Patent ID: 12261813

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The present disclosure is more particularly described in the following examples that are intended as illustrative only since numerous modifications and variations therein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Like numbers in the drawings indicate like components throughout the views. As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise, the meaning of “a,” “an” and “the” includes plural reference, and the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on.” Titles or subtitles can be used herein for the convenience of a reader, which shall have no influence on the scope of the present disclosure.

The terms used herein generally have their ordinary meanings in the art. In the case of conflict, the present document, including any definitions given herein, will prevail. The same thing can be expressed in more than one way. Alternative language and synonyms can be used for any term(s) discussed herein, and no special significance is to be placed upon whether a term is elaborated or discussed herein. A recital of one or more synonyms does not exclude the use of other synonyms. The use of examples anywhere in this specification including examples of any terms is illustrative only, and in no way limits the scope and meaning of the present disclosure or of any exemplified term. Likewise, the present disclosure is not limited to various embodiments given herein. Numbering terms such as “first,” “second” or “third” can be used to describe various components, signals or the like, which are for distinguishing one component/signal from another one only, and are not intended to, nor should be construed to impose any substantive limitations on the components, signals or the like.

The present disclosure relates to a location-related topic discussion system, an operating method, and a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium. One of the technical objectives is to allow a user to select a location-related discussion topic via a graphical user interface rather than only using keywords to search discussion topics or obtaining topics of interest from a subscribed network forum. When the user browses contents of different areas, cities, or countries, the location-related topic discussion system of the present disclosure may simultaneously allow the user to access a discussion topic related to a specific geographic location or to establish a location-related discussion topic. Furthermore, the location-related topic discussion system provides a graphical user interface (GUI) that is implemented by means of software for the user to browse the discussion topic. The user can conveniently browse multiple types of location-related topic-discussion areas via a user device such as a mobile phone, a tablet computer, or a personal computer. Moreover, the user can also browse the location-related discussion topics that are recommended by the location-related topic discussion system.

Reference is made toFIG.1, which is a schematic diagram illustrating a framework of the location-related topic discussion system according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. The location-related topic discussion system is operated via a server110. According to one objective of providing the location-related discussion topic of the present disclosure, the location-related topic discussion system provides an interface module111via the server110, which provides contents to be displayed on user devices101,103, and105, so that any of the user devices101,103, and105may initiate a user interface that can be implemented by a webpage or a specific software program for displaying the location-related discussion topic. Further, the location-related topic discussion system provides a matching module113that is used to match the contents in a database with location information transmitted by any of the user devices101,103, and105. The contents in the database are such as audiovisual contents and discussion topics. Through the matching module113, the location-related topic discussion system can rely on the user data (e.g., a user ID allowing the user to log in the system) to obtain the contents that match with the personal preference of the user.

The server110relies on a database technology to implement an audiovisual database120and a topic-discussion database130. According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, when the server110receives location information and user data from any of the user devices101,103, and105via a network10, a software sequence executed in the server110queries the topic-discussion database130according to the location information (or according to the location information and the user data), so as to acquire one or more location-related discussion topics within a geographic range and one or more location-related discussion-topic-category linking icons corresponding to the one or more location-related discussion topics. The one or more location-related discussion-topic-category linking icons are then transferred to the user devices101,103, and105and marked on a graphical user interface initiated in each of the user devices101,103, and105.

In addition to providing the location-related discussion topics, after the server110receives location information from any of the user devices101,103, and105, the server110queries the audiovisual database120to obtain one or more location-related audiovisual contents within a geographic range according to the location information (or according to the location information and the user data)103, and105. Similarly, the server110provides one or more location-related audiovisual content linking icons corresponding to the location-related audiovisual contents to any of the user devices101,103, and105. Thus, the user device initiates a software-implemented user interface that can be an electronic-map-based graphical user interface. One or more location-related discussion-topic-category linking icons and one or more location-related audiovisual content linking icons are marked on the user interface. Therefore, the services of providing the location-related discussion topics and audiovisual contents are implemented. The system also allows the user to arbitrarily adjust the geographic range for browsing the various contents therein and the server110can transmit the corresponding linking icons to be marked on the user interface to the user device.

The software programs executed in the server110can record user behaviors (for example, the acts of giving a comment, a like, or following and sharing a specific discussion topic) by using an algorithm. The algorithm also calculates an area of interest, e.g., a city, a country, a scenic spot, and a landmark, of the user and the discussion topics that the user is interested in. The users of the server110can be further grouped so that the discussion topics that the user is interested in of the area of interest can be effectively recommended to the user. Further, popular topics in the area of interest for each group can also be calculated.

FIG.2then shows a software process illustrating a process of operation of the server according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. When computer instructions stored in a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium are executed in a user device, the user device connects with the server of the location-related topic discussion system, loads contents from the server, and initiates the graphical user interface. Therefore, the server can provide the location-related discussion topics to the user device. The software process that initiates the graphical user interface can be expressed by a series of schematic diagrams as shown inFIG.3toFIG.7in certain embodiments of the present disclosure.

The computer instructions embody a social media program. According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the social media program that is executed in the user device is based on an electronic map. In another aspect of the present disclosure, a browser can be used to initiate a social media webpage provided by the server. After the social media program is executed in the user device, a graphical user interface is initiated and a map interface is formed as a front page.

Reference is made toFIG.3, which is a schematic diagram depicting a software front page that is provided by the location-related topic discussion system according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. An electronic map30as shown in the diagram includes various linking icons that are marked at different locations on the electronic map30. The linking icons are such as a plurality of audiovisual linking icons301,302,303and304and a plurality of discussion-topic-category linking icons311and312. The quantity and types of the linking icons are not limited in the present disclosure.

Furthermore, the front page of the electronic map30as shown inFIG.3mainly includes a variety of linking icons, and several function buttons that are provided for assisting the user to browse the location-related contents are shown at the bottom of the main page. For example, the function buttons provide functions such as positioning a current location of the user, playing all of the audiovisual contents listed on a browsed page, adding a location-related audiovisual content, and maintaining a user profile. Moreover, a link320represents one further function in which the system allows the user to add a new discussion topic. When the user adds a new location-related discussion topic via the link320, the new discussion topic is uploaded and recorded in a topic-discussion database of the server. The discussion topic can be associated with at least a location data, a user data, and a discussion-topic category that are also recorded in the topic-discussion database.

When the user device executes the social media program, a front page will be entered. Further, the location information (or the location information and the user data) are formed and transmitted to the server (step S201). The location information can be a geographic range. In an exemplary example, a graphical user interface is initiated on a touch-sensitive display of the user device. The touch-sensitive display allows the user to manipulate the graphical user interface by using gestures to browse the contents thereon. By the user using the gestures, a display region can be formed by zooming in, zooming out and/or moving the graphical user interface. The display region represents a geographic range. The software-implemented matching module of the server matches with one or more location-related discussion topics and also the one or more location-related audiovisual contents within the geographic range by querying the topic-discussion database according to the location information (step S203). At this time, the one or more location-related discussion-topic-category linking icons corresponding to the location-related discussion topics, and the audiovisual content linking icons, are also obtained. The linking icons are then provided to the user device via the network (step S205).

It should be noted that the location-related discussion topic can be various location-related discussion topics created by multiple users of the server. For example, the discussion topic can be a location-related topic, and the location-related audiovisual contents can be audiovisual contents related to geographic locations and transmitted to the server by multiples users via the network. The location-related audiovisual contents can be the images of scenic spots, landmarks, or the images related to the location.

The user can browse the one or more location-related discussion topics and/or the audiovisual contents within the geographic range via the graphical user interface. When one of location-related discussion topic category links is selected by the user, a first layer topic-discussion page is provided by the server according to the selection made by the user. The contents shown on the graphical user interface are the contents related to the selected discussion topics. Reference is made toFIG.4, which is a schematic diagram illustrating a plurality of topic-discussion areas that are sorted by popularity in a first direction and one or more location-related discussion topic categories that are obtained according the personal preference of the user in a second direction (step S207).

FIG.4shows a schematic diagram illustrating the first layer topic-discussion page in one embodiment of the present disclosure. A first layer topic-discussion page40is schematically shown on a graphical user interface initiated on a mobile device. The first direction can be a vertical direction in the diagram, and the second direction can be a horizontal direction. Furthermore, a plurality of topic-discussion areas401,402,403,404and405are shown along the vertical direction.

Still further, several horizontal discussion-topic categories411,412and413are shown between the topic-discussion area402and the topic-discussion area403. The system allows the user to discuss any of the topics in areas such as the topic-discussion areas401,402,403,404and405, or the topic categories411,412and413through various button functions, and to give the likes to the topics, to follow the topics, or to share the topics.

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the topic-discussion areas401,402,403,404and405shown in the first direction can be one or more topic-discussion areas that are sorted by popularity. The user uses the user device to browse the popularity-sorted topic-discussion areas by performing a vertical swipe gesture. The discussion-topic categories411,412and413shown in the second direction can be one or more location-related discussion topic categories that are obtained according to the personal preference of the user. The user can browse the location-related discussion topic categories by performing horizontal swipe gesture.

Further, after discussion topics are matched in the topic-discussion database by the server, the topic-discussion areas401,402,403,404and405shown in the first direction are provided. However, when the user continues to browse the areas by performing the vertical swipe gesture, the system continuously provides the topic-discussion areas within other geographic ranges that are different from the location originally selected by the user if the contents in the original geographic range run out. The above-mentioned topic-discussion areas within other geographic ranges can also be sorted by popularity.

It should be noted that, according to the above embodiments, the location-related topic discussion system provides multiple topic-discussion areas that are sorted in the first direction. The topic-discussion areas are sorted according to the popularity of the discussion topics. One of the ways to calculate the popularity is based on timeliness, likes, and/or the personal preference of the user on each of the discussion topics, thereby obtaining the popularity of each of the discussion topics. For example, according to one exemplary example of an algorithm operated in the location-related topic discussion system, the preference for a specific discussion topic can be determined based on a number of likes, shares, comments and/or follows performed on the discussion topic. The scenarios that the server relies on to determine the preference for the specific discussion topic include the user following a discussion topic but not giving any comment or likes to the discussion topic, and a number of times that the discussion topic is seen by all the users. Furthermore, when determining the number of times that the discussion topic is seen by all the users, periods of time can also be considered. For example, the user is determined to be following a discussion topic only if the user sees the specific discussion topic for a period of time, e.g., seven seconds.

The personal preference of the user is determined based on comments made by the user, a staying time and interest (such as the acts of likes, shares, comments and/or follows) of the user. Accordingly, the personal preference of the user can be generated and then used for matching the discussion topics that are consistent with the personal preference of the user.

Afterwards, when the user uses the touch-sensitivity display of the user device, or other manners of input to select one of the topic-discussion areas in the first direction, the server provides the content of the selected discussion topic (step S209). Reference is made toFIG.5, which is a schematic diagram illustrating a discussion-topic dialogue page that is provided by the location-related topic discussion system according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. When the server receives a selection of one of the topic-discussion areas in the first direction from the user device, a corresponding content of the selected topic-discussion area can be obtained by querying the topic-discussion database, so as to be provided to the user device. The corresponding content is displayed on the discussion-topic dialogue page50as shown inFIG.5, in which one or more discussion topics501and the discussion contents503are shown.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, reference is made toFIG.6, which is a schematic diagram depicting returning to a user-related discussion-topic-page by the location-related topic discussion system. The user uses the graphical user interface to browse a discussion-topic page60including various discussion topics. Multiple discussion topics603that are discussed are shown at the bottom of the figure. When the user finishes an activity (e.g., an act of leaving a message, giving a like, or following a topic) on the first layer topic-discussion page, a user-related discussion-topic button601provided on the discussion-topic page60can be used for quickly returning to the topic-discussion area that the user previously participated in.

On the other hand, when the user uses the touch-sensitive display of the user device or any other manners of input to select one of the discussion-topic categories in the second direction, the server provides a second layer topic-discussion page by querying the topic-discussion database according to the one of the discussion-topic categories selected by the user (step S211).

According to an exemplary example of the second layer topic-discussion page provided by the location-related topic discussion system, as shown in a schematic diagram ofFIG.7, a second layer topic-discussion page70also provides a manner of showing the discussion topics in two directions. For example, in a first direction (e.g., a vertical direction), one or more location-related first direction topic-discussion areas701,702,703,704and705in accordance with a personal preference are provided, and, in a second direction (e.g., a horizontal direction), one or more location-related second direction topic-discussion areas711,712and713are provided according to location attributes of the discussion topics in each of the topic-discussion areas in the first direction. The location-related second direction topic-discussion areas711,712and713are provided for the user to select one of the location-related second direction topic-discussion areas711,712, and713to enter a discussion page. However, a software process of the location-related topic discussion system can provide multiple discussion-topic categories according to the attributes of the discussion topics and the personal preference if the discussion topics in each of the topic-discussion areas in the first direction lack any location-related attributes.

Similarly, in the second layer topic-discussion page, if the location-related topic discussion system runs out of the location-related discussion topics that match with the personal preference in the topic-discussion areas in the first direction, a range of the location related to the topic-discussion area can gradually expand outward.

In one exemplary example, when a user clicks on one of the linking icons of location-related discussion topics about the National Basketball Association (NBA) league via an electronic-map-based graphical user interface initiated by a social media program, a first layer topic-discussion page is entered, in which multiple location-related topic-discussion topics about the NBA league are shown along a first direction. The location-related topic-discussion topics can be sorted by popularity. Further, one or more discussion-topic categories that are about the NBA league and match the personal preference of the user are shown along a second direction. In one further example, when the user clicks on one of the linking icons of discussion topics that relate to Ukraine via the graphical user interface, the first layer topic-discussion page is entered and the topic-discussion areas shown along the first direction are related to Ukraine. Multiple discussion-topic categories that relate to other issues relating to Ukraine are shown along the second direction. A variety of discussion topics provided by the system can be dynamically updated based on changes of information such as the personal preference of the user and popularities of the discussion topics.

In conclusion, according to the abovementioned embodiments of the location-related topic discussion system, the operating method, and the non-transitory computer-readable recording medium, in a software algorithm that is operated in the system, the areas and the location-related discussion topics that are of interest to a user can be obtained based on user behaviors recorded by the algorithm. The system can accordingly group the users, and one of the objectives is to recommend the discussion topics in the areas of interest to each of the users, respectively. In practice, the system marks the location-related discussion topic category links on a graphical user interface such as a map. The system then provides the topic-discussion areas that are sorted by popularity according to a selection made by the user, and provides the location-related discussion topic category that matches with the personal preference of the user. Therefore, the user can easily access the location-related discussion topic. By means of computation by the system, more location-related discussion topics that match with the personal preference of the user can be obtained.

The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiments of the disclosure has been presented only for the purposes of illustration and description and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching.

The embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the disclosure and their practical application so as to enable others skilled in the art to utilize the disclosure and various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. Alternative embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains without departing from its spirit and scope.