Determining ratings based on ratings of other entities

Abstract

A characteristic value for a characteristic of a first participant in a game is rated. Then characteristic values for characteristics of one or more participants associated with the first participant in the game are rated. An individual rating is provided for the first participant based on the characteristic value for the characteristic of the first participant. A community rating is provided for the first participant based on the characteristic values for the characteristics of the one or more participants associated with the first participant.

1 . A system comprising:
 an information server executable by a processor and configured to store information relating to a game in an electronic environment; and   a rating component configured to:
 rate a characteristic value for a characteristic of a first participant in the game; 
 rate characteristic values for characteristics of one or more participants associated with the first participant in the game; 
 provide an individual rating for the first participant based on the characteristic value for the characteristic of the first participant; and 
 provide a community rating for the first participant based on the characteristic values for the characteristics of the one or more participants associated with the first participant. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the providing a community rating is performed by a community rater. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the community rater comprises:
 a valuator configured to assign a rating to a participant in the game; and   an aggregator configured to aggregate ratings of participants in the game.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the aggregator is configured to perform a recursive routine to aggregate ratings of participants in the game. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the valuator calculates a weighted average of ratings assigned to the one or more participants associated with the first participant. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first participant and the one or more participants associated with the first participant are represented by a linked list with links between entries in the linked list representing relationships among the first participant and the one or more participants associated with the first participant. 
     
     
         7 . A method comprising:
 rating a characteristic value for a characteristic of a first participant in a game;   rating characteristic values for characteristics of one or more participants associated with the first participant in the game;   providing an individual rating for the first participant based on the characteristic value for the characteristic of the first participant; and   providing a community rating for the first participant based on the characteristic values for the characteristics of the one or more participants associated with the first participant.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the characteristic measures skill level in the game. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the characteristic value is an alphabetic indication of the characteristic. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the characteristic value is a graphic indication of the characteristic. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the graphic indication is a thumbs up. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the characteristic value is a symbolic indication of the characteristic. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the characteristic value is based on feedback from other participants. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the game is an online game. 
     
     
         15 . A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium comprising instructions, which when implemented by one or more machines, cause the one or more machines to perform operations comprising:
 rating a characteristic value for a characteristic of a first participant in a game;   rating characteristic values for characteristics of one or more participants associated with the first participant in the game;   providing an individual rating for the first participant based on the characteristic value for the characteristic of the first participant; and   providing a community rating for the first participant based on the characteristic values for the characteristics of the one or more participants associated with the first participant.   
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the characteristic measures skill level in the game. 
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the characteristic value is an alphabetic indication of the characteristic. 
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the characteristic value is a graphic indication of the characteristic. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of  claim 18 , wherein the graphic indication is a thumbs up. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the characteristic value is a symbolic indication of the characteristic.