Patent US6658467B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6658467B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Provision of informational resources over an electronic network
Assignee: C4cast com Inc
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Filing: 1999-09-08
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Granted: 2003-12-02
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Expires: 2019-09-08
Abstract
Abstract Resources are provided to participants over an electronic network by maintaining a collection of resources that can be accessed by a participant over the electronic network at a given time. Points are assigned to each resource based on participant access of the resource and the collection is modified based on the points assigned to each resource. Alternatively, or in addition, participants may be permitted to rate the resources, with points assigned to each resource based on participant rating of the resource. The collection of resources is then modified based on assigned points for each resource.
Inventors
- 👤 Mark E. Rice
- 👤 Stephen A. Klein
- 👤 G. Michael Phillips
- 👤 M. Chapman Findlay, III
- 👤 William P. Jennings
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 11:33
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q30/00; G06Q30/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 40
Claim 1
Independent Claim
115 words
A method for providing resources to participants over an electronic network, said method comprising: maintaining a collection of resources that can be accessed by a participant over the electronic network at any given time; assigning points to each resource based on participant access of said resource; and modifying the collection based on the points assigned to the resources, wherein the points assigned to the resources based on participant access are assigned in a predetermined manner, wherein a number of points assigned to a resource when a participant accesses the resource is based upon a participation level of said participant, and wherein plural different activity indicators are used to determine the participation level of said participant.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
115 words
A method for providing resources to participants over an electronic network, said method comprising: maintaining a collection of resources that can be accessed by a participant over the electronic network at any given time; assigning points to each resource based on participant access of said resource; and modifying the collection based on the points assigned to the resources, wherein the points assigned to the resources based on participant access are assigned in a predetermined manner, wherein a number of points assigned to a resource when a participant accesses the resource is based upon a participation level of said participant, and wherein plural different activity indicators are used to determine the participation level of said participant.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 1 , wherein points are assigned to said each resource when said each resource is accessed via the collection.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 1 , wherein the resources having a worst overall rating based on assigned points are removed from the collection.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 1 , wherein a fixed number of points is assigned to a resource when a participant accesses said resource.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 1 , wherein the collection includes links to at least some of the resources.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 1 , wherein the electronic network comprises the Internet.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 6 , wherein the resources include web sites sponsored by different persons.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 7 , wherein the web sites having a worst overall rating based on assigned points are removed from the collection.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 1 , wherein the resources whose assigned points meet a predetermined criterion are removed from the collection and placed in a second collection.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 9 , wherein the second collection comprises a data archive.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method according to claim 1 , wherein each resource is assigned a score based on the points assigned to said resource, and wherein points assigned more recently are weighted more heavily in determining the score than are points assigned less recently.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
125 words
A method for providing information to participants over an electronic network, said method comprising: maintaining a collection of resources, that are accessible by participants over the electronic network; permitting the participants to rate the resources; assigning points to each resource based on participant rating of said resource; and automatically removing identified resources from the collection based on points assigned to the resources and based on an established criterion, wherein the points assigned to the resources based on participant rating are assigned in a predetermined manner, wherein a number of points assigned to a resource when a participant rates the resource is based upon a participation level of said participant, and wherein plural different activity indicators are used to determine the participation level of said participant.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
125 words
A method for providing information to participants over an electronic network, said method comprising: maintaining a collection of resources, that are accessible by participants over the electronic network; permitting the participants to rate the resources; assigning points to each resource based on participant rating of said resource; and automatically removing identified resources from the collection based on points assigned to the resources and based on an established criterion, wherein the points assigned to the resources based on participant rating are assigned in a predetermined manner, wherein a number of points assigned to a resource when a participant rates the resource is based upon a participation level of said participant, and wherein plural different activity indicators are used to determine the participation level of said participant.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 12 , wherein at least some of the resources are interactive.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 12 , wherein the resources having a worst overall rating based on total points are removed from the collection.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method according to claim 12 , wherein the points assigned to a resource based on a rating of said resource from a participant are modified based on a prior rating history of said participant.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 12 , wherein the electronic network comprises the Internet.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 16 , wherein the resources include web sites sponsored by different persons.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 12 , wherein resources whose total number of points meets some predetermined criterion are removed from the collection and placed in a second collection.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 18 , wherein the second collection comprises a data archive.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method according to claim 12 , wherein each resource is assigned a score based on the points assigned to said resource, and wherein points assigned more recently are weighted more heavily in determining the score than are points assigned less recently.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
135 words
A method for providing information to participants over an electronic network, said method comprising: maintaining a collection of resources, that can be accessed by a participant over the electronic network at any given time; permitting participants to access and rate the resources; assigning points to each resource based on how the participants rated said resource and based on participant access of said each resource; and modifying the collection of resources based on the points assigned to the resources, wherein the points assigned to the resources based on participant access are assigned in a predetermined manner, wherein a number of points assigned to a resource when a participant accesses the resource is based upon a Participation level of said participant, and wherein plural different activity indicators are used to determine the participation level of said participant.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
135 words
A method for providing information to participants over an electronic network, said method comprising: maintaining a collection of resources, that can be accessed by a participant over the electronic network at any given time; permitting participants to access and rate the resources; assigning points to each resource based on how the participants rated said resource and based on participant access of said each resource; and modifying the collection of resources based on the points assigned to the resources, wherein the points assigned to the resources based on participant access are assigned in a predetermined manner, wherein a number of points assigned to a resource when a participant accesses the resource is based upon a Participation level of said participant, and wherein plural different activity indicators are used to determine the participation level of said participant.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 21 , wherein the points assigned to the resources based on participant rating and participant access are assigned in a predetermined manner.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 22 , wherein the resources having a worst overall rating based on total points are removed from the collection.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 21 , wherein the collection includes links to at least some of the resources.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 21 , wherein the electronic network comprises the Internet.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 25 , wherein the resources include web sites sponsored by different persons.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 26 , wherein the web sites having a worst overall rating based on total points are removed from the collection.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 21 , wherein the resources whose total number of points meets a predetermined criterion are removed from the collection and placed in a second collection.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 28 , wherein the second collection comprises a data archive.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method according to claim 21 , wherein each resource is assigned a score based on the points assigned to said resource, and wherein points assigned more recently are weighted more heavily in determining the score than are points assigned less recently.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
123 words
An apparatus for providing resources to participants over an electronic network, said apparatus comprising: means for maintaining a collection of resources that can be accessed by a participant over the electronic network at any given time; means for assigning points to each resource based on of participant access of said resource over; and means for modifying the collection based on the points assigned to the resources, wherein the points assigned to the resources based on participant access are assigned in a predetermined manner, wherein a number of points assigned to a resource when a participant accesses the resource is based upon a participation level of said participant, and wherein plural different activity indicators are used to determine the participation level of said participant.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
123 words
An apparatus for providing resources to participants over an electronic network, said apparatus comprising: means for maintaining a collection of resources that can be accessed by a participant over the electronic network at any given time; means for assigning points to each resource based on of participant access of said resource over; and means for modifying the collection based on the points assigned to the resources, wherein the points assigned to the resources based on participant access are assigned in a predetermined manner, wherein a number of points assigned to a resource when a participant accesses the resource is based upon a participation level of said participant, and wherein plural different activity indicators are used to determine the participation level of said participant.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
133 words
An apparatus for providing information to participants over an electronic network, said apparatus comprising: means for maintaining a collection of resources that are accessible by participants over the electronic network; means for permitting the participants to rate the resources; means for assigning points to each resource based on participant rating of said resource; and means for automatically removing identified resources from the collection based on points assigned to the resources and based on an established criterion, wherein the points assigned to the resources based on participant rating are assigned in a predetermined manner, wherein a number of points assigned to a resource when a participant rates the resource is based upon a participation level of said participant, and wherein plural different activity indicators are used to determine the participation level of said participant.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
133 words
An apparatus for providing information to participants over an electronic network, said apparatus comprising: means for maintaining a collection of resources that are accessible by participants over the electronic network; means for permitting the participants to rate the resources; means for assigning points to each resource based on participant rating of said resource; and means for automatically removing identified resources from the collection based on points assigned to the resources and based on an established criterion, wherein the points assigned to the resources based on participant rating are assigned in a predetermined manner, wherein a number of points assigned to a resource when a participant rates the resource is based upon a participation level of said participant, and wherein plural different activity indicators are used to determine the participation level of said participant.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 1 , wherein resources automatically are removed from the collection based on assigned points and an established criterion.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 1 , wherein at least some of the resources are interactive.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 12 , wherein the collection includes links to at least some of the resources.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-12-01 | 2007-06-02 | 2007-12-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-12-01 | 2011-06-02 | 2011-12-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-12-01 | 2015-06-02 | 2015-12-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |