How IMDb Knew If You'd Go to a Movie or Concert
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.
Original patent title: “Event attendance determinations”
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. Granted to IMDb com Inc in 2015 with 27 claims and 62 forward citations.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent explains how a computer system can guess if you're going to an event, such as a movie or concert. It works by looking at what you do online related to the event (like looking up showtimes). Then, it checks your phone's GPS data to see if you are physically near the event's location around the event's scheduled time. If your phone's location and the event's details match within a certain window, the system determines you're likely attending. For example, if you search for a movie's showtime and location on IMDb, and your phone is later detected near that cinema around the showtime, the system flags you as an attendee. Based on this likelihood, it can then send you content, like an invitation to write a review or join a discussion about the event.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Determining attendance without using a user's device location data.
- Predicting attendance without considering user actions on electronic information about the event.
- Sending content related to an event if the system cannot determine the user's likelihood of attendance.
- Methods that do not involve a scheduled performance with a specific time and location.
- Systems that do not obtain GPS data from a user's device.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
The core innovation lies in combining a user's digital 'interest' signals (like searching for event details) with their physical 'presence' signals (phone GPS near the venue) to confidently predict attendance, enabling targeted content delivery.
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
IMDb's own systems for predicting moviegoer attendance
Event ticketing platforms suggesting relevant content based on user location
Concert promotion apps sending reminders or related info to users near venues
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This patent is significant because it outlines an early method for inferring user behavior and intent based on digital interactions and real-world location data. It was developed by IMDb, a major player in entertainment information, suggesting its application in understanding audience engagement for movies, concerts, and other performances.
Filed
September 30, 2010
Granted
December 1, 2015
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
IMDb, the original assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →, likely continues to leverage this technology. Other companies in the event discovery, ticketing, and digital advertising spaces, such as Ticketmaster and platforms like Google Maps and Facebook Events, likely employ similar location-aware prediction methods.
Market impact
This patent represents an effort to bridge the gap between online user interest and offline behavior, a key challenge in digital marketing and content delivery. It enabled more precise targeting of users for event-related services, potentially influencing how event organizers and platforms engage with potential attendees.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent explains how a computer system can guess if you're going to an event, such as a movie or concert. It works by looking at what you do online related to the event (like looking up showtimes). Then, it checks your phone's GPS data to see if you are physically near the event's location around the event's scheduled time. If your phone's location and the event's details match within a certain window, the system determines you're likely attending. For example, if you search for a movie's showtime and location on IMDb, and your phone is later detected near that cinema around the showtime, the system flags you as an attendee. Based on this likelihood, it can then send you content, like an invitation to write a review or join a discussion about the event.
The clever bit
The core innovation lies in combining a user's digital 'interest' signals (like searching for event details) with their physical 'presence' signals (phone GPS near the venue) to confidently predict attendance, enabling targeted content delivery.
What it does not cover
- Determining attendance without using a user's device location data.
- Predicting attendance without considering user actions on electronic information about the event.
- Sending content related to an event if the system cannot determine the user's likelihood of attendance.
- Methods that do not involve a scheduled performance with a specific time and location.
- Systems that do not obtain GPS data from a user's device.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Moderate
Citation count
36/40
Highly cited
Claim breadth
18/20
Very broad protection
Recency
5/20
Granted 10–20 years ago
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$262K – $839K
Midpoint $524K · 4.3 yr remaining · industry ×1.6
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
The original legal language
Original claims
27 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Siegel, H. B., Campbell, J. M., Carlson, A., Kane, F. J., Edelman, A., III, G. E. R., & Gregov, A. (2015). How IMDb Knew If You'd Go to a Movie or Concert (U.S. Patent No. 9,202,233). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/9202233/amazon-payments
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How IMDb Knew If You'd Go to a Movie or Concert cover?
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.
Who owns patent US 9202233?
IMDb com Inc owns this patent, granted in 2015.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on December 1, 2035, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 9202233 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 62 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This patent is significant because it outlines an early method for inferring user behavior and intent based on digital interactions and real-world location data. It was developed by IMDb, a major player in entertainment information, suggesting its application in understanding audience engagement for movies, concerts, and other performances.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Determining attendance without using a user's device location data.
Patent monitoring