Dynamic determination of public spaces and third party data incorporation for location-based mapping systems and methods

Abstract

A system that allows participating users to find other users with similar interests or characteristics based on a map area on a requesting device and the characteristics of each user. The system only reports a counter so as to preserve user anonymity and safety. The system preserves the user anonymity and safety in even granular searches using zoomed-in map views by comparing a map elevation level with a threshold and then a counted number of matched devices against a number of devices threshold. If the map is too zoomed in and there are not enough devices within the zoomed in area, the system does not provide a counter.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium containing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to execute the steps of:
 receive, from a first mobile computing device, a selection of a location on a map displayed via a first application;   obtain location data for the selected location from a map database;   determine that the location is a public location based on the location data; and   in response to determining that the location is a public location:
 determining a number of mobile computing devices from a plurality of mobile computing devices present within an area associated with the location based on location data received from the plurality of mobile computing devices and the location data of the selected location; and 
 causing the first application to present a counter indicating the number of users present within the area associated with the selected location. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the location data includes an hours of operation data field associated with the selected location. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein determining that the location is a public location further comprises instructions that cause the processor to:
 compare the current time against the hours of operation data field; and   determine that selected location is a public location if the current time is within a span of time denoted by the hours of operation data field.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the location data comprises at least one user review for the selected location, wherein determining that the location is a public location further comprises instructions that cause the processor to:
 count the at least one user review to determine a number of user reviews;   compare the number of user reviews against a threshold amount; and   if the number of user reviews is greater than or equal to the threshold amount, determine that the selected location is a public location.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein determining that the location is a public location further comprises instructions that cause the processor to:
 determine whether the plurality of mobile devices present within the area meets a density threshold amount; and   if the density threshold amount is met, determine that the selected location is a public location.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein determining that the location is a public location further comprises instructions that cause the processor to:
 obtain emergency information of an emergency occurring at the selected location; and   in response to obtaining the emergency information, determine that the selected location is a public location.   
     
     
         7 . A method for determining a public location for user networking, comprising:
 receiving, by a processor and from a first mobile computing device, a selection of a location on a map displayed via a first application;   obtaining, by the processor, location data for the selected location from a map database;   determining, by the processor, that the location is a public location based on the location data; and   in response to determining that the location is a public location:
 determining, by the processor, a number of mobile computing devices from a plurality of mobile computing devices present within an area associated with the location based on location data received from the plurality of mobile computing devices and the location data of the selected location; and 
 causing, by the processor, the first application to present a counter indicating the number of users present within the area associated with the selected location 
   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the location data includes an hours of operation data field associated with the selected location. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein determining that the location is a public location further comprises:
 comparing, by the processor, the current time against the hours of operation data field; and   determining, by the processor, that selected location is a public location if the current time is within a span of time denoted by the hours of operation data field.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the location data comprises at least one user review for the selected location, and wherein determining that the location is a public location further comprises:
 counting, by the processor, the at least one user review to determine a number of user reviews;   comparing, by the processor, the number of user reviews against a threshold amount; and   if the number of user reviews is greater than or equal to the threshold amount, determining, by the processor, that the selected location is a public location.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein determining that the location is a public location further comprises:
 determining, by the processor, whether the plurality of mobile devices present within the area meets a density threshold amount; and   if the density threshold amount is met, determining, by the processor, that the selected location is a public location.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein determining that the location is a public location further comprises:
 obtaining, by the processor, emergency information of an emergency occurring at the selected location; and   in response to obtaining the emergency information, determining, by the processor, that the selected location is a public location.