Social news gathering, prioritizing, tagging, searching, and syndication method

• US 7,599,938 B1
• Filed: 07/09/2004
• Issued: 10/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Search and Social Media Partners LLC
• Original Assignee: Shelton E. Harrison Jr
• Inventors: Harrison, Jr., Shelton E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mofiz, Apu M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Le, Jessica N
• Application Number:
  US10/888,781
• Time in Patent Office: 1,915 Days
• Field of Search: 707/1, 707 3- 7, 705/14, 709/206, 709/219
• US Class Current: 705/7.29
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/101 Collaborative creation, e.g. joint development of products or services
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/103 Workflow collaboration or project management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/018 Certifying business or products
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0185 Product, service or business identity fraud
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0201 Market modelling; Market analysis; Collecting market data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/18 Legal services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99935 Query augmenting and refining, e.g. inexact access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99937 Sorting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99939 Privileged access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Abstract

A “URLIT” identifier is assigned to a URL and embedded in an HTML document located at the URL. The URLIT and other data are described using a Universal Advertisement Markup Language such that high-precision searching of the World Wide Web is possible. URLIT-enabled transactions are conducted through a Universal Toolbar Utility. A search method allows user-definition of search algorithms and includes a ranking method that assigns relevancy scores to documents by polling users. Transaction reliability is enhanced by user participation in a Universal Terms of Use system and a Universal Arbitration system.

Claims

1. A news method, the method comprising the following steps:

receiving at a first computer system a first submission, said first submission comprising first content, said first content comprising first account information, said first computer system comprising a first memory;

storing said first account information in said first memory;

receiving a second submission, said second submission comprising second content, said second content comprising first article information, said first article information comprising at least a first resource location or a first headline;

receiving a plurality of additional submissions, said plurality of additional submissions comprising a third submission and a fourth submission, said third submission comprising third content, said fourth submission comprising fourth content, said fourth content comprising at least an indication of either approval or disapproval;

storing at least some of said submissions in a first database system, said first database system comprising at least a first database;

calculating a first content approval score, said step of calculating said first content approval score being performed at least partly according to a first time criterion and comprising a step of performing a first count, said step of performing said first count comprising a first step of counting at least some of said plurality of additional submissions;

providing a first resource, said first resource comprising a plurality of items, said plurality of items comprising a first item, said first item comprising at least first indicia, said first indicia indicating a first value, said first value pertaining to said third content;

performing a second count, said step of performing said second count comprising a second step of counting at least some of said plurality of additional submissions;

providing first display information, said step of providing said first display information comprising a step of at least partly causing second indicia to appear in a second resource, said second indicia indicating a second value, said second value being based at least in part upon an outcome of said step of performing said second count;

providing first submission-facilitation information, said step of providing said first submission-facilitation information comprising a step of at least partly causing a first submission-facilitation mechanism to appear in a third resource;

providing fifth content;

receiving a fifth submission, said fifth submission comprising sixth content, said sixth content comprising second article information, said second article information comprising at least a second resource location or a second headline;

updating said fifth content, said step of updating said fifth content comprising a step of including said sixth content in said fifth content;

associating a second item with a first probational status;

associating a third item with said first probational status;

determining a first measure of community approval;

comparing said first measure of community approval to a first threshold;

promoting said second item to a first elevated status, said step of promoting said second item to said first elevated status being performed at least partly according to an outcome of said step of comparing said first measure of community approval to said first threshold;

determining a second measure of community approval;

comparing said second measure of community approval to a second threshold;

keeping said third item in association with said first probational status, said step of keeping said third item in association with said first probational status being performed at least partly according to an outcome of said step of comparing said second measure of community approval to said second threshold;

promoting a fourth item to said first elevated status; and

removing said second item from said first elevated status,

wherein said first resource is different from said second resource and from said third resource.

2. The method in claim 1 wherein:

said third content comprises a third resource location, said third resource location being or comprising a first uniform resource locator (URL);

said first time criterion pertains to when at least one of said plurality of additional submissions was received; and

wherein said method additionally comprises the following steps;

receiving third article information;

receiving fourth article information;

comparing said third article information to said fourth article information;

providing notice that said fourth article information has already been received;

disallowing a sixth submission, said sixth submission comprising at least an indication of either approval or disapproval;

allowing a seventh submission, said seventh submission comprising at least an indication of either approval or disapproval,

wherein both said fourth submission and said sixth submission are associated with a first user account;

wherein said seventh submission is associated with a second user account; and

wherein said first user account is different from said second user account.

3. The method in claim 1 additionally comprising the following step:

ensuring data portability, said step of ensuring data portability comprising at least a step of;

providing a fourth resource, said fourth resource conforming to a first data portability standard, said first data portability standard comprising at least a first instruction standard and a second instruction standard, said first instruction standard being a manner of describing data, said manner of describing data being sufficient to identify a first field of data to which a described piece of data belongs,

wherein said fourth resource comprises at least a first instruction and a second instruction;

wherein said first instruction describes a first piece of data in conformance with said first instruction standard;

wherein said second instruction describes a second piece of data in conformance with said second instruction standard; and

wherein said first field of data is selected from the group consisting of (i) a sex field, (ii), a religion field, (iii) an orientation field, (iv) an age field, (v) a height field, (vi) and a city field.

4. The method in claim 1 wherein:

said step of providing first display information further comprises a step of providing a first set of information, said first set of information being in a pasteable form; and

said step of providing first submission-facilitation information further comprises a step of providing a second set of information, said second set of information being in a pasteable form.

5. The method in claim 1 wherein:

said fifth content is a first news feed;

said first resource is hosted on a second computer;

said second resource is hosted on a third computer;

said second computer and said third computer are different computers;

said first resource is under control of a first entity;

said second resource is under control of a first user; and

said first user is different from said first entity.

6. The method in claim 1 additionally comprising the following step:

determining whether a second time criterion is met,

wherein said step of promoting said fourth item to said first elevated status is performed only when said second time criterion is met.

7. The method in claim 1 additionally comprising the following steps:

receiving a first URL;

converting said first URL to a first character string, said first character string being different from said first URL; and

causing current information pertaining to said first URL to display via a first toolbar.

8. The method in claim 1 additionally comprising the following step:

recommending a first user to a second user, said step of recommending said first user to said second user comprising a step of determining that at least one of said first user or said second user matches at least one matching criterion.

9. The method in claim 1 additionally comprising the following step:

providing a first toolbar, said step of providing said first toolbar comprising at least one of the following steps;

providing an in-toolbar submission mechanism, said in-toolbar submission mechanism being configured to convey a sixth submission, said sixth submission pertaining to a first URL, said first URL identifying a document that is currently displayed in a web browser, said step of providing said in-toolbar submission mechanism comprising at least (i) a step of receiving said sixth submission and (ii) a step of storing said sixth submission in relation to said first URL; and

providing an in-toolbar link to a first plurality of user comments, said first plurality of user comments relating to a second URL, said second URL identifying a document that is currently displayed in said web browser; and

providing an in-toolbar newsfeed of real-time, top news stories.

10. The method in claim 1 wherein:

said step of removing said second item from said first elevated status is performed when said step of promoting said fourth item to said first elevated status is performed; and

wherein said method additionally comprises the following step;

determining which one of said second item and said fourth item is currently more popular.

11. The method in claim 1 additionally comprising the following step:

providing a first toolbar function, said step of providing said first toolbar function comprising the following steps;

alternately displaying or not displaying a first indicator in a first toolbar, said step of alternately displaying or not displaying said first indicator being performed according to whether a first URL is currently in a web address field of a web browser, said first indicator indicating a condition pertaining to said first URL; and

alternately displaying or not displaying a first link in said first toolbar, said first link configured to trigger display of real-time information comprising or pertaining to user-generated content, said step of alternately displaying or not displaying said first link being performed according whether said first URL is currently in said web address field, said user-generated content pertaining to said first URL and being stored in said first database.

12. The method in claim 1 additionally comprising the following step:

calculating a first authority score, said first authority score being related to a first account, said first account being related to said first account information,

wherein said step of calculating said first content approval score is performed at least partly according to said first authority score.

13. The method in claim 12 wherein said step of calculating said first authority score is performed at least partly according to a first factor, said first factor pertaining to popularity of submissions associated with said first account.

14. The method in claim 12 additionally comprising the following steps:

receiving a sixth submission, said sixth submission being associated with said first account; and

receiving a seventh submission, said seventh submission pertaining to said sixth submission,

wherein said step of calculating said first authority comprises a step of performing a third count, said step of performing said third count comprising a third step of counting at least some of said plurality of additional submissions, including said seventh submission.

15. The method in claim 1 wherein:

said step of comparing said first measure of community approval to said first threshold comprises a step of determining whether said second item is popular, wherein said second item is popular if at least a first quantity or proportion of users has indicated approval of said second item; and

said step of promoting second item to said first elevated status comprises a step of displaying said second item in a first manner at a first point in time when said second item is popular at said first point in time.

16. The method in claim 1 additionally comprising the following steps:

receiving a first user-specified article filter criterion, said first user-specified article filter criterion pertaining to content or characteristics of news articles;

filtering articles according to said first user-specified article filter criterion;

receiving or retrieving a first user-specified category; and

categorizing said first article information according to said first user-specified category.

17. The method in claim 1 wherein said first probational status signifies that an item has not yet become popular, and said first elevated status signifies that an item has become popular.

18. The method in claim 1 additionally comprising the following steps:

receiving a first URL;

receiving a first indication of a first strength of preference;

receiving a first label, said first label comprising at least a first word;

receiving a first query;

comparing said first query to said first label;

ranking a plurality of items, said plurality of items comprising a fifth item and a sixth item, said fifth item being associated with said first URL, said step of ranking said plurality of items comprising a step of ranking said fifth item higher than said sixth item when said first strength of preference is higher than a second strength of preference;

establishing a first vendor account, a second vendor account, and first shopper account;

indicating that said first vendor account has been established;

providing an electronic shopping cart mechanism;

receiving by way of said electronic shopping cart mechanism information pertaining to a plurality of different purchases;

charging said first shopper account for said plurality of different purchases;

paying a plurality of different vendors for said plurality of different purchases;

instructing said plurality of different vendors to ship said purchases to a first shopper, said plurality of different vendors comprising a first vendor and a second vendor, said first vendor being associated with said first vendor account, said second vendor being associated with said second vendor account, and said first shopper being associated with said first shopper account, said first vendor being different from said second vendor and from said first shopper; and

causing display of an advertisement;

wherein said first strength of preference comprises a first value, said first value being one among a range of possible values, said range of possible values comprising at least three different values.

19. The method in claim 1 additionally comprising the following steps:

providing a fourth resource, said fourth resource comprising a first customization submission mechanism;

receiving a first customization submission via said fourth resource; and

causing display of first custom content when a first URL is accessed, said step of causing display of first custom content being performed at least in part according to said first customization submission and being performed by way of either (i) a first toolbar or (ii) a first set of embeddable information.

20. The method in claim 1 wherein:

said first value indicates at least in part a real-time measure of popularity;

said second value indicates a real-time quantity of submissions received that relate to said second resource;

said first submission-facilitation mechanism comprises a link configured to submit submissions that relate to said second resource; and

said second resource and said third resource are the same resource.

21. The method in claim 1 additionally comprising the following steps:

providing a first set of embeddable information;

determining whether said first set of embeddable information is embedded in a fourth resource; and

providing access to a first account function only when said first set of embeddable information is embedded in said fourth resource.

22. The method in claim 19 wherein said first custom content comprises a first newsfeed or a first in-toolbar submission mechanism.

23. The method in claim 1 wherein:

said first time criterion pertains to freshness of submissions;

said fourth content pertains to said third content;

said first content approval score is based in part on said fourth content;

said first item further comprises a hyperlink to said second resource, said second resource being located at a first URL, said third content comprising said first URL;

said first indicia pertains at least partly to popularity of said second resource;

said first account information is associated with a first user account and comprises at least a name, user identification (ID), or email address;

said first user account is associated with a first user;

said third submission is associated with said first user account;

a second user account is associated with a second user;

said fourth submission is associated with said second user account; and

said first user and said second user are different users.

24. The method in claim 1 wherein said fifth content further comprises said first article information, said first article information comprising both said first resource location and said first headline, said first resource location comprising a first URL, wherein:

said first headline is hyperlinked to said first URL in said fifth content.

25. The method in claim 1 additionally comprising the following steps:

receiving evidence of official capacity to represent an organization or of affiliation with said organization; and

providing access to a first newsfeed function only after receipt of said evidence.

26. The method in claim 1 additionally comprising the following step:

providing a first toolbar mechanism, said step of providing said first toolbar mechanism being configured to perform at least one of the following steps;

(i) a step of causing display of a current status indicator through a first toolbar;

(ii) a step of causing display of a list through said first toolbar;

(iii) a step of causing display of user-submitted comments through said first toolbar;

or

(iv) a step of causing display of a newsfeed through said first toolbar according to a user subscription.

27. The method in claim 1 wherein:

said method is a collective intelligence-based, social news gathering and tagging method for crowdsourcing and collaborative editing by a first community of users; and

wherein the step of promoting said fourth item comprises the following step;

determining whether critical mass has been reached with respect to said fourth item, wherein said critical mass pertains to a first quorum, said first quorum pertaining to a number or proportion of users who have participated.