Meeting coordination utilizing profile and proximity information of primary parties and affiliated secondary parties

• US 9,605,969 B2
• Filed: 05/23/2016
• Issued: 03/28/2017
• 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:
  US15/161,573
• Publication Number:
  US 20160265928A1
• Time in Patent Office: 309 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 establishing a meeting location for affiliates of primary users of mobile devices. In various embodiments, geolocation information from first and second mobile devices in proximity to first and second affiliated parties, respectively, is used to identify a meeting location. The affiliated parties (e.g., human babies or dogs) may be unable to meaningfully and independently interact with a mobile device. Directions to the meeting location are communicated to each of the mobile devices, as well as location information regarding the other mobile device. Social profile information regarding a user of a mobile device and an affiliated party may also be provided to other potential meeting participants. Proximity of an affiliated party to a mobile device may be determined from electronic data received from a device coupled to the affiliated party. Further, potential points of interest culled from a curated database may be communicated for display.

Claims

1. A method of establishing a meeting location for affiliates of primary users of mobile devices, comprising:

receiving first geolocation information from a first mobile device in proximity to a first affiliated party, wherein proximity is determined, at least in part, from electronic data received from a device coupled to the first affiliated party;

receiving second geolocation information from a second mobile device in proximity to a second affiliated party, wherein proximity is determined, at least in part, from electronic data received from a device coupled to the second affiliated party;

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

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

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

identifying a meeting point for the first affiliated party and the second affiliated party based on the calculated distance;

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

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

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

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

2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first affiliated party and the second affiliated party is a human unable to meaningful and independently interact with a mobile device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first affiliated party and the second affiliated party is a dog.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first affiliated party and the second affiliated party are unable to meaningful and independently interact with the first mobile device and the second device, respectively, for purposes of identifying the meeting point.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the meeting point is approximately equidistance from the initial location of the first affiliated party and the initial location of the second affiliated party.

6. 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.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the at least one point of interest is identified from a curated database of points of interest relevant to at least one of the first affiliated party and the second affiliated party.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

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

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

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the device is a tracking device.

10. 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.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

communicating profile information relating to the second affiliated party and a user of the second mobile device for presentation on the first mobile device.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

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

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

13. 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 mobile device in proximity to a first affiliated party, wherein proximity is determined, at least in part, from electronic data received from a device coupled to the first affiliated party;

receive second geolocation information from the second mobile device, the second mobile device in proximity to a second affiliated party, wherein proximity is determined, at least in part, from electronic data received from a device coupled to the second affiliated party;

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

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

identify a meeting point for the first affiliated party and the second affiliated party based on a calculated distance between the first affiliated party and the second affiliated party;

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

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

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

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

14. The server of claim 13, 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.

15. The server of claim 14, the memory maintaining a database of potential points of interest, wherein the at least one point of interest is identified from the database of potential points of interest.

16. The server of claim 13, 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 affiliated party and the meeting point and the travel route between the initial location of the second affiliated party and the meeting point; and

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

17. The server of claim 13, wherein the meeting point is approximately equidistance from the initial location of the first affiliated party and the initial location of the second affiliated party.

18. The server of claim 13, 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.

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

receive profile information relating to the second affiliated party and a user of the second mobile device; and

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

20. The server of claim 13, 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 affiliated party and the second affiliated party, receive a request, from the first mobile device, to meet with the second affiliated party;

communicate the request to the second mobile device; and

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