System and method for information and application distribution

• US 20020059379A1
• Filed: 10/02/2001
• Published: 05/16/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cross Atlantic Capital Partners Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Ikimbo, Inc.
• Inventors: Dekelbaum, Robert, Hulan, Matt, Harvey, Jamey, Fregly, Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 6,519,629 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/205
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/12 involving interaction between a plurality of game devices, e.g. transmisison or distribution systems protocols for networked virtual reality, networked games H04L29/06034
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/71 using secure communication between game devices and game servers, e.g. by encrypting game data or authenticating players
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/79 involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/401 Secure communication, e.g. using encryption or authentication
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/50 characterized by details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/532 using secure communication, e.g. by encryption, authentication
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/535 for monitoring, e.g. of user parameters, terminal parameters, application parameters, network parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5546 using player registration data, e.g. identification, account, preferences, game history
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1818 Conference organisation arrangements, e.g. handling schedules, setting up parameters needed by nodes to attend a conference, booking network resources, notifying involved parties
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/56 Provisioning of proxy services store-and-forward switching systems in data switching networks H04L12/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/562 Brokering proxy services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

An Information and Application Distribution System (IADS) is disclosed. The IADS operates, in one embodiment, to distribute, initiate and allow interaction and communication within like-minded communities. Application distribution occurs through the transmission and receipt of an “invitation application” which contains both a message component and an executable component to enable multiple users to connect within a specific community. The application object includes functionality which allows the user'"'"'s local computer to automatically set up a user interface to connect with a central controller which facilitates interaction and introduction between and among users.

Claims

1. A method for enabling users to interact within a community of interest comprising:

transmitting an invitation application to at least one new user;

receiving acceptance information from the at least one new user through the invitation application;

approving acceptance of the at least one new user based on acceptance information; and

transmitting a client application to the at least one user in response to approving the acceptance, the client application comprising a community and a user interface, wherein at least one new user interacts with the community through the user interface.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the invitation application comprises a message component and an executable component, and wherein acceptance information is sent through the executable component.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the invitation application comprises a message component and an acceptance component, and wherein acceptance information is sent through the acceptance component.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the community comprises a plurality of application objects, each of the application objects enabling the at least one user to interact within the community.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein application objects are from the group consisting of a chat application object, an instant message application object, a whiteboard application object, a shopping cart application object, a store application object, an invitation application object, a creation application object, a photo album application object, a calendar application object, a video conferencing application object, a voice chat application object, a bulletin board application object, an e-mail list application object, and a pals application object.

6. The method according to claim 2, wherein the step of transmitting an invitation application further comprising:

receiving an invitation transmission from a previously registered user;

receiving at least one invitation selection from the previously registered user, each of the at least one invitation selection indicating a new user;

generating the invitation application based on the at least one invitation selection; and

transmitting the generated invitation application to the at least one new user based on the at least one invitation selection.

7. The method according to claim 6 further comprising the steps of:

accessing the previously registered user'"'"'s communication address book; and

presenting a list of communication addresses from the communication address book to the previously registered user; and

wherein the at least one received invitation selection comprises a new user identification and a new user communication address.

8. The method according to claim 6, further comprising the step of receiving a personal invitation from the previously registered user;

and

wherein the message component of the invitation application comprises a personal invitation and an instruction invitation.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein the communication address is an e-mail address, and

wherein the step of transmitting the invitation application is transmitted via e-mail.

10. The method according to claim 2, wherein transmitting the client application to the at least one user further comprises transmitting, for installation at the invited user, at least one of:

a) a look and feel of the community and the user interface;

b) one or more locations on a central controller module for accessing a plurality of applications objects associated with the community;

c) access to at least one subscription object to which the community is subscribed;

d) access to other content in the community.

11. The method according to claim 4, further comprising the step of accessing at least one subscription object, wherein the at least one subscription object is subscribed to by the community and is accessed by at least one of the plurality of application objects.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the at least one subscription object is published by at least one other community.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the at least one subscription object is published by a vendor and is selected for presentation within a community.

14. The method according to claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

receiving user fields from the at least one new user; and

transmitting at least one of;

a) at least one other community having community fields;

b) at least one other user having user fields; and

c) at least one vendor product having vendor fields;

wherein the transmission is based in part on a comparison of user fields, community fields and vendor fields.

15. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of determining the contents of an invitation application based on whether the at least one new user has previously been approved.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein the invitation application comprises a message component and an executable component, and wherein acceptance information is sent through the executable component.

18. The system according to claim 16, wherein the invitation application comprises a message component and an acceptance component, and wherein acceptance information is sent through the acceptance component.

19. The system according to claim 17, wherein the community comprises a plurality of application objects, each of the application objects enabling the at least one user to interact within the community.

20. The system according to claim 19, wherein application objects are from the group consisting of a chat application object, an instant message application object, a whiteboard application object, a shopping cart application object, a store application object, an invitation application object, a creation application object, a photo album application object, a calendar application object, a video conferencing application object, a voice chat application object, a bulletin board application object, an e-mail list application object, and a pals application object.

21. The system according to claim 17, wherein the transmitter module further comprises:

receiver module for receiving an invitation transmission and at least one invitation selection from a previously registered user, each of the at least one invitation selection indicating a new user;

generator module for generating the invitation application based on the at least one invitation selection; and

wherein the transmitter module transmits the generated invitation application to the at least one new user based on the at least one invitation selection.

22. The system according to claim 21, wherein the at least one received invitation selection comprises a new user identification and a new user communication address selected from the previously registered user'"'"'s communication address book.

23. The system according to claim 21, wherein the receiver module receives a personal invitation from the previously registered user;

and

wherein the message component of the invitation application comprises a personal invitation and an instruction invitation.

24. The system according to claim 22, wherein the communication address is an e-mail address, and

wherein the transmitter module transmits the invitation application via e-mail.

25. The system according to claim 17, wherein transmitting the client application to the at least one user further comprises transmitting, for installation at the invited user, at least one of:

a) a look and feel of the community and the user interface;

b) one or more locations on a central controller module for accessing a plurality of applications objects associated with the community;

c) content of one or more subscription objects to which the community is subscribed;

d) access to other content in the community.

26. The system according to claim 19, wherein the community permits accessing at least one subscription object, wherein the at least one subscription object is subscribed to by the community and is accessed by at least one of the plurality of application objects.

27. The system according to claim 26, wherein the at least one subscription object is published by at least one other community.

28. The according to claim 26, wherein the at least one subscription object is published by a vendor and is selected for presentation within the community.

29. The system according to claim 17, wherein the receiver module further receives user fields, and further comprising a match module for transmitting at least one of:

a) at least one other community having community fields;

b) at least one other user having user fields; and

c) at least one vendor product having vendor fields;

wherein the transmission is based in part on a comparison of user fields, community fields and vendor fields.

30. The system according to claim 16, further comprising a decision module for determining the contents of an invitation application based on whether the at least one new user has previously been approved.

16. A system for enabling users to interact within a community of interest comprising:

transmitter module for transmitting an invitation application to at least one new user;

receiver module for receiving acceptance information from the at least one new user through the invitation application;

approval module for approving acceptance of the at least one new user based on acceptance information; and

download module for transmitting client application to the at least one user in response to approving the acceptance, the client application comprising a community and a user interface, wherein at least one new user interacts with the community through the user interface.

31. A method for interacting with a community of interest comprising:

receiving an invitation application;

executing the invitation application;

providing acceptance information based on prompts from the invitation application;

transmitting the acceptance information; and

receiving a client application, the client application comprising a community and a user interface, wherein the user interface permits interaction within the community.

32. The method according to claim 31, wherein:

a) the invitation application comprises a message component and an executable component;

b) executing the invitation application comprises executing the executable component according to instruction in the message component; and

c) acceptance information is sent through the executable component.

33. The method according to claim 31, wherein:

a) the invitation application comprises a message component and an acceptance component;

b) executing the invitation application comprises executing the acceptance component based in part on the message component; and

c) acceptance information is sent through the acceptance component.

34. The method according to claim 32, wherein the community comprises a plurality of community applications, each of the community applications enabling interaction within the community.

35. The method according to claim 34, wherein community applications are from the group consisting of an invitation application object, a creation application object, a photo album application object, a calendar application object, a video conferencing application object, a voice chat application object, a bulletin board application object, an e-mail list application object, and a pals application object.

36. The method according to claim 32, wherein the message component of the invitation application comprises a personal invitation and an instruction invitation, and wherein the personal invitation is composed by a previously registered user.

37. The method according to claim 32, wherein the invitation application is received via an e-mail transmission.

38. The method according to claim 32, wherein the step of receiving an invitation application further comprises receiving a generated invitation application based on the at least one invitation selection from a previously registered user.

39. The method according to claim 32, wherein receiving the client application further comprises receiving, for installation, at least one of:

a) a look and feel of the community and the user interface;

b) one or more locations on a central controller module for accessing a plurality of applications objects associated with the community;

c) access to at least one subscription object to which the community is subscribed; and

d) access to other content in the community.

40. The method according to claim 34, further comprising the step of accessing at least one subscription object, wherein the at least one subscription object is subscribed to by the community and is accessed by at least one of the plurality of application objects.

41. The method according to claim 40, wherein the at least one subscription object is published by at least one other community.

42. The method according to claim 40, wherein the at least one subscription object is published by a vendor and is selected for presentation within the community.

43. The method according to claim 32;

further comprising the steps of;

transmitting user fields; and

receiving at least one of;

a) at least one other community having community fields;

b) at least one other user having user fields; and

c) at least one vendor product having vendor fields;

wherein the receiving is based in part on a comparison of user fields, community fields and vendor fields.

44. The method according to claim 31, wherein the contents of the invitation application are based on whether a client application has previously been received.

46. The system according to claim 45, wherein:

a) the invitation application comprises a message component and an executable component;

b) executing the invitation application comprises executing the executable component according to instructions in the message componen; and

c) acceptance information is sent through the executable component.

47. The system according to claim 45, wherein:

a) the invitation application comprises a message component and an acceptance component;

b) executing the invitation application comprises executing the acceptance component based in part on the message component; and

c) acceptance information is sent through the acceptance component.

48. The system according to claim 46, wherein the community comprises a plurality of community applications, each of the community applications enabling interaction within the community.

49. The system according to claim 48, wherein community applications are from the group consisting of an invitation application object, a creation application object, a photo album application object, a calendar application object, a video conferencing application object, a voice chat application object, a bulletin board application object, an e-mail list application object, and a pals application object.

50. The system according to claim 46, wherein the message component of the invitation application comprises a personal invitation and an instruction invitation, and wherein the personal invitation is composed by a previously registered user.

51. The system according to claim 46, wherein the receiver module receives the invitation application via an e-mail transmission.

52. The system according to claim 46, wherein the invitation application further comprises a generated invitation application based on the at least one invitation selection from a previously registered user.

53. The system according to claim 46, wherein receiving the client application further comprises receiving, for installation, at least one of:

a) a look and feel of the community and the user interface;

b) one or more locations on a central controller module for accessing a plurality of applications objects associated with the community;

c) access to at least one subscription object to which the community is subscribed; and

d) access to other content in the community.

54. The system according to claim 48, wherein the community permits accessing at least one subscription object, wherein the at least one subscription object is subscribed to by the community and is accessed by at least one of the plurality of application objects.

55. The system according to claim 54, wherein the at least one subscription object is published by at least one other community.

56. The system according to claim 54, wherein the at least one subscription object is published by a vendor and selected for presentation within the community.

57. The system according to claim 46, wherein the transmitter module further transmits user fields, and the receiver module further receiving at least one of:

a) at least one other community having community fields;

b) at least one other user having user fields; and

c) at least one vendor product having vendor fields;

wherein the receiving is based in part on a comparison of user fields, community fields and vendor fields.

58. The system according to claim 45, wherein the contents of the invitation application are based on whether a client application has previously been received.

60. The method according to claim 59, wherein the step of transmitting the created community further comprises transmitting the created community and a user interface.

61. The method according to claim 59, wherein the at least one communications address is an e-mail address.

62. The method according to claim 59, wherein the selected at least one application object comprises at least one of:

a) chat application object;

b) an instant message application object;

c) a white board application object;

d) a shopping cart application object;

e) an invitation application object;

f) a creation application object;

g) a photo album application object;

h) a store application object;

i) a calendar application object;

j) a video conferencing application object;

k) a voice chat application object;

l) an e-mail list application object;

m) a bulletin board application object; and

n) a pals application object.

63. The method according to claim 59, further comprising the step of receiving a selection to subscribe to at least one subscription object, wherein the at least one subscription object is accessed through one of the at least one application object.

64. The method according to claim 63, wherein the at least one subscription object is published by at least one of:

a) at least one other community;

b) at least one other user; and

c) at least one vendor.

65. The method according to claim 63, wherein accessing the at least one subscription object through the one of the at least one application object maintains all of the original features of the subscription object.

66. The method according to claim 59, wherein community information further comprises community fields, whereby the community presents to a user at least at least one of:

a) at least one other user having user fields;

b) at least one other community having community fields; and

c) at least one vendor product having vendor fields;

wherein the presentation is based in part on a comparison of user fields, community fields and vendor fields.

68. The system according to claim 67, wherein transmitting the created community comprises transmitting the created community and a user interface.

69. The system according to claim 67, wherein the at least one communications address is an e-mail address.

70. The system according to claim 67, wherein the selected at least one application object comprises at least one of:

a) chat application object;

b) an instant message application object;

c) a white board application object;

d) a shopping cart application object;

e) an invitation application object;

f) a creation application object;

g) a photo album application object;

h) a store application object;

i) a calendar application object;

j) a video conferencing application object;

k) a voice chat application object;

l) an e-mail list application object;

m) a bulletin board application object; and

n) a pals application object.

71. The system according to claim 67, further comprising a subscription module for subscribing to at least one subscription object, wherein the at least one subscription object is accessed through one of the at least one application object.

72. The method according to claim 71, wherein the at least one subscription object is published by at least one of:

a) at least one other community;

b) at least one other user; and

c) at least one vendor.

73. The system according to claim 71, wherein accessing the at least one subscription object through the one of the at least one application object maintains all of the original features of the subscription object.

74. The system according to claim 67, wherein community information further comprises community fields, whereby the community presents to a user through the community at least at least one of:

a) at least one other user having user fields;

b) at least one other community having community fields; and

c) at least one vendor product having vendor fields;

wherein the presentation is based in part on a comparison of user fields, community fields and vendor fields.

45. A system for interacting with a community of interest comprising:

receiver module for receiving an invitation application;

execution module for executing the invitation application;

input module for providing acceptance information based on prompts from the invitation application;

transmitter module for transmitting acceptance information; and

wherein the receiver module receives a client application, the client application comprising a community and a user interface, wherein the user interface permits interaction within the community.

59. A method for creating a community for users with common interests to interact in, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a creation transmission from a registered user, the creation transmission indicating that the registered user desires to create a community;

receiving community identification information from the registered user;

receiving a selection of at least one application object from the registered user;

creating a community based on the community identification information and the at least one application object;

receiving at least one communications address designated by the registered user, the at least one communications address corresponding to a user to receive a created community; and

transmitting the created community based in part on the at least one communications address.

67. A system for creating a community for users with common interests to interact in comprising:

a receiver module for receiving;

a) a creation transmission from a registered user, the creation transmission indicating that the registered user desires to create a community;

b) receiving community identification information from the registered user;

c) receiving a selection of at least one application object from the registered user; and

d) at least one communications address designated by the registered user, the at least one communications address corresponding to a user to receive a created community;

a creation module for creating a community based on the community identification information and the at least one community function; and

a transmitter for transmitting the created community based in part on the at least one communications address.

75. A method for creating a community for users with common interests to interact in, the method comprising the steps of:

transmitting a creation transmission, the creation transmission indicating the desire to create a community;

transmitting community identification information;

transmitting at least one communications address corresponding to a user to receive the created community; and

selecting at least one application object for inclusion in the community, whereby the community is created based on the community identification information and the at least one application object.

76. The method according to claim 75, wherein the created community includes a user interface.

77. The method according to claim 75, wherein the at least one communications address is an e-mail address.

78. The method according to claim 75, wherein the selected at least one application object comprises at least one of:

a) chat application object;

b) an instant message application object;

c) a white board application object;

d) a shopping cart application object;

e) an invitation application object;

f) a creation application object;

g) a photo album application object;

h) a store application object;

i) a calendar application object;

j) a video conferencing application object;

k) a voice chat application object;

l) an e-mail list application object;

m) a bulletin board application object; and

n) a pals application object.

79. The method according to claim 75, further comprising the step of subscribing to at least one subscription object for inclusion in the community, wherein the at least one subscription object is accessed through one of the at least one application object.

80. The method according to claim 79, wherein the at least one subscription object is published by at least one of:

a) at least one other community;

b) at least one other user; and

c) at least one vendor.

81. The method according to claim 79, wherein accessing the at least one subscription object through the one of the at least one application object maintains all of the original features of the subscription object.

82. The method according to claim 75, wherein community information further comprises community fields, whereby the community presents to a user at least at least one of:

a) at least one other user having user fields;

b) at least one other community having community fields; and

c) at least one vendor product having vendor fields;

wherein the presentation is based in part on a comparison of user fields, community fields and vendor fields.

83. A system for creating a community for users with common interests to interact in, the system comprising:

a transmitter module for transmitting;

a) a creation transmission, the creation transmission indicating the desire to create a community;

b) community identification information;

c) at least one communications address corresponding to a user to receive the created community; and

d) a selection of at least one application object for inclusion in the community, whereby the community is created based on the community identification information and the at least one application object; and

a display module for displaying prompts for the community identification information, the at least one communications address, and the selection of at least one application object.

84. The system according to claim 83, wherein the created community includes a user interface.

85. The system according to claim 83, wherein the at least one communications address is an e-mail address.

86. The system according to claim 83, wherein the selected at least one application object comprises at least one of:

a) chat application object;

b) an instant message application object;

c) a white board application object;

d) a shopping cart application object;

e) an invitation application object;

f) a creation application object;

g) a photo album application object;

h) a store application object;

i) a calendar application object;

j) a video conferencing application object;

k) a voice chat application object;

l) an e-mail list application object;

m) a bulletin board application object; and

n) a pals application object.

87. The system according to claim 83, wherein the transmitter module further transmits the selection of subscribing to at least one subscription object for inclusion in the community, wherein the at least one subscription object is accessed through one of the at least one application object.

88. The system according to claim 87, wherein the at least one subscription object is published by at least one of:

a) at least one other community;

b) at least one other user; and

c) at least one vendor.

89. The system according to claim 87, wherein accessing the at least one subscription object through the one of the at least one application object maintains all of the original features of the subscription object.

90. The system according to claim 83, wherein community information further comprises community fields, whereby the community presents to a user at least at least one of:

a) at least one other user having user fields;

b) at least one other community having community fields; and

c) at least one vendor product having vendor fields;

wherein the presentation is based in part on a comparison of user fields, community fields and vendor fields.