Rating expertise of users

Abstract

An expertise level in a first field of a first user is determined. Then expertise levels in the first field of users related to the first user are determined. An expertise designation is assigned to the first user based on the expertise level in the first field of the first user and the expertise levels in the first field of users related to the first user.

1 . A system comprising:
 an information server executable by a processor and configured to store information relating to an online community; and   a rating component configured to:
 determine an expertise level in a first field of a first user; 
 determine expertise levels in the first field of users related to the first user; and 
 assign an expertise designation to the first user based on the expertise level in the first field of the first user and the expertise levels in the first field of users related to the first user. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the designation component is further configured to assign a second expertise designation to the first user based on the expertise level in the first field of the first user without regard for the expertise levels in the first field of users related to the first user. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the expertise levels are determined based on feedback from other users. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the expertise level is relative to a purpose of an online community. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the expertise designations are structured to encourage existing users to refer new users to an online forum. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the assigning an expertise designation to the first user is further based on expertise levels in a second field of users related to the first user. 
     
     
         7 . A method comprising:
 determining an expertise level in a first field of a first user;   determining expertise levels in the first field of users related to the first user; and   assigning an expertise designation to the first user based on the expertise level in the first field of the first user and the expertise levels in the first field of users related to the first user.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising assigning a second expertise designation to the first user based on the expertise level in the first field of the first user without regard for the expertise levels in the first field of users related to the first user. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the expertise levels are determined based on feedback from other users. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the expertise level is relative to a purpose of an online community. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the expertise designations are structured to encourage existing users to refer new users to an online forum. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the assigning an expertise designation to the first user is further based on expertise levels in a second field of users related to the first user. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the related to the first user are related via the first user recommending the users related to the first user for acceptance into a network. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein relationships between the first user and the users related to the first user are represented as an n-ary tree. 
     
     
         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:
 determining an expertise level in a first field of a first user;   determining expertise levels in the first field of users related to the first user; and   assigning an expertise designation to the first user based on the expertise level in the first field of the first user and the expertise levels in the first field of users related to the first user.   
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , further comprising assigning a second expertise designation to the first user based on the expertise level in the first field of the first user without regard for the expertise levels in the first field of users related to the first user. 
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the expertise levels are determined based on feedback from other users. 
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the expertise level is relative to a purpose of an online community. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the expertise designations are structured to encourage existing users to refer new users to an online forum. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the assigning an expertise designation to the first user is further based on expertise levels in a second field of users related to the first user.