Free Access to Proprietor-Controlled Data on a Portable Electronic Device

User access to proprietor-controlled data through multi-factor authentication over a wireless network using one or more location awareness technologies. The data comprising digital magazines, digital periodicals, videos, television, music, video games and similar media. User access in locations such as waiting rooms, gathering areas and selected venues, through a highly secure, technology supported access that allows waiting, gathering or congregating users to temporarily interact with a wide range of data for free.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the improvement of portable electronic devices. And more particularly, the present invention relates to systems and methods of data exchange between portable electronic devices and proprietor-controlled data.

BACKGROUND

Anyone who has recently visited a medical provider's office, sat and waited for an appointment with a professional business proprietor, or frequented a local coffee house noted an obvious absence of the usual magazines or similar media in the magazine rack. Because of COVID-19 pandemic-related hygiene concerns, businesses removed reading materials and eliminated magazines in magazine racks. While customers can resort to reading on-line sites on their smart phones or other types of portable electronic devices, they are currently limited by technology applications and connectivity as to what applications or services they routinely view on their own portable electronic devices.

Business owners cannot presently offer the pleasure of reading a magazine to their customers while sitting in a waiting room. Coupled with a movement away from print media and toward digital media, printed publications and hard copy magazines are becoming scarce in waiting rooms and customers can not pass the time while catching up on their favorite periodicals, while waiting for an appointment. Magazines are suffering reduced circulations because of the move away from possibly “germ-contaminated”hard-copy magazines. Magazine advertisers are not reaching their customer segments through traditional advertisements in content-specific magazines. Customers are not being introduced to magazines, their content and their advertisements while waiting for an appointment or drinking a comforting hot beverage. Furthermore, the pandemic provides a unique opportunity to shift away from and modernize the traditional, physical magazine racks and shelves we have come to enjoy in waiting rooms, cafes and other gathering places away from home.

Furthermore, most every waiting room incorporates one or more televisions therein to provide a comfortable experience for customers. But upon doing so some users may not have a desire nor propensity to watch the same proprietor-selected programing or may want to watch different programming or interact with different media. Therefore, there is also a need to improve the types of data that are available for each individual customer, patient or client waiting for an appointment, service, or product.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A user database can be provided, for a limited time at a location, to customers seeking entertainment. By offering connectivity to, for example, a digital magazine through the simple use of a displayable computer instruction and a person's own portable electronic device, people can conveniently shift to virtual magazines or similar entertainment media. This invention gives providers and proprietors an opportunity to reach customers by replacing hard-stand and physical traditional media with modern information technology and virtual connectivity provided by the proprietor to a customer.

This invention allows a proprietor to create a user database for their customers, accessible through multi-factor authentication, using a virtual boundary and displayable computer instructions, the displayable computer instructions may be distributed or updated from time to time to ensure proprietors can provide updatable access to digital provider data, such as digital magazines, for customer enjoyment. This invention gives users the opportunity to “sample a magazine” on their portable electronic devices. Subject to user data restrictions, a user can gain access to a user database that is pre-populated with provider data from a proprietor database, and thus a proprietor can control free access for a user to provider data. Upon user data restrictions taking effect, such as through time-limits, data limits, or both, the user may be given the option to subscribe to the provider directly through a provider subscription. In this manner, this invention provides the added benefit of allowing providers to gain access to customers in a new and advantageous way.

In one embodiment, this invention uses a landing page, which may be a website that is resident on the internet, and therefore under this embodiment a user would not be required to install user installed computer readable instructions, such as an application, which sometimes because a nuisance to users, but rather would allow for a user's portable electronic device to use this invention automatically with pre-installed computer readable instructions that are already on the portable electronic device memory.

This invention fills an existential void in the current media distribution and customer service marketplaces. As a result of a steady and continued consumer move away from print media, along with the additional desires to avoid potentially contaminated physical items such as magazines and newspapers during the current pandemic, people are seeking a new way to peruse magazines and read periodical publications in waiting rooms, lounges and on public conveyances such as planes and trains. Magazine racks in doctor's waiting rooms are empty, reading shelves in cafes and lounges are bare, and airlines are not distributing reading materials. This invention is designed to offer customers a short-term solution for access to traditionally subscription-based provider data, such as video, audio, or image files, through a customer's own portable electronic device. As an example, a magazine publisher provider, through this invention, can reach a user by providing the user an opportunity to read an article or entry in a magazine while waiting for an appointment, sipping a purchased beverage, or traveling on a flight. Furthermore, this invention allows a user to interact with provider content on a specific user interface that may be the same or similar to how subscribers may interact with the provider content so as to ensure that users of this invention obtain the equivalent or an improved user experience. When user data restrictions expire, a provider is further benefited as a user customer can then be afforded the opportunity to buy a provider subscription. In this way, this invention fills a void left by the now frequently discontinued hard copies of magazines and other print media previously offered/displayed in physical racks, allows customers to easily select and read a magazine on their own device, and gives magazine publishers a venue for introducing their publications to millions of people in waiting rooms and cafes around the world.

Furthermore, this invention provides for a recordation of user interaction data in a user engagement database that is populated by data tracking techniques. For example, real time monitoring can be achieved through a user's interaction with a user database and/or a proprietor database. This information and usage data can be invaluable to providers. For instance, a provider may be able to obtain information regarding which sets of provider data (e.g. a particular magazine article or a particular video/channel) that is most used or viewed by users which can then be useful in advertising contracts.

Proprietor customized temporary delivery of media to a customer's portable electronic device will address the provision of a more customized, personalized and desirable media engagement and interaction experience. For those customers finding their introduction and engagement to their liking, and desiring to continue the engagement or interactivity beyond the allocated user data restrictions, the customer can elect to enter into a longer term subscription agreement through connectivity on their portable electronic device. In the meantime, the proprietor benefits by improving the experience of his or her customers that may have to wait for his or her products or services.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The embodiments below, and in the accompanying drawings, are intended to disclose this invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art. However, this invention is not specifically limited by the few embodiments disclosed herein, but extends beyond these few embodiments as would be understood by a person having ordinary skill in the art.

FIG. 1shows a portable electronic device100. The portable electronic device may be a user smartphone, tablet, or personal computer but is not intended to be so limited. A portable electronic device as addressed or described within these embodiments may be a portable computer (e.g. laptop), smartwatch, head-mounted display or glasses, or any type of computing device that a user may bring with them for use away from their home. The portable electronic device may generally comprise one or more processors101, one or more system memories102, one or more displays103, one or more antennas104, one or more input systems105, one or more output systems106and one or more cameras107.

The one or more antennas104may typically include antennas for cellular communications, Wi-Fi communications, Bluetooth communications and/or Global Positioning System (GPS) communications, and other methods, all as is well known by a person of ordinary skill in the art and is not intended to be so limited herein. Generally, the one or more antennas104may comprise any antenna apparatus that allows for wireless data communication with a portable electronic device.

The one or more input systems105may include various input apparatus as is known by persons with ordinary skill in the art. Examples of such input systems may be a keyboard, touchscreen, various buttons on the portable electronic device, gesture recognition systems, voice recognition/microphone systems, face recognition systems, and various other sensors to detect proximity, light, movement, etc. This invention is not intended to be so limited by any particular input system arrangement or combination.

The one or more output systems106may include various output apparatus as is known by persons with ordinary skill in the art. Examples of such output systems may comprise additional displays, lights, speakers, haptic feedback systems, and/or shape variation systems. This invention is not intended to be so limited by any particular output system arrangement or combination.

FIG. 2discloses a location200. This could be a person's business, home, or similar defined physical space. If the location200is a business that is owned by a proprietor, it may be associated with a variety of business types and this invention is not intended to be limited to any particular type of business, profession, or establishment. Examples of proprietors and/or business types could be medical professionals, lawyers dentists, coffee shops, bookstores, libraries, hotels, mechanics, car dealerships, public transportation, and/or generally any type of business where customers, clients or patients may have to wait for a good or service. Additionally, location200may be inside an office building or hotel but is not so limited. The location200could be outside.

FIG. 2also discloses a wireless network201at the location200. Wireless networks are generally known by persons having ordinary skill in the art. Wireless network201may be a Virtual Private Network (VPN) that provides secure data exchange between a remote memory (not shown) and/or a remote server (not shown) and the processor101and a memory102via the one or more antennas104of the portable electronic device100. Wireless network201may be a cellular network or mobile network as is known by a person having ordinary skill in the art. Wireless network201may be one or more different types of networks working concurrently.

FIG. 2further shows a virtual boundary202. Virtual boundary202may be a triangulated position marker or similar electronic fencing that works with one or more antennas104of the portable electronic device100. Virtual boundary202leverages authenticated location awareness technology to create a user or proprietor-defined boundary. More specifically, a proprietor may create a virtual boundary202implemented as computer readable instructions stored on a remote memory of a remote server which, through wireless network201, is securely transferred to portable electronic device100, via antennas104, to be then read by processor101so as to then use one or more antennas104to continuously triangulate a position of portable electronic device100in real time. In this manner processor101will be triggered as to when portable electronic device100is within or outside of virtual boundary202as the case may be. Additionally, or alternatively, as the case may be, the virtual boundary202may also be established with the use of a Global Positioning System (GPS) and associated antenna104. The virtual boundary202may also be established by the placement of physical detectable objects or sensors at desired points at location200so as to establish the virtual boundary202. Furthermore, the virtual boundary202may be defined by different authenticated location awareness technologies concurrently to improve the accuracy of the position of the portable electronic device100relative the virtual boundary202in real time.

FIG. 2further discloses displayable computer instructions400which will be described in greater detail below.

FIG. 3shows a portable electronic device100in a user's hand. Though a smart phone is shown, as noted above portable electronic device100is not so limited and may be a variety of other types of portable electronic devices.FIG. 3further shows a Graphical User Interface (GUI)300as is known by a person having ordinary skill in the art. The GUI300may comprise of various icons that, upon being selected by the user via the one or more input systems105, may initiate a sequence of computer readable instructions stored on memory102to be read by processor101to implement a variety of different functions depending on the particular application. The GUI300will function within a portable electronic device100operating system which may be different from one portable device to another as is known by a person having ordinary skill in the art. Some of the icons and computer readable instructions associated therewith will come pre-installed on the portable electronic device memory102while others will be added and/or deleted by a user as preferred over time. Furthermore, some types or sets of computer readable instructions may be pre-installed on portable electronic device memory102but not be associated with any particular icon on the GUI300but rather are initiated upon some action of a user within an environment or simply by having the portable electronic device100in a particular environment (i.e. initiated by some action other than selecting an icon on the GUI300).

FIG. 4depicts displayable computer instructions400. Displayable computer instructions400can come in many shapes and forms. For example, and as shown inFIG. 4, displayable computer instructions400may be a Quick Response (QR) Code as is known by a person having ordinary skill in the art. But this invention is not so limited. Any type of displayable computer instructions may be implemented by this invention if they are readable by the portable electronic device100.FIG. 1shows displayable computer instructions400physically located on a wall at location200. In this embodiment the displayable computer instructions could also be accompanied by an explanation of this invention and/or an invitation to a customer, client, consumer, or patient (i.e. a user) to use this invention. Displayable computer instructions400may be located anywhere at location200so as to be scanned or otherwise inputted by a user into portable electronic device100. Displayable computer instructions400may be fixed (e.g. a poster, sign, picture or hand-out) or readily changeable. The latter could be achieved by creating displayable computer instructions400electronically on an electronic display. In this manner the displayable computer instructions400could be changed manually or automatically via a local or remote computer that is wired or wirelessly connected via wireless network201to said electronic display. This would allow for the displayable computer instructions400to be easily updated with new information periodically and to ensure a secure data exchange to authorized users.

In another embodiment, computer instructions similar to displayable computer instructions400could be wirelessly transmitted to a user's portable electronic device100via wireless network201. Preferably, this data exchange could be initiated by user's portable electronic device100entering virtual boundary202. This could be achieved with the use of a wireless network201interacting with one or more antennas104of portable electronic device100. This could function in a similar manner as when a user is prompted to join a VPN when in proximity to a wireless router of a VPN as is known by a person having ordinary skill in the art.

FIG. 5depicts portable electronic device100scanning displayable computer instructions400, represented in the figure as a QR Code. This may be achieved with the use of the one or more cameras107of portable electronic device100but is not intended to be so limited. One or more of the input systems105could also or alternatively be used to scan or read the displayable computer instructions400. For example, a separate sensor for this purpose could be incorporated in portable electronic device100. Pre-installed or user-installed computer readable instructions on memory102would que processor101that displayable computer instructions400have been scanned and initiate the reading of the displayable computer instructions400. Displayable computer instructions400may comprise a variety of different types of instructions and no specific instruction is intended to be limiting on this invention. An example of a type of instruction that may be incorporated into displayable computer instructions400could be the initiation or opening of various pre-installed or user-installed computer instructions on the memory102of the portable electronic device100. The displayable computer instructions400may also comprise raw data in the form of pictures or text that may be displayed to the user of the portable electronic device100on the display103via one or more of the pre-installed or user-installed computer instructions on memory102.

FIG. 6shows the display103of portable electronic device100displaying the displayable computer instructions400with target assist features602. Target assist features602are known to a person having ordinary skill in the art and are used to assist a user in properly scanning or inputting the displayable computer instructions400. Target assist features602can be automatically initiated upon the input systems105(e.g. sensors) or cameras107being placed in close proximity to displayable computer instructions400. In other words, there may be pre-installed or user-installed computer instructions on memory102that will allow for constant monitoring of an additional sensor or the camera107such that if and when the additional sensor or the camera107is within close proximity to displayable computer instructions400processor101will identify displayable computer instructions400and initiate target assist features602to allow user to properly scan or input the displayable computer instructions400onto memory102to be read and implemented by processor101. The transmission signals501and receiving signals601depicted are standard function and processing over a wireless network201for a portable electronic device100and are commonly known and used by a person having ordinary skill in the art.

FIG. 7shows an embodiment of the present invention where a user's portable electronic device100is within virtual boundary202and has recorded displayable computer instructions400as noted above onto memory102to be interpreted by processor101. In this embodiment, displayable computer instructions400comprises instructions to processor101to initiate or open a specific pre-installed set of computer instructions on memory102. More specifically, the pre-installed set of computer instructions in this embodiment are an internet browsing program as is known by a person having ordinary skill in the art. The displayable computer instructions400may further include instructions to processor101to use the internet browsing program to display a specific landing page700on the display103of the portable electronic device100. The landing page700may comprise a website on the internet to facilitate data transfer between portable electronic device100and a remote memory (e.g. a web server) through secure wireless network201. Though this embodiment discloses the use of a website this invention is not intended to be so limited. For example, the landing page700could comprise other wireless data transfer software that would allow for data to be transferred from a remote memory or a local memory to memory102on portable electronic device100(e.g. from a local server or from proprietor computer memory802to portable electronic device100).FIG. 7further discloses a user database808that will be described in greater detail below.

FIG. 8shows a proprietor computer800. Proprietor computer800comprises a proprietor computer processor801, proprietor computer memory802, proprietor computer displays803, proprietor computer antennas804, proprietor computer input systems805and proprietor computer output systems806. As depicted, proprietor computer800is a desktop computer. However, this invention is not so limited. Proprietor computer800can be a portable electronic device similar to portable electronic device100as described above. Generally, proprietor computer800is any type of computing device that allows a proprietor to gain access to data stored on local or remote memory so as to allow proprietor to control the data and how it might be transferred to a user's portable electronic device100via wireless network201.FIG. 9shows proprietor computer800at location200but this invention is not so limited and the proprietor computer800can be anywhere.

FIG. 9shows a proprietor set-up page807. Proprietor set-up page807is similar to landing page700and is associated therewith. In this embodiment proprietor set-up page807is a website. However, this invention is not intended to be so limited. Proprietor set-up page807may comprise other wireless data transfer software that would allow for data to transfer wirelessly over wireless network201to a user's portable electronic device100. Access to proprietor set-up page807may be contingent upon a fee-based subscription.

Proprietor set-up page807may further comprise a proprietor user interface that assists the proprietor in creating virtual boundary202. For example, the proprietor set-up page807may allow the proprietor to create a virtual layout of location200so as to help determine the virtual boundary202. Furthermore, depending on the authenticated location awareness technology used, proprietor set-up page807may allow the proprietor to test signal strengths around virtual boundary202. For example, a portable electronic device similar to a user portable electronic device100could be used by the proprietor to mimic a user moving about location200. The results of such testing can be input by the proprietor through the set-up page807thereby being stored on a remote memory of a remote server for use creating the virtual boundary202and maintaining the accuracy of the virtual boundary202. The remote server comprising a pre-existing set of computer readable instructions that will implement a virtual boundary with the proprietor information being incorporated therein. The proprietor set-up page807may also be implemented if the virtual boundary202requires the use of physically detectable objects and/or sensors to assist the proprietor in strategically placing the physically detectable objects and/or sensors at location200. For example, if location200is on a moving vehicle, such as a plane, train or bus, it may be desirable to use physically detectable objects or sensors to help create the virtual boundary202since the location200will be in motion and thus may not implement a virtual boundary202as effectively using antennas104and a wireless network201as would be the case in a fixed location. For some locations200it may be more desirable to use multiple different location awareness technologies to ensure the accuracy of the virtual boundary202.

The proprietor set-up page807will also allow the proprietor to create a user database808. The user database808may be customizable by the proprietor to suit the type of content the proprietor's customers, clients, and/or patients may desire. For example, a proprietor dentist may expect patients at his or her business location to desire a certain type of user database808. The proprietor set-up page807may also suggest to a proprietor the type of user database808(i.e. a predetermined user database) commonly associated with a proprietor. Numerous predetermined user databases may be stored on a remote memory to be added to user database808upon approval by a proprietor or automatically based upon proprietor information being input on the proprietor set-up page807. The user database808may be downloaded or populated from a proprietor database809. The user database808may be stored on a local memory (e.g. a local server or proprietor computer memory802) or may be stored on a remote memory (e.g. one of a plurality of different web servers). The user database808may be concurrently stored on a local memory and a remote memory.

The proprietor database809may be stored on a remote memory (e.g. one of a plurality of different web servers) or other memory source that may be transferrable to the user database808. The data within the proprietor database809may be controlled by a provider. As used herein, a provider may be any person or corporation that provides data to a customer usually for a fee. The data within the proprietor database809may be a variety of different types of data. Generally, it is conceived that the data within the proprietor database809be subscription-based data that a user would normally need to pay a fee to access. For example, the data within the proprietor database809may comprise subscription-based television or video content, digital magazines, digital newspapers, audio files, websites, video games or any type of data that is not readily available to a user without paying a fee. The data within the proprietor database809could compromise live or streaming data to continuously be fed to the user database808or directly to the user portable electronic device100on demand. Though this embodiment provides for the data in the proprietor database809to be subscription-based data, this invention is not intended to be so limited. Some or all of the data could also be data that is otherwise free to a user but may otherwise be unknown to the user or a proprietor would desire for the user to be directed to such data while at the location200. The extent of the access to the proprietor database809by the proprietor for transfer to the user database808may be based upon a fee or subscription paid by the proprietor. For example, a proprietor may pay a larger fee or subscription price for complete access to the entirety of data in the proprietor database809to the extent that the proprietor database809is equivalent to the user database808. Alternatively, a proprietor may pay a smaller fee or subscription price to access only a limited amount of data in the proprietor database809that is then available for download or transfer or access in a user database808. It is also within the scope of the present invention that a user may access the proprietor database809directly, thereby bypassing or forgoing the need for a user database808, such access being dependent upon authentications as described herein. In this sense, the user database808may be only representative in nature so as to allow users and/or proprietors a convenient way to see what information is available to a user. The user database808may also be updated or changed from time to time with data from the proprietor database809as the provider data changes in the proprietor database809. This may occur without needing any action from the proprietor. For example, if the proprietor would like to have available to his or her customers a particular digital magazine, the monthly digital magazines would automatically populate into the user database without any needed action from the proprietor. Similarly, or alternatively, the provider data available in the user database808may be randomly or purposefully changed from time to time to ensure new content is available for the users as well as to encourage proprietors to expand their subscriptions to include more provider content from the proprietor database809.

FIG. 10discloses a user's portable electronic device100at location200within virtual boundary202. After capturing displayable computer instructions400the processor101initiates pre-installed computer instructions to display landing page700on portable electronic device display103. The landing page700may request authorizations from the user to install a set of virtual boundary computer readable instructions from a remote memory/server and to enable authenticated location awareness technologies to interact with portable electronic device antennas104and/or input systems105to implement virtual boundary202. Furthermore, the landing page700may prompt the user for user information to be stored on a user engagement database1300to be discussed in more detail below. After these multi-factor authentications, a user may begin to access data on the user database808for transfer via wireless network201to portable electronic device memory102to be read by processor101for ultimate viewing and interaction by the user on display103.

FIG. 10further shows user data restrictions900. User data restrictions900may comprise time limits on the duration of access to the user database808. However, this invention is not intended to be so constrained. User data restrictions900may comprise any type of data restriction technique or set of computer readable instructions that is known by a person having ordinary skill in the art. For example, user data restrictions900may comprise a quantity limit of data that can be transferred from user database808to portable electronic device100. Thus, user data restrictions900may comprise a real time monitoring of the data or packets of data that are being transferred from the user database808or the proprietor database809to the portable electronic device100. Furthermore, user data restrictions900may comprise a combination of pre-determined limits to data usage amounts in a pre-determined time frame. If a time-based user data restriction900is implemented, applicant has found through experience and experimentation that the average customer, patient and/or client generally spends approximately 20 minutes in a proprietor waiting area before being seen. Therefore, a pre-determined user data restriction900may be implemented to optimize the amount of access to the user database808or proprietor database809thus striking the right balance of user enjoyment versus free access to otherwise fee-based provider data. Alternatively, if the user data restrictions900are based on the amount of data exchanged between the user database808or proprietor database809and the user portable electronic device100, the applicant has found through experience and experimentation that most customers, patients and/or clients prefer to be able to complete or finish a particular data packet. For example, if a customer, patient and/or client is reading a digital magazine article, it would be an annoyance to the customer, patient and/or client to be prevented from having full access to said article. Therefore, to ensure maximum user satisfaction, a pre-determined amount of data may be associated with user data restrictions900so as to ensure an entire data packet is viewable (e.g. an entire magazine article, video, game, song, etc.) even after leaving virtual boundary202or location200. Though user data restrictions900are depicted, it is also within the scope of this invention that there be no user data restrictions900. Or that the user data restrictions900may be different depending on the location. For example, if this invention is being utilized at a person's home, it is conceivable that there be no user data restrictions900or that the user data restrictions900be less stringent than they otherwise would be at a proprietor business location. Furthermore, user data restrictions900may be variable, such as dependent on the type of provider data being accessed, and controllable by the proprietor and/or the provider.

FIG. 11discloses portable electronic device100with specific user interface1001on display103. Specific user interface1001may vary depending on the type of data transferred from user database808or proprietor database809to portable electronic device100. For example, specific user interface1001may be associated with different underlying file types as is known by a person having ordinary skill in the art depending on the type of data being viewed (i.e. video, text, images, audio, etc.). Furthermore, specific user interface1001may require additional computer readable instructions (e.g. programs or software) to be temporarily or permanently downloaded to memory102to be read and implemented by processor101. Specific user interface1001may be custom-tailored by a specific provider depending on the content of the data. For example, a specific user interface for a video-on-demand provider will require different sets of computer readable instructions than another specific user interface associated with a digital magazine platform. For that matter, even within similar types of providers (e.g. digital magazines) there may be the need to have different specific user interfaces1001to present the data as the provider desires to enhance the user experience. Specific user interface1001may also comprise or be associated with computer readable instructions that are read by processor101to implement some or all of the input systems105and/or output systems106of the portable electronic device100so as to improve or enhance the user experience. For example, the specific user interface1001could implement touch screen inputs, voice commands, gesture controls, and/or haptic feedbacks to allow for a user to navigate through and interact with the associated data. In an alternative to the embodiments above, it is also within the scope of the present invention to have specific user interface1001as a more generic interface that allows for the viewing and interaction of a user with data between a number of different providers (i.e. a universal specific user interface).

FIG. 12discloses a user portable electronic device100being reverted to the landing page700or to a specific location within landing page700after user data restrictions900have taken effect. In other words, the requisite amount of time having access to the user database808or proprietor database809has elapsed and/or the limit amount of data has been exchanged between the portable electronic device100and the user database808or proprietor database809. At this point it may be beneficial to a provider to offer the user a fee-based or subscription-based access to a proprietor database809and/or to a provider database where the user may access the specific provider data at any location for any amount of time as the fee or subscription allows. Furthermore, the proprietor may have the ability to extend or reset the user data restrictions900to allow the user to continue to access the user database808or proprietor database809. This may be accomplished by refreshing or changing the displayable computer instructions400to be rescanned by the portable electronic device100or by providing a proprietor refresh code input to the portable electronic device100. A variety of other reset techniques could be used as is known by a person having ordinary skill in the art and this invention is not intended to be so limited.

FIG. 13discloses user and user portable electronic device100leaving location200. More specifically, user and user portable electronic device100have gone outside of virtual boundary202. Depending on the one or more location awareness technologies being used, portable electronic device antennas104and/or input systems105have sent information to processor101which, based upon computer readable instructions on memory102, has instructed processor101to determine that the portable electronic device100is outside virtual boundary202. Upon so doing, user access to user database808and/or proprietor database809is severed. In this manner, provider data is protected from unauthorized access but for when the user is at location200within virtual boundary202. Should the user want to regain free access to the user database808or proprietor database809the user would need to reenter virtual boundary202. Access to user database808or proprietor database809may be automatic upon the user portable electronic device100reentering the virtual boundary202and the antennas104or input systems105so indicating to processor101. Alternatively, to regain access to the user database808or proprietor database809there may be additional steps required. For example, similar to how a user or proprietor may reset the user data restrictions900described above, upon reentering virtual boundary202a user may be required to have a proprietor refresh code input or rescan displayable computer instructions400or a combination thereof.

FIG. 14discloses a user engagement database1300. User engagement database1300is populated by data tracking techniques as is known by a person having ordinary skill in the art. For example, real time monitoring can be achieved of a user's interaction with the user database808and/or the proprietor database809. This information can be invaluable to providers. For instance, a provider may be able to obtain information regarding which sets of provider data (e.g. a particular video/channel or a particular magazine article) that is most used or selected by users. Also, details of the user interaction may be recorded, such as how long a user spends interacting with particular sets of data and how a user interacts with particular sets of data. Such information will benefit providers as providing feedback to improve their products and services. Also, how proprietors use this invention, such as which sets of provider data is selected from the proprietor data base809to be used in the user database809, can be recorded and used to improve the proprietor's and future proprietors' experience. For example, proprietor use data could be used to develop future pre-determined user databases. The types of user-interaction data that is tracked with data tracking techniques may be any type of data that is useful to users, proprietors, providers, or those that are implementing this invention. The user engagement database1300may receive real time monitoring data via wireless network201. The user engagement database1300may be a portion of a memory (e.g. portable electronic device memory102) to be uploaded to another memory at a specific time. The user engagement database1300may be located within portable electronic device memory102, a local memory (e.g. proprietor computer memory802or a local server), the proprietor database809, the user database808, a provider database or other remote memory (e.g. a web server) for access by users, proprietors, providers or those that implement this invention.

FIG. 15discloses a method of user interaction with this invention. Though the method disclosed is a typical use of this invention, it is not intended to limit the scope of this invention in any way. Many variations of a method of user interaction are intended to be within the scope of this invention as disclosed herein. The intent of the method disclosed inFIG. 15is to provide a clear understanding of this invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art.

Step1501discloses a customer, patient or client (i.e. a user) entering location200. Step1502discloses a user entering virtual boundary202. As noted above, virtual boundary202may be implemented by a variety of different location awareness technologies. Virtual boundary202may be controlled and pre-determined by a proprietor of location200and may be larger than, equal to or smaller than the area of location200. If the virtual boundary202is larger than or equal to the area of location200then steps1501and1502may happen in reverse order or concurrently.

Step1503allows for a user to scan displayable computer instructions400with portable electronic device100as described above. Note that in an alternative embodiment the computer instructions within displayable computer instructions400could be transferred via wireless network201automatically to portable electronic device100upon the user entering location200and/or virtual boundary202. This could result in an additional step where the user would be prompted as to whether or not to accept the computer readable instructions wirelessly.

Step1504discloses wherein the computer readable instructions read by the processor101directs portable electronic device101to display landing page700. The landing page700is described as being a single page but this invention is not intended to be so limited. The landing page700may be a plurality of pages that are linked together for user interface as is known by a person having ordinary skill in the art.

Step1505recognizes wherein landing page700, communicating with processor101, implements or installs on memory102computer readable instructions associated with one or more location awareness technologies so as to utilize antennas104and/or input systems105and processor101to implement virtual boundary202in real time as well as additional authentications to confirm a user access to a user database808(step1506). At this point, step1507shows user data restrictions900being initiated at a moment just after a user gains access to user database808. Alternatively, user data restrictions400may be initiated after some predetermined event (e.g. once a particular file is opened, etc.) and/or may be variable depending upon a predetermined event (e.g. a user accessing an audio file may be allowed to listen to the file or a user accessing a digital article may be allowed to view the entire article).

Step1508depicts a user selecting a particular type of provider data available to user in the user database808or proprietor database809. ThereafterFIG. 15shows user engagement data being recorded, however this invention is not intended to be so limited and such depiction is representative only. For example, at any step shown inFIG. 15user engagement data could be recorded to user engagement database1300for use by those that implement this invention, proprietors and/or providers. Step1509shows a specific user interface1001being implemented based upon the type of provider data selected by user. As noted above, specific user interface1001may be specific to a particular provider but may also be a universal specific user interface that functions with a variety of different types of providers or provider data.

Step1510discloses the moment when a user loses access to the provider data whether it be losing access to the user database808, the proprietor database809or both. This may occur when user data restrictions900are implemented, when a user exits virtual boundary202or some combination thereof. At this point it is depicted inFIG. 15that user engagement data recordation stops to the user engagement database1300but this invention is not so limited, and the user engagement data recordation could continue longer. For example, step1511shows wherein a user may be offered a provider subscription to the media that was accessed by the user. Whether a user subscribes to a provider may also be recorded to the user engagement database1300.

FIG. 16discloses a method of proprietor interaction with this invention. Though the method disclosed is a typical use of this invention, it is not intended to limit the scope of this invention in any way. Many variations of a method of proprietor interaction are intended to be within the scope of this invention as disclosed herein. The intent of the method disclosed inFIG. 16is to provide a clear understanding of this invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art.

The method ofFIG. 16begins with step1601wherein a proprietor goes to a webpage or similar and step1602initiates use of this invention. This could be accomplished in a variety of ways and this invention is not intended to be limited to online subscriptions. Also, as noted above, proprietor computer800is envisioned as being a desktop computer at the proprietor location but is not so limited. Proprietor computer800may be a portable electronic device like user portable electronic device100. Once the proprietor joins, step1603depicts a proprietor being directed to proprietor set-up page807. As noted above, proprietor set-up page807may have a plurality of interactions with proprietor computer800such as the installation of set-up computer readable instructions (e.g. software and/or programs) onto proprietor computer memory802to be read and implemented by proprietor processor801and thus to implement the various set-up functions as described herein. Furthermore, it should be understood that the information provided by the proprietor via the set-up page807will be incorporated into various pre-existing computer readable instructions (e.g. software or programs) saved on a remote memory associated with landing page700so that it will be eventually sent via wireless network201to a user portable electronic device100for implementation.

Step1604describes a proprietor entering information regarding the proprietor business type and location information. As noted above, the business type (or whether it is not a business but a home location) may affect the types of provider data available to the proprietor for population into a user database808. Location information may also be important, as noted herein, in the implementation of location awareness technologies, and which technologies are to be used or need to be combined. For example, if the proprietor is an airline company and the location is an airplane, it may not be possible to use certain types of location awareness technologies (e.g. those that use cellular antennas). In such an example, it may be necessary to implement sensors and place physically detectable objects about the location200in order to establish a virtual boundary202. Alternatively, it could be determined that such a location200may not need a virtual boundary202to provide authentications and protections of provider data (e.g. if a user cannot leave the location). Under such a scenario, it may be deemed that only user data restrictions900need be imposed versus other multi-factor authentications as described herein.

After step1604FIG. 16depicts the recordation of proprietor engagement data into the user engagement database1300. Note however that this is not intended to be limiting on this invention and is representative only. The recordation of proprietor engagement data can be occurring in the background throughout a proprietor's use of this invention (i.e. during any of the steps shown inFIG. 16). Step1605describes the proprietor set-up page807assisting a proprietor in creating a virtual boundary202as described throughout this specification. As a non-limiting example, this could use area dimensions of location200either provided by the proprietor or taken from other sources such as aerial photos, satellite imagery, etc. as is known in the art. Step1605could also involve the use of cellular signals, Wi-Fi signals, Bluetooth signals, GPS signals or other signal types/frequencies, or a combination thereof, to help determine the most accurate virtual boundary202for the proprietor location200.

At step1606the proprietor gains access to the proprietor database809. The proprietor database809is described in detail above, but generally comprises provider data that is available to all proprietors who may use this invention. At step1607a proprietor creates a user database808by transferring provider data from the proprietor database809to the user database808. As noted above, this step may be the transfer of data from one memory location to another memory location but is not intended to be so limited. The creation of the user database808may be the designation of provider data within the proprietor database809as that which will ultimately be accessible to a user at the proprietor location200. The creation of a user database808will allow a proprietor to conveniently see what provider data will be available to the proprietor's customers, clients or patients. Furthermore, in another embodiment, the user database808may be randomly populated or changed periodically with provider data from the proprietor database809over time so as to ensure new and updated provider data is available to the end users.

Step1608depicts the formation of user data restrictions900based upon proprietor information provided via the proprietor set-up page807and based upon the user database808that is created. The user data restrictions900are discussed extensively above. As an example, and as noted above, the user data restrictions900may vary depending upon the type of provider data accessed by a user. The user data restrictions900may also vary depending on the location200and/or the business type of the proprietor, or even the type of subscription/amount of fee paid by the proprietor to gain access to the provider data (e.g. a higher priced subscription may allow a proprietor to pass on more lenient user data restrictions900to their customers). This invention is not intended to be limited in scope to any particular user data restriction.

Step1609describes the proprietor set-up page807assisting the proprietor in implementing displayable computer instructions400. Displayable computer instructions400are described extensively above. The proprietor set-up page807may be continuously accessible to the proprietor throughout the use of this invention (i.e. beyond just the set-up stage) and therefore may be used to update, change or refresh the displayable computer instructions400from time to time or as needed. The proprietor set-up page807is described as being a single page but this invention is not intended to be so limited. The proprietor set-up page807may be a plurality of pages that are linked together for a proprietor interface as is known by a person having ordinary skill in the art. Furthermore, the proprietor set-up page807may allow for a proprietor to real time track the location of users of the user database808at any given time, view the provider data that is being accessed by users at any given time, as well as see the status of user data restrictions900and may give the proprietor the ability to reset or remove user data restrictions900.

Step1610is the launching of the user database808for free use by a proprietor's customers, clients or patients while within the virtual boundary202subject to user data restrictions900as discussed herein.

Various embodiments have been disclosed above to accurately describe to a person having ordinary skill in the art how to design, make and use this invention. However, a person having ordinary skill in the art will be able to substitute various equivalent elements to some or all of these embodiments which would therefore be within the scope of this invention. Furthermore, the claims below and equivalents are intended to define the scope of this invention.