Patent Application
20080046511
Embodiments described herein enable an electronic message forum to be conducted in a manner where information about individual posters is programmatically determined and displayed with messages authored or created by those posters. According to an embodiment, the information that is determined excludes information that could potentially be used to uniquely identify the person. For example, the information determined about the user would exclude information typically referred to as personal indentifiable information (PII). In one embodiment, the information determined about individual posters is geographic information, and an identification of a physical location of the poster (e.g. city, state, country, zip code) is displayed with a message of the poster.
As used herein, an electronic message forum includes any online forum in which an individual can create or specify content and have that content rendered for any member of the public, or any member of a class of individuals, who accesses the online forum. Electronic forums may employ templates, guidelines and enable individuals to include different kinds of functionality. Specific examples of online message forums include message boards on which opinions are posted, “electronic classifieds”, online auctions, blog commentaries, and online reviews.
One or more embodiments contemplate message forums that are anonymous, or alternatively, partially anonymous. For example, some message forums may enable individuals to post opinions with complete anonymity, while commercial forums enable individuals to provide items for sale or on auction using identifiers that are aliases, but still unique to an individual or entity. In the latter case, the poster may be uniquely identified by an online identifier, that in certain cases, can be used to determine the true identity of the poster. For example, on online auction sites, the identities of the sellers are unique aliases, which can in certain cases be used to reveal the true identity of the poster.
Examples of the type of information that may be considered PII (and thus potentially excluded from information that is determined about an individual poster) may include an identifying name (e.g. surname), an email address, or a numeric identifier that is unique to the individual (e.g. social security number, driver's license, credit card number). Otherwise, information that may be determined about a given poster may, depending on various embodiments, include geographic location or residence of the individual (e.g. city, state, country, country, zip code) or information that classifies that individual with other people (e.g. age or gender classification, or other classification based on demographics).
Under an embodiment, an electronic message forum is operated by receiving a communication from an individual. The communication includes a content for the electronic message forum. For example, the content may correspond to text and/or images, authored or selected by the individual (e.g. an opinion, or a solicitation to buy or sell an item). Information about the communication or the individual making the post is programmatically determined. The information does include personal identifiable information about the individual. A message is posted on the electronic message forum that is based on the content of the communication. The programmatically displayed information is then provided (e.g. displayed or made available) with the posted message.
According to another embodiment, a communication containing a content for a message on the electronic message forum is received. A network address used to send the communication is identified. Geographic information associated with the network address is determined, and the message is posted on the electronic message forum. With the message, an identification of a location of the poster is provided. The identification is based on the geographic information determined from the network address.
One or more embodiments described herein provide that methods, techniques and actions performed by a computing device are performed programmatically, or as a computer-implemented method. Programmatically means through the use of code, or computer-executable instructions. A programmatically performed step may or may not be automatic.
One or more embodiments described herein may be implemented using modules. A module may include a program, a subroutine, a portion of a program, or a software component or a hardware component capable of performing one or more stated tasks or functions. As used herein, a module can exist on a hardware component independently of other modules, or a module can be a shared element or process of other modules, programs or machines.
Furthermore, one or more embodiments described herein may be implemented through the use of instructions that are executable by one or more processors. These instructions may be carried on a computer-readable medium. Machines shown in figures below (e.g. forum server 200) provide examples of processing resources and computer-readable mediums on which instructions for implementing embodiments of the invention can be carried and/or executed. In particular, the numerous machines shown with embodiments of the invention include processor(s) and various forms of memory for holding data and instructions. Examples of computer-readable mediums include permanent memory storage devices, such as hard drives on personal computers or servers. Other examples of computer storage mediums include portable storage units, such as CD or DVD units, flash memory (such as carried on many cell phones and personal digital assistants (PDAs)), and magnetic memory. Computers, terminals, network enabled devices (e.g. mobile devices such as cell phones) are all examples of machines and devices that utilize processors, memory, and instructions stored on computer-readable mediums.
Overview
A format of posted messages on forum 120 may correspond to text, although images and media be included. A poster 101 may also insert links to other network locations or sites where other content is provided. The message forum 120 may be provided in various different context and implementations. For example, message forum 120 may be provided on a web site that is dedicated to providing message forums. Alternatively, the message forum 120 may be integrated into a web page, such as on a blog or home web page. Still further, one or more embodiments contemplate use of numerous message forums 120 as part of a feature for enable users to interact and discuss current events and news items. In the latter case, individual forums may be associated with news stories or categories, and users may comment by posting messages. Under one conventional approach, the message forum 120 provides a user-interface feature to enable individuals to compose content (e.g. text content) and to upload the content as a message. Such a message may be referred to as a post. The message forum 120 may include user-interface features for enabling individuals to compose reply posts (reply messages to a message or topic already posted) or compose new posts on a given topic.
According to an embodiment, the message forum 120 posts messages 118 that are first processed, scanned or otherwise handled by the information determination component 110. In one implementation, the information determination component 108 may be programmatically integrated with the message forum 120. In another implementation, the information determination component 110 may be provided as separate from the message forum 120. For example, the information determination component 110 may be provided as an independent service, separate from a network site on which the message forum 120 is hosted. The information determination component 110 handles incoming communications 108 carrying message content from a given poster 101. The poster 101 may transmit the communication 108 over a network 102, which may include public data networks such as the Internet. The information determination component 110 uses data provided with the communication 108 to determine information about the poster 101 or the communication 108.
According to one or more embodiments, the information determination component 110 determines information that is not personal identifiable information, but rather is information about an origin 103 of the poster 101 or his/her communication 108. Examples of the type of information that can be determined from communication 108 include geographic information about a physical location of the poster 101, such as the city (or most proximate city or metropolis), state, county or zip code of the poster 101. Alternatively, the determined information about the poster 101 may correspond to a network origin 102, such as the Internet Service Provider, or private/proprietary network used by the poster 101. Still further, the information that can be determined from the communication 108 may also include demographic information or classification, such as age group, or gender.
An embodiment, the information determined by determination component 110 is information that is generated by a source that is external to the terminal from which the message was transmitted. For example, the information may correspond to a network address, generated by an ISP used by the poster 101. Alternatively, the determination component 110 may use programmatic components that reside on the terminal of the user to determine information. For example, the determination component 110 may use a cookie stored on the terminal and used when the terminal accesses a site of the message forum 120. The cookie may store information that the user previously entered about his or her demographic, or the cookie may provide profile information (e.g. web browsing activities) indicating information about the user.
According to an embodiment, the information determined by the determination component 120 is used to supplement the posted message 118. In one embodiment, for example, the posted message 118 is supplemented with geographic information 115 about a physical location of the poster 101. As described with other embodiments, however, other types of information may be used to supplement the posted message 118. In one embodiment, the supplemental information is rendered with the posted message 118. For example, as described with an embodiment of
System Architecture
In one embodiment, the message board 220 can be rendered in part to provide a web page that displays a plurality of messages 212, where each message 212 corresponds to a record derived from a communication that was once transmitted from an individual poster. The message board 220 may organize messages in various formats, including by category, thread (listing replies), and/or chronologically. The message board 220 may include a database 230 or other data structure that comprises records 222 corresponding to the individual messages 212. In one implementation, the message board manager 210 provides the message board 220 by rendering messages 212 from the records 222 as a web page on the terminal 203 of individual posters 202. The terminal 203 may be configured with a browser or other programmatic component to render the web page. The web page may include features for enabling the user to upload or otherwise provide content for a new message or post on the message board. Such content may be received by the message board manager as communication 208, although other forms of communication or contemplated.
In submitting communication 208 to the forum server 200, the poster 202 may connect the terminal 203 to an ISP 205 (assuming use of the Internet). The ISP 205 may assign a network address 206 to the terminal 203. Such a network address may be static or dynamic. In one embodiment, when poster 202 sends the communication 208 to the forum server 200, data associated with the communication 208 includes the network address 206. The message board manager 210 may be equipped to identify the network address 206 from the communication 208. Under one implementation, a module or component corresponding to information determination component 110 (
In an embodiment, the message board manager 210 uses a network address lookup 215 to identify a geographic location 218 from the network address 206. The lookup 215 may correspond to a table, or a programmatic component that uses a table or similar data structure. Information for mapping network addresses to geographic locations may derive from various sources. Under one embodiment, such information is provided by third-parties, such as the directory service provided by QUOVA GEOPOINT, provided by QUOVA INC. The geographic location 218 is then provided with the corresponding message 212 on the message board 220. Thus, for example, each record 222 may identify the geographic location 218 that is displayed with the corresponding message rendered from the record. In one implementation, the geographic location 218 is displayed along with a moniker, nickname or other identifier of the poster 202. Thus, for example, the poster 202 may remain anonymous, the forum server 200 may display the city, town or other location information of the poster to provide other viewers of the message board 220 a sense of who the poster is. The geographic location 218 does not identify the poster, thus preserving the poster's anonymity, if so desired.
As an addition or alternative, the message board manager 210 may identify other non-PII information about the poster 202, and use that information to supplement the message 212. For example, the terminal of the poster 203 may include cookies or other programmatic components that the message board manager 210 (or other programmatic component) can retrieve or access. Information provided from the cookie may be used to derive other information which supplements the message 212 authored by that poster 202.
In a step 310, a communication is received from a poster. In one implementation, the communication may be provided through the poster filling in a form on a web page downloaded on the poster's terminal. The web page may include posts from other users, and include the ability for the user to compose new messages as replies to other messages, or as new topics.
A step 320 provides that information about the poster is programmatically determined. In one embodiment, the information is not personal identifiable information, and thus does not sacrifice the anonymity of the poster. In one embodiment, the information is determined from data created for the poster's communication identifies the origin of the poster, such as the geographic location (or alternatively information about the network location or network used by the poster). In a sub-step 322, the network address of the poster is identified from the communication submitted. Sub-step 324 provides that geographic information is determined from the identified network address. With reference to an embodiment of
In another embodiment, data stored on the poster's terminal may be used to determine information. In one embodiment, a sub-step 326 provides that a cookie (or other data/programmatic element) stored on the user's terminal is accessed. In a sub-step 328, the information provided by that cookie is then used to identify information about the user, such as the user's demographic (age, gender, preferences etc.) or frequency of message board use. The information derived from the cookie may be used to classify the poster, so as to not be uniquely identifiable to the poster.
In a step 330, a message from the individual is posted on the electronic message billboard, with the information determined from step 320. Thus, for example, a user's post may contain a user's moniker or nickname (which the user provides) and a city and/or state of residence. The individual message may be rendered with or without other messages that form the message board. The messages may be renderable to an individual who accesses a network site where the message board is hosted, using, for example, a browser.
Message Board Implementation
In implementation shown, posters provide their own identifiers or aliases 435. As such, a forum such as illustrated may enable individuals to post anonymously. As described with one or more embodiments, a system that provides the forum may provide additional information about the poster, or alternatively about the origin of the communication, to provide the reader with some information about who authored a particular post. This information is not identifiable or unique to the poster, so as to preserve the poster's anonymity. In an embodiment shown, the information corresponds to geographic information 425 for identifying a location of the poster when making the post. Under an implementation shown by
In one alternative variation, the geographic information 425 may be distorted. For example, rather than show the poster as residing in a small town, the geographic information 425 may identify the nearest metropolis or recognizable city and place the poster in that alternative location. This better preservers anonymity, and also provides readers of the post a more familiar location.
As further described elsewhere, other information about the origin of a given post may be displayed. This may include the ISP, or a proprietary network from which the post originated. For example, within local area networks such as provided with enterprises, the network address assigned to individual terminals are internal. But the network itself may have an IP address. In one implementation, a message forum has knowledge of IP addresses belonging to certain enterprises, and lists the name of those enterprises next to the posted messages. For example, the name of a company may be listed next to a posted message, indicating that an origin of a post is within the enterprise network of the particular company.
Use and Display of Profile Information on Message Boards
In addition to geographic information, there is much information that can be determined or identified about a person who posts electronic messages. Such information may include information that is determined from stored information on the user's computer, from information determined programmatically and on-the-fly when the person performs some action (such as open the web page of the electronic message board), or information that is determined from monitoring the user's past actions and activities. Collectively, this information is termed “profile information”.
In one embodiment, information about the user may be stored on the user's computer. This information may correspond to non-personal identifiable information, such as gender, demographic information (race, profession, income level, education). The user may enter this information manually, such as by filling out a form. Alternatively, the some or all of the information may be determined programmatically, such as through use of cookies that identify preferences and activities of the user.
Other information that may be determined programmatically (or through user-input) include, for example, the type of browser or computer the user has installed on his computer, the ISP he or she is using, and the type of Internet connection (e.g. dial-up versus DSL).
Still further, some information may be determined from the user's activities, particularly the user's activities on posting messages on an electronic message board. In one embodiment, a mechanism may be put in place to evaluate the user based on one or more criteria, including: (i) number of times a particular poster has posted a message that has been deleted, deemed in violation of the rules of the message board, or otherwise been the subject of a complaint (“reputation”); (ii) quality of writing, based on sentence structure or vocabulary; (iii) length of the message; or (iv) feedback from other posters (e.g. people who rate the poster).
With regard to reputation information or scoring, the poster needs to be identified so that a reputation score or rank includes reputation information from the user's previous postings. In order to identify the user and correlate the user to past postings, one or more embodiments provide for the following mechanisms to be used: (i) login and password, (ii) moniker identification, (iii) identification through ISP, or (iv) use of cookie or other programmatic/data identifiers on user's terminal.
According to one embodiment, when the user posts a message 528, content or information may be added to the post, or otherwise used to affect the post. This information may be in the way of a graphic (e.g. “X” 526), text, or alteration to the user's post, reflecting the user's reputation score 525. Other information from the profile information 524 may also be displayed in connection with a user's profile information 524, such as gender or location.
As an alternative to reputation score, poster's past messages may be evaluated to determine level of interest (e.g. number of times viewed) or quality. Numerous other similar variations may also be implemented, either separately or in connection with one or more other embodiments described herein.
Although illustrative embodiments of the invention have been described in detail herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to those precise embodiments. As such, many modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in this art. Accordingly, it is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the following claims and their equivalents. Furthermore, it is contemplated that a particular feature described either individually or as part of an embodiment can be combined with other individually described features, or parts of other embodiments, even if the other features and embodiments make no mentioned of the particular feature. This, the absence of describing combinations should not preclude the inventor from claiming rights to such combinations.
