Brand mapping

• US 8,405,504 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2012
• Issued: 03/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: N99 LLC
• Original Assignee: N99 LLC
• Inventors: Gold, Steven K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Phung
• Application Number:
  US13/361,829
• Publication Number:
  US 20130029691A1
• Time in Patent Office: 421 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.2, 340/995.1, 340/691.6, 705/14.49
• US Class Current: 340/539.2
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/005 including pedestrian guidance indicator
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• 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 4/18 Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals

Abstract

A user uses a portable electronic device to select an image representative of a brand. In response to the user'"'"'s selection of the image representative of the brand, the device automatically presents the user with an image of a map that indicates a current location of the device and shows one or more images representative of brand purchase sites where the selected brand may be accessed by the user.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

(a) displaying, using a wireless communication device, a first image associated with a first brand;

(b) receiving, from a user of the device, an indication of a selection of the first image;

(c) identifying a first location of the device independently of any location-specifying input provided by the user to the device;

(d) wirelessly transmitting, using the device, first data, the first data comprising information relating to the first location of the device;

(e) wirelessly receiving, using the device, second data;

(f) displaying, using the device, a first map image that is based at least in part on the second data, wherein the first map image describes a first area overlapping with a location in proximity to the first location of the device, wherein the first map image comprises an indication of a location of a first brand access site at which a first branded entity having the first brand is accessible, and wherein the indication is located at a position in the first map image corresponding to the location of the first brand access site.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

(g) identifying a second location of the device independently of any location-specifying user input to the device; and

(h) in response to identification of the second location of the device, displaying, using the device, a second map image that differs from the first map image, the second map image describing a second area overlapping with a location in proximity to the second location of the device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first map image further comprises an indication of a location of a second brand access site at which a second branded entity having the first brand is accessible.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the first map image describes a first area, and wherein the second map image describes a second area.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the first map image further comprises an indication of the first location of the device, and wherein the second map image comprises an indication of the second location of the device.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the first map image describes a first area, and wherein the second map image describes a second area.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the first map image further comprises an indication of the first location of the device, and wherein the second map image comprises an indication of the second location of the device.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein the second data comprises map rendering data for rendering the first map image.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein the second data indicates a characteristic associated with the first brand access site.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the characteristic comprises a location of the first brand access site.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the characteristic comprises a count of branded entities of the first brand accessible at the first brand access site.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the first branded entity comprises an event, and wherein the characteristic comprises a starting time of the first branded entity at the first brand access site.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the characteristic comprises an indication of whether the first brand access site is open or closed.

14. The method of claim 2, wherein the second data comprises information relating to the first brand.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the first image comprises at least one of an icon, a graphic, and a photograph.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the first image comprises a representation of a product associated with the first brand.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the second data comprises information relating to the first brand access site.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the first map image represents a geographic area.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the first map image represents an interior area.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication of the location of the first brand access site comprises a dot.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication of the location of the first brand access site comprises a logo.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication of the location of the first brand access site comprises a graphic.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication of the location of the first brand access site comprises a characteristic, wherein the characteristic comprises information relating to the first brand.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication of the location of the first brand access site comprises a characteristic, wherein the characteristic comprises information relating to the first brand access site.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication of the location of the first brand access site comprises a characteristic, wherein the characteristic comprises information relating to the first branded entity.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein the first brand access site is within a geographic area.

27. The method of claim 1, wherein the first brand access site is within an interior area.

28. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising computer program instructions, wherein the computer program instructions are executable by at least one computer processor to perform a method, the method comprising:

(a) displaying, using a wireless communication device, a first image associated with a first brand;

(b) receiving, from a user of the device, an indication of a selection of the first image;

(c) identifying a first location of the device independently of any location-specifying input provided by the user to the device;

(d) wirelessly transmitting, using the device, first data, the first data comprising information relating to the first location of the device;

(e) wirelessly receiving, using the device, second data;

(f) displaying, using the device, a first map image that is based at least in part on the second data, wherein the first map image describes a first area overlapping with a location in proximity to the first location of the device, wherein the first map image comprises an indication of a location of a first brand access site at which a first branded entity having the first brand is accessible, and wherein the indication is located at a position in the first map image corresponding to the location of the first brand access site.

29. The computer-readable medium of claim 28, wherein the method further comprises:

(g) identifying a second location of the device independently of any location-specifying user input to the device; and

(h) in response to identification of the second location of the device, displaying, using the device, a second map image that differs from the first map image, the second map image describing a second area overlapping with a location in proximity to the second location of the device.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the first map image further comprises an indication of a location of a second brand access site at which a second branded entity having the first brand is accessible.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the first map image describes a first area, and wherein the second map image describes a second area.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein the first map image further comprises an indication of the first location of the device, and wherein the second map image comprises an indication of the second location of the device.

33. The computer-readable medium of claim 29, wherein the first map image describes a first area, and wherein the second map image describes a second area.

34. The computer-readable medium of claim 29, wherein the first map image further comprises an indication of the first location of the device, and wherein the second map image comprises an indication of the second location of the device.

35. The computer-readable medium of claim 29, wherein the second data comprises map rendering data for rendering the first map image.

36. The computer-readable medium of claim 29, wherein the second data indicates a characteristic associated with the first brand access site.

37. The computer-readable medium of claim 36, wherein the characteristic comprises a location of the first brand access site.

38. The computer-readable medium of claim 36, wherein the characteristic comprises a count of branded entities of the first brand accessible at the first brand access site.

39. The computer-readable medium of claim 36, wherein the first branded entity comprises an event, and wherein the characteristic comprises a starting time of the first branded entity at the first brand access site.

40. The computer-readable medium of claim 36, wherein the characteristic comprises an indication of whether the first brand access site is open or closed.

41. The computer-readable medium of claim 29, wherein the second data comprises information relating to the first brand.

42. The computer-readable medium of claim 28, wherein the first image comprises at least one of an icon, a graphic, and a photograph.

43. The computer-readable medium of claim 28, wherein the first image comprises a representation of a product associated with the first brand.

44. The computer-readable medium of claim 28, wherein the second data comprises information relating to the first brand access site.

45. The computer-readable medium of claim 28, wherein the first map image represents a geographic area.

46. The computer-readable medium of claim 28, wherein the first map image represents an interior area.

47. The computer-readable medium of claim 28, wherein the indication of the location of the first brand access site comprises a dot.

48. The computer-readable medium of claim 28, wherein the indication of the location of the first brand access site comprises a logo.

49. The computer-readable medium of claim 28, wherein the indication of the location of the first brand access site comprises a graphic.

50. The computer-readable medium of claim 28, wherein the indication of the location of the first brand access site comprises a characteristic, wherein the characteristic comprises information relating to the first brand.

51. The computer-readable medium of claim 28, wherein the indication of the location of the first brand access site comprises a characteristic, wherein the characteristic comprises information relating to the first brand access site.

52. The computer-readable medium of claim 28, wherein the indication of the location of the first brand access site comprises a characteristic, wherein the characteristic comprises information relating to the first branded entity.

53. The computer-readable medium of claim 28, wherein the first brand access site is within a geographic area.

54. The computer-readable medium of claim 28, wherein the first brand access site is within an interior area.

55. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising computer program instructions, wherein the computer program instructions are executable by at least one computer processor to perform a method, the method comprising:

(A) displaying a first image associated with a first brand;

(B) receiving, from a user of the device, an indication of a selection by the user of the first image;

(C) identifying a first location of the device independently of any location-specifying input provided by the user to the device; and

(D) providing to the user a first map image which describes a first geographic area derived from the first location of the device and which includes a first indication of a first brand access site at which a first branded entity having the first brand is accessible, wherein the first indication of the first brand access site comprises a second image associated with the first brand, located at a position in the first map image corresponding to the first brand access site.

56. A method comprising:

(A) receiving an indication of a first location of a device;

(B) identifying a first brand access site at which a first branded entity having a first brand is accessible; and

(C) providing, to the device, first map rendering data for rendering a first map image which describes a first geographic area derived from the first location of the device and which includes a first indication of the first brand access site, wherein the first indication of the first brand access site comprises a second image associated with the first brand, located at a position in the first map image corresponding to the first brand access site.

57. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising computer program instructions, wherein the computer program instructions are executable by at least one computer processor to perform a method, the method comprising:

(A) receiving an indication of a first location of a device;

(B) identifying a first brand access site at which a first branded entity having a first brand is accessible; and

(C) providing, to the device, first map rendering data for rendering a first map image which describes a first geographic area derived from the first location of the device and which includes a first indication of the first brand access site, wherein the first indication of the first brand access site comprises a second image associated with the first brand, located at a position in the first map image corresponding to the first brand access site.