WO2011051937A1

WO2011051937A1 - System and method for commercial content generation by user tagging

Info

Publication number: WO2011051937A1
Application number: PCT/IL2010/000881
Authority: WO
Inventors: Irit Dabby
Original assignee: Goodytag Ltd.
Priority date: 2009-10-27
Filing date: 2010-10-26
Publication date: 2011-05-05

Abstract

The present invention provides methods, systems and computer software products for user-generated commercial content, generated by visual tagging, the method comprising uploading an image to a webpage, visually tagging at least one of a product and a service onto said image to form a visually-tagged image and rewarding a user associated with the visually-tagged image therefor.

Description

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COMMERCIAL CONTENT GENERATION

BY USER TAGGING

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to systems and methods for advertising products and services, and more specifically to systems and methods for user- generated commercial content, performed by visual tags.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The last decade has seen a rapid increase in the use of social networks over the internet. Typically these networks include an online service, platform, or site that focuses on building and reflecting of social networks or social relations among people, who share, for example interests and/or activities. A social network service comprises a representation of each user (often a profile), his/her social links, and a variety of additional services. Some of these networks include, Facebook, Bebo, Twitter; MySpace and Linkedln, for example.

Social networks can be used for targeted campaigns and marketing of services and/or products.

Some patent publications in the field include US Patent Application Publication No. US2008082905A, which describes a digital media benefit attachment mechanism for generating or attaching revenue rights and other benefits to one or more entities associated with socially distributed media.

US Patent Application Publication No. 20090164323 describes a program product, systems, and methods of providing to social network websites advertising and incentives from an electronic retailer. A system can include a social network website displaying social network content and also displaying a link that reroutes the consumer to an electronic retailer website when the consumer clicks on the link. The system can also include program product for tracking purchase and other information about the consumer by the electronic retailer, and generating a commission for the provider of the social network website based on the tracked information about the consumer. The link can be embedded within the social network content or the link can be part of an advertisement and displayed adjacent the social network content. Also, a product featured in the advertisement can be affiliated with one main subject of the social network content.

There is still a need to provide focused marketing systems and methods, based on social networks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of some aspects of the present invention to provide improved methods and systems for user-generated commercial content, generated by visual tagging.

In other embodiments of the present invention, a method and system is described for providing online business methods employing user-generated commercial content, created by visual tagging.

There is thus provided according to an embodiment of the present invention, a method for user-generated commercial content, generated by visual tagging, the method including;

a) uploading at least one image to a webpage;

b) visually tagging a tag of at least one of a product and a service onto the at least one image to form at least one visually-tagged image; and c) rewarding a user associated with the at least one visually-tagged image therefor.

Additionally, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the image is a photo.

Furthermore, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the photo includes an image of the user or uploaded by the user.

Moreover, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the uploading step is selected from the group consisting of; uploading at least one photo from a photo capturing device; uploading a video clip from a video capturing device; uploading an image from a device memory; uploading a photo from a device memory; uploading a video clip from a device memory; selecting a photo from a computerized photo album; selecting an image from a computerized image bank; selecting a video clip from a computerized video clip bank and combinations thereof. Additionally, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the uploading and tagging steps are repeated.

Further, according to an embodiment of the present invention, an application associated with the webpage appears in at least one social network website.

Additionally, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the tag is a visual icon associated with the at least one of a product and a service.

Moreover, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the tag contains a textual caption associated with the at least one of a product and a service.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the rewarding step includes providing at least one of the following rewards to the user; a discount on a service price, a discount on a product price; a free service; a free product; a credit point in a credit point system; a bonus, a prize, cash, a right to participate in a raffle, and combinations thereof.

Additionally, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the product or service provides the reward.

Furthermore, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the method further includes charging a commission/ fee from the advertiser, associated with the commercial tag for the at least one visually-tagged image.

Additionally, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the method further includes repeating the steps a-c for a plurality of users.

There is thus provided according to another embodiment of the present invention, a computerized system for user-generated visual tagging, the system including;

a) a first website on a public network configured to enable uploading at least one image to a webpage;

b) a web page configured to enable visual tagging a tag of at least one of a product and a service onto the at least one image to form at least one visually-tagged image; and

c) software configured to reward a user associated with the at least one visually-tagged image therefor.

Additionally, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the website is configured to enable uploading from the group consisting of; uploading at least one photo from a photo capturing device; uploading a video clip from a video capturing device; uploading an image from a device memory; uploading a photo from a device memory; uploading a video clip from a device memory; selecting a photo from a computerized photo album; selecting an image from a computerized image bank; selecting a video clip from a computerized video clip bank and combinations thereof.

Furthermore, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the webpage appears in at least one social network website.

Additionally, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the at least one social network website is not the first website.

Moreover, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the tag is a visual icon associated with the at least one of a product and a service.

Additionally, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the A the tag contains a textual caption, associated with the at least one of a product and a service.

Furthermore, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the software is adapted to provide at least one of the following rewards to the user; a discount on a service price, a discount on a product price; a free service; a free product; a credit point in a credit point system; a bonus, a prize, cash, right to participate in a raffle and combinations thereof.

Additionally, according to an embodiment of the present invention, an application associated with the advertiser of the product or service provides the reward.

Moreover, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the system is further adapted to charge a commission/fee from the advertiser, associated with the visual tag, and whom created the visual tag on the system in the first place, for the at least one visually-tagged image.

Additionally, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the system is further configured to enable a plurality of users to at form the least one visually- tagged image.

There is thus provided according to another embodiment of the present invention, a computer software product for user-generated commercial content, created by visual tagging, the product including a computer-readable medium in which program instructions are stored, which instructions, when read by a computer, cause the computer to;

a) upload at least one image to a webpage;

b) visually tag a tag of at least one of a product and a service onto the at least one image to form at least one visually-tagged image; and c) reward a user associated with the at least one visually-tagged image therefor.

There is thus provided according to another embodiment of the present invention, a computerized social network application for user-generated content, created by visual tagging, the network application being constructed and configured to derive numerous, unrelated social networks applications.

According to some embodiments the computerized social network application according enables a user to access the numerous, unrelated social networks applications by performing one downloading activity.

There is thus provided according to another embodiment of the present invention, a computer software product for user-generated commercial content, created by visual tagging, the product including a computer-readable medium in which program instructions are stored, which instructions, when read by a computer, cause the computer to download numerous unrelated applications responsive to one user-activated downloading activity.

In additional embodiments for the present invention, a method and system is providing for improving marketing of services and/or products by user-generated commercial content, created by visual tagging.

More particularly, the present invention is in the technical fields of a rewarding system. The present invention provides a system that connects between users and commercial merchants, and a system that connects users for trading with each another by visual tagging in photos.

In additional embodiments for the present invention, there is described one tagging & rewards system that could be derived as a social network application. As such, multiple social network applications could be derived, using that system, for multiple advertisers and on multiple social networks.

The social/ environmental background of the invention is:

Individuals upload photos to the Internet, in order that others will be able to see these photos. Individuals write texts on the Internet, in order that others will be able to see these texts.

- When individuals recommend other individuals on a certain commercial good or service, the individuals that made the recommendation usually don't get a reward for making the recommendation.

- If individuals commit a purchase as a result a recommendation by other

individuals, the other individuals usually don't get a reward for the purchase that was made due to the recommendation.

- Individuals often purchase goods and services that they see within their close social environment.

Individuals often to listen to other individuals they know, rather than to a commercial agent. Researches show that friends' recommendation is the most influential on individual's purchasing decisions. More than any commercial, such as TV commercials, online ads Newspaper ads and etc., created directly by the advertiser.

- Tagging is used for marking texts, photos and videos for identification within a web page.

- Commercial companies create commercial campaigns on social networks.

Usually being done by putting ads on the side of the social network page and by creating an application on the social network.

- An application on a social network, created by a developer that is not the social network itself, is needed to be downloaded by the social network user.

In that case, a social network user, who engages in two commercial activities on a social network applications, created by two separate commercial agents, needs to download two separate applications.

The present invention is a system that allows self-commercial tagging of goods and services within individuals' photos and texts that are uploaded to social networks, photo sharing websites, commercial websites, blogs and private websites. The system has modules that will reward the tagger for a commercial tagging.

Users of the system are able to advertise commercial merchants' goods and services within their photos and texts, and be rewarded for that action. In addition, users will be able to self-tag their photos and texts, in order to advertise own private goods and services for trading with other users.

The present invention allows commercial companies/ agents to create campaigns on that system, by uploading the system the visual tags, the texts associated with those visual tags, the rewards and the condition to receive the reward. Having done that, the user is able to visual tag the commercial agent in his photos & texts. In addition, having done that, the system generates the commercial agent its own, private, social network application, that could be planted within the social network or outside the social network, connected the social network with API from outside.

If two applications are created by that system, by two separate commercial agents, the user needs to download only one time, as in fact, the application is one master application that could be presented as "filtered": For commercial agent A- system could be presented only with the visual tags created by agent A, and for commercial agent B- system could be presented only with visual tags created by agent B.

The present invention will be more fully understood from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments thereof, taken together with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described in connection with certain preferred embodiments with reference to the following illustrative figures so that it may be more fully understood.

With specific reference now to the figures in detail, it is stressed that the particulars shown are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of the preferred embodiments of the present invention only and are presented in the cause of providing what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the invention. In this regard, no attempt is made to show structural details of the invention in more detail than is necessary for a fundamental understanding of the invention, the description taken with the drawings making apparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of the invention may be embodied in practice.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a simplified pictorial illustration showing a system for user-generated commercial content, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2A is a screen shot of a method of user-generated commercial content, done by visual tagging, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2B is a simplified pictorial illustration of a screenshot of a method for user-generated visual tagging, that generates a new image and a textual caption, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2C is a screen shot of a filtered application, contains only one tag, created by one commercial agent in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig 2D is a screen shot of a method of user-generated commercial content, done by visual tagging, that generates a textual caption, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig 2E is a screen shot of a tagger's tagging account and tags balance in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a simplified pictorial illustration showing databases of the system for user-generated visual tagging of Fig. 1, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 4 is a simplified flow chart of a method for user-generated commercial content in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 5 is a simplified flow chart of a business method for commercial merchant-based advertising in the user-generated visual tagging system of Fig. 1, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 6 is a simplified flow chart of a business method for rewarding a user in a user-generated visual tagging method, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 7 is a simplified flow chart of a business method for user trading activities, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 8A is a screen shot showing rewards for tagging a specific item, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 8B is a screen shot showing a self-tagged item on a user image, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 8C is a screen shot showing the self-tagged item on the user image of Fig. 8B in a personal page of a social network website, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 8D is a screen shot showing an incentive message to a user regarding the self-tagged item on the user image, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 8E is a screen shot showing a reward message to a user regarding the self- tagged item on the user image, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 8F is a screen shot showing an email notification of the reward message to the user regarding the self-tagged item on the user image, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and

Fig. 8G is a screenshot showing a result of a textual caption generated by tagging, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

In all the figures similar reference numerals identify similar parts.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that these are specific embodiments and that the present invention may be practiced also in different ways that embody the characterizing features of the invention as described and claimed herein.

Reference is now made to Fig. 1, which is a simplified pictorial illustration showing a system 100 for user-generated content, created by visual tagging, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

System 100 typically includes a server utility 110, which may include one or a plurality of servers and one or more control computer terminals 112 for programming, trouble-shooting servicing and other functions. Server utility 110, includes a system engine and database, 111, a tagging application, 123 (comprising web pages 127, not shown), and an advertiser interface 125, which are linked to the Internet 120 (constituting a computer network) through link 122, for running tagging application 123 for user-generated visual tagging and for communication with the system's users: Social network users, who perform the tagging, and commercial agents/advertisers, who generate the tags on the system.

Together, user-generated commercial content (such as tagged content 829 in

Fig. 8C hereinbelow) is generated. Both users may communicate with server 110 through a plurality of user computers 130, 131, associated with social network users and commercial agents respectively, which may be mainframe computers with terminals that permit individual to access a network, personal computers, portable computers, small hand-held computers and other, that are linked to the Internet 120 through a plurality of links 124. The Internet link of each of computers 130, 131, may be direct through a landline or a wireless line, or may be indirect, for example through an intranet that is linked through an appropriate server to the Internet. System 100 may also operate through communication protocols between computers over the Internet which technique is known to a person versed in the art and will not be elaborated herein. Users may also communicate with the system through portable communication devices such as 3rd generation mobile phones 140, communicating with the Internet through a corresponding communication system (e.g. cellular system) 150 connectable to the Internet through link 152. As will readily be appreciated, this is a very simplified description, although the details should be clear to the artisan. Also, it should be noted that the invention is not limited to the user- associated communication devices - computers and portable and mobile communication devices - and a variety of others such as an interactive television system may also be used. The system 100 also typically includes at least one call and/or user support center 160. The service center typically provides both on-line and off-line services to users, such as social network users ("Taggers") and commercial agents ("Tags creators"). The server system 110 is configured according to the invention to carry out the above-described method for optimizing and control user- generated tags, performed by the users. Tagging application 123 is linked to a social network, 180, through an API (Application Programming Interface), 170. Some of the screen shots of the website appear hereinbelow.

It should be understood that many variations to system 100 are envisaged, and this embodiment should not be construed as limiting. For example, a facsimile system or a phone device (wired telephone or mobile phone) may be designed to be connectable to a computer network (e.g. the Internet). Interactive televisions may be used for inputting and receiving data from the Internet.

Reference is now made to Fig. 2A, which is a screen shot 200 of a webpage 201 of tagging application 123 (Fig. 1) in a method of user-generated visual tagging, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. A screen shot 299 is displayed schematically in Fig. 2B.

Webpage 201 comprises a toolbar 250 displaying a number of different product and service categories, 252, 253, 254, 255, and 256 (shown in Fig. 2B). More categories may be created by the system. Each product or service category can be clicked on and opened to further display items or services in that category (not shown), as is known in the art.

The webpage further comprises another toolbar 260, which displays a number of different product and service visual icons 262, 263, 264, 265, 266 and 267. More products and services may be created by the system and by commercial agents using system 100. Toolbars 250 and 260 also comprise onscreen scroll buttons 230 and 240, respectively, for scrolling the categories and icons left to right, or right to left. These toolbars could also be displayed vertically.

Screen shot 200 shows a title 202 of the webpage and displays a website icon

203.

Stacked vertically down the left hand side of the webpage are the user's photo and image albums 206, 207 and 208. More albums may be added by the user. A display button 204 enables the user to watch the albums in a text form (List) or a visual form (Thumbnails).

Additionally, there are onscreen buttons including a button 212, for uploading a photo or image and button 214, for searching other users who use the system and tag same or different tags.

On the top right side of webpage 201, there appears a "Country" mark, 216, which automatically recognizes a user's access country, as is known in the art. Only Logos and icons created by advertisers in user's access country- will be displayed. There is also a "Language" mark, 218, which auto-recognizes an active user's social network language, and displays the interface of webpage 201 automatically in user's language.

On the bottom of the screen 200, there are buttons 280 and 281, which allow the user to add at least one additional textual enabled social network, in order to publish a tagged textual caption (see Fig. 8G, 828) which is related to tagged icon 262.

By clicking on button 290, user-generated tagged commercial content 829 (see Fig. 8C) is published: a tagged photo 814 (Fig. 8C, for example) with tagged textual caption 828 are published to at least one social network 180 (Fig. 1, for example).

It should be understood that the invention is not limited to any particular location of items on the webpage. The examples shown are exemplary and should not be deemed as limiting.

In the center of webpage 201, there are instructions 226 displayed to the user. The method of the invention requires the user to perform a number of steps (see Fig. 2A):

a) Upload photo or image: optionally select a photo from an online album, created by the user, such as album 206, 207, 208 and/or upload a photo or image using upload button 212 and then choose a photo or image for uploading from one of these online/offline sources of photos/images. The user notes that there are albums: " Profile pics" 206, a "Island sunset" 207 and "Trip to Paris" 208, for example. The user selects the Paris album 208, which uploads a number of images (not shown) onto the screen. Thereafter, the user chooses a photo/image, such as photo 232 (appearing in Fig 2B). b) Tag the photo or image by clicking on the image, such as icon 262 and/or image 264, which will place the icon on the top of the photo. This image could be placed on the top of the photo, by mouse dragging the image(s) 264 over the screen 299 via dragging routes

222. Once the image is placed on the photo, user could mouse drag the icon on the top of the photo, and locate it anywhere on the photo, using dragging route 224 (for example) onto a chosen image 232. The icons may/may not be related to the content of the photo/image. In some cases, the rewards provided to the user may be increased if the content of the icon is associated with the photo/image. For example, there may be a greater reward for self- tagging an icon of French chocolate 269 (not shown), associated with a photo (not shown) from album 208 of the user in Paris than for a sports clothing article icon , with no particular association. c) The user is then rewarded for the self-tagged image/photo. The reward process is described in further detail herein below.

Reference is now made to Fig. 2C, which is a screen shot 2000, that shows a filtered application of commercial icon/ image 268, which is derived from screen shot 200 (Fig 2A). This application is derived from master application shown in Fig. 2A and could be download by the tagger. The same application could appear with icons 262, 263, 264 and others, and in combination thereof. Users, who use more that one of these filtered applications, need to perform only one download.

Reference is now made to Fig. 2D, which is a screen shot 2001, which shows a tagging application for text. Top page 2005 is similar to Screenshot 200. User chooses an image/ icon from scroll bar 260, icon 265, for example. User is aware of the reward he will receive by the tagging in box 241. When user clicks on "Twit", 291, a tagged textual caption with content related to icon 265 is published on user's social network.

Reference is now made to Fig. 2E, which is a screen shot 2002, which shows a tagger's tagging balance account 270.

Reference is now made to Fig. 3, which is a simplified pictorial illustration showing further details of system's engine & database 111 of system 100 (Fig. 1) for user-generated visual tagging, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

System's engine & database 111 comprise a Tagger's database 310, an advertisers' database 320, a trader database, 330 and a system's engine and database, 340.

The users' database comprises a data module 314 for each user. The module comprises data relating to the specific user, such as, but not limited to age, gender, number of friends/followers, user habits, hobbies, photos, images, tagging history, second party website usage, rewards' history, purchases and the like.

The advertisers database comprises a data module 324 for each advertiser, including data relating to advertiser's categories, tagging records, reward types, Rewards conditions, tags' counter, payment records, trends, logo images, site-usage, own website's URL and the like.

The system's database comprises data relating to various associated social network databases 342, own website data 344 and the like.

User-Trader database 330 accrues data associated with users who tagged for trade, and contains info such as items traded, payments made and received, purchase data, auction data and the like. Additionally, the data module stores data relating to the advertiser's advertisement campaign. The data may include for example:

a) Advertising campaign data, such as the following: i. Title, For example: "COCA COLA" ii. Visual icon 264 (Fig. 2A), to be uploaded by the advertiser. It can be any image, such as a Logo or an image, associated to the product, for example: Coca Cola's logo or a can of Coca cola. iii. URL Title, for example: COCACOLA iv. Advertiser's URL, for example: www.cocacola.com v. Country, for example: "USA". Once Advertiser marks a

country, Taggers will be able to tag the Advertiser's image only within the country specified. For example: USA located advertiser's image- won't be visible to taggers in Spain, and therefore won't be able to be tagged by users, accessing the system from Spain. vi. City, for example: New York. vii. Category, for example: "Eat and Drink". viii. Sub category, for example: "Soft Drinks". ix. Inserting numerous textual captions. In the caption, the

advertiser could insert the string "Brand_Name" where he wants his brand or service name ("Title") to appear. For example: If advertiser wants that the commercial text, associated with the brand, will be: "Thirsty? Drink Coca

Cola!" 828, (Fig. 8C) he therefore has to submit: "Thirsty? Drink Brand Name!". x. Purchase tags: The number of tags the company purchases, as the business model is "Pay Per Tag", each time a user tags advertiser's icon, advertiser pays the system for that action. Advertiser could purchase a pre-paid pack of tags, for example: 1000 tags for the COCA COLA campaign. b) Coupon reward data

xi. Campaign Name for example: "Coca cola" xii. Campaign's Title, for example: "Coca cola summer campaign" xiii. Body: What is the reward, For example: "20% off all coca cola drinks" 815 (Fig. 8B). xiv. Expiry date of campaign. xv. Reward tagging amount: What is the condition to receive the reward, for example: User has to tag 3 times to receive the reward. System 100 is operative to manage the users' database and advertisers', database to update the system's database and trade database. Data from any of these databases may be transferred or used by any of the other databases.

Reference is now made to Fig. 4, which is a simplified flow chart 400 of a method for user-generated visual tagging, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

In a connecting step, 402, a user connects to a tagging application 123 (Fig. 1). The user may log in with a password, as is known in the art.

The user may optionally select an image album from an album list in a selecting album step 404 (as described with respect to Fig. 2B).

In an image/photo uploading step 406, the user uploads a photo/image. The image may be a cartoon, a picture, a drawing, a portrait, or a photo, for example. The user may upload a group photo of himself/herself with friends and/or family at a certain geographic location. For example, the user may upload a photo (not shown) from album 208 of himself/herself at a tourist site, such as at the Eiffel tower in Paris.

In a choosing category step 408, the user chooses the category of an icon or tag to upload drag onto the photo. For example, if the user wishes to tag a piece of beverage, such as a soft drink, he/she can choose the Eat& Drink category 252 and open a list (not shown) of sub categories and drag the tag of the subcategory onto photo 232.

In some cases, the user will not use the category choosing step 408, but will go directly to a choose product or service step 410 and drag icon 262, for example onto the photo.

The user thus tags a chosen product or service onto the photo 232 or other image in a tagging step 412 thus forming a visual tag on the chosen photo or image, which in many cases is a self image. Thus photo 232 has a user-generated tag 236 of an eat and drink item icon 262. In addition, a tagged text (caption) 828 is created in a tagging text creation step 417.

According to some embodiments, the user may be informed that the tagged photo has been published. Fig. 8D is a screen shot 830 showing a notification message 832 to a user regarding the self-tagged item on the user image 814 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

In a similar way, a user can tag a textual caption: by choosing category step 408, the user chooses the category of an icon or tag to publish a visual textual message, associated with the tag. For example, if the user wishes to text about a piece of beverage, such as a soft drink, he/she can choose the Eat& Drink category 252 and open a list (not shown) of subcategories and click on the tag of the subcategory. As a result, tagged text (caption) 828 is created in the tagging text creation step 417.

In some cases, the user will not use the category choosing step 408, but will go directly to a choose product or service step 410 and tag icon 262, for example.

System 100 monitors the users' activities and provides a reward to the user generated tag 236 on photo 232 in a rewarding step 418. For example, Fig. 8E shows a screen shot 840 showing a reward message 842 to a user regarding the self-tagged item 814 (see below) on the user image, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The user may be provided with various onscreen messages 841 providing options to respond by choosing the method to receive the reward by clicking on an onscreen button 844 and typing a delivery address, such as a cellular number, Email address, mailing address or club card number into an onscreen region 846.

Additionally or alternatively, the user may receive an email message 852. Fig.

8F is a screen shot 850 showing the email message 852 of the reward message 815 (Fig. 8B) to the user. The message might contain a code or unique code, 854, that is associated with the reward for the self-tagged item on the user's image, or self-tagged item on the user's text in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

It should be understood that there are many variations on the methodologies described herein and the specific examples should not be deemed as limiting.

Reference is now made to Fig. 5, which is a simplified flow chart 500 of a business method for an Advertiser/ Commercial merchant in the user-generated visual tagging system of Fig. 1, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

A commercial enterprise/entity/merchant/individual 502 or individual may wish to advertise a product or service via application 123 (Fig. 1). The commercial entity 502 logs in and registers in system 100 , using advertiser interface 125, which is connected to application 123, for example in a registering step 504.

In a campaign creation step 506, the entity defines the required campaign. The following data, for example, may be inputted into an online/offline form:

1. Company Logo/ Image = A

2. Link/ Reference (URL) =L

3. Location

4. Category & Sub Category

5. Commercial captions= C (C1,C2, C3...)

In a creating incentive step 508, the entity defines the incentive/reward for the particular campaign, such as for Brand Y and defines parameters associated with the campaign such as:

• Reward- Incentive for Tagging= Rl • Num of times needed tag in order to receive a reward=N

• Coupon code/ Coupon codes/ Barcode

• Reward for clicks on link= R2

• Reward for purchasing as a result of Tag=R3

System 100 is then operative to form a tagging application (not shown) for the

Brand Y application in a tagging application formation step 510. For example, in Fig. 8A, there is shown a screen shot 800 showing rewards for tagging a specific item, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. An icon 266 relating to a product or service is mouse-overed on and a message 804 (Similar to 241 in Fig. 2B) providing the reward details there appears on the screen. Alternatively, the user may type in a name of a service provider into an onscreen region 802 and this will automatically open up icon 266 and thereafter message 804.

At a later stage, a user enters tagging application or a derived application (2000, Fig. 2C) from, or included in, application 123), in a tagging application step 512, which is connected to social network 180, for example. The user browses on an icon of Brand Y 266. At all stages in these methods, system 100 is operative to update databases 111 in server 110. For example, after the user enters application 512, connected to social network 180, the user sub-module 314 in users' database 310 is updated.

Thereafter, the user may tag a photo in a tagging photo step 516 or may additionally or alternatively tag a text in a tagging text step 518.

The outcome of steps 516 and 518 is the formation of a tagged photo 828 (Fig. 8C) and/or a tagged text 829 (Fig. 8G) respectively in steps 520, 522.

Fig. 8B is a screen shot 810 showing a self-tagged icon 266 on a user image 814, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

The user thus receives a reward created by entity 502, and/or from entity 502 and/or from system 100 for tagging Brand Y textually and/or visually (exemplified in Fig. 8B), in a reward provision step 526.

System 100 is then operative to report the provision of the reward to entity 502 in a reporting reward step 530.

Various options for the types of reward and reward mechanism are provided in steps 532, 534, 536 and 538 and optional updating databases steps may also be performed.

In step 532, user2, who was exposed to the generated tagged image or text, clicks on a particular URL. As a result, User 1, who created the tagged the image or text, receives reward 2 in a reward receiving step 534. Additionally or alternatively, that user2 purchases a Brand Y product in a purchasing step 536 and then is provided with a different reward R3 in another reward provision step 538.

Fig. 6 is a simplified flow chart of a business method for rewarding a tagger user using a visual tagging method, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

A user enters application 123 (Fig. 1) or one of its derivative application, 510. Initially, a commercial merchant product appears in the application's system 100, per the method of Fig. 5. The user may scan or review a number of different products or services.

In step 602, the user wants to advertise a product or service of a commercial merchant.

Thereafter, the user uploads to the internet/ social network 180 a photo, in an uploading step 604. If the user wishes to tag a text only, he goes directly to step 606. The user enters the tagging application in which he/she follows the steps to tag the photo/ tag a text in a tagging application entry step 606. The user tags the good or service within a photo or text;

Thereafter, the user tags the product/service on the photo/text thus forming a user-generated tagged photo or text in a tagging step 608 (see Fig. 8B).

The user then performs tagging step 608 a number of times in a repeating step 610. If the user reaches the required number of tagging steps to receive a reward, the commercial merchant will be notified, directly or indirectly, that the user has tagged his good or service within his photo/ text.

In a rewarding step 634, the commercial merchant rewards the user and system 100 for tagging the good or service.

In a report provision step 636, the user receives reports regarding his tagging rewards.

If a photo is tagged in step 608, then in an uploading photo step 622, the tagged photo and a message (Tagged caption "C") is published on a social network website (not shown) different from application 123 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8C is a screen shot 820 showing user's commercial generated content, which includes the self-tagged icon 266 on the user image 814 of Fig. 8B, and a caption associated with the tagged content 828, which includes a text and a link, both created by the advertiser- entity 502. This appears in tagger's personal page 822 of a social network website, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In addition, caption 828 could be auto sent to tagger's other textual social network, as seen in screen shot 880, Fig. 8G. The personal page may display the image as well as data/text 828 related to the image or only a text/ data related to the tag.. There may be other data associated with the commercial content, such as the name of application 123 and the time the content was created, 824.

If a text is tagged in step 608, then in an uploading text step 620, the tagged text and a message could be uploaded to other social network websites (181, not shown) different from application 123 and social network 180 of Fig. 1.

This flow updates database 111 of system 100.

According to some embodiments, in a click- on tag step 626, a random tagged photo/ text viewer (called for example user 2), clicks on the tagged photo or text, as he was exposed to it either at the social network website 180 or 181.

In a rewarding step 628 user 1 is provided with a reward from the advertiser, entity 502. This occurs after entity 502 receives the clicking data of step 626 and page views information from system 100.

In step 630, the second user (user 2) performs a purchase as a result of tag exposure, then user 1 (the tagger) is rewarded in a rewarding step 632 from the advertiser, entity 502. This follows after the purchaser (user 2) receives a reference number for the purchase in the purchasing step 630 (and the reference number is generated and tracked by system 100). This could credit User 1 an additional reward, 632

Additionally, according to some embodiments, the system may be operative reward a random user, for being exposed to tags as well as for purchasing as a result of a click on the tag or exposure to the tag. User 1 has access to his reward account, 270, and is able to see the rewards received as a result of the tagging action (Fig 2E).

Additionally, according to some embodiments, a commercial merchant can maintain tags that are related to his activities, as well as remove and disqualify unwanted tags.

Furthermore, rewards for the tagger will be given either directly by the commercial merchant, that is for goods/ services, which were advertised, or indirectly- by the system. Rewards may be money, value of money or option to win money/ value of money.

Reference is now made to Fig. 7, which is a simplified flow chart 700 of a business method for user trading activities, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

A user 702 may wish to trade services/goods 704. In an uploading step 706, the user uploads photos of the service/goods/object. User uses tagging application 707 and marks his photo/ text with a "Trade" tag, 708. The user may wish to get rid of the service/goods/object in a free giveaway step 712. Alternatively, the user may wish to auction the service/goods/object in an auctioning step 714. Yet further optionally, the user may wish to sell the service/goods/object in a selling step 716. Yet further optionally, the user may wish to barter the service/goods/object in a bartering step 718. If a match is made, user 2 connects to user 1 in a connecting step 720. In a checking money transfer step 722, it is checked to see if a money transfer step is required to complete the transaction. If yes, system 100 is operative to perform the transfer in a money transfer step 724, typically transferring money or equivalent from user 2 to user 1 and then in a trading step 726 the service/goods/object is transferred from user 1 to user 2. There may also be an optional ranking step 728 in which potential traders for trading the service/goods/object with user 1 are ranked according to predetermined criteria.

Some examples of applications of the systems and methods of the present invention are provided hereinbelow.

The references cited herein teach many principles that are applicable to the present invention. Therefore the full contents of these publications are incorporated by reference herein where appropriate for teachings of additional or alternative details, features and/or technical background.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details set forth in the description contained herein or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that various modifications and changes can be applied to the embodiments of the invention as hereinbefore described without departing from its scope, defined in and by the appended claims.

Claims

A method for user-generated commercial content, performed by visual tagging, the method comprising:

a) uploading at least one image to a webpage;

b) visually tagging a tag of at least one of a product and a service onto said at least one image to form at least one visually-tagged image; and c) rewarding a user associated with the at least one visually-tagged image therefor.

A method according to claim 1, wherein said image is a photo.

A method according to claim 2, wherein said photo comprises an image of said user.

A method according to claim 1, wherein said uploading step is selected from the group consisting of: uploading at least one photo from a photo capturing device; uploading a video clip from a video capturing device; uploading an image from a device memory; uploading a photo from a device memory; uploading a video clip from a device memory; selecting a photo from a computerized photo album; selecting an image from a computerized image bank; selecting a video clip from a computerized video clip bank and combinations thereof.

A method according to claim 1, wherein the uploading and tagging steps are repeated.

A method according to claim 1, wherein an application associated with said webpage appears in at least one social network website.

A method according to claim 1, wherein said tag is a visual icon associated with the at least one of a product and a service.

A method according to claim 1, wherein said tag is a textual tag associated with the at least one of a product and a service.

A method according to claim 1, wherein said rewarding step comprises providing at least one of the following rewards to said user: a discount on a service price, a discount on a product price; a free service; a free product; a credit point in a credit point system; a bonus, a prize, cash, right to participate in a raffle and combinations thereof.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein an advertiser of said product or service provides said reward.

11. A method according to claim 10, further comprising charging a commission to said advertiser for said at least one visually-tagged image.

12. A method according to claim 1, further comprising repeating said steps a-c for a plurality of users.

13. A method according to claim 1, wherein said at least one service is selected from the group consisting of a food provision service, a drink provision service, a travel provision service, an online service; a clothes provision service; a tourist service, another service and combinations thereof.

14. A computerized system for user-generated content, generated by visual tagging, the system comprising:

a) a first application website on a public network configured to enable uploading at least one image to a webpage;

b) a web page configured to enable visual tagging a tag of at least one of a product and a service onto said at least one image to form at least one visually-tagged image; and

15. A system according to claim 14, wherein said image is a photo.

16. A system according to claim 15, wherein said photo comprises an image of said user.

17. A system according to claim 14, wherein said website is configured to enable uploading from the group consisting of: uploading at least one photo from a photo capturing device; uploading a video clip from a video capturing device; uploading an image from a device memory; uploading a photo from a device memory; uploading a video clip from a device memory; selecting a photo from a computerized photo album; selecting an image from a computerized image bank; selecting a video clip from a computerized video clip bank and combinations thereof.

18. A system according to claim 14, wherein said webpage application appears in at least one social network website.

19. A system according to claim 18, wherein said at least one social network website is not said first website.

20. A system according to claim 14, wherein said tag is a visual icon associated with the at least one of a product and a service.

21. A system according to claim 14, wherein said tag is a textual tag associated with the at least one of a product and a service.

22. A system according to claim 14, wherein said software is adapted to provide at least one of the following rewards to said user: a discount on a service price, a discount on a product price; a free service; a free product; a credit point in a credit point system; a bonus, a prize, cash, a right to participate in a raffle and combinations thereof.

23. A system according to claim 20, wherein an application associated with said advertiser of said product or service is adapted to provide said reward.

24. A system according to claim 23, wherein said system is further adapted to charge a commission to said advertiser for said at least one visually-tagged image.

25. A system according to claim 14, further configured to enable a plurality of users to at form said least one visually-tagged image.

26. A system according to claim 14, wherein said at least one service is selected from the group consisting of a food provision service, a drink provision service, a provision travel service, an online service; a clothes provision service; a tourist service, other services and combinations thereof.

27. A computer software product for user-generated commercial content, created by visual tagging, the product comprising a computer-readable medium in which program instructions are stored, which instructions, when read by a computer, cause the computer to:

a) upload at least one image to a webpage;

b) visually tag a tag of at least one of a product and a service onto said at least one image to form at least one visually-tagged image; and c) reward a user associated with the at least one visually-tagged image therefor.

28. A computer software product according to claim 27, further adapted to repeat said steps a-c for a plurality of users.

29. A method for user-generated commercial textual content, performed by visual tagging, the method comprising:

a) visually tagging a tag, which results in publishing a commercial text generated by tagging on a webpage; and

b) rewarding a user associated with the tagged text therefor.

30. A method according to claim 29, wherein the tagging steps is repeated.

31. A method according to claim 29, wherein said commercial text appears in at least one social network website.

32. A method according to claim 29, wherein said commercial text is associated with at least one of a product and a service.

33. A method according to claim 30, wherein a visual icon is associated said commercial text.

34. A method according to claim 29, wherein said rewarding step comprises providing at least one of the following rewards to said user: a discount on a service price, a discount on a product price; a free service; a free product; a credit point in a credit point system; a bonus, a prize, cash, right to participate in a raffle and combinations thereof.

35. A method according to claim 29, wherein an advertiser of said product or service provides said reward.

36. A method according to claim 29, further comprising repeating said steps a-b for a plurality of users.

37. A method according to claim 32, wherein said at least one service is selected from the group consisting of a food provision service, a clrink provision service, a provision travel service, an online service; a clothes provision service; a tourist service, another service, a system-generated service and combinations thereof.

38. A method according claim 1, wherein the tagging is performed for marking an item for trade.

39. A computerized system according to claim 14, wherein said first application is constructed and configured to derive numerous, unrelated social networks applications.

40. A computerized social network application for user-generated content, generated by visual tagging, the network application being constructed and configured to derive numerous, unrelated social networks applications.

41. A computerized social network application according to claim 40, wherein a user accesses said numerous, unrelated social networks applications by performing one downloading activity.

42. A computer software product for user-generated commercial content, generated by visual tagging, the product comprising a computer-readable medium in which program instructions are stored, which instructions, when read by a computer, cause the computer to download numerous unrelated applications responsive to one user-activated downloading activity.