# How Devices Automatically Tag and Monetize Real-World Events

> A system for capturing data about a specific moment or location—like a song playing or a vehicle passing—to automatically trigger online searches and sponsor payments.

- **Patent:** US 8356005
- **Original title:** Identifying events
- **Owner:** Individual
- **Granted:** 2013
- **Status:** Active
- **Times cited:** 4
- **Field:** consumer_electronics, software, telecommunications, ecommerce

## What it does

This patent describes a method for a device to capture an 'event stamp'—a collection of data points like GPS coordinates, time, and radio station identifiers—when a user activates a button. Once this data is sent to a server, the system automatically searches a database to identify the specific event, such as a song currently playing on the radio or a business location. Crucially, the system then triggers a financial transaction, requesting that a sponsor associated with that event be credited with monetary compensation. For example, a user could press a button on a keychain while listening to a song, and the system would identify the track, find the radio station, and log a marketing credit for that station.

## What it does NOT cover

- Does not cover general-purpose GPS tracking that lacks an 'event stamp' function triggered by a specific user action.
- Does not cover systems that identify events without a server-side database lookup.
- Does not cover manual event logging that does not include automated financial crediting of a sponsor.
- Does not cover audio recognition that occurs entirely locally on the device without network communication.

## The clever bit

The innovation lies in binding the 'event stamp'—a bundle of heterogeneous data like GPS and radio IDs—directly to a financial settlement mechanism, effectively turning a user's physical context into a billable advertising event.

## Real-world examples

1. Shazam-style music identification linked to affiliate revenue
2. Smart keychains for logging radio advertisements
3. Location-based marketing triggers for transit systems

## Why it matters

This patent touches on the intersection of physical world interaction and digital advertising. It provides a framework for 'offline-to-online' attribution, where physical actions are tracked to prove the effectiveness of broadcast media or location-based advertising. It represents an early attempt to bridge the gap between traditional radio or physical transit and digital performance marketing.

## Frequently asked questions

### What does How Devices Automatically Tag and Monetize Real-World Events cover?

A system for capturing data about a specific moment or location—like a song playing or a vehicle passing—to automatically trigger online searches and sponsor payments.

### Who owns patent US 8356005?

Individual owns this patent, granted in 2013.

### When does this patent expire?

This patent is expected to expire on January 15, 2033, when the invention enters the public domain.

### What is patent US 8356005 cited by?

This patent has been cited by 4 later patents that build on its ideas.

### What problem does this patent solve?

This patent touches on the intersection of physical world interaction and digital advertising. It provides a framework for 'offline-to-online' attribution, where physical actions are tracked to prove the effectiveness of broadcast media or location-based advertising. It represents an early attempt to bridge the gap between traditional radio or physical transit and digital performance marketing.

### What does this patent NOT cover?

Does not cover general-purpose GPS tracking that lacks an 'event stamp' function triggered by a specific user action.

**Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/8356005/facebook-photo-tagging

**Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US8356005

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_Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._