MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS MATCHING SYSTEM

• US 20080026774A1
• Filed: 10/05/2007
• Published: 01/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Fraccaroli, Federico
• Granted Patent: US 7,970,390 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 comprising:

storing a profile of a first person;

determining a location of the first person having a mobile unit;

comparing the determined location of the first person to a determined location of a second person having a mobile unit;

comparing the stored profile of the first person with a stored profile of the second person;

determining a match in the event that the determined location of the first person is within a threshold distance to the determined location of the second person, and of a similarity between the stored profile of the first person and the stored profile of the second person; and

in the event of a match, sending a message signal to at least one of the first person and the second person.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein comparing the determined location of the first person to a determined location of the second person is performed when the first person changes location.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein comparing the determined location of the first person to a determined location of the second person is performed when the first person enters a new cell providing wireless communication service for the mobile unit.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein if a match is not determined for the threshold distance, the threshold distance is increased.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the stored profile of the first person includes identification information for other specific persons.

6. The method of claim 1 further including storing the message signal in a log book.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein determining a location of the first person having a mobile unit includes requesting a location indication from the mobile unit.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein determining a match includes determining a similarity between matching profile information for one of said first and second person, and request profile information for another of said first and second person.

9. The method of claim 1 further including:

when a match is determined, checking the stored profile information of at least one of said first and second person for additional information that indicates that the message signal should not be sent to at least one of the first person and the second person.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the message signal includes an indication of at least one similarly between the stored profile of the first person and the stored profile of the second person.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the message signal includes contact information for at least one of the first person and the second person.

12. A computer readable storage medium having computer executable instructions, that, when provided to a processor, cause the processor to perform:

storing a profile for a first person;

determining a location of the first person with a mobile unit;

comparing the determined location of the first person to a determined location of a second person with a mobile unit, the second person including a stored profile;

comparing the stored profile of the first person with the stored profile for the second person;

determining a match in the event that the determined location of the first person is within a threshold distance to the determined location of the second person, and of a similarity between the stored profile of the first person and the stored profile of the second person; and

in the event of a match, sending a message signal to at least one of the first person and the second person.

13. The computer readable storage medium of claim 12 wherein comparing the determined location of the first person to a determined location of the second person is performed when the first person changes location.

14. The computer readable storage medium of claim 12 wherein comparing the determined location of the first person to a determined location of the second person is performed when the first person enters a new cell providing wireless communication service for the mobile unit.

15. The computer readable storage medium of claim 12 wherein if a match is not determined for the threshold distance, the threshold distance is increased.

16. Apparatus comprising:

a processor, configured with instructions to perform;

transmitting over a wireless communications network a determined location for a first person utilizing the apparatus;

receiving a message signal from the wireless communication network, the message signal indicating that the determined location of the first person is within a threshold distance to a determined location of a second person, and of a similarity between a stored profile of the first person and a stored profile of the second person; and

generating an alert based on the message signal.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the processor performs:

transmitting over the wireless communications network an indication that the determined location for the first person utilizing the apparatus has changed.

18. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the processor performs:

receiving a message signal from the wireless communication network indicating that the determined location of the first person is within a threshold distance to a determined location of the second person, and of a similarity between the previously stored profile of the first person and a stored profile of the second person, wherein the threshold distance was increased to a higher value.

19. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the stored profile of the first person includes identification information for other specific persons.

20. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the similarity between the previously stored profile of the first person and a stored profile of the second person includes a similarity between matching profile information for one of said first and second person, and request profile information for another of said first and second persons.

21. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the apparatus does not receive a message signal if the stored profile information of at least one of the first person and the second person indicates that a message signal should not be sent.

22. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the message signal includes contact information for at least one of the first person and the second person.

23. A computer readable storage medium having computer executable instructions, that, when provided to a processor, cause the processor to perform:

transmitting over a wireless communications network a determined location for a first person utilizing an apparatus;

receiving a message signal from the wireless communication network, the message signal indicating that the determined location of the first person is within a threshold distance to a determined location of a second person, and of a similarity between a stored profile of the first person and a stored profile of the second person; and

generating an alert based on the message signal.

24. The computer readable storage medium of claim 23 wherein the computer readable storage medium includes further computer executable instructions for:

receiving a message signal from the wireless communication network indicating that the determined location of the first person is within a threshold distance to a determined location of the second person, and of a similarity between the previously stored profile of the first person and a stored profile of the second person, wherein the threshold distance was increased to a higher value.

25. Apparatus comprising:

means for storing a profile of a first person;

comparison means for comparing a determined location of the first person to a determined location of a second person with a mobile unit;

profile comparison means for comparing the stored profile of the first person with a stored profile for the second person;

determination means for determining a match in the event that the determined location of the first person is within a threshold distance to the determined location of the second person, and of a similarity between the stored profile of the first person and the stored profile of the second person; and

signaling means, for sending a message signal to at least one of the first person and the second person based on the results of the determination means.