Methods and Apparatus for Promotions and Large Scale Games in Geo-Fenced Venues
A method and apparatus for a system's customer to capture a user's contact information or location during an event uses an application for a personal electronic device that senses a jolt registered by the accelerometer of the device, and/or the user's location based on location sensors within the device. In response, the user receives any combination of text, picture(s), sound, or encrypted barcode, specified by the customer. A method for providing geo-referenced, selective control of wireless, processor-based devices (e.g., smartphones) uses an encrypted software master key that is at least initially assigned to the owner-of-record of real property. The master key functions to enable, disable, activate or otherwise control programs on or features of processor-based devices that are determined to be within the geographic boundaries of the real property. In certain embodiments, a system is linked to real property records to assign the master key to the owner of record.
1 . A system for conducting a promotion at an event occurring at a defined location comprising a back end server having instructions stored thereon for causing a processor to:
receive customized promotion information comprising user selection criteria;
receive contact information from at least one user in response to a location determination by a mobile electronic device carried by the user;
receive device information from an application program running on the user's device;
receive triggering information identifying the user's eligibility to participate in a promotion; and,
transmit promotional material to the user's device based on the selection criteria.
2 . A system as recited in claim 1 wherein the defined location is a virtual geographic area bounded by a geo-fence.
3 . A system as recited in claim 2 wherein the user's eligibility to participate in a promotion depends, at least in part, on a determination that the user's location is within the virtual geographic area bounded by the geo-fence.
4 . A system as recited in claim 1 wherein receipt of contact information from at least one user is triggered by an abrupt movement of the user's device.
5 . A system as recited in claim 5 wherein receipt of contact information from at least one user is triggered by a substantially concurrent abrupt movement of another device.
6 . A system as recited in claim 1 wherein the promotional material transmitted to the user's device is selected from the group consisting of text, images, audio, barcodes and electronic coupons.
7 . A system as recited in claim 1 wherein the user's device comprises at least one accelerometer, at least one position sensor and at least one wireless data communications transceiver.
8 . A system as recited in claim 2 wherein the size of the virtual geographic area bounded by the geo-fence is dynamically altered by the server.
9 . A system as recited in claim 8 wherein the size of the virtual geographic area bounded by the geo-fence is dynamically altered by the server in response to user activity.
10 . A system as recited in claim 1 wherein the defined location is defined by the area illuminated by a spotlight.
11 . A system as recited in claim 1 wherein the defined location is defined by a selected portion of the field of view of a digital camera.
12 . A system as recited in claim 1 wherein the boundaries of the defined location move a preselected distance in a preselected direction during the promotion.
13 . A system as recited in claim 1 further comprising instructions for charging the customer based at least in part on the length of the promotion.
14 . A system as recited in claim 1 further comprising instructions for charging the customer based at least in part on the number of users from whom contact information is received.
15 . A system as recited in claim 1 further comprising instructions for charging the customer based at least in part on the size of the defined location.
16 . A system as recited in claim 1 further comprising instructions for causing a certain color to be displayed on a screen display of the user's device.
17 . A system as recited in claim 16 wherein the certain color depends, at least in part, on the location of the user's device.
18 . A system as recited in claim 16 wherein the certain color depends, at least in part, on the orientation of the user's device.
19 . A system as recited in claim 1 wherein the defined location is dependent upon one or more factors selected from the group consisting of: the interaction of the users' devices in or near a geo-fence defining the location; a preset time to designated spots along a preset path along a vector; a count of eligible mobile devices in a particular area; the initiation of an event at a pre-designated location; interaction between one or more groups of devices within multiple geo-fences based upon game or promoter parameters; satellite mapping of the movement of an object; a 3-dimensional grouping of mobile devices which are targeted by generating display information in real-time and in communication with these devices for visual control, notification, and other multimedia interaction as a pixel in a larger viewing arena; and, a heat map calibration of devices participating in a game logic in communication with a central or distributed processing network that comprises a collective of game logic and social interaction and human interface.
20 . A method for controlling one or more processor-based devices having means for determining the location of the device and in wireless data communication with a host processor-based device comprising:
assigning a master cryptographic software key to the owner of record of certain real property;
providing the one or more processor-based devices with instructions for causing the processor to determine, based on a concurrent location determination, whether the device is physically located within the metes and bounds of the certain real property; and,
executing certain processor instructions in response to receipt of the software key if a determination is made that the device is within the metes and bounds of the certain real property associated with the software key.