IP Library Granted Patent US 10,482,117
Granted Patent B2
US 10,482,117 · App. 15/791,099 · Granted Nov 19, 2019

Systems and methods for categorizing and moderating user-generated content in an online environment

Inventors: Jeffrey Revesz (Brooklyn, NY); Christopher Wiggins (New York, NY)
Assignee: Oath Inc.
G06F16/353G06F16/951H04L51/12H04L51/32
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,482,117
App. No.
15/791,099
Granted
Nov 19, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

Exemplary embodiments provide systems, devices and methods for computer-based categorization and moderation of user-generated content for publication of the content in an online environment. Exemplary embodiments automatically determine a probability value indicating that the user-generated content is either a positive example or a negative example of one or more unsuitable categories. If the user-generated content is determined to be a positive example of any of the unsuitable categories to a predefined degree of certainty, exemplary embodiments may automatically exclude the content from publication in the online environment.

Claims (42)

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a storage device that stores a set of instructions; and

at least one processor coupled to the storage device and configured to execute the set of instructions to:

receive, over a network, at least a portion of textual data input from a user interface;

compute a numeric likelihood that the received portion of textual data falls into a category unsuitable for publication on a web page;

determine whether to electronically publish the received portion of textual data on the web page based on a comparison of the computed numeric likelihood to a threshold value associated with the category, wherein the threshold value includes a numeric likelihood assigned to reference content suitable for publication on the web page and the comparison comprises determining whether the computed numeric likelihood exceeds the threshold value; and

generate an electronic command to publish the textual data on the web page, when the computed numeric likelihood is determined not to exceed the threshold value.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the received textual data is generated by a user, and the at least one processor is further operative with the set of instructions to assign, to the user, a value indicative of a capability of the user to generate content suitable for publication on the web page.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the at least one processor is further operative with the set of instructions to establish that the textual data is unsuitable for publication on the web page based on the assigned value indicative of a capability of the user to generate content suitable for publication on the web page.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further operative with the set of instructions to, when the computed numeric likelihood is determined to exceed the threshold value, determine whether the computed numeric likelihood exceeds an additional threshold value.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the at least one processor is further operative with the set of instructions to establish that the textual data is unsuitable for publication on the web page, when the computed numeric likelihood is determined to exceed the additional threshold value.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further operative with the set of instructions to:

parse the textual data into a plurality of n-grams; and

compute the numeric likelihood based on an application of a machine-learning algorithm to the plurality of n-grams.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:

the textual data comprises a comment generated by a user for publication on the web page.

8. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

receiving, over a network, at least a portion of textual data input from a user interface;

computing, using at least one processor, a numeric likelihood that textual data falls into a category unsuitable for publication on a web page;

determining, using the at least one processor, whether to electronically publish the received portion of textual data on the web page based on a comparison of the computed numeric likelihood to a threshold value associated with the category, wherein the threshold value includes a numeric likelihood assigned to reference content suitable for publication on the web page and the comparison comprises determining whether the computed numeric likelihood exceeds the threshold value; and

generating an electronic command to publish the textual data on the web page, when the computed numeric likelihood is determined not to exceed the threshold value.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the received textual data is generated by a user, and the method further comprises assigning, to the user, a value indicative of a capability of the user to generate content suitable for publication on the web page.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

establishing that the textual data is unsuitable for publication on the web page based on the assigned value indicative of a capability of the user to generate content suitable for publication on the web page.

11. The method of claim 8 , further comprising, when the computed numeric likelihood is determined to exceed the threshold value, determining whether the computed numeric likelihood exceeds an additional threshold value.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising establishing that the textual data is unsuitable for publication on the web page, when the computed numeric likelihood is determined to exceed the additional threshold value.

13. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

parsing the textual data into a plurality of n-grams; and computing the numeric likelihood based on an application of a machine-learning algorithm to the plurality of n-grams.

14. The method of claim 8 , wherein:

the textual data comprises a comment generated by a user for publication on the web page.

15. A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium that stores a set of instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform operations comprising:

receiving, over a network, at least a portion of textual data input from a user interface;

computing, using at least one processor, a numeric likelihood that textual data falls into a category unsuitable for publication on a web page;

determining, using the at least one processor, whether to electronically publish the received portion of textual data on the web page based on a comparison of the computed numeric likelihood to a threshold value associated with the category, wherein the threshold value includes a numeric likelihood assigned to reference content suitable for publication on the web page and the comparison comprises determining whether the computed numeric likelihood exceeds the threshold value; and

generating an electronic command to publish the textual data on the web page, when the computed numeric likelihood is determined not to exceed the threshold value.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the received textual data is generated by a user, and the set of instructions further cause the at least one processor to assign, to the user, a value indicative of a capability of the user to generate content suitable for publication on the web pager.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 16 , wherein the set of instructions further cause the at least one processor to:

establish that the textual data is unsuitable for publication on the web page based on the assigned value indicative of a capability of the user to generate content suitable for publication on the web page.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 15 , further comprising, when the computed numeric likelihood is determined to exceed the threshold value, determining whether the computed numeric likelihood exceeds an additional threshold value.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 18 , further comprising establishing that the textual data is unsuitable for publication on the web page, when the computed numeric likelihood is determined to exceed the additional threshold value.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 15 , further comprising:

parsing the textual data into a plurality of n-grams; and computing the numeric likelihood based on an application of a machine-learning algorithm to the plurality of n-grams.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 19, 2021
From: VERIZON MEDIA INC.
To: VERIZON PATENT AND LICENSING INC.
Reel/Frame 057453/0431 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 26, 2020
From: OATH INC.
To: VERIZON MEDIA INC.
Reel/Frame 054258/0635 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 26, 2017
From: AOL INC.
To: OATH INC.
Reel/Frame 044297/0590 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 26, 2017
From: REVESZ, JEFFREY; WIGGINS, CHRISTOPHER
To: AOL INC.
Reel/Frame 043955/0845 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 14617402 · Feb 9, 2015
Continuation 13112556 · May 20, 2011
Related Publication 20180081965A1 · Mar 22, 2018