Social aggregation communications

• US 10,445,775 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2016
• Issued: 10/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Oath Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Watfa, Allie K., Nussel, Dale, Kilroy, Jonathan
• Primary Examiner(s): Stoltenberg, David J
• Application Number:
  US15/283,244
• Publication Number:
  US 20170017996A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,110 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0252 based on events or environment, e.g. weather or festivals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices

Abstract

The present invention provides techniques for utilizing opportunities presented by events and social gatherings, such as online advertisement targeting and communications related opportunities. Techniques are provided in which information is obtained that provides an indication that a set of users, including mobile electronic device users, are in a specified area, and indicating that at least some of the set of users are at a particular event or gathering. A virtual user grouping may be formed, and communications between users of the grouping is facilitated, based at least in part on the particular event or gathering.

Claims

1. A computerized method comprising:

obtaining first information related to a set of electronic device users being within a specified area;

obtaining second information related to at least some of the set of electronic device users being at a particular event or gathering;

determining a snapshot frequency, wherein the snapshot frequency corresponds to a frequency of checking information regarding one or more electronic device users in the specified area;

responsive to the snapshot frequency meeting a threshold, forming a virtual grouping based on the first information and the second information; and

inviting at least one electronic device user entering the specified area after formation of the virtual grouping to join the virtual grouping.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising utilizing the virtual grouping in facilitating text or chat communications between mobile or electronic devices of at least some of the set of electronic device users and utilizing the virtual grouping in facilitating providing advertisements to at least some of the set of electronic device users.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein electronic device users leaving the specified area or communicating a desire to leave the specified area can be removed from the virtual grouping, and wherein the virtual grouping is removed if fewer than a specified number of electronic device users are determined to be in the specified area.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising forming a virtual grouping of electronic device users in the specified area, and comprising utilizing the virtual grouping in facilitating communications between electronic device users of the set of electronic device users, wherein at least some of the communications are related, to the particular event or gathering.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising taking snapshots in time of electronic device users in the virtual grouping or in the specified area.

6. The method of claim 1, comprising forming the virtual grouping of electronic device users in the specified area, and comprising making at least some electronic device users at the gathering or event aware of presence of at least some other electronic device users at the gathering or event.

7. The method of claim 1, comprising targeting at least some of the set of electronic device users with at least one online advertisement, wherein the targeting is based at least in part on the particular event or gathering.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the first information comprises utilizing information relating to locations of mobile or electronic devices.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the first information comprises utilizing information relating to locations of mobile or electronic devices and information relating to locations of desktop computers.

10. The method of claim 1, comprising forming a virtual grouping of users in the specified area, wherein the virtual grouping remains during a period of time during which one or more threshold parameters appear to be satisfied, and wherein at least one of threshold parameters specifies a minimum number of users being in the specified area.

11. The method of claim 1, comprising forming a virtual grouping of users in the specified area, wherein the virtual grouping remains during a period of time during which one or more threshold parameters appear to be satisfied, and wherein at least one of threshold parameters specifies a minimum number of users being in the specified area, and wherein parameter information, including number of users in the specified area, is obtained at periodic intervals.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the second information

comprises obtaining information relating to time and duration of stay, of at least some of the set of electronic device users within the specified area.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the second information

comprises obtaining information relating to time and duration of stay, of at least some of the set of electronic device users within the specified area reaching or exceeding a specified threshold.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the second information comprises obtaining information relating to time and duration of stay of at least some of the set of electronic device users within the specified area reaching or exceeding a specified threshold, and wherein at least one parameter of the threshold is associated with population density associated with a region including the specified area.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the second information comprises obtaining information regarding an event or gathering occurring at least partially within the specified area.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the second information comprises obtaining information regarding an event or gathering occurring at least partially within the specified area, and wherein information regarding the particular event or gathering is provided by an event or gathering planner.

17. A system comprising:

one or more server computers coupled to a network; and

one or more databases coupled to the one or more server computers;

wherein the one or more server computers are for;

obtaining first information related to a set of electronic device users being within a specified area;

obtaining second information related to at least some of the set of electronic device users being at a particular event or gathering;

forming a virtual grouping based on the first information and the second information;

inviting at least one electronic device user entering the specified area after formation of the virtual grouping to join the virtual grouping;

determining a social substructure associated with the virtual grouping based upon roles of one or more electronic device users associated with the virtual grouping; and

facilitating communications between two or more electronic devices associated with the virtual grouping based upon the social substructure, wherein the facilitating communications comprises providing a first electronic device user with at least one of a first communication capability or a first privilege based upon a first role of the first electronic device user and providing a second electronic device user with at least one of a second communication capability or a second privilege based upon a second role of the second electronic device user.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the first role is different than the second role.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein electronic device users leaving the specified area or communicating a desire to leave the specified area can be removed from the virtual grouping, and wherein the virtual grouping is removed if fewer than a specified number of electronic device users are determined to be in the specified area.

20. A non-transitory computer readable medium or media containing instructions for executing a computerized method comprising:

obtaining first information related to a set of electronic device users being within a specified area;

obtaining second information related to at least some of the set of electronic device users being at a particular event or gathering;

determining a pertinent area size weighting based upon a size of the specified area;

forming a virtual grouping based on the pertinent area size weighting, the first information and the second information; and

inviting at least one electronic device user entering the specified area after formation of the virtual grouping to join the virtual grouping.