System and a Method for Organizing Real-World Group Gatherings Around a Topic of Interest
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method for organizing meeting groups or events over a network, comprising:
- identifying a location associated with a user;
prompting the user, through a graphical user interface, to input a topic of interest;
receiving the topic of interest from the user;
searching, with at least one processor, a database of in-person meeting groups or events to determine if the database includes at least one meeting group or event corresponding to the topic of interest and within a specified distance of the location;
in response to determining that the database does not include at least one meeting group or event corresponding to the topic of interest and within the specified distance of the location, displaying, to the user through a graphical user interface, an option to start a meeting group or event corresponding to the topic of interest and the location;
in response to determining that the database does not include at least one meeting group or event corresponding to the topic of interest and within the specified distance of the location, displaying, to the user through a graphical user interface, an option to be notified when a meeting group or event corresponding to the topic of interest and the location is created; and
transmitting, with at least one processor, a notification to the user when the meeting group or event corresponding to the topic of interest and the location is created.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A computer-assisted method, computer system, and program product provide the functionality of a portal for persons to find, based on a topic of interest, the nearest relevant in-person gathering of other persons interested in the topic as well. The system provides for the automated creation of groups and for their automatic sustainment through automatic scheduling of periodic gatherings. Strangers in geographic proximity are automatically brought together into chapters formed around the topic of interest. Chapters may be led by organizers, and gatherings may have hosts. Automatic functions for venue selection, venue voting, cancellation, and feedback are provided.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for organizing meeting groups or events over a network, comprising:
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identifying a location associated with a user; prompting the user, through a graphical user interface, to input a topic of interest; receiving the topic of interest from the user; searching, with at least one processor, a database of in-person meeting groups or events to determine if the database includes at least one meeting group or event corresponding to the topic of interest and within a specified distance of the location; in response to determining that the database does not include at least one meeting group or event corresponding to the topic of interest and within the specified distance of the location, displaying, to the user through a graphical user interface, an option to start a meeting group or event corresponding to the topic of interest and the location; in response to determining that the database does not include at least one meeting group or event corresponding to the topic of interest and within the specified distance of the location, displaying, to the user through a graphical user interface, an option to be notified when a meeting group or event corresponding to the topic of interest and the location is created; and transmitting, with at least one processor, a notification to the user when the meeting group or event corresponding to the topic of interest and the location is created. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A system for organizing meeting groups or events over a network, comprising:
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(a) at least one data storage device comprising data representing a plurality of meeting groups or events, each meeting group or event of the plurality of meeting groups or events corresponding to a location and at least one topic; (b) at least one server computer comprising at least one processor and in communication with the at least one data storage device, the at least one server computer programmed to; (i) prompt a user, through a graphical user interface, to input a topic of interest, wherein the user is associated with a location; (ii) determine if at least one meeting group or event of the plurality of meeting groups or events stored in the at least one data storage device corresponds to the topic of interest and is within a specified distance from the location associated with the user; (iii) in response to determining that the plurality of meeting groups or events does not include at least one meeting group or event corresponding to the topic of interest that is within the specified distance from the location associated with the user, display a selectable option to be notified when a meeting group or event corresponding to the topic of interest and within the specified distance from the location is created by another user; (iv) in response to the user selecting the selectable option to be notified, add the user to a list corresponding to the topic of interest and the location, or display a further graphical user interface programmed to facilitate the user to be added to the list; and (v) transmit a notification to the user when a meeting group or event is created that corresponds to the topic of interest and is within a specified distance from the location. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 23)
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16. A computer program product for organizing meeting groups or events over a network, the computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium including program instructions that, when executed by at least one processor of at least one computer, cause the at least one computer to:
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identify a location associated with a user; receive, from the user, a topic of interest; search a database of meeting groups or events based at least partially on the location associated with the user and the topic of interest; determine, based at least partially on the search, if the database includes at least one meeting group or event within a specified distance of the location and corresponding to the topic of interest; if the database does include at least one meeting group or event within the specified distance of the location and corresponding to the topic of interest, display the at least one meeting group or event to the user; and if the database does not include at least one meeting group or event within the specified distance of the location and corresponding to the topic of interest, generate a graphical user interface comprising at least two of the following;
a selectable option to start a meeting group or event corresponding to the location and the topic of interest, a selectable option to be notified when a meeting group or event corresponding to the topic of interest and within a specified distance of the location is created, a meeting group or event corresponding to at least one topic related to the topic of interest that is within the specified distance, a meeting group or event corresponding to the topic of interest that is outside the specified distance, or any combination thereof. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A computer-implemented method for organizing meeting groups and/or events over a network, comprising:
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(a) receiving a topic of interest from a user over the network, the user associated with a location; (b) searching a database of meeting groups and/or events for at least one meeting group and/or event that corresponds to the topic of interest and is proximate to the location associated within the user; (c) determining that the database does not include a meeting group and/or event that is proximate to the location and corresponds to the topic of interest; (d) after determining that the database does not include a meeting group and/or event that is proximate to the location and corresponds to the topic of interest, generating a graphical user interface comprising at least two of the following; (i) a selectable option to start a meeting group and/or event corresponding to the location and the topic of interest, wherein the selectable option, when selected, causes a further graphical user interface to be displayed, the further graphical user interface programmed to receive user input and to create a meeting group or event based on the user input; (ii) a selectable option to be notified when a meeting group or event corresponding to the topic of interest and within a specified distance of the location is created, wherein the selectable option to be notified, when selected, causes the user to be added to a notification list corresponding to the topic of interest and the location; (iii) a meeting group or event corresponding to at least one topic related to the topic of interest that is within the specified distance; (iv) a meeting group or event corresponding to the topic of interest that is outside the specified distance;
or(v) any combination thereof. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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Specification