METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING PROXIMITY-RELATIONSHIP GROUP CREATION

• US 20120149309A1
• Filed: 12/10/2010
• Published: 06/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Hubner, Paul, Clavenna, Robert A., Pate, Kristopher, Archer, Steven T.
• Granted Patent: US 8,886,128 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/67.11
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/025 using location based information parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/08 User group management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/186 Processing of subscriber group data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

An approach for enabling computing devices to establish and recognize a relationship group based on physical proximity is described. A proximity management platform monitors a plurality of activities of a mobile device. The monitored activities include communications with one or more devices within a predetermined proximity of the mobile device. The proximity management platform stores the monitored activities and associated timing information.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

monitoring a plurality of activities of a mobile device, wherein the activities include communications with one or more devices within a predetermined proximity of the mobile device;

storing the monitored activities and associated timing information; and

classifying the activities as one of a plurality of proximity patterns.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

creating a new proximity pattern based on the monitored activities and the associated timing information if no classification can be performed.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the activities include generation of sensor information from the mobile device, actions associated with one or more processes of the mobile device, utilization of network addresses, or a combination thereof.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the activities include establishment of communications over a wireless network that includes a local area network, a wide area network, or a cellular network.

5. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

storing the activities for transmission to a database that is local to the mobile device; and

initiating transmission of the stored activities to a remote database maintained by a service provider.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the one or more proximity patterns are used to set a profile of the mobile device, and the profile is presented to a user interface of the mobile device for indicating the classification.

7. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

determining that the monitored activities correspond to one of the predetermined patterns; and

either initiating distribution of data with the one or more devices based on the corresponding predetermined pattern, or initiating update of presence information associated with the mobile device based on the corresponding predetermined pattern.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the mobile device includes a mobile phone or a mobile computer.

9. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code for one or more programs,

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following,

monitor a plurality of activities of a mobile device, wherein the activities include communications with one or more devices within a predetermined proximity of the mobile device,

store the monitored activities and associated timing information, and

classify the activities as one of a plurality of proximity patterns.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

create a new proximity pattern based on the monitored activities and the associated timing information if no classification can be performed.

11. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the activities include generation of sensor information from the mobile device, actions associated with one or more processes of the mobile device, utilization of network addresses, or a combination thereof.

12. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the activities include establishment of communications over a wireless network that includes a local area network, a wide area network, or a cellular network.

13. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

store the activities for transmission to a database that is local to the mobile device; and

initiate transmission of the stored activities to a remote database maintained by a service provider.

14. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the one or more proximity patterns are used to set a profile of the mobile device, and the profile is presented to a user interface of the mobile device for indicating the classification.

15. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

determine that the monitored activities correspond to one of the predetermined patterns; and

either initiate distribution of data with the one or more devices based on the corresponding predetermined pattern, or initiate update of presence information associated with the mobile device based on the corresponding predetermined pattern.

16. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the mobile device includes a mobile phone or a mobile computer.

17. A system comprising:

a processor configured to collect activity information from a mobile device, wherein the activity information is derived from monitoring of a plurality of activities of the mobile device, the activities including communications with one or more devices within a predetermined proximity of the mobile device; and

a database coupled to the processor and is configured to store the activity information,

wherein a proximity pattern is determined based on the activity information, and a profile of the mobile device is set according to the determined proximity pattern.

18. A system according to claim 17, wherein the processor is further configured to create a new proximity pattern based on the activity information.

19. A system according to claim 17, wherein the activities include generation of sensor information from the mobile device, actions associated with one or more processes of the mobile device, utilization of network addresses, or a combination thereof.

20. A system according to claim 17, wherein the activities include establishment of communications over a wireless network that includes a local area network, a wide area network, or a cellular network.