IP Library Granted Patent US 7,533,084
Granted Patent B2
US 7,533,084 · App. 11/274,840 · Granted May 12, 2009

Monitoring user specific information on websites

Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,533,084
App. No.
11/274,840
Granted
May 12, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods for monitoring user specific information on websites by searching websites and displaying the results based at least partially on geographical region are disclosed. Embodiments may include receiving a search request including one or more keywords and searching a database based on the received search request to generate search results, where the search results include an indication of one or more websites each with an associated geographical region. Embodiments may also include generating a geographical user interface page based on the search results, where the page includes an indication of the one or more opinion websites superimposed on a map based on their associated geographical region. Embodiments may further include transmitting the generated geographical user interface page. Further embodiments may include generating geography-based directed advertising based on the search results or receiving and storing a rating for a website from a user.

Claims (25)

1. A method for searching websites, the method comprising:

Receiving at an opinion tracking server, a plurality of requests to register with an opinion database one or more opinion websites, the requests to register the opinion websites each comprising an indication of a geographical region associated with each opinion website to be registered;

registering the requested opinion websites with the opinion database;

searching the registered opinion websites for opinion information;

tracking the opinion information by correlating it to a geographic region associated with its registered opinion website;

storing the opinion information relating to the registered opinion websites and an indication of its correlated geographic region in the opinion database;

receiving a plurality of user ratings for one or more registered opinion websites;

storing any positive received opinion website user ratings and automatically rejecting any negative received opinion website user ratings;

receiving a search request to search the opinion database from a user associated with a registered opinion website, the search request comprising one or more keywords and a minimum acceptable rating for search results;

searching the opinion database based on the received search request to generate search results, the search results comprising an indication of one or more opinion websites each with an associated geographical region that satisfies the search request and only each of the opinion websites having an associated rating that is equal to or exceeds the minimum acceptable rating for search results;

generating a geographical user interface page based on the search results, the geographical user interface page comprising an indication of the one or more opinion websites superimposed on a map based on their associated geographical region, the map having a plurality of geographical regions each having a displayed intensity corresponding to both the number of opinion websites from the search results that are located within each geographical region and any associated ratings for the opinion websites from the search results;

transmitting the generated geographical user interface page;

receiving an indication that a user has selected an opinion website superimposed on the map; and

redirecting the user to the selected opinion website via a link embedded in the generated geographical user interface page.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein searching the registered opinion websites comprises searching the registered opinion websites in response to one or more of a passage of a period of time or a notification of a change in an opinion website.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising before receiving the search request to search the opinion database, authenticating a user.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

generating geography-based directed advertising based on the search results; and

adding the geography-based advertising to the generated geographical user interface page.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving viewing inputs from a user;

modifying the geographic user interface page based on the received viewing inputs; and

transmitting the modified geographic user interface page.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more opinion websites comprise one or more of a blog, chat room, traditional website, bulletin board, forum, or information website.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the geographical user interface page comprises an indication of a rating for at least one opinion website.

Assignments (2)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE OMISSION OF MICHAEL E. WEISSINGER ON NOTICE OF RECORDATION OF ASSIGNMENT DOCUMENT AND OMISSION OF JR. SUFFIX FOR INVENTOR STEELE PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 017028 FRAME 0360. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST. Recorded Sep 28, 2006
From: HOLLOWAY, LANE T; LAMBERT, ERIC T; MALIK, NADEEM; STEELE, BENJAMIN J, JR.; WEISSINGER, MICHAEL E.
To: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 018317/0659 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 18, 2006
From: HOLLOWAY, LANE T; LAMBERT, ERIC T; MALIK, NADEEM; STEELE, BENJAMIN J
To: MACHINES CORPORATION, INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS
Reel/Frame 017028/0360 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20070112735A1 · May 17, 2007