SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR GROUP TO GROUP ENTERTAINMENT

• US 20070156883A1
• Filed: 01/02/2007
• Published: 07/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Benjamin Stuart Thompson, Ella Belzberg Thompson
• Original Assignee: Visual Exchange Network, LLC
• Inventors: Thompson, Benjamin, Thompson, Ella
• Granted Patent: US 8,819,130 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8023 the game being played by multiple players at a common site, e.g. in an arena, theatre, shopping mall using a large public display
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1822 Conducting the conference, e.g. admission, detection, selection or grouping of participants, correlating users to one or more conference sessions, prioritising transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41415 involving a public display, viewable by several users in a public space outside their home, e.g. movie theatre, information kiosk

Abstract

A hardware and software platform for collaboratively reviewing prior group to group interactions while planning, producing and archiving new group to group interactions. The platform may be used to collaboratively create group to group interactions. The system may be used to link two or more stadia, movie theatres or homes so as to provide interaction between the groups at each location simultaneously as a game or other event takes place.

Claims

1. A method for group to group interaction comprising:

planning the group to group interaction involving at least two groups;

producing the group to group interaction including said at least two groups; and

enabling the group to group interaction between said at least two groups.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein one of said at least two groups is comprised of attendees at a sporting event.

3. The method of claim 1, further including the initial step of reviewing a previous group to group interaction involving at least two groups.

4. The method of claim 3, further including a final step of archiving the data pertaining to said planning, production and enabling of said group to group interaction.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein said reviewing step includes review of the planning, production or enabling steps taken in said previous group to group interaction.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein said archiving step includes retaining records of the planning, production or enabling steps taken in said group to group interaction.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said group to group interaction includes the use of at least one of the following:

audio data;

video data;

thermal recognition data;

motion detection data;

audio pitch data;

audio decibel level data;

group involvement data;

alternative communication data;

game outcome data;

group involvement outcome data;

on screen graphic data;

graphic control data.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein one of said at least two groups is comprised of attendees at one of the following:

a theatre;

a civic location;

a cinema;

a school;

a university;

a stadium;

an arena;

a ball park;

an ice rink;

a golf course;

a speedway;

a retail location;

a café

;

a mall;

a natural wonder;

a fireworks display;

a national monument;

a sporting event;

an event celebrating a national holiday;

a parade;

a scenic location;

a concert;

an opera;

a zoological park;

a botanical garden

an art museum;

a musical event;

in a residence.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said planning step includes at least two groups collaboratively performing at least one of the following actions:

creating a vocabulary of terms;

creating a listing of individuals involved in the production of the group to group event;

creating a sketch of the event;

creating a flowchart of the event;

determining how to connect elements used in conducting the group to group interaction.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said producing step includes at least two groups collaboratively performing at least one of the following actions:

selecting a game in which said at least two groups take part;

selecting a group to group interaction activity in which said at least two groups take part;

selecting data capture sources for capturing data from said at least two groups;

selecting playback sources for display to said at least two groups;

selecting methods of interaction for said at least two groups;

reviewing signals provided by the participants of one of said at least two groups;

responding to signals provided by the participants of one of said at least two groups.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said enabling step includes the following steps:

capturing interaction data from one of said at least two groups;

encoding said interaction data from one of said at least two groups;

transmitting said interaction data from one of said at least two groups to the other group;

decoding said interaction data; and

displaying said interaction data to said other group.

12. Use of the method of claim 1 to accomplish at least one of the following:

control of graphic displays;

coordinate singing between said at least two groups;

provide access to products for purchase;

provide access to media created by one of said at least two groups;

enable on-line purchases;

enable means to purchase products;

provide means to create group to group media;

enable said at least two groups to take part in a combined picnic;

enable one of said at least two groups to influence a game;

produce group-created content;

enable games involving transportation tracking;

provide an interactive menu of activities in which said at least two groups may take part;

create a silver scrim screen image;

archive group to group interactions;

review group to group interactions;

enable a game involving a camera within a beach ball for one of said at least two groups;

enable a virtual beach ball game for one of said at least two groups;

create an event map;

create an event scape, made up of multiple event maps.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

archiving data created during said group to group interaction; and

creating a dynamically-updated reference to said data for use in directing individuals to at least one location.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said dynamically-updated reference is an online user-influenced map.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein said location is a store where a purchase may be made.

16. A system for group to group entertainment comprising:

interaction means, for allowing interaction between at least two groups;

data capture means, connected to said interaction means, for capturing interaction data pertaining to said at least two groups;

transmission means, connected to said data capture means, for transmitting interaction data; and

playback means, connected to said transmission means, for viewing said interaction data.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein one of said at least two groups is comprised of attendees at one of the following:

a theatre;

a civic location;

a cinema;

a school;

a university;

a stadium;

an arena;

a ball park;

an ice rink;

a golf course;

a speedway;

a retail location;

a café

;

a mall;

a natural wonder;

a fireworks display;

a national monument;

a sporting event;

an event celebrating a national holiday;

a parade;

a scenic location;

a concert;

an opera;

a zoological park;

a botanical garden

an art museum;

a musical event;

in a residence.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein said interaction data is made up of at least one of the following:

audio data;

video data;

thermal recognition data;

motion detection data;

audio pitch data;

audio decibel level data;

group involvement data;

alternative communication data;

game outcome data;

group involvement outcome data;

on screen graphic data;

graphic control data.

19. The system of claim 16, further comprising reviewing means, connected to said interaction means, whereby said at least two groups may collaboratively review a previous interaction.

20. The system of claim 16, further comprising encoding means, connected to said data capture means and to said transmission means, for encoding said interaction data prior to transmission.

21. The system of claim 16, further comprising decoding means, connected to said transmission means and to said playback means, for decoding said interaction data prior to playback.

22. The system of claim 16, further comprising private playback means, connected to said transmission means, for viewing interaction control data producers of said interaction.

23. A method of group to group entertainment, comprising the steps of:

review of a previous group to group interaction, involving at least two groups, each in a location different from the other;

planning of a group to group interaction involving at least two groups including at least one of the following actions;

setting a schedule of said group to group interaction;

determining roles and responsibilities for said group to group interaction;

pre-selecting one or more games, events or interactions in which said at least two groups may take part;

producing said group to group interaction, involving at least two groups including one or more of the following actions;

selecting group to group interaction data for viewing;

selecting one or more games, events or interactions in which said at least two groups may take part;

enabling said group to group interaction, including the steps of;

capturing interaction data,

encoding said interaction data for transmission,

transmitting said interaction data,

decoding said interaction data, and

providing playback of said interaction data; and

archiving of said group to group interaction, including archival storage of the process of planning, producing and enabling of said group to group interaction.

24. A system of group to group entertainment, comprising:

interface means for enabling interactive collaboration between groups, each present in a location different from the other so as to collaborate to create multi-location interactions;

interaction creation means, connected to said interface means, for enabling said groups to collaboratively create multi-location interactions;

production means, connected to said interface means and said interaction creation means, for enabling said groups to collaboratively create multi-location interactions; and

data capture means, connected to said production means, for enabling said groups to capture data pertaining to an on-going multi-location interaction.