Geosocial network system and method for aggregating group members

• US 9,076,349 B2
• Filed: 04/26/2011
• Issued: 07/07/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Raghav Gupta
• Original Assignee: Raghav Gupta
• Inventors: Gupta, Raghav
• Primary Examiner(s): McNally, Kerri
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dorsey, Renee
• Application Number:
  US13/094,819
• Publication Number:
  US 20110260860A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,533 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0251 Targeted advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/106 using electronic means

Abstract

A geosocial network system and method for aggregating group members. A plurality of geosocial groups is generated for each user, if desired. Each geosocial group might be based on particular topics of interests specified by the user. Each geosocial group can receive map data contributions from members depending upon the permissions granted by the creator of such a geosocial group.

Claims

1. A map-based method for geosocial networking that aggregates a plurality of users around locations of interest, said method being computer-implemented and said map-based method comprising:

generating at least one map configured to receive a plurality of locations with identical activities or items of interest;

generating for each and every user at the user'"'"'s option, a plurality of geosocial groups, each geosocial group based on the locations with identical activities or items of interest specified by the user, wherein for a geosocial group, the at least one map receives from the geosocial group creator, map-based data for at least one location that has an activity or item of interest, wherein said at least one location is identified on the map by user selection of said location on the at least one map, wherein the at least one map also receives map data from a plurality of members of the geosocial group or the geosocial group creator, map-based data for additional locations having activities identical to the at least one location provided by the geosocial group creator;

aggregating all of the plurality of locations on the map for viewing by members of the geosocial group; and

defining permissions granted to new members of each geosocial group, said permissions indicating whether new members can provide and view said data on a map.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising

automatically associating geospatial coordinates upon said user selection of said location on the at least one map.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said geospatial coordinates are variable by dragging a marker on the map.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the data is user location data received from a user.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein data received from users are viewable as posts at location data points on a map depending on a zoom level of a geographic span of the map on a viewing device.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the posts are listed contemporaneously alongside the map having the location data points.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said data is an advertisement received from an advertiser for posting to a geosocial group.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the advertisement is based on the locations with identical activities or items of interest of a geosocial group.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the advertisement is based on a pattern of repeated travel of a target user.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein the advertisement is dynamically placed on a map based on proximity of a targeted user to a location of interest.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein the advertisement is based on a zoom level of a geographic span of the map on a viewing device.

12. The method of claim 7 wherein the advertisement is based on a threshold number of advertisements for a zoom level of a geographic span of a map on a viewing device.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the data is designated as paid content received from a creator of a geosocial group by specifying an amount of credit needed by members of the geosocial group to view said paid content.

14. The method of claim 1 further comprising

determining when a user is within a predetermined distance from a location of interest;

and sending an alert notification to the user.

15. The method of claim 1 further comprising

determining when a user is within a predetermined distance from another user;

and sending an alert notification to the users.

16. The method of claim 1 further comprising generating a dedicated mobile phone application for use by each geosocial group.