Patent ID: 7451213
Filing Date: 2008-11-11
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
1. A method for real-time on-line interactive forecasting of an element or event, the method comprising: providing a minimal input forecast interface that reduces a user effort in making a forecast of the element or event, the minimal input forecast interface comprising a user single-click forecast interface including a scale having at least a first region and a second region for generating a user forecast input contribution, the generated user forecast input contribution depending upon the location of a graphical on-screen region, pointer, or icon single-clicked by the user; receiving a plurality of different user input contributions for a forecast of the element or event; capturing the plurality of different user input contributions for the forecast of the element or event; generating an updated collective contributed forecast information based on the plurality of different user inputs for the forecast of the element or event in substantially real-time as each different user input contribution is received; and sending the updated collective contributed forecast information back to each user who made an input contribution interactively and substantially in real-time over the forecast interface at the time of and in response to each user input contribution received; the sending of the updated collective contributed forecast information back to the user in response to the one-click input being almost immediate so that the single-click interface and almost immediate collective contributed forecast feedback helps increase the number of forecasts inputs from the user.