# US 9,521,524 B2 · Specific methods that improve the functionality of a location based service system by determining and verifying the branded name of an establishment visited by a user of a wireless device based on approximate geographic location coordinate data received by the system from the wireless device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,521,524 B2 - Document ID: US9521524B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/823,562 - Filed: 2015-08-11 - Published: 2015-12-03 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2007-04-08 - Assignees: Enhanced Geographic LLC - Applicants: Enhanced Geographic LLC - Inventors: James David Busch - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9521524B2 ## CPC - G06Q 30/0261: {based on user location} - G06F 16/9537: Spatial or temporal dependent retrieval, e.g. spatiotemporal queries - G06Q 20/322: {Aspects of commerce using mobile devices [M-devices]} - G06Q 20/3224: {Transactions dependent on location of M-devices} - G06Q 20/384: {using social networks} - G06Q 30/0205: {based on location or geographical consideration} - G06Q 30/0224: {based on user history} - G06Q 30/0233: {Method of redeeming a frequent usage reward} - G06Q 30/0236: {Incentive or reward received by requiring registration or ID from user} - G06Q 30/0245: {Surveys} - G06Q 30/0255: {based on user history} - G06Q 30/0256: {User search} - G06Q 30/0267: {Wireless devices} - G06Q 30/0282: Rating or review of business operators or products - H04L 67/52: specially adapted for the location of the user terminal - H04L 67/535: {Tracking the activity of the user (network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34)} - H04W 4/02: Services making use of location information - H04W 4/023: {using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds} - H04W 4/025: {using location based information parameters} - H04W 4/029: Location-based management or tracking services - H04W 4/30: Services specially adapted for particular environments, situations or purposes - H04W 4/38: for collecting sensor information - H04W 4/80: Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication - H04M 2250/10: including a GPS signal receiver - H04M 2250/12: including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08) ## Abstract Methods and systems that record the location of a user and transmit targeted content to a user based upon their current and past location information. A network is configured to include a server programmed with a database of targeted content, a database of location information, a database of user information, a database searching algorithm, and a wireless communication system capable of communicating with the user's mobile device. The location of the mobile device is ascertained and recorded. The location information is analyzed to determine the routes taken by the user, businesses visited by the user, and other behaviors of the user. Targeted content is sent to the mobile device of the user and whether the user visits the physical locations associated with the targeted content is monitored. Payment systems, phone exchange systems, and other features may also be integrated to provide detailed conversion tracking to content producers and business owners. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method, used by a location based service system including at least one computer, of identifying a branded establishment visited by a user of a cell phone, the cell phone configured to detect its location comprising the acts of: a) receiving, with a network interface of the location based service system, an approximate geographic location of the user's cell phone based at least in part on data obtained from a geographic location sensor of the cell phone; b) causing the received approximate geographic location to be compared, using a central processing unit of the location based service system, to the locations of a plurality of physical branded establishments stored in a database of the location based service system and, from the comparison, determining a selection from the database of at least two branded establishments, at least one of which the user is likely visiting or has likely visited, and which are both in the geographic vicinity of the received approximate geographic location; c) causing communication, from the location based service system to the cell phone, of information that indicates the names of the at least two branded establishments, at least one of which the user is likely visiting or has likely visited, and which are both in the geographic vicinity of the received approximate geographic location; d) receiving, at the location based service system from the cell phone, data confirming one indicated branded establishment that was chosen from among the at least two branded establishments as having been visited by the user; and e) storing, in a memory of the location based service system, the received branded establishment visited by the user in a location history of indicated branded establishments corresponding to the user. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the act of determining a selection from the database of the at least two branded establishments is further based upon the location history of indicated branded establishments corresponding to the user. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving data indicating the geographic path the user took to arrive at the indicated branded establishment. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the geographic location sensor includes at least one of: a Global Positioning System (GPS) radio or a Wi-Fi radio. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising the act of receiving periodically new approximate geographic location information. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, where the new approximate geographic location information is received in substantially real time. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the approximate geographic location is received via the Internet. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving data indicating the user visited a second branded establishment after visiting the indicated branded establishment that was chosen by the user as having been visited. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the information communicated to the cell phone further includes geographic coordinate information associated with at least one of the at least two branded establishments. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the information communicated to the cell phone further indicates a business type of at least one of the at least two branded establishments, the business type being a restaurant, bar, coffee shop, club, movie theater, airport, or bus stop. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the information communicated to the cell phone further includes an advertisement associated with at least one of the at least two branded establishments. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the information communicated to the cell phone further includes a postal address associated with at least one of the at least two branded establishments. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the information communicated to the cell phone further includes a number of visitors associated with at least one of the at least two branded establishments. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the information communicated to the cell phone further includes information specifying a friend of the user that is visiting or has visited at least one of the at least two branded establishments. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the information communicated to the cell phone further includes information specifying a measure of popularity that is associated with at least one of the at least two branded establishments. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the information communicated to the cell phone further includes information specifying a measure of the number of users that have indicated that they are physically present at one of the at least two branded establishments. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising updating data in the database describing the number of visits associated with the indicated branded establishment. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising updating data in the database describing the number of return visits associated with the indicated branded establishment. ### Claim 19 A method, used by a location based service system including at least one computer, of identifying a branded establishment visited by a user of a cell phone, the cell phone configured to detect its location, comprising the acts of: a) receiving, with a network interface of the location based service system, an approximate geographic location of the user's cell phone based at least in part on data obtained from a geographic location sensor in the cell phone; b) comparing the received approximate geographic location, using a central processing unit of the location based service system, to the locations of a plurality of branded establishments stored in a database accessible by the location based service system and, from the comparison, selecting at least two branded establishments, at least one of which the user is likely visiting or has likely visited, and which are both in the geographic vicinity of the received approximate geographic location; c) communicating, from the location based service system to the cell phone, information that indicates the names of the at least two branded establishments, at least one of which the user is likely visiting or has likely visited, and which are both in the geographic vicinity of the received approximate geographic location; d) receiving, at the location based service system from the cell phone, data confirming one indicated branded establishment that was chosen as being visited or having been visited from among the at least two branded establishments; and e) storing, in a memory of the location based service system, the received branded establishment visited by the user in a location history of indicated branded establishments corresponding to the user. ### Claim 20 A method, used by a location based service system including at least one computer, of identifying a branded establishment visited by a user of a cell phone, the cell phone configured to detect its location comprising the acts of: a) receiving, with a network interface of the location based service system, an approximate geographic location of the user's cell phone based at least in part on data obtained from a geographic location sensor in the cell phone; b) causing the received approximate geographic location to be compared to the locations of a plurality of branded establishments stored in a database in the one or more computers and, from the comparison, selecting from the database at least two branded establishments that the location based service system determines the user could likely be visiting or could likely have previously visited and which are in the vicinity of the received approximate geographic location; c) causing communication, to the cell phone, of information that indicates the names of the at least two branded establishments; d) receiving, from the cell phone, data confirming one indicated branded establishment that was chosen as currently being visited or having been previously visited from among the at least two branded establishments; and e) storing, in a memory of the location based service system, the received branded establishment visited by the user in a location history of indicated branded establishments corresponding to the user.