SYSTEMS FOR COMMUNICATING CURRENT AND FUTURE ACTIVITY INFORMATION AMONG MOBILE INTERNET USERS AND METHODS THEREFOR

• US 20090076889A1
• Filed: 09/12/2008
• Published: 03/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Imahima, Inc.
• Inventors: Jhanji, Neeraj
• Granted Patent: US 7,818,415 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/10
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0259 based on store location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• 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 51/224 providing notification on incoming messages, e.g. pushed notifications of received messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/54 Presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/20 Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel

Abstract

The invention relates, in one embodiment to a computer-implemented method implemented via the Internet for coordinating an activity between a user of a mobile Internet device and other users communicating through the Internet. The method includes receiving activity information pertaining to the event from the user via the mobile Internet device. The activity pertains to an activity occurring during a time period that overlaps the time the activity information is received. The method further includes transmitting the activity information to a backend database coupled to the Internet, the backend database being remote from the mobile Internet device. The method further includes rendering the activity information accessible to at least one recipient via the Internet. The recipient represents a subset of the users coupled to the Internet and having access privilege to information pertaining to the event involving the user.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for facilitating commercial offerings to a user of a computing device connectable with a network, said commercial offering pertaining to a product or a service provided by a merchant, the method comprising:

receiving a first set of data comprising activity information of said user, said activity information pertaining to an activity occurring during a time period, said first set of data including location information;

comparing said first set of data with a second set of data, said second set of data including location information specified by said merchant; and

if said first set of data satisfies one or more conditions specified for said comparison with said second set of data, rendering said commercial offering available to said user via said network.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said time period during which said activity occurs overlaps the time at which said activity information is received.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said time period during which said activity occurs is at a future time with respect to the time at which said activity information is received.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said location information is determined without the aid of automatic location determination technology.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said location information is determined without the aid of Global Positioning System location determination technology.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said location information is self-declared location information indicating a physical location of the sender during said time period during which said activity occurs.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said comparing compares at least the location information of said first set of data with the location information of said second set of data.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said first set of data and said second set of data includes activity type information.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein said comparing compares at least the activity type information of said first set of data with the activity type information of said second set of data.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said computing device is a mobile telephone.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said computing device is a personal computer.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 1,

wherein said rendering said commercial offering includes rendering to the user of the computing device a bar code displayable on a display of the computing device;

and

said computer-implemented method further comprising;

presenting the bar code, displayed on the computing device, to said merchant for scanning by a bar code scanning device; and

said bar code scanning device scanning said displayed bar code to facilitate said user accepting said commercial offering.

13. A computer-implemented method for facilitating commercial offerings to a user of a computing device connectable with a network, said commercial offering pertaining to a product or a service provided by a merchant, the method comprising:

receiving a first set of data comprising activity information of said user, said activity information pertaining to an activity occurring during a time period, said first set of data including activity type information;

comparing said first set of data with a second set of data, said second set of data including activity type information specified by said merchant; and

if said first set of data satisfies one or more conditions specified for said comparison with said second set of data, rendering said commercial offering available to said user via said network.

14. A computer-implemented method for facilitating commercial offerings to a user of a computing device, said commercial offering pertaining to a product or a service provided by a merchant, the method comprising:

transmitting the commercial offering to the user of the computing device including a bar code displayable on a display of the computing device; and

presenting the bar code, displayed on display of the computing device, to said merchant for scanning by a bar code scanning device.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 14, said computer-implemented method further comprising:

said bar code scanning device scanning said displayed bar code to facilitate said user accepting said commercial offering.