Method of establishing communication between two or more real world entities and apparatuses performing the same

• US 7,529,542 B1
• Filed: 04/21/2008
• Issued: 05/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Nadler, Sima, Chevion, Dan Shmuel, Sivan, Ron
• Primary Examiner(s): Yun; Eugene
• Application Number:
  US12/106,795
• Time in Patent Office: 379 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.2, 455/41.3, 455/410, 455/411, 455/414.1, 455/414.2, 455/421, 455/422.1, 455/440, 4554561-4563, 455/457, 455/7, 455/11.1
• US Class Current: 455/414.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/061 for key exchange, e.g. in peer-to-peer networks cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key agreement H04L9/0838
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/003 locating network equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup

Abstract

Establishing communication between people when face-to-face communication is difficult by pointing a portable device in a direction of a target and recording a position and orientation of the portable device and by recording a distance between the portable device and the target. Further, this communication is established by calculating a location of the target based on the recorded position, orientation, and distance and broadcasting, via the portable device, a message including the calculated location of the target. Moreover, this communication is established when the target receiving the message, compares the calculated location of the target with an actual position of the target to determine whether the target that received the initiation message is within a predetermined proximity of the calculated location of the target. If the receiving target is within the predetermined proximity of the intended target, a reply is transmitted to the portable device to initiate handshaking.

Claims

1. A method of establishing communication between a portable device and at least one of a stationary hotspot and a portable hotspot, said method comprising:

pointing the portable device in a direction of a target hotspot being one of the stationary hotspot and the portable hotspot;

recording, via the portable device, (i) a position of the portable device, (ii) an orientation of the portable device, and (iii) a distance between the portable device and the target hotspot;

calculating, via the portable device, a location of the target hotspot based on the position, orientation, and distance recorded by said recording;

broadcasting, via the portable device, an initiation message for establishing communication with the target hotspot, the initiation message including an identification of the portable device and the location of the target hotspot calculated by said calculating;

receiving, via a hotspot within a receiving proximity of the portable device, the initiation message broadcast by said broadcasting;

comparing, via the hotspot that received the initiation message broadcast by said broadcasting, the calculated location of the target hotspot included in the initiation message with a position of the hotspot that received the initiation message to determine whether or not the hotspot that received the initiation message is within a predetermined proximity of the calculated location of the target hotspot broadcast via the portable device, the position of the hotspot that received the initiation message being calculated by the hotspot that received the initiation message;

if the hotspot that received the initiation message determines that it is located within the predetermined proximity of the calculated location of the target hotspot broadcast via the portable device, transmitting a reply message to the portable device, the reply message identifying the hotspot as the target hotspot;

conducting handshaking by exchanging encryption keys between the identified target hotspot and the portable device; and

upon completing said handshaking, freely exchanging information between the portable device and the identified target hotspot.