Geolocation check-in system

• US 9,311,685 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Issued: 04/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bank of America Corp.
• Original Assignee: Bank of America Corp.
• Inventors: Harkey, Scott Lee, Grigg, David M., Bondesen, Laura Corinne, Calman, Matthew A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Allen, William
• Application Number:
  US13/826,671
• Publication Number:
  US 20140279123A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,125 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/04 Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem" market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities G06Q30/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0619 Neutral agent
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/10 Services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention are directed to systems, methods and computer program products for providing a geolocation check-in system. An exemplary apparatus is configured to collect positioning data related to a user. After collecting position data the apparatus may be configure to determine, based at least partially on the positioning data that the user has crossed a threshold of a geofence associated with a merchant'"'"'s location. Based at least partially on this determination the apparatus may be configured to initiate a merchant check-in associated with the user and transmit user information to the merchant.

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing a geolocation check-in system, the apparatus comprising:

a memory;

one or more processors; and

a module stored in the memory, executable by the one or more processors, and configured to cause the one or more processors to;

monitor a web-based social network and obtain social network data associated with the user, wherein the social network data provides an indication of a likely route of travel of the user;

determine, based on the obtained social network data, the likely route of travel of the user;

identify a threshold of a geofence associated with a merchant'"'"'s location through which the likely route of travel of the user will cross;

monitor a current position of a computing device associated with the user along the likely route of travel, wherein the current position is determined by the computing device by;

(i) interfacing with a global positioning system;

(ii) analyzing a video stream of an environment surrounding the user captured by the computing device;

determine, based at least partially on the current position, that the user has crossed the threshold of the geofence associated with the merchant'"'"'s location;

transmit, in response to the determination that the user has crossed the threshold, a communication to the user requesting whether the user desires to check-in with a social media site associated with the merchant;

receive a verification that the user desires to check-in with the merchant;

initiate, based at least partially on determining that user has crossed the threshold of the geofence, a merchant check-in with the social network associated with the merchant; and

transmit user information associated with the user to the merchant.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein determining that the user has crossed the threshold of the geofence further comprises the apparatus being configured to compare the user'"'"'s current position to the threshold of the geofence.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is further configured to receive one or more user preferences for processing check-ins with a social network associated with a merchant.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein initiating the check-in with the social network associated with the merchant further comprises prompting the user to accept one or more terms and conditions associated with the merchant.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is further configured to store the user information.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is further configured to notify one or more entities of a successful check-in.

7. A method for providing a geolocation check-in system, the method comprising:

monitoring, by one or more processors, a web-based social network and obtain social network data associated with the user, wherein the social network data provides an indication of a likely route of travel of the user;

determining, by the one or more processors based on the obtained social network data, the likely route of travel of a user;

identifying, by the one or more processors, a threshold of a geofence associated with a merchant'"'"'s location through which the likely route of travel of the user will cross;

monitoring, by the one or more processors, a current position of a computing device associated with the user along the likely route of travel, wherein the current position is determined by the computing device by;

(i) interfacing with a global positioning system; and

,

(ii) analyzing a video stream of an environment surrounding the user captured by the computing device;

determining, by the one or more processors based at least partially on the current position, that the user has crossed the threshold of the geofence associated with the merchant'"'"'s location;

transmitting, by the processor in response to the determining, a communication to the user requesting whether the user desires to check-in with a social media site associated with the merchant;

receiving, by the one or more processors, a verification that the user desires to check-in with the merchant;

initiating, by the one or more processors in response to receiving the verification, a merchant check-in with the social network associated with the merchant; and

transmitting user information associated with the user to the merchant.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein determining that the user has crossed the threshold of the geofence further comprises comparing the user'"'"'s current position to the threshold of the geofence.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the method further comprises receiving one or more user preferences for processing check-ins with a social network associated with a merchant.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein initiating the check-in with the social network associated with the merchant further comprises prompting the user to accept one or more terms and conditions associated with the merchant.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the method further comprises storing the user information.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the method further comprises notifying one or more entities of a successful check-in.

13. A computer program product for providing a geolocation check-in system, the computer program product comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising a set of codes for causing a computer to;

monitor a web-based social network and obtain social network data associated with the user, wherein the social network data provides an indication of a likely route of travel of the user;

determine, based on the obtained social network data, the likely route of travel of the user;

identify a threshold of a geofence associated with a merchant'"'"'s location through which the likely route of travel of the user will cross;

monitor a current position of a computing device associated with the user along the likely route of travel, wherein the current position is determined by the computing device by;

(i) interfacing with a global positioning system;

(ii) analyzing a video stream of an environment surrounding the user captured by the computing device;

determine, based at least partially on the current position, that the user has crossed the threshold of the geofence associated with the merchant'"'"'s location;

transmit, in response to the determination that the user has crossed the threshold, a communication to the user requesting whether the user desires to check-in with a social media site associated with the merchant;

receive a verification that the user desires to check-in with the merchant;

initiate, based at least partially on determining that user has crossed the threshold of the geofence, a merchant check-in with the social network associated with the merchant; and

transmit user information associated with the user to the merchant.