EXPERTISE-WEIGHTED GROUP EVALUATION OF USER CONTENT QUALITY OVER COMPUTER NETWORK

摘要

A method and system for constructing, applying and distributing ratings of users, user-contributed items, groupings of related user-contributed items and other items in a network environment. Users rate each instance of one user interacting with other users, referred to as an 'Item' (136). Ratings of Items (134) construct measurements of user's competence and credibility (Expertise and Regard) as a participant in a networked environment. Expertise and Regard factors determine relative weight assigned to users' evaluations of Items producing measures of Quality: relevance, accuracy, and importance. Embodiments include methods enabling one user to associate Expertise or Regard with Items to Vouch for and Discredit Items contributed by another; calculation of measures of groupings of user contributed items (Caliber); and an environment in which users provide ratings as part of navigating through Items. The system comprises users at client computers (110, 120, 130) communicating over a network and server(s) (140).