WI-FI BASED GEO-LOCATION CONNECTIVITY

• US 20080056215A1
• Filed: 08/17/2007
• Published: 03/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Marvell Asia Pte Limited (Marvell Technology Group Limited)
• Original Assignee: Marvell International Limited (Marvell Technology Group Limited)
• Inventors: KOPIKARE, MILIND, Mohan, Aswath, Kopikare, Rahul
• Granted Patent: US 8,265,621 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• 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 device capable of matching a user with content based on the user'"'"'s proximity to other users, by searching for a match between profiles of wireless devices within a wireless coverage area. Wireless devices broadcast profiles within a wireless coverage area. Other wireless devices within the wireless coverage area receive the broadcasted profiles, determine a match between the received profile and a profile stored on the wireless device, and display a match indicator if a match is determined. In this manner, a user having a wireless device may be matched with content based on the user'"'"'s proximity to other users.

Claims

1. A wireless device for searching for a match between profiles of wireless devices within a wireless coverage area, comprising:

logic configured to;

receive profiles broadcasted by another wireless device within a wireless coverage area;

determine a match between a received profile and a profile stored on the wireless device; and

a display for displaying a match indicator when it is determined that there is a match.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the logic is further configured to broadcast one or more profiles within a wireless coverage area.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the wireless coverage area is a WiFi coverage area.

4. The device according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the one or more profiles is broadcasted in a beacon.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the beacon further comprises a WiFi information element and the profile is stored within the information element.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the beacon includes WiFi beacon frames and WiFi probe response frames.

7. The device according to claim 4, wherein the logic is further configured to add a profile to the beacon.

8. The device according to claim 4, wherein the logic is further configured to extract a profile from the beacon.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device includes at least one of a cellular phone, a laptop, and a special purpose wireless device.

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein the special purpose wireless device includes a universal serial bus (USB) interface, an embedded wireless system, and a display.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein the logic is further configured to process one or more applications.

12. The device according to claim 11, wherein the one or more applications include social networking applications.

13. The device according to claim 12, wherein the logic is further configured to determine a match between personal profiles by comparing personal preferences and attributes of one personal profile with personal preferences and attributes of another personal profile.

14. The device according to claim 12, further comprising logic configured to:

network devices via a network connection;

exchange information between devices via the network connection;

create a chat session between devices via the network connection; and

store profiles.

15. The device according to claim 12, wherein the match indicator includes one of text messages, icons, and personal profile information.

16. The device according to claim 11, wherein the one or more applications include classifieds applications.

17. The device according to claim 16, wherein seller profiles comprise a list of items for sale, buyer profiles comprise a list of wanted items, and the logic determines a match between a seller profile and a buyer profile by comparing the list of items for sale in the seller profile with the list of wanted items in the buyer profile.

18. The device according to claim 16, further comprising logic configured to:

network devices via a network connection;

exchange information between devices via the network connection;

create a chat session between devices via the network connection; and

store profiles.

19. The device according to claim 16, wherein the match indicator includes one of text messages, icons, information about items for sale, and information about a seller.

20. The device according to claim 11, wherein the one or more applications include shopping applications.

21. The device according to claim 20, wherein product profiles comprise a list of product ID'"'"'s, shopping profiles comprise a list of product ID'"'"'s, and the logic determines a match between a product profile and a shopping profile by comparing the product ID'"'"'s in the product profile with the product ID'"'"'s in the shopping profile.

22. The device according to claim 20, wherein the match indicator includes one of text messages, icons, information about products, information about discounts, and advertisements.

23. The device according to claim 11, wherein the one or more applications include game applications.

24. The device according to claim 23, wherein game profiles comprise a list of games a device can play, and the logic determines a match between game profiles by comparing the list of games of one game profile with the list of games of another game profile.

25. The device according to claim 23, further comprising logic configured to:

network devices via a network connection;

exchange information between devices via the network connection;

create a chat session between devices via the network connection; and

store profiles.

26. The device according to claim 23, wherein the match indicator includes one of text messages, icons, and a list of matching games.

27. The device according to claim 11, wherein the one or more applications include media distribution applications.

28. The device according to claim 27, wherein media profiles comprise a list files available for download and a list of files wanted, and the logic determines a match between media profiles by comparing lists of files available for download with lists of files wanted.

29. The device according to claim 27, further comprising logic configured to:

network devices via a network connection;

exchange information between devices via the network connection; and

create a chat session between devices via the network connection.

30. The device according to claim 27, wherein the match indicator includes one of text messages, icons, a list of files downloadable from another device, and a list of files requested by another device.

31. A method of searching for a match between profiles of wireless devices within a wireless coverage area, comprising:

receiving profiles broadcasted by wireless devices within the wireless coverage area;

determining a match between a received profile and a profile stored on a wireless device; and

displaying a match indicator, if a match is determined.

32. The method according to claim 31, further comprising broadcasting one or more profiles within a wireless coverage area.

33. Computer-executable program instructions stored on a computer-readable medium, the computer-executable program instructions executable to perform a method of searching for a match between profiles of wireless devices within a wireless coverage area, the method comprising:

receiving profiles broadcasted by wireless devices within the wireless coverage area;

determining a match between a received profile and a profile stored on a wireless device; and

displaying a match indicator, if a match is determined.

34. The method according to claim 33, further comprising broadcasting one or more profiles within a wireless coverage area.

35. A computer-readable medium storing computer-executable program instructions, the computer-executable program instructions executable to perform a method of searching for a match between profiles of wireless devices within a wireless coverage area, the method comprising:

receiving profiles broadcasted by wireless devices within the wireless coverage area;

determining a match between a received profile and a profile stored on a wireless device; and

displaying a match indicator, if a match is determined.

36. The method according to claim 35, further comprising broadcasting one or more profiles within a wireless coverage area.