Sharing user information with proximate devices

• US 10,033,683 B2
• Filed: 12/28/2011
• Issued: 07/24/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Baca, Jim, Kohlenberg, Tobias, Karkaria, Burges, Morgan, Dennis, Stanasolovich, David, Aissi, Selim, Price, Mark, Ross, Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Hussain, Tauqir
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mohammadi, Kamran
• Application Number:
  US13/997,763
• Publication Number:
  US 20140012917A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,400 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/101 Collaborative creation, e.g. joint development of products or services
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/52 for supporting social networking services
• 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 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0202 Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. of speakers or microphones H04M1/03
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/24 Transfer of terminal data

Abstract

Embodiments of techniques and systems for sharing user information between proximate devices are described. In embodiments, a first device may identify a physically-proximate device that may receive user information. Upon receiving an indication that a user of the first device may desire to share user information with a user of the second device, a determination may be made as to whether the two users have matching interests. In embodiments, the interest match determination may be made by a separate interest match evaluator. Upon determination of an interest match, the first device may then send a request to share user information to the second device. If a user of the second device approves the request, user information for the user of the first device may be shared with the user of the second device. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.

Claims

1. One or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media comprising instructions to be executed by a first computing device, the first computing device being capable of being used in association with a second device and a third device, the instructions when executed by the first device resulting in the first device being capable of performing operations comprising:

identifying a second device that is proximate to the first device that is to receive at least one request for information sharing;

sending the at least one request to the second device to share information about a first user of the first device with a second user of the second device, in response at least in part to a determination that the first user and the second user satisfy one or more matching criteria, wherein the one or more matching criteria includes matching criteria for information related to the respective users stored at one or more social networking sites; and

in response, at least in part, to approval of the at least one request by the second user of the second device;

sending and/or causing to be sent information about the first user to the second device; and

connecting by the first device to at least one social network to cause the at least one social network to send other information about the first user to the second user of the second device, the other information being desired to be shared with the second user by the first user;

wherein to determine the first user and the second user satisfy the one or more matching criteria includes;

to send at least one other request to the third device, the third device being separate and distinct from the first device and the second device, the at least one other request being for a determination from the third device that the first user and the second user satisfy the one or more matching criteria; and

to receive a determination from the third device on whether the first user and the second user satisfy one or more matching criteria; and

also wherein;

the first device is capable of receiving, in operation of the first device, at least one privacy customization indication from the first user to indicate which portion of user information of the first user is to be used for interest matching and for sharing with the second user;

in the operation of the first device, the first device is capable of permitting user review and user editing, at least in part, of the request that is to be sent to the second device, prior to transmission of the request that is to be sent to the second device, so as to permit user selection of particular user information to be shared in the request that is to be sent to the second device, and after the user editing, the first device is capable of sending the request, as edited, directly from the first device to the second device instead of via an intermediate networking entity;

the determination that the first user and the second user satisfy the one or more matching criteria is to be performed by a remote server-based interest match evaluator;

the remote server-based interest match evaluator is configured with user name and password information to permit the remote server-based interest match evaluator to be able to obtain remotely-stored information;

the remotely-stored information comprises social network information that is stored remotely from the remote server-based interest match evaluator, the first device, and the second device;

the first device is to determine whether the second device has a configuration that is capable of permitting the second device to participate in the information sharing;

the first device is to determine whether the second device is capable of using the same wireless access point as the first device is capable of using;

the request, prior to the user review and user editing, is to be pre-populated by the first device with an initial information set that identifies a name of the first user, first user location, the first device itself, and the second user.

2. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise detecting that the second device is proximate to the first device.

3. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein the determination that the first user and the second user satisfy the one or more matching criteria comprises determining that the first user and the second user have an interest in common.

4. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein the determination that the first user and the second user satisfy the one or more matching criteria comprises determining that the first user and the second user have a friend, colleague, school mate, acquaintance, or contact in common.

5. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise:

requesting that the second device determine whether the first and second users have mutual desire to share information; and

jointly determining with the second device whether the first and the second users have mutual desire to share information.

6. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 5, wherein the operations further comprise receiving permission from the second device to share information about the first user.

7. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 5, wherein the operations further comprise sending information about the first user, obtained from one or more social networks, to the second device.

8. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 5, wherein the operations further comprise causing to be sent information about the first user to the second device from one or more social networks.

9. An apparatus that is capable of being used in association with both a device proximate to the apparatus and a third device, the apparatus comprising:

a computer processor;

a device sharing determination module to operate on the computer processor to identify the device proximate to the apparatus that is to receive at least one request for information sharing;

an information sharing module to operate on the computer processor to;

send the at least one request to the device proximate to the apparatus to share information about a first user of the apparatus with a second user of the device proximate to the apparatus in response at least in part to determination that the first user and the second user satisfy one or more matching criteria, wherein the one or more matching criteria includes matching criteria for information related to the respective users stored at one or more social networking sites;

in response at least in part to approval of the at least one request by the second user of the device proximate to the apparatus, the information sharing module is to operate on the computer processor to;

send, and/or cause to be sent, information about the first user to the device proximate to the apparatus; and

connect by the apparatus to at least one social network to cause the at least one social network to send other information about the first user to the second user of the device proximate to the apparatus, the other information being desired to be shared with the second user by the first user;

wherein to determine the first user and the second user satisfy the one or more matching criteria includes;

to send at least one other request to the third device, the third device being separate and distinct from the apparatus and the device proximate to the apparatus, the at least one other request being for a determination from the third device that the first user and the second user satisfy the one or more matching criteria; and

to receive a determination from the third device on whether the first user and the second user satisfy one or more matching criteria; and

also wherein;

the apparatus is capable of receiving, in operation of the apparatus, at least one privacy customization indication from the first user to indicate which portion of user information of the first user is to be used for interest matching and for sharing with the second user;

in the operation of the apparatus, the apparatus is capable of permitting user review and user editing, at least in part, of the request that is to be sent to the device proximate to the apparatus, prior to transmission of the request that is to be sent to the device proximate to the apparatus, so as to permit user selection of particular user information to be shared in the request that is to be sent to the device proximate to the apparatus, and after the user editing, the apparatus is capable of sending the request, as edited, directly from the apparatus to the device proximate to the apparatus instead of via an intermediate networking entity;

the determination that the first user and the second user satisfy the one or more matching criteria is to be performed by a remote server-based interest match evaluator;

the remote server-based interest match evaluator is configured with user name and password information to permit the remote server-based interest match evaluator to be able to obtain remotely-stored information;

the remotely-stored information comprises social network information that is stored remotely from the remote server-based interest match evaluator, the apparatus, and the device proximate to the apparatus;

the apparatus is to determine whether the device proximate to the apparatus has a configuration that is capable of permitting the device proximate to the apparatus to participate in the information sharing;

the apparatus is to determine whether the device proximate to the apparatus is capable of using the same wireless access point as the apparatus is capable of using;

the request, prior to the user review and user editing, is to be pre-populated by the apparatus with an initial information set that identifies a name of the first user, first user location, the apparatus, and the second user.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising an interest matching module to operate on the computer processor to determine if whether the first user would desire to send information to the second user.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the information sharing module is further to receive permission from the third device to share information about the first user with the device proximate to the apparatus.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the device sharing determination module is further to operate on the computer processor to detect that the device is physically proximate to the apparatus.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the apparatus and/or the device proximate to the apparatus comprise a laptop, desktop, or mobile device.

14. A computer-implemented method implemented, at least in part, by a first computing device, the first computing device being capable of being used in association with a second computing device and a third device, the method comprising:

identifying, by the first computing device, that the second computing device is proximate to the first device and is to receive at least one request for information sharing;

sending the at least one request from the first computing device to the second computing device to share information about a first user of the first device with a second user of the second computing device, in response at least in part to a determination that the first user and the second user satisfy one or more matching criteria, wherein the one or more matching criteria includes matching criteria for information related to the respective users stored at one or more social network sites; and

in response at least in part to approval of the at least one request by the second user of the second device;

sending and/or causing to be sent, by the first computing device, information about the first user to the second computing device; and

connecting by the first device to at least one social network to cause the at least one social network to send other information about the first user to the second user of the second device, the other information being desired to be shared with the second user by the first user;

wherein to determine the first user and the second user satisfy the one or more matching criteria includes;

to send at least one other request to the third device, the third device being separate and distinct from the first computing device and the second computing device, the at least one other request being for a determination from the third device that the first user and the second user satisfy the one or more matching criteria; and

to receive a determination from the third device on whether the first user and the second user satisfy one or more matching criteria; and

also wherein;

the first device is capable of receiving, in operation of the first device, at least one privacy customization indication from the first user to indicate which portion of user information of the first user is to be used for interest matching and for sharing with the second user;

in the operation of the first device, the first device is capable of permitting user review and user editing, at least in part, of the request that is to be sent to the second device, prior to transmission of the request that is to be sent to the second device, so as to permit user selection of particular user information to be shared in the request that is to be sent to the second device, and after the user editing, the first device is capable of sending the request, as edited, directly from the first device to the second device instead of via an intermediate networking entity;

the determination that the first user and the second user satisfy the one or more matching criteria is to be performed by a remote server-based interest match evaluator;

the remote server-based interest match evaluator is configured with user name and password information to permit the remote server-based interest match evaluator to be able to obtain remotely-stored information;

the remotely-stored information comprises social network information that is stored remotely from the remote server-based interest match evaluator, the first device, and the second device;

the first device is to determine whether the second device has a configuration that is capable of permitting the second device to participate in the information sharing;

the first device is to determine whether the second device is capable of using the same wireless access point as the first device is capable of using;

the request that is to be sent to the second device, prior to the user review and user editing, is to be pre-populated by the first device with an initial information set that identifies a name of the first user, first user location, the first device itself, and the second user.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

sending, by the first computing device, a request to a third device for a determination on whether the first user and the second user satisfy one or more matching criteria; and

receiving, by the first computing device, a determination from the third device on whether the first user and the second user satisfy one or more matching criteria.

16. One or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media comprising instructions to be executed by a first computing device, the first computing device being capable of being used in association with a second device and a third device, the instructions when executed by the first device resulting in the first device being capable of performing operations comprising:

receiving at least one request from the second device, the second device being proximate to the third device, the at least one request asking for a determination on whether a first user of the second device may wish to send information about the first user to a second user of the third device, wherein the determination is based at least on matching criteria for information related to the first user and second user stored at one or more social networking sites; and

sending a determination on whether the first user should send the information; and

wherein;

the second device is capable of receiving, in operation of the second device, at least one privacy customization indication from the first user to indicate which portion of user information of the first user is to be used for interest matching and for sharing with the second user;

in the operation of the second device, the second device is capable of permitting user review and user editing, at least in part, of the at least one request that is to be sent to the third device, prior to transmission of the request that is to be sent to the third device, so as to permit user selection of particular user information to be shared in the request that is to be sent to the third device, and after the user editing, the second device is capable of sending the at least one request, as edited, directly from the second device to the third device instead of via an intermediate networking entity;

in response at least in part to approval by the second user of the third device of at least one other request for information sharing, the second device is to connect to at least one social network to cause the at least one social network to send other information about the first user to the second user of the third device, the other information being desired to be shared with the second user by the first user;

the determination is to be performed by a remote server-based interest match evaluator;

the remote server-based interest match evaluator is configured with user name and password information to permit the remote server-based interest match evaluator to be able to obtain remotely-stored information;

the remotely-stored information comprises social network information that is stored remotely from the remote server-based interest match evaluator, the second device, and the third device;

the second device is to determine whether the third device has a configuration that is capable of permitting the third device to participate in the information sharing;

the second device is to determine whether the third device is capable of using the same wireless access point as the second device is capable of using;

the at least one other request, prior to the user review and user editing, is to be pre-populated by the second device with an initial information set that identifies a name of the first user, first user location, the second device itself, and the second user.

17. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 16, wherein the operations further comprise determining that the first user and the second user satisfy one or more matching criteria.

18. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 17, wherein the determination that the first user and the second user satisfy one or more matching criteria comprises determining that the first user and the second user have an interest in common.

19. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 17, wherein the determination that the first user and the second user satisfy one or more matching criteria comprises determining that the first user and the second user have a friend, colleague, school mate, or contact in common.

20. An apparatus usable in association with a first device and a second device, the apparatus comprising:

a computer processor; and

an interest match evaluator to operate on the computer processor to;

receive a request from the first device, the first device being proximate to the second device, the request asking for a determination on whether a first user of the first device may wish to send information about the first user to a second user of the second device, wherein the determination is based at least on matching criteria for information related to the respective users of the first device and the second device stored at one or more social networking sites; and

send a determination on whether the first user should send the information; and

wherein;

the first device is capable of receiving, in operation of the first device, at least one privacy customization indication from the first user to indicate which portion of user information of the first user is to be used for interest matching and for sharing with the second user;

in the operation of the first device, the first device is capable of permitting user review and user editing, at least in part, of at least one information sharing request that is to be sent to the second device, prior to transmission of the at least one information sharing request that is to be sent to the second device, so as to permit user selection of particular user information to be shared in the at least one information sharing request that is to be sent to the second device, and after the user editing, the first device is capable of sending the at least one information sharing request, as edited, directly from the first device to the second device instead of via an intermediate networking entity; and

in response at least in part to approval by the second user of the second device of the at least one information sharing request, the first device is to connect to at least one social network to cause the at least one social network to send other information about the first user to the second user of the second device, the other information being desired to be shared with the second user by the first user;

the determination is to be performed by a remote server-based interest match evaluator;

the remote server-based interest match evaluator is configured with user name and password information to permit the remote server-based interest match evaluator to be able to obtain remotely-stored information;

the remotely-stored information comprises social network information that is stored remotely from the remote server-based interest match evaluator, the first device, and the second device;

the first device is to determine whether the second device has a configuration that is capable of permitting the second device to participate in information sharing;

the first device is to determine whether the second device is capable of using the same wireless access point as the first device is capable of using;

the at least one information sharing request, prior to the user review and user editing, is to be pre-populated by the first device with an initial information set that identifies a name of the first user, first user location, the first device itself, and the second user.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising a user information storage to store user information to be used in matching interests.