FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0001]    The invention relates to social networks, and in particular, the solicitation of views from members of social networks. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    In a computer-implemented social network, members carry out many of the same functions that one would expect them to carry out at any social function. For example, members will share photographs, stories, interesting quips and tidbits and the like. Among the activities that a computer-implemented social network facilitates is that of a spirited exchange of views on some topic. 
         [0003]    Many social networks allow users to post content, and other users to express approval of the posted content. For example, in connection with a particular photograph, users can often click a “like” button or a thumbs-up icon. Endorsement, however, carries little in the way of a tangible reward for the poster. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    In one aspect of the invention, a computer-implemented method for content endorsement includes receiving, at a server, postings from posters; receiving, for each posting, a posting fee; receiving endorsements drawn by the postings; receiving, for each endorsement, an endorsement fee; collecting the endorsement fees into a pot; based on the endorsements, defining a subset of postings; and allocating at least a portion of the pot to postings in the subset of postings. 
         [0005]    Other practices of the foregoing method include those in which allocating at least a portion of the pot includes allocating the entire pot among the postings in the subset, and those in which allocating includes allocating to a posting on the basis of an extent to which the postings drew endorsements, and those in which allocating includes withholding allocation from a posting that drew less than a pre-defined number of endorsements. 
         [0006]    Yet other practices include those in which receiving endorsements includes receiving both positive endorsements and negative endorsements. Among these are those in which allocating includes allocating fees to a pot to be distributed to a designated donee organization. 
         [0007]    In a number of practices, the fees arise from an endorsement. Among those practices are those in which fees arise from a negative endorsement, and the donee organization is selected by a voter; those in which fees arise from a positive endorsement, and the donee organization is selected by a poster; and those in which fees arise from a tip to a poster, and the donee organization is selected by the poster. 
         [0008]    In at least one practice, the method also includes receiving a tip for distribution to a poster. 
         [0009]    In another aspect, the invention features a content-endorsement system that includes endorsing servers; posting servers; and a content endorsement server for receiving postings from the posting servers and endorsements from the endorsing servers, collecting endorsement fees and posting fees, and following completion of a voting period, tallying votes associated with each of the postings, and distributing endorsement fees. 
         [0010]    In one embodiment of the content-endorsement system the content endorsement server includes a non-transitory computer-readable medium having encoded thereon instructions for receiving, at the content-endorsement server, postings from the posting servers; receiving, for each posting, a posting fee; receiving endorsements drawn by the postings; receiving, for each endorsement, an endorsement fee; collecting the endorsement fees into a pot; based on the endorsements, defining a subset of postings; and allocating at least a portion of the pot to postings in the subset of postings. 
         [0011]    In another aspect, the invention features a computer-readable medium having encoded thereon software for implementing content endorsement on a social network, the software including instructions for receiving, at a server, postings from posters; receiving, for each posting, a posting fee; receiving endorsements drawn by the postings; receiving, for each endorsement, an endorsement fee; collecting the endorsement fees into a pot; based on the endorsements, defining a subset of postings; and allocating at least a portion of the pot to postings in the subset of postings. 
         [0012]    These and other features of the invention will be apparent from the attached claims and the accompanying figures, in which: 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  shows a content endorsement system; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  shows an implementation of a content endorsement system using a wide area network; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  shows the high-level architecture for implementing the content endorsement system of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    In one implementation of a content endorsement system  11 , shown in  FIG. 1 , a moderator  10  selects a particular issue or topic  12  and causes a social network to display a web page  14  that solicits postings  16 A-C concerning that topic  12 . Each posting  16 A-C has an associated poster  18 A-C. However, any poster  18 A-C may submit two or more postings  16 A-C. 
         [0017]    In general, each posting  16 A-C advocates a particular point-of-view concerning that topic  12 . In the content endorsement system  11  described herein, there are assumed to be two points-of-view. However, there can be any number of such points-of-view, depending on the nature of the topic  12 . 
         [0018]    Each posting  16 A includes content  24 A, which is provided by the poster  18 A, and an associated endorsement section  26 A. In typical cases, the content  24 A provided by the poster  18 A is a piece of writing, with or without illustration. However, in creating the content  24 A, the poster  18 A can make use of video, audio, or any other communication medium. 
         [0019]    For each posting  16 A-C, the content endorsement system  11  collects a posting fee  20 A-C from the poster  18 A-C. Typically, the posting fee  20 A-C is remitted from a suitable internet remittance service to the moderator&#39;s account  22 . The requirement of a posting fee  20 A discourages frivolous postings and encourages higher quality communication. Thus, the posting fee  20 A should be set high enough to discourage an undue number of postings  16 A but low enough to ensure a reasonable number of postings  16 A. An undue number of postings  16 A and a reasonable number of postings  16 A would both be pre-defined by the moderator  10 . In some cases, the posting fee  20 A may be dynamically adjusted in response to a rate at which postings  16 A occur. In one particular practice, the posting fee  20 A is made higher as the time elapses to discourage free riders from sharing in the prize awarded to winning posters  18 A-B, as described below. 
         [0020]    An endorsement section  26 A shows an extent to which a posting  16 A has been endorsed by voters  28 . For example, an endorsement section  26 A might show a number of votes  27 A,  27 D drawn by that posting  18 A from voters  28 . These votes can be votes in favor of the posting, i.e. positive votes  27 A, or votes against the posting, i.e. negative votes  27 D. In some implementations, the endorsement section  26 A is hidden to avoid any bias caused by a tendency of a heavily endorsed posting to draw endorsements and vice versa. 
         [0021]    In one implementation, an extent of endorsement depends on votes  27 A-C cast by voters  28  who indicate support or agreement with one or more postings  16 A-C by voting. Each vote  27 A-C requires that the voter  28  pay a voting fee  32 . The voting fee  32  is placed in a pot  34  for distribution according to one of the pot distribution methods discussed below. 
         [0022]    A variety of voting schemes can be used. In some practices, a voter  28  can only vote for one posting, whereas in others, a voter  28  can vote for multiple postings  16 A-C, or multiple times for the same posting  16 A. In some practices, each vote, however, would be subject to the same voting fee  32 . However, in other practices, different votes can be be subject to different voting fees. 
         [0023]    At the end of a voting period, the content endorsement system  11  tallies the votes for all postings  16 A-C associated with each point-of-view and, on the basis of the resulting vote tally, selects a winning point-of-view. The pot  34  is then distributed among all the postings  16 A-B for the winning point-of-view. 
         [0024]    At the outset, the moderator  10  opens an issue or topic, and defines a voting period during which votes may be received. This voting period can be defined to end after lapse of a particular time, or after the occurrence of an event, such as the receipt of a certain number of votes, or the participation of a pre-set number of voters and/or posters. 
         [0025]    The moderator  10  also defines the procedure for selecting a winning point-of-view. This procedure can depend solely on the votes. However, in some practices, the procedure can depend on the outcome of a real event, such as an election, or an athletic contest. 
         [0026]    In one pot distribution method, referred to as a “winner-take-all” method, each posting  16 A-C is credited with an amount proportional to a contribution ratio. A contribution ratio for a particular posting  16 A is defined by the ratio of the number of votes received by that posting  16 A to the number of votes received by the side associated with that posting  16 A. In the “winner take all” method, the entire pot is distributed among the postings  16 A-B of the winning side. In such a case, the pot  34  is divided among the postings  16 A-B on the basis of the contribution ratios for each posting  16 A-B. Thus, if the winning side receives K votes, and posting n drew k of those votes, then for a pot P, the poster of posting n will receive a value of (k/K)·P 
         [0027]    The above distribution method tends to reward those postings  16 A-C that attracted the largest number of votes and therefore presumably awards the poster&#39;s skill as a persuasive poster. 
         [0028]    In another pot distribution method, referred to as the “winner-take-most” method, most of the pot  34  is divided among the winning side&#39;s postings  16 A-B, but a portion of the pot  34  is divided among the losing side&#39;s postings  16 C. A consolation parameter controls the relative amounts of the pot  34  that are available for distribution by the winning side and the losing side. 
         [0029]    In the “winner-take-most” pot distribution method, there would be two contribution ratios: a winner&#39;s contribution ratio and a loser&#39;s contribution ratio. For each posting  16 A on the winning side, the winner&#39;s contribution ratio for that posting  16 A is the number of votes  27 A that that posting drew in favor of the winning side and the total number of votes  27 A,  27 B for the winning side. Similarly, for each posting on the losing side, the loser&#39;s contribution ratio for that posting is the number of votes  27 C that that posting  16 C drew in favor of the losing side. 
         [0030]    In one practice, a consolation parameter, α, is a scalar greater than 0 and less than 1. In this case, if a pot  34  has value P and posting n drew k of the K votes for a winning side, and if there were L votes for the losing side, then posting n would receive an amount proportional to (k/K)·P·(K+α·L). Conversely, if posting m drew l of the L votes for the losing side, then posting m would receive an amount proportional to (l/L)·P·(1·α)·L. 
         [0031]    For the special case in which α=0, there is no redistribution among the earning of posts. As a result, there is no need to have a finite or pre-defined voting interval. In this case, because the amount credited to a posting  16 A does not depend on any future event or condition. Therefore, an amount credited to a posting  16 A by a vote  27 A can be distributed to the poster  18 A as soon as practicable after the vote  27 A has occurred. 
         [0032]    In a third practice, there exists a vote threshold. If a particular posting  16 A on the winning side fails to draw more votes than the vote threshold, then that posting  16 A will not receive any share of the pot  34 . In that case, the pot  34  is diminished by an amount corresponding to the number of votes drawn by that particular posting  16 A, and the remainder of the pot  34  is divided according to one of the foregoing methods. 
         [0033]    As used herein, the term “endorsement” connotes support for a position, i.e. “positive endorsement,” and support for the converse of a position, i.e. “negative endorsement.” According to the methods described thus far, a voter  28  can express only a positive endorsement. However, in the practice described below, a voter  28  can express a negative endorsement as well by voting either for or against a particular posting  16 C. When allocating a portion of the pot to that posting  16 C, negative votes offset positive votes. In such a case, a particular posting  18 C may draw more negative votes than positive votes, and actually contribute negative votes to the point-of-view that it supports. 
         [0034]    In the case where the vote tally for a winning point-of-view includes negative votes, the distribution of voting fees  32  for each posting  16 A proceeds only on the basis of votes supporting the posting voting fee  16 A. The voting fee from votes  27 D made against a posting would be diverted to a one or more donee organizations  36  specified by the voter  28 . Examples of donee organizations include charitable groups and/or fundraising efforts designated by the negative voter. Such a donation is more useful than a conventional donation because not only does the donee  36  receive the revenue, as would occur in a conventional donation, but the voter  28  also makes a public statement concerning the topic  12 . 
         [0035]    A diversion of voting fees to a donee  36  can be carried out in other ways. For example, in some cases, a portion of a payout from the pot  34  to a winning poster  18 A can be diverted to a donee selected by the winning poster  18 A. This provides a way to divert, to a donee, fees arising from a positive vote instead of a negative vote. 
         [0036]    Another implementation includes a mechanism for enabling a voter  28  to directly tip a poster  18 A without actually registering a vote. This mechanism would ensure that the poster  18 A receives money without also having to be on the winning side. 
         [0037]    The tipping mechanism is independent of voting. As a result, a voter  28  can both tip and vote. Fees earned by a poster  18 A through tips, or portions thereof, can also be diverted to a donee chosen by the poster  18 A. 
         [0038]    A system and method as disclosed herein thus provides a forum through which those versed in the communication arts, such as writers, illustrators, musicians, and videographers, can earn income by appealing directly to the ultimate consumer, and thereby bypassing the middleman in the process. 
         [0039]      FIG. 2  shows one implementation of the content endorsement system  11  executing on a content endorsement server  38  that is in data communication with posting clients  40 , endorsement clients  42 , and a payment server  44 , all of which are interconnected by a wide area data communication network, such as the internet  45 . 
         [0040]    In some cases, the posting clients  40  and the endorsement clients  42  may be located within a political jurisdiction that differs from that at which the content endorsement server  38  is located. For example, the content endorsement server  38  may be located within United States territory, but may receive postings  16 A and votes  27 A from clients  40 ,  42  located outside United States territory. 
         [0041]    In some implementations, software for executing the methods described herein is executed at the content endorsement server  38 . However, in other cases, certain functions may be more efficiently executed at the posting client  40  or at the endorsement client  42 , in which case the content endorsement server  38  can transmit client-side software to the appropriate client  40 ,  42  for local execution. 
         [0042]    A typical content endorsement server  38  includes a processor in data communication with a non-transitory and tangible computer-readable storage medium  48  of the type that would qualify as a manufacture within the meaning of 35 USC 101 as of the filing date of this application. The computer-readable storage medium  48  has encoded thereon, in tangible form, instructions that when executed by processor  46  cause the processor  46  to execute the methods described herein. 
         [0043]    Both the processor  46  and the computer-readable storage medium  48  consist of matter. At each instruction, tangible and measurable charge is moved throughout the matter that makes up processor  46  and medium  48 . Accordingly, execution of the instructions stored in medium  48  will result in transformation of matter. The methods described herein are likewise tied to a particular machine, namely the content endorsement server  38 . 
         [0044]    The content endorsement server  38  is typically a general purpose computer that has been specially programmed to carry out the methods recited herein, and as such has become a new machine that differs in capability from a general purpose computer that has not been so programmed. 
         [0045]    A typical architecture for software for executing the methods described herein is shown in  FIG. 3 . The architecture features a poster module  50  for receiving postings from posters and adding postings to a web page, and a voting module  52  that receives endorsements from voters  28  and allocates them among the postings  16 A- 16 C on the web page. Both the voting module  52  and the poster module  50  communicate with a payment module  54  that interacts with the payment server  44  to collect posting fees  20 A and voter fees from posters and voters respectively. 
         [0046]    A timer  56  counts down a voting period during which votes are accepted by the voting module  52 . Upon completion of the voting period, the timer  56  causes a vote tally module  58  to count the number of votes drawn by each posting. Upon doing so, the vote tally module  58  causes execution of one of a plurality of allocation models, or pot distribution methods  60 A-N. Examples of allocation models  60 A- 60 N include the “winner-take-all” model, the “winner-take-most” model, and models that include voting thresholds.
A computer-implemented method for content endorsement includes receiving, at a server, postings from posters; receiving, for each posting, a posting fee; receiving endorsements drawn by the postings; receiving, for each endorsement, an endorsement fee; collecting the endorsement fees into a pot; based on the endorsements, defining a subset of postings; and allocating at least a portion of the pot to postings in the subset of postings.