Wine Rating Tool, Simulator & Game For Portable Computing Device

• US 20140304654A1
• Filed: 02/18/2014
• Published: 10/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: John Nicholas and Kristin Gross Trust U/A/D April 13 2010
• Original Assignee: John Nicholas and Kristin Gross Trust U/A/D April 13 2010
• Inventors: Gross, John Nicholas
• Application Number:
  US14/183,036
• Publication Number:
  US 20140304654A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/811
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0203 Market surveys; Market polls
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0217 involving input on products or services in exchange for incentives or rewards
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0278 Product appraisal
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/12 Hotels or restaurants

Abstract

Items—including gourmet products—are evaluated and rated by participants in a controlled event, with an interface adapted to capture numerical ratings and other descriptors. Events can be facilitated and simulated by a game wizard to assist in planning and effecting events.

Claims

1. A method of conducting a sampling event for items with a computing system comprising:

(a) providing a set of items;

(b) providing a first routine for capturing input data from a group of participants within an interactive graphical interface;

said input data including;

1) numerical ratings for said set of items;

2) text descriptors for said items presented in a hierarchical menu;

(c) capturing said text descriptors by displaying a first classification level with first descriptors, and in response to a selection of one of said first descriptors displaying a second classification level with second descriptors that are subclasses of said first descriptors;

wherein a participant can select one or more of said first descriptors and/or said second descriptors;

(d) capturing weighting information for said text descriptors that is based on a finger and/or pointing device position detected for said participant in said hierarchical menu.

2. The method of claim 1, including a step:

processing said ratings information and text descriptors to generate a taste profile for said participant.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein a symbol is associated with the participant and presented as a mnemonic representing said taste profile.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said symbol is a graphical image representing one or more of an animal, a rotated text character, and a distorted text character, and an object.

5. The method of claim 1, further including a second game wizard routine configured to present an avatar that generates a prediction of participant ratings data and simulates ratings results for the set of items in the sampling event including prior to such event.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said second game wizard routine is configured to measure and present a performance of said avatar in said prediction of participant ratings data.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein said second game wizard routine calculates both individual and group predictions.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said second game wizard routine further presents suggestions to a sample event host for alterations of said set of items and/or said participants.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said alterations are determined based on a desired target sampling event score to be achieved at a future sampling event.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein said second game wizard routine further calculates one or more diversity score(s) for a scheduled sampling event, which diversity score(s) identifies a value representing differences in ratings predicted for said participants.

11. The method of claim 1, further including a second sampling event search routine configured to allow would-be participants to find and select upcoming sampling events based on a sampling event query.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said sampling event query can specify one or more of:

a discount coupon;

one or more participants;

a venue;

a sampling item;

predicted participant ratings;

a predicted diversity score.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said first routine is further configured to capture prediction data from the participants matching sampled unknown items to one or more identified items.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein said first routine is further configured to capture timestamp data for ratings made by the participants during the sampling event.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein said first routine is further configured to capture prediction data from the participants matching prices to sampled unknown items.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein said first routine is further configured to capture prediction data from a participant specifying if an unknown item being sampled is associated with the participant.

17. The method of claim 1, further including a second trend routine configured to present a value of a rating trend measured for the participants during the sampling event.

18. An electronic interactive planning assistance tool for a social game comprising:

one or more game wizard routines adapted to execute on a computing system and to perform at least the following operations;

(a) process an initial proposed set of sample items for the social game;

(b) process an initial proposed set of participants for the social game;

(c) simulate an outcome of the social game by predicting ratings likely to be made by said set of participants for said set of sample items.

19. The electronic interactive planning assistance tool of claim 18, wherein said game wizard routine(s) perform(s) said simulation at step (c) based on participant ratings data and item ratings data from prior social games stored in a database.

20. The electronic interactive planning assistance tool of claim 18, wherein said participant ratings data and item ratings data includes multidimensional ratings data.

21. The electronic interactive planning assistance tool of claim 18, wherein a confidence score is presented for said game wizard routine(s) simulation outcome.

22. The electronic interactive planning assistance tool of claim 18, wherein said game wizard routine(s) are adapted further to calculate and present a ratings score diversity for the set of participants.

23. The electronic interactive planning assistance tool of claim 18, wherein said game wizard routine(s) are adapted further to interact with participants during the social game.

24. The electronic interactive planning assistance tool of claim 23, wherein said game wizard routine(s) communicate approval or disapproval of a participant'"'"'s rating.

25. The electronic interactive planning assistance tool of claim 18, wherein said game wizard routine(s) are adapted further to dynamically alter said predicted ratings in response to actual ratings presented during the social game.

26. The electronic interactive planning assistance tool of claim 18, wherein said game wizard routine(s) are adapted further to optimize one or more social game characteristic scores by automatically altering said initial proposed set of sample items and/or said initial proposed set of participants.

27. The electronic interactive planning assistance tool of claim 18, wherein said game wizard routine(s) are adapted further to calculate and present social game characteristic scores based on a social game host data input altering said initial proposed set of sample items and/or said initial proposed set of participants.

28. The electronic interactive planning assistance tool of claim 27, wherein said game wizard routine(s) are adapted further to present suggestions to said social game host for said set of sample items and/or said set of participants.