Claims:I/We claims

1. A system for providing real-time information to a user or occupant in relation to an area or a locality, the system comprising:

a user device (101-n) enabled for internet-based communication of data independent of Global Positioning System (GPS) and real-time display of an information;

a database (12) for storage of an information pertaining to the area or locality; and enabled for communication and exchange of data with user device based on the location data of the user device;

wherein the database (12) being in communication with the user device and further configured for receiving location data from the user device, analyse the received location data, gathering and/or retrieve information based on the location of the user device from the database, generating an output and displaying said output to the user device;

wherein user device (101-n) receives output generated from the system, the output includes information pertaining the area in which the user is located.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the location data includes latitude and longitude, and postal or area code of the location.

3. The system as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the user device is enabled for sending a latitude and longitude location data to the server, and automatically obtain location information from Global Positioning System (GPS).

4. The system as claimed in Claim 1, wherein if the user device is not able to automatically send its location, the user is able to enter the location information manually into the system through a guided selection process.

5. The system as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the system further includes a user’s interface configured for enabling exchange of data between the server and the user’s device.

6. The system as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the user device is enabled for retrieving products or services information within said area or locality

7. The system as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the output from the server includes at least one of the following: one tag ID for a service or a product, information on the product or service, information associated to user’s request for purchase of product or service.

8. The system as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the output from the server further includes a) locality wise details of product, service, hobbies, events and news b) User (Showcase & Advertiser) details, c) Tag (appointment) management details.

9. The system as clamed in Claim 1, wherein the server identifies the user device by means of longitude and latitude data and unique/specific ID tag assigned to each user.

10. The system as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the user is enabled for sending or uploading product/services data to the server, based on his/her location.

11. The system as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the output generated by the monitoring and analytics module is encoded in a format suitable to be executed by the user device and thereby displayed on said user device.

12. A method for providing products or services information to a user, the information is in relation to a predetermined area comprising:

enabling a user’s device to receive products or services information based on user’s location and movement;
broadcasting the information based on the user’s location data;

wherein the information is pushed to the user’s device by means of Global Positioning System (GPS) and also by user manually through guided selection process.

13. A computer readable medium adapted to store and execute an application for providing real-time products or services information to a user device, as claimed in Claim 1.

Dated this 14 Day of March 2019
Signature of Patent Agent:

(Rahul Bagga) IN/PA -2366

, Description:SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING REAL TIME LOCATION-BASED INFORMATION WITHIN AN AREA

FIELD OF INVENTION

[0001] The present invention generally relates to data information systems, and more particularly to a method and system to enable information to be provided in real-time to a user within an area or locality, whereby the method and system enable information to be entered, analysed , preserved and finally presented in an on-line and real time locality based platform, and operates efficiently independent of Global Positioning Service (GPS) in high latency area where map based application are not effective.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

[0002] Connectivity has been one of the key factors in the emergence of various technologies to enhance user’s experience in retrieving and receiving data or information within a specific area or location. With the increasing popularity in virtual exchange of information, including that of services and products, connectivity plays a major role in allowing users to gain access to information that are available virtually.

[0003] One of the major challenges often faced by users include internet availability, and latency, while navigating or conducting businesses online, especially in rural areas. To partially address this, technology developers and services providers offer improvements in the aspect of speed and expansion of cellular/connectivity coverage. Nevertheless, these solutions often entail increased expenses and limited to locations, whereby may not be expedient for users that are located in rural areas. Apart from connectivity, another major issue in today’s application is associated to inaccurate location information of Global Positioning Service (GPS) based map application
[0004] in these high latency areas specifically rural locations and that is leading to malfunction of online e-commerce or e-platform based transactions. Moreover , apart from connectivity and incompleteness of GPS based map applications specifically in high latency areas ,another burning issue is privacy compromise in the form of sharing of accurate location information through GPS that would lead to hazards of cyber security issues on social networking and e-platforms.

Hence, it has been difficult to ensure proper connectivity by the map based online e-commerce and social media applications with users specifically in rural areas which experience internet latency and those who are sensitive about their privacy and do not like to share location information.

[0005] It is therefore a long-felt need for to have a consistently reliable system and method that can effectively provide real-time information for product , service , skills , hobbies , interest , events and news, particularly in countries with vernacular languages incorporating locality specific database architecture creating a greater opportunity for rural people to converge with the mainstream of today’s internet based benefits.

SUMMARY

[0006] In one aspect, the present invention provides a system for providing real-time product or service information to a user or occupant in relation to an area, the system comprising: a user device (101-n) enabled for internet-based communication of data independent of Global Positioning System (GPS) and real-time display of product or service and geographic information; a database (12) for storage of data in relation to product and services within the area or locality; and enabled for communication and exchange of data with user device based on the location data of the user device; wherein the server being in communication with the user device and further configured for receiving location data from the user device analyse the received data, gathering and/or retrieve product and services data based on the location of the user device from the database, generating an output and broadcasting said output to the user device; and further wherein user device receives output generated from the system, the output includes information pertaining to products and services within the area of which the user is located.

[0007] Preferably, the user device is enabled for sending a latitude and longitude location data to the server.

[0008] Preferably, the system further includes a user’s interface configured for enabling exchange of data between the server and the user’s device.

[0009] Preferably, the user device is enabled for retrieving products or services information within said area or locality.

[0010] Preferably, the output from the server includes at least one of the following: one tag ID for a service or a product, information on the product or service, information associated to user’s request for purchase of product or service.

[0011] Preferably, the server identifies the user device by means of longitude and latitude data and unique identification number assigned to each user.

[0012] Advantageously the user is enabled for sending or uploading product/services data to the server, based on his/her location/ locality.

[0013] Preferably, the output generated by the monitoring and analytics module is encoded in a format suitable to be executed by the user device and thereby displayed on said user device.

[0014] In another aspect, the present invention provides a method for providing products or services information to a user, the information is in relation to a predetermined area comprising: enabling a user’s device to receive products or services information based on user’s location and movement; presenting the information based on the user’s location data; wherein the information is displayed in the user’s device.

[0015] In yet a further aspect, the present invention provides a computer readable medium (web application) adapted to store and execute an application for providing real-time products or services information to a user device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] The invention will be more understood by reference to the description below taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings herein:

[0017] FIG. 1 provides an exemplary architecture of the system for providing traffic information in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0018] FIG. 2 provides an exemplary structure of the data stored in the server in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0019] FIG. 3A provides an exemplary flow of a user retrieving information from the system with GPS disabled in user device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0020] FIG. 3B provides an exemplary operation related to the system determining the locality of a user with GPS enabled in user device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] FIG. 4 illustrates a flowchart to elucidate the steps involved in the method of the present invention

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT (S)

[0022] The following description of a number of specific and alternative embodiments is provided to understand the inventive features of the present invention. It shall be apparent to one skilled in the art, however that this invention may be practiced without such specific details. Some of the details may not be described at length so as not to obscure the invention. For ease of reference, common reference numerals will be used throughout the figures when referring to the same or similar features common to the figures.

[0023] The present invention provides a system and method adapted for providing reliable and real-time information to any user in relation to a locality or location, in which such information can be received via wireless enabled devices either enabled or disabled to receive location information from GPS . It would be understood by a person skilled in the relevant art that the wireless enabled devices include a mobile phone, a laptop or portable computing means, and any form of portable communication devices.

[0024] It is anticipated that in one embodiment, the system enables live broadcast of information to users and thus provide information in finding the desired product or service or both, within an area. The present invention aims to address the problems associated to difficulties getting information about a service or a product within area owing to unavailability of effective internet connection especially within rural areas.

[0025] These and other objects of the present invention will be further elucidated herein.

[0026] It is anticipated that the steps of the claimed machine and system are operational with numerous other general purposes or special purpose computing system environments or configurations, to perform the transactions based on the entered used packaging materials. The examples of well-known computing systems, environments, and/or configurations that may be suitable for use with the machine and system of the claims include, but are not limited to, personal computers, server computers, hand-held or laptop devices, multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based systems, set top boxes, programmable consumer electronics, network PCs, minicomputers, mainframe computers, distributed computing environments that include any of the above systems or devices, and the like.

[0027] Referring now to FIG. 1, there is provided an exemplary architecture of the system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In a preferred embodiment, the system and method of the present invention is accordingly adapted to operate based on wireless communication and Global Positioning technology. In one aspect, the present invention provides a system for providing real-time product or service information to a user or occupant in relation to an area, the system comprising: a user device (101-n) enabled for communication of data and real-time display of product or service and geographic information either enabled or disabled to receive location information from GPS; a server comprising database (12) for storage of data in relation to product and services within the area or locality; and enabled for communication and exchange of data with user device based on the location data of the user device; wherein the server (12) being in communication with the user device and further configured for receiving location data from the user device analyse the received data, gathering and/or retrieve product and services data based on the location of the user device (101-n) from the database, generating an output and broadcasting said output to the user device (101-n); further wherein the user device (101-n) receives output generated from the system, the output includes information pertaining to products and services within the area or locality of which the user is located.

[0028] In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the user device is a wireless-enabled device, and can be in the form of a mobile phone, portable computing devices i.e. iPad, iPod, laptop, of varying operating software i.e. windows, android, iOS and the likes, that is accordingly configured to be compatible as well as suitable for executing an application of the present invention, receiving and sending data from the system of the present invention. The user’s device, upon executed the application, will be provided with a user’s interface for communication with the system of the present invention, i.e. retrieval of data, send and receive data, and to display an output generated by the system. To receive information from the system, the user device is enabled for sending a latitude and longitude location data to the database (12).

[0029] The database (12) may be configured or enabled to detect the user’s device upon receipt detects the user device (101-n); and based on the user’s request, sends information of a product or service within an area or locality, the output from the servers comprising of locality specific databases includes information pertaining to current happenings, services or products information within the area or locality of which the user is located. Additionally, the user is enabled for searching for information within said area or locality, reach and connect with users within the same area, offline or online. It is further configured to store all data associated to events, happenings, news, products, services within the area or locality, in which the amount of data is subjected to uploads by users within the area or locality.

[0030] In one embodiment, the system detects the user device mainly by means of the GPS location of user’s device and in case the user device is disabled to receive GPS information then by the input of location details by the user through a guided selection process, referred herein as pin code locality information. Perceptibly, each user is located in an area identified by their postal or area or pin codes, longitude and latitude positions. An example of the pin code information structure which is stored in the database of the system based on a respective area is shown in FIG. 2. Collected data may be incorporated into a spreadsheet prior to being stored in the localised server.

[0031] In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the user is provided with several options in obtaining the information desired within an area. The first option, with reference to FIG. 3A is a guided approach in which the user’s device GPS is disabled, he/she selects a name of state and district (301, 302). And upon chosen the state and district, the user selects pin code (303) and area from a list of pin codes tagged with area name based on the selected district, followed by choosing the preferred locality (304) from a list of localities with locality name present under the selected pin code. The information based on the selected locality can then be retrieved from the server of the system.

[0032] Now referring to FIG. 3B, the second option required GPS enabled in the user’s device. Data entered into the localised server structured as pin codes (30) and captured by C1 module of the server. The C1 module is configured to calculate the nearest pin code with respect to the user latitude and longitude. A nearest pin code is generated a list of localities are tagged to that pin code. The data of the tagged localities is fed to C2 module in which a process of calculating the nearest locality with respect to the user’s latitude and longitude is initiated. An output containing information based on the obtained nearest locality is then generated and pushed/displayed to user.

[0033] Nevertheless, in the presence of internet within the area, data or information may be communicated to the user’s device of either wireless communication technology, international mobile equipment identification (IMEI) detection, media access control (MAC) address or any form of unique identification addresses, standard mobile identification detection, short messaging system technology, barcoding or a combination thereof.

[0034] In the preferred embodiment, the system further includes a user’s interface configured for enabling exchange of data between the server and the user’s device, thereby also enabling the user to retrieve data or information in relation to a certain product or service. In an example, users can showcase his/her creative and intellectual excellence in the form of products, service, events, news and hobbies and can also place advertisement for the requirement of any product and service / skill. They can search the showcase to select their required products, service, event, news and hobbies.

[0035] Once a desired match is found, the user/consumer can fix an appointment online to finally meet with the showcaser to discuss, transact and get delivery of product or service offline. It is therefore anticipated that system of the present invention may be configured as a product/skill dating site matching individuals with particular product/skills to consumers in need of the product/skill, but not handling the business transaction within the app environment.

TAGGING SYSTEM

[0036] Users may connect to the service provider or the merchant/trader by means of a tag management system, the tag may be generated by the server based on the user’s request within the respective area. With the same method, the trader/seller is able to upload information on their products or services that are available within the area. Understandably, the information is encoded in a format suitable to be executed by the user device and thereby displayed on the user’s device. In the preferred embodiment, the tag management system may be facilitated by X2C system/tool. Examples of the tagging system will be described herein in the subsequent paragraphs.

[0037] It is anticipated that in the context of the present invention, a visitor/user can be a show caser, advertiser or an interested party of the posted advertisements/show case for products, services, events , news , or hobbies .

[0038] In one example a visitor that is interested on a product or services created by a show caser. Accordingly, the visitor searches the servers comprising of locality specific databases and is provided with a specific or unique Tag ID on the respective show caser for any product, service, hobbies, news etc. It is anticipated that each user is assigned with a unique Tag ID by the system. Based on the Tag ID, the visitor therefore receives a response from the show caser as a response to the Tag ID confirmation. The visitor and show caser may then arrange a meeting offline for further discussion. Upon completion of meeting, the visitor and the show caser enter their Tag ID in the system as a “virtual handshake” mechanism to confirm complete of transaction.

[0039] In another example, a user visits an area and initiates the system. He/she may be interested to advertise or create a show case within said area. The process flow is similar to that as described in the preceding paragraph.

[0040] It is further within the scope of the present invention to provide a method for providing products or services information to a user, the information is in relation to a predetermined area or locality. A system incorporating the process of the present invention will now be described with reference to a schematic flowchart generalizing an example of the entire operation in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention shown as FIG.5. At step (401), the system may scan and detects at least one mobile device of a user within a predetermined area. During this process, the system may record the relevant data i.e. (but not limiting to) GPS location of the user within said area. The user may communicate with the system to send or convey request(s) to obtain a certain type of information desired within the area (S402). Subject to the type of request sent by the user, the system then generates at least one output at (S403) to be conveyed or relayed to the user, or to be retrieved by the user via the interface of the application in his/her mobile device. It is further anticipated that the information generated may be broadcasted to a plurality user within the same area. The user may directly retrieve information (S404) via the servers comprising of locality specific databases, in which the information may be encoded and/or encrypted into a predetermined format prior to be being sent to the user’s mobile device. In this preference, the information may be sent via short messaging service (SMS) technology or the likes. The information may be displayed in an infographic format, or text.

[0041] It should be noted that the information to be provided encompasses products and services information, events and happenings, job opportunities, etc limited only by choice of the location of the user and the relevant servers comprising of locality specific databases that can accessible by the user. The users of the system therefore can communicate and perform trade offline or online, through real-time tag management as described above involving both rural and urban communities. It is further anticipated that the user interface may be in the form of a mobile device interface or a web-interface, or an interface adapted for mobile-based applications. The present system thereby presents a novel solution enabling the targeted users be updated on information within an area in real-time.

[0042] Preferably, the output generated is encapsulated in JSON format suitable to be executed by the user device and thereby displayed on said user device.

[0043] As would be apparent to a person having ordinary skilled in the art, the afore-described methods and components may be provided in many variations, modifications or alternatives to existing systems. The principles and concepts disclosed herein may also be implemented in various manner which may not have been specifically described herein but which are to be understood as encompassed within the scope and letter of the following claims.