DEVICE, SYSTEM, METHOD, AND COMPUTER-READABLE MEDIUM FOR PROVIDING AN EDUCATIONAL, TEXT-BASED INTERACTIVE GAME

• US 20150004591A1
• Filed: 06/27/2013
• Published: 01/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: DoSomething.org
• Original Assignee: DoSomething.org
• Inventors: LIDEY, Marah, BOLOGNO, Alysha, UY, Jonathan, FANTINI, Mike, LUBLIN, Nancy
• Application Number:
  US13/929,397
• Publication Number:
  US 20150004591A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 434/351
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/332 using wireless networks, e.g. cellular phone networks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/40 Processing or translation of natural language natural language analysis G06F40/20; semantic analysis G06F40/30
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3225 Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/077 different stations being capable of presenting different questions simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/08 characterised by modifying the teaching programme in response to a wrong answer, e.g. repeating the question, supplying further information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1813 for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms instant messaging H04L51/04; protocols for multimedia communication H04L65/1101; arrangements for multi-party communication H04L65/403; telephonic conference arrangements H04M3/56; television conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/52 for supporting social networking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality

Abstract

A method, device, system, and computer medium for implementing and/or providing an educational, text-based, interactive game are provided. For example, a server may be connected to a plurality of communication devices. The server may include: a receiver that receives a first text from a first mobile communication device; a message determination unit that determines a second text to be sent to the first mobile communication device, in response to the first text, such that a user of the first mobile communication device and the server system continue an interactive conversation path; and a language scripter that customizes the second text based on, at least, a plurality of messages that have been received from the first mobile communication device.

Claims

1. A server system for hosting an educational text-based interactive game for a plurality of mobile communication devices, the server system comprising:

a receiver that receives a first text from a first mobile communication device;

a message determination unit that determines a second text to be sent to the first mobile communication device in response to the first text, wherein the first mobile communication device responds to the second text to continue an interactive conversation path between the first mobile communication device and the server system;

a language scripter that customizes the second text based on, at least, a plurality of messages that have been received from the first mobile communication device during the game; and

a transmitter that transmits the customized second text to the first mobile communication device.

2. The server system of claim 1, wherein

the receiver receives a third text from a second communication device, and

the message determination unit determines the second text based on both the first text received from the first communication device and the third text received from the second communication device.

3. The server system of claim 1, wherein the texts exchanged between the first communication device and the server system are in SMS or MMS format.

4. The server system of claim 1, wherein the first mobile communication device includes a cellphone, a tablet computer, a PDA, or a device supporting SMS or MMS communication.

5. The server system of claim 1, wherein the language scripter customizes the second text based on information associated with each of the plurality of messages, the information including at least a time, date, or location associated with transmission or receipt of the respective messages.

6. The server system of claim 1, further comprising a storage medium that stores aggregate text messages that have been received from the first communication device,

wherein the language scripter customizes the second text based on, at least, a language style of all of the aggregate text messages stored on the storage medium, the language style including at least a frequency of a word, an average length of sentences, or a frequency of a grammar mistake.

7. The server system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of messages are an aggregate of all messages that have been received from the first mobile communication device.

8. The server system of claim 2, wherein the message determination unit determines the second text based on both an aggregate of texts previously received from the first communication device, including the first text, and an aggregate of texts previously received from the second communication device, including the third text.

9. The server system of claim 2, wherein the language scripter customizes the second text based on information associated with each of the aggregate of messages from the first and second communication devices, the information including at least a time, date, or location associated with transmission or receipt of the respective messages.

10. The server system of claim 1, further comprising a result-generator that generates a result of the game for the user of the first communication device based on at least a comparison of the aggregate texts received from the first communication device and aggregate texts received from other devices during the game.

11. The server system of claim 1, wherein the message-determination unit determines the second text among a plurality of scheduled messages, based on a scheduling condition associated with each of the messages.

12. The server system of claim 11, wherein the scheduling condition includes a time of the day, location associated with the first communication device, or time lapsed from a last message sent.

13. The server system of claim 1, wherein if the user of the first communication device does not respond to the second text sent by the server system within a predetermined amount of time, the server system recognizes the user'"'"'s non-action, and

the message determination unit determines a subsequent message to be sent to the user based on at least the user'"'"'s non-action.

14. A method for hosting an educational text-based interactive game for a plurality of communication devices, using a server system remotely connected to the communication devices, the method comprising:

receiving a first text from a first mobile communication device;

determining a second text to be sent to the first mobile communication device, in response to the first text, wherein the first mobile communication device responds to the second text to continue an interactive conversation path between the first mobile communication device and the server system;

customizing the second text based on, at least, a plurality of messages that have been received from the first mobile communication device during the game; and

transmitting the customized second text to the first mobile communication device.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

receiving a third text from a second communication device,

wherein the second text is determined based on both an aggregate of texts previously received from the first communication device, including the first text, and an aggregate of texts previously received from the second communication device, including the third text.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the texts exchanged between the first communication device and the server system are in SMS or MMS format.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the first mobile communication device includes a cellphone, a tablet computer, a PDA, or a device supporting SMS or MMS communication.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein

the second text is determined by selecting one of a plurality of scheduled messages, based on a scheduling condition associated with each of the messages, and

the scheduling condition includes a time of the day, location associated with the first communication device, or time lapsed from a last message sent.

19. A non-transitory computer readable medium included in a server system with a processor and storing instructions thereon for hosting an educational text-based interactive gaming for a plurality of communication devices, when the instructions are executed, the server system is caused to perform:

receiving a first text from a first mobile communication device;

determining a second text to be sent to the first mobile communication device, in response to the first text, wherein the first mobile communication device responds to the second text to continue an interactive conversation path between the first mobile communication device and the server system;

customizing the second text based on, at least, a plurality of messages that have been received from the first mobile communication device during the game; and

transmitting the customized second text to the first mobile communication device.