Process for Distributed Production and Peer-To-Peer Consolidation of Subjective Ratings Across Ad-Hoc Networks

Abstract

A rating program on a mobile computing device communicates with other mobile devices regarding collected ratings. A user enters ratings and requests for information; the mobile computing device will then operate in the background, actively scanning for other users with the same type of short-range communications and a ratings program. The devices are able to exchange and save ratings, providing a mobile, socially-relevant means of collecting information.

1 . A device for collecting ratings on a plurality of subjects, said device comprising:
 a processor;   a memory connected to said processor;   an input device connected to said processor;   an output device connected to said processor; and   a short-range transceiver connected to said processor, wherein said processor, said memory, said input device, said output device, and said transceiver are contained within a case configured for portability; said processor being configured for:
 receiving, from said input device, a first set of ratings for ones of a plurality of subjects, 
 storing a policy specifying whether rating information is to be accepted through said short-range transceiver, 
 responsive to said policy being met, receiving, through said short-range transceiver, a second set of ratings for ones of said plurality of subjects, 
 updating ones of said first set of ratings by merging with corresponding ones of said second set of ratings, wherein merging with corresponding ones of said second set of ratings comprises:
 receiving, for each respective subject of said ones of said plurality of subjects, a plurality of individual responses; and 
 storing said plurality of individual responses for each respective subject in a semantic tree network for the respective subject; and 
 
 displaying said updated ones of said first set of ratings. 
   
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said short-range transceiver uses one of Bluetooth technology and WiFi technology. 
   
   
       3 - 7 . (canceled) 
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said processor is further configured to add comments from said second set of ratings into said first set of ratings. 
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said device comprises a device selected from the group consisting of a personal digital assistant, a laptop computer, and a cellular phone. 
   
   
       10 . A method of collecting ratings on a plurality of subjects, said method comprising the steps of:
 storing, on a portable computing device, a first set of ratings for ones of a plurality of subjects and a first set of indications of interest regarding additional ones of said plurality of subjects;   storing on the portable computing device, a policy specifying whether rating information is to be accepted through a short-range transceiver device;   encountering, through the short-range transceiver device, a user having a second set of ratings for ones of said plurality of subjects;   responsive to said policy being met, receiving, through said short-range transceiver device, ones of said second set of ratings;   updating ones of said first set of ratings and ones of said first set of indications of interest by merging with corresponding ones of said second set of ratings wherein said merging comprises:
 receiving, for each respective subject of said ones of said plurality of subjects, a plurality of individual responses, and 
 storing said plurality of individual responses for each respective subject in a semantic tree network for the respective subject; and 
   displaying said updated ones of said first set of ratings.   
   
   
       11 . (canceled) 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said merging is performed dependent on said second set of ratings having a similarity of at least a given level to said first set of ratings. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising broadcasting a request for ratings. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising responding to a broadcast of a request for ratings. 
   
   
       15 - 17 . (canceled) 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said short-range transceiver device utilizes one of Bluetooth technology and WiFi technology. 
   
   
       19 . A computer program product stored on a computer readable storage medium, said computer program product comprising:
 first instructions for storing, on a portable computing device, a first set of ratings for ones of a plurality of subjects and a first set of indications of interest regarding additional ones of said plurality of subjects;   second instructions for recognizing, through a short-range transceiver device, a user having a second set of ratings for ones of said plurality of subjects;   third instructions for storing on the portable computing device a policy specifying whether rating information is to be accepted through said short-range transceiver device;   fourth instructions, responsive to said policy being met, for receiving, through said short-range transceiver device, ones of said second set of ratings;   fifth instructions for updating ones of said first set of ratings and ones of said first set of indications of interest by merging with corresponding ones of said second set of ratings, wherein said fifth instructions comprises:
 instructions for receiving, for each respective subject of said ones of said plurality of subjects, a plurality of individual responses; and 
 instructions for storing said plurality of individual responses for each respective subject in a semantic tree network for the respective subject; and 
   sixth instructions for displaying said updated ones of said first set of ratings.   
   
   
       20 . (canceled) 
   
   
       21 . The computer program product of  claim 19 , wherein said fifth instructions are performed dependent on said second set of ratings having a similarity of at least a given level to said first set of ratings. 
   
   
       22 . The computer program product of  claim 19 , further comprising seventh instructions for broadcasting a request for ratings. 
   
   
       23 . The computer program product of  claim 19 , further comprising seventh instructions for responding to a broadcast of a request for ratings. 
   
   
       24 - 26 . (canceled) 
   
   
       27 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the respective subject comprises a root of the semantic tree network, and wherein storing said plurality of individual responses for each respective subject in a semantic tree network comprises summing the received individual responses in the semantic tree network. 
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the respective subject comprises a root of the semantic tree network, and wherein storing said plurality of individual responses for each respective subject in a semantic tree network comprises summing the received individual responses in the semantic tree network. 
   
   
       29 . The computer program product of  claim 19 , wherein the respective subject comprises a root of the semantic tree network, and wherein the fifth instructions comprises instructions for summing the received individual responses in the semantic tree network.