US007593740B2
`
`(12) Unlted States Patent
`(10) Patent No.:
`US 7,593,740 B2
`
`Crowley et al.
`(45) Date of Patent:
`Sep. 22, 2009
`
`(54) LOCATION-BASED SOCIAL SOFTWARE FOR
`MOBILE DEVICES
`
`(75)
`
`Inventors: Dennis P. Crowley, New York, NY (US);
`Alexander M_ Raine”, Brooklyn, NY
`(US)
`
`.
`~
`.
`(73) ASSlgne‘” G°°glesI“c-sMountamVleWsCA (Us)
`
`.................. 709/229
`2004/0215793 A1* 10/2004 Ryan et a1.
`2004/0235493 A1* 11/2004 Ekerborn ................. 455/456.1
`2004/0259641 A1
`12/2004 H
`
`2005/0003804 A1 *
`2005/0021750 A1
`2005/0174975 A1*
`2005/0177614 A1*
`
`0
`1/2005 Huomo et a1.
`1/2005 Abrams
`8/2005 Mgrdechian et a1.
`........ 370/338
`
`8/2005 Bourne
`...... 709/200
`
`........... 455/414.1
`
`0.) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, theterm ofthis
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`USC. 1 54(1)) by 0 days.
`
`2005/0250516 A1* 11/2005 Shim ....................... 455/456.1
`2006/0003804 A1*
`1/2006 Llu ............................ 455/557
`2006/0080283 A1 *
`4/2006 Shipman ........................ 707/3
`
`(21) Appl.No.: 11/126,762
`
`(22)
`
`Filed:
`
`May 11, 2005
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2006/0270419 A1
`
`NOV. 30, 2006
`
`Related US. Application Data
`
`(60) Provisional application No. 60/570,410, filed on May
`12, 2004.
`
`(51)
`
`Int. Cl.
`(2006.01)
`H04Q 7/20
`(52) US. Cl.
`.............. 455/456.3; 455/414.2; 455/456.1;
`455/457
`
`(58) Field of Classification Search .............. 455/456.3,
`455/414.1, 266, 414.3, 415, 412.2, 435.1,
`455/456.1, 456.2, 463, 466, 517, 452.2, 5521;
`705/10
`
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`7/2002 Gilmour et a1.
`6,421,669 B1
`4/2003 Fraccaroli
`................ 455/456.3
`6,549,768 B1 *
`9/2003 Drutrnan et a1.
`.......... 455/456.3
`6,618,593 B1 *
`8/2003 Loveland .................... 455/502
`2003/0162555 A1 *
`2003/0200192 A1 * 10/2003 Bell et a1.
`...................... 707/1
`2004/0189476 A1
`9/2004 Borovoy et a1.
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Roush, “Social Machines,” Technology Review, Aug. 2005, 11 pages.
`“New Cell Phone Services Can Help Manage Your Social Life,” at
`http://wwwnyl .com/nyl/content/indexj asp? stid: 10 1&aid:4978 1,
`Apr. 6, 2005, 2 pages.
`“Network Rivalry. With technology, meeting people is a lot easier
`than getting rid of them,” at http://Www.printthis.clickability.com/pt/
`cpt?acti0n:cpt&title:D0dgeba11+-+A+NeW+Tech .
`.
`.
`, 2 pages,
`printed Jul. 20, 2005.
`
`(Continued)
`
`Primary Examinerilohn J Lee
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or FirmiFish & Richardson PC.
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A method ofestablishing connection between users ofmobile
`devices includes receiving at a computer a location of a first
`user from a first mobile device, receiving from a second
`mobile device a location of a second user having an acquain-
`tance relationship to the first user, and sending a message to
`the first mobile device based on the proximity ofthe first user
`to the second user.
`
`21 Claims, 16 Drawing Sheets
`
`
` mnm-~m»:—
`
`Generator MI
`E
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`J80
`
`Message
`
`Location
`
`Engine E II Identifier m
`g
`
`'-
`
`Analyzer 3 I
`Friend
`
` Message
`
`
`
`
`
`Snap Inc. EX. 1008 Page 0001
`
`Snap Inc. Ex. 1008 Page 0001
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`

`

`US 7,593,740 B2
`
`Page 2
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Terdiman, “MoSoSos Not So So-So,” Wired News, at http://WWW.
`Wired.com/news/culture/0,1284,66813,00.html?tw:rss.TOP, Mar.
`8,2005, 3 pages.
`Dixit, “The Artful-and Mobile-Dodger,” IEEE Spectrum Online, at
`http://dodgeball.com/press/ieee/, 3 pages, printed Jul. 20, 2005.
`Baig, “Love growing strong on Web,” USA TODAY, at http://
`usatodayl.printthis.clickability.compt/cpt?action:cpt
`&title:USATODAYcom+-+Lo .
`.
`.
`, 4 pages, printed Jul. 21, 2005.
`Spanbauer and Bass, “The New Web Challengers,” PC World, at
`http://Www.pcworld.com/resource/printable/article/
`0,aid,118794,00.asp, 10 pages, Feb. 2005.
`“The Future of Wireless,” Corante, at http://WWW.corante.com/vi-
`sion/Wireless/dodgeball.php, 6 pages, printed Jul. 21, 2005.
`Chapell, “2005 Privacy & Marketing Predictions,” iMedia Connec—
`tion,
`at http://Www.imediaconnection.com/content/4881.asp,
`3
`pages, printed Jul. 21, 2005.
`Stephenson, “10 homeland security technologies to watch in 2005,”
`at
`http://WWW. stephensonstrategies.com/stories/2005/0 1/05/
`10HomelandSecurity/Technolo.ht .
`.
`. ,4 pages, printed Jul. 21, 2005.
`“Only Disconnect. What the man who gave us the answering machine
`means to the story of technological avoidance,” The New York Times
`Magazine, Dec. 26, 2004, 2 pages.
`“Spotlight. On the Move. What will shape our mobile lifestyle in
`2005,” Fast Forward 2005, Nov. 2004, 2 pages.
`“Coming Together,” Newsweek, Nov. 1, 2004, 2 pages.
`“Automate Your Nightlife. With Dodgeball.com, You May Never
`Drink Alone Again,” Mobile PC, Oct. 2004, 1 page.
`“Mobile Dodgeball,” The San Diego UnioniTrubune, at http://
`signonsandiego.printthis.clickability.com/pt/cptaction:cpt?
`&title:Site +seeing+%7C .
`.
`.
`, 1 page, Sep. 27, 2004.
`“Cell Phone Tag,”Philadelphia Citypapernet, at http://citypaper.net/
`articles/2004-09-23/naked.shtml, Sep. 23-29, 2004, 2 pages.
`“Giving serendipity a nudge,” Newsday, Sep. 7, 2004, 2 pages.
`“Dodgeball.com Sets Friends in Motion,” NPR, at http://Www.npr.
`org/templates/story/story.php?storyId:3 866348, Aug. 23, 2004,
`1
`page.
`“Mobile phone tag,” Red Herring, at http://Www.redherring.com/
`PrintArticle/aspx7a:10792&sector:Industries, Aug. 11, 2004, 3
`pages.
`“Community Chest,” LA Weekly, at http://Www.dodgeball.com/
`press/laweeklyphp, Aug. 6-12, 2004, 2 pages.
`“Roger Dodger,” Los Angeles Magazine, Aug. 2004, 1 page.
`“For More Advertisers, the Medium Is the Text Message,” The Wall
`Street Journal, Aug. 2, 2004, 1 page.
`“Social Lives of a Cell Phone,” TechnologyReviewcom, at http://
`wwwtechnologyreview.com/articles/04/07/Woibender071204.
`asp?p:0, Jul. 12, 2004, 3 pages.
`“We R@Star Shoes, send reinforcements,” The Los Angeles Times,
`Jul. 8, 2004, 2 pages.
`“Jargon Watch,” Wired, Jul. 2004, 2 pages.
`“That’s What friends R 4,” Wireless Review, at http://Wirelessreview.
`com/aIt/Wirelessithatsifriends, Jun. 1, 2004, 2 pages.
`“Mobile Party Finder,” Wired, Jun. 2004, 2 pages.
`“A Posse That Fits in the Palm onour Hand,” Time, May 31, 2004, 2
`pages.
`“Language of Love for the High-Tech Set,” at http://foxnews.com/
`printerifriendlyistory/0.3566. 120921.00 .htrnl, May 27, 2004, 2
`pages.
`Kandel, “A Mobile Link for 90 Mutual Friends,” TheNew York Times,
`May 13, 2004, 3 pages.
`“So Happy Together,” Newsweek, May 10, 2004, 2 pages.
`
`“Dodgeball Expanding,” at http://smartmobs.com/archive/2004/04/
`20/dodgeball,expan.html, Apr. 20, 2004, 1 page.
`“The Dodgeball circle expands,” at http://WWW.engadget.com/entry/
`4979865886576287/, Apr. 21, 2004, 2 pages.
`“Dodgeball” at http://Weblogs.macromedia.com/jd/archives/2004/
`04/dodgeball.cfm, Apr. 20, 2004, 1 page.
`“‘Friendster for Mobile Phones’ Expands,” at http://Www.textually.
`org/textually/archives/2004/04/003575.htm, Apr. 20, 2004, 1 page.
`“Friendster for your mobile phone,” at http://Www.trendcentral.com/
`trends/trendarticle/asp?tcAticleId:1082, printed Jul. 21, 2005,
`1
`page.
`“MoSoSo”, at http://Www.boingboing.net/2004/04/13/mososo.html,
`Apr. 13,2004, 1 page.
`“MoSoSo”, at http://crystaltips.typepadcom/wonderland/2004/04/
`dodgeball.html, Apr. 2004, 3 pages.
`“More Remainders: Dodgeball : Phonester,” at http://Www.gawker.
`com/topic/moreiremaindersidodgeballiphonesteriO 14 834 .php,
`Apr. 7, 2004, 1 page.
`“Friendster for your mobile phone,” at http://WWW.kottke.org/re-
`mainder/04/04/5343.html, Apr. 6, 2004, 3 pages.
`http://WWW.
`at
`Frauenfelder,
`“The Wireless Hook-Up,”
`thefeaturearchives.com/topic/Culture/The,WirelessiHook-Up.
`html, Jan. 7, 2004, 2 pages.
`Sweetingham, “Circle line. Let your cell phone keep tabs on your
`friends,” Time Out NY, Dec. 4-11, 2003, p. 174.
`“dodgeball.com is like Friendster for your mobile phone,” at http://
`WWW.smaItfone.net/19/435.html, Apr. 7, 2004, 2 pages.
`“Mobile Beacons,”
`at http://socialtwister.com/archives/000132.
`html, Apr. 7, 2004, 1 page.
`,” at http://Wireless.weblogsinc.
`.
`.
`“Dodgeball.Social Beta Launch .
`com/entry/1365141061548149/, Apr. 6, 2004, 2 pages.
`“Dodgeball. social,” at http://WWW.smartmobs.com/archive/2004/04/
`06/dodgeballsocia.html, Apr. 6, 2004, 1 page.
`“Dodgeball.com,”
`at http://WWW.zephoria.org/thoughts/archives/
`2004/04/07/dodgeballcom.html, Apr. 7, 2004, 1 page.
`“Dodgeball.social .
`.
`. NJASNT (Not Just Another Social Networking
`Tool),” at http://WWW. splatt.com/au/blog/archives/000329 .htrnl, Apr.
`7,2004, 1 page.
`“Dodgeball.com is like Friendster for your mobile phone,” at http://
`WWW.esato.com/board/viewtopic.php?topic:55533, Apr. 7, 2004, 1
`page.
`Dodgeball.com. “About Dodgeball.com.” [retrieved on Feb. 21,
`2009] Retrieved from the Internet: <URL:http://Web.archive.org/
`web/20031206011504/dodgeball.com/mktg,about.pphp>.
`Dodgeball.com. “Create a circle and invite your friends.” [retrieved
`on Feb. 21, 2009] Retrieved from the Internet: <URL:http://Web.
`archive.org/Web/20031207092536/dodgeball.com/mainicircles.
`php>.
`[retrieved on Feb. 21, 2009]
`Dodgeball.com. “Home Page.”
`Retrieved from the Internet: <URL:http://Web.archive.org/W%/
`2001109202500/WWW.dodgeball.com/city/>.
`Dodgeball.com. “Join Dodgeball.Circles.” [retrieved on Feb. 21,
`2009] Retrieved from the Internet: <URL:http://Web.archive.org/
`web/20030803174729/Www.dodgeball.com/city/circles/join.asp>.
`Dodgeball.com. “New York City Edition.” [retrieved on Feb. 21,
`2009] Retrieved from the Internet: <URL:http://Web.archive.org/
`web/20040102160151/http://dodgeball.com/>.
`Flickr. “The Dodgeball Shut-Down Party.” [retrieved on Feb. 21,
`2009] Retrieved from the Internet: <URL:http://flickr.com/photos/
`dpstyles/3294855253/>.
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`Snap Inc. EX. 1008 Page 0002
`
`Snap Inc. Ex. 1008 Page 0002
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Sep. 22, 2009
`
`Sheet 1 0f 16
`
`US 7,593,740 B2
`
`1,/ 47
`
`12
`
`10-\A
`
`account“; ‘
`anntan‘u‘
`unnuunnu
`D D D D D D D D
`D D D D D D D D
`
`
`
`
`
`Jfizzpfl
`
`Snap Inc. EX. 1008 Page 0003
`
`Snap Inc. Ex. 1008 Page 0003
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Sep. 22, 2009
`
`Sheet 2 0f 16
`
`US 7,593,740 B2
`
`
`
`FIGURE 2
`
`Snap Inc. EX. 1008 Page 0004
`
`Snap Inc. Ex. 1008 Page 0004
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Sep. 22, 2009
`
`Sheet 3 0f 16
`
`US 7,593,740 B2
`
`Tony
`Friend
`
`Don Pablo
`Friend-of—Friend
`
`Katie
`Crush
`
`44
`
`46
`
`48
`
`dodgebal|.com l::
`
`MSG: @Luna
`
`42
`
`40
`
`FIGURE 3
`
`Snap Inc. EX. 1008 Page 0005
`
`Snap Inc. Ex. 1008 Page 0005
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Sep. 22, 2009
`
`Sheet 4 0f 16
`
`US 7,593,740 B2
`
`TJ
`
`Tony
`
`Don Pablo
`
`
`Katie
`Frankie
`
`In
`
`In
`
`Don Pablo is @ Tony is @Happy
`IC Muggs (112
`Place (2600
`Main St.) Why
`
`Forest Ave.) not stop by and
`
`say hello?
`
`Why not stop by
`and say hello?
`
`Out
`
`@The
`Magician
`
`In
`
`TJ has a crush
`
`on you, he is
`@Luna Lounge
`
`Out
`
`! Just got
`back into
`town.
`ls any
`
`(171 Ludlow St.)
`body out?
`
`
`
`TJ is @Luna
`Lounge (171
`Ludlow St.) Why
`not stop by and
`say hello?
`
`TJ is @Luna
`Lounge (171
`Ludlow St.) Why
`not stop by and
`say hello?
`
`Tony is @Happy
`Place (2600
`Forest Ave.)
`Why not stop by
`and say hello?
`
`Don Pablo is @
`
`IC Muggs. You
`Know him
`through Tony.
`
`One of your
`crushes is
`
`nearby. Make
`yourself look
`nice.
`
`Frankie says:
`Just got back
`into town.
`Is any
`body out?
`
`Frankie says:
`Just got back
`into town.
`Is any
`body out?
`
`Frankie says:
`Just got back
`into town.
`Is any
`body out?
`
`FIGURE 4
`
`Snap Inc. EX. 1008 Page 0006
`
`Snap Inc. Ex. 1008 Page 0006
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Sep. 22, 2009
`
`Sheet 5 0f 16
`
`US 7,593,740 B2
`
`Submit Location
`
`Of Service _52
`
`Receive Message
`5_2
`
`Parse Message
`fl
`
`Interpret Message
`Components 5_6
`
`Receive Message
`And Display §2_
`
`Send Message No
`QQ
`
`
`
`ls
`User
`
`
`Registered
`it;
`
`
`Yes
`
`Display Error
`Message 6_8
`
`Send Message No
`Q6}
`
` Venue
`In Database?
`
`
`
`
`fl
`
`Display Message
`About
`
`
`
`
`
`Acquaintances 22
`
`
`
`
`
`Display Message
`About Profile
`
`
`
`Matches E
`
`|
`|
`
`Client
`
`FIGURE 5
`
`Yes
`
`Resolve Venue
`
`Location 7_()_
`
`Check Location Against
`Acquaintances 2
`
`Send Message To
`Acquaintances Z_4_
`
`Send Message
`To User Z§
`
`Send Messages To
`Profile Matches E
`
`Send Message
`To User E
`
`Server
`
`Snap Inc. EX. 1008 Page 0007
`
`Snap Inc. Ex. 1008 Page 0007
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Sep. 22, 2009
`
`Sheet 6 0f 16
`
`US 7,593,740 B2
`
`Identifier100
`
`MessageAnalyzerg8_
`
`Generator104E FIGURE6
`
`J80
`
`O1—
`
`a.)
`
`ngin
`
`C
`.94—:
`(D
`
`OO_
`
`l
`
` a /
`
`m E
`
`' ”"31
`
`Snap Inc. EX. 1008 Page 0008
`
`Snap Inc. Ex. 1008 Page 0008
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Sep. 22, 2009
`
`Sheet 7 of 16
`
`US 7,593,740 B2
`
`Mobile Party Finder
`
`1 sounds like the worst son of doimm pitch: Social nan/working meets location-based services.
`But it turns cm the: Dodgaball lives up to ixs memes. Combining the lunciicns of 1M, Friendsrer,
`and Cilyscarch, the new mobile social software leis you lorm ”flashmobs with your lrienris."
`says founder Dennis Crowley. Here’s how a nigh! out in NYC might go down. - Brian Lam
`
`Smp of! the F uarn 21an Menu: and head lur Luna
`Laungc. SMS your lotauun m nycgjndgeballcam,
`and um scmce maszs an alert massage wuh your
`shamabouls m yam circle 0! menus
`
`Luna Lounge is dead. and you'xe ionesing lm a quick arcade lip.
`Tan-massnm 'Luna Luunge? Ms. Par-Man“ l0 Dudgubell. and
`ix searches nearby dives in! me game. Tums OUL she‘s chomping
`shuns in a bar iusx two blocks away. You're on ll.
`
`Whila yuu’rn playing. Dodgeba" lepons
`thawnur unl Stan is ex Tim Magician
`Maybe he's haying rounds again? Set a
`new high score,1hcn scurry an over.
`
`‘1.
`
`05'— ’\ (E Rivingénn Slraei
`at Essex) cl mm PM.
`
`(1 “59:15ch
`at)» ’rofind amatch For
`‘Hs, Pac‘Mon' «:3th 0
`blocks: Molar 0th Bar.
`
`
`
`Home yam ccordlnutas when you got to The Magician.
`nudgnhall chxmas in again A ineml n! a lviand US at (he
`same liar, and ’ you lucky dog , she's Luii“
`
`SMS hnr through Dodgeball to break the ice. Thai} go
`introduce yoursell and score has AlM name,
`
`Uh. snuul You gel 3 Dodgeball APB mm
`Counnev Lave inst shcwad up at Pianos and
`she's dancing on a table. You and dozens of
`Oliver gawker-sialkers descend like paparazzi.
`
`Rila lhru Mark. Reply
`ii: say Hi.
`
`George lsnear you
`(Q Pianos. 11:58 pm)
`~ mdsanp: Courlnou
`Luv is here and
`ociin lhe Foul.
`
`FIGURE 7
`
`Snap Inc. EX. 1008 Page 0009
`
`Snap Inc. Ex. 1008 Page 0009
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 22, 2009
`
`Sheet 8 of 16
`
`US 7,593,740 B2
`
`connect wiih your [fiends
`
`Suggestions? Bugs? Send them here.
`
`join dodgeball.com
`
`In order to use our mobile social network, you need to be a registered user of dodgeball.com..,
`
`
` 1,N8W,T°rk City NY
`0 female
`Omale
`
`
`
`:
`
`l (at least 3 diameters)
`
`(3 to 12 characters long)
`
` l
`
`
`
`(likté~ this: 9175554321)
` - select provider-
` E My phone
`.My email addresss
`0 Yes
`O No
`
`l
`
`@yourprovider.com (optional)
`
`first tell us who you are...
`first name
`
`last name
`
`email address
`
`home city
`
`gender?
`
`now tell us who you wont to be”.
`username
`
`password
`
`password (again)
`
`and tail us about your phonem
`mobile phone number
`
`mobile phone provider
`Are we missing your Qrovider?
`where should we send messages about
`your friends whereabouts?
`
`can we send photos to your phone?
`(your phone needs to be able to receive pictures)
`
`alternate cell phone handle
`What's this?
`
`
`Ww wwWwW ,.
`M
`,4
`v32
`
`~Q:
`{WNWWWMWlM'2 3»
`)
`,4,
`mo..."
`h__orne I about us I press | cont ct | C pyvight © 2005, diodgeball. cornPatent Pending.
`LE,
`
`3.;
`
`‘
`
`..
`
`...
`
`M...
`
`,
`
`FIGURE 8
`
`Snap Inc. EX. 1008 Page 0010
`
`Snap Inc. Ex. 1008 Page 0010
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Sep. 22, 2009
`
`Sheet 9 0f 16
`
`US 7,593,740 B2
`
` ‘ I,
`
`s
`dodgeball. 92.same
`
`(“Gr-mftx weaves w £133:
`
`mm mm
`You are logged in as donpablo in New York Qi§1.[logou§]
`
`
`sear€h>€p=I°IDlEB-§V£9.U355
`Suggestions? Bugs? Send them here.
`
`You won't get messages fi-om dodgeball unh'I you activate your phone. Click here In activate!
`
`test your phone
`
`Now, we just have to make sure your phone is set to receive text
`messages.
`
`Keep an eye on your phone... we just sent you a text message
`containing a four digit code. This code will help us make sure that your
`phone is actually set up for text messaging and thus a-okay for use with
`dodgeball.com.
`
`
`
`a
`
`.
`
`If you did receive a test message from us click here.
`
`If you did not receive a test message from us then click here
`
`FIGURE 9
`
`Snap Inc. EX. 1008 Page 0011
`
`Snap Inc. Ex. 1008 Page 0011
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Sep. 22, 2009
`
`Sheet 10 0f 16
`
`US 7,593,740 B2
`
`II"
`
`o
`
`a
`
`Wkfiifhflfiu'r‘n _@
`
` '
`
`
`mm 528W”’WWW'E‘LVWWBS'l
`You are logged in as donpablo in New Igrk g'i§1.[logout]
`Suggestions? Bugs? Send them here.
`
`You won't get messages from dodgeball until you activate your phone. Click here tn activate!
`
`test your phone
`
`50, you didn't receive our text message, eh?
`
`No worries — you can still send us text messages which means you can
`broadcast your location to your friends, just not receive on their
`location of your friends and their friends.
`
`o Learn more about how to use dodgeball.com.
`
`a Start adding and inviting friends to join.
`
`if you finally did receive our test message, click here.
`
`If you are convinced that you have text-messaging and want to try
`again, then doublecheck the following”.
`
`Check to make sure your phone is on.
`
`Double-check your phone's display to see if you have a new text
`message.
`
`Check with xourgrovider to make sure you are subscribed to their
`text messaging service.
`
`And...
`
`FIGURE 10
`
`Snap Inc. EX. 1008 Page 0012
`
`Snap Inc. Ex. 1008 Page 0012
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Sep. 22, 2009
`
`Sheet 11 0f 16
`
`US 7,593,740 B2
`
` search .> Foe"o'p'le""l~ .f'v—en'ues‘l
`
`Suggestions? Bugs? Send them here.
`
`6°
`PM"
`“maple
`
`’
`
`,
`;
`5
`
`,
`
`v ,
`
`find a venue
`
`Huck-m helmlm
`cluvanz.
`
`,
`
`.
`
`mwmmmdimj You do not have any pending friend requests to confirm.
`
`YOU are l°998d in as donpablo in bis-w Yer—9k it}. [lggoyt]
`You won‘t get messages from dodgeball until you acfivate your phone. flick here to a lvate!
` Don's profile
`Don P.
`change your photo
`Chan e our profile=
`g
`y
`This user does not have a personal profile.
`Did you fill out yours yet?
`
`invites
`
`Are your fnends not hooked up yet? Go ahead and inwte them
`_
`_
`_
`and you can start using dodgeball.
`these people want to be your friend...
`
`+niuaocasluou
`mmmhmus ‘
`+mecklan¢m
`Wms
`
`MW!
`+ «mung-immune
`+nnuiabmmiings
`
`To send yourself a sample dodgeball message, click here.
`
`friends of dodgeball
`‘1“
`
`..,
`
`,"
`
`r
`
`..»
`
`A
`
`,
`
`.1 _.
`
`_,c
`
`waiting for confirmation from...
`
`You are not waiting for confirmation from any friends.
`
`R58
`generate an RSS feed of your check-ins
`
`EXPORT
`
`.
`
`Sorry, but we don‘t know who your friends are yet. Add friends by
`
`To delete your dodgebal|.com accouni, click here.
`
`(Remember, friends aren‘t "connected" until both approve the
`request)
`
`friends who are outside my homecity (New ‘Iork City)
`You don't have friends in any other cities.
`
`friends I am Not Sending Messages To
`
`You are not blocking any of your friends.
`
`To prevent friend from sending or receiving messages from you,
`click manage friends, (sssh - we won't tell them)
`
`Don's friends of friends
`
`Sorry, you are not connected to any friends-of—friends.
`
`As you connect yourself to more people, friends~of~friends will
`start to appear.
`
`
`MI
`”we:
`3
`-
`',
`»
`,
`*3;
`,
`.
`,5
`"NZ/CV,
`,
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`Pat/oriéyp'eriding.
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`abd Exugylpgfls l 93mm lfjogoutj Copyright @ 005,”§T6dgeb’>jall.‘tonfi‘f'
`
`athl‘i'ome
`
`
`
`FIGURE 11
`
`Snap Inc. EX. 1008 Page 0013
`
`Snap Inc. Ex. 1008 Page 0013
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Sep. 22, 2009
`
`Sheet 12 0f 16
`
`US 7,593,740 B2
`
`bringing gour phone to life mn- sawmma‘ammém
`
`5
`
`You are logged in as donpablo in New York Cit1.[logout]
`
`Suggestions? Bugs? Send them here.
`
`You won't get messages from dodgebafl until you activate your phone. Click here to activate!
`Upload Your Photo
`
`Choose wisely... not only is this pic by which people will recognize you on the site, but it's also the pic we'll send to
`friends-of-friends when they're 10 blocks away. You want to make a good first impression, right?
`
`Oh, and please don't break the Three Golden Rules of Dodgeball Photos:
`
`1. Use a photo of yourself.
`2. No nudie pics. I mean, come'on... let's keep it clean.
`3. No pics containing children, pets, cartoons, celebrities, artwork or copyrighted images.
`
`Note: Breaking these rules can result in having your photo - or in severe cases, your account — deleted.
`
`Your currently don't have a photo. You should upload one!
`(make sure it's a .jpg, 100 x 100 and no larger than 30k)
`
`
`
`(.jpgs only - files larger than 30k \eiil be rejected)
`
`
`
`FIGURE 12
`
`Snap Inc. EX. 1008 Page 0014
`
`Snap Inc. Ex. 1008 Page 0014
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Sep. 22, 2009
`
`Sheet 13 0f 16
`
`US 7,593,740 B2
`
`seam—Mrpeo'plz‘l fve'nu'esa
`
`You are logged in as donpablo in New York Cit1.[logout
`
`Suggestions? Bugs? Send them here.
`
`You won't get messages from dodgeball until you activate your phone. Click here to activate!
` invite your friends
`What good is a friend-finder service if none of your friends are using it?
`
`Want to get your friends connected? Just drop their email addresses in the fields below and we'll shoot them an email.
`
`Your name:
`
`'donpoblo
`
`addresses:
`Your friend‘s email ‘w'
`
`And a message for your friends.
`
`
`
`
`
`FIGURE 13
`
`Snap Inc. EX. 1008 Page 0015
`
`Snap Inc. Ex. 1008 Page 0015
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Sep. 22, 2009
`
`Sheet 14 0f 16
`
`US 7,593,740 B2
`
` SEBICl‘Dl pa’oplE" ’vznues -mm
`
`You are logged in as donpablo in New York city. [logout]
`
`Suggestions? Bugs? Send them here.
`
`You won't get messages from dodgeball until you activate your phone. Click here to activate!
` manage friends
`Yeah. we know... sometimes you just can't say "no" when someone asks vou to be your friend and sometimes you just don‘t want
`certain people to know about where you are. We call this the ”ex-girlfriend bug".
`
`Which is why we built this tool to allow you to pick and choose who you want to send messags to. It‘s simple: keep the. people you
`want to broadcast your location to on the left side, out the people you don't want to send or receive messages from on the right
`side. Click a person‘s photo to move them from one side to the next. Easy.
`
`And the best part? They never have to know about it! Regardless of whether you choose to send to these people or block them,
`you will still appear as their friend on your profile page. Your secret is safe with us.
`
`If you want to delete friends for good, click here. Just remember that if you delete someone, (a) you can‘t “un—do" it and (b) they can
`see that you've deleted them.
`
`Click the plusil‘ns to move friends from one. group to another.
`
`send 5‘ "”9”“: messages from these 9809'“
`
`don't send/reteiue messages from these people
`
`Sorry, but we don't know who your friends are yet. Add friends
`by searching current users or inviting new friends.
`
`You are not blockin
`'
`
`g
`
`an friends
`Y
`'
`
`"
`
`
`
`
`FIGURE 14
`
`Snap Inc. EX. 1008 Page 0016
`
`Snap Inc. Ex. 1008 Page 0016
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Sep. 22, 2009
`
`Sheet 15 0f 16
`
`US 7,593,740 B2
`
`
`
`You are ingqad in as donnablo in than Igr‘k Qitv. [LQQDJLU
`You won't glCmfllw-l frvm dodqtball until you ch'vate your phone. (lick her. to M!
`
`
`
`52mm 3 ‘1 people—l lvznues‘ mam»
`Suggestions? Buos" Send h‘xem here.
`
`w Most Recent comments W
`~ 273 Church Street
`E! S” i
`Raul on £nid1:(05.03.2005)
`at Franklin
`now a williemsburg institution. bathroom
`'
`l
`added by: stgvg
`IS no anger haun‘ed'
`
`
`
`Ja_nj on Riv—5i: (05012005)
`This place has an atrnosghere that can go
`. romantic or friendly-hang-out wary easily.
`Steady latjn music plays at a volume that
`
`still allows conversation and the staff is
`
`always vary accomodatinq. If for nothing
`
`else. come for the creative martini menu,
`
`crook endivo salad and lobster raviolis.
`
`Eggs-mgr:
`209 us! 5th street
`mi on m; (05.01.2005)
`
`at bowerv
`There's a reason this place is busy at all
`add“! by: __Chris
`hours of the night- the atmosphere is
`
`lively, the food is great, and the wine liss
`
`is nothing to laugh at. Do yourself a favor; ...................................-
`
`and pass up piz:a and diner food at 3 in
`
`the morning and head for L‘Express.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Ea
`
`.i
`2 Wast St
`added by: m
`
`r Pa
`
`added by: Jaime
`
`:
`
`:
`
`(05.01.2005)
`Jeni on Remote Loung :
`Lights. camera... no action. If you‘re at
`this bar, chances are it's your first time
`and you came out of curiosity after
`hearing abuuL their tv-meetinu theme. ll:
`will take about 15 minutes for that
`curiosity to wear off so don't plan or.
`staying long.
`
`
`
`
`
`(04.30.2005)
`Leann; on A55 :
`> the lower level is so lovely.
`
`M on film! Tgn: (04.30.2005)
`seems to me this club has something for
`. avaryona. it's pretty and fun.
`
`
`. the 13mm that app‘ies to these oomments ;
`
`
`all_.m_elm l m; i am | Loggia; l Coo-inch: 9 2005, dodqeball.com. patent pmainq
`__,i
`
`FIGURE 15
`
`Snap Inc. EX. 1008 Page 0017
`
`
`
`Mombar _
`2522 Steinway St
`added by: 91::
`SE
`450 Fork Ave ‘2
`added by: 1’63.
`
`12:11 on mg. 951: (05.02.2005)
`load Wednesdays .. Bring in ten track
`play list, and you might get to hear it
`
`.
`(05.02.2005)
`Join} an Lspmlita :
`This place is too Funny- the cntcrtainment :
`indudas a hilariously rich transvestite
`.
`E9111
`05 W 515t
`show that everyone should see at least
`
`btw. 9th and 10th
`once. Don't wear white pants though
`because you'll be sitting on the dance
`added by: 5113
`floor for the 5how. It starts at midnight,
`so don‘t be late!
`
`Egghide
`212 Bill Ave
`added by: 31;);
`
`13
`
`I
`I 39.2mm
`
`143 Madison Ave
`:I
`added by: 5M
`
`‘1 .
`‘v
`l
`279 Church 5:
`added b71111!
`
`“u
`
`Jeni on Culture Clufi : (05.03.2005)
`Boy George dancing on the bar. Enough
`said-
`
`(05.01.2005)
`Jeni on Palaoinka:
`This place rocks. Their crepes are
`Freaking awesome. Yum.
`
`'
`
`'
`
`
`
`by venue name or keywo'rij:
`
`
`
`. Luna Lounqa. panclkes. models.
`319 Bari Hunhr)
`in New York City [ghangg c511}
`
`. Tell us the name of the venue you
`3 want to add, then click 'oontinua'
`VENUE name
`
` I this venue will be added in
`
`New York City [mangg cigx]
`
`,___.....‘._
`
`
`
`
`Snap Inc. Ex. 1008 Page 0017
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 22, 2009
`
`Sheet 16 of 16
`
`US 7,593,740 B2
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Gather Profile Information
`
`Receive Opt Ins
`
`Identify Groups and
`Sub-Groups
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Broadcast Start Message
`
`Broadcast Supplemental
`Messages
`
`Additional
`
`Time?
`
`No
`
`Send Summaries & Update
`Profiles
`
`FIGURE 16
`
`Snap Inc. EX. 1008 Page 0018
`
`Snap Inc. Ex. 1008 Page 0018
`
`

`

`US 7,593,740 B2
`
`1
`LOCATION-BASED SOCIAL SOFTWARE FOR
`MOBILE DEVICES
`
`CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATION
`
`This application claims the benefit of US. Provisional
`Application No. 60/570,410, filed May 12, 2004, and entitled
`“Location-Based Social Software for Mobile Devices,” the
`contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its
`entirety.
`
`TECHNICAL FIELD
`
`This invention relates to systems and methods for connect-
`ing people to each other, and more particularly to connections
`of acquaintances for activities such as socialization.
`
`BACKGROUND
`
`People are social creaturesisome more social than others.
`We express this socialization through relationships, and we
`carry it out through communication. Many communication
`techniques have been usedifrom direct dialogue to smoke
`signals to telegraph to telephone and wireless communica-
`tions, such as cellular telephone. Modern technological
`modes of communication are very convenient, very easy to
`use, and very efficient.
`However, establishing the communication is not always
`easy. Such a step generally involves getting all the people for
`communication on a single communication channel, whether
`in the same room, on a single phone call, or whateverwften
`termed as a “meeting” in a business context or perhaps a
`“party” or “confab” in a social context. Setting up the meeting
`or party is not so easy, however. The process may require
`sending out invitations, either by paper or electronically. The
`organizer may then need to tally up any responses to deter-
`mine who will be coming. Alternatively, an electronic system
`such as a meeting scheduler can keep track of responses.
`Another way to set up a meeting or party is simply to contact
`each invitee directly (or by having a helper do so), such as
`through numerous telephone calls or e-mails messages. Such
`a process can be rather time consuming, and is perhaps too
`much work for a spontaneous get-together. Certain on-line
`systems also can help organize a party, keeping track of
`RSVP’s and other information. Yet these too require advance
`planning and fairly involved organization. In addition, many
`ofthese systems require the organizer to select attendees from
`a manually-created list of acquaintances, such as members of
`an e-mail address book.
`
`SUMMARY
`
`This document discloses systems and methods for allow-
`ing acquaintances to find each other so that they can get
`together, and perhaps have a good time. In general, users of a
`system may employ portable devices, such as e-mail or text-
`message enabled telephones, to identify their location to their
`acquaintances, such as through a server that keeps track of
`relationships established between users. The system may also
`determine the distance between users so that only users in
`close proximity to each other trade communications. In this
`way, users do not receive communications if it is impracti-
`cable for them to establish a meeting with their acquaintance
`or acquaintances.
`In some embodiments, such a system may have a number
`of advantages. For example, a system may allow for conve-
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`2
`
`nient communication among friends who like to socialize but
`do not want to plan every outing. The system may also allow
`for spontaneous socializing, where friends who were not
`thinking of being with each other end up together for a fun
`evening. In addition, a system may help avoid the problem of
`friends who were out near each other, but never realized it
`until later. In general, the system has the ability to turn an
`otherwise lackluster evening into a very fun night on the town.
`Also, the system may be extended using well-known social
`networking approaches to allow for communications, not
`only with direct friends, but with friends of friends and other
`further relations. In addition, people may be related to others
`by the system according to interests provided by each user or
`inferred by the system. As such, a particular evening may be
`improved for a user, and by meeting additional people, the
`person’s entire social life can be improved. No more sitting
`alone and lonely.
`One embodiment of such a system can be found at the
`Dodgeball web site, hosted at www.dodgeball.com. This sys-
`tem is directed to location-based social software for mobile
`
`devices, such as cellular telephones. The system provides a
`unique means by which friends can register themselves with
`the system, so that the system knows who their acquaintances
`are or should be. The user may then identify their location,
`and receive information about the status of nearby friends,
`while those nearby friends learn the status of the user. When
`integrated with features such as coordination of reviews of
`various venues, and the ability to send a message by shouting
`it out to one’s friends, this system has drawn a number of
`users recently and a number of positive comments.
`In one aspect, a method is disclosed for establishing con-
`nection between users of mobile devices. The method com-
`
`prises receiving at a computer a location of a first user from a
`first mobile device, receiving from a second mobile device a
`location of a second user having an acquaintance relationship
`to the first user, and sending a message to the first mobile
`device based on the proximity of the first user to the second
`user. The user locations may be determined by converting a
`location proxy (which may comprise a venue name) to a set of
`corresponding location coordinates, which may comprise
`GPS coordinates. The venue name may be parsed form an
`electronic mail message, and the electronic mail message
`may be parsed into components from a MIME header. The
`message may also be sent over a text messaging system.
`In some aspects, the acquaintance relationship may be a
`friend relationship or a friend-of—a-friend relationship. The
`location of the first user may also be retired a predetermined
`time after receiving the location of the first user, so that other
`users may no longer learn the location of the first user. In
`addition a message to the second mobile device may be
`blocked based on a selection by the first user to hide from the
`second user.
`
`In yet other aspects, a venue review may be received from
`a third user and the review may be made available to the first
`user and the second user. In addition, a message may be sent
`to the second mobile device based on the proximity of the
`users to each other. Also, the first sent message may provide
`the identity of the second user, and the second sent message
`may provide an indication that another user is in the proximity
`of the second user, without providing the identity of the first
`user.
`
`In another aspect, a system for providing information about
`acquaintances is provided. The system may include an inter-
`face to receiving messages from users ofthe system providing
`information associated with their location, a location engine
`configured to