Patent ID: 7310658
Filing Date: 2007-12-18
Classification: G06F,G06Q

Abstract:
1. A method of operating an electronic discussion based forum for users, comprising: logging said users onto a website having one or more discussion forums; allowing said users to select a forum; receiving topics for discussion on said selected forum from said users; posting said topics for discussion on said selected forum when said topics are received by said forum; receiving responses to said topics on said selected forum from said users; posting said responses to said topics on said forum when said responses are received by said forum; receiving requests from said users to receive periodic emails (i) when new topics have been posted on said selected forum (ii) when new responses to said selected topic have been posted to said selected topic or (iii) when new topics have been posted on said selected forum and when new responses to said selected topic have been posted to said selected topic, said periodic emails indicating new topics or new responses have been posted on said forum, said periodic emails based on a posting date or a posting date and posting time of said new topics or said new responses; providing said periodic emails to said users; and generating a tracking view, said tracking view including a list of users who have elected to receive said periodic emails and for each user of said users electing to receive periodic emails, user selected forums and topics to be tracked and a temporal indication of when said new topics, said new responses or both said new topics and said new responses were found, said temporal indication selected from the group consisting of a date that the last periodic email was sent, a date and time that a last periodic email was sent, a date that an agent generating said tracking view was run and a date and time that said agent generating said tracking view was run.