Method and system for policing events within an online community

• US 8,924,482 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2011
• Issued: 12/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Charlton Brian Goldsmith
• Original Assignee: Charlton Brian Goldsmith
• Inventors: Goldsmith, Charlton Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): Yohannes, Tesfay
• Application Number:
  US13/326,539
• Publication Number:
  US 20120158852A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,111 Days
• Field of Search: 709/205, 709/223, 705/1.1, 705/7.38, 705/37, 705/39
• US Class Current: 709/205
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking

Abstract

A method and system for policing events within an online community comprising a plurality of users having corresponding user information stored in a user database. The method comprises: receiving data indicative of an event from a user of the plurality of users of the online community; selecting a plurality of eligible users (such as from the plurality of users, for example based on the stored user information) to form a jury to evaluate the data indicative of the event with respect to rules for the online community stored in a rules database; and electronically taking an action in respect of corresponding stored user information of a user who performed the event based on the jury evaluation of the data with respect to the rules for the online community.

Claims

1. A method of policing online events within an online community comprising a plurality of users having corresponding user information stored in a user database, the method comprising:

receiving data indicative of an online event from a user of said plurality of users of the online community, the online event having been performed by a current user of the online community or by a prospective user of the online community;

forming a jury by selecting a plurality of eligible users to evaluate the data indicative of the event with respect to rules for the online community stored in a rules database;

receiving data indicative of an evaluation by the jury of the data indicative of the event with respect to the rules for the online community, and

electronically taking an action in respect of corresponding stored user information of a the current or prospective user who performed the event based on the jury evaluation of the data with respect to the rules for the online community;

wherein the rules specify one or more of, (i) ethical behavior of the online community (ii) courteous behavior of the online community, (iii) behavior that accords with stipulated values of the online community (iv) lawful behavior of the online community, and (v) conditions of membership of the online community.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plurality of eligible users is selected from said plurality of users.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said plurality of eligible users is selected based on the stored user information.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said event comprises electronically publishing a user profile within the online community.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rules for the online community comprise users publishing verified user profiles.

6. A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein said action comprises electronically verifying the user profile in the user database for publication if the jury evaluates the data to verify the user.

7. A method as claimed in claim 6, wherein said action further comprises storing said user profile in association with the corresponding user information in the user database.

8. A method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the data comprises verification data of the user.

9. A method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the verification data comprises a video or other media file created by the user to be evaluated by the jury to verify the user profile.

10. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said event comprises a communication within the online community.

11. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said communication comprises electronically publishing a media file within the online community.

12. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the rules for the online community comprise users publishing sanitized media files.

13. A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein said action comprises electronically enabling the media file in the user database to be published if the jury evaluates the data to be sanitary.

15. A method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the data comprises the media file.

16. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising receiving a report from a reporting user of said plurality of users of the online community reporting an event performed by a reported user of said plurality of users for evaluation by the jury.

17. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said event comprises submission of an application to join or rejoin the online community.

18. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said event comprises (i) submission of an application to join or rejoin the online community, or (ii) submission of content to the online community.

19. A method as claimed in claim 18, wherein said action comprises accepting or rejecting said submission.

20. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said event comprises one or more instances of juror behavior.

21. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein selecting the plurality of eligible users to form the jury includes random selection from a larger group of possible eligible users.

31. A non-transitory tangible computer readable medium comprising computer program code which when executed implements the method of claim 1.

32. Transmitting or receiving the program code of claim 31.

14. A method as claimed in claim wherein said action further comprises storing said media file in association with the stored user information in the user database.

22. A system for policing online events within an online community comprising a plurality of users of remote terminal having corresponding user information stored in a user database on a server, the server comprising:

receiving module for receiving data indicative of an online event from a user of said plurality of users of the online community, the online event having been performed by a current user of the online community or by a prospective user of the online community;

a selecting module for forming a jury by selecting a plurality of eligible users to evaluate the data indicative of the event with respect to rules for the online community stored in a rules database;

an action module for receiving data indicative of an evaluation by the jury of the data indicative of the event with respect to the rules for the online community, and electronically taking an action in respect of corresponding stored user information of a the current or prospective user who performed the event based on the jury evaluation of the data with respect to the rules for the online community;

wherein the rules specify one or more of, (i) ethical behavior of the online community (ii) courteous behavior of the online community, (iii) behavior that accords with stipulated values of the online community (iv) lawful behavior of the online community, and (v) conditions of membership of the online community.

23. A system as claimed in claim 22, wherein said selection module is configured to select said plurality of eligible users from said plurality of users.

24. A system as claimed in claim 23, wherein said selection modulo is configured to select said plurality of eligible users based on the stored user information.

25. A method of policing electronic communications within an online community comprising a plurality of users having corresponding user information stored in a user database, the method comprising:

receiving a report from a reporting user of said plurality of users of the online community reporting an electronic communication indicative of an alleged online offence performed by a reported user of said plurality of users;

forming a jury by selecting a plurality of eligible users to evaluate the alleged offence; and

electronically taking an action in respect of the stored user information of the reported user if the jury evaluates the alleged offence to have been performed by the reported user.

26. A method as claimed in claim 25, wherein said plurality of eligible users is selected from said plurality of users.

27. A method as claimed in claim 26, wherein said plurality of eligible users is selected based on the stored user information.

33. A non-transitory tangible computer readable medium comprising computer program code which when executed implements the method of claim 25.

34. Transmitting or receiving the program code of claim 33.

28. A system for policing electronic communications within an online community comprising a plurality of users of remote terminals having corresponding user information stored in a user database on a server, the server comprising:

a receiving module for receiving a report from a reporting user of said plurality of users of the online community reporting an electronic communication indicative of an alleged online offence performed by a reported user of said plurality of users;

a selection module for forming a jury by selecting a plurality of eligible users to evaluate the alleged offence; and

an action module for electronically taking an action in respect of the stored user information of the reported user if the jury evaluates the alleged offence to have been performed by the reported user.

29. A system as claimed in claim 28, wherein said selection module is configured to select said plurality of eligible users from said plurality of users.

30. A system as claimed in claim 29, wherein said selection module is configured to select said plurality of eligible users based on the stored user information.