COMMUNITY MODERATED INFORMATION

• US 20090240516A1
• Filed: 11/21/2008
• Published: 09/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sermo, Inc. (Worldone Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Sermo, Inc. (Worldone Incorporated)
• Inventors: Palestrant, Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 10,083,420 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/346
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0281 Customer communication at a business location, e.g. providing product or service information, consulting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking

Abstract

According to one aspect, an approach is provided that assists in presenting the right information within the ecosystem. The approach involves associating information sources (ads, sponsored information, research requests, debate notices, seminars, education opportunities, peer generated information, etc) with a feedback mechanism. In one embodiment, the feedback mechanism includes a scoring feature, where individual participants within the ecosystem rate the relevancy and/or importance of the information provided. In one example, a user is notified that a potentially relevant information source is available. The notification is typically displayed unobtrusively within a browser or interface window that the user is navigating. In one implementation, the user must perform some affirmative action to reach information associated with the information opportunity. In one example, requiring an affirmative action serves as a shield from pop-ups, banner-ads, and other distracting form of advertising. It is also realized that allowing the user to select the information opportunity rather than display it immediately permits the user to decide explore the opportunity. In one example, permitting the user to decide to explore the opportunity increases the user'"'"'s receptivity to the information opportunity. In one embodiment, information associated with the information opportunity is displayed in response to user selection. The information associated with the information opportunity describes the information opportunity available. The user is provided with the opportunity to evaluate the information opportunity without being required to visit it and/or review it in its entirety. The information associated with the information opportunity may also be displayed with user feedback.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for introducing information sources into an ecosystem, the method comprising the acts of:

permitting the submission of at least one information source to an ecosystem comprising a plurality of users;

displaying an indicator for the at least one information source to the plurality of users of the ecosystem;

providing for at least one of the plurality of users to submit feedback for the at least one information source;

displaying a summary view of the information source in response to selection of the indicator; and

displaying the feedback in the summary view of the information source.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising an act of matching contextually activity within the ecosystem to the at least one information source.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising an act of selecting the information source in response to the act of matching contextually.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the indicator conveys a type of the information source available.

5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising an act of requiring an affirmative action by a user to display the information source.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the affirmative action comprises at least one of moving a pointer over the indicator, clicking the indicator, and triggering the indicator.

7. The method according to claim 4, wherein the type of opportunity comprises at least one of an earn opportunity, a learn opportunity, and a general opportunity.

8. The method according to claim 4, wherein the type of opportunity is an earn opportunity, wherein the earn opportunity further comprises remuneration for participating in designated activity.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the designated activity comprises participation in at least one of a survey, poll, research task, professional opinion solicitation, professional practice, debate, seminar, and peer review.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein the designated activity comprises participation in a drug related survey, epidemiology research, medical informatics, patient research, rendering medical opinion, medical diagnosis, laboratory analysis, medical peer review, medical journal submission, and medical practice.

11. The method according to claim 4, wherein the type of opportunity is a learn opportunity, wherein the learn opportunity comprises at presentation of at least one of medical practice information, continuing medical education, seminar information, medical collaboration, medical research information, and medical practice advancements.

12. The method according to claim 4, wherein the learn opportunity comprises a presentation of professional education opportunity, professional practice issues, peer generated information, leading professional theory, and advancement in professional practice.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the feedback comprises a rank associated with the at least one information source.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the feedback comprises comments submitted by at least one user.

15. The method according to claim 1, further comprising an act of restricting display of the at least one indicator of an information source based on the feedback.

16. The method according to claim 1, further comprising an act of establishing a display threshold for the indicator.

17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising an act of determining the display threshold has not been exceeded.

18. The method according to claim 1, further comprising an act of filtering the at least one information source based on demographic information.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the act of filtering the at least one information source based on demographic information includes filtering based on at least one of professional qualification, professional specialty, area of interest, ethnicity, sex, age, education, residence, and geographical location.

20. The method according to claim 1, wherein the summary view comprises at least one of a light box, a partially transparent browser window, a new browser window, and a display overlay.

21. The method according to claim 1, wherein the summary view further comprises a rank for the at least one information source.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein the rank is generated from user feedback.

23. The method according to claim 21, wherein the summary view further comprises a display indicating user review of the at least one information source.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein the indication of user review comprises comment by at least one user.

25. The method according to claim 24, wherein the summary view provides an indication of a reputation of the at least one user.

26. The method according to claim 25, wherein the indication of reputation includes at least one of a reputational ranking for at least one user, an indication of at least one user'"'"'s credentials, and an indication of requirements for displayed commentary.

27. The method according to claim 1, further comprising an act of directing at least one user to an external source for the at least one information source in response to user selection in the summary view.

28. The method according to claim 27, further comprising an act of notifying the at least one user of the direction to an external source.

29. The method according to claim 2, wherein the act of matching, contextually, the at least one information source to activity within an ecosystem further comprises matching the at least one information source to user activity.

30. The method according to claim 29, wherein the user activity comprises at least one of searching within the environment, keyword identification, navigation, communication, and historical usage.

31. The method according to claim 1, further comprising an act of permitting a user to opt out of receiving the at least one indicator of an information source.

32. The method according to claim 1, wherein the act of displaying the at least one indicator of an information source to the plurality of users of the ecosystem occurs in response to user action.

33. The method according to claim 32, wherein user action comprises at least one of searches in the ecosystem and navigation to a section of the ecosystem organizing information sources.

34. A computer-readable medium having computer-readable signals stored thereon that define instructions that, as a result of being executed by a computer, instruct the computer to perform a method for introducing information sources to an ecosystem, wherein the method comprises the acts of:

permitting the submission of at least one information source to an ecosystem comprising a plurality of users;

displaying an indicator for the at least one information source to the plurality of users of the ecosystem;

providing for at least one of the plurality of users to submit feedback for the at least one information source;

displaying a summary view of the information source in response to selection of the indicator; and

displaying the feedback in the summary view of the information source.

35. A system for displaying indicators of information sources to an ecosystem comprising a plurality of users, the system comprising:

a submission component adapted to receive information associated with an information source;

a display component adapted to display at least one indicator of an information source within a display for the ecosystem, wherein the display component is further adapted to display a summary view of the information source in response to selection of the indicator, and wherein the display component is further adapted to display feedback on the information source within the summary view; and

a feedback interface adapted to accept feedback from at least one user of the ecosystem on the information source.

36. The system according to claim 35, further comprising an analysis component adapted to match contextually activity within the ecosystem to the information opportunity.

37. The system according to claim 35, further comprising an analysis component adapted to filter information opportunities according to feedback.