System for Analyzing and Improving Device Location as a Function of Time

Abstract

A system for use with a system for providing predictive discovery data services to a user comprising processor means providing enhanced data reflecting one or more of: refined proximity boundaries around areas of user interest; analysis of time of a user device location relative to proximity boundaries; assessment of location of user attendance in and allowing selected user access to the enhanced data.

Description

[0001]This application is continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 14 / 001,020 filed Aug. 22, 2013 and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62 / 109,138 filed Jan. 29, 2015.INTRODUCTION[0002]A significant problem with determining attendance by penetration of a geofence by a mobile device carried by a user is the accuracy with which mobile devices report their location. A geofence is the physical boundary around a map location containing items of interest such as events, stores, friends, etc. Devices with GPS turned off and / or GPS unavailable (indoors or non line of site with GPS satellites) or using less accurate location services report location with insufficient accuracy to know for certain based on a single location whether the device actually tripped the geofence. With very low accuracy, the device's location can be reported up to 500+ meters from where it actually is. While this may be fine for certain applications, such as finding restaurants within 5 mile...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent is about a system that improves the accuracy of location reporting for mobile devices in order to provide predictive discovery services to users. By measuring and refining the device's location based on actual experience, the system generates geofences that define the perimeter of the event or service. This improves the accuracy of geofence tripping, which benefits both attendees and providers. The system also includes developing accurate event or service map location data and developing Apps that access predictive discovery data enhanced by the invention.

Problems solved by technology

A significant problem with determining attendance by penetration of a geofence by a mobile device carried by a user is the accuracy with which mobile devices report their location.

Devices with GPS turned off and / or GPS unavailable (indoors or non line of site with GPS satellites) or using less accurate location services report location with insufficient accuracy to know for certain based on a single location whether the device actually tripped the geofence.

While this may be fine for certain applications, such as finding restaurants within 5 miles of the device's current location, it is insufficient for accurately determining attendance.

Because of inaccurate location reporting, a device at a specific place may never trip its geofence, because the device's location is reported hundreds of meter's away from where it currently is.

Because of false negatives, there is a tendency to create geofences larger than the venue's dimensions, in order to increase the probability of a device's reported location tripping the geofence.

However, the larger geofences increase the need to determine false positives.

A device may trip a geofence many times in the space of a few hours making it difficult to determine whether the device has attended the place once, many times or not all, depending on accuracy of the location.

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