EP1546842A2 - Systeme de creation et de gestion d'une base de donnees d'information utilisant des opinions d'utilisateurs - Google Patents

Systeme de creation et de gestion d'une base de donnees d'information utilisant des opinions d'utilisateurs

Info

Publication number
EP1546842A2
EP1546842A2 EP03765981A EP03765981A EP1546842A2 EP 1546842 A2 EP1546842 A2 EP 1546842A2 EP 03765981 A EP03765981 A EP 03765981A EP 03765981 A EP03765981 A EP 03765981A EP 1546842 A2 EP1546842 A2 EP 1546842A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
database
user
users
management
subject
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP03765981A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP1546842A4 (fr
Inventor
Gregory J. Petras
Gary Mellot
Jeffrey T. Zywicki
Lisa J. Cramer
Andrew F. Mason
Flori N. Parham
Rachael A. Thomas
Kim Cameron
Craig P. Thompson
Norm White
Rob Martin
Cory Osborn
Richard W. Hill
Kory Kredit
Mark Fisher
Connie Riffel
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Involve Technology LLC
Original Assignee
Involve Technology LLC
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US10/624,345 external-priority patent/US20040205065A1/en
Application filed by Involve Technology LLC filed Critical Involve Technology LLC
Publication of EP1546842A2 publication Critical patent/EP1546842A2/fr
Publication of EP1546842A4 publication Critical patent/EP1546842A4/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q30/00—Commerce
    • G06Q30/02—Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
    • G06Q30/0201—Market modelling; Market analysis; Collecting market data
    • G06Q30/0203—Market surveys; Market polls
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F16/00—Information retrieval; Database structures therefor; File system structures therefor
    • G06F16/90—Details of database functions independent of the retrieved data types
    • G06F16/95—Retrieval from the web
    • G06F16/951—Indexing; Web crawling techniques

Definitions

  • This invention relates generally to systems for creating, maintaining and using database information. More particularly, it relates to a system for automatically creating and maintaining a database of information utilizing user opinions. Even more particularly, it relates to an Internet system assisting a population of users to automatically maintain the database content and to improve the usefulness and quality of the database information without any substantial management by the website owner-manager.
  • Web sites Computers that provide information on the World Wide Web are typically called "Web sites.”
  • a Web site is defined by an Internet address that has an associated electronic page, often called a "home page.”
  • a home page is an electronic document that organizes the presentation of text, graphical images, audio and video into a desired display.
  • These Web sites are operated by a wide variety of entities, which are typically called "providers.”
  • a user may access the Internet via a dedicated high-speed line or by using a personal computer (PC) equipped with a conventional modem.
  • Special interface software called “browser” software, is installed within the PC.
  • an attached modem is automatically instructed to dial the telephone number associated with the local Internet host server. The user can then access information at any address accessible over the Internet.
  • Two well-known web browsers for example, are the Netscape Navigator browser marketed by Netscape Communications Corporation and the Internet Explorer browser marketed by Microsoft Corporation.
  • HTML HyperText Mark-up Language
  • the HTML format is a scripting language that is used to generate the home pages for different content providers.
  • a content provider is an individual or company that places information (content) on the Internet so that others can access it.
  • the HTML format is a set of conventions for marking different portions of a document so that each portion appears in a distinctive format. For example, the HTML format identifies or "tags" portions of a document to identify different categories of text (e.g., the title, header, body text, etc.).
  • the web browser accesses an HTML document, the web browser reads the embedded tags in the document so it appears formatted in the specified manner.
  • An HTML document can also include hyperlinks, which allow a user to move from one document to another document on the Internet.
  • a hyperlink is an underlined or otherwise emphasized portion of text that, when selected using an input device such as a mouse, activates a software connection module which allows the user to jump between documents or pages (i.e., within the same Web site or to other Web sites).
  • Hyperlinks are well known in the art, and have been sometimes referred to as anchors. The act of selecting the hyperlink is often referred to as "clicking on" the hyperlink.
  • the search logic is either hierarchical, based on predefined classifications, such as geography, or text based using a search for ambiguous words or phrases contained in the subject's title or description.
  • Users' opinions and ratings are normally not finely detailed nor measurable and are separate and unrelated and are not included in the search processes offered to users. Therefore a user is unable to search for a subject based entirely or partially on the users' opinions or ratings.
  • On-line information service providers permit users to comment on and rate subjects within their site and routinely remove those that are out of date or inappropriate either manually or by automated means based on the age of the comment or rating.
  • the current methods lack precision because of the ambiguous nature of the ratings and comments.
  • the ambiguity requires a high level of human intervention if the information is to remain current and appropriate.
  • On-line information service providers use groups or "populations" or "communities" of contributors, i.e., a population of users, to input and maintain the subject content of the database. These communities may be organized geographically or by subject matter expertise. These communities require significant effort and human intervention to manage.
  • On-line information service providers accept content from users and contributors with little or no review before it is posted. Reviews done by humans are usually completed by a limited group who are subject matter experts or geographically close to the submitter. Substantial effort is required to manage this process.
  • prior on-line information systems include incentive systems that have drawbacks.
  • On-line information service providers provide incentives in a variety of forms to encourage contributors to input and maintain subject content. Incentives may also be offered to users of the service.
  • On-line information service providers also employ automated processes to capture, summarize and report the accumulated incentives. The granting of the incentives is based on completion of a limited number of actions that have limited influence on contributors' behavior. There is no limit on the total amount the information service provider is obligated to pay.
  • Each contributor's incentive value is calculated using a rate per action which makes it difficult to increase the value because it increases the total potential obligation and, conversely, lowering the rate per action will be a major disincentive to contributors.
  • prior on-line information service providers offer no or limited incentives for users to provide new information, ratings or opinions to the database. Conversely, users' access is not restricted to the information unless it is a fee-based subscription site. Users' behavior is little influenced by the incentives except when attempting to "game" the system and gain unfair or improper rewards.
  • a database of subjects e.g., a product, a service, a leisure activity, an experience or a topic
  • Yet another object and feature of the invention is to enable people worldwide, with diverse backgrounds, educational levels and qualifications to contribute content to the database, and to express opinions or reviews in the form of ratings of database subjects, all in a way that improves the usefulness and quality of the information being added or rated. It is still another object and feature of the invention to reduce the need for centralized control and management of the database content and the contributor community by leveraging the talents, skills, and efforts of the user community to maintain the quality of the database content and the performance of the contributors. It is another object and feature of the present invention to provide a system for recruiting communities of people to create, maintain and provide opinions using Web sites focused on a variety of consumer decision support categories such ⁇ as leisure experiences, public opinions, products and services.
  • Yet another object and feature of the invention is to attract users and develop user loyalty, through personal involvement and content contribution, by way of the use of a personal journal and participation in the rewards of the success of the web site. It is another object and feature of the present invention to provide a system to compensate contributors and guests for their efforts in a manner that will ensure a dynamic, comprehensive and accurate database of information for use by guests to the Web sites. It is still another object and feature of the present invention to provide a method and system that motivates guests and contributors to perform highly specific actions that will further the business objectives of the manager of the database.
  • Another primary object and feature of the present invention is to provide a system for capturing and sharing acquired "intellectual capital" within an organization.
  • "Intellectual capital” is defined as information known by individuals within the organization that is not necessarily taught, but rather learned through experience.
  • the present invention is tailored to capture and share "intellectual capital” particularly for sales. In most cases, "intellectual capital” is highly transitory since it is learned, generally not reduced to writing and usually informally shared. Once a person is no longer associated with the organization, the person's knowledge is also no longer available.
  • Yet another primary object and feature of the present invention is to provide such a system that is designed to capture, maintain and classify "intellectual capital" in a manner that can be easily understood and used by all members of the organization.
  • this invention provides a system for creating and maintaining information in a database of subjects, available to a population of users, comprising: describing a database subject using a plurality of natural-language terms, each of such plurality of natural-language terms having relevance to the subject according to an involved subset of such population of users; rating the degree of relevance of each of such plurality of natural-language terms to such database subject according to each of such involved subset of such population of users; associating, in such database, such respective natural-language terms and respective degrees of relevance with each such database subject; and computing, for such involved subset of such population of users, in such database, an overall degree of relevance of each of such plurality of natural-language terms to such database subject.
  • a system further comprising: associating with a particular user a set of particular-user-preferred such natural-language terms from such plurality of natural-language terms; using such particular user's preferred such set of particular-user-preferred such natural-language terms, searching such database for database subjects associated with such set of particular-user-preferred such natural-language terms; determining a set of relevant such database subjects as are correlated with a high aggregate degree of relevance among such respective overall degrees of relevance of such set of respective particular-user-preferred such natural-language terms; and presenting to such particular user information about such relevant database subjects.
  • Such a system further comprising: presenting to a particular user information about a particular such database subject and such associated respective relevant natural-language terms with such respective overall degrees of relevance; collecting, from such particular user, such particular user's opinions about respective degrees of relevance to such particular database subject of such respective presented natural-language terms; adding such particular user to such involved subset of such population of users and adding such particular user's opinions to such database; and updating, in association with such particular database subject, in such database, such overall degree of relevance of each of such plurality of natural-language terms associated with such particular database subject.
  • Such a system further comprising: presenting to a particular user information about a particular such database subject and such associated respective relevant natural- language terms with such respective overall degrees of relevance; collecting, from such particular user, such particular user's opinions about respective degrees of relevance to such particular database subject of such respective presented natural-language terms; adding such particular user to such involved subset of such population of users and adding such particular user's opinions to such database; and updating, in association with such particular database subject, in such database, such overall degree of relevance of each of such plurality of natural-language terms associated with such particular database subject.
  • such a system further comprising: providing a software management system to directly manage such database and such population of users essentially without outside management; and providing for variables in such software management system to be configurable without affecting such direct management operations; wherein such software management system comprises: soliciting of sufficient information from such users for automatic role qualification enhancing software selection and maintenance of a management sub-community; measuring management efforts of each of such management sub-community; queuing of qualified users for a next opening in such management sub-community; setting of goals for each. of such management community; and managing a reward system to reward management efforts of each of such management sub- community.
  • Such a system further comprising: collecting, from each user of such involved subset of such population of users, information about such user's Icnowledge of and experience with such database subject; assessing, based at least in part upon such information, a relative weight to be given to such user's opinions about such database subject; and for the purposes of computing, for such involved subset of such population of users, in such database, an overall degree of relevance of each of such plurality of natural-language terms to such database subject, applying a respective such relative weight for each respective such user's such rating of such degree of relevance in such manner that a more- knowledgeable such user's such rating counts for more in such "overall” computing than does a less-knowledgeable such user's such rating.
  • Such a system further comprising: determining first such user's role as member or contributor; assigning a multiplier- value based on such first " determining; determining second whether such user has personally experienced the subject; assigning a multiplier-value based on such second determining; determining third such user's self- reported qualification to judge such subject; assigning a multiplier-value based on such third determining; determining fourth other users' overall ratings of subjects added by such user; assigning a multiplier- value based on such fourth determining; determining fifth other users' degree of agreements with comments added by such user; assigning a multiplier-value based on such fifth determining; and multiplying together all such multiplier- values to determine such relative weight.
  • Such a system further comprising: rating the relative overall value of each such database subject according to the opinion of each of such involved subset of such population of users; collecting comments about each such database subject according to the opinion of each of such involved subset of such population of users; and associating, in such database, respective such ratings of relative overall value and respective such collected comments with respective such database subjects.
  • a system further comprising: accumulating, storing, and analyzing all associations, including subject categorizations, of all such overall degrees of relevance of all of such plurality of natural-language terms associated with all such database subjects; determining preferred such natural-language terms, according to such population of users, for selected categories of subjects. Additionally, it provides such a system wherein such determining a set of relevant such database subjects as are correlated with a high aggregate degree of relevance among such respective overall degrees of relevance of such set of respective particular-user-preferred such natural-language terms comprises determining an ordered set of relevant such database subjects as are correlated with a highest aggregate degree of relevance among such respective overall degrees of relevance of such set of respective particular-user-preferred such natural-language terms.
  • such presenting to such particular user information about such relevant database subjects includes presenting to such particular user an ordered set of relevant such database subjects as are correlated with a highest aggregate degree of relevance among such respective overall degrees of relevance of such set of respective particular-user-preferred such natural-language terms.
  • this invention provides an Internet website client-server computer system, for use to determine a level of subject interest for each one of a population of users by capturing other users' (of such population of users) opinions about the degree of relevance of each of a respective set of natural language descriptive terms to each of a respective set of subjects, comprising: a server database system of subjects, each associated with a set of relevant natural-language terms for describing each such subject; wherein each of a respective subset of such terms has been assigned, by each of a subpopulation of such population of users, a degree of relevance with respect to a respective such subject; a client interface system arranged so that such one user may select a set of preferred such natural-language terms which, to such one user, best describe preferred "subjects of interest" to such one user; a server computer processor system connected with such server database system and such client interface system; and a server computer software system, operational with such server computer processor system, arranged to provide search processing using such server database system to: determine an overall, according to
  • this invention provides a business system, for a developer of web computer systems of the type involving supporting a community of users searching for particular subject information, to achieve additional revenue from customers using such computer systems, comprising the steps of: providing for such computer systems to operate essentially without customer website management; providing for such computer systems to directly motivate and automatically manage the direct collection of sponsor revenue from respective entities desiring to sponsor a respective particular item of such subject information; and charging such customer, for use of such computer systems, an amount comprising a portion of such sponsor revenue. And, it provides such a business system wherein such particular item of such subject information comprises an exceptional user experience, thereby motivating location-based such entities and a product-based such entities to paying for a plurality of sponsorships.
  • this invention provides a business system, for a developer, for use by customers having websites, of web computer systems of the type involving supporting a community of users interacting with a database searching for particular subject information, comprising: providing for such computer systems to comprise software management systems to directly manage such database and such community of users essentially without customer website management; and providing for variables in such software management systems to be configurable by such customer without affecting such direct management operations; wherein such software management systems comprise soliciting of sufficient information from users for automatic role qualification enhancing software selection and maintenance of a management sub- community, measuring management efforts of each of such management sub-community, queuing of qualified users for a next opening in such management sub-community, setting of goals for each of such management community, and managing a reward system to reward management efforts of each of such management sub-community.
  • this invention provides a business system, supplied by a developer, for use by customers having websites comprising web server computer systems of the type involving supporting a community of users, having client computer systems, interacting with a database searching for particular subject information, comprising providing, for website use: computer software means for direct automatic management of such database and such community of users essentially without customer website management; computer software means for permitting such customer to configure a large set of variables in such computer software means for direct automatic management of such database and such community of users without affecting full operation of such direct automatic management; wherein such computer software means for direct automatic management of such database and such community of users essentially without customer website management comprises computer software means for soliciting of sufficient information from such users for automatic role qualification enhancing automatic selection and automatic maintenance of a management sub-community, computer software means for automatically measuring management efforts of each of such management sub- community, computer software means for automatically providing queuing of qualified users for a next opening in such management sub-community, computer software means for automatic setting of goals for each of such management community, and computer software software means for direct setting of goals for each
  • Such computer software means for direct automatic management of such database and such community of users essentially without customer website management further comprises: computer software means for describing a database subject using a plurality of natural- language terms, each of such plurality of natural-language terms having relevance to such subject according to an involved subset of such community of users; computer software means for rating the degree of relevance of each of such plurality of natural-language terms to such database subject according to each of such involved subset of such community of users; computer software means for associating, in such database, each respective natural- language term of each such plurality of natural-language terms and such associated respective degree of relevance with each such database subject; and computer software means for computing, for such involved subset of such community of users, in such database, an overall degree of relevance of each of such plurality of natural-language terms to such database subject.
  • Such computer software means for direct automatic management of such database and such community of users essentially without customer website management further comprises: computer software means for automatically. assisting such management sub-community to solicit subject sponsors; and computer software means for permitting such subject sponsors automatically to send website materials and pay fees.
  • computer software means for automatically managing a reward system to reward management efforts of each of such management sub-community comprises: a computer software system for measuring and storing each contribution, including users' comments, to the database of each of such management sub-community; and computer software means for making available to each of such management sub-community a contributor record of how many views other users have made of such contributions, including how many users agreed with such contributor's comments.
  • Such a business system wherein such contributor record is associated with the phrase, "lives touched". Also, it provides such a business system wherein such computer software means for automatically managing a reward system to reward management efforts of each of such management sub-community comprises a computer software system configurable to automatically allocate percentage rewards to a particular one of such management sub-community as a percentage of a settable pool. In addition, it provides such a business system wherein such percentage rewards from such pool may be paid only to a settable percentage of such management sub-community.
  • Such computer software means for direct automatic management of such database and such community of users essentially without customer website management further comprises: computer software means for automatically aggregating all user-proposed items for database adds, changes, and deletions into a review queue to which such management sub-community has access; and computer software means for automatically requiring at least one of such management sub-community to review and approve any such item before website publication is implemented.
  • such business system provides such a business system, wherein: such review queue is multi-level based essentially on item "aging"; and escalating rewards are offered to at least a set of such management sub-community for disposal of "older" items.
  • such computer software means for automatically managing a reward system to reward management efforts of each of such management sub-community comprises a computer software system wherein each of such management community may be motivated to perform highly specific actions to further business objectives of such business system by automatically awarding more or less rewards for specific actions to influence behavior.
  • such computer software means for automatically managing a reward system to reward management efforts of each of such management sub-community may be configured "on the fly”.
  • this invention provides a business system, supplied by a developer, for use by customers having websites comprising web server computer systems of the type involving supporting a community of users, having client computer systems, interacting with a database searching for particular subject information, comprising providing, for website use: computer software means for direct automatic management of such database and such community of users essentially without customer website management; and computer software means for permitting such customer to configure a large set of variables in such computer software means for direct automatic management of such database and such community of users without affecting full operation of such direct automatic management; wherein such computer software means for direct automatic management of such database and such community of users essentially without customer website management comprises computer software means for soliciting of sufficient information from such users for automatic role qualification enhancing automatic selection and automatic maintenance of a management sub-community, computer software means for automatically measuring management efforts of each of such management sub- community, computer software means for automatically providing queing of qualified users for a next opening in such management sub-community, computer software means for automatic setting of goals for each of such management community, computer software means
  • management sub-community to review and approve any such item before website publication is implemented, wherein such review queue is multi-level based essentially on item "aging", and escalating rewards are offered to at least a set of such management sub-community for disposal of "older" items
  • computer software means for automatically managing a reward system to reward management efforts of each of such management sub-community comprises a computer software system configurable to automatically allocate percentage rewards to a particular one of such management sub-community as a percentage of a settable pool, and wherein such percentage rewards from such pool may be paid only to a settable percentage of such management sub-community.
  • Such computer software means for direct automatic management of such database and such community of users essentially without customer website management further comprises: computer software means for describing a database subject using a plurality of natural-language terms, each of such plurality of natural-language terms having relevance to such subject according to an involved subset of such community of users; computer software means for rating the degree of relevance of each of such plurality of natural-language terms to such database subject according to each of such involved subset of such community of users; computer software means for associating, in such database, each respective natural-language term of each such plurality of natural-language terms and such associated respective degree of relevance with each such database subject; and computer software means for computing, for such involved subset of such community of users, in such database, an overall degree of relevance of each of such plurality of natural-language terms to such database subject.
  • this invention provides a computer system, usable by a large population of Internet users, for creating and maintaining information in a searchable database of defined categories of subjects, comprising, in combination: storage means for storing a large corpus of natural language terms for describing such subjects; relevancy storage means for storing, associated with each such defined category, at least a respective subset of such terms most relevant, according to such population, to such subject within such respective defined category; processing means for updating such relevancy storage means; processing means for presenting to one such user, in association with one such subject, a plurality of such terms most relevant to such subject; interface processing means for assisting such user to choose from such plurality of such presented terms a plurality of such-user-preferred most-relevant such terms to such subject; interface processing means for assisting such user to rate on a predefined scale the relative degree of relevance of each such most-relevant term to such one subject; storage means for storing such respective ratings of such respective most-relevant terms for such respective subject according to each of a subpopulation of such
  • processing means for computing, for such subpopulation, a pre-selected type of overall degree of relevance to each respective such subject of each respective such most-relevant term comprises: storage means for dating each such user ratings of such degree of relevance of such natural-language term; and processing means for removing such user ratings of more than a selected age from being used in such computing of such overall degree of relevance.
  • processing means for updating such relevancy storage means comprises: computer means for determining which of such natural-language terms have been used most in such defined category ⁇ as top words; computer means for determining percentage breakdown of top words by first alphabet letter of all such natural-language terms in such defined category; computer means for finding the selected number of such natural- language terms to be displayed in each display process; computer means for, for each set of first-alphabet-letter words and each such selected number, grabbing the specified percentage of top words; and computer means for applying the above four steps once each selected timeframe to update such relevancy storage means.
  • such interface processing means for assisting a particular user to base a .---,,., repet ⁇ -,
  • subject search at least upon a chosen set of particular-user-preferred such natural language terms further comprises: interface processing means for assisting such particular user to select other search options on which to co-base such subject search; wherein such other search options are selected from the class which consists essentially of a defined category of subjects a defined subcategory of subjects a defined location of subjects a defined subject a defined organization name a defined sum of money to spend a defined amount of time to spend.
  • this invention provides an Internet website client-server computer system, for use to determine by e-mail survey a level of subject approval for each one of a population of survey participants by capturing each such participant's opinions about the degree of relevance of each of a respective set of natural language terms to each of a respective set of subjects, comprising: a client interface system arranged so that a survey taker may indicate at least a defined question for the survey, a such set of subjects to be evaluated, a such set of natural-language terms to be rated as to relevancy to each subject, a participant audience, and a time- frame for response; a server computer processor system connected with such client interface system; and a server computer software system, operational with such server computer processor system, arranged to provide survey processing comprising compiling a survey file and survey document in accordance with survey taker input, communicating such survey document to such participant audience, and receiving and tabulating responses. Even further, it provides such a system further comprising displaying survey results at a publicized URL.
  • this invention provides an Internet client-server system for assisting at least one group of users having at least one common goal to capture and search, in a single database, offered knowledge, relevant to such at least one common goal, of a plurality of such users for the benefit of at least one of such users, comprising: individually capturing for such database at least one experience of at least some of such plurality; storing in such database such experience; user-searching, using at least one natural-language word, to select at least one desired kind of stored experience; performing such user-searching; and presenting search results.
  • an Internet client-server system further comprising searchably capturing for such database at least one item of such knowledge selected from the group consisting essentially of user- advice opinions of experts people who can help miscellaneous such knowledge of users.
  • it provides such an Internet client-server system further comprising a substantially automatic website management system.
  • it provides such an Internet client- server system further comprising automatically rewarding assisting users for website management assistance.
  • an Internet client-server system further comprising: providing a software management system to directly manage such database and such population of users essentially without outside management; and providing for variables in such software management system to be configurable without affecting such direct management operations; wherein such software management system comprises measuring management efforts of each of at least one management sub-community, setting goals for each of such management community, and managing a reward system to reward management efforts of each of such management sub-community.
  • an Internet client-server system further comprising searchably capturing for such database such knowledge of users concerning useful knowledge sources outside such group of users.
  • an Internet client- server system further comprising searchably capturing for such database such knowledge of users concerning useful knowledge sources outside such group of users.
  • it provides such an Internet client-server system further comprising: providing at least one capability for at least one user to complete on-line at least one multiple choice poll; and providing at least one reward for such at least one user to completing such at least one multiple choice poll.
  • such common goal is sales-oriented,; such group of users comprises sales personnel; and those receiving such benefit comprise sales personnel.
  • step of user- searching, using at least one natural-language word, to select at least one desired kind of stored knowledge further comprises: selecting, if any, such at least one kind of stored experience associated with .chosen such at least one natural language word; selecting, if any, such at least one kind of stored experience in which the text of such at least one stored experience contains the chosen such at least one natural-language word; selecting, if any, such at least one kind of stored experience in which the category of such at least one stored experience contains the chosen such at least one natural-language word; and selecting, if any, such at least one kind of stored experience in which the title of such at least one stored experience contains the chosen such at least one natural-language word. Additionally, it provides such an Internet client-server system, further comprising automatically managing a reward system to reward efforts of such at least one user.
  • an Internet client-server system further comprising: automatically measuring and storing each experience contribution, including users' comments made by each such at least one user; assigning points to be accumulated for each such experience contribution; automatically accumulating assigned points for each such experience contribution by each such at least one user; automatically reporting such points accumulated for each such experience contribution; defining at least one criteria for awarding prizes based on such accumulated points; and automatically awarding prizes to such at least one user with accumulated points meeting such at least one criteria.
  • an Internet client-server system further comprising managing such database and such group of users essentially without customer website management; permitting at least one customer to configure a plurality of variables in such computer software for such managing of such database; automatically setting goals for each such user participating in at least one management community; and automatically managing a reward system to reward management efforts of each of such at least one user of such at least one management community.
  • an Internet client-server system further comprising: rating the relative overall value of each such at least one item of such experience according to the opinion of each of such involved subset of such population of users; collecting comments about each at least one item of such experience according to the opinion of each of such involved subset of such population of users; and associating, in such database, respective such ratings of relative overall value and respective such collected comments with respective such at least one item of such experience .
  • an Internet client-server system further comprising automatically accumulating system operation data.
  • system operation data comprises: data about compliance with such set of performance goals for each of at least one involved subset of such population of users; data about each type of such stored experience; data about such reward system; and data about interviews of each of such involved subset of such population of users.
  • system operation data comprises: data about compliance with such set of performance goals for each of at least one involved subset of such population of users; data about each type of such stored experience; data about such reward system; and data about interviews of each of such involved subset of such population of users.
  • system operation data comprises: data about compliance with such set of performance goals for each of at least one involved subset of such population of users; data about each type of such stored experience; data about such reward system; and data about interviews of each of such involved subset of such population of users.
  • Internet client-server system further comprising permitting such at least one user to view successively more detailed levels of such automatically accumulated system operation data.
  • an Internet client-server system further comprising: requesting installation of at least one independent database access module onto the personal computer of such at least one user; permitting selection, using such independent database access module, of at least one category of such knowledge for display by such at least one user; automatically searching, using such at least one independent database access module, such database, without need of a browser, for at least one selected category of such knowledge from such database; and displaying, using such at least one independent database access module, found knowledge from such at least one pre-determined category of such knowledge from such database to such at least one user.
  • an Internet client-server system further comprising: displaying continuously at least one selected type of such pre-determined information from at least one pre-determined category of such knowledge from such knowledge stored in such database to such at least one user; and scrolling a display of at least one selected type of such predetermined information from at least one pre-determined category of such knowledge from such knowledge stored in such database to such at least one user .
  • it provides such an Internet client-server system further comprising: making specific requests for information from information stored in such database by such at least one user.
  • an Internet client-server system fiirfher comprising: receiving at least one request for information from such at least one user; storing such at least one request for information; notifying designated other such at least one user with particular expertise about such at least one request for information; storing such at least one request for information and at least one response by such at least one user with particular expertise as such at least one experience; and notifying such at least one user, requesting information, of such at least one experience containing such at least one request and such at least one response.
  • this invention provides an Internet client-server system for assisting a group of users with at least one common goal to capture and search, in a single database, offered knowledge, relevant to such at least one common goal, of a plurality of such users for the benefit of at least one of such users, comprising: interface means for individually capturing for such database at least one experience of at least some of such plurality; database means for storing such experiences; interface means for user-searching, using at least one natural-language word, to select at least one desired kind of stored experience; processor means for performing such user-searching; and interface means for presenting search results.
  • an Internet client- server system further comprising computer means for searchably capturing for such database at least one item of such knowledge selected from the group consisting essentially of: user- advice opinions of experts people who can help miscellaneous such knowledge of users.
  • PCT7US2003/023046 means for substantially-automatic website managing. Moreover, it provides such an Internet client-server system further comprising computer means for automatically rewarding assisting users for website management assistance. Additionally, it provides such an Internet client-server system further comprising computer means for searchably capturing for such database such knowledge of users concerning useful sources outside such group of users. Also, it provides such an Internet client-server system further comprising computer means for providing at least one capability for at least one user to automatically take a desired survey among a selected subgroup of such users.
  • such interface means for user-searching, using at least one natural-language word, to select at least one desired kind of stored experience further comprises computer means for selecting, if any, such at least one kind of stored experience associated with chosen such at least one natural language word; computer means for selecting, if any, such at least one kind of stored experience in which the text of such at least one stored experience contains the chosen such at least one natural-language word; computer means for selecting, if any, such at least one kind of stored experience in which the category of such at least one stored experience contains the chosen such at least one natural-language word; and computer means for selecting, if any, such at least one kind of stored experience in which the title of such at least one stored experience contains the chosen such at least one natural-language word.
  • an Internet client-server system further comprising computer means for automatically managing a reward system to reward efforts of such at least one user.
  • computer means for automatically measuring and storing each experience contribution including users' comments made by each such at least one user; computer means for assigning points to be accumulated for each such experience contribution; computer means for automatically accumulating assigned points for each such experience contribution by each such at least one user; computer means for automatically reporting such points accumulated for each such experience contribution; computer means for defining at least one criteria for awarding prizes based on such accumulated points; and computer means for automatically awarding prizes to such at least one user with accumulated points meeting such at least one criteria.
  • an Internet client-server system further comprising computer means for managing of such database and such group of users essentially without customer website management; computer means for permitting at least one customer to configure a plurality of variables in such computer software for such managing of such database; computer means for automatically setting goals for each such user participating in at least one management community; and computer means for automatically managing a reward system to reward management efforts of each of such at least one user of such at least one management community.
  • an Internet client-server system further comprising: computer means for rating the relative overall value of each such at least one item of such experience according to the opinion of each of such involved subset of such population of users; computer means for collecting comments about each at least one item of such experience according to the opinion of each of such involved subset of such population of users; and computer means for associating, in such database, respective such ratings of relative overall value and respective such collected comments with respective such at least one item of such experience .
  • it provides such an Internet client-server system further comprising computer means for automatically accumulating system operation data.
  • system operation data comprises: data about compliance with such set of performance goals for each of at least one involved subset of such population of users; data about each type of such stored experience; data about such reward system; and data about interviews of each of such involved subset of such population of users.
  • system operation data comprises: data about compliance with such set of performance goals for each of at least one involved subset of such population of users; data about each type of such stored experience; data about such reward system; and data about interviews of each of such involved subset of such population of users.
  • Internet client- server system further comprising computer means for permitting such at least one user to view successively more detailed levels of such automatically accumulated system operation data.
  • an Internet client-server system further comprising: computer means for requesting installation of at least one independent database access module onto the personal computer of such at least one user; computer means for permitting selection, using such independent database access module, of at least one category of such knowledge for display by such at least one user; computer means for automatically searching, using such at least one independent database access module, such database, without need of a browser, for at least one selected category of such knowledge from such database; and computer means for displaying, using such at least one independent database access module, found knowledge from such at least one pre-determined category of such knowledge from such database to such at least one user.
  • an Internet client-server system further comprising: computer means for displaying continuously at least one selected type of such pre-determined information from at least one pre-determined category of such knowledge from such knowledge stored in such database to such at least one user ; and computer means for scrolling a display of at least one selected type of such pre-determined information from at least one pre-determined category of such knowledge from such knowledge stored in such database to such at least one user .
  • an Internet client-server system further comprising: computer means for receiving at least one request for information from such at least one user; computer means for storing such at least one request for information; computer means for notifying designated other such at least one user with particular expertise about such at least one request for information; computer means for storing such at least one request for information and at least one response by such at least one user with particular expertise as such at least one experience; and computer means for notifying such at least one user, requesting information, of such at least one experience containing such at least one request and such at least one response.
  • Such Internet client-server systems wherein: such common goal is sales-oriented, such group of users comprises sales personnel; and those receiving such benefit comprise sales personnel.
  • Client-Server A model of interaction in a distributed system in which a program at one site sends a request to a program at another site and waits for a response.
  • the requesting program is called the "client,” and the program which responds to the request is called the “server.”
  • the client is typically a "Web browser” which runs on a user's computer; the program which responds to Web browser requests at a Web site is commonly referred to as a "Web server.”
  • Contributor or Managing Member or Correspondent An individual, who has been determined to be qualified and who has committed to a given level of effort to review and add subjects to the database for which he/she earns points in the contributor's pool of earned points.
  • a contributor also is sometimes referred to as a correspondent or managing member.
  • DNS Domain Name System
  • a guest may earn points in the guest pool of earned points or additional access to database content for his/her contributions of ratings, comments, opinions, etc.
  • HyperText Markup Language HTML
  • HTML HyperText Markup Language
  • HTML tags can be used to create links to other websites and other Web documents (commonly referred to as "hyperlinks").
  • HTTP HyperText Transport Protocol
  • HTTP includes a number of different types of messages that can be sent from the client to the server to request different types of server actions. For example, a "GET" message, which has the format GET, causes the server to return the document or file located at the specified Universal Resource Locator (URL).
  • URL Universal Resource Locator
  • Internet A collection of interconnected (public and/or private) networks that are linked together by a set of standard protocols to form a distributed network. While this term is intended to refer to what is now commonly known as the Internet, it is also intended to encompass variations which may be made in the future, including changes and additions to existing standard protocols.
  • IIS Internet Information Server
  • Java A general purpose programming language developed by Sun Microsystems. Java has a number of features that make the language well-suited for use on the World Wide Web. Small Java applications are called Java applets and can be downloaded from a Web server and run on a personal computer by a Java-compatible Web browser, such as Netscape Navigator or Microsoft Explorer.
  • Java Servlets A small Java-based program designed to perform a specific task within a Web server environment. Java Servlets are analogous to Java applets except they are designed to only run on the Web server.
  • Java Virtual Machine A set of applications that create a run time environment for executing Java code.
  • JRun A server-side extension that allows a Web server to execute Java Servlets for the processing and display of information.
  • JRun is a widely adopted engine for developing and deploying server-side Java applications that use Java Servlets and JavaServer Pages (JSP).
  • JSP JavaServer Pages
  • JDBC Java Database Connectivity
  • ODBC Open DataBase Connectivity
  • Sponsor A person, organization, or business that agrees to pay the company a monthly fee in return for the opportunity to add additional information about their subjects to the database or the opportunity to provide direct links to the sponsor's own web site.
  • Subject Represents the information content that describes a specific product, service, topic, or a leisure or recreational activity contained in the database, preferably an exceptional experience. Each subject entry contains some "profile” information and the descriptive words or terms used to describe and/or rate the experience. As applied to Sales Advice embodiments herein, "Subject” refers to the topic/product/service about which the advice is being given or sought.
  • TCP/IP Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol
  • TCP/IP Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol
  • TCP/IP handles issues such as packetization, packet addressing, handshaking and error correction.
  • TCP/IP see Volumes I, II and III of Comer and
  • URL Uniform Resource Locator
  • protocol protocol://machine address:port/path/filename.
  • the port specification is optional, and if none is entered by the user, the Web browser defaults to the standard port for whatever service is specified as the protocol. For example, if HTTP is specified as the protocol, the Web browser will use the HTTP default port.
  • the machine address in this example is the domain name for the computer or device on which the file is located.
  • World Wide Web Used herein to refer generally to both (1) a distributed collection of interlinked, user- viewable hypertext documents (commonly referred to as "Web documents”, “Web pages”, “electronic pages” or “home pages”) that are accessible via the Internet, and (2) the client and server software components that provide user access to such documents using standardized Internet protocols.
  • Web documents commonly referred to as "Web documents", “Web pages”, “electronic pages” or “home pages”
  • HTML HyperText Markup Language
  • HTML HyperText Markup Language
  • World Wide Web and “Web” are intended to encompass future markup languages and transport protocols which may be used in place of or in addition to the HyperText Markup Language and the HyperText Transfer Protocol.
  • FIG. 1-A is diagrammatical overview of the Internet communications used in the instant system according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 1-B is diagrammatical overview of the website computer system according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 1-C is diagrammatical overview of the relationship among the website servers and the users according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a diagrammatical view of a prior art system according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 3 is a diagrammatical view of the instant system according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 4 is a diagrammatical view of the activity database according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 5 is a diagrammatical view of the experience management automation according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 6 is a diagrammatical view of the word management automation according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 7 is a diagrammatical view of reporting management automation according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 8 is a diagrammatical view of the correspondent and member management automation according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 9 is a diagrammatical view of the rewards management automation according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 10 is a diagrammatical view of the sponsorship management automation according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 11 is a diagrammatical view of the sponsorship process according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 12 is a further diagrammatical view illustrating the automated management of sponsorships according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 13 is a diagrammatical view of adding and viewing subjects according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 14 is a diagrammatical view of the weighting of overall subject and descriptive word ratings according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 15 is a diagrammatical view of the e-mail management automation according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 16 is a diagrammatical view of the descriptive word promotion according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 17 is a diagrammatical view of the subject search process according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 18 shows explanatory notes relating to FIG. 17 according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 19 is a diagrammatical view of the preferred survey procedure according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 20 is a diagrammatical view of the preferred instant software system according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 21 is a diagrammatical view of the home page screen according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 22 is a diagrammatical view of the search box screen according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 23 is a diagrammatical view of the category box screen according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 24 is a diagrammatical view of the Terraformer (Configuration and Administration) Module screen according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 25 is a diagrammatical view of the subcategories button screen according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIGS. 26- A and 26-B are diagrammatical views of the member registration screen according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIGS. 27-A and 27-B are diagrammatical views of the correspondent registration screen according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 28 is a diagrammatical view of the correspondent application screen according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 29 is a diagrammatical view of the questions screen according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 30 is a diagrammatical view of the answers screen according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIGS. 31-33 are diagrammatical views of the add-a-subject screens according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 34 is a diagrammatical view of a preferred screen illustrating the minimum and maximum number of descriptive words one wants to display for the user during the process of adding a subject according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 35 is a further diagrammatical view of the descriptive word screen according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 36 is a diagrammatical view of a preferred screen for add-a-subject according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 37 is a diagrammatical view of a screen depicting the configuration of opinion multipliers according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIGS. 38-A and 38-B are diagrammatical views of a screen illustrating the add-a- subject process, showing the words to be rated according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 39 is a diagrammatical view of the add- additional- words screen according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 40 is a diagrammatical view of the comments screen according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIGS. 41-A and 41-B are diagrammatical views of the preview screen according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 42 is a diagrammatical view of the results screen according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIGS. 43 -A and 43 -B are diagrammatical top views of the subject page screen.
  • FIG. 44 is a diagrammatical view of the subcategories screen according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIGS. 45-A and 45-B are diagrammatical views of personalized search screens according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 46 is a diagrammatical view of a screen illustrating the descriptive words and/or phrases pre-selected by the client to appear with a category according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 47 is a diagrammatical view of a box in the lower left-hand corner of the subject page screen, offering the opportunity to sponsor the subject according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIGS. 48-A and 48-B are diagrammatical views of the screen returned to begin to get the desired information from the sponsor according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIGS. 49-A through 49-D are diagrammatical views of screens illustrating the next sponsorship screens to receive information according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 50 is a diagrammatical view of the sponsor section headers screen according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIGS. 51 -A through 51-C are diagr-immatical top-to-bottom views of the newly sponsored page screen according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 52 is a diagrammatical view of the payment information screen according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 53 is a diagrammatical view of the screen illustrating the confirmation of sponsorship according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIGS. 54-A and 54-B are top-to-bottom diagrammatical views of the subject-just- sponsored screen according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIGS. 55-A and 55 -B are diagrammatical views illustrating the screen where a registered user may add opinions to an existing subject's rating and reviewing according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 56 is a diagrammatical view of the improvement screen according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIGS. 57-A and 57-B are diagrammatical views of the screen illustrating the various elements comprising each "MyPage" according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 58 is a diagrammatical view of the screen illustrating the "My Contributions" box according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 59 is a diagrammatical view of the "Subjects Added” screen according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 60 is a diagrammatical view of the screen illustrating the "Lives Touched" box according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 61 is a diagrammatical view of the comments screen according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 62 is a further diagrammatical view of the comments screen according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 63 is a diagrammatical view of the screen illustrating a sample page for "Subjects Awaiting Approval" according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 64 is a diagrammatical view showing a rejected subjects screen according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 65 is a diagrammatical view of the "To Do List" screen according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 66 is a diagrammatical view of the "Notify organizations for Subjects added" screen according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 67 is a diagrammatical view of the screen illustrating the sending an email to an organization according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 68 is a diagrammatical view of the screen showing details of the subjects added according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention. .---,,., repet ⁇ -,
  • FIG. 69 is a diagrammatical view of the screen illustrating further details of an added subject awaiting review according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 70 is a diagrammatical view illustrating a reviewing improvements screen according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIGS. 71 -A and 71-B are diagrammatical views of a screen wherein the correspondent can review improvements according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 72 is a diagrammatical view of the process of deleting subjects from the screen according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 73 is a diagrammatical view of the screen illustrating the subject that's recommended for deletion according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 74 is a diagrammatical view of a screen illustrating "My Favorite Subjects" box according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 75 is a diagrammatical view of a screen illustrating "My Interests" box according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 76 is a diagrammatical view of a screen illustrating "My Organization" box according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 77 is a diagrammatical view of a screen illustrating "My Rewards" box according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 78 is a diagrammatical view of a screen illustrating points earned according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 79 is a diagrammatical view of a screen illustrating the subjects added in an area according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 80 is a diagrammatical view of the "Account Balance" screen according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 81 is a diagrammatical view of a screen illustrating cash out according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 82 is a diagrammatical view of the screen for "Tell a Friend" according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 83 is a diagrammatical view of the "Rate other comments" screen according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 84 is a diagrammatical view of the add-a-comment screen according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 85 is a diagrammatical view of a screen illustrating the configuration of points per action according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 86 is a diagrammatical view of a screen illustrating the configuration of contests.
  • FIG. 87 is a diagrammatical view of a screen illustrating the configuration of category display according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 88 is a diagrammatical view of a screen illustrating the configuration of regions according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 89 is a diagrammatical view of a screen illustrating the process of editing the name of an existing region according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 90 is a diagrammatical view of a screen illustrating the configuration of age groups in Terraformer (Configuration and Administration) Module according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 91 is a diagrammatical view of a screen illustrating the configuration of bonus points in Terraformer (Configuration and Administration) Module according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 92 is a diagrammatical view of a screen illustrating the configuration of point goals and opinion multipliers in Terraformer (Configuration and Adminisfration) Module according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 93 is a diagrammatical view of a screen illustrating the configuration of feedback subjects in Terraformer (Configuration and Administration) Module according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 94 is a diagrammatical view of a screen illustrating the configuration of sponsorship fees in Terraformer (Configuration and Administration) Module according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIGS. 95-A and 95-B are diagrammatical views of a screen illustrating how to create and manage surveys with the survey tool according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIGS. 96-A and 96-B are diagrammatical views of the "Create a Survey" screen according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 97 is a diagrammatical view of a screen illustrating further survey elements according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention. .---,,., submit ⁇ -,
  • FIGS. 98-A and 98-B are diagrammatical views of a screen illustrating response and results in connection with a survey according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 99 is a diagrammatical view of a screen illustrating the survey area text- customization process according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 100 is a diagrammatical view of a screen illustrating the custom text fields for use at survey completion according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 101 is a diagrammatical view of a screen illustrating the "Congratulations" page following a survey according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 102 is a diagrammatical view of a screen illustrating the "User Account History" page according to a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 103 is a diagrammatical view of a preferred business method according to a second described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 104 is diagrammatical view of a preferred business method for implementing the system for a licensee according to a second described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 105 is schematic view of the processes for using Advice Spy according to a second described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 106 is schematic view of the search methods used when using keyword search according to a second described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 107 illustrates a sample preferred Login screen according to a second described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 108 is a preferred screen display for helping a user log in to the system according to a second described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 109 illustrates a sample preferred screen displayed after logging out of the system according to a second described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 110A and FIG. HOB illustrate a sample preferred home page according to a second described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. Ill demonstrates the Browse by Category screen according to a second described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 112 is a sample preferred Keyword Search Results screen according to a second described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 113 is a sample preferred Search Results - Matches Found screen according to a second described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 114 is a sample preferred Search Results - No Matches Found screen according to a second described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 115 is a sample preferred Refine Search screen according to a second described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 116 is a sample preferred Expert Search Results screen according to a second described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 117 is a sample preferred Browse Experts screen according to a second described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 118A and FIG. 118B present a sample preferred Sales Advice screen providing information about particular experience according to a second described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 119 is a sample preferred Sales Advice Sales Cycle Usage Breakdown screen according to a second described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 120 is a sample preferred Sales Advice - Individual screen providing information about a particular person in the database according to a second described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 121 is a sample preferred Sales Advice Attachments screen according to a second described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 122 A and FIG. 122B present sample preferred Comments screen for a selected Sale Advice entry according to a second described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 123 is a sample preferred rating points award screen for an action taken according to a second described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 124 is a sample preferred Collective Feedback summarizing the nature of other's feedback about selected Sales Advice screen according to a second described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 125 is a sample preferred Add Comments screen which allows a user to add his/her own comments about a selected Sales Advice according to a second described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 126A, FIG. 126B and FIG. 126C present a sample preferred Add Sales Advice
  • Step 1 of 3 screen according to a second described preferred embodiment of the present invention is a first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 127A and FIG. 127B present sample preferred Add Sales Advice Step 2 of 3 screen according to a second described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG ' . 128A and FIG. 128B illustrate a sample prefened Add Sales Advice Step 3 of 3 Preview screen according to a second described prefened embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 129 A and FIG. 129B present a sample prefened Add Sales Advice Step 3 of 3 Add screen according to a second described prefened embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 130 is a sample prefened Add Sales Advice Thank You screen when no additional approval is required according to a second described prefened embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 131 A and FIG. 13 IB illustrate a sample prefened Add External Expert screen according to a second described prefened embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 132A and FIG. 132B illustrate a sample prefened Add Internal Expert screen according to a second described prefened embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 133A and FIG. 133B is a sample prefened My Page screen.
  • FIG. 134A and FIG. 134B present a sample prefened My Page - Sales Advice Added screen which provides a summary of Sales Advice added by the user according to a second described prefened embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 135 A and FIG. 135B is a sample prefened My Profile - Edit screen which allows users to update their profile according to a second described prefened embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 136 is a sample prefened My Page - Review Queue - Q&A screen which is used to begin the process of reviewing and answering submitted Q&A entries.
  • FIG. 137A and FIG. 137B illustrate a sample prefened Q&A Review Respond Step 1 screen according to a second described prefened embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 138A and FIG. 138B is a sample prefened Q&A Review and Respond Step 2 screen according to a second described prefened embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 139 is a sample prefened Q&A Review and Respond Step 3 screen according to a second described prefened embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 140 A and FIG. 140B present a sample prefened Q&A Review and Respond Completion screen according to a second described prefened embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 141 is a sample prefened Q&A question entry screen for entering and editing questions to be submitted according to a second described prefened embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 142 is a sample prefened Q&A Question Possible Matches screen which indicates other submitted questions which may match the current question according to a second described prefened embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 143 is a sample prefened Q&A Question submission Complete screen indicating the question has been successfully submitted according to a second described prefened embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 144 is a sample prefened Info Need screen which provides users a method for inputting suggestions regarding additional database content according to a second described prefened embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 145 is a sample prefened Info Need Submission Complete screen which confirms acceptance of the submitted Info Need according to a second described prefened embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 146 is a sample prefened Info Need List screen which displays submitted Info Needs and user's agreement according to a second described prefened embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 147 is a sample prefened awards & Standings screen which displays a user's overall standing in all awards and promotions programs according to a second described prefened embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 148 is a sample prefened awards & Standings Winners screen presenting the winners for a particular promotion according to a second described prefened embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 149 is a sample prefened awards & Standings Promotion Details screen for a particular promotion according to a second described prefened embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 150 is a sample prefened awards & Standings Promotions screen summarizing cunent and past promotions according to a second described prefened embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 151 is a sample prefened awards & Standings Point Club screen summarizing the cunent point clubs and points leaders according to a second described prefened embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 152A and FIG. 152B present a sample prefened Point Club Set Up and edit screen according to a second described prefened embodiment of the present invention. .---,,., repet ⁇ -,
  • FIG. 153 is a sample prefened Point Club Set Up Completion screen according to a second described prefened embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 154 is a sample prefened My Points screen summarizing what actions have been taken and their related points for a user according to a second described prefened embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 155 is a sample prefened My Rank Total Points screen which provides a summary of a user's total points and how the user compares to other users according to a second described prefened embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 156 is a sample prefened My Rank Sales Advice Added screen summary of a user's total points and how the user compares to other users for a specific action such as adding Sales Advice according to a second described prefened embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 157 is a sample prefened Promotion Set up Step 1 screen for establishing a new promotion according to a second described prefened embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 158A and FIG. 158B present a sample prefened Contest/Promotion Set up Qualifications (Step 2) screen for establishing a new promotion according to a second described prefened embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 159 A and FIG. 159B illustrate a sample prefened Promotion Set up Sweepstakes Qualifications (Step 2) screen for sweepstakes type of promotions according to a second described prefened embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 160A and FIG. 160B is a sample prefened Promotion Set up Award Type (Step 3) screen which describes the awards to be offered for a particular promotion according to a second described prefened embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 161 is a sample prefened Promotion Set up Date Set Up (Step 4) screen which sets the effective dates for a particular promotion according to a second described prefened embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 162A and FIG. 162B illustrate a sample prefened Promotion Set up Preview (Step 5) screen according to a second described prefened embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 163 is a sample prefened Promotion Set Up complete screen which confirms successful completion of a particular promotion according to a second described prefened embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 164 is a sample prefened Points & Rank screen providing an overview of a user's overall points and rank and standing in various points clubs according to a second described prefened embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 165 is a sample prefened Your Points & Rank screen displaying a users earned awards in various points clubs according to a second described prefened embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 166 is a sample prefened Advice Spy starting point from the mypage screen (FIG. 133 A and FIG. 133B) according to a second described prefened embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 167 is a sample prefened Advice Spy login and initial set up screen according to a second described prefened embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 168 is a sample prefened Advice Spy overview screen according to a second described prefened embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 169 is a sample prefened Advice Spy My Interests summary with links to the main site screen according to a second described prefened embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 170 is a sample prefened Advice Spy Promotions Summary and links screen to the main site according to a second described prefened embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 171 is an example prefened general preferences screen according to a second described prefened embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 172 is an example prefened alerts preferences screen according to a second described prefened embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 173 is an example prefened ticker preferences screen according to a second described prefened embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 174 is an example prefened My Reports section of the mypage screen (FIG. 133 A and FIG. 133B) according to a second described prefened embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 175 is an example prefened listing of reports a users is authorized to access according to a second described prefened embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 176 is an example prefened screen presenting the reporting options winch are user selectable according to a second described prefened embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 177 is an example prefened screen displaying the highest level report summary for a selected report according to a second described prefened embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 178 is an example prefened screen presenting the next level of detail for a selected report according to a second described prefened embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 179 is an example prefened screen providing detail user profile information from a selected report according to a second described prefened embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 180 is an example prefened screen providing a third level of detail for a selected report according to a second described prefened embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 181 is an example prefened screen providing a fourth level of detail for a selected report according to a second described prefened embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 182A and FIG. 182B illustrate a prefened screen for adding and editing alerts presented to users on login according to a second described prefened embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 183 A and FIG. 183B illustrate a prefened screen for setting up bonus points according to a second described prefened embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 184 illustrates a prefened screen for previewing a bonus points set up according to a second described prefened embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 185 illustrates a prefened screen providing confirmation of bonus point set up according to a second described prefened embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 186A and FIG. 186B illustrate a prefened screen for setting up custom emails and the desired distribution according to a second described prefened embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 187 illustrates a prefened screen for adding and editing the executive spotlight section on the home page (FIG. 110A and FIG. HOB) according to a second described prefened embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 188 illustrates a prefened screen for setting up and editing the functional areas used in the system according to a second described prefened embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 189 illustrates a prefened screen for presenting an overview of the functional areas and their characteristics according to a second described prefened embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 190 illustrates a prefened screen for assisting in setting authorized access to categories for each functional area according tb a second described prefened embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 191 is a sample prefened screen for presenting user with exceptions to the authorized category access for a functional area according to a second described prefened embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 192 is a sample prefened screen for displaying a summary of authorizations for actions by category for a functional area according to a second described prefened embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 193 is a sample prefened screen for setting up user level authorizations for access to various administrative functions according to a second described prefened embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 194 is a sample prefened screen for setting report area authorizations by functional area according to a second described prefened embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 195 is a sample prefened screen for setting which functional areas have authorizations to view user profiles to according to a second described prefened embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 196 is a sample prefened screen used to define the prefened keywords used to describe experts according to a second described prefened embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 197 A and FIG. 197B illustrate a sample prefened screen for setting up an introductory message for first time users according to a second described prefened embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 198 A and FIG 198B present sample prefened screen for adding and editing the news and notes section of the home page (FIG. 110A and FIG. HOB) according to a second described prefened embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 199 A and FIG. 199B illustrate a sample prefened screen for setting up and editing points clubs according to a second described prefened embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 200A and FIG. 200B illustrate sample prefened screen setting up and managing the polling section of the home page (FIG. 110A and FIG. HOB) according to a second described prefened embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 201 is a sample prefened screen for setting up and editing the basic system information according to a second described prefened embodiment of the present invention. .---,,., edit ⁇ -,
  • FIG. 202A and FIG. 202B illustrate a sample prefened screen for setting and editing the various system configuration values that control much of the automation of the system according to a second described prefened embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 203 is a sample prefened screen for basic point values associated with user actions in the system according to a second described prefened embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 204A and FIG. 204B illustrate a sample prefened screen for adding and editing basic user information and key attributes according to a second described prefened embodiment of the present invention.
  • the instant system can measurably capture the opinions, including the evaluative approval opinions, of a population, or subpopulation, of users, by asking users to rate the degree of relevancy of such term to the subject.
  • a user who is looking for a tasty (i.e., taste approved by the user), beautifully served (service and/or look of the plate approved by the user) dessert may use those natural-language terms in a search and find desserts that other users (hopefully like the searcher) have rated as desserts to which tasty and beautifully served were considered to be highly relevant.
  • the user is given by the prefened embodiment of the instant system a discrete choice of, preferably, five levels of relevancy, to which can be applied numbers (like 1 through 5), and such ratings, used by a large population, can be "averaged” to obtain an overall rating for that term to that subject.
  • the relevancy ratings of each of the subpopulation of rating users distinctions are preferably made as to the level of trust to be given to a particular user's rating; and the instant system uses, again, measurable for assigning a "weight" to be given to that particular opinion when it is
  • the instant search engine finds those subjects having a high aggregate rating, considering all of the terms and/or other search options, e.g., an average of the overall ratings of the several, say, terms entered by the user in searching. Further, since, in normal word-of-mouth conversations among people, they often try to give and get approval-evaluation information by using such terms, the site operator will have a data "goldmine” about user's favorite such terms to use in favorably discussing the categories of subjects of such website; and such analyzed data will have a ready market at least in the advertising community.
  • the developer should, in the software system design, preferably limit the operator's labor of management and other responsibilities and create automatic income — from which the developer may be paid well.
  • the instant system in the specific manners described herein, is a prefened embodiment of such a system, needing essentially no operator management - the software itself motivates and rewards the user community sufficiently to keep them doing the sorts of duties otherwise befalling an operator.
  • the present invention preferably comprises a computer system 1-8.
  • the computer system 1-8 comprises input and output devices as is well known in the art.
  • the computer system 1-8 preferably comprises a display screen or monitor 1-4, a keyboard 1-16, a printer 1-14, a mouse 1-6, etc.
  • the computer system 1-8 further preferably comprises a database 1-2 for storage of the data and software comprising prefened embodiments of the present invention.
  • the computer system 1-8 is preferably connected to the Internet 1-12 that serves as the presently prefened communications medium.
  • the Internet 1-12 as previously discussed, comprises a global network of networks and computers, public and private.
  • the Internet 1-12 is the preferable connection method by the users 1-18, 1-20, 1-22 and 1-n in prefened embodiments of the present invention.
  • the computer system 1-8 in a prefened embodiment comprises a database server 1-24 and a web server 1-26.
  • the database server 1-24 preferably runs in a Windows NT environment and preferably utilizes Oracle 8.x as the database engine.
  • the database server 1-24 preferably processes all Gepetto (batch) processes and email. Preferably all Gepetto processes are written in C++ and run as separate execution threads.
  • the web server 1-26 also preferably runs in a Windows NT environment.
  • the web server 1-26 operates as the web server and the servlet engine.
  • the web server software is written in JAVA.
  • FIG. 1-C a simplified functional diagram of a prefened embodiment of the present invention is shown.
  • This figure shows the prefened relationships between a user 1-18 (exemplary of any number of users 1-18, 1-20, 1-22, 1-n), the internet 1-12, the web server 1-26 and the databasq server 1-24.
  • a user 1-18 requests a page from the web site of the present invention.
  • the user 1-18 is preferably connected via the internet 1-12, and the web page request initiates a call to a Java servlet.
  • the servlet is run by the Jrun engine which makes at least one request to the database server 1-24, via the web server 1-26, and generates an HTML page for transmission to the user 1-18 following the database server's completion of the servlet's request and transmission of the requested data back to the web server 1-26.
  • the web server 1-26 transmits the completed HTML page containing the data requested by the user 1-18 through the Internet 1-12 to the user 1-18.
  • the client sets each management option for the Tenaformer (Configuration and Administration) Module, used herein refer to the subsystem of the instant overall system used by customers (website owners) to configure the instant system as prefened by such customer.
  • the Tenaformer (Configuration and Administration) Module preferably comprises the following modules which will be explained in greater detail herein below: Word Management, Subject Management, Conespondent & Member Management, Rewards Management, Sponsorship, E-Mail Set Up Requirements, and Reporting Parameters.
  • the Tenaformer (Configuration and Administration) Modules are coupled to the database tables.
  • the database tables preferably comprise the following modules that will also be explained in greater detail herein below: Management Settings, Users, Subjects, History, and Status. Also shown is that the users may perform certain tasks or otherwise exercise functions, preferably comprising: Search for subjects, Add/Change Subjects, Rate Subjects, Comment on Subjects, Approve Adds/Changes, Notify Potential Sponsors, and Suggest new words. Further preferably linked to the Database are the main modules or functions: GEPETTO, MYPAGE, SPONSOR, E-MAIL, AND REPORTING.
  • FIG. 2 an overview of the prior art comprising an Internet Website serving a community of users to find subjects is shown.
  • the prior art features a plurality of parties comprising an Internet Advertising Placement Agency, the Business Community, the User Community, and the Developer/Operator/Site Managers that interact or have the following relationships between them, with respect to each other and the centrally-located website software, as shown in FIG. 2 and summarized in Table 1 below.
  • Table 1 Table 1:
  • the prior art Website example comprises components and associated programming of: Advertising, Content & Overall Ratings, Management, & Rewards under the control operation and management of the Developer/Operator.
  • Each of these areas requires input or control from one of the parties.
  • the Internet Advertising Placement Agency is responsible for the Website Advertising Placements/View Counts affecting the Website content and programming
  • the user community is responsible for Entries & Overall Ratings into the Website, and receives Rewards distributed from the Website
  • the Developer/Operator/Site Managers are directly responsible for the Configuration and Management of the Website. It should be noted that in general these functions are not automatic.
  • the parties in particular the Developer/Operator/Site Managers, must exercise essentially day-to-day control and management of the Website to assure that the users receive awards, the advertising content and placement is conect, the entries and overall ratings are valid, etc. Also, the Developer/Operator/Site Managers must interact directly with the user community to give Performance and Management Feedback.
  • embodiments of the present invention contrast in very important ways from the prior art.
  • embodiments of the present invention feature a plurality of parties comprising an Internet Advertising Placement Agency, the Business Community, and the User Community.
  • embodiments of the present invention comprise a Customer, a Developer and S ⁇ onsor(s). These parties interact or have the following relationships between them as shown in FIG. 3 and summarized in Table 2 below.
  • Embodiments of the present invention essentially do not have, nor require, an Operator/Site Manager party and their associated functions.
  • Embodiments of the present invention comprise a Customer responsible only for the Website configuration as opposed to both configuration and management. Also, the customer now owns the Website instead of the Developer/Operator/Site Managers thus providing a lower cost solution to Website operation. The customer, in a prefened embodiment, forwards Page Views payments and Sponsorship payment sharing to a Developer who preferably need no longer have essential management functions.
  • the Website preferably comprises components and associated programming of: Advertising, Content & Word Ratings (as opposed to Overall "star” Ratings), Management, & Rewards/Performance Management.
  • the Website interaction between the User Community and the Website now comprises not only rewards but also performance feedback.
  • the User Community now provides to the Website not merely Entries and Overall Ratings, but instead Entries and Word (i.e., again, what is sometimes herein refened to as natural-language term, preferably evaluative, preferably approving) Ratings/ Approvals.
  • ' embodiments of the present invention preferably comprise another party - Sponsors.
  • the Sponsors receive notice of entry from the User Community, and in turn provide automatically-set-up (by the website software) payments to the Website and Sponsor Entries into the Website. Additionally, Sponsor Payments are automatically sent to the Customer. Key features in prefened embodiments of the present invention are preferably that the Website essentially does not require Management by a Developer/Operator/Site Manager, and that the software of the Website performs management functions automatically. Also, the Website automatically interacts with the User Community to establish Content and natural-language term (herein sometimes called "Word") Ratings of relevance to a subject. Refening to FIG. 4, an overview functional diagram of the Activity Database of the main Database 1-2 (see Figs. 1-A, 1-C, and 20) is shown.
  • the Activity Database preferably comprises Activities performed by Users that cause data additions/changes to the Activity Database.
  • the Users comprise: Guests, Members, Conespondents (also called Contributors herein) and Sponsors.
  • the Users may take various actions or interact preferably as follows: Guests may View Subjects. In contrast, Members may View: Experiences, Overall Ratings, Word Ratings, Comments Made, and Agreement with comments. Also, Members may submit Add Subject Requests.
  • Another class of Users, the Conespondents and Sponsors may also preferably View: Experiences, Overall Ratings, Word Ratings, Comments Made, and Agreement with comments.
  • Conespondents and Sponsors may preferably submit Add Subject Requests, Modify Subject Requests, Delete Subject Requests, and submit Ratings Reset Requests.
  • the core of the Experience Management Automation software is preferably comprised within the Tenaformer (Configuration and Administration) Module.
  • the Tenaformer (Configuration and Administration) Module performs Experience Management that preferably comprises the activities of allowing the Customer to: Set word deletion rating threshold; Set subject deletion overall rating threshold, number of months, & minimum rating count; Set ratings removal aging criteria; and Set use of local and national approval queues and time frame for approvals to move between them, or just national queues.
  • the customer preferably initially evaluates and sets each of these configuration and management options that are comprised within the Tenaformer (Configuration and Administration) Module as desired.
  • the Experience Management settings are preferably placed into the WOM Database where they affect and are stored in the Web Site Configuration & Management Settings table.
  • the WOM database tables' content and/or changes are preferably input to the Gepetto Module which will preferably: Remove subjects with overall ratings below threshold; Remove subjects with poor word ratings (optional); Calculate each members weighting value for ratings; Remove old ratings and recalculate rating; Remove old comments, and Generate most used word descriptive word lists.
  • the WOM database tables content and/or changes are also preferably input to the MyPage Reporting Module which will assist implementation of the working of Approval Queues for adds, updates, deletions and potential sponsor notification.
  • the core of the Word Management Automation software is preferably comprised within the Tenaformer (Configuration and Administration) Module.
  • the Tenaformer (Configuration and Administration) Module performs Word Management that preferably comprises the activities of allowing the Customer to: Set conespondent & member subject weightings; Set number of words to be displayed for adds & ratings; Assign words to categori.es/subcategories; and Set word deletion rating threshold.
  • the customer preferably initially evaluates and sets each of these configuration and management options that are comprised within the Tenaformer (Configuration and Administration) Module as desired.
  • the Word Management settings are preferably placed into the WOM Database where they affect and are stored in the Web Site Configuration & Management Settings table.
  • the Word Management Automation software may interact with the Word Management Automation software and preferably perform activities that: Search for Subjects, Add/Change Subjects, Rate Subjects, Comment on Subjects, Approve Adds/Changes, Notify Potential New Sponsors, and Suggest New Words. These activities affect the WOM Database tables: Conespondents, Members & Sponsors; Subjects (Content); Activity History; and Application Status.
  • the WOM database tables content and/or changes are preferably input to the Gepetto Module which will preferably: Calculate Word Usage frequency by sub-category; and Select Words presented in subject add, search, and ratings.
  • the core of the Reporting Management Automation software is preferably comprised within the Tenaformer (Configuration and Administration) Module.
  • the Tenaformer (Configuration and Administration) Module comprises Reporting Parameters that preferably comprises the activity of allowing the Customer to Set Reporting parameters, time frame and level of detail.
  • the customer preferably initially evaluates and sets the configuration and management options for the Reporting Parameters that are comprised within the Tenaformer (Configuration and Administration) Module as desired.
  • the Reporting Management settings are preferably placed into the WOM Database where they affect and are stored in the Web Site Configuration & Management Settings table.
  • Reporting Management Automation software Users may interact with the Reporting Management Automation software and preferably perform activities that: Search for Subjects, Add/Change Subjects, Rate Subjects, Comment on Subjects, Approve Adds/Changes, Notify Potential New Sponsors, and Suggest New words. These activities affect the WOM Database tables: Conespondents, Members &
  • the WOM database tables content and/or changes are preferably input to the Customer/Management Reporting module which will perform the functions of providing reporting for: Overall Member Status; Overall Conespondent Status; Overall Content Status; Detail Content Status; Overall Sponsor Status; and Detail Sponsor Status.
  • FIG. 8 a high level functional diagram of the Conespondent & Member Management Automation software is shown.
  • the core of the Conespondent & Member Management Automation software is preferably comprised within the Tenaformer (Configuration and Administration) Module.
  • the Tenaformer (Configuration and Administration) Module comprises Conespondent & Member Management that comprises preferably activities to: Set qualifications requirements and automatically select conespondents; Set goals for conespondents and members; Set conespondent count management for geographic region (Optional); and Set standards of performance for promotion & demotion.
  • the customer initially evaluates and sets the configuration and management options for the Conespondent & Member Management that are comprised within the Tenaformer (Configuration and Administration) Module as desired.
  • the Conespondent & Member Management settings are placed into the WOM Database where they preferably affect and are stored in the Web Site Configuration & Management Settings table.
  • Conespondent & Member Management Automation software may interact with the Conespondent & Member Management Automation software and perform activities that preferably: Search for Subjects, Add/Change Subjects, Rate Subjects, Comment on Subjects, Approve Adds/Changes, Notify Potential New Sponsors, and Suggest New words. These activities affect the WOM Database tables: Conespondents, Members & Sponsors; Subjects (Content); Activity History; and Application Status.
  • the WOM database tables content and/or changes are preferably input to the MyPage Reporting module which provides information to the Conespondents and Members preferably comprising: Reports "to do's" to members and conespondents; Activity Counts (adds, updates, ratings, comments, approvals; Reports progress against goals for members and conespondents; Report Lives touched, i.e. people who have visited subjects you have added, and their comments made; and Report top "x" number of contributors.
  • the core of the Rewards Management Automation software is preferably comprised within the Tenaformer (Configuration and Administration) Module.
  • the Tenaformer (Configuration and Administration) Module comprises the Rewards
  • Management software that comprises, preferably, activities to: Set amount of the pool $ available for distribution to member and conespondent; Set point values for each member & conespondent activity; Set award pool percentage (%) or count of participants to receive awards; Set dollar ($) value of points (optionally); Set up contest parameters e.g.: Number of entry points parameter, winners are selected randomly from the entrants, etc.; and set the setting of the % or the number (#) of people on the top lists (Top 100 subjects, top Contributors, Top Ratings, etc.).
  • the customer initially evaluates and sets the configuration and management options for the Rewards Management that are comprised within the Tenaformer (Configuration and Administration) Module as desired.
  • the Rewards Management settings are placed into the WOM Database where they preferably affect and are stored in the Web Site Configuration & Management Settings table.
  • the Users may interact with the Rewards Management Automation software and perform activities that preferably: Search for Subjects, Add/Change Subjects, Rate Subjects, Comment on Subjects, Approve Adds/Changes, and Notify Potential New Sponsors. These activities affect the WOM Database tables: Conespondents, Members & Sponsors; Subjects (Content); Activity History; and Application Status.
  • the WOM database tables content and/or changes are preferably input to the MyPage Reporting module which provides information preferably comprising: Report points earned and $ equivalent (optional); and Report contest winners.
  • FIG. 10 a high level functional diagram of the Sponsorship Management Automation software is shown.
  • the core of the Sponsorship Management Automation software is preferably comprised within the Tenaformer (Configuration and Administration) Module.
  • the Tenaformer (Configuration and Administration) Module comprises the Sponsorship software that comprises, preferably, activities to Set per experience sponsorship rates.
  • the Sponsorship content and formats for text content, quantity of text and picture size are preferably predefined by the software.
  • the customer initially evaluates and sets the configuration and management options for the Sponsorship Management that is comprised within the Tenaformer (Configuration and Administration) Module as desired.
  • the Sponsorship Management settings are placed into the WOM Database where they preferably affect and are stored in the Web Site Configuration & Management Settings table.
  • Sponsorship Management Automation software may interact with the Sponsorship Management Automation software and perform activities that preferably: Search for Subjects, Add/Change Subjects, Rate Subjects, Comment on Subjects, Approve Adds/Changes, and Notify Potential New Sponsors. These activities affect the WOM Database tables: Conespondents, Members & Sponsors; Subjects
  • the WOM database tables content and/or changes are preferably input to the Sponsor Billing module which preferably provides functions comprising the automated billing of Sponsors and Sponsor activity reports.
  • FIG. 11 a diagrammatical view of sponsorship depicting two example Sponsorship flows is shown.
  • Bill a member, enjoys a great apple pie at "Home Cooking" restaurant.
  • Bill desires to share this wonderful experience. Therefore, Bill submits a description of the Apple Pie at Home Cooking to WOM.
  • the description of the Apple Pie is available on WOM for Approval of the Apple Pie by other members. If the members do not approve the Apple Pie description submission, then the Apple Pie description is returned to Bill for conection of the enors.
  • the Apple Pie description is preferably submitted to the Sponsor notification queue, and preferably is also made available under the Subjects available to the users and members.
  • the members may decide to Notify the Home Cooking restaurant of their apple pie subject, and any other pending subject for the Home Cooking Restaurant.
  • a Conespondent will preferably read the queue and preferably send an e-mail notice to the Home Cooking Restaurant.
  • the Home Cooking Restaurant may now decide if they choose to Sign up to be a sponsor. If the Home Cooking Restaurant chooses to Sign up to be a Sponsor, they may now add restaurant information to the Subject data that initiated the Sponsor notification i.e. the "great apple pie".
  • the Sponsorship process may be repeated as often as desired. For example, Jill, a member, enjoys a great meatloaf sandwich at "Home Cooking" restaurant. Jill desires to share this wonderful experience. Therefore, Jill submits a description of the Meatloaf sandwich at Home Cooking to WOM. The description of the Meatloaf sandwich is available on WOM for Approval of the Meatloaf sandwich by other members. If the members do not approve the Meatloaf sandwich description submission, then the Meatloaf sandwich description is returned to Jill for conection of the enors. Following approval of the Meatloaf sandwich description by the members, the Meatloaf sandwich description is preferably submitted to the Sponsor notification queue (as was the great apple pie), and preferably is also made available under the Subjects available to the users and members.
  • the members may decide to Notify the Home Cooking restaurant again, this time concerning their Meatloaf sandwich subject, and any other pending subject for the Home Cooking Restaurant. Conespondents will preferably read the queue and preferably send an e-mail notice to the Home Cooking Restaurant. The Home Cooking Restaurant may now decide if they choose to Sign up to be a sponsor of the
  • Meatloaf sandwich If the Home Cooking Restaurant chooses to again Sign up to be a Sponsor, they may now add restaurant information to the Subject data that initiated the Sponsor notification, i.e. the "great meatloaf sandwich”. The Home Cooking restaurant may also update any other subjects they have such as the "great apple pie”.
  • the Sponsored information on the great apple pie and meatloaf sandwich subjects, including any updates is preferably then made available to users and members.
  • the total number of Subjects sponsored is input to the Sponsor Management software on the Website which generates the fees due from the Home Cooking restaurant and bills the Home Cooking restaurant, preferably on a monthly basis, in order to collect the money due.
  • the Home Cooking restaurant, once billed, may pay for their sponsorship, preferably using an E-check or by charging a credit card for all sponsored subjects.
  • FIG. 12 a further diagrammatical view of the sponsorship process of FIG. 11 is shown.
  • the process described in reference to FIG. 11 embodies an important feature of the present invention.
  • the Subject Management and Sponsor Management did not require the intervention of a Developer/Operator/Site Managers as shown in the prior art of FIG. 2. Rather, in this prefened embodiment of the present invention, the WOM Website software automatically processed the E-mail notice(s) regarding sponsorship of the apple pie and meatloaf sandwich entries.
  • the WOM Website software further automatically processed the Subject updates, information additions, etc., and also automatically processed the billing and payment by E-check or credit card for the sponsored entries by the Home Cooking restaurant.
  • FIG. 13 a diagrammatical view of the process of adding and viewing subjects is shown.
  • Bill a conespondent, wants to add Trail 100, a great hiking trail in Phoenix to the Subjects.
  • Trail 100 After accessing the WOM Website, Bill Adds Trail 100 as a Subject.
  • Bill will be presented with screens by the WOM software that will preferably allow Bill to:
  • the Subject is then preferably placed into the Approval Queue for Review by another conespondent(s). If the reviewing conespondent(s) do not grant Approval of the Subject, the Subject submission is returned to the Originator, Bill, for conection or deletion. Following conection by the Originator, Bill, the Subject submission is again preferably placed into the Approval Queue for review by another conespondent(s). Following a grant of Approval by the reviewing Conespondent(s), the submitted and approved Subject is placed into the Subject Database. It should be noted that, preferably, Sponsors may add Subjects using the same process, except that their entries are not subjected to review and approval by conespondents.
  • Jill a member, wants to find a hiking trail in Phoenix.
  • Jill may access the WOM Website from a computer and submit search criteria including "sublime" hiking trails in Phoenix.
  • the search is run in the Subject Database and the results returned to Jill at her computer for viewing.
  • the results will include the Trail 100 as Bill had used the word "Sublime” when describing the Subject.
  • Jill may now choose to look at the detail concerning Trail 100.
  • Jill may further preferably choose to: Rate the Subject overall, rate the words, and/or rate additional words; Add comments; or View Sponsorship information if such is available.
  • the WOM Website software will also function such that all activities, adding, approving, viewing, rating and adding comments are recorded in the Activity database for reporting and management.
  • FIG. 14 a diagrammatical view of the weighting of overall subject and descriptive word ratings is shown. Five factors are used to create a multiplication value that the system will use when weighting a "degree of relevancy" rating which a user has made. This value can either make the rating more or less influential. The five factors are:
  • the process of the weighting of overall subject and descriptive word i.e., as noted, natural-language terms, preferably evaluative, preferably approving) degree-of-relevancy ratings preferably comprises the following steps:
  • FIG. 15 a high level functional diagram of the E-mail Management Automation software is shown.
  • the core of the E-mail Management Automation software is preferably comprised within the Tenaformer (Configuration and Administration) Module.
  • the Tenaformer (Configuration and Administration) Module performs E-mail Management that preferably comprises the E-mail Set Up Requirements activities of allowing the Customer to: Set content for automatic e-mail messages, and Set Default e-mails addresses. For each of these activities, the customer preferably initially evaluates and sets each of these configuration and management options that are comprised within the Tenaformer (Configuration and Administration) Module as desired.
  • the E-mail Management settings are preferably placed into the WOM Database where they affect and are stored in the Web Site Configuration & Management Settings table.
  • the E-mail Management Automation software may interact with the E-mail Management Automation software and preferably perform activities that: Search for Subjects, Add/Change Subjects, Rate Subjects, Comment on Subjects, Approve Adds/Changes, Notify Potential New Sponsors, and Suggest New Words. These activities affect the WOM Database tables: Conespondents, Members & Sponsors; Subjects (Content); Activity History; and Application Status.
  • the WOM database tables content and/or changes are preferably input to the E-mail Module which will preferably provide for Automated e-mail notices comprising: Motivational emails of lives touched, etc.; Contest Winners; Information of Interest (Subjects, etc.); and 'On the fly' emails to individual members.
  • the descriptive word promotion software preferably comprises the following steps:
  • the descriptive word promotion software will preferably repeat this process for each letter and each category in the database.
  • the descriptive word promotion software preferably has certain assumptions programmed into it, preferably comprising: 1. An initial pool of words has been created for a given level 2 category; and 2. Once each timeframe (preferably per week), the routine described above is run to determine what words appear where in the application.
  • FIG. 17 a flow chart of the prefened flow for a subject search is shown. Notes applicable to FIG. 17 are shown in FIG. 18.
  • the subject search flow shown on FIG. 17 is as follows: A User enters information to search on. The software will determine the search type. If the software determines that a Keyword search is selected, then the procedure of Note 1 is preferably performed.
  • the Note 1 procedure preferably comprises the steps of:
  • Keywords in the database are made up of the following: a) Organization Name b) Descriptive Words c) Category Descriptors d) Subject Description
  • the Note 2 procedure preferably comprises the steps of:
  • the search logic is as follows: Search for a subject that meets the original criteria specified, plus the following:
  • the software next determines the user's next function. If the user clicked on 'Refine Search', the User is presented with page of options to refine their search as explained inNote 3.
  • the Note 3 procedure preferably comprises the steps of:
  • Any option selected by the user will be applied in conjunction with the original criteria to further qualify the results of the query.
  • the options presented to the user include the following: a) Location: City, State, Zip. b) What appeals to you: A list of words selected by the system that have been used most often to describe the subjects included in the given category. c) Free form word field: A location where the user can put a word or words that did not appear in 'What appeals to you'. d) Amount of money you would like to spend. e) Amount of time you would like to spend.
  • the software will Display the selected 3 rd page view to the user.
  • the software will ask whether a level 1 or a level 2 category was chosen. If a Level 1 was chosen then the software will Display all level 2 categories that exist below the selected level 1. The user will then select the desired level 2, after which the software will Display all subjects in the selected category. The search logic is simply to look for all subjects classified in the 1st or 2nd level category selected, and the results are ordered by the sponsorship flag. Following the Display of all subjects in the selected category, the software will next determine the user's next function as already explained. If, however, a level 2 was directly chosen following the selection of a Category search, then the software will go directly to the Display of all subjects in the selected category step, the determine users next function, etc. as previously explained.
  • FIG. 19 a flow chart of the prefened flow for a survey is shown.
  • a restaurant owner wants to know how customers feel about their 'Death by Chocolate' Dessert.
  • the restaurant owner will first define a desired survey.
  • the restaurant owner will define a survey to comprise the following questions or parameters:
  • the software will tabulate the survey responses and place them in the Survey question response database.
  • the survey results will be sent to the Management Control Panel on the Survey URL to enable the restaurant owner to view the survey results.
  • the software will next determine if the restaurant owner desired to show the survey results to the person taking the survey. If this was not desired, the person taking the survey will be thanked for taking the survey, and the survey process will be complete. If it was desired, the software will display the survey results to the person taking the survey after which the survey process will be complete.
  • the database 1-2 includes the following tables: Domain Tables: These tables contain the required reference information used to ensure accuracy and consistency of the subject content, guest and contributor information. And (see FIG. 20) these tables are part of management settings.
  • Application Status Tables contain information necessary to manage user interactions such as the "state” or status of each active guest or contributor. Status information includes information such as user id, the last screen used, cunent screen in use, and start of the cunent session. See FIG. 20 under "Status”.
  • System Tables These tables contain the parameters required to control the behavior of the system. Information in these tables gives the system to make decisions regarding certain actions. An example is the length of time a nominated subject will be exclusively available to contributors in a postal code. And (see FIG. 20) these tables are part of management settings.
  • User Tables The user tables contain all data relevant to registered users of the system. Information includes demographic, system role points earned, points goals, personal preferences, book marked subjects of personal interest. See FIG. 20 under "Users”.
  • Subject Tables The subject tables contain all information collected about a subject. For example, all data describing the subject, location of the subject, guest ratings, guest comments, etc. are included here. See FIG. 20 under "Subject”.
  • History Tables contain all information collected about user activities, page views, etc. See FIG. 20 under "History”.
  • FIG. 20, just refened to, is a high level functional diagram of the process flows and functions in a prefened embodiment of the present invention, previously described, here for refenal use in the below detailed review (after the below overview) of the system operation with reference to selected prefened screens of the system.
  • Prefened embodiments of the systems of this invention give everyone, without exception, the ability to publish opinions on the Web, and create an easy-to-access database of those opinions.
  • the primary unit of measure in the instant systems is the Subject.
  • a Subject is preferably an exceptional experience of any kind - a succulent steak, cozy campsite, neighborhood sports bar, inexpensive discount store, beautiful golf course, friendly hairstylist, inspiring karate instructor, etc.
  • Web users add their favorite Subjects to a site and, in so doing, create a database of Subjects that all users can access.
  • Descriptive Words After selecting some Descriptive Words, users then rate the importance of each of those words. Example: (Extremely tasty, very challenging, somewhat good service, etc.). Those ratings are given a numerical value (5 for "extremely,” 4 for “very,” etc.), and those numerical values are displayed with the rest of the Subject information. The user then types a text comment (as short or long as desired) about the Subject, and the process is complete.
  • Descriptive Word systems users aren't required to spend time writing paragraph after paragraph to add their favorite experiences to the database. Instead, they can describe their Subject in seconds using Descriptive Words, rendering the process of giving opinions as easy as a few mouse clicks. And by immediately adding a user's own Descriptive Words to the master database, the instant system provides a way for users to build the content and raise the quality of the site every time they use it.
  • the search function provided by the instant system grafts a supremely easy-to-use interface onto a complex database-search process.
  • the average Web search engine does "full-text" searches - that is, looks through every piece of text for words that match the user's request - the result is often thousands of unrelated Web pages and meaningless phone-book listings.
  • the instant searches are different: they're fast and accurate because the technology searches only specific, defined data fields, weeding out results the user doesn't want.
  • Another feature of the instant system that gives it such broad appeal is its adaptability. Most features - from the interface to the rewards system - are customizable by the client, making the system as useful to an international daily newspaper as it is to a monthly specialty magazine. Clients/customers may define their own content categories, contests, incentive programs, content-quality standards, sponsorship pricing models, site behavior and more. The set of variables enables the creation of a "word-of-mouth" resource that can lend itself to any geographic- or topic-focused Web site.
  • This review process ensures that there are no "nonsense" Subjects in the database - that is, Subjects composed of randomly typed characters or nonsense words.
  • the review process does not discriminate against the tastes of Members, and Subjects are not to be rejected because their opinions differ from those of the Managing Member responsible for approving/rejecting them.
  • a Managing Member is a volunteer community leader who has applied and been accepted for this role by the client. Subjects entered by a Managing Member must be approved by another Managing Member before they may be viewed by other users. Subjects added by Sponsors are exempt from the content-review process. Their Subjects are immediately added to the database upon entry. This content-review process allows no one (except Sponsors) to make content available to the public without the approval of a site-sanctioned community leader (Managing Member).
  • the instant system uses an extensive and easily customizable rewards program to motivate users to make great contributions to their online community.
  • Users are compensated with points for performing each of many actions that build a strong online community: adding content to the site, enriching existing content with comments and ratings, recruiting other members and helping to generate sponsorship revenue.
  • the points a user earns for each action is determined by the client: therefore, a site can easily target and improve specific areas of their system site by offering premium point values for actions in those areas.
  • a site can also use three separate point-earning structures for each member type (Member, Managing Member and Sponsor), enabling the implementation of different incentives for each user type. Points are redeemable for cash, prizes or contest entries (depending on a client's wishes). And a percentage of sponsorship revenue can be shared with top-performing Managing Members, giving these volunteer leaders incentive to build the community.
  • the instant system allows people to spread word-of-mouth over the Internet the same way they do in everyday life - only faster, easier, and without geographic boundaries.
  • Subjects on the Web site.
  • a Subject is any exceptional experience worth sharing with the online community: a great steak, a cozy campsite, a fun sports bar, an inexpensive discount store, a beautiful golf course, etc.
  • users will be asked to enter specific information about it: the location, price, time needed, etc.
  • Descriptive Words They'll also be asked to use Descriptive Words to describe their Subject. Users may choose from hundreds of pre-selected Descriptive Words, or add their own. These words ⁇ the natural language terms that everyday people use to describe the things they like - will be stored in a database that all users can search. Some examples of Descriptive Words are: cozy, scenic, delicious, wonderful, inviting, intimate, romantic, etc.
  • Rating Descriptive Words requires the user to enter the degree to which he/she agrees with the word: e.g., extremely cozy, very cozy, slightly cozy, etc.
  • a Comment is simply a short overall evaluation of the Subject. Once a Subject is approved for public viewing (by a Conespondent, one of your online community leaders), any user can add his/her ratings to it. Users can rate the Descriptive Words for each Subject, and add Descriptive Words of their own. They can also leave Comments on other Subjects, and rate the Comments of other users as useful or not useful. All Subjects on the site are collected in a database, and the users can search that database by keyword or Category of Subjects (all of which are initially created by the client) to find exceptional things they want to experience.
  • a most attractive feature of the instant system is its adaptability. Nearly every feature - from the interface to the rewards system - is customizable by the client, making the system as useful to an international daily newspaper as it is to a monthly specialty magazine. Clients create their own categories, subcategories, contests, incentive programs, news releases and pricing models. Clients may customize the site by configuring it using Tenaformer (Configuration and Administration) Module, the system's Web-based administrative program that allows a client to easily customize dozens of elements on the site.
  • Tenaformer (Configuration and Administration) Module the system's Web-based administrative program that allows a client to easily customize dozens of elements on the site.
  • a typical-type navigation bar preferably appears at the top of every page on the site.
  • the links work as follows:
  • MyPage If a registered user is logged in, this link takes the user to his/her MyPage. If user is not registered - or if a registered user is not logged in - this link takes him/her to a logon page.
  • These links are preferably minored in the page footer, described as follows.
  • the footer is a standard element of all pages on the site.
  • the links on the top row of the footer minor the links in the navigation bar described above.
  • the links on the bottom row of the footer work as follows:
  • Privacy Policy Links to the instant system privacy policy.
  • a Log In/Log Out graphic appears in the top right corner of every page on the site. If user is unregistered or simply not logged in, the graphic Log In will appear. If user is logged in, the graphic Log Out will appear. The Log In/Log Out graphic is a fixed element on all pages.
  • the home page will preferably look basically as shown by FIG. 21.
  • the box 21-1 on the left side of the home page preferably lists the 10 Subjects that have been recently approved by Conespondents and has links to the 100 most recently approved Subjects. The number of new Subjects displayed is fixed at 10 to conserve space on the home page.
  • the search box 21-2 is shown in FIG. 22 and its location is preferably fixed at the top right side of the home page. Each field in the search box is preferably fixed.
  • the category box 21-3 is shown in FIG. 23. Listed in this box are each category (in bold) and two subcategories beneath it. The client may configure this by defining the categories and deciding which of those categories are displayed on the home page (they need not be all displayed if not wanted). Note: Two subcategories display under each category on the home page. This number is fixed.
  • FIG. 24 illustrates Tenaformer (Configuration and Administration) Module's top and left navigation bars. The first tab that must be selected is in the top navigation bar. In this example, one would click "Domain Tables" in the top navigation bar. The proper categories will then appear in the left-hand navigation bar.
  • the Log In/Registration procedures are typical of what is well-known in the art. If the user is already registered, he/she types the username and password into the proper fields and clicks the "Log in” button. If the user is unregistered, he/she clicks the "Join Now” or "Sign up now" link, and gets a screen, for Member Registration, like the illustrations of FIGS. 26A-B. The user must fill out each field with an asterisk; all other information is optional. After entering personal information and a username and password, the user may fill out further information about his/her interests, in order to customize his/her personal page (MyPage) on the site. Optional information includes personal interests, locations and organization the user wishes to track. From this page, a user may also apply to be a Conespondent by clicking the link to the application on the left side of the page (highlighted above).
  • the Conespondent application is essentially the same as the Member application, but it contains questions in the "My Account Information” section that the Member application does not include. These questions and their answers are scripted by the client. Each answer is assigned a point value (by the client). When the applicant answers all the questions, his/her numerical score is tabulated and must meet the minimum acceptable score (established by the client) to become a Conespondent.
  • a client may configure this area using Tenafonner (Configuration and Administration) Module.
  • Tenafonner Configuration and Administration
  • To configure questions to the Conespondent select "Domain Tables" on the top navigation bar and "Questions and Answers” from the left navigation bar. A screen like that illustrated in FIG. 29 will appear.
  • the type of question for adding/editing/removing e.g., a question on the Conespondent application.
  • To add a new question type the text into the "New Question” field, the click "Append.”
  • To remove an existing question select it from the list on the left and click "Remove.”
  • To edit an existing question select it from the list on the left. Its title will then appear in the "Existing Question” field.
  • FIGS. 31, 32, and 33 illustrate the three pages used to Add a Subject.
  • the first step in the user's process of adding a Subject is the page of FIG. 31, where he/she must enter some basic information, as shown.
  • the user enters the name of the organization that provided the experience: e.g., Morton's Steak House, Samantha's Health Spa, etc. This is a required field and preferably not configurable by the client.
  • the user must select at least one category and subcategory. These categories are configurable, and the process for configuring them is later described. Once the category is selected (at left), the relevant subcategories appear on the right.
  • the three category and subcategory boxes themselves are not configurable; they are preferably fixed items on this page.
  • the user must enter a city, state and ZIP code for each U.S. Subject (state or ZIP code is not required for non-U.S. Subjects.).
  • Region, country and sunounding cities are optional. It is recommended that users enter sunounding cities in order to make the Subject more widely available to other users. For example, if User Bob enters a Phoenix restaurant and enters Glendale, Scottsdale and Tempe as surrounding cities, then users who search for any of the four cities - Phoenix, Glendale, Scottsdale or Tempe - will see the restaurant Bob entered.
  • the client can configure the Region and Country fields and may also choose the default countries and regions.
  • the user must enter a short summary title for his/her Subject. This title will be the headline on the Subject page. It will also be the linked text that appears when the Subject is called up in search results. The user must also enter a one-sentence summary of the Subject. This description will appear underneath the linked text in search results. It will also be prominent on the Subject page.
  • These two fields are preferably fixed. Address, phone number and email address are optional fields. Cost and time are also optional fields; however, these fields may be searched by other users in the Personalized Search area.
  • the Comments box under each range allows the user to clarify his/her comments.
  • FIG. 33 illustrates the prefened third page of the Add a Subject process. It is where the user will determine the Descriptive Words to associate with his/her Subject.
  • the Descriptive Word system is the fastest and easiest way to rate Subjects with the instant system. Instead of making users start with a blank slate, the software automatically presents them with words other users have chosen to describe the same thing.
  • User Andy has chosen to give his opinion about a restaurant called "Mr. Sushi.”
  • the software After learning that Andy's Subject is classified under "Restaurants,” the software generates a list of Descriptive Words that is relevant to the "Restaurants" category. This list is a combination of words that are preloaded in the software, and words that previous users have used to describe other restaurants.
  • Andy can then check the words he thinks are appropriate for his review, and, in the spaces below, add his own. Andy has added “large portions” and “fast service” as his own Descriptive Words. The next time a user reviews a restaurant, "large portions” and “fast service” will be part of that user's list of pre-selected Descriptive Words. By adding his review of Mr. Sushi, Andy has not only contributed content to the Web site, but also made the contribution process easier for future users by adding to the list of pre-selected Descriptive Words for the "Restaurants" category.
  • the client can configure this; it can decide how many words are displayed at this point in the add process and also decide which words show up by designating certain words to appear for certain categories.
  • Tenafonner (Configuration and Administration) Module click the "System Tables" tab on the top navigation bar and "System Parameters" in the left navigation bar.
  • FIG. 34 illustrates a prefened screen which is shown.
  • One types in the minimum and maximum number of Descriptive Words one wants to display for the user during the process of adding a Subject. When finished, scroll to the bottom of the page and click "Update.” To set which words display for this category, click (in Tenafonner (Configuration and Administration) Module) the "Domain Tables" tab on the top navigation bar and the "Categories” tab on the left navigation bar.
  • a screen like that illustrated in FIG. 35 will appear. Type in the descriptive word to be added for this category and then click "Add”. To edit a descriptive word from a category, use this screen as well. Select a descriptive word from the dropdown box. When you do this, the "Add” button will change to an "Update” button. Select the word, make the proper changes and click "Update.” To remove a descriptive word from a category, use this screen as well. Select a descriptive word from the dropdown box, then click "Remove.”
  • FIG. 36 illustrates a prefened screen for Add a Subject, page 4.
  • the required user steps and the configuration information for page 4 of the Add a Subject process is illustrated as follows.
  • the user must answer whether they have experienced the Subject themselves, and how qualified they feel to rate it. These fields are required.
  • the top two fields are a part of the credibility system that is built into the software.
  • the client can assign credibility multipliers for both of these fields, based on how the user answers each question.
  • To configure opinion multipliers in Tenaformer (Configuration and Administration) Module, click the "System Tables" tab on the top navigation bar, then click the "System Parameters" tab on the left navigation bar.
  • a screen like that illustrated in FIG. 37 will return.
  • the bottom two fields - "no experience” and “experienced” - refer to the user's answer to the first question of whether he/she has experienced the Subject. People who answer “no” receive the no experience multiplier; people who answer “yes” receive the "experienced” multiplier. Using example settings, the opinion of a person who answers “yes” might be counted five times as much as that of a person who answers "no.”
  • the top three fields - the opinion multipliers for "slightly qualified,” “somewhat qualified” and “very qualified” - refer to the answer to the second question of how qualified the user feels to rate this Subject. The client may enter a chosen value for each multiplier, then scroll to the bottom of the page and click "Update.”
  • FIGS. 38A and 38B showing words to be rated.
  • the user rates the Descriptive Words that appear on the page.
  • the words that appear here are all of the words that the user checked and/or added on the previous screen. The user may rate some or all of these words.
  • This screen is not configurable. The number of words that appear here depends on how many the user checked and added on the previous screen. If a user would like to choose more pre-selected words, he/she can click the "more words" link, and get a screen showing more words to rate. He/she can rate as many of the words as is desired, and then click "Continue" at the bottom of the page. To add his/her own words, the user clicks the "add additional words" link (from the original keyword-rating page) and gets a box like that illustrated in FIG. 39. After adding words, the user clicks continue and is taken back to the ratings and comments page.
  • FIG. 40 illustrates that, finally, a user may leave comments. Adding age and gender is optional; and the Comments field is fixed. Once the user has filled out all the necessary information, he/she will click "submit” and get a preview of the Subject.
  • the preview screen is shown by FIGS. 41 A and 41B. Once the user has reviewed this preview screen for accuracy, he/she clicks "Approve” if all the information is conect. If changes need to be made, the user clicks "Edit” in the area which needs to be edited. After the inconect information has been edited, the user is returned to the preview page, and must click "Approve.” It is noted that once the Subject is approved by the user who enters it, it is not immediately viewable by the public.
  • the search box illustrated in FIG. 22 and previously discussed is the most prominent element on the home page of the instant system. If a user already has a good idea of what he/she is looking for, then searching by keyword is likely the quickest way to find the desired Subject(s). The user must type in at least one of the following to perform this type of search:
  • a ZIP code and search radius (from the center of that ZIP code) These fields are fixed. The more information the user enters, the more specific the results will be.
  • the software looks for that information in the appropriate fields of the database (e.g., City, State, ZIP code, Subject Title, Descriptive Words, etc.), a results screen like that illustrated by FIG. 42 returns.
  • the title of each result will be linked to its Subject page, and the summary and location will be listed under that link.
  • the right and middle columns list the Subject's cost, the time required to experience it and the highest-rated keywords associated with it.
  • the "Sponsored" icon in the far right column indicates that a particular Subject has been sponsored by an advertiser.
  • Subjects will likely contain more information than a typical Subject, because the advertiser has had the opportunity to add extra links, photos and text. They also receive priority listing in category searches (not in keyword searches). Preferably a listing of "Best of Best” subjects will be shown the far left column, indicating that a particular Subject has been rated high enough to receive the "Best of Best” distinction. Note: Only Conespondents, preferably, can see the "Best" icon on a search results page.
  • This page can be configured by the client, who may decide how many search results come up on each page and also decide how high a Subject must score to be given the "Best of Best” distinction.
  • click in Tenaformer (Configuration and Administration) Module
  • type in the maximum number of total search results that one wants users to be able to retrieve when users perform a search on the site.
  • the second field specify the number of search results per page that the client would like the user to see.
  • the Subject page is the central building block of the online community. It contains a summary of all information about each Subject: Descriptive Word ratings, comments, price, availability and contact information.
  • Descriptive Word ratings are the number of times users have chosen that word to describe the Subject at hand.
  • To the right of the number in parentheses is a horizontal bar and boldfaced number indicating the average rating given to each Descriptive Word on a 1-5 scale (1 is "not rated, 5 is "extremely").
  • the home page left border also has, as noted, a Member and Conespondent recruitment box, with links to the registration area and a "Spread Word of Mouth" box that links to the "Tell A Friend" page, and also a link that allows users to notify an advertiser about other Subjects he/she might want to add.
  • the Subject page is also the springboard by which many users will get involved in the community by adding their opinions about existing Subjects.
  • a user instead of searching all of a Web site's Subjects by keyword, a user also has the option of first selecting a category to search.
  • a client-specified number of categories appear on the home page: the default categories of the prefened instant system are Accommodations, Community Services, Entertainment, Fitness and Beauty, Learning Opportunities, Restaurants, Shopping, Sightseeing and Attractions, and Sports and Adventure.
  • the desired category to search and clicks the link a screen list of subcategories appears like that illustrated by FIG. 44. In parentheses next to each subcategory is the cunent number of reviews in that subcategory.
  • a user must either: a) click a subcategory (e.g., to search only American restaurants) or b) click "AU" at the bottom of the page (e.g., to search all restaurants).
  • the user is taken to the screens illustrated by FIGS. 45 A and 45B, where the user may further personalize the search.
  • the user may further refine the search by specifying location.
  • the user has two choices for searching by location. He/she must either: a) enter a city, state and country or b) enter a ZIP code and search radius from that ZIP code. Note: When a user requests a search based on ZIP code radius, that radius is calculated from the center of the ZIP code, not the user's home address. Choosing a larger radius, then, will likely bring back more useful results.
  • FIG. 46 illustrates the Descriptive Words and/or phrases pre-selected (by the client) to appear with this category.
  • the user may check the boxes that are appropriate to his/her search, or add new words in the box provided.
  • the client may configure this and decide the words - and the number of words - that appear here for every subcategory by using the Tenafonner (Configuration and Administration) Module screen (as discussed herein) and going to the categories screen and then the subcategories screen.
  • Descriptive Words to a subcategory: In the "Descriptive Word” field, type in the word you'd like to add, then click the "Add” button (Make sure the "Select Descriptive Word” dropdown box is blank).
  • the user enters the minimum and maximum amount of money he/she wants to spend on the Subject he/she is searching for. In the final field, the user selects the amount of time he/she has to spend experiencing a Subject.
  • These fields are both optional; users need not fill them in if they choose not to. The more information a user enters, the more specific the results.
  • the software looks for that information in the appropriate fields of the database, and a results screen as previously discussed returns (see FIG. 42 for a sample). The title of each result is linked to its Subject page, and the summary and location info will be listed under that link. The right and middle columns list cost, time required and the highest-rated keywords. After clicking on the Subject title that interests him/her, the user is taken to the Subject page (see FIGS. 43A-B for a sample).
  • FIG. 47 illustrates a box in the lower left hand comer of the Subject page, offering the opportunity to sponsor the Subject. A potential advertiser simply clicks "Sponsor now! to begin the process.
  • FIGS. 48A and 48B illustrate the screen returned to begin to get the desired information from a Sponsor. The sponsor enters the name, address and contact information for both the business itself and the person who will be the administrative contact i--- TM TM ,,
  • FIGS. 49A-D show the next screens to receive information.
  • the Sponsor adds a business logo, email address, Web site URL and links to company Web site.
  • a Sponsor can quickly upload each desired photo straight from their computer. If one needs help with any element of the page, one simply clicks the "Help" link next to that element.
  • These fields are fixed.
  • the Sponsor can add up to 10 paragraphs of information about the business, each with a customized heading and photograph. Customized headings can be selected from those provided in the drop-down boxes, or a Sponsor may enter its own.
  • By clicking the "Browse” button it can quickly upload each desired photo straight from it's desktop.
  • FIG. 52 illustrates the screen with payment information. After approving how the sponsored Subject will look, the Sponsor enters credit card information and clicks "Purchase Sponsorship.” Once the credit card information is processed, the sponsorship is confirmed by the return of the screen illustrated in FIG. 53 and the process is complete.
  • the sponsored Subject which is immediately available to Web site users because it does not require Conespondent approval, looks like the screen shown in FIGS. 54A-B, the first illustration showing the top half of the page, and the second showing the bottom half.
  • a sponsored Subject prominently features the Sponsor's customized information and photographs.
  • the top paragraph is the Sponsor's summary, with its chosen image. Below the ratings and comments are any other photos and customized paragraphs.
  • FIGS. 55 A-B illustrate the screen where users may add their opinions to existing Subjects rating and reviewing. From any Subject page, a registered user can click the "Add Your Rating” or "Add Your Comments” links to reach the Rate and Review page (see FIGS. 55A-B). Note: This is the same page as page 4 of the Add a Subject process. The process of rating and reviewing an existing Subject follows exactly the same procedure as outlined in Step 4 of the Add a Subject process.
  • a screen returns showing that the entry information has been added to MyPage and thanking the user for doing the rating, after which the user may return to the Subject he/she just rated, or use the top navigation bar to go elsewhere on the site.
  • a quick way for the user to earn points is to give a subject an overall star rating.
  • the overall rating box is located in the top left comer of a Subject page.
  • the user simply selects the "star” rating he/she chooses to give, then clicks the "Submit” button. If the user finds inaccurate or outdated information, he/she can immediately suggest an improvement via the "Improve this Subject” box at the bottom left comer of each Subject page. Clicking on that link leads to the page illustrated by FIG. 56.
  • the user first reviews the improvements suggested by other users. The user then chooses a priority for his/her change, a reason that the cunent information and how he/she knows the information needs to be changed ("Basis").
  • FIG. 58 shows the My Contributions box.
  • My Contributions is a detailed view of a user's activity on the site. The user can click on "Subjects Added” to view a list of all the Subject he/she has added to the site.
  • the next link in the "My Contributions" box is "Subjects Awaiting Approval.” These are Subjects that the user has added, but have not been approved by a Conespondent and have therefore not been seen by any other users (hence, no number is listed in the "Lives Touched” column).
  • FIG. 63 shows a sample page for "Subjects Awaiting Approval.” In the left column are the Subjects the user has submitted, and the center column holds more infonnation about each Subject. In the right column are the date each Subject was submitted, and a link that allows the Conespondent to edit or delete information in their review. The final link displays each of the user's Subjects which were submitted for review but rejected by a Conespondent.
  • FIG. 65 illustrates the To Do List screen. Only Conespondents have a To Do list: it is the collection of administrative actions that a Conespondent can do to monitor the site's content and earn the points for doing so.
  • the top link "Notify Organizations about Subjects you added,” allows the Conespondent to contact organizations about Subjects they've added that advertisers might want to sponsor.
  • the bottom link "Notify organizations for Subjects added,” links to the same process, but for all recently added Subjects in his/her ZIP code - not just the Subjects added by the Conespondent him/herself.
  • FIG. 66 is a sample screen for this process. Information about each Subject is displayed in the first, second and third columns.
  • the email is then sent to the advertiser.
  • the Subject needing improvement is in the left column.
  • In the center column are the priority, reason and basis that the user chose for suggesting this improvement, and the right column lists the date the suggestion was entered.
  • the Conespondent can review the suggestion on a screen like that of FIGS. 71 A-B.
  • the details of the user's suggestion will appear in the box at the top of the page. Below this box is all the information about the Subject in question.
  • the Conespondent may: a) approve the suggested improvement; b) reject the suggested improvement;, or c) delete the Subject altogether. After clicking the appropriate button, the process is then finished, and the Conespondent is taken back to the list of suggested improvements that are still waiting for approval.
  • the "My Favorite Subjects" box (see FIG. 74, for example) is where users store the best things they've discovered on the site. As a default, each top-level category has a folder inside this box, until the user decides to customize it. In parentheses next to each folder name is a number that indicates how many Subjects are cunently in that particular folder. To customize the folders on this page, the user clicks on "manage favorites" and gets a screen listing the name of each cunent folder is listed, and next to each folder name is a link to either rename or delete the folder (As a default, the initial folders will minor the first-level categories). The user nay rename or delete a folder or add a new folder.
  • the "My Interests" box is created using the information in a user's profile. Each entry in the box links to Subjects that are likely to interest the user based on his/her stated interests and geographic location. These links will return Subjects of such special interests, e.g., Recently Added Subjects in (user-selected town): All Subjects in (user-selected town): Best of Best in (user-selected town).
  • the "My Organization" box allows a user to track Subjects that refer to certain businesses and organizations.
  • the user has chosen to track Tomaso's restaurant; however, there are cunently no Subjects on the site that refer to Tomaso's. If another user decides to rate, for example, the five-cheese lasagna at Tomaso's, that Subj ect will appear in the My Organization box.
  • the "My Rewards” box is a user's link to all the points he/she has earned, and the money into which those points translate. By clicking the "Points Earned” link, the user sees a screen like that of FIG. 78. In the left column are listed all actions that a user can perform that will earn points. The second column is the point value per action for each of those actions. The third column is the number of points the user has received by performing that particular action. The fourth column, "Site Average,” is the number of points that the average site user gains per month via the same action. Using this figure, he/she can compare their monthly activity and earnings with other site users.
  • the "Goal Achieved" row lists how many points a user is expected to earn during the selected time period, and the adjacent entry indicates whether he/she has attained that goal.
  • a user can a) go back to the previous page and click the appropriate link, or b) on the cunent page, select a different action from the dropdown box across from the text reading "Filter by.”
  • the user is viewing points since the user became a registered user. This is indicated by the top dropdown box that reads "Since Inception.”
  • a user must simply choose a different selection from that dropdown box: e.g., "This Month,” "Last Month.”
  • the “Account Balance” screen appears as shown by FIG. 80.
  • Listed on the Account Balance page are the date of each point-earning action, a description of that action, its transaction number and the dollars earned for it. Atop the page is the total Cunent Account Balance.
  • Next to the balance will be a button that says “Cash Out.” By clicking that button, the user is taken to a screen like that shown in FIG. 81. After filling in the appropriate information, the user clicks "Submit,” and his/her cash-out is processed, and the credit card is credited.
  • the client can configure this, and decide the amount of money a user must accumulate before being allowed to cash out, by, in Tenafonner (Configuration and Administration) Module, clicking the “System Tables” tab on the top navigation bar, then clicking the “System Parameters” tab on the left navigation bar. Scroll until you reach the "Minimum cash out amount” field. In this field, enter the minimum dollar amount your users must attain before being allowed to cash out. When finished, click "Update" at the bottom of the screen.
  • FIG. 82 illustrates the screen for Tell a Friend, the quick way that users can spread word of this system to people they know. This page is always accessible by the green navigation bar at the top of every page. To notify a friend, a user must simply: Type a Subject, then Enter his/her email address and the email address of the recipient(s), then Type the message and click "Submit”.
  • FIG. 83 illustrates the Rate other comments screen. Users can read all the comments left by other users about any Subject. These comments are accessible from any Subject page. If the user finds this comment useful, he/she clicks the "Useful” button; if not, he/she clicks the "Not Useful” button. A user may add a comment by clicking where shown in FIG. 84.
  • Conespondents are the users with the highest status. With the increased status comes more earning opportunities - and more responsibilities. Conespondents have all the privileges of guests and Members. In addition: Privileges
  • Conespondents can: Earn points for a wider variety of actions, Earn more points than Members (for the same actions), Approve Subjects for publication, See "Best of Best" icons on search results pages, Make accuracy improvements to existing Subjects, Delete un-sponsored Subjects (recommend only), Enter exclusive contests
  • Conespondents are responsible for meeting their monthly point goal, and for many administrative actions relating to the upkeep of the site. Conespondents: Approve newly added Subjects, Make accuracy improvements to existing Subjects, Delete inappropriate Subjects, Notify businesses about un-sponsored Subjects, [hi return for performing these responsibilities, they are compensated for a wider variety of actions than members. They also earn higher point values than Members for performing basic actions on the site.] Sponsors - Sponsors are advertisers who have paid to sponsor a Subject(s). They enjoy all the privileges that Members enjoy. In addition: Privileges
  • Sponsors can: Publish sponsored Subjects without a Conespondent's approval, Add extensive customized text, photos and links to their Subjects Sponsors cannot: Approve Subjects for publication, See "Best of Best" icons on search results pages, Make accuracy improvements to existing Subjects
  • a client can assign point and values — customized by role — for each action, including: Adding a Subject in home ZIP code Adding a Subject outside home ZIP code Suggesting Improvements and Deletions Giving a Subject an overall rating Adding Comments Rating Descriptive Words
  • Tenafonner (Configuration and Administration) Module click the "Domain Tables” tab on the top navigation bar and the "Accounting Actions” tab on the left navigation bar.
  • the top set of fields are the "Select User Type” and "Select Action” fields. Because the points the client will award will vary based on a user's role, one must specify the action itself (in the Select Action dropdown box) and the user type for whom one is assigning the point value (in the Select User Type dropdown box). In the example shown, one is assigning the number of points a Conespondent will receive every time he/she adds a Subject in his/her ZIP code.
  • Point Value and Dollar Value In the appropriate field, type in the. point and dollar value the client wishes to assign to this action. When finished, click the "Update" button at the bottom of the page. The client may then choose another user type and/or action from the top menus and repeat the process until all actions have been assigned for each user type.
  • Assigning a dollar value to points is one way of rewarding users; another way is to award them one entry in special contests for every specified amount of points they earn.
  • the client may configure contests as follows. In Tenaformer (Configuration and Administration) Module, click the "System Tables" tab on the top navigation bar and the "Contests" tab on the left navigation bar. Then the screen like that of FIG. 86 will appear.
  • the client is setting up a new contest: the existing contests will be listed in the top dropdown box, "Select Contest Description.” If setting up a first contest, the client can ignore this dropdown box.
  • the next field is "Contest Description.” In this field, enter a name for the contest. In the “Contest Notes” field, enter any notes you'd like to associate with this contest (for internal use only). In the "Entries Awarded” field, specify how many will be awarded your users per number of points achieved (specify that number of points in the next field). Example: If the client would like to give one entry per 1,000 points, enter the number "1" in this field, -h the "Points Awarded” field, enter how many points are required of users to accumulate before being awarded a contest entry.
  • FIG. 87 illustrates the screen to add a new category.
  • To add a new category type its name in the "New Category” box.
  • Type an explanation (for internal use) in the "Explanation” box.
  • Click “Append.” After that, the new category will appear in the listing.
  • the client may, in Tenaformer (Configuration and Administration) Module, click "Domain Tables" on the top navigation bar and "Categories” on the left navigation bar.
  • To create and edit subcategories under a specific category click on that category in the category display box. Then click the "Show Subcategories" button at right.
  • the client may associate Descriptive Words with categories and subcategories. Why use this feature? To create a very fluid user experience for your visitors. Pre-defining words that are pertinent to each category and subcategory provides a ready-made set of relevant criteria by which users can add and rate Subjects quickly and easily. Example: For Outdoor Life's "Mountain Trails" subcategory, some of the predefined Descriptive Words might be: rocky, trail condition, scenery, danger, congestion, difficulty, wildlife, etc. the client may also configure associations for categories, subcategories and words. In the display box for subcategories, click the name of the subcategory to which to add Descriptive Words. Then click the "Descriptive Words" button at right.
  • Descriptive Words to a subcategory: In the "Descriptive Word” field, type in the word to add, then click the "Add” button (Make sure the "Select Descriptive Word” dropdown box is blank).
  • the client may determine how many Descriptive Words a user must choose when adding a Subject. Why use this feature? To ensure that requirements match the audience. Example: If the audience is highly educated, one may feel safe in requiring them to enter more words. If the audience is less educated, has a shorter attention span or has very little time, requiring fewer words is a better option. One may also configure the number of Descriptive Words a user must choose in the appropriate Tenafonner (Configuration and
  • FIG. 89 illustrates a similar screen from Tenaformer (Configuration and Administration) Module. If adding a new country, type its name in the "Country Name” field and click “Add.” If editing the name of an existing country, the "Add” button will say “Edit” instead. Select the country name one wants to edit from the "Select Country Name” dropdown box, after which the text will appear in the "Country Name” field. Edit the text to specifications, then click "Edit.”
  • the client will nonnally wish to recruit, reward and recognize users.
  • the instant system provides a complete system to recruit, reward and recognize outstanding members of a vibrant online community.
  • the configurable variables that follow put the power of customization in the client's hands.
  • One may limit the number of men and women per ZIP code as strictly as one likes, or not at all.
  • Tenaformer (Configuration and Administration) Module on an appropriate screen, like that shown in FIG.
  • the client will use the Tenafonner (Configuration and Administration) Module screen of Accounting Actions to assign point and dollar values per action (customized by membership type (Member, Conespondent, Sponsor), including: Adding a Subject in home ZIP code, Adding a Subject outside home ZIP code, Adding a Comment, Suggesting Improvements and Deletions, Rating others' Comments, Giving a
  • Subject an overall rating (1 to 5 stars), Rating Descriptive Words, Telling a friend, Recruiting Conespondents, including in areas where no user action is required: Points awarded when Member's Subject or Comments are read by another user, Points awarded when another user adds a Subject in Member's ZIP code, Approving a Subject for publication (Conespondents only), Maintaining a Subject (fixing outdated/wrong information) (Conespondents only), Notifying a potential sponsor about an un-sponsored Subject (Conespondents only), Monthly bonus programs.
  • the client may determine how many points a conespondent must score during a specified time period to remain in good standing to make sure that the people rewarded for building and maintaining the online community are holding up their end of the bargain. If a conespondent isn't meeting the minimum activity standards set, it's likely that another conespondent-in-waiting will do so.
  • the client may determine minimum dollar amount users must accumulate before being allowed to cash out to cut down on the resources required to accommodate payouts. The higher the dollar amount a user must attain before being paid, the fewer requests for payment.
  • To configure minimum cash-out amount in Tenaformer (Configuration and Administration) Module, in the appropriate field, enter the minimum dollar amount users must attain before being allowed to cash out. When finished, click "Update" at the bottom of the screen.
  • the client may add "bonus points" to certain categories to further target areas of the site that require further development.
  • bonus points For Learning Experiences has more than enough entries but Restaurants has very few, it may make sense to give users bonus points for every restaurant they enter over a given period of time. To configure bonus points, in Tenafonner
  • the client may create point goals and opinion multipliers for each user type to give proper incentive to each member type.
  • To configure point goals and opinion multipliers in Tenaformer (Configuration and Administration) Module, select "Domain Tables" on the top navigation bar and "User Types" from the left navigation bar. A screen like that of FIG. 92 will appear. From the "Select User Type Description" dropdown box at the top of the page, select the user type for whom one would like to determine a monthly point goal and opinion multiplier, hi the "Opinion Multiplier" field, enter the appropriate weighting for the selected user type.
  • the client may create rewards for each user type to allow each member type a chance to earn rewards.
  • the client may allocate a percentage of sponsorship revenue to user rewards; this is an easy way to automatically allocate a pool of money for user rewards. This is an alternative to setting aside a specific dollar amount for the same purpose. And the client may decide the number or percentage of users that may share in special rewards to configure the distribution of rewards.
  • a high-volume site may choose to reward by percentage (e.g., the most active 5 percent of users). This works because every month, the instant system's software runs an automated process that identifies the top contributors - by percentage or real number - and generates a list of them. The client may configure this in Tenaformer (Configuration and
  • the clients may set up and configure contests.
  • An automated process sifts through the entries (on demand) and determines a winner(s).
  • the client may select as many winners as is desired.
  • the client may configure audience communication. Creating predefined questions and topics for users, enables them to more easily communicate with the site about what they like and dislike about the site.
  • the instant system allows the client to define pre-selected feedback Subjects to help speed and simplify the user's process for communicating.
  • To configure feedback Subjects in Tenaformer (Configuration and Administration) Module, select "Domain Tables" on the top navigation bar and "Feedback Subjects" from the left navigation bar. A screen like that shown in FIG. 93 will appear.
  • the client may define questions to ask prospective conespondents. Different sites will want different qualities from their conespondents. The clients define what questions conespondents must answer and the possible responses, and decide how they must score in order to meet client standards. These are, as discussed, configured in Tenafonner (Configuration and Administration) Module. Similarly, the client may configure Conespondent Answers and create decline reasons — predefined reasons for a user to decline the client's offer to become a conespondent or a member. Why this feature? To aggregate the most common showstopper issues for potential conespondents and members, and to use that aggregated data to reshape the client approach to recruiting them.
  • the instant system helps generate revenue by offering advertisers a completely automated way to appear on the site.
  • the instant technology enables advertisers to create and enhance a fully detailed page for their business, and here's how the client can help: by creating predefined section headers for sponsor pages to make it faster and easier for sponsors to create their own customized pages, and thereby make it easier to sell sponsorships.
  • section headers could include: Our Menu, Our Facilities, Our Customers, Our Hours, Our Specialties, Our Products, Our Employees, Our Coupons, Our Weekly Specials, etc. Section may be configured in Tenaformer (Configuration and Administration) Module in the appropriate screen.
  • the client may configure/display address and phone of non-sponsored Subjects to give businesses incentive to sponsor Subjects. And the client may determine setup and sponsorship fees. Reasonable fees for sponsorship depend on a number of factors: market size, competition, saturation, etc. Each site can tailor these rates to their own business situation.
  • To configure sponsorship fees in Tenafonner (Configuration and Administration) Module, click the "System Tables" tab on the top navigation bar and the "Sponsorship Parameters" tab on the left navigation bar. A screen like that of FIG. 94 appears. These three fields determine sponsorship pricing. The top field is the initial sponsorship fee. The second field is the fee for the first month of sponsorship, and the third field is the fee for each subsequent month. Enter the amount in each of the fields that one wants to charge for sponsorships, then click "Update.”
  • management reports are also available to clients: Member Counts, Member Demographics, Member Rewards Pool Status, Contributions by Members, Conespondents Counts, Regions, Demographics, Performances, Content Reports, Sponsor Reports, Feedback Reports, etc.
  • this process evaluates each registered user's goals, awards points and sends an email reminder to those users who did not reach their goals. It does Demotion. This process finds users who have not met their performance goals for consecutive months, and demotes them. Note: A client may choose to de-activate this option and elect not to demote users.
  • the automatic process ' also does Average accounting points. This process reviews all user activity from the past month and generates an average number of points per action per user type. Example: In September, the average. Member earned 1200 points by adding Subjects, 400 points by rating comments, and 300 points by rating Descriptive Words. The average Conespondent earned 1500 points by adding Subjects, 600 points by rating comments and 500 points by rating Descriptive Words. It does Bookmark summary. This process tracks the number of times that each Subject was bookmarked by a user. It does Top 100 Subjects. Every month, this process generates a list of the 100 highest-rated Subjects for each category. The top 10 are added to the home page, with a link to the list of 100. It does Monthly awards.
  • this process identifies the top performers that will share in special awards for the given month. It does Conespondent, Member and Sponsor reports. This process generates regular emails (at client-selected intervals) to each member type in order to recruit, manage and motivate. Emails will contain a link back to the Web site or MyPage. It does Conespondent recruitment bonuses. This process finds all the new registered users who were recommended by another user, and accepted as a conespondent.
  • Reward bonus points are given to the refeners upon acceptance. It does National pool flags. This process ensures that Subjects added by members are approved by conespondents in a timely fashion. After a Subject has been waiting for approval by a conespondent in a specific ZIP code for a certain (client-specified) amount of time, the Subject then becomes available for review by all other conespondents.
  • This process removes comments that are beyond a certain age (e.g., 30 days, 6 months, etc.). It does Real-time Subject-page views. The process adds up all Subject-page views over a given time period. It does Real-time information requests. This process counts the number of times that users have clicked "get more infonnation" about a Subject. Why use this feature? To sway potential advertisers toward a sponsorship. A potential advertiser may be more likely to sponsor a Subjects if she knows that dozens of your Web site users were looking for information about her business. It does Batch reporting. This process reports a summary of the processes that ran on the previous day.
  • the instant system includes a Survey tool that allows a user to create a survey for any audience in just three easy steps. It also allows many customized options. Using this survey tool, the user can determine:
  • FIGS. 95 A-B shows an example survey of the type generated by the Survey tool. Note that it features word/term/item ratings similarly to the instant above-described system.
  • To create a survey from the Surveys home page, click a "Learn more" link in the center at such home page to get to a page with a short introduction that describes the process of creating a survey.
  • the user When the user is finished, he/she clicks the "Create a Survey" button at the bottom of the page and gets a page returned like that shown in FIG. 96A-B.
  • the user fills out the four pictured fields: Survey Title, Offered by (the survey's author), Survey Topic and Survey Elements.
  • the author types the question or statement to which the participants will respond.
  • the author types the items that the participants will rate.
  • Each of the elements has a "required” checkbox next to it. If the author would like to require each user to rate a particular element, the "required” box should be checked. If the author will allow participants not to rate certain elements, the "required” box should remain unchecked for those elements.
  • the author decides whether to allow the participant to leave a written comment after taking the survey. If so, the author checks the "Collect Comments" box. If not, the box is left blank. If the author chooses to collect comments, those comments will only be viewable by the author him/herself (not survey participants). Date Options: In these fields, the author determines the start and end date of the survey.
  • FIGS. 98A-B illustrate the bottom half of the Step 2 page:
  • Response Validations The author may choose "Anonymous” or "Require Email address.” If the author doesn't care who responds to the survey and how many times a person responds, he/she clicks "Anonymous.” If the author would like to control who and how many times a user responds, "Require Email Address” must be selected.
  • Response Limitations This is only available if "Require Email Address” is selected in the "Response Validations” field. In the "Maximum responses per e-mail address” field, the author types in the number of times a participant is allowed to respond to the survey.
  • Results are available to anyone at any time Results are available to anyone after the survey ends Results are always available to anyone who has participated in the survey (Only available for surveys that require an email address for participation) Results are available to anyone who has participated in survey after survey ends (Only available for surveys that require an email address for participation) Results are never available.
  • Comment Heading This is the title that will display above the Comments box.
  • Comment Text This is the introductory text that accompanies the Comments box.
  • Results Not Available Text in the Results Not Available field appears when a participant clicks the Unique Results URL. It can also appear - if the author has specified that only participants may see the results - when someone who has not taken the survey tries to view the results.
  • the survey can be created. If the author is a registered user and logged in, he/she will be taken right to the "Congratulations" page as illustrated by FIG. 101. If the author is creating his/her first survey and is not yet a registered user - or if the author is a repeat user and simply has not logged in - he/she will receive a prompt to register/log in. Authors who already registered users can type in their username and password in the appropriate fields and then click "Login.” Those who are not yet registered must click the "Sign up” button after which they will go to a sign-up screen. After filling out the fields, the new author clicks "Submit” and is taken to the "Congratulations" page (FIG.
  • the first URL is "Your Unique Survey URL.” This is the URL that the author sends to participants so they can take the survey, and uses to link the survey from any Web page.
  • the second URL is the "Your Unique Results URL.” This is the URL that holds the cunent results to the survey. If the survey is no longer open (if the end date has passed), the final results can be found at this URL. If the survey hasn't yet begun, a screen saying the results are unavailable will return. In the sentence below the unique results URL is a link to the Survey
  • Management Center the area where the author can review and manage this survey. Here maybe found a summary of the Survey: its title, author, topic, elements, Survey URL and
  • Results URL To make changes to any of the text, the author clicks the "Edit” link to the right of the survey title and gets a page where the author can change the Survey title, author name, topic and elements. Elements can also be deleted from this screen, and the "required” status for each element can be changed.
  • the author Scrolls to the bottom of the page and clicks the "Next" button and returns to the Survey Management Center page, which contains all the cunent settings for a survey, and links to areas where those settings may be viewed and changed. Under an "Actions" heading, the author can click the View Comments link to see a list of all the comments participants have left.
  • an author may, at some point, wish to make changes to his/her account and billing information and view the history of the account. He/she may do so using the User Profile Manager. Clicking the "User Profile” link in the green navigation bar at the top of any page, the user is taken to a page showing the author's cunent account information: username, account number, email address, physical address, phone number and credit card information. To change anything under the Account Infonnation heading, the author simply clicks "edit" modes at appropriate headings text at the right of that heading.
  • the main Survey Management Center page preferably has a "User Account History" link that takes the author to a page with detailed information about all surveys the author has performed, in addition to the billing information associated with them.
  • An example of the User Account History page is shown by FIG. 102.
  • the Account History page shows each Survey created by the author, the charges for each and a description of those charges. It also shows the date and time each survey was created, the credit card each to which each survey was charged, and the reference and authorization numbers for each. Second Described Prefened System Details
  • a method and system for creating and maintaining a database of subject material primarily related to sales and sales related activities, knowledge and success stories.
  • users are provided the opportunity to search the database and to identify subject matter relevant to the user's needs either through a key word search or category browsing.
  • users may preferably search for experts with particular knowledge relevant to their needs. Users may also search for and review success stories. When users cannot find required knowledge they may also submit questions which will be answered by designated experts. Additionally all questions and related answers are added to the database and become additional subject matter available for search and review.
  • FIG. 103 the prefened business methods and operational processes are functionally demonstrated by FIG. 103 and FIG 104.
  • the Website preferably comprises components and associated programming of: Questions and Answers, Content & Ratings (of usefulness in one ore more steps of a licensee defined sales cycle), Management, Reporting, S A Spy and Rewards/Performance Management.
  • the Website interaction between the User Community (typically sales and sales related personnel) and the Website comprises not only rewards, but also performance feedback with regard to usage and contribution levels.
  • the Website accepts content through interface software from Customer's various existing systems, providing users a much broader and deeper set of Content available in a single database.
  • the User Community may also obtain required information through the Question and
  • Answer process which provides methods for experts to respond to questions posed by Users and make the questions and responses available to the User Community in the same manner as all other Entries. Additionally, Users may request automatic desktop notification of new
  • Website essentially does not require Management by a Developer/Operator/Site Manager and that the software of the Website performs management functions substantially automatically. Also, the Website substantially automatically interacts with the User Community to establish and maintain breadth, quality and cunency of the Content.
  • the first step for the Customer is sign the licensing agreement 201 for use of the website software.
  • the website software may be installed on Customer's website servers or operated from Developer's website servers. While pricing for the two options differs the website software functions in the same manner.
  • the license agreement is signed Developer works with the Customer to select and train the implementation team 203.
  • the Customer's implementation team works with the other members of the Customer's sales, sales management, sales support, product management and other groups within the Customer's organization to define categories of information, any information which may be available from existing databases and how best to convert it for use in the website databases, identify the website users and their levels of responsibility.
  • the next two steps, Input Required Information 207 and Extract Information from other Databases 209 are preferably undertaken substantially in parallel.
  • Input Required Information 207 step the implementation team requests selected groups of Users to begin adding content in their particular areas of expertise.
  • the implementation team may establish special incentives and rewards to encourage active and timely participation in the initial content entry work.
  • Customer software personnel will be implementing interface processes for both one-time and ongoing extracts for data from existing databases for inclusion in the Website database.
  • Training 211 step to introduce the website to the remaining members of the Customer's sales, sales management, sales support, product management and other groups within the
  • This step preferably follows completion the Input Required Information 207 and Extract Information from other
  • Databases 209 steps because it is critical that a significant amount of content is available before general usage. A significant amount of useful content initially encourages Users to access the website frequently and then to continue to update and maintain the quality and depth of the content.
  • the final step is Ongoing Use and Updates 213 of the website database.
  • Users are encouraged to submit new content, rate the usefulness of existing content, attach documents or point to attachments, and to actively use the website database as their source of information.
  • Customer management may also preferably use Rewards and Performance Management to encourage participation and direct it to areas most useful to the Customer. Second Described Preferred System Screens and Operation Details Login
  • each user of the system is preferably required to login using an assigned ID and password to gain access to the system.
  • each user preferably each user must provide their user id and password to gain access to the database. The methods by which users may obtain their forgotten password are shown.
  • the website software Upon request the website software will automatically generate an email to the email address on file for the user.
  • each user On logout, each user is presented with a confirmation of being logged out, as presented in FIG. 109.
  • each user is preferably taken to the Home Page similar to that illustrated in FIG. 110A and FIG. HOB.
  • the user may preferably access all the other functions of the system to which the user has been granted permission.
  • the user may preferably begin a search of the database using either a keyword search using the entry box 209-1.
  • the user may preferably search the database for a subject using one of the displayed categories, for example as shown: "Application”, “Buyer Position", “Competition”, “Customers/Prospects", “Products” or “Sales Tactics”.
  • each of these categories may be defined by the licensee to best fit their needs.
  • selecting "Browse Experts” allows the user to quickly find a person with the required expertise.
  • the Home Page preferably also presents selected key information to the user.
  • this infonnation may include: Executive Spotlight, Promotions, Success stories, a poll of user if desired by licensee, and News and Notes.
  • key subjects may be highlighted as either “Hot” (very cunent information of interest to most users), “Best Practices” (actions and information proven to be successful), “New” (subjects recently added to the database) or “Info Need” (recent requests for information and related responses from the Q&A process). More details on each of these areas may be viewed by selecting the indicated text link (underlined word or phrase).
  • each user may preferably access the database by searching for subjects by keyword or a predefined category.
  • each screen of the system provides the opportunity for a user to search by either method or to browse for an expert.
  • searching by keyword several areas of the database are searched to identify all possible matches for the selected keyword.
  • the keyword search routines first remove any common words such as "the", "an” and other words that occur commonly in everyday language and common words used in the licensee's environment as defined as part of system configuration. Additionally, the search routines identify root w r ords where plurals and other variations of the search words have been used.
  • search categories/Sub-category Titles 405 the search routines search the text of all category and sub- category titles for search word matches. All entries associated with any matched category/sub-category titles are also added to the results list.
  • search routines evaluate any potential matches the complete text of each advice entry in the step Search Advice Text 407, again all matches are added to the results list.
  • Search Advice Titles 409 the routines evaluate all advice titles for possible matches with the search text and add matched advice entries to the results list.
  • the user may preferably further filter the search result by selecting one or more of the categories or sub-categories where relevant subject entries were found.
  • the prefened keyword search result category filtering mechanism is illustrated in FIG. 112.
  • subjects are found matching the criteria used in either search method they are preferably displayed as shown in FIG. 113.
  • no subjects are found matching the criteria used in either search method they are preferably displayed as shown in FIG. 114 which provides suggestions to users as to how to improve their search results.
  • Additional prefened filtering may also be used if the results are excessive or are too broad.
  • the user may choose to use Advanced Search to narrow search results using categories and sub-categories, and/or type of advice (content), attachments, sales cycle, or advice level. The preferred functionality for this is shown in FIG. 115.
  • the user may further filter the search result by selecting one or more sub-categories which most relevant to the user's area of interest as.
  • the prefened browse by category filtering functionality is illustrated in FIG 111.
  • each list entry may be selected by a user to view the details of the subject. The specific content of each subject entry will be discussed later.
  • users may also search for experts when support is needed that cannot be found through review of database entries. Selecting the "Browse Experts" link takes the user to the Find Experts screen as shown in FIG. 117.
  • users may select criteria to nanow the search to experts in the areas of interest.
  • the search may be narrowed by subject categories and sub-categories and/or by categories of expertise, such as demos, presentations or feature/product comparisons and so on as shown.
  • the prefened presentation of the search results is shown in FIG. 116. Selecting the text link for any of the experts displayed on the Search Results screen will provide users access to the expert's profile which describes their areas of expertise in more detail, and which includes contact information.
  • the subject detail information is displayed on a primary screen, as illustrated in FIG. 118A and FIG. 118B.
  • this primary page preferably also provide summary information about a variety of attributes associated with a particular entry. These attributes may preferably include: Categorization,
  • the user may preferably choose to view information regarding in which step of the sales the subject has been most been most useful by preferably selecting the
  • the sales cycle usefulness breakdown information is presented to the user in a manner as shown in FIG. 119.
  • While on this screen preferably users may indicate in which step of the sales cycle they found the information most useful. Checking the applicable boxes and selecting "Submit” will result in each user's feedback being accumulated in the summary totals presented on the left. After providing sales cycle feedback the user is presented with a confinnation screen. A user may also choose to review specific types of documents or other relevant information which are related to the subject by selecting View Attachments. The presentation of this information is presented in FIG. 121. Additionally, users may preferably view comments submitted by other users about any subject in the database by selecting the text link for any visible single comment displayed on the primary subject screen, as shown in FIG. 118B. A preferred presentation of user submitted comments associated with a particular subject is illustrated by FIG. 122 A and FIG. 122B.
  • Users may also add their own comments about a particular subject and rate the subject by selecting "Add A Comment”. The prefened process is illustrated in FIG. 125. Each time users view comments they are preferably given the opportunity to rate the usefulness of the comments and illustrated in FIG. 122B.
  • users may rate the "usefulness" of each subject while viewing it.
  • selecting the appropriate bar segment in the "How useful is it to your company?" section of the primary subject detail screen, as shown in FIG. 118 A results in the user's opinion of usefulness being added to other user's ratings.
  • the subject's "usefulness" is rated by a user they may preferably by rewarded points as shown in FIG. 123.
  • Users may preferably view a summary of the feedback provided by all users who have rated the subject by selecting the "View All Functional Groups" text link. The resulting pop up screen is illustrated in FIG. 124.
  • a wide variety of types of information including, but not necessarily limited to, experiences, persons with special skills or knowledge and answered questions may preferably be included in the knowledge base.
  • An example of how information about a person that may preferably be included and presented is shown in FIG. 120.
  • each user is encouraged to submit their experiences for inclusion in the Icnowledge base.
  • Users may preferably access the add process from any screen by selecting the "Add Advice" text link.
  • the add process includes three primary steps and a publishing step.
  • the first prefened step includes entering the type of subject, internal person, external person or experience, whether the information is related to a reference and entering the text of the information to be shared as illustrated in FIG. 126 A.
  • users are required to select a category and optionally a sub-category which best classifies the sales advice entry as shown in FIG. 126B. Once the category and sub-category are entered the choices are confirmed to the user as illustrated in FIG.
  • the prefened second step preferably requires the user to first input the most relevant keywords, and to add any keywords not shown, but that the user believes would be useful in helping to locate the cunent entry, as illustrated in FIG. 127A.
  • users preferably indicate which step of the sales cycle to which the information is most relevant and identify any attachments or links which may be helpful.
  • the third add step preferably provides the user an opportunity to review all of the information inputted thus far and the make any changes before final submission. This review step is illustrated in FIG. 128A and FIG. 128B.
  • the publish step gives the user the opportunity to provide several publication criteria including an expiration date, a re-approval date, the level of user experience which could be expected to benefit most from the experience and to reassign the owner (person responsible for the entry) if it is different than the user inputting the information.
  • the publication information is shown in FIG. 129 A and FIG. 129B.
  • Confirmation of successful submission of a new entry is shown in FIG. 130.
  • some users may be pennitted to publish an entry without approval, while others may be required to have their submissions reviewed and approved by a designated user(s).
  • All submissions are preferably checked for duplicates in the database after completion of the first step in the add process if desired by licensee since this is a configuration decision.
  • the author may continue to the second step, if no duplicates are found, or add comments and ratings to the existing entry and abandon the entry started in first step.
  • a user may add an entry for a person who has particular skills or knowledge by using a screen format for step one of the "Add Advice" method tailored to meet the special requirements.
  • the entries as shown in FIG. 131 A and FIG. 13 IB illustrate the prefened screens configured of entry of information about an external person.
  • FIG. 132A and Fig. 132B demonstrate a preferred method for inputting information for an internal person.
  • each user of the system may preferably access a page in the system which presents information which is preferably unique to each user.
  • Each user is presented a summary page refened to as "mypage", as illustrated in FIG. 133A and FIG. 133B.
  • mypage the intent of "mypage" is to provide single location for users to maintain links to particular entries, and to access status of all their submissions, and a location where their status in promotional programs.
  • users may view a summary of subject entries in categories selected by the user which are of particular interest, and preferably each user may bookmark particular entries on people and experiences which may be organized by folders of the user's choosing.
  • each user is also presented with a section which summarizes the user's contributions in four broad areas; experiences, comments, questions and answers and success stories.
  • For users with responsibility for review and approval of submitted entries and comments are preferably given the opportunity to view a summary and by selecting the appropriate text link view the details and take the necessary actions.
  • authorized expert users will also access questions submitted through the Q&A process for response.
  • users authorized to access to selected reports are presented the opportunity to view them from this page.
  • users authorized to access to selected administration functions are presented the opportunity to access those functions from this page. All system administration functions are presented although user access to any one, or all, may preferably be selectively permitted.
  • the status of contributions by a user may be reviewed by selecting the value for each contribution area under each of the status columns; Added, Pending and Needs Touch-up.
  • the user will be presented with a list of contributions which comprise the number shown.
  • FIG. 134A and FIG. 134B are examples of these preferred lists.
  • the fonnat, style and usage of lists presented for comments submitted by the user, for subject submissions, for question and answer submissions submitted by the expert who answered the questions, and success stories submitted by a user are alike with only the nature of the content changing.
  • each user may view a list of entries book marked as "my favorites" by selecting either the displayed entry or the folder containing multiple entries.
  • the subject is displayed as illustrated in FIG. 118 A and Fig 118B. If a folder of multiple entries is selected a list of the entries is displayed in the same manner as illustrated in FIG. 134A and FIG. 134B.
  • a user By selecting the Save to My Favorites text link on the subject detail screen (FIG. 118 A and FIG. 118B) a user my save the subject entry to a particular "my favorites" folder.
  • To view all people entries which have been book marked a user selects the View All text link in the People section of My Page as illustrated in FIG.
  • a user may create, rename or delete the folders used to organize book marked subject entries selecting the edit folders text link in the Advice area.
  • Selecting a person from the list will preferably display the person's profile which is illustrated in FIG. 120.
  • Selecting the text link Sales Advice in the Contributions section will preferably display a list of the subject entries added by the person preferably in the same manner as shown in FIG. 134A and FIG. 134B.
  • Selecting the text link Comments in the Contributions section will preferably display a list of comments added by the user preferably in the same manner as shown in FIG. 134A and FIG. 134B.
  • a user may select any of the numeric text links in the "my interests" section of my page to view a list of subjects fitting the category and classification of the subjects.
  • the resulting summary list of entries is preferably presented to the user in the same manner as shown in FIG. 134A and FIG. 134B.
  • each user may preferably prepare a profile of the user's background and preferences for reference by other users of the system.
  • each profile contains demographic and contact information, optionally an image of the user, a summary of the user's areas of expertise as it relates to the defined categories, and a short autobiographical description of skills and experience, an example profile is shown in FIG.120.
  • FIG. 135A and FIG. 135B illustrate a prefened screen for editing a user's profile.
  • a user may edit all portions of the profile except name, title, department and location. Additionally, a user may edit the user's interests by selecting the text link my interests on the edit preferences screen.
  • users wishing to submit a question preferably may select the "Q&A" text link available on any screen of the system.
  • the first screen of the question process preferably allows the user to formulate the question, spell check it and select the most appropriate category and sub-category as shown in FIG. 141 A and FIG. 141B.
  • a question edit process which functions the in the same manner as the entry process illustrated by FIG. 141 A and FIG. 141B, is preferably available if changes are required.
  • submission of the question will result in the system searching for like questions and subjects in the database.
  • the resulting list of the search is a list, as shown in FIG. 142, and the user may continue and submit the question or use a subject from the list to resolve the issue and therefore abandon the question.
  • the question is submitted, preferably the system will confirm successful submission as shown in FIG. 143.
  • FIG. 136 the "review queue” contains "Q&A" items which are questions directed to a group of experts awaiting answers as well as other submissions by users which are awaiting review and approval. Completion of the answer process will result in the combination of the question and answer being added to the knowledge base for use by other users.
  • the question answering process requires three steps. Step one, as illustrated by FIG. 137A and FIG. 137B, preferably includes completing the answer to the question and selecting the appropriate category and sub-category. Step two includes selection of other descriptive information about the question preferably similar to the information added in step two of the subject add process. Step two prefened requirements are demonstrated in FIG. 138A and FIG 138B.
  • Step three of the process is a preview of the completed "Q&A" entry and is presented in FIG. 139. Confirmation of successful submission of the "Q&A" entry is presented to the reviewer as shown in FIG. 140 A and FIG. 140B.
  • selected users are authorized to review and approve submissions of other users to ensure quality and accuracy of the information contained in the database.
  • users authorized by management to review and approve submissions are able to access the queues of submissions awaiting review and approval from the "review queues" section of "my page" by clicking on the text link for the number of items to review (refer to FIG. 133A and FIG. 133B).
  • FIG. 136 demonstrates a prefened list of the submissions awaiting review presented when the text link is selected. As can be seen, all types of submissions are preferably presented for selection by the authorized user.
  • Selecting an entry in the list will present the user with a different screen designed specifically for each type of entry, sales advice, comments, questions and answers, pictures, experts or success stories. Preferably, all areas subject to review operate in essentially the same manner. The process is described and demonstrated with reference to FIG. 137 through FIG. 140 which illustrates the review and approval process for submitted questions and answers. Those with ordinary skill in this art will appreciate that minor differences in screen text, design and background are variations not critical to the instant inventions.
  • Preferably review and approval of submitted comments on particular subjects in the database may be required before they are published and made available to all users. On approval the comment will be posted to the database and available to users, however, on rejection the comment is returned to author for conection and re-submission or deletion.
  • Preferably subject entries may include expiration dates which require an action by an authorized user to renew the entry, delete the entry or cancel and return the entry to the queue for later action.
  • Preferably review and approval of subject entries may be required prior to being made available to the general population of users, in particular this preferably permits an authorized user to review all aspects of the submitted entry and modify all values except the original text.
  • the authorized user may approve the submitted entry or disapprove it. If the authorized user chooses, no action may be taken and the submitted entry may be returned to the review queue for action in the future.
  • success stories may also be reviewed prior to posting to the database.
  • success stories are included in the review queue and are available to authorized users for review and approval. As provided, an authorized user may choose to cancel and return the submitted success story to the queue. If a success is disapproved the authoring user will receive feedback as to the reason for rejection. Expired success stories may be reviewed for renewal or removal from the database.
  • a user may use the "Info Need” process to forward an identified need or training request to management.
  • FIG. 146 illustrating a listing of previously identified "Info Needs” a user by review the list and 1) indicate their agreement with the identified need, comment on the identified need or answer the need. If a user doesn't find their particular need listed they may add it to the list by selecting the "Submit a need” text link.
  • FIG. 144 illustrates the method by which a user may enter and submit an "info need". The user will preferably receive confirmation of successful submission of the need as shown in FIG. 145. Success stories
  • users may submit entries which are preferably anecdotes of situations and events in which they were successful in completing a sale or resolving a problem.
  • Success stories may be featured on the home page, as shown in FIG. 110 and FIG. 110B.
  • a prefened display of a success story may include an uploaded picture.
  • a user may choose to add a success story by selecting the "Share your success story” text link wherever it appears.
  • the user will preferably receive a confirmation and a number of points as set by licensee. awards & Standings/Points/Contests
  • awards and contests are preferably intended to encourage and reward users for using the system appropriately and completing the content management tasks of submitting content and review and approval of content.
  • the awards and contests are based on points earned by users for the completion of a variety of tasks such as submitting a subject for inclusion in the Icnowledge base.
  • the points awarded for the completion of any task may be adjusted from time to time to either encourage or discourage user behavior.
  • the points earned by users then are used as the basis for participation in awards and contests, which may further encourage desired user behaviors.
  • An example of a contest description which may be established is provided in FIG. 147 as shown within the bounded area labeled promotions.
  • This page is available to users from the text link "awards & standings" in this header of all system pages. Additionally, users may review the terms and conditions of each contest, as shown in FIG. 149, by selecting the text link "Terms and Conditions" on the contest description page. Further, a user may select the text link "View a detailed description” from the terms and conditions page to view the particular actions and the bonus points that may be awarded during the contest period.
  • FIG. 150 presents and prefened method for presenting the point awards. From this page a user may review contest winners by selecting the "Winners List” text link which preferably displays a page as shown in FIG. 148. If the user's name appears on the list the user may select the text linlc "Claim your prize" to select the particular prize they desire. After submitting the prize selection the user is preferably provided a confirmation that their selection was successfully submitted.
  • FIG. 152A and FIG. 152B presents a prefened example of how a point club may be established in the system and how a point club may be modified.
  • Users may preferably view their awards and standings by selecting the text link "awards & standings" from any page or from "my page"; the prefened display is shown in FIG. 164.
  • Users may view their status with regard to each active point club contest as shown in FIG. 151 by selecting the text linlc for the point club in which they are interested.
  • users may view past club awards by selecting the text link "View your past point club awards" which preferably presents the display as illustrated in FIG. 165.
  • Each user is preferably presented with the user's total accumulated points and overall ranking on each page of the system as well as on "my page". This information is presented in each place as a text linlc.
  • a user may the select total points to view a summary of points accumulated for a specified period for each task for which points are awarded.
  • a preferred display for this page is shown in FIG. 154.
  • Selecting overall ranking value a user is preferably able to view how their point total compares to others in their functional group, as shown in FIG. 155.
  • each user may view the user's ranking by total points as shown, or by primary areas of tasks.
  • Contests and promotions are preferably set up by authorized users.
  • Authorized users may access the contest/promotions administration modules by selecting the "promotion" text link in the administration section of "my page".
  • the prefened set up process requires five steps: 1) description of the contest/promotion, 2) qualifications, 3) award type, 4) dates, and 5) preview. Each of these steps is preferably accomplished by completing the information required on a screen associated with each step.
  • Step 1 as illustrated by FIG. 157, requires completion of the contest/promotion descriptive information and terms and conditions and selection of the type of contest/promotion.
  • Step 2 preferably requires the authorized user to establish which actions will be used and the points to be awarded for a contest/promotion, as illustrated in FIG. 158A and FIG. 158B.
  • contest/promotion is a contest, as also illustrated by FIG. 158A and FIG. 158B, the requirements to be completed by the user include qualifications to be a winner and which organizational departments or functions are eligible to participate. For a sweepstakes type of contest/promotion the prefened requirements are illustrated in FIG. 159 A and FIG. 159B.
  • Step 3 is preferably completed only for contests and sweepstakes types of contests/promotions and preferably allows authorized users to identify the planned prizes as shown in FIG. 160 A and FIG. 160B.
  • Step 4, as illustrated in FIG. 161, preferably is used to set the start and end date of the contest/promotion as well as its frequency.
  • Step 5 is preferably a review of all the information entered to set up the contest/promotion in step 1 through step 4. If changes are required the user may edit any segment by selecting the edit text linlc displayed within each segment of the pages.
  • the preferred review screen for contests and sweepstakes is shown in FIG. 162 A and FIG. 162B. After submission of contest/promotion information the user is provided a confirmation as illustrated in FIG. 163.
  • the system preferably provides the facility to include all user's names, organization departments and city and state locations in the knowledge base. Each user may preferably access the directory by selecting the "directory" text linlc in the header area of each screen in the system.
  • the system preferably provides the facility to provide users of the system to be informed of changes in database content in an automated fashion without the need to start or use a browser program. Once Advice Spy is initiated it runs continuously and unobtrusively on the user's personal computer allowing quick access to key information.
  • each user may initiate the installation of the Advice Spy module from "mypage” by selecting the text link "download now” 301 located in the advice spy section as illustrated in FIG. 133B.
  • the user may configure the Advice spy module by first setting up the login and host information as shown in FIG. 167.
  • the user is presented with a summary view of their mypage information using their mypage preferences as set on through the browser.
  • the first presentation is a summary of the points and rank status and items to be reviewed and options for searching or browsing the database.
  • a ticker display is provided at the bottom to provide immediate notice of new advice added to the database.
  • Selecting the "My Spy" item on the menu bar provides the user to set parameters 305 to set a variety of Advice Spy behavior options.
  • the user may choose to have Advice Spy start on Windows startup, automatically login and set the time interval in which Advice Spy will query the database to obtain updated counts and new ticker display information.
  • the user may preferably request alerts be sent whenever new advice is added to the user's areas of interest, likewise for any "hot" advice is added in the user's areas of interest, or when entries added by the user are due for review and renewal.
  • FIG. 172 illustrates the prefened screen for setting the types of alerts desired by users.
  • selecting the Ticker tab presents the ticker display options available to the user.
  • the user may preferably optionally set the types of advice information to be displayed on the ticker display, shown in FIG. 173.
  • Advice Spy will preferably automatically perform an Automatic Check for Ticker Changes 307 by reading the Advice Database 321 on the time interval set by the user.
  • Advice Spy will perform an Automatic Check for Display Changes 311 by reading the Advice Database 321. If changes in ticker display content are detected after checking for new subjects since the last check, preferably Advice Spy will Generate Ticker Updates 309 for presentation to the user.
  • Advice Spy will Generate Display Updates 313 for presentation to the user.
  • the most cunent information is presented each time the user switches to Advice spy, in the Access Advice Spy 315 step.
  • the user may select the My Interests tab to view details of new advice added in the user's area of interest as well as advice that has been designated as "hot” when it was published to the database, as illustrated in FIG. 169.
  • selecting the text linlc associated with the count in each classification will start the user's browser and present a list of the subjects with the particular classification, as example of the listing of subjects is provided in FIG. 113.
  • the ticker display remains present even though the user may select a different Advice Spy display.
  • the user may select the text linlc "Edit your areas of interest" which will initiate the user's browser and permit the user to make any desired changes in the areas of interest section of the user's mypage.
  • the user may also keep track of the user's status with regard to cunent contests and bonus points earned by selecting the promotions tab, as shown in FIG. 170.
  • each contest is displayed as a text linlc to the database which allows the user to quickly view their standing in any cunent contest.
  • the user may select a bonus point value to understand the user's how the points were earned and the user's rank as compared to others. Reporting
  • reporting will be available to users based their on security permission levels.
  • Reporting preferably is browser based and initiated on request by the user.
  • Each user is preferably granted access to some number of reports. This access authorization is further described in the description of the administration and configuration section below.
  • all reports provided are created in fashion that allows the user to "drill down" on particular value or area up to five levels of detail, until the individual or a specific advice is viewable.
  • the system accumulates a variety of information to support the reporting, including points awarded to each user, usage counts, etc., for advice entries. Usage information captured and accumulated also includes details regarding the user, date and time and other tracking variables necessary to support the desired reporting levels.
  • each user may access their authorized reports as illustrated by FIG. 174 from their mypage (FIG. 133A and FIG. 133B). Selecting the "+" in front of reports presents listing of the reports a user is authorized to view, as shown in FIG. 175. Each authorized report may be viewed by selecting the text linlc report name.
  • FIG. 176 illustrates the report parameters which the user may optionally set in order to view the desired information. After selecting the desired parameters and selecting the submit button the highest level of summarization for the chosen report is presented to the user, as shown in FIG. 177. Selecting the "+" in front of each functional area will provide additional levels of detail about the total with any subsidiary functional areas. Additionally, selecting any value in the columnar portion of the report will preferably provide detail as to the individuals whose actions, in combination, account for the summary total as shown in FIG. 178. This represents a third level of drill down into the information.
  • Selecting the person's name text link will preferably provide an additional level of detail, in this case information about the individual as shown in FIG. 179.
  • a fourth level of detail can be obtained by preferably selecting a columnar value text linlc as illustrated in FIG. 180 and FIG. 181.
  • the user may select, in this case the advice title text link and view the details of the advice which was added by the person that resulted in points. This display is preferably equivalent to the advice detail shown in FIG. 118A and FIG. 118B.
  • Text links for each of these areas preferably are present on the user's "my page" if the user is authorized to access the functional area.
  • authorized users may create and manage alerts, which are typically urgent messages displayed on the home page on initial login.
  • An example of alert setup and management is provided in FIG. 182 A and FIG. 182B.
  • alerts may preferably be available to any or all users depending on the functional areas selected as well as areas of interest.
  • authorized users may set up bonus points plans to encourage users to utilize the system and complete desired actions, in particular adding advice in desired areas.
  • bonus points may preferably be assigned for a variety of actions and for certain categories.
  • the program can be set to run for a specified period of time.
  • the system After submitting the bonus point plan, the system provides an opportunity to preview and make any changes as shown in FIG. 184. On final submission the system preferably confirms that bonus point program has been set up, as illustrated in FIG. 185.
  • system email distribution may be managed from a single screen by defining email types, type of distribution and frequency which will preferably apply to particular emails. Additionally, all email is preferably managed with a set of parameters which manage the actual delivery of the messages. Preferably, system emails may be prepared and edited from a single screen.
  • custom emails may be prepared and circulated to selected users based on any combination of their functional area, user type, expertise in a particular category/sub- category and category /sub-category area of interest.
  • the preferred custom email setup screen is illustrated in FIG. 186A and FIG. 186B.
  • authorized users may preferably create, edit and delete the entries used in the Executive Spotlight section of the home page (FIG. 110A and FIG. HOB).
  • FIG. 187 preferably authorized users create an entry, include a picture and set the date range it will be displayed. Existing executive spotlight entries may also be edited as depicted as the bottom of the screen.
  • functional area administration preferably encompasses all the settings associated with functional areas defined to the system. These settings preferably include setup, category access, user access, functional area report access, expertise keywords, and intro page. Each of these will be further described below.
  • each functional area can be defined in terms of the credibility factor, a value used to weight a user's comments and ratings, the typical user type and expected point goal.
  • the parameters are provided for review and confirmation is provided of system acceptance. Selecting the "overview" text link will preferably provide a summary display of all functional areas and their related characteristics as shown in FIG. 189.
  • authorized users may define which categories may be accessed by members of each functional area by checking the appropriate categories. This preferably provides a means to prevent access to categories of information to selected groups. Selecting the "user exception report" text link will preferably create the report as shown in FIG. 191, which identifies individuals whose functional level access has been ovenidden.
  • a display is provided of authorized actions for each functional area which preferably aids a user in reviewing authorizations for changes and additions. This display is access by selecting the text link "Overview Report" as shown in FIG. 193.
  • authorized users may limit access to a particular segment of reports, such as preventing a functional area which includes non-employees from viewing executive management reports.
  • limiting access to a segment of reports does not limit a user's ability to drill down within the reports authorized for the user.
  • authorized users may limit the ability to access profile information for members of a selected functional. This will preferably limit the ability of some groups to gain access to information about individuals within another functional group. This may be appropriate where different groups (functional areas) of non- employees should be limited in their ability to view information about other users outside of their own groups (functional areas).
  • authorized users may add, edit or delete keywords which may be associated with experts. This preferably ensures consistent use of terms when describing experts which results in more consistent search results for users.
  • authorized users may establish an "introduction" message for display on the first login by a user.
  • This message is preferably used to help familiarize new users with the system, provide guidance on what should be done first and to give an overview of the benefits of the system.
  • authorized users may set up the universal welcome message and also provide tailored messages to any or all new members based on the user's assigned functional area.
  • each functional area message may contain up to an introduction area and three separately titled sections.
  • authorized users may create the News & Notes section which is displayed on the system home page (as shown in FIG. 110A and FIG. 110B). As with the other administrative functions it is preferably accessed from the authorized user's "my page”. Each News & Notes story may be created and edited including the expiration date and any graphics . or links associated with each story.
  • the prefened screens for News & Notes are illustrated in FIG. 198A and FIG. 198B.
  • authorized users may create Points Clubs which are preferably used to influence user's system usage behavior. As with the other administrative functions it is preferably accessed from the authorized user's "my page" (as shown in FIG. 133 A and FIG. 133B). Each Points Cub may be created and edited including the expiration date and any graphics, prizes, required level of points accumulation and functional areas eligible for the prizes.
  • the prefened screens for Points Club management are illustrated in FIG. 199A and FIG. 199B.
  • authorized users may create user Polls which are preferably used to record user's preferences regarding any topic. Active Polls are displayed on the home page (as shown in FIG. 110A and FIG. HOB). As with the other administrative functions it is preferably accessed from the authorized user's "my page" (as shown in FIG. 133 A and FIG. 133B). Each Poll may be created and edited including the question and up to ten possible answers, its expiration date and the functional areas to which it will be presented. The prefened screens for Polling management are illustrated in FIG. 200A and FIG. 200B.
  • System Administration preferably encompasses a variety of system parameters and configurations settings used to control overall system behavior and by the Gepetto (batch) automated management modules used for system maintenance.
  • o Site Info - key information preferably required includes the URL of the licensee's website and the related IP address for the software
  • o System parameters - refer to discussion below related to FIG. 202 A and FIG. 202B
  • o Categories creating, maintaining the categories and sub-categories used in the system
  • authorized users may preferably set the basic point value for every action tracked in the system. Each user completing any action defined by this list will preferably be awarded the defined number of points; o Email - setting up and maintaining the email settings and content for standard system generated email; o Archive Retrieval - archiving advice and retrieving advice from archive.
  • authorized users may preferably set or modify each value in key areas of the system, including: Advice Attributes; Renewal/Expiration Dates; Content Approval/Submission; Optional Features; User Variables; and Miscellaneous Variables. Setting these variables preferably configures much of the system's behavior characteristics.
  • each of the following functions is also preferably available to authorized users for creation and maintenance: o Attachment Types - preferably allows authorized users to define the acceptable type of attachments that be associated with advice entries; o Banned Words - preferably allows authorized users to identify words which may not be used anywhere in the system, o Common Words - preferably allows authorized users to identify common words used in the licensee's environment and therefore ignored in the keyword search routines; o Enor Messages - preferably allows authorized users to define enor message content to assist users in understanding reported problems; o Help Messages - preferably allows authorized users to define help messages for access by users throughout the system.
  • authorized users may establish new users of the system or edit existing user's profile, expertise, assigned attributes and assigned approval categories.
  • Credibility rating is used in ratings calculations to give more weight to ratings by experts and others with high levels of experience. In other words, a credibility rating of "1" is neutral while a credibility rating of "5" would preferably influence the overall rating toward the expert's opinion. This is functionally similar to the weighting used in the first described preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • the prefened screen for these functions is shown in FIG. 204A and FIG. 204B.
  • Gepetto in this second described prefened embodiment of the present invention are similar in nature and function to those described in the first described prefened embodiment of the present invention.
  • the Gepetto Module will preferably: Remove subjects (advice) with overall ratings below threshold; Remove subjects whose expiration date has passed with poor word ratings (Optional); Calculate each members weighting value for ratings; Remove old ratings and recalculate ratings; and Remove old comments.

Abstract

L'invention concerne un système, qui permet de créer et gérer automatiquement une base de données d'information utilisant des opinons d'utilisateurs sur des sujets, en particulier des expériences exceptionnelles. On décrit un système Internet qui aide/motive une population d'utilisateurs intéressés par des informations relatives à certaines catégories de sujets, pour gérer le contenu de la base de données et améliorer l'utilité et la qualité des informations présentes dans la base de données, sans aucune gestion substantielle par le gestionnaire-propriétaire du site web. Les opinions des utilisateurs se présentent principalement sous la forme de commentaires et de notations quant aux termes du langage naturel qui décrivent le mieux un sujet particulier, ce qui permet à l'utilisateur d'utiliser les termes descriptifs du langage naturel pour effectuer des recherches dans la base de données de sujets, lesquels termes sont, de préférence, évaluatifs et approbateurs. L'invention concerne également un système qui permet de créer et gérer automatiquement une base de données d'information utilisant les connaissances de l'utilisateur sur des sujets apparentés. On décrit un système basé sur Internet, qui sert à aider/motiver une population d'utilisateurs interéessés par des informations sur certaines catégories de sujets se rapportant à des ventes, pour gérer le contenu de la base de données et améliorer l'utilité et la qualité des informations présentes dans la base de données, sans aucune gestion substantielle par le gestionnaire-propriétaire du site web. Les opinons d'utilisateurs se présentent principalement sous la forme de commentaires et de notations quant aux sujets se rapportant à des ventes qui aident le mieux à conclure une vente.
EP03765981A 2002-07-24 2003-07-24 Systeme de creation et de gestion d'une base de donnees d'information utilisant des opinions d'utilisateurs Withdrawn EP1546842A4 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (5)

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US39849402P 2002-07-24 2002-07-24
US398494P 2002-07-24
US624345 2003-07-22
US10/624,345 US20040205065A1 (en) 2000-02-10 2003-07-22 System for creating and maintaining a database of information utilizing user opinions
PCT/US2003/023046 WO2004010265A2 (fr) 2002-07-24 2003-07-24 Systeme de creation et de gestion d'une base de donnees d'information utilisant des opinons d'utilisateurs

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EP1546842A2 true EP1546842A2 (fr) 2005-06-29
EP1546842A4 EP1546842A4 (fr) 2009-04-01

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EP (1) EP1546842A4 (fr)
AU (1) AU2003252125A1 (fr)
CA (1) CA2493272A1 (fr)
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US7958010B2 (en) 2005-06-08 2011-06-07 Ian Tzeung Huang Internet search engine with critic ratings
US8180680B2 (en) 2007-04-16 2012-05-15 Jeffrey Leventhal Method and system for recommending a product over a computer network
US8626771B2 (en) * 2007-06-29 2014-01-07 Microsoft Corporation Container reputation
US8838729B2 (en) 2007-06-29 2014-09-16 Microsoft Corporation Gathering statistics based on container exchange
CN103069418B (zh) * 2010-08-20 2016-03-02 乐天株式会社 信息提供装置、信息提供方法、程序以及信息记录介质
CN112348552A (zh) * 2020-09-27 2021-02-09 北京淇瑀信息科技有限公司 基于预警业务的计算机辅助资源投放管理方法及平台

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CA2493272A1 (fr) 2004-01-29
WO2004010265A3 (fr) 2004-04-08
EP1546842A4 (fr) 2009-04-01
HK1079874A1 (zh) 2006-04-13
AU2003252125A1 (en) 2004-02-09
WO2004010265A2 (fr) 2004-01-29

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