Status Update Propagation Based On Crowd Or POI Similarity

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for following status updates of users. In one 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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 a communication interface;   at least one processor; and   memory storing software executable by the at least one processor, whereby the system is adapted to:   receive a Point of Interest (POI) match request that identifies a select POI;   in response to receiving the POI match request, identify one or more matching POIs that match the select POI at least to a predefined threshold degree based on aggregate profiles for crowds located at the select POI and the one or more matching POIs; and   effect delivery of status updates received from a plurality of users located at one or more POIs of the one or more matching POIs.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the status updates are received from a plurality of mobile devices of the plurality of users. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein to identify the one or more matching POIs, the system is adapted to identify the one or more matching POIs that match the select POI at least to the predefined threshold degree based on data that describes the select POI and the one or more matching POIs. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein to identify the one or more matching POIs, the system is adapted to identify the one or more matching POIs that match the select POI at least to the predefined threshold degree based on geographic locations of the select POI and the one or more matching POIs. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein to identify the one or more matching POIs, the system is adapted to identify the one or more matching POIs that match the select POI at least to the predefined threshold degree based on at least one of a degree of fragmentation and a degree of separation of the select POI and the one or more matching POIs. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein to identify the one or more matching POIs, the system is adapted to identify the one or more matching POIs that match the select POI at least to the predefined threshold degree based on a number of users at the select POI and a number of users at each of the one or more matching POIs. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  wherein to identify the one or more matching POIs, the system is adapted to identify the one or more matching POIs that match the select POI at least to the predefined threshold degree based on a number of crowds at the select POI and a number of crowds at each of the one or more matching POIs. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the select POI is a current POI at which a requestor is located at the time of the POI match request. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the crowds located at the select POI are in a bounding region which is established based on the POI. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the status updates from the plurality of users at one or more of the matching POIs are status updates from one or more crowds located at the one or more matching POIs. 
     
     
         11 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 receiving a Point of Interest (POI) match request that identifies a select POI;   in response to receiving the POI match request, identifying one or more matching POIs that match the select POI at least to a predefined threshold degree based on aggregate profiles for crowds located at the select POI and aggregate profiles for crowds located at the one or more matching POIs; and   effecting delivery of status updates received from a plurality of users located at one or more POIs of the one or more matching POIs.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the status updates are received from a plurality of mobile devices. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein identifying the one or more matching POIs comprises identifying the one or more matching POIs that match the select POI at least to the predefined threshold degree based on data that describes the select POI and the one or more matching POIs. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11  wherein identifying the one or more matching POIs comprises identifying the one or more matching POIs that match the select POI at least to the predefined threshold degree based on geographic locations of the select POI and the one or more matching POIs. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11  wherein identifying the one or more matching POIs comprises identifying the one or more matching POIs that match the select POI at least to the predefined threshold degree based on at least one of a degree of fragmentation and a degree of separation of the select POI and the one or more matching POIs. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11  wherein identifying the one or more matching POIs comprises identifying the one or more matching POIs that match the select POI at least to the predefined threshold degree based on a number of users at the select POI and a number of users at each of the one or more matching POIs. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11  wherein identifying the one or more matching POIs comprises identifying the one or more matching POIs that match the select POI at least to the predefined threshold degree based on a number of crowds at the select POI and a number of crowds at each of the one or more matching POIs. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the select POI is a current POI at which a requestor is located at the time of the POI match request. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the crowds located at the select POI are in a bounding region established based on the select POI. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the status updates from the plurality of users at one or more of the matching POIs are status updates from a plurality of users in one or more crowds located at the one or more matching POIs