EXTENSIBLE CONTENT SERVICE FOR ATTRIBUTING USER-GENERATED CONTENT TO AUTHORED CONTENT PROVIDERS

• US 20090320119A1
• Filed: 04/01/2009
• Published: 12/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wetpaint.com Incorporated (Function(x), Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Wetpaint.com Incorporated (Function(x), Inc.)
• Inventors: McQuade, Steve, Elowitz, Ben, Macurdy, Blake, Hicks, Ryan
• Granted Patent: US 8,516,366 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/9
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/958 Organisation or management of web site content, e.g. publishing, maintaining pages or automatic linking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

A method and system allows a user to add content to a displayable content container (e.g., web page) that specifies at least one modifiable portion, where the modifiable portion is served by a server operated by one entity, but provided to the server by a service operated by another entity. The modifiable portion is attributable to the one entity and remaining content in the displayable content container is not editable by the users. Other features, such as user authentication mechanisms, are also described herein.

Claims

1. A tangible computer-readable storage medium encoded with instructions for causing a computer to add content to an editable web page, by a method comprising:

providing a single editable web page stored at a hosting server, wherein the editable web page includes;

at least a first portion branded for a first business entity and containing content authored by the first business entity, and

at least a second portion configured to receive user-created content, wherein the user-created content is created by at least some users unaffiliated with the first business entity,

wherein the first portion is associated with a first file, and the second portion is associated with a second, different file, but the first portion containing content authored by the first business entity and the second portion receiving user-created content are concurrently displayable on a user computer via the single editable web page;

receiving, from a first user computer, first content to add to the second portion of the editable web page;

storing the first content in the second file,

wherein the second file is stored at an independent server, and

wherein the independent server is associated with an independent entity separate from the first business entity;

receiving, from a second user computer, second content to edit or add to the second portion of the editable web page,

wherein the first and second user computers are independent from the first and second business entities;

storing the second content at the independent server in the second file;

receiving, from the second user computer, a request to view the editable web page; and

providing for concurrent display at the second user computer the editable web page, wherein the editable web page includes the first portion branded for the first business entity, and the second portion with the first and second content.

2. The computer-readable medium of claim 1 wherein the hosting server and the independent server are each geographically separated and are each behind different and independently secure firewalls.

3. The computer-readable medium of claim 1 wherein the editable web page comprises a server side include (SSI) associated with the second portion.

4. The computer-readable medium of claim 1 wherein the editable web page is encoded, at least in part, under extensible markup language (XML), and Wherein the editable web page includes a single uniform resource locator (URL).

5. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, further comprising:

providing another single editable web page stored at a hosting server, wherein the editable web page includes;

at least another portion branded for a second business entity and containing content authored by the second business entity, and

wherein the first and second business entities differ and the at least some users are unaffiliated with the second business entity, and

providing for concurrent display at the second user computer the another editable web page, wherein the editable web page includes the another portion branded for the second business entity, and the second portion with the first and second content.

28. The method of claim 2 wherein the valid authorization information includes a token, and wherein the token is valid for a specified time period.

6. A method in a computer system for a user at a user computer to add content to a displayable content container that specifies at least one modifiable portion, the method comprising:

providing at the user computer the modifiable portion of the displayable content container,

wherein the modifiable portion of the displayable content container is served by a server operated by a first entity;

wherein the at least one modifiable portion is provided to the server by a service operated by a second entity;

wherein the first entity and the second entity are different entities;

wherein the at least one modifiable portion of the displayable content container is editable by users who are disassociated from the first entity;

wherein the at least one modifiable portion of the displayable content container is attributable to the first entity; and

,

wherein content in the displayable content container is not editable by the users but for the at least one modifiable portion and the service;

receiving, at the user computer, a request to edit the at least one modifiable portion of the displayable content container; and

,

providing for storage, by the service, of edits to the at least one modifiable portion of the displayable content container.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the first entity is a corporate entity that is not affiliated with and has no common legal ownership of, or control over, the second entity, and wherein the at least one modifiable portion of the displayable content container is editable by users who are not employees or contractors of the first entity.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the displayable content container having at least one modifiable portion is a single web page, wherein the server is a web server, and wherein the service is a web service.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein receiving the request to edit comprises a request to edit at least a portion of a video clip, at least a portion of an image, or at least a portion of an audio clip.

10. The method of claim 6 wherein the at least one modifiable portion of the displayable content container is attributable to the first entity to permit search engines to access and index the modifiable portion of the displayable content container, and to associate at least a portion of a network address or URL to the displayable content container, wherein the network address or URL is owned or controlled by the first entity.

11. The method of claim 6 wherein another displayable content container specifies the same modifiable portion, but the another displayable content container is served by another server operated by a third entity, and wherein the first, second and third entities are different entities.

12. The method of claim 6 wherein providing the modifiable portion of the displayable content container comprising providing at least one user-generated page to the user computer, wherein the shell page is configured to receive user-generated content.

13. The method of claim 6 wherein the displayable content container comprises a single web page with a static portion having content generated by the first entity, and the modifiable portion configured to receive user-generated content.

14. The method of claim 6 wherein a second server associated with the second entity stores the edits to the at least one modifiable portion of the displayable content container, and wherein the second server assigns an addressable identifier to the edits, wherein the addressable identifier is unique within a namespace.

15. A system to permit a user at a user computer to add content to a web page that specifies at least one extensible portion, the system comprising:

means for providing to the user computer at least one extensible portion for an extensible web page,

wherein the extensible web page is served or published by a first entity;

wherein the at least one extensible portion is provided to the system as a web service operated by a second entity;

wherein the first entity and the second entity are different entities; and

wherein the at least one editable portion of the web page is for attribution to third-party users or the first entity;

means for receiving from the user computer edits for the at least one portion of the extensible web page; and

,

means for providing for display at the user computer the received edits, wherein the received edits are for concurrent display with the extensible web page.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the extensible portion has associated therewith an address or file name, wherein the identifier includes a namespace string and an identifier, and wherein other extensible web pages hosted by other entities may access the extensible portion based on the address or file name.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein the extensible web page has a URL associated with the first entity, wherein the extensible portion is attributable to the first entity to permit search engines to access and index the extensible web page and the modifiable portion, and wherein the search engines associate the extensible portion to the URL.

18. The system of claim 15, further comprising means for authorizing users and issuing tokens, wherein the means for authorizing issues tokens only after the first entity authorizes a user.

19. A computer-readable medium storing a display description for permitting a computer display device to display a web page having user-generated content attributable to a website hosted by an entity unrelated to the user, the display description comprising:

a single editable web page, wherein the single editable web page comprises;

a first portion branded for a first business entity and containing content authored by the business entity; and

a second portion configured to receive user-generated content, wherein the user-generated content is generated by at least some users unaffiliated with the first business entity;

wherein the first portion is associated with a displayable content container served by the first entity, and the second portion is served by a second, different entity as a web service, but the first portion containing content authored by the first business entity and second portion receiving user-created content are displayable on the computer display device concurrently via the single editable web page.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 19 wherein another single editable web page includes at least another portion branded for a second business entity and containing content authored by the second business entity, wherein the first and second business entities differ, and wherein the another editable web page includes the second portion receiving user-created content.

21. A method in a computer system to authorize a user at a user computer to add content to at least a user-editable portion of an extensible web page, wherein the extensible web page is served by a web server, but the user-editable portion is served by a user-content hosting server, the method comprising:

at the user-content hosting server, determining if a valid token associated with the user has been provided, wherein the user-content hosting server generates valid tokens for users who supply authorized credentials to the web server;

wherein the user-content hosting server generates tokens based on requests to edit, or add content to, the user-editable portion of the extensible web page,

wherein the request is received from the user computer,

wherein the extensible web page is served by the web server, but the user-editable portion is served by the user-content hosting server,

wherein the web server is different from, and geographically separated from, the user-content hosting server, and

wherein the web server is controlled or operated by a commercial entity different from the user-content hosting server;

if a valid token associated with the user has been provided, then receiving and storing at the user-content hosting server edits to, or new content for, the user-editable portion of the extensible web page; and

,

if a valid token associated with the user has not been provided, then directing the user to be authenticated by the web server before storing at the user-content hosting server edits to, or new content for, the user-editable portion of the extensible web page.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the web server is behind a firewall controlled by a business entity, wherein the editable web page includes content editable by trained users associated with the business entity, wherein the trained users have access to the web server behind the firewall, wherein the editable portion is configured to permit untrained users outside the firewall to edit the extensible web page, and wherein the untrained users are unaffiliated with the business entity.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein receiving from the user computer a request to edit, or add content to, the portion of the extensible web page does not include information identifying the user and information identifying the user does not pass to the user-content hosting server.

24. The method of claim 21 wherein the token is valid for a time period of less than 24 hours.

25. The method of claim 21 wherein the token defines rights for specific users, and wherein the rights include moderator rights and editor rights.

26. The method of claim 21 wherein the web server hosts first and second differing web sites, and wherein a valid token associated with the user to edit a user-editable portion of an extensible web page for the first web site does not permit the user to edit a user-editable portion of an extensible web page for the second web site.

27. A method in a computer system to authorize a user at a user computer to add content to a web page specifying at least one editable portion, the method comprising:

receiving from the user computer a request to edit the at least one portion of the editable web page,

wherein the editable web page is served by a web server operated by a first entity;

wherein the at least one editable portion is provided to the web server by a web service operated by a second entity;

wherein the first entity and the second entity are different entities; and

wherein the at least one editable portion of the web page is attributable to the first entity when accessed by a search engine;

determining, by the web service, if valid authorization information has been provided as part of the received request, wherein the web service provides valid authorization information for users who supply authorized credentials to the web server; and

,

when valid authorization information is provided, storing, by the web service, edits to the at least one portion of the editable web page.

29. The method of claim 27 wherein the valid authorization information includes a key associated with a user ID and user rights, wherein the user rights include editor and moderator rights.

30. The method of claim 27 wherein the valid authorization information includes a token, wherein the web service provides a token to the web server for an authorized user, and wherein the web server provides the token to the user computer or passes the token back to web service with requests made by the user computer to add or edit content to the editable web page.

31. The method of claim 27 wherein the valid authorization information is a secret key issued by the web service.

32. The method of claim 27 wherein the first entity is a corporate entity that is not affiliated with and has no common legal ownership of, or control over, the second entity.

33. The method of claim 27 wherein the web server hosts first and second differing web sites, and wherein valid authorization information associated with the user to edit a user-editable portion of an extensible web page for the first web site does not permit the user to edit a user-editable portion of an extensible web page for the second web site.

34. The method of claim 27 wherein receiving from the user computer a request to edit, or add content to, the portion of the extensible web page does not include personally identifiable information for the user.

35. A system for providing user-generated content to websites hosted by third parties, the system comprising:

an extensible portion creation component configured to create a portion for a web page to permit users add or edit content to the web page, wherein the web page is hosted by a third party unaffiliated with the user or the system;

an edit request component configured to receive a request to edit the portion of the web page and permit users to provide user-generated content to the portion of the web page; and

,

a user-generated content retrieval component configured to retrieve content created by users for the portion of the web page that permits users add or edit content to the web page, wherein the user-generated content retrieval component retrieves content based on a unique identifier associated with the content;

wherein the user-generated content retrieval component is further configured to retrieve the same user-generated content for display on differing web pages associated with differing websites.

36. The system of claim 35, further comprising:

a user authorization component configured to receive authorization from a third party server associated with a third party website that a user is authorized to make edits to the portion of the web page, and

a token generation component configured to issue a token in response to the authorization.

37. An extensible content system for sharing user-generated content, the system comprising:

a processor and a memory together providing,

a portion of user-generated content contributed to a web page of an authored content provider via the extensible content system, wherein the extensible content system and the first authored content provider are operated by different entities;

a sharing indicator associated with the portion of user-generated content indicating whether the portion of user-generated content is shareable;

a sharing component configured to receive a request to add the portion of user-generated content to a web page and determine whether the portion of user-generated content in sharable based on the sharing indicator associated with the portion of user-generated content;

a reference component configured to receive a request to provide a reference to the portion of user-generate content, wherein the reference identifies a location at which the portion of user-generated content is stored in memory of the extensible content system; and

a user-generated content retrieval component configured to retrieve the portion of user-generated content using the reference,

wherein the extensible content system enables the portion of user-generated content to be presented to a user computer by a content provider other than the authored content provider to which the portion of user-generated content was originally contributed.

38. The system of claim 37 wherein the sharing indicator is specified by the authored content provider to which the portion of user-generated content was originally contributed.

39. The system of claim 38 wherein the sharing indicator is specified by the authored content provider on a per portion basis or on a per web page basis.

40. The system of claim 37 wherein the sharing component is further configured to determine whether the portion of user-generated content is attributable to a content provider other than the authored content provider to which the portion of user-generated content was originally contributed, and wherein, when the portion of user-generated content is not attributable, the sharing component sends a request to the reference component to provide the reference to the portion of user-generated content together with another reference identifying the authored content provider.

41. The system of claim 40 wherein the other reference is a link to the web page of the authored content provider at which the portion of user-generated content was originally contributed.

42. The system of claim 37 further comprising an edit component to receive a request to edit the portion of user-generated content and to provide an interface to edit the portion of user-generated content, wherein edits to the portion of user-generated content are visible from both the web page of the authored content provider to which the portion of user-generated content was originally contributed and any web page that includes the reference to the portion of user-generated content.