REAL-TIME GEO-LOCATION BASED CONTACT SERVICE SYSTEM

• US 20100057481A1
• Filed: 08/28/2008
• Published: 03/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Edward Merritt, Gene Fein
• Original Assignee: Edward Merritt, Gene Fein
• Inventors: Merritt, Edward, Fein, Gene
• Application Number:
  US12/200,339
• Publication Number:
  US 20100057481A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/1.100
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

A method of providing a notification to a user of a geographic proximity to another user is provided. The method includes receiving user profile information for a first user and user location information for a plurality of users from a second device at a first device. Contacts are identified using the received user profile information. A current geographic location of the identified contacts and the first user is identified based on the received user location information. The plurality of users includes the identified contacts and the first user. A distance between a contact of the identified contacts and the first user is determined. If the determined distance is within a notification distance, a notification message is created, and the notification message is sent to the second device from the first device. The notification message includes an identifier of the contact and the first user and an indicator of the current geographic location of the contact.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a communication interface configured to receive first information from a second device;

a processor; and

a computer-readable medium including computer-readable instructions that, upon execution by the processor, cause the device to

identify contacts using user profile information for a first user, wherein the received first information includes the user profile information;

identify a current geographic location of the identified contacts and the first user based on user location information, wherein the received first information further includes user location information for a plurality of users, wherein the plurality of users includes the identified contacts and the first user;

determine a distance between a contact of the identified contacts and the first user; and

if the determined distance is within a notification distance, create a notification message and send the notification message to the second device, wherein the notification message includes an identifier of the contact and the first user and an indicator of the current geographic location of the contact.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the computer-readable instructions are further configured to cause the device to send a geographic location update message to the second device, wherein the geographic location update message includes a second geographic location of the contact at a later time.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the contacts are further identified using a dating service application to identify matches between the plurality of users and the first user.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the received user profile information includes a contact list and the contacts are identified from the contact list.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the notification distance is defined by the first user.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the communication interface is further configured to receive a geo-location contact service application from the second device.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the processor executes the received geo-location contact service application to identify the contacts, to identify the current geographic location, to determine the distance, and to create the notification message.

8. A computer-readable medium including computer-readable instructions that, upon execution by a processor, cause a device to:

receive user profile information for a first user and user location information for a plurality of users from a second device;

identify contacts using the received user profile information;

identify a current geographic location of the identified contacts and the first user based on the received user location information, wherein the plurality of users includes the identified contacts and the first user;

determine a distance between a contact of the identified contacts and the first user; and

if the determined distance is within a notification distance, create a notification message and send the notification message to the second device, wherein the notification message includes an identifier of the contact and the first user and an indicator of the current geographic location of the contact.

9. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the computer-readable instructions are further configured to cause the device to send a geographic location update message to the second device, wherein the geographic location update message includes a second geographic location of the contact at a later time.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the contacts are further identified using a dating service application to identify matches between the plurality of users and the first user.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the received user profile information includes a contact list and the contacts are identified from the contact list.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the notification distance is defined by the first user.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the computer-readable instructions are further configured to cause the device to receive a geo-location contact service application from the second device.

14. A method of providing a notification to a user of a geographic proximity to another user, the method comprising:

receiving user profile information for a first user and user location information for a plurality of users from a second device at a first device;

identifying contacts using the received user profile information;

identifying a current geographic location of the identified contacts and the first user based on the received user location information, wherein the plurality of users includes the identified contacts and the first user;

determining a distance between a contact of the identified contacts and the first user; and

if the determined distance is within a notification distance, creating a notification message and sending the notification message to the second device from the first device, wherein the notification message includes an identifier of the contact and the first user and an indicator of the current geographic location of the contact.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising sending a geographic location update message to the second device from the first device, wherein the geographic location update message includes a second geographic location of the contact at a later time.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the contacts are further identified using a dating service application to identify matches between the plurality of users and the first user.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the received user profile information includes a contact list and the contacts are identified from the contact list.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the notification distance is defined by the first user.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising receiving a geo-location contact service application from the second device at the first device.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising executing the received geo-location contact service application to identify the contacts, to identify the current geographic location, to determine the distance, and to create the notification message.