System for contact services

• US 20020165919A1
• Filed: 05/04/2001
• Published: 11/07/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ilmo Pietila
• Original Assignee: Ilmo Pietila
• Inventors: Pietila, Ilmo
• Granted Patent: US 6,934,739 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/204
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

A system for contact services enables face-to-face contacts between two or more persons immediately or almost immediately when their profiles match, i.e. they have similar requirements or interests. The system includes at least two devices termed “contact device”. Each person, who wishes to use a contact service, carries a contact device with him/herself. Each contact device is equipped with a low-powered receiver for receiving information and an alarm which signals when the person'"'"'s profile and another person'"'"'s profile match. The contact device signals, for example, by beeping, by vibrating, or by blinking a small-sized light. By using a contact server it is possible to enlarge the area from which persons may receive either profiles or information concerning matching profiles. Profile mediators are intended for transmitting person'"'"'s profile and the state information to the contact server.

Claims

1. A system for contact services, the system including at least two contact devices, wherein each person who uses at least one of the contact services has an own contact device,

characterized in that each contact device belonging to the system comprises:

means for storing at least one profile which describes the person and person'"'"'s requirements,

a low-powered short-range transmitter for transmitting the person'"'"'s profile to other persons'"'"' contact devices,

a receiver for receiving another persons'"'"' profiles from the another persons'"'"' contact devices,

means for comparing a profile received with the profile stored in the contact device, and

means for signalling when the profiles match.

2. The system as described in claim 1, characterized in that the contact device further comprises:

means for showing information in the contact device.

3. The system as described in claim 1, characterized in that the contact device further comprises:

means for encrypting and decrypting profiles.

4. The system as described in claim 1, characterized in that the contact device further comprises:

means for adjusting matching percent which describes how similar the profiles compared have at least to result in signalling.

5. The system as described in claim 1, characterized in that the contact device is adapted to use the Bluetooth technique.

6. The system as described in claim 1, characterized in that the low-powered short-range transmitter is able to transmit at most a distance of 10 meters.

7. The system as described in claim 1, characterized in that the profiles compared have a standardized form.

8. The system as described in claim 1, characterized in that the system further comprises:

means for creating profiles.

9. The system as described in claim 1, characterized in that the system further comprises a contact server which includes:

a receiver for receiving profiles,

means for storing the profiles received,

means for comparing the profiles stored and thus finding matching profiles, and

a transmitter for transmitting matching information.

10. The system as described in claim 9, characterized in that the contact device is adapted to receive other information than profiles from the contact server.

11. The system as described in claim 9, characterized in that the system further comprises at least one profile mediator, each of which includes:

a receiver for receiving profiles from contact devices, and

a transmitter for transmitting the profiles to the contact server.

12. The system as described in claim 11, characterized in that the profile mediator is adapted to communicate bi-directionally with the contact server.

13. The system as described in claim 1, characterized in that the system further includes at least one piece of equipment having the contact server'"'"'s and profile mediator'"'"'s functions, each said piece of equipment includes:

a receiver for receiving profiles,

means for storing the profiles received,

means for comparing the profiles stored and thus finding matching profiles, and

a transmitter for transmitting profiles.