Patent Publication Number: US-2012036018-A1

Title: Dynamic, interactive activity tracking via a social media system integrated with a product marketing and/or establishment advertising system

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is related to pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ (Attorney Docket No. EPInvent.006US1), filed on even date herewith. The entire content of the related application is hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present invention generally relates to interactive social media application systems and in particular to interactive social media application and advertising systems. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     With an ever increasing demand for more sophisticated levels of product advertisement and promotion, entertainment establishments and social networking websites are becoming increasingly popular channels for increasing product exposure, acceptance and “buzz”. As a result, social networking sites have become quite populated with advertising content. With millions of users visiting these sites, advertisers are betting heavily on the success of this advertising outlet. In addition, entertainment facilities, including nightclubs and bars, constitute another heavily utilized media for increasing product exposure and awareness. 
     However, the millions of visitors/members to social networking sites and nightclubs are often passive observers and are typically oblivious to advertisement on websites and in other real-life social establishments, such as bars, restaurants, and nightclubs. This potential pool of buyers and endorsers do not actively participate in the promotion of the products or services for which social establishments and social networking websites are the selected advertising media. In addition, current advertising methods within these social establishments and on websites provide fleeting exposure and conform to a non-interactive style and format. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     Disclosed are a method, a system and a computer program product for providing, tracking and reporting and/or advertising social activities and related information in an interactively configured social environment/medium. Also provided are a method, a system and a computer program product for providing multimedia interactive mechanisms in a data processing network. An interactive social/stock exchange (ISE) utility executes on a data processing system and pre-selects temporary target prices to be assigned to select items during a “crash”/sales event. The ISE utility dynamically adjusts a standard item price towards the temporary target price, according to an occurrence of one or more monitored, pre-selected conditions, including, but not limited to conditions related to volume of sales and time/schedule parameters, in one embodiment. The ISE utility displays item prices via monitors in an electronically configured establishment. When the one or more monitored conditions (that affect a change from the normal item pricing to the temporary target price) occurs, the ISE utility executes an item crash. Registered patrons are encouraged via audio-visual notification and/or other electronic form of notification to utilize electronic devices to purchase items particularly at crash prices and to interact with other patrons. The ISE utility links transactions and electronically tracked interactions to a member&#39;s local or online account (which are electronically created and updated) to record the patron&#39;s activities. In addition, according to one embodiment, business operators may electronically transmit incentive/complimentary credit and promotional items to patrons based on data associated with the patrons&#39; activities. 
     In a second illustrative embodiment, commercial advertising of one or more products or establishments is supported via one or more mechanisms associated with the online presence of the users/patrons. The second illustrative embodiment provides a method, a system and a computer program product that enables directed product advertising to users of an interactively-configured social environment/media that enables real time tracking and reporting of social activities and related information associated with usage/consumption of specific products or patronization of the social establishment by the user. An interactive stock exchange (ISE) utility pre-selects temporary target/bid prices to apply to a product during a “crash”/sales event and dynamically adjusts the standard item price towards the temporary target price, according to sales volume and/or other conditions. The ISE utility triggers an item price crash, and registered patrons are encouraged to use electronic devices to purchase items particularly at crash prices and to interact with other patrons. The ISE utility links transactions and interactions detected on the electronic devices to a member&#39;s account to track/report/advertise/market the patron&#39;s activities related to the consumption of specific products or promotion of the establishment. 
     The above as well as additional objectives, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed written description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention itself, as well as advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  provides a block diagram representation of an example data processing system within which certain features of the invention may be practiced, according to one embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates an example electronically configured commercial/entertainment environment equipped with a dynamic exchange system for the provision of products and services, according to one embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates an example electronically configured commercial/entertainment establishment during an item crash event, according to one embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates patron and staff interactions within the electronically configured entertainment environment of  FIG. 2 , according to one embodiment; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a patron using an interactive transaction machine (ITM) within the electronically configured entertainment environment, according to one embodiment; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates an example display of a real-time item price display system, according to one embodiment; 
         FIG. 7  illustrates an example display of an order page to submit an online or local (near the establishment) order for a product or service, according to one embodiment; 
         FIG. 8  illustrates an example display of a pending orders page which indicates orders which are in the processing stage, according to one embodiment; 
         FIG. 9  illustrates an example display of a member homepage on a social network website configured to automatically display member activities and promotional products/services, according to one embodiment; 
         FIG. 10  is a flow chart illustrating the method of providing interactions between registered members, enabling transactions involving members and electronically activating special events in an electronically configured entertainment establishment, according to one embodiment; 
         FIG. 11  is a flow chart illustrating the method of creating specialized categories of demographic groups, populating lists based on the specialized categories, sending advertising content to particular members of these specialized categories, and forecasting the performance/success of future events, according to one embodiment; 
         FIG. 12  is a flow chart illustrating the method of developing a new product/service concept, obtaining approval for implementation for the product/service and advertising the introduction of the new product/service concept online, according to one embodiment; 
         FIG. 13  is a flow chart illustrating the method of configuring a personal area network (PAN), automatically notifying members connected to the PAN of selected member activities and reporting of particular activities to a community networking website, according to one embodiment; 
         FIG. 14  is a flow chart illustrating the method of externally triggering an event in a community networking site based on an event executed within an electronically configured establishment, according to one embodiment; and 
         FIG. 15  is a flow chart illustrating the method of reporting and advertising information/content related to member activities in an electronically configured establishment to/within a community networking site, according to one embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENT 
     One illustrative embodiment comprises a method, a system and a computer program product for providing, tracking and reporting and/or advertising social activities and related information in an interactively configured social environment/medium. Also provided are a method, a system and a computer program product for providing multimedia interactive mechanisms in a data processing network. An interactive social/stock exchange (ISE) utility executes on a data processing system and pre-selects temporary target prices to be assigned to select items during a “crash”/sales event. The ISE utility dynamically adjusts a standard item price towards the temporary target price, according to an occurrence of one or more monitored, pre-selected conditions, including, but not limited to conditions related to volume of sales and time/schedule parameters, in one embodiment. The ISE utility displays item prices via monitors in an electronically configured establishment. When the one or more monitored conditions (that affect a change from the normal item pricing to the temporary target price) occurs, the ISE utility executes an item crash. Registered patrons are encouraged via audio-visual notification and/or other electronic form of notification to utilize electronic devices to purchase items particularly at crash prices and to interact with other patrons. The ISE utility links transactions and electronically tracked interactions to a member&#39;s local or online account (which are electronically created and updated) to record the patron&#39;s activities. In addition, according to one embodiment, business operators may electronically transmit incentive/complimentary credit and promotional items to patrons based on data associated with the patrons&#39; activities. Also, commercial advertising of one or more products or establishments is supported via one or more mechanisms associated with the online presence of the users/patrons. 
     A second illustrative embodiment provides a method, a system and a computer program product that enables directed product advertising to users of an interactively-configured social environment/media that enables real time tracking and reporting of social activities and related information associated with usage/consumption of specific products or patronization of the social establishment by the user. An interactive stock exchange (ISE) utility pre-selects temporary target/bid prices to apply to a product during a “crash”/sales event and dynamically adjusts the standard item price towards the temporary target price, according to sales volume and/or other conditions. The ISE utility triggers an item price crash, and registered patrons are encouraged to use electronic devices to purchase items particularly at crash prices and to interact with other patrons. The ISE utility links transactions and interactions detected on the electronic devices to a member&#39;s account to track/report/advertise/market the patron&#39;s activities related to the consumption of specific products or promotion of the establishment. 
     In the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the invention, specific exemplary embodiments in which the invention may be practiced are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that logical, architectural, programmatic, mechanical, electrical and other changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and equivalents thereof. 
     Within the descriptions of the figures, similar elements are provided similar names and reference numerals as those of the previous figure(s). Where a later figure utilizes the element in a different context or with different functionality, the element is provided a different leading numeral representative of the figure number. The specific numerals assigned to the elements are provided solely to aid in the description and not meant to imply any limitations (structural or functional or otherwise) on the described embodiment. 
     It is understood that the use of specific component, device and/or parameter names (such as those of the executing utility/logic described herein) are for example only and not meant to imply any limitations on the invention. The invention may thus be implemented with different nomenclature/terminology utilized to describe the components/devices/parameters herein, without limitation. Each term utilized herein is to be given its broadest interpretation given the context in which that terms is utilized. Specifically, as utilized herein, the term “crash” refers to a significant and targeted reduction in the price of a product/service. 
     With reference now to the figures, and beginning with  FIG. 1 , there is depicted a block diagram representation of an example data processing system (DPS), as utilized within one embodiment. DPS may be a server, a personal computer, a portable device, such as a personal digital assistant (PDA), a smart phone, and/or other types of electronic devices that may generally be considered processing devices. As illustrated, DPS  100  comprises at least one processor or central processing unit (CPU)  101  connected to system memory  106  via system interconnect/bus  102 . Also connected to system bus  102  is input/output (I/O) controller  115 , which provides connectivity and control for input devices, of which pointing device (or mouse)  116  and keyboard  117  are illustrated. I/O controller  115  also provides connectivity and control for output devices, of which display  118  is illustrated. Additionally, a multimedia drive  119  (e.g., compact disk read/write (CDRW) or digital video disk (DVD) drive) and USB (universal serial bus) port  121  are illustrated, coupled to I/O controller  115 . Multimedia drive  119  and USB port  121  enable insertion of a removable storage device (e.g., optical disk or “thumb” drive) on which data/instructions/code may be stored and/or from which data/instructions/code may be retrieved. DPS  100  also comprises storage  107 , within/from which data/instructions/code may also be stored/retrieved. Database  109  is also connected to system bus  102  of DPS  100 , within/from which business intelligence data and patrons&#39; account information may also be stored/retrieved. 
     DPS  100  is also illustrated with wireless transceiver  126 , which may receive and transmit signals from/to display monitors and receivers located in an environment that is within a wireless range of wireless transceiver  126 . Also included within DPS  100  is LPS/GPS transceiver (Tcvr)  128 , which includes required LPS/GPS Tcvr utility for local and/or global positioning operations as described herein. To further enable external network connection, DPS  100  also includes network interface component (NIC)  125 , by which DPS  100  may connect to one or more access/external networks  130 , of which the Internet is provided as one example. In this implementation, the Internet represents/is a worldwide collection of networks and gateways that utilize the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) suite of protocols to communicate with one another. NIC  125  may be configured to operate via wired or wireless connection to an access point of the network. Network  130  may be an external network such as the Internet or wide area network (WAN), or an internal network such as an Ethernet (local area network—LAN) or a Virtual Private Network (VPN). Connection to the external network  130  may be established with one or more servers  133 , which may also provide data/instructions/code for execution on DPS  100 , in one embodiment. In one embodiment, social/community networking site  140  is illustrated within server  133 . DPS  100  may also connect to one or more remote clients  135  via network  130 . While a locally connected database, Database (Dbase)  109 , is illustrated, it is further appreciated that the database may also be located across a network  150  and be distributed, in alternate embodiments. 
     In addition to the above described hardware components of wireless system  100 , various features of the invention are completed/supported via software (or firmware) code or logic stored within memory  106  or other storage and executed by Processor  101 . Thus, for example, illustrated within memory  106  are a number of software/firmware/logic components, including Internet/website based application  114 , which may include a web browser, business/establishment website  128 , members/patrons account data  112 , and device list  111 . In one embodiment, members/patrons account data  112  includes membership information, selected options and preferences, payment information (credit card, etc.) and other information. Also in one embodiment, members/patrons account data are stored in DBase  109 . In addition, memory  106  comprises special event/crash configuration files  113  and Interactive Stock/Social Exchange (ISE) logic/utility  110 , which may interchangeably be referred to as Entertainment Social Exchange utility, in alternate embodiments. In actual implementation, ISE logic/utility  110  may be combined or with or integrated within another application or utility to provide a single executable component, which collectively provides the various functions of each individual component when the corresponding combined component is activated. For simplicity, ISE utility  110  is illustrated and described as a stand alone or separate logic/utility/firmware component, which provides specific functions, as described below. 
     In one embodiment, server  133  represents a software deploying server, and DPS  100  communicates with the software deploying server ( 133 ) via network (e.g., Internet  130 ) using network interface device  125 . Then, ISE utility  110  may be deployed from/on the network, via software deploying server  133 . With this configuration, software deploying server performs all of the functions associated with the execution of ISE utility  110 . Accordingly, DPS  100  may not be required to utilize internal computing resources of DPS  100  to execute ISE utility  110 . Also, in one embodiment, certain functional aspects of the ISE utility, such as and including those features related to local user operations/interactions may be downloaded to a mobile device via wireless download or some of method of loading the functional code on to the mobile device. As utilized herein, the terms mobile device and mobile phone are presented to represent any generally portable device that may be utilized by a user/patron to complete one or more of the user-related processes described herein. A non-exclusive list of such devices includes cell phones, iPods®, iPads®, mobile computers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and the like. 
     Certain of the functions supported and/or provided by ISE utility/logic  110  are implemented as processing logic (or code) executed by processor  101  and/or other device hardware. Among the software code/instructions/logic provided by ISE logic  110 , and which are specific to the invention, are: (a) logic for configuring an electronic device to enable an individual to use the electronic device to initiate actions including item transactions and interactions with other individuals; (b) logic for registering the individual for access to an electronically configured establishment with authorization to initiate one or more of: (i) item transactions; and (ii) interactions with other individuals; (c) logic for triggering an initiation of a special transaction and interaction event; (d) logic for pre-selecting temporary target prices which are applied to one or more items during the special event; (e) logic for modifying item prices from standard prices towards the temporary target prices based on one or more of: (i) volume of sales of corresponding items; and (ii) time/schedule parameters; (f) logic for when the temporary target price is reached, triggering an item “crash” period/event in which patrons are able to purchase particular items at discounted prices; and (g) reporting selected information about transactions interactions to a community networking website. According to the illustrative embodiment, when Processor  101  executes ISE logic  110 , DPS  100  initiates a series of functional processes that enable the above functional features as well as additional features/functionality. These features/functionalities are described in greater detail below within the description of  FIGS. 2-15 . 
     Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the hardware components and basic configuration depicted in  FIG. 1  may vary. The illustrative components within DPS  100  are not intended to be exhaustive, but rather are representative to highlight essential components that are utilized to implement the present invention. For example, other devices/components may be used in addition to or in place of the hardware depicted. The depicted example is not meant to imply architectural or other limitations with respect to the presently described embodiments and/or the general invention. Additionally, DPS  100  may be a personal computer or a server, including a local or remote business computer/server, depending on the specific ISE functions that are being performed. In one embodiment, DPS  100  is a distributed system that includes a collection of several different types of devices, each performing a different function within the overall system. Within this embodiment, only certain functionality of ISE utility specific to the particular device need be executed on that device of the general system, while other functionality of ISE utility are provided by other devices within the system. 
     With reference now to  FIG. 2 , an example electronically and interactively configured social environment/network equipped with a dynamic item exchange/transaction and interactive activities reporting system is illustrated, according to one embodiment. Entertainment/social environment  200  comprises Interaction and Exchange (IE) zone  201 . IE zone  201  comprises device-A/DPS  225  which is connected to a set of devices and/or components within IE zone  201 . In one embodiment, DPS  225  is a client server which is connected to server  100 . Included within the set of devices and components are registrar  221 , Interactive Transaction Machine (ITM)  213  and sound system  205 . IE zone  201  further comprises food/drink point of sales (POS)/cashier system  209 . Also included within IE zone  201  are lighting (effects) system  210  and video display/monitor  211 . Additionally, IE zone  201  includes wireless transceiver  217  and Local Positioning System (LPS)  218 , which operates as a transceiver in conjunction with one or more LPS receivers  219  to enable patrons/users to be located within a particular establishment or within a surrounding area of the patron/user. In one embodiment, the patron/user may utilize a specific LPS utility provided with the mobile device (cell phone  206 ) and/or downloaded from ISE website or other source. In addition, patron  202  is one of several patrons/customers which are located within IE zone  201 . Entertainment environment  200  also comprises device-B  227  which is operated by owner/manager  230 . Owner  230  is able to connect to server  100  via Internet  130 . Also illustrated in entertainment environment  200  is remote server  133  which includes social/community networking site  140 . 
     In entertainment environment  200 , ISE utility  110  provides access to features and functions of ISE utility  110  via a website based application/web browser (e.g., application  114 ), in one embodiment. ISE utility  110  provides a user/customer/patron registration component to enable the registration of patron  202  via an on-premise registration or an automated online registration process. ISE utility  110  registers patron  202  for access to an electronically configured establishment (e.g., IE zone  201 ) with authorization to initiate one or more of: (i) item transactions; (ii) activities/interactions with other individuals; and (iii) reporting of activities/transactions. ISE utility  110  enables on-premise registration by processing information obtained from an identification (ID) card of patron  202 . The ID information/data may be electronically read/scanned or manually entered into the application on data processing device (e.g., device-A  225 ) which is also connected to server  100 . ISE utility  110  compares the ID data of patron  202  with ID data of authorized patrons/members within members&#39; account data  112  stored locally on device-A  225  and/or remotely on server  100 . If patron  202  is a member of establishment website  128  which represents IE zone  201  and/or a website-based network community (e.g., social networking website  140 ) which receives reports about the actions/activities of patron  202  from ISE utility  110 /establishment website  128 , ISE utility  110  continues to register patron  202  as an on-site/registered user who is linked via ID information to a corresponding member account of establishment website  128  and/or the website-based network community. In one embodiment, IE zone  201  is associated with one or more local websites (associated with website  128  and/or application  114 ) executing on DPS  225  and/or server/DPS  100 . In addition, IE zone  201  may subscribe to a social networking website (e.g., social/community networking website  140 ) on a remote server (e.g., server  133 ). 
     In one embodiment, IE establishment  201  subscribes to social networking website  140  on which website members have individual accounts. The social networking site further consists of or may connect to sub-communities which may be accessible to members in a local area network and/or members with accounts on the social networking site. These sub-communities may represent the online presence of various businesses and/or entertainment facilities including fitness centers, restaurants, hotels/resorts, night-clubs, bars and other businesses or entertainment facilities (e.g., IE zone/establishment  201 ). Thus, in one embodiment, the various individual business websites (e.g., establishment website  128 ) may also subscribe as sub-communities to social networking website  140 . In another embodiment, the establishment websites communicate information with social networking website  140 , according to preset configuration settings. These sub-communities may grant access permission to members of social networking website  140  which members fulfill specific requirements. These network members may also create credit/financial accounts within these sub-communities and/or within social networking website  140  to enable these members to order/purchase products and services from the various businesses. Thus, members are able to sign into the account and order/purchase products and services locally (i.e., in person) or remotely. ISE utility  110  may allow a patron to configure the account to record/log all/select activities globally within the website-based network community and/or locally, within the sub-community which represents IE zone/establishment  201 . In one embodiment, IE zone  201  is directly associated with website/application  128 , application  114  and one or more other applications, which collectively reside on a first platform or first set of platforms. ISE utility  110  reports activities and/or transactions occurring on the first platform (or first set of platforms) to one or more of: (a) other applications within said first platform; (b) dependent applications/sub-applications; (c) separate/independent applications; and (d) independent applications within external/separate platforms. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 2  and, in particular to the registration process (such as when patron  202  first enters the establishment or via the establishment&#39;s online registration process), patron  202  is given one or more of: (a) a non-electronic wristband (e.g., wrist-band  207 ) with a unique bar code; and (b) an electronic bracelet (e.g., e-bracelet  204 ) which contains a wireless transceiver. E-bracelet  204  may also contain a unique bar code. The unique bar code is scanned with scanner  222  of registrar  221  to link patron  202  to the one or more corresponding member&#39;s accounts. At registrar  221 , e-bracelet  204  is initialized to enable one or more of: (a) automatic identification/detection of patron  202  by ISE utility  110 ; and (b) automatic detection of notification signals sent to patron  202 . ISE utility  110  provides each patron with a unique ID and/or carrier frequency. Thus, e-bracelet  204  is initialized to utilize the unique ID and/or carrier signal in transmitting data to other electronic/wireless devices. DPS  225  is able to transfer status/notification data to patron  202  via e-bracelet  204  using the unique ID and/or carrier frequency. Other forms of uniquely identified components/devices may be utilized to identify one patron from another, including in one implementation a special unique code that is entered into an ISE application (app) on the patron&#39;s phone, which allows the phone to become a transceiver of specific location information and patron identifying information. 
     ISE utility  110  provides an automatic online registration process for patron  202 . ISE utility  110  enables patron  202  to access a web-based establishment application (e.g., website  128 ) for the website(s) associated with IE zone  201  via an electronic/wireless device (e.g., cell phone  206 ). In one embodiment, ISE utility  110  enables patron  202  to access establishment website  128  via website browser/application  232 . In one embodiment, App  232  includes local positioning system (LPS)/geographic/global positioning system (GPS) technology/applications. Cell phone  206  (or other electronic device of patron  202 ) may also comprise an LPS/GPS receiver. As described herein, an electronic device is one or more of: (a) a wired electronic device that uses a wired connection to access a data processing system (e.g., DPS  225 ); (b) a wireless electronic device that wirelessly connects to a data processing system (e.g., DPS  225 ); and (c) a data processing system (e.g., DPS  225 ). ISE utility  110  configures the electronic device to enable an individual (e.g., patron  202 ) to use the electronic device to initiate actions including item transactions and interactions with other individuals/patrons. ISE utility  110  enables authorized members of establishment website  128  to login and initialize cell phone  206  for entry to and use within the premises of IE zone  201 . Similar to the initialization of e-bracelet  204 , ISE utility  110  enables cell phone  206  of patron  202  to transmit and receive a unique ID and/or utilize one or more carrier signals in communicating data with DPS  225  via wireless transceiver  217  and/or with other patrons. In particular, ISE utility  110  may enable the transmission and detection of signals within IE zone  201  according to a radio technology and communication protocol particularly suited to communication between devices within the configured space/establishment of IE zone  201 . For example, ISE utility  110  may provide data communication between devices by utilizing one or more of: (a) Bluetooth technology; (b) WiFi technology; (c) Short Message Service (SMS)/text messaging; and (d) radio-frequency identification (RFID). 
     In one embodiment, ISE utility  110  allows patron  202  to initialize cell phone  206  to respectively transmit an identification (ID) signal and a payment authorization signal to ID detector and automatic wireless payment/debit system while walking along designated signal detection registration lanes at the entrance of IE zone  201 . ISE utility  110  enables a member/patron to configure a credit/purchase/order account on the establishment website representing IE zone  201  to transmit a payment authorization signal to enable wireless and electronic payment for products/services. When the payment authorization signal is detected by payment/debit/registrar system  221 , the funds are automatically deducted from the member&#39;s account. Thus, ISE utility  110  enables an auto-login &amp; auto-deduction procedure when the ID signal and the payment authorization signal are detected and the deduction of payment transaction is successful. Patron  202  enters the establishment via a fast/VIP lane. ISE utility  110  performs auto-deduction of points/credit/funds in a patron&#39;s credit/purchase/order account on establishment website  128 . ISE utility  110  provides audio and/or visual notification of a status of the auto-deduction process (i.e., whether the process was successful or unsuccessful). ISE utility  110  may provide indication of a successful transaction by automatically sending a notification signal to cell phone  206 /e-bracelet  204  in order to activate access granted notification lights. The patron (e.g., patron  202 ) may also be given a disposable ticket bracelet with a corresponding unique bar code or stamp to visibly confirm payment of entrance fee. 
     In one embodiment, ISE utility  110  registers individuals as a patron of the electronically configured establishment based on one or more of: (a) an authorization of the individual to access the electronically configured establishment; (b) authentication of the individual as a registered user of the establishment website; (c) authentication of the individual as a registered user of community networking websites (e.g., community networking website  140 ); (d) a linking of one or more online accounts of the individual; and (e) a configuration of the electronic device for use within the electronically configured establishment. In addition, ISE utility  110  may register individuals as one or more of: (a) an active patron; (b) an online patron; and (c) a standard/passive patron. 
     According to ISE utility  110 , an active patron may be an individual who establishes one or more of: (a) a real presence in a particular establishment; (b) an online presence; (c) a social presence which indicates the individual (i.e., the real/actual presence of the individual) interacting with other individuals who also establish real presences in the particular establishment; and (d) a virtual presence. ISE utility  110  may designate an individual as an online patron based on one or more of: (a) access to establishment website from within IE zone  201 ; (b) remote access to establishment website; and (c) a virtual presence within IE zone  201 . ISE utility  110  may designate an individual as a passive patron based on one or more of: (a) use of a non-electronic wristband within IE zone  201 ; (b) remote access to establishment website; (c) use of an e-bracelet within IE zone  201 ; and (d) use of establishment devices including ITMs and scanners to initiate activities in IE zone  201 . ISE utility  110  enables the individual to establish said real presence according to one or more of: (a) receipt of an ID signal transmitted by the individual which enables detection of the real presence of the individual; (b) an authentication of the individual within the particular establishment to authorize one or more activities of the individual; and (c) other ways of demonstrating that said particular individual is detected as a real presence in the particular establishment. In one embodiment, ISE utility  110  enables the individual to perform actions according to one or more of: (a) status as an active patron; (b) status as an online patron; (c) status as a standard/passive patron; (d) the real presence; (e) the online presence; (f) the social presence; and (g) the virtual presence. 
     In one embodiment, ISE utility  110  initiates special activities/transaction and interaction events. ISE utility  110  may dynamically display item information including item prices for items that are transacted in IE zone  201 /establishment website  128 . ISE utility  110  may display item information via one or more display formats on one or more display monitors. ISE utility  110  may dynamically modify item prices based on the volume/level of transactions/revenues corresponding to items and/or time/scheduling parameters. ISE utility  110  may dynamically select items for which information is displayed on a display monitor based on one or more of: (a) a volume/level of transactions/revenue corresponding to items; (b) place of items in a display waiting queue; (c) pre-existing agreement pertaining to items; and (d) manager&#39;s discretion. ISE utility  110  may provide multiple display formats including an item ticker which is shown via one segment of the display monitor. ISE utility  110  may display item information in a ticker format concurrent with a viewing of television programs or other recorded programs. ISE utility  110  may provide transaction procedures which may particularly apply to particular events. ISE utility  110  detects an initiation of one or more of: (a) item transactions including transactions pertaining to the special transaction event; and (b) interactions with other individuals (during and pertaining to the special transaction event). 
     In one embodiment, ISE utility  110  provides patron  202  with access to a transaction and interaction component/application stored on one or more data processing devices (e.g., DPS  100 /DPS  225 ) via a wireless device (e.g., cell phone  206 ). ISE utility  110  enables patrons to set up member accounts on establishment website  128  and/or community networking website  140  to provide access to communication and online transactions via an electronic/wireless device connected to the LAN. In one embodiment, however, a patron without a website-based member account on social networking site  140  may only utilize some of the features and functionality of ISE utility  110 . In one embodiment, ISE utility  110  may perform functions according to (a) data from a patron&#39;s account on establishment website  128 , (b) financial credit within an account linked to the patron&#39;s account on establishment website  128  and (c) data from other accounts linked to patron  202  and establishment website  128 . Patron  202  may access account information by using application  232  on a cell phone. For example, the owner of the cell phone may choose to purchase points/credits/e-beads for use within IE zone  201 . ISE utility  110  executing on a server/data processing device (e.g., DPS  225 ) within IE zone  201  keeps track of all points/credits/e-beads within member accounts on establishment website  128 . ISE utility  110  provides periodic notification to respective wireless devices connected to the LAN of the number/amount of points/credit/e-beads a respective cell phone owner (i.e., a patron) has in a member account on establishment website  128 . 
     ISE utility  110  allows the patron to access the member account on establishment website  128  via application  232 . The patron may also have an account on social networking site  140 . In transactions involving member accounts/account data associated with establishment website  128 , ISE utility  110  enables a first patron to transfer points/credits/e-beads to a second patron via direct signaling between a pair of wireless devices (e.g., via RFID, Bluetooth®, or other short range device to device signaling method). ISE utility  110  may report activity detected within the LAN/IE zone  201  to the member account (of the patron) within social networking site  140 . ISE utility  110  enables the patron to link multiple/both accounts of the patron, i.e., the member account on establishment website  128  and the member account on social networking site  140  and transfer points/credits/e-beads from one account to the other. ISE utility  110  enables a patron/member to pre-select the amount of credit/points that the patron/member wishes to utilize within a specified period of time at IE zone  201 . For example, a patron may set a maximum budget for transactions/activities within IE zone  201 . 
     ISE utility  110  enables a patron to specifically configure the accounts to enable a first action detected within the LAN/IE zone  201  to trigger a second action in the member account of the patron within social networking site  140 . For example, when the first patron who is located within IE zone  201  transfers points/credits/e-beads to another/second patron who is also located within IE zone  201 , ISE utility  110  may trigger a function provided by DPS  225  to determine whether patron  202  has an online friendship with another individual on one or more social networking websites (e.g., community networking website  140 ). ISE utility  110  may trigger a friend request from the first patron to the second patron within social networking site  140  when the first patron does not have an online friendship with the other individual/patron on the one or more social networking websites. In addition, ISE utility  110  may perform one or more of: (a) initiation of online event invitations; (b) initiation of invitations to join online groups; (c) an initiation of an upload of photos or videos of patrons involved in a transaction; (d) other features provided by establishment website  128 ; (e) other features provided by community networking website application  140 ; and (f) automatic updates to information about activities of individuals in the electronically configured establishment. 
     In one embodiment, ISE utility  110  may also trigger a friend request from the first patron to the second patron within social networking site  140  when neither the first patron nor the second patron are located within IE zone  201  and one or both patrons are instead remotely logged into establishment website  128 . ISE utility  110  detects the initiation of the friend request in social networking site  140  and enables the second patron to quickly and efficiently accept the friend request, via establishment website  128  or another application. ISE utility  110  enables certain pre-configured functions provided by social networking site  140  to be activated remotely by functions provided by establishment website  128 . In one embodiment, ISE utility  110  allows an action in social networking site  140  to trigger an action in the account on establishment website  128  when the originating action was initiated in the account on establishment website  128 . For example, when ISE utility  110  receives notification that the second patron accepted the friend request, ISE utility  110  may proceed by completing the current (transfer) transaction that is previously halted to initiate the friend request. In one embodiment, ISE utility  110  completes the transaction that is previously halted following receipt of one of: (a) notification of acceptance of the request for online friendship; and (b) notification that the first patron/individual issued the friend request to the other individual; and (c) notification of a pre-existing online friendship between the individuals. ISE utility  110  allows a patron to transact points/credits/e-beads and interact via the local/establishment website by using one or more of: (a) a cell phone; (b) an ITM; and (c) other electronic/wireless devices. 
     ISE utility  110  provides a patron/user with multiple inter-network and intra-network communications options. ISE utility  110  enables a patron to communicate using a single electronic/wireless device via one or more of: (a) a telephone network; (b) a wide area network (WAN), e.g., the Internet; (c) a local area network (LAN); and (d) a personal area network (PAN). In one embodiment, the LAN represents IE zone  201 . ISE utility  110  enables a patron to communicate transaction messages within IE zone  201 . In addition, ISE utility  110  enables a patron to establish a PAN for communicating with a specific group of friends while present in IE zone  201 . The PAN may utilize Bluetooth and/or WiFi technology. Prior to the completion of one or more stages of the transaction process (e.g., confirmation of order receipt, bid acceptance or transaction completion) within the LAN, ISE utility  110  enables a patron to configure notification options to enable the patron and friends within (i.e., connected to) the PAN to receive notification about the completion of a transaction stage. Thus, upon completion of one or more stages of the transaction process, ISE utility  110  may notify the patron via a notification message based on transactions occurring in the LAN. According to a preset notification configuration, when ISE utility  110  receives an acknowledgement message that indicates that the patron receives the notification message, ISE utility  110  triggers the transmission of a preset broadcast notification message from the patron to the friends within the PAN. For example, the patron may broadcast the following text message: “Hey guys, bottle service is ready. Let&#39;s meet at our table immediately!” ISE utility  110  allows a user/patron to configure message delivery settings to enable transaction, interaction and notification messages on the various networks to be delivered using distinguishable/unique alerts. In one embodiment, ISE utility enables the patron to pre-select “friends” to who the message is to be communicated. The selection of specific friends may be via the online website (linked to the social media application), such as for example, everyone in a personal group called “club-buddies”. In one embodiment, the patron may create the list of friends at the local establishment computers when the patron arrives at the establishment or before from an online access to the establishment&#39;s website. With this select notification messaging process, the patron is able to provide a real-time update (as with a Twitter® account) of events that are occurring that are related to the patron and his friends. As an example, the patron&#39;s online social media application (of which the patron is a member) may also receive a notification that is then published on the patron&#39;s personal page (e.g., “Hanging out at Club X. Just got bottle service for my club-buddies for $50.00 per bottle.”) 
     ISE utility  110  automatically reports pre-selected LAN-based activities and PAN-based activities to the online member accounts (e.g., within a social networking community) of the patron and the friends via the WAN/Internet, according to preset user configurations. ISE utility  110  may report information about the actions/activities of patron  202  which information includes one or more of: (a) identification of patron  202 ; (b) identification of other individuals associated with the action; (c) identification of the action; (d) transaction data; and (e) interaction data. ISE utility  110  may enable patron  202  to initiate communication with another patron based on one or more of: (a) text message; (b) cell phone call; (c) voicemail; (d) instant message; (e) video call; and (f) direct signaling between respective devices. ISE utility  110  may enable patron  202  to allow friends within the PAN and/or other online friends to monitor communications via one or more of: (a) an application on an electronic device; (b) an application on a remote server; and (c) community networking website application  140 . In addition, ISE utility  110  enables a member to configure several unique PANs to communicate with various friends and/or groups of friends within a LAN. Similarly, according to preset user configurations, these reports may be provided as privately displayed messages or publicly displayed messages within a member&#39;s online account. 
     When executing within a wireless/mobile device, such as a cell phone, ISE utility  110  enables patron  202  to use cell phone  206  to begin transmitting (a) an information signal which contains the ID of patron  202  and/or (b) a permission signal to enable payment to be automatically deducted from the account of patron  202 . In one embodiment, ISE utility  110  enables patron  202  to access establishment website  128  and/or other linked financial accounts to send a payment authorization from the relevant account of patron  202  (on establishment website  128  or another account linked to establishment website  128 ) to establishment website  128  to provide payment to the entertainment establishment represented by establishment website  128 . ISE utility  110  enables patron  202  to configure a payment schedule which allows the entertainment establishment to deduct payment via establishment website  128  when patron  202  is detected via an ID signal and the payment authorization is received. ISE utility  110  may transmit an ID signal and an auto-deduction permission signal while cell phone  206  is concurrently used for calls, texts, emails, and other functions. Thus, if patron/member ID signal and auto-deduction permission signal transmissions are initiated, patron  202  is able to walk into IE zone  201  while having an un-interrupted phone conversation. Patron  202  may establish personal guest lists via application functions to provide friends with pre-paid access to the establishment. ISE utility  110  may provide other application functions including a function which enables patron  202  to establish a bar tab which is linked to his purchasing/credit account. In one embodiment, ISE utility  110  automatically sends notification/indication to friends of patron  202  when patron  202  places friends on a guest list of patron  202  before these friends enter IE zone  201 . ISE utility  110  may allow a patron to establish/increase credit/purchasing power by enabling the customer/patron to swipe a credit card and link the credit card to the corresponding barcode on the bracelet and ultimately to a member&#39;s account. The patron may utilize an ITM to increase the credit within the account. ISE utility  110  may prevent a patron from leaving IE zone  201  in possession of an e-bracelet by detecting a device alert signal at a checkout register at the exit of IE zone  201 . ISE utility  110  may provide an audio and/or visual notification to an operator at the checkout register. 
     In one embodiment, ISE utility  110  enables the establishment of a point/bead/token system by which points/beads/tokens may be purchased or received as a special promotion/sponsor&#39;s gift. ISE utility  110  allows a user to purchase/obtain items/drinks/food based on points within the member&#39;s credit account. The points/beads may be tracked through a barcode or via a transmitted radio signal. ISE utility  110  enables patron  202  to use cell phone  206  to purchase food/drinks. For example, Patron  202  may be seated at a VIP table and makes an online order via cell phone  206  for bottle service (i.e, patron  202  orders a bottle of a preferred beverage). ISE utility  110  allows patron  202  to download an establishment menu/drink list showing items and prices from which to make an order request. When ISE utility  110  detects receipt of the order, ISE utility  110  designates the order as a pending order. ISE utility  110  also receives indication that patron  202  wants the costs to be deducted from his member account. ISE utility  110  verifies an availability of sufficient credit/points/funds before filling the order. The order is filled and ISE utility  110  designates the order as filled. A waitress is dispatched to the location of patron  202  at a known/designated VIP table location. The waitress provides patron  202  with the bottle service. Patron  202  signs a receipt to complete the transaction. In addition, patron  202  may be expecting several friends to arrive within a particular time interval, for example, 30 minutes. ISE utility  110  enables patron  202  via a website application to establish a personal guest-list for friends. Using the personal guest-list of patron  202 , friends of patron  202  may enter IE zone  201 , and pre-set amount of points (which may be directly tied to a credit card charge or other payment method) may be automatically deducted from the account of patron  202 . The utility may also provide notification to the guests/friends of the location of the patron  202  within the establishment. 
     ISE utility  110  may award points to a patron for specific levels of purchases. For example, ISE utility  110  may award patron  202  with twenty (20) item purchase points, according to purchase point rules  122 , for purchases made thus far (e.g., for spending/utilizing over 300 points). At tonight&#39;s celebration, patron  202  expects the group of friends to consume several bottles. Thus, patron  202  places a few bid orders (described in  FIG. 3 ) for 4 more bottles and patiently awaits an item price crash. In one embodiment, to avoid the over-consumption of alcohol (or other consumable product) because of the low purchase costs during a crash, the ISE utility may monitor the amount of consumable product being consumed by the particular patron (or the patron&#39;s group of friends) and prevent that particular patron from ordering additional amounts of the consumable product, particularly when other patrons are also bidding for the same product. This prevents a single patron from receiving the entire benefit of a crash by purchasing the entire amount of consumable product at the crash price. 
     In one embodiment, ISE utility  110  enables a patron to actively and interactively participate in product/service and business advertising. In one embodiment, ISE utility  110  reports information about an individual&#39;s activities in IE zone  201  community networking website  140 . ISE utility  110  translates the information about actions/activities initiated by the individual into advertising content. ISE utility  110  enables users/patrons to report activities in IE zone  201  by using one or more of: (a) simple text; (b) hypertext links; (c) product/service and business logos; (d) voice/speech. For example, patron  202  is able to report on a member&#39;s activities page within a social networking website that patron  202  received “silver moose” “bottle service” at “entertainment establishment” using a “bid order” on “date1”. ISE utility  110  enables the report to be displayed on pages of the friends of patron  202 . When the report involves one or more of the friends of patron  202 , ISE utility  110  may also display the report on the respective activities pages of these friends. In addition, ISE utility  110  may display the report on the respective activities pages of the “friends of the friends” of patron  202 , who may largely represent a group of members who have one or more degree of separation from an online friendship with patron  202 . ISE utility  110  may provide reports and/or reports in the form of advertising content on members&#39; activities pages according to a preset number of degrees of separation of online friendship. As a result, advertising content involving a first member may be displayed on website pages of a second member. For example, if patron-Jennifer is friends with patron  202  and patron-heather, but patron-heather is not friends with patron  202 . Thus, the connection between patron-heather and patron  202  is defined as having 1 degree of separation. Given a preset configuration of 1 degree of separation, activities by patron  202  may be displayed on a member page(s) of patron-Heather. Thus, ISE utility  110  provides multiple instances of the advertising content being displayed in order to effectively/efficiently promote products/services and businesses, according to a multiplier advertising mechanism. 
     ISE utility  110  allows interested members to enjoy an experience similar to the experience of patron  202  and his friends (i.e., as described within the reports displayed within multiple members&#39; pages). For example, the hypertext link “bid order” may enable a user to place a bid for specific dates for one or more particular products within various entertainment facilities including IE zone  201 . Thus, ISE utility  110  encourages users to use/reuse the same effective media of product/service and business advertising to purchase the products/services and businesses that are being advertised and to further expand/increase the multiplier advertising effect. ISE utility  110  enables owners/managers to provide even greater incentives to users/patrons/members to purchase and/or provide reports with advertising content by providing a reward/pay incentive mechanism. For example, managers may provide patrons with incentives through the use of “event” points that may be valid for a particular event and/or time period. Thus, patrons are encouraged to go to IE zone  201  to utilize these points before the points expire. 
     In addition, ISE utility  110  may provide, for example, a reward/points/credit/pay per click/order incentive program. Thus, a patron is encouraged to invite real-life friends to join particular social networking sites and to celebrate in larger groups with well connected friends in select establishments. ISE utility  110  may allow a manager/owner of a business establishment to track (a) members who have triggered and/or participated in activities which enabled the placement of advertising content and (b) the amount of advertising content placed by the respective members. By linking patron  202  to an online user ID/account, ISE utility  110  also enables managers/promoters to track patrons/members through (a) the establishment website of IE zone  201  based on level of purchases, point accumulation, frequency of visits, home zip code and other differentiating characteristics and (b) social networking website  140  according to reported activities. Managers/promoters may also send out emails and special promotions to patrons. The owner/manager is able to provide points/credit to users/members based on the level and impact of the corresponding advertising content. Thus, ISE utility  110  provides an efficient, powerful and lucrative viral marketing mechanism by enabling social networking communities to actively and interactively participate in the advertisement and sales associated with various products, services and business establishments. 
     ISE utility  110  provides a manager/owner with critical business evaluation data. ISE utility  110  may enable the manager/owner to retrieve data from social networking website  140  according to particular categories. In one embodiment, ISE utility  110  creates specialized categories of demographic groups based on one or more of: (a) information about actions reported; (b) a preset group of categories associated with a range of actions reported by a particular business/establishment; and (c) pre-arranged set of categories pertaining to a particular type of business and business activities associated with information in respective reports. 
     ISE utility  110  identifies patrons/individuals as group members of said specialized categories of demographic groups based on the reported activities of members. ISE utility  110  compiles population lists for the specialized categories of demographic groups according to recorded activities of patrons/members. Thus, ISE utility  110  is able to identify a target audience who has demonstrated by activity a particular level of interest in a product/service. 
     ISE utility  110  determines an affinity factor for a level of association a member has with a particular item/service/event/place, based on the patron&#39;s reported activities. For example, if patron  202  parties every week at IE zone  201  and often orders vodka through bottle service, ISE utility  110  assigns to patron  202  a high affinity factor (e.g., a rank of 8 out of a possible 10) for each of the following: (a) going to nightclubs; (b) ordering bottle service; and (c) purchasing vodka. ISE utility  110  may identify a patron&#39;s/member&#39;s preferred night for entertainment based on registration records and calculate a corresponding affinity factor. ISE utility  110  may be able to characterize a patron&#39;s network of friends by various categories including advertising ability and buying/selling ability, based on guest-list records, electronic bar tabs, transaction records and publicly displayed messages. ISE utility  110  dynamically updates the respective affinity factor when a new instance of a reported activity associating the member with the particular product or service is identified. Thus, ISE utility  110  enables a selection of target audience by the affinity factor. Furthermore, ISE utility  110  enables a selection of target audience according to a specified level of affinity factor for multiple products/services, respectively. For example, ISE utility  110  includes patron  202  within a population list of persons who “frequently” go (i.e., with an affinity factor of 7 or higher) to nightclubs and “frequently” order bottle service. ISE utility  110  enables an advertiser to granularly select the target audience in order to forward advertising content to the target audience selected. Thus, ISE utility  110  enables enhanced target audience identification (ETAI) based on the compiled population lists and the corresponding affinity factor. 
     ISE utility  110  also determines an association/causal factor for a level of association of a pair of activities/characteristics/aspects. For example, since patron  202  frequently attends nightclubs and orders bottle service, patron  202  is included within a population list of persons who demonstrate a high association/causal factor (i.e., with an association factor of 8 or higher) for attending nightclubs and ordering bottle service. 
     In one embodiment, ISE utility  110  determines a “recency” factor for a level of recent activity that associates a member/patron with the particular item or service. In particular, the recency factor provides a measure of the level of a particular activity within a specified time period. ISE utility  110  dynamically updates the recency factor when a new instance of a reported activity and/or less recent activities which are previously used to determine the recency factor are removed as components in the determination of the current measure of the recency factor. In one embodiment, ISE utility  110  calculates the recency factor based on a simple moving average or a weighted moving average. ISE utility  110  enables a selection of target audience based on one or more of: (a) the affinity factor; (b) the causal factor; and (c) the recency factor. ISE utility  110  facilitates an efficient marketing and advertising process by providing a business proprietor with targeted information based on audience activities with respect to a particular product/service/establishment. 
     ISE utility  110  enables the manager of IE zone  201  to review via the establishment website the sales performance of items sold at a previous event, for example, a Mardi Gras event. ISE utility  110  allows the manager to identify the best buyers, the corresponding favored items and the best advertising members to provide appropriate member/patron incentives as the manager diligently works to repeat the success of the previous Mardi Gras event. In addition, ISE utility  110  enables a manager to forecast expected performance/success/revenues of future events and to plan accordingly. If ISE utility  110  indicates that a high number of bid orders have already been placed for a particular product, the manager may acquire more of that particular product for a future event. If ISE utility  110  provides a forecast which indicates an average turnout for a future event, the manager may strategically provide added point/item incentives to a particular set of valued patrons. The manager may also re-introduce a particular winning event preferred by the patrons that the manager is hoping to attract to IE zone  201 . In particular, ISE utility  110  provides the forecast of expected interest/performance/success/revenues of future events based on one or more of the following forecast indicators: (a) RSVP notifications; (b) pre-orders including bids; (c) a level/volume of item trading; (d) observed trends; and (e) other forms of pre-event notifications. 
     ISE utility  110  enables a website administrator to place customized and targeted advertisements on the general advertising space on the online pages of selected members. ISE utility  110  enables the placement of advertisements which are customized and targeted according to one or more of: (a) a member&#39;s name; (b) a member&#39;s user ID; (c) a member&#39;s recent activities; and (d) other activities associated with a particular member. 
     ISE utility  110  enables a patron via application  114  to define a new product based on one or more of: (a) product name; (b) particular product composition; (c) associated event; (d) target price; and (e) other product parameters. ISE utility  110  forwards information about the new product/service/event to a product development manager for e.g to evaluate said new product for one or more of: (a) sales approval; (b) implementation approval; and (c) an approval corresponding to a particular request within said information about said new product/service/event transmitted. ISE utility  110  enables the product development manager to send a decision notification to the patron. The decision notification provides information pertaining to one or more of: (a) final product composition; (b) new product price(s); and (c) associated events at which permission is granted for new product/service to be sold/implemented. When information pertaining to the decision notification is recorded in an appropriate application (e.g., application  114 ), ISE utility  110  transmits a report containing information about the new product/service to one or more of: (a) an online website application/server; (b) a community networking website application/server; (c) other local applications (i.e., applications on a same/local platform); and (d) other remote applications. ISE utility  110  enables the new product to be reported/advertised according to a specific schedule. 
     Following identification of the target audience based on audience activities, ISE utility  110  enables the business manager to inspect/group the target audience selected according to other/passive demographic/psychographic filters which are based on the information an audience member manually self-reports and/or is not generally based on activity. These passive demographic filters may include one or more of the following filters, among others that may be defined within the particular application of ISE utility: (a) age; (b) gender; (c) education; (d) career; and (e) interests, et al. 
     Although ISE utility  110  is described from the perspective of an implementation within an entertainment establishment/business/industry, ISE utility  110  may also be implemented within environments relevant to various other industries. For example, ISE utility  110  may be implemented in the health care industry, at trade shows, in applications pertaining to information technology, activity tracking within a manufacturing process, home entertainment and game applications, applications in the gaming industry, the banking industry, retail applications and in numerous other applications. In addition to social/community networking website applications, ISE utility  110  may report data/information to other applications which store dynamic data. For example, ISE utility  110  may report to a database application in which records are stored. ISE utility  110  may report, update, modify and/or add information to these records within one or more database(s). 
       FIG. 3  illustrates an example electronically configured commercial/entertainment establishment during an item price crash which represents a special transaction/interaction event, according to one embodiment. Entertainment environment  200  comprises audio-visual (entertainment component/device) collection  302  which is connected to DPS  225 . DPS  225  is also connected to server  100 . Audio-visual collection  302  comprises one or more components including lighting (effects) system  210 , video display/monitor  211 , music/sound system  205  and smoke effects system  304 . The individual components of audio-visual entertainment component/device collection  302  are connected to controller  315 . DPS  225  comprises several crash configuration files including crash device operating files  318 , crash price list  317  and crash orders  319 . Crash transaction files  320  are also included in DPS  225 . In addition, DPS  225  includes ISE utility  110 . 
     Prior to an item crash, ISE utility  110  enables patron  202  to place bid orders for selected items. The bid is placed for an item at a crash price (i.e., the temporary target price) or at a price between the standard item price and crash price. ISE utility  110  may fill the bid order based on one or more of but not limited to: (a) the total cost of the order; (b) the difference between the current item price and the bid price; (c) the difference between the current item price and the crash price; and (d) the interval between the current time and closing time. 
     ISE utility  110  triggers an item crash event based on one or more of: (a) a preset schedule; (b) random interval selection; (c) volume of sales of an item; and (d) a spontaneous manual trigger (e.g., a manager&#39;s discretion). When ISE utility  110  triggers a crash, ISE utility  110  provides an audio-visual show, according to crash device operating files  318 . In one embodiment, bells ring via music/sound system  205 . Smoke is generated by smoke effects system  304  and spreads throughout the air. A vivid light show begins via light effects system  210  and a crash signature tune plays via music/sound system  205 . In addition, video monitor  211  may provide vivid notification of the crash. Crash items and prices are displayed. The time remaining before the crash period ends is highlighted. The DJ encourages/rallies the patrons via music/microphone/sound system  205  to “sink the bar”. 
     ISE utility  110  reduces the price of one or more items or services, according to crash price list  317 . In one embodiment, ISE utility  110  may double the value of a patron&#39;s points if the patron buys featured items or buys at certain times (e.g., during a crash) within a particular time period. ISE utility  110  places IE zone  201  into crash mode for a preset time period. For example, ISE utility  110  may establish a crash mode for a period of about 7 minutes or the duration of two songs. ISE utility  110  fills the order for the relevant items for patron  202 . In addition, ISE utility  110  sends audio/visual/vibrating notification to patron  202  that an order is filled via a cell phone, for example. In one embodiment, ISE utility  110  automatically sends a text to cell phone  206  of patron  202 . ISE utility  110  may also trigger a vibrate sequence within cell phone  206 . In general, patrons may submit orders for items at crash prices (or other prices) by one or more of: (a) online ordering via a wireless device (e.g., cell phone  206 ); (b) a bar order; (c) a waiter/waitress order; and (d) remote online ordering/purchasing to pre-pay for items before a patron&#39;s arrival in IE zone  201 . ISE utility  110  may send notification to remote members to inform these members of the onset of a crash in IE zone  201 . ISE utility  110  records/logs orders via crash order files  317  on DPS  225 . Similarly, ISE utility  110  records/logs member transactions including crash related transactions of individual members/users in the respective member&#39;s online account. 
     In addition to being/providing an exciting audio-visual show, the crash also encourages a more exciting atmosphere of interaction and transactions within IE zone  201 . These interactions include patron-patron interaction, patron-staff interaction and patron-ITM device interaction. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates patron and staff interactions within the electronically configured commercial/entertainment environment, according to one embodiment. In interaction zone  201 , ISE utility  110  logs/records member and establishment activities including transactions and interactions of patrons/members and associates/employees of IE zone/establishment  201 . Illustrated within interaction zone  201  is patron  202  who uses cell phone  206  to communicate online (e.g., transfer points or items within the account) with patron-Jennifer  402  who uses wireless device (WD)  410 . Patron-Keith  404  initiates an electronic bead transfer and a “friend request”/“friend add” event with Patron-Heather  406 . In addition, waitress  408  who utilizes wireless device  416  is also illustrated within interaction zone  201 . 
     In interaction zone  201 , patron-Heather  406  “breaks the ice” (i.e., initiates a conversation/social encounter) with patron-Keith  404  by announcing within ear shot of patron-Keith  404  that she, patron-Heather  406  wants  5  more (electronic) beads (also referred to herein as e-beads). Patron-Keith  404  accepts the request and offers to give patron-Heather  406  the five (5) e-beads that patron-Heather  406  requests. Patron-Keith  404  is equipped with cell phone  412  and patron-Heather  406  uses e-bracelet  414 . ISE utility  110  enables patron-Keith  404  to initiate an item transfer and, in particular, a transfer of e-beads via application  232  which allows patron-Keith  404  to track his activities within IE zone  201  using the member account of patron-Keith  404 . For example, ISE utility  110  enables Keith  404  to (a) select the item, (b) choose the quantity of items and (c) identify the member to whom the items are being transferred (i.e., a transferee). In one embodiment, ISE utility  110  enables automatic identification of the transferee by an ID signal transmitted by e-bracelet  414 . Keith  404 , who is initiating the bead transfer, automatically identifies the transferee via a detected ID signal. In one embodiment, ISE utility  110  enables Keith  404  to detect the signal from Heather  406  when Keith  404  also provides particular identification information of Heather  406  by using an application on cell phone  412 . In another embodiment, Keith  404  may transfer items to the account of Heather  406  without requiring a signal from any device that Heather  406  uses but by searching for and finding an online account of Heather  406  before completing the transfer via exchange/transfer functions within establishment website  128 . Keith  404  uses cell phone  412  to access establishment website  128  via an application which is similar to application  114 / 232 . 
     In interaction zone  201 , ISE utility  110  enables patron  202  to initiate a two-way transfer communication with patron-Jennifer  402 . Patron  202  has previously configured his account to transfer items only to friends, via application  232 . Thus, when patron  202  wishes to transfer beads/points to Jennifer  402 , ISE utility  110  automatically sends a friend request via application  232  to Jennifer  402  who is not a current online friend. Jennifer  402  accepts the friendship request via a similar application on WD  410 . ISE utility  110  notifies patron  202  of the new friendship via an application  232 . ISE utility  110  allows patron  202  to complete the online beads/points transfer from the account of patron  202  to the account of his new friend, Jennifer  402 . Jennifer  402  sends a real-time message of gratitude or one of a group of pre-programmed responses to patron  202  via the online application. In addition, Jennifer  402  sends patron  202  an invite/invitation to her upcoming 23 rd  birthday party. 
     In interaction zone  201 , waitress  408  fills the order of patron  202  which patron  202  initiates on cell phone  206  while dancing in the VIP dance space. Patron  202  selectively reports current activities in IE zone  201  to DPS  225  in order for waitress  408  and other friends to be able to find (and/or serve drinks) to Patron  202 . For example, patron  202  may automatically report a location of patron  202  by one or more of: (a) in-club registration of activities, for example, electronically/wirelessly (ID) detected entrance to the VIP; LPS/GPS technology; location detection via processing of cell-phone/wireless communication signal. Patron  202  wants to be able to use different tracking timestamps to separate his order request from the receipt of the ordered items/products. Thus, patron  202  sets up this order for payment upon receipt of items. As a result, waitress  406  arrives with the ordered items and uses wireless device  416  which enables waitress  408  to initiate receipt of payment from patron  202  upon receiving a signature of patron  202  to authorize payment from the account of patron  202 . ISE utility  110  notifies waitress  406  and patron  202  of the status of the transaction. Waitress  408  returns a copy of the signed receipt to patron  202  if the payment transfer is successful. When patron  202  subsequently reviews activities via the member account of patron  202 , patron  202  sees “at timestamp 1 , patron orders X items” and “at timestamp 2 , patron  202  receives ordered items”. ISE utility  110  may allow a patron to configure the account to reflect/log all/select activities globally within the website based network community and/or locally, within the sub-community which represents IE zone  201 . Patron  202  is also reminded via an online application that patron  202  has made seven new friends during the recent celebration in IE zone  201 . 
     ISE utility  110  enables patron  202  to subsequently execute a login procedure and search for friendships initiated in IE zone  201 . ISE utility  110  may allow members to search for other members based on previous attendance dates, joint attendance and expected joint attendance. Thus, a member may search for other members who have previous attendances at IE zone  201  in common with the searching member. ISE utility  110  may allow members to set expected dates of attendance, for example, via RSVP, and to search for members who are planning to attend IE zone  201  at the same time as the member who is conducting the search. Thus, ISE utility  110  allows members to meet before a live event and/or to re-connect following an event. ISE utility  110  may provide members with a unique feature, e.g., a “where have we met first/before?” feature, to search/recall experiences/encounters with another member. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a patron using an interactive transaction machine (ITM) within the electronically configured commercial/entertainment environment, according to one embodiment. Transaction environment (TE)  500  comprises ITM  213  which is connected to server  100 . In addition, Heather  406  is located within TE zone  500 . Heather  406  is able to perform a limited set of functions via the electronic bracelet. However, Heather  406  wishes to review points/beads/funds balance of her account. Heather  406  also wishes to add more funds to her account using a credit card. In one embodiment, ITM  213  is equipped with scanner module  504 . In one embodiment, ATM  213  utilizes (a) a barcode which is read from e-bracelet  414  or from a non-electronic wristband via scanner module  504  and (b) a password to begin transactions. 
     ISE utility  110  enables patrons to connect to corresponding member accounts to perform transactions which include one or more of: (a) the viewing of point/credit balances; (b) the transfer of points; (c) addition of points/credit; and (d) purchase of electronic items, e.g., e-beads. Thus, an example event with interactive participation is a theme party such as Mardi Gras which utilizes a “bead system”. These electronic beads are the electronic version of the Mardi Gras beads. ISE utility  110  enables a manager/owner to initiate the creation of a small unique data file which represents an e-bead via an business/establishment operator&#39;s module of a website based application (e.g., application  114 ). ISE utility  110  provides patrons with transferable “beads” which patrons may transfer to other patrons/members. A patron may automatically transfer e-beads/points to another patron by detecting an ID signal of the transferee and then triggering application based functions to perform transfer of e-beads from a sender&#39;s account to a receiver&#39;s/transferee&#39;s online account. These e-beads are an example of entertainment items that may be used to create exciting games/activities within IE zone  201 . 
     In one embodiment, ISE utility  110  enables a patron to add credit by using a debit/credit card. Thus, ITM  213  may be equipped with an electronic card reader to process credit/debit card data. In another embodiment, ITM  213  may be capable of accepting a cash deposit. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates an example television/display monitor showing a real time item price ticker, according to one embodiment. Monitor  600  comprises first monitor section/tv section  601  and second monitor section/ticker  602 . Ticker  602  displays identification data and dynamic data for four items within four table rows. The data for each item is divided among six columns within ticker  602 . In particular, ticker  602  comprises first row item  602 , second row item  616 , third row item  620  and fourth row item  622 . Ticker  602  also comprises “item ID” column  604 , name of “item” column  606 , “volume of shares” column  608 , “active bids” column  610 , “low bid price” column  612 , “current price” column  614 , “crash status” column  616  and “price change from previous” column  618 . 
     According to first row item  602 ,  200  “shares”/units/glasses of the silver moose vodka cocktail is sold. The current price of the silver moose vodka cocktail is $5.00 as indicated by “current price” column  614  of first row item  602 . The current price of $5.00 is $1.00 less than the standard price, as indicated by “price change from standard/previous” column  618  of first row item  602 . 
     ISE utility  110  provides a ticker display concurrent with a utilization of a monitor for the purpose of one or more of: (a) television viewing; (b) cable television viewing; (c) satellite television viewing; (d) website viewing; (e) mobile device viewing; (f) table monitor viewing; (g) localized ticker display viewing; (d) viewing of programs via electronic media; and other types of viewing that may be supported for the particular application of ISE utility. In one embodiment, ISE utility  110  allows a television/cable/video input signal to occupy a first section of the display screen only. ISE utility  110  allocates a second section for the display of ticker  602 . During an item crash, ISE utility  110  may increase the display section allocated to ticker  602  and proportionately decrease the second section allocated to the television/cable/video input signal. ISE utility  110  may display item prices for a larger number of items during the item crash. ISE utility  110  may modify the look of the display/ticker by changing particular display parameters such as the color of the text and background, according to a particular theme. In one embodiment, only the specific item that has experienced a crash is displayed on the display screen along with the other content. This embodiment minimizes the mount of space allocated to tracking the status of bids on a large number of items. 
     ISE utility  110  may store multiple preprogrammed themes, “events”, “parties” or “specialty” nights, e.g., Mardi Gras Party, NFL Draft, NCAA March Madness picks, St. Patrick&#39;s Day, “Spring Break”, etc. Each particular event may highlight specific theme related beverages and/or food. ISE utility  110  enables a manager/owner to store/add personal themes at the manager&#39;s discretion. Thus, ISE utility  110  enables a manager to pre-configure implementations of one or more special events based on one or more of: (a) specific theme related items corresponding to the particular special event; (b) a specific theme related audio-visual display; and (c) specific functions that are utilized. ISE utility  110  stores implementation data for said implementations of one or more special events. Thus, ISE utility  110  pre-programs/pre-configures one or more special events. ISE utility  110  initiates a pre-configured special event by using the stored implementation data corresponding to the particular pre-configured special event. These special events may include one or more of: (a) item transaction sales event; (b) a Mardi Gras Party; (c) a NFL Draft party; (d) an NCAA March Madness party; (e) a St. Patrick&#39;s Day party; (f) a Spring Break event; and (g) other special events. 
     ISE utility  110  displays the change in price via “price change from standard/previous” column  618  as being more or less expensive from the previous/standard price. ISE utility  110  allows a member/patron to utilize a Bid/Ask system to set up individual and/or bulk orders. Thus, ISE utility  110  allows customers to request a large order and ask for a reduced price (i.e., the bid). ISE utility  110  enables a manager to set a price criterion for accepting these Bid/Ask bulk orders. The “Ask” price is the price the manager is willing to accept. In ticker  602 , the largest number of bids has been placed for English Harbor Rum, as indicated within “active bids” column  610 . However, the smallest number of bids has been placed for fourth row item  622  which is represented by “IGNITE” bottle water. ISE utility  110  triggers an item (price) crash event based on one or more of: (a) a preset schedule; (b) random interval selection; (c) volume of sales of an item; and (d) a spontaneous manual trigger (e.g., manager&#39;s discretion). As shown by current price column  614 , the price of English Harbour Rum has crashed to the corresponding bid price in low bid price column  614 , as indicated by the notification (“Y”) in crash status column  616 . In actual implementation, the notification may be a change in the size or font of that row of the ESE table. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates an example display of a web-based order page, according to one embodiment. Order page  700  comprises multiple interactive (input) forms (e.g., an HTML form) of which item selection dropbox  702  (which includes corresponding bid price selection entries), payment selection dropbox  704  and time of payment dropbox  706  are illustrated. In addition, proceed to checkout link  708  is illustrated to facilitate the completion of the order request. 
     ISE utility  110  enables patron  202  to use cell phone  206  to purchase food/drinks Patron  202  makes an online order via order page  700  by using cell phone  206 . ISE utility  110  executing on device-A  225  detects receipt of the online order. ISE utility  110  designates the order as a pending order. Patron  202  chooses to pay for the order at the time of order request (i.e. patron  202  pre-pays) by selecting the appropriate option within time of payment dropbox  706 . ISE utility  110  also receives indication that patron  202  wants the costs to be deducted from the member purchasing account of patron  202 . ISE utility  110  verifies an availability of sufficient credit/points/funds in the member purchasing account before filling the order. The order is filled when transactions pertaining to the order are completed. As a result, ISE utility  110  designates the order as a filled order and schedules the order for delivery based on one or more of: (a) a requested time by the patron; (b) immediately, e.g., for VIP orders; (c) a maximum waiting period; and (d) a tip incentive for a waitress servicing a series of orders. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates an example display of a web-based pending orders page, according to one embodiment. Order page  800  displays information pertaining to specific orders within a list of pending orders. The data for each order item is divided among four columns within order page  800 . In particular, order page  800  comprises first row item  802 , second row item  816  and third row item  820 . Order page  800  also comprises “order ID” column  804 , “Time of Order” column  805 , name/“Member ID” column  806 , “Item Quantity” column  807 , “bid/crash price” column  807 , and “crash fill or time of request fill” column  810 . 
     According to first row item  802 , at 10:00 am, member “we_be_jamming21” pre-ordered seven items to be filled at crash prices only. Second row item  816  indicates that member “Candy” ordered three items to be filled/purchased at the prices at time of the request. The patron (e.g., member “Candy”) may submit a bid and also indicate the preferred time for the item to be delivered to the patron&#39;s table (e.g., 11:45 PM). The patron may go to the dance floor, enjoy a few dances and then return to the table at the pre-set/preferred time that the patron knows the waitress is delivering the ordered item. ISE utility  110  may also provide a reminder notification (to the patron&#39;s mobile electronic device/bracelet, for example) of the approaching time for item delivery. 
     ISE utility  110  may enable priority delivery of an ordered item(s) based on the tipping incentive added to the bid order. Thus, the patron is also given an opportunity to provide a generous bid on service tips. ISE utility  110  determines a range of tips which may be itemized according to preset percentages of the costs of the ordered items. ISE utility  110  allows the patron to select a tip when submitting a bid order. ISE utility  110  may also allow the patron to select a different tip value via a text box. In one embodiment, ISE utility  110  may utilize the size of the tip to determine the position at which the patron&#39;s order is placed in the waitress order delivery queue. Therefore, if the patron is a big tipper, the patron may be afforded the treatment of an A-list patron whose treatment includes obtaining quicker service. 
     ISE utility  110  may provide bid approval notification to a patron to enable the patron to pick up ordered items. During a crash/special event a large number of crash orders and bid orders are filled. Given a large number of bids/crash orders associated with the crash, a large number of patrons may expect service at the bar at a particular time. ISE utility  110  determines the number of orders/items the bar staff is expected to service at the impending crash. To reduce chaos and improve service efficiency, ISE utility  110  may send an earlier notification of an impending crash to the bar tender and other service staff via the bar tender&#39;s computer/station. For example, the notification may indicate that X number of item A are required in 10 minutes, in order to give the bar tender and/or service staff some lead time to be able to take appropriate action. In addition, ID/bar code scanners may be provided at specific locations at the bar so that patrons whose bids for item X are accepted may go to the bar, have an e-bracelet or wrist-band scanned to allow these patrons to collect the discounted/bid item. As an alternative, patrons may be identified by an ID signal (that is transmitted by cell phones or e-bracelets using RFID or Bluetooth technology) via an ID signal scanner before receiving the discounted item(s). ISE utility  110  may provide visual identification of person to a bar tender via a bar/order monitor as a patron who submitted an order which is approved for order pickup. Thus, ISE utility  110  allows the bartender to efficiently fill each patron&#39;s order. 
       FIG. 9  illustrates an example display of a member homepage on a social network website, which supports Entertainment/Interactive Social Network Exchange, according to one embodiment. Member homepage  900  comprises first activity log/track  904 , second activity log/track  905 , third activity log/track  906 , fourth activity log/track  907  and fifth activity log/track  910 . 
     When ISE utility  110  determines that a particular event is initiated (or occurs) within the configured space of IE zone  201 , ISE utility  110  automatically triggers creation (or creating) of a record of the event within a specified page of an online application for a particular member or group of members involved in the event. ISE utility  110  may also provide a link to pages of the other participants (e.g., by placing a hypertext link on a member&#39;s page to provide access to the pages of the other members/participants). ISE utility  110  may create the record as one or more of: (a) a real-time instantaneous log; (b) a delayed log/record with limited record editing capability. ISE utility  110  may create records on a member&#39;s page of various types of events. 
     ISE utility  110  enables patron  202  to execute a login procedure to access the member account of patron  202  and review activities. When patron  202  reviews activities via the member account, ISE utility  110  may allow patron  202  and visitors to member homepage  900  to see “at timestamp 1 , patron enters IE zone” and “at timestamp 2 , patron  202  submits a “crash” order for bottle service, according to first activity log/track  904  and second activity log/track  905 . When a “crash” occurs, patron  202  receives ordered items”, according to third activity log/track  906 . Patron has reached the platinum milestone for bead count, according to fourth activity log/track  907 . Patron  202  is also reminded via application  232  that patron  202  has made several new friends during the recent celebration in IE zone  201 . Fifth activity log/track  910  indicates a new friendship with Jennifer  402 . 
     ISE utility  110  utilizes a number of hypertext links to represent certain key words within member homepage  900 . For example, according to third activity log/track  906 , hypertext links are used to represent the following words/phrases: (a) crash; (b) bottle service; and (c) IE zone. When these hypertext links are accessed, ISE utility  110  enables a website visitor to view the appropriate pages on the establishment website of IE zone  201  and/or the appropriate pages of the site of an in-club promoter/producer/sponsor. In addition, ISE utility  110  enables John&#39;s friends to be displayed via link  908 . 
     ISE utility  110  may allow patron  202  to search within a particular time period for friendships initiated in IE zone  201 . ISE utility  110  may allow members to search for other members based on previous attendance dates, joint attendance (i.e., when the member being searched has a common attendance in IE zone  201  as the member who is conducting the search) and expected joint attendance. Thus, a member may search for other members who have previous attendances at IE zone  201  in common with the searching member. ISE utility  110  may allow members to set expected dates of attendance, for example, via RSVP, and to search for other members providing RSVP notifications to indicate a future attendance at IE zone  201 . Thus, ISE utility  110  allows members to meet before a live event and/or to re-connect following an event. ISE utility  110  may provide members with a unique feature, e.g., a “where have we met first/before?” feature via social networking website  140 , to search/recall experiences/encounters with another member. 
     ISE utility  110  provides members/patrons/users with the ability to track respective activities via a website based application (e.g., application  232 ). A user is able to track social activities, business interactions, as well as other electronically facilitated activities/events. Thus, ISE utility  110  effectively enables a member/user/patron to instantly track/record and provide a broadcast/log of many aspects of the member&#39;s life. In a specific example application, ISE utility  110  may enable a member to produce an online “reality” type show based on instant and automated activity logging/broadcasting/monitoring via website based interactive multimedia applications. 
       FIG. 10  is a flow chart illustrating the method by which the above process of the illustrative embodiments is completed. In particular,  FIG. 10  illustrates the process of providing interactions between registered members, enabling transactions involving members and electronically activating special events in the electronically configured commercial/entertainment establishment. Although the method illustrated in  FIG. 10  may be described with reference to components shown in  FIGS. 1-9 , it should be understood that this is merely for convenience and alternative components and/or configurations thereof can be employed when implementing the various methods. Key portions of the methods may be completed by ISE utility  110  executing on processor  101  within DPS  100  ( FIG. 1 ) and controlling specific operations of/on DPS  100 , and the methods are thus described from the perspective of either/both ISE/ESE utility  110  and DPS  100 . For purposes of the flow charts, references to ISE utility are utilized, but may also be considered references to ESE utility. 
     The process of  FIG. 10  begins at initiator block  1002  and proceeds to block  1004 , at which Interactive Stock Exchange (ISE) utility  110  provides an administrative user/owner  230  with a graphical user interface for entertainment application  114  on DPS  100  to configure items, prices and stock point values. In one embodiment, ISE utility  110  provides automatic conversion of prices of pre-existing items on a stock list to corresponding stock point values. At block  1006 , ISE utility  110  allows registration by users/patrons. At registration, ISE utility  110  provides patrons/users with one or more of: (a) entry access to IE zone  201 ; (b) initialization of transacting accounts linked to a corresponding web-based member account; and (c) communication access with the use of a wireless device within IE zone  201 . 
     At block  1008 , ISE utility  110  initiates the display of item prices and volume of purchases. ISE utility  110  allows users to purchase credits and promotional/activity items including, for example, electronic tokens and electronic beads, as shown at block  1010 . At block  1012 , ISE utility  110  allows patrons to purchase items available for sale based on available credit in an account accessed via a website based application. In particular, ISE utility  110  enables patrons to order/purchase items by one or more of: (a) an online bid order; (b) a crash or special event order; (c) a pre-event order; and (d) an employee assisted order. At block  1014 , ISE utility  110  triggers a temporary stock item crash based on purchase volume, random item selection, preset crash schedule, etc. At block  1016 , ISE utility  110  initiates “shock and awe”/vivid audio/visual/smoke display. At block  1018 , ISE utility  110  enables users to secure purchases at crash prices via “ATMs”, direct/instant item purchase. At block  1020 , ISE utility  110  ends the item price crash based on dynamic/fixed crash interval period. 
     At block  1022 , ISE utility  110  enables users to transfer credits/tokens/beads to other users. A patron may establish personal guest lists to enable friends with pre-paid access to establishment via one or more procedures (e.g., electronically/manually mapping user ID 1  to user ID 2 ) and bar tabs, etc. A tab may be established based on available credits or by using cash or credit/debit card. ISE utility  110  may enable a patron to receive notification/indication when placed on another patron&#39;s guest list prior to initiating entry to IE zone  201 . 
     At block  1024 , ISE utility  110  enables users to accumulate specific levels of credit based on quantity and quality of purchases. By linking activities/transactions to a member ID/account, ISE utility  110  may provide point rewards for levels of purchases. At block  1026 , ISE utility  110  records/stores historical price levels and price fluctuation. The process ends at block  1028 . 
       FIG. 11  is a flow chart illustrating the process of creating specialized categories of demographic groups, populating lists based on the specialized categories, sending advertising content to particular members of these specialized categories, and forecasting the performance/success of future events, according to one embodiment. The process of  FIG. 11  begins at initiator block  1102  and proceeds to block  1104 , at which Interactive Stock Exchange (ISE) utility  110  creates a number of specialized demographic group categories based on one or more of: (a) information about actions reported; (b) a preset group of categories associated with a range of actions reported by a particular business/establishment; and (c) pre-arranged set of categories pertaining to a particular type of business/establishment and business activities associated with information in respective reports. At block  1106 , ISE utility  110  identifies patrons according to particular categories based on reported/recorded activities. At block  1108 , ISE utility  110  compiles population/members lists corresponding to specialized categories based on patrons involved in reported activities. ISE utility  110  determines an affinity factor to describe a level of association a member has with a particular item/service/event/place, based on the patron&#39;s reported activities, as shown at block  1110 . At block  1112 , ISE utility  110  determines causal factor to describe a level of association of multiple of activities. 
     At block  1114 , ISE utility  110  determines a recency factor for a level of recent activity that associates a member/patron with the particular item or service. In particular, the recency factor provides a measure of the level of a particular activity within a specified time period. ISE utility  110  dynamically updates the recency factor when a new instance of a reported activity and/or less recent activities which are previously used to determine the recency factor are removed as components in the determination of the current measure of the recency factor. In one embodiment, ISE utility  110  calculates the recency factor based on a simple moving average or a weighted moving average. 
     At block  1116 , ISE utility  110  enables selection of target audience by one or more of: (a) an affinity factor; (b) a causal factor; and (c) a recency factor. At block  1118 , ISE utility  110  forwards advertising content to the selected target audience. At block  1120 , ISE utility  110  provides forecast of future events based on the forecast indicators which include one or more of: (a) RSVP notifications; (b) pre-orders including bids; (c) a level/volume of item trading; (d) observed trends; and (e) other forms of pre-event notifications. At block  1122 , ISE utility  110  enables a manager to initiate dynamic strategy adjustment based on forecasted results. In particular, a manager is able to adjust a planning strategy to ensure the success of a future event based on indications the forecast provide. The process ends at block  1124 . 
       FIG. 12  is a flow chart illustrating the process of developing a new product/service concept, obtaining approval for implementation for the product/service and advertising the introduction of the new product/service concept online, according to one embodiment. The process of  FIG. 12  begins at initiator block  1202  and proceeds to block  1204 , at which Interactive Stock Exchange (ISE) utility  110  provides patron  202  with a graphical user interface (GUI) via application  232  to enable patron  202  to define new product idea/concept. At block  1206 , ISE utility  110  allows patron  202  to initiate online submission of the product concept. At block  1208 , ISE utility  110  detects receipt of the product concept application by a product development manager. ISE utility  110  allows manager to respond online with a decision pertaining to acceptance of the product concept, as shown at block  1210 . 
     At decision block  1212 , ISE utility  110  determines whether the product concept is accepted. If at block  1212  ISE utility  110  determines that the product concept is accepted, ISE utility  110  enables receipt of a final concept specification/parameters file and agreement by patron  202 , as shown at block  1214 . At block  1216 , ISE utility  110  enables selection of a report schedule in order to introduce the new product. At block  1218 , ISE utility  110  reports the new product&#39;s introduction according to a reporting schedule. However, if at block  1212  ISE utility  110  determines that the product concept is not accepted, the process proceeds to block  1220 , at which block, the process ends. 
       FIG. 13  is a flow chart illustrating the process of configuring a personal area network (PAN), automatically notifying members connected to the PAN of selected member activities and reporting of particular activities to a community networking website, according to one embodiment. The process of  FIG. 13  begins at initiator block  1302  and proceeds to block  1304 , at which Interactive Stock Exchange (ISE) utility  110  enables patron  202  to pre-configure a PAN for communication with selected friends within an electronically configured space. At block  1306 , ISE utility  110  detects the registration and entrance of friends to establishment. 
     At block  1308 , ISE utility  110  enables two-way automatic transmission of notification message to selected friends and patron  202  in PAN. In particular, patron  202  is notified of the friends&#39; registration. The friends of patron  202  are informed that patron  202  has already entered IE zone  201 . ISE utility  110  allows patron  202  to use points to gain VIP access via VIP registration, as shown at block  1310 . At block  1312 , ISE utility  110  sends notification to patron&#39;s friends in PAN of granted VIP access. At block  1314 , ISE utility  110  allows patron to automatically send report about VIP access to remote/online community networking site. At block  1316 , ISE utility  110  allows patron  202  to add the friends to the VIP guest-list/bar tab of patron  202 . At block  1318 , ISE utility  110  enables automatic transmission of notification to the friends of patron  202  which friends are connected to the PAN. The process ends at block  1320 . 
       FIG. 14  is a flow chart illustrating the process of externally triggering an event in a community networking site based on an event executed within an electronically configured establishment, according to one embodiment. The process of  FIG. 14  begins at initiator block  1402  and proceeds to block  1404 , at which Interactive Stock Exchange (ISE) utility  110  enables selection of an account item by a first patron (e.g., patron  202 ) in order to transfer the account item to a second patron. At block  1406 , ISE utility  110  enables identification of the transferee/second patron by the sender/patron  202 . At block  1408 , ISE utility  110  enables initiation of bead/token/point transfer between the sender and the transferee. At block decision block  1410 , ISE utility  110  determines whether the two patrons are online friends (i.e., friends on a particular community networking site). If at block  1410  ISE utility  110  determines that the two patrons are not online friends, ISE utility  110  triggers an online friend request from sender to transferee, as shown at block  1412 . At block  1414 , ISE utility  110  detects the acceptance of the online friend request by the transferee. However, if at block  1410  ISE utility  110  determines that the two patrons are already online friends, ISE utility  110  completes the item transfer, as shown at block  1416 . At block  1418 , ISE utility  110  receives notification of the receipt of the items by the transferee. At block  1420 , ISE utility  110  enables the transmission of a pre-programmed message of gratitude from the transferee. The process ends at block  1422 . 
       FIG. 15  is a flow chart illustrating the process of reporting and advertising information/content related to member activities in an electronically configured establishment to/within a community networking site, according to one embodiment. The process of  FIG. 15  begins at initiator block  1502  and proceeds to block  1504 , at which Interactive Stock Exchange (ISE) utility  110  detects an action being initiated by patron  202  via a corresponding information signal. At block  1506 , ISE utility  110  automatically reports/advertises the detected action to the corresponding member page of patron  202  within one or more social networking site(s). At block  1508 , ISE utility  110  initiates the automated multiplier advertising mechanism (MAM), according to site(s) and member&#39;s pre-selected configuration settings. In particular, ISE utility  110  reports/advertises the detected action on the online pages of the online friends of patron  202 . In addition, ISE utility  110  reports/advertises the detected action on the online pages of other members, according to a pre-configured degree of separation of online friendship for reported content. At decision block  1510 , ISE utility  110  determines whether a (live) broadcast of ongoing actions of/featuring patron  202  within IE zone  201  is to be initiated on the online social/community networking website. If at decision block  1510  ISE utility  110  determines that a (live) broadcast is to be initiated on the online social/community networking website, ISE utility  110  provides the (hypertext/website) link and a notification of the live broadcast on the online member pages of selected friends, as shown at block  1512 . In one embodiment, ISE utility  110  shows the live broadcast in member&#39;s pages if the broadcast is occurring live (i.e., substantially concurrent with the action in the electronically configured space). At block  1514 , ISE utility  110  detects the completion of the live broadcast. At block  1516 , ISE utility  110  records/stores the broadcast content. 
     However, if at decision block  1510  ISE utility  110  determines that a (live) broadcast is not going to be initiated on the online social/community networking website, ISE utility  110  tracks the type/number of advertising/broadcast links placed and the source/number of clicks on these links, as shown at block  1518 . At block  1520 , ISE utility  110  tracks the orders/purchases made via the advertising links. At block  1522 , ISE utility  110  notifies provider and advertising member of links, clicks and orders/purchases made via these links. At block  1524 , ISE utility  110  provides payment to the notified member based on previous sales agreements. In one embodiment, ISE utility  110  automatically provides members with compensation based on activities including transactions executed via website links. For example, ISE utility  110  may provide members with compensation based on one or more of: (a) the amount of advertising content displayed; (b) the number of clicks via hypertext/website links corresponding to the advertising content; (c) the number of bids or orders placed via the hypertext/website links; (d) the quality of said bids (i.e., bid price relative to the ask/asking price) or orders placed via the hypertext/website links; (e) the number of filled order requests; (f) a net value/revenue of/from filled order requests. The process ends at block  1526 . 
     The illustrated and described embodiments provide, in a data processing system, a method, a system and a computer program product that configures an electronic device to enable an individual to use the electronic device to initiate actions including one or more of: (a) item transactions; and (b) interactions with other individuals. The ISE logic/utility registers the individual for access to said electronically configured establishment with authorization to initiate one or more of: (a) item transactions; and (b) interactions with other individuals. The ISE utility triggers an initiation of a specific transaction and interaction (STI) event which includes a crash period. The ISE utility pre-selects temporary target prices which are applied to one or more products or services during the crash period. The ISE utility dynamically displays item information including item prices via an item ticker on one or more display monitors. The ISE utility modifies item prices from standard prices towards temporary target prices based on one or more of: (a) volume of sales of corresponding items; and (b) time conditions. The ISE utility dynamically selects items for which information about the items is displayed on a display monitor based on one or more of: (a) a volume of transactions corresponding to the items; (b) place of the items in a display waiting queue; (c) pre-existing agreement pertaining to the items; and (d) manager&#39;s discretion. The ISE utility allows patrons to initiate online order requests by a number of procedures which include one or more of: (a) a bid order; (b) a crash or STI event order; (c) a pre-event order; and (d) an employee assisted order. When the temporary target price is reached, the ISE utility initiates the crash period. 
     The ISE utility enables the individual to interact with other individuals to perform actions including transactions which are based on one or more of: (a) transfer of items; (b) transfer of financial credit; (c) transfer of items purchased; and (d) a trade of purchased items for other items or financial credit; (e) re-selling of acquired items. The ISE utility automatically reports information about actions initiated by the individual to one or more of: (a) a first application within the data processing device; (b) a second application on a remote server; and (c) a community networking website application. In addition, the ISE utility enables advertising content based on the information about actions reported by a particular establishment to be displayed on one or more of: (a) a community networking website; and (b) an establishment website controlled by the particular establishment. The ISE utility creates specialized categories of demographic groups based on a compilation of information reported by the particular establishment about a set of actions initiated by one or more individuals. The ISE utility identifies individuals as group members of said specialized categories of demographic groups based on the reported activities of the individuals. The ISE utility compiles population lists for the specialized categories of demographic groups according to the recorded activities of individuals. The ISE utility enables a selection of a target audience based on one or more of: (a) the affinity factor; (b) the causal factor; and (c) the recency factor. The ISE utility enables advertising content to be forwarded to the target audience. In addition, the ISE utility enables an event planner to obtain a forecast of a level of interest in a future event based on specific activities which are associated with the forecast indicators, which forecast indicators are obtained from one or more of: (a) RSVP notifications; (b) pre-orders including bids; (c) a level of item trading; (d) observed trends; (e) other forms of pre-event notifications. 
     The flowcharts and block diagrams in the various figures presented and described herein illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems, methods and computer program products according to various embodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in the flowcharts or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portion of code, which comprises one or more executable instructions for implementing the specified logical function(s). It should also be noted that, in some alternative implementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specified functions or acts, or combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions. 
     In the flow charts above, one or more of the methods are embodied in a computer readable medium containing computer readable code such that a series of steps are performed when the computer readable code is executed (by a processing unit) on a computing device. In some implementations, certain processes of the methods are combined, performed simultaneously or in a different order, or perhaps omitted, without deviating from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, while the method processes are described and illustrated in a particular sequence, use of a specific sequence of processes is not meant to imply any limitations on the invention. Changes may be made with regards to the sequence of processes without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. Use of a particular sequence is therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention extends to the appended claims and equivalents thereof. 
     As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, aspects of the present invention may be embodied as a system, method or computer program product. Accordingly, aspects of the present invention may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment (including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects that may all generally be referred to herein as a “circuit,” “module” or “system.” Furthermore, aspects of the present invention may take the form of a computer program product embodied in one or more computer readable medium(s) having computer readable program code embodied thereon. 
     Any combination of one or more computer readable medium(s) may be utilized. The computer readable medium may be a computer readable signal medium or a computer readable storage medium. A computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. More specific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of the computer readable storage medium would include the following: an electrical connection having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber, a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. In the context of this document, a computer readable storage medium may be any tangible medium that can contain, or store a program for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device. 
     A computer readable signal medium may include a propagated data signal with computer readable program code embodied therein, for example, in baseband or as part of a carrier wave. Such a propagated signal may take any of a variety of forms, including, but not limited to, electro-magnetic, optical, or any suitable combination thereof. A computer readable signal medium may be any computer readable medium that is not a computer readable storage medium and that can communicate, propagate, or transport a program for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device. 
     Program code embodied on a computer readable medium may be transmitted using any appropriate medium, including but not limited to wireless, wireline, optical fiber cable, R.F, etc., or any suitable combination of the foregoing. Computer program code for carrying out operations for aspects of the present invention may be written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including an object oriented programming language such as Java, Smalltalk, C++ or the like and conventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C” programming language or similar programming languages. The program code may execute entirely on the user&#39;s computer, partly on the user&#39;s computer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user&#39;s computer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user&#39;s computer through any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider). 
     Aspects of the present invention are described below with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems) and computer program products according to embodiments of the invention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. 
     These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer readable medium that can direct a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer readable medium produce an article of manufacture including instructions which implement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, other programmable apparatus or other devices to produce a computer implemented process such that the instructions which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide processes for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. 
     As will be further appreciated, the processes in embodiments of the present invention may be implemented using any combination of software, firmware or hardware. As a preparatory step to practicing the invention in software, the programming code (whether software or firmware) will typically be stored in one or more machine readable storage mediums such as fixed (hard) drives, diskettes, optical disks, magnetic tape, semiconductor memories such as ROMs, PROMs, etc., thereby making an article of manufacture in accordance with the invention. The article of manufacture containing the programming code is used by either executing the code directly from the storage device, by copying the code from the storage device into another storage device such as a hard disk, RAM, etc., or by transmitting the code for remote execution using transmission type media such as digital and analog communication links. The methods of the invention may be practiced by combining one or more machine-readable storage devices containing the code according to the present invention with appropriate processing hardware to execute the code contained therein. An apparatus for practicing the invention could be one or more processing devices and storage systems containing or having network access to program(s) coded in accordance with the invention. 
     Thus, it is important that while an illustrative embodiment of the present invention is described in the context of a fully functional computer (server) system with installed (or executed) software, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the software aspects of an illustrative embodiment of the present invention are capable of being distributed as a program product in a variety of forms, and that an illustrative embodiment of the present invention applies equally regardless of the particular type of media used to actually carry out the distribution. 
     While the invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular system, device or component thereof to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, the use of the terms first, second, etc. do not denote any order or importance, but rather the terms first, second, etc. are used to distinguish one element from another. 
     The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. 
     The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.