US 9,119,038 Systems and methods for comparative geofencing
4 defendants · 4 suits · updated October 6, 2026
Also cited as U.S. Patent No. 9,119,038 · US9119038B2 · US 9,119,038 B2 · 9119038 · the '038 patent
Yopima, LLC has filed 4 patent-infringement suits on US 9,119,038, "Systems and methods for comparative geofencing" since May 22, 2026, 2 of them in the S.D. Tex., against 4 distinct defendants including GoBrands, Inc., ParkMobile, LLC and SpotHero, Inc.. The patent was granted August 25, 2015 on a priority date of May 21, 2013. Its abstract opens: "The present disclosure describes systems and methods for time-based geolocation queries, with designated planned arrival and/or departure times or event start/end times." The examiner cited 2 references during prosecution.
- Assignee
- YOPIMA LLC
- Priority date
- May 21, 2013
- Granted
- August 25, 2015
- Expires
- May 21, 2033
- Status
- Active
- Claims
- 20 (3 independent)
- Inventors
- Vernell Woods, Dennis Campbell, Troy Nunnally, Travis Nunnally, Alexander Mims
- Full text
- Google Patents
The suits
4 cases · S.D. Tex. (2) · S.D. Fla. (1) · W.D. Tex. (1)
| Filed | Defendant | Plaintiff | Court | Docket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-22 | GoBrands, Inc. | Yopima, LLC | S.D. Fla. | 1:26-cv-23639 |
| 2026-07-14 | ParkMobile, LLC | Yopima, LLC | S.D. Tex. | 4:26-cv-05566 |
| 2026-07-14 | SpotHero, Inc. | Yopima, LLC | S.D. Tex. | 4:26-cv-05568 |
| 2026-07-30 | FlashParking, Inc. | Yopima, LLC | W.D. Tex. | 7:26-cv-00286 |
Docket links open the public record on CourtListener. Filing dates are the complaint's.
Independent claims
What is actually asserted, verbatim.
1. A method for tracking locations of a plurality of devices within overlapping geofences, comprising: receiving, by a location analyzer executed by a computing device, an identification of (i) a first region defined by a first geofence; (ii) a second region defined by a second geofence distinct from the first geofence; and (iii) a third region defined by a third geofence including the first region and second region; receiving, by the location analyzer, a plurality of arrival notifications from a corresponding plurality of devices, each arrival notification sent by each device responsive to said device determining it has entered the third geofence; receiving, by the location analyzer, user information for a user of each of the plurality of devices; identifying, by the location analyzer, a first subset of the plurality of devices that are within the first region and a second subset of the plurality of devices that are within the second region; comparing, by the location analyzer, user information of the users of the first subset of the plurality of devices and user information of the users of the second subset of the plurality of devices; and transmitting, by the location analyzer to a second computing device, a comparison metric identifying a difference between users of the first subset of the plurality of devices and users of the second subset of the plurality of devices.
7. A system for tracking locations of a plurality of devices within overlapping geofences, comprising: a computing device comprising a processor executing a location analyzer configured for: receiving an identification of (i) a first region defined by a first geofence; (ii) a second region defined by a second geofence distinct from the first geofence; and (iii) a third region defined by a third geofence including the first region and second region, receiving a plurality of arrival notifications from a corresponding plurality of devices, each arrival notification sent by each device responsive to said device determining it has entered the third geofence, receiving user information for a user of each of the plurality of devices, identifying a first subset of the plurality of devices that are within the first region and a second subset of the plurality of devices that are within the second region, comparing user information of the users of the first subset of the plurality of devices and user information of the users of the second subset of the plurality of devices, and transmitting, to a second computing device, a comparison metric identifying a difference between users of the first subset of the plurality of devices and users of the second subset of the plurality of devices.
13. A method for tracking locations of a plurality of devices within overlapping geofences, comprising: receiving, by a portable computing device, an identification of a first geofence defining a first region; determining a current location of the portable computing device; comparing the current location of the portable computing device to the identified first geofence; and transmitting, by the portable computing device to a second computing device, an arrival notification, responsive to determining that the current location of the portable computing device is within the identified first region, the arrival notification including an identification of the current location of the portable computing device within one of a plurality of subregions of the first region defined by a corresponding plurality of geofences.
Art before the examiner
2 references of record, 2 cited by the examiner.
Everything listed here was before the Office and is what a challenge must go beyond. Art the examiner never saw is where an invalidity search starts.
Examiner-cited
- US20130103307A1 — Method, system and apparatus for determining geofence data based on estimated time of arrival (Research In Motion Limited)
- US8977296B1 — Methods and systems for setting up geo fences and delivering digital media content based on such geo fences (T3 Innovation Labs, LLC)
Classification
- H04W4/028primary
- H04W4/029primary — Location-based management or tracking services
- H04L67/18
- H04L67/52 — Network services specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
- H04W4/021 — Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
- Y02D30/70 — Reducing energy consumption in communication networks in wireless communication networks
Family
- US9119038B2 — B2 (2015)
- US20140351328A1 — A1 (2014)
Abstract
The present disclosure describes systems and methods for time-based geolocation queries, with designated planned arrival and/or departure times or event start/end times. The number of queries can be drastically reduced to reduce battery, bandwidth, and processing requirements; or the rate of queries can be increased within a specified time frame, providing much higher resolution of geolocation information. Geolocation information may be monitored via notifications from portable devices to identify demographics of users within identified regions and subregions, allowing real-time, dynamic comparison of demographic information between locations, such as restaurants, clubs, or events.
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This page is assembled from public records — federal court dockets and the patent's own file — and is updated as the case list changes. It states what the record shows and is not an opinion on the validity or infringement of any claim. Patent data via Google Patents; docket data via CourtListener.