Patent PH-12014000192-A1 (PH)
Title: Location-based message and information broadcasting system
Inventor: QUING PEREZ ANTONIO CHAN
IPC: H04W4/02
Filed: 2014-07-07
Abstract: A methodology of broadcasting and actively receiving messages and information whether in the form of text, audio, image or video to a group of receivers based on a specified radius of the originating location of the message or information via the internet or mobile network thru the use of internet-capable devices (device). Current messaging or social network systems are too broad in that they target friends, followers or strangers all over the world. Users talk about everything under the sun but all of it is just talk or showing off. What is the use of someone on the other side of the world when there are concrete issues just within you neighborhood? This methodology will allow person-person or business-person or person-business who may or may not know each other but are physically nearby to communicate information, messages, events and other thins (collectively called "message") which are mainly relevant to the surrounding area, thereby, creating an avenue for cooperative action. The sender (originating message) will construct a message thru a software application in the device and send it, along with the Sender's current GPS location (GPS-based message) and broadcast radius, to the system's central database. The desired broadcast radius shall be configurable by the system provider or the Sender. The Sender may or may not be identifiable by the system and may or may not be identifiable by the recipient of the message. The message is sent via the internet/Wi-Fi/mobile network in its original form, compressed or encrypted to the system's central database. As the database is also a repository of GPS locations (Longitude and Latitude), it is possible to determine where the message came from. The central database is composed of physical servers, proprietary software and other hardware specifically designed to meet the demands of a high-output Message and Information Broadcasting System. The message has the following qualities. It may be in the form of text, audio, image and video. It has a duration time that is set by the service provider or the Sender and will be deleted from the database upon expiry. The duration time may be different for each message. The message's length may be controlled by the service provided. The message's originating location does not change even if the Sender ha s a new or moving location. The Receiver (recipient of the message) will activate the application in his/her device and start receiving messages via the internet/Wi-Fi/mobile network based on the Receiver's selected categories and/or GPS location. The system will compute the distance of the Receiver, undergo a comprehensive look-up of the appropriate longitudes and latitudes stored in the database, and deliver the messages if the Receiver is within the message's broadcast range. Messages are constantly being sent to the Receiver's device by meeting parameters of time and/or distance relative (or initiated by the Receiver) to both Sender and Receiver's location. Received messages are deleted from the Receiver's device when the device leaves the radius of the message's GPS location and is retrieved back to the device if the Receiver moves back within the range if the message's duration has not expired. Again, in both cases, whether leaving or re-entry to the radius, a new set of messages is provided by the system when it performs a check on the Receiver's new location against the GPS-based messages in the central database and downloads accordingly. Selected received messages can be retained in the device if the receiver saves the particular message, meaning the message will not be deleted even if the device moves out of range or if the message's duration has expired in the servers. This methodology solves the issue of communicating with friends and strangers to create community awareness and community solidarity thru location-specific interaction. Users of this system will realize the power of connecting people who unconsciously impact each other where it matters. Consumers will have access to useful local trends/information/events when they are within a locality and enterprises gain extra customers who respond to their messages. It also solves business concerns thru an efficient and effective advertising and marketing medium, increased sales and lower overhead, and environmental protection using online promotions and stop the use of wasteful print media. Business-to-Consumer (B2C) and Consumer-to-Consumer (C2C) transactions will largely benefit from the invention.