System and method of remotely accessing and publishing online memorial content

• US 9,160,782 B1
• Filed: 04/02/2015
• Issued: 10/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GHER Enterprises LLC
• Original Assignee: Todd Meagher
• Inventors: Meagher, Todd
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Dustin
• Application Number:
  US14/676,878
• Time in Patent Office: 194 Days
• Field of Search: 709/217, 709/219, 707/10, 707/204, 707/769, 348/143, 235/380
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 13/00 Monuments; Tombs; Burial vaults; Columbaria
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 13/003 Funeral monuments, grave sites curbing or markers not making part of vaults E04H13/008 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9537 Spatial or temporal dependent retrieval, e.g. spatiotemporal queries
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0022 arrangements or provisious for transferring data to distant stations, e.g. from a sensing device "transfer between computer elements G06F13/00 "; data-transmission H04L
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal

Abstract

A system is provided comprising processor, memory and a memorial application stored in the memory that, when executed on the processor, receives a message from a mobile device, the message requesting information about physical memorials proximate the device. The system also matches a physical location of the device with at least a first proximate physical memorial described in a database. The system also transmits to the device a list including the at least first proximate physical memorial and other physical memorials within a predetermined distance of the present physical location, wherein information about the at least first proximate physical memorial and the other physical memorials is publicly available. The system also receives a second message from the device containing a selection of the first physical memorial from the list. The system also sends to the device electronic media commemorating at least one deceased person associated with the first physical memorial.

Claims

1. A system for accessing and publishing online memorial content, comprising:

a processor;

a memory; and

a memorial application stored in the memory that, when executed on the processor;

receives a first message from a mobile device, the first message requesting information about physical memorials proximate the mobile device,

compares a determined present physical location of the mobile device with at least a first proximate physical memorial described in a database,

transmits to the mobile device a list including the at least first proximate physical memorial and other physical memorials within a predetermined distance of the present physical location, wherein information about the at least first proximate physical memorial and the other physical memorials is available to subscribers, wherein information about deceased person associated with one of the plurality of physical memorials is marked in the database as private,

receives a second message from the mobile device, the second message containing a selection of the first physical memorial from the list, and

sends to the mobile device electronic media commemorating at least one deceased person associated with the first physical memorial, electronic media associated with the physical memorial is sent only to devices designated as authorized;

based on comparing the determined present geographic location of the mobile device with recorded locations of a plurality of physical memorials, replying to the mobile device that no records of physical memorials proximate the mobile device are found;

receiving a third message from the mobile device, the third message containing electronic media depicting the first physical memorial, the third message further requesting creation of a digital memorial associated with the first physical memorial, wherein the first physical memorial is situated at the present geographic location;

based on receiving the third message, establishing the digital memorial, the digital memorial commemorating at least one deceased person memorialized by the first physical memorial, associating the electronic media with the digital memorial, and associating the geographic location with the digital memorial;

the system further comprises receiving a fourth message containing electronic media associated with a first physical memorial;

identifying the fourth message as received from a subscriber to a final resting place program commemorating deceased persons associated with physical memorials including the first physical memorial;

copying the electronic media to an existing online memorial provided by the final resting place program, the online memorial commemorating at least one deceased person associated with the first physical memorial; and

the computer publishing the online memorial containing the posted electronic media to the subscriber and to additional subscribers.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the physical memorials are at least one of gravestones marking the burial of deceased persons, mausoleums, and monuments commemorating at least one deceased person.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the system identifies the present physical location of the mobile device by analyzing global positioning coordinates of the mobile device.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the electronic media comprises photographs, video content, audio content, and text material associated with the at least one deceased person.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the system accepts the electronic media from the mobile device at least one of at the time the mobile device is proximate the first physical memorial and at a subsequent time.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the computer maintains the digital memorial as an online memorial accessible by a user of the mobile device as caregiver of the online memorial.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the caregiver controls electronic access to the online memorial and appoints others as additional caregivers.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the computer accepting new electronic media and other stored electronic media to be creatively arranged and viewed as the online memorial from locations away from the first physical memorial.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the message is one of text message and an electronic mail message.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the message is associated with the subscriber by one of examining an International Mobile Equipment Identifier (IMEI) contained in the text transmission and verifying an electronic mail address associated with an electronic mail message.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the subscriber and the additional subscribers are one of family members, friends, and former associates of the at least one deceased person.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the message is received one of at the time of the subscriber'"'"'s visit to the first physical memorial and subsequent to the subscriber'"'"'s visit.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein in addition to submitting electronic media for inclusion in the online memorial, the subscriber is authorized to download and view electronic media marked public for selected additional physical memorials.