Proximity-based content sharing scheme

• US 10,091,317 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2016
• Issued: 10/02/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aircam, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Aircam, Inc.
• Inventors: Rifkin, Evan, Rifkin, Ryan, Pronin, Alex, Lackenby, Steve
• Primary Examiner(s): La, Phong
• Application Number:
  US15/069,884
• Publication Number:
  US 20170013076A1
• Time in Patent Office: 932 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services
• 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 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/21 for social networking applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup

Abstract

A method and apparatus for proximity-based content sharing on wireless devices is presented in which a first device having a wireless communication region surrounding the device detects other wireless devices within the region. Communication connections are formed between the wireless devices. In response to a user action data is pushed from the wireless device to other wireless devices in the region. Communication connections can also be formed between devices in the region and devices outside the region and data may be pushed to the devices outside the region. Users can block other devices either within the region or outside the region so that they do not receive pushed data.

Claims

1. A method for photo distribution by a first mobile computing device comprising:

the first mobile computing device, without input from a user of the first mobile computing device, using a near-range location protocol to detect and identify other mobile computing devices which are proximate the first mobile computing device, wherein proximity is determined through the near-range location protocol;

the first mobile computing device causing creation of a contact list of the identified other mobile computing devices, wherein the contact list is defined based only upon the identified other mobile computing devices being proximate the first mobile computing device through the near-range location protocol; and

in response to the user of the first mobile computing device taking a first photo using the first mobile computing device, the first mobile computing device automatically pushing the first photo to the identified other mobile computing devices in the contact list for unrestricted access of the first photo by the respective users of the identified other mobile computing devices in the contact list;

wherein the contact list includes the first mobile computing device, the method further comprising receiving a second photo taken by a second mobile computing device, wherein the second mobile computing device is one of the identified other mobile computing devices in the contact list, and wherein the second mobile computing device automatically pushed the second photo to the contact list;

wherein each of the mobile computing devices has a status, wherein the status is at least one of sleeping and active, the method further comprising, if the first mobile computing device is sleeping, the first mobile computing device automatically becoming active in response to the second mobile computing device pushing the second photo.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

the first mobile computing device ceasing to be proximate to at least one of the identified other mobile computing devices, forming a communication connection between the first mobile computing device and the non-proximate identified other mobile computing devices; and

in response to the user of the first mobile computing device taking a second photo using the first mobile computing device, the first mobile computing device automatically pushing the first photo to the identified other mobile computing devices in the contact list.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

in response to the user of the first mobile computing device requesting to remove a selected one of the identified other mobile computing devices from the contact list,

the first mobile computing device causing the selected one of the identified other mobile computing devices to be removed from the contact list.

4. The method of claim 1 the method further comprising, if a second mobile computing device ceases to be proximate the first mobile computing device, wherein the second mobile computing device is one of the identified other mobile computing devices in the contact list, the second mobile computing device is not removed from the contact list.

5. The method of claim 1 the method further comprising, after the contact list is created, a second mobile computing device is automatically added to the contact list without input from the user of the first mobile computing device, using the near-range location protocol to detect and identify the second mobile computing device based only upon the second mobile computing device being proximate the first mobile computing device through the near-range location protocol.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising the first mobile device automatically communicating with a server which facilitates creation of the contact list.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising the first mobile device automatically communicating with a server which facilitates pushing the first photo to the contact list.

8. A first mobile computing device configured for sharing photos with other mobile computing devices, the first mobile computing device having non-transitory computer-readable instructions thereon for:

the first mobile computing device, without input from a user of the first mobile computing device, using a near-range location protocol to detect and identify other mobile computing devices which are proximate the first mobile computing device, wherein proximity is determined through the near-range location protocol;

the first mobile computing device causing creation of a contact list of the identified other mobile computing devices, wherein the contact list is defined based only upon the identified other mobile computing devices being proximate the first mobile computing device; and

in response to the user of the first mobile computing device taking a first photo using the first mobile computing device, the first mobile computing device automatically pushing the first photo to the identified other mobile computing devices in the contact list for unrestricted access of the first photo by the respective users of the identified other mobile computing devices in the contact list;

wherein the contact list includes the first mobile computing device, the first computing device further having non-transitory computer-readable instructions thereon for receiving a second photo taken by a second mobile computing device, wherein the second mobile computing device is one of the identified other mobile computing devices in the contact list, and wherein the second mobile computing device automatically pushed the second photo to the contact list;

wherein each of the mobile computing devices has a status, wherein the status is at least one of sleeping and active, wherein the first computing device further having non-transitory computer-readable instructions thereon for, if the first mobile computing device is sleeping, the first mobile computing device automatically becoming active in response to the second mobile computing device pushing the second photo.

9. The first mobile computing device of claim 8 further having non-transitory computer-readable instructions thereon for:

if the first mobile computing device ceasing to be proximate to at least one of the identified other mobile computing devices, forming a communication connection between the first mobile computing device and the non-proximate identified other mobile computing devices; and

in response to the user of the first mobile computing device taking a second photo using the first mobile computing device, the first mobile computing device automatically pushing the first photo to the identified other mobile computing devices in the contact list.

10. The first mobile computing device of claim 8 further having non-transitory computer-readable instructions thereon for:

in response to the user of the first mobile computing device requesting to remove a selected one of the identified other mobile computing devices from the contact list,

the first mobile computing device causing the selected one of the identified other mobile computing devices to be removed from the contact list.

11. The first mobile computing device of claim 8 further having non-transitory computer-readable instructions thereon for, if a second mobile computing device ceases to be proximate the first mobile computing device, wherein the second mobile computing device is one of the identified other mobile computing devices in the contact list, the second mobile computing device is not removed from the contact list.

12. The first mobile computing device of claim 8 further having non-transitory computer-readable instructions thereon for, after the contact list is created, a second mobile computing device is automatically added to the contact list without input from the user of the first mobile computing device, using the near-range location protocol to detect and identify the second mobile computing device based only upon the second mobile computing device being proximate the first mobile computing device through the near-range location protocol.

13. The first mobile computing device of claim 8 further having non-transitory computer-readable instructions thereon for automatically communicating with a server which facilitates creation of the contact list.

14. The first mobile computing device of claim 8 further having non-transitory computer-readable instructions thereon for automatically communicating with a server which facilitates pushing the first photo to the contact list.