Self-policing, rate limiting online forums
First Claim
1. A method, performed on a computer system, of regulating an active user'"'"'s continued access to a computer-based service, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) receiving input at the computer system about a first active user'"'"'s activity in the computer-based service from at least one other active user of the computer-based service;
(b) evaluating the received input at the computer without human intervention; and
(c) modifying by the computer system, and without human intervention, the first active user'"'"'s ability to continue 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.
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Citations
57 Claims
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1. A method, performed on a computer system, of regulating an active user'"'"'s continued access to a computer-based service, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) receiving input at the computer system about a first active user'"'"'s activity in the computer-based service from at least one other active user of the computer-based service;
(b) evaluating the received input at the computer without human intervention; and
(c) modifying by the computer system, and without human intervention, the first active user'"'"'s ability to continue 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)
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15. A computer program, residing on a computer-readable medium, for regulating an active user'"'"'s continued access to a computer-based service, comprising instructions for causing a computer to:
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(a) receive input about a first active user'"'"'s activity in the computer-based service from at least one other active user of the computer-based service;
(b) evaluate the received input; and
(c) modify the first active user'"'"'s ability to continue to access the computer-based service based on a result of such evaluating. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method, performed on a computer system, of monitoring user activity in a computer-based service, the method comprising:
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receiving input at the computer system about a first active user'"'"'s activities in the computer-based service from at least one other active user of the computer-based service; and
adjusting by the computer system, and without human intervention, an index representative of the first active user'"'"'s activities based on the received input. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. A method, performed on a computer system, of regulating a user'"'"'s use of 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 use the computer-based service by refusing to transmit messages from the user to the computer-based service, while permitting the user to receive messages from the computer-based service. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44)
(a) comparing the user'"'"'s average message rate to a disconnect threshold;
(b) if the average message rate exceeds the disconnect threshold, then denying the user access to the computer-based service.
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44. The method of claim 42, further comprising the step of allowing the user full use of the computer-based service if the average message rate falls below a clear threshold.
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45. A method, performed on a computer system, of regulating a user'"'"'s use of 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 use the computer-based service by refusing to transmit messages from the user to the computer-based service, while permitting the user to receive messages from 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 use of the computer-based service if the average message rate falls below a clear threshold. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49)
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50. A computer program, residing on a computer-readable medium, for regulating a user'"'"'s use of 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 use the computer-based service by refusing to transmit messages from the user to the computer-based service, while permitting the user to receive messages from the computer-based service. - View Dependent Claims (51, 52)
(a) compare the user'"'"'s average message rate to a disconnect threshold;
(b) if the average message rate exceeds the disconnect threshold, then deny the user access to the computer-based service.
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52. The computer program of claim 50, further comprising instructions for causing a computer to allow the user full use of the computer-based service if the average message rate falls below a clear threshold.
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53. A computer program, residing on a computer-readable medium, for regulating a user'"'"'s use of 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 use the computer-based service by refusing to transmit messages from the user to the computer-based service, while permitting the user to receive messages from 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 use of the computer-based service if the average message rate falls below a clear threshold. - View Dependent Claims (54, 55, 56, 57)
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Specification