Automatic update of online social networking sites

• US 8,290,999 B2
• Filed: 08/24/2009
• Issued: 10/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: III Holdings 6, LLC
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Shepherd, Michael D., Gaucas, Dale E.
• Primary Examiner(s): AL HASHEMI, SANA A
• Application Number:
  US12/546,044
• Publication Number:
  US 20110047182A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,149 Days
• Field of Search: 707/728, 707/792, 707/918, 707/919, 707/920
• US Class Current: 707/919
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking

Abstract

Systems and methods maintain at least one point of interest data file within a computer-readable storage medium and automatically identify a current user location of a user based on a geographic positioning feature of a portable electronic device that is maintained within a first predetermined distance from the user. The systems and methods automatically compare the current user location with the point of interest data file to identify whether the user is located within a second predetermined distance of a point of interest maintained within the point of interest data file. If the user is within the second predetermined distance of a point of interest, the systems and methods automatically create a user status data file. The user status data comprises data identifying that the user is currently at the point of interest. The user status data file is comprised of, but is not limited to, video, still pictures, and audio captured at the current user location as well as textual description of the user'"'"'s participation at the point of interest. The systems and methods automatically upload the user status data file to a social networking web site associated with the user as an activity post associated with the user.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

maintaining at least one point of interest data file within a computer-readable storage medium;

automatically identifying a current user location of a user based on a geographic positioning feature of a portable electronic device that is maintained by said user;

automatically comparing said current user location with said point of interest data file to identify whether said user is located within a predetermined distance of a point of interest maintained within said point of interest data file using a computerized processor that is in communication with said computer-readable storage medium and is in communication with said portable electronic device;

if said user is within second predetermined distance of a point of interest, automatically creating a user status data file using said computerized processor, said user status data file comprising data identifying that said user is currently at said point of interest; and

automatically uploading said user status data file to a social networking web site associated with said user as an activity post associated with said user, using said computerized processor.

2. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1, further comprising capturing, using said portable electronic device, at least one of video, still pictures, and audio simultaneously while identifying said current user location.

3. The computer-implemented method according to claim 2, said creating of said user status data file comprising automatically adding said at least one of video, still pictures and audio to said user status data file.

4. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1, further comprising maintaining, within said computer-readable storage medium, at least one textual data file comprising predetermined textual descriptions of points of interest maintained within said point of interest data file.

5. The computer-implemented method according to claim 4, further comprising automatically merging said predetermined textual descriptions of said points of interest with an identification of said user using said processor to produce a unique string of text describing said user at said point of interest, said creating of said user status data file automatically adding said unique string of text to said user status data file.

6. A computer-implemented method comprising:

maintaining at least one point of interest data file comprising points of interest associated with a vendor within a computer-readable storage medium;

obtaining permission to update social networking web sites from a user visiting a location operated by said vendor;

automatically identifying a current user location of a user based on a geographic positioning feature of a portable electronic device that is maintained within a first predetermined distance from said user;

automatically comparing said current user location with said point of interest data file to identify whether said user is located within a second predetermined distance of a point of interest associated with said vendor maintained within said point of interest data file using a computerized processor that is in communication with said computer-readable storage medium and is in communication with said portable electronic device;

if said user is within said second predetermined distance of a point of interest associated with said vendor, automatically creating a user status data file using said computerized processor, said user status data file comprising data identifying that said user is currently at said point of interest associated with said vendor; and

automatically uploading said user status data file to a social networking web site associated with said user as an activity post associated with said user, using said computerized processor.

7. The computer-implemented method according to claim 6, further comprising capturing, using said portable electronic device, at least one of video, still pictures, and audio simultaneously while identifying said current user location.

8. The computer-implemented method according to claim 7, said creating of said user status data file comprising automatically adding said at least one of video, still pictures and audio to said user status data file.

9. The computer-implemented method according to claim 6, further comprising maintaining, within said computer-readable storage medium, at least one textual data file comprising predetermined textual descriptions of points of interest maintained within said point of interest data file.

10. The computer-implemented method according to claim 9, further comprising automatically merging said predetermined textual descriptions of said points of interest with an identification of said user using said processor to produce a unique string of text describing said user at said point of interest, said creating of said user status data file automatically adding said unique string of text to said user status data file.

11. A computerized system comprising:

a computerized processor;

a computer-readable storage medium maintaining at least one point of interest data file, said computer-readable storage medium being in communication with said computerized processor;

a portable electronic device having a geographic positioning feature, said portable electronic device being in communication with said computerized processor and automatically identifying a current user location of a user when said portable electronic device is processed by said user;

said computerized processor automatically comparing said current user location with said point of interest data file to identify whether said user is located within a predetermined distance of a point of interest maintained within said point of interest data file;

if said user is within said predetermined distance of a point of interest, said computerized processor automatically creating a user status data file, said user status data file comprising data identifying that said user is currently at said point of interest; and

said computerized processor automatically uploading said user status data file to a social networking web site associated with said user as an activity post associated with said user, using said computerized processor.

12. The computerized system according to claim 11, said portable electronic device capturing at least one of video, still pictures, and audio simultaneously while identifying said current user location.

13. The computerized system according to claim 12, said computerized processor automatically adding said at least one of video, still pictures and audio to said user status data file.

14. The computerized system according to claim 11, said computer-readable storage medium maintaining at least one textual data file comprising predetermined textual descriptions of points of interest maintained within said point of interest data file.

15. The computerized system according to claim 14, said computerized processor automatically merging said predetermined textual descriptions of said points of interest with an identification of said user to produce a unique string of text describing said user at said point of interest, said computerized processor automatically adding said unique string of text to said user status data file.

16. A computer-readable storage medium tangibly embodying instructions executable by a computer to perform a method comprising:

maintaining at least one point of interest data file within said computer-readable storage medium;

automatically identifying a current user location of a user based on a geographic positioning feature of a portable electronic device that is maintained within a first predetermined distance from said user;

automatically comparing said current user location with said point of interest data file to identify whether said user is located within a second predetermined distance of a point of interest maintained within said point of interest data file;

if said user is within said second predetermined distance of a point of interest, automatically creating a user status data file, said user status data file comprising data identifying that said user is currently at said point of interest; and

automatically uploading said user status data file to a social networking web site associated with said user as an activity post associated with said user.

17. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 16, further comprising capturing, using said portable electronic device, at least one of video, still pictures, and audio simultaneously while identifying said current user location.

18. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 17, said creating of said user status data file comprising automatically adding said at least one of video, still pictures and audio to said user status data file.

19. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 16, further comprising maintaining, within said computer-readable storage medium, at least one textual data file comprising predetermined textual descriptions of points of interest maintained within said point of interest data file.

20. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 19, further comprising automatically merging said predetermined textual descriptions of said points of interest with an identification of said to produce a unique string of text describing said user at said point of interest, said creating of said user status data file automatically adding said unique string of text to said user status data file.