Adaptive rating system and method

• US 8,321,355 B2
• Filed: 02/09/2011
• Issued: 11/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: VineLoop LLC
• Original Assignee: VineLoop LLC
• Inventors: Pulito, Darren, Vastardis, Lou
• Primary Examiner(s): Koppikar, Vivek
• Assistant Examiner(s): SANTOS-DIAZ, MARIA C
• Application Number:
  US13/023,884
• Publication Number:
  US 20120158611A1
• Time in Patent Office: 657 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1.1, 705/80, 705301-312, 705/319, 705/347, 705/500, 705901-912
• US Class Current: 705/347
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0282 Rating or review of business operators or products
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking

Abstract

The present invention is embodied in adaptive rating methods and systems. The adaptive rating method includes receiving a first rating for a first product from a user, receiving a second rating for a second product from the user, identifying a conflict with a processor by comparing the first rating and the second rating, soliciting feedback from the user to remedy the conflict, and adjusting at least one of the first or second ratings with the processor responsive to feedback from the user. The steps of the method may be embodied in computer executable instructions stored on a non-transient machine readable medium that cause a processor to perform the method when executed by the processor. The system includes a processor configured to perform the steps of the method.

Claims

1. An adaptive rating method comprising:

receiving a first rating for a first product from a user;

receiving a second rating for a second product from the user;

identifying a conflict by a processor by comparing the first rating and the second rating;

soliciting feedback from the user to remedy the conflict; and

adjusting at least one of the first or second ratings by the processor responsive to feedback from the user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifying step comprises:

comparing the first and second ratings; and

determining that the first and second ratings are equal.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the soliciting step comprises:

sending a first inquiry to the user asking if the first rating is incorrect;

receiving a response from the user that the first rating is incorrect;

sending a second inquiry to the user soliciting a comparative rating between the first product and the second product; and

receiving the comparative rating from the user.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of sending the second inquiry includes:

sending a rating scale depicting the first rating for the first product; and

requesting that the user identify the comparative rating for the second product to the first product.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the adapting step comprises:

proportionally adjusting the first rating based on the comparative rating.

6. An adaptive rating system comprising:

a receiver that receives a first rating for a first product from a user and a second rating for a second product from the user;

a processor coupled to the receiver, the processor configured to identify a conflict by comparing the first rating and the second rating, solicit feedback from the user to remedy the conflict, and adjust at least one of the first or second ratings responsive to feedback from the user.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the processor identifies the

conflict by comparing the first and second ratings and determining that the first and second ratings are equal.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the processor solicits feedback by

sending a first inquiry to the user asking if the first rating is incorrect, receiving a response from the user that the first rating is incorrect, sending a second inquiry to the user soliciting a comparative rating between the first product and the second product, and receiving the comparative rating from the user.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the processor sends the second inquiry by sending a rating scale depicting the first rating for the first product and requesting that the user identify the comparative rating for the second product to the first product.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the processor adapts the rating scale by proportionally adjusting the first rating based on the comparative rating.

11. A non-transitory machine readable storage medium storing instructions which, when executed by a server, cause the server to execute an adaptive rating method, the method comprising:

receiving a first rating for a first product from a user;

receiving a second rating for a second product from the user;

identifying a conflict by a processor by comparing the first rating and the second rating;

soliciting feedback from the user to remedy the conflict; and

adjusting at least one of the first or second ratings by the processor responsive to feedback from the user.

12. The non-transitory machine readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the identifying step comprises:

comparing the first and second ratings; and

determining that the first and second ratings are equal.

13. The non-transitory machine readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the soliciting step comprises:

sending a first inquiry to the user asking if the first rating is incorrect;

receiving a response from the user that the first rating is incorrect;

sending a second inquiry to the user soliciting a comparative rating between the first product and the second product; and

receiving the comparative rating from the user.

14. The non-transitory machine readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the step of sending the second inquiry includes:

sending a rating scale depicting the first rating for the first product; and

requesting that the user identify the comparative rating for the second product to the first product.

15. The non-transitory machine readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the adapting step comprises:

proportionally adjusting the first rating based on the comparative rating.