Methods and system for dynamically and anonymously linking wireless communications unit users

• US 20080248784A1
• Filed: 04/05/2007
• Published: 10/09/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sejo Pan
• Original Assignee: Sejo Pan
• Inventors: Pan, Sejo
• Granted Patent: US 7,949,359 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/414.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42008 Systems for anonymous communication between parties, e.g. by use of disposal contact identifiers

Abstract

A system and method for wireless communications unit users within proximity to make social connections. Users can dynamically discover potential matches in the proximity and interactively find out mutual intentions to socially connect in an anonymous and discreet manner.

Claims

1-21. -21. (canceled)

22. A method for a wireless communications unit (WCU) to connect one first user with another target WCU user who has the same intention to connect within a proximity, comprising the steps of:

broadcasting a predefined signal at the first user'"'"'s discretionary control, wherein said predefined signal represents a connection intention inquiry after the first user has seen the target user;

trying to receive a signal predefined in the same way within the proximity;

notifying the first user whether a signal predefined in the same way is received.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

determining a distance and/or direction reference of the source of the received signal;

notifying the first user of the distance and/or direction reference of the source of the received signal.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the distance and/or direction reference is obtained using at least one of the following:

Received Signal Strength, Time of Flight, and External Positioning Service.

25. The apparatus for performing the method of claim 22.

26. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

allowing the first WCU user to control the direction of the broadcast signal.

27. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

allowing the first WCU user to control the effective transmitting range of the broadcast signal and/or effective signal receiving range.

28. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

repeatedly sending and receiving the predefined signal while at least one WCU changes its physical position and/or signal direction;

determining a “

Getting Hot /Getting Cold Indicator”

(GH/GCI) using the change of distance and/or direction reference of the source of the received signal over time;

repeatedly conveying the GH/GCI to the first WCU user.

29. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

storing a user-defined profile and/or profile matching rules in the first WCU;

encoding said profile and/or profile matching rules in the predefined signal;

extracting another profile and/or profile matching rules from the received signal;

comparing the received profile and/or profile matching rules with the counter part stored in the first WCU and determining if there is a match;

discarding any non-matching received signal as if it was not received, or notifying the first WCU user of the mismatch when receiving a non-match signal.

30. The method of claim 28, further comprising:

storing a user-defined profile and/or profile matching rules in the first WCU;

encoding said profile and/or profile matching rules in the predefined signal;

extracting another profile and/or profile matching rules from the received signal;

comparing the received profile and/or profile matching rules with the counter part stored in the first WCU and determining if there is a match;

discarding any non-matching received signal as if it was not received, or notifying the first WCU user of the mismatch when receiving a non-match signal.

31. The method of claim 28, further comprising:

conveying the GH/GCI to the first WCU user in a discreet way not observable by others.

32. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

allowing the profile in said predefined signal of the first WCU to optionally include a profile authentication certificate issued by a third party;

retrieving and verifying another profile authentication certificate in the received signal;

optionally discarding any received signal without a verified profile authentication certificate.

33. A method for locating and identifying potential matches for a first wireless communications unit (WCU) user from among other WCU users in proximity, comprising:

storing a user-defined profile and/or profile matching rules locally in the first WCU;

initiating a communication request from the first WCU to other WCU'"'"'s in proximity to obtain or exchange profile and/or profile matching rules;

comparing each retrieved profile and/or profile matching rules from other WCU'"'"'s against that of the first WCU and determining if there is a match;

determining a distance and/or direction reference of each of the matched WCU'"'"'s using at least one of the following;

Received Signal Strength, Time of Flight, and External Positioning Service;

conveying said distance and/or direction references of each of the matched WCU'"'"'s to the user of the first WCU.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

determining the changes of said distances and/or directions references of each of the matched WCU'"'"'s repeatedly and conveying the updated references to the user of the first WCU repeatedly.

35. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

allowing the user of the first WCU to create a telecommunications connection to one or more of the matched WCU'"'"'s.

36. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

allowing the user of the first WCU to selectively discard any signal from one or more of the other WCU'"'"'s based on the received profile and/or profile matching rules.

37. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

allowing said profile in the first WCU to optionally include a profile authentication certificate issued by a third party;

retrieving and verifying another profile authentication certificate in the received signal;

allowing the first WCU user to optionally discard any received signal without a verified certificate.

38. A system for linking wireless communications users comprising:

a wireless transceiver capable of transmitting and receiving wireless signals;

a user input means;

means for using said user input means to control said wireless transceiver;

means for obtaining a distance and/or direction reference of the source of the received signal using at least one of the following;

Received Signal Strength, Time of Flight, and External Positioning Service;

means for conveying said distance and/or direction reference to the user.

39. The system of claim 38, further comprising means for tracking changes of said distance and/or direction reference over time (the Getting Hot/Getting Cold Indicator;

GH/GCI), and means for repeatedly conveying the GH/GCI to the user.

40. The system of claim 38, further comprising means for controlling the direction of the signal transmission.

41. The system of claim 38, further comprising means for controlling the effective transmitting and receiving range of the transceiver.

42. The system of claim 38, further comprising:

means for storing a user-defined profile and/or profile matching rules locally in the system;

optional means for editing said profile and/or profile matching rules;

means for encoding said profile and/or profile matching rules into the signal transmitted;

means for extracting another profile and/or profile matching rules from the received signal;

means for comparing the received profile and/or matching rules with said locally stored counter part;

means for conveying the profile matching result to the user.

43. The system of claim 38, wherein said means for conveying the GH/GCI is not observable to others.

44. The system of claim 38, wherein at least one of said user input means and said means for conveying distance and/or direction to the user is a physically separated apparatus wirelessly coupled to the rest of the system.

45. The system of claim 42, further comprising:

means for obtaining a certificate of authentication of said local profile from a third party;

means for encoding said certificate of authentication into the signal transmitted;

means for retrieving and verifying another profile authentication certificate in the received signal;

optional means for discarding any received signal without a verified profile authentication certificate.