Patents by Inventor Colin Anthony Steele
Colin Anthony Steele has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
-
Patent number: 8572277Abstract: A method and means for self-policing and automatically rate-limiting multiple-user online forums. The preferred embodiment of the invention includes a set of rules that permit users to censure other users. A censured user has one or more “privileges” (which may include access to the online computer system or the effective message rate of a communications connection) taken away or diminished; the privilege is gradually restored if the censured user behaves. The censuring participant and other pertinent participants are notified of the effect of the censuring on the censured user. In another aspect of the invention, the online computer system automatically tracks the rate at which a user sends certain types of messages, and can message rate limit a user who uses too many system resources by sending a large number of messages in rapid succession.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2009Date of Patent: October 29, 2013Assignee: Facebook, Inc.Inventors: Harry W. Morris, Eric Bosco, David Lowell Lippke, Colin Anthony Steele
-
Patent number: 8140703Abstract: Regulating a user of a computer-based service includes receiving input about a first user from at least one other user of the computer-based service, determining a degree to which the at least one other user can influence a parameter associated with the first user, and modifying the first user's parameter based on the received input and the determined degree of influence. The first user's parameter, for example, can relate to the first user's ability to use the computer-based service.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2001Date of Patent: March 20, 2012Assignee: AOL, Inc.Inventors: Harry W. Morris, Eric Bosco, David Lowell Lippke, Colin Anthony Steele
-
Publication number: 20100138512Abstract: A method and means for self-policing and automatically rate-limiting multiple-user online forums. The preferred embodiment of the invention includes a set of rules that permit users to censure other users. A censured user has one or more “privileges” (which may include access to the online computer system or the effective message rate of a communications connection) taken away or diminished; the privilege is gradually restored if the censured user behaves. The censuring participant and other pertinent participants are notified of the effect of the censuring on the censured user. In another aspect of the invention, the online computer system automatically tracks the rate at which a user sends certain types of messages, and can message rate limit a user who uses too many system resources by sending a large number of messages in rapid succession.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 7, 2009Publication date: June 3, 2010Applicant: AOL LLCInventors: Harry W. Morris, Eric Bosco, David Lowell Lippke, Colin Anthony Steele
-
Patent number: 7613779Abstract: A method and means for self-policing and automatically rate-limiting multiple-user online forums. The preferred embodiment of the invention includes a set of rules that permit users to censure other users. A censured user has one or more “privileges” (which may include access to the online computer system or the effective message rate of a communications connection) taken away or diminished; the privilege is gradually restored if the censured user behaves. The censuring participant and other pertinent participants are notified of the effect of the censuring on the censured user. In another aspect of the invention, the online computer system automatically tracks the rate at which a user sends certain types of messages, and can message rate limit a user who uses too many system resources by sending a large number of messages in rapid succession.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2004Date of Patent: November 3, 2009Assignee: AOL LLCInventors: Harry W. Morris, Eric Bosco, David Lowell Lippke, Colin Anthony Steele
-
Patent number: 6826618Abstract: A method and means for self-policing and automatically rate-limiting multiple-user online forums. The preferred embodiment of the invention includes a set of rules that permit users to censure other users. A censured user has one or more “privileges” (which may include access to the online computer system or the effective message rate of a communications connection) taken away or diminished; the privilege is gradually restored if the censured user behaves. The censuring participant and other pertinent participants are notified of the effect of the censuring on the censured user. In another aspect of the invention, the online computer system automatically tracks the rate at which a user sends certain types of messages, and can message rate limit a user who uses too many system resources by sending a large number of messages in rapid succession.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2001Date of Patent: November 30, 2004Assignee: America Online, Inc.Inventors: Harry W. Morris, Eric Bosco, David Lowell Lippke, Colin Anthony Steele
-
Publication number: 20040236832Abstract: A method and means for self-policing and automatically rate-limiting multiple-user online forums. The preferred embodiment of the invention includes a set of rules that permit users to censure other users. A censured user has one or more “privileges” (which may include access to the online computer system or the effective message rate of a communications connection) taken away or diminished; the privilege is gradually restored if the censured user behaves. The censuring participant and other pertinent participants are notified of the effect of the censuring on the censured user. In another aspect of the invention, the online computer system automatically tracks the rate at which a user sends certain types of messages, and can message rate limit a user who uses too many system resources by sending a large number of messages in rapid succession.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2004Publication date: November 25, 2004Applicant: America Online, Inc., a Delaware corporationInventors: Harry W. Morris, Eric Bosco, David Lowell Lippke, Colin Anthony Steele
-
Publication number: 20020052919Abstract: Regulating a user of a computer-based service includes receiving input about a first user from at least one other user of the computer-based service, determining a degree to which the at least one other user can influence a parameter associated with the first user, and modifying the first user's parameter based on the received input and the determined degree of influence. The first user's parameter, for example, can relate to the first user's ability to use the computer-based service.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 2, 2001Publication date: May 2, 2002Applicant: America Online, Inc.Inventors: Harry W. Morris, Eric Bosc, David Lowell Lippke, Colin Anthony Steele
-
Publication number: 20020046243Abstract: A method and means for self-policing and automatically rate-limiting multiple-user online forums. The preferred embodiment of the invention includes a set of rules that permit users to censure other users. A censured user has one or more “privileges” (which may include access to the online computer system or the effective message rate of a communications connection) taken away or diminished; the privilege is gradually restored if the censured user behaves. The censuring participant and other pertinent participants are notified of the effect of the censuring on the censured user. In another aspect of the invention, the online computer system automatically tracks the rate at which a user sends certain types of messages, and can message rate limit a user who uses too many system resources by sending a large number of messages in rapid succession.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 2, 2001Publication date: April 18, 2002Applicant: America Online, Inc.Inventors: Harry W. Morris, Eric Bosco, David Lowell Lippke, Colin Anthony Steele
-
Patent number: 6339784Abstract: A method and means for self-policing and automatically rate-limiting multiple-user online forums. The preferred embodiment of the invention includes a set of rules that permit users to censure other users. A censured user has one or more “privileges” (which may include access to the online computer system or the effective message rate of a communications connection) taken away or diminished; the privilege is gradually restored if the censured user behaves. The censuring participant and other pertinent participants are notified of the effect of the censuring on the censured user. In another aspect of the invention, the online computer system automatically tracks the rate at which a user sends certain types of messages, and can message rate limit a user who uses too many system resources by sending a large number of messages in rapid succession.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 1998Date of Patent: January 15, 2002Assignee: America Online, Inc.Inventors: Harry W. Morris, Eric Bosco, David Lowell Lippke, Colin Anthony Steele
-
Patent number: 6336133Abstract: Regulating a user of a computer-based service includes receiving input about a first user from at least one other user of the computer-based service, determining a degree to which the at least one other user can influence a parameter associated with the first user, and modifying the first user's parameter based on the received input and the determined degree of influence. The first user's parameter, for example, can relate to the first user's ability to use the computer-based service.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 1998Date of Patent: January 1, 2002Assignee: America Online, Inc.Inventors: Harry W. Morris, Eric Bosco, David Lowell Lippke, Colin Anthony Steele