Electronically capturing consumer location data for analyzing consumer behavior

• US 9,589,270 B2
• Filed: 10/22/2010
• Issued: 03/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Service Management Group Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Service Management Group, Inc.
• Inventors: Weiss, Eric H., Fulford-Jones, Thaddeus R. F., Volpe, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Sterrett, Jonathan G
• Application Number:
  US12/910,280
• Publication Number:
  US 20110099047A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,328 Days
• Field of Search: 705/7.29, 705/7.34, 455/404.2
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0202 Market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0205 Location or geographical consideration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

In embodiments, methods and systems for electronically capturing consumer location data for consumer behavior analysis may be provided. The location data may be gathered for one or more consumers from any suitable source. In some cases, the location data may be gathered using electronic devices associated with consumers, such as mobile phones. The gathered data may be analyzed to determine behavior patterns or other characteristics of the one or more consumers. Further, inferences or predictions about consumers may be derived based on the characteristics. The inferences and predictions may be the basis of consumer analytics supplied to a business or other entity.

Claims

1. A method for controlling mobile devices to obtain data regarding locations of a plurality of consumers, wherein each mobile device of the mobile devices is associated with a consumer of the plurality of consumers, the method comprising, for each of the plurality of consumers, the act:

operating at least one programmed processor to perform a set of acts, the at least one programmed processor being programmed with executable instructions identifying the set of acts, the set of acts comprising;

(A) assigning, for a mobile device associated with a consumer of the plurality of consumers, a time interval between attempts to obtain location data for the consumer;

(B) upon expiration of the time interval;

(i) communicating with the mobile device to obtain location data for a current location of the consumer;

(ii) storing the location data for the current location of the consumer in at least one storage medium, the at least one storage medium storing other location data received for at least one other consumer;

(iii) adjusting the time interval for the mobile device associated with the consumer based at least in part on first information determined based at least in part on the current location of the consumer and second information, wherein adjusting the time interval based at least in part on the first information comprises adjusting the time interval based on a proximity of the consumer to a known setting and one or more current behavior characteristics for the consumer regarding one or more behaviors in which the consumer is engaged at the current location; and

(C) assigning the adjusted time interval to the mobile device associated with the consumer and repeating the act (B)(i) of communicating with the mobile device to obtain new location data for a new current location, the act (B)(ii) of storing, and the act (B)(iii) of adjusting the time interval for the mobile device associated with the consumer.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining location data comprises obtaining a latitude, longitude, and error margin for the latitude and longitude.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

retrieving the at least one location for the at least one known setting from a data set of information regarding points of interest, wherein each setting of the at least one known setting is a point of interest.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

assigning the time interval and adjusting the time interval is based at least in part on a current time;

the second information comprises at least one second behavior characteristic of the consumer determined from analysis of one or more prior visits by the consumer to the current location, the at least one second behavior characteristic indicating whether the consumer regularly relocates when present at the current location at times matching the current time; and

adjusting the time interval based at least in part on the first information and the second information comprises, when the second information indicates that the consumer does not regularly from the current location of the consumer at times matching the current time, increasing the time interval and, when the second information indicates that the consumer regularly relocates from the current location at times matching the current time, decreasing the time interval.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the act (C) of repeating comprises:

upon expiration of the adjusted time interval, communicating with the mobile device to obtain new location data for a new current location of the consumer;

storing the new location data in the at least one storage medium; and

adjusting the adjusted time interval based at least in part on third information determined based at least in part on the new current location, wherein;

adjusting the time interval based at least in part on the third information comprises adjusting the time interval based on proximity of the consumer to one or more known settings and based at least in part on one or more current behavior characteristics for the consumer regarding one or more behaviors in which the consumer is engaged at the new current location, and

the one or more known settings comprising the known setting.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the second information indicates whether the consumer has previously been detected to have visited the known setting; and

adjusting the time interval based at least in part on the first information and the second information comprises adjusting the time interval based at least in part on whether the consumer has previously been detected to have visited the known setting.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the set of acts further comprises determining, based at least in part on analysis of the location data obtained for the consumer, the one or more current behavior characteristics of the first information;

the second information comprises at least one previously-detected behavior characteristic of the consumer regarding one or more behaviors in which the consumer previously engaged at one or more second locations; and

adjusting the time interval based at least in part on the first information and the second information comprises;

comparing the one or more current behavior characteristics, regarding the one or more behaviors of the consumer, to the at least one previously-detected behavior characteristic of the consumer; and

adjusting the time interval based at least in part on a result of the comparing.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the set of acts further comprises;

determining, based at least in part on analysis of the location data obtained for the consumer, the one or more current behavior characteristics of the first information; and

determining the second information at least in part by retrieving, from the at least one storage medium, at least one previously-detected behavior characteristic of the consumer regarding one or more behaviors in which the consumer previously engaged following a time that location data for the consumer was previously detected to have exhibited the one or more current behavior characteristics; and

adjusting the time interval based at least in part on the first information and the second information comprises

adjusting the time interval based at least in part on the at least one previously-detected behavior characteristic.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the set of acts further comprises;

determining, based at least in part on analysis of the location data obtained for the consumer, the one or more current behavior characteristics of the first information; and

determining the second information at least in part by determining, from an analysis of at least one previously-detected behavior characteristic of the consumer determined from one or more second locations, whether the consumer may engage in a different behavior during a time period following the communicating to obtain; and

adjusting the time interval based at least in part on the first information and the second information comprises

adjusting the time interval based at least in part on whether the second information indicates that the consumer may engage in a different behavior during the time period.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the second information comprises one or more settings that the consumer has been detected to have previously visited; and

adjusting the time interval based at least in part on the first information and the second information comprises selecting the known setting, from a plurality of settings, based at least in part on the one or more settings that the consumer is detected to have previously visited.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein:

selecting the known setting comprises selecting a setting associated with a competitor of a business included in the one or more settings; and

adjusting the time interval based on the proximity of the consumer to the known setting comprises adjusting the time interval based on the proximity of the consumer to the setting associated with the competitor.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the set of acts further comprises, following the repeating:

analyzing location data indicating current locations of the consumer for a time period following a time at which the consumer was detected to be proximate to the setting associated with the competitor to determine whether the consumer visited the setting associated with the competitor or passed by the setting associated with the competitor.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein:

selecting the known setting comprises selecting a setting that has been determined, based on the one or more second locations of the second information, to be a personally-relevant location for the consumer; and

adjusting the time interval based on the proximity of the consumer to the known setting comprises adjusting the time interval based on the proximity of the consumer to the personally-relevant location for the consumer.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein:

selecting the known setting comprises selecting a setting that has been determined, based on the one or more second locations of the second information, to be a setting that the consumer is likely to visit; and

adjusting the time interval based on the proximity of the consumer to the known setting comprises adjusting the time interval based on the proximity of the consumer to the setting that the consumer has been determined to be likely to visit.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of acts further comprises determining the second information based at least in part on one or more second locations at which the at least one other consumer was present at one or more other times.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein:

the at least one other consumer comprises other consumers of a group of consumers, wherein the consumer is a member of the group of consumers;

the second information comprises at least one group behavior characteristic determined for the group of consumers based at least in part on an analysis of the one or more second locations at which the consumers of the group were present; and

adjusting the time interval based at least in part on the second information comprises adjusting the time interval based at least in part on the at least one group behavior characteristic.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein adjusting the time interval based at least in part on the one or more current behavior characteristics and on the at least one group behavior characteristic comprises:

comparing the one or more current behavior characteristics to the at least one group behavior characteristic; and

adjusting the time interval based at least in part on a result of the comparing.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of acts further comprises:

analyzing location data for the consumer, indicating locations at which the consumer was present over time, that is stored in the at least one storage medium, to identify from the locations a plurality of paths taken by the consumer, wherein each path is a collection of one or more settings visited by a consumer together in a group;

analyzing the plurality of paths to identify one or more patterns of behavior of the consumer in taking the plurality of paths over a period of time; and

inferring at least one characteristic of the consumer from the one or more patterns of behavior.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein analyzing the location data to identify the plurality of paths comprises analyzing the location data to identify a plurality of paths, each path comprising at least two settings visited by the consumer in the path, wherein the at least two settings for a path comprise a starting endpoint for the path and an ending endpoint for the path and the starting endpoint for each path and the ending endpoint for each path are personally-relevant locations for the consumer.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein analyzing the plurality of paths to identify one or more patterns of behavior comprises identifying a frequency with which the consumer takes a path including a particular set of settings.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein:

the set of acts further comprises;

determining, based at least in part on analysis of the location data obtained for the consumer, the one or more current behavior characteristics of the first information;

determining the second information at least in part by retrieving, from the at least one storage medium, the one or more patterns in behavior for the consumer and determining a potential pattern of behavior that the one or more current behavior characteristics match; and

adjusting the time interval based at least in part on the first information and the second information comprises;

selecting the known setting by determining a setting for which a visit by the consumer would be consistent with the potential pattern of behavior; and

adjusting the time interval based on proximity to the known setting selected in the selecting.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the set of acts further comprises determining whether the consumer deviated from the potential pattern of behavior.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein analyzing the location data to identify the plurality of paths comprises analyzing the location data to identify, for a first path of the plurality of paths, a sequence of settings visited in the path.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein analyzing the plurality of paths to identify the one or more patterns of behavior of the consumer in taking the plurality of paths over the period of time comprises identifying a pattern in two or more types of settings visited together in paths of the plurality of paths.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein:

assigning the time interval for the mobile device comprises transmitting to the mobile device associated with the consumer at least one first message indicating the time interval;

communicating with the mobile device to obtain the location data comprises receiving from the mobile device associated with the consumer at least one second message indicating the location data; and

assigning the adjusted time interval to the mobile device comprises transmitting to the mobile device at least one third message indicating the adjusted time interval.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein:

transmitting the at least one first message indicating the time interval comprises transmitting at least one first message including the time interval; and

transmitting the at least one third message indicating the adjusted time interval comprises transmitting at least one third message including the adjusted time interval.

27. The method of claim 1, wherein communicating with the mobile device to obtain the location data comprises receiving from the mobile device associated with the consumer at least one second message indicating the location data, wherein the location data was generated by the mobile device associated with the consumer.

28. The method of claim 1, wherein:

assigning the time interval comprises communicating to the mobile device the time interval;

communicating with the mobile device to obtain the location data comprises receiving the location data transmitted by the mobile device at the time interval;

assigning the adjusted time interval comprises communicating to the mobile device the adjusted time interval; and

communicating with the mobile device to obtain the new location data comprises receiving the new location data transmitted by the mobile device at the adjusted time interval.

29. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

with the mobile device, transmitting the location data in response to detecting expiration of the time interval; and

with the mobile device, transmitting the new location data in response to detecting expiration of the adjusted time interval.

30. The method of claim 1, wherein:

communicating with the mobile device to obtain the location data comprises, at the time interval, requesting that the mobile device transmit the location data and receiving the location data in response to the requesting; and

communicating with the mobile device to obtain the new location data comprises, at the adjusted time interval, requesting that the mobile device transmit the new location data and receiving the new location data in response to the requesting.

31. At least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having encoded thereon executable instructions that, when executed by at least one computer, cause the at least one computer to carry out a method for controlling a mobile device to obtain data regarding locations of a consumer of a plurality of consumers, wherein the mobile device is associated with the consumer, the method comprising:

(A) assigning, for the mobile device associated with the consumer, a time interval between attempts to obtain location data for the consumer;

(B) upon expiration of the time interval;

(i) communicating with the mobile device to obtain location data for a current location of the consumer;

(ii) storing the location data for the current location of the consumer in at least one storage medium storing other location data received for at least one other consumer;

(iii) adjusting the time interval for the mobile device associated with the consumer based at least in part on first information determined based at least in part on the current location of the consumer and second information, wherein adjusting the time interval based at least in part on the first information comprises adjusting the time interval based on a proximity of the consumer to a known setting and one or more current behavior characteristics for the consumer regarding one or more behaviors in which the consumer is engaged at the current location; and

(C) assigning the adjusted time interval to the mobile device associated with the consumer and repeating the act (B)(i) of communicating with the mobile device to obtain new location data for a new current location, the act (B)(ii) of storing, and the act (B)(iii) of adjusting the time interval for the mobile device associated with the consumer.

32. The at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 31, wherein:

assigning the time interval and adjusting the time interval is based at least in part on a current time,

the second information comprises at least one second behavior characteristic of the consumer determined from analysis of one or more prior visits by the consumer to the current location, the at least one second behavior characteristic indicating a frequency with which the consumer relocates when present at the current location at times matching the current time; and

adjusting the time interval based at least in part on the first information and the second information comprises;

when the second information indicates that the frequency with which the consumer relocates from the location of the known setting at times matching the current time is below a threshold, increasing the time interval, and

when the second information indicates that the frequency with which the consumer relocates from the location of the known setting at times matching the current time is above the threshold, decreasing the time interval.

33. The at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 31, wherein:

the second information indicates whether the consumer has previously been detected to have visited the known setting; and

adjusting the time interval based at least in part on the first information and the second information comprises adjusting the time interval based at least in part on whether the second information indicates that the consumer has previously been detected to have visited the known setting.

34. The at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 31, wherein:

the method further comprises determining, based at least in part on analysis of the location data obtained for the consumer, the one or more current behavior characteristics of the first information;

the second information comprises at least one previously-detected behavior characteristic of the consumer regarding one or more behaviors in which the consumer previously engaged at one or more second locations; and

adjusting the time interval based at least in part on the first information and the second information comprises;

comparing the one or more current behavior characteristics, regarding the one or more behaviors of the consumer, to the at least one previously-detected behavior of the consumer; and

adjusting the time interval based at least in part on a result of the comparing.

35. The at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 31, wherein:

the method further comprises;

determining, based at least in part on analysis of the location data obtained for the consumer, the one or more current behavior characteristics of the first information; and

determining the second information at least in part by retrieving, from the at least one storage medium, at least one previously-detected behavior characteristic of the consumer regarding one or more behaviors in which the consumer previously engaged following a time that location data for the consumer was previously detected to have exhibited the one or more current behavior characteristics; and

adjusting the time interval based at least in part on the first information and the second information comprises adjusting the time interval based at least in part on the at least one previously-detected behavior characteristic.

36. The at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 31, wherein:

the method further comprises;

determining, based at least in part on analysis of the location data obtained for the consumer, the one or more current behavior characteristics of the first information; and

determining the second information at least in part by determining, from an analysis of at least one previously-detected behavior characteristic of the consumer determined from one or more second locations, whether the consumer may engage in a different behavior during a time period following the communicating to obtain; and

adjusting the time interval based at least in part on the first information and the second information comprises adjusting the time interval based at least in part on whether the second information indicates that the consumer may engage in a different behavior during the time period.

37. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having encoded thereon executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to carry out a method for controlling a mobile device to obtain data regarding locations of a consumer of a plurality of a plurality of consumers, wherein the mobile device is associated with the consumer, the method comprising;

(A) assigning, for the mobile device associated with the consumer, a time interval between attempts to obtain location data for the consumer;

(B) upon expiration of the time interval;

(i) communicating with the mobile device to obtain location data for a current location of the consumer;

(ii) storing the location data for the current location of the consumer in at least one storage medium storing other location data received for at least one other consumer;

(iii) adjusting the time interval for the mobile device associated with the consumer based at least in part on first information determined based at least in part on the current location of the consumer and second information, wherein adjusting the time interval based at least in part on the first information comprises adjusting the time interval based on a proximity of the consumer to a known setting and one or more current behavior characteristics for the consumer regarding one or more behaviors in which the consumer is engaged at the current location; and

(C) assigning the adjusted time interval to the mobile device associated with the consumer and repeating the act (B)(i) of communicating with the mobile device to obtain new location data for a new current location, the act (B)(ii) of storing, and the act (B)(iii) of adjusting the time interval for the mobile device associated with the consumer.

38. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein:

assigning the time interval and adjusting the time interval is based at least in part on a current time,

the second information comprises at least one second behavior characteristic of the consumer determined from analysis of one or more prior visits by the consumer to the current location, the at least one second behavior characteristic indicating a frequency with which the consumer relocates when present at the current location at times matching the current time; and

adjusting the time interval based at least in part on the first information and the second information comprises;

when the second information indicates that the frequency with which the consumer relocates from the location of the known setting at times matching the current time is below a threshold, increasing the time interval, and

when the second information indicates that the frequency with which the consumer relocates from the location of the known setting at times matching the current time is above the threshold, decreasing the time interval.

39. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein:

the second information indicates whether the consumer has previously been detected to have visited the known setting; and

adjusting the time interval based at least in part on the first information and the second information comprises adjusting the time interval based at least in part on whether the second information indicates that the consumer has previously been detected to have visited the known setting.

40. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein:

the method further comprises determining, based at least in part on analysis of the location data obtained for the consumer, the one or more current behavior characteristics of the first information;

the second information comprises at least one previously-detected behavior characteristic of the consumer regarding one or more behaviors in which the consumer previously engaged at one or more second locations; and

adjusting the time interval based at least in part on the first information and the second information comprises;

comparing the one or more current behavior characteristics, regarding the one or more behaviors of the consumer, to the at least one previously-detected behavior of the consumer; and

adjusting the time interval based at least in part on a result of the comparing.

41. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein:

the method further comprises;

determining, based at least in part on analysis of the location data obtained for the consumer, the one or more current behavior characteristics of the first information; and

determining the second information at least in part by retrieving, from the at least one storage medium, at least one previously-detected behavior characteristic of the consumer regarding one or more behaviors in which the consumer previously engaged following a time that location data for the consumer was previously detected to have exhibited the one or more current behavior characteristics; and

adjusting the time interval based at least in part on the first information and the second information comprises adjusting the time interval based at least in part on the at least one previously-detected behavior characteristic.

42. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein:

the method further comprises;

determining, based at least in part on analysis of the location data obtained for the consumer, the one or more current behavior characteristics of the first information; and

determining the second information at least in part by determining, from an analysis of at least one previously-detected behavior characteristic of the consumer determined from one or more second locations, whether the consumer may engage in a different behavior during a time period following the communicating to obtain; and

adjusting the time interval based at least in part on the first information and the second information comprises adjusting the time interval based at least in part on whether the second information indicates that the consumer may engage in a different behavior during the time period.