Abstract: Method for generating and using a database of pixel patterns includes obtaining images using a mobile device including a common pixel pattern and processing each image based on a size of the pixel pattern and/or angular orientation of the pixel pattern relative to an imaging direction to derive positional information about the pixel pattern. Location of the mobile device is determined by obtaining an image including a stationary pixel pattern, searching the database for the obtained pixel pattern, and retrieving positional information about a closest match pixel pattern. With the retrieved positional information, an angle between an imaging direction in which the image including the closest match pixel pattern was obtained and an imaging direction in which the image was obtained and/or a size differential between the closest match pixel pattern and the pixel pattern in the obtained image is/are analyzed to derive positional information about the mobile device's location.

Abstract: Method includes maintaining a collaborative database on a database server containing geographic location information pertaining to Wi-Fi access points. The collaborative database includes database records for Wi-Fi access points including a MAC address and geographic location. A position location request from a Wi-Fi enabled wireless device is received at a server, and includes a respective MAC address of at least one Wi-Fi access point for which a wireless beacon is detected by the wireless device. Via a query issued to the database server using at least one MAC address included in the position location request, geographic location data for one or more Wi-Fi access points is retrieved from the database. A processor determines geographic location of the wireless device based at least on the retrieved geographic location data, and returns, via the server, geographic location data to the wireless device corresponding to the geographic location of the wireless device.

Abstract: Method and system for monitoring location of a mobile device relative to a region of interest includes defining a geographic region of interest, receiving a request to obtain notification when the mobile device leaves from, is present in or enters into the region of interest, determining when the mobile device leaves, is present in or enters into the region of interest, and automatically generating a notification signal upon departure of the mobile device from, presence of the mobile device in or entry of the mobile device into the region of interest without manual intervention by a user of the mobile device. It is therefore possible to monitor the departure of a mobile device, and thus presumably the user thereof, from one or more defined regions, the presence of the person in one or more defined regions, and also the entry of the person into one or more defined regions.

Abstract: Method, system and computer program for obtaining information about telecommunications devices that transmit signals seeking available Wi-Fi connectivity. One or more Wi-Fi beacons are configured to detect probing signals from any telecommunications device in its range, a processor at each Wi-Fi beacon extracts an identifier of each telecommunications device from detected probing signals and each Wi-Fi beacon is associated with the identifier of any telecommunications devices whose probing signals have been received by that Wi-Fi beacon to thereby determine the presence and optionally position of any telecommunications devices within the range of the Wi-Fi beacon. The telecommunications devices are not involved in the method other than providing in their usual manner of operation, probing signals containing identifiers.

Abstract: Method for a first person to receive a wanted item purchased by a second person in exchange for virtual currency includes generating an order for a wanted item by the first person, assigning an amount of virtual currency to be provided in exchange for fulfillment of the order, displaying an indication of the amount of virtual currency to be provided in exchange for order fulfillment, and enabling the second person to view the indication of the amount of virtual currency to be provided in exchange for order fulfillment and indicate a desire to fulfill the order. The second person can fulfill the order and pay real money for each item to a third party, and the amount of virtual currency to be provided in exchange for fulfillment of the order is forwarded (e.g., released from an escrow account) to the second person upon or after shipping confirmation of the item.

Abstract: Method includes maintaining a collaborative database on a database server containing geographic location information pertaining to Wi-Fi access points. The collaborative database includes database records for Wi-Fi access points including a MAC address and geographic location. A position location request from a Wi-Fi enabled wireless device is received at a server, and includes a respective MAC address of at least one Wi-Fi access point for which a wireless beacon is detected by the wireless device. Via a query issued to the database server using at least one MAC address included in the position location request, geographic location data for one or more Wi-Fi access points is retrieved from the database. A processor determines geographic location of the wireless device based at least on the retrieved geographic location data, and returns, via the server, geographic location data to the wireless device corresponding to the geographic location of the wireless device.

Abstract: Method for determining location of a wireless computing device in a defined area includes arranging at least one WiFi beacon relative to the defined area such that a wireless computing device in the defined area is detectable, causing each beacon to generate information about detection of a wireless computing device in the defined area, providing the generated information to a processor, and at the processor, determining a location of the wireless computing device in the defined area by processing the information generated by the beacon(s). The wireless computing device is not configured to send information to the processor so that the determination of the presence and/or location of the wireless computing device in the defined area is performed at the processor using only information provided by the beacon(s).

Abstract: Method and platform for providing the location of a first mobile device to a second device in which the second device generates a query for the location of the first device which is in the form of an SMS or push e-mail message and which is directed to the first device. Upon receipt of the query, the first device initiates a determination of its location, either by itself or by providing information to a central server, and the determined location of the first device is then directed to the second device, either directly from the central server or via the first device. The central server may direct a transmission of the location of the first device to the second device in an SMS message.

Abstract: A location tracking system for building a geographic location database of network nodes in a computer network includes a trace engine module configured to send trace Id commands to a plurality of user terminals. The user terminals are actively coupled to a server node so that the trace engine module is able to obtain IP address of each of the user terminals and its corresponding geographic location. A first database is configured to store IP addresses obtained by the trace engine module and their corresponding geographical locations. A second database is configured to store a set of physical connections between IP addresses obtained by the trace engine module. The system can then determine the geographical location of end user terminals who employ the database as previously populated.

Abstract: System and method for controlling access to information about or from computing devices in which an authorization request to enable a first one of the devices to obtain information from or about a second one of the devices is generated and directed to the second device with a token assigned to the first device. Once the token is received by the second device, the authorization request is presented to its user in a form enabling viewing and manually entry of the token into the second device. The user of the first device can, when desired, request information from or about the second device. The request is fulfilled and the information from or about the second device is provided to the first device only after the user of the second device has manually entered the token assigned to the first device.

Abstract: System for enabling a wireless computing device to determine its position includes a server with a database of identification and positional information about wireless beacons and a wireless computing device arranged to wirelessly communicate using the Internet with the server. The server determines the geographic location of the wireless computing device upon receiving data from the wireless computing device relating to reception of signals by the wireless computing device from at least one wireless beacon and analysis of the signals in light of the information contained in the database of the server. The server applies a calculation algorithm which determines the geographic location of the wireless computing device upon input of identification and signal strength information about the wireless beacon(s) derived from the received signals.

Abstract: Method and system for monitoring location of a mobile device relative to a region of interest includes defining a geographic region of interest, receiving a request to obtain notification when the mobile device leaves from, is present in or enters into the region of interest, determining when the mobile device leaves, is present in or enters into the region of interest, and automatically generating a notification signal upon departure of the mobile device from, presence of the mobile device in or entry of the mobile device into the region of interest without manual intervention by a user of the mobile device. It is therefore possible to monitor the departure of a mobile device, and thus presumably the user thereof, from one or more defined regions, the presence of the person in one or more defined regions, and also the entry of the person into one or more defined regions.

Abstract: A location tracking system for building a geographic location database of network nodes in a computer network includes a trace engine module configured to send trace Id commands to a plurality of user terminals. The user terminals are actively coupled to a server node so that the trace engine module is able to obtain IP address of each of the user terminals and its corresponding geographic location. A first database is configured to store IP addresses obtained by the trace engine module and their corresponding geographical locations. A second database is configured to store a set of physical connections between IP addresses obtained by the trace engine module. The system can then determine the geographical location of end user terminals who employ the database as previously populated.

Abstract: Method and platform for providing the location of a first mobile device to a second device in which the second device generates a query for the location of the first device which is in the form of an SMS or push e-mail message and which is directed to the first device. Upon receipt of the query, the first device initiates a determination of its location, either by itself or by providing information to a central server, and the determined location of the first device is then directed to the second device, either directly from the central server or via the first device. The central server may direct a transmission of the location of the first device to the second device in an SMS message.

Abstract: A location tracking system for building a geographic location database of network nodes in a computer network includes a trace engine module configured to send trace Id commands to a plurality of user terminals. The user terminals are actively coupled to a server node so that the trace engine module is able to obtain IP address of each of the user terminals and its corresponding geographic location. A first database is configured to store IP addresses obtained by the trace engine module and their corresponding geographical locations. A second database is configured to store a set of physical connections between IP addresses obtained by the trace engine module. The system can then determine the geographical location of end user terminals who employ the database as previously populated.

Abstract: System and method for enabling a wireless computing device to continuously determine its position includes a wireless computing device and a wireless positioning system substantially collocated therewith. The wireless positioning system has a first positioning mode in which it communicates with a wireless positioning network to enable the geographic location of the computing device to be determined upon reception of signals from the positioning network and a second positioning mode in which it enables the geographic location of the wireless computing device to be determined upon reception of signals from one or more of the wireless beacons and analysis of the signals in light of positional information about wireless beacons contained in a database. The wireless positioning system switches between the positioning modes depending on reception of signals from the wireless positioning network.

Abstract: System for enabling a wireless computing device to determine its position includes a server with a database of identification and positional information about wireless beacons and a wireless computing device arranged to wireless communicate using the Internet with the server. The server determines the geographic location of the wireless computing device upon receiving data from the wireless computing device relating to reception of signals by the wireless computing device from at least one wireless beacon and analysis of the signals in light of the information contained in the database of the server. The server applies a calculation algorithm which determines the geographic location of the wireless computing device upon input of identification and signal strength information about the wireless beacon(s) derived from the received signals.

Abstract: System and method for enabling a wireless computing device to continuously determine its position includes a wireless computing device and a wireless positioning system substantially collocated therewith. The wireless positioning system has a first positioning mode in which it communicates with a wireless positioning network to enable the geographic location of the computing device to be determined upon reception of signals from the positioning network and a second positioning mode in which it enables the geographic location of the wireless computing device to be determined upon reception of signals from one or more of the wireless beacons and analysis of the signals in light of positional information about wireless beacons contained in a database. The wireless positioning system switches between the positioning modes depending on reception of signals from the wireless positioning network.

Abstract: A location tracking system for building a geographic location database of network nodes in a computer network includes a trace engine module configured to send trace Id commands to a plurality of user terminals. The user terminals are actively coupled to a server node so that the trace engine module is able to obtain IP address of each of the user terminals and its corresponding geographic location. A first database is configured to store IP addresses obtained by the trace engine module and their corresponding geographical locations. A second database is configured to store a set of physical connections between IP addresses obtained by the trace engine module. The system can then determine the geographical location of end user terminals who employ the database as previously populated.

Abstract: A location tracking system for building a geographic location database of network nodes in a computer network includes a trace engine module configured to send trace Id commands to a plurality of user terminals. The user terminals are actively coupled to a server node so that the trace engine module is able to obtain IP address of each of the user terminals and its corresponding geographic location. A first database is configured to store IP addresses obtained by the trace engine module and their corresponding geographical locations. A second database is configured to store a set of physical connections between IP addresses obtained by the trace engine module. The system can then determine the geographical location of end user terminals who employ the database as previously populated.