Geolocation systems and methods for searching for entertainment events

• US 9,747,285 B1
• Filed: 06/21/2012
• Issued: 08/29/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Adam Laufer
• Original Assignee: Adam Laufer
• Inventors: Laufer, Adam
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Susan
• Application Number:
  US13/530,023
• Time in Patent Office: 1,895 Days
• Field of Search: 705 142, 705 144, 709238
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/00 Information retrieval; Database structures therefor; File system structures therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9537 Spatial or temporal dependent retrieval, e.g. spatiotemporal queries

Abstract

A computer-implemented method for presenting an entertainment requester with a selection of entertainment events comprises determining a geographic location of the entertainment requester and conducting, with the aid of a processor, a search for at least one entertainment event within a search area encompassing in whole or in part the geographic location of the entertainment requester. A geographic location of one or more entertainment events revealed upon the search is then displayed to the user on a graphical user interface (GUI) of an electronic device of the entertainment requester. The entertainment requester may then check into an entertainment event selected from the one or more entertainment events.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for presenting an entertainment requester with a selection of entertainment events within a mobile application that presents the entertainment requestor with the selection of entertainment events, comprising:

(a) determining a geographic location of said entertainment requester;

(b) conducting, with the aid of a processor, a search for at least one entertainment event that is occurring at a physical venue within a search area encompassing in whole or in part said geographic location of said entertainment requester determined in (a);

(c) displaying, within the same mobile application on a graphical user interface (GUI) of an electronic device of said entertainment requester, a geographic location of one or more entertainment events revealed upon said search in (b), wherein an entertainment event has at least one performer and comprises at least one of a comedic performance, theatrical performance, and musical performance, and wherein the one or more entertainment events revealed upon said search in (b) are available for said entertainment requester to check-in, within the same mobile application that displays the one or more entertainment events, during the performance of the one or more entertainment events when the entertainment requestor is within a threshold geographic distance of the physical venue;

(d) receiving a request to check-in to a performer of an entertainment event of the one or more entertainment events, wherein checking-in comprises connecting the performer of the entertainment event to the entertainment requester, and wherein checking-in is independent of a particular venue associated with the entertainment event;

(e) determining popularity of the performer based at least on the check-in by the entertainment requester to the performer; and

(f) ranking the entertainment requester as a fan of the performer by ranking the entertainment requester based on at least one of the check-in by the entertainment requester, gratuities paid, and merchandise purchased.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein (b) comprises generating a list of entertainment events from said search.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said search area includes a search radius.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said search area is selected by said entertainment requester.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said GUI comprises a map.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one entertainment event is a music event.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying, on said GUI, identifying information associated with one or more other entertainment requesters, wherein said one or more other entertainment requesters are located at an entertainment event selected from said one or more entertainment events displayed on said GUI in (c).

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said geographic location of said entertainment requester is determined with the aid of the electronic device of said entertainment requester.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein, prior to (a), receiving a request from said entertainment requester for one or more entertainment events at or in proximity to said geographic location of said entertainment requester.

10. A computer-implemented method for directing advertising to an entertainment requester, comprising:

(a) determining a geographic location of said entertainment requester;

(b) conducting, with the aid of a processor, a search for at least one entertainment event that is occurring at a physical venue within a search area encompassing in whole or in part said geographic location;

(c) displaying, within a mobile application on a graphical user interface (GUI) of an electronic device of said entertainment requester, a geographic location of one or more entertainment events revealed upon said search in (b), wherein the one or more entertainment events revealed upon said search in (b) are available for said entertainment requester to check-in, within the same mobile application that displays one or more entertainment events, during the performance of the one or more entertainment events when the entertainment requestor is within a threshold geographic distance of the physical venue, wherein an entertainment event has at least one performer and comprises at least one of a live comedic performance, a live theatrical performance, and a live musical performance, and wherein the one or more entertainment events revealed upon said search in (b) are available for said entertainment requester to check-in during the performance of the one or more entertainment events when the entertainment requestor is at the physical venue;

(d) receiving a request to check-in to a performer of an entertainment event of the one or more entertainment events, wherein checking-in comprises connecting the performer of the entertainment event to the entertainment requester, and wherein checking-in is independent of a particular venue associated with the entertainment event;

(e) displaying an advertisement on said GUI;

(f) determining popularity of the performer based at least on the check-in by the entertainment requester to the performer; and

(g) ranking the entertainment requester as a fan of the performer by ranking the entertainment requester based on at least one of the check-in by the entertainment requester, gratuities paid, and merchandise purchased.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein, upon receiving said request to check-in to said entertainment event (d), determining that said entertainment event has not ended and, upon determining that said entertainment event has not ended, checking said entertainment requester into said entertainment event.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein, in (e), said advertisement is displayed on said GUI upon checking said entertainment requester into said entertainment event.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein said advertisement is selected in view of (i) the type of entertainment event of said entertainment event, (ii) the proximity of said entertainment requester to an entertainment event among said one or more entertainment events, (iii) the proximity of said entertainment requester to a venue of said entertainment event, and/or (iv) one or more preferences of said user.

14. A computer readable medium comprising code that, when executed by one or more computer processors, implements a method, the method comprising:

(a) determining a geographic location of said entertainment requester;

(b) conducting, with the aid of a processor, a search for at least one entertainment event that is in progress at a physical venue within a search area encompassing in whole or in part said geographic location of said entertainment requester determined in (a);

(c) displaying, within a mobile application on a graphical user interface (GUI) of an electronic device of said entertainment requester, a geographic location of one or more entertainment events revealed upon said search in (b), wherein an entertainment event has at least one performer and comprises at least one of a live comedic performance, a live theatrical performance, and a live musical performance, and wherein the one or more entertainment events revealed upon said search in (b) are available for said entertainment requester to check-in, within the same mobile application that displays the one or more entertainment events, during the performance of the one or more entertainment events when the entertainment requestor is within a threshold geographic distance of the physical venue;

(d) receiving a request to check-in to a performer of an entertainment event of the one or more entertainment events, wherein checking-in comprises connecting the performer of the entertainment event to the entertainment requester, and wherein checking-in is independent of a particular venue associated with the entertainment event;

(e) determining popularity of the performer based at least on the check-in by the entertainment requester to the performer; and

(f) ranking the entertainment requester as a fan of the performer by ranking the entertainment requester based on at least one of the check-in by the entertainment requester, gratuities paid, and merchandise purchased.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein (b) comprises generating a list of entertainment events from said search.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein said search area includes a search radius.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein said search area is selected by said entertainment requester.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein said GUI comprises a map.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein said at least one entertainment event is a music event.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 14, further comprising displaying, on said GUI, identifying information associated with one or more other entertainment requesters, wherein said one or more other entertainment requesters are located at an entertainment event selected from said one or more entertainment events displayed on said GUI in (c).

21. The computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein said geographic location of said entertainment requester is determined with the aid of the electronic device of said entertainment requester.

22. The computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein, prior to (a), receiving a request from said entertainment requester for one or more entertainment events at or in proximity to said geographic location of said entertainment requester.