Facilitating user interactions based on proximity
AssigneeGroupon, Inc.
InventorsDarren E. VENGROFF, Jeffrey Alan HOLDEN
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Techniques are described for providing location-based information and functionality to people and computing devices in various ways. In at least some situations, the techniques include enabling multiple people in a common geographic area to interact in various ways, such as via devices capable of communications (e.g., cellular telephones, computing devices with wired and/or wireless communications capabilities, etc.). In addition, the techniques include enabling the creation and maintenance of location-based virtual groups of users (also referred to as “clouds”), such as for users of mobile and/or fixed-location devices. Such clouds may enable various types of interactions between group members, and may be temporary and/or mobile.
Claims21
-66. (canceled)
A computer-implemented method for providing admission to a location-based virtual group of users of mobile devices, the computer-implemented method comprising:
- defining the virtual group, wherein the virtual group comprises an anchor point with a geographic location around which a virtual group geographic area is centered and user interaction rules for the virtual group;
- receiving a first client device location associated with a first client device;
- and
- causing display of an internal to establishment user interface or an external to establishment user interface to a visual display of the first client device based on the user interaction rules and a determination whether the first client device location is within the virtual group geographic area.
An apparatus for providing admission to a location-based virtual group of users of mobile devices, the apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to at least:
- define the virtual group, wherein the virtual group comprises an anchor point with a geographic location around which a virtual group geographic area is centered and user interaction rules for the virtual group;
- receive a first client device location associated with a first client device;
- and
- cause display of an internal to establishment user interface or an external to establishment user interface to a visual display of the first client device based on the user interaction rules and a determination whether the first client device location is within the virtual group geographic area.
A computer program product for providing admission to location-based virtual groups of users of mobile devices, the computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable program code instructions stored therein, the computer-executable program code instructions comprising program code instructions for:
- defining the virtual group, wherein the virtual group comprises an anchor point with a geographic location around which a virtual group geographic area is centered and user interaction rules for the virtual group;
- receiving a first client device location associated with a first client device;
- and
- causing display of an internal to establishment user interface or an external to establishment user interface to a visual display of the first client device based on the user interaction rules and a determination whether the first client device location is within the virtual group geographic area.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.