Abstract:
In some embodiments, a computer implemented method of processing messages may include providing a dashboard to be displayed to an owner of a brand, the dashboard comprising a message received from a user device, the message comprising an instance of an appearance of a mark or logo of the owner of the brand; receiving a prioritization of the message from the owner of the brand; creating a gallery of messages including the message; and prioritizing the message in the gallery according to the prioritization from the owner of the brand.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This invention is related to commonly owned. U.S. Ser. No. 14/304,855, filed Jun 13, 2014. This invention is also related to commonly owned U.S. Ser. No. ______, filed Oct. ______, 2014. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates generally to exchanging electronic messages in a computer network. More particularly, this invention relates to priority placement of messages in a geo-location based event gallery. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Mobile devices, such as smartphones, are used to generate messages. The messages may be text messages, photographs (with or without augmenting text) and videos. Users can share such messages with individuals in their social network. However, there is no mechanism for sharing messages with strangers that are participating in a common event. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    A computer implemented method includes creating an event gallery associated with an event using messages received from devices located within a geo-location fence. The messages are scanned to identify a specific brand in a message. An endorsement of the message is received from an owner of the specific brand. In response to the endorsement, the placement of the message is prioritized in the event gallery. The event gallery is supplied in response to a request from a user. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0005]    The invention is more fully appreciated in connection with the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0006]      FIG. 1  illustrates a system configured in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  illustrates server side processing associated with an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  illustrates client side processing associated with an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0009]      FIGS. 4-8  illustrate graphical user interfaces that may be associated with embodiments of the invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 9  illustrates server side processing associated with an alternate embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
       [0011]    Like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    Figure illustrates a system  100  configured in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The system  100  includes a set of client devices  102 _ 1  through  102 _N and at least one server  104  connected via a network  106 . The network  106  may be any combination of wired or wireless networks. 
         [0013]    Each client device  102  has standard components, such as a central processing unit  110  and input/output devices  112  connected via a network  114 . The input/output devices  112  may include a touch display, dedicated control buttons, physical connectors, speakers and the like. A network interface circuit  116  is also connected to the bus  114  and provides connectivity to network  106 . A memory  120  is also connected to the bus  114 . The memory  120  stores a communication application  122 . The communication application  122  includes instructions executed by CPU  110  to coordinate communications with server  104  and/or other client devices. The client device may be in the form of a tablet, smartphone, wearable technology, laptop computer or desktop computer. 
         [0014]    The server  104  also includes standard components, such as a central processing unit  130 , a bus  132 , input/output devices  134  and a network interface circuit A memory  140  is connected to the bus  132 . The memory  140  stores a communication module  142 . The communication module  142  includes instructions executed by the CPU  130  to coordinate communications with client devices  102 . The memory  140  also stores an event gallery module  144 . The event gallery module  144  includes instructions executed by the CPU  130  to store messages from participants in a live event. The messages limn an event gallery, which may be supplied to a client device  102  in response to a request from a client device  102 . 
         [0015]      FIG. 2  illustrates operations associated with an embodiment of the event gallery module  144 . The top of the figure illustrates a set of message senders, i.e., Sender_ 1  through Sender_N. Each message sender is associated with a client device  102 . The communication application  122  is configured to accompany a message with geo-location information. Typically, the geo-location information will be collected from a GPS chip resident in the client device. However, other geo-location information may also be used, such as cellular network geo-location information, self-reported geo-location information and the like. 
         [0016]    The event gallery module  144  includes an administrative interface that allows one to define an event. For example, the administrative interface may prompt an event planner for event name, event description, event date, event time and event location. The event location is specified in physical coordinates (e.g., GPS coordinates) that define a geo-location fence associated with the event. 
         [0017]    As previously indicated, messages from senders include geo-location information. The server  104  receives such messages and geo-location data  200  from any number of senders. For each message, the geo-location data is compared to the geo-location fence. If the message was not sent from within the geo-location fence it is not from a permitted position and it is therefore discarded ( 202 —No). If the message is from a permitted position ( 202 —Yes), the message is posted to an event gallery  204 . 
         [0018]    The event gallery module  144  may include a curation interface that allows an event planner to optionally curate the event gallery  206 . For example, the curation interface may allow the event planner to delete inappropriate or redundant messages. The final operation of  FIG. 2  is to supply the event gallery in response to requests  208  from any number of users. 
         [0019]      FIG. 3  illustrates processing associated with the communication application  122  resident on a client device  102 . The communication application  122  sends a registration request  300 . The registration request may be an explicit request to join or follow an event. Alternately, the registration request may be triggered by sending geo-location data to server  104 . The event gallery module  144  determines whether the geo-location data corresponds to a geo-location fence associated with an event. Event gallery prompt information is received  302  in response to a request. The event gallery prompt information may be indicia of the event, such as a brand, a textual description and the like. The event gallery prompt may be accompanied by a message welcoming the user to the event. The message may have additional information and instructions regarding the event. The event gallery prompt information is added to a selectable destination list  304 . The selectable destination list  304  includes individuals in a user&#39;s social network. In this case, the selectable destination list is augmented with indicia of an event. 
         [0020]    If a user generates a message ( 306 —Yes) the destination list is supplied  308 . The destination list includes individuals in a user&#39;s social network and indicia of the event and/or event gallery. If the event gallery is selected ( 310 ), the user is added as a follower of the event  312 . So, for example, in the case where the user received the event gallery prompt in response to simply communicating goo-location data, the user may formally follow the event by posting a message (shared story) to the event gallery. That is, the event gallery module  144  adds the user to a list of event followers in response to the user posting a message to the event gallery. Finally, messages are sent to recipients designated on the selectable destination list  314 . These recipients are typically individuals in the user&#39;s social network. 
         [0021]      FIG. 4  is an example of a message taken at an event. In this example, the message is a photograph, which may be augmented with text.  FIG. 5  illustrates a selectable destination list  500 . The selectable destination list  500  includes an entry for a live event  502  and entries  504  for individuals in a social network. Selecting the live event  502  from the selectable destination list  500  may result in a prompt as shown in  FIG. 6 . The prompt may explain terms associated with posting content to the event gallery.  FIG. 7  illustrates an interface listing friends in a social network and one or more events that are being followed. 
         [0022]      FIG. 8  is an example of an event gallery  800 . The event gallery  800  includes individual posted messages  802 . The messages may be photographs, videos or text messages. The event gallery may be available for a specified transitory period. For example, the specified transitory period may be the duration of an event. Indicia of the event gallery may appear in a list of friends (e.g., destination list) for the duration of the event. In one embodiment, the event gallery has individual ephemeral messages shown in a sequence. For example, a first image is shown for five seconds, and then a second image is shown for three seconds, etc. 
         [0023]    An event gallery may be open to all event participants. Alternately, an event gallery may be formed for a subset of participants selected from a destination list or some other list (e.g., a list of co-workers at an event). An embodiment of the invention maintains an ongoing event gallery (shared story) for a geo-location. For example, the shared story may extend over months. Alternately, the shared story may be renewed every twenty-four hour period at a specified geo-location. 
         [0024]      FIG. 9  illustrates processing operations associated with an alternate embodiment of the invention. The first processing operation of this embodiment is to receive messages for an event gallery  900  from one or more users, intended for distribution to recipients as described above. For example, users may transmit messages via any number of web or mobile channels to communication module  142 . Once again, the messages may be text messages, photographs (with or without augmenting text or graphics) and videos (with or without augmenting text or graphics). For example, events could include concerts, music festivals, awards ceremonies, live sporting events, etc. Similarly, examples of geo-locations contemplated include university campuses, schools, office space of a corporation, private residences, parks, etc. The messages may or may not be associated with a specific event or geo-location. As described above, the event gallery is a listing or sequence of messages available to a set of users. The set of users may be a group designated by a user or event sponsor, etc. In other embodiments, the set of users may be an entire social network, users located within a geolocation, members of a club or organization, etc. 
         [0025]    While many messages received from users may be assigned to a position within the event gallery based on order of receipt or randomly, other messages (e.g., advertisements or sponsored messages) may be assigned a priority  904  based on other criteria, as described below. These messages may then be presented in the event gallery in accordance with their assigned priorities  906 . 
         [0026]    Priority may be based upon sponsored content. Thus, sponsors or advertisers may be able to insert messages within an event gallery for display to users registered with a particular event gallery. For example, a particular brand or product may pay for inclusion (or favorable presentation) of a message within the event gallery. The favorable presentation may stem from a weight assigned to the message, where the weight is a function of the amount of consideration supplied by the sponsor. For example, an advertisement may require the payment of a certain minimum before being included in a given event gallery. Longer or earlier placements (with the event gallery) may command higher minimums. Sponsored content may be displayed on a flat fee or cost per view basis. In addition, video or augmented advertisements (with text, graphics, GIFs, animation, etc.) may similarly command premiums. Other factors considered in the weight of a message may include similarity in theme between the advertisement and the event. For example, toy advertisements may receive greater weight at a children&#39;s concert than would alcohol ads. Thus, in some embodiments, unsponsored messages may have no weight and may simply be organized on a temporal or other basis. 
         [0027]    As discussed above, the favorable presentation may be in the form of a message placed early in a sequence of messages. Alternately, the favorable presentation may be in the form of a message of a relatively long duration in a sequence of ephemeral messages. In yet other embodiments, there may be circumstances when a message is not presented (e.g., failure to meet minimum bid, excess ad inventory, etc.). 
         [0028]    A received message may also be assigned priority based upon endorsed. content. For example, a user may endorse a particular brand or product. In such a case, an event gallery controlled by that user may favorably present a message with the brand or product within the event gallery. Weighting and presentation techniques discussed in connection with sponsored content may also be used for endorsed content. 
         [0029]    Priority may be assigned based upon any number of evaluations of content. For example, the content of a message may be evaluated for indicia of sponsored content. The indicia may be in form of an observed brand or product in the content. The evaluation may be performed by optical character recognition, machine vision and similar techniques, 
         [0030]    Another approach to evaluating the content is to evaluate the sender of the message. For example, if the sender of the message is a sponsor or an endorser, then a priority parameter is assigned in accordance with a favorable weight ascribed to the sponsoring sender or the endorsing sender. Other factors that may be considered in determining the priority parameter may include senders that are celebrities, well-known individuals, or “influencers” (e.g., individuals with admired within a community). 
         [0031]    The final processing operation of  FIG. 9  is to supply the event gallery in response to a request  908 . For example, a client device  102  may access server  104 . The event gallery module  144  may include executable code to maintain the event gallery. The event gallery may be served from the server  104  to any number of users associated with client devices  102 . 
         [0032]    Referring back to  FIG. 1 , in some embodiments, memory  140  of server  104  may be configured to include an advertisement module  148  and a priority module  150 . Advertisement module  148  includes instructions executable by CPU  130  to receive messages or advertisements from advertisers, and otherwise administer and implement the advertisement or sponsored messages features of certain embodiments. In some embodiments, advertisers access (or send) messages to advertisement module  148  thro channel distinct from other channels utilized by non-advertiser users, For example, advertisers may access advertisement module  148  through a webpage via a web browser or through a mobile application feature accessible for advertisement submission purposes. 
         [0033]    Priority module  150  includes instructions executable by CPU  130  to receive weights and weighting information submitted by users (i.e., advertisers) and to determine priorities of messages. In some embodiments, priority module  150  may also be configured to insert advertisements into the ‘stream’ of other messages within an event gallery. In addition to these operations, priority module  150  may also be configured in a manner to receive bid amounts from advertisers associated with advertisement message submissions. Thus, in these embodiments, priority module  150  may compare bid amounts (as well as other priority information, if any) to determine the priority according to which an advertisement message may be displayed within an event gallery 
         [0034]    The advertising module  148  may include a scanning module to scan the content of messages the a specific brand. For example, in the case of a text based message (e.g., a word or text mark in the message), the scan may be in the form of a word recognition or matching process. Any recognized words, phrases or text may be compared against trademark databases for matches. In the case of a photograph or video, an optical character recognition module may be used to identify logos, symbols, or patterns associated with a brand (e.g., the Nike® Swoosh, etc.). 
         [0035]    Upon recognition of a brand, a message may be sent by communication module  142  to a brand. owner offering the brand owner an opportunity to prioritize the message in the event gallery. Thus, a brand owner may be afforded an opportunity to pay to have a message displaying their brand inserted into an event gallery and/or for favorable placement in event gallery. 
         [0036]    In this regard, a copy of the image may be transmitted to the brand owner allowing the owner an opportunity to review a message before deciding to prioritize the message. In other embodiments, a brand owner may be given an opportunity to edit the message. For instance, a brand owner may choose to add graphics, animations, etc. The brand owner may also be afforded an opportunity to remove references to competing brands. 
         [0037]    Alternately, an online dashboard of messages may be made available to a brand owner. The dashboard may contain each or several of the instances of the appearance of the brand owner&#39;s marks or logos. The owner is able to compare, side-by-side, each message before deciding which messages to prioritize. 
         [0038]    In some embodiments, multiple brand messages may be inserted into a single event gallery. In these examples, the various brand owners may be allowed to bid for favorable placement of their messages within the event gallery. Specifically, a highest bidder&#39;s message may be placed near the beginning of the event gallery. Conversely, lower bidders may have their messages inserted only if there is sufficient message inventory. Alternately, the duration of an ephemeral message may be based upon bid criteria. 
         [0039]    The entire event may be sponsored by the brand owner. In this case, a ‘welcome’ or ‘sponsored by’ message may be presented at the beginning of the event gallery, followed by several other messages containing a particular brand or message throughout the gallery. Alternately, a third-party may sponsor the event and allow many brand owners to bid for favorable placement of messages. 
         [0040]    The event gallery may have a title that indicates sponsored or endorsed content. The event gallery may be constructed from messages from a single user. In such a case, the event gallery is available to friends of the single user. 
         [0041]    The event gallery may be constructed from messages from a pre-selected group of users (such as a group of friends). The event gallery is available to the pre-selected group of users. The event gallery may be constructed by a sponsor with the event gallery available to all individuals in a social network. In this context, a social network is a computer implemented application that facilitates computer network communications between individuals, where the computer network communications may be posts, comments, messages, images and the like. 
         [0042]    The event gallery may be constructed from messages from users within a geo-location fence associated with an event. Alternately, the event gallery may be available to individuals following an event. 
         [0043]    An embodiment of the present invention relates to a computer storage product with a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having computer code thereon for performing various computer-implemented operations. The media and computer code may be those specially designed and constructed for the purposes of the present invention, or they may be of the kind well known and available to those having skill in the computer software arts. Examples of computer-readable media include, but are not limited to: magnetic media, optical media, magneto-optical media and hardware devices that are specially configured to store and execute program code, such as application-specific integrated circuits (“ASICs”), programmable logic devices (“PLDs”) and ROM and RAM devices. Examples of computer code include machine code, such as produced by a compiler, and files containing higher-level code that are executed by a computer using an interpreter. For example, an embodiment of the invention may be implemented using JAVA®, C++, or other object-oriented programming language and development tools. Another embodiment of the invention may be implemented in hardwired circuitry in place of, or in combination with, machine-executable software instructions. 
         [0044]    The foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, used specific nomenclature to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that specific details are not required in order to practice the invention. Thus, the foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the invention are presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed; obviously, many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, they thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the following claims and their equivalents define the scope of the invention.