GEOSOCIAL NETWORK SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AGGREGATING GROUP MEMBERS

• US 20110260860A1
• Filed: 04/26/2011
• Published: 10/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Raghav Gupta
• Original Assignee: Raghav Gupta
• Inventors: GUPTA, RAGHAV
• Granted Patent: US 9,076,349 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.13
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0251 Targeted advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/106 using electronic means

Abstract

A geosocial network system and method for aggregating group members. A plurality of geosocial groups is generated for each user, if desired. Each geosocial group might be based on particular topics of interests specified by the user. Each geosocial group can receive map data contributions from members depending upon the permissions granted by the creator of such a geosocial group.

Claims

1. A map-based method for geosocial networking that aggregates a plurality of users around locations related to a topic of interest, said method being computer-implemented and said method comprising:

generating for each and every user at the user'"'"'s option, a plurality of geosocial groups, each geosocial group based on the topic of interest specified by the user, wherein each geosocial group is configured to receive data on a map, said data being associated with locations of the topic of interest; and

defining permissions granted to new members of each geosocial group, said permissions indicating whether new members can provide and view said data on a map.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising

automatically associating geospatial coordinates with data received from a user for posting to a geosocial group.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said geospatial coordinates are variable by dragging a marker on the map.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the data is user location data received from a user.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein data received from users are viewable as posts at location data points on a map depending on a zoom level of a geographic span of the map on a viewing device.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the posts are listed contemporaneously alongside the map having the location data points.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said data is an advertisement received from an advertiser for posting to a geosocial group.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the advertisement is based on the topic of interest of a geosocial group.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the advertisement is based on a pattern of repeated travel of a target user.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein the advertisement is dynamically placed on a map based on proximity of a targeted user to a location of interest.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein the advertisement is based on a zoom level of a geographic span of the map on a viewing device.

12. The method of claim 7 wherein the advertisement is based on a threshold number of advertisements for a zoom level of a geographic span of a map on a viewing device.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the data is designated as paid content received from a creator of a geosocial group by specifying an amount of credit needed by members of the geosocial group to view said paid content.

14. The method of claim 1 further comprising

determining when a user is within a predetermined distance from a location of interest;

and sending an alert notification to the user.

15. The method of claim 1 further comprising

determining when a user is within a predetermined distance from another user;

and sending an alert notification to the users.

16. The method of claim 1 further comprising generating a dedicated mobile phone application for use by each geosocial group.

17. A computer-implemented method comprising:

generating a plurality of geosocial groups for each user, wherein each geosocial groups is generated at the user'"'"'s option and wherein each geosocial group is based on the topic of interest specified by the user, wherein each geosocial group receives data on a map, said data being assigned geospatial coordinates, and said data being viewable as data points on said map; and

defining permissions granted to prospective members of each geosocial group, said permissions indicating whether said members can contribute and view said data on said map.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said data is advertisement.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein said advertisement is dynamically placed on a map based on proximity of a targeted user to a location of interest.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein said data is user location information for tracking a location of a user.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising

providing an option to a user to prevent the user'"'"'s location from being determined.

22. The method of claim 17 further comprising sending a notification alert to a user when the location of said user comes closer or becomes farther than a predetermined distance from a location of interest or from another user.

23. The method of claim 17 further comprising sending a notification alert to a user when a location of said user becomes closer than a predetermined distance from any location of interest or from any user location within the group.

24. A computer readable medium configured to store a set of instructions executing on a processing platform including a processor coupled to a user input device, display and memory, the computer readable medium comprising:

code for generating for each and every user at the user'"'"'s option, a plurality of geosocial groups, each geosocial group based on the topic of interest specified by the user, wherein each geosocial group is configured to receive data on a map, said data being associated with locations of the topic of interest; and

code for defining permissions granted to new members of each geosocial group, said permissions indicating whether new members can provide and view said data on a map.

25. The computer readable medium of claim 24 further comprising code for displaying data from user as posts at location data points on a map depending on a zoom level of a geographic span of the map on a viewing device.