Portable communication apparatus and methods for match-making with distributed memory

• US 20040014486A1
• Filed: 04/18/2003
• Published: 01/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Stephen J. Carlton
• Original Assignee: Stephen J. Carlton
• Inventors: Carlton, Stephen J., Runesson, Jonas, Bliding, Olle, Knutsson, Lars, Emanuelsson, Anna
• Application Number:
  US10/418,086
• Publication Number:
  US 20040014486A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/550.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

A portable communication apparatus for match-making with a plurality of remote communication apparatuses has memory means adapted to store match-making data, including local match-making data associated with the portable communication apparatus. A transceiver is adapted for wireless communication with a first remote communication apparatus, so as to transmit the local match-making data to the first remote communication apparatus, as well as to receive first remote match-making data associated with the first remote communication apparatus. A processing device is adapted to perform a correlation analysis between the local match-making data and the first remote match-making data and—in case a result of the correlation analysis indicates a match between the portable communication apparatus and the first remote communication apparatus—provide an alert to a user of the portable communication apparatus. The memory means is adapted to store the first remote match-making data, and the transceiver is adapted to transmit the first remote match-making data, in addition to the local match-making data, to a second remote communication apparatus.

Claims

1. A portable communication apparatus for match-making with a plurality of remote communication apparatuses, said portable communication apparatus comprising:

memory means, wherein said memory means is adapted to store match-making data, including local match-making data associated with said portable communication apparatus;

a transceiver, wherein said transceiver is adapted for wireless communication with a first remote communication apparatus, so as to transmit said local match-making data to said first remote communication apparatus, as well as to receive first remote match-making data associated with said first remote communication apparatus;

a processing device, wherein said processing device is adapted to perform a correlation analysis between said local match-making data and said first remote match-making data and—

in case a result of said correlation analysis indicates a match between said portable communication apparatus and said first remote communication apparatus—

provide an alert to a user of said portable communication apparatus;

wherein said memory means is adapted to store said first remote match-making data; and

wherein said transceiver is adapted to transmit said first remote match-making data, in addition to said local match-making data, to a second remote communication apparatus.

2. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said transceiver is adapted to receive also third remote match-making data associated with a third remote communication apparatus from said first remote communication apparatus;

and

wherein said processing device is adapted to perform a correlation analysis between said local match-making data and said third remote match-making data and—

in case a result of said correlation analysis indicates a match between said portable communication apparatus and said third remote communication apparatus—

provide an alert to said user of said portable communication apparatus.

3. An apparatus as in claim 2, wherein said processing device is adapted to first check whether correlation analysis has already been performed for said first and said third remote match-making data, respectively, and, if so, refrain from performing the correlation analysis for said first and said third remote match-making data, respectively.

4. An apparatus as in claim 2, said memory means including volatile memory and non-volatile memory, wherein said first and said third remote match-making data are stored in said volatile memory upon reception from said first remote communication apparatus and are stored in said non-volatile memory at least either periodically or at power-off of said portable communication apparatus.

5. An apparatus as in claim 2, wherein said memory means is further adapted to discard said first and said third remote match-making data, once said processing device has indicated a match.

6. An apparatus as in claim 2, wherein said memory means is adapted to store a predetermined maximum amount of remote match-making data on a first-in first-out basis.

7. An apparatus as in claim 2, said first and said third remote match-making data each including travel information pertaining to a number of steps of transmission between individual ones of said plurality of remote communication apparatuses from an original remote communication apparatus to said first and third remote communication apparatus, respectively, wherein said memory means is adapted to store said first and said third remote match-making data, respectively, only if its travel information is less than a predetermined limit.

8. An apparatus as in claim 2, said first and said third remote match-making data each including a time stamp, expressed in a common time base and indicating a time of origin, wherein said memory means is adapted to store said first and said third remote match-making data, respectively, only if its time stamp indicates an age which is below a predetermined limit.

9. An apparatus as in claim 2, wherein said first or said third remote match-making data includes contact information enabling said user of said portable communication apparatus to contact a user of said first or third remote communication apparatus through communication means other than said portable communication apparatus.

10. An apparatus as in claim 9, wherein said contact information includes at least either an email address or a telephone number.

11. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein each of said match-making data is associated with a respective apparatus-specific identity which is unique among said portable communication apparatus and each of said plurality of remote communication apparatuses.

12. An apparatus as in claim 1, being embodied in or as a mobile terminal for a telecommunications network.

13. An apparatus as in claim 12, wherein said mobile terminal comprises an operating system and application software, said application software being adapted to be executed by said processing device and cause said processing device to perform aforesaid correlation analysis.

14. An apparatus as in claim 13, wherein said operating system is a Symbian operating system.

15. An apparatus as in claim 1, being embodied in or as a Portable Digital Assistant or a palmtop computer.

16. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said transceiver is adapted to communicate in accordance with the Bluetooth specification.

17. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said memory means is adapted to store prioritized match-making data of a limited number of users of remote communication apparatuses in non-volatile memory and wherein said transceiver is adapted to transmit all of this prioritized match-making data when communicating with a remote communication apparatus.

18. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said memory means comprises a predetermined number of memory blocks, each memory block being adapted to store remote match-making data that has traveled a respective number of steps of transmission between individual ones of said plurality of remote communication apparatuses from an original remote communication apparatus to said portable communication apparatus.

19. An apparatus as in claim 18, wherein said memory means comprises 7 memory blocks.

20. An apparatus as in claim 18, wherein one of said memory blocks is adapted to store a larger amount of remote match-making data than another one of said memory blocks, said another one of said memory blocks being adapted to store remote match-making data having traveled more steps of transmission than remote match-making data that said one of said memory blocks is adapted to store.

21. A method for match-making between a portable communication apparatus and a plurality of remote communication apparatuses, the method comprising the steps of:

storing, in local memory in said portable communication apparatus, local match-making data associated with said portable communication apparatus;

establishing a first wireless link to a first remote communication apparatus;

transmitting said local match-making data to said first remote communication apparatus;

receiving, from said first remote communication apparatus, first remote match-making data associated with said first remote communication apparatus;

performing a correlation analysis between said local match-making data and said first remote match-making data;

determining whether a result of said correlation analysis indicates a match between said portable communication apparatus and said first remote communication apparatus;

if so, providing an alert to a user of said portable communication apparatus;

storing said first remote match-making data in local memory in said portable communication apparatus;

establishing a second wireless link to a second remote communication apparatus; and

transmitting said first remote match-making data, in addition to said local match-making data, to said second remote communication apparatus.

22. A method as in claim 21, wherein said step of receiving from said first remote communication apparatus includes receiving also third remote match-making data associated with a third remote communication apparatus from said first remote communication apparatus;

and

wherein said step of performing a correlation analysis includes performing a correlation analysis between said local match-making data and said third remote match-making data.

23. A method as in claim 22, comprising the additional step of checking whether correlation analysis has already been performed for said first and said third remote match-making data, respectively, and, if so, refrain from performing the correlation analysis for said first and said third remote match-making data, respectively.

24. A method as in claim 22, comprising the additional steps of

storing said first and said third remote match-making data in volatile memory upon reception from said first remote communication apparatus;

and

storing said first and said third remote match-making data in non-volatile memory at least either periodically or at power-off of said portable communication apparatus.

25. A method as in claim 22, comprising the additional step of discarding said first and said third remote match-making data, once a match has been determined between said local match-making data and any remote match-making data.

26. A method as in claim 22, comprising the additional step of storing a predetermined maximum amount of remote match-making data on a first-in first-out basis in said local memory.

27. A method as in claim 22, wherein said first and said third remote match-making data each includes travel information pertaining to a number of steps of transmission between individual ones of said plurality of remote communication apparatuses from an original remote communication apparatus to said first and third remote communication apparatus, respectively, the method comprising the step of storing said first and said third remote match-making data, respectively, only if its travel information is less than a predetermined limit.

28. A method as in claim 22, wherein said first and said third remote match-making data each includes a time stamp, expressed in a common time base and indicating a time of origin, the method comprising the step of storing said first and said third remote match-making data, respectively, only if its time stamp indicates an age which is below a predetermined limit.

29. A method as in claim 22, wherein said first and said third remote match-making data each includes travel information pertaining to a number of steps of transmission between individual ones of said plurality of remote communication apparatuses from an original remote communication apparatus to said first and third remote communication apparatus, respectively, and wherein said local memory comprises a predetermined number of memory blocks, the method comprising the step of storing said first and said third remote match-making data, respectively, in a memory block that has a predetermined relation to said number of steps of transmission, as indicated by said travel information.

30. A method of exchanging match-making data between a portable communication apparatus and a remote communication apparatus over a wireless link, the method comprising the steps, performed in said portable communication apparatus, of

receiving a plurality of remote match-making data sets from said remote communication apparatus;

and

deciding to store one of said plurality of remote match-making data sets depending on at least one of the following criteria;

i) an age or time of origin of said one data set;

ii) travel information pertaining to a number of steps of transmission for said one data set from an original remote communication apparatus to said remote communication apparatus;

iii) a fraction or an amount of remote match-making data sets that have already been stored prior to said one data set;

iv) a random value.

31. A method as in claim 30, wherein remote match-making data sets are stored in said portable communication apparatus in local memory having a predetermined number of memory blocks, each memory block representing a number of steps of transmission for a data set from an original remote communication apparatus to said portable communication apparatus, and wherein the decision to store said one of said plurality of remote match-making data sets is limited to one of said memory blocks, which according to said travel information has a predetermined relation to said one data set.

32. A method as in claim 30, wherein the fraction or amount in criterion iii) is a function of the intensity or frequency of prior data exchange between the portable communication apparatus and other remote communication apparatuses.