SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING TARGETED MESSAGES

• US 20140164129A1
• Filed: 02/14/2014
• Published: 06/12/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sanjaykumar Joshi
• Original Assignee: Sanjaykumar Joshi
• Inventors: Joshi, Sanjaykumar
• Application Number:
  US14/181,604
• Publication Number:
  US 20140164129A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.58
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location

Abstract

A system uses GPS or other location determining features and existing cellular services, along with a centrally available computer program. A vendor/advertiser can discover nearby consumers; the vendor/advertiser can publish a business communication such as promotion so that the consumer can discover the business announcements; the vendor/advertiser can send a one-on-one message to the consumer detailing the business announcement and call for action; and the consumer can obtain from the vendor/advertiser any clarifications, questions, feedback etc. regarding product/promotion. Individual users can use the system to identify and send messages to other individuals based on location.

Claims

1. An integrated system using mobile devices and a centrally available computer program for sending targeted messages, the integrated system comprising:

a first system for using a centrally available computer program for communicating with potential customers near a place of business, the system comprising;

a plurality of potential customers, each with a mobile device comprising a computer processor, a location determining function, a user interface for alphanumeric input, a display screen, and internet access;

a business with a computer; and

an application accessible by the mobile devices of the potential customers, the application comprising a server component and a client component,

the server component having account information for potential customers and a business, and processing capabilities for providing a list of account holders with a mobile device near a location, for storing the potential customers'"'"' locations, for updating potential customers'"'"' locations, for forwarding the distance from a potential customer'"'"'s mobile device to the business, and for forwarding a business communication to potential customers near a location as determined by distance from the business, and

the client component having a display and an interface to send and receive messages, to display certain information about a potential customer including distance from the business, and the ability to automatically respond to the business communication;

a second system for sending location-based social messages, comprising;

a first user with a mobile device and a second user with a mobile device;

an application accessible by both mobile devices, the application comprising a server component and a client component,

the server component having account information for users who have installed the application on their mobile device, and processing capabilities for;

providing a list of users with a mobile device near a location, for storing users'"'"' locations, for updating users'"'"' locations, for forwarding the distance from a first user'"'"'s mobile device to the second user'"'"'s mobile device, and for forwarding a message from the first user'"'"'s mobile device to the second user'"'"'s mobile device, and

the client component having a display and an interface, to send and receive messages, to display certain information about other users including distance, current location on a map, and specified user interest; and

safety measures to protect a user from risks associated with the location-based social messaging features, comprising;

a setting on a user'"'"'s client component that shows a location other than the user'"'"'s specific current location;

a rating system that restricts the ability of a user below a certain rating to determine the current location of another user; and

automatic reporting for a user below the age of 18 to the user'"'"'s parent each time the user elects to reveal their current location to another user.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a waiting period for a new user between the time of registration and being able to view the current location of another user.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a user profile and avatar for a user where the avatar represents personal information about the user including gender, and can be displayed on the mobile device of another user.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a feature on the server component that allows a user to form a group of contacts, assign a name to the group of contacts, distribute messages to the group of contacts, and see the locations of users in the group of contacts.

5. A method for using cellular services and a centrally available computer program for communicating with potential customers near a place of business and for location-based social messaging, the method comprising:

(a) location-based business advertising messaging, comprising;

establishing a server component for storing account information of a business and account information of potential customers;

storing information describing the business;

storing a business communication to be communicated to nearby potential customers;

providing an application for mobile devices used by potential customers;

activating the application on a potential customer'"'"'s mobile device to allow communication between the potential customer and a business;

determining the location of a potential customer by obtaining the location of the potential customer'"'"'s mobile device;

communicating the location of the potential customer to a central application;

creating a list of potential customers having a location near the business;

forwarding the business communication to nearby potential customers'"'"' mobile devices;

(b) location-based social messaging, comprising;

determining the location of a user;

matching the location with a user profile stored on a server component;

comparing the location of the user to the location of other users;

distributing a list of nearby users;

allowing a user to select a nearby user appearing on the list of nearby users;

providing messaging between the user and nearby user;

allowing the user to see the location of the nearby user on a map; and

forwarding a message to the nearby user; and

(c) safety procedures, comprising

requiring a user to report their age;

requiring a user below the age of 18 to have their parent agree to a user agreement;

recording contact information for the parent; and

sending a message to the parent when the user below the age of 18 changes a setting to allow his or her current location to be seen by other users.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

requiring a new user to wait a specified time between when the new user registers and when the new user is able to see the current location of another user.

7. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

providing an option to a user that shows other users a location other than the user'"'"'s current location.

8. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

providing an option to a user to display the user'"'"'s current location to a selected group of users at a given time.

9. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

allowing a user to search for other users based on a specific interest.

10. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

creating an avatar that graphically represents information and is displayed to other users.

11. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

restricting a user'"'"'s access to one or more application features based on a rating that aggregates ratings provided by other users.