Identifying events

• US 9,767,418 B2
• Filed: 10/29/2012
• Issued: 09/19/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Proximity Grid, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Proximity Grid, Inc.
• Inventors: Reimer, John H.
• Primary Examiner(s): SITIRICHE, LUIS A
• Application Number:
  US13/663,318
• Publication Number:
  US 20130054746A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,786 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/433 using audio data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/4387 by the use of playlists
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/487 using geographical or spatial information, e.g. location
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/489 using time information
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9537 Spatial or temporal dependent retrieval, e.g. spatiotemporal queries
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 20/00 Machine learning
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 3/08 Learning methods
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0637 Strategic management or analysis, e.g. setting a goal or target of an organisation; Planning actions based on goals; Analysis or evaluation of effectiveness of goals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• 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 4/185 by embedding added-value information into content, e.g. geo-tagging
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/912 Applications of a database
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/913 Multimedia
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/918 Location
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching

Abstract

Events may be identified by storing information in response to activating an event stamp function. As a result of activating the event function, the information collected may immediately be compared to event information in a database. Alternatively, the information collected may later be compared to event information in a database. One or more candidates for the event of interest may be automatically or manually retrieved, and the user may decide whether a candidate event of the one or more candidates correspond to the event of interest. Alternatively, a purchase of an item related to the event may be automatically made in response to activating the event stamp.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

detecting an entry of input, at an interface of a network appliance, indicating a selection of an event stamp function associated with the network appliance, the event stamp function being associated with event stamp information including at least location information;

in response to the detecting, automatically generating, by one or more processors of a processor system of the network appliance, the event stamp information associated with the event stamp function of the network appliance, by at least automatically collecting location information associated with a geographic location of the network appliance;

at least temporarily storing the event stamp information in a memory system of the network appliance by at least temporarily storing the location information that was collected;

sending, by the processor system, the event stamp information, by at least sending the location information collected, from the network appliance, through a communications link for communicatively coupling the network appliance to a network for coupling with a server that initiates searches based on the event stamp information by at least being based on the location information that was sent; and

in response to the sending of the event stamp information, after the server obtains results of a search that is based on the event stamp information that was sent by at least being based on the location information that was sent, receiving at the network appliance from the server, the results of the search initiated by the server, based on the event stamp information by being at least based on the location information that was sent; and

wherein the results of the search include at least location information identifying a location associated with a person, other than the user, based on the location associated with the network appliance.

2. A method comprising:

detecting an entry of input, at an interface of a network appliance, indicating a selection of an event function associated with the network appliance, the event function being associated with event information including at least location information;

in response to the detecting, automatically generating, by one or more processors of a processor system of the network appliance, event information associated with the event function of the network appliance, by at least automatically collecting location information associated with a physical location of the network appliance;

at least temporarily storing the event information in a memory system of the network appliance by at least temporarily storing the location information that was collected;

sending, by the processor system, the event information, by at least sending the location information that was collected, from the network appliance, through a communications link for communicatively coupling the network appliance to a network for coupling with a server that initiates searches based on event information by at least being based on the location information that was sent; and

in response to the sending of the event information, after the server obtains results of a search that is based on the event information sent by at least being based on the location information that was sent, receiving at the network appliance from the server results of the search initiated by the server, based on the event information by at least being based on the location information that was sent;

wherein the search results include at least location information identifying the physical location associated with a professional based on the physical location associated with the network appliance.

3. The method of claim 2, the professional being a barber.

4. The method of claim 2, the professional being a hairstylist.

5. The method of claim 2, the professional being a dentist.

6. The method of claim 2, the professional being a doctor.

7. The method of claim 2, further comprising scheduling an appointment with the professional based on the event function.

8. The method of claim 2, the network appliance being a computer.

9. The method of claim 2, the network appliance being a terminal.

10. The method of claim 2, the network appliance being a web television.

11. The method of claim 2, the event function being located on a media player.

12. The method of claim 2, the event function being located on a MP3 player.

13. The method of claim 2, the event function being located on a vehicle.

14. The method of claim 2, the event function being located in a car.

15. The method of claim 2, the event function being located on a dashboard of a car.

16. The method of claim 2, the event function being located on a keychain.

17. The method of claim 2, the event function being located on a memorandum device.

18. The method of claim 2, the event function being located in a purse.

19. The method of claim 2, the event function being located in a wallet.

20. The method of claim 2, the event function being located on a briefcase.

21. The method of claim 2, the event function being located on a bicycle.

22. The method of claim 2, the event function being located on a television.

23. The method of claim 2, the location information including Global Positioning Systems (GPS) coordinates.

24. The method of claim 2, the activating of the event function causing a communication to be sent to another site for purchasing a product.

25. The method of claim 2, the activating of the event function causing an e-mail to be sent to another site.

26. A method comprising:

detecting an entry of input, at an interface of a network appliance, indicating a selection of an event stamp function associated with the network appliance, the event stamp function being associated with multiple types of event stamp information including at least a time and a physical location information;

in response to the detecting, automatically generating, by a processor system of a network appliance having one or more processors, event stamp information associated with the event stamp function of the network appliance, by at least automatically collecting the multiple types of event stamp information by at least automatically determining the time and physical location;

at least temporarily storing the event stamp information in a memory system of the network appliance by at least temporarily storing the time and the physical location that were determined;

sending, by the processor system, the event stamp information, by at least sending the time and the physical location that were determined, from the network appliance, through a communications link for communicatively coupling the network appliance to a network for coupling with a server that initiates searches based on event stamp information and related to the time and the physical location that were determined; and

in response to the sending of the event stamp information, after the server obtains results of a search that is based on the event stamp information sent and related to the time and the physical location that were determined, receiving at the network appliance from the server, the results of the search initiated by the server, based on the event stamp information by at least being based on the time and physical location that were determined;

wherein the results of the search include at least event information identifying an event associated with a time and location that are related to the time and physical location that were determined; and

establishing a journal of times and physical locations visited by a user, based on the even stamp information collected.

27. The method of claim 26, receiving from the user an entry of a verbal annotation and storing the annotation.

28. A method comprising:

detecting an entry of input, at an interface of a network appliance, indicating a selection of an event stamp function associated with the network appliance, the event stamp function being associated with event stamp information including image information and location information;

in response to the detecting, automatically generating, by a processor system of the network appliance having one or more processors, event stamp information associated with the event stamp function of the network appliance, by at least automatically collecting an image, the event stamp information including the image;

at least temporarily storing the event stamp information in a memory system of the network appliance by at least temporarily storing the image collected;

sending, by the processor system, the event stamp information, by at least sending the image, from the network appliance, through a communications link for communicatively coupling the network appliance to a network for coupling with a server that initiates searches based on event stamp information and that is related to the image; and

in response to the sending of the event stamp information, after the server obtains results of a search that is based on the event stamp information sent and the information related to the image that was sent, receiving at the network appliance from the server results of the search initiated by the server, based on the event stamp information by being based at least on the image that was sent;

wherein the results of the search include at least event information identifying an event associated with the image that was sent.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising:

the automatically generating including at least activating a camera to capture the image.

30. The method of claim 29, the network appliance being a mobile phone and the camera being built into the network appliance, and the automatically generating including at least the event stamp function causing the mobile phone to activate the camera.

31. The method of claim 29, the automatically generating including at least the event stamp function causing a collecting of a video, the image being part of the video and the collecting of the image being part of the collecting of the video.

32. A method comprising:

detecting an entry of input, at an interface of a network appliance, indicating a selection of an event stamp function associated with the network appliance, the event stamp function being associated with event stamp information including at least location information and image information;

in response to the detecting, automatically generating, by one or more processors of a processor system of the network appliance, the event stamp information associated with an event stamp function of the network appliance, by at least automatically collecting an image, the event stamp information including the image;

at least temporarily storing the event stamp information in a memory system of the network appliance, by at least temporarily storing the image that was collected;

sending, by the processor system, the event stamp information by at least sending information associated with the image, from the network appliance, through a communications link for communicatively coupling the network appliance to a network for coupling with a server that initiates searches based on the event stamp information by at least being based on the information, associated with the image, that was sent;

in response to the sending of the event stamp information, after the server obtains results of a search that is based on the event stamp information that was sent by at least being based on the information, associated with the image, that was sent, receiving at the network appliance from the server the results of the search based on the event stamp information;

wherein the results of the search include at least event information associated with the image.

33. A method comprising:

detecting an entry of input, at an interface of a user system, indicating a selection of a search function associated with the user system, the search function being associated with search information including at least audio information and location information, the location information being geographic location information;

in response to the detecting, collecting, at the user system, the search information by at least collecting the audio information and the location information, the user system having;

a processor system including at least one processor,

a memory system,

a microphone, and

a display,

the audio information being collected, via the microphone;

at least temporarily storing the search information by at least temporarily storing the audio information and location information on a non-transitory computer readable medium in the memory system;

automatically, by the processor system, sending the search information by at least sending the audio information and location information that was collected, via a communications network, to a server system that initiates a search based on the search information by at least being based on the audio information and the location information that was collected;

in response to the sending of the search information, after the server system completes the search, receiving search results at the user system from the server system based on the audio information and the location information; and

displaying, by the processor system, the search results on the display of the user system by at least displaying information related to the audio information that was sent and the location information that was sent.

34. A method comprising:

receiving, at a server system from a user system, via a communications network, an indication for a selection of a search function associated with the user system, the search function being associated with search information including audio information and location information associated with a geographic location, the server system having a processor system including at least one processor, and a memory system;

in response to the receiving, automatically, by the processor system, searching one or more databases on a network for the search information, by at least searching for the audio information and the location information;

at least temporarily storing the search information on a non-transitory computer readable medium in the memory system, by at least storing the audio information and the location information; and

sending from the server system to user system, via the communications network, search results based on the audio information and the location information.

35. A network appliance comprising:

a processor system including at least one processor,

a memory system communicatively coupled to the processor system,

a microphone, and

a display;

the memory system storing one or more machine instructions, which when implemented by the processor system, cause the network appliance to implement a method including at least

detecting an entry of input, at an interface of a network appliance, indicating a selection of a search function associated with the network appliance, the event stamp function being associated with search information including at least audio information and location information;

in response to the detecting, automatically collecting, via the network appliance and the microphone of the network appliance, search information including the audio information and the location information;

automatically, by the processor system, sending the search information, by at least sending the audio information and the search information, via a communications network, to a server system that initiates searches based on the search information by at least being based on the location information and the audio information that was sent;

in response, receiving search results at the user system based on the audio information and the location information that was sent; and

displaying, by the processor system, the search results, which are based on the audio information and the location information that was sent, on the display of the user system.

36. A network appliance comprising:

a processor system including at least one processor,

a memory system communicatively coupled to the processor system,

a microphone communicatively coupled to the processor system, and

a display communicatively coupled to the processor system;

an input system communicatively coupled to the processor system, the input system having at least a button for initiating a search;

an input/output system communicatively coupled to the processor system, the input/output system having at least a touch screen;

the memory system storing one or more machine instructions, which when implemented by the processor system, cause the network appliance to implement a method including at least

detecting the button being depressed, the button being associated with a function for collecting search information that includes at least audio information and location information, the location information being geographic location information;

in response to the button being depressed, collecting, via the network appliance and the microphone of the network appliance, the search information by at least collecting the audio information and the location information;

automatically, by the processor system, sending the search information by at least sending the audio information and the location information that was collected, via a communications network, to a server system that initiates searches based on the search information by at least being based on the audio information and the location information that was sent;

in response to the sending of the search information, after the server obtains results of a search that is based on the search information that was sent by at least being based on the audio information and the location information that was sent, receiving search results at the network appliance based on the audio information and the location information that was sent; and

displaying, by the processor system, the search results on the display of the network appliance by at least displaying information related to the audio information that was sent and the location information that was sent.

37. A system comprising:

a processor;

a button dedicated for initiating a collection of event identifying information when the button is depressed, the button being communicatively coupled to the processor;

a memory for storing the event identifying information, as a result of initiating the collection of event identifying information;

a receiver for receiving global positioning system coordinates;

a communications link for communicatively coupling the system to a network that couples with one or more servers for transferring the event identifying information; and

one or more machine instructions, stored in the memory, which when implemented by the processor, cause the system to implement a method including at least detecting a depressing of the button;

in response to the depressing of the button, causing the processor to initialize the collection of event identifying information, the event identifying information including the global positioning system coordinates, and automatically sending a message via the communications link to the one or more servers to launch a search for the search information related to event identifying information, and

in response to the automatically sending of the message to launch the search for the search information, after the second server obtains search results based on the search information may related to the event identifying information receiving, from the one or more servers, search results related to the event identifying information.

38. A method comprising:

detecting an entry of input, at an interface of a network appliance, indicating a selection of an event function associated with the network appliance, the event function being associated with event information including at least location information for identifying an event, the location information being geographic location information;

in response to the detecting, automatically generating, by a processor system of a network appliance having one or more processors, event information associated with an event function of the network appliance, the event information including the location information for identifying an event;

at least temporarily storing the event information in a memory system of the network appliance by at least temporarily storing the location information for identifying the event;

sending, by the processor system, event information, by at least sending the location information for identifying the event, from the network appliance, through a communications link for communicatively coupling the network appliance to a network for coupling with a server for searching for the event based on the location information;

in response to the sending of the event information, after the server obtains results of the searching for the event based on the location information, receiving at the network appliance from the server, results of the search based on the event information based on the location information and receiving a promotional information for a store based on the event information by being based at least on the location information.

39. A method comprising:

detecting an entry of input, at an interface of a network appliance, indicating a selection of an event stamp function associated with the network appliance, the event stamp function being associated with search information including at least location information;

in response to the detecting, automatically generating, by one or more processors of a processor system of the network appliance, the search information associated with the event stamp function of the network appliance, by at least automatically collecting location information associated with a physical location of the network appliance;

at least temporarily storing the search information in a memory system of the network appliance by at least temporarily storing the location information that was collected;

sending, by the processor system, the search information, by at least sending the location information collected, from the network appliance, through a communications link for communicatively coupling the network appliance to a network for coupling with a server that initiates searches based on the search information by at least being based on the location information that was sent; and

in response to the sending of the search information, after the server obtains results of a search that is based on the search information that was sent by at least being based on the location information that was sent, receiving at the network appliance from the server results of a search based on the search information by being at least based on the location information that was sent; and

wherein the results of the search initiated by the server include at least location information identifying a location associated with a person other than the user based on the location associated with the network appliance.

40. A method comprising:

detecting an entry of input, at an interface of a network appliance, indicating a selection of an event stamp function associated with the network appliance, the event stamp function being associated with search information including at least location information;

in response to the detecting, automatically generating, by one or more processors of a processor system of the network appliance, search information associated with the event stamp function of the network appliance, by at least automatically collecting location information, which is associated with a physical location of the network appliance, the search information including the location information;

at least temporarily storing the search information in a memory system of the network appliance by at least temporarily storing the location information that was collected;

sending, by the processor system, the search information, by at least sending the location information collected, from the network appliance, through a communications link for communicatively coupling the network appliance to a network for coupling with a server that initiates searches based on the search information by at least being based on the location information that was sent; and

in response to the sending of the search information, after the server obtains results of a search that is based on the search information that was sent by at least being based on the location information that was sent, receiving at the network appliance from the server results of a search based on the search information by being at least based on the location information that was sent; and

wherein the results of the search include at least location information identifying a location associated with an establishment based on the location information that was sent, which is associated with the network appliance.