Cross-population of virtual communities

• US 7,805,406 B2
• Filed: 10/22/2007
• Issued: 09/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Xystar Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Xystar Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Craig, Terrance Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleurantin; Jean B
• Application Number:
  US11/977,030
• Publication Number:
  US 20080104079A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,072 Days
• Field of Search: 707 1- 10, 707100-1041, 707200-206, 715733-745, 715/753, 709/203, 709217-219
• US Class Current: 707/622
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles

Abstract

Systems and method for cross-population of virtual communities are provided. An exemplary method comprises providing a plurality of virtual communities, each of the virtual communities related to other virtual communities by a cross-population relationship. A user associated with a first virtual community of the plurality of the virtual communities is provided access to a second virtual community of the plurality of the virtual communities based on a cross-population relationship between the first virtual community and the second virtual community.

Claims

1. A system for cross-population of virtual communities, the system comprising:

a communities module stored in memory and executable by a processor to provide a plurality of virtual communities, each virtual community comprising an activity module configured to provide access to content within the virtual community;

a relationships module stored in memory and executable by the processor to;

manage user access to the plurality of virtual communities based on a cross-population relationship between the plurality of virtual communities, wherein the cross-population relationship allows a member of one of the virtual communities in the cross-population relationship to access another virtual community in the cross-population relationship, and

provide the user with content from the first virtual community or from the second virtual community based on a niche of the first virtual community and a secondary profile of the user; and

a profile module stored in memory and executable by the processor to store a profile of each of the users.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the communities module is further configured to provide a second interface associated with other content within another virtual community.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the activity module is configured to allow the user to modify the content within the virtual community.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the communities module is further configured to provide a cross-population interface within each virtual community.

5. A method for managing admission to a virtual community, the method comprising:

storing in memory information regarding a plurality of virtual communities, wherein a first virtual community of the plurality of virtual communities is related to at least one other virtual community by a cross-population relationship, wherein the cross-population relationship allows a member of one of the virtual communities in the cross-population relationship to access another virtual community in the cross-population relationship; and

executing instructions stored in memory, wherein execution of the instructions by a processor;

identifies that a user is associated with the first virtual community of the plurality of the virtual communities,

identifies a cross-population relationship between the first virtual community and a second virtual community of the plurality of the virtual communities,

grants the user access to the second virtual community of the plurality of the virtual communities based on the identified cross-population relationship between the first virtual community and the second virtual community, and

provides the user with content from the first virtual community or from the second virtual community based on a niche of the first virtual community and a secondary profile of the user.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the cross-population relationship between the first virtual community and the second virtual community comprises a one-way relationship.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the cross-population relationship between the first virtual community and the second virtual community comprises a two-way relationship.

8. The method of claim 5 further comprising generating a first secondary profile of the user associated with the first virtual community and a second secondary profile of the user associated with the second virtual community.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising allowing another user of the first virtual community to access the second secondary profile of the user.

10. The method of claim 5 wherein providing access to the first community includes receiving login information and providing access to the second community does not include receiving the login information.

11. The method of claim 5 wherein the second virtual community comprises a sub-community of the first virtual community.

12. A method for cross-populating a virtual community, the method comprising:

receiving login information from a user, the user associated with a profile and a first virtual community; and

executing instructions stored in memory, wherein execution of the instructions by a processor;

identifies that the user is a member of a first virtual community,

displays content associated with the first virtual community to the user,

displays content associated with a second virtual community to the user based on a cross-population relationship between the first virtual community and the second virtual community, wherein the cross-population relationship allows a member of one of the virtual communities in the cross-population relationship to access another virtual community in the cross-population relationship, and

provides the user with content from the first virtual community or from the second virtual community based on a niche of the first virtual community and a secondary profile of the user.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising selecting the second virtual community based on the profile.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising providing access to content within the first virtual community via an activity module.

15. The method of claim 12 further comprising determining whether to display the content within the first virtual community based on whether the user has access to the second virtual community.

16. A method comprising:

storing information in memory regarding a newly generated virtual community;

receiving information regarding a first cross-population relationship of the new virtual community with an existing virtual community, wherein the first cross-population relationship allows a member of one of the virtual communities in the first cross-population relationship to access another virtual community in the cross-population relationship; and

executing instructions stored in memory, wherein execution of the instructions by a processor;

provides a user of the existing virtual community access to the new virtual community based on the received information regarding the cross-population relationship between the existing virtual community and the new virtual community, and

provides the user with content from the first virtual community or from the second virtual community based on a niche of the first virtual community and a secondary profile of the user.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

receiving a second cross-population relationship of the existing virtual community with the new virtual community; and

providing a second user of the new virtual community access to the existing virtual community based on the second cross-population relationship.

18. The method of claim 16 further comprising providing a user interface including a menu indicating the new virtual community and the existing virtual community.