Self-policing, rate limiting online forums
US6339784B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 13, 1998 |
| Grant date | Jan 15, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 13, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L51/212
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method and means for self-policing and automatically rate-limiting multiple-user online forums. The preferred embodiment of the invention includes a set of rules that permit users to censure other users. A censured user has one or more “privileges” (which may include access to the online computer system or the effective message rate of a communications connection) taken away or diminished; the privilege is gradually restored if the censured user behaves. The censuring participant and other pertinent participants are notified of the effect of the censuring on the censured user. In another aspect of the invention, the online computer system automatically tracks the rate at which a user sends certain types of messages, and can message rate limit a user who uses too many system resources by sending a large number of messages in rapid succession.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.