Online content tabulating system and method

Abstract

A tabulating system and method analyzes content posted and/or queried by an online community. The content can be searched based on a search filter executed at defined intervals, and the system can also reach through to locate and extract content from other remote systems. Community postings and queries can be tabulated to determine “hot topics” of interest to the community, to enhance the appeal and stickiness of a website. Furthermore, subscribers can also formulate and define their own custom searches to be run on their behalf to identify the existence of particular content on the website.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of identifying popular subject matter content within a community of online members of an electronic content provider, the method comprising:
 (a) receiving member content from the community of online members, including subject matter queries and/or text postings provided by the community of online members, directed to content categorized in one or more subject matter areas on a website operated by the electronic content provider; 
 (b) processing said subject matter queries and/or text postings for the entire community of online members, to determine a ranking of first content topics of interest for the community of online members; 
 (c) generating a first list identifying said first content topics and their associated first popularity ranking as determined at step (b); 
 (d) processing said subject matter queries and/or text postings for the community of online members, including by tabulating keywords in text therein, to identify second topics for the community of online members which are changing in popularity, and to determine a ranking of such second content topics of interest; 
 (e) generating a second list identifying said second content topics and their associated second popularity ranking as determined at step (d);
 wherein said first list measures popularity of content during a first time period, and said second list measures a change in popularity of content over such period. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further including a step (d): repeating steps (a) through (c) for a second separate community of online members. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said search queries and/or text postings are also processed by an inference engine to deduce and determine additional words and topics which are also tabulated to determine said popularity rankings. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein steps (a) through (e) are performed across all members of the community of online members. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said subject matter queries correspond to searches made by a member for an entire set of member postings classified under a particular subject. 
     
     
       6. A method of tabulating preference information for an online community of members of an online service provider system, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) monitoring queries made by members for locating content on the online content system; 
 (b) analyzing said queries to identify community interest in a first set of topics for which content is searchable on the online service provider system within the online community of members; 
 (c) ranking said first set of topics based on an overall total number of members expressing interest in said first set of topics through queries to such first set of topics during a first time period; 
 (d) tabulating text words in said queries to identify community interest in second topics that are different from said first topics during said first time period; 
 wherein said tabulating includes counting a useage of said text words in said queries; 
 (e) ranking said second topics for the online community of members; wherein said ranking of said second topics is based generating a numerical ranking of said words as used in said queries and said second ranking measures a change in popularity of topics over said first time period; 
 (f) presenting at least a list of said ranking of said first set of topics to the online community of members. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , wherein said ranking of said first set of topics and said ranking of said new topics is updated dynamically in response to monitoring query traffic of the online community of members. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 6 , wherein step (f) further considers a member status when generating said numerical ranking, including a subscription level of a member. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 6 , wherein said queries are directed to a list of message items on a particular subject. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 6 , wherein said list of topics is used by a search routine to locate and extract content from a separate content provider relating to said list of topics. 
     
     
       11. A method of identifying content which is of interest to a community of online members of an electronic content provider, the method comprising:
 (a) processing a first set of search queries and/or postings from the community of online members concerning one or more subject matter areas; 
 (b) processing a second set of search queries and/or postings from another community of online members concerning said one or more subject matter areas, wherein said second set of search queries and/or postings are stored in an electronic file on an online computing system that is different from that used by the community of online members, and said processing is performed by examining said electronic file and without directly monitoring search/query activities of all online members of said another community; 
 (c) processing said first and second sets of search queries and/or postings for both communities of online members, including by tabulating instances of words contained in text therein, to determine: 
 1) a popularity ranking of topics of interest for the community of online members; 
 2), a popularity ranking of topics of interest for said another community of online members; and 
 3) a popularity ranking of topics of interest as reflected by combined files from both communities of online members; 
 (d) generating a visible list for the community of online members identifying topics and their popularity ranking as determined at step (b); 
 (e) updating said visible list by repeating step (b) at regular internals intervals to identify new topics of interest in both said communities of online members. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11  wherein said community of online members can select an entry identifying a topic on said visible list to view additional information concerning such topic, including message postings associated with said topic. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 11 , wherein said another community of online members includes a plurality of message board system sites. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 11 , wherein said first set of search queries and/or postings from the community of online members includes both message traffic associated with community based content and message traffic associated with member customized content. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 11 , wherein said one or more subject matter areas pertain to multimedia data files, including audio, video and image files. 
     
     
       16. A method of tabulating selected content for display to subscribers of a first Internet website, the method comprising:
 (a) extracting selected content directly from one or more second Internet websites that are separate from said first Internet website, said selected content including data items having text content authored by a community of subscribers of the one or more second Internet websites and which is extracted without directly monitoring search/query activities of online members of said another community; 
 (b) reviewing said text content retrieved by said content locating routine to identify keywords in said text content; 
 (c) generating a tabulation of said data items, wherein said tabulation includes counting instances of one or more keywords in said data items; 
 (d) communicating said tabulation to one or more subscribers of the first Internet website; wherein an overall popularity of topics associated with said one or more keywords can be measured for said community of subscribers of the one or more second Internet websites and presented to said one or more subscribers of the first Internet website. 
 
     
     
       17. A method of tabulating selected content at a first Internet website based on member interactions with one or more second Internet websites that are separate from the first Internet website, the method comprising:
 (a) defining a data filter to be used by a content locating routine operating on the first content server for identifying the selected content stored on the one or more second Internet websites, said data filter specifying one or more keywords; 
 (b) defining a schedule to be used for executing said content locating routine; 
 (c) reviewing member content retrieved by said content locating routine with said data filter to locate data items containing said one or more keywords, said member content being generated by a community of members of the one or more second Internet websites; 
 (d) generating a tabulation of said member content based on said data filter, wherein said tabulation includes counting instances of said one or more keywords in said set of data items, and said tabulation does not directly monitor online activities of all community members of the one or more second Internet websites; 
 (e) communicating said tabulation to one or more subscribers of the first Internet website; wherein statistical information for said one or more keywords can be measured for said community of members of the one or more second Internet websites and presented to said one or more subscribers of the first Internet website. 
 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17 , wherein the data filter specifies that such selected content is to be extracted from specific subscriber communities of the one or more second Internet websites. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 17  wherein said statistical information includes a following within the community of members for a company name or a product name. 
     
     
       20. A method of identifying content which is popular within a community of online members of an electronic content provider, the method comprising:
 (a) receiving member content from the community of online members concerning one or more content subject matter areas, said member content including subject matter queries and/or text postings provided by the community of online members;
 wherein said text postings are tagged with a context identifier indicating a context in which a member provided said text posting, including a content subject matter area being accessed by the member when said text posting was made; 
 
 (b) processing said subject matter queries and/or text postings for the entire community of online members, including by tabulating instances of words contained in text therein and any context identifier, to determine a ranking of content topics of interest for the community of online members; 
 (c) generating a list identifying content topics and their popularity ranking as determined at step (c); 
 (d) presenting said list to one or more of the online members. 
 
     
     
       21. A method of identifying search preferences of a community of online members of an electronic content provider, the method comprising:
 (a) receiving content preference data from the community of online members, including search queries and/or postings concerning one or more subject matter areas, as well as individual personalized content preferences from each member which are identified by such member; 
 (b) generating a profile for each member based on said content preference data, said profile identifying a set of first customized search parameters used by such member of the community of online members to conduct said search queries and/or postings;
 wherein said profile is continually updated by tracking said set of first customized search parameters as they are used by each member during separate interactive sessions with the electronic content provider; 
 
 (c) tabulating said set of first customized search parameters to determine a prevalence of use for said set of first customized search parameters across the community of online members; 
 (d) generating a list identifying a frequency of use for said set of first customized search parameters within the community of online members as determined at step (c). 
 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 21  wherein said profile further includes an indication of an individual member's frequency of use associated with each parameter within said set of first customized search parameters. 
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 21  further including the steps of:
 (e) processing said content preference data for the entire community of online members, including by tabulating instances of words contained in text therein, to determine a ranking of topics of interest for the entire community of online members; 
 (f) generating a list identifying topics and their popularity ranking as determined at step (c) and displaying such list to the entire community of online members. 
 
     
     
       24. The method of  claim 23 , wherein step (e) is repeated by continually monitoring member query and posting traffic at the electronic content provider. 
     
     
       25. The method of  claim 21  wherein said profile is used to indirectly derive demographic information concerning said member. 
     
     
       26. A method of identifying profile data for a community of online members of an electronic content provider, the method comprising:
 (a) monitoring and storing queries and text postings made by the community of online members concerning one or more subject matter areas; 
 (b) monitoring and storing context information associated with said queries and text postings, including a particular subject matter identifier for content being reviewed by a member while performing a query and/or posting to said one or more subject matter areas; 
 (c) monitoring and storing content information indicating particular content viewed by a member, as well as individual personalized content preferences from each member which are identified by such member; 
 (d) generating a profile for a member, said profile being based on said queries, said text postings, said context information and said content information; 
 (e) tabulating said profile and other member profiles to identify a community wide prevalence for said profile and said other member profiles. 
 
     
     
       27. The method of  claim 26  wherein said text postings are analyzed to determine and identify new topics of interest within the community of online members. 
     
     
       28. The method of  claim 26  wherein said profile is used to derive demographic information concerning said member. 
     
     
       29. The method of  claim 26  wherein said subject matter area identifier is provided automatically for a query and/or posting based on a context being used by a member within an interface when such search query and/or posting is made. 
     
     
       30. A method of identifying advertising materials which arc are most likely to be of interest to a community of online members of an electronic content provider, the method comprising:
 (a) receiving search queries and/or postings from the community of online members concerning one or more subject matter areas; 
 (b) creating a profile for each member of the community of online members on an individual member basis, including one or more specific subject matter areas and text words associated with each such member, by processing said search queries and/or postings for the entire community of online members;
 wherein said profile also includes context information associated with said search queries and/or postings, including an identification of a category of content being reviewed by the user during said search queries and/or postings; 
 
 (c) determining a community-wide current following of one or more topics within the community of online members by processing said search queries and/or postings for the entire community of online members, including by tabulating instances of words contained in text therein; 
 (d) determining demographics data for the community of online members, wherein at least a portion of said demographics data for each member is identified indirectly from monitoring an online behavior of such member including content query and reviewing activities; 
 (e) selecting and presenting advertising material online to the community of online members based on said demographics data, said profiles, and the results of step (c). 
 
     
     
       31. The method of  claim 30  wherein said demographics data is determined without collecting explicit demographics information from the member concerning income or age. 
     
     
       32. The method of  claim 30 , wherein demographics data for a member is determined by examining said profile and combinations of subject matter and class information used by the member for queries, and comparing said combinations against selections made by other members to identify a potential demographic group. 
     
     
       33. The method of  claim 30  wherein said one or more topics include a company name. 
     
     
       34. The method of  claim 30  wherein said one or more topics include a product brand name. 
     
     
       35. A method of identifying advertising materials which are most likely to be of interest to a community of online members of an electronic content provider, the method comprising:
 (a) receiving search queries and/or postings from the community of online members concerning one or more subject matter areas; 
 (b) collecting demographics information for the community of online members wherein at least a portion of said demographics data for each member is identified indirectly from monitoring an online behavior of such member including content query and reviewing activities; 
 (c) determining a current following of one or more particular company names and/or product brand names across the entire community of online members by processing said search queries and/or postings for the entire community of online members, including by tabulating instances of words contained in text therein; 
 (d) customizing and delivering advertising material for the community of online members based on said demographics information and the results of step (c). 
 
     
     
       36. The method of  claim 35 , wherein said advertising material is also based on considering content that is being reviewed by a member during an interactive session. 
     
     
       37. A method comprising:
 storing message items of a message board system, wherein the message items are searchable by access to the message board system based on a plurality of predefined information categories;   configuring an interface for the access to the message board system with the plurality of predefined information categories as filter selection items within the interface;   receiving a query via the interface and at least one of the filter selection items;   providing at least one of the message items of the message board system corresponding to the received query for simultaneous perception with the filter selection items via the interface; and   processing a command associated with at least one of the message items of the at least one of the message items of the message board system corresponding to the received query, which command is associated with at least one of an author of the message items and at least one of the message items on the message board system originating from the author.   
     
     
       38. The method of claim 37, wherein the filter selection items are configured to include customized filtering options for the message items. 
     
     
       39. The method of claim 38, wherein the query is based on one or more of the customized filtering options. 
     
     
       40. The method of claim 37, further including processing a posting containing a message item of the at least one of the message items that is processed based on at least one of the filter selection items associated with the posting. 
     
     
       41. The method of claim 40, further including storing the message item contained in the posting in one or more of the plurality of predefined information categories based on the filter selection items associated with the posting. 
     
     
       42. The method of claim 40, further including tabulating the filter selection items associated with the posting and generating statistical information concerning the predefined information categories. 
     
     
       43. A method comprising:
 classifying first message items of a message board system using first predefined information categories, which first predefined information categories are searchable by access to the message board system;   configuring an interface for the accessing to the message board system with the first predefined information categories as first filter selection items within the interface;   further configuring the interface to include second filter selection items within the interface based on preferences;   receiving a query via the interface based on at least one of the first and second filter selection items;   providing at least one of the first message items of the message board system corresponding to the received query; and   automatically configuring the interface with a visual arrangement of the one of the first and the second filter selection items based on a frequency of correspondence of received queries to at least one of the first filter selection items.   
     
     
       44. The method of claim 43, wherein the second filter selection items include a subgroup of the first filter selection items. 
     
     
       45. The method of claim 43, wherein the second filter selection items are associated with a customized plurality of categories, and the second filter selection items are exclusive of the first filter selection items with second message items using a second plurality of predefined information categories, which second message items are different from the first message items. 
     
     
       46. A method comprising:
 storing message items of a message board searchable by access to the message board system using a web browser based on individual pluralities of message items of the stored message items identified by respective group names;   configuring an interface for the access to the message board system using the web browser with the group names as respective group filter selection items within a first portion of the interface;   receiving a query via the interface for a first group of message items based on a corresponding first group of the group filter selection items from the first portion of the interface;   locating a first group of message items of the message items on the message board system corresponding to the first query;   providing at least a first list of message items of the first group of message items for simultaneous perception with the group filter selection items in a second portion of the interface; and   replacing the first list of message items in the second portion of the interface with a second list of message items for a second group of message items for simultaneous perception with the group filter selection items.   
     
     
       47. The method of claim 46, wherein the group filter selection items are configured to also include customized filtering options for the message items, the filtering options corresponding to a custom group of message items compiled by the message board system. 
     
     
       48. The method of claim 47, wherein the query is based on one or more of the customized filtering options. 
     
     
       49. The method of claim 46, further including processing a posting containing a message item of the at least one of the message items that is processed based on at least one of the group filter selection items associated with the posting. 
     
     
       50. The method of claim 49, further including analyzing and tabulating text associated with the posting and generating statistical information identifying current topics of interest for the message board system. 
     
     
       51. The method of claim 46, further including processing a command associated with an author of at least one of the message items of the message items on the message board system with simultaneous perception of message items by the author within the interface and the group filter selection items in the first portion of the interface. 
     
     
       52. The method of claim 46, further including processing a command associated with at least one of the message items of the first group of message items, and initiating a direct communication with an author of the at least one of the message items associated with the command.