Method, device and system for creating a virtual local social network

• US 10,028,076 B2
• Filed: 02/02/2015
• Issued: 07/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wix.com Ltd.
• Original Assignee: LoyalBlocks Ltd. (Wix.com Ltd.)
• Inventors: Gaver, Ido, Kirshenboim, Eran, Armon, Aner
• Primary Examiner(s): Tiv, Backhean
• Application Number:
  US14/611,291
• Publication Number:
  US 20150271626A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,261 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4641 Virtual LANs, VLANs, e.g. virtual private networks [VPN] LAN interconnection over a bridge based backbone H04L12/462; encapsulation techniques H04L12/4633; routing of packets H04L45/00; packet switches H04L49/00; virtual private networks for security H04L63/0272
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/043 using or handling presence information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/21 for social networking applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

There is provided a system and method for creating a local social network, based on a user'"'"'s location and a user'"'"'s virtual social profile (e.g. a facebook profile, a myspace profile) on a virtual social network (e.g. facebook, myspace). The method includes the steps of: (1) associating a communication device with a user'"'"'s virtual profile, (2) detecting a communication device within an interactive region, (3) extracting unique parameters of the communication device, (4) retrieving data associated with the communication device and with the user'"'"'s virtual profile, and (5) initiating data transfer based on the retrieved data.

Claims

1. A system for interacting with mobile users comprising:

a local server comprising;

a processor;

a first memory;

an electromagnetic radiation receiver, sensor or detector;

an electromagnetic transmitter; and

communication circuitry for communicating over a distributed data network; and

a remote server comprising a server coupled to a second memory and second communication circuitry configured to communicate with said local server over the distributed data network;

wherein;

i. said local server is adapted to;

a. use said electromagnetic radiation receiver, sensor or detector to receive, sense or detect electromagnetic radiation emitting from a first mobile wireless device, which electromagnetic radiation does not bear a signal addressed to said local server or said remote server;

b. detect and extract parameters associated with the electromagnetic radiation emitting from the first mobile wireless device;

c. transmit the extracted parameters to said remote server over the distributed data network;

and

ii. said remote server is adapted to;

a. receive the parameters associated with said electromagnetic radiation and retrieve data associated with the first mobile wireless device, based on said parameters; and

b. transmit the retrieved data to the local server.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic radiation is selected from the group consisting of:

Bluetooth, wifi, wimax and Long Term Evolution (LTE).

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein parameters associated with the electromagnetic radiation include:

Mac address, services provided or enabled ports.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein said retrieved data includes a location.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein said retrieved data includes parameters for initiating communication with the first mobile wireless device.

6. A communication initiation system comprising:

a server coupled to a memory and communication circuitry configured to communicate with mobile communication devices over a distributed data network; and

a processor functionally associated with a digital memory, which digital memory stores processor executable code adapted to cause one or more processors of a mobile communication device to;

i. use an electromagnetic radiation receiver, sensor or detector of the mobile communication device to receive, sense or detect electromagnetic radiation emitting from a first wireless device, which electromagnetic radiation does not bear a signal addressed to the mobile communication device;

ii. use signal processing circuitry of the mobile communication device to detect and extract parameters associated with the electromagnetic radiation emitting from the first wireless device; and

iii. use communication circuitry of the mobile communication device to transmit to said remote server, over the distributed data network, the extracted parameters;

wherein;

the remote server is adapted to;

i. receive the parameters associated with the electromagnetic radiation;

ii. retrieve data associated with the first wireless device, based on said parameters; and

iii. transmit the retrieved data to the mobile communication device.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the electromagnetic radiation is selected from the group consisting of:

Bluetooth, wifi, wimax and Long Term Evolution (LTE).

8. The system according to claim 6, wherein parameters associated with the electromagnetic radiation include:

Mac address, services provided or enabled ports.

9. The system according to claim 6, wherein said retrieved data includes a location.

10. The system according to claim 6, wherein said retrieved data includes parameters for initiating communication with the first wireless device.