WO2015067995A1

WO2015067995A1 - Participation and sharing of physical events by social and virtual game mechanisms

Info

Publication number: WO2015067995A1
Application number: PCT/IB2013/060062
Authority: WO
Inventors: Marcos Ares Blanco
Original assignee: Myhappyhour
Priority date: 2013-11-11
Filing date: 2013-11-11
Publication date: 2015-05-14

Abstract

A system and methods associated therewith intended for the real-time promotion of offers of participation in events situated geographically close to consumers. These events are characterized by a certain added value in the eyes of consumers, such as the quality or the price of the service proposed during the event or else a special offer with respect to other equivalent events. The mechanisms and the interactions specific to this invention take place through a game based on points and rewards. Various new advantages and characteristics specific to this invention, as well as the details which are unveiled therein, are presented in the sections of this document.

Description

PARTICIPATION AND SHARING OF PHYSICAL EVENTS BY MECHANISMS OF SOCIAL AND VIRTUAL GAMING

Technical Field

This invention is generally used in computers and especially in mobile devices that allow determine the geographic location. These mobile devices can take the form of portable handsets, smart phones or assistants digital devices, even if they could take other forms as well. Typically, the invention would be developed through a program computer or a mobile application that could be configured to run on many types of mobile devices such as those presented above. For example, mobile apps can be created for run on Windows Mobile, Android, I-Phone, runtime environments Java Mobile, RIM or other. Experts in the field will probably familiar with the structure, programming and operation of different types of mobile devices.

The program that will implement this invention will perform the proper functions of the invention between two user populations: suppliers (or those who will be exhibiting and provide services) and consumers (or those who consume services offered by the suppliers).

Background Art

From a technical point of view, many mobile apps exist providing some technical features common to those that will be required for this invention: AroundMe, Yelp, GoogleMaps "Locate Me" provide some subsets of capabilities that will be required to this invention. That being said, the type of information processed being completely different, a whole new subset of capabilities not common and innovative will be made in the context of this invention.

Applications such as AroundMe or Yelp rely on on a concept of provision of "static" information for a given place: by example, if a user is at 4th Street, New York and wants to know pharmacies or sports shops around, it will not really important, critical or distinctive to perform the said research today has 18 hours, tomorrow at 14 hours or in 6 days at 20 hours. The same stores sport will most likely still be there.

In exchange, this invention will be based on a concept provision of "dynamic" information for a given location: for example, if the same user is at 4th Street, New York and wants to know the pharmacies or sports shops around, the return of such a request in the context of this invention will depend heavily on when it will be executed.

The difference highlighted above is not in itself (or very difficult) patentable, the consequences that will be released, they will be.

While "static" applications are more simple, it is clear that they can become viral applications in terms of use. They will only be used when it really necessary, not more not less.

By choosing to provide content "dynamic", this invention will not have such a disadvantage and will release new inventive possibilities, such as those described in the sections follow.

Technical Problem

Historically, convenience stores have not could take advantage of the Internet era easily. It's hard for them to expand its reach beyond the physical location of the store. They have trouble publish online on the "web" in a cost effective and efficient manner by different reasons:

1. Because of their size, most popular price engines will not be able to show them in their first result pages

2. The maintenance of a dedicated website would be high in relation to its contribution to increasing sales and / or proactive awareness

3. Proximity solutions based on Coupon templates are not suitable for any type and size of shops

In addition, the age of the Internet has changed indirectly the social behavior and expectations of consumers who accept less and less to be harassed in the shops and prefer inform themselves instead. As such, some behaviors previously classic at store-like stores such as' have someone dedicated to the entrance of a shop to invite people to go inside " become less and less effective as consumers prefer to explore the offers and discounts by themselves rather than being pushed to do it.

In addition, sellers are no longer able to assess the magnitude and their possibilities and problems. The best that they can think of is to start marketing actions such as editing an ad in a local newspaper, or getting in touch with a third and engage on partnerships, finally create some panels advertising, etc. But the results of all these actions are not easily quantifiable: "What exactly do my customers want? What makes them return? Should I make more ads? If yes, which? Or? If I spend $ 30 in an ad on a newspaper, will that be useful? How much can it bring me? Am I able to quantify? To measure it? "With all the above, it becomes difficult for conventional stores to find ways to expand proactively their influence and exposure outside the reach of the street or place where they are physically placed.

As for consumers, with fewer and fewer available time to "walk in search of the good plan, they become more and more attracted to doing this shopping search online. Purchase in line has become mostly a practical issue. Unfortunately, it is not easy to satisfy other human needs in parallel when shopping in line. Indeed, when we buy online, we can not have a return immediate experience (inherent delivery time), we will not be able to share experience with others, we will not be able to use the buying activity in as a base or excuse to play with friends. Many claim that the "social experiment" connected to walking on the net can never equal to the "social experiment" connected to walking in the real world.

How to make purchases in convenience stores become practical and interesting for consumers and sellers? Here is the problem that this invention try to solve.

Technical Solution

Many specific details are presented to as an example in order to provide a thorough understanding of the lessons learned relevant. However, it should be obvious to experts in the matter that some of these teachings can be understood without such details. In other cases, methods, procedures and components have been described at a high level, without details, in order to avoid obscuring unnecessarily aspects of relevant lessons.

Some embodiments of the invention can be found in a method or system for publication events of some kind. Some embodiments of the invention can be found in a method or system intended for participation in one or more events.

This whole system and their associated methods can be structured as part of a board game. We will call the providers to those with the ability to publish and edit events. We will call consumers to those who agree to participate in a event. An event can be of any kind, real or virtual. A event is characterized arriving at a date and a certain time. In the case of a real event, it is also associated with a real geographical location.

On this basis, we can look at this invention as a system or method for communicating events, and look for events. The consumers of these events are members of the user community of this invention. Members of this community can communicate with each other by this invention.

This invention presents dedicated features to consumers. Some of them are characteristics traditional ones already found in other systems such as the ability of a consumer to subscribe to the community of users of this invention using the identity of another community or creating an account in this community. This registration gives the consumer the ability to search and to participate in events.

Vendors publish events. The consumers can search for them. They can search by categories events. Examples of these categories may be: "restaurant" for a event in a restaurant, "sports" for an event that involves a price reduction in a sports shop, "library" for an event where the author of a novel will sign books in a bookstore. We will develop everything these aspects more deeply between [23] and [29].

Suppliers can create and publish events. Events will therefore be related to suppliers, who will become the owners of the events. Any event published by a provider may include, among other things, a brief description of its contents, the date and the time of the event, its geographical location in the event of a real event, the exact offer, the category of the event, a long description of the content, a haircut level or description of the benefit or special service that the event will provide, a photo, a short film, a URL link. These events will also include comments and evaluation of consumers. Suppliers can also eliminate the events they will have created at any time.

This invention takes into account both the location of the consumer than that of events. The research of events by a user can be based on geographical criteria, in a certain geographical area. This field can be defined as a code postal, a city, the distance between the event and the current location and other equivalent geographical criteria.

This invention also includes visual features such as the use of maps allowing the display of events. A map can show at the same time the current position of the user and the location of the events of interest. The search in the map can be conditioned by the configuration of temporal characteristics in addition to all other criteria previously described, namely: all the events in the plan for next two hours will be different from the set of events listed on map for the next two hours or so different from all of events on the map for tomorrow at the same time.

Consumers can access events published through research. The event search method can include criteria such as date, time, a certain type of product or service (shoes, restaurant, concert, movies, childcare, etc.), keywords, the type and size of the discount, the presence of other consumers in the Community, etc. They may also receive notifications by report to certain events by recommendations or invitations other users of this invention.

The list of events can be reached in doing research according to the methods we mentioned above. They can also be sent and received by members of the community by following invitation-based procedures. The invention also implement a system and methods for performing recommendations. Thus, community members can receive recommendations based on their use of the application putting in place this invention long and short term, its preferences, location the date and time of the day, their activity in the community.

This invention implements a social game and based on the active participation of the users of the invention in proposed events. Users of the invention may invite others users at events. They can also confirm their presence at an event as consumers. They can also inform of their presence at a certain event. They can also inform of their consumption or active participation in an event (eg the purchase of a book, drink a drink, enter the theater, etc.). These confirmations will have effects positive as part of a virtual social game implemented in this invention, effects such as the assignment of gaming points or the allocation of points redeemable by real or virtual gifts, which can be will call "goodies" as it will be presented from [32]. The users of this invention may come into contact with other users by means of typical mechanical biases implemented in this invention, such as a messaging system.

In the context of social and virtual games, consumers can propose events. Consumers acting thus take the role of suppliers. Taking the role of supplier by a consumer may have positive effects in the context of of a virtual social game implemented in this invention, effects such as the assignment of game points or the assignment of exchangeable points by real or virtual gifts, which we will call "goodies" as we will present from [32]. This proposal of events from the consumers will understand most of the attributes of an event defined in [23], namely: a category (such as sport), short description and long (amateur football competition), a proposal for a date and time, the proposed location (beach, etc.).

Users can create groups users. A group of users will have the same possibilities and qualities of a single user, but in a plural form. An user can send a message to a group and all members of a group will receive the message. An invitation can be sent to a group, and all members group will receive the invitation. The invention makes it possible to manage groups, as the ability for a user to join a group, the possibility to leave a group, management of discussions between members of a group, listening to members of a group, maintaining different roles in a group (as group leader, co-leader, etc.).

Consumers participating in the events offered by the suppliers will generally either consume a service or buying a good (having a drink in a bar, a dinner in a restaurant, tickets for a concert). In the eyes of consumers, an event will present typically some advantages over other equivalent situations taking place outside the context of the event. For example, it will be advantageous to go buy at 16h this afternoon a pullover at a shop for which a 40% discount event between 4pm and 5pm this afternoon on the pullovers was published a few moments ago.

In addition to the economic benefits inherent in events presented in [31], the participation of consumers in events will give them points. The number of points offered will depend on type of consumer participation in the event (presence or not, purchase or not) and the type of event published by the provider (basic event, premium event, event with or without limitation of points awarded by purchases at the event). For example, attending an event will entitle at 2 points. Consume something at an event will grant between 10 and 50 points depending on the type of event. Other actions to promote events between community users such as the invitation between friends will also give points. The points thus won will allow then to consumers getting prices. In the end, this invention will implement an intrinsic point system that will offer different fun and economic benefits for consumers. The points as well users are also associated with the groups which they will belong. Groups (or teams) will accumulate scores that will be based on points accumulated by its own members in the terms and conditions of participation in the events defined in the team missions as will be explained later. Points will be also associated with geographic regions and cities based on mission activity and achievements [39] by its user inhabitants and participants in the invention.

A consumer may be assigned the number points earned during these participations in events and missions team using the implementation of this invention in devices mobile phones or computers. In addition, a consumer will have access to the history these events, its participation and the different actions that the consumer will have realized.

Also through computers or mobile devices, the invention will inform suppliers about the level of consumer participation in each event, the punctuation that the consumers will have given the event, their comments on the event, etc. The invention is also capable of providing an overview of the evolution of the supplier market. In general, suppliers will have access to market information such as types of events that have more or less of participation, the most active days and hours, the regions the most active geographical areas and even the wishes of events proposed by the users of the invention not being targeted. Here we do not list exhaustive way all the possible information that can be drawn thanks to analyzes of data collected by the use and participation of users in the activities proposed in the context of the invention.

Another type of offer proposed by the invention is targeted advertising. Suppliers may publish in the invention in outside the publication of specific events their profiles of offers. The consumers can also make event proposals or wishes [34]. Thanks to this duality, the invention will be able to propose targeted advertising services allowing contact between suppliers and users sharing common points.

The invention implements a mechanism of messaging allowing its members to communicate with each other and disseminate information, data, monitoring of suppliers or events, activities at events, successes on team missions, progression of levels in the game [28], need help to cross levels in the game [28], alerts and other equivalent functions.

This invention includes different actors such consumers and suppliers, as well as different actions such as that the publication of events, invitations to events and the participation in events (by mere presence and / or consumption of a good or service). All these actions and actors are also structured in this invention as part of a social game [28]. In addition to events classics published by suppliers in the community of the invention, special events of the "social game" type may also be be proposed by the makers of this invention to enrich the offer events and develop broader / larger team missions.

In the social game of this invention [28] the consumers own a virtual city that is built on the basis of their participation in events. So, the classic events published by providers and game-type events [37] published by responsible for the invention each have a defined event category (ex: bar, restaurant, cinema, hotel, leisure park, sports, fashion, etc.) which will associated with a category of virtual place represented by a specific icon or "goodie" inside virtual cities built as part of the game. As an illustrative example, a consumer who buys in a store of chocolate at an event published by the supplier responsible for the said store would value its virtual city with a "goodie" that could represent a virtual chocolate shop. All this, of course, comes in addition to the benefit of the economic offer specific to the published event [31] and the evolution of his score in the game [32].

The social game implemented in this invention implements the concept of missions for consumers or for groups (teams) of consumers. Consumers are the players who are trying to perform the proposed missions in order to accumulate points. The points are related to actions and participation in events as described previously. Missions are related to participation in events, subscription of new members in the community of invention, games of treasure hunt or other related activities that will be offered through Games-type events [37] in different geographical locations, etc.

As part of the social game, consumers may exchange various activities or notifications between them, such as their presence at events or the purchase of products or services. They could also exchange photos taken in relation to these activities and their participation in events. The photos that will be exchanged so will be automatically identified by the internal logic to this invention in as long as belonging to specific identities. For example, in the case where a consumer C would take a picture at an event organized by a provider F, the picture taken would be identified and visible in the profile of the consumer C in this invention, but also identified and visible in provider profile F as well as identified and visible in the profile of the global community to which both C and F belong. it will allow the creation of visual and graphic components around providers and communities through the actions of the consumers (the action being a picture taking in the above example).

The logic of the example of action underlined in [40] can extend to other actions of any other nature in the context the same game: another example would be the publication of comments from consumers around events organized by suppliers.

Advantageous Effects

Universalization of access to small shops new technologies and real-time marketing opportunities.

Generalization of local commerce, very important to ensure the sustainable development of our planet.

A gateway through the proposed games has the exchange between producers and consumers and the common realization of corporate responsibility projects together with a social dimension innovative.

Description of Drawings

Best Mode

Mode for Invention

Industrial Applicability

Industrial application of processes and mechanisms described is direct through mobile devices such as those described in the "Technical Field" field of this document.

Sequence List Text

Claims

A method of providing location-based events to a mobile station user. When events can be virtual or real and arrive at a particular moment. If they are real events are located geographically.
A social and virtual game based on the participation of users in events.
A community built around the use of the invention.
The game of claim 2 is based on activity between members of the community in claim 3, as well as their participation in the events of claim 1.
A subscription method for community members described in claim 3.
A method of communication between members of the community described in claim 3.
A method to confirm participation in events as those described in claim 1.
A method of evaluating events such as those described in claim 1.
A method to comment on events like those described in claim 1.
A method of awarding points according to actions around events and user participation on events described in claim 1.
A measurement method to quantify the level of participation in an event described in claim 1.
A method of communication of all the described parameters in claim 11.
A search method for events like those described in claim 1 according to different criteria such as the geographical location, time and categories of events.
An interface for interaction between users, event management and monitoring and participations in the game described in the claim 2.
A method for managing events that allow creation, elimination and participation in events.
The definition of the events described in claim 1 by attributes such as description, location, time and date, supply, description of the benefit.
A map representing a geographic region.
The physical location of the user represented in the card of claim 17.
Physical locations of events and activities shown in the map of claim 17.
The representation of the card in claim 17 in depending on a period of time.
The points in claim 10, which can be exchanged for prizes or benefits in the events or missions of the game. claim 2.
A method of assigning virtual icons or "goodies" in function of actions and user participation around events described in claim 1.
A method to allow a consumer to take the role provider in the context of the game of claim 2 in order to expand its benefits or improve his situation or progression in the said Game.
A method for classifying and identifying an element produced by a member of the community (photo, comment, etc.) as visible and identifiable in the profile of another member directly related to the element in question.