Configurable Groups of Virtual Walls Providing Proximity Related Privileges

• US 20130023291A1
• Filed: 09/27/2012
• Published: 01/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Geomonkey Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Geomonkey Incorporated
• Inventors: Pilskalns, Orest
• Granted Patent: US 9,460,116 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.3
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9537 Spatial or temporal dependent retrieval, e.g. spatiotemporal queries
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

A group of common users each with a mobile device are provided access to information displayed on a group of virtual walls. Each wall corresponds to a different real world location or venue owned or associated with a common entity. The mobile devices are used for viewing information and, when in the vicinity of the real world locations, publishing location-based user content to the corresponding walls. Groups of virtual walls may be created from a set of configurable templates, each template representing a different business vertical.

Claims

1. A method for creating a group of virtual walls, comprising the computer implemented steps of:

displaying on a screen connected to a computer one or more types of group;

receiving, by the computer, a selection of a type of group that is to be used as a template to create the group of virtual walls;

receiving, by the computer, an identification of one or more users that are to be given access to the group of virtual walls;

receiving, by the computer, a definition of a plurality of virtual walls; and

for each virtual wall, receiving, by the computer, an association with a different physical location;

wherein;

each user may view each virtual wall on a mobile device, in communication with the computer, from any location; and

each user may upload content from the mobile device to one of the virtual walls when in proximity to the corresponding associated physical location.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the computer, for each of one or more of the virtual walls, a selection of one or more privileges that are to be accessible by users who are in proximity to its associated physical location.

3. The method according to claim 2 wherein a privilege is an electronic punch card, a permission to receive a notification;

a coupon;

a special menu;

a notification of an identity of a user who has uploaded content and is proximal to the associated physical location;

or a facility to electronically chat to other users proximal to the associated physical location.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving, by the computer, inputs for configuring the group of virtual walls.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving, by the computer, a definition of a geographic boundary that defines a physical location.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising automatically determining, by the computer, a geographic boundary that defines a physical location.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving, by the computer, an identification of one or more further users that are to be given access to fewer than all the virtual walls.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein each physical location is associated with a single entity.

9. A system for providing a group of virtual walls with proximity related privileges, comprising:

one or more servers having one or more computer readable media storing, for each virtual wall, an association with a different physical location, wherein all physical locations are associated with a single entity;

a network; and

a plurality of mobile devices connected to the server via the network;

the system configured to;

determine a location of one of said mobile devices;

determine whether the location is in proximity to one of said physical locations; and

if the location is in proximity to said one physical location, provide a privilege to a user of said one mobile device via said one mobile device.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein a privilege is a facility to upload content to the virtual wall associated with said one physical location.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein a privilege is one or more of:

permission to access information;

permission to access a type of information;

permission to receive a notification; and

permission to set up a notification;

12. The system of claim 9 wherein a privilege is an electronic punch card, a permission to receive a notification;

a coupon;

a special menu;

a notification of an identity of a user who has uploaded content and is proximal to the associated physical location;

or a facility to electronically chat to other users proximal to the associated physical location.

13. The system of claim 9 further configured to display, on said one mobile device, details of each virtual wall in the group of virtual walls.

14. The system of claim 12 further configured to display, on said one mobile device, a virtual wall having an associated physical location that is not in proximity to the location of said one mobile device.

15. One or more computer readable media, comprising:

a portion of the media storing a group of virtual walls;

another portion of the media storing identification of one or more users that have access to the group of virtual walls;

for each virtual wall, still another portion of the media storing an association with a different physical location, wherein all physical locations are associated with a single entity; and

yet another portion of the media storing, for each of the virtual walls, one or more privileges, which are accessible on a mobile device that is in communication with a computer in which the computer readable media resides when the mobile device is in proximity to the corresponding associated physical location.

16. The computer readable media of claim 15 further comprising computer readable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors cause:

determination of a location of one of a plurality of mobile devices;

determination of whether the location is in proximity to one of said physical locations; and

if the location is in proximity to said one physical location, provision of a privilege to a user of said one mobile device via said one mobile device.

17. The computer readable media of claim 15, wherein a privilege is a facility to upload content to the virtual wall associated with said one physical location.

18. The computer readable media of claim 15, wherein a privilege is an electronic punch card, a permission to receive a notification;

a coupon;

a special menu;

a notification of an identity of a user who has uploaded content and is proximal to the associated physical location;

or a facility to electronically chat to other users proximal to the associated physical location.

19. The computer readable media of claim 16 wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the one or more processors to display, on the mobile device, details of each virtual wall in the group of virtual walls.

20. The computer readable media of claim 19 wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the one or more processors to display, on the mobile device, a virtual wall having an associated physical location that is not in proximity to the location of said one mobile device.