Abstract:
System and methods for an event defined and user controlled interaction channel are disclosed. The interaction channel can be added to people, locations, things, or media content for associated activity and information interactions between interested parties to achieve a goal or outcome. The disclosed system may include mobile, web, and cloud applications or services supporting enablement of an interaction channel for attachment and/or interconnection with traditional or social media sources, communication services, or other referenced objects to facilitate added layers of host-defined and user controlled interactions. The methods may include an event definition process for an event host to easily and quickly attach an interaction channel to a referenced object for user controlled interactions. The methods may also include convenient and non-intrusive event sign-in or channel connection processes for users to have full control of how they want to participate and control their data privacy in activity and information interactions with the event-defined interaction channel host and/or users.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/989,356, filed on May 6, 2014 on behalf of Pu et al., the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates generally to providing an interaction channel for user controlled and event defined activity and information interactions in reference to one or multiple physical, mental, digital, social, or organizational objects through the use of mobile, social, and cloud technologies. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Information exchanges between people and especially from business or organizational entities to consumers leverage media sources electronically or physically as one of the main mechanisms. People interact with media sources such as billboards, newspaper, TV, websites, or social media for information gathering or exchanges. Social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, or Yelp typically goes a step further with instantaneous and user-generated information interactions at a much granular and fine-controlled levels for the producers and consumers of the information. Email, messaging or communication services such as SMS, WhatsApp or WeChat are frequently used by people also for spontaneous message or information exchanges. However, information exchanges with media, email, or messaging platforms are usually informational, random, spontaneous, or unorganized. 
         [0004]    Interactions between people supporting a common purpose that produces outcomes normally requires an organizer, one or multiple mechanisms of supporting information exchange between people, and often times one or multiple group activities, system or device functions, or process rules. These interactions are usually grouped under an event, a project, with a party, a task force, or other grouping mechanisms that are carried forward either manually, physically, or digitally by the engaged participants. 
         [0005]    There are many computer based applications supporting information exchange or event or group level interactions between people with varied features and functionalities. Popular social network sites such as Facebook, Twitter, or Google+ support event or social gathering related communications or group activities. However, they do not handle complex group activities or functions with processing rules. They also have has limited privacy that all user generated communication or activity data are visible or traceable to a third party, and often times the data are the properties of the social network. Additionally, it requires a user account on the same social network to sign into and participate, which is not always applicable to all people intending in joining. 
         [0006]    Business entities such as a national merchant or wholesale warehouse may also have applications supporting a promotional and customer connection events. However, they are typically part of their overall business entity application such as a promotional event on a merchant&#39;s website or mobile app. The app may also provide some transactional features in support of a user to engage in a sales promotional event. However, these promotional or customer connection events are usually spread across multiple business entity based apps, which usually very hard to track due to the many applications on a user&#39;s device and sales promotional event are usually one of the many features of an entity based app. Additionally, promotional or customer connection event embedded in business entity apps usually do not offer user controls of participation mode and data privacy settings. It also does not offer the flexibility and ease of use for fine-grained control by the actual business associates involved in these promotional or customer connection events to easily create or adapt the information to the customers. 
         [0007]    There are also social or organizational event specific applications that are tailored to specific personal, social, or business settings for organizing and facilitating information exchanges between people. These applications are developed specifically for a certain venue, industry, task or event type such as conferences, trade shows, wedding planning, matchmaking, and etc. However, these organized and topic specific applications are usually controlled by event host and do not allow much flexibility of user control of their participation mode and personal data privacy. 
         [0008]    There are multiple drawbacks with the current applications supporting purpose or outcome driven information exchanges and user activity or function interactions. One of the major drawbacks is lack of or limited support for user controlled data privacy and participation setting, which is prevalent in communications or user activities via social network sites or messaging tools. In these scenarios, user&#39;s geographic and demographic data are tracked and analyzed for targeted advertisement. Another major drawback is the current applications in user communications are inflexible in supporting a variety of purpose-driven user information exchange scenarios that may have complex functions and user interaction logics. There is also not an easy and simple mechanism for a person to quickly create and attach an interaction channel to something that the person would like to discuss with the potential interested parties and also in a non-intrusive way to the participants. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    This invention is in response to the current challenges in the purpose and outcome driven information exchange and user activity or system function interactions. The invention discloses a system and the related methods for using an event to group multiple information entities and user interaction activities or functions together for purpose and outcome driven information exchange and user interactions. The disclosure supports organizer self-definition and management of event described herein, as well as user self-control of user profile selection or creation for event and/or event activity participation, user self-control of user data privacy and data sharing, user data persistence and retention settings, and user self-control of event participation mode and activity participation management. Additionally, the disclosure provides a secured and user controlled interaction channel for individuals or business entities to quickly and easily configure and add on to extend activities and communication about one or multiple people, locations, organizations, entities, establishments, tasks, goals, physical events, or content on digital or non-digital information or media sources. 
         [0010]    In certain embodiment, the disclosed system includes a client-side application for event hosts and users, managed and facilitated by an event and interaction management service, to connect with a plurality of social network sites or web sites for event related information exchange and/or sharing. The client-side computer application is used for a host to define and manage an event, as well as for the client-side application users to pull in an event for user controlled event participation with user self-control of their participation profile, participation mode, and user data privacy and persistence controls. 
         [0011]    Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a method for an event host to quickly define an event by choosing a system provided template with default user participation mode and data privacy control settings. The method also enables the host to custom define an event with fine-grained controls for event default user participation mode and user data privacy setting, as well as adding complex business logic and rules for personalized event activity and user controls related to user profile characteristics, and user provided sign-in and/or event sign-up information. 
         [0012]    Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a method for a user to quickly join an event by pulling in an event into the client-side application based on an event id or via a click through link, by taking the default profile setting and preferences as pre-defined by the user in the event app user preference setting. The method also provides the user with fine-grained controls for user sign-in profile, participation mode, event activities, and user data privacy and event server persistence preferences. 
         [0013]    Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a method for user event participation via the application that a user can participate in common event activities with total control of user data privacy, sign-in profile preference. Additionally, depending on the provisioned event setup for additional user controls, the user can also customize their participation mode for the event or one or multiple event activities. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    The present invention will be more fully appreciated by the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  is a diagram of an example environment in which the system and/or the methods described herein may be implemented; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a diagram of an example interaction between event users and/or host with an event and the event components; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a functional block diagram illustrating an example of the functional components of the server-side event and interaction management service in the cloud shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a functional block diagram illustrating an example of the functional components of the client-side computer application running on host and user computer devices shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a flow chart showing an example of a process that may be performed by an event host in defining an event; 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is a flow chart showing an example of a process that may be performed by a client-side application user to discover, sign in or sign up for an event via a simple and quick path, as well as via a more elaborate path if the user choose to customize sign-in profile, participation modes, and data privacy settings; 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  is a flow chart showing an example of a process that may be performed by a client-side application user during event participation with user-controlled data and user privacy settings. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0022]    Operation of the invention may be described with reference to the following example embodiments. One embodiment applies to, among many other things, the situation where personal and commercial ad or promotional event in a media source can be easily extended with an add-on user communication channel for user self-controlled information exchanges with interested parties. In this situation, upon placing the ad or promotional event content in a media source, the advertiser or organizer can act as an event host by quickly defining an event as an add-on interaction channel in the said system with interested parties for information exchange such as describing additional details to the ad or promotional event, responding to user inquiries, or follow-ups in a host-defined and user-controlled participation manner. Interested parties can pull in the event via the client-side application disclosed in the invention, choose to participate in the event with a user-define profile of any type or anonymously, and start communicate with the host for the interest ad or promotion as they see in the media source. In this way, the user is not concerned about giving out email addresses or phone numbers and can control when or whether to reveal his or her identity during the event. Additionally, event users can also control how they would like their user-generated data, such as their messages to host or activities conducted during the event participation, be stored or removed on the server or the correspondent&#39;s client devices. 
         [0023]    Other embodiment applies to, among many other things, business entities connecting and growing customer base with personalized interactions with their customers or prospects without knowing customer email or social network account information. As disclosed by the present invention, a merchant can define a “customer connection” event quickly in the disclosed event app, and post the event barcode, QR code or id physically or in a media source. The merchant can announce special, menus, or tailor offers as event information items or activities. Their customers or prospects can pull in the event to the disclosed event app to learn about specials, offers or personalized discounts, and participation in a merchant&#39;s loyal customer program for additional incentives. The benefit of viewing and participating merchant customer connection event disclosed in this invention is not only a quick and easy interaction channel with a merchant for information or incentives, but also user self-control of data privacy without giving out user personal information. 
         [0024]    Other embodiment applies to bar or party goers can extend their physical presence in better reaching out and getting connected with other party goers, instead of relying on first impression from a distance or via introduction via a mutual contact. In applying the present invention, the bar host can define a recurring event for “meet-up” that these party goers can choose to sign-in with their self-defined and/or preferred profile or anonymously, choose to share their profile to the event, browse event user profile directory for possible people profile characteristics and request for meet up. The user would not be concerned about activities or message exchanges during the event due to the event data comes and goes after the event expires. 
         [0025]    Other embodiment applies to, among many other things, membership growth and communications where activities and communications between host and users can be grouped and defined as an event (such as a political campaign or interest party in discussing a particular topic). User can sign into an event with their self-defined and preferred profile or anonymously, where they can view, exchanges opinions with the host and/or define a special group, as well as share viewpoints outside of the event ecosystem to others as or if allowed by the event host. All their activities are contained with the event ecosystem and comes and goes with the event expires. 
         [0026]      FIG. 1  is a diagram of an example environment  100 , in which the system and/or the methods described herein may be implemented. As illustrated, environment  100  may include event host  101  and event users  102  interacting with a client-side computer application  104  running on a computing device  103 , an event and interaction management service  105  running in a cloud  106 , share and feed services  107  that event host or users can use to pull or push event related information items from or to other social network sites and apps  108 , web or mobile sites and apps  109 , email or message services or apps  110 , other digital and physical media sources  111  and/or other referable objects such as people, things, locations, entities, needs, social or business activities that the event can reference and be added on as an user-controlled interaction channel. 
         [0027]    Event host  101  maps to an event host role in the said system that defines and manages the event and event users, perform host event actions and other event administrative activities. The event host can be a person, group of people, a business entity, an organization, or any other social, organizational, or legal entities, their designees or delegates. 
         [0028]    Event users  102  map to a user role that participates in an event and performs event defined activity and inform interactions. The event host may also act in the event user role when acting as an event user in participating in event defined activity and inform interactions. An event user can also be a person, group of people, a business entity, an organization, or any other social, organizational, or legal entities, their designees or delegates. 
         [0029]    Computer application  104  may be a web or mobile application that interfaces with the event and interaction management service  105  for event definition and management  121  by event host  101  and event discovery, participation, and control  122  by event users  102 . 
         [0030]    Share and feed services  107  are used by an event host to push or pull event definition from a social or web site. It may also be used by the event host or users to push or pull event activities or communications, if provisioned for the event user by the event participation control defined by the host, to other social, web, and/or email or message clients. Share and feed services  107  can be APIs, interface services or other computer program implementations provided by the said system, social network sites, mobile apps, a third party service, and/or via email or messaging services. 
         [0031]      FIG. 2  is a diagram of an example interaction environment  200  between event users and/or host with an event and the event components. As illustrated, an event  202  is comprised of activities  203  and information items  204 . Event host or users  201  conduct activity and information interactions  205  with the event  202 . 
         [0032]    Event  202  is used to define and organize a singular and/or a collection of varied sequential and/or simultaneous activities and information items that has one or multiple purposes and/or produces one or multiple outcomes. An event requires more than one person&#39;s participation and has a duration that can be repeating, short or long-running. An event can be pertaining to one or multiple people, things, locations, organizations, entities, establishments, tasks, goals, physical events, or content on digital or non-digital information or media sources. An event can be linked to or occur within another event. An event has a lifecycle that may have one or many stages as determined by the event host, event progression status such as pre-event, event sign-up period, event in progress, or any other event progression period determined by the event characteristics. 
         [0033]    An activity, as part of the event-defined activities  203 , is a collection of one or multiple functions, processes, actions, transactions, and/or communications accompanied by the related information items that an event user can interact with or invoke. An activity interaction by an event user will result in a status or state changes and/or one or multiple system responses. An activity has duration and can be defined with business logic, business rules, and/or user invocation requirements. An activity can also be part of another activity or related to one or many other activities, provisioned to all the event users or a select group of event users based on user profile characteristics, user sign-in or sign-up controls or information, relationship to other activity or activities, and/or associated with the entire event or one or multiple event lifecycle stages. 
         [0034]    Activities  203  defined in an event  202  may have event specific activities that are related to the event purpose or type, user self-control activities that may be related to user profile selection, definition, or switch activities, data and privacy setting activities, and participation mode setting activities, as well as host specific activities. 
         [0035]    Information items  204  defined in an event  202  are related to or describe events, event activities, event host and users, and/or event association supporting search, browse, or discovery via location, topic, or establishment aware services. 
         [0036]      FIG. 3  is a functional block diagram illustrating an example of the functional components of the event and interaction management service running in cloud as shown in  FIG. 1 . The event and interaction management service  301  may include event definition module  302 , event template library  303 , event activity library  304 , data and user privacy management  305 , activity definition module  306 , information definition and management  307 , communication management  308 , user management  309 , event execution management  310 , activity execution management  311 , and integration module  312 . 
         [0037]    Event definition module  302  is used by a host to define an event or invite users to participate the defined event. A host can define an event that groups activities and/or information items via a blank or predefined event template in the event template library based on event purpose or categorization. An event may be defined by referencing content, with share and feed services, to digital information or media sources such as an ad, promotional event, or party announcement on a website, online newspaper, social network site, or via a mobile app. An event may also be defined, without share and feed services, by referencing one or multiple physical, mental, digital, social, or organizational objects, as an add-on user-controlled interaction channel. 
         [0038]    A host can quickly and easily create an event-defined interaction channel by clicking through a chosen event template and filling in the required information. A host can also custom define an event with fine grained controls and custom settings for additional event information items, activities, user participation mode, user data privacy, and/or user data persistence and retention settings. 
         [0039]    Event template library  303  is consisted of system predefined event creation templates that can be applied and customized by an event host. These templates are tailored to different event purposes or categorization such as restaurant customer connect, pet store customer connect, an sales item connect with potential buyers, a weekend party connect with participants, a neighborhood watch connection with neighbors, and many others. Each event creation template is predefined with default event purpose and/or categorization related event specific activities, user self-control profile selection, definition, or switch activities, user self-control data and privacy setting activities, and user self-control participation mode setting activities. Each template is also predefined with default event purpose and/or categorization related event and event activity specific information items and default information items supporting browse, search, and/or discovery services. 
         [0040]    Event activity library  304  consists of system predefined activities that are common and reusable activities across different event types and/or categorizations. Each activity may be associated with user self-controls for data privacy, data sharing, data persistence and retention settings, and/or participation mode settings. 
         [0041]    Data and user privacy management  305  is used for management and execution of host and/or user defined user generated data and user privacy controls related to user profile selection or creation for event and/or event activity participation, user data privacy and data sharing, user data persistence and retention settings, and event participation mode and activity participation management. An event user can define more restrictive data and user privacy settings than ones defined by the event host for the event. In this case, the user defined more restrictive settings will take precedence for security and privacy control of user-generated data. 
         [0042]    Activity definition module  306  is used by a host and/or users to define a new activity that are not part of the event template or is not available in the event activity library, or to customize an existing activity with modified or additional business logic, rules, and/or user invocation requirements. An event user can also define a new activity for the event, if provisioned by the event host. 
         [0043]    Information definition and management  307  is for event and event activities related information items creation, management, and processing during event definition and event processing and execution phases. 
         [0044]    Communication management  308  is used for management of data or information items exchange, creation, and consumption by event host and event users during the execution of an event. 
         [0045]    Activity execution management  309  is used for management of activities and activity lifecycles, and execution of activity related business logic, business rules and/or activity execution requirements pertaining to an event, host, and event users. 
         [0046]    Event execution management  310  interoperates with communication management  308  and activity execution management  309  for event execution and event lifecycle management related to all the event-defined and related activity and information interactions between event users and/or host, including execution of related business rules, process definitions, user provisioning controls, and personalization logics for activities or information interactions for the event. 
         [0047]    User management  311  is used for event host to perform administration tasks for event users and event user interactions during execution of an event. 
         [0048]    Integration module  312  is used for connectivity and interfaces between the server-side event and interaction management application service modules and the client-side computer application modules running on host and user computing devices, including the associated functions, transactions, process handling, communications, and data and/or activities exchanges within the said system. 
         [0049]      FIG. 4  is a functional block diagram illustrating an example of the functional components of the client-side computer application running on computer devices shown in  FIG. 1 . The client side computer application may include event discovery module  402 , event participation module  403 , user control module  404 , event definition and management module  405 , and integration module  406 . 
         [0050]    Event discovery module  402  is used by a client-side application user to search, browse, and discover one or multiple events to participate with an associated user profile or anonymously, as well as with the associated user controlled participation mode and data settings. It interfaces with the server-side event and interaction management service  301  and mainly with the execution management module  302  for search, browse and discovery of the available and applicable events running in the disclosed system. 
         [0051]    Event participation module  403  interfaces with the event and interaction management application service  301  across multiple modules on the server side. It is use by the event users to perform event and event activity participation at all levels as controlled by the event associated user self-control settings such as the associated participation mode setting and user data privacy, data sharing, data persistence, and data retention settings. These user self-control settings are fulfilled by the user control module within the client-side computer application and may be invoked from within an event for a user to configure or change the event specific user self-control settings. 
         [0052]    The event participation levels and the associated participation mode may be related with a user&#39;s interest in passively or actively following or viewing the event or event activity information, or a user&#39;s interest in sign-up, sign-in, sign-out, and/or interacting with an event or event activity with varied degrees of information exchanges. 
         [0053]    User control module  404  is integrated with the server-side event and management application service  301  and mainly with the server-side user management module  309  for system wide user management and control executions. It may be used by a client-side application user to perform user self-control of event and/or event activity profile selection or creation, user self-control of user data privacy and data sharing, user data persistence and retention settings, user self-control of event participation mode and event activity participation management. 
         [0054]    The user control module  404  may also be used by a client-side application user to perform user preference settings for default event and/or activity participation profile, default user data privacy and data sharing settings, default user data persistence and retention settings, default user participation mode setting across all events if the user does not specify additional user self-control settings. Additionally, it may be used to configure a user&#39;s preference for the default display and notification settings for multiple events when participated at the same time. 
         [0055]    When a user wants to create, host, and/or manage their own event, the event participating user can also use the user control module  404  to switch between user or host roles to host an event-defined interaction channel pertaining the user. 
         [0056]    Settings for the user self-control data privacy and data sharing, data persistence and retention, and participation mode can override the host event settings for user generated data if the user settings have more restrictive data and user privacy controls. These user preferences settings for data privacy and data sharing, data persistence and retention can be associated with the client-side application as default for all the events a user may choose to participate, or the user preference data and user privacy settings can be associated with one or multiple user profiles defined by the users in the client-side application. 
         [0057]    Event definition and management module  405  interfaces with the server-side event and management application service  301  and mainly with the server-side event definition module  302 , event template library  303 , event activity library  304 , and activity definition module  305 . It serves as the user interface layer for the event and interaction management service for use by an event host to create event-defined and user controlled activity and information interactions channel, which may reference one or multiple physical, mental, digital, social, or organizational objects. The event definition and management module  405  is also used by an event host to manage users, perform host event actions and other event administrative activities. 
         [0058]    Integration module  406  is used for client-side application interactions and data exchanges with the server-side event and management application service interfaces  301 , 3rd party share and feed services inside a client-side computing device, and/or 3rd party software, infrastructure or cloud services that might be related or applicable to an event-defined activities or information items. 
         [0059]      FIG. 5  is a flow chart  500  showing an example of a process that may be performed by an event host in defining an event. To create an event that is used for activity and information interactions between host and the said client computer application users, a host first determines if the intended event-defined activities or information items can be referenced to content on existing digital information or media sources and if the related content can also be pulled in or pushed over via share and feed services  107  as in the example environment  100  (block  501 ). Digital information or media sources are social network sites, web sites, mobile apps, or media sources such as online newspapers, digital version for a magazine or publication. The host then defines the event with an event template in the event app either directly or via share or feed in reference to information or media sources, one or multiple people, locations, organizations, entities, establishments, tasks, goals, physical events (block  502 ). To complete a simple event definition, the host will need to create an event id, which can be created manually or generated automatically by the said system (block  503 ). If necessary and applicable, the event associated URI, barcode, QR code, or linkage references will also be created (block  503 ). 
         [0060]    In process block  502 , the event can be defined via share or feedback services in reference to content already exist in another information or media source. The event can also be defined in reference to content in digital or physical information or media sources without using share or feedback services. In this situation, the event is defined directly in the event application, which can be in reference to one or multiple people, locations, organizations, entities, establishments, tasks, goals, physical events, or content on digital or non-digital information or media sources. 
         [0061]    When defining an event in the event application, a host starts from selecting an event template from the event template library based on the intended event purpose or categorization. The selected event template can be a blank event definition template or a pre-configured event template for a specific event purpose or categorization such as a “hobby store customer connection event” or “newspaper personal ad add-on channel”. The event template is set up with pre-defined activities and information items pertaining to the event purpose or categorization, default user settings for event and/or event activity participation mode, user data privacy and data sharing, and user data persistence and retention settings. 
         [0062]    The host then chooses or applies the event template default activities, information items, and user controllable event settings for user generated data by populating the information items that are related or describe the event, event activities, event host and users, and/or event association supporting search, browse, or discovery via location, topic, or establishment aware services. 
         [0063]    Process blocks  504  to  508  are more complex event definition scenarios where an event host choose to define event sign-in or sign-up requirements (block  504 ), customize template default event specific activities and the related information items (block  505 ), customize event template default user participation mode and user generated data settings for user data privacy and data sharing, user data persistence and retention settings (block  506 ), change event default visibility for search, browse, and/or discovery through association with location, topic, or establishment services (block  507 ), or share, announce, or post event digitally or physically (block  508 ). 
         [0064]    In process block  504 , a host can choose to define event sign-in or sign-up requirements for event users if applicable. Event sign-in and/or sign-up requirements are additional information such as an invitation number or VIP code, verification code such as a ticket or purchase transaction number, authentication or authorization information that an event user needs to enter to sign in or sign up for the event. Event sign-in or sign-up requirements are associated with information items, business logic, business rules, or personalization rules for personalized or targeted event information presentment. 
         [0065]    In process block  504 , a host can also choose to personalize event information presentation to event users by defining event information personalization rules for personalized or targeted event information presentment. Event information presentment personalization rules can be associated with the user provided sign-in or sign-up information, verification code, authentication or authorization information, or user profile characteristics. For example, an event host can define personalization rules associated with user provided sign-in information from their invitation code categories. In a promotional event scenario, users signing in with a VIP invitation code will be presented with a better promotion upon sign-in. 
         [0066]    In process block  505 , a host can choose to customize template default event specific activities and the related information items. A host can add one or multiple activities from the activity library, remove one or multiple activities from the event template, modify one or multiple activities pre-defined in the event template with the activity definition module via the event application, define one or multiple new activities with the activity definition module via the event application, determine whether to provision one or multiple activities in event to specific event users, or provision activities to specific event users by defining activity provisioning rules based on user profile information, user profile characteristics, or user provided sign-in or sign up information. 
         [0067]    In process block  506 , a host can choose to customize event template default user participation mode and user generated data settings for user data privacy and data sharing, user data persistence and retention settings. User event participation mode is event defined activity and information interaction settings related to online, offline, and/or event directory visibility, incoming and outgoing communication preferences between host and/or other event users related to event or activity message type, frequency or notification preference, user settings for silencing, blocking, or alarming on incoming user requests and/o participation level based on activity, activity type, or activity or user characteristics. 
         [0068]    For event template default user participation mode, the host can customize the event default participation mode if choose to. Event participation mode is event defined activity and information interaction settings related to online, offline, and/or event directory visibility, incoming and outgoing communication preferences from or to host and other users related to event or activity related message volume, frequency or notification preference, user settings for silencing, blocking, or alarming on incoming notifications, messages, or user request for actions based on types and related activities, and participation style related to activity level. 
         [0069]    The host, if choose to, can also customize event default data privacy and data sharing setting for user generated data produced during event defined activity and information interactions. Data privacy and data sharing setting is specifications and controls for user generated data visibility and visibility levels, data collection and dissemination privileges and availability to the event host, other event users, and/or third party users, and the data privacy and sharing setting can be associated with the entire event lifecycle, one or multiple event lifecycle stages, an event activity, one or multiple event-defined activity or information interactions, or a user profile or profile switch action. 
         [0070]    The host, if choose to, can also customize event default data persistence setting for user generated data produced during event defined activity and information interactions. Data persistence setting is specifications and controls for user generated data persistence location and saving or archiving privileges and availability to the event host, other event users, and/or third party users, wherein persistence and/or data saving location is the server side and client-ends locations that the user generated data traverses, includes the computing device used by the event user for data generation, the event and interaction manager service server-side location that may process the user data, and the computing devices used by one or multiple correspondent event users. Data persistence setting can be associated with the entire event lifecycle, one or multiple event lifecycle stages, an event activity, one or multiple event-defined activity or information interactions, or a user profile or profile switch action. 
         [0071]    The host, if choose to, can also customize event default data retention setting for user generated data produced during a user&#39;s event defined activity and information interactions. Event default data retention setting is specifications and controls for user generated data expiration settings for the persistence and/or cache locations that the user data may traverse so that the data will no longer be available at the specified locations according to data expiration settings. The data retention setting can be an absolute or relative duration value associated with the entire event lifecycle, one or multiple event lifecycle stages, an event activity, one or multiple event-defined activity or information interactions, or a user profile or profile switch action. 
         [0072]    In process block  507 , a host can choose to change event default visibility for search, browse, and/or discovery through association with location, topic, or establishment services. During event definition, a host can choose to change event template default search or browse categories, types, keywords, tags, venue-related information, and/or other characteristics that can be used for browsing and searching. A host can also choose to change event association with a location or location attributes, an entity or establishment, and/or a topic or information categorization so that the event can be discovered via location services or attributes, interest in an entity or establishment, and/or interest in a topic or information categorization. Additionally, a host can choose to change event target user attributes, user profile characteristics, requirement attributes that can be mapped to user sign-in and/or sign-up information. 
         [0073]      FIG. 6  is a flow chart showing an example of a process  600  that may be performed by an client-side application user to discover, sign in or sign up for an event via a simple and quick path, or via a complex path if the user interested event requires additional sign-up or sign-in information, or if the user choose to customize sign-in profile, participation modes, and data privacy settings. 
         [0074]    To join an event defined in the present invention via a simple and quick path, the user first determines, via the client application discovery module  307  as in the example functional block  300 , an event to join upon notification or via search, browse, or discovery through event association with a location, topic, or establishment, or from an information or media source (block  601 ). After identified an event to join, the user then pulls in the event via the client-side computer application (block  602 ) to start event participation if the event is not setup with sign in or sign up requirement or if the user does not want to customize the event participation mode or user privacy and data settings. 
         [0075]    In process block  601  where a user determines an event to join, the user can learn about an event via notification such as email or message notification or a post on a wall. The user can also learn about an event via information gathered from media such as newspaper, web media, social media, or from a billboard. Additionally, user can determine an event to join via search or browse in the client side computer application with keywords, tags, or category browsing. The user can also discover an event via location services or an event association with a topic or an establishment such as a shopping center, a plaza, or an organization. 
         [0076]    In process block  602  where a user joins an event by pulling in the event via the client-side application, there are several options for the user to pull in the event to participate. The user can pull in the event via entering an event id as from the information the user found from a newspaper or website. The user can also pull an event into the said application via scanning an event barcode or QR code. The event barcode or QR code can be on a social network or web site or their associated mobile app, included in an email or message via an email or messaging service, or the barcode or QR code can be on a sticker or posted on the wall. Additionally, a user can join an event by following or clicking on a URI or reference link associated with the event that will bring up the event in the said application, wherein the URI or reference link can be on a social media site, website, inside a mobile app, included in an email or message, or from a traditional medial such as newspaper, TV, or billboard. A user can also click on the event icon in the event app identified via browse, search, or discovery via an event association with a location, topic or establishment aware services. 
         [0077]    After pulling in the event in the said application, a user can either participate in the event or the user may be required to provide event sign up information if required by the event host or if the event is not in progress (block  603 ). The event sign up information can be a code provided to a user via an invitation, a string that can be used to identify a user or an authorization mechanism such as an access token or role matching to profile characteristics for fine-grained access control. 
         [0078]    After providing the event signup information and signed up for the event, the user may have views to additional event information related to user sign-up information (block  604 ). The sign-up related event information is additional information items and categories that can be presented generically and/or personalized after user sign-up information (like an additional discount). A user can also sign into the event by selecting an existing user profile, defining a new user profile, or signing into the event anonymously (block  605 ). 
         [0079]    A user can also provide additional sign-in info if required (block  606 ) to be authorized to participate in the event. The additional sign-in information can be a code or reference id associated with a sales transaction, an order, a business transaction or commitment, and/or a verification mechanism such as a sign-in token or authentication and/or authorization requirement. If applicable, a user may view additional event information related to user provided sign-in information (block  607 ). The applicable sign-in related event information are additional information items and categories that can be presented generically and/or personalized after user sign-in information. 
         [0080]    Event hosted by the present invention has event template default or host customized settings for user data privacy, data persistence and retention settings, and default user participation mode. The event template default or host defined user and data privacy related settings can be override by an event user if the event user preferred data and user privacy have more strict settings than the default ones. 
         [0081]    After signed in to an event, a user can determine need for user self-control and change the event default data privacy and data sharing, data persistence and retention settings, and event participation mode and activity management (block  608 ). For self-control of data privacy and data sharing settings, an event user can configure data privacy and sharing preference for user generated data, which is specifications and controls for user generated data visibility and visibility levels, data collection and dissemination privileges and availability to the event host, other event users, and/or third party users. Data privacy and sharing setting can be associated with the entire event lifecycle, one or multiple event lifecycle stages, an event activity, one or multiple event-defined activity or information interactions, or a user profile or profile switch action. 
         [0082]    User data persistence and retention settings are related to user generated data persistence location and retention during relative to an activity during and/or after event lifecycle. An event user can choose to customize the event default setting and specify if he or she wanted the user generated data to be persisted on local client only, on the server-side as well, or also on the correspondent&#39;s user&#39;s client devices. User data persistence setting is specifications and controls for user generated data persistence location and saving or archiving privileges and availability to the event host, other event users, and/or third party users. User data persistence and/or data saving location is the server side and client-ends locations that the user generated data traverses, includes the computing device used by the event user for data generation, the event and interaction manager service server-side location that may process the user data, and the computing devices used by one or multiple correspondent event users. User data persistence setting can be associated with the entire event lifecycle, one or multiple event lifecycle stages, an event activity, one or multiple event-defined activity or information interactions, or a user profile or profile switch action 
         [0083]    An event user can also override and configure how long the user want to have the data retained on the server or on their client device related to the interaction activities such as retain data for 10 minutes, 1 day, or immediately after the event is completed or user decides to exit from the event permanently. User data retention setting is specifications and controls for user generated data expiration settings for the persistence and/or cache locations that the user data may traverse so that the data will no longer be available at the specified locations according to data expiration settings. The data retention setting can be an absolute or relative duration value associated with the entire event lifecycle, one or multiple event lifecycle stages, an event activity, one or multiple event-defined activity or information interactions, or a user profile or profile switch action. 
         [0084]    User participation mode is event defined activity and information interaction settings related to online, offline, and/or event directory visibility, incoming and outgoing communication preferences between host and/or other event users related to event or activity message type, frequency or notification preference, user settings for silencing, blocking, or alarming on incoming user requests and/o participation level based on activity, activity type, or activity or user characteristics. Additionally, event users can also configure the provisioned event activities that a user may want to participate or block. 
         [0085]      FIG. 7  is a flow chart showing an example of a process  700  that may be performed by an application user during an event participation with user-controlled data and user privacy settings. After a user joined in an event-defined interactions channel (block  701 ), the user can perform event defined and event specific activity and information interactions that are provisioned to the user (block  703 ), decide if there is a need to change event user self-control settings (block  702 ), or exit from the event-defined interactions channel (block  708 ). 
         [0086]    In block  703 , a user can perform event defined and event specific activity and information interactions that are provisioned to the user. These are event specific activities or information exchanges that are not related to user self-control activities. An event user can be interacting with information items about or related to the event, the event host, event activities, and the signed-in user to host and/or to other users posting or communication related activities that are provisioned to the sign-in user. Information interacting is the user actions performed by the signed-in user in viewing, responding to, creating, searching for, or browse information items related to the user interaction actions; 
         [0087]    An event user can also interact with event defined and event specific activities that are provisioned to the event user such as browsing event user directory, sending outbound messages, requesting to meet, and etc. Event defined and specific activities are one or multiple functions, processes, actions, transactions, and/or communications the event user can interact with and/or invoke, which will result in one or multiple status or state changes and/or system responses. 
         [0088]    If one or multiple event related information items are shareable, an event user can choose to share the information items via share and feed services outside of the event-defined interactions channel to a social network site, a website, a mobile app, or a media source. 
         [0089]    Other common event activities or interactions that can be performed by an event user can be leaving event temporally, rejoining the event, or withdrawing from the event. 
         [0090]    If an event user determined that he or she needs to change the event user self-control settings (block  702 ) during the event participation, the user can switch user profile or define a new user profile during event participation (block  704 ), perform event participation mode control (block  705 ), perform event activity management (block  706 ), and perform user self-control of data privacy, data persistence and retention settings (block  707 ). 
         [0091]    In block  705  where a user performs event participation mode control, the event user can customize the user event participation and interaction preferences such as event defined activity and information interaction settings related to online, offline, and/or event directory visibility, incoming and outgoing communication preferences between host and/or other event users related to event or activity message type, frequency or notification preference, user settings for silencing, blocking, or alarming on incoming user requests and/o participation level based on activity, activity type, or activity or user characteristics. 
         [0092]    In process block  706  where an event user can perform event activity management, the event user can browse or search for event activities that are provisioned for the user, select the activities to participate and the associated activity participation mode, or creating new activities if available and posting or inviting others. 
         [0093]    In process block  707 , an event user can perform user self-control of data privacy, data persistence and retention settings if determined necessary. During user event participation, an event user can change his or her current user setting for data privacy and data sharing setting for user generated data produced during event defined activity and information interactions. Data privacy and data sharing setting is related to specifications and controls for user generated data visibility and visibility levels, data collection and dissemination privileges and availability to the event host, other event users, and/or third party users. The data privacy and sharing setting can be configured to be associated and applied to the entire event lifecycle, one or multiple event lifecycle stages, an event activity, one or multiple event-defined activity or information interactions, or a user profile or profile switch action. 
         [0094]    An event user can change current user setting for data persistence setting for user generated data produced during event defined activity and information interactions if determined necessary. Data persistence setting is specifications and controls for user generated data persistence location and saving or archiving privileges and availability to the event host, other event users, and/or third party users. Data persistence and/or data saving location is the server side and client-ends locations that the user generated data traverses, includes the computing device used by the event user for data generation, the event and interaction manager service server-side location that may process the user data, and the computing devices used by one or multiple correspondent event users. Data persistence setting can be configured associated with the entire event lifecycle, one or multiple event lifecycle stages, an event activity, one or multiple event-defined activity or information interactions, or a user profile or profile switch action. 
         [0095]    An event user can also change current user setting for data retention setting for user generated data produced during event defined activity and information interactions. Event default data retention setting is specifications and controls for user generated data expiration settings for the persistence and/or cache locations that the user data may traverse so that the data will no longer be available at the specified locations according to data expiration settings. Data retention setting can be an absolute or relative duration value associated with the entire event lifecycle, one or multiple event lifecycle stages, an event activity, one or multiple event-defined activity or information interactions, or a user profile or profile switch action.