System and method for exchange of geographic location and user profiles over a wireless network

• US 7,206,568 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2005
• Issued: 04/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Workday Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Loc-Aid Technologies Incorporated (TechnoCom Corporation)
• Inventors: Sudit, Isaias
• Primary Examiner(s): GELIN, JEAN ALLAND
• Application Number:
  US11/068,181
• Publication Number:
  US 20050202817A1
• Time in Patent Office: 778 Days
• Field of Search: 455/404.1, 455/404.2, 455/421, 455/422.1, 455/414.1, 455/414.2, 455/456.1, 455/456.3, 701/200, 701/207, 701/213, 340/350, 340/352, 340/357.01, 340/357.06, 342/350, 342/450
• US Class Current: 455/404.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0072 Transmission between mobile stations, e.g. anti-collision systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0289 of multiple transceivers, e.g. in ad hoc networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

A method for identifying a physical location of a first automatic location identification (ALI) equipped wireless device by determining a geographic area based upon the identified physical location. In a next step, a server identifies at least a second ALI equipped wireless device located within the determined geographic area, and causes an identifier that identifies the second wireless device to be sent to the first wireless device. A user also can select the geographic region from a menu of regions. In either case, the user of the first ALI equipped wireless device can initiate communication with a user of the second wireless device, for instance using text messaging or by placing a voice call.

Claims

1. A system for sharing user profile information across a wireless network comprising:

at least a first automatic location identification equipped wireless device;

at least a second automatic location identification equipped wireless device;

a server, said server in communication with said first wireless device and said at least second wireless device for determining a physical location of said first wireless device and said at least second wireless device, determining a geographic area based upon the physical location of said first wireless device, identifying each said at least second wireless device located within the determined geographic area, causing an identifier that identifies said at least second wireless device to be sent to the first wireless device,said server identifying at least one specific location within the geographic area and identifying a number of at least second wireless devices located at the specific location, and providing information regarding the identified number of at least second wireless devices to the first wireless device.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a database associated with said server, a respective profile associated with a user of said first wireless device and a respective user of each of said at least second wireless devices being stored at said database.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a database, said database including a respective profile of a user associated with said first and second wireless devices, said database being stored in said respective first and second wireless devices.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said profile includes contact information known to said first wireless device.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said contact information is hidden from a user associated with said first wireless device.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said server determines the distance from the specific location to the physical location and communicates the distance to said first wireless device for display on said wireless device.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein a user profile includes information known to said first wireless device, said first wireless device operating on said information to transmit a message to said at least second wireless device and said server providing profiles associated with said at least second wireless devices located at the specific location to said first wireless device.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said first wireless device sends a message to said second wireless device responsive to at least one of the user profiles.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said first wireless device is a cellular telephone.