Method and computer system for matching mobile device users for business and social networking

• US 20090005040A1
• Filed: 09/08/2008
• Published: 01/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: OL Security LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: ProxPro, Inc.
• Inventors: Bourne, Julian J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,970,912 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/435.100
• 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 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass

Abstract

A business or social networking method is operative in a server. The method enables mobile device users to meet one another, on a permission basis. The determination of whether a given pair of mobile device users are introduced depends on whether the server determines they are in intellectual or “cognitive” proximity, which is typically a function of one or more factors, such as: each user'"'"'s reciprocal networking objective, the nature of the industry in which the user works, the user'"'"'s level within the management hierarchy of his or her company, any specialty function the individual may possess, and so on. Individuals who are matched in one or more of such attributes to a given degree or threshold are said to be in intellectual proximity. According to the invention, when given mobile devices users are within physical proximity of one another during an overlapping time window, the server determines whether the users are also within a given intellectual proximity. If so, and if both users have opted to receive new introductions, the server issues a mutual collaboration opportunity message to each of the mobile device users to determine whether they desire to be introduced to one another. Preferably, the mutual collaboration opportunity message masks personally identifying information. If the mobile device users agree to be introduced, the server establishes a direct private messaging session between them. In an alternative embodiment, a mobile device user initiates a contact by performing a networking search query that identifies one or more prospects who can then be contacted by the mobile device user asynchronously.

Claims

1. Apparatus for identifying and introducing mobile device users to one another, wherein mobile device users have been registered by submitting given profile data, comprising:

at least one processor; and

code executable on the processor (a) for receiving a search query from a first mobile device user, (b) based on the search query, for identifying a set of one or more prospects that, with respect to the first mobile device user, are, simultaneously, within;

a given intellectual proximity, physical proximity, and temporal proximity, (c) for delivering to the first mobile device user information identifying the set of one or more prospects, the information masking personally identifying information, and (d) in response to receipt of a message from the first mobile device user, taking a given action to enable the first mobile device user to contact a second mobile device user that has been identified from the set of one or more prospects;

wherein the search query is received as the first mobile device user is in physical and temporal proximity to the set of one or more contacts, and a determination of whether a given prospect is in a given intellectual proximity to the first mobile device user depends at least in part on whether a networking intent of the first mobile device user, as indicated in the first mobile device user'"'"'s profile data, has been identified by the first mobile device user as being specific or non-specific.

2. The apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein the first and second mobile devices users are determined to be in intellectual proximity if a personal profile of the second mobile device user as reflected in the search query matches a target contact profile of the first mobile device user.

3. The apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein temporal proximity is a function of when a given mobile user last made a given networking query.

4. The apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein the given action includes transmitting information to the first mobile device user and the second mobile device user to enable the first and second mobile device users to meet.

5. The apparatus as described in claim 4 wherein the information identifies a physical or virtual location.

6. A server for identifying and introducing mobile device users to one another, wherein a given mobile device user has been registered by submitting given profile data, comprising:

a computer readable storage medium;

code located on the computer readable storage medium and executable on a processor for (a) for receiving a search query from a first mobile device user, (b) based on the search query, for identifying a set of one or more prospects that, with respect to the first mobile device user, are, simultaneously, within;

a given intellectual proximity, physical proximity, and temporal proximity, (c) for delivering to the first mobile device user information identifying the set of one or more prospects, the information masking personally identifying information, and (d) in response to receipt of a message from the first mobile device user, taking a given action to enable the first mobile device user to contact a second mobile device user that has been identified from the set of one or more prospects;

wherein the search query is received as the first mobile device user is in physical and temporal proximity to the set of one or more contacts, and a determination of whether a given prospect is in a given intellectual proximity to the first mobile device user depends at least in part on whether a networking intent of the first mobile device user, as indicated in the first mobile device user'"'"'s profile data, has been identified by the first mobile device user as being specific or non-specific.

7. The server as described in claim 6 wherein the given action includes transmitting information to the first mobile device user and the second mobile device user to enable the first and second mobile device users to meet.

8. The server as described in claim 7 wherein the information identifies a physical or virtual location.