CA3012211A1 - System and method of distributing tokens - Google Patents

Abstract

A system and method of distributing promotion tokens in a simulated environment is described. The simulated environment is provided by an interactive map that has distributed thereon a number of hotspots to support an augmented reality ("AR") activity or event. The hotspots are unified by a theme of the AR-event or AR-activity. A participant of the AR-activity or AR-event is required to use a location device, such as a GPS device, to trigger the hotspot and then must complete a human-machine dialog in order to be distribute a token.

Description

SYSTEM AND METHOD OF DISTRIBUTING TOKENS
Field of Invention [0001] The invention relates generally to the field of augmented reality. In particular, the invention relates to system and method of distributing tokens in a simulated environment.
Background of Invention

[0002] It is now common to use e-commerce web portals, such as websites hosting online stores, to sell products and services to consumers. Such e-commerce websites often can serve more customers and in a much larger geophysical areas than a brick-and-mortar store can.
Often, online stores tend to have the additional advantage of reduced operation costs. However, it is generally recognized that customers shopping online often are less engaged as compared to shopping in a local, physical store.

[0003] To encourage more customer engagement, many proposals have been made to use augmented-reality (AR) technology to improve and enhance customer experience at an e-commerce site. For example, AR technologies have been applied to overlay animated and 3-dimensional visual add-ons to product pictures to improve shopping experience at online stores.
This would provide customers with simulated physical world shopping experience when shopping online. These types of application of AR technologies, however, do not fully realize the beneficial potential of AR technologies. For example, such AR technologies would be effective only during a customer's visit to an online store. Although advertising to the general population to attract customers to online shopping may encourage some customers to visit online stores and try the AR technologies offered at online stores, it is necessary to have a potential customer visiting an online store in the first place and such untargeted advertising often is found to be not very effective.

[0004] There is therefore a need for new type of application of AR
technologies to e-commerce, to better engage and attract potential consumers. It is an object of the present invention to mitigate or obviate at least one of the above mentioned disadvantages.

Summary of Invention

[0005] The invention relates generally to the field of augmented reality.
In particular, the invention relates to system and method of distributing tokens in a simulated environment.

[0006] The invention relates to a system and method of distributing e-commerce tokens to participants in an augmented reality event. The method includes the steps of selecting an AR
theme and a map, arranging e-commerce tokens on the map according to the selected AR
theme, hotspot locations and location attributes assigned to the tokens and making an interactive AR-map with hotspots at the assigned locations, and distributing tokens to a participant of the AR-activity when the participant's location device is triggered at one of the hotspots.

[0007] A method of making interactive maps for augmented activities is described. The method includes the steps of selecting a map; receiving token data from a sponsor; arranging tokens selected from the token data on the map at map locations corresponding to physical locations according to a pre-determined theme; generating an interactive map;
transmitting the interactive map to a user device upon receiving a user quest from the user device. A system of making interactive map for augmented activities includes a partnership tool that receives token data from a sponsor and receiving input from the sponsor for selecting a map, a theme planning tool that receives input from a planner for selecting a theme and input on hotspot map locations of tokens according to the theme for arranging tokens on the map, a map generator to generate an interactive map to associate the tokens with the selected map, a database to store theme templates, map data and token data, and a device interface for transmitting the interactive map to a user device and for receiving location information transmitted from the user device.

[0008] In a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of making interactive map for augmented activities. The method comprises the steps of: selecting a theme and a map, the theme defining a topic of augmented activities and the map comprising map data; receiving token data of tokens related to the theme; assigning a hotspot to at least one of the tokens, a location device generating a trigger signal when the location device is in vicinity of the hotspot, assigning a trigger response to each of the hotspots; integrating the theme, the map data and the hotspots to form an interactive AR-map having the tokens distributed thereon at locations of their respective hotspots.

[0009] As a feature of this aspect of the invention, the trigger response is to provide a user prompt at the location device to invite a participant to enter a pre-designed human-machine dialog using the location device upon receiving the trigger signal generated by the location device of the participant when the location device is in vicinity of a hotspot. The interactive map causes one or more of the at least one token corresponding to the hotspot being distributed to the location device if the location device receives user response conforming with pre-stored rules for the human-machine dialog.

[0010] As another feature of this aspect of the invention, the tokens include a store front digital token sponsored by a store or a merchant digital token sponsored by a merchant, upon the location device being distributed the store front digital token or the merchant digital token, the interactive AR-map causing the location device to display the user prompt only if at least one of the one or more tokens corresponding to the hotspot is related to the store or to the merchant, as the case may be.

[0011] As yet another feature of this aspect of the invention, the hotspot corresponds to a physical location defined by a set of GPS coordinates and the location device is a GPS device, which generates a trigger signal when the GPS device is in the vicinity of the physical location defined by the GPS coordinates.

[0012] In another aspect of the invention, there is provided of method of distributing digital tokens. The method comprises the steps of: distributing an interactive map to participants of an AR-event, the interactive map having the digital tokens distributed thereon at locations of their respective hotspots, each hotspot corresponding to at least one of the digital tokens, providing a user prompt for presentation at a user device to invite a participant to enter a pre-designed human-machine dialog using the user device upon receiving a trigger signal generated by the user device of the participant when the user device is in vicinity of a hotspot, distributing one or more of the at least one token corresponding to the hotspot if response received by the user device conforms with pre-stored rules for the human-machine dialog. The pre-designed human-machine dialog may be one or more of: responding to a binary question, selecting an active area or spot at a graphical user interface presented on the user device, completing successfully a mathematical or logical problem at the graphical user interface presented on the user device, and completing successfully a computer game at the graphical user interface presented on the user device.

[0013] As a feature of this aspect of the invention, the interactive map is pre-installed to the user device which is distributed users. As another feature, the method includes the further steps of: generating a trigger signal corresponding to one of the hotspots at a host server; the host server sending the trigger signal to the user device, and providing the user prompt to invite the participant to enter the pre-designed human-machine dialog corresponding to the hotspot.

[0014] As yet another feature, the method comprises the further steps of the digital tokens have at least one limited use digital token, attributes of the limited use digital token having a counter that is reduced by a constant number each time a token is distributed and the step of providing user prompt includes the step of: checking that the counter is above a threshold, and providing the user prompt only if the counter is above the threshold.

[0015] In another aspect of the invention, there is provided a system of making interactive map for augmented activities. The system includes a partnership tool, the partnership tool receiving token data from a sponsor or event host, a theme planning tool, the theme planning tool receiving input from a planner for selecting a theme and a map comprising map data for the theme, the theme planner tool further receiving location data identifying locations corresponding to hotspots of the tokens on the map, each hotspot corresponding to at least one of the digital tokens, a location device generating a trigger signal when the location device is in .. vicinity of any hotspot of the hotspots, a map generator, the map generator generating an interactive map to distribute the hotspots on the interactive map according to locations assigned to the hotspots, a memory device having a database stored thereon, the database including theme templates each of which defines a theme, and storing map data and token data, and a device interface for transmitting the interactive map to a user location device and for receiving location information transmitted from the user location device.

[0016] In yet another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of distributing tokens to participants of an augmented reality (AR) event through location devices of the participants. The method comprises the steps of: receiving token data of digital tokens from sponsors of respective digital tokens, making an interactive map having the digital tokens distributed thereon at locations of their respective hotspots, each hotspot corresponding to at least one of the digital tokens, a location device generating a trigger signal when a location device is in vicinity of any one hotspot of the hotspots, distributing the interactive map to a plurality of location devices of participants of the AR-event, providing a user prompt to invite a participant, who uses one location device of the plurality of location devices, to enter a human-machine dialog upon receiving a trigger signal from the one location device triggered by the one location device being in vicinity of a hotspot of the hotspots, distributing one or more of the at least one token corresponding to the hotspot if response received at the one location device conforms with pre-stored rules for the human-machine dialog.

[0017] In other aspects the invention provides various combinations and subsets of the aspects described above.
Brief Description of Drawings

[0018] For the purposes of description, but not of limitation, the foregoing and other aspects of the invention are explained in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0019] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a networked system for distributing tokens to participants in an augmented reality (AR) event or activity;

[0020] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of an event planner server used by event planner in the system shown in FIG. 1;

[0021] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of a host server used by event host in the system shown in FIG. 1;

[0022] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of a portable location device used by participants in the system shown in FIG. 1;

[0023] FIG. 5 illustrates an interactive map for augmented reality events or activities for distributing tokens to participants in the system shown in FIG. 1;

[0024] FIG. 6 illustrates steps of a method of making the map of FIG. 5;

[0025] FIG. 7 shows steps of a method of distributing tokens to participants of an AR event by an event host in the system shown in FIG. 1;

[0026] FIG. 7A shows steps of a method of distributing tokens to participants of an AR
event by a location device in the system shown in FIG. 1;

[0027] FIG. 8 shows steps of a method of receiving tokens by a location device from a host server in the system shown in FIG. 1;

[0028] FIG. 9 shows steps of an alternative method of distributing tokens to participants in the system shown in FIG. 1; and

[0029] FIG. 10 shows steps of receiving a token according to its type by a participant in the system shown in FIG. 1.
Detailed Description of Embodiments

[0030] The description which follows and the embodiments described therein are provided by way of illustration of an example, or examples, of particular embodiments of the principles of the present invention. These examples are provided for the purposes of explanation, and not limitation, of those principles and of the invention. In the description which follows, like parts are marked throughout the specification and the drawings with the same respective reference numerals.

[0031] Reference is made to FIG. 1 which illustrates a networked system 10 that includes a planner 12 who designs an augmented reality event (AR-event), an event host 14, one or more event sponsors or stores 16, and event participants 18. Either the AR-event planner 12 or the event host 14 may run an AR-event or AR-activity to distribute tokens to participants 18. AR-event planner 12 or event host 14 utilizes an interactive map 20 adapted for the AR-event (the "interactive AR-map") to distribute tokens that are received from event sponsors or stores 16. A
communication network 100 facilitates their connection to form a system or various subsystems, as will be further described below.

[0032] AR-event planner 12 may use a planner server 200, event host 14 may use a host server 300, and sponsor 16 may use a sponsor server 22 to access the system.
Communication network 100 connects planner server 200, sponsor server 22 and event host server 300 together.
Prior to the launch of an AR-event, i.e., during the first or the design and planning stage, an AR-event planner 12 may, through or at planner server 200, invite an event host 14 or sponsors 16 to participate. A sponsor 16 may, through a sponsor server 22 or at a web portal provided by planner server 200, respond and join the AR-event, receive tokens and other inputs from the event host 14 or sponsors 16, and send the interactive AR-map to the event host to enable it to run the AR-event.

[0033] Each event participant 18 has a portable location device, such as a GPS (global positioning system) enabled device 400. During the second, i.e., event execution stage, an event participant 18 uses the portable location device 400 to interact with host server 300, e.g., through a local area network, or with planner server 200 over a wide area network such as Internet (e.g., if the role of host server is played by a remote planner server).A participant uses the portable location device 400 to retrieve and load an interactive AR-map, such as a customized GPS map 20, from the host server 300 or planner server 200. The advantage of having a dedicated host server is that event data may be stored locally in advance of the AR-event on local host server's data storage unit. This would be particularly helpful when the host server is at a location having no ready access to the Internet, such as on a tour bus or at a remote wedding site, and with only the host server providing Wi-Fi access to participants' portable location devices. The interactive AR-map has a number of hotspots arranged on the map according to a theme or topic of the AR-event. When a participant is in the vicinity of one of the hotspots, the GPS device or location device 400 provides a prompt to invite the participant to enter into a human-machine dialog and provide inputs to the GPS
device 400, which will be subsequently processed by the system in order to distribute a token or tokens to the participant. The human-machine dialog may be a simple question-and-answer session or an interactive computer game, among others, as will be described. Successfully completing the dialog will cause distribution to participant (i.e., the participant's location device) a token or tokens. The participant 18 may redeem the token at the event sponsor or store 16 at its server, the sponsor server 22, or receive a gift or prize award from the event host 14.

[0034] An AR-event or AR-activity is an event or activity assisted by digital technology that overlays virtual or digital content on the physical world whereby the two interact in real time. One example may be an event or activity based on an interactive map that has a number of hotspots assigned thereon. Each hotspot may correspond to a physical location and can be mapped to the interactive map, and is activated when a user passes by the physical location.

When activated, the hotspot may be presented as a digitalized coupon or object which the user may pick up or interact with. In the following, the term "AR-activity" and the term "AR-event"
will be used interchangeably unless the context dictates otherwise. An AR-activity often has a theme or topic. An AR-event planner 12 may specify in a theme template that the AR-event relates to only certain topic and certain categories of sponsors, or how a hotspot will "behave"
when it is triggered. For example, an AR-activity may select a hobby as a topic (e.g., hiking or fishing), a daily leisure activity as a theme (e.g., pet-walking) or certain event as a theme (e.g., a group bus tour or a cruise, a corporate annual celebration, a wedding), and the products and services offer from sponsors will relate only to hiking, pet-walking, etc, as the case may be but not any other products or services. Tokens or gifts are distributed by sponsors 16 around the topic or theme or related to the event. For example, hiking/fishing supplies may be targeted to participants picking an AR-activity with hiking or fishing as a theme. Coupons for pet foods/pet care may be targeted to participants picking an AR-activity with pet-walking as a theme. Coupons for local specialty products or souvenirs, local restaurants, local attractions in a city may be promoted to tourists of a group tour that will next visit the city. Because participants share some common relationship to, or are united by, the theme or event, it is more likely that the participants would show more interest in the tokens or gifts distributed, thus improving the participant's engagement. This targeted promotion may tend to generate better response in the participants than advertising to the general population.

[0035] An event host 14 may be an advertiser agency, an organizer of a company event, a local club, head office of a national chain store, a local club, a wedding ceremony host, a tourist agency, among others. An event host 14 may pick a theme and invite sponsors 16 to participate in an AR-event of that theme, i.e., invite sponsors to provide tokens related to the theme. The event host 14 will run the AR-event and distribute the tokens to participants of the AR-event.
Of course, an AR-event planner 12 also may invite event host 14 to pick a theme made available at its planner server 200 for event host 14 or sponsors 16 to join or participate in the AR-activity or AR-event, which the AR-event planner 12 will design.

[0036] Sponsors may be retail stores, local restaurants, local service providers, member stores of a franchise or national chain stores, among others. Sponsors 16, when decided to participate in the AR-activity event, may provide sponsor items or other incentives for distribution to participants. For example, a sponsor item may be a store coupon which a participant may use to exchange for products or services or to obtain discounts. A sponsor item also may be credentials for entering a virtual storefront, such as a ticket to enter storefront hosted at the sponsor's sponsor server 22. For example, a store may have a virtual storefront that may be entered (i.e., accessed) only if the customer have a special store token. Event host may also provide its own incentive items, such as gift certificates or prizes.
These sponsor items and incentive items are all examples of tokens.

[0037] Here, a token is in the digital form and generally refers to a piece of data or a set of data, to represent information that may be presented (i.e., redeemed) to a sponsor in order to obtain something of value or benefit to the token holder. A token often takes a visual form. For example, a token may be visually represented by a graphics file or an icon, showing a picture of a store coupon, a picture of a gift, or a landmark. A token also may take other forms. For example, it may be an audio alert, a short video, or a haptic feedback. A
token may represent different types of benefits. A token may be a sponsor's coupon, such as discount coupons, gift certificates, service vouchers. A token may represent a ticket for entering a store, a building or a museum. A token also may simulate store entrance of a virtual store, once received or redeemed, only goods and/or services of that virtual store will be presented to the customer but no other stores' products or services. A token also may be credentials for gaining computerized services, such as obtaining other tokens, entering a virtual store, or taking other actions, such as playing a computer game.

[0038] Tokens may have various attributes, or token attributes, such as attributes specifying a token's type. For example, the token attribute may define whether a token is a store coupon or a store entry ticket. Token attributes also may be used to specify the value of a token. For example, the percentage of discount, the cash value or the gift represented by the coupon.
Token attributes also may specify any restrictions placed on the token, for example, its validity period or expiration date, whether redeemable at all locations of a chain store or only certain participating stores. Token attributes also may specify whether a token may be exchanged for a different token or may be combined with other tokens for a new token. The token attributes may also specify whether the token is a limited supply or limited use token (i.e., may only have a limited number of items for distribution and will no longer be available after that many tokens are distributed) or is an unlimited supply token. Of course, token attributes also include information to identify the token and any security related information to prevent or discourage unauthorized duplication or redemption of the token. These token properties and attributes (e.g., whether a coupon or an entrance ticket, its value, or expiration date, whether a limited supply coupon, whether may be exchanged or combined) will together be referenced as token attributes. Token attributes of all tokens distributed in an AR-event will be collectively referred to as token data.

[0039] An AR-event planner 12 arranges these tokens on an interactive AR-map, such as a customized GPS map 20. Each token is assigned a physical location so that the token is activated only when the location device is in the vicinity of the assigned location. This provides the overlay of the virtual or digital content on the physical world and facilitates their real-time interaction. The physical location may be defined by its GPS coordinates. It also may be a city or a landmark along the route of a bus tour. It also may be identified by an aisle and shelf in a store. A token assigned to a physical location will be referenced hereinafter as a localized token or a location item, which may be used interchangeably. The physical location and its corresponding location on a map may both be referred to as a hotspot.

[0040] Thus, a location item has location information as its location attributes. Assigned location of each token corresponds to a hotspot or a hot area on the map. For example, if a token is assigned a coordinate (x, y) on the interactive AR-map, the token will be activated when a location device 400 loaded with the interactive AR-map is in the vicinity of location (x, y). Location attributes may define a radius centered on the location (x, y) within which the hotspot will be activated. In the case of hot area, it also may define a city within which geographical boundary the hot area will be activated or define a museum within which the hot area will be activated. Together, hotspots and hot areas will be referred to as "hot spot", though it will be understood that the term generally refers to an area centered on certain coordinate or within certain specified boundary.

[0041] A location item also includes the additional location attributes which define how a localized token or location item responds when the location device is in the vicinity of the location assigned to the token. Various trigger conditions are contemplated.
For example, the trigger condition may be simply that the participant' location device is within a pre-selected distance to the hotspot coordinates. Hotspot or hot area is activated when, for example, in the case of a GPS map, a GPS device is located in the vicinity of the hotspot or within the hot area, e.g., within the specified radius to the location (x, y) or inside a city boundary. A trigger condition may further require that the GPS device is located within such distance for certain length of time. When the theme is organized according to a storyline, the trigger condition may be that the event host is presenting certain episode, for example the first encounter of the new couple, or the event host is presenting a particular agenda item of a celebration event such as announcement of a new product. When a hotspot is activated, a trigger signal is generated. The location attributes may be used to specify how the GPS device will present the triggering of hotspot to a user. For example, the GPS device may show an animated icon, display a pop-up window, or show a dialog window, to invite a participant to enter into a human-machine dialog using the GPS device or simply display a token or several tokens for the user to retrieve.

[0042] Location attributes also may be used to define the hotspot behavior, i.e., the nature of human-machine dialog and the response required in order to distribute a token. This may be embodied in pre-designed response procedures to define the dialog or behavior and in pre-designed rules to define whether user responses conform with pre-defined rules. Both may be pre-stored to either the GPS device or remotely at a server, such as a host server. For example, the hotspot may require a simple reply to a "yes-or-no" type binary question, clicking on the animated icon (i.e., selecting the icon), mechanically pressing a physical button of the GPS
device, among others. The hotspot also may require a simple but unique answer, such as a correct answer that solves a mathematical problem, or a text string identical to the same text string displayed to the participant. The hotspot also may require a series of inputs required by certain rules defined by the human-machine dialog, such as playing an interactive computer game to win the game or achieve certain game score. The location attributes may direct the local GPS device to enter into this human-machine dialog, or direct the local GPS device to send the trigger signal to the host server so that the server will facilitate the human-machine dialog between the participant and the host server 300 (or a game server executing on the host server). For example, if the location attributes direct a GPS device to provide a local prompt, the GPS device may generate a pre-designed prompt according to the location attributes. The local prompt may be a pop-up window, or may be a scan code, in which case the user either responds in the pop-up window, or uses the scan code to transition to another user input interface to enter response. If correct user reply is received, the token (or tokens) is distributed to user or requested from the server and forwarded to user. Alternatively, the GPS device may also send the trigger signal to the host server 300 that will provide instructions to the GPS
device to animate an icon to invite the participant to play an online computer game and to complete the game played on a game server executing on the host server 300. A
token (or tokens) is distributed if the participant wins the game. Of course, the human-machine dialog may also be executed entirely on the local GPS device if token data is already downloaded to the GPS device.

[0043] A location attribute may also define, either together with token type attributes or separately, that when a hotspot at a particular location is triggered and a token is successfully distributed (or received by the participant), then only hotspots associated with that particular sponsor can be activated. Hotspots or tokens associated with other sponsors will be hidden, or not activated. Thus, a sponsor's token with this special attribute may act as a geographic entry to a virtual storefront: receiving this token at this physical location is like entering the store and all products and services to be received by way of tokens received in the AR-activity thereafter will be provided by this single store. Of course, an AR-map may have a number of such store entrance tokens for different stores. This helps building different virtual stores with their entrances located at these special hotspots or physical locations.

[0044] As will be understood, "distributing" a token generally refers to providing a token identification data or some other token identification attributes to the location device (which may be encrypted or as clear text), so that a participant may have sufficient proof or evidence of being distributed the token when redeeming the token for the value associated with the token. The distribution does not necessarily transmit data or information containing all attributes of a token to a participant and often does not do so.

[0045] Prior to starting an AR-event, event host 14(i.e., host server 300) can distribute to participants location devices 400 that are pre-loaded with an interactive AR-map, such as the customized GPS map 20. For example, a wedding host can distribute GPS-enabled devices loaded with customized GPS map 20 to the guests. An event host 14 can also make customized GPS map 20 available at its host server 300 for participants to download and then load to participants' own location devices. For example, a tour guide 14 may make available a tour-themed, customized GPS map 20 available for download at its host server 300. A
tourist in the tour group can download the map, load it to the tourist's own GPS-enabled tablet computer, and participate in the AR-activity event during the tour using the tablet computer. The host server 300 or the GPS device 400 will respond according to the location attributes when a location item is activated and distribute a token (or tokens) if expected response from the participant is received. These will be further described below in reference to FIG. 7 to FIG.
10.

[0046] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of planner server 200. The planner server 200 illustrated in FIG. 2 has a partnership tool 210, a planner tool 220, a management tool 230, a theme unit 240, a data storage unit 250, and a map generator 260.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that, in other implementations, there may be additional units, or some units may be merged to reduce the total number of units, or some units may reside elsewhere but provide the same function (e.g., in a hardware machine at another physical location but in network communication with other components of the planner server 200).

[0047] Partnership tool 210 provides server access to an event planner 12 or event host.AR-event planner 12 and/or event host 14 may use partnership tool 210 to invite event sponsors 16 to advertise in the AR activity event or select different AR events to advertise. An AR-event planner 12 can use planner tool 220 to design and implement an AR-event. For example, an AR-event planner 12 can select an event theme and arrange tokens on a GPS map according to the theme. A set of theme templates and other map data, such as map tiles, location item data, token data, are stored in a database 250, for selection by event planner 12 using the planner tool 220. Management tool 230, generally provided as an online access point and may be in the form of a web portal, allows an AR-event planner to remotely access and manage the planner server. Conveniently, with appropriate access permission(s) granted, management tool 230 also enables personnel of planner 12 to remotely access host server 300. Thus, personnel of planner 12 may access host server 300 remotely through management tool 230, to assist personnel of host 14 to execute AR-events running at host server 300.

[0048] Theme unit 240 is used to store a set of pre-designed theme templates. A theme template can be used to store and specify information or data items such as location of events or tokens, event procedures associated with each location or token, and media data used in each procedures, and attributes, types and item definitions (for example, type, icon, value etc.).The pre-designed templates can be selected by an event planner 12 when designing an AR-event.
Customized theme templates and theme templates received from event host and/or even sponsors, may be stored in the theme unit 240, too. A database management system may be provided to manage the theme templates stored in theme unit 240.

[0049] A map generator 260 has access to map data which may be stored in map generator 260, in the system's data storage unit 250, or at any other suitable locations. Map data generally includes data of a digital map, which may be composed of several map tiles, each tile containing data of geophysical coordinates and attributes of landmarks, roads, paths, and other map objects that are represented by the map tile. Map generator 260 integrates map data and token data to form a customized, interactive map, having tokens distributed thereon according to their locations selected by, for example, AR-event planner 12. The interactive AR-map, once generated, may be stored in map generator 260, stored in the system's data storage unit 250, directly transmitted to an event host server or an external server for download, or stored or made available to location devices in any other suitable manner.

[0050] Thus, as will be described in great detail later, an AR-event planner 12 can use the planner server's planner tool 220 to select a theme template stored in the theme unit 240 or use a theme template selected by or received from an event host and to design an AR-activity event according to the theme, arrange tokens received from the event host 14 or sponsors 16 on a generic map, i.e., by assigning geophysical coordinates to tokens and making these assigned coordinates "hotspots" in the physical world, and to make an interactive AR-map. The interactive AR-map will then be used by event host to distribute tokens and used by participants to retrieve and receive tokens.

[0051] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an example of a host server 300. The host server 300 of FIG. 3 has a host activity launcher 310, a map manager 320, a location item manager 330, a dialog or game server 340, an event trigger unit 350, and storage 360 for storing data such as event scheme.

[0052] Host activity launcher 310 is responsible for launching the AR-activity so that location devices 400 of participants 18 can participate in the AR-activity.
For example, host activity launcher 310 makes available for download an interactive AR-map designed for an event scheme 360 so that event participants may download the map from the host server 300.

Host activity launcher 310 may start and execute an event scheme 360 for the event host 14, so that the event host 14 may run the AR-event according to event scheme 360, such as presenting media files according to a storyline defined in the event scheme 360 and determining if responses received from participants' location devices are as expected according to the event scheme 360 (e.g., whether a response to an event occurred too soon or too late to be valid. As an example, according to an event scheme 360, there may be three different high-value tokens corresponding to three different (or same) highly desirable prizes. Each token is assigned to a different time slot by the event scheme 360. The token is not activated, i.e., cannot be triggered by participants' location devices, until enabled by an event host or master of ceremony (MC) of the event, e.g., through host server or by the MC using a separate application connected to the host server, Thus, tokens (or hotspots) may be selectively enabled during an event (i.e., after the start of an AR-event) by host (i.e., through host server 300), to add more interactivity. In a "preview" mode or if the AR-event is an event organized according to an agenda, host activity launcher 310 may also cause participation devices to generate trigger signals based on agenda item or event host's selection of hotspot. For example, a bus tour guide may manually activate the hotspot for the next city. As a result, GPS devices of tourists on the tour bus may provide prompts for coupons provided by sponsors for the city to be next visited, as if the tourists are in the next city already. Thus, a location device may be put in a time vicinity of a hotspot, when hotspots are arranged along a timeline, such as storylines or agenda items. An event host 14 also may cause hotspot corresponding to an agenda item to be triggered.
Participants in the AR-event, such as a wedding, may be treated as if all are in a city named in the agenda item. Thus, coupons provided by sponsors for that city may be activated for participants to retrieve. Host activity launcher 310 may also set up communication channels or establish communication ports for communicating with location devices 400. Any participant response received from location device 400 may be forwarded to and processed by the host server 300 through the communication channels or communication ports.

[0053] Map manager 320 stores the interactive AR-map and also makes it available for distribution to and/or retrievable by location devices 400 of participants. As noted, an interactive AR-map comprises map data, which may be composed of multiple map tiles, and location item data. Location item data includes token attributes data (e.g., token value, token type etc.) and location attributes data, such as GPS coordinates assigned to a token or tokens.

Map manager 320 communicates with planner server 200 (or through their respective network communication interfaces) to receive the interactive AR-map designed for the event scheme 360. Map manager 320 may store the received interactive AR-map in its own storage unit or a storage unit of the host server 300 for later retrieval, or map manager 320 may place the .. retrieved interactive AR-map at another network location for retrieval by and/or distribution to location devices 400 of participants 18. Map manager 320 also may send the interactive AR-map directly to all location devices 400 known to the host server 300, for example, when an event host 14 prepares pre-loaded GPS devices 400 prior to an event.

[0054] When a location device is in the vicinity of a hotspot, a trigger signal is generated, which may be processed either locally by the location device 400 or may be sent to the host server 300. Location attributes of the corresponding location item (or location items if several tokens are assigned to the same location) may be used to define such behavior.
If the trigger signal is to be processed by the host server 300, location item manager 330 decides which location item corresponds to this trigger signal, by analyzing, for example, any location or token identification information carried by the trigger signal. When the location item manager 330 successfully pairs the trigger signal to its corresponding location item, the location item manager 330 queries the associated token, i.e., examines the token attributes of the token associated with the location, and decides the appropriate response as specified by the token attributes. If it is a limited supply token and the last available token has already been distributed, no further action will be taken and the location item manager 330 may terminate the process, as if no hotspot has been triggered. Location item manager 330 also determines the trigger response as required by the location attributes and will cause the appropriate prompt, such as an animated icon or an audio alert, to be presented to user by the location device 400.
When a response is received from the user to confirm a desire to enter the human-machine dialog, location item manager 330 will cause activity launcher 310 to start the game server 340, to complete the human-machine dialog. If the human-machine dialog requires the participant to successfully complete a computer game, the host server 300 will activate a game-mode and communicate with the participant location device 400 by sending and receiving game dialogs, based on which to test whether the user responses meet the pre-selected criteria, i.e., whether has played the game successfully. As described earlier, the token attributes may define the token as a store coupon, in which case the location item manager 330 will accordingly distribute a store coupon to the location device at the conclusion of the dialog; or the token attributes may define the token as a store entry ticket, in which case the location item manager 330 accordingly presents a virtual storefront to the location device. These will be further described in detail in connection with FIG. 10.

[0055] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an example of a portable location device 400. The portable location device 400 of FIG. 4 has a location detection unit 410, a map loader 420, a game loader 430, an activity runner 440, a user profile unit 450 and a network connector 460 and a store launcher 470.

[0056] Location detection unit 410, such as a GPS chip, is used to detect the physical location of the portable location device 400. Although GPS method is used as an example here, other location detection method, such as location detection method based on Wi-Fi technology, Bluetooth technology, near field communication (NFC) technology, radio frequency identification (RFID) technology, or even optical landmark perception and recognition technology, among others, may be used for determining the physical location of the location device 400. When the location detection unit 410, using its location detection technology, determines that the location device 400 is in the vicinity of one of the hotspots, it provides a trigger signal, or provides the location information to a processor to generate a trigger signal.
The trigger signal generally includes location information, such as geophysical coordinates, landmark identification information, so that the trigger signal may be linked to the token associated with the hotspot location.

[0057] A map loader 420 receives or retrieves an interactive AR-map, which may be from host server, from planner server or from a hosting site. Once received, the map loader 420 loads the map, including all map data. A map display and user interface unit 422 displays a section of GPS map on the location device 400 and receives user responses therefrom so that the participant may view his device's location on the map. A game loader 430 loads a computer game to the location device 400 from its storage, either when a trigger signal is generated and the participant selects to when the participant elects to play it later using the received credentials.

[0058] A game playing unit, such as an AR-activity runner 440 or some other game execution module, is provided to run a computer game or to cooperate with the host server 300 or some other game server to run the computer game. When executing the computer game program locally on a processor of the location device 400, for example, the game playing unit 440 may simply animate an icon on the map corresponding to the hotspot to invite the participant to enter into this human-machine dialog and to execute the game program locally.
The game playing unit 440 also may cooperate with the host server 300 to complete the dialog (or play the game) so that a more computation power intensive game may be played, in which case the game playing unit 440 would mostly receive and forward user input, and receive instructions from host server 300 to present displays on the location device 400 for the participant to play the game. A more balanced computation task sharing between host server 300 and location device 400 is also contemplated, as required by computation power demand of the computer game, or human-machine dialog. Upon successfully completing the computer game, the game playing unit 440 also may retrieve or receive the token or tokens (if several tokens are assigned to the same location and require the success completion of the same game) on behalf of the participant and store the token or tokens locally.

[0059] A user profile unit 450 includes data storage and data manager to store and manage user account data and stores participant collected tokens, among others. Thus, a user can manage all collected tokens using the user profile unit 450. A user can review all collected tokens using the user profile unit 450. A user may also store all game-playing history here, so that a game may be resumed from the last pause or be re-played. It may also provide a user interface to enable user to customize a map tile or make other modifications to map data. The customized map tile or modified map data may be sent to the planner server 200 when directed by participant, for incorporation into a user-customized map.
[00601 The portable location device 400 of FIG. 4 may also include host connector 460 to transmit and receive data between portable location device 400 and host server 300. A
participant 18 can use host connector 460 to connect to a sponsor's online store to redeem a coupon or to start a store launcher 470 to execute on-line store's storefront interface 480, thus to connect the participant 18 to sponsor's virtual storefront. A participant 18 also may use host connector 460 to connect to the event host server 300 to play additional games. A participant 18 also may use host connector 460 to connect to other location devices 400 participating in the AR-activity to form a social group. Thus, host connector 460 provides a network interface for a participant 18 to connect to the planner server 200, the host server 300, the sponsors and other participants.
[0061] FIG. 5 illustrates an interactive map for augmented reality events or activities, which will be referred to as AR-map 500. AR-map 500 is an interactive map made from a generic map 510. The generic map 510 may be a geographic map, such as a city map, a GPS
map, a park map, a hiking trail map, country map; or an illustration map, such as a store map, a church map, a trail map, or a bus or cruise tour map; or a timeline or storyline map, such as a map showing the cities linked by a couple's romance history, or scheduled agenda items of a company event arranged according to the event agenda. FIG. 5 shows an example of a park map. The generic map 510 shows roads or paths 520 that have their counterparts in the real, physical world. The map also may show map objects that correspond to real world landmarks 530, such as wood areas, ponds, monuments, store or restaurant buildings, tourist attractions.
The generic map 510 may consist of a number of map tiles 540. Each map tile 540 shows a segment of the map. The map tiles together make up the map. As will be described in detail later, one or more substitute map tiles 540 may be used to replace one or more corresponding map tiles of the generic map 510. A substitute map tile does not necessarily show road, path or landmarks accurately mapped to their counterpart in the real world, or may not have them on the substitute map tile at all. For example, a substitute map tile may be designed from a copy of a guest's wedding card for encouraging the guest's participation. Such a substitute map tile would show no road or landmarks at all. The substitute map tile also may include landmarks or some other objects that have no real word counterparts. For example, a substitute map tile may show a gift box or cash card at a location on the map that does not have any physical counterpart at all at the corresponding real world location.
[0062] The interactive map has a number of locations designated as hotspots or hot areas.
Each of the hotspots 550 corresponds to a token (or more tokens if the design of the map so requires). A theme may be used to unify these hotspots. For example, the tokens may be store coupons redeemable at recommended stores in cities visited in sequence in a multi-day bus tour. Or, the tokens may be store coupons related to a theme, such as hiking theme, i.e., hiking products or services. Hotspots for these coupons may be arranged along a hiking trail. Or, the tokens may be airline coupons for cities highlighted in a couple's romance history during the couple's wedding ceremony. FIG. 5 shows a map with pet-walking as its theme.
Along the path, arranged are several tokens related to pet-walking, such as coupons for pet food and coupons for pet services. A participant 18 may collect a coffee coupon and later redeem the coupon at the coffee house sponsor 16.
[0063] FIG. 6 illustrates steps of a method of making an AR-map 500. First, an AR-event planner 12 retrieves a theme template (step 610). The planner may retrieve the theme template from a set of templates stored in storage device 250. Alternatively, the planner may use the partnership tool 210 to invite sponsors or event hosts to identify or select a theme for the planner to retrieve. As another alternative, the sponsors or event host may send a theme template to the planner. A planner or event host, or both, may also customize an existing template or create a new template.
[0064] In addition to the theme template, it is necessary to have a number of tokens that are to be distributed or arranged on the generic map 510. As already described, a token may represent a sponsor's store coupon, a manufacturer rebate, or may represent a gift or prize to be presented to a guest by an event host at an event, or an entry ticket to a virtual storefront, among others. Each token also may have a value and some restrictions on its use. The token may be a one-time only token, i.e., can be distributed to only one of the participants, a limited number token, i.e., can be distributed to certain limited number of participants, or an unlimited coupon, i.e., can be distributed to unlimited number of participants. Token data, which include tokens and their token attributes, are sent to and received by planner server 200 (step 620).
These tokens and their promotion related attributes are generally designated by sponsors or event hosts and therefore they are generally sent from sponsors or event hosts, though it is also possible that an AR-event planner designs and prepares these tokens and token data and provides such token data to the planner server 200.
[0065] These tokens all each have an associated physical location and are distributed on the map according to their associated physical locations. It will be appreciated that while each token will be assigned to a hotspot, a hotspot may correspond to one or more tokens. The AR-event planner 12 uses the planner tool 220 to designate a series of hotspots on the map, each of which is assigned to a token or tokens (step 630). Each token is assigned its location attributes (e.g., GPS coordinates, city designation on a bus tour map, and aisle and shelf number in a store) with or without the aid of a map. Each token or each location is also assigned location specific behavior attributes, i.e., response procedures activated in response to a trigger signal being generated, e.g., when a hotspot is triggered. Aside from AR-event planner, a sponsor or event host also may assign location attributes to one or more of their tokens and send the location attributes to planner server 200 together with other token attributes.
[0066] If map data is not loaded by the planner server 200 at this time, the planner 12 retrieves map data (step 640) from the storage device 250 and loads the map data to the map generator 260. The map data may comprise multiple map tiles 540 and other relevant map data of a generic map, or may comprise map tiles some of which are substituted map tiles. The planner also loads the theme template and the token data to the map generator 260.
[0067] Next, the AR-event planner 12 directs the map generator 260 to generate an AR
map (step 650) using the loaded map data and the token data (in particular the location attributes of the tokens). The generated AR map has tokens (or "hotspots") distributed thereon, with tokens and map unified by a topic or relationship defined by the theme template. During (or following) the map-making step, trigger conditions of the hotspot are set according to the location attributes of the location items. This interactive AR map can be stored in the storage device for later retrieval by or distribution to host server 300 prior to an AR-event, or can be distributed directly to host server 300 or participants without first saving to the storage device (step 660).
[0068] After an interactive AR map is made, to increase user engagement, a participant 18 may create a personalized interactive AR-map. This is generally done by replacing one of the map tiles 540 with a personalized map tile, by modifying or adding landmarks, or by modifying hotspots, i.e., modifying map data (step 670). For example, a participant 18 may access the planner server 200 through partnership tool 210 to retrieve the selected template and other map data from the planner server 200 and make customized modifications, such as adding new hotspots, modifying location attributes of some of the hotspots, changing or replacing a map tile (e.g., with a map tile with personalized items or with a wedding card to replace a map tile), and upload the changes to the planner server. The map generator 260 will then re-generate an updated AR-map (step 650) with the modified map data, which includes personalized information and modifications done by the participant. The new AR-map can then be distributed (step 660). Due to incorporatioi1 of participants' own input, engagement of the participants may be enhanced.
[0069] Reference is now made to FIG. 7, which shows a method of distributing tokens to participants by an event host 14 during an AR event. Prior to distribution, host server 300 may already have AR-map 500 and other event data locally stored during the map-making process, or may have downloaded such AR-map 500 and other event data from the planner server 200.
Of course, if planner server 200 hosts such AR-map 500 and other event data, a host server 300 also may simply direct location devices to retrieve such data from planner server 200 by providing a download address. The event host 14 distributes tokens by interacting with participants 18 according to their responses to prompts activated by hotspots on an AR-map 500. The AR-map 500 is shared by the event host 14 and the participants 18.
First, optionally, at step 710, the host server 300 distributes AR-map 500 to the participants.
The event host (or anyone under the host's direction or request) may distribute the AR-map 500 by making it available for download by participants using their own location devices 400, may send the AR-map 500 to participants for them to load to their location devices, may provide a download link at the event planner server 200, or may distribute location devices 400 pre-loaded with AR-map 500 to participants at the AR event.
[0070] When a participant is in the vicinity of a hotspot, the location detection unit 410 in the location device 400 will detect this and generate a corresponding trigger signal. For example, a participant walking her dog in the neighborhood park may pass by a hotspot so that her GPS-enabled location device will generate a trigger signal. The host server 300 will wait for such signal from the location device 400 (step 720). This trigger signal is sent to host server 300 when generated. Upon receiving the trigger signal, the location device 400 or host server 300, as the case may be, will cause the generation and display of a prompt (e.g., a pop-up window, an animated icon or some audio, video or haptic alert, among others) or some other response to the participant. In response to this prompt, a participant may choose to ignore it. Or, the participant may decide to explore and choose to respond to the prompt. The participant may decide to respond by sending a confirmation, such as clicking on the animating icon. The user response may also be the entering of a response in the pop-up window, clicking on the GPS
map in response to the audio-alert, among others. The host server 300 waits (step 730) for this confirmation input from the location device 400. ',Mien a confirmation is received, the host server 300 enters into a pre-designed dialog with the participant and compares participant's input or a sequence of the participant's inputs with the design of the dialog to determine if response received from the participant is the expected response (step 740).
The pre-designed dialog may be as simple as a yes or no answer, or may be as challenging as solving a mathematical problem, or may be as complicated as requiring the participant to successfully play a computer game and win the game or achieve certain minimum game score.
The user response, such as a simple "yes" answer, or a solution to the problem or a series of inputs to the game, is either processed locally, or sent to and received by the host server 300. The response entered at the location device is processed to determine whether it conforms with pre-defined rules, i.e., as expected. The rules are pre-stored either locally on the device or remotely, such as at host server. If the response is as expected, for example, if the answer is "yes", or if the solution is a correct solution to the problem or if the participant has won the game, a token is distributed, e.g., directly by the location device 400, or the host server 300 sends a token to the location device 400 (step 750). Otherwise, the dialog is terminated (step 760). After the token is received by the location device 400, further processing of the token may be performed either locally, or in any combination with the host server, other location devices 400, or the sponsors, as will be further described in reference to FIG. 10.
[0071] Referring to FIG. 7A, other than distribution of tokens by host server 300, tokens also may be distributed entirely locally by location device 400, i.e., the GPS
device. Prior to a participant starts participation in the AR-event, token data and location attributes are distributed to the participant's location device 400 along with the AR-map. For example, host server 300 distributes AR-map, token data and token location attributes to location devices at a step 710'.
A location device 400 will then load the AR-map, along with the received token data and token location attributes and wait for trigger signals corresponding to hotspots specified by token location attributes (step 720') and process the trigger signal locally according to its corresponding token location attributes (step 730'). The participant will then enter into a human-machine dialog with the location device (step 740'), which will distribute the token to the participant if the reply entered by the participant conforms with pre-designed rules already stored on the location device, i.e., the reply is as expected. Here, distributing the token to the participant means that the minimum required token identification data is released to or transferred to and/or stored by the participant profile unit (step 750'). The human-machine dialog may be as simple as entering "yes" or clicking on an icon (i.e., selecting a responsive or "hot" area or spot), or as complex as playing a computer game. Thus, the pre-designed rules may be that "yes" is entered, the correct icon is clicked on, or certain game score is achieved. In the case of playing a computer game, the local game loader 430 loads the computer game program, including game data if necessary or desired, or as designed, and the game runner/activity runner 440 will execute the computer game program to enable the participant to play the computer game. No token is distributed if the user response does not conform with the pre-defined and pre-stored rules, i.e., the reply is not as expected, and the dialog will be terminated (step 760').
[0072] As an alternative to requiring each participant to be physically in the vicinity of a hotspot, a host server 300 may simulate this by providing a simulated trigger signal, thus the location device may be in the vicinity of a hotspot along a timeline. This may be in an AR-event designed for a storyline or event agenda, with hotspots arranged at different times along the storyline or different stages or agenda items according to the event agenda. In this case, the location device will be in the "time vicinity", instead of physical vicinity, of a hotspot, with timing controlled or set by the host server 300, or simply according to clock.
In addition, a host server 300 may provide a trigger signal to all location devices of participants instead of waiting for a trigger signal at step 720. This will cause each participant's location device to provide the prompt to invite the participant to enter the human-machine dialog.
Alternatively, the host server 300 also may treat a trigger signal has been received (e.g., when the event enters a particular agenda item) and provides the prompt to invite the participant to enter the human-machine dialog. The remaining steps may be the same as described above in reference to FIG. 7 and FIG. 7A. At the conclusion of the human-machine dialog, a token may be distributed.
[0073] FIG. 8 illustrates a method as an example to show steps of receiving tokens by a location device 400 from the host server 300. The location device 400 already has an AR-map 500 loaded and the host server 300 has already launched the AR-event or AR-activity. When the location device 400 is in the vicinity of a hot-spot, it receives a hotspot trigger signal from its location detection unit 410 (step 810). The event activity runner 440 determines the token associated with the location of the hotspot from the hotspot trigger signal (step 820) and provides the information to the host server 300(step 830). As described earlier, a hotspot may require different participant response or series of responses before a token is distributed.
Additionally, the hotspot may correspond to a limited supply token, in which case, if the limited number of tokens have already been distributed, the hotspot will no longer be active.
The hotspot also may correspond to an unlimited token, in which case, the hotspot will always be activated. If the hotspot is to be activated, the location device 400 will wait for a confirmation from the participant to enter into a human-machine dialog (step 840). Upon receiving a confirmation from the participant, the location device 400 enters into a human-machine dialog with the participant (step 850). As described earlier, a hotspot may correspond to a simple response token, in which case a participant only needs to provide a simple response, such as entering "yes" or clicking on the hotspot or an animated icon. A
hotspot may also require a unique answer, such as providing a correct solution to a mathematical problem. A
hotspot may also require wining a complex and challenging computer game. This may entail the loading of a computer game module by its game loader, cooperating with participant by the game playing unit (or further with the game server 340 of the host server 300) to complete the computer game, in order to conduct the human-machine dialog and complete the computer game. If the participant provides the expected response (e.g., answering "yes"
or winning the game), the host server 300 sends the token (or rather, sufficient token identification data as discussed earlier) to the location device 400 (step 860), which may be stored locally by the user profile unit 450 of the location device (step 870). If the token data is already distributed to the location device together with map data, the activity runner 440 may be directed to simply distribute a token and store the token to the user profile unit 450 (step 870), instead of receiving it from the host server 300. Additionally, the hotspot may not cause distribution of any token, but rather, after receiving the anticipated response, the location device 400 or host server 300 will provide a further prompt (step 880) that will allow a participant to combine tokens stored in the user profile unit 450 to obtain another token (such as a token having larger coupon value or for a different product), to exchange tokens stored in the user profile unit 450 for tokens received from another participates, or to obtain credentials to pay a different game, among others.
[0074] FIG. 9 illustrates an alternative method of distributing tokens to participants.
Reference is now made to FIG. 9. First, the AR-event planner 12 provides a set of theme templates for selection by an event/theme host or event/theme sponsors (step 910). Next, an event host 14 sends requests or invitations to sponsors 16 to participate in the AR-event organized according to the selected theme template. The event host 14 uses partnership tool 210 to make the selection of theme template and send the invitation. The identification/selection of theme template is received by planner server 200(step 920). Tokens, i.e., token data including token attributes (e.g., as a one-time token or unlimited token, or as a coupon or as an entrance ticket) are provided by sponsors 16 using partnership tool 210 and received by the planner server 200 (step 930). A map is selected which may comprise map tiles of a generic map or map tiles of both the generic map and substituted map tiles. An interactive AR-map is generated by the map generator from the selected map, the token data, and token location attributes (step 940). The AR map may be generated using the method illustrated in and described in reference to FIG. 6. The generated interactive AR-map 500 is distributed (step 950) to participants (i.e., their location devices) and/or event host (i.e., the host server). The AR
map may be distributed to location devices directly by the planner server 200 or distributed through host server 300 or some other third party hosts (such as a game download service server). Next, the AR-map is loaded by the map loader of participant location device 400.
When the participant location device 400 detects that the user (i.e., the device) is in the vicinity of a hotspot corresponding to a token (or tokens), the location device (or its game runner/activity runner 440) activates a hot-spot prompt and displays it on the participant location device 400 for participant to enter a response. The prompt may be an animated icon, a pop-up window, an audio-alert, among others. The user response may be the selection or clicking of the animated icon, entering of a response in the pop-up window, clicking on the GPS map in response to the audio-alert, among others. The planner server 200 waits for this response (step 960). Upon receiving a confirmative response from a location device 400, the event host server 300 enters into a dialog with the location device 400 (step 970). The dialog may be that as described in reference to FIG. 6, and the planner server 200 cooperates with the location device 400 to execute the dialog until its completion or termination (step 980). If the planner server 200 receives an expected response from the location device 400, the planner server 200 sends the token (or tokens) assigned to the hotspot to the participant, i.e., the participant's location device (step 990). The participant may use the received token (or tokens) for further processing, as described below in reference to FIG. 10.

[0075] As described earlier, a token may have different attributes which may require different further processing. For example, the token may be a store or event coupon, which the participant may redeem at the store or event host to receive the benefit (e.g., a discount), the gift or prize, or the product or service. The token also may be an entrance ticket which the participant may use to enter a virtual storefront, a virtual museum, or some other virtual establishment. The token also may be a pre-requisite or credentials for playing additional games or as certain virtual asset. Reference is now made to FIG. 10, to illustrate further processing of a received token according to its attribute. The steps illustrated in FIG. 10 may be a continuation of any methods illustrated in FIG. 7 to FIG. 9.
[0076] After the participant provides an expected response, whether a simple "yes" or wining a computer game, among others, the host server 300, planner server 200, or the location device 400(if the token data is already distributed to the location device) will first determine the token type (step 1010). If the token is a store or event coupon, the coupon is distributed to the participant and stored by the location device 400 (step 1020). The token may be redeemed (step 1030). If the token is an entrance ticket coupon, the coupon may be distributed to the participant and stored by the location device 400 (step 1040) and the location device 400 may launch the store launcher 470 (step 1050) to connect to the store's sponsor server 22, so that the participant may enter the virtual storefront and start shopping. If the token has the attribute of being a store entrance of a sponsor, then instead of or in addition to launching a virtual storefront, the host server 300 or the location device 400 will limit all hotspots to tokens of the sponsor and hide all other sponsors' tokens or hotspots connected to other sponsors' tokens. If the token is a credential token for playing a computer game, the coupon may be distributed to the participant and stored by the location device 400 (step 1060).The location device 400 may then launch the game loader 430 (step 1070) so that the participant may play additional computer games, either on the location device or in cooperation with another game server. A
token also can be a token that can be exchanged or combined. For example, each token may represent a segment of a storyline or a piece of a puzzle. Combining a collection of all segment tokens of the storyline or the puzzle may yield a much higher coupon value or may be exchanged for a more valuable or desirable coupon. A combinable token or an exchangeable token may be distributed to the participant and stored by the location device 400 (step 1080). A
participant may launch the user profile unit 450 to combine or exchange the received token according to its attributes (step 1090). For example, a participant may combine the token with other received token(s) to obtain a new token (step 1090). The participant also may exchange the token for another token, for example, with another participant through communication of their respective network connectors 460 of their location devices, or through the host server 300 as an intermediary, or exchange the token for another one directly with the host server 300 or the participant's own location device 400, if the desired token is already downloaded. The type of the new token will be determined (step 1010) and then processed according to the attributes of the new token, as described above.
[0077] Various embodiments of the invention have now been described in detail. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that numerous modifications, adaptations and variations may be made to the embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention, which is defined by the appended claims. The scope of the claims should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the description as a whole and not to be limited to these embodiments set forth in the examples or detailed description thereof.

Claims (36)

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A method of making interactive map for augmented activities, comprising:
selecting a theme and a map, the theme defining a topic of augmented activities and the map comprising map data;
receiving token data of tokens related to the theme;
assigning a hotspot to at least one of the tokens, a location device generating a trigger signal when the location device is in vicinity of the hotspot, assigning a trigger response to each of the hotspots;
integrating the theme, the map data and the hotspots to form an interactive AR-map having the tokens distributed thereon at locations of their respective hotspots.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the trigger response is to provide a user prompt at the location device to invite a participant to enter a pre-designed human-machine dialog using the location device upon receiving the trigger signal generated by the location device of the participant when the location device is in vicinity of a hotspot, and wherein the interactive map causes one or more of the at least one token corresponding to the hotspot being distributed to the location device if the location device receives user response conforming with pre-stored rules for the human-machine dialog.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the pre-designed human-machine dialog is one or more of:
a) responding to a binary question, b) selecting an active area or spot at a graphical user interface presented on the location device, c) completing successfully a mathematical or logical problem at the graphical user interface presented on the location device, and d) completing successfully a computer game at the graphical user interface presented on the location device.

4. The method of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the tokens are selected from: a digital store coupon, a digital discount coupon, a digital gift certificate, a credential to gain access to a computerized service.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the tokens include a store front digital token sponsored by a store, upon the location device being distributed the store front digital token, the interactive AR-map causing the location device to display the user prompt only if at least one of the one or more tokens corresponding to the hotspot is related to the store.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein distribution of token or tokens to the location device is limited to that related to the store.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the tokens include a merchant digital token sponsored by a merchant, upon the location device being distributed the merchant digital token, the interactive AR-map causing the location device to display the user prompt only if at least one of the one or more tokens corresponding to the hotspot all is related to the merchant.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein distribution of token or tokens to the location device is limited to that related to the merchant.

9. The method of any one of claim 1 to claim 8, further comprising the steps of:
receiving a modification to the map data from a user over a communication network, and integrating the theme, the modified map data and the hotspots to modify the interactive AR-Map.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the steps of:
receiving additional token data from the user, the additional token data containing one or more personalized tokens provided by the user, and assigning at least one additional hotspot to the one or more personalized tokens, wherein the step of integrating includes integrating the at least one additional hotspot assigned to the one or more personalized tokens and the additional token data.

11. The method of any one of claim 1 to claim 10, wherein the hotspot corresponds to a physical location defined by a set of GPS coordinates and the location device is a GPS
device, which generates a trigger signal when the GPS device is in the vicinity of the physical location defined by the GPS coordinates.

12. A method of distributing digital tokens, comprising:
distributing an interactive map to participants of an AR-event, the interactive map having the digital tokens distributed thereon at locations of their respective hotspots, each hotspot corresponding to at least one of the digital tokens, providing a user prompt for presentation at a user device to invite a participant to enter a pre-designed human-machine dialog using the user device upon receiving a trigger signal generated by the user device of the participant when the user device is in vicinity of a hotspot, distributing one or more of the at least one token corresponding to the hotspot if response received by the user device conforms with pre-stored rules for the human-machine dialog.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the pre-designed human-machine dialog is one or more of:
e) responding to a binary question, f) selecting an active area or spot at a graphical user interface presented on the user device, g) completing successfully a mathematical or logical problem at the graphical user interface presented on the user device, and h) completing successfully a computer game at the graphical user interface presented on the user device.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein distributing the interactive map comprising pre-installing the interactive map to the user device and distributing to the user device having the interactive map pre-installed thereon.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising, before the distributing step:

generating a trigger signal corresponding to one of the hotspots at a host server;
the host server sending the trigger signal to the user device, and providing the user prompt to invite the participant to enter the pre-designed human-machine dialog corresponding to the hotspot.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising, before the step of providing user prompt:
adding a hotspot at a host server to the hotspots, digital token or tokens assigned to the hotspot being integrated in the interactive map al ready.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the digital tokens have at least one limited use digital token, attributes of the limited use digital token having a counter that is reduced by a constant number each time a token is distributed and the step of providing user prompt includes the step of:
checking that the counter is above a threshold, and providing the user prompt only if the counter is above the threshold.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the digital tokens are selected from: a digital store coupon, a digital discount coupon, a digital gift certificate, a credential to gain access to a computerized service.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the computerized service is one of receiving another digital token, being granted access to a virtual store, and being granted access to a computer game.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein digital tokens include a store front digital token sponsored by a store, upon being distributed the store front digital token, the method further comprising the steps of:
verifying that the one or more digital tokens corresponding to the hotspot all are related to the store when the hotspot is triggered, and providing the user prompt only upon successful verification.

21. The method of claim 21, wherein distribution of token or tokens to the location device is limited to that related to the store.

22. The method of claim 12, wherein digital tokens include a merchant digital token sponsored by a merchant, upon being distributed the merchant digital token, the method further comprising the steps of:
verifying that the one or more digital tokens corresponding to the hotspot all are related to the merchant when the hotspot is triggered, and.
providing the user prompt only upon successful verification.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein distribution of token or tokens to the location device is limited to that related to the merchant.

24. The method of claim 12, wherein the hotspot is a pre-set time along a timeline, and the trigger signal is triggered by the user device when an internal clock of the user device reaches the pre-set time or a trigger signal received by the user device matches the pre-set time.

25. A system of making interactive map for augmented activities, comprising:
a partnership tool, the partnership tool receiving token data from a sponsor or event host, a theme planning tool, the theme planning tool receiving input from a planner for selecting a theme and a map comprising map data for the theme, the theme planner tool further receiving location data identifying locations corresponding to hotspots of the tokens on the map, each hotspot corresponding to at least one of the digital tokens, a location device generating a trigger signal when the location device is in vicinity of any hotspot of the hotspots, a map generator, the map generator generating an interactive map to distribute the hotspots on the interactive map according to locations assigned to the hotspots, a memory device having a database stored thereon, the database including theme templates each of which defines a theme, and storing map data and token data, and a device interface for transmitting the interactive map to a user location device and for receiving location information transmitted from the user location device.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the memory device further stores thereon a pre-designed human-machine dialog corresponding to each hot spot and pre-stored rules for the human-machine dialog.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the pre-designed human-machine dialog is one or more of:
i) responding to a binary question, j) selecting an active area or spot at a graphical user interface presented on the location device, k) completing successfully a mathematical or logical problem at the graphical user interface presented on the location device, and l) completing successfully a computer game at the graphical user interface presented on the location device.

28. The system of claim 25 or claim 26, wherein the tokens are selected from:
a digital store coupon, a digital discount coupon, a digital gift certificate, a credential to gain access to a computerized service.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the tokens include a store front digital token sponsored by a store, upon the location device being distributed the store front digital token, the interactive AR-map causing the location device to display the user prompt only if at least one of the one or more tokens corresponding to the hotspot is related to the store.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein distribution of token or tokens to the location device is limited to that related to the store.

31. The system of claim 28, wherein the tokens include a merchant digital token sponsored by a merchant, upon the location device being distributed the merchant digital token, the interactive AR-map causing the location device to display the user prompt only if at least one of the one or more tokens corresponding to the hotspot all is related to the merchant.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein distribution of token or tokens to the location device is limited to that related to the merchant.

33. A method of distributing tokens to participants of an augmented reality (AR) event through location devices of the participants, comprising:
receiving token data of digital tokens from sponsors of respective digital tokens, making an interactive map having the digital tokens distributed thereon at locations of their respective hotspots, each hotspot corresponding to at least one of the digital tokens, a location device generating a trigger signal when a location device is in vicinity of any one hotspot of the hotspots, distributing the interactive map to a plurality of location devices of participants of the AR-event, providing a user prompt to invite a participant, who uses one location device of the plurality of location devices, to enter a human-machine dialog upon receiving a trigger signal from the one location device triggered by the one location device being in vicinity of a hotspot of the hotspots, distributing one or more of the at least one token corresponding to the hotspot if response received at the one location device conforms with pre-stored rules for the human-machine dialog.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the pre-designed human-machine dialog is one or more of:
m) responding to a binary question, n) selecting an active area or point at a graphical user interface presented on the location device, o) completing successfully a mathematical or logical problem at the graphical user interface presented on the location device, and completing successfully a computer game at the graphical user interface presented on the location device.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein digital tokens include a store front digital token sponsored by a store, upon being distributed the store front digital token, the method further comprising the steps of:
verifying that the one or more digital tokens corresponding to the hotspot all are related to the store when the hotspot is triggered, and providing the user prompt only upon successful verification.

36. The method of claim 33, wherein digital tokens include a merchant digital token sponsored by a merchant, upon being distributed the merchant digital token, the method further comprising the steps of:
verifying that the one or more digital tokens corresponding to the hotspot all are related to the merchant when the hotspot is triggered, and.
providing the user prompt only upon successful verification.