geofencing

a.k.a. geo-fencing, geofence, geo-fence

Geofencing is a feature in a software program that uses the global positioning system (GPS) or radio frequency identification (RFID) to define geographical boundaries. Known as a virtual barrier, a geofence is considered a virtual perimeter for a real-world geographic area. 


Used in location-based advertising, a geofence could be dynamically generated--as in a radius around a store or point location-- or a geofence can be a predefined set of boundaries, like school attendance zones or neighborhood boundaries. When the "location-aware" device of a location-based service user enters or exits a geofence, the device receives a generated notification. For example, geofencing, used with child location services can notify parents if a child leaves a designated area.

Historical perspective: Custom-digitized geofences have been in use since 2004 for multiple online mapping applications since their development by Dr. Vinay Rawlani at the University of Missouri-Columbia.
NetLingo Classification: Online Marketing

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