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Amazon Granted Location Tracking Patent

Posted by Unknown on from the think-of-the-incredible-deals dept.

bizwriter writes "A new patent for Amazon just put the company squarely in the location tracking controversy. It covers a system to not only track, through mobile devices, where individuals or aggregated users have been, but to determine where they're likely to go next to better target ads, coupons, or other messages that could appear on a mobile phone or on displays that individuals are likely to see in their travels. The system could also use someone's identity to further tailor the marketing according to demographic information."

15 of 68 comments (clear)

  1. This is good news! by Zandamesh · · Score: 5, Funny

    Just don't buy from amazon and you won't be tracked!

    --
    Lo and behold, for I am a sig!
    1. Re:This is good news! by Hentes · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Because nobody else is tracking you.

  2. Yet another stupid patent by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

    As this has been done before - see "scavenger hunts": http://www.cellphonesinlearning.com/2010/01/scvngr-cell-phone-scavenger-hunt.html

    1. Re:Yet another stupid patent by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

      It's one thing when people read the out-of-context summary of a patent and then start bitching about that without reading the actual claims. However, you are even worse, in that the SUMMARY explained that the patent involved predicting where a person will go next. Are you telling me that these scavenger hunts involved predicting where the participants were going to go next? I fail to see that mentioned in your link, nor can I imagine how it would come into play.

  3. If I don't go anywhere by ackthpt · · Score: 3, Informative

    Then they got nothin'

    The way the budget is shaping up this Christmas, that's all they gonna get.

    Of course, statistics gathered from Geocaching might prove prior art, no?

    --

    A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
  4. Re:As terrible as it sounds... by Superken7 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    What makes you think Amazon will not be suing others for ridiculous and non-innovative technology such as buying items with 1 click? Oh wait, they already did AFAIK :)

    Still, I feel Apple is more of a patent troll and more of a control freak, so I kinda still agree that they are worse, but that doesn't mean its good, and comparing to Apple would be pointless.

  5. Already doing it? by alphred · · Score: 5, Interesting

    The last update of the Amazon Android app had a new security requirement that it be able to read your GPS and gather fine location data. That was the end of that app on my device. I don't mind that they track what I look at on their web site or thru their app, but to track where I am to be able to sell that information to others just pisses me off.

    On the other hand, perhaps I should load the app, but only turn it on when I'm in Barnes and Noble looking at Nooks.

    1. Re:Already doing it? by Wahakalaka · · Score: 4, Interesting

      What pisses me off is that these companies think they have some kind of entitlement to profit off of me and my data. If anyone should be able to monetize and sell my own information, it's me. If they offered to pay me for it, then and only then will I consent to anything.

      --
      The truth is somewhere in the middle.
    2. Re:Already doing it? by tlhIngan · · Score: 4, Informative

      What pisses me off is that these companies think they have some kind of entitlement to profit off of me and my data. If anyone should be able to monetize and sell my own information, it's me. If they offered to pay me for it, then and only then will I consent to anything.

      Well, if it's Amazon, they did "pay you" for your information. And you did consent to it.

      You chose to shop there for some reason - be it the cheaper prices (the "payment" is the discount), or the convenience of just having it right there rather than drive all over the city. That can effectively be seen as you voluntarily giving up your data for the priviledge of purchasing product from their store.

      You're free to shop elsewhere. Your local whitebox computer store can sell you parts for cash only transactions - no need to give newegg your information. Barnes and Noble run a set of brick and mortar stores that accept anonymous cash, as do many independent bookstores (who can also order in any book you're looking for).

      Sure you'll probably pay more in the end, but you can consider that the price of your data.

  6. Re:As terrible as it sounds... by Trepidity · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I kinda hope they do in this case, and turn the whole user-tracking area into a patent minefield that companies are afraid to touch.

    --
    10 PRINT CHR$(205.5+RND(1)); : GOTO 10
  7. Good news by Alain+Williams · · Score: 3, Insightful

    If Amazon have a patent on it then no one else will be able to do it (ahem) and so our privacy will be better preserved

    I wish ...

  8. Re:We know by somersault · · Score: 4, Insightful

    If you don't want your location being tracked, turn off location tracking in your browser or in your OS's location options. Simples.

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    which is totally what she said
  9. This is not going to stop by Zaldarr · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I'm an undergrad student getting a degree in Business, and I'm probably pointing out the obvious when I say that this will not stop because there is far too much money to be made out of it. The thing is about the micromarkets (i.e. selling directly to a consumer) is that it takes out all the guesswork involved in trying to appeal to a mass or niche market. No (expensive) market research needs to be done - other than having an algorithm sort through a bunch of information about yourself (provided most likely by Google or Facebook, whatever's your poison) and matching it with related products, and BAM. You're being advertised to right there, at (or near) the store, advertising to you about something that is probably relevant to you. The power of this is not to be underestimated, old media methods were like carpetbombing, just get the message out to everyone, and hope it hits; new media is now a surgical strike at your wallet via the phone in your pocket. Unless there is political control, public outrage or (heaven forbid) good corporate ethics, this is here to stay.

    --
    I write professional videogame reviews! http://www.digitallydownloaded.net/
    1. Re:This is not going to stop by Archangel+Michael · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Last time I tried to use the QR coded display at the store, it presented me with exactly the same information as the display, from the store's own website. That just Spells "I don't get it" IMHO. You're not helping anyone with that crap.

      If I was a store manager, and someone clicked the QR code on the display, I'd offer them something, a discount, a addon, some promotional value if they presented that information at the time of purchase, within the next 30 minutes. Something along the line of "if you buy this product, you'll get $5 off" (or whatever).

      In other words, give us a reason for using them.

      --
      Agent K: A *person* is smart. People are dumb, stupid, panicky animals, and you know it.
  10. How does it further the technical arts? by kawabago · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Patents are supposed to teach us something we didn't know but this patent is just shuffling data around. Once phones are location aware, it isn't an invention to look up what businesses are at that location and then what related businesses are in the direction of travel. This is an obvious application of the location aware phone invention.