Dynamic geofence

• US 10,299,073 B2
• Filed: 11/28/2017
• Issued: 05/21/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Cornwall, Andrew B., DeLuca, Lisa Seacat
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaheed, Khalid W
• Application Number:
  US15/823,989
• Publication Number:
  US 20180192243A1
• Time in Patent Office: 539 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/022 with dynamic range variability
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/025 using location based information parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/00 User notification, e.g. alerting and paging, for incoming communication, change of service or the like

Abstract

Systems, methods and tools for modifying existing geofence notifications using a plurality of overlapping geofences and geo-fencing rules to alter the notification messages as a function of triggering multiple overlapped geofences simultaneously. Triggering the two overlapping geofences may display notifications tied to a special event, marketing campaign or promotion designated by the subsequent geofence overlaying a pre-existing, first geofence. While the second geofence is active, a modified message may be displayed featuring the special event or marketing campaign. Subsequently, after the second geofence has changed locations, deactivated or deleted, the previously existing geofence may revert back to the originally displayed notification prior to mapping the second geofence targeting the special event or promotion.

Claims

1. A method for dynamically displaying geofences comprising the steps of:

creating, by a processor, a moveable parent geofence, wherein the movable parent geofence is broadcasted by a mobile computer system transported by a user having variable location changes as a function of a movement of the user, and wherein the movable parent geofence corresponds to a temporary event having a pre-set duration, expiration date and programmed path of movement;

further creating, by the processor, a first child geofence and a second child geofence;

determining, by the processor, a location of a client device;

triggering, by the processor, a notification as a function of the location of the client device residing within either a boundary of the moveable parent geofence and a boundary of the first child geofence or the boundary of the moveable parent and a boundary of the second child geofence;

displaying, by the processor, the notification as a function of triggering both the moveable parent geofence and the first child geofence or the moveable parent geofence and the second child geofence.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

separately triggering, by the processor, the first child geofence or the second child geofence without triggering the moveable parent geofence; and

displaying, by the processor, a child geofence notification having a different message than the notification displayed by triggering both the moveable parent geofence and first child geofence or the second child geofence.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the notification for triggering both the moveable parent geofence and the first child geofence is different than the notification for triggering the movable parent geofence and the second child geofence.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

triggering, by the processor, both the movable parent geofence and the second child geofence, as a function of the location of the client device; and

displaying, by the processor, the notification via the client device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the moveable parent geofence may alter each child geofence temporarily as each child geofence is overlapped by the parent geofence while the programmed path of movement changes location of the moveable parent geofence.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

removing, by the processor, the parent geofence as a function of the parent geofence reaching the expiration date;

triggering, by the processor, the first child geofence or second child geofence as a function of the location of the client device within the boundary of the first child geofence or the boundary of the second child geofence;

displaying, by the processor, a child geofence notification.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing at least one support service for at least one of creating, integrating, hosting, maintaining, and deploying computer-readable program code in a computer system, where the computer-readable program code in combination with the computer system is configured to implement the steps of creating, further creating, determining, triggering and displaying.

8. A computer system, comprising:

a central processing unit (CPU);

a memory device coupled to the CPU; and

a computer readable storage device coupled to the processor, wherein the storage device contains program code executable by the CPU via the memory device to implement a method for dynamically displaying geofences comprising the steps of;

creating, by the CPU, a moveable parent geofence, wherein the movable parent geofence is broadcasted by a mobile computer system transported by a user having variable location changes as a function of a movement of the user, and wherein the movable parent geofence corresponds to a temporary event having a pre-set duration, expiration date and programmed path of movement;

further creating, by the CPU, a first child geofence and a second child geofence;

determining, by the processor, a location of a client device;

triggering, by the CPU, a notification as a function of the location of the client device residing within either a boundary of the moveable parent geofence and a boundary of the first child geofence or the boundary of the moveable parent and a boundary of the second child geofence;

displaying, by the CPU, the notification as a function of triggering both the moveable parent geofence and the first child geofence or the moveable parent geofence and the second child geofence.

9. The system of claim 8, further performing the steps of:

separately triggering, by the CPU, the first child geofence or the second child geofence without triggering the moveable parent geofence; and

displaying, by the CPU, a child geofence notification having a different message than the notification displayed by triggering both the moveable parent geofence and first child geofence or the second child geofence.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the notification for triggering both the moveable parent geofence and the first child geofence is different than the notification for triggering the movable parent geofence and the second child geofence.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the moveable parent geofence may alter each child geofence temporarily as each child geofence is overlapped by the parent geofence while the programmed path of movement changes location of the moveable parent geofence.

12. The system of claim 8, further comprising the steps of:

removing, by the CPU, the parent geofence as a function of the parent geofence reaching the expiration date;

triggering, by the CPU, the first child geofence or second child geofence as a function of the location of the client device within the boundary of the first child geofence or the boundary of the second child geofence;

displaying, by the CPU, a child geofence notification.

13. A computer program product comprising:

one or more computer readable hardware storage devices having computer readable program code stored therein, said program code containing instructions executable by the one or more central processing units (CPU) to implement a method for dynamically displaying geofences comprising the steps of;

creating, by the CPU, a moveable parent geofence, wherein the movable parent geofence is broadcasted by a mobile computer system transported by a user having variable location changes as a function of a movement of the user, and wherein the movable parent geofence corresponds to a temporary event having a pre-set duration, expiration date and programmed path of movement;

further creating, by the CPU, a first child geofence and a second child geofence;

determining, by the processor, a location of a client device;

triggering, by the CPU, a notification as a function of the location of the client device residing within either a boundary of the moveable parent geofence and a boundary of the first child geofence or the boundary of the moveable parent and a boundary of the second child geofence;

displaying, by the CPU, the notification as a function of triggering both the moveable parent geofence and the first child geofence or the moveable parent geofence and the second child geofence.

14. The computer program product of claim 13, further performing the steps of:

separately triggering, by the CPU, the first child geofence or the second child geofence without triggering the moveable parent geofence; and

displaying, by the CPU, a child geofence notification having a different message than the notification displayed by triggering both the moveable parent geofence and first child geofence or the second child geofence.

15. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the notification for triggering both the moveable parent geofence and the first child geofence is different than the notification for triggering the movable parent geofence and the second child geofence.

16. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the moveable parent geofence may alter each child geofence temporarily as each child geofence is overlapped by the parent geofence while the programmed path of movement changes location of the moveable parent geofence.

17. The computer program product of claim 13, further comprising the steps of:

removing, by the CPU, the parent geofence as a function of the parent geofence reaching the expiration date;

triggering, by the CPU, the first child geofence or second child geofence as a function of the location of the client device within the boundary of the first child geofence or the boundary of the second child geofence;

displaying, by the CPU, a child geofence notification.