Dynamic geofence

• US 9,924,315 B1
• Filed: 01/03/2017
• Issued: 03/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Cornwall, Andrew B., DeLuca, Lisa Seacat
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaheed, Khalid
• Application Number:
  US15/397,346
• Time in Patent Office: 441 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/022 with dynamic range variability
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/025 using location based information parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/00 User notification, e.g. alerting and paging, for incoming communication, change of service or the like

Abstract

Systems, methods and tools for modifying existing geofence notifications using a plurality of overlapping geofences and geo-fencing rules to alter the notification messages as a function of triggering multiple overlapped geofences simultaneously. Triggering the two overlapping geofences may display notifications tied to a special event, marketing campaign or promotion designated by the subsequent geofence overlaying a pre-existing, first geofence. While the second geofence is active, a modified message may be displayed featuring the special event or marketing campaign. Subsequently, after the second geofence has changed locations, deactivated or deleted, the previously existing geofence may revert back to the originally displayed notification prior to mapping the second geofence targeting the special event or promotion.

Claims

1. A method for geofence notifications comprising the steps of:

creating, by a processor of a computer system, a parent geofence and a child geofence, wherein the parent geofence and the child geofence each comprise a boundary defining a location and a size, and the boundary of the parent geofence overlaps with the boundary of the child geofence;

receiving, by the processor, location data of a client device;

comparing, by the processor, the location data of the client device with the location of the child geofence and the location of the parent geofence;

triggering, by the processor, both the parent geofence and the child geofence as a function of the location data of the client device;

displaying, by the processor, a notification as a function of triggering both the parent geofence and the child geofence, via the client device;

wherein the parent geofence is a moving geofence and wherein the location of the parent geofence changes to a second location overlapping a second child geofence; and

the moving geofence is broadcasted by a mobile computer system transported by a user having a variable location, wherein the variable location changes as a function of a change in movement of the user.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

separately triggering, by the processor, the child geofence without triggering the parent geofence; and

displaying a child geofence notification having a different message than the notification displayed by triggering both the parent geofence and child geofence.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

triggering, by the processor, both the moving geofence and the second child geofence, as a function of the location data of the client device; and

displaying, by the processor, a second notification as a function of triggering both the moving geofence and the second child geofence, via the client device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the parent geofence corresponds to a temporary event having a pre-set duration and expiration date.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of:

removing, by the processor, the parent geofence as a function of the parent geofence reaching the expiration date;

triggering, by the processor, the child geofence as a function of the location data of the client device;

displaying, by the processor, a child geofence notification via the client device, wherein the child geofence notification displays a different message than the notification displayed by triggering the child geofence and parent geofence.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing at least one support service for at least one of creating, integrating, hosting, maintaining, and deploying computer-readable program code in a computer system, where the computer-readable program code in combination with the computer system is configured to implement the steps of receiving, mapping, comparing, triggering and displaying the parent geofence and the child geofence.

7. A computer system, comprising:

a central processing unit (CPU);

a memory device coupled to the CPU; and

a computer readable storage device coupled to the processor, wherein the storage device contains program code executable by the CPU via the memory device to implement a method for providing a geofence notification comprising the steps of;

creating, by the CPU, a parent geofence and a child geofence, wherein the parent geofence and the child geofence each comprise a boundary defining a location and a size, and the virtual boundary of the parent geofence overlaps with the virtual boundary of the child geofence;

receiving, by the processor, location data of a client device;

comparing, by the CPU, the location data of the client device with the location of the child geofence and the location of the parent geofence;

triggering, by the CPU, both the parent geofence and the child geofence as a function of the location data of the client device;

displaying, by the CPU, a notification as a function of triggering both the parent geofence and the child geofence, via the client device;

wherein the parent geofence is a moving geofence, wherein the location of the parent geofence changes to a second location overlapping a boundary of a second child geofence; and

the moving geofence is broadcasted by mobile computer system transported by a user having a variable location, wherein the variable location changes as a function of a change in movement of the user.

8. The system of claim 7, further performing the steps of:

separately triggering, by the CPU, the child geofence without triggering the parent geofence; and

displaying a child geofence notification having a different message than the notification displayed by triggering the child geofence and parent geofence simultaneously.

9. The system of claim 7, further performing the steps of:

triggering, by the CPU, both the moving geofence and the second child geofence, as a function of the location data of the client device; and

displaying, by the CPU, a second notification as a function of triggering both the moving geofence and the second child geofence, via the client device.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the parent geofence corresponds to a temporary event having a pre-set duration and expiration date and the system performs the steps of:

removing, by the processor, the parent geofence as a function of the parent geofence reaching the expiration date;

triggering, by the processor, the child geofence as a function of the location data of the client device;

displaying, by the processor, a child geofence notification, via the client device, wherein the child geofence notification displays a different message than the displayed by triggering the child geofence and parent geofence simultaneously.

11. A computer program product comprising:

one or more computer readable hardware storage devices having computer readable program code stored therein, said program code containing instructions executable by the one or more central processing units (CPU) to implement a method for providing a geofence notification comprising the steps of;

creating, by the CPU, a parent geofence and a child geofence, wherein the parent geofence and the child geofence each comprise a boundary defining a location and a size, and the virtual boundary of the parent geofence overlaps with the virtual boundary of the child geofence;

receiving, by the processor, location data of a client device;

comparing, by the CPU, the location data of the client device with the location of the child geofence and the location of the parent geofence;

triggering, by the CPU, both the parent geofence and the child geofence as a function of the location data of the client device; and

displaying, by the CPU, a notification as a function of triggering both the parent geofence and the child geofence, via the client device;

wherein the parent geofence is a moving geofence, wherein the location of the parent geofence changes to a second location overlapping a boundary of a second child geofence; and

the moving geofence is broadcasted by mobile computer system transported by a user having a variable location, wherein the variable location changes as a function of a change in movement of the user.

12. The computer program product of claim 11, further performing the steps of:

separately triggering, by the CPU, the child geofence without triggering the parent geofence; and

displaying a child geofence notification having a different message than the notification displayed by triggering the child geofence and parent geofence simultaneously.

13. The computer program product of claim 11, further performing the steps of:

triggering, by the CPU, both the moving geofence and the second child geofence, as a function of the location data of the client device; and

displaying, by the CPU, a second notification as a function of triggering both the moving geofence and the second child geofence, via the client device.

14. The computer program product of claim 11, the parent geofence corresponds to a temporary event having a pre-set duration and expiration date and the system performs the steps of:

removing, by the processor, the parent geofence as a function of the parent geofence reaching the expiration date;

triggering, by the processor, the child geofence as a function of the location data of the client device;

displaying, by the processor, a child geofence notification, via the client device, wherein the child geofence notification displays a different message than the displayed by triggering the child geofence and parent geofence simultaneously.