Systems and methods to attribute real-world visits of physical business locations by a user of a wireless device to targeted digital content or publicly displayed physical content previously viewable by the user

• US 10,332,152 B2
• Filed: 03/17/2017
• Issued: 06/25/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Inventors: Busch, James David
• Primary Examiner(s): Batista, Marcos
• Application Number:
  US15/462,687
• Publication Number:
  US 20170193553A1
• Time in Patent Office: 830 Days
• Field of Search: 4554561-4563, 370338
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9537 Spatial or temporal dependent retrieval, e.g. spatiotemporal queries
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/322 Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3224 Transactions dependent on location of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/384 using social networks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0205 Location or geographical consideration
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0224 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0233 Method of redeeming a frequent usage reward
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0236 Incentive or reward received by requiring registration or ID from user
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0245 Surveys
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0255 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0256 User search
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0282 Rating or review of business operators or products
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 including a GPS signal receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/025 : using location based information parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 : Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/30 : Services specially adapted for particular environments, situations or purposes
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/38 : for collecting sensor information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 : Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

Methods and systems that record the location of a user and transmit targeted content to a user based upon their current and past location information. A network is configured to include a server programmed with a database of targeted content, a database of location information, a database of user information, a database searching algorithm, and a wireless communication system capable of communicating with the user'"'"'s mobile device. The location of the mobile device is ascertained and recorded. The location information is analyzed to determine the routes taken by the user, businesses visited by the user, and other behaviors of the user. Targeted content is sent to the mobile device of the user or exposure to physical content is tracked. Whether the user visits the physical locations associated with the content is monitored. Detailed conversion tracking is provided to producers of targeted content and business owners.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

storing, by a computing system, one or more coordinates associated with an establishment, wherein the one or more coordinates are configured to define a perimeter of the establishment;

determining, by the computing system, the perimeter of the establishment using the one or more coordinates associated with the establishment;

receiving, by the computing system, location data from a wireless device of a user, the location data being associated with a time;

determining, by the computing system, that the user was located at the establishment at the time associated with the location data using the location data and the determined perimeter of the establishment;

determining, by the computing system, that the user was substantially stationary at the establishment for a predetermined duration;

accessing, by the computing system, historical data indicating one or more past establishments that were visited by the user prior to the time associated with the location data;

identifying, by the computing system, one or more second establishments located within a threshold distance from the user based on at least an analysis of the historical data and the determined establishment at which the user was substantially stationary for the predetermined duration; and

transmitting, by the computing system, information associated with the one or more second establishments to the wireless device of the user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining of the perimeter of the establishment comprises determining a perimeter shape.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, by the computing system, that the establishment has one or more floors;

receiving, by the computing system, altitude data from the wireless device of the user; and

identifying, by the computing system, one of the floors on which the user is located based on the altitude data.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that the user is walking based on a travel speed of the user, and determining a first threshold distance when the user is walking; and

determining that the user is driving based on the travel speed of the user, and determining a second threshold distance when the user is driving, wherein the first threshold distance is smaller than the second threshold distance.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, by the computing system, a travel direction of the user based on additional location data from the wireless device of the user; and

identifying, by the computing system, the one or more second establishments located in the travel direction of the user.

6. One or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media comprising software that is operable when executed by a computing system to:

store one or more coordinates associated with an establishment, wherein the one or more coordinates are configured to be used to define a perimeter of the establishment;

determine the perimeter of the establishment using the one or more coordinates associated with the establishment;

receive location data from a wireless device of a user, the location data being associated with a time;

determine that the user was located at the establishment at the time associated with the location data using the location data using the location data and the determined perimeter of the establishment;

determine that the user was substantially stationary at the establishment for a predetermined duration;

access historical data indicating one or more past establishments that were visited by the user prior to the time associated with the location data;

identify one or more second establishments located within a threshold distance from the user based on at least an analysis of the historical data and the determined establishment at which the user was substantially stationary for the predetermined duration; and

transmit information associated with the one or more second establishments to the wireless device of the user.

7. The media of claim 6, wherein the determining of the perimeter of the establishment comprises determining a perimeter shape.

8. The media of claim 6, wherein the software is further operable when executed to:

determine that the establishment has one or more floors;

receive altitude data from the wireless device of the user; and

identify one of the floors on which the user is located based on the altitude data.

9. The media of claim 6, wherein the software is further operable when executed to:

determine that the user is walking based on a travel speed of the user, and determine a first threshold distance when the user is walking; and

determine that the user is driving based on the travel speed of the user, and determine a second threshold distance when the user is driving, wherein the first threshold distance is smaller than the second threshold distance.

10. The media of claim 6, wherein the software is further operable when executed to:

determine a travel direction of the user based on additional location data from the wireless device of the user; and

identify the one or more second establishments located in the travel direction of the user.

11. A system comprising:

one or more processors; and

one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media coupled to one or more of the processors and comprising instructions operable when executed by one or more of the processors to cause the system to;

store one or more coordinates associated with an establishment, wherein the one or more coordinates are configured to be used to define a perimeter of the establishment;

determine the perimeter of the establishment using the one or more coordinates associated with the establishment;

receive location data from a wireless device of a user, the location data being associated with a time;

determine that the user was located at the establishment at the time associated with the location data using the location data using the location data and the determined perimeter of the establishment;

determine that the user was substantially stationary at the establishment for a predetermined duration;

access historical data indicating one or more past establishments that were visited by the user prior to the time associated with the location data;

identify one or more second establishments located within a threshold distance from the user based on at least an analysis of the historical data and the determined establishment at which the user was substantially stationary for the predetermined duration; and

transmit information associated with the one or more second establishments to the wireless device of the user.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the determining of the perimeter of the establishment comprises determining a perimeter shape.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the instructions are further operable when executed by one or more of the processors to cause the system to:

determine that the establishment has one or more floors;

receive altitude data from the wireless device of the user; and

identify one of the floors on which the user is located based on the altitude data.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the instructions are further operable when executed by one or more of the processors to cause the system to:

determine that the user is walking based on a travel speed of the user, and determine a first threshold distance when the user is walking; and

determine that the user is driving based on the travel speed of the user, and determine a second threshold distance when the user is driving, wherein the first threshold distance is smaller than the second threshold distance.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the instructions are further operable when executed by one or more of the processors to cause the system to:

determine a travel direction of the user based on additional location data from the wireless device of the user; and

identify the one or more second establishments located in the travel direction of the user.