System and method for dynamically retrieving and monitoring geofence activity

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10380638-B2
Application number	US-201815996782-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 4, 2018
Priority date	Sep 17, 2013
Publication date	Aug 13, 2019
Grant date	Aug 13, 2019

Abstract

Systems, device and techniques are disclosed for dynamically retrieving and monitoring geo-fence activity. A meta geo-fence may be identified based on a user device geolocation. The meta geo-fence having a radius that is dynamically generated to include previously defined geo-fences within or touching the meta geo-fence. User device geolocation may be monitored in relation to the defined geo-fences included in the radius of the meta geo-fence. A communication may be sent to the user device when the user device reports that the user device has entered or exited one of the previously defined geo-fences within or touching the radius of the meta geo-fence.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A computer-implemented method for dynamically monitoring geo-fences comprising:
identifying a meta geo-fence based on a user device geolocation, the meta geo-fence having a radius that is dynamically generated to include one or more previously defined geo-fences within or touching the meta geo-fence, wherein the meta geo-fence includes a maximum radius, and wherein the meta geo-fence is not updated to have a radius greater than the maximum radius;
monitoring user device geolocation in relation to the one or more previously defined geo-fences included in the radius of the meta geo-fence; and
sending a communication to the user device when the user device reports that the user device has entered or exited one of the one or more previously defined geo-fences within or touching the radius of the meta geo-fence.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein monitoring user device activity further comprises listening for a report from the user device, the report indicating that the user device has entered or exited one of the one or more previously defined geo-fences included in the radius of the meta geo-fence.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the communication is one of an email, an SMS, an MMS, a push notification, and a social networking system message.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the communication is a marketing communication for a marketing campaign.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining that the user device has moved based on a new geolocation of the user device and that at least one of the previously defined geo-fences is no longer within or touching the radius of the meta geo-fence;
changing the radius of the meta geo-fence so that at least one of the previously defined geo-fences or another previously defined geo-fence is within or touching the radius of the meta geo-fence.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , sending the user device the previously defined geo-fences that are within or touching the meta geo-fence and not sending the user device previously defined geo-fences that are not within or touching the meta geo-fence.

7. A computer-implemented method for dynamically monitoring geo-fences comprising:
receiving a meta geo-fence at a user device, the meta geo-fence comprising a radius and geolocation for the center of the meta geo-fence, wherein the meta geo-fence includes a maximum radius, and wherein the meta geo-fence is not updated to have a radius greater than the maximum radius;
receiving at least one geo-fence, the geo-fence comprising a radius and a geolocation, wherein the geo-fence is encompassed within or touching the radius of the meta geo-fence;
monitoring of a geolocation of the user device; and
sending by the user device an entrance report or an exit report if the geolocation of the user device indicates that the user device is entering or exiting the at least one geo-fence that is within or touching the meta geo-fence.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7 , further comprising receiving at the user device at least one geo-fence that is within or touching the meta geo-fence, and not receiving at the user device a geo-fence that is not within or touching the meta geo-fence.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 7 , further comprising determining by the user device if the geolocation of the user device indicates that the user device is entering or exiting a geo-fence only if the geo-fence is within or touching the meta geo-fence.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 7 , further comprising receiving at the user device an updated radius for the meta geo-fence.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 7 , further comprising receiving at the user device a second meta geo-fence to be used in place of the meta geo-fence.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 7 , further comprising receiving at the user device an electronic communication related to the at least one geo-fence that is within or touching the meta geo-fence.

13. A system for dynamically monitoring geo-fences, the system comprising:
a user device configured to track a geolocation; and
a communication server configured to dynamically generate a meta geo-fence based at least in part on the geolocation and one or more previously defined geo-fences within or touching the meta geo-fence, wherein the communication server is further configured to dynamically update the meta geo-fence by changing a radius of the meta geo-fence wherein the meta geo-fence includes a maximum radius, and wherein the meta geo-fence is not updated to have a radius greater than the maximum radius.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the communication server is further configured to receive a report from the user device indicating that the user device has entered or exited one of the previously defined geo-fences within or touching the meta geo-fence.

15. The system of claim 13 , wherein the user device is further configured to monitor the geolocation of the user device and send a report to the communication server when the user device enters or exits one of the previously defined geo-fences within or touching the meta geo-fence.

16. The system of claim 14 , wherein the communication server is further configured to send an electronic communication to the user device, the electronic communication corresponding to the one of the previously defined geo-fences based on the report from the user device.

17. The system of claim 13 , wherein the user device is further configured to download and monitor only the previously defined geo-fences that are within or touching the meta geo-fence.

Assignees

• Salesforce Com Inc

Inventors

• Porter David

Classifications

• G06Q10/40

  Business processes related to social networking or social networking services · CPC title

• H04W4/029

  Location-based management or tracking services · CPC title

• H04W4/021

  Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences · CPC title

• G06Q30/0259

  based on store location · CPC title

• H04W4/022

  with dynamic range variability · CPC title