WO2013152399A1

WO2013152399A1 - Online networking in a real-time establishment

Info

Publication number: WO2013152399A1
Application number: PCT/AU2013/000377
Authority: WO
Inventors: Paul TERZANIDIS
Original assignee: OUTLYFE Pty Ltd
Current assignee: OUTLYFE Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2012-04-11
Filing date: 2013-04-11
Publication date: 2013-10-17
Anticipated expiration: 2014-10-11

Abstract

A method and system 10 of online networking in a real-time establishment 14 is described. An online portal 12 is provided through which the establishment 14 can be accessed by users logged-on to the portal in realtime to view people, events and designated areas within the establishment in real-time. One or more clients and/or service personnel located in the establishment (actual patrons) can be connected with online users (virtual patrons) logged-on to the portal 12 whereby, in use, an online user can interact with people, events and designated areas within the establishment 14 in real-time as if he or she were actually located in the establishment 14.

Description

"ONLINE NETWORKING IN A REAL-TIME ESTABLISHMENT" Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a method and system of online networking in a real-time establishment and relates particularly, though not exclusively, to such a method and system of online networking in a real-time social venue such as a club, restaurant or bar.

Background to the Invention

Online social networking websites such as facebook® have become extremely popular as people use them to connect with other people all over the world, and exchange information and photographs, etc about each other. However the information shared through such social networking websites is generally of a historical nature, rather than real-time information. People also use SMS and email to communicate with each other online, however such conversations are generally limited to text-based communication. With the widespread use of internet-enabled mobile phones conversations and sharing of information can now easily be conducted in real-time.

On the other hand various online video-conferencing services also exist, such as Skype®, which enable users to communicate with each other in real-time using audio and/or video communication links. With such online video-conferencing services the content of the information being transmitted is typically entirely determined by the respective participants in the videoconferencing link. There is generally no online networking in real-time with the actual venue itself at either end of the video-conferencing link.

The present invention was developed with a view to providing a method and system of online networking in a real-time social venue that enables participants in the networking session to interact with the actual venue, people located in the venue and various services that may be provided at the venue, all in real-time. It will be understood that the invention is not limited to social networking and may also be used for transacting communications of a more commercial nature such as, for example, online shopping in a retail establishment. References to prior art in this specification are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not to be taken as an admission that such prior art is part of the common general knowledge in Australia or elsewhere.

Summary of the Invention

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of online networking in a real-time establishment, the method comprising the steps of: providing an online portal through which the establishment can be accessed by a user logged-on to the portal in real-time to interact with people, events and designated areas within the establishment in real-time; and, connecting one or more clients and/or service personnel located in the establishment with the online user logged-on to the portal whereby, in use, the online user can interact with people, events and designated areas within the establishment in real-time as if he or she were actually located in the establishment. Preferably the step of connecting clients and/or service personnel involves providing both a video and audio link between an online user and the one or more clients and/or service personnel located in the establishment. Preferably one or more clients and/or service personnel located in the establishment are encouraged to log-on to the portal to allow users Idgged- on to the portal to interact with them in real-time. Preferably the portal also provides both a video and audio link when users are logged-on to the portal to view people, events and designated areas within the establishment in real-time. Preferably the online portal further comprises a search engine feature which can be accessed by users logged-on to the portal. Preferably the online portal further comprises news, information, databases and entertainment services which can be accessed by users logged-on to the portal. Advantageously the method comprises the further step of: providing an online real-time inventory of products and/or services available at the establishment; and, enabling users logged-on to the portal to purchase products and/or services from the inventory in real-time as if they were actually located in the establishment.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a system of online networking in a real-time establishment, the system comprising: an online portal through which the establishment can be accessed by users logged-on to the portal in real-time to view people, events and designated areas within the establishment in real-time; and, means for connecting one or more clients and/or service personnel located in the establishment with online users logged-on to the portal in real-time whereby, in use, an online user can interact with people, events and designated areas within the establishment in real-time as if he were actually located in the establishment.

Preferably the means of connecting clients and/or service personnel includes both a video and audio link between an online user and the one or more clients and/or service personnel located in the establishment. Preferably means are provided to encourage one or more clients and/or service personnel located in the store to log-on to the portal to allow users logged-on to the portal to connect with them in real-time. Preferably the portal also includes both a video and audio link when users are logged-on to the portal in real-time to view people, events and designated areas within the establishment in real-time. Preferably the online portal further comprises a search engine feature which can be accessed by users logged-on to the portal. Preferably the online portal further comprises news, information, databases and entertainment services which can be accessed by users logged-on to the portal. Advantageously the system further comprises: an online database of realtime inventory of products and/or services available at the establishment; and, a facility to enable users logged-on to the portal to purchase products and/or services from the inventory in real-time as if they were actually located in the establishment. According to a still further aspect of the present invention there is provided smart phone software application for a method of online networking in a real-time establishment, the application comprising: an access protocol for connecting the smart phone to an online portal through which the establishment can be accessed by users logged-on to the portal in real-time to interact with people, events and designated areas within the establishment in real-time; and, a connection protocol for connecting the smart phone user with one or more clients and/or service personnel located in the establishment and with other online users logged-on to the portal in real-time whereby, in use, the smart phone user can interact with people, events and designated areas within the establishment in real-time as if he or she were actually located in the establishment.

Preferably the connection protocol involves providing both a video and audio link between the smart phone user and the one or more clients and/or service personnel located in the establishment. Advantageously the access protocol also enables connection to a search engine feature which can be accessed by users logged-on to the portal.

Throughout the specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers. Likewise the word "preferably" or variations such as "preferred", will be understood to imply that a stated integer or group of integers is desirable but not essential to the working of the invention.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The nature of the invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of several specific embodiments of the method and system of online networking in a real-time establishment, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a preferred embodiment of the system of online networking in a real-time establishment according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a flowchart illustrating a preferred method of online networking in a real-time establishment using the system of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is a screen shot of a smart phone showing the home screen of a first embodiment of a software application for online networking in a real-time establishment according to the invention;

Figure 4 is a screen shot of the smart phone application of Figure 3, showing a typical Settings menu;

Figure 5 is a screen shot of the smart phone application of Figure 3, showing

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments

A preferred embodiment of a system 10 of online networking in a real-time establishment in accordance with the invention, as illustrated in Figure 1 , comprises an online portal 12 through which the establishment 14 can be accessed by users 16 logged-on to the portal 12 in real-time to view people, events and designated areas within the establishment 14 in real-time. In the illustrated example, the establishment is a bar/pub 14. The portal 12 may or may not be hosted by the bar/pub 14; however there is a high-speed data link between the bar/pub 14 and the portal 12. This link enables the highspeed digital transmission of video, audio and data communications in real time. Typically the bar/pub venue will be fitted with cameras and microphones in strategic locations throughout the venue, so that online users logged-on to the portal 12 can view various areas within the venue, e.g. the stage, bars and selected booths and tables.

The system 10 further comprises means for connecting one or more clients and/or service personnel located in the establishment with online users logged-on to the portal in real-time. In the illustrated embodiment the online users are referred to as "Virtual Patrons" and the clients located in the bar/pub venue will be referred to as "Actual Patrons." Virtual Patrons may log-on to the portal 12 via their home computer 16a or internet-enabled mobile phone or so-called smart phone 16b or 16c. Service personnel located in the bar/pub venue may be bartenders, waiters, security guards, maitre de, etc. The means for connecting Virtual Patrons with Actual Patrons may include a log-on facility at selected locations within the bar/pub venue, and/or a wireless hotspot within the venue that enables Actual Patrons to log-on to the portal 12 via their smart phone 18a or 18b. In this way clients and/or service personnel located in the venue are encouraged to log-on to the portal to allow users logged-on to the portal to connect with them in realtime. Service personnel may be fitted with a wireless microphone/headset that gives them an audio link to the portal, and/or a camera and microphone may be located at selected locations to enable service personnel to communicate with Virtual Patrons via the portal 12. Typically the means of connecting clients and/or service personnel includes both a video and audio link between an online user and the one or more clients 18 and/or service personnel located in the bar/pub 14. In this way, a Virtual Patron can interact with people, events and designated areas within the establishment in real-time as if he or she were actually located in the bar/pub 14. Typically the means for providing the high-speed digital transmission of video, audio and data communications in real time is a highspeed broadband cable and/or wireless network.

Advantageously the system 10 further comprises: an online real-time inventory of products and/or services available at the establishment; and, a facility to enable users logged-on to the portal to purchase products and/or services from the inventory in real-time, as if they were actually located in the establishment. Thus, for example, the bar/pub 14 may provide a direct link from the portal 12 into the drinks list and menu for the venue, together with an online facility for making credit card or other types of online transactions. A Virtual Patron may then view the drinks list and menu and order items for an Actual Patron in the venue, as if he or she were with the Actual Patron in the venue.

Preferably a software application for a smart phone or tablet computer is available for download online from an App Store for use in conjunction with the method and system of online networking in a real-time establishment according to the invention. Figures 3 to XX are screen shots of a typical smart phone software application (the "OuTLyFe App") which embodies the invention, illustrating how the user of a smart phone can preferably implement the method and system of the invention.

A preferred method of online networking in a real-time establishment using the system 10 and the smart phone OuTLyFe App will now be described in more detail with reference to Figures 2 to XX. Figure 2 shows the home screen of the OuTLyFe App, from which a user can review their recent buys, reminders for specific events, messages via SMS, Twitter, etc, and the Settings menu. Opening the OuTLyFe App automatically logs the user onto the portal 12 on the OuTLyFe server. The OuTLyFe App includes an access protocol for conneqting the smart phone to the online portal 12 through which an establishment can be accessed by users logged-on to the portal in real-time to view people, events and designated areas within the establishment in real-time. Figure 4 illustrates the Settings menu of the OuTLyFe App. A Virtual Patron who wishes, for example, to visit the bar/pub 14 online logs- on to the portal 12 at step 100. An entrance fee may be charged for entering the establishment, as for Actual Patrons. If access is granted, the Virtual Patron is immediately allowed to view certain areas within the bar/pub venue 14, for example, the stage, each of the bars and selected patron booths in real time, at step 102. Several areas may be viewed simultaneously on screen, if preferred, by using split window or picture-in- window options. The Virtual Patron is typically provided with full video and audio streaming. Multi-channel audio may be provided to create surround- sound if the Virtual Patron is accessing the portal 12 via his home computer 16a.

Advantageously the access protocol of the OuTLyFe App also enables connection to a search engine feature which can be accessed by users logged-on to the OuTLyFe portal 14. Figures 5 to 10 illustrate the kinds of functionality available through the search engine feature accessed via the OuTLyFe portal. Figure 5 shows the search menu which allows the user to select the country and city, as well as the kind of establishment, e.g. Nightclub, Bar/Pub, Restaurant, Coffee Shop, etc he/she wishes to connect to. Figure 6 shows a list of the cities within Australia from which the use can select under the Search City menu. Having selected the location and what sort of establishment the user would like to search for, (Figure 7 shows Perth, Australia and the kind of establishment as Bar/Pub, Restaurant and Coffee Shop), a directory of results will be listed as shown in Figure 8.

The user can then choose a particular establishment and see if any friends have checked-into that establishment. Figure 9 shows a typical search result for friends that recently checked-in to the Oxford Hotel, including the time they were last seen on-line. The user may select a particular friend who appears to be an Actual Patron in that venue. Figure 10 shows a typical screen from the Outlye App for when a particular friend, in this case Paul Terzanidis, at a particular establishment, in this case the Merrywell Hotel, is selected. At step 104 in Figure 2, the user, as Virtual Patron may place a request to interact with an Actual Patron in the bar/pub venue 14 in real-time. Meanwhile, at step 106, Actual Patrons located in the bar/pub 14 have been encouraged to check-in to the portal via one of the in-house online access points or via their mobile phones (18a and 18b in Figure 1). When either Virtual Patrons or Actual Patrons are checked-ίη to the portal 12 they may typically view a thumbnail-size still or video image of other Virtual or Actual Patrons checked-in to the portal. If an Actual Patron is logged-on and accepts the Virtual Patron's request to interact, then at step 108 the Virtual Patron can converse and interact with the Actual Patron in real-time. If the Virtual Patron wishes to purchase a drink or snack for the Actual Patron on-line he or she can request online access to a drinks list or menu of the bar/pub 14 at step 110. If access is granted to the drinks list or menu, (age restrictions may apply) the Virtual Patron can order a drink or purchase a snack from the menu for the Actual Patron. The purchase may be conducted using a conventional online EFT facility and/or the Virtual Patron may request to be connected to a bartender or waiter in real time to place the order and conduct the transaction verbally, as if he or she were actually in the venue.

The OuTLyFe App screenshot in Figure 10 includes a "Buy Drink" button, which enables the Virtual Patron to purchase a drink or snack for the Actual Patron (Paul Terzanidis at the Merrywell Pub) on-line. Pressing this butten takes the Virtual Patron to the Drinks list or menu of the Merrywell Pub, as shown in Figure 11. The Virtual Patron may then select one or more drinks to add to his or her shopping basket to purchase for the Actual Patron. Figure 12 is a screenshot of the OuTLyFe shopping basket "My Buys", in this example, showing the drinks being being purchased for the Actual Patron Paul Terzanidis. Additional drinks may be purchased before proceeding to the payment screen.

The ouTLyFe App may also be used to surprise Actual Patrons with a purchase, without first conversing or interacting with the Actual Patron in real-time. In that case the Actual Patron may receive an ouTLyfe Alert on his smart phone, advising him that a friend (in this example, Kosta Tsakalis) would like to purchase him a drink. If the Actual Patron accepts the offer to purchase a drink, then a screen similar to that shown in Figure 13 appears on the Actual Patron's smart phone screen. The Actual Patron, Kosta, may choose to view the order, in which the screen may look similar to that shown in Figure 14. He may also choose to send a message to the Virtual Patron or elect to retrieve the drinks from the screen shown in Figure 13. The View Order screen shown in Figure 14 may optionally also include a Reject button, in case Kosta decides he doesn't want the drink or drinks purchased for him after all.

The ouTLyFe portal 12 may also be used to book guest lists, make reservations, organise private functions, birthday parties, etc by interacting in real time with service personnel in the establishment. The option of being to speak to management or other personnel in the establishment in real- time, and not having to wait on emails or phone calls to reply is very attractive in order to quickly resolve questions and make arrangements as required in real-time.

The ouTLyFe App also has a Favourites function in which a list of favourite friends and associates can be maintained. A screenshot of a typical Favourites list is shown in Figure 15. By going to the Favourites screen, the user can regularly see the last check-in location of people on his or her Favourites list. This may appear as a Check-Ins screen, similar to that shown in Figure 15, showing the name, location and the time last seen of selected people from the Favourites list. The user may then decide if they want to purchase any of these people a drink online. The system and method of online networking in a real-time establishment can be applied to many other kinds of establishment including, but not limited to, retail establishments, banks, restaurants, cafes, hotels, viewing booths at sporting events, and many other social venues. In retail establishments, online shoppers can view products and services on display in the establishment in real-time, and can interact with sales assistants and actual customers in the establishment in real-time. All the usual online shopping facilities can be built-in to the portal to provide the complete virtual shopping experience in real-time. Online users can book a room in a hotel in real-time with online concierges with whom they can interact as if they were visiting the hotel in person. Online users logged-on to the hotel portal may also choose to interact with in-house guests that are logged-on to the hotel portal, in order to find out what the venue is like and get first-hand accounts of an actual guest's experience of the hotel services.

Because the system allows online users to talk to and interact with people all over the world in selected establishments in real-time, it opens-up all kinds of possibilities not hitherto thought possible. It could be used in car salesrooms anywhere in the world to dealerships only to have direct access to dealers and salesmen. Online clients can see what's in stock and what vehicles are on the showroom floor and organise test drives or purchases in real-time. Real estate salespersons, events managers, liquor stores, clothing stores, shopping centres, etc can also employ profitably employ the system and method of online networking in a real-time establishments according to the invention.

One or more websites may have links to multiple portals to provide a complete lifestyle guide for online users. The possibility of being able to interact with people in various establishments all over the world in real-time via your laptop computer or mobile device, provides a new level of online inter-connectivity amongst people globally. Once a user has set-up an online profile, it will be verified by email address and secure password in order minimise fake identities. Being able to limit the amount of information that any one user can access will be up to the profile owner and portal manager.

Now that preferred embodiments of the system and method of online networking in a real-time establishment, as well as of a smart phone application, have been described in detail, it will be apparent that the described embodiments provide a number of advantages over the prior art, including the following: (i) Providing real-time access to establishments to allow real-time interaction with other clients and/or service personnel in that establishment provides a way of vastly extending the clientele that the establishment can service at any one time.

(ii) The real-time interactivity of the system and method allows new kinds of transactions to be performed that were not possible or attractive via conventional online facilities.

(iii) Online users can access and experience the entertainment offered by certain kinds of establishments, as well as form new relationships with other virtual or actual patrons, without the inconvenience and expense of having to actually visit the establishment.

(iv) The revenue of establishments that are connected to the ouTLyFe portal can be significantly increased since the purchase of drinks and other goods in real time can be extended to virtual patrons as well as actual patrons.

It will be readily apparent to persons skilled in the relevant arts that various modifications and improvements may be made to the foregoing embodiments, in addition to those already described, without departing from the basic inventive concepts of the present invention. For example, some establishments may provide a 3D video link with selected locations in the venue to enhance the online users' experience of the establishment. Therefore, it will be appreciated that the scope of the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described.

Claims

1. A method of online networking in a real-time establishment, the method comprising the steps of: providing an online portal through which the establishment can be accessed by a user logged-on to the portal in real-time to interact with people, events and designated areas within the establishment in real-time; and, connecting one or more clients and/or service personnel located in the establishment with the online user logged-on to the portal whereby, in use, the online user can interact with people, events and designated areas within the establishment in real-time as if he or she were actually located in the establishment.

2. A method of online networking in a real-time establishment as defined in claim 1 , wherein the step of connecting clients and/or service personnel involves providing both a video and audio link between the online user and the one or more clients and/or service personnel located in the establishment.

3. A method of online networking in a real-time establishment as defined in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein one or more clients and/or service personnel located in the establishment are encouraged to log-on to the portal to allow users logged-on to the portal to interact with them in real-time.

4. A method of online networking in a real-time establishment as defined in claim 1 , wherein an online user (virtual patron) can elect to purchase an item from the establishment for another person within the establishment (actual patron) via the portal.

5. A method of online networking in a real-time establishment as defined in claim 4, wherein the step of purchasing an item by a virtual patron involves accessing an online inventory of items provided, by the establishment and selecting one or more items from the inventory, and then sending an offer to purchase the item(s) to the actual patron.

6. A system of online networking in a real-time establishment, the system comprising: an online portal through which the establishment can be accessed by users logged-on to the portal in real-time to view people, events and designated areas within the establishment in real-time; and, means for connecting one or more clients and/or service personnel located in the establishment with online users logged-on to the portal in real-time whereby, in use, an online user can interact with people, events and designated areas within the establishment in real-time as if he were actually located in the establishment.

7. A system of online networking in a real-time establishment as defined in claim 6, wherein the means of connecting clients and/or service personnel includes both a video and audio link between an online user (virtual patron) and the one or more clients (actual patrons) and/or service personnel located in the establishment.

8. A system of online networking in a real-time establishment as defined in claim 6, wherein the online portal further comprises a search engine feature which can be accessed by users logged-on to the portal.

9. A system of online networking in a real-time establishment as defined in claim 6, wherein the online portal further comprises news, information, databases and entertainment services which can be accessed by users logged-on to the portal.

10. A system of online networking in a real-time establishment as defined in claim 6, further comprising an online database of real-time inventory of products and/or services available at the establishment; and, a facility to enable users logged-on to the portal to purchase products and/or services from the inventory in real-time as if they were actually located in the establishment.

11. A smart phone software application for a method of online networking in a real-time establishment, the application comprising: an access protocol for connecting the smart phone to an online portal through which the establishment can be accessed by users logged-on to the portal in real-time to interact with people, events and designated areas within the establishment in real-time; and, a connection protocol for connecting the smart phone user with one or more clients and/or service personnel located in the establishment and with other online users logged-on to the portal in real-time whereby, in use, the smart phone user can interact with people, events and designated areas within the establishment in real-time as if he or she were actually located in the establishment.

12. A smart phone software application as defined in claim 1 , wherein the connection protocol involves providing both a video and audio link between the smart phone user and the one or more clients and/or service personnel located in the establishment.

13. A smart phone software application as defined in claim 1 1 or claim 12, wherein the access protocol also enables connection to a search engine feature which can be accessed by users logged-on to the portal.