Abstract:
A system that provides content and/or ad publishers the ability to sell and target content, including “deals,” to mobile devices of users when those users and their mobile devices are located within the defined geographic zone. The content may be targeted and mass distributed to all mobile devices having a registered address within the defined geographic area. The content creator and/or content distributor can manually define the regions where they desire to distribute content by plotting vertices on a map to form a polygon enclosing a geographic region. Regions may be defined by population, retail locations, content and/or ad categories and other relevant criteria. The System User can manage the type of message delivered based upon the time of day and day of the week. Such options provide the content creator with granular management of its content based upon the defined regions established by the content creator and/or content distributor.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/479,265, entitled “Geotargeted News and Advertisement Delivery System,” and filed Sep. 5, 2014; which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/340,927, entitled “Geotargeted News and Advertisement Delivery System” and filed Dec. 30, 2011, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,903,426; which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/448,098 having a filing date of Mar. 1, 2011. The entirety of each of the foregoing patents and patent applications is incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Mobile advertising in the United States is projected to increase rapidly in the next few years with some estimates forecasting an increase from $213 million in 2009 to $2.02 billion in 2014. With some projections indicating that mobile advertising will be bigger than television advertising in a short period of time. Some sources estimate that people spend eighty percent (80%) of their disposable income in a three (3) to five (5) mile radius of their home or office. Providing an effective way to precisely target advertisements to individuals within such a defined geographic area is needed. 
         [0003]    Existing solutions allow the content and/or ad publisher to target content and/or ads to consumers based on their geographic location by using a point-radius method, IP address, zip code or city. These methods deliver content and/or ads to wide target areas, failing to target small or more granular areas. For example, point-radius method limits targets to a circular radius, such as five miles, while IP address, zip code and city are unable to target neighborhoods, townships without zip codes, streets, categories, etc. The short comings in the prior art include: (1) geotarget ad delivery based upon a radius of a specific location, for example, deliver an advertisement within a five-mile radius of the location; and (2) deliver content and/or ads based upon industry defined locations including zip code, city or IP address. None of the existing providers can deliver content and/or ads based upon content and/or ad publisher&#39;s defined regions. 
         [0004]    New and improved methods are needed by content and/or ad publishers to target content and/or ads to geo-aware devices based on smaller and/or more granular publisher-defined and customized geographic regions. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The present invention is directed toward a system that provides content and/or ad publishers the ability to sell and target content, including “deals,” to a particular mobile device of a user when that user and their mobile device are located within the defined geographic zone. In addition, the content may be target and mass distributed to all mobile devices having a registered address within the defined geographic area. 
         [0006]    The present system allows the content creator and/or the content distributor (hereinafter collectively and individually referred to as “the System User”) to define the regions where they desire to distribute content. This can be defined by population, retail locations, content and/or ad categories and other criteria as deemed relevant. Additionally, the System User can manage the type of message that will be delivered based upon the time of day and day of the week. Such options provide the content creator with granular management of their content based upon the defined regions set-up by the content creator and/or content distributor. 
         [0007]    Ad-hoc regions can be used to specifically target content to a consumer&#39;s geo-aware device. In one embodiment, the System User utilizes a map editor to identify and, if desired, subsequently revise the geographic zones in which content is targeted. In operation, the System User clicks on the map to place points. Consecutively placed points are connected by a line, and become vertices in a polygonal geofence which define a region. The System User may also be able to drag imprecise polygon points into the correct position. Further, the content and/or ad publisher can close the polygon by clicking on the origin point. 
         [0008]    Regions are not limited by common geographical categories, and may span across and/or include areas in different area codes, zip codes, city boundaries, and/or state boundaries. Regions may be defined by street intersections, landmarks, survey benchmarks, or any other identified geographical marker, or by no geographical marker at all other than a placed polygon vertex. Additionally, the geographic regions may be ordered and reordered to create a region priority hierarchy. As regions may overlap, the region priority hierarchy defines which region&#39;s ads an end user will receive when the end user is located at a place covered by more than one region. A region&#39;s priority level may dictate whether an ad targeted for that region is transmitted to the end user rather than an ad targeted for another region. Region priority may be obtained through a bidding process in which the content creator with the highest bid gets top priority for its selected regions. Priority may also be given/purchased for which a specific ad is transmitted to the end user first within a single region. Once complete, the definitions of each polygon, the corresponding region and the priority data are stored in a database. 
         [0009]    Any device that is geographically aware, whether via GPS, cell phone tower triangulation, known Wi-Fi hot spots or any other method that results in a latitude and longitude may display geographically targeted content and/or ads. The latitude and longitude of the mobile device may be obtained from the device through any available method for determining location. Preferably, software on the device sends the latitude and longitude of the device to an embodiment of the present system through a wireless or, in some cases, a wired network. In one embodiment, the system includes a Content Manager System which includes a processor. The Content Manager System compares the latitude/longitude pair with the existing region database and returns the highest-priority region that contains the geographic point. The content associated with that region is then transmitted to the device. 
         [0010]    Other and further objects of the invention, together with the features of novelty appurtenant thereto, will appear in the course of the following description. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         [0011]    In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the specification and are to be read in conjunction therewith in which like reference numerals are used to indicate like or similar parts in the various views: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an example system according to an example embodiment. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram of an example Content Manager System according to an example embodiment. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3A  is a block diagram of an example Geolocation Analysis Subsystem according to an example embodiment. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3B  is a block diagram of an example Geofence Creation Subsystem according to an example embodiment. 
           [0016]      FIG. 3C  is a block diagram of an example Ad Transmission Subsystem according to an example embodiment. 
           [0017]      FIG. 3D  is a block diagram of an example Advertiser Selection Subsystem according to an example embodiment. 
           [0018]      FIG. 4A  is an example map showing example Geofenced regions thereon. 
           [0019]      FIG. 4B  is a close-up of an example Geofenced region from the map of  FIG. 4A . 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is a flow chart of an example Geofenced region creation procedure. 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is a flow chart of an example procedure for allowing an advertiser to upload an ad for a selected geofenced region. 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  is a flow chart of an example procedure for delivering an advertisement to an End User&#39;s Electronic Device. 
           [0023]      FIG. 8  is a flow chart of an example procedure for allowing a user to revise an existing geofenced region. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0024]    The following detailed description of the present invention references the accompanying drawing figures that illustrate specific embodiments in which the invention can be practiced. The embodiments are intended to describe aspects of the invention in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. Other embodiments can be utilized and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The present invention is defined by the appended claims and the description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense and shall not limit the scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. 
         [0025]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an example system  100 , according to an example embodiment. The system  100  is an example environment in which content provided by an advertiser or publisher (a “content creator”)  108  is distributed to an End User&#39;s Electronic Device  102  by a content distributor, all via a network  104  such as the Internet. In one embodiment, the content distributor includes a Content Manager System  106  in communication with a database  110 . In an example embodiment, the general operation of the example system  100  is as follows: a content creator  108  creates content data  112 , and transmits same to the content manager system  106  via network  104 . Content manager system  106  then stores said content data  112  in database  110 . Content creator  108  then associates the content data with a geographic region. When an end user electronic device  102  moves into the selected geographic region, the content manager system  106  transmits the appropriate content data  112  to the end user electronic device  102 . 
         [0026]    The content manager system  106  also allows for the creation and storage of defined geographic regions. The content manager system  106  provides an electronic map of a geographic area, and accepts geographic location inputs as vertices of a polygon, where the polygon defines a geographic region on the map. The geographic regions may be created by anyone, though would preferably be created by a System User. Where the System User is a content creator  108 , a new geographic region may be created at or around the time new content data  112  is sent to the content manager system  106 , or the content creator  108  may create a new (or select a different) geographic region for already submitted content data  112 . 
         [0027]    Electronic device  102  may be a stand-alone device that solely provides at least some of the functionality to enable the display of location-based content, or may be a multi-use device that has functionality outside of same as described herein. Examples of electronic devices  102  include an IPHONE device by Apple, Inc., electronic devices powered by ANDROID by Google, Inc., and a BLACKBERRY device powered by Research In Motion Limited. Other types of mobile devices may also be used, such as laptops and other portable communication devices. 
         [0028]    The network  104  by which the various devices and systems communicate may include, by way of example, mobile communications (GSM) networks, a code division multiple access (CDMA) networks, internet protocol (IP) networks, wireless application protocol networks, WiFi networks, IEEE 802.11 networks, and/or combinations thereof. Other conventional and/or later developed wired and wireless networks may also be used. 
         [0029]    The content manager system  106  may be an electronic device and/or a computer system which includes a processor, and may be operated by a content distributor. The content manager system  106  may be in direct communication with the database  110 , such as through local storage, and/or via a network (such as network  104 ). Additionally, in some embodiments, the content manager system  106  may transmit content to electronic device  102  via a mobile application or app that is downloaded and installed on the electronic device  102 , or via a website or other internet-based method. The electronic device  102  may display content via the hardware functionality provided by the manufacturer of the device, such as a screen, speakers, etc. The electronic device  102  may be in a client-server relationship with the content manager system  106  or another server system, or in a different type of relationship with same. As will be understood, multiple devices may be used rather than single devices  102 ,  106 ,  110 , etc. 
         [0030]    Database  110  stores content data  112  and geography data  114  therein. Content data  112  may be advertisement data for transmission to end users to view. Geography data  114  may include data with respect to created regions and the geofences that define such regions. Either or both of the content data  112  and geography data  114  may include information regarding the priority of a given region or a given piece of content. 
         [0031]      FIG. 2  illustrates a block diagram of an example content manager system  106  in an example embodiment. Content manager system  106  may include a geofence creation subsystem  200 , an advertiser selection subsystem  210 , a geolocation analysis subsystem  220  and a content transmission subsystem  230 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 3A  illustrates a block diagram of an example geofence creation subsystem  200  in an example embodiment. As shown in  FIG. 3A , an example geofence creation subsystem  200  may include a map module  202 , a predefined regions module  204 , a user selected map input module  206  and a polygonal geofence creation module  208 . Map module  202  provides a map of a geographic area to a System User. User selected map input module  206  then allows the System User to input geographic locations which define vertices of a polygon, where the polygon defines a geographic region on the map. Generally, a System User will select such vertices, with the final vertex being the same as the first vertex, thereby “closing” the polygon. However, where the System User does not close the polygon, the user selected map input module  206  may simply consider a line between the first and last vertices to be the final side of the polygon by default. The sides of the polygon are considered a “geofence” which defines a geographic area therein. The sides of the polygon may be curved or straight, as chosen by the System User. A System User may also edit an existing geofence by deleting and/or moving vertices, and/or adding new vertices. Alternatively, a System User use a pre-existing geographic region stored in database  110  via the predefined region module  204 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 3B  illustrates a block diagram of an example advertiser selection subsystem  210  in an example embodiment. As shown in  FIG. 3B , an example advertiser selection subsystem  210  may include a geofence selection module  212 , a priority selection module  214  and a payment module  216 . A content creator  108  accesses the content manager system  106 , and selects a geographic region via geofence selection module  212 , and may either select a preexisting geofence stored in database  110 , or may create a new geofence to define a new geographic region, as discussed above. Once a geofence or multiple geofences have been selected, the content creator associates content data  112  with the selected geofence(s). The content creator  108  may have previously uploaded content to the database  11   0  as content data  112 , or may select preexisting content from database  110 . The content creator  108  may then determine a priority level to give to the selected region(s) and/or the content. As regions may overlap, a higher priority region&#39;s associated content will take precedent over a lower priority region&#39;s content. Similarly, higher priority content will take precedent over lower priority content within a region, and thus be distributed first within that region. Generally, higher priority selections will cost additional money. The content distributor may alternatively have control over either or both of region priority levels and content priority levels, as well as correlation of content with regions. Finally, the content creator  108  effects payment via the payment module  216 . 
         [0034]      FIG. 3C  illustrates a block diagram of an example geolocation analysis subsystem  220  in an example embodiment. As shown in  FIG. 3C , an example geolocation analysis subsystem  220  may include a geographic data receiving module  222 , a database access module  224  and a geographic data comparison module  226 . The geographic data receiving module  222  actually receives the location data of an end user electronic device  102 . The geographic data comparison module  226  then compares the location data received from the end user electronic device  102  with the various geographic regions stored as geography data  114  in database  110 . Thus, the geographic data comparison module  226  determines if the end user electronic device  102  is within a geographic region, if any. 
         [0035]      FIG. 3D  illustrates a block diagram of an example content transmission subsystem  230  in an example embodiment. As shown in  FIG. 3D , an example content transmission subsystem  230  may include a database access module  232 , a priority determination module  234  and a content transmission module  236 . Upon determining that an end user electronic device  102  has entered a geofenced region, database access module  232  (which may be the same as database access module  224 ) accesses database  110  to retrieve the appropriate content data  112 . Where there is a priority determination to be made, priority determination module  234  selects the region with the highest priority level and/or the content with the highest priority level. Content transmission module  236  then transmits the selected content data  112  to the end user electronic device for display thereon. 
         [0036]      FIG. 4A  illustrates an exemplary map  400  which is displayed to a System User by map module  202 . Displayed on map  400  are various geographic regions  410 . Although none of the regions  410  on map  400  overlap, such overlapping regions are possible.  FIG. 4B  illustrates a close-up view of a geographic region  410  from map  400 . Geographic region  410  in  FIG. 4B  is defined by lines  430  connecting the polygonal vertices  420 . Lines  430  combine to form a geofence which defines the polygonal borders of geographic region  410 . 
         [0037]      FIG. 5  illustrates an example procedure  500  for creating a new geographic region. At step  510 , a map  400  is displayed to a System User via en electronic device such as a computer, tablet, smartphone, etc. as would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. The map  400  may be rendered via FLASH provided by Adobe Systems, Inc., HTML5, or any suitable present or future language which allows for the display of an interactive map  400 . 
         [0038]    At step  520 , a System User may select vertices  420  for the polygonal geofence  430  which will define the geographic region  410 . The System User may click on the map  400  to place a vertex  420 , may enter the latitude and longitude of a vertex  420 , or may input a vertex point  420  by any other relevant method. Preferably, when the System User has finished creating the geofence  430 , the “final” vertex  420  is entered at the same place as the first vertex  420 , to “close” the polygonal geofence  430 . However, if the System User does not select the first vertex  420  as the final vertex  420  as well, the system may automatically “close” the polygonal geofence by connecting the last vertex  420  input with the first vertex  420  input. This creates a new geographic region, as in step  530 . At step  540 , the new region is stored in database  110 . 
         [0039]      FIG. 6  illustrates an example procedure  600  for allowing a System User to select a geographic region and associate it with uploaded content data  112 . Content data  112  may be audio data, such as a “radio” advertisement, video data such as a “commercial,” visual data such as a digital representation of a print advertisement, or any other suitable data type. At step  610 , a System User accesses the content manager system  106 . At step  620 , the System User decides whether to create a new geographic region  410  or select an existing geographic region  410  from database  110 . Where the System User decides to create a new geographic region  410 , the procedure shifts to procedure  500 , and returns to step  630  when finished. If the System User decides to select an existing region  410 , the procedure advances to step  630  where the database  110  is accessed and a preexisting geographic region  410  is selected. At step  640 , where the System User is the content creator  108 , the System User uploads content to be associated with the selected region  410 , and at step  650  the content is stored in database  110 . Where the System User is the content distributor, the content distributor may merely select pre-uploaded content to be associated with selected region  410 . It is noted that multiple regions  410  may be selected. At step  660 , the System User selects the priority level for the selected/created region  410  and/or for the content, if applicable. At step  670 , payment is accepted from the content creator  108  where the System User is the content creator  108 . 
         [0040]    Where the content distributor defines the regions  410 , a content creator  108  may be given the option only to select a predefined region  410 . Similarly, where the content distributor determines region priority and/or content priority, the content creator  108  may not be given the option for selecting priority levels. 
         [0041]      FIG. 7  illustrates an example procedure  700  for modifying an existing geographic region  410 . At step  710 , a System User selects a preexisting geographic region  410  from database  110 . At step  720 , the System User modifies one or more than one existing vertex  420 . The System User may delete an existing vertex, at which point the content manager system  106  will connect the preceding and subsequent vertices with a geofence. The System User may also click and drag on an existing vertex  420  to move it to a different location, and/or add new vertices  420  between existing vertices. At step  730 , the System User finishes modifying the region  410 , and a new geographic region is created. At step  740 , the new geographic region  410  is stored in database  110 . 
         [0042]      FIG. 8  illustrates an example procedure  800  for distributing content to an end user electronic device  102 . At step  810 , an end user electronic device  102  transmits its location to the content manager system  106 . At step  820 , the content manager system  106  accesses database  110  and the stored geographic data  114  therein, and determines that the end user electronic device  102  has entered a specific geographic region  410 . Where the end user electronic device  102  is determined to have entered multiple regions  410 , content manager system  106  determines the region  410  with the highest priority and proceeds with same as the selected region  410 . At step  830 , the content associated with that specific geographic region  410  is retrieved from database  110 . At step  840 , the content manager system  106  determines which content has the highest priority level. Other considerations, such as the number of times a given selection of content has been transmitted to end users in a given time period or the time of year/day/week, may be taken into account, as may other considerations as would be known to one of ordinary skill in the mi. At step  850 , the selected content is transmitted to the end user electronic device  102  for display thereon. 
         [0043]    Content data  112  may be transmitted as part of an internet radio broadcast, as part of streaming internet video, or could be a stand-alone advertisement. Where content data  112  is transmitted as part of a streaming internet broadcast, the radio/video broadcaster may control the content manager system  106 , in which case the content manager system  106  could be integrated into the radio/video broadcast to automatically transmit content data  112  during commercial breaks. Where the content manager system  106  is operated by a separate entity from the radio/video broadcaster, the broadcaster may have in place advertisement “breaks” which automatically send advertisement requests to local operators of content manager systems  106 . In that situation, the local operator&#39;s content manager system  106  distributes the appropriate content when it receives such a break request from the broadcaster. 
         [0044]    When the end user views the content, the end user may click on or otherwise select the content, which may lead the end user to a pre-defined content or advertisement, such as a web page. The pre-defined content or advertisement may be created by the content creator with additional information as to the content delivered to the end user. 
         [0045]    From the foregoing, it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all ends and objects hereinabove set forth together with the other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the structure. 
         [0046]    It will be understood that certain features and sub-combinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and sub-combinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims. Since many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense. 
         [0047]    Many changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications of the present constructions will, however, become apparent to those skilled in the art after considering this specification and the accompanying drawings. All such changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention are deemed to be covered by the invention which is limited only by the claims which follow. The scope of the disclosure is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but is to be accorded the full scope consistent with the claims, wherein reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless specifically so stated, but rather “one or more.” All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the various embodiments described throughout this disclosure that are known or later come to be known to those of ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and are intended to be encompassed by the claims which follow.