Facilitating user interactions based on proximity
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method for providing functionality based on location-based virtual groups of users of mobile devices, the method comprising:
- creating, by one or more programmed computing systems, a temporary location-based virtual group of users of mobile devices byreceiving information from a user to define the virtual group, the received information including an anchor point with a geographic location around which a geographic area of the virtual group is centered, termination criteria indicating when the virtual group will end, and user interaction rules that specify types of actions that users who are part of the virtual group may take;
receiving a request from a user to join the virtual group, the user having a mobile communication-capable device that provides information regarding a current geographic location of the user; and
determining whether to admit the user to the virtual group based at least in part on the current geographic location of the user being within the geographic area of the virtual group;
automatically providing, by one of the one or more programmed computing systems, functionality to users of the virtual group in accordance with the user interaction rules of the virtual group based at least in part on enabling communications between the mobile communication-capable devices of the users of the virtual group; and
creating, by one of the one or more programmed computing systems, a residual permission group allowing the users of the virtual group to communicate with each other even after termination of the virtual group.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Techniques are described for providing location-based information and functionality to people and computing devices in various ways. In at least some situations, the techniques include enabling multiple people in a common geographic area to interact in various ways, such as via devices capable of communications (e.g., cellular telephones, computing devices with wired and/or wireless communications capabilities, etc.). In addition, the techniques include enabling the creation and maintenance of location-based virtual groups of users (also referred to as “clouds”), such as for users of mobile and/or fixed-location devices. Such clouds may enable various types of interactions between group members, and may be temporary and/or mobile.
42 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for providing functionality based on location-based virtual groups of users of mobile devices, the method comprising:
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creating, by one or more programmed computing systems, a temporary location-based virtual group of users of mobile devices by receiving information from a user to define the virtual group, the received information including an anchor point with a geographic location around which a geographic area of the virtual group is centered, termination criteria indicating when the virtual group will end, and user interaction rules that specify types of actions that users who are part of the virtual group may take; receiving a request from a user to join the virtual group, the user having a mobile communication-capable device that provides information regarding a current geographic location of the user; and determining whether to admit the user to the virtual group based at least in part on the current geographic location of the user being within the geographic area of the virtual group; automatically providing, by one of the one or more programmed computing systems, functionality to users of the virtual group in accordance with the user interaction rules of the virtual group based at least in part on enabling communications between the mobile communication-capable devices of the users of the virtual group; and creating, by one of the one or more programmed computing systems, a residual permission group allowing the users of the virtual group to communicate with each other even after termination of the virtual group. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A system configured to provide functionality based on location-based virtual groups of users of mobile devices, the system comprising:
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one or more processors; and one or more components that are configured o, when executed by the one or more processors; create a temporary location-based virtual group of users of mobile devices by receiving information from a user to define the virtual group, the received information including an anchor point with a geographic location around which a geographic area of the virtual group is centered, termination criteria indicating when the virtual group will end, and user interaction rules that specify types of actions that users who are part of the virtual group may take; receiving requests from a user to join the virtual group, the user having a mobile communication-capable device that provides information regarding a current geographic location of the user; and determining whether to admit the user to the virtual group based at least in part on the current geographic location of the user being within the geographic area of the virtual group; automatically provide functionality to users of the virtual group in accordance with the user interaction rules of the virtual group based at least in part on enabling communications between the mobile communication-capable devices of the users of the virtual group; and create a residual permission group allowing the users of the virtual group to communicate with each other even after termination of the virtual group. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A non-transitory computer-readable medium whose stored contents include instructions that, when executed, configure a computing system to provide functionality based on location-based virtual groups of users of mobile devices by performing a method comprising:
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creating a temporary location-based virtual group of users of mobile devices by receiving information from a user to define the virtual group, the received information including an anchor point with a geographic location around which a geographic area of the virtual group is centered, termination criteria indicating when the virtual group will end, and user interaction rules that specify types of actions that users who are part of the virtual group may take; receiving a request from a user to join the virtual group, the user having a mobile communication-capable device that provides information regarding a current geographic location of the user; and determining whether to admit the user to the virtual group based at least in part on the current geographic location of the user being within the geographic area of the virtual group; automatically providing functionality to users of the virtual group in accordance with the user interaction rules of the virtual group based at least in part on enabling communications between the mobile communication-capable devices of the users of the virtual group; and creating a residual permission group allowing the users of the virtual group to communicate with each other even after termination of the virtual group. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification