Method and apparatus for user moderation of online chat rooms

Abstract

One embodiment of the present method and apparatus for user-moderation of an online chat room in which a plurality of users are exchanging messages includes providing the chat room and controlling a manner in which the users send and receive the messages in the chat room in accordance with user feedback relating to the messages. In one embodiment, the user feedback is received in the form of user chat profiles, which describe the respective users' participation in the chat room, and flags, which users may be given in response to messages that are deemed inappropriate for the chat room.

1 . A method for moderating an online chat room in which a plurality of users exchange messages, the method comprising: 
 providing said chat room; and    controlling an ability of said plurality of users to send and receive said messages in said chat room in accordance with user feedback relating to said messages.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said controlling is performed in accordance with at least one of: at least one user chat profile and at least one flag.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said at least one flag is a message sent by a first user in response to at least one message from said plurality of messages sent by a second user, where said flag is representative of said first user deeming said message sent by said second user inappropriate for said chat room.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein a number of flags that may be given to said second user is limited.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein a period of time for which said flag is valid is limited.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said at least one user chat profile describes participation of an associated user in said chat room.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said at least one user chat profile defines a plurality of parameters relating said associated user's participation, including at least one of: a flags given setting, a flags received setting, a max flags received setting or a max flags given setting.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said flags given setting represents a number of flags given by said associated user in response to one or more messages posted to said chat room by other users.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said flags received setting represents a number of flags received by said associated user in response to one or more messages posted to said chat room by said associated user.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said max flags received setting establishes that said associated user will not accept messages from other users who have received more than a threshold number of flags.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said max flags given setting establishes that said associated user will not send messages from other users who have given more than a threshold number of flags.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said at least one user chat profile is not substantially altered as an associated user moves among multiple chat rooms.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said at least one user chat profile further ties into multiple computing applications.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said multiple computing applications include at least one of: chat applications, online auction applications or electronic commerce applications.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said at least one flag is issued directly by a server in response to at least one of said messages.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said controlling further comprises: 
 filtering said messages in accordance with one or more predefined criteria.    
   
   
       17 . A computer readable medium containing an executable program for administering an online chat room in which a plurality of users exchange messages, where the program performs the steps of: 
 providing said chat room; and    controlling an ability of said plurality of users to send and receive said messages in said chat room in accordance with user feedback relating to said messages.    
   
   
       18 . The computer readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein said controlling is performed in accordance with at least one of: at least one user chat profile and at least one flag.  
   
   
       19 . The computer readable medium of  claim 18 , wherein said at least one user chat profile defines a plurality of parameters relating said associated user's participation in said chat room, including at least on of: a flags given setting, a flags received setting, a max flags received setting or a max flags given setting.  
   
   
       20 . Apparatus for administering an online chat room in which a plurality of users exchange messages, said apparatus comprising: 
 means for providing said chat room; and    means for controlling an ability of said plurality of users to send and receive said messages in said chat room in accordance with user feedback relating to said messages.