Systems and methods for statistical dynamic geofencing

• US 10,380,636 B2
• Filed: 12/06/2012
• Issued: 08/13/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: eBay Inc.
• Original Assignee: eBay Inc.
• Inventors: Polachi, Neala F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sittner, Matthew T
• Assistant Examiner(s): Reinhardt, Richard G
• Application Number:
  US13/707,316
• Publication Number:
  US 20140164118A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,441 Days
• Field of Search: 705 1457, 705 1445, 705 1458, 705 1464, 705 14, 705319, 4554563
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0259 based on store location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location

Abstract

Systems and methods for statistical dynamic geofencing are discussed. For example, a method for statistical dynamic geofencing can include operations such as receiving a location-based campaign request, analyzing demographic data, determining a geofence parameter, generating a geofence, and distributing location-aware advertisements. The location-based campaign request can include a list of points of interest (POIs) and a target demographic parameter. The demographic data can include data from geographic areas surrounding at least a portion of the POIs as well as data related to the target demographic parameter. The geofence can be generated based at least in part on the geofence parameter, where the geofence parameter directly affects either the size or shape of the geofence. The location-aware advertisements are distributed to a plurality of mobile devices determined to be within the geofence.

Claims

1. A method to transmit a publication to mobile devices of a requested target number of users within a statistical dynamic geofence by dynamically changing a size or a shape of the statistical dynamic geofence over the course of a day, the method comprising:

receiving, by a server using one or more processors, a location-based campaign request including a point of interest (POI) and a target demographic parameter, the POI representing a geographical location and the target demographic parameter defining a type of user;

gathering demographic data for a geographic area surrounding the POI, the demographic data including data related to a number of users located within the geographic area at different times;

determining, based on the demographic data for the geographic area, a first population density of users defined by the target demographic parameter that are located within the geographic area during a first portion of the day, and a second population density of users defined by the target demographic parameter that are located within the geographic area during a second portion of the day;

determining, based on the first population density and the requested target number of users defined by the target demographic parameter, a first geofence parameter defining a first size or shape of the statistical dynamic geofence for the geographic area to encompass the requested target number of users defined by the target demographic parameter that are located within bounds of the statistical dynamic geofence defined by the first geofence parameter;

determining, based on the second population density and the requested target number of users defined by the target demographic parameter, a second geofence parameter defining a second size or shape of the statistical dynamic geofence for the geographic area to encompass the requested target number of users defined by the target demographic parameter that are located within bounds of the statistical dynamic geofence defined by the second geofence parameter during the second portion of the day;

during the first portion of the day;

generating the statistical dynamic geofence having the first size or shape defined by the first geofence parameter for the geographic area around the POI; and

transmitting, over a network from the server, first instructions for causing display of the publication on respective user interfaces of mobile devices located within the statistical dynamic geofence at the first size or shape defined by the first geofence parameter; and

during the second portion of the day;

adjusting the statistical dynamic geofence to the second size or shape defined by the second geofence parameter for the geographic area around the POI; and

transmitting, over the network from the server, second instructions for causing display of the publication on respective user interfaces of mobile devices located within the adjusted statistical dynamic geofence at the second size or shape defined by the second geofence parameter.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmission of the first instructions cause display of the publication on respective user interfaces of a first group of mobile devices, and wherein the transmission of the second instructions cause display of the publication on respective user interfaces of a second group of mobile devices.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first group of mobile devices is different than the second group of mobile devices.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

updating the first or second geofence parameter in response to determining that an actual number of users that viewed the publication is less than the requested target number of users.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the updating the first or second geofence parameter adjusts the first or second size or shape of the statistical dynamic geofence in order to increase a predicted number of mobile devices within the statistical dynamic geofence.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the updating the first or second demographic parameters adjusts the first or second shape of the statistical dynamic geofence.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the target demographic parameter is based on one or more parameters describing a minimum income threshold, average income, average education level, active mobile device usage, a density of males, a density of females, or a predefined age range.

8. A server to transmit a publication to mobile devices of a requested target number of users within a statistical dynamic geofence by dynamically changing a size or a shape of the statistical dynamic geofence over the course of a day, the server comprising:

one or more computer processors; and

one or more computer-readable mediums storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more computer processors, cause the server to perform operations comprising;

receiving a location-based campaign request including a point of interest (POI) and a target demographic parameter, the POI representing a geographical location and the target demographic parameter defining a type of user;

gathering demographic data for a geographic area surrounding the POI, the demographic data including data related to a number of users located within the geographic area at different times;

determining, based on the demographic data for the geographic area, a first population density of users defined by the target demographic parameter that are located within the geographic area during a first portion of the day, and a second population density of users defined by the target demographic parameter that are located within the geographic area during a second portion of the day;

determining, based on the first population density and the requested target number of users defined by the target demographic parameter, a first geofence parameter defining a first size or shape of the statistical dynamic geofence for the geographic area to encompass the requested target number of users defined by the target demographic parameter that are located within bounds of the statistical dynamic geofence defined by the first geofence parameter;

determining, based on the second population density and the requested target number of users defined by the target demographic parameter, a second geofence parameter defining a second size or shape of the statistical dynamic geofence for the geographic area to encompass the requested target number of users defined by the target demographic parameter that are located within bounds of the statistical dynamic geofence defined by the second geofence parameter during the second portion of the day;

during the first portion of the day;

generating the statistical dynamic geofence having the first size or shape defined by the first geofence parameter for the geographic area around the POI; and

transmitting, over a network from the server, first instructions for causing display of the publication on respective user interfaces of mobile devices located within the statistical dynamic geofence at the first size or shape defined by the first geofence parameter; and

during the second portion of the day;

adjusting the statistical dynamic geofence to the second size or shape defined by the second geofence parameter for the geographic area around the POI; and

transmitting, over the network from the server, second instructions for causing display of the publication on respective user interfaces of mobile devices located within the adjusted statistical dynamic geofence at the second size or shape defined by the second geofence parameter.

9. The server of claim 8, wherein the transmission of the first instructions cause display of the publication on respective user interfaces of a first group of mobile devices, and wherein the transmission of the second instructions cause display of the publication on respective user interfaces of a second group of mobile devices.

10. The server of claim 9, wherein the first group of mobile devices is different than the second group of mobile devices.

11. The server of claim 9, the operations further comprising:

updating the first or second geofence parameter in response to determining that an actual number of users that viewed the publication is less than the requested target number of users.

12. The server of claim 11, wherein the updating the first or second geofence parameter adjusts the first or second size or shape of the statistical dynamic geofence in order to increase a predicted number of mobile devices within the statistical dynamic geofence.

13. The server of claim 11, wherein the updating the first or second demographic parameters adjusts the first or second shape of the statistical dynamic geofence.

14. The server of claim 8, wherein the target demographic parameter is based on one or more parameters describing a minimum income threshold, average income, average education level, active mobile device usage, a density of males, a density of females, or a predefined age range.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by one or more computer processors of a server, cause the server to perform operations to transmit a publication to mobile devices of a requested target number of users within a statistical dynamic geofence by dynamically changing a size or a shape of the statistical dynamic geofence over the course of a day, the operations comprising:

receiving a location-based campaign request including a point of interest (POI) and a target demographic parameter, the POI representing a geographical location and the target demographic parameter defining a type of user;

gathering demographic data for a geographic area surrounding the POI, the demographic data including data related to a number of users located within the geographic area at different times;

determining, based on the demographic data for the geographic area, a first population density of users defined by the target demographic parameter that are located within the geographic area during a first portion of the day, and a second population density of users defined by the target demographic parameter that are located within the geographic area during a second portion of the day;

determining, based on the first population density and the requested target number of users defined by the target demographic parameter, a first geofence parameter defining a first size or shape of the statistical dynamic geofence for the geographic area to encompass the requested target number of users defined by the target demographic parameter that are located within bounds of the statistical dynamic geofence defined by the first geofence parameter;

determining, based on the second population density and the requested target number of users defined by the target demographic parameter, a second geofence parameter defining a second size or shape of the statistical dynamic geofence for the geographic area to encompass the requested target number of users defined by the target demographic parameter that are located within bounds of the statistical dynamic geofence defined by the second geofence parameter during the second portion of the day;

during the first portion of the day;

generating the statistical dynamic geofence having the first size or shape defined by the first geofence parameter for the geographic area around the POI; and

transmitting, over a network from the server, first instructions for causing display of the publication on respective user interfaces of mobile devices located within the statistical dynamic geofence at the first size or shape defined by the first geofence parameter; and

during the second portion of the day;

adjusting the statistical dynamic geofence to the second size or shape defined by the second geofence parameter for the geographic area around the POI; and

transmitting, over the network from the server, second instructions for causing display of the publication on respective user interfaces of mobile devices located within the adjusted statistical dynamic geofence at the second size or shape defined by the second geofence parameter.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the transmission of the first instructions cause display of the publication on respective user interfaces of a first group of mobile devices, and wherein the transmission of the second instructions cause display of the publication on respective user interfaces of a second group of mobile devices.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the first group of mobile devices is different than the second group of mobile devices.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, the operations further comprising:

updating the first or second geofence parameter in response to determining that an actual number of users that viewed the publication is less than the requested target number of users.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the updating the first or second geofence parameter adjusts the first or second size or shape of the statistical dynamic geofence in order to increase a predicted number of mobile devices within the statistical dynamic geofence.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the updating the first or second demographic parameters adjusts the first or second shape of the statistical dynamic geofence.