System and method for conducting a location based search

• US 8,473,194 B2
• Filed: 12/31/2008
• Issued: 06/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Groundspeak, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Groundspeak, Inc.
• Inventors: Irish, Jeremy A., Alvord, Elias C.
• Primary Examiner(s): MANCHO, RONNIE M
• Application Number:
  US12/319,119
• Publication Number:
  US 20090177486A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,637 Days
• Field of Search: 701/209, 701/200, 701/213, 701/207, 701/208, 701/201, 701/400, 701/408, 701/409, 701/410, 701/432, 701/425, 701/426, 701/428, 701/430, 701/431, 340/995.24, 340/995, 340/988, 340/323.R, 340/500, 340/286.02, 340/309.16, 340/309.8, 342/357.08, 342/357.2, 342/357.21, 342/357.22, 705/1, 705/5, 702/150, 273/461, 473/131, 473/407
• US Class Current: 701/409
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/903 Querying for retrieval from the web G06F16/953
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0282 Rating or review of business operators or products
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]

Abstract

A system and method for conducting a location based search for event cartridges is provided. A database of cartridges is maintained. Each cartridge includes a sequence of triggerable events and origin geolocational data for a start location for execution of the triggerable events. A server is operatively coupled to the database and interfaces to a user device having a display and user input controls. A user request from the user device is processed. The user request, including a location of the user device, is received. The cartridges are searched by comparing the location of the user device and the start location for each cartridge. Those cartridges with the start location proximate to the location of the user device are selected. The selected cartridges are provided to the user device as a menu on the display and are further selectable through the user input controls.

Claims

1. A system for conducting a location based search for event cartridges, comprising:

a database of cartridges each comprising a sequence of events related to a common theme, and geolocational data for a start location for execution of the sequence of events in that cartridge, wherein the common theme is selected by an author of the cartridge; and

a server operatively coupled to the database and interfaced to a user device having a display and user input controls, comprising;

a web server receiving a user request comprising a location of the user device;

a database manager searching the cartridges by comparing the location of the user device and the start location for execution of the sequence of events for each cartridge, selecting those cartridges with the start location proximate to the location of the user device, providing the selected cartridges to the user device as a menu on the display, receiving a cartridge request for one of the selected cartridges from the user device, determining a type of the user device, compiling a script for the sequence of events of the one selected cartridge based on the type of the user device, and transmitting the compiled script for the one such selected cartridge to the user device;

a processor to execute the web server; and

a further processor to execute the database manager.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the cartridges are selected by receiving a specified distance from the location of the user device in the user request, by comparing the specified distance with the start location for each cartridge, and by choosing the cartridges having the start location within the specified distance from the location of the user device.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein user data is compiled with the script and the user data comprises at least one of user identification data, a location of the cartridge request, a version of the one such selected cartridge, and user preferences.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of a cartridge request to download one of the selected cartridges for execution by the user device is received, play feedback for one or more of the events following execution of the one such selected cartridge by the user is received device, and the play feedback is provided to one or more users.

5. A system according to claim 4, wherein the play feedback comprises one or more of the location of the user device at one of the events, a time at which one of the users entered the location of the user device, and a status of the one such event.

6. A system according to claim 4, wherein access to the play feedback is restricted based on identification of the users.

7. A system according to claim 1, wherein the location of the user device comprises at least one of a geospatial boundary, address, landmark, and geospatial coordinates.

8. A system according to claim 1, wherein the user device displays the selected cartridges by providing at least one of a title, activity identifier, icon, and player status for each selected cartridge in the display.

9. A system according to claim 1, wherein a series of the cartridges is provided to the user device, the user request is received from the user device with a completion status of a previously executed cartridge in the series, and a following cartridge in the series is transmitted to the user device.

10. A system according to claim 1, wherein the user request is authenticated by one of a password, user identification number, and login and the user request is processed upon successful authentication.

11. A system according to claim 1, wherein payment information from a user is obtained and a payment for one or more of the selected cartridges is processed using the payment information.

12. A method for conducting a location based search for event cartridges, comprising:

maintaining a database of cartridges each comprising a sequence of events related to a common theme, and geolocational data for a start location for execution of the sequence of events in that cartridge, wherein the common theme is selected by an author of the cartridge;

interfacing a server operatively coupled to the database to a user device having a display and user input controls;

processing a user request from the user device, comprising;

receiving the user request comprising a location of the user device;

searching the cartridges by comparing the location of the user device and the start location for execution of the sequence of events for each cartridge;

selecting those cartridges with the start location proximate to the location of the user device; and

providing the selected cartridges to the user device as a menu on the display, wherein the selected cartridges are further selectable through the user input controls;

receiving a cartridge request for one of the selected cartridges from the user device;

determining a type of the user device and compiling a script for the sequence of events of the one such selected cartridge based on the type of the user device; and

transmitting the compiled script for the one such selected cartridge to the user device.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein the cartridges are selected by:

receiving a geolocational boundary for the start location of the cartridges in the user request;

determining a distance between the location of the user device and the start location for each cartridge;

sorting the cartridges by the distance; and

choosing the cartridges having the distance within the geolocational boundary.

14. A method according to claim 12, further comprising:

compiling user data with the script, wherein the user data comprises at least one of user identification data, a location of the cartridge request, a version of the one such selected cartridge, and user preferences.

15. A method according to claim 12, further comprising:

receiving a cartridge request to download one of the selected cartridges for execution on the user device;

receiving play feedback for one or more of the events following the execution of the one such selected cartridge by the user device; and

providing the play feedback to one or more users.

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein the play feedback comprises one or more of the location of the user device at one of the events, a time at which one of the users entered the location of the user device, and a status of the one such event.

17. A method according to claim 15, further comprising:

restricting access to the play feedback based on identification of the users.

18. A method according to claim 12, wherein the location of the user device comprises at least one of a geospatial boundary, address, landmark, and geospatial coordinates.

19. A method according to claim 12, wherein the user device displays the selected cartridges by providing at least one of a title, activity identifier, icon, and player status for each selected cartridge in the display.

20. A method according to claim 12, further comprising:

providing a series of the cartridges to the user device, comprising;

receiving the user request from the user device with a completion status of a previously executed cartridge in the series; and

transmitting a following cartridge in the series to the user device.

21. A method according to claim 12, further comprising:

authenticating the user request by one of a password, user identification number, and login; and

processing the user request upon successful authentication.

22. A method according to claim 12, further comprising:

obtaining payment information from a user; and

processing a payment for one or more of the selected cartridges using the payment information.