Location based asynchronous thread communications
First Claim
1. A public communication by location method comprising:
- obtaining at least one mobile device equipped with at least one processor, memory, user interface, display screen, bidirectional wireless communication link capability, and location determination capability;
said at least one processor to create at least one asynchronous communication thread on a database associated with a host internet server, each said communication thread comprising at least an initial entry, and at least one set of geographical identification metadata comprising at least the communication thread geolocation, a communication thread category, a first communication thread viewing geographical zone, and a second communication thread reply geographical zone;
each said communications thread capable of supporting a geolocated asynchronous message thread;
wherein said second reply geographical zone encompasses at least the geolocation of said communication thread, and said second reply geographical zone is encompassed within said first viewing geographical zone;
setting a map viewing location on said mobile device, said map viewing location corresponding to the location where communication threads of interest may be located, and further setting a maximum communication thread viewing radius about said map viewing location;
said at least one processor on said mobile device to establish a communications link with said host internet server, transmitting the present location and map viewing location of said mobile device to said host internet server, and transmitting at least a maximum communication thread viewing radius and one or more communication thread categories to said host internet server;
host server software at said host internet server to use the present location and map viewing location of said mobile device, communication thread categories, and said maximum communication thread viewing radius as a search key to said database, searching for communication threads with communication thread geolocations, communication thread categories, and communication thread viewing zones that are within the maximum viewing radius of the map viewing location of said mobile device, and using the results of said search as at least a first search criteria to determine if at least the selected communication thread geolocations of the search selected communication threads should be transmitted to said mobile device; and
said host internet server and said host server software to transmit at least the selected thread geolocations of said search selected communication threads to said mobile device.
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Abstract
Communication by location method that geoplaces asynchronous message threads to a specific first geographic location geo-fence within which they are visible, and a second sub geo-fence for replies. This geopinning process may be done by remote users. The message threads have a first viewing distance parameter, a second reply parameter, and other parameters. Users with mobile devices such as GPS equipped smart phones may set their devices to discover message threads that are within a specified radius of the actual device itself, or a device virtual map location, allowing very distant threads to be viewed. However only users with a real geographic proximity to the thread within the specified reply distance may reply to the thread. The method will generally be implemented by software residing on mobile devices and host servers, and may additionally use data from map servers to place the treads in a map context.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A public communication by location method comprising:
- obtaining at least one mobile device equipped with at least one processor, memory, user interface, display screen, bidirectional wireless communication link capability, and location determination capability;
said at least one processor to create at least one asynchronous communication thread on a database associated with a host internet server, each said communication thread comprising at least an initial entry, and at least one set of geographical identification metadata comprising at least the communication thread geolocation, a communication thread category, a first communication thread viewing geographical zone, and a second communication thread reply geographical zone;
each said communications thread capable of supporting a geolocated asynchronous message thread;
wherein said second reply geographical zone encompasses at least the geolocation of said communication thread, and said second reply geographical zone is encompassed within said first viewing geographical zone;
setting a map viewing location on said mobile device, said map viewing location corresponding to the location where communication threads of interest may be located, and further setting a maximum communication thread viewing radius about said map viewing location;
said at least one processor on said mobile device to establish a communications link with said host internet server, transmitting the present location and map viewing location of said mobile device to said host internet server, and transmitting at least a maximum communication thread viewing radius and one or more communication thread categories to said host internet server;
host server software at said host internet server to use the present location and map viewing location of said mobile device, communication thread categories, and said maximum communication thread viewing radius as a search key to said database, searching for communication threads with communication thread geolocations, communication thread categories, and communication thread viewing zones that are within the maximum viewing radius of the map viewing location of said mobile device, and using the results of said search as at least a first search criteria to determine if at least the selected communication thread geolocations of the search selected communication threads should be transmitted to said mobile device; and
said host internet server and said host server software to transmit at least the selected thread geolocations of said search selected communication threads to said mobile device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
- obtaining at least one mobile device equipped with at least one processor, memory, user interface, display screen, bidirectional wireless communication link capability, and location determination capability;
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15. A public communication by location method comprising:
obtaining at least one mobile device equipped with at least one processor, memory, user interface, display screen, bidirectional wireless communication link capability, and location determination capability;
wherein the present location of said mobile device is determined using wireless signals from a plurality of Global Positioning Satellites;
said at least one processor to create at least one asynchronous communication thread on a database associated with a host internet server, each said communication thread comprising at least an initial entry, and at least one set of geographical identification metadata comprising at least the communication thread geolocation, a communication thread category, a first communication thread viewing geographical zone, and a second communication thread reply geographical zone;
each said communications thread capable of supporting a geolocated asynchronous message thread;
wherein said second reply geographical zone encompasses at least the geolocation of said communication thread, and said second reply geographical zone is encompassed within said first viewing geographical zone;
wherein the first viewing geographical zone is circle or other regular polygon with a first radius, and said second reply geographical zone is a circle or other regular polygon with a second radius, the origin of both the first and second radius is at the communication thread geolocation, and the second radius has a length that is less than or equal to the first radius;
setting a map viewing location on said mobile device, said map viewing location corresponding to the location where communication threads of interest may be located, and further setting a maximum communication thread viewing radius about said map viewing location;
said at least one processor on said mobile device to establish a communications link with said host internet server, transmitting the present location and map viewing location of said mobile device to said host internet server, and transmitting at least a maximum communication thread viewing radius and one or more communication thread categories to said host internet server;
host server software at said host internet server to use the present location and map viewing location of said mobile device, communication thread categories, and said maximum communication thread viewing radius as a search key to said database, searching for communication threads with communication thread geolocations, communication thread categories, and communication thread viewing zones that are within the maximum viewing radius of the map viewing location of said mobile device, and using the results of said search as at least a first search criteria to determine if at least the selected communication thread geolocations of the search selected communication threads should be transmitted to said mobile device;
said host internet server and said host sever software to transmit at least the selected thread geolocations of said search selected communication threads to said mobile device;
wherein said communication threads represent messages transmitted between at least some users who are strangers with no social network social connection;
further at least one processor on said at least one mobile device to establish a communication link with a map server, transmitting the map viewing location of said mobile device and said maximum communication thread viewing radius to said map server, and receiving selected map information pertaining to a geographical map within said maximum communication thread viewing radius to said mobile device;
displaying an overlay graphical image comprising least portions of said geographical map information and an overlay of said selected communication thread geolocations on the display screen of said mobile device, and at least one location circle showing said maximum communication thread viewing radius;
wherein said host server additionally transmits the category of said search selected communication threads to said mobile device;
said overlay graphical image of said search selected communication thread geolocations further showing a different graphical image according to the category of said search selected communication thread; and
said overlay graphical image to choose a search selected communication thread for further inquiry.- View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. A public communication by location method comprising:
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obtaining at least one mobile device equipped with at least one processor, memory, user interface, display screen, bidirectional wireless communication link capability, and location determination capability;
wherein the present location of said mobile device is determined using wireless signals from a plurality of Global Positioning Satellites;
said at least one processor to create at least one asynchronous communication thread on a database associated with a host internet server, each said communication thread comprising at least an initial entry, and at least one set of geographical identification metadata comprising at least the communication thread geolocation, a communication thread category, a first communication thread viewing geographical zone, and a second communication thread reply geographical zone;each said communications thread supporting a geolocated asynchronous message thread;
wherein said communication thread also comprises a communication thread heading, and/or thread icon;
wherein said second reply geographical zone encompasses at least the geolocation of said communication thread, and said second reply geographical zone is encompassed within said first viewing geographical zone;
wherein the first viewing geographical zone is circle or other regular polygon with a first radius, and said second reply geographical zone is a circle or other regular polygon with a second radius, the origin of both the first and second radius is at the communication thread geolocation, and the second radius has a length that is less than or equal to the first radius;
setting a map viewing location on said mobile device, said map viewing location corresponding to the location where communication threads of interest may be located, and further setting a maximum communication thread viewing radius about said map viewing location;
said at least one processor on said mobile device to establish a communications link with said host internet server, transmitting the present location and map viewing location of said mobile device to said host internet server, and transmitting at least a maximum communication thread viewing radius and one or more communication thread categories to said host internet server;
host server software at said host internet server to use the present location and map viewing location of said mobile device, communication thread categories, and said maximum communication thread viewing radius as a search key to said database, searching for communication threads with communication thread geolocations, communication thread categories, and communication thread viewing zones that are within the maximum viewing radius of the map viewing location of said mobile device, and the results of said search as at least a first search criteria to determine if at least the selected communication thread geolocations of the search selected communication threads should be transmitted to said mobile device;
said host internet server and said host server software to transmit at least the selected thread geolocations of said search selected communication threads to said mobile device;
wherein said communication threads represent messages transmitted between at least some users who are strangers with no social network social connection; and
using said overlay graphical image to choose a search selected communication thread for further inquiry;
wherein said host server additionally transmits the category, title, and/or icon of said search selected communication threads to said mobile device; and
displaying a list on said mobile device, said list comprising at least the search selected communication thread geolocations, categories, title and/or icon, as well as the distance between said search selected communication thread geolocations and the map viewing location of said mobile device. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification