GEOFENCED EVENT-BASED FAN NETWORKING: SPACE-TIME DEPENDENCE
The present invention is a fan networking system (FNS), available through a software application, executing on fans' portable smart devices for an event to be held in a venue. A FNS may offer event-customized services to fans, such as messaging, fan groups, mementos, coupons, “friends”, and contests. The level of services might depend on whether a fan is attending; timing (pre-, during, post-performance); for a competitive event, whether the fan affiliates with the home or away team; and the category of fan (e.g., audience, management, performer). Determination of whether a fan is attending may be done with geolocation services, e.g., through GPS. A fan might need to remain within the venue for some period of time to qualify as attending. Services to attending fans may extend for a period beyond the event itself.
1 . A process, comprising:
a) establishing and storing in computer-accessible tangible storage a performance time interval that pertains to a performance occurring in a venue;
b) establishing and storing in the storage an event time interval that includes the performance time interval;
c) establishing and storing in the storage a super-event time interval that includes the event time interval; and
d) participating in a first set of event networking services (ENSs), managed by a computer-implemented fan networking management system (FNMS), during the performance time interval, a second set of fan networking services during the event time interval, and a third set of fan networking services during the super-event time interval.
2 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the first set contains at least one ENS that is not in the second set, and the second set contains at least one ENS that is not in the third set.
3 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the step of participating is done using a fan networking application (FNA), executing on a portable smart device (PSD), the FNA
(i) wirelessly sending information, including tracking data that monitors location of the PSD and pertaining to the ENSs through a wireless communication interface directed to the FNMS,
(ii) wirelessly receiving information pertaining to the ENSs through the interface from the FNMS, and
(iii) transmitting and receiving information through a user interface of the PSD pertaining to the ENSs.
4 . The process of claim 3 , wherein a selection of ENSs made available through the user interface of the PSD vary in type depending upon whether the PSD has qualified as attending the performance, and if so qualified, whether the PSD is determined to be currently present at the performance.
5 . The process of claim 3 , wherein the performance is a sport competition having a plurality of competing entities, and the fan networking services made available through the user interface of the PSD vary in type depending upon whether an indication of affiliation with one of the competing entities has been received through the interface, and if so, the particular selection of competing entity.
6 . The process of claim 3 , wherein the fan networking services made available through the user interface of the PSD vary in type depending upon whether the PSD has qualified as attending the performance, and if so qualified, whether the PSD is determined to be currently present at the performance.
7 . The process of claim 3 , wherein the fan networking services made available through the user interface of the PSD vary in type depending upon whether the PSD has qualified as attending the event, and if so qualified, whether the PSD is determined to be currently present at the event.
8 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the step of participating is done by a fan network management service (FNMS), which includes a computer processing facility that
(i) wirelessly receives information pertaining to the ENSs through a wireless communication interface, from a set of PSDs, including tracking data that monitors location of each respective PSD in the set of PSDs,
(ii) offers the fan networking services to PSDs in the set of PSDs through the wireless communication interface, and
(iii) facilitates wireless messaging services for exchanging digital content among a subset of the set of PSDs.
9 . The process of claim 8 , wherein the fan networking services made available through the wireless communication interface vary in type depending upon whether a given PSD has qualified as attending the performance, and if so qualified, whether the PSD is determined to be currently present at the performance.
10 . The process of claim 8 , wherein the fan networking services made available through the wireless communication interface vary in type depending upon whether a given PSD has qualified as attending the event, and if so qualified, whether the PSD is determined to be currently present at the event.
11 . The process of claim 8 , wherein the performance is a sport competition having a plurality of competing entities, and the fan networking services made available through the wireless communication interface vary in type, depending upon whether an indication of affiliation with one of the competing entities has been received from a given PSD, and if so, the particular selection of competing entity.
12 . The process of claim 8 , wherein the fan networking services made available through the wireless communication interface of the PSD vary in type depending upon whether a given PSD has qualified as attending the performance, and if so qualified, whether the PSD is determined to be currently present at the performance.
13 . A process, comprising:
a) tracking geolocation of a portable smart device (PSD), by a fan networking application (FNA) executing on the PSD, and transmitting the geolocation data by the FNA through a wireless communication interface on the FNA, directed to a remote fan networking management system (FNMS);
b) satisfying by the PSD a space-time constraint, which depends upon the geolocation data, thereby qualifying the FNA to receive event networking services (ENSs) from the FNMS during an event;
c) during the event,
(i) receiving by the FNA metadata identifying an item of digital content that is available through the FNMS,
(ii) polling by the FNA to determine whether the item is available from another PSD, which has qualified to receive ENSs from the FNMS, by BLUETOOTH or WiFi;
(iii) if the poll finds such a PSD, transmitting a request to the other PSD for the item, and otherwise transmitting a request for the item to the FNMS; and
(iv) receiving the item by the FNA in response to the request and storing the item in tangible computer-accessible storage on the PSD.