Portable communication apparatus and method for match-making with unique user ID

• US 20040203363A1
• Filed: 04/19/2002
• Published: 10/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Stephen J. Carlton
• Original Assignee: Stephen J. Carlton
• Inventors: Runesson, Jonas, Bliding, Olle, Knutsson, Lars, Carlton, Stephen J., Emanuelsson, Anna
• Application Number:
  US10/125,461
• Publication Number:
  US 20040203363A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 2001/085 Partner search devices

Abstract

A portable communication apparatus for match-making with a plurality of remote communication apparatuses has memory means for storing first match-making data associated with the portable communication apparatus. The portable communication apparatus also has a transceiver for communication with an individual one of the remote communication apparatuses across a wireless link, so as to receive second match-making data associated with the individual remote communication apparatus. The wireless link is based on an apparatus-specific identity of the port able communication apparatus as well an apparatus-specific identity of the individual remote communication apparatus. The portable communication apparatus further has a processing device for performing a correlation analysis between the first match-making data and the second match-making data and—in case a result of the correlation analysis indicates a match between the portable communication apparatus and the individual remote communication apparatus—providing an alert to a user of the portable communication apparatus. The apparatus-specific identity of the portable communication apparatus, the apparatus-specific identity of the individual remote communication apparatus as well as the apparatus-specific identities of other ones of the remote communication apparatuses are all unique.

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 first match-making data associated with said portable communication apparatus;

a transceiver, wherein said transceiver is adapted for communication with an individual one of said remote communication apparatuses across a wireless link, so as to receive second match-making data associated with said individual remote communication apparatus, said wireless link being based on an apparatus-specific identity of said portable communication apparatus as well an apparatus-specific identity of said individual remote communication apparatus;

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

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

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

wherein the apparatus-specific identity of said portable communication apparatus, the apparatus-specific identity of said individual remote communication apparatus as well as the apparatus-specific identities of other ones of said remote communication apparatuses are all unique.

2. A portable communication apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said processing device is further adapted to record, in said memory means, the respective apparatus-specific identities for at least some of the apparatuses among said plurality of remote communication apparatuses, that said portable communication apparatus has previously communicated with.

3. A portable communication apparatus as in claim 2, wherein an indication is stored, for each of the apparatus-specific identities recorded in said memory means, as to whether match-making data has already been received from the respective remote communication apparatus.

4. A portable communication apparatus as in claim 3, further adapted to refrain from receiving said second match-making data from said individual remote communication apparatus, if the apparatus-specific identity thereof is already recorded in said memory means and said indication indicates that said second match-making data has already been received.

5. A portable communication apparatus as in claim 4, further comprising a user interface for allowing said user to update said first match-making data, wherein said apparatus is adapted, once said user has updated said first match-making data, to reset the indication for each of the apparatus-specific identities recorded in said memory means to a state which represents that no match-making data has been received from the respective remote communication apparatus.

6. A portable communication apparatus as in claim 2, wherein said memory means is further adapted to store a list of preferred apparatus-specific identities, the apparatus being adapted to scan for remote communication apparatuses within reach, to determine the apparatus-specific identity of each such apparatus and to alert said user, if the apparatus-specific identity of any apparatus within reach is present in the list of preferred apparatus-specific identities.

7. A portable communication apparatus as in claim 2, wherein said memory means is further adapted to store a list of unwanted apparatus-specific identities, the apparatus being adapted to scan for remote communication apparatuses within reach, to determine the apparatus-specific identity of each such apparatus and to prevent further communication with any apparatus within reach, if the apparatus-specific identity thereof is present in the list of unwanted apparatus-specific identities.

8. A portable communication apparatus as in claim 2, wherein said memory means is further adapted to store a top list of apparatus-specific identities for remote apparatuses which have resulted in good matches with said portable communication apparatus.

9. A portable communication apparatus as in claims 6, 7 and 8, wherein the contents of at least one of said list of preferred apparatus-specific identities, said list of unwanted apparatus-specific identities or said top list of apparatus-specific identities are accessible to said user through a user interface of said portable communication apparatus.

10. A portable communication apparatus as in claims 6, 7 and 8, wherein the contents of at least one of said list of preferred apparatus-specific identities, said list of unwanted apparatus-specific identities or said top list of apparatus-specific identities are stored in non-volatile memory.

11. A portable communication apparatus as in claim 9, further adapted to allow said user to enter a text message through said user interface and send the text message to at least one individual remote apparatus by selecting a corresponding entry in said list of preferred apparatus-specific identities or said top list of apparatus-specific identities.

12. A portable communication apparatus as in any one of the preceding claims, being embodied in or as a mobile terminal for a telecommunications network.

13. A portable communication apparatus as in any one of claims 1-11, being embodied in or as a Portable Digital Assistant or a palmtop computer.

14. A portable communication apparatus as in any one of claims 1-11, wherein said transceiver is adapted to communicate in accordance with the Bluetooth specification.

15. A power preservation method for a portable communication apparatus according to claim 1, comprising the steps of

transmitting, through said transceiver, inquiries for remote apparatuses within reach;

receiving responses from remote apparatuses which have received said inquiries;

evaluating the number of responses received; and

in response to said evaluating step, adjusting at least one of a duration of said transmitting step, a time interval between subsequent transmitting steps, and an output power of said transceiver.

16. A method as in claim 15, wherein said evaluating step is performed by counting the apparatus-specific identities of the responding remote apparatuses.