Public and private geo-fences

Abstract

Embodiments for implementing public and private geo-fences are generally described herein. A system comprises a geo-fence server adapted to: receive geographical coordinates of a device; determine that the device is located in a geo-fence; determine a type of the geo-fence; and transmit a notification to the device based on the type of the geo-fence. A mobile device for using person-to-person geo-fences is adapted to: receive a geo-fence object; store the geo-fence object at the mobile device; subsequent to storing the geo-fence object, obtain a geographical position of the mobile device; determine whether the mobile device is located in a geo-fence based on the geographical position; determine whether the geo-fence object is associated with the geo-fence; and present the geo-fence object when the geo-fence object is associated with the geo-fence.

1 . A system for using public and private geo-fences the system comprising:
 a geo-fence server adapted to:
 receive an indication that a device is in a geo-fence based on geographical coordinates of the device; 
 determine a type of the geo-fence as a public geo-fence type or a private geo-fence type, the type of the geo-fence selectable in a user interface; and 
 cause the transmission of a notification to the device based on the type of the geo-fence. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein to cause the transmission of the notification to the device, the geo-fence server is adapted to:
 identify a user of the device;   determine whether the user is a valid recipient of the notification; and   cause the transmission of the notification when the user is a valid recipient.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the geo-fence is a private geo-fence type, and wherein to cause the transmission of the notification to the device, the geo-fence server is adapted to:
 identify a user of the device;   determine whether the user is a member of a group associated with the geo-fence; and   cause the transmission of the notification when the user is a member of the group associated with the geo-fence.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the group is defined based on a social network group associated with the user. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the geo-fence is a personal geo-fence. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein to cause the transmission of the notification to the device, the geo-fence server is adapted to:
 identify a user of the device;   determine whether the user is a creator of the geo-fence; and   cause the transmission of the notification when the user is the creator of the geo-fence.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the type of the geo-fence area is a public geo-fence from a trusted source. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the trusted source is authenticated using a certificate system. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein to cause the transmission of the notification, the geo-fence server is adapted to cause the transmission of an indication that the geo-fence is from a trusted source. 
     
     
         10 . A method for using public and private geo-fences, the method comprising:
 determining by the geo-fence server that a device is in a geo-fence fence based on geographical coordinates of the device;   determining a type of the geo-fence as a public geo-fence type or a private geo-fence type, the type of the geo-fence selectable in a user interface; and   transmitting a notification to the device based on the type of the geo-fence.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein transmitting the notification to the device comprises:
 identifying a user of the device;   determining whether the user is a valid recipient of the notification; and   transmitting the notification when the user is a valid recipient.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein transmitting the notification to the device comprises:
 identifying a user of the device;   determining whether the user is a member of a group associated with the geo-fence; and   transmitting the notification when the user is a member of the group associated with the geo-fence.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the group is defined based on a social network group associated with the user. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the type of the geo-fence area is a public geo-fence from a trusted source. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the trusted source is authenticated using a certificate system. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein transmitting the notification comprises transmitting an indication that the geo-fence is from a trusted source. 
     
     
         17 . A non-transitory machine-readable medium including instructions for using public and private geo-fences, which when executed by a geo-fence server, cause the geo-fence server to perform operations comprising:
 receiving an indication that a device is in a geo-fence fence based on geographical coordinates of the device;   identifying a type of the geo-fence as a public geo-fence type or a private geo-fence type, the type of the geo-fence selectable in a user interface; and   causing the transmission of a notification to the device based on the type of the geo-fence.   
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the instructions for causing the transmission of the notification to the device comprise instructions for:
 identifying a user of the device;   determining whether the user is a valid recipient of the notification; and   causing the transmission of the notification when the user is a valid recipient.   
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the instructions for causing the transmission of the notification to the device comprise instructions for:
 identifying a user of the device;   determining whether the user is a member of a group associated with the geo-fence; and   causing the transmission of the notification when the user is a member of the group associated with the geo-fence.   
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 19 , wherein the group is defined based on a social network group associated with the user.