System and method to process information contributed by members of a virtual community

Abstract

A method of creating a financial product. A virtual community is established. Members of the community submit preferences to a server. The preferences are aggregated and manipulated to identify characteristics of the preferences. From the population of preferences submitted, a small subset is identified to be part of the financial product.

1 . A computer implemented method, comprising:
 providing a web page to enable a potential member to register with a virtual community capable of supporting multiple registered members, the web page including a link to display a registration form to enable the potential member to provide registration information to become a registered member, the virtual community based on a theme and configured to enable at least some of the registered members to contribute to the theme;   responsive to receiving the registration information from the potential member, verifying if the registration information is complete; and   notifying the potential member if the registration information is not complete; otherwise creating a member profile for the potential member and causing the potential member to become the registered member.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the registered member contributes to the theme using a contribution form. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein restrictions may be placed on a contribution by the registered member. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining if the contribution meets objective criteria for inclusion. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a contribution of the registered member is ranked. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein a reward structure is used to encourage contributions from the registered member. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the reward structure is associated with referrals. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the reward structure is valid for a predetermined period of time. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein contributions of multiple registered members are aggregated. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the aggregated contributions are distributed electronically. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein notifying the potential member if the information is not complete comprises providing instructional messages regarding inadequacy of the information provided. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the registration form includes modifiable fields and explanatory text to permit the potential member to provide the information to become the registered member. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the web page is a hypertext markup language (HTML) page. 
   
   
       14 . A computer readable medium containing sequences of instructions which are executable by a system, and which, when executed by the system, causes the system to perform a computer implemented method as described in  claim 1 . 
   
   
       15 . A computer implemented method, comprising:
 receiving information contributed by a first registered member of a virtual community, the information related to a theme based on which the virtual community is established;   screening the information for objectively determinable characteristics;   aggregating the information contributed by the first registered member with information contributed by a second registered member of the virtual community; and   enabling the aggregated information to become available electronically.   
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising establishing a member profile for the first registered member based on information received from the first registered member via a registration process. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising analyzing and ranking the information contributed by the first registered member. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising rewarding the first registered member for one or more of contribution and referrals. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising providing a forum to enable communication between the first registered member and other registered members. 
   
   
       20 . A computer readable medium containing sequences of instructions which are executable by a system, and which, when executed by the system, causes the system to perform a computer implemented method as described in  claim 15 . 
   
   
       21 . A system, comprising:
 an application server connected to a network and configured to present web pages associated with a virtual community, the virtual community based around a theme;   a database server coupled to the application server and configured to store information associated with the virtual community; and   a plurality of client nodes connected to the network and to the application server, the client nodes used by potential members of the virtual community to register or by registered members of the virtual community to send contributions related to the theme, wherein the contributions are screened for objectively determinable characteristics before being made available to the virtual community.   
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the application server comprises:
 a web server configured to present the web pages associated with the virtual community, the web pages includes a registration form to register the potential members and a contribution form to receive the contributions; and   a data extractor to extract information from the registration form and from the contribution form.   
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 21 , further comprising an aggregator coupled to the application server, the aggregator configured to aggregate contributions received from the registered members and to distribute aggregated contributions electronically. 
   
   
       24 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the aggregator comprises a screen library used to screen the contributions for objectively determinable characteristics. 
   
   
       25 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the aggregator further comprises a rank module configured to rank the contributions.