SOCIAL INTERACTION GAMES AND ACTIVITIES

• US 20080070697A1
• Filed: 09/14/2007
• Published: 03/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Dena Pacific Communications, Inc.
• Original Assignee: IceBreaker, Inc. (DENA Company Limited)
• Inventors: Robinson, Merle, Hennings, Eric
• Application Number:
  US11/855,911
• Publication Number:
  US 20080070697A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• 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 13/332 using wireless networks, e.g. cellular phone networks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/497 Partially or entirely replaying previous game actions
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/795 for finding other players; for building a team; for providing a buddy list
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/87 Communicating with other players during game play, e.g. by e-mail or chat
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/406 Transmission via wireless network, e.g. pager or GSM
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5566 by matching opponents or finding partners to build a team, e.g. by skill level, geographical area, background, play style
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/572 Communication between players during game play of non game information, e.g. e-mail, chat, file transfer, streaming of audio and streaming of video
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/21 for social networking applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data

Abstract

A mobile social interaction system that enables users to participate in social networking games and activities via handheld and/or mobile devices is provided. User profiles or other criteria can be employed in order to facilitate matching candidates within a gaming environment. The innovation enables the users to communicate within a gaming environment via voice, video and/or text messaging communications.

Claims

1. A communication system that facilitates gaming between a plurality of users in a social networking environment, comprising:

a gaming/activity component that facilitates an entertainment activity between a subset of the plurality of users, wherein the subset is defined by a desired parameter and the entertainment activity triggers a private communication session between at least two of the subset of users; and

a connection interface component that schedules the private communication session.

2. The communication system of claim 1, further comprising an anonymous communication component that establishes the private communication session such that identity of each party to the exchange is unknown.

3. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the entertainment activity is a text only game.

4. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the entertainment activity is a voice-based game.

5. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the entertainment activity is a visual-based game.

6. The communication system of claim 1, where the entertainment activity is at least one of ‘

Right Now,’

‘

Babyface,’

‘

What would you do?,’

‘

Eliminate,’

‘

20 Questions,’

‘

Spin the Bottle,’

‘

Five Alive,’

or ‘

Speed Dating.’

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a photo management component the administers a plurality of photos within the entertainment activity.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising a photo configuration component that one of orders or stitches a photo of a first user with a photo of a second user in accordance with the entertainment activity.

9. The system of claim 7 further comprising a photo manipulation component that morphs a facial photo of a first user with a facial photo of a second user in accordance with the entertainment activity.

10. The system of claim 7, further comprising a photo rendering component that dynamically adjusts a photo based upon a parameter of a target display device in accordance with the entertainment activity.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising an inquiry management component that administers a plurality of questions within the entertainment activity.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising an inquiry selection component that randomly selects a plurality of questions from an inventory in accordance with the entertainment activity.

13. The system of claim 11, further comprising an inquiry configuration component that translates a question into a language comprehendible by a user.

14. The system of claim 11, further comprising an inquiry rendering component that delivers a question to an appropriate participant in accordance with the entertainment activity.

15. A system that facilitates gaming in a social network environment, comprising:

a social interaction component having a plurality of candidates therein;

each candidate employs a device having a communication interface; and

a gaming activity component that connects a subset of candidates in a gaming environment.

16. The system of claim 15, the server includes a connection manager that masks identity of each of subset of the plurality of candidates.

17. The system of claim 16, the gaming environment facilitates at least one of ‘

Right Now,’

‘

Babyface,’

‘

What would you do?,’

‘

Eliminate,’

1 20 Questions,’

‘

Spin the Bottle,’

‘

Five Alive,’

or ‘

Speed Dating.’

18. A computer-implemented method of gaming within a social interaction environment, comprising:

launching a social interaction game;

linking a plurality of candidates within a gaming environment;

selecting a subset of the candidates for a private communication session;

suspending the social interaction game;

enabling the private communication session;

terminating the private communication session;

initiating feedback related to the subset of candidates; and

restarting the social interaction game based upon state at suspension.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 18, wherein the gaming environment includes one of a photo-based game or an inquiry based game.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 18, the act of enabling the private communication session originates via at least one of a wireless device, a landline or a VoIP (Voice-over-Internet Protocol) equipped personal computer.