Multi-cam based formatted online information sharing system and method

• US 9,636,572 B2
• Filed: 06/11/2012
• Issued: 05/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Marcia Rubin
• Original Assignee: Marcia Rubin
• Inventors: Rubin, Marcia
• Primary Examiner(s): Hylinski, Steven J
• Application Number:
  US14/128,479
• Publication Number:
  US 20140141851A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,786 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/352 involving special game server arrangements, e.g. regional servers connected to a national server or a plurality of servers managing partitions of the game world
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/80 Special adaptations for executing a specific game genre or game mode
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/87 Communicating with other players during game play, e.g. by e-mail or chat
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/513 server hierarchy, e.g. local, regional, national or dedicated for different tasks, e.g. authenticating, billing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/556 Player lists, e.g. online players, buddy list, black list
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/572 Communication between players during game play of non game information, e.g. e-mail, chat, file transfer, streaming of audio and streaming of video
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8064 Quiz
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1818 Conference organisation arrangements, e.g. handling schedules, setting up parameters needed by nodes to attend a conference, booking network resources, notifying involved parties
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1822 Conducting the conference, e.g. admission, detection, selection or grouping of participants, correlating users to one or more conference sessions, prioritising transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/185 with management of multicast group membership

Abstract

Multi-cam based formatted online information sharing systems and methods that provide real-time interpersonal communication are described.

Claims

1. A multi-webcam based question-and-answer formatted online information sharing method, comprising the steps of:

a first webcam user providing input to a programmed computing device via one or more input devices, wherein the computing device comprises a processor, a display device, one or more input devices, a webcam and microphone, and non-transitory memory containing instructions that, when executed, cause the computing device to perform the steps of;

registering the user on a website hosted by a web server to participate in a multi-webcam based question-and-answer formatted online information sharing session;

logging the user into the website;

configuring the user'"'"'s webcam and microphone;

selecting a multi-webcam based question-and-answer formatted online information sharing session for the user to enter;

entering the user in the selected formatted information sharing session, said user automatically placed in one of two teams;

displaying a graphical user interface on display device of the computing device said graphical user interface comprising a game page having

real-time audio and visual images of the webcam user sourced from the webcam and microphone of the webcam user as well as audio and visual images of every other webcam user entered in the online information sharing session, sourced from each webcam user'"'"'s respective webcam and microphone,

a game message area displaying information sharing session instructions, questions, answers, and/or information, provided by a database server and

a chat message area for displaying written messages between webcam users;

indicating the webcam user is ready to participate real-time in the session; and

participating real-time in the selected formatted information sharing session displayed on the game page with real-time visual and audio communication with computing devices of other webcam users entered in the session provided by a streaming server;

wherein at least one other webcam user provides input to another programmed computing device, which logs the user into the website;

enters the user into the information sharing session, said user automatically placed in the other team;

displays the game page;

indicates the user as ready to participate real-time6pin the information sharing session; and

participates in the selected formatted information sharing session with said streaming server providing real-time visual and audio communication between computing devices of webcam users on the game page;

wherein the selected formatted information sharing session;

is competitive, includes 2-6 webcam users in total, sorted into 2 teams, and

is formatted on the game page like a game show but without a live game show host; and

wherein during the information sharing session;

(i.) the game message area displays a question from the database server and the game pane specifies the computing device of one webcam user to answer the question and then

(ii.) the game message area displays the answer provided by the computing device of the specified webcam user, indicates the answer as correct or incorrect via input from the database server, displays the correct answer, and awards one or more points to the computing device of the answering webcam user and/or of said user'"'"'s team for a correct answer;

with the game page displaying real-time visual audio discussion of the question and/or answer between the webcam users;

wherein throughout the information sharing session method;

the database server stores and retrieves questions answers, and session specific information,

the web server retrieves information from the database server and sends questions and answers to the programmed computing device, and

the streaming server provides visual and audio communication between the webcam users.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said session includes at least 1 spectator, and said spectator may communicate with webcam user participants and/or other spectators in the chat message area.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein each webcam user participating in the session answers 1-3 questions, a score is calculated for each team, and a winning team identified.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein during the multi-cam based question-and-answer formatted online information sharing session, multi-cam users compete to determine who knows more about the opposite sex.

5. The method of claim 1, said game page further comprising a voting menu allowing webcam users participating in the information sharing session to kick out a webcam user from the session, if at least 4 webcam users vote for it.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said streaming server is adapted to provide communication between the webcam users via a peer-to-peer connection.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said two teams are based on gender, and each webcam user participating in the information sharing session is automatically placed into an open position on a team of his/her gender.

8. The method of claim 5, said information sharing session further comprising a spectator that provides input to a programmed computing device having one or more input devices and that displays the game page.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising an appreciation icon that may 6pbe attached to a webcam user'"'"'s video image on the game page via input from the computing device of the spectator.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said appreciation icon represents a wink, applause, laughing out loud, or a rose.

11. The method of, claim 1, wherein the information sharing session presents 6 rounds to the webcam users, each round displaying 6 questions.

12. A multi-webcam based question-and-answer formatted online information sharing system, comprising:

a website hosted by a web server and provided via a graphical user interface displayed on a computing device of a webcam user, wherein the computing device comprises a processor, a display device, one or more input devices, a webcam and microphone, and non-transitory memory containing instructions that, when executed, cause the computing device to;

log in the user for a. multi -webcam based question-and-answer formatted online information sharing session;

display the graphical user interface comprising a game page having real-time audio and visual images sourced from at least two internet connected webcams and microphones of at least two users being logged in to the website, and entered in an information sharing session,

said game page further comprising a game message area displaying information sharing session instructions questions, answers, and/or information, provided by a database server, and a chat message area for displaying written messages between webcam users;

display a question in the game message area and specify the computing device of one webcam user to input an answer to the question; and

then receiving the answer display the answer and award points for a correct answer;

said system further comprising a database server configured to store and retrieve questions, answers and other information sharing session specific information;

the web server configured for retrieving information from the database server and sending questions and answers to the at least one computing device of the user;

a streaming server adapted to provide communication between the users;

wherein said website, web cams, microphones, question-and-answer tool, database server, web server, and streaming server interact to provide the multi-webcam based question-and-answer formatted online information sharing session displayed at the game nap of the at least one computing device; and

wherein the selected formatted information sharing session is competitive and arranged as a game show, without a show host, wherein the selected formatted information sharing session;

is competitive and has 2-6 webcam users in total, and

is formatted on the game page like a game show, without a live game show host.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said streaming server is adapted to provide communication between the users via a peer-to-peer connection.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the question-and-answer tool provides a question about the male and/or female sex.

15. The system of claim 12, the game page further comprising a voting menu allowing webcam users participating in the information sharing session to kick out a webcam user from the session.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said streaming server is adapted to provide communication between the webcam users via a peer-to-peer connection.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein said two teams are based on gender, and each webcam user participating in the information sharing session is automatically placed into an open position on a team of his/her gender.

18. The system of claim 15, said information sharing session further comprising a spectator that provides input to a programmed computing device having one or more input devices and that displays the game page.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising an appreciation icon that may be attached to a webcam user'"'"'s video image on the game page.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein said appreciation icon represents a wink, applause, laughing out loud, or a rose.

21. The system of claim 12, wherein the information sharing session presents 6 rounds to the webcam users, each round displaying 6 questions.