TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to an online forum tool for tracking

conversation.

BACKGROUND

[0002] The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that the prior art forms part of the common general knowledge.

[0003] Online forums enable participants to place posts and review other

participant's posts in relation to topics of interest. For example, a participant that is interested in gardening can become a member of a gardening forum, and participate in conversation by placing and reviewing posts relating to gardening in the forum.

[0004] In practice, the applicant has perceived that posts in a particular conversation tend to digress to different themes from the original conversation.

[0005] The preferred embodiment provides a tool which enables participants to better track the conversation theme in which they are most interested.

[0006] Numerous participants in the conversation can make the overall flow of the conversation extremely difficult to follow.

[0007] The preferred embodiment provides a tool which enables participants to better track conversation flow.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an online forum tool for tracking conversation, the tool including: a conversation feed including layered posts to which conversation participants can reply; and

another conversation feed branched from the conversation feed responsive to a reply to a post which is a predetermined number of layers deep.

[0009] Advantageously, a participant can track the conversation feed or the branched conversation feed to thereby better track the conversation theme in which they are most interested. Either the main conversation feed or the branched

conversation feed may be scrolled at the participant's discretion.

[00010] The post may include a branch indicator (or Zing) responsive to the reply. The branch actuator may be actuated to reveal the other branched conversation feed. Actuation of the branch actuator may move the conversation feed aside when revealing the other conversation feed. The tool may include a scroller to enable a participant to scroll along the other conversation feed. The other conversation feed may include a hide actuator for actuating to hide the other conversation feed. The hide actuator may remain aligned with the post during scrolling of the other conversation feed. Upon actuation of the hide actuator, scrolling of the conversation feed returns to the position of the post.

[00011] The predetermined number of layers may be any one or more of: two, three, four, five or more layers. The conversation feed and other conversation feed may be concurrently or separately displayed. The layers may be based upon replies. Each layer may be a different color or shade.

[00012] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an online forum method for tracking conversation, the method including:

displaying a conversation feed including layered posts to which conversation participants can reply; and

branching another conversation feed from the conversation feed responsive to a reply to a post which is a predetermined number of layers deep.

[00013] The method may further include the step of branching yet another

conversation feed from the other conversation feed responsive to a reply to another post in the other conversation feed which is a predetermined number of layers deep in that other conversation feed. The method may further involve branching yet another conversation feed from the conversation feed responsive to a reply to another post which is also a predetermined number of layers deep.

[00014] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an online forum tool for tracking conversation, the tool including:

a conversation feed including posts to which conversation participants can reply; and

one or more visual indictors for indicating layers of the posts based upon replies.

[00015] Advantageously, a conversation participant can use the visual indicators to readily identify layers of posts based upon replies to better track conversation flow.

[00016] The visual indicators may include overlaid panels, each panel including one or more posts and designating a respective layer. The visual indicators may include drop shadows, defined at edges of the panels, which depict being sunken into another higher panel so as to visually highlight the layers. The visual indicators may include color coding or shading of the panels. The visual indicators may include lateral offsetting or indenting of the panels. There may be a predefined maximum number of layers before a branch conversation feed from the conversation feed is created.

[00017] The visual indicators may include one or more connectors for connecting posts of the same layer. The connectors may be continuous. The posts within any panel may be arranged in chronological order.

[00018] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an online forum method for tracking conversation, the method including:

displaying a conversation feed including posts to which conversation participants can reply; and

indicating layers of the posts based upon replies.

[00019] Any of the features described herein can be combined in any combination with any one or more of the other features described herein within the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [00020] Preferred features, embodiments and variations of the invention may be discerned from the following Detailed Description which provides sufficient information for those skilled in the art to perform the invention. The Detailed Description is not to be regarded as limiting the scope of the preceding Summary of the Invention in any way. The Detailed Description will make reference to a number of drawings as follows:

[00021] Figure 1 a shows an online forum tool with a branch actuator for tracking conversation in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[00022] Figure 1 b shows a segment of the online forum tool of Figure 1 a when the branch actuator is actuated;

[00023] Figure 1 c shows the branch conversation segment of the online forum tool of Figure 1 b; and

[00024] Figures 2a to 2c show three examples of an online forum tool with panel visual indicators for tracking conversation in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[00025] According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an online forum website 100 (i.e. tool) for tracking conversation as shown in Figure 1 a. The website 100 includes a main conversation feed 102 including layered posts 104 to which conversation participants can reply by selecting a bottom reply actuator button 106. The string of posts 1 04 are nested with each deeper reply-based layer, or further reply, having a darker shade. So, a top-layer post 104a is white, with a light-gray reply post 104b to the top-layer post 104a, a medium-gray reply-post 104c to the light-gray post 104b, and a dark-gray bottom-layer reply-post 104d to the medium-gray post 104c.

[00026] Turning to Figure 1 c, the website 100 includes a branched conversation feed 108 which branches out from the main conversation feed 102 responsive to a reply to the bottom-layer post 104d which is four (i.e. a predetermined number) layers deep. Advantageously, a participant can track the main conversation feed 102 to thereby follow the main conversation theme in which they are most interested and without interruption, whilst still being alerted to the presence of the branched feed 108. The participant also has the option of following the branched conversation feed 108 if the theme of that deeper conversation is of more interest. Either the main conversation feed 102 or the branched conversation feed 108 can be scrolled at the participant's discretion.

[00027] As can best be seen in Figure 1 a and 1 b, the bottom-layer post 104d includes a branch actuator 1 10 (informally termed a "Zing") and indicator responsive to a reply to the bottom-layer post 104d. That is, the Zing 1 10 is automatically created after a predetermined number of replies and when a reply 104d to a reply 104c to a reply 104b to a top post 104a is created. The participant identifies the presence of a hidden branch conversation feed 108 from a bottom post 104d by virtue of detecting the presence of the Zing 1 10 of that post 104d. The Zing 1 10 shown in Figure 1 a is actuated to reveal the hidden branched conversation feed 108 as shown in Figures 1 b and 1 c. Actuation of the Zing 1 10 moves the main conversation feed 102 aside when revealing the branched conversation feed 108 as shown in Figure 1 c.

[00028] The website 100 includes a scrolling tool to enable a participant to scroll along the revealed branched conversation feed 108, or the main conversation feed 102 when the branched conversation feed 108 is hidden. The branched conversation feed 108 includes a hide actuator 1 12 (or back actuator) for actuating to hide the branched conversation feed 108. As can best be seen in Figure 1 b, the floating hide actuator 1 12 remains aligned with the bottom-layer post 104d during scrolling of the branch conversation feed 108. Upon actuation of the hide actuator 1 12, scrolling of the main conversation feed 108 returns to the position of the bottom-layer post 104d.

[00029] Yet another conversation feed (not shown) can branch out from the branched conversation feed 108 responsive to a reply to another bottom-layer post 104d in the branched conversation feed 108. Accordingly, the main conversation feed 102 can branch into a series of nested branch conversation feeds with multiple nested Zings 1 10.

[00030] Similarly, yet another conversation feed (not shown) can branch out from the main conversation feed 102 responsive to a reply to another bottom-layer post (not shown and other than the first bottom-layer post 104d) which is also a predetermined number of layers deep in the main conversation feed 102. Accordingly, the main conversation feed 102 and branch conversation feed 108 can each have multiple Zings

[00031] Figure 2 shows the website 100 with a further enhancement to assist in tracking conversation as now described below. As before, the website 100 includes a conversation feed 200 including posts 104 to which conversation participants can reply with the reply actuator button 106. However the website 100 further includes visual indictors for indicating layers of the posts 104 based upon replies. Advantageously, a conversation participant can use the visual indicators to readily identify layers of posts 104 based upon replies to better track conversation flow.

[00032] A first visual indicator includes overlaid panels 202, with each panel 202 including one or more posts 104 and designating a respective layer. For example in the example depicted in Figure 2a, the four sunken panels 202a-d represent four levels of posts 104. The top-layer panel 202a is white including posts 104e, 104f from Kate at the top and Mike on the bottom, the panel 202b representing the next layer down has a reply post 104g to Kate's post 104e from Mike, the panel 202c representing the next layer down has reply posts 104h, 104i to Mike's post 104g from Beth and Edwin, and the bottom panel 202d representing the lowermost layer has a reply post 104j to Beth's post 104h from Kate. The posts 104 within any panel 202 are arranged in chronological order.

[00033] A second visual indicator includes color coding or shading the panels 202 as previously described in relation to the posts 104 in Figure 1 . Each deeper reply-based layer or panel 202 has a darker shade.

[00034] A third visual indicator includes drop shadows 204, defined at edges of the panels 202, which depict being sunken into another higher panel 202 so as to visually highlight the layers.

[00035] A fourth visual indicator includes successive lateral offsetting or indenting of the panels 202 as layer depth increases. There are three possible sunken or indented panels 202 before the Zing 1 10 is actuated in the lowermost panel 202d.

[00036] A fifth visual indicator effectively includes a continuous left-hand-side connector 206 for connecting posts 104h, 104i of the same layer. [00037] A person skilled in the art will appreciate that many embodiments and variations can be made without departing from the ambit of the present invention.

[00038] In one embodiment, the conversation feed 102 and branched conversation feed 108 can be concurrently displayed. Alternatively, either the conversation feed 102 or branched conversation feed 108 are displayed at any one time, but not both.

[00039] In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific to structural or methodical features. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to specific features shown or described since the means herein described comprises preferred forms of putting the invention into effect.

[00040] Reference throughout this specification to One embodiment' or 'an embodiment' means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearance of the phrases 'in one embodiment' or 'in an embodiment' in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more combinations.