METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DELIVERING ELECTRONIC CONTENT TO USERS IN POPULATION BASED GEOGRAPHIC ZONES

• US 20150120455A1
• Filed: 10/29/2013
• Published: 04/30/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: MapQuest, Inc. (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: McDEVITT, Patrick, HUGHES, Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 10,445,777 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.58
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0244 Optimization
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for electronic distribution of electronic content. The method may include receiving, from an advertiser or content provider, a request to transmit electronic content to a plurality of electronic devices of a desired subset of individuals. The electronic content may relate to a target location affiliated with the advertiser or content provider. The method also may include retrieving population density data for the target location and surrounding area, and correlating the subset of individuals with the population density. In addition, the method also may identifying a geographical zone extending from the target location to a perimeter location. The zone may have a size based on the population density correlated with the subset of individuals. The method my further include receiving an indication that the electronic device of a user has entered the geographical zone, and transmitting electronic content to the electronic device of the user.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for executing an electronic distribution of electronic content to user devices, the method comprising:

receiving, from an advertiser or content provider, a request to transmit electronic content to a plurality of electronic devices of a desired subset of individuals, wherein the electronic content relates to a target location affiliated with the advertiser or content provider;

retrieving population density data for the target location and surrounding area, and correlating the subset of individuals with a population identifiable in the population density data;

identifying a geographical zone extending between the target location and a perimeter, the geographical zone having a size based on the population correlated with the subset of individuals;

receiving an indication that one of the plurality of electronic devices of one of the subset of individuals in the population has entered the geographical zone; and

transmitting electronic content to the electronic device of the one of the subset of individuals in the population, the electronic content relating to the target location.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the population density data is based on zip code information.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the population density data is based on zip code plus four geographical zone information.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

retrieving from a database, an inventory of centerpoints representing geographical centers of the zip code plus four geographical zones,

overlaying the centerpoints with geographical data, and

calculating the number of centerpoints within a geographical region.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the geographical zone is circular.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the geographical zone is a polygon.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the request further comprises a parameter based on a date.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the request further comprises a parameter based on a time period.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of adjusting the geographical zone based on an additional parameter.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the additional parameter is selected from the group consisting of date, time, and traffic data.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of generating the geographical zone further comprises adjusting the zone based on geographic data.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the geographic data is selected from the group consisting of natural boundaries, highway accessibility, and geographic borders.

14. A system for managing an electronic distribution of electronic content to electronic device users, the system including:

a data storage device storing instructions for managing the electronic distribution of electronic content to electronic device users; and

a processor configured to execute the instructions to perform a method including;

receiving, from an advertiser or content provider, a request to transmit electronic content to a plurality of electronic devices of a desired subset of individuals, wherein the electronic content relates to a target location affiliated with the advertiser or content provider;

retrieving population density data for the target location and surrounding area, and correlating the subset of individuals with a population identifiable in the population density data;

identifying a geographical zone extending between the target location and a perimeter, the geographical zone having a size based on the population correlated with the subset of individuals;

receiving an indication that one of the plurality of electronic devices of one of the subset of individuals in the population has entered the geographical zone; and

transmitting electronic content to the electronic device of the one of the subset of individuals in the population, the electronic content relating to the target location.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising a step of adjusting the geographical zone based on an additional parameter.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the additional parameter is selected from the group consisting of date, time, and traffic data.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the step of generating the geographical zone further comprises adjusting the geographical zone based on geographic data.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the geographic data is selected from the group consisting of natural boundaries, highway accessibility, and geographic borders.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein the population density data is based on zip code information.

20. A computer-readable medium that, when executed by a computer system, cause the computer system to perform a method for managing an online distribution of content to electronic device users, the method including:

receiving, from an advertiser or content provider, a request to transmit electronic content to a plurality of electronic devices of a desired subset of individuals, wherein the electronic content relates to a target location affiliated with the advertiser or content provider;

retrieving population density data for the target location and surrounding area, and correlating the subset of individuals with a population identifiable in the population density data;

identifying a geographical zone extending between the target location and a perimeter, the geographical zone having a size based on the population correlated with the subset of individuals;

receiving an indication that one of the plurality of electronic devices of one of the subset of individuals in the population has entered the geographical zone; and

transmitting electronic content to the electronic device of the one of the subset of individuals in the population, the electronic content relating to the target location.