Social aggregation communications

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9483770-B2
Application number	US-87069010-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 27, 2010
Priority date	Aug 27, 2010
Publication date	Nov 1, 2016
Grant date	Nov 1, 2016

Abstract

The present invention provides techniques for utilizing opportunities presented by events and social gatherings, such as online advertisement targeting and communications-related opportunities. Techniques are provided in which information is obtained that provides an indication that a set of users, including mobile electronic device users, are in a specified area, and indicating that at least some of the set of users are at a particular event or gathering. A virtual user grouping may be formed, and communications between users of the grouping is facilitated, based at least in part on the particular event or gathering.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
using one or more computers, obtaining a first set of information providing an indication that each of a set of users is within a specified area, wherein at least some of the set of users are mobile electronic device users;
using one or more computers, obtaining a second set of information providing an indication that at least some of the set of users are at a particular event or gathering;
using one or more computers, facilitating communications between users of the set of users, based at least in part on the particular event or gathering; and
using one or more computers, forming a virtual grouping of users in the specified area, and utilizing the grouping in facilitating text or chat communications between mobile devices of at least some of the set of users and utilizing the grouping in facilitating providing advertisements to at least some of the set of users, wherein users determined to enter the specified area after formation of the grouping can be invited to join the grouping, and wherein users leaving the specified area can be removed from the grouping, and wherein the grouping is removed if fewer than a specified number of users are determined to be in the specified area.

2. The method of claim 1 , comprising forming a virtual grouping of users in the specified area, and comprising utilizing the grouping in facilitating communications between users of the set of users, wherein at least some of the communications are related to the particular event or gathering.

3. The method of claim 1 , comprising forming a virtual grouping of users in the specified area, and comprising utilizing the grouping in facilitating communications between users of the set of users, comprising making at least some users at the gathering or event aware of presence of at least some other users at the gathering or event.

4. The method of claim 1 , comprising targeting at least some of the set of users with at least one online advertisement, wherein the targeting is based at least in part on the particular event or gathering.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein obtaining the first set of information comprises utilizing information relating to locations of the mobile electronic devices.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein obtaining the first set of information comprises utilizing information relating to locations of the mobile electronic devices and information relating to locations of desktop computers.

7. The method of claim 1 , comprising forming a virtual grouping of users in the specified area, wherein the grouping remains during a period of time during which one or more threshold parameters appear to be satisfied, and wherein at least one of threshold parameters specifies a minimum number of users being in the specified area.

8. The method of claim 1 , comprising forming a virtual grouping of users in the specified area, wherein the grouping remains during a period of time during which one or more threshold parameters appear to be satisfied, and wherein at least one of threshold parameters specifies a minimum number of users being in the specified area, and wherein parameter information, including number of users in the specified area, is obtained at periodic intervals.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein obtaining the second set of information comprises obtaining information relating to time and duration of stay, of at least some of the set of users within the specified area.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein obtaining the second set of information comprises obtaining information relating to time and duration of stay, of at least some of the set of users within the specified area reaching or exceeding a specified threshold.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein obtaining the second set of information comprises obtaining information relating to time and duration of stay of at least some of the set of users within the specified area reaching or exceeding a specified threshold, and wherein at least one parameter of the threshold is associated with population density associated with a region including the specified area.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein obtaining the second set of information comprises obtaining information regarding an event or gathering occurring at least partially within the specified area.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein obtaining the second set of information comprises obtaining information regarding an event or gathering occurring at least partially within the specified area, and wherein information regarding the particular event or gathering is provided by an event or gathering planner.

14. A system comprising:
one or more server computers coupled to a network; and
one or more databases coupled to the one or more server computers;
wherein the one or more server computers are for:
obtaining a first set of information providing an indication that each of a set of users is within a specified area, wherein at least some of the set of users are mobile electronic device users;
obtaining a second set of information providing an indication that at least some of the set of users are at a particular event or gathering;
facilitating communications between users of the set of users, based at least in part on the particular event or gathering;
forming a virtual grouping of users in the specified area, and utilizing the grouping in facilitating text or chat communications between mobile devices of at least some of the set of users and utilizing the grouping in facilitating providing advertisements to at least some of the set of users, wherein users determined to enter the specified area after formation of the grouping can be invited to join the grouping, and wherein users leaving the specified area can be removed from the grouping, and wherein the grouping is removed if fewer than a specified number of users are determined to be in the specified area.

15. The system of claim 14 , comprising forming a virtual grouping of users in the specified area, and comprising utilizing the grouping in facilitating communications between users of the set of users, wherein at least some of the communications are related to the particular event or gathering.

16. A non-transitory computer readable medium or media containing instructions for executing a method comprising:
using one or more computers, obtaining a first set of information providing an indication that each of a set of users is within a specified area, wherein at least some of the set of users are mobile electronic device users;
using one or more computers, obtaining a second set of information providing an indication that at least some of the set of users are at a particular event or gathering;
using one or more computers, facilitating communications between users of the set of users, based at least in part on the particular event or gathering;
using one or more computers, forming a virtual grouping of users in the specified area, and utilizing the grouping in facilitating text or chat communications between mobile devices of at least some of the set of users and utilizing the grouping in facilitating providing advertisements to at least some of the set of users, wherein users determined to enter the specified area after formation of the grouping can be invited to join the grouping, and wherein users leaving the specified area can be removed from the grouping, and wherein the grouping is removed if fewer than a specified number of users are determined to be in the specified area; and
using one or more computers, utilizing the grouping in facilitating making at least some users at the particular event or g

Assignees

• Watfa Allie K
• Nussel Dale
• Kilroy Jonathan
• Yahoo Inc

Inventors

• Watfa Allie K
• Nussel Dale
• Kilroy Jonathan

Classifications

• G06Q30/02 Primary

  Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising · CPC title

• G06Q30/0267

  Wireless devices · CPC title

• G06Q30/0261

  based on user location · CPC title

• G06Q30/0252 Primary

  based on events or environment, e.g. weather or festivals · CPC title