Pet friendly search, meeting, social profile mapping system

• US 9,347,783 B2
• Filed: 09/09/2014
• Issued: 05/24/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Barkhappy Inc.
• Original Assignee: Barkhappy Inc.
• Inventors: Samuel, Ninis
• Primary Examiner(s): MELTON, TODD M
• Application Number:
  US14/481,172
• Publication Number:
  US 20150073698A1
• Time in Patent Office: 623 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 15/021 Electronic training devices specially adapted for dogs or cats
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 29/00 Other apparatus for animal husbandry
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3438 Rendez-vous, i.e. searching a destination where several users can meet, and the routes to this destination for these users; Ride sharing, i.e. searching a route such that at least two users can share a vehicle for at least part of the route
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3476 using point of interest [POI] information, e.g. a route passing visible POIs
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1095 Meeting or appointment
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1813 for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms instant messaging H04L51/04; protocols for multimedia communication H04L65/1101; arrangements for multi-party communication H04L65/403; telephonic conference arrangements H04M3/56; television conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/222 using geographical location information, e.g. messages transmitted or received in proximity of a certain spot or area
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/52 for supporting social networking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds

Abstract

A method and system for assisting users with determining a convenient location for a meeting between at least two users having dogs, the method and system including providing an initial location (via GPS) for a first user and dog, providing an initial location (via GPS) for a second user and dog, determining a meeting point between the first users and the second user, and providing directions to the meeting point to the first user and the second user, via electronic devices. Preferably the meeting point is a dog friendly point of interest. The system may also provide social profiles of users, including dogs and their owners. The system provides search, social networking, and mapping for dog owners.

Claims

1. A method of determining a convenient meeting location for dogs via mobile devices of dog owners, the method comprising:

receiving first geolocation information from a first mobile device proximate a first dog, wherein the first geolocation information is derived, at least in part, from electronic data received from a sensor attached to the first dog;

receiving second geolocation information from a second mobile device proximate a second dog;

determining an initial location of the first dog based on the first geolocation information;

determining an initial location of the second dog based on the second geolocation information;

calculating a distance between the first dog and the second dog based on the initial location of the first dog and the initial location of the second dog;

identifying a meeting point for the first dog and the second dog based on the calculated distance, wherein the meeting point is approximately equidistance from the initial location of the first dog and the initial location of the second dog;

generating first routing information identifying a travel route between the initial location of the first dog and the meeting point;

generating second routing information identifying a travel route between the initial location of the second dog and the meeting point;

communicating the initial location of the second dog, the meeting point and the first routing information for visual presentation on the first mobile device; and

communicating the initial location of the first dog, the meeting point and the second routing information for visual presentation on the second mobile device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying at least one point of interest proximate the meeting point; and

communicating the at least one point of interest for visual presentation on the first mobile device and second mobile device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the at least one point of interest is identified from a curated database of dog-friendly points of interest.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

identifying additional points of interest proximate the travel route between the initial location of the first dog and the meeting point and the travel route between the initial location of the second dog and the meeting point; and

communicating the additional points of interest for visual presentation on the first mobile device and the second mobile device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request, from the first mobile device or the second mobile device, to identify a new meeting point;

in response to the request, identifying a new meeting point; and

communicating the new meeting point for visual presentation on the first mobile device and the second mobile device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

communicating profile information relating to the second dog for presentation on the first mobile device.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request, from the first mobile device, to meet with the second dog; and

receiving, from the second mobile device, an acceptance of the request.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic data received from a sensor attached to the first dog indicates that the first dog is proximate the first mobile device.

9. A server supporting an application installed on a first mobile device and a second mobile device, the server comprising:

a communication interface configured to operate via a network to communicate with and receive information from the first mobile device and the second mobile device;

processing circuitry operably coupled to the communication interface;

memory coupled to the processing circuitry; and

program code stored in the memory, wherein the processing circuitry and communications interface operate according to the program code to;

receive first geolocation information from the first mobile device, the first geolocation information derived, at least in part, from electronic data received from a sensor attached to a first dog;

receive second geolocation information from the second mobile device, the second mobile device proximate a second dog;

determine an initial location of the first dog based on the first geolocation information;

determine an initial location of the second dog based on the second geolocation information;

calculate a distance between the first dog and the second dog based on the initial location of the first dog and the initial location of the second dog;

identify a meeting point for the first dog and the second dog based on the calculated distance, wherein the meeting point is approximately equidistance from the initial location of the first dog and the initial location of the second dog;

generate first routing information identifying a travel route between the initial location of the first dog and the meeting point;

generate second routing information identifying a travel route between the initial location of the second dog and the meeting point;

communicate the initial location of the second dog, the meeting point and the first routing information for visual presentation on the first mobile device; and

communicate the initial location of the first dog, the meeting point and the second routing information for visual presentation on the second mobile device.

10. The server of claim 9, wherein the processing circuitry and the communications interface further operate according to the program code to:

identify at least one point of interest proximate the meeting point; and

communicate the at least one point of interest for visual presentation on the first mobile device and second mobile device.

11. The server of claim 10, the memory maintaining a database of dog-friendly points of interest, wherein the at least one point of interest is identified from the database of dog-friendly points of interest.

12. The server of claim 9, wherein the processing circuitry and the communications interface further operate according to the program code to:

identify additional points of interest proximate the travel route between the initial location of the first dog and the meeting point and the travel route between the initial location of the second dog and the meeting point; and

communicate the additional points of interest for visual presentation on the first mobile device and the second mobile device.

13. The server of claim 9, wherein the processing circuitry and the communications interface further operate according to the program code to:

receive a request, from the first mobile device or the second mobile device, to identify a new meeting point;

in response to the request, identify a new meeting point; and

communicate the new meeting point for visual presentation on the first mobile device and the second mobile device.

14. The server of claim 9, wherein the processing circuitry and the communications interface further operate according to the program code to:

receive profile information relating to the second dog; and

communicate the profile information for presentation on the first mobile device.

15. The server of claim 9, wherein the processing circuitry and the communications interface further operate according to the program code to:

prior to identifying a meeting point for the first dog and the second dog, receive a request, from the first mobile device, to meet with the second dog;

communicate the request to the second mobile device; and

receive, from the second mobile device, an acceptance of the request.

16. The server of claim 9, wherein the communications interface further operates according to the program code to:

receive periodic updates to the first geolocation information and the second geolocation information.

17. The server of claim 9, wherein the electronic data received from a sensor attached to the first dog indicates that the first dog is proximate the first mobile device.

18. A mobile device, comprising:

a communication interface configured to support communications with a cloud server;

a display;

processing circuitry operably coupled to the communication interface and the display;

memory coupled to the processing circuitry, the memory storing application software, wherein upon execution of the application software the processing circuitry operates to;

receive electronic data from a sensor attached to a first dog, wherein the electronic data provides an indication that the first dog is proximate the mobile device;

communicate first geolocation information relating to the location of the mobile device to the cloud server;

receive second geolocation information from the cloud server relating to the location of a second dog;

receive meeting point location information for a meeting point that is approximately equidistance from the location of the mobile device and the location of the second dog;

receive routing information identifying a travel route between the location of the mobile device and the meeting point; and

present a user interface and map on the display, the map including the location of the mobile device, the location of the second dog, and the travel route.

19. The mobile device of claim 18, wherein the processing circuitry further operates to:

receive information identifying at least one dog-friendly point of interest proximate the meeting point; and

present the dog-friendly point of interest on the map.

20. The mobile device of claim 18, wherein the user interface includes an option to request a new meeting point from the cloud server.