Mobile communications matching system

• US 8,032,126 B2
• Filed: 09/03/2009
• Issued: 10/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Fraccaroli, Federico
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Tuan A
• Application Number:
  US12/553,308
• Publication Number:
  US 20090325553A1
• Time in Patent Office: 761 Days
• Field of Search: 4554141-4144, 4554561-4566, 455457-460, 4554351-4353, 455436-439, 455/445, 455517-519
• US Class Current: 455/414.3
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 2001/085 Partner search devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/222 using geographical location information, e.g. messages transmitted or received in proximity of a certain spot or area
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/52 for supporting social networking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/14 with services dependent on location where the service is an information service H04M2242/15; services independent of location H04M3/42229
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 Determination of the location of a subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42008 Systems for anonymous communication between parties, e.g. by use of disposal contact identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42068 where the identifier is used to access a profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4211 where the identifier is used to access a profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/00 Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data

Abstract

A wireless communications network comprises a server in a central location storing matching profiles for a plurality of users of the network. The matching profile for each user is stored in the server through the user'"'"'s mobile unit or a secure page on the Internet. Each matching profile is corresponded with a respective mobile unit using the same identification information (ID) of the respective mobile unit utilized for carrying out phone calls. The server has a customizable variable matching algorithm and probes the matching profiles corresponding to the respective mobile units in a cell or group of cells for a match every time a new mobile unit subscribes into the cell or group of cells. When there is a match of matching profiles, the two persons are put in contact or advised of each other through a phone call or other communications method.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

facilitating a determining of whether a distance between at least a first mobile unit and at least a second mobile unit meets or exceeds or falls below a threshold distance value;

facilitating a comparing of at least a portion of a first matching profile associated with the at least the first mobile unit and at least a portion of a second matching profile associated with the at least the second mobile unit based at least in part on the determining; and

facilitating selective communication between the at least first mobile unit and the at least second mobile unit based on the comparison.

2. A method of claim 1, wherein if the distance does not meet or exceed or fall below the threshold distance value, the method further comprising:

modifying the threshold distance value based on the distance, wherein the comparison is performed based on the modified threshold distance value.

3. A method of claim 1, wherein the comparison results in a match between the at least a portion of the first matching profile and the at least a portion of the second matching profile, the method further comprising:

generating a message signal to notify the first mobile unit and the second mobile unit of the match based on the determination; and

generating a log file indicating the match.

4. A method of claim 3, further comprising:

causing, at least in part, receipt of a message, from either the at least the first mobile unit or the at least the second mobile unit, specifying disapproval of the match for blocking notification of a future match; and

causing, at least in part, storage of the message in the log file.

5. A method of claim 3, further comprising:

causing, at least in part, receipt of a message, from either the at least the first mobile unit or the at least the second mobile unit, specifying a comment regarding the match; and

causing, at least in part, storage of the comment in the log file.

6. A method of claim 3, wherein the message signal further includes a time of the match, a date of the match, a location of the match, or a combination thereof.

7. A method of claim 1, wherein the comparison results in a match between the at least a portion of the first matching profile and the at least a portion of the second matching profile, the method further comprising:

generating a message signal specifying a prompt to be presented via the at least the first mobile unit, wherein the prompt indicates either an option to initiate the communication with the at least the second mobile unit, to present name of a user of the at least the second mobile unit, or a combination thereof.

8. A method of claim 1, wherein the distance and the threshold distance value are based on either a cell, a group of cells, a distance within a cell, or a combination thereof.

9. A method of claim 1, wherein each of the matching profiles includes information for matching users, and the information for matching the users comprises a specific user identity of another user.

10. A method of claim 1, wherein each of the matching profiles includes information for matching users, and the information for matching the users is compiled through use of a secure internet page.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication includes a phone call.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the phone call is initiated without knowledge by a user of the at least the first mobile unit of a phone number of the second mobile unit.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the phone call is initiated automatically without user input.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the geographical locations of the at least the first mobile unit and the at least the second mobile unit are within a common location area.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the location area includes a cell or a smaller area within the cell.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the at least the first mobile unit and the at least the second mobile unit correspond to a common cell group identifier.

17. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a memory including computer program code for one or more programs,

the memory and the computer program code configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following,

facilitate a determining of whether a distance between at least a first mobile unit and at least a second mobile unit meets or exceeds or falls below a threshold distance value;

facilitate a comparing of at least a portion of a first matching profile associated with the at least the first mobile unit and at least a portion of a second matching profile associated with the at least the second mobile unit if the distance meets or exceeds or falls below the threshold distance value; and

facilitate selective communication between the at least first mobile unit and the at least second mobile unit based on the comparison.

18. An apparatus of claim 17, wherein if the distance does not meet or exceed or fall below the threshold distance value, the apparatus being further caused to:

modify the threshold distance value based on the distance, wherein the comparison is performed based on the modified threshold distance value.

19. An apparatus of claim 17, wherein the comparison results in a match between the at least a portion of the first matching profile and the at least a portion of the second matching profile, the apparatus being further caused to:

generate a message signal to notify the first mobile unit and the second mobile unit of the match based on the determination; and

generate a log file indicating the match.

20. An apparatus of claim 19, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

receive a message, from either the at least the first mobile unit or the at least the second mobile unit, specifying disapproval of the match for blocking notification of a future match; and

store the message in the log file.

21. An apparatus of claim 19, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

receive a message, from either the at least the first mobile unit or the at least the second mobile unit, specifying a comment regarding the match; and

store the comment in the log file.

22. An apparatus of claim 19, wherein the message signal further includes a time of the match, a date of the match, a location of the match, or a combination thereof.

23. An apparatus of claim 17, wherein the comparison results in a match between the at least a portion of the first matching profile and the at least a portion of the second matching profile, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

generating a message signal specifying a prompt to be presented via the at least the first mobile unit, wherein the prompt indicates either an option to initiate the communication with the at least the second mobile unit, to present name of a user of the at least the second mobile unit, or a combination thereof.

24. An apparatus of claim 17, wherein the distance and the threshold distance value are based on either a cell, a group of cells, a distance within a cell, or a combination thereof.

25. An apparatus of claim 17, wherein each of the matching profiles includes information for matching users, and the information for matching the users comprises a specific user identity of another user.

26. An apparatus of claim 17, wherein each of the matching profiles includes information for matching users, and the information for matching the users is compiled through use of a secure internet page.

27. An apparatus of claim 17, wherein the communication includes a phone call.

28. An apparatus of claim 27, wherein the phone call is initiated without knowledge by a user of the at least the first mobile unit of a phone number of the second mobile unit.

29. An apparatus of claim 27, wherein the phone call is initiated automatically without user input.

30. An apparatus of claim 17, wherein the geographical locations of the at least the first mobile unit and the at least the second mobile unit are within a common location area.

31. An apparatus of claim 30, wherein the location area includes a cell or a smaller area within the cell.

32. An apparatus of claim 31, wherein the at least the first mobile unit and the at least the second mobile unit correspond to a common cell group identifier.

33. A method comprising facilitating access to at least one interface to allow access to at least one service via at least one network, the at least one service configured to perform at least the following:

facilitating a determining of whether a distance between at least a first mobile unit and at least a second mobile unit meets or exceeds or falls below a threshold distance value;

facilitating a comparing of at least a portion of a first matching profile associated with the at least the first mobile unit and at least a portion of a second matching profile associated with the at least the second mobile unit if the distance meets or exceeds or falls below the threshold distance value; and

facilitating selective communication between the at least first mobile unit and the at least second mobile unit based on the comparison.

34. A method of claim 33, wherein the comparison results in a match between the at least a portion of the first matching profile and the at least a portion of the second matching profile, the method further comprising:

determining a match between the at least a portion of the first matching profile and the at least a portion of the second matching profile;

generating a message signal to notify the first mobile unit and the second mobile unit of the match based on the determination; and

generating a log file indicating the match.

35. A method of claim 34, further comprising:

causing, at least in part, receipt of a message, from either the at least the first mobile unit or the at least the second mobile unit, specifying disapproval of the match for blocking notification of a future match; and

causing, at least in part, storage of the message in the log file.

36. A method of claim 34, further comprising:

causing, at least in part, receipt of a message, from either the at least the first mobile unit or the at least the second mobile unit, specifying a comment regarding the match; and

causing, at least in part, storage of the comment in the log file.