IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,657,768
Granted Patent B2
US 10,657,768 · App. 16/518,773 · Granted May 19, 2020

System and method for placing virtual geographic zone markers

Inventors: James L. Northrup (Dallas, TX); Robert L. Pierce, II (Dallas, TX)
Assignee: Zonal Systems, LLC
G07F17/3244G06Q30/0238G06Q30/0261G07F17/3225G07F17/3241H04L63/08H04L67/22H04W4/021H04W4/029H04W4/21
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,657,768
App. No.
16/518,773
Filed
Jul 22, 2019
Granted
May 19, 2020
Kind
B2
Examiner
LY, NGHI H
Art Unit
2642
USPC
455/456.3
Abstract

A system and method for user interaction includes a network, a server connected to the network, a supervisor device receiving information from a global positioning system and connected to the network, a user device receiving information from the global positioning system and connected to the network. The supervisor, having the supervisor device, defines a set of virtual geographic zones, sub-zones, and micro-zones in which the user device is tracked, and saves the set of virtual geographic zones and sub-zones to a supervisor account on the server. The user downloads a user application, sets-up a user account, and downloads the set of virtual geographic zones and sub-zones. As the user, having the user device, moves through the virtual geographic zones, sub-zones and micro-zones the location of the user device is determined and a set of supervisor-defined actions are executed on the user device based on the location of the user device.

Claims (23)

1. A method of automated delivery of a set of geo-located information to a mobile device from a server, connected to a network, comprising the steps of:

identifying a first virtual zone;

identifying a graphical marker linked to the set of geo-located information, inside the virtual zone;

determining an enhanced location of the mobile device;

comparing the enhanced location to the first virtual zone;

displaying, at the mobile device, a position indicator of the mobile device based on the comparison;

displaying the graphical marker, at the mobile device;

receiving, at the server, a trigger signal from the mobile device, related to the graphical marker; and,

delivering the set of geo-located information from the server, to the mobile device, based on the trigger signal.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of:

sending the trigger signal based on a tap event at the mobile device.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of:

displaying the virtual zone on the mobile device.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein a third-party server is connected to the network and further comprising the step of:

interacting with a website, resident at the third-party server, based on the trigger signal.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:

identifying a second virtual zone; and,

as a result of the comparison, displaying the second virtual zone, if the mobile device is outside the first virtual zone.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of determining the enhanced location of the mobile device further comprises:

determining a first location of the mobile device with a global positioning system (GPS);

and, determining a second location of the mobile device with one of the group of an ultra wide band (UWB) system, a very high frequency (VHF) omnidirectional range (VOR) system and a distance measuring equipment (DME) system.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of determining the enhanced location of the mobile device further comprises:

determining a centroid of the enhanced location.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 22, 2019
From: NORTHRUP, JAMES L.; PIERCE, ROBERT L., II
To: ZONAL SYSTEMS, LLC
Reel/Frame 049824/0437 →
Continuity (10)
Continuation In Part 15728350 · Oct 9, 2017
Continuation In Part 15277915 · Sep 27, 2016
Continuation In Part 15131965 · Apr 18, 2016
Continuation 14209049 · Mar 13, 2014
Continuation In Part 14102238 · Dec 10, 2013
Continuation In Part 13924395 · Jun 21, 2013
Provisional Application 61778874 · Mar 13, 2013
Provisional Application 61735402 · Dec 10, 2012
Provisional Application 61662980 · Jun 22, 2012
Related Publication 20190340876A1 · Nov 7, 2019
Cited By (13)
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