Location-based content enablement system

Abstract

A content enablement system enables or disables playback or viewing of a content file based on the proximity of a portable electronic device (PED) of a user with an object. The content file is generated and associated with the object only when the PED is within a predetermined distance of the object. The system thereafter only enables playback of the content file if the PED is within the predetermined distance of the object. The system includes location services, content playback, and content capturing modules, all of which may be executed on the PED or a server communicating with the PED through a network. The content files associated with the object may be grouped into a virtual property, the moderating rights of which may be bought and sold. Users are designated as STANDARD or VIP users, with standard users able to subscribe to content files generated by VIP users.

1 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A system, comprising:
 one or more computer processors;   a location services module configured to:
 detect a location of a portable electronic device (PED); and 
 determine a proximity of the PED to an external entity associated with an identifier; 
   a content capturing module configured to:
 capture production content and associate the production content with the identifier of the external entity; and 
   a content playback module configured to execute on the computer processors to enable the computer processors to:
 identify, based on the identifier, consumption content associated with the external entity; 
 restrict presentation of the consumption content based on determining that the proximity exceeds a predefined threshold; and 
 enable presentation of the consumption content based on determining that the proximity does not exceed the predefined threshold. 
   
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the location services module includes a geographic location system and wherein the identifier includes the geographic coordinates of the entity. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the location services module includes a wireless radio signal system, and wherein the entity includes a wireless transmitter for broadcasting the identifier. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the location services module includes an optical camera, and wherein the identifier of the entity includes a unique optical signature of the entity. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the portable electronic device is communicatively coupled with a server through a network, the server including a first non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, the portable electronic device including a second non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the location services module includes a client portion that is operable to determine and communicate the location of the portable electronic device to the server and a server portion that is operable to determine the proximity of the portable electronic device to the entity,
 wherein the content capturing module includes a client portion for capturing and communicating the content file to the server and a server portion that saves the content file in the first non-transitory computer-readable storage medium and associates the content file with the identifier of the entity, and   wherein the content playback module includes a server portion that provides a list of content files that are enabled for presentation on the portable electronic device and a client portion that presents the content list and then a content file selected by the user.   
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein a presentation system proximate the entity is adapted to receive and present the content file from the server when the portable electronic device is within a minimum distance of the entity. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the content capturing module is adapted to prompt the user to select one of a plurality of privacy levels to associate with the content file, and to then associate a selected privacy level with the content file. 
     
     
         31 . A method for content presentation, the method comprising:
 detecting a location of a portable electronic device (PED);   determining, using the PED, a proximity of the PED to an external entity associated with an identifier;   identifying, based on the identifier, content associated with the external entity;   restricting presentation of the content based on determining that the proximity exceeds a predefined threshold; and   enabling presentation of the content based on determining that the proximity does not exceed the predefined threshold.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising comparing a geographic location of the portable electronic device generated by a geographic location system of the portable electronic device with known geographic coordinates of the entity. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising measuring the strength of a wireless radio signal between the portable electronic device and a wireless transmitter of the entity transmitting the identifier of the entity. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising comparing an image captured by an optical camera of the portable electronic device and a unique optical signature of the entity. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 31 :
 wherein:
 the portable electronic device is communicatively coupled with a server through a network, the server including a first non-transitory computer-readable storage medium; and 
   further comprising:
 determining and communicating the location of the portable electronic device to the server and determining the proximity of the portable electronic device to the entity; 
 capturing and communicating the content file to the server and storing the content file in the first non-transitory computer-readable storage medium and associating the content file with the identifier of the entity; and 
 providing a list of content files that are enabled for presentation on the portable electronic device and presenting the content list and then a content file selected by the user. 
   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35  further comprising prompting the user to associate one of a plurality of privacy levels to the content file and then associating a selected privacy level with the content file. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 35  further comprising:
 prompting the user to associate one of a plurality of privacy levels to the content file, designated as “public,” “friend,” and “private,” and then associating the selected privacy level with the content file; and 
 disabling presentation of the content file for any user other than the user after a preset expiration time if the selected privacy level of the content file is not “private.” 
 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37  further comprising:
 grouping all of the content files that are not designated a privacy level of “private” and that are associated with the entity into a virtual property; and 
 providing administrative rights to an owner of the virtual property to edit, delete, or present the public content files of all users associated with the property. 
 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 35  further comprising:
 designating all users as either “standard” or “VIP” users, and thereafter allowing the standard user the option of subscribing to the content files generated by a VIP user when the portable electronic device of the standard user is within a second predetermined distance of the portable electronic device of the VIP users, as determined by the server; and 
 enabling presentation to the standard user of the content file generated by a VIP user to which the standard user is subscribed until a preset expiration time. 
 
     
     
         40 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising a plurality of instructions for content presentation, the plurality of instructions configured to execute on one or more computer processors to enable the computer processors to:
 detect a location of a portable electronic device (PED);   determine, using the PED, a proximity of the PED to an external entity associated with an identifier;   identify, based on the identifier, content associated with the external entity;   restrict presentation of the content based on determining that the proximity exceeds a predefined threshold; and   enable presentation of the content based on determining that the proximity does not exceed the predefined threshold.   
     
     
         41 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 40 , wherein the plurality of instructions further enable the computer processors to compare a geographic location of the portable electronic device generated by a geographic location system of the portable electronic device with known geographic coordinates of the entity. 
     
     
         42 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 40 , wherein the plurality of instructions further enable the computer processors to measure the strength of a wireless radio signal between the portable electronic device and a wireless transmitter of the entity transmitting the identifier of the entity. 
     
     
         43 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 40 , wherein the plurality of instructions further enable the computer processors to compare an image captured by an optical camera of the portable electronic device and a unique optical signature of the entity. 
     
     
         44 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 40 , wherein the plurality of instructions further enable the computer processors to prompt the user to associate one of a plurality of privacy levels to the content file and then associate a selected privacy level with the content file.