Methods, devices, and systems for providing interactive virtual events

Abstract

Methods, devices, and systems are disclosed for providing an interactive virtual event to a plurality of participants. According to one embodiment, a computer implemented method includes providing a first participant graphical user interface (GUI) to a first participant client device of the interactive virtual event, providing a second participant GUI to a second participant client device of the interactive virtual event, providing a first production control GUI to a first event coordinator, receiving first participant audio/video (A/V) data from the first participant client device in near real-time, receiving second participant A/V data from the second participant client device in near real-time, providing the first participant A/V data to the first production control GUI, transmitting the first participant A/V data to a plurality of participant client devices associated with the plurality of participants, and providing the second participant A/V data to the first production control GUI.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method for providing an interactive virtual event to a plurality of participants, the computer-implemented method comprising:
 providing a first participant graphical user interface (GUI) to a first participant client device of the interactive virtual event;   providing a second participant GUI to a second participant client device of the interactive virtual event;   providing a first production control GUI to a first event coordinator;   receiving first participant audio/video (A/V) data from the first participant client device in near real-time;   receiving second participant A/V data from the second participant client device in near real-time;   providing the first participant A/V data to the first production control GUI;   transmitting the first participant A/V data to a plurality of participant client devices associated with the plurality of participants; and   providing the second participant A/V data to the first production control GUI.   
     
     
         2 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1  further comprising transmitting at least a portion of the first participant A/V data to a first plurality of participant client devices, wherein the first production control GUI is configured to facilitate the first event coordinator in:
 providing two-way communication between the first event coordinator and a second participant using the second participant client device; 
 prequalifying the second participant A/V data including determining a video quality level and an audio quality level of the second participant A/V data; 
 initiating transmission of the second participant A/V data to the first plurality of participant client devices; and 
 terminating transmission of the first participant A/V data to the first plurality of participant client devices. 
 
     
     
         3 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 2 , wherein the first production control GUI is further configured to facilitate the first event coordinator in:
 selecting first supplemental content associated with the first participant A/V data to be provided to the first plurality of participant client devices simultaneously with the first participant A/V data; and   selecting second supplemental content associated with the second participant A/V data to be provided to the first plurality of participant client devices simultaneously with the second participant A/V data.   
     
     
         4 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the first supplemental content is at least one of an overlay, a slideshow, and a prerecorded video; and   the second supplemental content is at least one of an overlay, a slideshow, and a prerecorded video.   
     
     
         5 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the first supplemental content is selected from a first supplemental content list associated with the first participant A/V data and the first supplemental content list is displayed on the first production control GUI; and   the second supplemental content is selected from a second supplemental content list associated with the second participant A/V data and the second supplemental content list is displayed on the first production control GUI.   
     
     
         6 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 3  further comprising providing a second production control GUI and the second production control GUI is configured to facilitate a second event coordinator in:
 providing two-way communication between the second event coordinator and the second participant using the second participant client device; 
 prequalifying the second participant A/V data including determining the video quality level and the audio quality level of the second participant A/V data; 
 initiating transmission of the second participant A/V data to the first plurality of participant client devices; 
 terminating transmission of the first participant A/V data to the first plurality of participant client devices; 
 selecting the first supplemental content associated with the first participant A/V data to be provided to the first plurality of participant client devices simultaneously with the first participant A/V data; and 
 selecting the second supplemental content associated with the second participant A/V data to be provided to the first plurality of participant client devices simultaneously with the first participant A/V data. 
 
     
     
         7 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the interactive virtual event is at least one of a corporate event, a private event, and a charity event. 
     
     
         8 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the interactive virtual event is at least one of a corporate conference, an industry trade show, a seminar, and a product launch. 
     
     
         9 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1  further comprising providing a participant GUI to each participant client device of the plurality of participant client devices, wherein the participant GUI is configured to provide a main virtual event selection and at least one of a virtual lounge selection, a virtual photo booth selection, and a donation webpage selection. 
     
     
         10 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 9 , wherein the main virtual event selection configures the participant GUI to display a primary A/V stream for the interactive virtual event. 
     
     
         11 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 10 , wherein the donation webpage selection configures the participant GUI to display a primary window having a plurality of donation selections for making a contribution related to the interactive virtual event and a secondary window displaying the primary A/V stream; and a secondary window for chat. 
     
     
         12 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of donation selections include at least two of:
 a one-time donation;   a recurring donation; and   a preselection amount.   
     
     
         13 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 10 , wherein the virtual photo booth selection configures the participant GUI for inviting one or more participants of the plurality of participants to capture a group photo. 
     
     
         14 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 13 , wherein the virtual photo booth selection further configures the participant GUI for selecting a group background for the group photo from a plurality of backgrounds. 
     
     
         15 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 10 , wherein the virtual lounge selection configures the participant GUI for selecting a plurality of virtual lounge options including a plurality of virtual meeting rooms. 
     
     
         16 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 15 , wherein each room of the plurality of virtual meetings rooms is specific to a unique topic. 
     
     
         17 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 16 , wherein each unique topic is related to a theme of the interactive virtual event. 
     
     
         18 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 15 , wherein the virtual lounge selection further configures the participant GUI for A/V communication with one or more participants of the plurality of participants having previously selected the virtual lounge option. 
     
     
         19 . A server for providing for providing an interactive virtual event to a plurality of participants, the server comprising:
 a memory; and   at least one processor configured for:
 providing a first participant graphical user interface (GUI) to a first participant client device of the interactive virtual event; 
 providing a second participant GUI to a second participant client device of the interactive virtual event; 
 providing a first production control GUI to a first event coordinator; 
 receiving first participant audio/video (A/V) data from the first participant client device in near real-time; 
 receiving second participant A/V data from the second participant client device in near real-time; 
 providing the first participant A/V data to the first production control GUI; 
 transmitting at least a portion of the first participant A/V data to a first plurality of participant client devices; and 
 providing the second participant A/V data to the first production control GUI. 
   
     
     
         20 . A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising a plurality of machine-readable instructions which when executed by one or more processors of a server are adapted to cause the server to perform a method of providing an interactive virtual event to a plurality of participants, the method comprising:
 providing a first participant graphical user interface (GUI) to a first participant client device of the interactive virtual event;   providing a second participant GUI to a second participant client device of the interactive virtual event;   providing a first production control GUI to a first event coordinator;   receiving first participant audio/video (A/V) data from the first participant client device in near real-time;   receiving second participant A/V data from the second participant client device in near real-time;   providing the first participant A/V data to the first production control GUI;   transmitting at least a portion of the first participant A/V data to a first plurality of participant client devices; and   providing the second participant A/V data to the first production control GUI.