Computer-implemented method and system for collaborative product evaluation
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method carried out by a computer processing system for user evaluation of at least one product that has a plurality of features whereby users operate user devices that are operably coupled to the computer processing system over network communication therebetween, the method comprising:
- interacting with a plurality of users via the network communication between the user devices and the computer processing system to assign user-supplied ratings to features of a particular product, wherein the features of the at least one product are logically organized into a hierarchical structure of feature levels, and wherein each user supplied rating corresponds to a respective feature level and represents a user derived assessment of at least one feature of the corresponding feature level of the at least one product;
processing the user-supplied ratings at the computer processing system to associate moderation scores with the user-supplied ratings;
interacting with a given user via network communication between a given user device and the computer processing system to specify a threshold moderation score that defines a first range of acceptable moderation scores;
at the computer processing system, computing a composite rating for a given feature level of the at least one product based upon a set of the user-supplied ratings corresponding to the given feature level of the at least one product, wherein each user-supplied rating within the set is associated with a moderation score that falls within the first range of acceptable moderation scores, thereby omitting from the composite rating contributions of user-supplied ratings for the at least one product whose associated moderation scores fall outside the first range of acceptable moderation scores; and
at the computer processing system, outputting the composite rating for supply to the given user via network communication between the computer processing system and the given user device;
wherein the processing of the computer processing system selectively enables particular users to evaluate the user-supplied ratings and associated moderation scores with the user-supplied ratings whereby the particular users are selectively enabled based upon moderation points earned by the particular users, and wherein the moderation points are limited in number and distributed to a respective user by an automatic process that accounts for positive evaluation of the respective user'"'"'s own user-supplied ratings.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Computer-implemented methods and systems provide for user collaboration in evaluating complex products over a public network. Product capabilities are preferably represented as a hierarchical taxonomy of features. Users can assign ratings and comments to the features of a product. User-submitted ratings can be qualified (or moderated) by other users. Such moderation is accomplished on a per-rating basis by user selection of one label from a set of labels that represent different levels of perceived credibility of the user that submitted the rating. A moderation score for a rating/comment is derived from the user-selected moderation labels pertaining to the rating/comment. Registered users preferably can assign weights to features, the weights representing the importance of that feature to the particular user. The user-supplied ratings as well as the moderation scores and/or weights corresponding thereto are used to compute composite ratings for user-selected product features that are communicated to the users for evaluation of the user-selected product features. Preferably, a distributed moderation process is executed that automatically grants a select subset of the user community the opportunity to moderate the ratings of other users.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method carried out by a computer processing system for user evaluation of at least one product that has a plurality of features whereby users operate user devices that are operably coupled to the computer processing system over network communication therebetween, the method comprising:
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interacting with a plurality of users via the network communication between the user devices and the computer processing system to assign user-supplied ratings to features of a particular product, wherein the features of the at least one product are logically organized into a hierarchical structure of feature levels, and wherein each user supplied rating corresponds to a respective feature level and represents a user derived assessment of at least one feature of the corresponding feature level of the at least one product; processing the user-supplied ratings at the computer processing system to associate moderation scores with the user-supplied ratings; interacting with a given user via network communication between a given user device and the computer processing system to specify a threshold moderation score that defines a first range of acceptable moderation scores; at the computer processing system, computing a composite rating for a given feature level of the at least one product based upon a set of the user-supplied ratings corresponding to the given feature level of the at least one product, wherein each user-supplied rating within the set is associated with a moderation score that falls within the first range of acceptable moderation scores, thereby omitting from the composite rating contributions of user-supplied ratings for the at least one product whose associated moderation scores fall outside the first range of acceptable moderation scores; and at the computer processing system, outputting the composite rating for supply to the given user via network communication between the computer processing system and the given user device; wherein the processing of the computer processing system selectively enables particular users to evaluate the user-supplied ratings and associated moderation scores with the user-supplied ratings whereby the particular users are selectively enabled based upon moderation points earned by the particular users, and wherein the moderation points are limited in number and distributed to a respective user by an automatic process that accounts for positive evaluation of the respective user'"'"'s own user-supplied ratings. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A system for user evaluation of at least one product that has a plurality of features whereby users operate user devices that are operably coupled to the system over network communication therebetween, the system comprising:
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a computer processing system which includes first software logic, second software logic, third software logic, fourth software logic, fifth software logic and sixth software logic, each operating on the computer processing system; the first software logic for interacting with a plurality of users via network communication between the user devices and the computer processing system to assign user-supplied ratings, wherein the features of the at least one product are logically organized into a hierarchical structure of feature levels, and wherein each user supplied rating corresponds to a respective feature level and represents a user derived assessment of at least one feature of the corresponding feature level of the at least one product; the second software logic for processing the user-supplied ratings to associate moderation scores to the user-supplied ratings; the third software logic for interacting with a given user via network communication between a given user device and the system to specify a threshold moderation score that defines a first range of acceptable moderation scores; the fourth software logic for computing a composite rating for a given feature level of the at least one product based upon a set of the user-supplied ratings corresponding to the given feature level of the at least one product, wherein each user-supplied rating within the set is associated with a moderation score that falls within the first range of acceptable moderation scores, thereby omitting from the composite rating contributions of user-supplied ratings for the at least one product whose associated moderation scores fall outside the first range of acceptable moderation scores; the fifth software logic for outputting the composite rating for supply to the given user via network communication between the system and the given user device; and the sixth software logic for selectively enabling particular users to evaluate the user-supplied ratings and associated moderation scores with the user-supplied ratings whereby the particular users are selectively enabled based upon moderation points earned by the particular users, and wherein the moderation points are limited in number and distributed to a respective user by an automatic process that accounts for positive evaluation of the respective user'"'"'s own user-supplied ratings. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification