Proximity-based messaging

Abstract

Users of a proximity-based messaging system may be added to one or more proximity-based messaging groups that include users of user devices within an active area for the proximity-based messaging group and/or users meeting other criteria for being added to the group. Proximity-based messaging groups may be associated with events, such as music festivals, concerts, sporting events, and other gatherings and events. The active area of a proximity-based messaging group may correspond to a location of an event, an area surrounding an event, an area within an event location, and the like.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for providing proximity-based messaging, the method comprising:
 determining, based on a direction of travel of a user device and a location of the user device, whether the user device is traveling toward an active area for a proximity-based messaging group; and   responsive to determining that the user device is traveling toward the active area, adding the user device to the proximity-based messaging group; and   updating a location or a shape of the active area when:
 each of a specified number of user devices within the active area moves in or out of the active area; and 
 the specified number of user devices changes. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the user device comprises a cellular telephone. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising using a messaging engine to manage the proximity-based messaging group. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising executing the messaging engine on a communication server. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising targeting a message to a portion of the proximity-based messaging group. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the proximity-based messaging group includes at least two members who have no previous connection with each other. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising presenting a list of members of the proximity-based messaging group. 
     
     
         8 . A method for providing proximity-based messaging, the method comprising:
 determining an active area for a proximity-based messaging group;   determining whether context information meets criteria for adding a user device to the proximity-based messaging group;   responsive to determining that the context information meets the criteria for adding the user device to the proximity-based messaging group, adding the user device to the proximity-based messaging group;   determining, based on a direction of travel of the user device and a location of the user device, whether the user device is traveling toward an active area for the proximity-based messaging group;   responsive to determining that the user device is traveling toward the active area, adding the user to the proximity-based messaging group; and   updating a location or a shape of the active area when:
 each of a specified number of user devices within the active area moves in or out of the active area; and 
 the specified number of user devices changes. 
   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising determining the location of the user device according to information received from the user device. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising managing communications for the proximity-based messaging group using a cellular network. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising continuously updating members of the proximity-based messaging group. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the specified number of user devices includes at least one cellular telephone. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising receiving a message for at least a first device of the proximity-based messaging group from at least a second device of the proximity-based messaging group. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the user device is a cellular telephone. 
     
     
         15 . A system, comprising:
 a non-transitory storage medium storing instructions; and   a processor that executes the instructions to:
 determine, based on a direction of travel of a user device and a location of the user device, whether the user device is traveling toward an active area for a proximity-based messaging group; and 
 responsive to determining that the user device is traveling toward the active area, add the user device to the proximity-based messaging group; and 
 update a location or a shape of the active area when:
 each of a specified number of user devices within the active area moves in or out of the active area; and 
 the specified number of user devices changes. 
 
   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the processor further executes the instructions to determine the location of the user device. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the processor further executes the instructions to determine the location of the user device using triangulation. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the processor further executes the instructions to communicate with the proximity-based messaging group via a cellular network. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the processor further executes the instructions to modify the proximity-based messaging group according to context information. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the context information includes a calendar appointment or social media information.