System for creating and method for providing a news feed website and application

Abstract

A method for providing a news feed website and application. The method comprises the steps of receiving and storing a list of data sources, subject matter channels, and keywords in a database. The application assigns at least one subject matter channel to each keyword, at least one subject matter channel to each data source, and provides a keyword searcher. The keyword searcher searches the listed data sources for news articles containing at least one of the keywords. A graphical news feed containing the news articles found in the searching step is transmitted to a user. The website and application receives input from the user to modify the list of data sources, and the list of subject matter channels, and updates the list of data sources the list of subject matter channels in a database based on the input received from the user.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A method comprising the steps of receiving and storing a list of name keywords in a database, wherein each name keyword from the list of name keywords is created by an administrator using a name keyword definition interface, wherein:
 a) the name keyword definition interface is operable by the administrator when defining a new or existing name keyword to:
 i) identify a set of additional words and phrases as associated with the new or existing name keyword; 
 ii) identify a threshold requirement for elements of the set of additional words and phrases appearing in an article for that article to be treated as matching the new or existing name keyword; and 
 iii) identify a set of exclusion words and phrases for determining that articles containing those words and phrases do not match the new or existing name keyword; 
   b) the name keyword definition interface is further operable by the administrator when defining the new or existing name keyword to identify whether selection of an article identified as matching the new or existing name keyword should trigger display of a list of products for sale; and   c) the method further comprises in response to receiving an input indicating selection of an article from the graphical news feed by the user, providing a list of products for sale related to a name keyword which the article was determined to match when it was stored in the archives database, wherein each product from the list of products is created by the administrator using a product definition interface.   
     
     
         2 . A method for providing a news feed website and application comprising the steps of:
 a) maintaining a list of subject matter channels, wherein each subject matter channel of the list of subject matter channels comprises a subject matter channel description;   b) maintaining a list of data sources, wherein each data source from the list of data sources comprises a source location and a first subject matter channel association;   c) maintaining a list of keywords, wherein each keyword of the list of keywords comprises a set of boolean criteria and a second subject matter channel association;   d) accessing web content at the source location specified by the list of data sources and storing the web content in an archive;   e) associating the web content with a first subject matter channel based upon the first subject matter channel association of the data source from which the web content originated;   f) associating the web content with a second subject matter channel based upon the second subject matter channel association of the keyword of the set of boolean criteria for which the web content evaluates as true; and   g) causing the web content to display on a user device in response to a request from the user device for a set of web content associated with one or more of the first subject matter channel and the second subject matter channel.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein each subject matter channel is associated with a color, and wherein displaying the web content further comprises the step of displaying the web content proximate to the color associated with the subject matter channel associated with the web content. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein storing the web content in the archive further comprises the steps of:
 a) maintaining a set of exclusion keywords for each data source of the list of data sources;   b) evaluating the web content at the source location and determining if it contains any excluded keyword from the set of exclusion keywords; and   c) when the web content does not contain any excluded keyword, retrieve a set of images associated with the web content and add the web content and the set of images to the archive.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein storing the web content in the archive further comprises the steps of:
 a) querying a link checked database to determine if the article has previously been processed;   b) where the web content has been previously processed, discard it;   c) where the web content has not been previously processed, retrieve a set of images associated with the web content and add the web content and the set of images to the archive; and   d) add a record to the link checked database indicating that the web content has been previously processed.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising the step of receiving a set of individual profile information, and wherein the request from the user device for the set of web content is based upon one or more pieces of individual profile information from the set of individual profile information. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein:
 a) maintaining the list of subject matter channels further comprises the steps of receiving, from the user device, a new subject matter channel and adding the new subject matter channel to the list of subject matter channels;   b) maintaining the list of data sources further comprises the steps of receiving, from the user device, a new data source and adding the new data source to the list of data sources;   c) maintaining the list of keywords further comprises the steps of receiving, from the user device, a new keyword and adding the new keyword to the list of keywords; and   d) the method further comprising, in response to receiving the new keyword, associating an archived web content with a subject matter channel that is associated with the new keyword when the archived web content evaluates as true for the set of boolean criteria of the new keyword.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein a second user device displays a set of user organized web content, the set of user organized web content comprising:
 a) web content associated with the new subject matter channel; or   b) web content originating from the new data source.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein displaying the web content further comprises the steps of:
 a) causing the user device to display a like button and a dislike button proximate to the web content;   b) in response to receiving from the user device an indication that the like button was pressed and a set of like information indicating why the like button was pressed, causing the user device to display a related web content; and   c) in response to receiving from the user device an indication that the dislike button was pressed and a set of dislike information indicating why the dislike button was pressed, preventing the user device from displaying the related web content.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein:
 a) the set of like information comprises an indication that the user liked one or more of the author of the web content, the subject matter of the web content, or the data source of the web content;   b) the set of dislike information comprises an indication that the user disliked one or more of the author of the web content, the subject matter of the web content, or the data source of the web content;   c) the related web content shares with the web content at least one of the author, the subject matter, or the data source.