Online Content Rating System with Targeted Comment Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Consumers of online content face challenges in discerning credibility and effectively commenting on specific portions of content, as existing methods lack targeted commentary tools and comprehensive rating systems, leading to comments being lost among general discussions and not linked to specific content parts.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that allow users to rate and comment on specific portions of online content items, with comments and ratings being dynamically associated with targeted parts, enabling users to rate credibility and other characteristics of content and comments, and tallying these ratings for overall content items or providers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If comment boards are provided for commenting on entire content items, then users can express opinions on content, but comments become disconnected from specific portions of the content and lose contextual relevance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomment targeting capabilityVSAvoidcontextual connection between comment and content

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the content item into discrete portions (e.g., video segments, article sections) and allows comments to be attached to specific segments rather than the entire content item. This segmentation enables precise targeting of comments to relevant portions while maintaining contextual connections.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism (timestamp markers, segment identifiers, or positional references) that links comments to specific portions of content. This intermediary maintains the contextual connection by providing a clear reference point between the comment and its target content portion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Quantity of substance

If general comment boards are used for content feedback, then user opinions can be collected, but credible targeted commentary is lost among unsubstantiated opinions and personal attacks

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevolume of user feedbackVSAvoidcredibility of commentary

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting feedback into portion-specific comments rather than general content commentary, the system enables users to provide targeted, evidence-based feedback on specific claims or segments. This segmentation makes it easier to evaluate credibility since comments are tied to particular content portions that can be verified.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements a feedback mechanism where users can rate the credibility of both content portions and comments. This creates a layered feedback system where credible commentary can be identified and distinguished from unsubstantiated opinions through community validation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If no rating system is provided for electronic content, then content can be freely accessed, but users lack tools to identify credible content providers and desirable content

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent discovery efficiencyVSAvoidcredibility assessment capability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements multiple rating mechanisms: users can rate content portions for credibility, rate comments for quality, and rate overall content items. This feedback system accumulates data that enables precise measurement of credibility and content quality, helping users identify reliable sources and desirable content.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual, subjective content evaluation with an automated rating and aggregation system. The system automatically collects, aggregates, and displays ratings and credibility scores, substituting mechanical computation for human judgment and enabling efficient content discovery at scale.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS8869046B2System and method for online rating of electronic content

Publication Date: 2014.10.21 ALTO VENTURE

AI summary

A system and method are provided for rating online electronic content. A compilation of information or other item of electronic content is presented to a user, along with comments. The comments may target discrete portions of the content item (e.g., a sentence, a statement, an assertion), the content as a whole, or another comment. A user is able to identify a specific portion of the content item as a target for a new comment, which will automatically be associated with that portion. Users may rate the content item, a portion of the item and/or other users' comments based on credibility and/or other traits (e.g., bias, accuracy, violence, enjoyability, prurience). Users' ratings are tallied to produce an overall rating for comments, commentators, portions of content item, entire content items, a program or series or other source of the content item, etc.