Patent Application
20090018925
This disclosure relates generally to the technical field of communications, and in one embodiment, to a method and system of holiday commerce and holiday expressions in a geo-spatial environment.
Holidays, both national and cultural, are typically associated with observances, activities, symbols, and/or decorations. Observers of a particular holiday may spend a great deal of time preparing for the holiday. For example, observers of the holiday may organize and/or schedule activities for the holiday, prepare food and drink for the holiday, purchase and display decorations related to the holiday, exchange gifts associated with the holiday, visit family and/or friends etc.
Holiday decorations allow observers of a holiday to express themselves as well as the spirit of the holiday. In addition, holiday decorations may be displayed in a variety of public and/or private settings. For example, Christmas decorations may include private presents and cards to others, semi-private trees and ornaments displayed inside a person's home, publicly displayed lights and/or other house decorations. Some holidays, such as Christmas and Halloween, are associated with a variety of public decorations and may prompt recognition and viewing of the decorations in the form of contests, tours, etc.
Holiday decorations may be purchased from retailers. For example, a customer may purchase a Christmas tree from a store or place an order online. Alternatively, holiday decorations may be created and/or assembled from materials obtained from one or more retailers. For example, a Halloween jack-o'-lantern may be created by carving a pumpkin purchased from a store, farm, etc. Because decorations and associated materials for different holidays may be stocked by different retailers, consumers may have difficulty purchasing decorations and associated materials for a given holiday.
In addition, people may have difficulty locating places with prominent decorations associated with a certain holiday. For example, residents of an area may try to locate the best Christmas displays in the area. However, resources such as the Internet may only list Christmas displays in public areas, such as squares or parks, instead of prominent displays located in residential neighborhoods. As a result, residents and/or visitors may be unable to locate elaborate holiday decorations in a neighborhood without physically traveling through the neighborhood themselves.
A method and system of holiday commerce and holiday expressions in a geo-spatial environment are disclosed. In one aspect, a method of organizing a community network includes obtaining member data associated with a member of the community network, determining a location of the member based on the member data, storing the member data in a member repository, obtaining a selection of an occasion from the member, displaying a plurality of decoration options associated with the occasion to the member, obtaining a purchase selection of one of the decoration options from the member, and displaying a decoration representation associated with the one of the decoration options at the location on a geo-spatial map.
The method may further include obtaining a residence representation (e.g., based on a residence type) associated with the member, and displaying the residence representation (e.g., may include an image of a residence) at the location on the geo-spatial map. The method may also include delivering a decoration associated with the one of the decoration options to the member. The method may yet include displaying the location on a walking map associated with the occasion.
In another aspect, a community network includes a member repository including a plurality of members, a geo-spatial repository including a plurality of locations on a geo-spatial map, and a member management module configured to obtain member data (e.g., may include one of the locations) associated with each of the members.
The community network further includes a commerce module configured to obtain a selection of an occasion (e.g., may include a national holiday, a cultural holiday, a religious holiday, a secular holiday, an event, and/or a celebration, etc.) from one of the members, display a plurality of decoration options associated with the occasion to the one of the members, obtain a purchase selection of one of the decoration option from the one of the members, and display a decoration representation associated with the one of the decoration options at the one of the locations associated with the one of the members on the geo-spatial map.
In addition, the commerce module may be configured to obtain a residence representation (e.g., based on a residence type) associated with the one of the members, and display the residence representation (e.g., may include an image of a residence) at the one of the locations on the geo-spatial map.
The commerce module may be further configured to deliver a decoration associated with the one of the decoration options to the one of the members. The commerce module may also be configured to display the one of the locations on a walking map associated with the occasion.
In yet another aspect, a method of making a purchase includes selecting a location, selecting an occasion (e.g., a national holiday, a cultural holiday, a religious holiday, a secular holiday, an event, and/or a celebration, etc.), purchasing a decoration associated with the occasion, viewing a decoration representation associated with the decoration at the location on a geo-spatial map, and receiving a delivery of the decoration. The decoration may be delivered using a postal service and/or a delivery service, etc.
The method may further include selecting a residence representation (e.g., may include an image of a residence), and viewing the residence representation at the location on the geo-spatial map. In addition, the method may include receiving a walking map associated with the occasion including the location.
The methods, systems, and apparatuses disclosed herein may be implemented in any means for achieving various aspects, and may be executed in a form of a machine-readable medium embodying a set of instructions that, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform any of the operations disclosed herein. Other features will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and from the detailed description that follows.
Example embodiments are illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references indicate similar elements and in which:
Other features of the present embodiments will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and from the detailed description that follows.
A method and system of holiday commerce and holiday expressions in a geo-spatial environment are disclosed. In the following description, for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the various embodiments. It will be evident, however, to one skilled in the art that the various embodiments may be practiced without these specific details.
In one embodiment, a method of organizing a community network (e.g., the community network 100 of
In another embodiment, a community network (e.g., the community network 100 of
In yet another embodiment, a method of making a purchase includes selecting a location, selecting an occasion, purchasing a decoration (e.g., through the commerce module 112 of
The community network 100 may be a network formed by association of the members 104A-N having user profiles in the community 102. The user profiles may include information such as a name, an address, a contact information (e.g., phone number, email address, etc.), a picture, and/or other personal information. The community 102 may be a group of members 104A-N residing in a specific region. For example, the specific region may be a local neighborhood, a suburb, a village, a city, a county, a state, a nation, and/or a group of nations, etc.
The members 104A-N may include persons, businesses and/or organizations associated with specific geographic locations in the community 102. In an alternate embodiment, the members 104A-N may reside in multiple regions (e.g., multiple cities, states, countries, etc.). The members 104A-N may be connected through the community network 100, which may be accessible using network connection.
The member repository 106 may be database containing member data associated with the members 104A-N of the community 102. The geo-spatial repository 108 may be a database containing location information of the members 104A-N. In one example embodiment, locations associated with the members 104A-N may be obtained based on the member data stored in the member repository 106.
The member management module 110 may obtain member data associated with the members 104A-N of the community 102. For example, the member data may include a name, age, profession, location and/or address data associated with the members 104A-N. The member data may be displayed in the user profiles of the members 104A-N. The commerce module 112 may enable the members 104A-N of the community 102 to make a purchase of decorations associated with an occasion. For example, decorations associated with Christmas may include Christmas trees, garlands, Christmas stars, etc. and decorations associated with Halloween may include pumpkin carvings, turnip carvings, ghosts, etc.
In one example embodiment, the commerce module 112 may obtain a selection of the occasion from the members 104A-N. For example, the occasion may include a national holiday, a cultural holiday, a religious holiday, a secular holiday, an event, and/or a celebration, etc. A number of decoration options may be displayed on a geo-spatial map (e.g., the geo-spatial map 200 of
In addition, the commerce module 112 may enable the members 104A-N to select desired decoration options. Further, the commerce module 112 may display decoration representations (e.g., the decoration representations 1402, 2404, 3406 and 4408 of
Alternatively, the commerce module 112 may obtain a residence representation (e.g., the residence representation 208 of
In accordance with one or more embodiments, member data (e.g., age, gender, profession, address data, etc.) associated with a member 104 of the community network 100 may be obtained (e.g., through the member management module 110 of
The location may be displayed on a walking map associated with the occasion. For example, a walking map may be a geo-spatial map with routes that allow members 104A-N to explore neighborhoods and/or larger areas by navigating. The walking map may also display the decoration representations (e.g., pumpkin carvings, Christmas trees, garlands, etc.) simultaneously with the residence representation 208 associated with the occasion (e.g., Halloween, Christmas, Thanksgiving, etc.).
The member repository 106 may include a number of members 104A-N and the geo-spatial repository 108 may include a number of locations on the geo-spatial map 200. The member management module 110 may be configured to obtain the member data (e.g., may include a number of locations) associated with each of the members 104A-N. The commerce module 112 may be configured to obtain a selection of an occasion (e.g., a national holiday, a cultural holiday, a religious holiday, a secular holiday, an event and/or a celebration, etc.) from a member 104, display decoration options associated with the occasion to the member 104, obtain a purchase selection of the decoration options from the member 104, and display a decoration representation (e.g., the decoration representations 1402, 2404, 3406 and 4408 of
The commerce module 112 may be further configured to obtain a residence representation 208 associated with the member 104 and display the residence representation 208 (e.g., an image of a residence) at the locations on the geo-spatial map 200. For example, the residence representation 208 may be based on a residence type. The commerce module 112 may also be configured to deliver a decoration associated with the decoration options to the member 104. In addition, the commerce module 112 may be configured to display the location on a walking map associated with the occasion.
The geo-spatial map 200 may display decoration representations in conjunction with the residence representation 208 at a location associated with the member 104. For example, the location may be obtained based on the member data associated with the members. The profile block 202 may display profile details associated with the residence representation 208 on the geo-spatial map 200. For example, the profile details may include name address data, location data, etc. of residents associated with the residence representation 208. The select an upcoming occasion option 204 may enable the members 104A-N of the community network 100 to select a desired occasion (e.g., a national holiday, a cultural holiday, a religious holiday, a secular holiday, an event, and/or a celebration, etc). For example, the occasion may be selected to purchase decorations associated with the occasion.
The purchase decorations for a special occasion link 206 may enable the members 104A-N to buy decorations for an upcoming occasion (e.g., displayed in the select an upcoming occasion option 204). The residence representation 208 may be a representation of a physical structure associated with a member 104 on the geo-spatial map 200. For example, the residence representation 208 may be an image of the physical structure displayed in conjunction with the decorations purchased by the member 104 of the community network 100.
In the example embodiment illustrated in
For example, a location may be selected. The residence representation 208 (e.g., an image of a residence) may be selected and viewed at the location on the geo-spatial map 200. A selection of an occasion may be obtained (e.g., using the select an upcoming occasion option 204 of
The purchase Halloween decorations link 300 may enable the members 104A-N of the community network 100 to purchase Halloween decorations from the decoration options. For example, the Halloween decorations may include pumpkins, ghosts, scarecrow and/or broomsticks, etc. The select the number of Halloween decorations option 302 may enable the members 104A-N to select the number of Halloween decorations that the members 104A-N wish to purchase.
In the example embodiment illustrated in
For example, the decoration options associated with the occasion may also be displayed to the member 104 and a purchase selection of the decoration options may be obtained from the member 104 (e.g., through the purchase Halloween decorations link 300).
The block 400 may display delivery status of the decorations purchased by a member 104 of the community network 100. For example, the delivery status may include the number of the decorations delivered to the member 104. The decoration representations 1402, 2404, 3406 and 4408 may be representations of the purchased decorations displayed in conjunction with the residence representation 208 on the geo-spatial map 200. The your Halloween decorations have been delivered link 410 may enable the members 104A-N to view delivery details associated with the purchase of decorations. For example, the delivery details may include a location and/or an address of the member 104, number of decorations, date of delivery, transaction details(e.g., may include financial transactions, physical transactions, etc.) associated with the decorations.
In the example embodiment illustrated in
In one example embodiment, a decoration associated with the occasion may be purchased. The decoration representations 1402, 2404, 3406 and 4408 associated with the decoration may be viewed at a location on the geo-spatial map 200 and a delivery of the decoration may be received by the member 104. In another example embodiment, a decoration associated with the decoration options may be delivered through a postal service, a courier service and/or a delivery service, etc. to the member 104.
The member 500 may be an individual in the community network 100. The first name block 502 may display first name associated with the member 500. The last name block 504 may display last name associated with the member 500. The location block 506 may display address data associated with the member 500. The location block 506 may also be associated with a latitude, a longitude and an altitude. The profile block 508 may display profile details associated with the member 500. For example, the profile details may include age, gender, profession, hobbies, and/or other personal information.
The residence type block 510 may display type of residence associated with the member 500 of the community network 100. For example, the types of residences associated with the members 104A-N may include a bungalow, a mansion, an apartment, a flat, a colonial house, and/or a cottage, etc. The residence representation block 512 may display various representations of residences associated with the members 104A-N. For example, the residence representation may be an image, a picture, an illustration, a reflection, etc. of a residence displayed on the geo-spatial map 200.
The decorations block 514 may display decorations associated with occasions. For example, decorations associated with Christmas may include Christmas tree, garlands, and/or Christmas star, etc. and decorations associated with Halloween may include pumpkin carvings, turnip carvings, and/or ghosts, etc. The decoration representations block 516 may display various representations of decorations associated with the occasions. For example, the decoration representations may include a depiction, an illustration, and/or an icon, etc.
In the example embodiment illustrated in
In operation 606, a residence type and representation is determined based on the member data. In one example embodiment, the residence type may include a bungalow, a mansion, an apartment, a flat, a colonial house, and/or a cottage, etc. The residence representation may be an image of a residence, business, and/or civic structure etc. In operation 608, the member data is stored in a member repository (e.g., the member repository 106 of
In operation 610, a determination is made whether to offer decorations to the member 104. If the decorations are not to be offered to the member 104, the process of making a purchase may terminate. In operation 612, a selection of the occasion is obtained from the member 104 (e.g., using the commerce module 112 of
In operation 614, decoration options associated with the occasion are displayed (e.g., as illustrated in Halloween decorations option 302 of
The purchase selection may include specifying number of decorations to be displayed. In operation 618, the residence representation (e.g., may include an image of a residence) and decoration representations (e.g., may include image of pumpkins, broomsticks, and/or scarecrows, etc.) are displayed on the geo-spatial map 200. In operation 620, the decorations are delivered (e.g., using the commerce module 112 of
The decorations (e.g., purchased by the member 104) may be delivered through a postal service, courier service, and/or delivery service, etc. In operation 622, a condition is checked whether the purchase associated with the member is completed or not. In one example embodiment, if the purchase is completed, the process may be terminated, else the process of obtaining a selection of an occasion from the member (e.g., as illustrated in operation 612) may be performed.
In operation 706, the occasion is selected (e.g., using the commerce module 112 of
In operation 710, the residence representation and decoration representations are viewed on the geo-spatial map 200. For example, decoration representations (e.g., of the purchased decorations) may be displayed in conjunction with the residence representation 208 on the geo-spatial map 200 (e.g., as illustrated in
The diagrammatic system view 800 may indicate a personal computer and/or a data processing system in which one or more operations disclosed herein are performed. The processor 802 may be microprocessor, a state machine, an application specific integrated circuit, a field programmable gate array, etc. (e.g., Intel® Pentium® processor). The main memory 804 may be a dynamic random access memory and/or a primary memory of a computer system.
The static memory 806 may be a hard drive, a flash drive, and/or other memory information associated with the data processing system. The bus 808 may be an interconnection between various circuits and/or structures of the data processing system. The video display 810 may provide graphical representation of information on the data processing system. The alpha-numeric input device 812 may be a keypad, keyboard and/or any other input device of text (e.g., special device to aid the physically handicapped). The cursor control device 814 may be a pointing device such as a mouse.
The drive unit 816 may be the hard drive, a storage system, and/or other longer term storage subsystem. The signal generation device 818 may be a bios and/or a functional operating system of the data processing system. The network interface device 820 may be a device that may perform interface functions such as code conversion, protocol conversion and/or buffering required for communication to and from a network.
The machine readable medium 822 may provide instructions on which any of the methods disclosed herein may be performed. The instructions 824 may provide source code and/or data code to the processor 802 to enable any one or more operations disclosed herein.
In operation 908, a selection of an occasion may be obtained (e.g., through the commerce module 112 of
In operation 918, the residence representation 208 may be displayed (e.g., using the commerce module 112 of
In operation 1006, a decoration associated with the occasion may be purchased (e.g., using the commerce module 112 of
In operation 1012, a residence representation (e.g., an image of a residence, business, and/or civic structure, etc.) may be selected. In operation 1014, the residence representation 208 may be viewed (e.g., using the commerce module 112 of
Although the present embodiments have been described with reference to specific example embodiments, it will be evident that various modifications and changes may be made to these embodiments without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the various embodiments. For example, the various devices, modules, analyzers, generators, etc. described herein may be enabled and operated using hardware circuitry (e.g., CMOS based logic circuitry), firmware, software and/or any combination of hardware, firmware, and/or software (e.g., embodied in a machine readable medium).
For example, the various electrical structure and methods may be embodied using transistors, logic gates, and electrical circuits (e.g., Application Specific Integrated Circuitry (ASIC) and/or in Digital Signal Processor (DSP) circuitry). For example, the member management module 110, the commerce module 112, and other modules of
In addition, it will be appreciated that the various operations, processes, and methods disclosed herein may be embodied in a machine-readable medium and/or a machine accessible medium compatible with a data processing system (e.g., a computer system), and may be performed in any order. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.
