Method and Apparatus for Sharing Common Interest Links Between Communication Devices

• US 20080285527A1
• Filed: 12/13/2007
• Published: 11/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Snaptrack Incorporated (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Sammarco, Anthony J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,199,734 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles

Abstract

Techniques for processing data related to common interests of two or more users of a communication system are disclosed. In an exemplary method disclosed hererin, the occurrence of a trigger event at a first communication device is detected, wherein the trigger event is related to communications between the first communication device and a second communication device. In response to the trigger event, the transmission of a first data object to the second communication device is initiated, wherein the first data object comprises information indicating one or more interests of a user of the first communication device. The exemplary method further comprises receiving and processing a second data object formed in response to the first data object, the second data comprising data related to one or more common interests shared by the users of the first and second communication devices. Similar methods suitable for implementing at a user communication device or at a data object server are disclosed, as are correspondingly configured devices.

Claims

1. A method for processing data of common interest to users of a communication system, comprising:

detecting the occurrence of a trigger event related to communication between the first communication device and a second communication device;

responsive to the occurrence of the trigger event, initiating the transmission of a first data object to the second communication device, wherein the first data object comprises information indicating one or more interests of a user of the first communication device;

receiving a second data object formed in response to the first data object, wherein the second data object comprises data related to one or more common interests shared by users of the first and second communication devices; and

processing the second data object.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein initiating the transmission of a first data object to the second communication device comprises requesting that a data object server send the first data object to the second communication device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein initiating the transmission of a first data object to the second communication device comprises sending the first data object to the second communication device.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising assembling the first data object based on at least one attribute corresponding to the second communication device before initiating the transmission of the first data object to the second communication device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the at least one attribute comprises one or more of a communication address for the second communication device, a device capability for the second communication device, a communication type for the communication between the first and second communication devices, and a preference profile for the second communication device.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the trigger event comprises the establishment of a communication session or call between the first and second communication devices, the establishment of a secondary communication session between the first and second communication devices, a timer-based periodic or random event, or a manual activation by a user of the first communication device.

7. A method for providing data of common interest to users of a communication system, comprising:

receiving a first data object, wherein the first data object comprises first information indicating one or more interests of a user of a first communication device;

obtaining second information indicating one or more interests of a user of a second communication device;

assembling a second data object from the first information and the second information, wherein the second data object comprises data related to one or more common interests shared by the users of the first and second communication devices; and

sending the second data object to the first communication device.

8. The method of claim 7, performed at a data object server, wherein obtaining second information comprises retrieving the second information from a database.

9. The method of claim 7, performed at a data object server, wherein the first data object is received from the second communication device, and wherein obtaining second information comprises retrieving the second information from the first data object.

10. The method of claim 7, performed at a data object server, further comprising retrieving all or a portion of the data related to the one or more common interests from a second server.

11. The method of claim 7, performed at the second communication device, further comprising retrieving all or a portion of the data related to the one or more common interests from a data object server using the first information and the second information.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the first data object further comprises at least one attribute parameter corresponding to the first communication device, and wherein assembling the second data object from the first information and from second information comprises adapting the second data object based on the at least one attribute parameter.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the at least one attribute parameter comprises one or more of a communications address for the first communication device, a device capability for the first communication device, a communication type for the communication between the first and second communication devices, and preference data for the first communication device.

14. A method for providing data of common interest to users of a communication system, comprising:

receiving, at a second communications device, a first data object, wherein the first data object comprises first information indicating one or more interests of a user of a first communication device;

assembling a data object request from the first information and from second information indicating one or more interests of a user of the second communication device;

sending the data object request to a data object server; and

receiving a second data object in response to the data object request, the second data object comprising data related to one or more common interests shared by the users of the first and second communication devices.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising forwarding the second data object to the first communication device.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the first data object further comprises at least one attribute parameter corresponding to the first communication device, and wherein assembling the second data object from the first information and from second information comprises adapting the second data object based on the at least one attribute parameter.

17. A first communication device configured for communication with a second communication device, wherein the first communication device comprises processing logic configured to:

detect the occurrence of a trigger event related to communication between the first communication device and the second communication device;

initiate transmission of a first data object to the second communication device responsive to the occurrence of the trigger event, wherein the first data object comprises information indicating one or more interests of a user of the first communication device;

receive a second data object formed in response to the first data object, wherein the second data object comprises data related to one or more common interests shared by the users of the first and second communication devices; and

process the second data object.

18. The first communication device of claim 17, wherein the processing logic is configured to initiate transmission of the first data object to the second communication device by requesting that a data object server send the first data object to the second communication device.

19. The first communication device of claim 17, wherein the processing logic is configured to initiate transmission of the first data object to the second communication device by sending the first data object to the second communication device.

20. The first communication device of claim 19, wherein the processing logic is further configured to assemble the first data object based on at least one attribute corresponding to the second communication device.

21. A data object server comprising processing logic configured to:

receive a first data object comprising first information indicating one or more interests of a user of a first communication device;

assemble a second data object from the first information and from second information indicating one or more interests of a user of a second communication device, wherein the second data object comprises data related to one or more common interests shared by the users of the first and second communication devices; and

send the second data object to the first communication device.

22. The data object server of claim 21, wherein the processing logic is further configured to retrieve the second information from a database.

23. The data object server of claim 21, wherein the processing logic is further configured to retrieve the second information from the first data object.

24. The data object server of claim 21, wherein the first data object further comprises at least one attribute parameter corresponding to the first communication device, and wherein assembling the second data object from the first information and from second information comprises adapting the second data object based on the at least one attribute parameter.