Abstract:
A location-based information system and method therefor, which is responsive to the user&#39;s selection of geographic zone and parameters. A proprietary app (application) is installed in a mobile device of the user, which insures that a connection to the user from a caller is based on the user&#39;s defined zone and other parameters without the disclosing the exact location of the user. Various embodiments of the invention provide an option for user-to-user location-based connection without depending on a remote server.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/164,303, filed Jan. 27, 2014; entitled “USER-TO-USER SELECTABLE LOCATION-BASED INFORMATION SERVICE”, which claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/761,714, filed Feb. 7, 2013, entitled “User-selectable location-based information service”; and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/775,769, filed Mar. 11, 2013; entitled “User to user-selectable location-based information service”, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes and without giving rise to disownment and the priorities of which are hereby claimed. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     A location-based information service provides information and/or functionalities to a user of a mobile device according to the mobile device&#39;s current physical location. 
     Unfortunately, however, the user currently has only limited control over the information received from, and sent to, location-based information services. Typically, a particular location-based information service is either enabled or disabled via an application (“app”) on the user&#39;s mobile device. If disabled, no information is provided relating to the user&#39;s proximate physical location; and if enabled, all information relating to the user&#39;s physical location is provided from the server to the user&#39;s mobile device. 
     There is currently no mid-way between the extremes of a complete absence of location-based information when the related app on the user&#39;s mobile device is disabled to a complete providing of all location-based information when the app is enabled. 
     In addition, currently there is no way to get location-based information service that is based on the area without sending the exact location of the user. 
     Moreover, specific location-based information typically requires an active end-to-end wireless connection of some sort to a specific remote server that provides the location-based information. Although a variety of connections to the mobile device may exist (e.g., WiFi, cellular, etc., connecting to Internet, cellular networks, and Local Area Networks), there is no guarantee that the specific remote server providing the desired location-based information may be accessible at any particular time. 
     Also, currently there is no way to get location-based information service that is based on user to user connection without sending the exact location of the user and without having a server that connects between the users. 
     It would therefore be desirable to have a means by which the user may selectively control the level and degree of access by his or her mobile device to a location-based information service. It would also be desirable to enable access to location-based information between to users in cases when the remote server associated with the location-based information is not accessible. These goals are met by embodiments of the present invention. 
     SUMMARY 
     Various embodiments of the present invention provide a location-based information service which is responsive not only to user location, but also to the user&#39;s selection of the parameters and user&#39;s definition of geographic zone. 
     One embodiment of the invention provides use for a business, where prospective customers expose their location zones and connect to the business base on parameters which they set. 
     Another embodiment of the invention provides a local social network where every each user discloses his own zone area and certain other parameters, and establishes connections with other users based on that information. In related embodiments, parameters can include personal, social, weather issues, and so forth, for conversation or parameters such as gender, age, personal status, occupation, hobby, sport, social event, political, events, opinions, emotions, religion, facts, and so forth. 
     An additional embodiment of the invention provides locally-based games where every user discloses his own zone area and certain other parameters, and establishes connections with others based on the self-defined zone area and other self-defined parameters. 
     Definitions 
     The following definitions apply to the terms used in the present disclosure and the appended claims. 
     The term “geographical location” herein denotes a physical location that may be specified by a set of “coordinates”, including, but not limited to: geographical coordinates such as global longitude, latitude, and altitude; grid coordinate systems (such as those of the Universal Transverse Mercator “UTM” grid); street addresses, floor numbers: and combinations thereof. Regardless of the way geographical location is expressed, however, the expression always results in an unambiguous location expressed in a standard format that can be used to find a particular position on the earth&#39;s surface. 
     The term “zone” herein denotes a set of geometrical boundaries including, but not limited to: lines, curved lines, planes, and curved surfaces, the parameters of which are specified by geographical locations as defined above, such that determine the practical limits of a user&#39;s position within the zone. According to embodiments of the invention: one or more zones may overlap; one or more zones may have identical boundaries; and one or more zones may lie completely within the boundaries of another zone. 
     According to various embodiments of the present invention, a zone has a “zone name” which is used to identify the zone to users. According to further embodiments, a zone also has a “zone code”, which is used to identify the zones to servers and mobile devices. 
     The terms “brand” and “branded” herein denote a label or other identifier that identifies a particular location-based information provider, regarding aspects of providing location-based information according to various embodiments of the present invention. In certain embodiments, the name of a zone is “branded”, or associated with a particular location-based information provider, such that different location-based information providers can refer to the same zone by different names; additionally, different location-based information providers can refer to different zones by the same name: further, different location-based information providers can refer to the same zone by the same name but provide different location-based information regarding the zone. Branding zones according to the identity of the location-based information provider allows distinguishing and properly identifying the zones regardless of how the zones are named. 
     In related embodiments, branding is done via a “zone code”, which is formed by appending the zone name with a branding tag identifying the location-based information provider. In a specific related embodiment, the branding tag identifying the location-based information provider is an IP address, URL, or other valid address of a server operated by the location-based information provider. 
     Various embodiments of the present invention provide that an app installed on a second user device has control over the access of a first user device to first user data and first user zone identification regarding the second user&#39;s location; and vice versa. In a non-limiting example of this property, a second user residing in Los Angeles notifies a first user to call him when he (the first user) is in Los Angeles. Then, when the first user arrives in Los Angeles, the first user&#39;s app allows him to call the second user. 
     According to embodiments of the invention, a location-based information service is associated with at least one brand of location-based information which is defined for at least one geographical zone having a predefined geographical location, a zone name, and a zone code. The service provides a branded app to a user for installation on a mobile device, wherein the branded app is associated with the at least one brand of location-based information. Via the branded app, the user selects one or more brands of location-based information, and can browse lists and/or maps showing the names and locations of the zones where location-based information related to the selected brands is provided by a other mobile user or mobiles users and or remote server on a network, which communicates with the branded app installed on the user&#39;s mobile device. 
     In another embodiment of the invention, location-based information downloaded from the remote server by the branded app is stored locally in persistent non-transitory storage of the user&#39;s mobile device. This local non-transitory storage enables the user to access the location-based information even when there is no connection to the remote server. In one related embodiment, the branded app allows the user to access the locally-stored non-transitory information only when the user&#39;s mobile device is currently in the proper zone. In another related embodiment, the branded app allows the user to access the locally-stored information regardless of current location. 
     Therefore, according to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method for controlling connection of a first user mobile device, the method including: (a) receiving, by a second user mobile device branded location-based information that includes at least one parameter related to a zone defined by the first user mobile device; (b) comparing at least one parameter related first user mobile device, a geographic location, and a second user mobile device parameter, (c) determining whether at least one of the first user mobile device parameters conforms to at least one second user mobile device parameter including a current geographic location of the second user mobile device; and (d) responsively to the determining, (e) if the branded location-based information conforms, then connecting the second user mobile device to the first user mobile device; and (f) if the information does not conform, then blocking the connection of the second user mobile device to the first user mobile device. 
     In addition, according to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method for controlling connection of a first user mobile device, the method including: (a) retrieving at least one branded location-based information item from a local persistent non-transitory storage of the first user mobile device, wherein the branded location location-based information item corresponds to a predetermined branded zone; (b) for each retrieved location-based information item, determining if the retrieved location-based information item conforms to at least one user-selected parameter of the first-user mobile device; and, (c) responsively to the determining, (d) if the branded location-based information item conforms thereto, then connecting the first user mobile device to a second user mobile device; and (e) if the branded location-based information does not conform thereto, then blocking the connection of the first user mobile device to the second user mobile device. 
     Moreover, according to still another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method for sending an item of branded location-based information corresponding to a predetermined branded zone to a user mobile device from a server on a network, the method including: (a) updating by the server at least one parameter related to a zone corresponding to the item of branded location-based information; (b) establishing a data connection from user mobile device over the network to the server; (c) receiving, from the user mobile device at least one parameter related to a zone related to the current location of the user mobile device; (d) determining whether the item of branded location-based information conforms to the at least one parameter, and (e) responsively to the determining, (f) if the item of branded location-based information conforms thereto, then sending the item of branded location-based information to the user mobile device via the data connection; and (g) if the branded location-based information does not conform thereto, then not sending the item of branded location-based information to the user mobile device. 
     According to additional embodiments of the invention, a user can update his zone and connection parameters in performing the above procedures as often as desired, and once a connection is established, the user can share any information he wants with his partner. 
     According to additional embodiments of the invention, the user mobile device can be a server. In further embodiments of the invention methods can be with many user mobile devices and many servers. 
     Further embodiments of the invention provide apps for user mobile devices, wherein an app includes machine-readable executable code in a persistent non-transitory storage, such that, when the machine-readable executable code is executed by a mobile device, the mobile device performs a method as disclosed herein. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The subject matter disclosed may best be understood by reference to the following detailed description when read with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  conceptually illustrates a system according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  conceptually illustrates the structure of brand zone data according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a screen of a branded app which allows the user to select brands parameters to be received by the branded app, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a flowchart of a method for a user mobile device according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
     
    
    
     For simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements shown in the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale, and the dimensions of some elements may be exaggerated relative to other elements. In addition, reference numerals may be repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  conceptually illustrates a system according to an embodiment of the present invention, having a first user mobile device  101 - 1  which includes a geographical position sensor  103 - 1 , a persistent non-transitory storage device  105 - 1 , and a real-time clock  107 - 1 . 
     Geographical position sensor  103 - 1  typically includes a GPS receiver, but can employ additional sensor technologies as well, such as identifying a nearby WiFi access point or cellular telephony network cell whose geographical positions are known. In particular, certain short-range wireless technologies (such as cellular base stations employing picocell or femtocell devices) can be used to supplement GPS receivers, particularly where GPS reception may be poor (such as in buildings). It is noted that in cases where short-range wireless technology is used to sense a location by proximity to an access point, the geographical location may be specified by the location of the base station in regular geographical coordinates, compatible with GPS location: alternatively, the location of the base station may be given in other forms, such as street address (e.g., “124 Main Street, 17th Floor, Suite A”). 
     A remote server  111  connects to a network  121  via a connection  123 , and contains brand data  203  for providing to mobile devices. 
     Branded data corresponds to a zone name  113 - 1  ( FIG. 2 ) having a geographical boundary set  305 - 1 , whose respective parameters are expressed in terms of geographical locations, as previously discussed in the definitions. Branded app  117  is installed in user mobile device  101 - 1 , and sends brand data  303 - 1  to server  111  via a connection  125 - 1  in network  121 . Branded app  117  is also installed in user mobile device  101 - 2 , and receives branded data  303 - 1  from server  111  via a connection  125 - 2  in network  121 . Geographical position sensor  103 - 2  notifies branded app  117  of the geographical position of mobile device  101 - 2 , from which branded app  117  can determine whether mobile device  101 - 2  is located within geographical boundary set  305 - 1  corresponding to a zone name  113 - 1 . 
     If branded data  303 - 1  conforms to user parameters, then branded app  117  connects to a user  101 - 1 ; and if the information does not conform then branded app  177  blocks the connection to user  101 - 1 . 
     In some embodiments of the invention, branded app  117  is associated with a single brand. In these embodiments, when the user launches (or activates) branded app  117  on his or her mobile device, the single brand associated with branded app  117  is automatically selected. In other embodiments, branded app  117  is associated with multiple brands, from which the user may select one or more brands. 
       FIG. 2  conceptually illustrates the structure of branded zone data  203  according to an embodiment of the present invention. Branded zone data  203  contains a set  303  of N zone records  303 - 1 ,  303 - 2 , . . .  303 -N, containing zone names  113 - 1 ,  113 - 2 , . . . ,  113 -N corresponding to text descriptions  115 - 1 ,  115 - 2 , . . . ,  115 -N, corresponding to geographical boundary sets  305 - 1 ,  305 - 2 , . . . ,  305 -N, and corresponding to IP addresses  307 - 1 ,  307 - 2 , . . . ,  307 -N. Text descriptions  307 - 1 ,  307 - 2 , . . . ,  307 -N are intended for display to the user, to assist in identifying the zones in terms familiar to the user. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, branded zone data  203 , after downloading from server  111 , is stored by branded app  117  locally in a persistent non-transitory storage device  105 - 1  of mobile device  101 - 1 , so that branded zone data  203  may be accessed by branded app  117  independent of a connection to server  111 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a screen of branded app  117  ( FIG. 1 ) which allows the user to select brands of location-based information to be received by branded app  117  for display on a user mobile device  401  according to an embodiment of the present invention. Brand names  113 - 1 ,  113 - 2 , and  113 - 3  are non-limiting examples for the purpose of illustration, and correspond to brand zone name  113  ( FIG. 2 ) of brand zone data  203  ( FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 ) for the several different brands shown as non-limiting examples in  FIG. 3 . Likewise, brand descriptions  115 - 1 ,  115 - 2 , and  115 - 3  are non-limiting examples for the purpose of illustration, and correspond to brand text description ( FIG. 2 ) of brand data  203  ( FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 ) for the several different brands shown as non-limiting examples in  FIG. 3 . User-checkable check boxes  403 - 1 ,  403 - 2 , and  403 - 3 , or functional equivalents thereof, provide a means for the user to indicate which, if any, of the displayed brands is to be selected for providing location-based information. In further embodiments of the present invention, the user can specify that a particular brand be selected during specified time periods (e.g., certain days of the week, certain hours of the day, for a specified number of days, up to a specified day of the calendar, etc.) 
     In the non-limiting example shown in  FIG. 3 , check box  403 - 1  indicates that brand name  113 - 1  has been selected, but brand names  113 - 2  and  113 - 3  have not been selected. Branded app  117  will receive and display branded location-based information corresponding to brand name  113 - 1 , but not corresponding to brand names  113 - 2  or  113 - 3 . 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention user can send back to other user his parameters to establish a connection, and therefore more steps are necessary to complete the connection process. In a related embodiment, the user can add more parameters, also requiring further steps to complete the connection process. 
       FIG. 4  is a flowchart of a method for a user mobile device (such as device  101 - 1  of  FIG. 1 ) according to an embodiment of the present invention. First user mobile device (such us user mobile device  101 - 1   FIG. 1 ) sends brand zone data  203  to remote server (such as server Ill of  FIG. 1 ). In a step  601 - 2  a second user mobile device (such us user  101 - 2   FIG. 1 ) receives brand zone data  203  from the remote server. 
     According to a particular embodiment of the invention, in a step  601 - 2  second user mobile device  101 - 2  receives brand zone data from a local non-transitory storage device  611 - 2   
     According to another embodiment of the invention, in a step  609 - 2  the second user mobile device stores and updates data and information received from the remote server in a local non-transitory storage device  611 - 2 . 
     At a decision point  621 - 2  user-selected parameters  615 - 2 , current user geographic location  619 - 2 , current time  617 - 2  are compared against corresponding first user-specified parameters that are part of brand zone data  203 . In some embodiments of the invention, related parameters include time periods and/or zones for which information pertaining to certain brands is to be received. 
     If sent parameter  622 - 2  conforms, then second user parameters  303 - 2  are sent to first user mobile device  101 - 1 . 
     If established connection  623 - 2  conforms, the second user is connected to the first user. According to a particular embodiment of the invention, in a step  623 - 2  location-based information  605 - 2  is sent to the first user. Otherwise, if the received information does not conform to the user&#39;s selections, in a step  625 - 2  the connection is blocked 
     In a step  601 - 1  first user mobile device  101 - 1  receives brand zone data  303 - 2  ( FIG. 2 ) from second user mobile device  101 - 2  ( FIG. 1 ). 
     According to a further embodiment of the invention, in a step  609 - 1  user mobile device  101 - 1  stores and updates data and information received from user device  101 - 2  in a local non-transitory storage device  611 - 1 . 
     At a decision point  621 - 1  user selected parameters  615 - 1 , current user geographic location  619 - 1 , and current time  617 - 1  are compared against brand zone data  303 - 2 . In some embodiments of the invention, related parameters include time periods and/or zones for which information pertaining to certain brands is to be received. 
     If sent parameter  622 - 1  conforms then first user parameters  303 - 1  are sent to the second user. If the concoction conforms, then in a step  623 - 1  location-based information  605 - 1  is sent to second user mobile device  101 - 2 . Otherwise, if the received information does not conform to the user&#39;s selections, in a step  625 - 1  the connection is blocked 
     The methods illustrated in  FIG. 4  and disclosed above are performed by branded app  117  executing machine-readable non-transitory executable code stored in the user mobile devices  101 - 1  and  101 - 2  as shown in  FIG. 1 .