posted by a specific user, assess a value of the content posted by the specific user, and determine an incentive or reward, based on the assessed value of the content posted by the specific user; and

provide the incentive or reward to the user.

15. The apparatus or system of claim 14, wherein the server-based application comprises at least one of a geospace system for sharing information in a geospatial context, an E-Marketplace web-based application, and an E-Photo Storage Site web-based application.

16. The apparatus or system of claim 15, wherein the content posted by the specific user comprises at least one of geospatial data, items for sale and digital images for viewing or sale.

17. A method of data mining, comprising:

providing a web-based geospace application for sharing information in a geospatial context accessible by a plurality users using client-server interfaces, wherein the application interface provides for user-directed posting and retrieval of user-provided geospatial data content relating to the application;

monitoring use by the plurality of users of geospatial data content posted by one or more users;

identifying a subset of users based on the monitored use of a defined subset of the posted geospatial data content; and

providing the identified user subset to an acquiring entity for use in targeting, soliciting or otherwise interacting with the subset of users.

18. The method of data mining of claim 17, wherein the geospatial data comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of maps, map annotations, map modifications, map path or routes, text, hyperlinks, geospatial data associated electronic files, music files, digital photographs, images and digital multimedia files.

19. The method of data mining of claim 17, wherein the geospace application for sharing information in a geospatial context comprises a zoom level feature wherein user-specific content is associable with one or more zoom levels, and wherein monitoring comprises tracking of a combination of zoom level, location, and time spent viewing a location at a specific zoom level, uniquely allowing identification of a specific user subset.