Method and system for identifying and defining geofences

• US 8,019,532 B2
• Filed: 03/07/2006
• Issued: 09/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ALD Social LLC
• Original Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Inventors: Sheha, Michael A., Sheha, Angie
• Primary Examiner(s): Keith; Jack
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dager; Jonathan M
• Application Number:
  US11/370,794
• Publication Number:
  US 20060200305A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,016 Days
• Field of Search: 701/201, 701/209, 701/211
• US Class Current: 701/200
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/007 using computer methods
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/10 Map spot or coordinate position indicators; Map reading aids optical projection apparatus per se G03B
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 including a GPS signal receiver
• 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 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

The preferred embodiments of the present invention are directed to an improved mapping and navigational system. Specifically, the present invention is directed to a system for defining and assigning geographical boundaries to points of interests on a graphical map, where the geographical boundaries preferably correlate to spatially defined boundaries of the respective points of interests. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the points of interest, along with the respective defined geographical boundaries, can be transferred from a personal computing device to a telecommunication device, such as a portable communication device, so as to be used for mapping purposes and to set off proximity alerts when the portable communication device, equipped with a GPS unit, enters or exits the geographical boundary of a particular point of interest.

Claims

1. A machine-readable storage medium containing a set of executable instructions for causing a computer to perform a one-select method for identifying a point of interest or map object and a geofence thereof on an electronically generated map, said method comprising the steps of:

providing an electronic map including one or more points of interests or map objects;

designating a particular point of interest or map object on said electronic map, said particular point of interest or map object being associated with a fixed location within the electronic map;

generating geofence data associated with a geofence pre-defined for said particular point of interest or map object, said geofence being a virtual fixed boundary surrounding the particular point of interest or map object within said electronic map, wherein said geofence is represented by a spatial representation displayed in the electronic map;

sending said geofence data to a mobile communication device upon a user selection of the spatial representation displayed in the electronic map; and

generating a notification when the mobile communication device enters or exits an actual geographical area corresponding to said geofence.

2. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein said geofence is defined along a default extent of said particular point of interest or map object, said default extent being a pre-recorded boundary of said point of interest or map object, wherein said default extent is variable with spatial data related to said particular point of interest or map object.

3. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein said method further comprises the step of displaying the spatial representation that represents said geofence on said electronic map.

4. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein said point of interest is one of a business establishment, religious establishment, recreational establishment, and educational establishment, and said map object is one of a river, stream, ocean, lake, mountain, forest, and reservoir.

5. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein said method further comprises the step of determining a population density surrounding the point of interest or map object, wherein a default extent associated with the geofence is varied in accordance with the determined population density.

6. The machine-readable medium of claim 1, wherein said method further comprises the steps of:

establishing a communication link with a wireless communication network; and

sending said geofence data to the mobile communication device over the wireless communications network to enable a location-based application that generates the notification.

7. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein said method further comprising the step of decimating the geofence data for sending to the mobile communications device.

8. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein said step of decimation is performed using the Douglas-Peucker algorithm.

17. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein said geofence data includes data describing a buffer region associated with the geofence.

9. A method for identifying and selecting a point of interest or map object and a geofence thereof on an electronically generated map, said method comprising the steps of:

providing an electronic map including one or more points of interests or map objects;

designating a particular point of interest or map object on said electronic map, said particular point of interest or map object being associated with a fixed location within the electronic map; and

generating geofence data associated with a geofence pre-defined for said particular point of interest or map object, said geofence being a virtual fixed boundary surrounding the particular point of interest or map object within said electronic map, wherein said geofence is represented by a spatial representation displayed on the electronic map;

sending said geofence data to a mobile communication device upon a user selection of the spatial representation displayed in the electronic map; and

generating a notification when the mobile communication device enters or exits an actual geographical area corresponding to said eofence.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said geofence is defined along a default extent of said particular point of interest or map object, said default extent being a pre-recorded boundary of said point of interest or map object, wherein said default extent is variable with spatial data related to said particular point of interest or map object.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of displaying the spatial representation that represents said geofence on said electronic map.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein said point of interest is one of a business establishment, religious establishment, recreational establishment, and educational establishment, and said map object is one of a river, stream, ocean, lake, mountain, forest, and reservoir.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of determining a population density surrounding the point of interest or map object, wherein a default extent associated with of the geofence is varied in accordance with the determined population density.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprises the steps of:

establishing a communication link with a wireless communication network; and

sending said geofence data to the mobile communication device over the wireless communications network to enable a location-based application that generates the notification.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of decimating the geofence data for sending to the mobile communications device.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said step of decimation is performed using the Douglas-Peucker algorithm.

18. The method of claim 9, wherein said geofence data includes data describing a buffer region associated with the geofence.

19. A method for facilitating location-based applications using geofence data, said method comprising:

providing an electronic map with at least one point of interest or map object displayed therein, said point of interest or map object defined by a geofence corresponding to a virtual fixed boundary surrounding said point of interest or map object in the electronic map;

providing a user interface to select said point of interest or map object in said electronic map, said user interface displaying a plurality of spatial representations including at least one spatial representation that represents said geofence; and

in response to selection of said point of interest map object, sending data associated with the geofence to a location-based application that generates a notification when a mobile device enters or exits an actual geographical area corresponding to the geofence.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said user interface includes a display of multiple polygons, at least one of said polygons representing said geofence defining said point of interest or map object in said electronic map.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein said user interface includes a directory listing a plurality of points of interest or map objects including said map object in the form of descriptive text.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein said data associated with said geofence includes data describing a buffer region surrounding said point of interest or map object.