Methods and Apparatus for Promotions and Large Scale Games in Geo-Fenced Venues

• US 20150087263A1
• Filed: 09/24/2014
• Published: 03/26/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bennett Hill Branscomb
• Original Assignee: Bennett Hill Branscomb
• Inventors: Branscomb, Bennett Hill
• Application Number:
  US14/495,691
• Publication Number:
  US 20150087263A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/410
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0252 based on events or environment, e.g. weather or festivals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/168 above the transport layer
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/04 Key management, e.g. using generic bootstrapping architecture [GBA]
• 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 4/21 for social networking applications

Abstract

A method and apparatus for a system'"'"'s customer to capture a user'"'"'s contact information or location during an event uses an application for a personal electronic device that senses a jolt registered by the accelerometer of the device, and/or the user'"'"'s location based on location sensors within the device. In response, the user receives any combination of text, picture(s), sound, or encrypted barcode, specified by the customer. A method for providing geo-referenced, selective control of wireless, processor-based devices (e.g., smartphones) uses an encrypted software master key that is at least initially assigned to the owner-of-record of real property. The master key functions to enable, disable, activate or otherwise control programs on or features of processor-based devices that are determined to be within the geographic boundaries of the real property. In certain embodiments, a system is linked to real property records to assign the master key to the owner of record.

Claims

1. A system for conducting a promotion at an event occurring at a defined location comprising a back end server having instructions stored thereon for causing a processor to:

receive customized promotion information comprising user selection criteria;

receive contact information from at least one user in response to a location determination by a mobile electronic device carried by the user;

receive device information from an application program running on the user'"'"'s device;

receive triggering information identifying the user'"'"'s eligibility to participate in a promotion; and

,

transmit promotional material to the user'"'"'s device based on the selection criteria.

2. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein the defined location is a virtual geographic area bounded by a geo-fence.

3. A system as recited in claim 2 wherein the user'"'"'s eligibility to participate in a promotion depends, at least in part, on a determination that the user'"'"'s location is within the virtual geographic area bounded by the geo-fence.

4. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein receipt of contact information from at least one user is triggered by an abrupt movement of the user'"'"'s device.

6. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein the promotional material transmitted to the user'"'"'s device is selected from the group consisting of text, images, audio, barcodes and electronic coupons.

7. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein the user'"'"'s device comprises at least one accelerometer, at least one position sensor and at least one wireless data communications transceiver.

8. A system as recited in claim 2 wherein the size of the virtual geographic area bounded by the geo-fence is dynamically altered by the server.

9. A system as recited in claim 8 wherein the size of the virtual geographic area bounded by the geo-fence is dynamically altered by the server in response to user activity.

10. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein the defined location is defined by the area illuminated by a spotlight.

11. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein the defined location is defined by a selected portion of the field of view of a digital camera.

12. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein the boundaries of the defined location move a preselected distance in a preselected direction during the promotion.

13. A system as recited in claim 1 further comprising instructions for charging the customer based at least in part on the length of the promotion.

14. A system as recited in claim 1 further comprising instructions for charging the customer based at least in part on the number of users from whom contact information is received.

15. A system as recited in claim 1 further comprising instructions for charging the customer based at least in part on the size of the defined location.

16. A system as recited in claim 1 further comprising instructions for causing a certain color to be displayed on a screen display of the user'"'"'s device.

17. A system as recited in claim 16 wherein the certain color depends, at least in part, on the location of the user'"'"'s device.

18. A system as recited in claim 16 wherein the certain color depends, at least in part, on the orientation of the user'"'"'s device.

19. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein the defined location is dependent upon one or more factors selected from the group consisting of:

the interaction of the users'"'"' devices in or near a geo-fence defining the location;

a preset time to designated spots along a preset path along a vector;

a count of eligible mobile devices in a particular area;

the initiation of an event at a pre-designated location;

interaction between one or more groups of devices within multiple geo-fences based upon game or promoter parameters;

satellite mapping of the movement of an object;

a 3-dimensional grouping of mobile devices which are targeted by generating display information in real-time and in communication with these devices for visual control, notification, and other multimedia interaction as a pixel in a larger viewing arena; and

, a heat map calibration of devices participating in a game logic in communication with a central or distributed processing network that comprises a collective of game logic and social interaction and human interface.

5. A system as recited in claim 5 wherein receipt of contact information from at least one user is triggered by a substantially concurrent abrupt movement of another device.

20. A method for controlling one or more processor-based devices having means for determining the location of the device and in wireless data communication with a host processor-based device comprising:

assigning a master cryptographic software key to the owner of record of certain real property;

providing the one or more processor-based devices with instructions for causing the processor to determine, based on a concurrent location determination, whether the device is physically located within the metes and bounds of the certain real property; and

,

executing certain processor instructions in response to receipt of the software key if a determination is made that the device is within the metes and bounds of the certain real property associated with the software key.