Method and system for sharing brand information

• US 8,725,804 B2
• Filed: 07/30/2009
• Issued: 05/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SINOEAST CONCEPT LIMITED (Tencent Holdings Limited)
• Original Assignee: SINOEAST CONCEPT LIMITED (Tencent Holdings Limited)
• Inventors: Gottfried, Linda
• Primary Examiner(s): Luu, Le H
• Application Number:
  US12/462,144
• Publication Number:
  US 20100121918A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,748 Days
• Field of Search: 709/204, 709/224, 709/246, 709/206, 709/203, 705/27, 705/14, 705/14.26, 705/36.R, 705/26, 345/629
• US Class Current: 709/204
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0214 Referral reward systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0276 Advertisement creation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15

Abstract

An interactive, computer network based system presents consumers with multimedia brand information via a browser-based interface called the GraffitiWall™. Consumers can use the GraffitiWall™ to modify and display a sponsor'"'"'s brand information in any way desired. Consumer modifications are immediately communicated to the other member consumers and the advertiser/sponsor. Consumers can rate the GraffitiWall™, or portions thereof, and email the GraffitiWall™. An archive of GraffitiWalls™ is maintained by the system. Consumers participate in online focus groups, one-to-one interviews and discussions, as well as games and promotions pertaining to the brand. Interaction with consumers through focus groups, one-to-one interviews, discussions, games and promotions allows the hosting company to reinforce brand equities; speak directly to their target audience; test new and updated products and services; and encourage participation to a brand via purchases and signups by rewarding the participant with coupons, samples, gift certificates, and the like. An ongoing dialogue between business and consumer, as well as consumer-to-consumer, nurtures customer participation, loyalty and satisfaction, and builds a community housed within the company'"'"'s brand.

Claims

1. An interactive network for display of product information to a plurality of consumers, comprising:

a. a multimedia forum for enabling a consumer to communicate with other consumers and at least one sponsor for advertising a product according to the product information;

b. a multimedia interface for enabling the consumer to modify and view the product information so as to determine whether the product is desired to the consumer;

c. the plurality of consumers communicating using at least one of the following types of devices;

a laptop, a PDA, a cell phone, a computer, a kiosk, a microphone, a camera, a video camera, an electronic billboard or other electronic platforms;

d. the product information comprising multimedia brand information and the multimedia interface enabling the consumers to modify and display the multimedia brand information;

wherein the product information, multimedia brand information, and the multimedia interface are updated based upon the consumer'"'"'s actions and communicated to the sponsor, and wherein the sponsor dynamically administrates how the consumer modify and view the product information.

2. The interactive network as recited by claim 1, wherein the consumer can add multimedia product information to the network.

3. The interactive network as recited by claim 1, further comprising a chat feature.

4. The interactive network as recited by claim 1, wherein the multimedia interface enables the consumer to establish a virtual three-dimensional room for display of the product information.

5. The interactive network as recited by claim 1, wherein the product information and the multimedia interface form a projected image for viewing on a designated viewing area.

6. The interactive network as recited by claim 5, wherein the projected image is a GUI, the consumer being able to select objects and commands on the GUI and manipulate them by gesturing.

7. The interactive network as recited by claim 1, wherein the consumer can upload multimedia personal information and product information to the network.

8. The interactive network as recited by claim 7, wherein the uploaded multimedia personal information comprises an image of a room or other physical environment associated with the consumer and the product information comprises images from the sponsor such as staff members, automobiles, famous personalities, art, clothing or furniture and the consumer creates a virtual place, in the graffiti frame window, by incorporating the sponsor'"'"'s images within the image of the consumer'"'"'s uploaded environment.

9. The interactive network as recited by claim 1, wherein the sponsor dynamically controls a type and degree of modification made by the consumer.

10. The interactive network as recited by claim 1, wherein the sponsor dynamically turns on and off one or more tools provided for the consumer to make modification.

11. The interactive network as recited by claim 1, wherein:

the product information includes a multimedia presentation of the product;

the multimedia interface includes an interface for editing the multimedia presentation of the product and for applying the multimedia presentation on an image of a user of the product.

12. The interactive network as recited by claim 11, wherein:

the multimedia interface also includes an interface for attaching a musical riff to the image being applied with the multimedia presentation of the product.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable medium for a computer-executable process for displaying product information to a plurality of consumers in a networked interactive system, wherein the computer-executable process being stored on the non-transitory computer-readable medium comprises the steps:

a. connecting the consumers and at least one sponsor so that they can communicate with each other in a multimedia forum for advertising a product according to the product information;

b. providing a multimedia interface to a consumer with which the consumer can modify and view the product information so as to determine whether the product is desired to the consumer;

c. updating the product information and the multimedia interface based upon the consumer'"'"'s actions;

d. communicating the updating to the sponsor; and

e. the consumers communicating using at least one of the following types of devices;

a laptop, a PDA, a cell phone, a computer, a kiosk, a microphone, a camera, a video camera, an electronic billboard or other electronic platforms;

wherein said product information comprises multimedia brand information, and said multimedia interface is capable of enabling said consumer to modify and display said multimedia brand information, and wherein the sponsor dynamically administrates how the consumer modify and view the product information.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as recited by claim 13, wherein the multimedia interface enables the consumer to establish a virtual three-dimensional room for display of the product information.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as recited by claim 13, wherein the product information and the multimedia interface form a projected image for viewing on a designated viewing area.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as recited by claim 13, wherein the consumer can upload multimedia personal information and product information to the network.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as recited by claim 13, wherein the sponsor dynamically controls a type and degree of modification made by the consumer.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as recited by claim 13, wherein the sponsor dynamically turns on and off one or more tools provided for the consumer to make modification.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as recited by claim 13, wherein:

the product information includes a multimedia presentation of the product;

the multimedia interface includes an interface for editing the multimedia presentation of the product and for applying the multimedia presentation on an image of a user of the product.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as recited by claim 19, wherein:

the multimedia interface also includes an interface for attaching a musical riff to the image being applied with the multimedia presentation of the product.