Method and system for sharing brand information

• US 8,725,803 B2
• Filed: 07/27/2009
• 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): Whipple, Brian P
• Assistant Examiner(s): EDWARDS, JAMES A
• Application Number:
  US12/460,933
• Publication Number:
  US 20100185520A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,751 Days
• Field of Search: 709/204
• US Class Current: 709/204
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking

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, including use of avatars. 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. A system for display of product information to a plurality of consumers, comprising:

a. a multimedia forum for enabling the consumers to communicate with each other and at least one sponsor, different from an operator of the system;

b. a multimedia interface for enabling the consumers to modify and view the product information, to thereby modify brand information contained therein;

c. the consumer can add multimedia product, and brand, information and multimedia personal information to the system;

d. the consumers communicate 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 and other electronic platforms;

e. said multimedia interface enables the consumer to establish a virtual three-dimensional room for display of the product information; and

f. said system further comprises a chat feature;

wherein the product and brand information and the multimedia interface are updated based upon the consumers'"'"' actions and communicated to the sponsor providing the product and brand information to thereby build brand loyalty, and

wherein the sponsor dynamically administrates how the consumer modifies and views the product information.

2. A system as recited by claim 1, wherein the product information and the multimedia interface form a projected image for viewing on a designated viewing area.

3. A system as recited by claim 2, wherein the projected image is a GUI, the consumer being able to select objects and commands on the GUI and manipulate them by gesturing.

4. A system as recited by claim 1, 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 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.

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

6. A 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.

7. A network as recited by claim 1, wherein:

the product information includes a multimedia presentation of the product; and

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.

8. A network as recited by claim 7, 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.

9. Computer-executable process steps for displaying product information to a plurality of consumers in a networked interactive system 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 and other electronic platforms;

the computer-executable process steps being stored on a computer-readable medium comprising;

a. a connecting step for connecting the consumers and at least one sponsor, different from an operator of the system, so that they can communicate with each other in a multimedia forum;

b. a presentation step for providing a multimedia interface to the consumers with which the consumers can modify and view the product information;

c. an updating step for updating the product information and the multimedia interface based upon the consumers'"'"' actions; and

g. a communicating step for communicating the updating to the sponsor offering the product to thereby build brand loyalty, where the consumer can add multimedia product information and multimedia personal information to the system, and the sponsor dynamically administrates how the consumer modifies and views the product information.