Method and system to facilitate interaction between and content delivery to users of a wireless communications network

• US 7,787,894 B2
• Filed: 04/07/2006
• Issued: 08/31/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Cricket Communications Incorporated (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Simon, Daniel, Wherry, Phillip, Westling, Mark Ford
• Primary Examiner(s): Eng, George
• Assistant Examiner(s): Miller, Brandon J
• Application Number:
  US11/400,783
• Publication Number:
  US 20070099701A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,607 Days
• Field of Search: 463/39, 463/40, 463/41, 463/42, 455/466, 455/456.1, 455/414.1, 455/412.1, 455/500, 455517-519, 455418-420, 725/46, 725/2, 725/62, 725/105, 370/312
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/12 involving interaction between a plurality of game devices, e.g. transmisison or distribution systems protocols for networked virtual reality, networked games H04L29/06034
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/332 using wireless networks, e.g. cellular phone networks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/792 for payment purposes, e.g. monthly subscriptions
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/795 for finding other players; for building a team; for providing a buddy list
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/406 Transmission via wireless network, e.g. pager or GSM
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5506 using advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5546 using player registration data, e.g. identification, account, preferences, game history
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5566 by matching opponents or finding partners to build a team, e.g. by skill level, geographical area, background, play style
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24 Querying
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/56 Provisioning of proxy services store-and-forward switching systems in data switching networks H04L12/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/08 User group management

Abstract

A system and method of creating affinity groups of portable communication device users, and distributing targeted content to said users is disclosed. The user affinity groups may be formed by comparing user profiles with each other or with a predefined affinity group profile definition.

Claims

1. A method of creating an affinity group of portable communications device users, the method comprising:

providing wireless communication between said users;

receiving profile data relating to each of said users;

storing the profile data relating to each of said users;

comparing, using a processor, the stored profile data of different ones of said users;

associating, using a processor, users with the affinity group based on the profile data comparison;

excluding a user from the affinity group based on the profile data comparison;

receiving input from the excluded user overriding the exclusion; and

associating, based on the received input, the requesting excluded user with the affinity group.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the profile data comprises information selected from the group consisting of:

user news preferences, user sports preferences, user advertisement preferences, user purchase preferences, user electronic game preferences, user interactive game preferences, user game skill level, user virtual reality character characteristics, user portable communications device capabilities, user portable communications device model, user portable communications device usage level, user occupation, user income level, user education level, user residence, user sex, user religion, and user frequent location.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the profile data comprises information selected from the group consisting of user electronic game preferences, user interactive game preferences, user game skill level, user virtual reality character characteristics, and user portable communications device capabilities.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the profile data includes user electronic game preferences.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the profile data includes user interactive game preferences.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the interactive game preferences comprise information selected from the group consisting of:

user individual game selection history, user game genre selection history, and user ranking of interest in games.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the profile data includes user game skill level.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the profile data includes user virtual reality character characteristics.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the profile data includes user interactive game preferences and user game skill level.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the provision of wireless communication involves the use of plural portable communications devices, each said portable communications device having a memory device located therein, and wherein the profile data is stored in the memory devices located in the portable communications devices.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the provision of wireless communication involves the use of a centrally located server having an associated memory device, and wherein said profile data is stored in said memory device.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving updated profile data relating to said users;

modifying the stored user profile data based on the received updated profile data;

comparing the modified user profile data of different ones of said users; and

modifying as needed the users associated with the affinity group based on the modified user profile comparison.

13. A method of creating an affinity group of portable communications device users, the method comprising:

providing wireless communication between said users;

receiving profile data relating to each of said users;

storing the profile data relating to each of said users;

comparing, using a processor, the profile data of a plurality of said users with a predefined affinity group definition;

associating, using a processor, users with the affinity group based on the comparison of the user profile data with the predefined affinity group definition to thereby create the group;

excluding a user from the affinity group based on the comparison of the user profile data with the predefined affinity group definition;

receiving input from the excluded user overriding the exclusion; and

associating, based on the received input, the excluded user with the affinity group.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the profile data comprises information selected from the group consisting of:

user news preferences, user sports preferences, user advertisement preferences, user purchase preferences, user electronic game preferences, user interactive game preferences, user game skill level, user virtual reality character characteristics, user portable communications device capabilities, user portable communications device model, user portable communications device usage level, user occupation, user income level, user education level, user residence, user sex, user religion, and user frequent location.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the profile data comprises information selected from the group consisting of user electronic game preferences, user interactive game preferences, user game skill level, user virtual reality character characteristics, and user portable communications device capabilities.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein the profile data includes user electronic game preferences.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein the profile data includes user interactive game preferences.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the interactive game preferences comprise information selected from the group consisting of:

user individual game selection history, user game genre selection history, and user ranking of interest in games.

19. The method of claim 13 wherein the profile data includes user game skill level.

20. The method of claim 13 wherein the profile data includes user virtual reality character characteristics.

21. The method of claim 13 wherein the profile data includes user interactive game preferences and user game skill level.

22. The method of claim 13 wherein the provision of wireless communication involves the use of plural mobile portable communications devices, each said portable communications device having a memory device located therein, and wherein the profile data is stored in the memory devices located in the portable communications devices.

23. The method of claim 13 wherein the provision of wireless communication involves the use of a centrally located server having an associated memory device, and wherein said profile data is stored in said memory device.

24. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

receiving updated profile data relating to said users;

modifying the stored user profile data based on the received updated profile data;

comparing the modified user profile data of a user with the predefined affinity group definition; and

modifying as needed the users associated with the affinity group based on the comparison of the modified user profile data with the predefined affinity group definition.

25. A method of maintaining a group of portable communications device users associated with an affinity group based on comparisons of stored user profile data, the method comprising:

receiving updated profile data relating to users;

modifying, using a processor, the stored user profile data based on the received updated profile data;

comparing, using a processor, the modified user profile data of different ones of said users;

excluding a user from the affinity group based on the modified user profile comparison; and

receiving input from the excluded user overriding the exclusion.

26. A system for distributing content to an affinity group of portable communications device users comprising:

means for providing portable communications device communication between said users;

means for storing profile data relating to each of said users, said means for storing being operatively connected to the means for providing communication;

means for (a) comparing the profile data of different ones of said users, and (b) associating users with the affinity group based on the profile data comparison to thereby create the group, said means for comparing and associating being operatively connected to the means for storing;

means for receiving input from a portable communications device user excluded from the affinity group based on the comparing, the input overriding the exclusion;

means for associating the excluded portable communications device user with the affinity group in response to the input overriding the exclusion; and

means for selecting content for and distributing content to users based on their association with the affinity group, said means for selecting and distributing being operatively connected to the means for providing communication and the means for comparing and associating.

27. The system of claim 26 wherein the profile data comprises information selected from the group consisting of:

user news preferences, user sports preferences, user advertisement preferences, user purchase preferences, user electronic game preferences, user interactive game preferences, user game skill level, user virtual reality character characteristics, user portable communications device capabilities, user portable communications device model, user portable communications device usage level, user occupation, user income level, user education level, user residence, user sex, user religion, and user frequent location.

28. The system of claim 26 wherein the profile data comprises information selected from the group consisting of user electronic game preferences, user interactive game preferences, user game skill level, user virtual reality character characteristics, and user portable communications device capabilities.

29. The system of claim 26 wherein the profile data includes user electronic game preferences.

30. The system of claim 26 wherein the profile data includes user interactive game preferences.

31. The system of claim 30 wherein the interactive game preferences comprise information selected from the group consisting of:

user individual game selection history, user game genre selection history, and user ranking of interest in games.

32. The system of claim 26 wherein the profile data includes user game skill level.

33. The system of claim 26 wherein the profile data includes user interactive game preferences and user game skill level.

34. The system of claim 26 wherein the means for providing communication includes plural portable communications devices, and wherein the means for storing profile data comprises a memory device located in each portable communications device.

35. The system of claim 26 wherein the means for providing communication includes a centrally located server, and wherein the means for storing profile data comprises a memory device associated with the centrally located server.

36. A system for distributing content to an affinity group of portable communications device users comprising:

means for providing communication between said users;

means for storing profile data relating to each of said users, said means for storing being operatively connected to the means for providing communication;

means for (a) comparing the profile data of each of said users with a predefined affinity group definition, and (b) associating users with the affinity group based on the comparison of user profile data with the predefined affinity group definition to thereby create the group, said means for comparing and associating being operatively connected to the means for storing;

means for receiving input from a portable communications device user excluded from the affinity group based on the comparing, the input overriding the exclusion;

means for associating the excluded portable communications device user with the affinity group in response to the input overriding the exclusion; and

means for selecting content for and distributing content to users based on their association with the affinity group, said means for selecting and distributing being operatively connected to the means for providing communication and the means for comparing and associating.

37. The system of claim 36 wherein the profile data comprises information selected from the group consisting of:

user news preferences, user sports preferences, user advertisement preferences, user purchase preferences, user electronic game preferences, user interactive game preferences, user game skill level, user virtual reality character characteristics, user portable communications device capabilities, user portable communications device model, user portable communications device usage level, user occupation, user income level, user education level, user residence, user sex, user religion, and user frequent location.

38. The system of claim 36 wherein the profile data comprises information selected from the group consisting of user electronic game preferences, user interactive game preferences, user game skill level, user virtual reality character characteristics, and user portable communications device capabilities.

39. The system of claim 36 wherein the profile data includes user electronic game preferences.

40. The system of claim 36 wherein the profile data includes user interactive game preferences.

41. The system of claim 40 wherein the interactive game preferences comprise information selected from the group consisting of:

user individual game selection history, user game genre selection history, and user ranking of interest in games.

42. The system of claim 36 wherein the profile data includes user game skill level.

43. The system of claim 36 wherein the profile data includes user virtual reality character characteristics.

44. The system of claim 36 wherein the profile data includes user interactive game preferences and user game skill level.

45. The system of claim 36 wherein the means for providing communication includes plural portable communications device, and wherein the means for storing profile data comprises a memory device located in each portable communications device.

46. The system of claim 36 wherein the means for providing communication includes a centrally located server, and wherein the means for storing profile data comprises a memory device associated with the centrally located server.

47. A method of distributing targeted content to an affinity group of portable communications device users, the method comprising:

providing wireless communication between a plurality of users;

receiving profile data relating to selected ones of said users;

storing the profile data relating to said users;

comparing, using a processor, the stored profile data of different ones of said users;

associating, using a processor, users with the affinity group based on the profile data comparisons;

excluding an unmatched user from the affinity group;

receiving input from the unmatched user overriding the exclusion;

associating the unmatched user with the affinity group; and

distributing targeted content to the affinity group.

48. The method of claim 47 wherein the targeted content comprises a game application.

49. A method of distributing targeted content to an affinity group of portable communications device users, the method comprising:

providing wireless communication between a plurality of user;

receiving profile data relating to selected ones of said users;

storing the profile data relating to said users;

comparing, using a processor, the profile data of a plurality of said selected users with a predefined affinity group definition;

associating, using a processor, users with the affinity group based on the profile data comparisons of the user profile data with the predefined affinity group definition to thereby create the affinity group;

excluding an unmatched user from the affinity group;

receiving input from the unmatched user overriding the exclusion;

associating the unmatched user with the affinity group; and

distributing targeted content to said users in the affinity group.

50. The method of claim 49 wherein the targeted content comprises a game application.

51. A system for creating an affinity group, the system comprising:

a plurality of mobile communications devices;

a wireless network configured to provide wireless communication between a plurality of mobile communications device users;

a user profile database configured to store profile data relating to each of the mobile communications device users; and

a content server including processor electronics configured to perform operations comprising;

comparing the profile data of different ones of the mobile communications device users;

associating mobile communications device users with the affinity group based on the profile data comparison to generate the affinity group;

receiving input from a mobile communications device user excluded from the affinity group based on the comparing, wherein the input overrides the exclusion; and

associating, in response to the received input, the excluded mobile communications device user with the affinity group.

52. The system of claim 51, wherein the user profile database is configured to store profile data comprising information selected from the group consisting of user news preferences, user sports preferences, user advertisement preferences, user purchase preferences, user electronic game preferences, user interactive game preferences, user game skill level, user virtual reality character characteristics, user portable communications device capabilities, user portable communications device model, user portable communications device usage level, user occupation, user income level, user education level, user residence, user sex, user religion, and user frequent location.

53. The system of claim 51, wherein the user profile database is configured to store profile data comprising information selected from the group consisting of user electronic game preferences, user interactive game preferences, user game skill level, user virtual reality character characteristics, and user portable communications device capabilities.

54. The system of claim 51, wherein the user profile database is configured to store user electronic game preferences.

55. The system of claim 51, wherein the user profile database is configured to store user interactive game preferences.

56. The system of claim 55, wherein the interactive game preferences comprise information selected from the group consisting of user individual game selection history, user game genre selection history, and user ranking of interest in games.

57. The system of claim 51, wherein the user profile database is configured to store profile data including user game skill level.

58. The system of claim 51, wherein the user profile database is configured to store profile data including user virtual reality character characteristics.

59. The system of claim 51, wherein the user profile database is configured to store profile data including user interactive game preferences and user game skill level.

60. The system of claim 51, wherein each of the plurality of mobile communications devices further comprises a memory device configured to store profile data relating to one or more mobile communications device users.

61. The system of claim 51, wherein the user profile database is hosted on a centrally located server.

62. The system of claim 51, wherein the processor electronics are further configured to perform operations comprising:

receiving updated profile data relating to one or more of the mobile communications device users;

modifying the stored profile data relating to the one or more mobile communications device users to generated modified profile data;

comparing the modified profile data with profile data stored in the user profile database; and

modifying the mobile communications device users associated with the affinity group based on the modified profile data comparison.

63. A system for creating an affinity group, the system comprising:

a plurality of mobile communications devices;

a wireless network configured to provide wireless communication between a plurality of mobile communications device users;

a user profile database configured to store profile data relating to each of the mobile communications device users; and

a content server including processor electronics configured to perform operations comprising;

comparing the profile data of a plurality of the mobile communications device users with a predefined affinity group definition;

associating mobile communications device users with the affinity group based on the comparison of the user profile data with the predefined affinity group definition to thereby create the affinity group;

receiving input from a mobile communications device user excluded from the affinity group based on the comparing, wherein the input overrides the exclusion; and

associating, in response to the received input, the excluded mobile communications device user with the affinity group.

64. The system of claim 63, wherein the user profile database is configured to store profile data comprising information selected from the group consisting of user news preferences, user sports preferences, user advertisement preferences, user purchase preferences, user electronic game preferences, user interactive game preferences, user game skill level, user virtual reality character characteristics, user portable communications device capabilities, user portable communications device model, user portable communications device usage level, user occupation, user income level, user education level, user residence, user sex, user religion, and user frequent location.

65. The system of claim 63, wherein the user profile database is configured to store profile data comprising information selected from the group consisting of user electronic game preferences, user interactive game preferences, user game skill level, user virtual reality character characteristics, and user portable communications device capabilities.

66. The system of claim 63, wherein the user profile database is configured to store user electronic game preferences.

67. The system of claim 63, wherein the user profile database is configured to store user interactive game preferences.

68. The system of claim 67, wherein the interactive game preferences comprise information selected from the group consisting of user individual game selection history, user game genre selection history, and user ranking of interest in games.

69. The system of claim 63, wherein the user profile database is configured to store profile data including user game skill level.

70. The system of claim 63, wherein the user profile database is configured to store profile data including user virtual reality character characteristics.

71. The system of claim 63, wherein the user profile database is configured to store profile data including user interactive game preferences and user game skill level.

72. The system of claim 63, wherein each of the plurality of mobile communications devices further comprises a memory device configured to store profile data relating to one or more mobile communications device users.

73. The system of claim 63, wherein the user profile database is hosted on a centrally located server.

74. The system of claim 63, wherein the processor electronics are further configured to perform operations comprising:

receiving updated profile data relating to one or more of the mobile communications device users;

modifying the stored profile data relating to the one or more mobile communications device users to generated modified profile data;

comparing the modified profile data with the predefined affinity group definition; and

modifying the mobile communications device users associated with the affinity group based on the comparison of the modified profile data with the predefined affinity group definition.