Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the field of social networks. More particularly, the invention relates to a method for linking or connecting between people in a random manner via a commercial product.

Background of the invention

As more users are connected to the Internet and conduct their daily activities electronically, social networks or social relations among people who, for example, share interests, activities, backgrounds, or real-life connections, increases. A social network service consists of a representation of each user (often a profile), his/her social links, and a variety of additional services. Most social network services are web- based and provide means for users to interact over the Internet, such as e- mail and instant messaging.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a system which is capable of connecting between people in a random manner.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a social networking service that expands the social circle of a person in a unique manner.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention relates to a method for linking between people in a random manner via a commercial product, which comprises: a. receiving at a main server a message provided/created by a first user via a first device and associating said message with an online account of said first user at said main server;

b. generating/providing a unique code and associating said unique code with said message;

c. transferring the unique code and the content of said message to a third part device (e.g., a commercial product manufacturer device) for adding said code and message to at least one commercial product (e.g., printing said code and message on the packaging of such commercial product, e.g., which can be a food product), such that said code and message will be available for a person having said commercial product or its packaging; and d. upon providing said code via an user interface associated with said main server revealing information regarding said first user who provide the content of said message, thereby allowing the person who provide said code to connect with said first user.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the third party device is a server or a computer system residing at a commercial product manufacturer side.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the adding of the code and message to the commercial product is done by printing said code and message on the packaging of said commercial product.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the message is generated or created by the first user via a dedicated application or a website adapted to communicate with the main server.

In another aspect the present invention further relates to a system for linking between people in a random manner via a commercial product, comprising: a) a main server for handling users' accounts and for processing messages received from said users;

b) a dedicated application or a website adapted to communicate with said main server for allowing users to interact with said main server including the creation of the messages and their delivery to said main server; and

c) a third party device adapted to communicate with said main server in order to receive from said main server one or messages or the content of said one or more messages, for adding at least one message to at least one commercial product.

Brief Description of the Drawings

In the drawings:

- Fig. 1 schematically illustrates a system for linking between people via a third party entity in a random manner, according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

Fig. 2 is a flow chart generally illustrating the method of the invention.

Detailed Description of the Invention

Throughout this description the term "social network" is used to indicate a platform to build social networks or social relations in a random manner among people who, for example, are not necessarily share interests, activities, backgrounds, or real-life connections. This term does not imply any particular social network, or on-line community, and invention is applicable to all suitable social networks.

Reference will now be made to several embodiments of the present invention(s), examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying figures. Wherever practicable similar or like reference numbers may be used in the figures and may indicate similar or like functionality. The figures depict embodiments of the present invention for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the invention described herein. Referring now to the drawings, in which like numerals refer to like elements through the several figures, aspects of the present invention and an exemplary computing operating environment will be described.

The following discussions are intended to provide a brief, general description of a suitable computing environment in which the invention may be implemented. While the invention will be described in the general context of program modules that execute in conjunction with an application program that runs on an operating system on a Personal Computer (PC) or a computer based mobile device (e.g., smartphone), those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention may also be implemented in combination with other program modules.

Fig. 1 schematically illustrates a system 10 for linking between people via a third party entity in a random manner, according to an embodiment of the present invention. System 10 comprises a main server 11, a third party server 12 and users' terminal devices (e.g., as indicated by numerals 13 and 14).

Main server 11 may involve the following tasks, either locally or remotely:

- Handling registered users' accounts;

Storing messages provided/created by registered users. The message can be stored either in a remote or a local database;

- Generating a unique code for each individual message (e.g., using a dedicated code generator) - Processing messages (e.g., filtering content, translating messages from one language to another, formatting, associating a unique code for each message, etc.); and

- Forwarding processed messages to the third party server 12.

Third party server 12 can be located at a commercial product manufacturer side in order to allow the manufacturer to add the processed message or its content (together with the unique code) at least one commercial product. For example, the message and the code can be printed on the packaging of the product, a label attached to the product, or any other suitable way of providing the product with the message and the associated code. The commercial product can be almost any available commercial product such as food or beverage product (e.g., beverage bottle, snack bag, can, candy, etc.).

A user may interact with main server 11 via a user interface running from the user's terminal device 13 (e.g., PC, smartphone, etc.) either in form of a dedicated application/computer program or a dedicated web page. The user may send/upload to server 11 (e.g., to a user's personal on-line account) a message that may contain a text message (i.e., a written message), an image (e.g., drawing or photo) or combination thereof. For example, the content of the written message may reflect any personal expression and fillings, blessing, personal saying or any other content that the user wishes to share with other people.

All the above will be better understood through the following illustrative and non-limitative examples. As shown with respect to Fig. 2, system 10 may operate as follows:

receiving at the main server 11 a message provided/created by a first user via the user's device 13;

- associating the message with an on-line account of the first user.

The user's account can be located at the main server 12 and/or it can be linked to a user account that exist in other social platform such as Facebook;

generating/providing a unique code and associating the unique code with the received message;

- processing the received message as required (e.g., language translation, applying content filtration to avoid inappropriate and offensive content, etc.);

transferring the unique code and the content of the message to a third part server 12 (e.g., a commercial product manufacturer device) for adding the code and the message to at least one commercial product 15, such that the code and the message will be available for a person having the commercial product or its packaging (e.g., as indicated by numeral 16); and

- upon providing the code via an user interface associated with the main server 12 (as indicated by terminal device 14, e.g., by a second user) revealing information regarding the first user who provide the content of the message, thereby allowing the person who provide the code (i.e., the second user) to connect with the first user who provide the content of the message.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the message can be attached to the commercial product via a cap device for closing a bottle or container, that comprises: a) a cap portion adapted to seal content within the bottle; and b) an openable storage compartment attached to the cap portion, wherein said storage compartment is adapted to at least one article to be inserted or removed from said storage compartment. The article can be a printed message, a consumable item either solid or liquid, or any other article that can be fit into the storage compartment. Such cap device and its variations are described in further details in PCT application no. IL2013/050080. The aforementioned tasks of main server 11 can be performed by program modules that include routines, programs, components, data structures, and other types of structures that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. Moreover, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention may be practiced with other computer system configurations, including hand-held devices, multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics, minicomputers, mainframe computers, and the like. The invention may also be practiced in distributed computing environments where tasks are performed by remote processing devices that are linked through a communications network. In a distributed computing environment, program modules may be located in both local and remote memory storage devices.

Embodiments of the invention may be implemented as a computer process (method), a computing system, or as an article of manufacture, such as a computer program product or computer readable media. The computer program product may be a computer storage media readable by a computer system and encoding a computer program of instructions for executing a computer process. The computer program product may also be a propagated signal on a carrier readable by a computing system and encoding a computer program of instructions for executing a computer process.

Unless otherwise indicated, the functions described herein may be performed by executable code and instructions stored in computer readable medium and running on one or more processor-based systems. However, state machines, and/or hardwired electronic circuits can also be utilized. Further, with respect to the example processes described herein, not all the process states need to be reached, nor do the states have to be performed in the illustrated order. Further, certain process states that are illustrated as being serially performed can be performed in parallel. Similarly, while certain examples may refer to a PC system or a mobile device, other computer or electronic systems can be used as well, such as, without limitation, a tablet, a network-enabled personal digital assistant (PDA), a networked entertainment device, a smartphone (e.g., with an operating system and on which a user can install applications) and so on.

The terms, "for example", "e.g.", "optionally", as used herein, are intended to be used to introduce non-limiting examples. While certain references are made to certain example system components or services, other components and services can be used as well and/or the example components can be combined into fewer components and/or divided into further components.

In addition, while certain user inputs or gestures are described as being provided via phone key presses, data entry via a keyboard, or by clicking a computer mouse or button, optionally, user inputs can be provided using other techniques, such as by voice or otherwise. The appearance and terminology as depicted and described herein, are intended to be illustrative and exemplary, and in no way limit the scope of the invention as claimed.

As will be appreciated by the skilled person the arrangement described in the figures results in a system which is capable of connecting between unfamiliar people in a novel and exciting manner. As a person who received such a message might be curious to know who is the one that created that message.

All the above description and examples have been given for the purpose of illustration and are not intended to limit the invention in any way. Many different mechanisms, methods of analysis, electronic and logical elements can be employed, all without exceeding the scope of the invention.