Location-based networking methods and systems for performing the same

• US 7,716,285 B2
• Filed: 10/01/2008
• Issued: 05/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/29/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: TTB Technologies LLC
• Inventors: Boyd, John Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Meky, Moustafa M
• Application Number:
  US12/286,565
• Publication Number:
  US 20090037531A1
• Time in Patent Office: 587 Days
• Field of Search: 709200-205, 709217-227, 709/228
• US Class Current: 709/204
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4038 with floor control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/62 Establishing a time schedule for servicing the requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

Methods and systems for assisting individuals (101) arrange meetings such as networking meeting with other individuals (101) at a specified time (or within a specified time range) and/or at a specified place (or within a specified geographic region). More specifically, methods and systems for allowing individuals (110) to post an invitation to for a meeting on an on-line network and for allowing one or more other individuals (101) to accept such invitation.

Claims

1. A computer based method for facilitating an arrangement for a meeting including a first user and a second user comprising:

(a) allowing said first user to register by providing an email address and creating a first user profile including public information and private information;

(b) determining the location of said second user; and

(c) providing a notification to, at an online location accessible by, said second user including updated information including meeting invitations;

wherein said steps (a), (b) and (c) are performed using one or more computer devices and said method results in said meeting including said first user and said second user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said location of said second user is determined using an advanced positioning system in combination with a cellular communication network.

3. The method of claim 1, further receiving a travel itinerary from a third user and allowing another user to provide said third user with information based on said travel itinerary.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a directory of users that includes user information and allowing users to contact other users for meetings using said directory.

5. A system for performing the method of claim 1, comprising one or more computer devices for:

(a) allowing said first user to register;

(b) determining the location of said second user; and

(c) providing said notification to, or at an online location accessible by, said second user including said updated information including said meeting invitations.

6. A computer based method for facilitating an arrangement for a meeting including a first user and a second user comprising:

(a) receiving invitation information from said first user;

(b) determining the location of said second user; and

(c) providing said invitation information to, at an online location accessible by, said second user based on said location;

wherein said steps (a), (b), and (c) are performed using one or more computer devices and said method results in said meeting including said first user and said second user.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said location of said second user is determined using an advanced positioning system in combination with a cellular communication network.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising providing said invitation information to, or at a location accessible by, other users.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein said first user and said second user do not know each other prior to said first user providing said invitation information in step (a).

10. The method of claim 6, further comprising communicating to said first user a communication from said second user regarding said invitation information.

11. The method of claim 6, wherein said invitation information does not include a specified invited individual.

12. The method of claim 6, wherein said invitation information includes a time or time range and a location for said meeting.

13. The method of claim 6, wherein said invitation information includes a description of who said first user would like to meet.

14. A system for performing the method of claim 6, comprising one or more computer devices for:

(a) receiving said invitation information from said first user;

(b) determining the location of said second user; and

(c) providing said invitation information to, or at an online location accessible by, said second user based on said location.

15. The computer based method of claim 6, wherein said online location is accessible via a computer network.

16. The computer based method of claim 6, wherein said online location accessible via the Internet.

17. The computer based method of claim 6, wherein said steps (a), (b) and (c) are performed using one or more wireless computer devices.

18. The computer based method of claim 6, wherein said first user and/or said second user are anonymous users.

19. The computer based method of claim 6, wherein step (a) is performed using a computer device including a software program, recorded on computer readable medium, for controlling said computer device.

20. A computer based method for facilitating an arrangement for a meeting including a first user and a second user comprising:

(a) receiving an invitation for said meeting from said first user; and

(b) providing said invitation to, at an online location accessible by, other users including said second user;

further comprising determining the location of said second user, wherein said steps (a) and (b) are performed using one or more computer devices and said method results in said meeting including said first user and said second user.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said location of said second user is determined using an advanced positioning system in combination with a cellular communication network.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising providing said second user with said invitation based on said location of said second user.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising providing an acceptance of said invitation from said second user to, or at location accessible by, said first user.

24. The computer based method of claim 23, further comprising allowing said first user to decide to approve or decline said acceptance from said second user.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein said invitation does not include a specified invited individual.

26. The method of claim 20, wherein said invitation includes a time or time range and a location for said meeting.

27. The computer based method of claim 20, wherein said online location is accessible via a computer network.

28. The computer based method of claim 20, wherein said online location accessible via the Internet.

29. The computer based method of claim 20, wherein said steps (a) and (b) are performed using one or more wireless computer devices.

30. The computer based method of claim 20, wherein said first user and/or said second user are anonymous users.

31. The computer based method of claim 20, wherein said first user and said second user do not know each other prior to using said method.

32. The computer based method of claim 20, wherein step (a) is performed using a computer device including a software program, recorded on computer readable medium, for controlling said computer device.

33. A method for enabling users to network with other users comprising:

(a) allowing a first user to register and create a first user profile including public information and private information;

(b) determining the location of a second user; and

(c) providing a notification to, at an online location accessible by, said second user including updated information including an invitation from said first user for a meeting;

wherein said steps (a), (b) and (c) are performed using one or more computer devices and said method results in said first user networking with said second user to arrange a meeting between said first user and second user.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein said location of said second user is determined using a cellular communication network.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein said location of said second user is determined using computer-implemented means for determining said location of said second user.

36. The method of claim 33, wherein said location of said second user is determined using an advanced positioning system in combination with a cellular communication network.

37. The method of claim 33, wherein said first user registers as an anonymous user.

38. The method of claim 33, further allowing said first user and said second user to communicate anonymously.

39. The method of claim 33, wherein said first user and said second user do not know each other prior to said meeting.

40. The method of claim 33, wherein said first user and said second user do not know each other prior to said first user registering.

41. The method of claim 33, wherein said first user and said second user do not know each other prior to said notification.

42. The method of claim 33, wherein said first user and said second do not know each other prior to said networking.

43. The method of claim 33, wherein said first user is charged a fee in step (a).

44. The method of claim 33, wherein said public information includes one or more of the following:

profession;

employer;

city of employer;

city of residence;

place of birth;

country of origin;

education, college;

graduate school;

hobbies;

age;

favorite foods;

or favorite cuisines.

45. The method of claim 33, wherein said private information includes one or more of the following:

full name, home address, business address, telephone number, email address, and credit card number.

46. The method of claim 33, further receiving a travel itinerary from a user and allowing another user to provide said user with information based on said travel itinerary.

47. The method of claim 33, further comprising notifying a third user of said notification.

48. The method of claim 33, further comprising determining the location of a third user using an advanced positioning system in combination with a cellular communication network.

49. The method of claim 33, further comprising providing a directory of users that includes user information and allowing users to contact other users using said directory.

50. The method of claim 33, where said method uses a wireless system comprising one or more computer devices.

51. The method of claim 50, wherein said one or more computer devices use a software program adapted to perform said method.

52. A computer-based system for performing the method of claim 33, comprising one or more computer devices for:

(a) allowing said first user to register and create said first user profile;

(b) determining the location of said second user; and

(c) providing said notification to, or at an online location accessible by, said second user including said updated information including said meeting invitations.

53. The computer based method of claim 33, wherein step (a) is performed using a computer device including a software program, recorded on computer readable medium, for controlling said computer device.