GEOFENCING OF OBVIOUS GEOGRAPHIC LOCATIONS AND EVENTS

• US 20170222962A1
• Filed: 04/20/2017
• Published: 08/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PicPocket-Labs, Inc.
• Original Assignee: PicPocket, Inc.
• Inventors: Gauglitz, Wolfram K., LeBeau, Joshua M., McDonald, Paul A., Devaraj, Shanmugapriyan
• Granted Patent: US 10,574,614 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0252 based on events or environment, e.g. weather or festivals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0255 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0621 Item configuration or customization
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking
• 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 51/52 for supporting social networking services
• 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: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/022 with dynamic range variability
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/21 for social networking applications

Abstract

A system for aggregating media is provided which includes a server equipped with a processor and memory and having an event database associated with it which contains a plurality of events, wherein each of the plurality of events has a temporal window and geofence associated with it; and a plurality of users, each having associated therewith a mobile technology platform equipped with a display and a memory which communicates with the server. The memory of each mobile technology platform has an instance of a software application is installed which monitors the current location of the user, prompts the user to check into events present in the event database when the user enters a geofence associated with an event within the temporal window associated with the event, associates, with one of the plurality of events, media which was captured by the user while the user was checked into the one of the plurality of events and within the temporal window and geofence associated with the one of the plurality of events, and uploads the captured media to the server.

Claims

A1. A1. A method for associating media with an event, comprising:

providing software, instances of which are installed on each of a plurality of mobile technology platforms, wherein each mobile technology platform is associated with one of a plurality of users, wherein each mobile technology platform is equipped with a display and is further equipped with a memory device in which an instance of said software is installed, and wherein said software (a) monitors the current location of the mobile technology platform, and (b) captures media in response to at least one command input by a user;

creating a plurality of events, wherein each of the plurality of events has a geofence associated with it;

receiving, from the plurality of users, instances of captured media, wherein each instance of captured media was captured on a mobile technology platform associated with one of the plurality of users, and wherein each instance of captured media is accompanied by a request to associate the instance of captured media with a designated event selected from the group consisting of the plurality of events;

for each instance of captured media, ascertaining the attendance of the associated user at the designated event, at the time that the request to associate the instance of captured media with the designated event is made, by comparing the time and the location of the associated user with the temporal window and geofence associated with the designated event;

associating the instance of captured media with the designated event only if it is ascertained that the associated user was in attendance at the designated event at the time that the request to associate the instance of captured media with the designated event was made;

aggregating the captured media associated with at least one of the plurality of events into a collection; and

providing access to the collection to the plurality of users.

A2. A2. The method of claim A1, wherein associating a temporal window and geofence with each created event includes receiving input from the first user which specifies the temporal window to be associated with the event.

A3. A3. The method of claim A2, wherein associating a temporal window and geofence with each created event includes receiving input from the first user which specifies the geofence to be associated with the event.

A4. A4. The method of claim A1, wherein each received request to create an event is generated by the instance of the first software application which is associated with a user making the request.

A5. A5. The method of claim A1, wherein said software further (c) associates each instance of captured media with the time and location at which the media was captured.

A6. A6. The method of claim A1, wherein each of said plurality of mobile technology platforms is a hand-held device.

A7. A7. The method of claim A1, wherein each of said plurality of mobile technology platforms is a mobile phone.

A8. A8. The method of claim A1, wherein at least some of said plurality of mobile technology platforms are camera-watches.

A9. A9. The method of claim A1, wherein each of said plurality of events has a temporal window associated with it.

A10. A10. The method of claim A1, wherein said captured media is selected from the group consisting of images, videos and audio.

A11. A11. The method of claim A1, wherein each of the plurality of users is a member of a social network which uses the software application to share media pertaining to events.

A12. A12. The method of claim A11, wherein media pertaining to events is shared over a website associated with the social network.

A13. A13. The method of claim A11, wherein each user has an account.

B1. B1. A method for associating media with an event, comprising:

providing a software application, instances of which are installed on each of a plurality of mobile technology platforms, wherein each mobile technology platform is associated with one of a plurality of users and is equipped with a display and a memory device;

receiving, from a first of the plurality of users, a request to create an event, wherein the request specifies a geofence and a temporal window to be associated with the event;

in response to the request to create an event received from the first of the plurality of users, creating the event;

receiving, from a second of the plurality of users, a request to associate an instance of captured media with the created event, wherein the at least one request to associate captured media is generated by the instance of the software application installed on the mobile technology platform associated with the second of the plurality of users in response to input received from the second of the plurality of users, wherein the captured media is captured with the mobile technology platform associated with the second of the plurality of users, and wherein the captured media is selected from the group consisting of images, videos and audio; and

in response to the request received from the second of the plurality of users to associate the instance of captured media with the created event,

(a) ascertaining the associated user'"'"'s attendance at the created event by comparing the associated time and location at which the instance of captured media was captured with the temporal window and geofence associated with the created event, and

(b) associating the instance of captured media with the created event if, and only if, the instance of captured media was captured while the associated user was attending the created event.

B2. B2. The method of claim B1, wherein associating a temporal window and geofence with each created event includes receiving input from the first user which specifies the temporal window to be associated with the event.

B3. B3. The method of claim B2, wherein associating a temporal window and geofence with each created event includes receiving input from the first user which specifies the geofence to be associated with the event.

B4. B4. The method of claim B1, wherein each received request to create an event is generated by the instance of the first software application which is associated with a user making the request.

B5. B5. The method of claim B1, wherein said software further (c) associates each instance of captured media with the time and location at which the media was captured.

B6. B6. The method of claim B1, wherein each of said plurality of mobile technology platforms is a hand-held device.

B7. B7. The method of claim B1, wherein each of said plurality of mobile technology platforms is a mobile phone.

B8. B8. The method of claim B1, wherein at least some of said plurality of mobile technology platforms are camera-watches.

B9. B9. The method of claim B1, wherein each of said plurality of events has a temporal window associated with it.

B10. B10. The method of claim B1, wherein said captured media is selected from the group consisting of images, videos and audio.

B11. B11. The method of claim B1, wherein each of the plurality of users is a member of a social network which uses the software application to share media pertaining to events.

B12. B12. The method of claim B11, wherein media pertaining to events is shared over a website associated with the social network.

B13. B13. The method of claim B11, wherein each user has an account.

C1. C1. A method for associating media with an event, comprising:

providing software, instances of which are installed on each of a plurality of mobile technology platforms, wherein each mobile technology platform is associated with one of a plurality of users, wherein each mobile technology platform is equipped with a display and is further equipped with a memory device in which an instance of said software is installed, and wherein said software (a) monitors the current location of the mobile technology platform, and (b) captures media in response to at least one command input by a user;

creating an event database containing a plurality of events, wherein each of the plurality of events has a temporal window and geofence associated with it;

receiving, from the one of said plurality of users, a request to modify an instance of media captured on the mobile technology platform associated with the one of said plurality of users;

ascertaining whether one of said plurality of users is attending one of said plurality of events by (a) comparing the location of the mobile technology platform associated with the one of said plurality of users with the geofence associated with the one of the plurality of events and (b) comparing the current time with the temporal window associated with the one of the plurality of events; and

if the one of said plurality of users is attending the event, then (a) creating a modified version of the instance of media, and (b) providing the one of said plurality of users with the modified version of the instance of media.

C2. C2. The method of claim C1, wherein associating a temporal window and geofence with each created event includes receiving input from the first user which specifies the temporal window to be associated with the event.

C3. C3. The method of claim C2, wherein associating a temporal window and geofence with each created event includes receiving input from the first user which specifies the geofence to be associated with the event.

C4. C4. The method of claim C1, wherein each received request to create an event is generated by the instance of the first software application which is associated with a user making the request.

C5. C5. The method of claim C1, wherein said software further (c) associates each instance of captured media with the time and location at which the media was captured.

C6. C6. The method of claim C1, wherein each of said plurality of mobile technology platforms is a hand-held device.

C7. C7. The method of claim C1, wherein each of said plurality of mobile technology platforms is a mobile phone.

C8. C8. The method of claim C1, wherein at least some of said plurality of mobile technology platforms are camera-watches.

C9. C9. The method of claim C1, wherein each of said plurality of events has a temporal window associated with it.

C10. C10. The method of claim C1, wherein said captured media is selected from the group consisting of images, video and audio.

C11. C11. The method of claim C1, wherein each of the plurality of users is a member of a social network which uses the software application to share media pertaining to events.

C12. C12. The method of claim C11, wherein media pertaining to events is shared over a website associated with the social network.

C13. C13. The method of claim C11, wherein each user has an account.

D1. D1. A method for associating media with an event, comprising:

providing software, instances of which are installed on each of a plurality of mobile technology platforms, wherein each mobile technology platform is associated with one of a plurality of users, wherein each mobile technology platform is equipped with a display and is further equipped with a memory device in which an instance of said software is installed, wherein said software (a) monitors the current location of the mobile technology platform, and (b) captures media in response to at least one command input by a user, and wherein said plurality of mobile technology platforms includes a first mobile technology platform;

defining a geofence;

defining a temporal window;

creating a media template;

detecting the presence, within said geofence and during said temporal window, of said first mobile technology platform;

in response to the detection of the presence of said first mobile technology platform within said geofence and during said temporal window, displaying the media template on the display of said first mobile technology platform;

in response to the selection, by a user of said first mobile technology platform, of the template and of an instance of media captured by said first mobile technology platform, applying the template to the instance of captured media, thereby creating a modified version of the captured media; and

displaying the modified version of the captured media on the display of the first mobile technology platform.

D2. D2. The method of claim D1, wherein uploading the media template to said first mobile technology platform occurs in response to the detection of the presence of said first mobile technology platform within said geofence and during said temporal window.

E1. E1. A method for associating media with an event, comprising:

providing software, instances of which are installed on each of a plurality of mobile technology platforms, wherein each mobile technology platform is associated with one of a plurality of users, wherein each mobile technology platform is equipped with a display and is further equipped with a memory device in which an instance of said software is installed, and wherein said software (a) monitors the current location of the mobile technology platform, and (b) captures media in response to at least one command input by a user;

creating an event database containing a plurality of events, wherein each of the plurality of events in the event database has a temporal window and geofence associated with it;

determining whether one of said plurality of users is attending one of said plurality of events by (a) comparing the location of the mobile technology platform associated with the one of said plurality of users with the geofence associated with the one of the plurality of events and (b) comparing the current time with the temporal window associated with the one of the plurality of events;

if the one of said plurality of users is determined to be at the one of said plurality of events, then sending, to a mobile technology platform associated with the one of said plurality of users, a template associated with the event;

receiving a request from the one of said plurality of users to apply the template to at least one instance of media captured by the user; and

in response to the request, applying the template to the at least one instance of media captured by the user, thereby generating a modified version of the instance of media captured by the user.

F1. F1. A method for associating media with an event, comprising:

providing software, instances of which are installed on each of a plurality of mobile technology platforms, wherein each mobile technology platform is associated with one of a plurality of users, wherein each mobile technology platform is equipped with a display and is further equipped with a memory device in which an instance of said software is installed, and wherein said software (a) monitors the current location of the mobile technology platform, and (b) captures media in response to at least one command input by a user;

creating an event database containing a plurality of events, wherein each of the plurality of events has a temporal window and geofence associated with it;

determining whether one of said plurality of users is attending one of said plurality of events by (a) comparing the location of the mobile technology platform associated with the one of said plurality of users with the geofence associated with the one of the plurality of events and (b) comparing the current time with the temporal window associated with the one of the plurality of events;

if the one of the plurality of users is determined to be at the event, then tagging an instance of media captured by the user such that the instance of captured media is associated with the event.

G1. G1. A method for implementing a targeted advertisement campaign in conjunction with an event, the method comprising:

providing software, instances of which are installed on each of a plurality of mobile technology platforms, wherein each mobile technology platform is associated with one of a plurality of users, wherein each mobile technology platform is equipped with a display and is further equipped with a memory device in which an instance of said software is installed, wherein said software (a) monitors the current location of the mobile technology platform, and (b) captures media in response to at least one command input by a user, and wherein said plurality of mobile technology platforms includes a first mobile technology platform;

defining a geofence for the event;

defining a temporal window for the event;

detecting the presence, within said geofence and during said temporal window, of said first mobile technology platform; and

in response to the detection of the presence of said first mobile technology platform within said geofence and during said temporal window, displaying an advertisement for a product or service on the display of said first mobile technology platform.

G2. G2. The method of claim G1, wherein the advertisement is displayed by said software.

G3. G3. The method of claim G1, wherein the advertisement is for an item which is offered by a sponsor of the event and which is selected from the group consisting of products, services and brands.

G4. G4. The method of claim G1, wherein the advertisement is for goods related to the event.

G5. G5. The method of claim G4, wherein the goods contain textual content which identifies the event.

G6. G6. The method of claim G4, wherein the goods contain media content which identifies the event.

G7. G7. The method of claim G1, wherein the advertisement is for goods related to an entity performing at the event.

G8. G8. The method of claim G6, wherein the goods contain textual content which identifies the event.

H1. H1. A method for aggregating media captured at a location, the method comprising:

providing software, instances of which are installed on each of a plurality of mobile technology platforms, wherein each mobile technology platform is associated with one of a plurality of users, wherein each mobile technology platform is equipped with a display and is further equipped with a memory device in which an instance of said software is installed, and wherein said software (a) monitors the current location of the mobile technology platform, and (b) captures media in response to at least one command input by a user;

creating a location database containing a plurality of locations, wherein each of the plurality of locations has a geofence associated with it;

receiving a request, from one of the plurality of mobile technology platforms, to capture media with the instance of the software installed on the mobile technology platform;

in response to the request to capture media, determining whether the mobile technology platform is at one of the plurality of locations in the location database by comparing the location of the mobile technology platform with the geofences associated with the plurality of locations in the locations database;

if the mobile technology platform is determined to be at a location in the location database, associating, with the location, media which is captured at the location with the software, thereby generating associated media; and

for each location in the location database, aggregating associated media which has been associated with that location.

H2. H2. The method of claim H1, further comprising:

displaying the aggregated, associated media on a web page related to the location.

H3. H3. The method of claim H1, wherein associating, with the location, media which is captured at the location with the software, includes:

adding, to metadata associated with the captured media, supplemental location data which identifies the location.

H4. H4. The method of claim H1, wherein each of said plurality of mobile technology platforms is a hand-held device.

H5. H5. The method of claim H1, wherein each of said plurality of mobile technology platforms is a mobile phone.

H6. H6. The method of claim H1, wherein at least some of said plurality of mobile technology platforms are camera watches.

H7. H7. The method of claim H1, wherein the associated media associated with at least one location comprises at least one image.

H8. H8. The method of claim H1, wherein the associated media associated with at least one location comprises at least one video.

H9. H9. The method of claim H1, wherein the associated media associated with at least one location comprises at least one audio snippet.

H10. H10. The method of claim H1, further comprising:

displaying the aggregated media for at least one location in the database on a website associated with the at least one location.

I1. I1. A method for capturing media at a venue, the method comprising:

providing software, instances of which are installed on each of a plurality of mobile technology platforms, wherein each mobile technology platform is associated with one of a plurality of users, wherein each mobile technology platform is equipped with a display and is further equipped with a memory device in which an instance of said software is installed, and wherein said software monitors the current location of the mobile technology platform;

providing at least one venue camera which is adapted to capture media of a user at the venue;

receiving a request from a first of the plurality of users, via the software, to have media of the first user captured by the at least one venue camera;

obtaining the first user'"'"'s location from the instance of software installed on the mobile technology platform associated with the first user;

directing the at least one venue camera to the first user'"'"'s location; and

capturing media of the first user.

I2. I2. The method of claim I1, wherein obtaining the first user'"'"'s location includes obtaining the GPS coordinates associated with the user'"'"'s location.

I3. I3. The method of claim I1, wherein the venue has numbered seats, and wherein obtaining the first user'"'"'s location includes obtaining the user'"'"'s seat number.

I4. I4. The method of claim I1, wherein the venue has numbered seats, and wherein obtaining the first user'"'"'s location includes obtaining the user'"'"'s section, row and seat.

I5. I5. The method of claim I1, wherein the venue has designated seats, and wherein obtaining the first user'"'"'s location includes obtaining the user'"'"'s designated seat identifier.

I6. I6. The method of claim I1, wherein said software determines the first user'"'"'s location by consulting a map of the venue.

I7. I7. The method of claim I1, wherein the mobile technology platform associated with the first user has communications capabilities, wherein the instance of the software installed on the mobile technology platform associated with the first user communicates with a remote server via the communications capabilities, and wherein said remote server maintains a database of venue maps.

J1. J1. A method for aggregating data associated with an event, comprising:

providing software, instances of which are installed on each of a plurality of mobile technology platforms, wherein each mobile technology platform is associated with one of a plurality of users, wherein each mobile technology platform is equipped with a display and is further equipped with a memory device in which an instance of said software is installed, and wherein said software (a) monitors the current location of the mobile technology platform, and (b) captures data in response to at least one command input by a user;

creating a plurality of events, wherein each of the plurality of events has a geofence associated with it;

receiving, from the plurality of users, instances of captured data, wherein each instance of captured data was captured on a mobile technology platform associated with one of the plurality of users;

for each instance of captured data, ascertaining the attendance of the associated user at the designated event, at the time that the data was captured, by comparing the time and the location of the associated user with the temporal window and geofence associated with the designated event;

associating the instance of captured data with the designated event only if it is ascertained that the associated user was in attendance at the designated event at the time that the data was captured;

aggregating the captured data associated with at least one of the plurality of events into a collection; and

providing access to the collection to the plurality of users.

K1. K1. A method for associating media with an event, comprising:

providing software, instances of which are installed on each of a plurality of mobile devices, wherein each mobile device is associated with one of a plurality of users, wherein each mobile device is equipped with a memory device in which an instance of said software is installed, and wherein said software (a) monitors the current location of the mobile device and (b) captures media in response to at least one command input by a user;

creating a plurality of events, wherein each of the plurality of events has a geofence associated with it;

receiving, from the plurality of users, instances of captured media, wherein each instance of captured media was captured on a mobile device associated with one of the plurality of users, and wherein each instance of captured media is accompanied by a request to associate the instance of captured media with a designated event selected from the group consisting of the plurality of events;

for each instance of captured media, ascertaining the attendance of the associated user at the designated event by comparing the time and the location of the associated user with the temporal window and geofence associated with the designated event;

associating the instance of captured media with the designated event only if it is ascertained that the associated user was in attendance at the designated event;

aggregating the captured media associated with at least one of the plurality of events into a collection; and

providing access to the collection to the plurality of users.

K2. K2. The method of claim K1, wherein ascertaining the attendance of the associated user at the designated event includes ascertaining the attendance of the associated user at the designated event at the time that the request to associate the instance of captured media with the designated event was made.

K3. K3. The method of claim K1, wherein ascertaining the attendance of the associated user at the designated event includes ascertaining the attendance of the associated user at the designated event at the time that the instance of captured media was captured.

K4. K4. The method of claim K1, wherein at least some of said plurality of mobile devices are instances of eyewear equipped with a camera.