METHOD OF SOCIAL INTERACTION BETWEEN COMMUNICATION DEVICE USERS

• US 20090287783A1
• Filed: 06/29/2007
• Published: 11/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Eccosphere International Pty., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Eccosphere International Pty Limited An Australian C
• Inventors: Beare, Christopher Thomas, Salzer, Howard Adam, Ricketts, John
• Application Number:
  US12/306,428
• Publication Number:
  US 20090287783A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/567 Multimedia conference systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information

Abstract

A method of social interaction between communication device users across a network (14, 16), the method including: at a first communication device (18, 20), selecting a user communication group of a communication group type corresponding to one of: (a) a known user; (b) a group of users with a previously established relationship; or (c) a group of users with no previously established relationship; and communicating with users in the selected communication group.

Claims

1. A method of social interaction between communication device users across a network, the method including:

at a first communication device, selecting a user communication group of a communication group type corresponding to one of;

(a) a known user;

(b) a group of users with a previously established relationship;

or

(c) a group of users with no previously established relationship; and

communicating with users in the selected communication group.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein

the communicating step includes one or both of:

sending communications to users in the selected communication group;

or

receiving communications from users in the selected communication group.

3. A method according to either one of claims 1 or 2, wherein

the user communication group is selected by:

selecting a user communication group type; and

selecting a user communication group belonging to a user communication group type.

4. A method according to claim 1, and further including the step of:

at the first communication device, presenting an indication of the user communication groups available for selection.

5. A method according to claim 4, and further including the step of:

upon selection of a user communication group, presenting an indication of available communication methods for interaction within the selected user communication group.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein

users in a communication group of type (c) are known to be within a defined geographical zone.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein

The geographical zone is defined by the location of the first communication device.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein

a communication within a user communication group of type (c) is accompanied by metadata identifying one or more characteristics of the communication.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein

the metadata characterises at least one of:

media type and one or more textual elements of the communication.

10. A method according to claim 8, and further including the step of:

enabling user selection of the metadata at the first communication device.

11. A method according to claim 1, and further including the step of:

using a communication tool for communicating with users in the selected communication group.

12. A method according to claim 11,

wherein the communication tools provided for communicating with users in communication groups of types (a), (b) and (a) are consistent with each other.

13. A method according to claim 11, wherein for a user communication group of type (a), the communication tool provides at least:

an indication of the user communication group, and

one or more network addresses to enable communication with the known person'"'"'s communication device.

14. A method according to claim 11, wherein

for a user communication group of type (b), the communication tool provides at least:

an indication of the user communication group, and

one or more network addresses to enable communication with the communication devices of all users in the communication group.

15. A method according to claim 11, wherein

for a user communication group of type (c), the communication tool provides at least:

an indication of the user communication group.

16. A method according to claim 15 and claim 6, wherein

the communication tool further enables user selection of the extent of the geographical zone.

17. A method according to claim 15, wherein the communication tool further provides:

one or more user-selected rules to enable selective reception of communications from users in the communication group.

18. A method according to claim 10, and further including the step of:

using the first communication device to create the communication tool.

19. A method according to claim 10, and further including the step of:

using a communication device not forming part of the selected communication group to create the communication tool.

20. A method according to either one of claims 18 or 19, and further including the step of:

notifying one of more other users in the user communication group of the creation of the communication tool.

21. A method according to claim 10, and further including the step of:

transmitting the communication tool to users of other communication devices in the user communication group.

22. A method according to claim 1, wherein

one or more of the communication devices are mobile communication devices.

23. A method according to claim 1, wherein one or more users are a virtual persona.

24. A method according to claim 23, wherein a plurality of personas are associated with a same communications device.

25. A method according to claim 24, and further including the step of:

selecting one of the personas for communication with the selected communication group.

26. A communication device including a processor and an associated memory for storing software that causes the processor to carry out a method according to claim 1.

27. Software for use with a communication device including a processor and an associated memory for storing the software, the software including a series of instructions that causes the processor to carry out a method according to claim 1.

28. A method for facilitating social interaction between communication device users across a network, wherein at least a first communication device is configure to enable (i) selection of a user communication group of a communication group type corresponding to one of (a) a known user, (b) users in a group of users with a previously established relationship or (c) users in a group of users with no previously established relationship;

and (ii) communication with communication devices of users in the selected communication group, the method including;

at a server, receiving from the first communication device data identifying all users in a communication group;

creating a communication tool associated with the communication group; and

transmitting the communication tool to the first communication device for use in selection of and communicating with the communication group.

29. A method according to claim 28, and further including the step of:

transmitting the communication tool to other users in the communication group.

33. A server including a processor and an associated memory for storing software that causes the processor to carry out a method according to either one of claims 28 or 30.

34. Software for use with a server including a processor and an associated memory for storing the software, the software including a series of instructions that causes the processor to carry out a method according to either one of claims 28 or 30.

30. A method for facilitating social interaction between communication device users across a network, wherein at least a first communication device is configure to enable (i) selection of a user communication group of a communication group type corresponding to one of (a) a known user, (b) a group of users with a previously established relationship or (c) users in a group of users with no previously established relationship;

and (ii) communication with communication devices of users in the selected communication group, the method including;

at a server, receiving from the first communication device data identifying the spatial context of the communication group of type (c); and

transmitting communications from within that spatial context to the first communication device.

31. A method according to claim 30, and further including the step of:

at the server, receiving from the first communication device rules for filtering communications transmitted to the first communication device; and

selectively transmitting communications from within that spatial context to the first communication device.

32. A method according to either one of claims 30 or 31, and further including the step of:

transmitting a communication tool to one or more users in the group in order to enable reception of a same set of communications by those users.