Abstract:
This is directed to systems, processes, machines, and other means that allow a user to effectively sort comments. The invention is a method that enables a user to combine similar uses of words to determine which comments are most meaningful.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to method for sorting a defined set of comments. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Business and individuals have been interested in comments for many years. For the past few years, comments from blogs, social media, surveys and other media have become increasingly important. These comments have traditionally been sorted chronologically or read by individuals to determine meaning and determine the most important or useful comments. The present invention provides a method for sorting the comments into a more meaningful order than chronological and less cumbersome than manual reading. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention includes methods, systems and other means of evaluating and ranking comments from any source. The method for sorting a defined set of comments comprises: first, calculating a normalized word score. Then using the normalized word score to calculate a unique word score. After that the method uses the raw comment score to calculate a normalized comment score; and finally the method sorts the defined set of comments by the normalized comment score. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Having thus described the invention in general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  shows a schematic of the method involved in the present invention 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Embodiments of the present invention overcome many of the obstacles associated with discerning between impacting and non-impacting comments, and now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings that show some, but not all embodiments of the claimed inventions. Indeed, the invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. 
       FIG. 1  shows the method of the invention. The method starts with a user posting some media on a website to which readers can comment. After that, the website gathers comments, responses and answers from readers from any source. Beyond merely commenting on the website itself, the website will trackback links to other websites where the media is being discussed. Each comment has a total number of words (Tw) and a total number of raw words (Rw). A raw word is a particular word that can be any noun, verb, adjective, adverb, acronym, abbreviation or other series of contiguous letters. Words such as articles (a, an, the) and prepositions are removed automatically, other words can be removed manually as explained below. 
     The first criteria measurement in the method is to calculate the raw word score. The raw word score (Rs) is the number of times a particular word appears in all of the comments, responses and answers collectively. In some embodiments, the raw word score (Rs) is the number of times a particular word appears in all of the comments, responses and answers collectively plus an additional amount for the number of times a particular word appears in all of the comments, responses and answers that generate additional activity such as additional comments, repasts, shares or likes. 
     The second criteria measurement in the method is to calculate the normalized words score (Ns). Of all the words in the first criteria, the base number (Bn) is the largest raw word score. Normalized word score is raw word score divided by base number times one hundred. Therefore, each word has its score normalized by the following formula: 
     
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   Ns 
                   ⁢ 
                   
                     ⌈ 
                     
                       
                         Rs 
                         Bn 
                       
                       * 
                       
                         10 
                         0 
                       
                     
                     ⌉ 
                   
                 
               
               
                 
                   eqn 
                   . 
                   
                       
                   
                   ⁢ 
                   1 
                 
               
             
           
         
       
     
     The third criteria measurement in the method is to calculate the unique words score (Uswn). In order to ensure that each word has a unique score, the words are sorted by Ns and then alphabetically. The unique word score for words with a unique normalized word score equals the unique normalized word score. Therefore, where there is only one word with an Ns; then
 
 Ns=Uswn   eqn. 2
 
     as the score is already unique. 
     Where there is more than one word with an identical Ns, then the Uswn for the nth word alphabetically is
 
 Uswn=Ns+ 0.00001× n   eqn. 3
 
     The fourth criteria measurement in the method is to calculate a raw comment score (RCs) for a particular comment, response or answer. The raw comment score is a sum of unique word scores for each word in that comment. 
     
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   RCs 
                   = 
                   
                     
                       ∑ 
                       s 
                       n 
                     
                     ⁢ 
                     Yswn 
                   
                 
               
               
                 
                   eqn 
                   . 
                   
                       
                   
                   ⁢ 
                   4 
                 
               
             
           
         
       
     
     The fifth criteria measurement in the method is to calculate a normalized comment score (NCs). Of all the comments in the fourth criteria, the base comment number (BCn) is the raw comment score of the comment which has the greatest raw comment score. The normalized comment score is the normalized comment score is the raw comment score divided by a base comment score times one hundred. Therefore, each comment has its score normalized by the following formula: 
     
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   NCs 
                   = 
                   
                     ⌈ 
                     
                       
                         RCs 
                         BCn 
                       
                       * 
                       
                         10 
                         0 
                       
                     
                     ⌉ 
                   
                 
               
               
                 
                   eqn 
                   . 
                   
                       
                   
                   ⁢ 
                   5 
                 
               
             
           
         
       
     
     The sixth criteria measurement in the method is to calculate an average raw comment score (ARCs). The average raw comment score is equal to the raw comment score divided by the total number of words in the comment (Tw). 
     
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   ARCs 
                   = 
                   
                     RCs 
                     Tw 
                   
                 
               
               
                 
                   eqn 
                   . 
                   
                       
                   
                   ⁢ 
                   6 
                 
               
             
           
         
       
     
     The seventh criteria measurement in the method is to calculate a normalized average raw comment score (NARCs). Of all the comments in the sixth criteria, the base average comment number (BACn) is the raw comment score of the comment which has the greatest raw comment score. The normalized average raw comment score is the normalized average raw comment score is the average raw comment score, divided by the base average comment number, times one hundred. Therefore, each comment has its score normalized by the following formula: 
     
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   NARCs 
                   = 
                   
                     ⌈ 
                     
                       
                         ARCs 
                         BACn 
                       
                       * 
                       
                         10 
                         0 
                       
                     
                     ⌉ 
                   
                 
               
               
                 
                   eqn 
                   . 
                   
                       
                   
                   ⁢ 
                   7 
                 
               
             
           
         
       
     
     At this point the user has a choice as to which of the previous seven measurements the user wants to utilize to sort the comments, answers and responses. It is most effective to use either the normalized comment score or the normalized average comment score. 
     If the user selects the normalized comment score then a list is produced which has grouped the comments sorted by normalized comment score. Similarly, if the user selects the normalized average raw comment score then a list is produced which has grouped the comments sorted by normalized average comment score. 
     At this point, the user has a preliminary set of results. A user can elect to remove raw words from the list of raw words that have been preselected in the first criteria measurement. If the user chooses to ignore these words then the method begins again with the selected words ignored. Otherwise the method is complete. 
     An exemplarily embodiment of the invention is shown below. Pepsi MAX posted this question to their Facebook wall on Dec. 18 2010, “Okay—You&#39;ve got 30 seconds to tell a friend why they should try Pepsi MAX. WHAT DO YOU SAY??” They received 145 comments in total. 
     The raw words selected were: 
     
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 # times 
                 Raw Word 
               
               
                 Word 
                 # times used 
                 comment liked 
                 Score 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 Pepsi 
                 34 
                 0 
                 34 
               
               
                 Taste 
                 29 
                 0 
                 29 
               
               
                 Great 
                 18 
                 0 
                 18 
               
               
                 Drink 
                 22 
                 0 
                 22 
               
               
                 MAX 
                 22 
                 0 
                 22 
               
               
                 Try 
                 17 
                 0 
                 17 
               
               
                 Better 
                 10 
                 0 
                 10 
               
               
                 Sugar 
                 8 
                 2 
                 9 
               
               
                 Calorie 
                 10 
                 0 
                 10 
               
               
                 More 
                 7 
                 0 
                 7 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     The normalized word scores were: 
     
       
         
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Raw Word 
                   
                 Normalized 
               
               
                   
                 Word 
                 Score 
                 Calculation 
                 Word Score 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Pepsi 
                 34 
                 (34/34) * 100 
                 100 
               
               
                   
                 Taste 
                 29 
                 (29/34) * 100 
                 85 
               
               
                   
                 Great 
                 18 
                 (18/34) * 100 
                 53 
               
               
                   
                 Drink 
                 22 
                 (22/34) * 100 
                 65 
               
               
                   
                 MAX 
                 22 
                 (22/34) * 100 
                 65 
               
               
                   
                 Try 
                 17 
                 (17/34) * 100 
                 50 
               
               
                   
                 Better 
                 10 
                 (10/34) * 100 
                 29 
               
               
                   
                 Sugar 
                 9 
                  (9/34) * 100 
                 26 
               
               
                   
                 Calorie 
                 10 
                 (10/34) * 100 
                 29 
               
               
                   
                 More 
                 7 
                  (7/34) * 100 
                 21 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     The unique word scores were: 
     
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Normalized Word 
                 Unique Word 
               
               
                   
                 Word 
                 Score 
                 Score 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Pepsi 
                 100 
                 100 
               
               
                   
                 Taste 
                 85 
                 85 
               
               
                   
                 Great 
                 53 
                 53 
               
               
                   
                 Drink 
                 65 
                 65.000001 
               
               
                   
                 MAX 
                 65 
                 65.000002 
               
               
                   
                 Try 
                 50 
                 50 
               
               
                   
                 Better 
                 29 
                 29.000001 
               
               
                   
                 Sugar 
                 26 
                 26 
               
               
                   
                 Calorie 
                 29 
                 29.000002 
               
               
                   
                 More 
                 21 
                 21 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     The raw comment scores were: 
     
       
         
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Raw 
               
               
                 Comment 
                 Sum Unique Word Scores 
                 Comment Score 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 Great taste 
                 53 + 85 
                 138 
               
               
                 Tastes great! 
                 85 + 53 
                 138 
               
               
                 %&amp;)@ beer. Drink 
                 0 + 0 + 65 + 100 
                 165 
               
               
                 Pepsi! 
                   
                   
               
               
                 because pepsi max is 
                 0 + 100 + 65.000002 + 1 + 0 +  
                 354.000009 
               
               
                 the best and it taste  
                 26.000003 + 0 + 0 + 85 + 53 + 
                   
               
               
                 great just do it you will 
                 0 + 0 + 0 + 0 + 26.000004 + 0 
                   
               
               
                 love it 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 etc. for all comments received 
               
             
          
         
       
     
     The normalized comment scores were: 
     
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                   
                 Raw Comment 
                   
                 Normalized  
               
               
                 Comment 
                 Score 
                 Calculation 
                 Comment Score 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 Great taste 
                 138 
                 138/354.000009 
                 39 
               
               
                 Tastes great! 
                 138 
                 138/354.000009 
                 39 
               
               
                 %&amp;)@ beer. 
                 165 
                 165 
                 47 
               
               
                 Drink Pepsi! 
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 because pepsi 
                 354.000009 
                 354.000009 
                 100 
               
               
                 max is the best 
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 and it taste 
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 great just do it 
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 you will love it 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 etc. for all comments received 
               
             
          
         
       
     
     The average raw comment scores were: 
     
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                   
                 Raw Comment 
                   
                 Average Raw 
               
               
                 Comment 
                 Score 
                 Calculation 
                 Comment Score 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 Great taste 
                 138 
                 138/2 
                 69 
               
               
                 Tastes great! 
                 138 
                 138/2 
                 69 
               
               
                 %&amp;)@ beer. 
                 165 
                 165/4 
                 41.25 
               
               
                 Drink Pepsi! 
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 because pepsi 
                 354.000009 
                  354/17 
                 20.82 
               
               
                 max is the best 
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 and it taste 
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 great just do it 
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 you will love it 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 etc. for all comments received 
               
             
          
         
       
     
     The normalized average comment scores were: 
     
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                   
                 Average Raw 
                   
                 Normalized Average 
               
               
                 Comment 
                 Comment Score 
                 Calculation 
                 Raw Comment Score 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 Great taste 
                 69 
                   (69/69) * 100 
                 100 
               
               
                 Tastes great! 
                 69 
                   (69/69) * 100 
                 100 
               
               
                 %&amp;)@ beer. 
                 41.25 
                 (41.25/69) * 100 
                 59.783 
               
               
                 Drink Pepsi! 
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 because pepsi 
                 20.82 
                 (20.82/69) * 100 
                 30.2 
               
               
                 max is the best 
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 and it taste 
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 great just do it 
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 you will love it 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 etc. for all comments received 
               
             
          
         
       
     
     The listed comments were: 
     
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Normalized Average Raw 
               
               
                   
                 Comment 
                 Count 
                 Comment Score (Sort Order) 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Great taste 
                 2 
                 100 
               
               
                   
                 %&amp;)@ beer. 
                 1 
                 59.783 
               
               
                   
                 Drink Pepsi! 
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 because pepsi 
                 1 
                 30.2 
               
               
                   
                 max is the best 
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 and it taste 
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 great just do it 
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 ou will love it 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 etc. for all comments received 
               
             
          
         
       
     
     and: 
     
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Normalized Comment 
               
               
                   
                 Comment 
                 Calculation 
                 Score (Sort Order) 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 because pepsi 
                 1 
                 100 
               
               
                   
                 max is the best 
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 and it taste 
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 great just do it 
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 you will love it 
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 %&amp;)@ beer. 
                 1 
                 47 
               
               
                   
                 Drink Pepsi! 
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Great taste 
                 2 
                 39 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 etc. for all comments received