Method and apparatus for group filtered reports

Abstract

Systems and corresponding methods are provided that, in at least one embodiment, includes the act or acts of receiving a plurality of first representations; receiving a second representation of a first user; determining at least one group to which the first user belongs; determining at least one set of members of the at least one group; and filtering the plurality of first representations based, at least in part, on the at least one set of members. Each first representation represents a respective report.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . An apparatus, comprising:
 at least one processor;   a network interface in communicative connection with a network; and   a memory storing interrelationships between a plurality of registered users, and one or more instructions,   wherein the one or more instructions are executable by the at least one processor to cause the apparatus to:
 receive, via the network interface, a plurality of orders generated by a plurality of remote devices each associated with at least some of the plurality of registered users; 
 monitor delivery timing for each of the plurality of orders by a plurality of delivery service providers; 
 receive from the plurality of remote devices, via the network interface, a plurality of evaluations, each indicating a positive review or negative review for a respective delivery service provider as generated, respectively, by users from among the plurality of registered users; 
 store, in the memory, the plurality of evaluations in association with the respective users; 
 receive, via the network interface, a first order generated by a first user of the plurality of registered users; 
 determine a group of users from among the plurality of registered users that are associated with the first user based on the stored interrelationships up to a first degree of social separation, and retrieve a subset of evaluations associated with the group of users from among the plurality of evaluations; and 
 for each report of the subset of evaluations, assign a numeric social distance identifier indicating a relationship weight between the first user and each author of each of the subset of evaluations, 
 wherein a maximum numeric social distance identifier is assigned to reports from the subset originating from closest members of the group of users to the first user, and a lesser numeric social distance identifier less than the maximum is assigned to reports from the subset originating from members of the group of users relatively further from the first user than the closest members. 
   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more instructions are further executable by the at least one processor to:
 receive, via the network interface, a request from one or more members of the group, to add one or more chosen reporters to the group who are outside the first degree of social separation from the first user.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the numeric social distance identifier is set as zero for the one or more chosen reporters outside the first degree of social separation from the first user. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more instructions are further executable by the at least one processor to:
 sort the subset of evaluations based on respective degrees of recommendation, wherein the subset of evaluations is each displayed in a list arranged according to the respective degrees of recommendation, and including display of respective numeric social distance identifiers.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the one or more instructions are further executable by the at least one processor to:
 determine a recommended delivery service provider from among the plurality of delivery service providers, based on a quantity of positive reports in the subset of evaluations.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein displaying the list includes display of identification of the determined recommended delivery service provider. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the one or more instructions are further executable by the at least one processor to:
 receive from the first user, via the network, a request to purchase a service provided by the recommended delivery service provider for fulfillment of the first order; and   execute a purchase on behalf of the first user of the service provided by the determined recommended delivery service provider.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of evaluations each include a written description of a quality of experience with a respective delivery service provider from among the plurality of delivery service providers. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of evaluations each indicates a ranking of a quality of experience with a respective delivery service provider from among the plurality of delivery service providers. 
     
     
         11 . A method in an electronic device, comprising:
 storing, in a memory, interrelationships between a plurality of registered users;   receiving, via a network interface, a plurality of orders generated by a plurality of remote devices each associated with at least some of the plurality of registered users;   monitoring, via a processor, delivery timing for each of the plurality of orders by a plurality of delivery service providers;   receiving from the plurality of remote devices, via the network interface, a plurality of evaluations, each indicating a positive review or negative review for a respective delivery service provider as generated, respectively, by users from among the plurality of registered users;   storing, in a memory, the plurality of evaluations in association with the respective users;   receiving, via the network interface, a first order generated by a first user of the plurality of registered users;   determining, via the processor, a group of users from among the plurality of registered users that are associated with the first user based on the stored interrelationships up to a first degree of social separation, and retrieving a subset of evaluations associated with the group of users from among the plurality of evaluations; and   for each report of the subset of evaluations, assigning, via the processor, a numeric social distance identifier indicating a relationship weight between the first user and each author of each of the subset of evaluations,   wherein a maximum numeric social distance identifier is assigned to reports from the subset originating from closest members of the group of users to the first user, and a lesser numeric social distance identifier less than the maximum is assigned to reports from the subset originating from members of the group of users relatively further from the first user than the closest members.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 receiving, via the network interface, a request from one or more members of the group, to add one or more chosen reporters to the group who are outside the first degree of social separation from the first user.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the numeric social distance identifier is set as zero for the one or more chosen reporters outside the first degree of social separation from the first user. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 sorting, via the processor, the subset of evaluations based on respective degrees of recommendation, wherein the subset of evaluations is each displayed in a list arranged according to the respective degrees of recommendation, and including display of respective numeric social distance identifiers.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 determining, via the processor, a recommended delivery service provider from among the plurality of delivery service providers, based on a quantity of positive reports in the subset of evaluations.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein displaying the list includes display of identification of the determined recommended delivery service provider. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 receiving from the first user, via the network, a request to purchase a service provided by the recommended delivery service provider for fulfillment of the first order; and   executing, via the processor, a purchase on behalf of the first user of the service provided by the determined recommended delivery service provider.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of evaluations each include a written description of a quality of experience with a respective delivery service provider from among the plurality of delivery service providers. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of evaluations each indicates a ranking of a quality of experience with a respective delivery service provider from among the plurality of delivery service providers. 
     
     
         20 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium: storing instructions thereon that are executable by at least one processor, to cause an electronic device to:
 store, in a memory, interrelationships between a plurality of registered users;   receive, via a network interface, a plurality of orders generated by a plurality of remote devices each associated with at least some of the plurality of registered users;   monitor, via a processor, delivery timing for each of the plurality of orders by a plurality of delivery service providers;   receive from the plurality of remote devices, via the network interface, a plurality of evaluations, each indicating a positive review or negative review for a respective delivery service provider as generated, respectively, by users from among the plurality of registered users;   store, in the memory, the plurality of evaluations in association with the respective users;   receive, via the network interface, a first order generated by a first user of the plurality of registered users;   determine a group of users from among the plurality of registered users that are associated with the first user based on the stored interrelationships up to a first degree of social separation, and retrieve a subset of evaluations associated with the group of users from among the plurality of evaluations; and   for each report of the subset of evaluations, assign a numeric social distance identifier indicating a relationship weight between the first user and each author of each of the subset of evaluations,   wherein a maximum numeric social distance identifier is assigned to reports from the subset originating from closest members of the group of users to the first user, and a lesser numeric social distance identifier less than the maximum is assigned to reports from the subset originating from members of the group of users relatively further from the first user than the closest members.