# US 8,751,407 B1 · System and method for creating an ad hoc social networking forum for a cohort of users

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- Number: US 8,751,407 B1
- Document ID: US8751407B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 13/933,045
- Filed: 2013-07-01
- Granted: 2014-06-10
- Earliest claimed: 2013-07-01
- Assignees: Wingit IT, LLC
- Applicants: Wingit IT, LLC
- Inventors: Steven Randall Murray
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8751407B1

## CPC

- G06Q 30/02: Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
- G06Q 10/40: Business processes related to social networking or social networking services
- G06Q 30/08: Auctions
- H04W 4/021: Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
- H04W 4/08: User group management
- H04W 4/21: for social networking applications
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72)

## Abstract

The invention relates to a system and method for facilitating creation of an ad hoc social networking forum for a cohort of users based on a determination of whether an ad hoc social networking forum associated with the cohort exists. Responsive to receiving a request from a user of the cohort to join a social networking forum associated with the cohort, a determination may be made as to whether a social networking forum associated with the cohort has already been created. A social networking forum associated with the cohort may be created responsive to a determination that a forum associated with the cohort has not yet been created. The user may be added as a member of the newly created forum.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system for facilitating creation of an ad hoc social networking forum for a cohort of users, the system comprising:
one or more physical processors programmed with computer readable instructions to:
obtain, from one or more publicly available sources, information related to a first cohort prior to receiving a user request to join a first social networking forum that is related to the first cohort, the first cohort comprising a plurality of users that have a pre-established association with a first experience scheduled to occur at a first time, first date, and a first location, the information related to the first cohort comprising information related to the first experience; and
receive a request from a first user of the first cohort to join the first social networking forum associated with the first cohort;
determine whether the first social networking forum has been created; and
responsive to a determination that the first social networking forum has not been created:
create the first social networking forum; and
add the first user as a member of the first social networking forum; and
facilitate sharing of one or more items of content via the first social networking forum.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more physical processors are programmed with computer readable instructions to:
receive a request from a second user of the first cohort to join the first social networking forum associated with the first cohort;
determine whether the first social networking forum has been created; and
responsive to a determination that the first social networking forum has been created:
add the second user as a second member of the first social networking forum.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more physical processors are programmed with computer readable instructions to receive the request from the first user by:
displaying, on a display of the computing device of the first user, a selectable list comprising a plurality of cohorts including the first cohort, wherein the cohort management module is configured to have obtained information related to each individual cohort of the plurality of cohorts prior to receiving a user request to join an individual one of the plurality of social networking forums; and
receiving, from the first user, a selection of the first cohort.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The system of claim 3, wherein the plurality of cohorts comprise one or more cohorts with respective one or more locations within a pre-determined distance of a current location of a computing device of the first user.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The system of claim 3, wherein the one or more physical processors are programmed with computer readable instructions to:
receive a selection of a location from the first user,
wherein the plurality of cohorts comprise one or more cohorts with respective one or more locations within a pre-determined distance of the selected location.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more physical processors are programmed with computer readable instructions to:
register a first provider of the first experience;
receive, from the first provider, the information related to the first cohort; and
facilitate management, by the first provider, of participation by one or more members in the first social networking forum.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more physical processors are programmed with computer readable instructions to facilitate rating, by one or more members of the first social networking forum, on an item of content shared via the first social networking forum.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more physical processors are programmed with computer readable instructions to facilitate voting, by one or more members of the first social networking forum, on an item of content shared via the first social networking forum.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more physical processors are programmed with computer readable instructions to conduct an auction on an item of content shared via the first social networking forum.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein one or more physical processors are programmed with computer readable instructions to:
manage access of a third party to the first social networking forum; and
facilitate provision of advertising content by the third party to the first social networking forum.

### Claim 11

A computer-implemented method for facilitating creation of an ad hoc social networking forum for a cohort of users, the method being implemented in a computer system comprising one or more physical processors programmed with computer readable instructions to, the method comprising:
obtaining, by the one or more physical processors, from one or more publicly available sources, information related to a first cohort prior to receiving a user request to join a first social networking forum that is related to the first cohort, the first cohort comprising a plurality of users that have a pre-established association with a first experience scheduled to occur at a first time, first date, and a first location, the information related to the first cohort comprising information related to the first experience; and
receiving, by the one or more physical processors, a request from a first user of the first cohort to join the first social networking forum associated with the first cohort;
determining, by the one or more physical processors, whether the first social networking forum has been created; and
responsive to a determination that the first social networking forum has not been created:
creating, by the one or more physical processors, the first social networking forum; and
adding, by the one or more physical processors, the first user as a member of the first social networking forum; and
facilitating, by the one or more physical processors, sharing of one or more items of content via the first social networking forum.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, further comprising:
receiving, by the one or more physical processors, a request from a second user of the first cohort to join the first social networking forum associated with the first cohort;
determining, by the one or more physical processors, whether the first social networking forum has been created; and
responsive to a determination that the first social networking forum has been created:
adding, by the one or more physical processors, the second user as a second member of the first social networking forum.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein receiving the request from the first user comprises:
displaying, by the one or more physical processors, on the display of a computing device of the first user, a selectable list comprising a plurality of cohorts, wherein information related to each individual cohort of the plurality of cohorts has been obtained prior to receiving a user request to join an individual one of the plurality of social networking forums; and
receiving, by the one or more physical processors, from the first user, a selection of the first cohort.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the plurality of cohorts comprise one or more cohorts with respective one or more locations within a pre-determined distance of a current location of a computing device of the first user.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, further comprising:
receiving, by the one or more physical processors, a selection of a location from the first user,
wherein the plurality of cohorts comprise one or more cohorts with respective one or more locations within a pre-determined distance of the selected location.

### Claim 16 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, further comprising:
registering, by the one or more physical processors, a first provider of the first experience;
receiving, by the one or more physical processors, from the first provider, the information related to the first cohort; and
facilitating, by the one or more physical processors, management, by the first provider, of participation by one or more members in the first social networking forum.

### Claim 17 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, further comprising:
facilitating, by the one or more physical processors, rating, by one or more members of the first social networking forum, on an item of content shared via the first social networking forum.

### Claim 18 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, further comprising:
facilitating, by the one or more physical processors, voting, by one or more members of the first social networking forum, on an item of content shared via the first social networking forum.

### Claim 19 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, further comprising:
conducting, by the one or more physical processors, an auction on an item of content shared via the first social networking forum.

### Claim 20 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, further comprising:
managing, by the one or more physical processors, access of a third party to the first social networking forum; and
facilitating, by the one or more physical processors, provision of advertising content by the third party to the first social networking forum.

### Claim 21

A system for facilitating creation of an ad hoc social networking forum for a cohort of users, the system comprising:
one or more physical processors programmed with computer readable instructions to:
obtain, from a first provider of a first experience, information related to a first cohort prior to receiving a user request to join a first social networking forum that is related to the first cohort, the first cohort comprising a plurality of users that have a pre-established association with the first experience scheduled to occur at a first time, first date, and a first location, the information related to the first cohort comprising information related to the first experience;
obtain, from one or more publicly available sources, information related to a second cohort prior to receiving a user request to join a second social networking forum that is related to the second cohort, the second cohort comprising a second plurality of users that have a pre-established association with a second experience scheduled to occur at a second time, second date, and a second location, the information related to the second cohort comprising information related to the second experience;
receive a request from a first user of the first cohort to join the first social networking forum associated with the first cohort;
determine whether the first social networking forum has been created;
responsive to a determination that the first social networking forum has not been created:
create the first social networking forum; and
add the first user as a member of the first social networking forum;
facilitate sharing of one or more items of content via the first social networking forum;
register the first provider of the first experience prior to obtaining information related to the first cohort; and
facilitate management, by the first provider, of participation by one or more members in the first social networking forum.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The system of claim 21, wherein the one or more physical processors are programmed with computer readable instructions to:
receive a request from a second user of the first cohort to join the first social networking forum associated with the first cohort;
determine whether the first social networking forum has been created; and
responsive to a determination that the first social networking forum has been created:
add the second user as a second member of the first social networking forum.

### Claim 23 (depends on 21)

The system of claim 21, wherein the one or more physical processors are programmed with computer readable instructions to:
obtain, from the first provider, information related to a second cohort prior to receiving a user request to join a second social networking forum that is related to the second cohort, the second cohort comprising a plurality of users that have a pre-established association with a second experience scheduled to occur at a second time, second date, and a second location, the information related to the second cohort comprising information related to the second experience;
receive a request from a third user of the second cohort to join the second social networking forum associated with the second cohort;
determine whether the second social networking forum has been created;
responsive to a determination that the second social networking forum has not been created:
create the second social networking forum; and
add the third user as a member of the second social networking forum; and
facilitate sharing of one or more items of content via the second social networking forum.

### Claim 24 (depends on 21)

The system of claim 21, wherein the one or more physical processors are programmed with computer readable instructions to:
determine which functionality to provide via the first social networking forum, wherein available functionality comprises: voting on a content item, rating a content item, or providing a content item for auction.

### Claim 25 (depends on 24)

The system of claim 24, wherein the one or more physical processors are programmed with computer readable instructions to:
facilitate access, by a third party, to the first social networking forum; and
control participation by the third party in the first social networking forum.

### Claim 26

A computer-implemented method for facilitating creation of an ad hoc social networking forum for a cohort of users, the method being implemented in a computer system comprising one or more physical processors programmed with computer readable instructions to, the method comprising:
obtaining, by the one or more physical processors, from a first provider of a first experience, information related to a first cohort prior to receiving a user request to join a first social networking forum that is related to the first cohort, the first cohort comprising a plurality of users that have a pre-established association with the first experience scheduled to occur at a first time, first date, and a first location, the information related to the first cohort comprising information related to the first experience;
obtaining, by the one or more physical processors, from one or more publicly available sources, information related to a second cohort prior to receiving a user request to join a second social networking forum that is related to the second cohort, the second cohort comprising a second plurality of users that have a pre-established association with a second experience scheduled to occur at a second time, second date, and a second location, the information related to the second cohort comprising information related to the second experience;
receiving, by the one or more physical processors, a request from a first user of the first cohort to join the first social networking forum associated with the first cohort;
determining, by the one or more physical processors, whether the first social networking forum has been created;
responsive to a determination that the first social networking forum has not been created:
creating, by the one or more physical processors, the first social networking forum; and
adding, by the one or more physical processors, the first user as a member of the first social networking forum;
facilitating, by the one or more physical processors, sharing of one or more items of content via the first social networking forum;
registering, by the one or more physical processors, the first provider of the first experience prior to obtaining information related to the first cohort; and
facilitating, by the one or more physical processors, management, by the first provider, of participation by one or more members in the first social networking forum.

### Claim 27 (depends on 26)

The method of claim 26, further comprising:
receiving, by the one or more physical processors, a request from a second user of the first cohort to join the first social networking forum associated with the first cohort;
determining, by the one or more physical processors, whether the first social networking forum has been created; and
responsive to a determination that the first social networking forum has been created:
adding, by the one or more physical processors, the second user as a second member of the first social networking forum.

### Claim 28 (depends on 26)

The method of claim 26, further comprising:
obtaining, by the one or more physical processors, from the first provider, information related to a second cohort prior to receiving a user request to join a second social networking forum that is related to the second cohort, the second cohort comprising a plurality of users that have a pre-established association with a second experience scheduled to occur at a second time, second date, and a second location, the information related to the second cohort comprising information related to the second experience;
receiving, by the one or more physical processors, a request from a third user of the second cohort to join the second social networking forum associated with the second cohort;
determining, by the one or more physical processors, whether the second social networking forum has been created;
responsive to a determination that the second social networking forum has not been created:
creating, by the one or more physical processors, the second social networking forum; and
adding, by the one or more physical processors, the third user as a member of the second social networking forum; and
facilitating, by the one or more physical processors, sharing of one or more items of content via the second social networking forum.

### Claim 29 (depends on 26)

The method of claim 26, further comprising:
determining, by the one or more physical processors, by the first provider, which functionality to provide via the first social networking forum, wherein available functionality comprises: voting on a content item, rating a content item, or providing a content item for auction.

### Claim 30 (depends on 29)

The method of claim 29, further comprising:
facilitating, by the one or more physical processors, by the first provider, access to a third party to the first social networking forum; and
controlling, by the one or more physical processors, by the first provider, participation of the third party in the first social networking forum.