User evaluation of content on distributed communication network

Abstract

A system comprises a server coupled to a database via a network. The server is configured to cause one or more reviews stored in the database to be displayed on a remote client display connected to the network, and provide an interactive element associated with each of the displayed reviews on the client display. The interactive element, when selected by a user, generates an indication that the user has found a displayed review helpful in assessing an object of the review. The server is also configured to receive, via the network, the indication that the user selected the interactive element, and increment a count of a stored number of indications for the review when the received indication is a first indication received from the user in connection with the displayed review.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 causing one or more reviews stored in the database to be displayed on a client display connected to the database over a network;   providing an interactive element associated with each of the displayed reviews on the client display, which when selected by a user, generates an indication that the user has found a displayed review helpful in assessing an object of the review;   receiving, at the database, an indication that the user has selected the interactive element; and   incrementing a count of a stored number of indications for the review when the received indication is a first indication received from the user in connection with the displayed review.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein incrementing a count of a stored number of indications for the review includes incrementing the count after determining that the user is a registered user. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , including causing the count of the stored number of indications for the review to be displayed on the client display adjacent to the review. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , including sending an error message to the user if the interactive element is selected more than once by the user for the review. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , including:
 sorting the reviews in ascending or descending order as a function of the count corresponding to each review; and   causing the reviews to be displayed in the sorted order on the client display.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , including updating the number of indications and resorting the reviews for a subsequent display. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 compiling a list of reviewers including names of those reviewers whose reviews have received a highest number of indications; and   causing the list of reviewers to be displayed on the client display.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , including
 causing a field to be displayed on the client display when the user is unregistered, wherein the field is configured to receive registration information; and   causing the reviews from the database to be redisplayed on the client display upon receiving the registration information.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , including not incrementing the count of the stored number of indications for the review based on the received indication not being the first indication. 
     
     
         10 . A system comprising:
 a server coupled to a database via a network, the server configured to:
 cause one or more reviews stored in the database to be displayed on a remote client display connected to the network; 
 provide an interactive element associated with each of the displayed reviews on the client display, wherein the interactive element, when selected by a user, generates an indication that the user has found a displayed review helpful in assessing an object of the review; 
 receive, via the network, the indication that the user selected the interactive element; and 
 increment a count of a stored number of indications for the review when the received indication is a first indication received from the user in connection with the displayed review. 
   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the server is configured to cause an error message to be displayed on the client display when receiving, via the network, the indication that the user selected the interactive element more than once. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the server is configured to:
 sort the reviews in ascending or descending order as a function of the count corresponding to each review; and   display the reviews in the sorted order on the first computer.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the server is configured to update the number of indications and re-sort the reviews for subsequent display. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the server is configured to:
 compile a list of reviewers that includes names of those reviewers whose reviews have received a highest number of indications; and   cause the list of reviewers to be displayed on the client display.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the server is configured to cause the count of the stored number of indications for the review to be displayed on the client display adjacent to the review. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the server is configured to increment the count when the user is registered with the server. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the server is configured to:
 cause a field to he displayed on the client display when the user is unregistered;   receive registration information entered into the field; and   cause the reviews from the database to be redisplayed on the client display upon receiving the registration information.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the server is configured to increment the count of the stored number of indications for the review based on the received indication not being the first indication. 
     
     
         19 . A non-transitory machine-readable medium including instructions which, when performed by the machine, cause the machine to perform acts comprising:
 causing reviews stored in a database to he displayed on a client display connected to the database over a network;   providing an interactive element associated with each of the displayed reviews to be displayed on the client display, which when selected by a user, indicates that the user has found a displayed review helpful in assessing an object of the review;   receiving, at the database, an indication that the user has selected the interactive element; and   incrementing a count of a stored number of indications for the review when the received indication is a first indication received from the user in connection with the displayed review.   
     
     
         20 . The machine readable medium of  claim 19  including instructions, which when performed by the machine, cause the count of the number of indications for the review to be displayed on the client display adjacent to the review. 
     
     
         21 . The machine readable medium of  claim 19  including instructions, which when performed by the machine, cause the reviews to be sorted in ascending or descending order as a function of the count corresponding to each review, and cause the reviews to be displayed in the sorted order on the client display. 
     
     
         22 . The machine readable medium of  claim 19  including instructions, which when performed by the machine, cause the number of indications to be updated and the reviews re-sorted for a subsequent display. 
     
     
         23 . The machine readable medium of  claim 19  including instructions, which when performed by the machine, cause an error message to be sent to the client display for display to the user when the interactive element is selected more than once by the user for the review. 
     
     
         24 . The machine readable medium of  claim 19  including instructions, which when performed by the machine, cause a list of reviewers to be compiled, wherein the list includes names of those reviewers whose reviews have received a highest number of indications, and cause the list of reviewers to be displayed on the client display. 
     
     
         25 . The machine readable medium of  claim 19  including instructions, which when performed by the machine, cause incrementing the count when the user is a registered user. 
     
     
         26 . The machine readable medium of  claim 19  including instructions, which when performed by the machine, cause a field to be displayed on the client display when the user is unregistered, wherein the field is configured to receive registration information, and cause the reviews from the database to be redisplayed on the client display upon receiving the registration information. 
     
     
         27 . The machine readable medium of  claim 19  including instructions, which when performed by the machine, cause the count of the stored number of indications for the review to not be incremented based on the received indication not being the first indication from the user in connection with the displayed review.