Proximity Detection

• US 20150234832A1
• Filed: 02/13/2015
• Published: 08/20/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Gardner, Alan Lee III, Sumter, George Cody, Aharony, Nadav
• Granted Patent: US 10,445,325 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24578 using ranking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking

Abstract

The disclosure includes a system and method for detecting proximity between users. The system includes a processor and a memory storing instructions that when executed cause the system to: determine a context associated with a first user device; query other user devices based on the context to create a set of other user devices that satisfy a query; generate a list of filtered devices by filtering the set of other user devices; notify the first user device of the list of filtered devices; and query for the list of filtered devices to determine which filtered devices are within proximity to the first user device.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

determining, using one or more processors, a location associated with a first user device;

querying, using the one or more processors, other user devices within a set distance to the first user device;

generating, using the one or more processors, a list of one or more filtered devices by filtering the set of one or more other user devices based on connections in a social network, privacy settings and frequency of contact;

generating, using the one or more processors, a ranked list of filtered devices;

providing the first user device with the ranked list of filtered devices; and

wherein the first user device queries the ranked list of filtered devices and takes steps to facilitate actions when the filtered devices are in proximity to the first user device.

2. A computer-implemented method comprising:

determining, using one or more processors, a context associated with a first user device;

querying, using the one or more processors, other user devices based on the context to create a set of one or more other user devices that satisfy a query;

generating, using the one or more processors, a list of one or more filtered devices by filtering the set of one or more other user devices;

notifying, using the one or more processors, the first user device of the list of the one or more filtered devices; and

wherein the first user device queries the list of filtered devices to determine which filtered devices are within proximity to the first user device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first user device queries the list of filtered devices based on at least one of a Bluetooth protocol and further comprising:

receiving tokens instead of a media access control addresses for the filtered devices on the list of filtered devices; and

querying for the tokens.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein filtering the set of one or more other user devices is based on a threshold degree of separation between a first user associated with the first user device and a second user associated with the set of one or more other user devices.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein filtering the set of one or more other user devices is based on a threshold number of interactions between a first user associated with the first user device and a second user associated with the set of one or more other user devices.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the context includes one or more of a location, a time, an ongoing action and a future action associated with the first user device.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein filtering the set of one or more other user devices is based on privacy settings of the one or more other user devices.

8. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

ranking the one or more filtered devices that are within proximity to the first user device based on their proximity to the first user device and one or more connections between the first user device and the one or more filtered devices; and

notifying a user of the first device of the one or more filtered devices in a ranked order.

9. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

determining actions of other user devices when in proximity to the first user device; and

notifying a user associated with the first user device to take steps to facilitate the actions of the devices when in proximity to the first user device.

10. The method of claim 2, wherein the first user device is located at a destination and further comprising responsive to the one or more filtered user devices being within proximity to the first user device, sending information about the destination to the filtered user devices.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the information is a coupon for the destination or a map of the destination.

12. The method of claim 2, wherein the first user device is located at a destination and further comprising responsive to the one or more filtered user devices being within proximity to the first user device, activating other user devices or applications.

13. The method of claim 2, wherein the first user device queries the list of filtered devices based on at least one of a Bluetooth protocol, infrared and audio.

15. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein filtering the set of one or more other user devices is based on a threshold degree of separation between a first user associated with the first user device and a second user associated with the set of one or more other user devices.

16. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein filtering the set of one or more other user devices is based on a threshold number of interactions between a first user associated with the first user device and a second user associated with the set of one or more other user devices.

17. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein filtering the set of one or more user devices is based on privacy settings of the one or more other user devices.

18. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the computer readable program is further configured to cause the computer to:

rank the one or more filtered devices that are within proximity to the first user device based on their proximity to the first user device and one or more connections between the first user device and the one or more filtered devices; and

notify a user of the first device of the one or more filtered devices in a ranked order.

19. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the computer readable program is further configured to cause the computer to:

determine actions of other user devices when in proximity to the first user device; and

notify a user associated with the first user device to take steps to facilitate the actions of the devices when in proximity to the first user device.

20. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the first user device is located at a destination and further comprising responsive to the one or more filtered user devices being within proximity to the first user device, activating other user devices or applications.

14. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer usable medium including a computer readable program, wherein the computer readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to:

determine a context associated with a first user device;

query other user devices based on the context to create a set of one or more other user devices that satisfy a query;

generate a list of one or more filtered devices by filtering the set of one or more other user devices;

notify the first user device of the list of the one or more filtered devices; and

query to determine which filtered devices within proximity to the first device.