Self-policing, rate limiting online forums
First Claim
1. A method, performed on a computer system, of communicating information about an active user'"'"'s activity in a computer-based service, the method comprising:
- (a) receiving input at the computer system about the active user'"'"'s past activity in the computer-based service, wherein the computer system itself generates the received input by computing an average message rate for messages originated by the active user of the computer-based service;
(b) evaluating the received input at the computer system without human intervention; and
(c) providing notification to at least one active user of the computer-based service, from the computer system, without human intervention, of an effect of the evaluated received input on the active user'"'"'s ability to continue to access the computer-based service.
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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
9 Claims
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1. A method, performed on a computer system, of communicating information about an active user'"'"'s activity in a computer-based service, the method comprising:
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(a) receiving input at the computer system about the active user'"'"'s past activity in the computer-based service, wherein the computer system itself generates the received input by computing an average message rate for messages originated by the active user of the computer-based service;
(b) evaluating the received input at the computer system without human intervention; and
(c) providing notification to at least one active user of the computer-based service, from the computer system, without human intervention, of an effect of the evaluated received input on the active user'"'"'s ability to continue to access the computer-based service. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method, performed on a computer system, of communicating information about an active user'"'"'s activity in a computer-based service, the method comprising:
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(a) receiving input at the computer system about the active user'"'"'s past activity in the computer-based service, wherein the computer system itself generates the received input by computing an average message rate for messages originated by the active user of the computer-based service;
(b) evaluating the received input at the computer system without human intervention; and
(c) providing notification to at least one active user of the computer-based service, from the computer system, without human intervention after the evaluation, of an effect of the evaluated received input on the active user'"'"'s ability to continue to access the computer-based service. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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Specification