Focused and semi-private location based asynchronous thread communications

• US 9,071,932 B2
• Filed: 03/24/2014
• Issued: 06/30/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hazem I. Sayed
• Original Assignee: Hazem I. Sayed
• Inventors: Sayed, Hazem I
• Primary Examiner(s): SHEDRICK, CHARLES TERRELL
• Application Number:
  US14/223,697
• Publication Number:
  US 20140215588A1
• Time in Patent Office: 463 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.3, 709/223, 726/6
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/21 for social networking applications

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. The message threads have a first viewing distance parameter, a second reply parameter, and other parameters such as optional user set password prefixes. Users with mobile devices such as GPS equipped smart phones may set their devices to discover non-password protected message threads that are within a specified radius of the actual device itself, or a device virtual map location, and may use passwords to find password protected message threads. Generally 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.

Claims

1. A communication by location method comprising:

obtaining at least one mobile device equipped with at least one processor, memory, user interface, display screen, at least one bidirectional wireless transceiver, and location determination capability;

using said at least one processor and said at least one wireless transceiver 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 a communication thread geolocation, a communication thread category, a first communication thread viewing geographical zone, and a second communication thread reply geographical zone;

wherein said second reply geographical zone encompasses at least a geolocation of said communication thread, and said second reply geographical zone is encompassed within said first viewing geographical zone;

using said user interface and said display screen to set 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;

using said mobile device'"'"'s said processor and wireless transceiver 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;

wherein said server uses a 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 results of said search as at least a first search criteria to determine if at least selected communication thread geolocations of search selected communication threads should be transmitted to said mobile device; and

using said server to transmit at least selected thread geolocations of said search selected communication threads to said mobile device.

2. The method of claim 1, further using 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;

and

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

using said overlay graphical image and said user interface to choose a search selected communication thread for further inquiry.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said host server additionally transmits the category of said search selected communication threads to said mobile device;

and

said overlay of said search selected communication thread geolocations shows a different graphical image according to the category of said search selected communication thread.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said communication thread also comprises a communication thread heading, and/or thread icon.

5. The method of claim 4, 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 a distance between said search selected communication thread geolocations and the map viewing location of said mobile device.

6. The method of claim 1, in which said host internet sever further returns at least portions of said search selected communication thread;

said at least portions being selected from sad initial entry and any subsequent entries to said communication thread; and

using said mobile device to view said at least portions of said selected communication thread.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein entries in said communication threads are further annotated by viewing privilege data;

using said host server to ascertain the viewing privileges of said mobile device; and

using the viewing privileges of said mobile to device to determine which portions of said search selected communication thread are to be transmitted from said host server to said mobile device, and which portions are to be subsequently displayed by said mobile device.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said privileges comprise one or more privileges selected from the group consisting of communications thread owner privilege, public privilege, previous poster privilege, group privilege, fee-based privilege, and other privileges.

9. The method of claim 6, in which said host internet server further returns information pertaining to said reply geographic zone of said selected communication thread to said mobile device;

and

if the present location of said mobile device is within said reply geographic zone of said selected communication thread, allowing a new subsequent entry to said selected communication thread to be transmitted from said mobile device to said host internet server, linked or added to said selected communication thread, and stored on said database.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said new subsequent entry comprises text, images, audio, video, URL links, binary program files, or other binary data.

11. The method of claim 1, further allowing a user of said mobile device, when creating a new communication thread, to use said user interface to adjust said new communication thread'"'"'s geolocation to a user selected geolocation that is either the same as or different from the present location of said mobile device.

12. The method of claim 1, further allowing a user of said mobile device, when creating a new communication thread, use said user interface to designate a plurality of geolocations for said new communication thread, and to adjust the new communication thread geolocations to user selected geolocations that are either the same as or different from the present location of said mobile device.

13. The method of claim 1, 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.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the present location of said mobile device is determined using wireless signals from a plurality of Global Positioning Satellites.

15. The method of claim 1, in which said host internet sever further returns at least portions of said search selected communication thread;

said at least portions being selected from sad initial entry and any subsequent entries to said communication thread; and

wherein said host internet server further returns information pertaining to said reply geographic zone of said selected communication thread to said mobile device;

using said mobile device to view said at least portions of said selected communication thread, and if the present location of said mobile device is within said reply geographic zone of said selected communication thread, then allowing a new subsequent entry to said selected communication thread to be transmitted from said mobile device to said host internet server, linked or added to said selected communication thread, and stored on said database;

wherein at least some of said new subsequent entries comprise text further annotated by a password prefix and a password, thereby creating a password protected subsequent entry.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said at least some said communications threads further comprise password protected subsequent entries;

wherein said host internet server is further configured to additionally use said at least one password prefix and said at least one password associated with said at least one password prefix as an additional password match key to said database;

wherein if said first search criteria search determines that at least the geolocations of said selected communication threads should be transmitted to said mobile device;

then only additionally transmitting said password protected subsequent entries to said mobile device if said additional password match key matches said at least one password associated with said at least one password prefix.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least some said communications threads are password protected communications threads that further comprise at least one password prefix, and at least one password associated with said at least one password prefix;

wherein said host internet server is further configured to additionally use said at least one password prefix and said at least one password associated with said at least one password prefix as an additional password match key to said database;

wherein if said first search criteria search determines that at least the geolocations of said password protected communication threads should be transmitted to said mobile device, and wherein if said additional password match key matches said at least one password associated with said at least one password prefix associated with said password protected communications threads, then additionally transmitting at least said geolocations of said password protected communications threads to said mobile device.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein if said additional password match key fails to match said at least one password associated with said at least one password prefix, then not transmitting any information pertaining to either said geolocations of said password protected communications threads, or any information pertaining to any of the entries in said password protected communications threads, to said mobile device.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein if said additional password match key fails to match said at least one password associated with said at least one password prefix, then transmitting only partial information pertaining to either said geolocations of said password protected communications threads, or partial information pertaining to any of the entries in said password protected communications threads, to said mobile device.

20. The method of claim 17, further allowing a user of said mobile device, when creating a new communication thread or entry, to specify said password prefix and said password.