Systems and method for configuring mobile device applications based on location

• US 10,117,041 B2
• Filed: 06/12/2017
• Issued: 10/30/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: eBay Inc.
• Original Assignee: eBay Inc.
• Inventors: Lyman, Nate L, Russo, Frank
• Primary Examiner(s): Beamer, Temica M
• Application Number:
  US15/620,132
• Publication Number:
  US 20170280271A1
• Time in Patent Office: 505 Days
• Field of Search: 4554561-4563, 4554221, 4554141-4143
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 Service provisioning or reconfiguring

Abstract

Methods and systems for automatically configuring mobile device applications based on location are described. In an example, methods and systems for enabling contextual in-store experience modification on a mobile device can include capabilities for altering the functionality of a mobile application based at least in part on the location of the mobile device. For example, a mobile shopping application can be configured to perform different functions depending upon the type of retail location the mobile device is currently in. Additionally, the mobile application can be configured to enable different functions between a retail location and a user'"'"'s residence, among other locations.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

monitoring, on a mobile device, a parent geofence that geographically encompasses a plurality of child geofences, each of the child geofences representing a physical location within the parent geofence;

detecting, based at least in part on a first location of the mobile device, entry into a first child geofence of the plurality of child geofences within the parent geofence;

receiving a first user request at the mobile device, the first user request including a request type and a first location identifier based on the first location of the mobile device, the first location identifier identifying the first geofence;

performing a first function in response to the receiving the user request, the performing the first function based on the request type and the first location identifier identifying the first geofence;

detecting, based at least in part on a second location of the mobile device, entry into a second child geofence of the plurality of the child geofences within the parent geofence;

receiving a second user request at the mobile device, the second user request including the request type and a second location identifier based on the second location of the mobile device, the second location identifier identifying the second geofence; and

performing a second function in response to the receiving the second user request, the performing the second function based on the request type and the second location identifier identifying the second geofence.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of child geofences include a corresponding mobile application configuration, the mobile application configuration altering a function performed by an application executed on the mobile device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the monitoring the plurality of child geofences includes monitoring a plurality of types of geofences.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

associating a type of geofence from the plurality of types of geofences with each geofence of the plurality of child geofences; and

assigning a mobile application configuration to each type of geofence of the plurality of types of geofences.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second functions pertain to contextual in-store experiences.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second functions are functions that occur when a product is scanned.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein one of the first or second functions is a function performed in a grocery store.

5. A system comprising:

one or more processors;

a memory including instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the system to perform operations comprising;

monitoring, on a mobile device, a parent geofence that geographically encompasses a plurality of child geofences, each of the child geofences representing a physical location within the parent geofence;

detecting, based at least in part on a first location of the mobile device, entry into a first child geofence of the plurality of child geofences within the parent geofence;

receiving a first user request at the mobile device, the first user request including a request type and a first location identifier based on the first location of the mobile device, the first location identifier identifying the first geofence;

performing a first function in response to the receiving the user request, the performing the first function based on the request type and the first location identifier identifying the first geofence;

detecting, based at least in part on a second location of the mobile device, entry into a second child geofence of the plurality of the child geofences within the parent geofence;

receiving a second user request at the mobile device, the second user request including the request type and a second location identifier based on the second location of the mobile device, the second location identifier identifying the second geofence; and

performing a second function in response to the receiving the second user request, the performing the second function based on the request type and the second location identifier identifying the second geofence.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein each of the plurality of child geofences include a corresponding mobile application configuration, the mobile application configuration altering a function performed by an application executed on the mobile device.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the monitoring the plurality of child geofences includes monitoring a plurality of types of geofences.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the instructions cause the system to perform operations further comprising:

associating a type of geofence from the plurality of types of geofences with each geofence of the plurality of child geofences; and

assigning a mobile application configuration to each type of geofence of the plurality of types of geofences.

16. The system of claim 5, wherein one of the first or second functions pertains to a function associated with a retail location, and the other of the first or second locations pertains to a location other than a retail location.

17. The system of claim 5, wherein one of the first or second functions pertains to a function associated with a residential location, and the other of the first or second locations pertains to a location other than a residential location.

18. The system of claim 5, wherein one of the first or second functions is a function performable in a grocery store.

9. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium including instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a mobile device, cause the mobile device to perform operations comprising:

monitoring, on a mobile device, a parent geofence that geographically encompasses a plurality of child geofences, each of the child geofences representing a physical location within the parent geofence;

detecting, based at least in part on a first location of the mobile device, entry into a first child geofence of the plurality of child geofences within the parent geofence;

receiving a first user request at the mobile device, the first user request including a request type and a first location identifier based on the first location of the mobile device, the first location identifier identifying the first geofence;

performing a first function in response to the receiving the user request, the performing the first function based on the request type and the first location identifier identifying the first geofence;

detecting, based at least in part on a second location of the mobile device, entry into a second child geofence of the plurality of the child geofences within the parent geofence;

receiving a second user request at the mobile device, the second user request including the request type and a second location identifier based on the second location of the mobile device, the second location identifier identifying the second geofence; and

performing a second function in response to the receiving the second user request, the performing the second function based on the request type and the second location identifier identifying the second geofence.

10. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein each of the plurality of child geofences include a corresponding mobile application configuration, the mobile application configuration altering a function performed by an application executed on the mobile device.

11. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the monitoring the plurality of child geofences includes monitoring a plurality of types of geofences.

12. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the instructions cause the mobile device to perform operations further comprising:

associating a type of geofence from the plurality of types of geofences with each geofence of the plurality of child geofences; and

assigning a mobile application configuration to each type of geofence of the plurality of types of geofences.

19. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein one of the first or second functions pertains to a product price comparison between a current location and online options.

20. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein one of the first or second functions presents promotional materials for a product.