System and Method for Creating and Sharing an Event Using a Social Network

• US 20120004956A1
• Filed: 07/14/2011
• Published: 01/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Spatial Reality LLC
• Original Assignee: Charles D. Huston
• Inventors: Huston, Charles D., Coleman, Chris
• Granted Patent: US 8,933,967 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.1
• 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 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 with members of a social network, comprising:

announcing to one or more members of a social network an invitation to participate in said event;

operating a device accompanying said participant during the event to track positions of said participant during the event;

communicating said positions to a social media server associated with said social network;

subscribing to said event on said social network by said one or more invited members; and

viewing said event by said one or more members wherein at least one view is a perspective view from a participant position communicated to said social media server and includes an augmented reality (AR) message.

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

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the one or more members can communicate messages to said participant during the event.

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 virtual goods, virtual services, awards, trophies, money, or donations to a charity.

10. A system of sharing an event with members of a social network, comprising:

a communication link between a participant in the event 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 during the event;

a server associated with said social network;

a communication link between said device and a server associated with said social network to communicate said positions to said server associated with said social network; and

wherein said server operates to permit said one or more members to become spectators to said event by connecting to said social network server and view said event wherein at least one view is a perspective view from a participant position recorded on said server and includes an augmented reality (AR) message.

11. The system of claim 10, the device including a GPS receiver for determining positions on the venue for the event.

12. The system of claim 10, at least one of said network links comprising a cellular network.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein said server connection allows spectators to communicate with said participant.

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

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the background to said one view is a photo image.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the background to said one view is an artificial reality background.

17. A method of compensating a participant in an event, comprising:

tracking the positions of a participant at the event as the participant traverses the venue of the event;

communicating the positions to members of a social network who have elected to become spectators of the event;

viewing the event by said spectators in real time where at least some of the views are a perspective view of the venue from a participant position and includes an AR message; and

compensating the participant by one or more of said spectators by rewarding compensation to said participant based on a participant activity during the event, where said compensation comprises virtual goods, virtual services, awards, trophies, money, or donations to a charity.

18. The method of claim 17, including communicating AR messages to members of the social network that elect to become spectators with a photo background.

19. The method of claim 17, including communicating AR messages to members of the social network that elect to become spectators with an artificial reality background.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein said participant announces a select charity before the event to spectators of the event.