Methods and system for providing location-based communication services

• US 20100056183A1
• Filed: 08/28/2008
• Published: 03/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AOL LLC (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Oh, Vincent
• Granted Patent: US 8,548,503 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.300
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/18 for broadcast or conference , e.g. multicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1818 Conference organisation arrangements, e.g. handling schedules, setting up parameters needed by nodes to attend a conference, booking network resources, notifying involved parties
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/189 in combination with wireless systems selective distribution or broadcast in wireless communication networks H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/63 Location-dependent; Proximity-dependent
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/64 using geofenced areas
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for providing location-based communication services, such as location-based chat sessions and location based-data feeds. Access to a chat session or data feed may be provided to a user of a mobile device when the current location of the mobile device is determined to be within a predetermined geographic region. In one implementation, the chat session or data feed relates to content provided by members of a group or social network. In other implementations, the content related to chat session or data feed is provided by members of the general public.

Claims

1. A method for providing electronic communication between a user and a group of users based on a predetermined proximity to a point of interest, the method comprising:

detecting when a current location of a mobile device if the user is within the predetermined proximity to the point of interest;

providing, to the mobile device of the user, a notification to join the electronic communication with the group of users when the current location of the mobile device is detected to be within the predetermined proximity to the point of interest; and

in response to an acceptance from the user, establishing electronic communication between the user and the group of users.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic communication comprises at least one of a chat session, text messaging, and instant messaging.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined proximity to the point of interest comprises a predefined distance from at least one of a landmark, an event, and a current location of another user.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined proximity to the point of interest is defined by a member of the group of users.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing electronic communication comprises transmitting, from the mobile device, an anonymous call-sign prior to joining the electronic communication with the group of users.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising denying access to electronic communication with the group of users when the user fails to provide proper identification.

7. A method for providing a location-based chat session, the method comprising:

receiving, at a host server, a chat session initialization request, the chat session initialization request comprising a predetermined geographic region associated with a chat session;

determining a location of a mobile device relative to the predetermined geographic region;

transferring, to the mobile device, a chat session notification based on a determination that the location of the mobile device is within the predetermined geographic region;

receiving, at the host server, a request to join the chat session in response to receipt of the chat session notification; and

granting the mobile device access to the chat session in response to the request to join the chat session.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the chat session initialization request further comprises at least one of:

a chat session name;

a chat session size limit; and

a permissions setting.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the predetermined geographic region associated with the chat session comprises at least one of:

a point of interest;

a region configured based on a proximity to the point of interest; and

a distance from a chat session initiator.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the point of interest comprises at least one of a landmark, an event, and a geographic location.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein determining the location of the mobile device relative to the predetermined geographic region comprises:

receiving, at the host server, geo-location data associated with the mobile device; and

comparing the location of the mobile device, based on the geo-location data, with the predetermined geographic region.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein geo-location data comprises one of:

GPS coordinate data;

latitude-longitude data; and

a physical address.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein the chat session notification comprises at least one of:

a visual indicator;

an audible indicator; and

an electronic message.

14. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

receiving, at the host server, a permission setting associated with the chat session;

comparing the permission setting with the request to join the chat session from the mobile device; and

granting the mobile device access to the chat session based on a valid comparison.

15. A system for providing a location-based chat session, the system comprising:

a data storage configured to store a location of a mobile device; and

a host server, the host server includes a processor configured to execute instructions for performing a method comprising;

receiving, at the host server, a chat session initialization request, the chat session initialization request comprising a predetermined geographic region associated with a chat session defined by a user'"'"'s group member;

determining the location of the mobile device, stored in the data storage, relative to the predetermined geographic region;

transmitting, to the mobile device, a chat session notification based on a determination that the location of the mobile device is within the predetermined geographic region;

receiving, at the host server, a request to join the chat session in response to receipt of the chat session notification; and

granting the mobile device access to the chat session in response to the request to join the chat session.

16. A method for electronically providing a data feed based on a location of a user, the method comprising:

determining a current location of a mobile device of the user;

providing, when the mobile device is determined to be within a predetermined geographic region defined by a user'"'"'s group member, a notification to the user of an availability of a data feed associated with at least one point of interest in the predetermined geographic region; and

transferring, to the mobile device, the data feed in response to an acceptance of the notification by the user.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the notification comprises at least one of:

a visual indicator;

an audible indicator; and

an electronic message.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the data feed comprises one of:

an image;

a video data stream;

an audio data stream;

a text message;

an email; and

a chat session notification.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the predetermined geographic region is defined based on a proximity to the at least one point of interest.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the at least one point of interest comprises at least one of a landmark, an event, or a geographic location.

21. A method for providing a location-based data feed, the method comprising:

receiving, at a host server, data uploaded from a first device, wherein the data uploaded from the first device is associated with a location defined by a user'"'"'s group member;

determining whether a second device is within a predetermined geographic region associated with the location; and

transferring, from the host server, the data uploaded from the first device to the second device based on a determination that that the second device is within the predetermined geographic region.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the data uploaded from the first device comprises location information, the predetermined geographic region, and multimedia content.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the location information comprises at least one of GPS data, latitude-longitude coordinates, and physical address.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the data uploaded from the first device includes a time stamp.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the first device is one of a mobile device and a computer terminal.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein the location comprises at least one of:

a landmark;

an event; and

a geographic location.

27. The method of claim 21, wherein the second device is a mobile device.

28. The method of claim 21, wherein the predetermined geographic region is defined based on a proximity to a point of interest.

29. A system for accessing a location-based data feed, the system including a processor configured to execute instructions for performing a method comprising:

determining a current location of a mobile device of a user;

receiving, when the mobile device is determined to be within a predetermined geographic region defined by a user'"'"'s group member, a notification to the user of an availability of a data feed associated with at least one point of interest in the predetermined geographic region; and

transferring, to the mobile device, the data feed in response to an acceptance of the notification by the user.