The present patent application claims the benefits of priority of commonly assigned Canadian Patent Application No. 2,565,757, entitled “System for Linking Real Entities to Virtual Entities Thereof” and filed at the Canadian Patent Office on Oct. 26, 2006.
The present invention generally relates to interactive systems and methods for networking and for transmission of information relating to events and/or users, real and/or virtual.
Since the rise of the now ubiquitous Internet, people have started to interact more and more online with each other via functionalities such as e-mail, chat, instant messaging and videoconferencing. Using the Internet as a means to connect with others, some people have started to create a virtual character or identity of themselves.
Moreover, with the progress of networking, computer and graphical processing technologies, it has now become possible to push the level realism to new heights. Hence, Internet users can now even create graphical representations of themselves in the form of virtual avatars. Then, via their avatars, people can interact with others in virtual environments (sometimes referred to as virtual worlds) and/or massively multiplayer role playing games. In these virtual worlds, the avatars can interact with each other and/or with objects as if in the real world. Still, other less realistic forms of avatar or virtual representation are also possible.
However, the avatars that people create of themselves in these virtual environments are generally physically and electronically disconnected from their real life counterparts. Though this dichotomy between their real selves and their virtual avatars is sometimes wished for, it remains that for a lot of people, continuity between the real world and the virtual world(s) in which they evolve via their avatar(s) would be interesting and even beneficial.
Spectator events have become a multibillion dollar a year business throughout the world. Rather than merely watching events on television or on a computer, fans are willing to attend such events live in order to enjoy the spontaneity and excitement. However, the opportunities for audience participation and useful or meaningful audience feedback are limited.
Further, participants in events are becoming more and more accustomed to interactivity from their use of computer games to interact in various ways. Accordingly, in order to continue attracting participants to attend these large venues, operators have an incentive to provide participants with an enhanced experience.
The participants also desire to express opinions concerning facilities, sponsors, management and concessions. Being able to voice an opinion would enhance the overall experience. Also, this kind of information can be useful to management by helping it determine the kind of services that participants desire.
There is thus a need for a system and method which obviates the aforementioned shortcomings.
Accordingly, a prime object of the present invention is to provide a system and method which allows users and/or event operators and/or event sponsors to share information between themselves and the members of the real life and/or virtual communities to which they are associated in order to create a certain continuity therebetween.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a system which allows an event operator and sponsors associated thereto to use information gathered by participants in future communications with such participants.
Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention will be obvious upon an understanding of the illustrative embodiments about to be described or will be indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages not referred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice.
The system of the present invention can be advantageously implemented on the Internet or other public or private networks. Accordingly, the system of the present invention preferably comprises a plurality of servers linked to Internet servers whereby information can easily be transferred form one server to another and whereby user and event databases can easily be remotely accessed. The servers preferably comprise databases, distributed or centralized, onto which information about users and events is stored.
The system of the present invention provides means to create communities based on the actions and the participation of users in events, virtual or real. A dynamic profile is created for each user.
Entities Using the System
The system may be used by different entities: users, sponsors and operators. The sponsors are the ones that want to interact with users as a function of their profiles and their membership in certain communities. The operators are the ones that use/operate the system of the present invention. A sponsor may be an operator, but the operator may be an intermediary that uses the system to execute the interaction between the users and the sponsors.
Infrastructure
To operate the system, the system of the present invention preferably comprises a main server, an event server and a wireless network-enabled device of a user. The same computer is preferably used to provide a wireless access on the site of an event and to provide the data related to the event to the users participating in the event.
An event server has all the information related to the corresponding event and the main server has all the user and other information that need to be spread over the network. The main server generally comprises the following items:
The main server is also used to maintain a central information database and to manage activities, such as:
Events
During a real life event, a local network, preferably an ad hoc mobile wireless network covering the site where the event, is setup to provide a wireless access, and to send data related to the event to users located on the site. An event server is also used to store data relating to the event, including data relating to event sponsor(s) and their products and services. It is then possible for the user who has agreed to receive data to get messages, applications or information on this specific event, the products and services of the sponsors on his mobile communication device. Some of the wireless network nodes may be transported by a person that can interact with users with interactive means. Wireless nodes can also be integrated in stands or kiosks comprising or not a computer having means to interact with users, such as a touch screen, keyboard, mouse, etc. . . .
According to an aspect of the invention, if an event, real life or virtual, becomes available to users, a notification message may be transmitted to all the users or to a subset thereof as a function of the preferences of such subset of users. The notification message may include information about the event (e.g., where, when, duration, type of activity, participants, interests, etc . . . ). Based on the information included in the notification message, a user may choose to participate in the event. Notification messages are advantageous in that they enable information about the event to be viewed before the full media content of the messages is retrieved.
Following the agreement of the user to receive information related to this event, the user may be asked to subscribe to a community relevant to the event (subject matter, type, sponsor, participant profile, etc . . . ). The profile of the user is then updated and the user may receive invitations to other similar real life or virtual events. He may also receive surveys, questionnaires or product/service offers preferably associated with rewards (gifts, points, discount coupons, money, . . . ).
Profile
For a user, the first step is to create an account or a profile in the global community. This account will include identification information about the user and is stored in a main database located on a main server. Such information preferably also includes particulars of his/her product/service preferences, age, sex, and other useful information. Understandably, the account could contain more or less information. The profile will also contain historical information about user's participation in events and surveys, products/services purchases and software applications used by the user. Finally, in order to facilitate access to the main database and to event databases by the user, the account is most preferably provided with information about a least one electronic, and preferably handheld, wireless network-enabled device that the user usually uses and even carries with him/her. For example, the wireless network-enabled device could be a cellular phone or a pocket PC or other personal digital assistant (PDA). The wireless network-enabled device should preferably be enabled to use a freely accessible bandwidth such as WI-FI, Zigbee or Bluetooth. It is also possible to have a system that recognizes the presence and type of network-enabled device of a user when the user approaches the site of the event. This allows the system operator to choose the most appropriate application format or interface presentation to send to the user. It is understandable that a device such as pocket PC, having higher computing and memory resources, has more possibilities than a standard phone.
A user may participate in a plurality of events and/or activities with the use of a regular computer or with a wireless network-enabled device. He may also subscribe to one or more communities, participate in an event or make purchases of products or services during the event or as a result of an offer made during the event. All these activities and related information are stored in the profile of the user on the main server. The user profile is thus dynamic being updated both by the user and by the system itself.
Rewards
When a user participates in an activity, a real life or virtual event, acts on an offer made during the event, answers a survey or questionnaire, points or another for of reward (gifts, discount coupons, money, . . . ) may be issued to the user. These points may be exchanged or used to buy products or tickets for an event or other services. It may be particularly useful to get the opinion of potential consumers before the commercialisation of products/services. For example, the user may be asked to give an opinion in relation to the various possible colors or designs of a camera or clothing and as a result obtain a rebate for such product.
Communities
Users may be invited to form part of one or more virtual communities having certain common interests. The identification of relevant communities may be based on one or more filtering criteria including, but not limited to, interests listed in the user profile, participation in past events, real life or virtual, typical participant profile, type of requested information, membership in a group having interests compatible with those of the community, etc . . . .
Interactive Means
The interface used with the wireless network-enabled device will vary depending on the type of device. For example, with a pocket PC or other PDA, it is possible to have an application installed on it that has more possibilities than on a standard mobile phone. Thus, the interaction may take the form of applications downloaded during an event, a sms sent to a mobile phone, a web page or other means. The applications may also be installed on a laptop. A stand or kiosk may also be available at the event site to provide an access to the event server and to the main server. Thus, a user may create an account during an event and use the stand or kiosk for related activities. An example of such an interactive means is described in co-pending PCT application no. (to follow), entitled “Contextual Window-Based Interface and Method Therefor”, filed on the same day as the present application.
As specified above and according to an aspect of the invention, users of the system of the invention may be notified of the existence of an event as they approach the site. The proximity of a user's mobile computing device may be determined via any number of location-tracking methods including, but not limited to, Bluetooth beacons, the Global Positioning System (GPS), analysis of wireless network antennae utilization, physical hyperlink technologies such as two-dimensional barcodes or Radio Frequency identification (RFID) tags, or wireless network antenna triangulation. The event data is thus accessible on a plurality of devices, as long as this device is provided with an access to the event server through a connection (for example WI-FI, internet, Bluetooth . . . ).
The features of the present invention, which are believed to be novel, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims.
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent from the following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which:
A novel system for linking and connecting real users to other users, real or virtual, events, real life or virtual, communities and their operators and sponsors will be described hereinafter. Although the invention is described in terms of specific illustrative embodiments, it is to be understood that the embodiments described herein are by way of example only and that the scope of the invention is not intended to be limited thereby.
As used herein the word “event” includes the usual meaning of “a social occasion or activity”. However, it also includes many other activities in which a plurality of participants gathers together in one or more sites during a period of time. Therefore a day of shopping at a shopping center or at a given store is included in the concept of “event” within the meaning of this invention.
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In an embodiment of the present invention, supposing that a user has an interest in music, an invitation may be sent to see a concert or a show at an event such as the Montreal Jazz Festival (Festival International de Jazz de Montréal™). At the show or previously, the user may receive applications or information on his/her network-enabled device. He/she may get rebates for food, drinks or else. Furthermore, the user may receive points or a rebate to use in a music store or to concerts of a particular artist or producer that are accessible only to the community that has accepted the invitation for the show.
Another example of an embodiment of the present invention would be a day of shopping at a Costco™ warehouse. One or more wireless communication node (access point, router, repeater . . . ) is disposed in the store to provide a wireless access. An event server having the data related to the event is also connected to this network. When a user enters the Costco™ store, supposing that this user has previously installed an application related to this event, he/she may consult what are the activities and offers available. The user may consult and/or download recipes for a product that he/she wants to buy. Also, instead of filling a paper form to get an article that is not accessible on the floor (for example jewels, televisions, etc . . . ), the user may choose the article on his/her wireless network-enabled device and the article will be automatically added and preferably prepared when he/she gets to the cashier. Furthermore, he/she may get rebates or promotional products because he/she is a member of the Costco™ community.
The users of the present invention may also participate in a virtual event. A first example is a virtual event where many users, operators or sponsors may participate. The participants may create a virtual entity having their physical characteristics or others. There may be messages or offers of the sponsors of the event and even prices that the user can win.
A virtual event may also be a virtual exchange place where users may participate with an avatar and give their opinion on a particular topic provided by a sponsor.
For example, if, when in the virtual environment, the user's avatar goes to a café and orders a latte, then this information can be stored onto the main database for future use. Continuing the example, should the user, enter into a real life café which is also linked to the system of the present invention, then a compatible device such as a Bluetooth™ transceiver, linked to the main database via the Internet, could detect the device (e.g. his Bluetooth™ enabled cellular phone) carried by the user. Then the device of the user could transmit to the device of the real life café that the user generally orders lattes in cafés. Accordingly, the clerk, using this information, could automatically offer a latte to the user or offer a rebate for the latte.
Still, pursuing the same example, should the user decide to order an espresso instead, this new information could be entered and transferred to the database so that the next time the user will go into a café, the clerk could offer the user either a latte or an espresso.
Another example would be when users of a common community want to exchange information or speak together, they can exchange their phone numbers. These phone numbers could be stored in the main database so that they could be retrieved by the users via their respective devices. They could then call each other.
In yet another example, suppose that a user has a wish-list of books and/or DVDs stored on an on-line store Web site. Suppose also that a bookstore is connected to the system and therefore has the appropriate transceivers, then if the user enters that bookstore, he/she could be offered some of his/her wished for books should they be on sale. Moreover, should the user buy in the bookstore one of the books from his/her wish-list, then the wish-list could be automatically updated accordingly.
The above-recited examples are by no means limitative in nature. They only show how the system of the present invention can use information gathered in a virtual environment to execute an action in the real world and vice versa. The skilled addressee will readily understand that the present invention could be extended any other applicable situations.
In a nutshell, in an embodiment of the present invention, the system generally stores, in a main database, information gathered by a user and also information gathered in a virtual environment or world. Thus, using the system of the present invention, the information a user would gathered, for example, while surfing on the Internet, would be available to him/her, via a preferably handheld, wireless and network-enabled device, while talking to a friend in a café having a compatible wireless access. Conversely, the information that the user would have gathered while talking to his friend, a phone number for example, would be available to him/her while sending a e-mail or updating his/her contact list.
The system of the invention therefore comprises at least one database and preferably more than one for redundancy and quality of service purposes. The databases are also preferably placed on remotely accessible servers using the Internet or other public or private network.
The system also comprises a plurality of network-enabled and preferably portable devices such as cellular phones, pocket PCs, PDA's, laptops, personal e-mailing system (e.g. Blackberry™) which can be linked to the Internet directly via wire or wireless access or via public or private phone networks. Other media to access the Internet or such other networks are also possible and implicitly included in the present invention since the system is not so limited.
The system of the present invention also preferably comprises a plurality of computers or similar devices adapted to generate virtual environments. Understandably, the computers or similar devices are also adapted to be connected to the Internet with wire or wirelessly.
By being all connected or at least connectable to the Internet, both the network-enabled devices and the computers can access the databases wherein information about users is stored.
Understandably, a portion of the information stored on the database can be private while the rest is public or at least accessible to others.
Therefore, when the network-enabled devices can further communicate with each other, using for example Bluetooth™, the devices can detect that the other device is linked to an account on the same database and can accordingly, retrieve the public information about the user having or carrying the device.
For example, if two users have network-enabled cellular phones which are also Bluetooth™ enabled and are within communication range of each other, then the cellular phone of each user can access the common database and retrieve the public information about the other user. This information can afterward be used, for instance, to start a discussion.
The above examples could advantageously be used in conferences or in other events where numerous people sharing similar interests meet. Being able to retrieve information about an interlocutor for immediate use or for future use would be greatly beneficial.
Understandably, the present invention could be used in a multitude of circumstances. Still, the present invention provides users a common database wherefrom both the users and operators of the method can store, retrieve and share information.
While illustrative and presently preferred embodiments of the invention have been described in detail hereinabove, it is to be understood that the inventive concepts may be otherwise variously embodied and employed and that the appended claims are intended to be construed to include such variations except insofar as limited by the prior art.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2565757 | Oct 2006 | CA | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/CA07/01926 | 10/26/2007 | WO | 00 | 7/17/2009 |