System and method for facilitating posting of public and private user comments at a web site

Abstract

A software system and method that allows web site operators to adapt web pages for posting of public and private user comments. An administrator accesses a web site to enter data for creating reader comment areas. HTML code for the reader comment areas is generated for insertion into web pages. When the web page containing the code is posted to a web site, the code results in a reader comment display page where web site visitors can comment on the content of the particular web page where the reader comment area appears. Comments are saved at a remote web site accessible to the administrator. The administrator may review and manage the reader comments. A reader who makes a comment on a web page has the option of creating a personal journal comprising all comments entered by the reader at any web page enabled according to the invention.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computerized method to enable a user to create journal entries of selective interactions with web pages hosted at network accessible web site servers, the method comprising the actions of:
 incorporating a reader interaction function within a first web page hosted at a first network accessible web site server;   receiving an actuation of the reader interaction function by a user accessing the first web page;   in response to receiving the actuation, sending data identifying the first web page to a remote second web site server, said data being stored in a database separate from said first web site server;   displaying within a second web page, information based on the data identifying the first web page thus indicating that the reader interaction function has been actuated for that first web page;   providing an option for the user to control who can view the information.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the action of receiving an actuation of the reader interaction function further comprises the first web site server receiving a comment provided by the entity; and
 the action of sending data comprises sending the comment.   
     
     
         3 . A computerized method for receiving and managing data provided by an entity and that is provided in association with at least a portion of the content of a web page, the computerized method comprising:
 a first web site server displaying a first publicly accessible web page comprising a user interaction function associated with at least a portion of the content of the first web page;   the first web site server receiving data indicating an actuation of the user interaction function by an entity interfacing with the first web page;   the first web site server associating the received data with the first web page;   sending the data associated with the first web page to a remote second web site server such that the data can be stored at the remote second web site server within a database that is remote from the first web site server and then rendered on a display of a system accessing a second publicly accessible web page hosted by the second web site server; and   providing an option for the user to control who can view the information.   
     
     
         4 . The computerized method of  claim 3 , wherein the action of the first web site server receiving data indicating an actuation of the user interaction function further comprises receiving a comment sourced by the user and, the first web site server including the comment when sending the data. 
     
     
         5 . The computerized method of  claim 4 , wherein the action of the first web site server receiving data indicating an actuation of the user interaction function further comprises receiving an indication that the comment is private. 
     
     
         6 . A computerized method for receiving and managing reader interactions associated with at least a portion of the content rendered for a first publicly accessible web page, wherein a first web site server renders the first publicly accessible web page and modifies the first publicly accessible web page to include a reader interaction function, the reader interaction function being configured to receive data in conjunction with an actuation of the reader interaction function, the data being provided by a reader of the first publicly accessible web page displayed by the first web site server, the method comprising the actions of;
 receiving at a remote second web site server data sent from the first web site server, the data including an indication of the at least a portion of the content rendered for the first publicly accessible web page, the data being transferred upon said user actuating the reader interaction function;   storing the data at the remote second web site server, using a database that is remote from the first web site server the data;   providing access to the stored data received from the first web site server to a second publicly accessible web page for display within the second publicly accessible web page; and   providing an option for the reader to control who can view the data.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the action of receiving an actuation of the reader interaction function further comprises the first web site server receiving a comment provided by the entity; and
 the action of sending data comprises sending the comment without converting the comment to or from an instant message.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising the action of rendering the reader interaction function along with the content of first web page such that a user can view the reader interaction function along with the first web page. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the user can directly place additional content into the second publicly accessible web page for display. 
     
     
         10 . A computerized method for allowing interaction with a web page hosted at a first web site server, the method comprising the actions of:
 incorporating code within a first web page hosted at the first web site server, said code providing a reader interaction function within the first web page and being incorporated by the first web site server along with the first web page;   receiving an actuation of the reader interaction function by an entity accessing the first web page;   in response to receiving the actuation, sending data identifying the first web page to a remote second web site server, said data being stored in a database separate from said first web site server;   displaying within a second web page, information based on the data identifying the first web page thus indicating that the reader interaction function has been actuated for that first web page, the information being displayed without any connection to any other content; and   receiving additional content from the reader and displaying the additional content within the second web page.   
     
     
         11 . The computerized method of  claim 10 , wherein the additional content comprises text. 
     
     
         12 . The computerized method of  claim 10 , wherein the additional content comprises audio. 
     
     
         13 . The computerized method of  claim 10 , wherein the additional content comprise video.