System and method for conducting a location based search

• US 20090177486A1
• Filed: 12/31/2008
• Published: 07/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Groundspeak, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Groundspeak, Inc.
• Inventors: Alvord, Elias C., Irish, Jeremy A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,473,194 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/347
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/903 Querying for retrieval from the web G06F16/953
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0282 Rating or review of business operators or products
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]

Abstract

A system and method for conducting a location based search for event cartridges is provided. A database of cartridges is maintained. Each cartridge includes a sequence of triggerable events and origin geolocational data for a start location for execution of the triggerable events. A server is operatively coupled to the database and interfaces to a user device having a display and user input controls. A user request from the user device is processed. The user request, including a location of the user device, is received. The cartridges are searched by comparing the location of the user device and the start location for each cartridge. Those cartridges with the start location proximate to the location of the user device are selected. The selected cartridges are provided to the user device as a menu on the display and are further selectable through the user input controls.

Claims

1. A system for conducting a location based search for event cartridges, comprising:

a database of cartridges each comprising a sequence of triggerable events and origin geolocational data for a start location for execution of the triggerable events; and

a server operatively coupled to the database and interfaced to a user device having a display and user input controls, comprising;

a request module receiving a user request comprising a location of the user device;

a search module searching the cartridges by comparing the location of the user device and the start location for each cartridge;

a selection module selecting those cartridges with the start location proximate to the location of the user device;

a transmission module providing the selected cartridges to the user device as a menu on the display, wherein the selected cartridges are further selectable through the user input controls; and

a processor to execute the modules.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the cartridges are selected by receiving a geolocational boundary for the start location of the cartridges in the user request, by determining a distance between the location of the user device and the start location for each cartridge, by sorting the cartridges by the distance;

and by choosing the cartridges having the distance within the geolocational boundary.

3. A system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a cartridge request module receiving a cartridge request for one of the selected cartridges from the user device;

a determination module determining a type of the user device and compiling a script for the sequence of triggerable events of the one such selected cartridge based on the type of the user device; and

a script transmission module transmitting the compiled script for the one such selected cartridge to the user device.

4. A system according to claim 3, further comprising:

a compiling module compiling user data with the script, wherein the user data comprises at least one of user identification data, a location of the cartridge request, a version of the one such selected cartridge, and user preferences.

5. A system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a request receipt module receiving a cartridge request to download one of the selected cartridges for execution by the user device;

a play feedback module receiving play feedback for one or more of the triggerable events following the execution of the one such selected cartridge by the user device; and

a play feedback transmission module providing the play feedback to one or more users.

6. A system according to claim 5, wherein the play feedback comprises one or more of the location of the user device at one of the triggerable events, a time at which one of the users entered the location of the user device, and a status of the one such triggerable event.

7. A system according to claim 5, further comprising:

an access restriction module restricting access to the play feedback based on identification of the users.

8. A system according to claim 1, wherein the location of the user device comprises at least one of a geospatial boundary, address, landmark, and geospatial coordinates.

9. A system according to claim 1, wherein the user device displays the selected cartridges by providing at least one of a title, activity identifier, icon, and player status for each selected cartridge in the display.

10. A system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a cartridge transmission module providing a series of the cartridges to the user device, comprising;

a user request module receiving the user request from the user device with a completion status of a previously executed cartridge in the series; and

a cartridge series module transmitting a following cartridge in the series to the user device.

11. A system according to claim 1, further comprising:

an authentication module authenticating the user request by one of a password, user identification number, and login; and

a request processing module processing the user request upon successful authentication.

12. A system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a payment information module obtaining payment information from a user; and

a payment processing module processing a payment for one or more of the selected cartridges using the payment information.

13. A method for conducting a location based search for event cartridges, comprising:

maintaining a database of cartridges each comprising a sequence of triggerable events and origin geolocational data for a start location for execution of the triggerable events;

interfacing a server operatively coupled to the database to a user device having a display and user input controls; and

processing a user request from the user device, comprising;

receiving the user request comprising a location of the user device;

searching the cartridges by comparing the location of the user device and the start location for each cartridge;

selecting those cartridges with the start location proximate to the location of the user device; and

providing the selected cartridges to the user device as a menu on the display, wherein the selected cartridges are further selectable through the user input controls.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein the cartridges are selected by:

receiving a geolocational boundary for the start location of the cartridges in the user request;

determining a distance between the location of the user device and the start location for each cartridge;

sorting the cartridges by the distance; and

choosing the cartridges having the distance within the geolocational boundary;

15. A method according to claim 13, further comprising:

receiving a cartridge request for one of the selected cartridges from the user device;

determining a type of the user device and compiling a script for the sequence of triggerable events of the one such selected cartridge based on the type of the user device; and

transmitting the compiled script for the one such selected cartridge to the user device.

16. A method according to claim 15, further comprising:

compiling user data with the script, wherein the user data comprises at least one of user identification data, a location of the cartridge request, a version of the one such selected cartridge, and user preferences.

17. A method according to claim 13, further comprising:

receiving a cartridge request to download one of the selected cartridges for execution on the user device;

receiving play feedback for one or more of the triggerable events following the execution of the one such selected cartridge by the user device; and

providing the play feedback to one or more users.

18. A method according to claim 17, wherein the play feedback comprises one or more of the location of the user device at one of the triggerable events, a time at which one of the users entered the location of the user device, and a status of the one such triggerable event.

19. A method according to claim 17, further comprising:

restricting access to the play feedback based on identification of the users.

20. A method according to claim 13, wherein the location of the user device comprises at least one of a geospatial boundary, address, landmark, and geospatial coordinates.

21. A method according to claim 13, wherein the user device displays the selected cartridges by providing at least one of a title, activity identifier, icon, and player status for each selected cartridge in the display.

22. A method according to claim 13, further comprising:

providing a series of the cartridges to the user device, comprising;

receiving the user request from the user device with a completion status of a previously executed cartridge in the series; and

transmitting a following cartridge in the series to the user device.

23. A method according to claim 13, further comprising:

authenticating the user request by one of a password, user identification number, and login; and

processing the user request upon successful authentication.

24. A method according to claim 13, further comprising:

obtaining payment information from a user; and

processing a payment for one or more of the selected cartridges using the payment information.