Foursquare, NFC - Location-based Check-ins Made “Easier”

ReadWriteWeb provided details on near field communication (NFC) might be used by foursquare to make it easier to check-in to certain retail venues without the need to open the app and manually perform a search. Using NFC, the user merely swipes the mobile device near an NFC tag. Since people merely forget to "check-in" this new option certainly facilitates the process and lowers the barrier to utilizing location-based apps. It might even further the benefits of location-based adverting. See also our coverage of Blue Bite (1, 2).

-- ReadWriteWeb

Four New Patents Issued to TeleCommunications Systems Fills Holes in LBS Apps

TeleCommunications Systems Inc. (TSYS) had four patents approved by the U.S. Patent Office that address some additional functionality that may eventually be provided by mobile location-based service application developers, includeing:

• Method and System for Saving and Retrieving Spatial Related Information" (U.S. Patent No. 7,903,001)
• Method and Apparatus for Sending, Retrieving and Planning Location Relevant Information" (U.S. Patent No. 7,913,179)
• Wireless Network Location-Based Reference Information" (U.S. Patent No. 7,904,100)
• Location Sensitive Messaging" (U.S. Patent No. 7,899,468)

The first on the list above records location and time with events. The ability to "timestamp" an event is not new but the invention is focused on the ability of an application to alert a user within the bounds of location at a specific time. Think of coupons that could be sent to you ONLY during the time period the promotion is open and valid and ONLY when you are within proximity of the offer. Location-based alerts for retail loyality programs are nice but its nice to know that certain constraints may be placed on them.

For the second patent (if I'm reading the description correctly), the invention allows the use of a GUI to point on a map and send your location information to your friend or group of friends. Think of it as eliminating the list places you might see in Foursquare and just pointing to your location on a map, provided that the map can accurately geocode you in close proximity to where you really are. Certain privacy controls are also part of this patent.

Patent #3 above has to do with sending a text message to a 4-1-1 service that includes the user's location so that the information sent back to the user is location-relevant.

The fourth patent described above will send a text message to a friend or "buddy list" whenever the user "checks-in" to a certain location. While an application like Foursquare will list your name when you check in, your friends also have to be using Foursquare and "checked-in" to the same location. The invention also provides that the text message will be sent only if your buddy is within proximity to you. I'm not certian how those proximity settings are established such that you must determine your own geofence.

These are all interesting inventions by TCS and have the ability to close some of the gaps left by existing location-based social networking apps, loyalty programs or apps like Groupon. By offering these kinds of location-based features to wireless providers and app developers, you can begin to see the progression of technology and increasing sophistication of applications. Eventually, we'll see these features brought to market and see which ones are of most benefit to users.

Some of my analysis was supported by an overview in SatNews.com.

[Disclosure: The author owns stock in TCS]