System and method for creating and sharing an event using a social network

• US 9,566,494 B2
• Filed: 09/15/2014
• Issued: 02/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Spatial Reality LLC
• Original Assignee: Charles D. Huston, Chris Coleman
• Inventors: Huston, Charles D., Coleman, Chris
• Primary Examiner(s): Appiah, Charles
• Assistant Examiner(s): Zhang, Edward
• Application Number:
  US14/486,480
• Publication Number:
  US 20150006639A1
• Time in Patent Office: 883 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3658 Means associated with the ball for indicating or measuring, e.g. speed, direction
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/19 Sporting applications
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/006 Mixed reality object pose determination, tracking or camera calibration for mixed reality G06T7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/52 for supporting social networking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/20 Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/21 for social networking applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

A system and method are provided for creating and viewing artificial reality (AR) messages at an event, such as a sporting event, and sharing the event on a social network thereby enhancing and expanding the participant and spectator experience. The AR messages include geo-referenced artificial reality words or symbols to indicate distances, tips, targets or other information to the participant. The event is shared with spectators, such as friends or a subset of friends in the participant'"'"'s social network. In addition to creating an active gallery for an event, messages can be exchanged among participants and spectators and virtual goods, money, and donations exchanged.

Claims

1. A method of sharing an event having a venue with members of a social network, where the event is not a social network, comprising:

identifying one or more members of a social network to participate in said event;

operating a positioning device having accompanying a participant during the event at the event venue to track positions of said participant in real time during the event as said participant traverses the venue of the event;

communicating said participant positions at said event venue to a social media server associated with said social network;

electing to participate in said event on said social network by said one or more identified members; and

viewing said event during the event by said one or more participating members wherein at least one view is a perspective view from a position communicated to said social media server and includes an augmented reality (AR) message displayed in said perspective view during the event,

the one or more participating members being able to communicate with said participant in real time during the event.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the viewing is done in real time by said one or more members from a participant position.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the positioning device includes a GPS receiver.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the background of the perspective view is a photographic image from a participant position.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the background of the perspective view is an artificial reality environment with the AR message layered on said background.

6. The method of claim 1, including communicating an AR message and other information from said participant to said social media server.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein the members award compensation to said participant based on participant activities during the event.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the event includes multiple participants and participants and spectators communicate.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the compensation comprises one or more of virtual goods, virtual services, awards, trophies, money, or donations to a charity.

10. The method of claim 1, including a mobile device accompanying one or more members attending the event, said mobile device being operably connected to said server enabling said one or more attending members to view said event on said device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said mobile device comprises glasses worn by a member.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said mobile device comprises a smart phone tethered to said glasses.

13. A system of sharing an event having a venue with members of a social network, where the event is not a social network, comprising:

a communication link between a participant in the event at the event venue and a social network to announce to one or more members of a social network an opportunity to participate in said event;

a device accompanying said participant during the event to track positions of said participant in real time during the event at the event venue;

a server associated with said social network and operable to permit one or more members of said social network to elect to participate as a spectator to said event;

a communication link between said venue and said server associated with said social network to communicate during the event said participant positions at the event venue to said server associated with said social network; and

wherein said server being operable to permit said one or more members who have elected to become spectators to said event by connecting to said social network server during the event, and viewing said event at the event venue, wherein at least one view is a perspective view from a position at the event venue and includes an augmented reality (AR) message displayed to said spectators, and wherein said server is capable of displaying said AR message during the event;

wherein said server connection allows spectators to communicate with said participant in real time during the event time.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the device includes a GPS receiver for determining positions at the venue for the event, and said one view is from a participant position.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein at least one of said network links comprises a cellular network.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein said communication link and server permits speculators to award compensation to a participant.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the background to said one view is a photo image.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the background to said one view is an artificial reality background.

19. The system of claim 13, wherein the dev ice comprises glasses and the background to said one view includes the real environment.