Targeted advertising in a situational network

What is this patent about?

’932 is related to the field of situational networking and targeted content delivery. It addresses the technical challenge of dynamically organizing disparate users into a cohesive communication structure during transient events, such as natural disasters, traffic incidents, or social gatherings, where traditional social graphs may not exist or be relevant.

The underlying idea behind ’932 is the creation of a situational network that automatically aggregates users based on their relationship to a specific event rather than their pre-existing social connections. By leveraging real-time situational data and personal information aggregators, the system can determine a user's specific role or risk level—such as an emergency responder versus an affected resident—to facilitate the delivery of highly relevant information and commercial content.

The claims of ’932 focus on a method and system for delivering targeted advertisements by automatically connecting user devices to a situational network in response to a detected event. The process involves triggering an automatic redirection of web browsers to a situational webpage and selecting advertisements based on a determined affiliation, which specifically accounts for how the situation affects the individual or their physical property.

In practice, the invention utilizes a multi-dimensional personal information network to establish an event node that serves as the hub for the situational network. The system assigns different access levels to participants, such as emergency personnel or local residents, and creates specific projections of the network to filter information flow. This allows the system to aggregate situational data from users while simultaneously providing them with localized updates and advertisements tailored to their immediate needs, such as hotel vacancies for travelers or emergency supplies for homeowners.

This approach differs from prior solutions by moving beyond simple proximity-based targeting to a more sophisticated affiliation-based logic. Rather than just broadcasting to everyone in a zip code, the system distinguishes between users based on their specific role or the degree to which they are impacted by the event. By integrating automatic browser redirection and tiered access levels, the invention ensures that critical situational information and relevant commercial offers are prioritized and delivered to the most appropriate sub-groups within the dynamic network.