Mobile communications matching system

• US 20040002348A1
• Filed: 04/14/2003
• Published: 01/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Federico Fraccaroli
• Original Assignee: Federico Fraccaroli
• Inventors: Fraccaroli, Federico
• Granted Patent: US 7,280,822 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.3
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 2001/085 Partner search devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/222 using geographical location information, e.g. messages transmitted or received in proximity of a certain spot or area
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/52 for supporting social networking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/14 with services dependent on location where the service is an information service H04M2242/15; services independent of location H04M3/42229
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 Determination of the location of a subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42008 Systems for anonymous communication between parties, e.g. by use of disposal contact identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42068 where the identifier is used to access a profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4211 where the identifier is used to access a profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/00 Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data

Abstract

A wireless communications network comprises a server in a central location storing matching profiles for a plurality of users of the network. The matching profile for each user is stored in the server through the user'"'"'s mobile unit or a secure page on the Internet. Each matching profile is corresponded with a respective mobile unit using the same identification information (ID) of the respective mobile unit utilized for carrying out phone calls. The server has a customizable variable matching algorithm and probes the matching profiles corresponding to the respective mobile units in a cell or group of cells for a match every time a new mobile unit subscribes into the cell or group of cells. When there is a match of matching profiles, the two persons are put in contact or advised of each other through a phone call or other communications method.

Claims

1. A method of initiating contact between two persons having a mobile unit operable on a wireless communications network with a location capability, the method comprising the steps of:

storing a profile in the network for each one of the two persons;

tracking the location of the mobile unit of each one of the two persons using said location capability;

comparing the profile of the two persons for similarities if the two persons are in the same location;

in the event of a similarity, sending a signal message to each one of the two persons.

2. The method of initiating contact recited in claim 1, wherein the profile of each person contains information indicating whether or not the person wishes to participate in the method.

3. The method initiating contact recited in claim 2, wherein each person may change the profile information indicating whether or not the person wishes to participate in the method.

4. The method of initiating contact recited in claim 3, wherein each person can change the profile information using their mobile unit.

5. The method of initiating contact recited in claim 1, wherein the signal message includes information necessary to initiate contact with the other person each person and the person, after receiving the signal message, has the option to initiate contact using the information, store said information or delete said information.

6. The method of initiating contact recited in claim 1, wherein, in the event of a similarity, a phone call between the two persons is automatically triggered.

7. The method of initiating contact recited in claim 1, wherein the profile is created and stored in the network through the mobile unit.

8. The method of initiating contact recited in claim 1, wherein the profile is created through a user interface in a computer network and then stored in the wireless communication network through the user interface.

9. The method of initiating contact recited in claim 1, wherein the step of comparing profiles comprises the step of associating mobile unit identification information with profiles stored in a server in said wireless communications network.

10. A wireless communications network comprising:

a plurality of base stations, said base stations operating to provide bi-directional wireless communications links with a plurality of mobile stations;

a plurality of registers communicating with a corresponding group of base stations;

a database server connected to said plurality of registers and to a database storing a plurality of profiles, each one of said profiles respectively corresponding to one of said plurality of mobile stations; and

a matching engine configured to query said database and to match a pair of said profiles stored in said database;

wherein said plurality of registers sends information indicating said pair of profiles matched by said matching engine to said plurality of base stations and said base stations in turn transmit message information to at least one of the mobile stations corresponding to said pair of profiles, said message information including at least information necessary to permit said at least one mobile station of said pair of mobile stations to contact the other one of said pair of mobile stations via said wireless communication network.

11. The wireless communications network recited in claim 10, wherein said plurality of registers store information for each mobile station, said information including the user ID and the location area of each mobile station.

12. The wireless communications network recited in claim 11, wherein, when said information stored in said plurality of registers indicates that a mobile station has entered a location area, the database server instructs said matching engine to query said database and to match the profile of said mobile station with the profiles of other mobile stations located in said location area.

13. The wireless communications network recited in claim 12, where said location area is a cell served by one of said plurality of base stations.

14. The wireless communications network recited in claim 12, wherein said location area is an area smaller than the area of a cell served by one of said plurality of base stations.

15. The wireless communications network recited in claim 12, further comprising an Internet server configured to create and file a plurality of profiles in response to user input and to provide said plurality of profiles to said database server.