System for creating a community for users with common interests to interact in

• US 6,519,629 B2
• Filed: 10/02/2001
• Issued: 02/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cross Atlantic Capital Partners Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Ikimbo, Inc.
• Inventors: Fegly, Andrew, Dekelbaum, Robert, Hulan, Matt, Harvey, Jamey
• Primary Examiner(s): Meky, Moustafa M.
• Application Number:
  US09/968,386
• Publication Number:
  US 20020059379A1
• Time in Patent Office: 497 Days
• Field of Search: 709/200, 709/201, 709/203, 709/204, 709/205, 709/217, 709/218, 709/219, 709/220, 709/223, 709/224, 709/232
• US Class Current: 709/204
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/12 involving interaction between a plurality of game devices, e.g. transmisison or distribution systems protocols for networked virtual reality, networked games H04L29/06034
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/71 using secure communication between game devices and game servers, e.g. by encrypting game data or authenticating players
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/79 involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/401 Secure communication, e.g. using encryption or authentication
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/50 characterized by details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/532 using secure communication, e.g. by encryption, authentication
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/535 for monitoring, e.g. of user parameters, terminal parameters, application parameters, network parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5546 using player registration data, e.g. identification, account, preferences, game history
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1818 Conference organisation arrangements, e.g. handling schedules, setting up parameters needed by nodes to attend a conference, booking network resources, notifying involved parties
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/56 Provisioning of proxy services store-and-forward switching systems in data switching networks H04L12/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/562 Brokering proxy services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

An Information and Application Distribution System (IADS) is disclosed. The IADS operates, in one embodiment, to distribute, initiate and allow interaction and communication within like-minded communities. Application distribution occurs through the transmission and receipt of an “invitation application” which contains both a message component and an executable component to enable multiple users to connect within a specific community. The application object includes functionality which allows the user'"'"'s local computer to automatically set up a user interface to connect with a central controller which facilitates interaction and introduction between and among users.

Claims

1. A method for creating a community for users with common interests to interact in, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a creation transmission from a registered user, the creation transmission indicating that the registered user desires to create a community;

receiving community identification information from the registered user;

receiving a selection of at least one application object from the registered user;

creating a community based on the community identification information and the at least one application object;

receiving at least one communications address designated by the registered user, the at least one communications address corresponding to a user to receive a created community; and

transmitting the created community based in part on the at least one communications address.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of transmitting the created community further comprises transmitting the created community and a user interface.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one communications address is an e-mail address.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the selected at least one application object comprises at least one of:

a) chat application object;

b) an instant message application object;

c) a white board application object;

d) a shopping cart application object;

e) an invitation application object;

f) a creation application object;

g) a photo album application object;

h) a store application object;

i) a calendar application object;

j) a video conferencing application object;

k) a voice chat application object;

l) an e-mail list application object;

m) a bulletin board application object; and

n) a pals application object.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of receiving a selection to subscribe to at least one subscription object, wherein the at least one subscription object is accessed through one of the at least one application object.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the at least one subscription object is published by at least one of:

a) at least one other community;

b) at least one other user; and

c) at least one vendor.

7. The method according to claim 5, wherein accessing the at least one subscription object through the one of the at least one application object maintains all of the original features of the subscription object.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein community information further comprises community fields, whereby the community presents to a user at least at least one of:

a) at least one other user having user fields;

b) at least one other community having community fields; and

c) at least one vendor product having vendor fields;

wherein the presentation is based in part on a comparison of user fields, community fields and vendor fields.

9. A system for creating a community for users with common interests to interact in comprising:

a receiver module for receiving;

a) a creation transmission from a registered user, the creation transmission indicating that the registered user desires to create a community;

b) receiving community identification information from the registered user;

c) receiving a selection of at least one application object from the registered user; and

d) at least one communications address designated by the registered user, the at least one communications address corresponding to a user to receive a created community;

a creation module for creating a community based on the community identification information and the at least one community function; and

a transmitter for transmitting the created community based in part on the at least one communications address.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein transmitting the created community comprises transmitting the created community and a user interface.

11. The system according to claim 9, wherein the at least one communications address is an e-mail address.

12. The system according to claim 9, wherein the selected at least one application object comprises at least one of:

a) chat application object;

b) an instant message application object;

c) a white board application object;

d) a shopping cart application object;

e) an invitation application object;

f) a creation application object;

g) a photo album application object;

h) a store application object;

i) a calendar application object;

j) a video conferencing application object;

k) a voice chat application object;

l) an e-mail list application object;

m) a bulletin board application object; and

n) a pals application object.

13. The system according to claim 9, further comprising a subscription module for subscribing to at least one subscription object, wherein the at least one subscription object is accessed through one of the at least one application object.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the at least one subscription object is published by at least one of:

a) at least one other community;

b) at least one other user; and

c) at least one vendor.

15. The system according to claim 13, wherein accessing the at least one subscription object through the one of the at least one application object maintains all of the original features of the subscription object.

16. The system according to claim 9, wherein community information further comprises community fields, whereby the community presents to a user through the community at least at least one of:

a) at least one other user having user fields;

b) at least one other community having community fields; and

c) at least one vendor product having vendor fields;

wherein the presentation is based in part on a comparison of user fields, community fields and vendor fields.

17. A method for creating a community for users with common interests to interact in, the method comprising the steps of:

transmitting a creation transmission, the creation transmission indicating the desire to create a community;

transmitting community identification information;

transmitting at least one communications address corresponding to a user to receive the created community; and

selecting at least one application object for inclusion in the community, whereby the community is created based on the community identification information and the at least one application object.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the created community includes a user interface.

19. The method according to claim 17, wherein the at least one communications address is an e-mail address.

20. The method according to claim 17, wherein the selected at least one application object comprises at least one of:

a) chat application object;

b) an instant message application object;

c) a white board application object;

d) a shopping cart application object;

e) an invitation application object;

f) a creation application object;

g) a photo album application object;

h) a store application object;

i) a calendar application object;

j) a video conferencing application object;

k) a voice chat application object;

l) an e-mail list application object;

m) a bulletin board application object; and

n) a pals application object.

21. The method according to claim 17, further comprising the step of subscribing to at least one subscription object for inclusion in the community, wherein the at least one subscription object is accessed through one of the at least one application object.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein the at least one subscription object is published by at least one of:

a) at least one other community;

b) at least one other user; and

c) at least one vendor.

23. The method according to claim 21, wherein accessing the at least one subscription object through the one of the at least one application object maintains all of the original features of the subscription object.

24. The method according to claim 17, wherein community information further comprises community fields, whereby the community presents to a user at least at least one of:

a) at least one other user having user fields;

b) at least one other community having community fields; and

c) at least one vendor product having vendor fields;

wherein the presentation is based in part on a comparison of user fields, community fields and vendor fields.

25. A system for creating a community for users with common interests to interact in, the system comprising:

a transmitter module for transmitting;

a) a creation transmission, the creation transmission indicating the desire to create a community;

b) community identification information;

c) at least one communications address corresponding to a user to receive the created community; and

d) a selection of at least one application object for inclusion in the community, whereby the community is created based on the community identification information and the at least one application object; and

a display module for displaying prompts for the community identification information, the at least one communications address, and the selection of at least one application object.

26. The system according to claim 25, wherein the created community includes a user interface.

27. The system according to claim 25, wherein the at least one communications address is an e-mail address.

28. The system according to claim 25, wherein the selected at least one application object comprises at least one of:

a) chat application object;

b) an instant message application object;

c) a white board application object;

d) a shopping cart application object;

e) an invitation application object;

f) a creation application object;

g) a photo album application object;

h) a store application object;

i) a calendar application object;

j) a video conferencing application object;

k) a voice chat application object;

l) an e-mail list application object;

m) a bulletin board application object; and

n) a pals application object.

29. The system according to claim 25, wherein the transmitter module further transmits the selection of subscribing to at least one subscription object for inclusion in the community, wherein the at least one subscription object is accessed through one of the at least one application object.

30. The system according to claim 29, wherein the at least one subscription object is published by at least one of:

a) at least one other community;

b) at least one other user; and

c) at least one vendor.

31. The system according to claim 29, wherein accessing the at least one subscription object through the one of the at least one application object maintains all of the original features of the subscription object.

32. The system according to claim 25, wherein community information further comprises community fields, whereby the community presents to a user at least at least one of:

a) at least one other user having user fields;

b) at least one other community having community fields; and

c) at least one vendor product having vendor fields;

wherein the presentation is based in part on a comparison of user fields, community fields and vendor fields.