APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CREATING MODERATED FORUMS

摘要

A method of creating forums in a system of computers includes the maintenance of a forum list by a forum controller. Each participant in each forum in the system of computers is encoded in the forum list. When a user creates a forum, the forum is added to the forum list by the forum controller. Any user in the system may create a forum. Forums may be designated as public or private and may be password protected. Forums may also be designated as moderated or unmoderated. Some participants in moderated forums can evict or ban other participants from the forum. Some participants in moderated forums determine which participants will have a right to speak. Forums designated controlled forums limit the maximum number of participant who may speak at any time.