Network Based Community and Contest System and Method for Same

• US 20100036934A1
• Filed: 08/07/2008
• Published: 02/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Brusterpowers LLC
• Original Assignee: Brusterpowers LLC
• Inventors: Bruster, Anthony K.
• Application Number:
  US12/187,983
• Publication Number:
  US 20100036934A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/00 Information retrieval; Database structures therefor; File system structures therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/52 for supporting social networking services

Abstract

A computer network such as the World Wide Web, private intranet, or the like provides for creating a community of users. Periodically one or more topics are presented on a network site. Users can upload content, such as video files, audio files, pictures, text files, and the like relating to a topic to share with other users. User can also indicate whether they have personally experienced a particular topic and/or whether they desire to experience a particular topic. In some embodiments, a companion program, such as a television show, radio show, podcast, or the like also provides users the ability to review content posted by other users.

Claims

1. A method of creating a community of users on a network comprising:

presenting a topic on a first user-accessible network site;

receiving from a user an indication that the user has experienced the topic;

receiving from the user content relating to the topic; and

posting on a second user accessible network site the content.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first user-accessible network site is a World Wide Web page.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the first user-accessible network site and the second user-accessible network site are the same user-accessible network site.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the content is selected from the group consisting of an audio file, a video file, a text file, an image, and combinations thereof.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving from a second user an indication that the second user desires to experience the topic.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

providing a forum wherein the second user can contact the first user.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

identifying a user and a second user having a common experience by analyzing comments posted by a first user and posted by a second user to a user-accessible network site.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said analyzing comprises determining a number of words common to the comments posted by the first user and posted by the second user.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

presenting on the first user-accessible network site reference to a public medium presentation relating to the topic.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the public medium presentation is selected from the group consisting of a television show, a radio show, a podcast, and a simulcast.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the reference is selected from the group consisting of promotional materials, scheduling information, a coupon, and a hyper-link.

12. A computer system comprising:

a computer server providing graphical user interface pages responsive to requests from a user;

a first graphical user interface page provided by the computer server and having a topic and having

user-posted content relating to the topic,

a user-input element wherein a user can indicate having experienced the topic and wherein a user can indicate a desire to experience the topic;

a second graphical user interface page provided by the computer server and relating to a specific user and having

content related to the topic posted by the specific user, and

a list of other users who have also posted content related to the topic.

13. The computer system of claim 12 further comprising:

a third graphical user interface page provided by the computer server and having

personal information relating to the specific user,

a list of topics experienced by the specific user, and

a list of topics desired to be experienced by the specific user.

14. The computer system of claim 12 wherein the first and second graphical user interface pages are World Wide Web pages.

15. The computer system of claim 12 wherein the first and second graphical user interface pages are coded using active server page (ASP) or C#.

16. The computer system of claim 12 wherein the user-posted content is selected from the group consisting of an audio file, a video file, a text file, an image, and combinations thereof.

17. A computer readable medium containing programming instructions to:

present on a remote computer a first graphical user interface page having

a link to user-posted content,

a link to a topic,

a first input element for a user to indicate having experienced the topic,

and a second input element for a user to indicate a desire to experience the topic.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 17 further including instructions to:

present on the remote computer a second graphical user interface page having information relating to a specific user including personal information, experience relevant to a topic, desire to experience a topic, an avatar representing the specific user, the identity of another user with whom the specific user shares a common experience or desire.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 17 further including instructions to:

present on the remote computer information relating to a forum wherein the topic is presented in another medium, wherein the another medium is television, radio, podcast, simulcast, text messaging, and combinations thereof.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 17 further including instructions to:

present on the remote computer of a first user an inquiry from a second user seeking to establish a relationship with the first user; and

present on the remote computer of the second user a response to the inquiry from the first user.