PLATFORM FOR FACILITATING PACED, SYNCHRONOUS INTERACTIVE EXPERIENCES

• US 20160366197A1
• Filed: 05/27/2016
• Published: 12/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2015
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Vyu Labs, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Vyu Labs, Inc.
• Inventors: Dharmaji, Srinivasa
• Granted Patent: US 10,291,669 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1083 In-session procedures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4038 with floor control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4046 with distributed floor control

Abstract

Various embodiments concern a platform for creating and managing paced, synchronous interactions between a celebrity and one or more audience members. More specifically, the platform generates interfaces that are accessible on user devices (e.g., mobile phones, tablets, personal computers) and that display media content. For example, live media content could be captured by the celebrity'"'"'s user device and then broadcast to user device(s) associated with the audience member(s) in real time. In some embodiments, audience member(s) may also be able to capture and broadcast live media content. For example, an audience member may wish to record a question for the celebrity or answer a question posed by the celebrity.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating interactive, live streaming sessions, the method comprising:

generating a first interface that is accessible to a first user on a first user device;

receiving, from the first user device, first input indicative of user input, from the first user, that specifies scheduling details for an interactive session;

creating a data record that includes the scheduling details for the interactive session;

generating a second interface that is accessible to a second user on a second user device;

displaying an invitation to participate in the interactive session on the second interface;

receiving, from the second user device, second input indicative of user input, from the second user, that represents an acceptance of the invitation to the interactive session;

creating the interactive session that is simultaneously accessible to the first user via the first interface and the second user via the second interface;

enabling the first user to initiate a first live media stream from the first user device to the second user device; and

responsive to the second user interacting with an icon displayed on the second interface,

enabling the second user to initiate a second live media stream from the second user device to the first user device and at least one other user device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second user is one of multiple users who are able to access the second interface and experience the first live media stream.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second interfaces are accessible via one or more of a web browser, a software program, a mobile application, and an over-the-top (OTT) application.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the scheduling details include a date and a time for the interactive session.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, from the first user device, third input indicative of user input, from the first user, that specifies registration details; and

creating an account using the registration details specified by the first user.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the registration details include credentials for a social networking service.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

associating the account with a social networking account of the social networking service.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

receiving, from the first user device, fourth input indicative of user input, from the first user, that represents a request to modify the scheduling details for the interactive session;

modifying the data record responsive to receiving the fourth input; and

causing a notification to be transmitted to individuals who have indicated an interest in participating in the interactive session.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second live media streams include video, audio, photos, text, metadata, or some combination thereof.

10. A system comprising:

a data storage facility; and

an interactive platform that is communicatively coupled to the data storage facility and multiple user devices across a network, wherein the interactive platform is configured to;

generate a first interface that is accessible to a celebrity user who wishes to host an interactive session;

generate a second interface that is accessible to fan users who are interested in participating in the interactive session;

receive, at the first interface, scheduling details for the interactive session that are input by the celebrity user;

post, at the second interface, the scheduling details for review by the fan users;

receive, at the second interface, confirmation of an intent to attend the interactive session from a subset of the fan users;

create the interactive session that is accessible to the celebrity user via the first interface and the subset of fan users via the second interface; and

initiate a first live media stream that is captured by a user device associated with the celebrity user and that is streamed to user devices associated with the subset of fan users.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the interactive platform is further configured to:

receive, at the second interface from a particular fan user, a request to pose a question to the celebrity user.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the particular fan user submits the request by interacting with an icon presented on the second interface.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the interactive platform is further configured to:

calculate a score for the particular fan user based on a set of factors;

upon determining the score does not exceed a specified threshold, refuse the request to pose the question to the celebrity user; and

upon determining the score exceeds the specified threshold, initiate a second live media stream that is captured by a user device associated with the particular fan user and that is streamed to at least the user device associated with the celebrity user.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the set of factors includes a count of the particular fan user'"'"'s followers on a social networking service, whether the particular fan user has been authenticated by the interactive platform, whether the particular fan user has posed a question in the past, whether the particular fan has participated in other interactive sessions, or some combination thereof.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the interactive platform is further configured to:

terminate the second live media stream responsive to determining a predetermined time frame has expired or a manual termination request has been received from the celebrity user at the first interface.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the user devices associated with the celebrity user and the particular fan user are communicatively coupled to one another via an application programming interface that is executed by an application running on each user device.

17. A computer-readable storage medium comprising program instructions that cause a processor to perform a method comprising:

receiving, at a user device associated with a user, login information for an application running on the first user device;

causing the application to present an interface for engaging in interactive sessions with other users of the application;

enabling the user to register for an interactive session at a specified date and time;

permitting the user to access the application at the specified date and time;

causing a first live video stream to be presented on the interface for observation by the user, where the first live media stream is captured by another user device and streamed in near real time to the user device across a network;

allowing the user to submit a request to initiate a second live video stream by interacting with an icon presented on the interface;

initiating the second live video stream that is captured by the user device and streamed in near real time to the other user device; and

terminating the second live video stream responsive to determining a specified period of time has expired, no audio signals have been recognized in the second live media stream for a specified period of time, or a termination request has been received at the interface.

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the first and second live video streams further comprise metadata.

19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the login information includes credentials for a service responsible for managing the application or a social networking service.

20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the user device is one of a plurality of user devices to which the first live video stream is broadcast.