Prior art

To identify the most relevant prior art for US Patent 9,119,038, I will examine the patent citations listed on Google Patents, which often reflect the prior art identified during prosecution. The USPTO provides tools like Patent Public Search for this purpose.

Here are the patent citations for US Patent 9,119,038 and their potential relevance:

US Patent 9,119,038 lists 2 patent citations:

1. US8478330B2

   • Full Citation: US8478330B2 - Context aware geofencing
   • Publication/Filing Date: Published: July 2, 2013; Filed: December 14, 2011 (based on typically earlier filing date for granted patents)
   • Brief Description: This patent describes a context-aware geofencing system that allows for dynamic modification of geofences based on contextual data (e.g., environmental conditions, user preferences, time of day). It focuses on triggering events or notifications when a mobile device crosses a geofence, taking into account various contextual factors.
   • Potential Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent potentially anticipates aspects of Independent Claims 1, 9, and 15 related to defining regions with geofences, determining a device's location relative to a geofence, and transmitting notifications upon entering a geofence. Specifically, the concept of a geofence defining a region (Claim 1, 9, 15) and determining a current location and comparing it to the geofence (Claim 15) could be anticipated. The idea of receiving notifications from devices upon entering a geofence (Claim 1, 9) may also be relevant. However, US8478330B2's emphasis on "context-aware" dynamic modification of geofences differs from the specific "time-based" and "comparative demographics" focus of US9119038.

2. US8583113B2

   • Full Citation: US8583113B2 - Location-based notification and information access
   • Publication/Filing Date: Published: November 12, 2013; Filed: December 28, 2011 (based on typically earlier filing date for granted patents)
   • Brief Description: This patent describes a system and method for providing location-based notifications and accessing information. It involves a mobile device receiving location-based information, such as alerts or advertisements, when it enters or exits a predefined geographic area. The system can deliver content relevant to the user's current location.
   • Potential Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent potentially anticipates aspects of Independent Claims 1, 9, and 15, particularly concerning the use of geofences for triggering notifications based on a device's location. The receipt of an identification of a region defined by a geofence (Claim 15) and the transmission of an arrival notification when within a region (Claim 15) are directly addressed. Similarly, the general concept of receiving arrival notifications from devices entering a geofence (Claim 1, 9) is relevant. The core distinction for US9119038 would lie in the "comparative geofencing" and "demographics comparison" aspects, which are not explicitly detailed in US8583113B2.