# 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 --- _Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._ ## Related patents Semantically similar inventions in the PatentBrief corpus: - [How IMDb Knew If You'd Go to a Movie or Concert](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/9202233/amazon-payments) — This 2015 IMDb patent describes a system that predicts if you'll attend an event, like a movie, by checking your phone's location near the event time and place, then sending you related content. - [How Mobile Devices Use Tags to Close Restaurant Checks](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10559047/systems-and-methods-for-facilitating-closing-of-a-check) — A system for restaurant servers to open and close customer tabs by tapping a mobile device against a physical tag at a table. - [Delivering Targeted Ads and Digital Content to Remote Kiosks](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10210529/shopify-app-store) — A method for sending digital content and personalized advertisements to remote kiosks by combining scheduled data pushes with real-time requests. - [How Eventbrite Recommends Events Based on Your Social Network](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/8700540/facebook-messenger) — A system that suggests events to you by analyzing your social media connections and your past attendance history to see what your friends are doing. - [How Square Uses Your Phone's Location to Verify Credit Card Payments](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10198731/shopify-e-commerce-platform) — A system that uses GPS data from a customer's smartphone to confirm they are physically present at a store during a credit card transaction to reduce fraud.