Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for maintaining a dynamic profile slice of a user profile of a user. In one embodiment, a real-time user-generated context of the user is monitored over time to accumulate keywords in the dynamic profile slice of the user that are representative of dynamic interests of the user. Weights are assigned to the keywords in the dynamic profile slice using a time and/or location weighting function.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for processing a request for crowd data for a large geographic area. In one embodiment, a central system, which includes one or more servers, operates to obtain current locations for users of mobile devices and form crowds of three or more users based on the current locations of the users. In order to provide access to crowd data for crowds for a large geographic area, the central system receives a request for crowd data from a requesting device, establishes a bounding region for the request, and identifies one or more starting points within the bounding region for the request. Crowds are identified, crowd data for the crowds is generated, and the crowd data is returned to the requesting device in an iterative manner for a series of two or more outwardly radiating, concentric geographic regions centered at the one or more starting points.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for processing a request for crowd data for a large geographic area. In one embodiment, a central system, which includes one or more servers, operates to obtain current locations for users of mobile devices and form crowds of three or more users based on the current locations of the users. In order to provide access to crowd data for crowds for a large geographic area, the central system receives a request for crowd data from a requesting device, establishes a bounding region for the request, and identifies one or more starting points within the bounding region for the request. Crowds are identified, crowd data for the crowds is generated, and the crowd data is returned to the requesting device in an iterative manner for a series of two or more outwardly radiating, concentric geographic regions centered at the one or more starting points.

Abstract: Systems and methods relating to location-based applications, such as widgets, are disclosed. In general, in one embodiment, a mobile device obtains a list of applications associated with a current or anticipated location of the mobile device from a centralized or distributed application service. One or more desired applications to be activated are either manually or automatically selected from the list of applications associated with the current location or the anticipated location of the mobile device. The mobile device then activates the one or more desired applications. Optionally, for each desired application that has been activated, the desired application may be deactivated once one or more deactivation criteria are satisfied.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for obtaining status updates relevant to a segment of a media content stream for presentation during playback. In general, a status updating service collects status updates sent by users via corresponding mobile devices of the users. A media playback device of a user receives a media content stream and obtains data defining a time of capture and, in some embodiments, a location of capture of a segment of the media content stream. Either prior to or during playback of the media content stream, the media playback device obtains status updates that are relevant to the segment of the media content stream directly or indirectly from the status updating service. The media playback device then presents the relevant status updates, or at least a subset thereof, during playback of the media content stream and preferably during playback of the segment of the media content stream.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for providing an accessor with access to an accessed device through a network. In one embodiment, location-based access control rights of the accessor to the accessed device are obtained. The location-based access control rights define at least one location criterion such that access rights are to be granted to the accessor for the accessed device when a location of the accessor complies with one or more of the at least one location criterion. Upon determining that the location of the accessor device complies with the at least one location criterion, the accessor device of the accessor is granted access to the accessed device through the network. In this manner, an administrator of the accessed device can regulate from where the accessor can access the accessor device.

Abstract: A system and method for tracking crowds of users are provided. In one embodiment, a central system, which includes one or more servers, operates to obtain current locations for users of mobile devices. Based on the current locations of the users, the central system forms crowds of users. As a result of movement of the users and corresponding location updates, the crowds move and change over time. In order to track at least some of the crowds, crowd snapshots for those crowds are created over time and stored. The crowd snapshots preferably maintain anonymity of the users in the crowd at the time the crowd snapshots are created. Thereafter, the crowd snapshots may be used to generate crowd tracking data for select crowds.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for creating location-based user networks. In general, a proximity group including a number of users is identified. Each user in the proximity group is within a proximate area of at least one other user in the proximity group and has an area of interest. The areas of interest of the users in the proximity group are aggregated to provide an aggregate area of interest for the proximity group. Other users within the aggregate area of interest are identified as neighbors of each of the users in the proximity group. Once the neighbors are identified, each of the users in the proximity group may use the neighbors as members, or potential members, for a user network.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for delivering a fragmented advertisement to a group of users identified as a group of participants for the fragmented advertisement. As used herein, a fragmented advertisement is an advertisement that includes two or more advertisement fragments each to be delivered to a different participant in a group of participants identified for the fragmented advertisement, where the two or more advertisement fragments encourage interaction between participants to achieve a predefined goal of the fragmented advertisement in order to obtain a corresponding advertisement benefit. For example, the predefined goal of a fragmented advertisement may be correctly answering a question (e.g., a trivia question), solving a puzzle, or the like. The advertisement benefit is preferably a coupon for a business, product, or service being advertised by the fragmented advertisement.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for maintaining a dynamic profile slice of a user profile of a user. In one embodiment, a real-time user-generated context of the user is monitored over time to accumulate keywords in the dynamic profile slice of the user that are representative of dynamic interests of the user. Weights are assigned to the keywords in the dynamic profile slice using a time and/or location weighting function.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for distributing micro-blog posts to ad-hoc micro-blogging groups. In one embodiment, a micro-blog post of a user is obtained. A crowd in which the user is located is determined, where the crowd is a group of spatially proximate users. The micro-blog post of the user is tagged with a crowd identifier of the crowd in which the user is located such that the micro-blog post includes a crowd identifier tag. Publication of the micro-blog post including the crowd identifier tag is then effected.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for forming crowds of users based on wireless contexts of corresponding mobile devices of the users. In general, wireless contexts of mobile devices of a number of users are obtained. For each mobile device, the wireless context of the mobile device includes a wireless Personal Area Network (PAN) context of the mobile device, a wireless Local Area Network (LAN) context of the mobile device, or both. The wireless contexts of the mobile devices of the users are then utilized to form crowds of users. More specifically, in one embodiment, users of mobile devices having sufficiently similar wireless contexts are determined to be in the same crowd of users.

Abstract: Systems and methods for creating new crowds of users are disclosed. In one embodiment, a number of geographically relevant Points of Interest (POIs) within a geographic bounding region in which the new crowd is to be created are identified. A POI for the new crowd is then selected from the geographically relevant POIs based on a crowd profile defined for the new crowd. Users to attract to the new crowd at the POI selected for the new crowd are selected based on the crowd profile defined for the new crowd, and the selected users are then attracted to the new crowd at the POI selected for the new crowd.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for following status updates of users. In one embodiment, a requestor selects a crowd of users. In response, one or more crowds of users that match the selected crowd of users to at least a predefined threshold degree are identified. Status updates sent by users in at least one of the one or more matching crowds of users are then delivered to the requestor. In another embodiment, a requestor selects a Point of Interest (POI). In response, one or more POIs that match the selected POI to at least a predefined threshold degree are identified. Status updates sent by users located at one or more POIs of the one or more matching POIs are delivered to the requestor.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for providing a Graphical User Interface (GUI) for representing a reference item and a number of items of interest. In one embodiment, each item of interest is assigned to one of a number of concentric regions in a two-dimensional space based on one or more attributes of the item of interest. The concentric regions in the two-dimensional space are centered at a location in the two-dimensional space that corresponds to the reference item. A GUI is then generated such that the GUI includes concentric display regions that correspond to the concentric regions in the two-dimensional space, where a select concentric display region provides an expanded view of the items of interest located within the corresponding region in the two-dimensional space and the remaining concentric display region(s) provide collapsed view(s) of the items of interest in the corresponding region(s) of the two-dimensional space.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed in which a location update for a user is utilized as a location update for the user and one or more additional users that have been location-synchronized to the user. In general, a location update is received for a first user. One or more second users that have been location-synchronized to the first user are then identified. A location reported by the location update for the first user is recorded, or stored, as a current location of the first user and a current location of each of the one or more second users that have been location-synchronized to the first user. A location-based service, such as a social location-based service, may then be provided based on the current locations of the first and one or more second users.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for sending a message to a select subset of users in a select crowd of users. In one embodiment, a message to be delivered to a subset of users in a select crowd of users is received from a user device of a sending user. In response, one or more users in the crowd are selected as the subset of the users in the crowd to which the message is to be delivered. In one embodiment, the one or more users are selected based on a profile matching process. The message is then sent to the one or more users selected as the subset of the users in the crowd to which the message is to be delivered. Preferably, the message is sent to the one or more users anonymously such that the message does not identify the sending user.

Abstract: Systems and methods for generating a social topography map based on user affinity concentrations are disclosed. In general, locations and aggregate profiles are obtained for a number of crowds of users that are relevant to a geographic bounding region for a desired social topography map. Each aggregate profile includes information regarding an affinity between a corresponding crowd and a defined user profile. The defined user profile may be a user profile of a requesting user, or a select subset thereof, or a target user profile. Social topography data for the desired geographic bounding region is then generated based on the locations and aggregate profiles of the relevant crowds. The social topography data defines user affinity concentrations across the desired geographic bounding region. A social topography map may then be generated and presented to a requesting user based on the social topography data generated for the desired geographic bounding region.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for monitoring hashtags in micro-blog posts, or status updates, from users to provide one or more crowd-based features. In one embodiment, a micro-blog post of a user in a crowd of users is obtained. The crowd of users is a group of users within a predefined spatial proximity to one another. A hashtag in the micro-blog post is then obtained, and a crowd-based feature is provided based on the hashtag.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for following status updates sent by users in crowds of users. In one embodiment, a requestor is enabled to follow status updates sent by users in a crowd of users even after the users have dispersed from the crowd. More specifically, in one embodiment, a requestor selects a crowd to follow. Subsequently, after one or more users have left the crowd, status updates from the users are obtained and sent to the requestor. In another embodiment, a requestor selects a crowd to follow. Subsequently, after some or all of the users in the crowd have dispersed, status updates from users in new crowds in which those users are located are obtained and sent to the requestor. In another embodiment, a requestor is enabled to follow a user such that the requestor receives status updates from crowds of users in which the user is located.