Determining ratings based on ratings of other entities

Abstract

Information about a first characteristic of one or more entities related to a first entity is obtained. Then one or more characteristic values are calculated for the first characteristic of the one or more entities related to the first entity. Then a first rating is assigned to the first entity based on the one or more characteristic values for the first characteristic of the one or more entities related to the first entity.

1 . A system comprising:
 an information server executable by a processor and configured to obtain information about a first characteristic of a first entity; and   a rating component configured to:
 calculate a characteristic value for the first characteristic of the first entity; 
 associate a first rating to the first entity based on the characteristic value for the first characteristic of the first entity; 
 obtain information about a second characteristic of one or more entities related to the first entity; 
 calculate one or more characteristic values for the second characteristic of the one or more entities related to the first entity; and 
 associate a second rating to the first entity based on the one or more characteristic values for the second characteristic of the one or more entities related to the first entity. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the calculating of the one or more characteristic values for the second characteristic and the associating the second rating to the first entity are performed by a community rater. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the community rater comprises:
 a valuator configured to associate a rating to an entity; and   an aggregator configured to aggregate ratings of entities.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the aggregator is configured to perform a recursive routine to aggregate ratings of entities. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the valuator calculates a weighted average of ratings associated with the one or more entities related to the first entity. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more entities are represented by a linked list with links between entries in the linked list representing relationships among the one or more entities. 
     
     
         7 . A method comprising:
 obtaining information about a first characteristic of one or more entities related to a first entity;   calculating one or more characteristic values for the first characteristic of the one or more entities related to the first entity; and   assigning a first rating to the first entity based on the one or more characteristic values for the first characteristic of the one or more entities related to the first entity.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 obtaining information about a second characteristic of a first entity;   calculating a characteristic value for the second characteristic of the first entity; and   assigning a second rating to the first entity based on the characteristic value for the second characteristic of the first entity.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the first characteristic and the second characteristic are identical. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the first characteristic is a skill. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the first characteristic is an area of expertise. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the first characteristic is trustworthiness. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more entities related to the first entity are related via the first entity recommending the one or more entities for acceptance into a network. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein relationships between the first entity and the one or more entities are represented as an n-ary tree. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the first entity was accepted into the network without a recommendation from another entity. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first entity is represented as a root of the n-ary tree. 
     
     
         17 . 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:
 obtaining information about a first characteristic of one or more entities related to a first entity;   calculating one or more characteristic values for the first characteristic of the one or more entities related to the first entity; and   assigning a first rating to the first entity based on the one or more characteristic values for the first characteristic of the one or more entities related to the first entity.   
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 obtaining information about a second characteristic of a first entity;   calculating a characteristic value for the second characteristic of the first entity; and   assigning a second rating to the first entity based on the characteristic value for the second characteristic of the first entity.   
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of  claim 17 , wherein the first characteristic is honesty. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of  claim 17 , wherein the first characteristic is quality of a product provided by the first entity.