GEOLOCATION-BASED PICTOGRAPHS

• US 20160085773A1
• Filed: 11/20/2014
• Published: 03/24/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Snap, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Snapchat Inc (Snap, Inc.)
• Inventors: Chang, Sheldon, Sehn, Timothy Michael
• Granted Patent: US 10,824,654 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/58 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9537 Spatial or temporal dependent retrieval, e.g. spatiotemporal queries
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/955 using information identifiers, e.g. uniform resource locators [URL]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0237 using prediction or retrieval techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/10 Multimedia information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/222 using geographical location information, e.g. messages transmitted or received in proximity of a certain spot or area
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/52 for supporting social networking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

A system and method for geolocation-based pictographs are provided. In example embodiments, a current geolocation of a user device is determined. A pictograph is identified based on the current geolocation of the user device. The identified pictograph is presented on a user interface of the user device.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a storage device configured to store a submission from a configuration device of a contributor, the submission comprises a pictograph, a geographic indication that corresponds to the pictograph, and a user-specified condition associated with access to the pictograph;

a geolocation module configured to receive a current geolocation of a client device in real time;

a pictograph module, implemented using a hardware processor, configured to;

identify the stored pictograph based on the current geolocation of the client device and the geographic indication and

determine satisfaction of the user-specified condition;

a presentation module configured to based on the determined satisfaction of the user-specified condition, cause presentation of the identified pictograph on a user interface of the client device; and

a communication module configured to;

receive, from the user device;

a request to transmit a user message that includes the identified pictograph and

cause transmission of the user message that includes the identified pictograph to a device of another user.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the pictograph module is further configured to:

compare the current geolocation and a selected geolocation that corresponds to the pictograph, wherein the selected geolocation is indicated by the geographic indication; and

identify the pictograph based on a determination that the user device is within a perimeter of the selected geolocation.

3. A method comprising:

receiving, from a configuration device of a submission user, a submission of a pictograph, a geographic indication corresponding to the pictograph, and a user-specified criterion associated with availability of the pictograph;

receiving, from a user device in real time, a request for a pictograph, the request including a current geolocation of the user device;

in response to the request for the pictograph, identifying, using a hardware processor of a machine, the pictograph based on the current geolocation of the user device and the geographic indication;

determining satisfaction of the user-specified criterion;

based on the determined satisfaction of the user-specified criterion, causing presentation of the identified pictograph on a user interface of the user device;

receiving, from the user device, a request to transmit a user message that includes the identified pictograph; and

causing transmission of the user message that includes the identified pictograph to a device of another user.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

comparing the current geolocation and a specified geolocation corresponding to the pictograph, wherein the specified geolocation is indicated by the geographic indication; and

identifying the pictograph based on determining that the user device is within a perimeter of the specified geolocation.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

receiving an indication of a time period corresponding to the pictograph and the specified geolocation; and

causing presentation of the pictograph on the user interface of the user device in response to the user device being within the perimeter of the specified geolocation during the time period.

6. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

performing a query for an entity identifier corresponding to the current geolocation;

comparing the entity identifier with a specified entity identifier corresponding to the pictograph, wherein the specified entity identifier is indicated by the geographic indication; and

identifying the pictograph based on a match between the entity identifier and the specified entity identifier.

7. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

causing inclusion of the identified pictograph into a virtual keyboard included in the user interface of the user device, wherein a selection of the pictograph included in the virtual keyboard renders the pictograph alongside characters generated in response to key selections from the virtual keyboard, wherein the virtual keyboard comprises a portable virtual keyboard used in conjunction with a third party application of the user device.

8. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

identifying a display parameter of the user device, the display parameter including at least one of a display resolution, a display text size, or a display image size; and

causing a rendering of the identified pictograph based on the identified display parameter.

9. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

preventing the user device from accessing the pictograph based on the current geolocation being outside a perimeter of a specified geolocation indicated by the geographic indication.

10. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

identifying a plurality of pictographs corresponding to the current geolocation;

determining a portion of the plurality of pictographs; and

causing presentation of the portion of the plurality of pictographs on the user interface of the user device.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising determining the portion of the plurality of pictographs by:

accessing user data corresponding to a user of the user device, the user data including member profile data of the user retrieved from a social messaging service;

inferring a user preference based on the user data; and

determining the portion of the plurality of pictographs according to the user preference.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising determining the portion of the plurality of pictographs by:

receiving device data from the user device, the device data including sensor data detected at the user device;

inferring a user status based on the device data; and

determining the portion of the plurality of pictographs according to the user status.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising determining the portion of the plurality of pictographs by:

retrieving, from a third-party server, situational data pertaining to the current geolocation and a current time; and

determining the portion of the plurality of pictographs according to the situational data.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving, from the user device, an indication of a selected pictograph among the plurality of pictographs;

storing the indication of the selected pictograph in association with a user of the user device; and

determining a subsequent portion of the plurality of pictographs according to the stored indication of the selected pictograph.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

accessing indications of a selected pictograph of users other than a user of the user device for respective pictographs of the plurality of pictographs; and

determining the portion of the plurality of pictographs according to the indications of the selected pictograph of the users other than the user of the user device.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

ranking the plurality of pictographs according to a popularity of respective pictographs of the plurality of pictographs, the popularity based on a message use count of the respective pictographs of the plurality of pictographs;

the message use count incremented for each selection of a particular pictograph by a particular user; and

causing presentation of the ranked plurality of pictographs on the user interface of the user device.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

modifying the respective pictographs of the plurality of pictographs to indicate the popularity of the respective pictographs of the plurality of pictographs; and

causing presentation of the modified respective pictographs of the plurality of pictographs on the user interface of the user device.

18. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving at least one of a message text or a message image provided at the user device;

inferring a predicted preference based on the at least one of the message text or the message image;

ranking the plurality of pictographs according to the predicted preference; and

causing presentation of the ranked plurality of pictographs on the user interface of the user device.

19. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

receiving, from bidding entities, bid amounts corresponding to the geographic indication;

identifying a highest bid amount from among the bid amounts, the highest bid amount corresponding to a winning entity;

receiving from the winning entity the pictograph corresponding to the geographic indication; and

identifying the pictograph based on the current geolocation of the user device, the geographic indication, and the highest bid amount.

20. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

determining a price corresponding to the geographic indication based on member activity of members of a social messaging service, the member activity being associated with the geographic indication; and

providing to the configuration device of the submission user an offer, for sale at the determined price, that includes an option to provide the pictograph to be presented on the user interface of the user device in response to the request associated with the geographic indication.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the member activity includes at least one of a message send count associated with the geographic indication or an active member count associated with the geographic indication.

22. A method comprising:

determining a current geolocation of a user device;

accessing a submission of a custom pictograph, a geographic indication corresponding to the custom pictograph, and a user-specified criterion associated with availability of the pictograph;

identifying, using a hardware processor of a machine, the custom pictograph based on the current geolocation of the user device;

determining satisfaction of the user-specified criterion;

based on the determined satisfaction of the user-specified criterion, causing presentation of the identified custom pictograph on a user interface of the user device;

receiving a request to transmit a user message that includes the identified pictograph; and

transmitting the user message that includes the identified pictograph to a device of another user.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

storing, at the user device, the custom pictograph and the geographic indication corresponding to the custom pictograph; and

identifying the custom pictograph based on the current geolocation and the geographic indication corresponding to the custom pictograph.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

comparing the current geolocation and a specified geolocation corresponding to the pictograph, wherein the specified geolocation is indicated by the geographic indication; and

identifying the pictograph based on determining that the user device is within a perimeter of the specified geolocation.

25. A machine-readable medium having no transitory signals and storing instructions that, when executed by at least one processor of a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising:

receiving, from a configuration device of a submission entity, a submission of an emoticon, a geographic indication corresponding to the emoticon, and an entity-specified criterion associated with availability of the pictograph;

receiving geolocation data of a client system in real time;

identifying the emoticon based on the geolocation data of the client system and the geographic indication;

determining satisfaction of the entity-specified criterion;

based on the determined satisfaction of the entity-specified criterion, transmitting the identified emoticon to the user device for presentation on a user interface of the client system;

receiving, from the user device, a request to transmit a user message that includes the identified pictograph; and

causing transmission of the user message that includes the identified pictograph to a device of another user.

26. The machine-readable medium of claim 25, wherein the operations further comprise:

comparing the current geolocation and a designated geolocation corresponding to the pictograph, wherein the designated geolocation is indicated by the geographic indication; and

identifying the pictograph based on determining that the user device is within a perimeter of the specified geolocation.