IP Library Granted Patent US 10,924,443
Granted Patent B1
US 10,924,443 · App. 14/941,523 · Granted Feb 16, 2021

Electronic messaging system and communication device that monitors its position

Inventors: Eric Clymer (Austin, TX); Roger Green (West Hollywood, CA); Scott Wiskus (Austin, TX); Brian Zager (Los Angeles, CA); John Johnson (Austin, TX); Evan Prothro (Flint, TX)
Assignee: Scout Brands LLC
H04L51/20H04L67/306
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,924,443
App. No.
14/941,523
Granted
Feb 16, 2021
Kind
B1
Abstract

An electronic messaging system includes a memory operable to store one or more modules and a processor operably coupled to the memory. The processor is operable to execute the one or more modules to receive an electronic message package that includes a message from a sender associated with a first communication device, an indication of an intended recipient, a condition for when the message is to be viewable by the intended recipient, and a teaser that can be immediately viewable by the at least one intended recipient. The processor is also operable to execute the one or more modules to initiate delivery of the message at a second communication device associated with the intended recipient so that the message is viewable by the intended recipient only when the condition has been met while the teaser is immediately viewable by the at least one intended recipient.

Claims (40)

1. An electronic messaging system comprising:

a memory operable to store one or more modules; and

a processor operably coupled to the memory, the processor operable to execute the one or more modules to:

receive an electronic message package from a sender, the electronic message package comprising a secret message from the sender associated with a first communication device, an indication of at least one intended recipient, at least one condition for when the secret message is to be viewable by the at least one intended recipient, the at least one condition comprising at least one location condition specified by the sender, the at least one condition specifying where the at least one intended recipient is to be for the secret message to be viewable by the at least one intended recipient, and a teaser composed by the sender that is immediately viewable by the at least one intended recipient before the secret message is viewable, the teaser comprising a hint of the secret message that does not reveal the secret;

monitor, by a sensor, a location of the at least one intended recipient;

obtain, by the sensor, a first location of the at least one intended recipient and at least a second location of the at least one intended recipient;

determine at least one of a speed or a velocity of the at least one intended recipient based on the first location of the at least one intended recipient and the at least a second location of the at least one intended recipient;

determine that the at least one location condition has been met based on the location of the at least one intended recipient;

initiate delivery of the secret message at a second communication device so that the secret message is viewable by the at least one intended recipient only when the at least one condition has been met while the teaser is immediately viewable by the at least one intended recipient; and

terminate monitoring of the location of the at least one intended recipient after the at least one location condition has been met.

2. The electronic messaging system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the processor is operable to execute the one or more modules to:

determine a time difference between the first location of the at least one intended recipient and the at least a second location of the at least one intended recipient; and

determine the at least one of a speed or a velocity of the at least one intended recipient based on the time difference.

3. The electronic messaging system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the at least one condition further comprises a time when the secret message is to be viewable by the at least one intended recipient.

4. The electronic messaging system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the at least one condition further comprises a countdown time after which the secret message is to be viewable by the at least one intended recipient.

5. The electronic messaging system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the at least one condition further comprises a prompt to be answered by the at least one intended recipient to make the secret message viewable by the at least one intended recipient.

6. The electronic messaging system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the at least one condition further comprises an indication that the sender will make the secret message viewable by the at least one intended recipient.

7. The electronic messaging system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the teaser comprises text.

8. The electronic messaging system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the teaser comprises an image.

9. A computer-implemented method for transmitting a secret message for an intended recipient so that the secret message is viewable by the intended recipient only when at least one condition has been met, the computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving, by a processor, a secret message from a sender associated with a first communication device;

receiving, by the processor, an indication of at least one intended recipient;

receiving, by the processor, at least one condition specified by the sender, the at least one condition for when the secret message is to be viewable by the at least one intended recipient, the at least one condition comprising at least one location condition where the at least one intended recipient is to be for the secret message to be viewable by the at least one intended recipient;

receiving, by the processor, a teaser composed by the sender that is immediately viewable by the at least one intended recipient before the secret message is viewable, the teaser comprising a hint of the secret message that does not reveal the secret;

causing the processor to make the teaser immediately viewable by the at least one intended recipient;

monitoring, by a sensor, a location of the at least one intended recipient;

obtaining, by the sensor, a first location of the at least one intended recipient and at least a second location of the at least one intended recipient;

determining, by the processor, at least one of a speed or a velocity of the at least one intended recipient based on the first location of the at least one intended recipient and the at least a second location of the at least one intended recipient;

determining, by the processor, that the at least one location condition has been met based on the location of the at least one intended recipient;

causing the processor to make the secret message viewable by the at least one intended recipient only when the at least one condition has been met; and

causing the processor to terminate monitoring of the location of the at least one intended recipient after the at least one location condition has been met.

10. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 9 , further comprising determining, by the processor, whether the at least one intended recipient is moving.

11. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 9 , wherein determining whether the at least one intended recipient is moving includes:

determining a time difference between the first location of the at least one intended recipient and the at least a second location of the at least one intended recipient; and

determining the at least one of a speed or a velocity of the at least one intended recipient based on the time difference.

12. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 9 , wherein the at least one condition further comprises a countdown time after which the secret message is to be viewable by the at least one intended recipient.

13. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 9 , wherein the at least one condition further comprises a prompt to be answered by the at least one intended recipient to make the secret message viewable by the at least one intended recipient.

14. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 9 , wherein the at least one condition further comprises an indication that the sender will make the secret message viewable by the at least one intended recipient.

15. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 9 , wherein the teaser comprises text.

16. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 9 , wherein the teaser comprises an image.

Assignments (8)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 24, 2024
From: RAVEN RESOURCES CORP., AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ANDREW FRANCOIS LONG
To: SCOUT BRANDS LLC, AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO SCOUT SALES CORP.
Reel/Frame 068069/0169 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 7, 2020
From: SCOUT SALES CORP
To: SCOUT BRANDS LLC
Reel/Frame 054560/0837 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS RECORDED AT REEL 046172, FRAME 0295 Recorded Jun 30, 2020
From: PAUL SCRIBNER (AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO APPTREAT, LLC); ERIC CLYMER (AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO APPTREAT, LLC); SCOTT WISKUS (AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO APPTREAT, LLC)
To: SCOUT SALES CORP. (F/K/A TIMEBOMB, INC.)
Reel/Frame 053086/0431 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN UNITED STATES PATENTS Recorded Jun 30, 2020
From: SCOUT SALES CORP.
To: ANDREW FRANCOIS LONG
Reel/Frame 053086/0789 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jun 22, 2020
From: TIMEBOMB, INC.
To: SCOUT SALES CORP.
Reel/Frame 053000/0135 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN UNITED STATES PATENTS Recorded May 16, 2018
From: TIMEBOMB, INC.
To: APPTREAT, LLC
Reel/Frame 046172/0295 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 2, 2017
From: TIMEBOMB APP, LLC
To: TIMEBOMB INC.
Reel/Frame 044021/0110 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 8, 2016
From: CLYMER, ERIC; GREEN, ROGER; WISKUS, SCOTT; ZAGER, BRIAN; JOHNSON, JOHN; PROTHRO, EVAN
To: TIMEBOMB APP, LLC
Reel/Frame 037683/0499 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62079663 · Nov 14, 2014
Provisional Application 62091067 · Dec 12, 2014
Cited By (2)
US 12,627,756 US 12,705,972