Methods and system for dynamically and anonymously linking wireless communications unit users

• US 7,949,359 B2
• Filed: 04/05/2007
• Issued: 05/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sejo Pan
• Original Assignee: Sejo Pan
• Inventors: Pan, Sejo
• Primary Examiner(s): Le; Nhan
• Application Number:
  US11/696,728
• Publication Number:
  US 20080248784A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,510 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.2, 455/41.3, 455/456.1, 455/456.3, 455/518, 455/519
• US Class Current: 455/518
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42008 Systems for anonymous communication between parties, e.g. by use of disposal contact identifiers

Abstract

A system and method for wireless communications unit users within proximity to make social connections. Users can dynamically discover potential matches in the proximity and interactively find out mutual intentions to socially connect in an anonymous and discreet manner.

Claims

1. A method for a wireless communications unit (WCU) to connect one first user with another target WCU user who has the same intention to connect within a proximity, comprising the steps of:

storing a user-defined profile and/or profile matching rules in the first WCU;

broadcasting a signal at the first user'"'"'s discretionary control, said signal comprising;

(1) a predefined code representing a connection intention inquiry after the first user has seen the target user;

(2) said profile and/or profile matching rules;

receiving another signal with the same predefined code and with another profile and/or profile matching rules within the proximity directly from another WCU without going through any intermediate device;

extracting the profile and/or profile matching rules from the received signal;

comparing the received profile and/or profile matching rules with the counterpart stored in the first WCU and determining if there is a match;

discarding any non-matching received signal as if it was not received, or notifying the first WCU user of the mismatch when receiving a non-match signal;

determining and notifying the first user of the distance and/or direction reference of the source of the received signal if there is a match.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

repeatedly sending and receiving said signal while at least one WCU changes its physical position and/or signal direction;

repeatedly determining and conveying the change of distance and/or direction reference of the source of the received signal over time to the user of the first WCU.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

allowing the profile in said signal of the first WCU to optionally include a profile authentication certificate issued by a third party;

retrieving and verifying another profile authentication certificate in the received signal;

optionally discarding any received signal without a verified profile authentication certificate.

4. A system for linking wireless communication users comprising:

a wireless transceiver means for transmitting and receiving wireless signals to and from another wireless transceiver without going through any intermediate device;

a user input means;

means for using said user input means to control said wireless transceiver;

means for storing a user-defined profile and/or profile matching rules locally in the system;

optional means for editing said profile and/or profile matching rules;

means for encoding said profile and/or profile matching rules into the signal transmitted;

means for extracting another profile and/or profile matching rules from the received signal;

means for comparing the received profile and/or profile matching rules with said locally stored counterpart;

means for conveying the profile matching result to the user;

means for obtaining a distance and/or direction reference of the source of the received signal using at least one of the following;

Received Signal Strength, Time of Flight, and External Positioning Service;

means for conveying said distance and/or direction reference to the user.

5. The system of claim 4, further comprising:

means for obtaining a certificate of authentication of said local profile from a third party;

means for encoding said certificate of authentication into the signal transmitted;

means for retrieving and verifying another profile authentication certificate in the received signal;

optional means for discarding any received signal without a verified profile authentication certificate.