Patent ID: 7343417

Claim:
A computer-implemented method for rating media information by using a plurality of remotely located client units and a server connected to the client units via a network, each client unit being able to receive media information via a communication medium other than the network, comprising: causing a user to view media information received by a client unit via the communication medium and displayed on the client unit; transmitting to the client unit, via the network, indicator information enabling the client unit to display a rating indicator along with the media information to the user, to allow the user to control the rating indicator and thereby to input as a function of time rating information of events occurring at particular times in the media information and to transmit the rating information to the server via the network; receiving the rating information transmitted from the client unit and storing the received rating information in a database; transmitting to the client unit, via the network, a query form for demographic data enabling the client unit to display the query form to a user, to allow the user to input the demographic data and to transmit the demographic data via the network, the demographic data including information relating to a plurality of profile categories; receiving the demographic data transmitted from the client and storing the received demographic data in the database; listing the user in at least one group characterized by one or more of the profile categories; combining the stored rating information of each user listed in the group to determine an average rating of the group; and displaying the average rating of the group as to the events as a function of time; further including: transmitting a time indication, via the network, to the client unit enabling the client unit to measure a time interval between the time indication and the time when the user inputs the rating information and to transmit information of the time interval along with the rating information via the network and wherein the time interval information is used to identify the event.