88 results about "Geographic proximity" patented technology

A method for facilitating the detection of misuse of an identity during an electronic transaction. The invention comprises at least five embodiments. In a first embodiment, the method comprises the step of: receiving a notification to authenticate the use of an identity at a first location, wherein the identity is associated with a first wireless terminal; determining an approximate location of the first wireless terminal based on cached position information, the approximate location of the first wireless terminal being a second location; determining whether the first and second locations match in geographical proximity; and generating an alert if the first and second locations do not match in geographical proximity. In a second embodiment, an approximate location of the first wireless terminal is determined based on cached position information stored on a GPS position database.

A system and method is disclosed for forwarding location dependent messages from a message sender's mobile cellular device to an intended recipient's mobile cellular device. The method is principally practiced in a communication network comprising a plurality of mobile cellular devices having location determining capabilities such as triangulation and GPS. In an embodiment, the message sender identifies an intended message recipient and selects a geographic location and corresponding radius of circumference defining geographic pre-conditions for transmitting the location dependent message to the intended message recipient. The message is first transmitted to a central server which periodically monitors the geographic location of the intended recipient in real time or near real-time to determine if the intended recipient enters within the radius of circumference of the geographic location selected by the message sender. The message is transmitted from the central server when it is determined that the intended recipient has satisfied the geographic pre-conditions. In other embodiments, a cellular mobile device user is alerted when one or more contacts of the user arrives within a certain geographic proximity of the user.

Systems and methods for collaborative and interactive computer applications. A downloadable server-client collaborative mobile social computing application and methods for using the same that connect users based on both their physical location and mutual geographic proximity. A wide variety of Web-enabled devices may be used by members to access the system and interact with other members using both geographic proximity and user-defined preferences to match different users. The system is characterized by its location based services and high degree of user configurable options to provide users with both an entertaining experience and rich social interactions.

A system and method for permitting geographically-pertinent information provided on the Internet to be ranked by users, while taking into account the users' geographic proximity to the information, the distance between each user who rates the information, the age of the information, and the age of the users' ratings to determine a ranking for affecting the ranking of information.

A social purchasing, networking, and ranking method and system for linking consumers and merchants who share similar social values, personal values, and personal contacts or referrals. The present invention may allow both a consumer and merchant to associate specific criteria such as personal values, religious faith, hobbies, interests, affiliations, political party, favorite charitable organization, social responsibility value, and the like with their respective profiles. A conventional electronic network, or web, search by the consumer launches a first graphical user interface module wherein a list of participating merchants is searched for keyword matches, and then ranked according to the preselected criteria such as the social values, personal referrals, and geographic location of the participating merchant. The present invention allows a user (consumer) to guide their transactions and interactions toward merchants sharing similar values, interest, affiliations, and the like, to further rank merchants by personal referral and geographic proximity to the user. Additionally, the specific type and number of shared criteria may be graphically depicted to the consumer via at least one icon displayed in conjunction with the advertisements or other information displayed by each of the respective participating merchants.

Embodiments of the invention are directed to a system, method, or computer program product for providing offers to purchase products or services to a user, the offers being for products of merchants located within geographic proximity to each other, to entice a user to visit that location. Offers may be received by a user throughout a day or when the user enters into a transaction. Once the user enters into a transaction at a merchant, the financial institution may receive data regarding that transaction. The data may provide the financial institution an indication as to the user's location and products the user is purchasing. The financial institution may then provide the user with offers to purchase other products. These offers may be for products similar to the products the user is currently purchasing. These offers, however, are within are for merchants within close geographic proximity to each other. These offers may entice users to enter other stores within a similar geographic location, such that the user may add to his / her shopping experience by frequenting merchants not typically frequented by that user.

An apparatus and method is provided for facilitating the seamless handoff of IP connections between access routers in an IP network. The mobile IP network includes two or more access routers each serving a different geographic service area. When a mobile terminal moves from the first service area to the second service area, the mobile terminal transmits to the second access router the IP address of the previous access router. The second access router uses this information to learn capabilities of the first access router (e.g., bandwidths supported, security schemes, and the like) for use in future handoff decisions, and exchanges capability information with the first access router. The assumption is made based on the exchanged information that the access routers are geographically proximate. When another mobile terminal transitions from one service area to another, the system selects an optimal target access router based on the previously learned information, including the inferred geographic proximity between access routers.

Communication by location method that geoplaces asynchronous message threads to a specific first geographic location geo-fence within which they are visible, and a second sub geo-fence for replies. This geopinning process may be done by remote users. The message threads have a first viewing distance parameter, a second reply parameter, and other parameters. Users with mobile devices such as GPS equipped smart phones may set their devices to discover message threads that are within a specified radius of the actual device itself, or a device virtual map location, allowing very distant threads to be viewed. However only users with a real geographic proximity to the thread within the specified reply distance may reply to the thread. The method will generally be implemented by software residing on mobile devices and host servers, and may additionally use data from map servers to place the treads in a map context.

A method and apparatus for selecting radio stations for reception based on a preferred program content. A list of radio station identifiers is stored in a memory and organized according to program content specifiers. When a presently received signal fades, the memory is searched for an alternate radio station with similar program content. If none is available, a prioritized list of alternative program content preferences is accessed and used to index other preferred radio stations for searching. In one embodiment, radio station geographic location information is stored in the memory, and the searching operation considers both program content preference and geographic proximity. The memory can be manually programmed, pre-programmed, updated by subscription, or programmed over-the-air by radio transmission. In one embodiment, a global positioning system receiver is employed to provide instantaneous radio location information.

Provided is a process of selectively providing content to computing devices based on geographic proximity to dynamically detected events drawing crowds, the process including: obtaining, with one or more computers, data indicative of current geolocations of more than 5,000 mobile computing devices based on information reported by an application executing on the mobile computing devices; inferring, with one or more computers, that an event with a crowd is occurring based on the data indicative of the geolocations indicating an amount of people and a proximity of the people; selecting, with one or more computers, content in response to the inference; and sending, with one or more computers, the selected content to one or more user computing devices for presentation based on proximity between the one or more user computing devices and a geographic location of the event with the crowd.

A method and system for authenticating an internet user identity by cross-referencing and comparing at least two independent sources of information. A first IP address of an internet user is identified and the geographical location of the first IP address is traced to determine a first location. The geographical-location of a communication voice device of said internet user is identified to determine a second location. The first and second locations are compared for geographical proximity to confirm the identity of the internet user. Based upon geographical proximity of said locations, a score is assigned to the internet user, and access to a website is allowed or limited based upon said score. Alternatively, additional authentication information can be required or access can be terminated.

In one embodiment, a mobile communication device is adapted to provide geography-enhanced blog search results. In response to a blog-search query entered by a user, the mobile communication device is adapted to determine a current geographical location for the mobile communication device and a home location for the user. The mobile communication device is further adapted to provide the current location and home location information along with the search query parameters to a search engine. The search engine is adapted to provide results corresponding to blog posts that satisfy the parameters of the search query, wherein the search results are ranked based on at least one of (a) the geographic proximity of a blog post subject to the current location and (b) the geographic proximity of a blog post author's home location to the user's home location.

Systems, apparatus and methods for proximity determination between transceivers, such as mobile devices, are presented. Proximity may be a logical combination of geographic proximity, radio proximity and / or cellular proximity. Proximity may be determined using a low overhead coarse test followed by a more intensive accurate test. Proximity may be determined indirectly via one or more intermediary transceivers having a predetermined relationship.

A prediction method that estimates the real-time position of a mobile device based on previously observed data is provided. The present invention can be used in real-time navigation, including providing real-time alerts of an upcoming destination and notifications of emergency events in close geographic proximity. The prediction method utilizes neural networks and / or functions generated using genetic algorithms in estimating the mobile device's real-time position. The prediction method provides reliable Location-Based Services (LBS) in events where traditional positioning technologies become unreliable. It is also seamless, as the user remains unaware of any interruption in accessing the positioning technology.

A method of providing information about vendors to a user includes receiving from the user a query identifying a contemplated route, providing a computer database of self-reported business information from the vendors, each vendor having an identified geographic location, and providing to the user, via a server accessible over a network, information from the database concerning the business information of a set of vendors extracted from the database on the basis of geographic proximity to the route identified by the user.

An approach for providing aggregated network alarm notifications is described. An alarm management platform aggregates one or more network alarms based on a geographic proximity, a temporal proximity, or a combination thereof. The alarm management platform identifies a network event based on the aggregating of the one or more network alarms, and then presents the network event in a user interface to represent the one or more network alarms.

A method and computer program product for facilitating supply chain processes in an outsourced manufacturing environment is provided. The method includes a customer focus team system providing logistical administrative services for a contract manufacturer on behalf of a manufacturing enterprise. The customer focus team is assigned to the contract manufacturer based upon geographic proximity. The logistical administrative services include facilitating transfer and replenishment of components needed during manufacture, ensuring ongoing inventory demand issues are addressed and resolved, and obtaining and providing metrics on outsourced supply chain parts and activities. The logistical administrative services also include assisting the contract manufacturer during shortfalls of supplies, collaborating with commodity team councils relating to acquisition of critical parts, and providing assistance on matters related to import, export, and tax issues. The method also includes a commodity council team assigned to a supplier based upon geographic proximity and providing logistical administrative support services to the supplier.

In one embodiment the present invention is a method for populating and updating a database of images of landmarks including geo-clustering geo-tagged images according to geographic proximity to generate one or more geo-clusters, and visual-clustering the one or more geo-clusters according to image similarity to generate one or more visual clusters. In another embodiment, the present invention is a system for identifying landmarks from digital images, including the following components: a database of geo-tagged images; a landmark database; a geo-clustering module; and a visual clustering module. In other embodiments the present invention may be a method of enhancing user queries to retrieve images of landmarks, or a method of automatically tagging a new digital image with text labels.

An approach is provided to automate predictive vehicle maintenance. In the approach, a vehicle's information handling system receives vehicle data transmissions from a number of other vehicles in geographic proximity to the vehicle. Both the vehicle and the other vehicles correspond to various vehicle types that are used to identify those other vehicles that are similar to the vehicle. The sets of received vehicle data transmissions that are received to similar vehicles are analyzed with respect to a plurality of vehicle maintenance data corresponding to the vehicle. The analysis of the vehicle data transmissions resulting in predictive vehicle maintenance recommendations pertaining to the first vehicle.

A computer-assisted method, computer system, and program product provide the functionality of a portal for persons to find, based on a topic of interest, the nearest relevant in-person gathering of other persons interested in the topic as well. The system provides for the automated creation of groups and for their automatic sustainment through automatic scheduling of periodic gatherings. Strangers in geographic proximity are automatically brought together into chapters formed around the topic of interest. Chapters may be led by organizers, and gatherings may have hosts. Automatic functions for venue selection, venue voting, cancellation, and feedback are provided.

A system for providing targeted Web feed subscription suggestions calculated based on IP (“Internet Protocol”) addresses. Web feeds are automatically suggested to users based on the IP (Internet Protocol) address of the user's computer system and previous feed subscriptions made from other computer systems having similar IP addresses. Feed suggestions may be weighted based on differing levels of IP address similarity, in order to reflect differing levels of geographic proximity between users. Users may be permitted to expressly indicate which of their feed subscriptions are to be made public through the feed reader user interface when they make subscriptions. In response to such user indications, the disclosed system passes the IP address of the user's computer system to the centralized server system together with a name or other identifier of the feed that was subscribed to.

A system for generating a synthetic radio channel, including a server in communication with a plurality of mobile communications devices that provide their geolocation information to the server; the server receiving user voice data; the server associating each mobile communication device with a group of mobile communication devices within a geographic proximity radius to each one; the server generating a synthetic customized voice channel for each communication device comprising a stream of chunks of voice data generated from the voice data provided by the communication devices of the group of mobile communication devices; and the server dynamically adjusting the geographic proximity radius and which mobile communication devices associated with the group based on movement of the mobile communication device, a number of mobile communication devices in the group and movement of the mobile communication devices in the group.

Methods and systems for providing services and information for multiple business entities through a single application that provides a convenient and common interface are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method for providing information and services to a user device may include receiving, by an interactive business card server of a service provider, information from each of a plurality of business entities via an application programming interface, receiving information associated with a user device from a service provider application installed on the user device and registered with the service provider, determining that the user device is in geographic proximity of one of the plurality of business entities based on the information received, and sending an interactive business card including at least some of the information associated with the one of the plurality of business entities in a format that can be displayed by the service provider application.

A method of preprocessing a plurality of raw video files has the steps of a user selecting the plurality of raw video files, creating an exposure histogram for raw video files on a predetermined interval, creating a color histogram for at least one of the plurality of raw video files on a predetermined interval, determining a camera movement velocity, determining a camera trajectory, determining an image sharpness for at least one of the plurality of raw video files on a predetermined interval, and determining a raw video location based GPS information embedded into the plurality of raw video files. In an embodiment, determining a scene location comprises the steps of indexing the color histogram, indexing the raw video location based on geographic proximity, grouping the scene location based the color histogram, grouping the scene location based on the raw video location and determining a plurality of scene groupings.

In one embodiment, a mobile communication device is adapted to provide geography-enhanced blog search results. In response to a blog-search query entered by a user, the mobile communication device is adapted to determine a current geographical location for the mobile communication device and a home location for the user. The mobile communication device is further adapted to provide the current location and home location information along with the search query parameters to a search engine. The search engine is adapted to provide results corresponding to blog posts that satisfy the parameters of the search query, wherein the search results are ranked based on at least one of (a) the geographic proximity of a blog post subject to the current location and (b) the geographic proximity of a blog post author's home location to the user's home location.

An embodiment relates generally to a method of providing a service. The method includes receiving a request to determine a status of a user and determining an on-line status of the user. The method also includes providing a geographic proximity of the user in response to the on-line status of the user being on-line.

An embodiment of the present invention is a method for grouping items in a grocery store containing a plurality of existing products. The method comprises categorizing each existing product by type. Shelf space is assigned to each existing product. Assigning includes placing each existing product in close geographic proximity to another existing product with the same type. The shelf space in the grocery store is rearranged responsive to the assigning.

The present invention provides a system and method for managing localized, event-generated overload of a communication network. A first step (400) includes receiving input indicative of a status change of an event in a sports stadium. A next step (402) includes generating an output to the communication network indicating that loading of the communication could be increasing in response to the status change. A next step (404) includes predicting an increased load due to the status change and comparing (406) this against a threshold. A next step (408) includes modifying the services available in geographic proximity to the event for a predetermined period in order to accommodate the increased load due to the status change.

The invention provides methods for determining whether a transaction has taken place in geographic proximity to a wireless device. Upon receiving a notification to authenticate the use of an identity at a transaction location, where the identity is associated with a wireless terminal, the method determines an approximate location of the wireless terminal based on cached position information, GPS location, cellular geo-location, and / or Wi-Fi geolocation, and determines whether one or more of these is in geographic proximity to the location of the transaction.