Abstract:
An embodiment relates generally to a method of offering incentives. The method includes receiving a registration event of a newly registered user and designating a probationary status for the newly registered user. The method also includes accumulating probationary points for a probationary sum based on at least one answer posted by the newly registered user in a forum and elevating the newly registered user to a status of a rated user in response to the probationary sum exceeding a predetermined threshold.

Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    This invention relates generally to forums, more particularly, to systems and methods for a tiered incentive program in a forum. 
       DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART 
       [0002]    A forum can be regarded as essentially a website composed of a number of member-written threads. Each thread entails a discussion or conversation in the form of a series of user-member written posts. These threads remain saved on the forum website for future reading indefinitely or until deletion by a moderator. 
         [0003]    Software packages that implement forum websites are generally well known. These software packages are widely available on the Internet in a variety of programming languages such as HypeterText Preprocess (“PHP”), Perl, Java, and active server pages (“ASP”). The configuration and records of posts can be stored in text files or in a database. 
         [0004]    Social network sites often feature forums to discuss topics that are of interest to the user community for these social networks. Topics of discussion in these forums can range from social, politics, hobbies, and technical. Some forums can be more popular such as hobbies and social forums, the participation of the users can be very high. 
         [0005]    However, for technical forums or other esoteric topical forums, participation can be less popular. The site administrators have devised incentive reward programs to increase participation. For example, a forum can award a point for posting an answer to a question. As a user keeps posting answers, the user can accumulate enough points to qualify for a reward. 
         [0006]    The incentive reward programs in forums has generally increased participation and speed of obtaining answers to posted questions. However, there are drawbacks and disadvantages to these incentive reward programs. For instance, some unscrupulous users have posted non-informing answers such as “No”, “YES” or “.” in order to accumulate points more quickly. Accordingly, these type of non-informing answers clutter the forum with useless information. 
         [0007]    Another drawback can be the correctness, validity, or reliability of an answer to a posted question. Although an answer posted can appear to be authoritative and correct, a reviewing user can never be sure that the posting user is skilled and competent to have correctly answer the question. 
         [0008]    There is a need in the art to reduce the useless information especially in forums with incentive reward programs as well as providing information that is highly reliable and correct. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    Various features of the embodiments can be more fully appreciated, as the same become better understood with reference to the following detailed description of the embodiments when considered in connection with the accompanying figures, in which: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  depicts an exemplary system in accordance with an embodiment; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  illustrates an exemplary service portal of the system shown in  FIG. 1  in accordance with another embodiment; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  depicts an exemplary tiered incentive module shown in  FIG. 1  in accordance with yet another embodiment; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  illustrates an exemplary forum user profile schema in accordance with yet another embodiment; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  depicts an exemplary registration flow diagram in accordance with yet another embodiment; 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  illustrates an exemplary monitoring flow diagram in accordance with yet another embodiment; 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  depicts an exemplary probationary point update flow diagram in accordance with yet another embodiment; 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  depicts an exemplary rating update flow diagram in accordance with yet another embodiment; 
           [0018]      FIG. 9  illustrates an exemplary user update flow diagram in accordance with yet another embodiment; 
           [0019]      FIG. 10  depicts an exemplary computing platform in accordance with yet another embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0020]    For simplicity and illustrative purposes, the principles of the present invention are described by referring mainly to exemplary embodiments thereof. However, one of ordinary skill in the art would readily recognize that the same principles are equally applicable to, and can be implemented in, all types of information and service portals, and that any such variations do not depart from the true spirit and scope of the present invention. Moreover, in the following detailed description, references are made to the accompanying figures, which illustrate specific embodiments. Electrical, mechanical, logical and structural changes may be made to the embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense and the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. 
         [0021]    Embodiments pertain generally to methods and system for a tiered incentive system in a forum, where a user community can provide answers to questions posted on the forum. More particularly, a tiered incentive module can be configured to qualify users as reputable. Unlike conventional forums (e.g., Yahoo Answers) where users posting answers automatically receive points, the tiered incentive module can be configured to initially place new registered users of the forum in a trial or probation period as probationary users. As the probationary user continues to post answers in the forum, the posted answers are forwarded to a review group formed by the system administrators, which can appoint reputable members of the user community to a peer review group. The peer review group can award probationary points to the answer posted by the probationary user as well as give a rating to the probationary user. Once the probationary user has accumulated enough points and/or has a high enough rating, the probationary user can be elevated to a rated user. 
         [0022]    The user can now be eligible for a forum incentive program as a rated user. The forum incentive program can be a program that rewards users for participating in the forum. As a rated user answers questions from the user community, the rated user accumulates incentive points as well as ratings on the posted answers. As the points accumulate, the user can become eligible for prizes such as software, training, or similar rewards as designated by the system administrators of the forum. 
         [0023]    The rated user can also be designated with a rank. The initial rank of a rated user can be a single star with the potential of achieving a five-star ranking with enough high ratings. The higher rank can indicate that the user is highly reputable and a reliable source of information. Accordingly, the tiered incentive program can screen a large number of users to a smaller group of reputable well-informed users who can provide high quality and useful answers for the user community. 
         [0024]      FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary system  100  in accordance with an embodiment. It should be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that the system  100  depicted in  FIG. 1  represents a generalized schematic illustration and that other components may be added or existing components may be removed or modified. Moreover, the system  100  may be implemented using software components, hardware components, or combinations thereof. 
         [0025]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , the system  100  includes users  105 , a network  110  and a service portal  115 . The users  105  can be private individuals, employees of private business or public entities or other persons interested in accessing the service portal  115 . The users  105  can access the service portal  115  using personal computers, personal mobile devices, workstations or other networked computing platforms. 
         [0026]    The network  110  can be a combination of wide area and local area networks such as the Internet. The network  110  can be configured to provide a communication channel between the users  105  and the service portal  115 . The network  110  can implement a variety of network protocols to provide the communication channel such as Internet Protocol (“IP”) Vx, ATM, SONET, or other similar network protocols. 
         [0027]    The service portal  115  can be configured to provide products and services to the user  105  as well as provisioning, installation services, updates to software and hardware products and technical support. The service portal  115  can, among other functions, provide a list of products such as software applications and/or hardware devices as well as services such as installation, configuration, maintenance, etc., for users to purchase. As a non-limiting example, the service portal  115  can also provide information for users to research, compare and purchase software, hardware and consulting services in support of those software and/or hardware purchases. The service portal  115  can also be configured to provide support services by subscription to those same software, service, and/or hardware purchase. 
         [0028]    In accordance with various embodiments, the service portal  115  can be configured to provide a knowledge library  120 . The knowledge library  120  provides a resource for users to resolve technical issues regarding products and/or services provided by the service portal  115 . The knowledge library  120  can contain a knowledgebase  125 , forum(s)  130 , and frequently asked questions, etc. The knowledgebase  125  can be comprised of a database of Wild-style articles that can be searched, revised and added thereto. The forums  130  can provide a mechanism for a user with issues or problems to post questions and receive assistance from the user community. 
         [0029]    In an effort to ensure quality answers are posted in the forum from reputable users, a tiered incentive module  135  can be configured to manage the forums  130  of the knowledge library  120  and can be configured to qualify users as reputable. More particularly, the tiered incentive module  135  can be configured to initially place newly registered users of a forum  130  in a trial or probation period as probationary users. As the probationary user continues to post answers in the forum, the posted answers are forwarded to a group formed by the system administrators, which can appoint reputable members of the user community to a peer review group. The peer review group can award probationary points to the answer posted by the probationary user as well as give a rating to the probationary user. Once the probationary user has accumulated enough points and/or has a high enough rating, the probationary user can be elevated to a rated user. 
         [0030]    The promoted user can now be eligible for a forum incentive program as a rated user. More specifically, the tiered incentive module  135  can manage a forum incentive program that rewards users for participating in the forum(s)  130 . As a rated user answers questions from the user community, the rated user accumulates incentive points as well as ratings on the posted answers. As the points accumulate, the user can become eligible for prizes such as software, training, or similar rewards as designated by the system administrators of the forum. The tiered incentive module  135  can be configured to maintain the incentive points for the user. 
         [0031]    The rated user can also be designated with a rank. The initial rank of a rated user can be a single star with the potential of achieving a five-star ranking with enough high ratings. The higher rank can indicate that the user is highly reputable and a reliable source of information. The tiered incentive module  135  can be further configured to maintain the ranking of each user. Accordingly, the tiered incentive module  135  can screen a large number of users to a smaller group of reputable well-informed users who can provide high quality and useful answers for the user community. 
         [0032]      FIG. 2  illustrates a more detailed block diagram of the service portal  115  in accordance with another embodiment. It should be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that the service portal  115  depicted in  FIG. 2  represents a generalized schematic illustration and that other components may be added or existing components may be removed or modified. 
         [0033]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , the service portal  115  can include a web store module  205  that a user can interface with the service portal. The web store module  205  can provide the graphical user interfaces (“GUIs”) and associated functions and/or services for the service portal  115 . As an non-limiting example, the web store module  205  can generate a log-in GUI for a user to authenticate and enter the service portal  115 . 
         [0034]    The web store module  205  can couple with an application program interface (“APT”) module  210 . The API module  210  can be configured to provide an interface between the functions and/or services provided by the web store module  205  and to the appropriate module of the service portal  115 . More particularly, the API module  210  can call or direct a requested function or service from the user to the respective module that provides that requested function or service. For example, a user may request a price of a product, e.g., an electronic mail program, the API module  210  can direct the request to a get price function in a support tools module  215 . 
         [0035]    The API module  210  can also be configured to interface with the support tools module  215 . The support tools module  215  can be configured to provide the supporting software and hardware to implement the functionality of the service portal  115 . The support tools module  215  can contain and provide access to databases that contain information such as product lines, services providers, on-line self-help (e.g., knowledge library  120 ), etc. The support tools module  215  can also provide services like a chat service, a help desk, installation, provisioning, etc. 
         [0036]    The API module  210  can be further configured to couple with an identification (“ID”) module  220 . The ID module  220  can be configured to provide identification management services for the service portal  115 . The ID module  220  can also store information related to users such as purchase history, user profile, usage history of the user, and entitlement data. 
         [0037]    The API module  210  can be further configured to couple with a universal messaging module  225 . The universal messaging module  225  can be configured to provide a messaging application that unifies messages. More specifically, electronic mail (“email”), documents, and instant messaging can be linked in a single application. The universal messaging module  225  can also provide a mechanism for a user to view all the related documents for the user from email to Wiki pages. 
         [0038]    An installer tools  230  can be coupled to the API module  210 . One of the services provided by the service portal  115  can be the purchase of software applications provided by independent software vendors (“ISVs”). As part of the delivery of the software applications, the ISV can be required to maintain and update the installation tools to install their respective software applications. Accordingly, the installer tools  230  can be a repository where independent software vendors can deposit their respective installation tools. 
         [0039]    The API module  210  can be further coupled to the communication layer  235  (labeled as COMM layer in  FIG. 2 ). The communication layer  235  can be configured to provide the underlying services for the modules of the service portal  115  to communicate. For example, the communication layer  235  can contain middleware for a product database to communicate with a graphical user interface requesting product description. 
         [0040]    The API module  210  can be further coupled to an application management module  240  (labeled as APP MGMT in  FIG. 2 ). The application management module  240  can be configured to manage applications as requested by users. More specifically, a user may purchase a prepackaged software application pack (e.g., an operating system, electronic mail program and data mining program) from the service portal  115 , which is stored in an application stack module  245 . The application management module  240  can then deliver the purchased software application stack, install and configure the software application stack at a third party site such as a server farm  250  or store the software application stack in a storage farm  255  for the user to retrieve. 
         [0041]    The server farm  250  can be configured to provide computing platforms for users to lease. Accordingly, users can have a backup version of their systems, a testing platform to perform quality assurance tests on new applications, execute a program requiring excess MIPS, or any other similar computing task. 
         [0042]    The storage farm  255  can be configured to provide storage space for users to lease. Accordingly, users can lease disk storage space to back up data, provide a hot data swap, or other storage intensive tasks. 
         [0043]    In some embodiments, the tiered incentive module  135  can be configured to be executed in the support tools module  215 . In other embodiments, the tiered incentive module  135  can be a module of the ID module  220 . In yet other embodiments, the tiered incentive module  135  can be executed as a standalone module. 
         [0044]      FIG. 3  depicts a more detailed block diagram of the tiered incentive module  135  in accordance with another embodiment. It should be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that the tiered incentive module  135  depicted in  FIG. 3  represents a generalized schematic illustration and that other components may be added or existing components may be removed or modified. 
         [0045]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , the tiered incentive module  135  can comprise a control module  305 , a user interface module  310 , a forum interface module (labeled as “FORUM I/F” in  FIG. 3 )  315 , and a database interface module (labeled as “DATABASE I/F” in  FIG. 3 )  320 . It should be readily obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art that the depicted modules  305 - 345  can be implemented as software applications (programmed in C, C++, JAVA, PHP, etc.), hardware components EEPROM, application specific integrated circuit, microprocessor, etc.) or combinations thereof. 
         [0046]    The control module  305  can be configured to manage and to interface with the other modules  310 - 320  to provide the functionality of the tiered incentive module  135  as described above and Further described herein below. 
         [0047]    The user interface module  310  can be configured to generate graphical user interfaces (“GUIs”) as required by the control module  305 . For example, the user interface module  310  can generate a notification GUI and/or a link to the notification GUI. The notification GUI can notify a user that they has been elevated from probationary status to a rated or verified status. 
         [0048]    In some embodiments, the user interface module  310  can be considered an application program interface module which provides the necessary tools and interfaces to communicate with other modules of the tiered incentive module  135  and the other modules of the service portal  115 . 
         [0049]    The control module  305  can also be coupled to a forum interface module  315 . The forum interface module  315  can provide a communication channel to monitor posted answers in a forum module  330  of a knowledge library  120  that provides forum(s)  130 . As an non-limiting example, the forum module  330  can provide at least one forum for registered and unregistered users to receive technical assistance from the user community of the service portal  115 . 
         [0050]    The forum module  330  can be coupled to a knowledgebase  125 . The knowledgebase  125  can comprise of a Wiki-style database that allows articles to be rated and commented on by registered users and viewable by all users. The content within the knowledgebase  125  can be articles in a question and answer format in some embodiments. Other formats can also be implemented in the knowledgebase  125  such as frequently asked questions, articles, etc. 
         [0051]    The forum module  330  can also be coupled to an incentive reward program module  335 . The incentive reward program module  335  can be configured to award rewards based on the accumulation of points. In some embodiments, users can be awarded point(s) for posting answers in the forum providing assistance to other members of the user community, editing technical documents, or translating articles, documents, or other forms of content in the forum module  330  or knowledgebase  125 . As the point total or sum grows, the user can qualify for rewards on a graduated scale. As a non-limiting example, a user can qualify for a training session for product A when the user accumulates point sum of x. Alternatively, the user can opt to keep accumulating points to qualify for software product B at point sum y. Regardless the type of awards or point system, the incentive reward program module  335  can provide rewards for users that continually assist in the forum(s)  130 . 
         [0052]    Although the incentive reward program module  335  is shown coupled to the forum module  330 , the incentive reward program module  335  could be executed by the control module  305 , the other modules of the service portal  115  or be executed as a separate standalone module. 
         [0053]    The control module  305  can be further coupled to a database interface  320 . The database interface  320  can provide an interface for the control module  305  to interact with a persistent storage device that executes a forum user profile database  340 . A database server (not shown) can execute a database program that provides forum user profile database  340  as known to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the control module  305  can create, store, and update the forum user profiles to qualify users as well as manage the participation of a user in an incentive rewards program. 
         [0054]    Users can access the knowledge library  120  from a home page  350  displayed when a user is authenticated into the web store  205  of the service portal  115 . More specifically, after log-in, the web store can display the home page  350 . The home page  350  can be configured to display a link (not shown) to the knowledge library  120 . A user can then activate the link to be taken to a knowledge library home page (not shown). The knowledge library page can then display links to the forum(s)  130  or the knowledgebase  125 . 
         [0055]      FIG. 4  illustrates an exemplary schema  400  for the forum user profile in accordance with yet another embodiment. It should be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that the schema  400  depicted in  FIG. 4  represents a generalized schematic illustration and that other steps may be added or existing steps may be removed or modified. 
         [0056]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , the profile data schema  400  can comprise a user identification field  405 , a first name field  410 , a last name field  415 , a status  420 , a point sum  425 , a rating field  430 , a last login field  435  and a user history field  440 . It should be readily obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art that the schema  400  is a schematic representation and that additional fields could be added or the existing fields may be removed or amended without departing from the scope of the claimed invention. 
         [0057]    The user identification (labeled as “USER ID”) field  405  can store the log-in name of the user to access the forum  130 . The user can obtain a user ID when the user registers in the forum  130 . 
         [0058]    The first name field  410  can store the first name of the legal name of the user. Similarly, the last name field  415  can store the surname of the legal name of the user. 
         [0059]    The status field  420  can store the status of the user as either probationary or non-probationary, i.e., admitted, verified, rated, vetted, etc. As a rated or non-probationary user, the user can then be eligible to participate in the incentive reward program. 
         [0060]    The point sum field  425  can store two types of data. As a probationary user, the point sum field  425  can store the probationary points given to the user by the peer review group. As a non-probationary user, the point sum field  425  can store the incentive points for answering or assisting in the forum  130 . 
         [0061]    The rating field  430  can be configured to store a ranking or rating of the user in a subfield  430 A as well as rating point sum in subfield  430 B. The rating subfield  430 A can store the current rating of the user. For example, the user can be evaluated on a one to five star scale, where higher the number of stars indicate a higher reputation in the user community. 
         [0062]    The user community can also evaluate the answers posted by a particular user. The user community can rate the answer on a five star system, where one star is the lowest rating and five star is the highest rating. Rating points can be assigned to each rating. The rating points are accumulated as a rating point sum in the rating point subfield  430 B. Another method of rating an answer could be awarding a “thumbs up” or a “thumbs-down” to the user for his posted methods and accumulating the number of “thumbs up” or a “thumbs-down” can indicate the reputation of the user. Other rating systems could be used to evaluate the ratings so long as the other rating systems provide a mechanism to provide a reputation or ranking of the user. 
         [0063]    The last log-in field  435  can be configured to store the previous log-in date and time when the user last visited the forum  130 . The user history field  440  can be configured to contain information related to the past visits of the user to the forum  130 . This field  430  can contain the number of visits to the forum  130 , the number of posts to the forum  130 , or other activities that the system administrator would like to track. This information can then be used to improve the existing functionality of the forum  130  or to add additional functions. 
         [0064]      FIG. 5  illustrates an exemplary registration flow diagram  500  in accordance with yet another embodiment. It should be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that the flow diagram  500  depicted in  FIG. 5  represents a generalized schematic illustration and that other steps may be added or existing steps may be removed or modified. 
         [0065]    As shown in  FIG. 5 , the control module  305  can detect a registration the of a new user to the forum  130 , in step  505 . More particularly, the control module  305  can receive a message from the forum module  330  that a new user has registered in the forum  130 . 
         [0066]    In step  510 . the control module  305  can be configured to populate a record with the information required by the forum user profile  400  shown in  FIG. 4 . The control module  305  can retrieve some of the information such as first name and last name from the ID module  220 . 
         [0067]    In step  515 , the control module  305  can be configured to update the user profile. For example, the control module  305  can set the point sum field  425  to zero, set the status of the user as “probationary”, and set last login field  435  to the current date. Subsequently, the control module  305  can store the update forum user profile to the forum user profile database  340  through the database interface  320 . 
         [0068]      FIG. 6  illustrates an exemplary monitoring flow diagram  600  executed by the control module  305  in accordance with yet another embodiment. As depicted in  FIG. 6 , the control module  305  can be configured to monitor the forum module  330  for posted answers, in step  605 . More particularly, the control module  305  can be configured to monitor the activity of the user community in the forum  130  provided by the forum module  330 . 
         [0069]    In step  610 , the control module  305  can be configured to determine whether an answer to a question has been posted. More particularly, the control module  305  can query the forum module  330  or the forum module  330  can be configured to forward a copy of the posted answer to the control module  305 . 
         [0070]    If the control module  305  determines that no answer has been posted in the forum  130  provided by the forum module  330 , the control module  305  can return to the processing of step  605 . 
         [0071]    Otherwise, if the control module  305  can detect a new answer posted in the forum  130 , the control module  305  can be configured to check the status of the user, in step  615 . More particularly, the control module  305  can retrieve the user identification from the posted answer and query the forum user profile database  340  with the user identification and a request for a status associated with the user identification as search terms. The forum user profile database  340  can then return the status to the control module  305 . 
         [0072]    In step  620 , the control module  305  determines whether the user has a probationary status. For example, the control module  305  can retrieve status of the user from the status field  420 . If the user is a non-probationary user, the control module  305  can be configured to add an incentive point(s) to the user. The incentive points are added to the existing sum in the point sum field  425  of the forum user profile  400  and then stored in the forum user profile database  340 . 
         [0073]    Otherwise, if the user has a probationary status, the control module  305  can forward the posted answer to a predetermined peer review group for evaluation. More specifically, the control module  305  can invoke the user interface module  310  to generate an evaluation form for the peer review group. The evaluation form along with the answer then sent to the peer review group. Alternatively, a link to the evaluation form can be sent with a copy of the posted answer to the peer review group. 
         [0074]    The peer review group can be a group of volunteer vetted users of the user community that evaluate probationary users of the forum  130 . The size of the peer review group can be any size as required by the service requirements of the service portal  115 . The members of the peer review group can be appointed by system administrators, technical support personnel, or other administrating group of the service portal  115 . Subsequently, the control module  305  can return to the processing of step  605 . 
         [0075]      FIG. 7  illustrates an exemplary probationary point update flow diagram  700  executed by the control module  305  in accordance with yet another embodiment. As shown in  FIG. 7 , the control module  305  can be configured to receive review of a posted answer from a member of the peer review group, in step  705 . Alternatively, the control module  305  can receive the review from the web page whose address was sent in an electronic mail message to the peer review group member. 
         [0076]    In step  710 , the control module  305  can be configured to determine whether to add probationary points for the user who posted the selected answer. More particularly, the evaluation form can contain a GUI widget that allows the peer group member to allow the user to receive a probationary point as well as another GUI widget to give a rating for the posted answer. 
         [0077]    If the probationary point(s) are being awarded, the control module  305  can add the designated probationary point(s) to the point sum field  425  and the rating in the rating field  430  of the forum user profile  400 . The updated information can then be returned to the forum profile user database  340  through the database interface module  320 . Subsequently, the control module  305  can return to a wait state until the next review arrives, in step  720 . Otherwise, if the control module  305  determines that probationary point(s) are not to be awarded, the control module  305  proceeds to the processing associated with step  720 . 
         [0078]      FIG. 8  illustrates an exemplary rating update flow diagram  800  executed by the control module  305  in accordance with yet another embodiment. As shown in  FIG. 8 , the control module  305  can be configured to receive a copy of rating of a posted answer from the forum module  330 , in step  805 . The control module  305 , in step  810 , then updates the rating for the user who posted the selected answer. More specifically, the control module  105  can query for the associated forum user profile record using the user identification of the posted as a search term. The control module  305  can then update the rating field  430  with the received rating. The control module  305  can then return the updated record to the forum profile user database  340 . 
         [0079]      FIG. 9  depicts an exemplary promotion flow diagram  900  in accordance with yet another embodiment. As shown in  FIG. 9 , the control module  305  can be configured to retrieve a forum user profile, in step  905 . In some embodiments, the control module  305  can periodically execute this flow diagram and examines each registered user of the forum(s)  130  provided by the forum module  330 . 
         [0080]    In step  910 , the control module  305  can determine the status of the user by retrieving the status from the status field  420  of the forum user profile record  400 . If the control module  305  determines that the user has a probationary status, in step  915 , the control module  305  can then determine whether the user has accumulated enough point to be promoted or elevated to an unconditional, rated, verified, vetted or other similar term to indicate a full member of the forum  130 , in step  920 . More particularly, the control module  305  can retrieve the probationary point sum value from the point sum field  425  of the forum user profile record  400  and compare the point sum value with a predetermined value. 
         [0081]    If the user has not accumulated enough probationary points, the control module can then retrieve the next user, in step  905 . Otherwise, the control module  305  can be configured to update the forum user profile. More specifically, the control module can set the point sum value to zero and store the updated value in the point sum field  425 . The control module  305  can also change the status to non-probationary in the status field  420 . The control module  305  can the store the updated record in the forum profile user database  340 . Subsequently, the control module  305  can retrieve the next user, in step  905 . 
         [0082]    Returning to step  915 , if the user is a full member, the control module  305  can determine whether the user is eligible for a reward in step  930 . Particularly, the control module  305  can retrieve the point sum value from the point sum field  425  from the forum user profile record  400  and compare the point sum value from a predetermined reward threshold. 
         [0083]    If the user is eligible for a reward, the control module  305  can notify the user, in step  935 . Specifically, the control module  305  can generate a GUI notification, a link to the GUI notification or an electronic mail notification message that informs the user is eligible for a reward from the incentive reward program. The notification can also provide GUI widgets that provide options to select either to redeem the current reward or continue to accumulate incentive points for other high valued rewards. Subsequently, the control module  305  can retrieve the next forum profile record for processing, in step  905 . 
         [0084]    Otherwise, if the user is not eligible for a reward, the control module  305  can be configured to determine whether the use is eligible to be promoted in step  940 . Particularly, the control module  305  can retrieve a rating point sum from the rating point field  430 B from the forum user profile record and compare the rating point sum with a predetermined rating threshold. 
         [0085]    If the user is not eligible for a promotion, the control module  305  can then retrieve the next forum user profile record, in step  905 . Otherwise, the control module  305  can send a notification message via a electronic message (electronic mail, instant message, etc.) to the user notifying the user of the promotion, in step  945 . 
         [0086]    In step  950 , the control module  305  can then update the rating field  430 A with the promotion and return the forum user profile to the forum user profile database  340 . Subsequently, the control module  305  can then retrieve the next forum user profile record, in step  905 . 
         [0087]      FIG. 10  illustrates an exemplary block diagram of a computing platform  1000  where an embodiment may be practiced. The functions of the tiered incentive module  135  may be implemented in program code and executed by the computing platform  1000 . The tiered incentive module  135  may be implemented in computer languages such as PASCAL, C, C++, JAVA, etc. 
         [0088]    As shown in  FIG. 10 , the computer system  1000  includes one or more processors, such as processor  1002  that provide an execution platform for embodiments of the tiered incentive module  135 . Commands and data from the processor  1002  are communicated over a communication bus  1004 . The computer system  1000  also includes a main memory  1006 , such as a Random Access Memory (RAM), where the tiered incentive module  135  may be executed during runtime, and a secondary memory  1008 . The secondary memory  1008  includes, for example, a hard disk drive  1010  and/or a removable storage drive  1012 , representing a floppy diskette drive, a magnetic tape drive, a compact disk drive, etc., where a copy of a computer program embodiment for the tiered incentive module  135  may be stored. The removable storage drive  1012  reads from and/or writes to a removable storage unit  1014  in a well-known manner. A user interfaces with the tiered incentive module  135  with a keyboard  1016 , a mouse  1018 , and a display  1020 . The display adapter  1022  interfaces with the communication bus  1004  and the display  1020 . A display adapter  1022  also receives display data from the processor  1002  and converts the display data into display commands for the display  1020 . 
         [0089]    Certain embodiments may be performed as a computer program. The computer program may exist in a variety of forms both active and inactive. For example, the computer program can exist as software program(s) comprised of program instructions in source code, object code, executable code or other formats; firmware program(s); or hardware description language (HDL) files. Any of the above can be embodied on a computer readable medium, which include storage devices and signals, in compressed or uncompressed form. Exemplary computer readable storage devices include conventional computer system RAM (random access memory), ROM (read-only memory), EPROM (erasable, programmable ROM), EEPROM (electrically erasable, programmable ROM), and magnetic or optical disks or tapes. Exemplary computer readable signals, whether modulated using a carrier or not, are signals that a computer system hosting or running the present invention can be configured to access, including signals downloaded through the Internet or other networks. Concrete examples of the foregoing include distribution of executable software program(s) of the computer program on a CD-ROM or via Internet download. In a sense, the Internet itself, as an abstract entity, is a computer readable medium. The same is true of computer networks in general. 
         [0090]    While the invention has been described with reference to the exemplary embodiments thereof, those skilled in the art will be able to make various modifications to the described embodiments without departing from the true spirit and scope. The terms and descriptions used herein are set forth by way of illustration only and are not meant as limitations. In particular, although the method has been described by examples, the steps of the method may be performed in a different order than illustrated or simultaneously. Those skilled in the art will recognize that these and other variations are possible within the spirit and scope as defined in the following claims and their equivalents.