Personalized location tags

• US 8,909,629 B2
• Filed: 03/22/2010
• Issued: 12/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Seth, Rohan, Lambert, Chris, Zheng, Jean, Chu, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Young, Kevin L
• Application Number:
  US12/728,523
• Publication Number:
  US 20110227699A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,723 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 707/724
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9537 Spatial or temporal dependent retrieval, e.g. spatiotemporal queries
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0269 System arrangements wherein the object is to detect the exact location of child or item using a navigation satellite system, e.g. GPS

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for creating and using personalized location information tags (geotags). Personalized geotags take the place of generic location information such as latitude/longitude coordinates or granular city/state information. Such geotags may be published to present to selected people, e.g., family and friends, a user'"'"'s current location. Thus, the user'"'"'s location may be shown as “Home” or “Gym,” providing user-specific information without having to list a street address or latitude/longitude coordinates. Personalized geotags may be inferred based upon historical location information of the user. Geotags may also be inferred based upon geotag selections from other users in a network. A matching engine may select an appropriate geotag given the current location of a user device or based upon historical location information associated with the user.

Claims

1. A method for personalizing user location information, comprising:

analyzing at least one computer database containing information about a selected user to determine whether the at least one computer database includes historical geographic location information associated with the selected user, the historical geographic location information including one or more physical locations at which the selected user'"'"'s device has been located at past times;

selecting a result set from the at least one computer database when the at least one computer database includes the historical geographic location information, the result set including at least one physical location of the one or more physical locations;

configuring geotags personalized for the selected user for each physical location in the result set, the personalized geotags each comprising geographic coordinates, an associated area, and a name associated with the selected user;

storing the personalized geotags in a memory;

selecting, when a current location for the selected user is unknown, a personalized geotag from the personalized geotags stored in the memory based on a current time compared to past times from the historical geographic location information associated with the selected user;

setting mapping information for a map, the mapping information including at least the selected personalized geotag; and

transmitting the mapping information as a representation of the current location of the selected user in response to an authorized request from another user for the current location of the selected user.

2. A method for personalizing user location information, comprising:

analyzing at least one computer database containing information about a selected user to determine whether the at least one computer database includes historical geographic location information associated with the selected user, the historical geographic location information including one or more physical locations at which the selected user'"'"'s device has been located at past times;

selecting a result set from the at least one computer database when the at least one computer database includes the historical geographic location information, the result set including at least one physical location of the one or more physical locations;

configuring geotags personalized for the selected user for each physical location in the result set, the personalized geotags each comprising geographic coordinates, an associated area, and a name associated with the selected user;

storing the personalized geotags in a memory;

selecting, when a current location for the selected user is unknown, a personalized geotag from the personalized geotags stored in the memory based on a current time compared to past times from the historical geographic location information associated with the selected user;

setting mapping information for a map, the mapping information including at least the selected personalized geotag; and

transmitting the mapping information as a representation of the current location of the selected user in response to an authorized request from another user for the current location of the selected user.

3. A method for personalizing user location information, comprising:

analyzing at least one computer database containing information about a selected user to determine whether the at least one computer database includes historical geographic location information associated with the selected user, the historical geographic location information including one or more physical locations at which the selected user'"'"'s device has been located at past times;

selecting a result set from the at least one computer database when the at least one computer database includes the historical geographic location information, the result set including at least one physical location of the one or more physical locations;

configuring geotags personalized for the selected user for each physical location in the result set, the personalized geotags each comprising geographic coordinates, an associated area, and a name associated with the selected user;

storing the personalized geotags in a memory;

selecting, when a current location for the selected user is unknown, a personalized geotag from the personalized geotags stored in the memory based on a current time compared to past times from the historical geographic location information associated with the selected user;

setting mapping information for a map, the mapping information including at least the selected personalized geotag, wherein the selected personalized geotag comprises a geotag location; and

transmitting the mapping information as a representation of the current location of the selected user in response to an authorized request from another user for the current location of the selected user.

4. A method for personalizing user location information, comprising:

analyzing at least one computer database containing information about a selected user to determine whether the at least one computer database includes historical geographic location information associated with the selected user, the historical geographic location information including one or more physical locations at which the selected user'"'"'s device has been located at past times;

selecting a result set from the at least one computer database when the at least one computer database includes the historical geographic location information, the result set including at least one physical location of the one or more physical locations;

configuring geotags personalized for the selected user for each physical location in the result set, the personalized geotags each comprising geographic coordinates, an associated area, and a name associated with the selected user;

storing the personalized geotags in a memory;

selecting, when a current location for the selected user is unknown, a personalized geotag from the personalized geotags stored in the memory based on a current time compared to past times from the historical geographic location information associated with the selected user;

setting mapping information for a map, the mapping information including at least the selected personalized geotag, wherein the selected personalized geotag comprises a geotag location;

transmitting the mapping information as a representation of the current location of the selected user in response to an authorized request from another user for the current location of the selected user; and

enabling or disabling access to the mapping information based upon a selection by the selected user.

5. A method for personalizing user location information, comprising:

analyzing at least one computer database containing information about a selected user to determine whether the at least one computer database includes historical geographic location information associated with the selected user, the historical geographic location information including one or more physical locations at which the selected user'"'"'s device has been located at past times;

selecting a result set from the at least one computer database when the at least one computer database includes the historical geographic location information, the result set including at least one physical location of the one or more physical locations;

configuring geotags personalized for the selected user for each physical location in the result set, the personalized geotags each comprising geographic coordinates, an associated area, and a name associated with the selected user;

storing the personalized geotags in a memory;

selecting, when a current location for the selected user is unknown, a personalized geotag from the personalized geotags stored in the memory based on a current time compared to past times from the historical geographic location information associated with the selected user;

setting mapping information for a map, the mapping information including at least the selected personalized geotag, wherein the selected personalized geotag comprises a geotag location; and

transmitting the mapping information as a representation of the current location of the selected user in response to an authorized request from another user for the current location of the selected user.

6. A method for personalizing user location information, comprising:

analyzing at least one computer database containing information about a selected user to determine whether the at least one computer database includes historical geographic location information associated with the selected user, the historical geographic location information including one or more physical locations at which the selected user'"'"'s device has been located at past times;

selecting a result set from the at least one computer database when the at least one computer database includes the historical geographic location information, the result set including at least one physical location of the one or more physical locations;

configuring geotags personalized for the selected user for each physical location in the result set, the personalized geotags each comprising geographic coordinates, an associated area, and a name associated with the selected user;

storing the personalized geotags in a memory;

selecting, when a current location for the selected user is unknown, a personalized geotag from the personalized geotags stored in the memory based on a current time compared to past times from the historical geographic location information associated with the selected user;

setting mapping information for a map, the mapping information including at least the selected personalized geotag; and

transmitting the mapping information as a representation of the current location of the selected user in response to an authorized request from another user for the current location of the selected user,

wherein at least one of the personalized geotags configured for a given physical location in the result set is inferred based upon the historical geographic location information.

7. A method for personalizing user location information, comprising:

analyzing at least one computer database containing information about a selected user to determine whether the at least one computer database includes historical geographic location information associated with the selected user, the historical geographic location information including one or more physical locations at which the selected user'"'"'s device has been located at past times;

selecting a result set from the at least one computer database when the at least one computer database includes the historical geographic location information, the result set including at least one physical location of the one or more physical locations;

configuring geotags personalized for the selected user for each physical location in the result set, the personalized geotags each comprising geographic coordinates, an associated area, and a name associated with the selected user;

storing the personalized geotags in a memory;

selecting, when a current location for the selected user is unknown, a personalized geotag from the personalized geotags stored in the memory based on a current time compared to past times from the historical geographic location information associated with the selected user;

setting mapping information for a map, the mapping information including at least the selected personalized geotag; and

transmitting the mapping information as a representation of the current location of the selected user in response to an authorized request from another user for the current location of the selected user,

wherein at least one of the personalized geotags configured for a given physical location in the result set is chosen due to a likelihood that the selected user will be at the given physical location again based on past behavior.

8. A processing system for processing personalized user location information, comprising:

at least one processor; and

a memory storing instructions executable by the at least one processor, the instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising;

analyzing at least one computer database stored in the memory, the at least one computer database containing information about a selected user to determine whether the at least one computer database includes historical geographic location information associated with the selected user, the historical geographic location information including one or more physical locations at which the selected user'"'"'s device has been located at past times;

selecting a result set from the at least one computer database when the at least one computer database includes the historical geographic location information, the result set including at least one physical location of the one or more physical locations;

configuring geotags personalized for the selected user for each physical location in the result set, the personalized geotags each comprising geographic coordinates, an associated area, and a name associated with the selected user;

selecting, when a current location for the selected user is unknown, a personalized geotag from the geotags personalized for the selected user based on a current time compared to past times from the historical geographic location information associated with the selected user;

setting mapping information for a map, the mapping information including at least the selected personalized geotag, wherein the selected personalized geotag comprises a geotag location; and

transmitting the mapping information as a representation of the current location of the selected user in response to an authorized request from another user for the current location of the selected user,

wherein the matching engine is configured to infer the result set based upon past activity by the selected user.

9. A processing system for processing personalized user location information, comprising:

at least one processor; and

a memory storing instructions executable by the at least one processor, the instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising;

analyzing at least one computer database stored in the memory, the at least one computer database containing information about a selected user to determine whether the at least one computer database includes historical geographic location information associated with the selected user, the historical geographic location information including one or more physical locations at which the selected user'"'"'s device has been located at past times;

selecting a result set from the at least one computer database when the at least one computer database includes the historical geographic location information, the result set including at least one physical location of the one or more physical locations; and

configuring geotags personalized for the selected user for each physical location in the result set, the personalized geotags each comprising geographic coordinates, an associated area, and a name associated with the selected user;

selecting, when a current location for the selected user is unknown, a personalized geotag from the geotags personalized for the selected user based on a current time compared to past times from the historical geographic location information associated with the selected user;

setting mapping information for a map, the mapping information including at least the selected personalized geotag, wherein the selected personalized geotag comprises a geotag location; and

transmitting the mapping information as a representation of the current location of the selected user to a remote server in response to an authorized request from another user for the current location of the selected user.

10. A processing system for processing personalized user location information, comprising:

at least one processor; and

a memory storing instructions executable by the at least one processor, the instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising;

analyzing at least one computer database stored in the memory, the at least one computer database containing information about a selected user to determine whether the at least one computer database includes historical geographic location information associated with the selected user, the historical geographic location information including one or more physical locations at which the selected user'"'"'s device has been located at past times;

selecting a result set from the at least one computer database when the at least one computer database includes the historical geographic location information, the result set including at least one physical location of the one or more physical locations;

configuring geotags personalized for the selected user for each physical location in the result set, the personalized geotags each comprising geographic coordinates, an associated area, and a name associated with the selected user;

selecting, when a current location for the selected user is unknown, a personalized geotag from the geotags personalized for the selected user based on a current time compared to past times from the historical geographic location information associated with the selected user;

setting mapping information for a map, the mapping information including at least the selected personalized geotag, wherein the selected personalized geotag comprises a geotag location; and

transmitting the mapping information as a representation of the current location of the selected user in response to an authorized request from another user for the current location of the selected user,

wherein the processing system comprises a portable client device and the at least one computer database is stored in the memory of portable client device.

11. A processing system for processing personalized user location information, comprising:

at least one processor; and

a memory storing instructions executable by the at least one processor, the instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising;

analyzing at least one computer database stored in the memory, the at least one computer database containing information about a selected user to determine whether the at least one computer database includes historical geographic location information associated with the selected user, the historical geographic location information including one or more physical locations at which the selected user'"'"'s device has been located at past times;

selecting a result set from the at least one computer database when the at least one computer database includes the historical geographic location information, the result set including at least one physical location of the one or more physical locations;

configuring geotags personalized for the selected user for each physical location in the result set, the personalized geotags each comprising geographic coordinates, an associated area, and a name associated with the selected user;

selecting, when a current location for the selected user is unknown, a personalized geotag from the geotags personalized for the selected user based on a current time compared to past times from the historical geographic location information associated with the selected user;

setting mapping information for a map, the mapping information including at least the selected personalized geotag, wherein the selected personalized geotag comprises a geotag location; and

publishing the selected personalized geotag as a representation of the current location of the selected user,

wherein the processor is configured to receive requests from another user about a location of the selected user, to validate whether that other user has authorization to access the location, and to transmit the mapping information including the selected personalized geotag identifying the location to the other user upon validation.

12. The processing system of claim 11, wherein the processor validates the authorization if the other user is a member of a social network of the selected user.

13. The processing system of claim 11, wherein if when the selected user is traveling between two physical locations in the result set, the processor is configured to transmit updated mapping information including an indicator showing the selected user is traveling.

14. A method of managing personalizing user location information, comprising:

analyzing at least one computer database containing information about a selected user to determine whether the at least one computer database includes historical geographic location information associated with the selected user, the historical geographic location information including one or more physical locations at which the selected user'"'"'s device has been located at past times;

selecting a result set from the at least one computer database when the at least one computer database includes the historical geographic location information, the result set including at least one physical location of the one or more physical locations;

configuring geotags personalized for the selected user for each physical location in the result set, the personalized geotags each comprising geographic coordinates, an associated area, and a name associated with the selected user;

identifying, by a matching engine, when a current location for the selected user is unknown, at least two personalized geotags based on a current time compared to past times from the historical geographic location information associated with the selected user;

determining, by the matching engine, whether there is an overlap between the at least two personalized geotags, wherein the at least two personalized geotags are ranked according to a preference of the specific user;

selecting the personalized geotag from the at least two personalized geotags based on the rank of the selected personalized geotag; and

transmitting the mapping information as a representation of the current location of the selected user in response to an authorized request from another user for the current location of the selected user.

15. A method of managing personalizing user location information, comprising:

analyzing at least one computer database containing information about a selected user to determine whether the at least one computer database includes historical geographic location information associated with the selected user, the historical geographic location information including one or more physical locations at which the selected user'"'"'s device has been located at past times;

selecting a result set from the at least one computer database when the at least one computer database includes the historical geographic location information, the result set including at least one physical location of the one or more physical locations;

configuring geotags personalized for the selected user for each physical location in the result set, the personalized geotags each comprising geographic coordinates, an associated area, and a name associated with the selected user;

identifying, by a matching engine, when a current location for the selected user is unknown, at least two personalized geotags based on a current time compared to past times from the historical geographic location information associated with the selected user;

determining, by the matching engine, whether there is an overlap between the at least two personalized geotags, wherein the at least two personalized geotags are ranked according to the historical geographic location information of the specific user;

selecting the personalized geotag from the at least two personalized geotags based on the rank of the selected personalized geotag; and

transmitting the mapping information as a representation of the current location of the selected user in response to an authorized request from another user for the current location of the selected user.

16. A method of managing personalizing user location information, comprising:

analyzing at least one computer database containing information about a selected user to determine whether the at least one computer database includes historical geographic location information associated with the selected user, the historical geographic location information including one or more physical locations at which the selected user'"'"'s device has been located at past times;

selecting a result set from the at least one computer database when the at least one computer database includes the historical geographic location information, the result set including at least one physical location of the one or more physical locations;

configuring geotags personalized for the selected user for each physical location in the result set, the personalized geotags each comprising geographic coordinates, an associated area, and a name associated with the selected user;

identifying, by a matching engine, when a current location for the selected user is unknown, at least two personalized geotags based on a current time compared to past times from the historical geographic location information associated with the selected user;

determining, by the matching engine, whether there is an overlap between the at least two personalized geotags, wherein the at least two personalized geotags are ranked;

selecting, when there is an overlap, the personalized geotag from the at least two personalized geotags based on the rank of the selected personalized geotag; and

transmitting the mapping information as a representation of the current location of the selected user in response to an authorized request from another user for the current location of the selected user,

wherein the associated area of each personalized geotag includes is defined by a location radius, and the overlap is caused by overlapping radii of the geotags.

17. A method of managing personalizing user location information, comprising:

analyzing at least one computer database containing information about a selected user to determine whether the at least one computer database includes historical geographic location information associated with the selected user, the historical geographic location information including one or more physical locations at which the selected user'"'"'s device has been located at past times;

selecting a result set from the at least one computer database when the at least one computer database includes the historical geographic location information, the result set including at least one physical location of the one or more physical locations;

configuring geotags personalized for the selected user for each physical location in the result set, the personalized geotags each comprising geographic coordinates, an associated area, and a name associated with the selected user;

identifying, by a matching engine, when a current location for the selected user is unknown, at least two personalized geotags based on a current time compared to past times from the historical geographic location information associated with the selected user;

determining, by the matching engine, whether there is an overlap between the at least two personalized geotags, wherein the at least two personalized geotags are ranked;

selecting, when there is an overlap, the personalized geotag from the at least two personalized geotags based on the rank of the selected personalized geotag; and

transmitting the mapping information as a representation of the current location of the selected user in response to an authorized request from another user for the current location of the selected user, wherein each personalized geotag has a confidence level for the respective associated area, and the overlap is caused by varying confidence levels between different respective associated areas.