Geo-location systems and methods

• US 9,639,901 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2011
• Issued: 05/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Buddha, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Buddha, Inc.
• Inventors: Montoya, David, Yardeny, Hagai
• Primary Examiner(s): Keehn, Richard G
• Application Number:
  US13/340,476
• Publication Number:
  US 20120271883A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,951 Days
• Field of Search: 709204
• 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 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/21 for social networking applications

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for matching a first user in a first geographic location with a second user in a second geographic location, and enabling the first user to find the second user in the second geographic location. The first geographic location can be the same as the second geographic location. The first user and second user can be matched based on user-specific matching criteria, including a first user profile of the first user and a second user profile of the second user. The first user can communicate with the second user.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for locating and facilitating introductions between users in a plurality of geographic locations at a predetermined time, comprising:

receiving a request from a first user to conduct a search for other users in the plurality of geographic locations pre-selected by the first user and the other users;

matching, with the aid of a processor, said first user with a plurality of potential second users from the other users in the plurality of -pre-selected geographic locations, said first user matched with said plurality of potential second users based on matching criteria of the first user and the plurality of potential second users, wherein the matching criteria include at least one of the following;

social, educational, work-related, health-related and/or food-related interest;

sending the first user a response indicating the plurality of potential second users may be at the plurality of pre-selected geographic locations at the predetermined time; and

selectively transmitting an introductory communication from the first user to a selected second user that is matched with the first user when the first user elects and arrives at a selected geographic location selected from the plurality of pre-selected geographic locations by the first user and the second user, wherein the introductory communication includes at least one of the following;

a greeting message;

selected personal profile information related to said first user; and

a request for selected personal profile information related to said selected second user.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising forming a user group comprising the first user, the second user and a third user after matching the first user with the second user and the third user.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein the user group is formed by pairing, with the aid of a processor, the first user with the second user and the third user.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein matching the first user with said second user and said third user comprises searching for the second user and a third user.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein searching for the second user and a third user includes using search criteria specific to the second user and the third user.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said matching comprises searching for said second user and a third user, and comparing user-specific search criteria provided by said first user with a profile of each of said second user and said third user.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the geographic location is characterized as a location of social interest, educational interest, work-related interest, health-related interest and/or food-related interest to said first user, said second user and a third user.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the geographic location is selected by the first user, the second user and a third user.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising providing the first user the location of the second user and a third user in said geographic location.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein matching the first user and second user comprises comparing a first profile of the first user and a second profile of the second user to determine that there is a match based on predetermined matching criteria.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said geographic location is an indoor geographic location.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising providing the position of the second user and a third user for display on a user interface of an electronic device of said first user.

13. A computer-implemented method for searching for users in a plurality of geographic locations at a predetermined time, comprising:

communicating, with the aid of a processor, with computer systems of users associated with the plurality of geographic locations that is of social, educational, work-related, health-related and/or food-related interest to each of the users, each of the users having a user profile;

performing a processor-mediated search for users associated with the plurality of geographic locations based on search criteria provided by a first user among the users, wherein the search is directed at the user profile of each of a remainder of the users;

sending a response to the first user indicating the matched users may be at the plurality of geographic locations at the predetermined time; and

delivering to two or more matched users introductory communications from the first user in the geographic location that is of social, educational, work-related, health-related and/or food-related interest to the first user and the two or more matched users, wherein the introductory communications include at least one of the following;

a greeting message;

selected user profile information related to said first user; and

a request for selected user profile information related to said two or more matched users.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, further comprising providing the position of said two or more matched users for display on a user interface of an electronic device of said first user.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 14, wherein said user interface includes a map.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, wherein said geographic location is an indoor location.

17. A computer-implemented method for bringing users together at a predetermined time, comprising:

receiving a request from a first user to search for other users in a plurality of pre-selected geographic locations selected by the first user and the other users;

searching, with the aid of a processor, for said other users in the geographic locations, wherein the search is conducted in view of search criteria provided by the first user;

matching, with the aid of a processor, the first user with a second user and a third user selected from the other users;

sending a response to the first user indicating the second and the third user may be at the pre-selected geographic locations at the predetermined time;

forming a group comprising the first user, the second user and the third user after matching the first user with the second user and the third user; and

directing an electronic introductory communication from the first user to the second user or the third user, wherein the electronic introductory communication includes at least one of the following;

a greeting message;

a selected user profile information related to the first user; and

a request for a selected user profile information related to the second user and the third user.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 17, further comprising providing the position of each of said second user and said third user for display on a user interface of an electronic device of said first user.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 18, wherein said user interface includes a map.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 18, wherein the position of each of said second user and said third user is provided upon the verification of one or more privacy settings of each of said second user and said third user.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein said geographic location is of social, educational, work-related, health-related and/or food-related interest to said first user, second user and third user.