GEOGRAPHIC POSITION BASED REWARD SYSTEM

• US 20100240399A1
• Filed: 03/18/2009
• Published: 09/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smith Micro Software Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Wavemarket Incorporated (Gen Digital Inc.)
• Inventors: Saunkeah, Gabriel, Grossman, Joel, Roumeliotis, Tasos, Bernstein, Jacqueline Allison, Hotes, Scott
• Granted Patent: US 8,145,240 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.300
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/022 with dynamic range variability
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 Service provisioning or reconfiguring

Abstract

A computer-implemented method of rewarding a user based on compliance with predetermined geographic limitations is provided. The method includes receiving from a first user and storing an indication of one or more geographic areas. Mobile device location information of a user mobile device associated with a second user is received from the user mobile device or a remote telecommunication carrier server in communication with the user mobile device. The mobile device location information is compared with the indication of the one or more geographic areas. An indication of a reward is transmitted to the user mobile device based on the comparison of the mobile device location information and the indication of the one or more geographic areas. Systems for rewarding a user based on compliance with predetermined geographic limitations are also provided.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of rewarding a user based on compliance with predetermined geographic limitations comprising:

receiving from a first user and storing an indication of at least one geographic area;

receiving mobile device location information of a user mobile device associated with a second user from at least one of the user mobile device and a remote telecommunication carrier server in communication with the user mobile device;

comparing the mobile device location information with the indication of the at least one geographic area; and

transmitting an indication of a reward to the user mobile device based on the comparison of the mobile device location information and the indication of the at least one geographic area.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving from the first user an indication of at least one disallowable geographic area;

receiving from the first user an indication of a predetermined period of time; and

transmitting the indication of a reward to the user mobile device based on a failure of the user mobile device to enter the disallowable geographic area during the predetermined period of time as indicated by the mobile device location information.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving from the first user an indication of at least one allowable geographic area;

receiving from the first user an indication of a predetermined period of time; and

transmitting the indication of a reward to the user mobile device based on a failure of the mobile device to exit the allowable geographic area during the predetermined period of time as indicated by the mobile device location information.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating an indication of at least one extended area comprising a footprint area including at least one predetermined point of interest, the footprint area being in contact with the at least one geographic area; and

transmitting the indication of a reward to the user mobile device based on the comparison of the mobile device location information and the indication of the at least one extended area.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving from the first user an indication of at least one allowable point of interest type;

associating the at least one allowable point of interest type with at least one predetermined point of interest;

generating an indication of at least one extended area comprising a footprint area including the at least one predetermined point of interest, the footprint area being in contact with the at least one geographic area; and

transmitting the indication of a reward to the user mobile device based on the comparison of the mobile device location information and the indication of the at least one extended area.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising receiving from the first user an indication of at least one disallowable geographic area;

receiving from the first user an indication of a plurality of predetermined periods of time;

logging a plurality of failures of the mobile device to enter the disallowable geographic area during the plurality of predetermined periods of time as indicated by the mobile device location information; and

transmitting the indication of a reward to the user mobile device in response to logging a predetermined number of the plurality of failures of the mobile device to enter the disallowable geographic area.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising

receiving from the first user an indication of at least one allowable geographic area;

receiving from the first user an indication of at least one predetermined period of time;

logging a duration of time in which the mobile device maintains a continuous presence in the allowable geographic area during the at least one predetermined period of time as indicated by the mobile device location information; and

transmitting the indication of a reward to the user mobile device in response to logging a predetermined value of the duration of time in which the mobile device maintains a continuous presence in the allowable geographic area.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising

receiving from the first user an indication of at least one allowable geographic area;

receiving from the first user an indication of at least one predetermined period of time;

logging at least one failure of the mobile device to exit the allowable geographic area during the at least one predetermined period of time as indicated by the mobile device location information; and

transmitting the indication of a reward to the user mobile device in response to logging the at least one failure of the mobile device to exit the allowable geographic area during the at least one predetermined period of time.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, further comprising transmitting an indication to a remote value server to transmit value from a first account associated with the first user to a second account associated with the second user in response to logging the at least one failure of the mobile device to exit the allowable geographic area during the at least one predetermined period of time.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting an indication to a remote value server to transmit value from a first account associated with the first user to a second account associated with the second user in response to logging the at least one failure of the mobile device to exit the allowable geographic area during the at least one predetermined period of time.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting at least one digital good to the user mobile device based on the comparison of the mobile device location information and the indication of the at least one geographic area.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting an instruction to a telecommunication carrier account privileges infrastructure to adjust communication permissions of the user mobile device based on the comparison of the mobile device location information and the indication of the at least one geographic area.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting an indication to a remote value server to transmit value from a first account associated with the first user to a second account associated with the second user based on the comparison of the mobile device location information and the indication of the at least one geographic area.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting an indication to a remote banking server to transmit monetary value from a first account associated with the first user to a second account associated with the second user based on the comparison of the mobile device location information and the indication of the at least one geographic area.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting the indication of a reward to the mobile device as an indication of redeemable value.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving from the first user an indication of a first allowable geographic area;

receiving from the first user an indication of a second allowable geographic area;

receiving from the first user an indication of at least one predetermined period of time;

logging at least one failure of the mobile device to exit the first allowable geographic area during the at least one predetermined period of time as indicated by the mobile device location information;

transmitting an indication of a first reward to the user mobile device comprising an identification of the second allowable geographic area in response to logging the at least one failure of the mobile device to exit the first allowable geographic area during the at least one predetermined period of time;

logging at least one failure of the mobile device to exit the first allowable geographic area and the second allowable geographic area during the at least one predetermined period of time as indicated by the mobile device location information; and

transmitting an indication of a second reward following the indication of the first reward to the user mobile device in response to logging the at least one failure of the mobile device to exit the first allowable geographic area and the second allowable geographic area during the at least one predetermined period of time.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising

receiving from the first user an indication of at least one allowable geographic area;

receiving from the first user an indication of a first predetermined period of time;

receiving from the first user an indication of a second predetermined period of time;

logging at least one failure of the mobile device to exit the at least one allowable geographic area during the first predetermined period of time as indicated by the mobile device location information;

transmitting an indication of a first reward to the user mobile device comprising an identification of the second predetermined period of time in response to logging the at least one failure of the mobile device to exit the at least one allowable geographic area during the first predetermined period of time;

logging at least one failure of the mobile device to exit the at least one allowable geographic area during the second predetermined period of time as indicated by the mobile device location information following the transmission of the indication of the first reward; and

transmitting an indication of a second reward following the indication of the first reward to the user mobile device in response to logging the at least one failure of the mobile device to exit the at least one allowable geographic area during the second predetermined period of time.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising

receiving from the first user an indication of at least one allowable geographic area;

receiving from the first user an indication of a plurality of predetermined periods of time;

logging at least one failure of the mobile device to exit the at least one allowable geographic area during at least one of the plurality of periods of time as indicated by the mobile device location information;

transmitting an indication of at least one reward to the user mobile device comprising an identification of at least another one of the plurality of predetermined periods of time in response to logging the at least one failure of the mobile device to exit the at least one allowable geographic area during the at least one of the plurality of predetermined periods of time;

logging at least one failure of the mobile device to exit the at least one allowable geographic area during at least another one of the plurality of predetermined periods of time as indicated by the mobile device location information following the transmission of the indication of the at least one reward; and

transmitting an indication of at least another reward following the indication of the at least one reward to the user mobile device in response to logging the at least one failure of the mobile device to exit the at least one allowable geographic area during the least another one of the plurality of predetermined periods of time.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving from the first user information comprising a rules set for modifying the indication of at least one geographic area;

modifying the indication of the at least one geographic area based on the comparison of the mobile device location information and the indication of the at least one geographic area to produce an indication of an at least one modified geographic area in accordance with the rules set;

comparing the mobile device location information with the indication of the at least one modified geographic area; and

transmitting the indication of a reward to the user mobile device based on the comparison of the mobile device location information and the indication of the at least one modified geographic area.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving information comprising an indication of a plurality of positions of the user mobile device, wherein each of the plurality of positions is associated with a time of position recordation;

determining at least one average speed of the user mobile device based on the indication of the plurality of positions and the associated times of position recordation; and

transmitting the indication of a reward in response to determining that the at least one average speed does not exceed a predetermined maximum speed associated with the at least one geographic area.

21. The computer-implemented method of claim 20, further comprising:

receiving from the first user information comprising a rules set for modifying the indication of at least one geographic area;

modifying the indication of the at least one geographic area based on the determining that the at least one average speed does not exceed a predetermined maximum speed associated with the at least one geographic area to produce an indication of an at least one modified geographic area larger than the at least one geographic area in accordance with the rules set;

comparing the mobile device location information with the indication of the at least one modified geographic area; and

transmitting another indication of a reward to the user mobile device in response to the user mobile device not exiting the at least one modified geographic area as indicated by the mobile device location information.

22. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting the indication of a reward comprises transmitting at least one of a commendation, a rebuke, and a notification.

23. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving from the first user an indication of a plurality of geographic areas and a plurality of periods of time, wherein each of the plurality of geographic areas corresponds to a respective one of the plurality of periods of time;

generating a plurality of time-based geographic area designations from the indication of the plurality of geographic areas corresponding to the respective ones of the plurality of periods of time received from the first user;

receiving the mobile device location information as a plurality of positions of the user mobile device corresponding to respective times of position recordation;

comparing the time-based geographic area designations with the plurality of positions of the user mobile device as corresponding to respective times of position recordation; and

transmitting the indication of a reward to the user mobile device based on the comparison of the time-based geographic area designations with the plurality of positions of the user mobile device as corresponding to respective times of position recordation.

24. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving from the first user an indication of a plurality of allowable geographic areas and a plurality of periods of time, wherein each of the plurality of allowable geographic areas corresponds to a respective one of the plurality of periods of time;

generating a plurality of time-based allowable geographic area designations from the indication of the plurality of allowable geographic areas corresponding to the respective ones of the plurality of periods of time received from the first user;

receiving the mobile device location information as a plurality of positions of the user mobile device corresponding to respective times of position recordation;

comparing the time-based allowable geographic area designations with the plurality of positions of the user mobile device as corresponding to respective times of position recordation to determine a user mobile device compliance with the plurality of time-based allowable geographic area designations; and

transmitting the indication of a reward to the user mobile device based on the user mobile device compliance with the time-based allowable geographic area designation.

25. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving from the first user an indication of a predetermined period of time; and

receiving the indication of at least one geographic area as an indication of at least one dynamic geographic area, wherein at least one of a position and a shape of the at least one dynamic geographic area is changeable during the predetermined period of time.

26. The computer-implemented method of claim 25, further comprising:

receiving the indication of at least one geographic area as an indication of an allowable geographic area determinable as a function of a position of another user mobile device associated with the first user;

receiving mobile device location information of the another user mobile device;

determining the allowable geographic area based on a position of the another user mobile device;

modifying the allowable geographic area based on a change in a position of the another user mobile device; and

transmitting the indication of a reward to the user mobile device associated with the second user based on a failure of the user mobile device associated with the second user to exit the allowable geographic area during the predetermined period of time as indicated by the mobile device location information.

27. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving the indication of at least one geographic area as an indication of a dynamic geographic area determinable as a function of a position of another user mobile device;

receiving mobile device location information of the another user mobile device;

determining the dynamic geographic area based on a position of the another user mobile device;

modifying the dynamic geographic area based on a change in a position of the another user mobile device; and

transmitting the indication of a reward to the user mobile device associated with the second user as a notification based on at least one of the user mobile device entering and exiting the dynamic geographic area during the predetermined period of time as indicated by the mobile device location information.

28. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving from the first user an indication of a predetermined period of time;

receiving from the first user at least one of an indication of a predetermined number of permitted exits from the at least one geographic area and an indication of a predetermined number of permitted entrances into the at least one geographic area; and

transmitting the indication of a reward to the user mobile device in response to the user mobile device exceeding at least one of the predetermined number of permitted exits from and the predetermined number of permitted entrances into the at least one geographic area during the predetermined period of time as indicated by the mobile device location information;

wherein the transmitting the indication of a reward comprises transmitting at least one of a commendation and a rebuke.

29. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving from the first user an indication of a first geographic area corresponding to a first predetermined period of time and an indication of a second geographic area corresponding to a second predetermined period of time;

comparing the mobile device location information with the indication of the first geographic area during the first predetermined period of time;

comparing the mobile device location information with the indication of the second geographic area during the second predetermined period of time; and

transmitting the indication of a reward to the user mobile device based on the comparison during the first predetermined period of time and the comparison during the second predetermined period of time.

30. The computer-implemented method of claim 29, further comprising:

receiving from the first user the indication of a first geographic area corresponding to a first daily-recurring predetermined period of time and an indication of a second geographic area corresponding to a second daily-recurring predetermined period of time;

comparing the mobile device location information with the indication of the first geographic area during the first daily-recurring predetermined period of time;

comparing the mobile device location information with the indication of the second geographic area during the second daily-recurring predetermined period of time; and

transmitting the indication of a reward to the user mobile device based on the comparison during the first daily-recurring predetermined period of time and the comparison during the second daily-recurring predetermined period of time.

31. A system for rewarding a user based on compliance with predetermined geographic limitations comprising at least one computing device including at least one memory comprising instructions operable to enable the computing device to perform a procedure comprising:

receiving from a first user and storing an indication of at least one allowable geographic area associated with a second user;

receiving from the first user an indication of at least one predetermined period of time;

receiving mobile device location information of a user mobile device associated with the second user from at least one of the user mobile device and a remote telecommunication carrier server in communication with the user mobile device;

logging at least one failure of the mobile device to exit the allowable geographic area during the at least one predetermined period of time as indicated by the mobile device location information; and

transmitting an indication of a reward to the user mobile device in response to logging the at least one failure of the mobile device to exit the allowable geographic area during the at least one predetermined period of time.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the memory further includes instructions operable to enable the computing device to perform a procedure comprising:

receiving from the first user an indication of at least one allowable point of interest type;

associating a plurality of points of interest with the at least one allowable point of interest type;

generating an indication of at least one extended area comprising an area defined by the at least one of the plurality of points of interest in contact with the allowable geographic area; and

extending the indication of the allowable geographic area to include the at least one extended area.

33. A system for rewarding a user based on compliance with predetermined geographic limitations comprising at least one computing device including at least one memory comprising instructions operable to enable the computing device to perform a procedure comprising:

receiving and storing an indication of at least one geographic area;

receiving mobile device location information of a user mobile device associated with a user;

comparing the mobile device location information with the indication of the at least one geographic area; and

generating an indication of a reward based on the comparison of the mobile device location information and the indication of the at least one geographic area.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the memory further includes instructions operable to enable the computing device to perform a procedure comprising:

receiving an indication of at least one disallowable geographic area;

receiving an indication of a predetermined period of time; and

generating the indication of a reward based on a failure of the user mobile device to enter the disallowable geographic area during the predetermined period of time as indicated by the mobile device location information.

35. The system of claim 33, wherein the memory further includes instructions operable to enable the computing device to perform a procedure comprising:

generating the indication of a reward as an indication of redeemable value;

receiving a request for the indication of redeemable value; and

transmitting the indication of redeemable value in response to the request.

36. The system of claim 33, wherein the memory further includes instructions operable to enable the computing device to perform a procedure comprising:

generating at least one of a path, an elliptical geographic area, a circular geographic area, and a polygonal geographic area based on the indication of at least one geographic area;

comparing the mobile device location information with the at least one of the path, the elliptical geographic area, the circular geographic area, and the polygonal geographic area; and

generating the indication of a reward based on the comparison of the mobile device location information and the at least one of the path, the elliptical geographic area, the circular geographic area, and the polygonal geographic area.

37. The system of claim 33, wherein the memory further includes instructions operable to enable the computing device to perform a procedure comprising:

receiving and storing the indication of at least one geographic area as an indication of a plurality of geographic areas; and

transmitting an instruction to a telecommunication carrier account privileges infrastructure to adjust from which of the plurality of geographic areas the user mobile device can at least one of send data to and receive data from, send SMS messages to and receive SMS messages from, and place voice telephone calls to and receive voice telephone calls from based on the comparison of the mobile device location information and the indication of the plurality of geographic areas.

38. The system of claim 33, wherein the memory further includes instructions operable to enable the computing device to perform a procedure comprising:

receiving and storing the indication of at least one geographic area as an indication of a plurality of geographic areas; and

transmitting an instruction to a telecommunication carrier account privileges infrastructure to change which of a plurality of telephone numbers the user mobile device can at least one of send data to and receive data from, send SMS messages to and receive SMS messages from, and place voice telephone calls to and receive voice telephone calls from based on the comparison of the mobile device location information and the indication of the plurality of geographic areas.