US 2013/0157693 A1Published application

Ad-hoc user and device engagement platform

AssigneeMicrosoft Corporation

InventorsMarc E. Mercuri, James O. Tisdale

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Abstract

A local engagement system is described herein that leverages devices people commonly carry with them to dynamically engage them based on their locations and/or activities. One goal of the above referenced system is to leverage the power of the various devices present while providing the audience with a chance to better engage and participate with each other. A side benefit is additional opportunities to market products and services in new and exciting ways. The system includes a presentation component at the event or venue that links to existing systems, a web interface, and optional individual client applications for the devices. Thus, the local engagement system provides a highly engaging experience to people that might otherwise be idle and provides an enhanced opportunity for advertisers or educators to reach the people and give them something entertaining to do.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A computer-implemented method to host an activity dynamically among devices at the same location, the method comprising:

starting a selected activity based on a start time or event associated with the activity;
detecting one or more devices that can potentially participate in the activity;
sending an invitation to participate in the activity to multiple users of the system that are located in an identified location associated with the activity;
receiving an acceptance of the invitation from one or more invited users and adding the accepting users to a list of participants in the activity, the acceptance comprising receiving an indication that the one or more users ran a particular downloaded application, and performing a handshake to identify user and ensure eligibility by asking the user to sign into a user profile;
delivering activity content to the participants in the activity by communicating with each user's mobile device;
receiving user input from each of multiple users related to participation in the activity;
aggregating input from participating users and determining an outcome of the activity;
and
presenting the outcome of the activity using communally accessible output equipment to each of the participating users,
wherein the preceding steps are performed by at least one processor.

7 more elements

A computer system for providing an ad-hoc user and device engagement platform, the system comprising:

a processor and memory configured to execute software instructions embodied within the following components;
an engagement data store that stores one or more interactive activities to dynamically engage users at an identified location;
a user profile component that stores user profile information that identifies particular users and their historical engagement with the system;
an activity input component that receives information for creating a new interactive activity in the engagement data store;
a user location component that detects a user's location and eligibility for participating in a selected activity, and receives a code from the user indicating that the user is at a determined location;
an activity delivery component that delivers an interactive activity to a user's mobile device for which the user is eligible;
a user input component that receives input from each user participating in an interactive activity, wherein the input is the user's participation in the interactive activity and wherein the user input component collects the input and communicates the input to a device aggregation component via a network associated with the user's mobile device;
a device aggregation component that aggregates user input from multiple user devices and applies the input to an activity being hosted by the system and in which each of the users is participating;
and
a presentation component that uses equipment available at a location of multiple users to communally output information related to the hosted activity, and further presents to the multiple users the code indication that the user is at the determined location.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 13/330,679Filed 20 Dec 2011
Published: 20 Jun 2013
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification4 codes

H04W 4/21
Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel: for social networking applications
H04W 4/029
Services making use of location information: location-based management or tracking services
H04W 4/02
Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor: services making use of location information
H04W
Wireless communication networks

Family

US 8,974,303 B2Related patent
US 2013/0157693 A1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

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