Data sharing based on proximity-based ad hoc network
First Claim
1. A method for transferring data between users, comprising:
- receiving sensor data from each of a plurality of portable user devices;
constructing a proximity-based ad hoc network among the plurality of portable user devices based on the received sensor data;
determining that a first portable user device in the plurality of portable user devices is spatially and temporally proximate to a second portable user device in the plurality of portable user devices based on the proximity-based ad hoc network; and
transferring user data received from the first portable user device to the second portable user device responsive to at least determining that the first portable user device is spatially and temporally proximate to the second portable user device;
wherein determining that the first portable user device is spatially and temporally proximate to the second portable user device comprises;
determining that the first portable user device is spatially and temporally proximate to a third portable user device in the plurality of portable user devices based on the proximity-based ad hoc network; and
determining that the third portable user device is spatially and temporally proximate to the second portable user device based on the proximity-based ad hoc network.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method is described for constructing a proximity-based ad hoc network among a plurality of sensor-enabled devices and for using such a network to facilitate data sharing among users of those devices (referred to herein for simplicity as “sensors”). The system and method advantageously enables data to be shared among co-located sensors in a manner that does not require local connections or communication among those sensors and that protects user privacy. The system and method also beneficially enables data to be transferred among heterogeneous sensor types that would otherwise be incapable of detecting and/or communicating with each other. The system and method may perform user-initiated data transfer as well as automatic data transfer responsive to sensor proximity and other factors, such as commonality of user interests or activities or membership in a social network.
37 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for transferring data between users, comprising:
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receiving sensor data from each of a plurality of portable user devices; constructing a proximity-based ad hoc network among the plurality of portable user devices based on the received sensor data; determining that a first portable user device in the plurality of portable user devices is spatially and temporally proximate to a second portable user device in the plurality of portable user devices based on the proximity-based ad hoc network; and transferring user data received from the first portable user device to the second portable user device responsive to at least determining that the first portable user device is spatially and temporally proximate to the second portable user device; wherein determining that the first portable user device is spatially and temporally proximate to the second portable user device comprises; determining that the first portable user device is spatially and temporally proximate to a third portable user device in the plurality of portable user devices based on the proximity-based ad hoc network; and determining that the third portable user device is spatially and temporally proximate to the second portable user device based on the proximity-based ad hoc network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A system, comprising:
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a communications manager configured to receive sensor data from each of a plurality of portable user devices; a location tracking manager configured to construct a proximity-based ad hoc network among the plurality of portable user devices based on the received sensor data, wherein the received sensor data includes data indicating when certain portable user devices have sensed other portable user devices; and a data sharing manager configured to determine that a first portable user device in the plurality of portable user devices is spatially and temporally proximate to a second portable user device in the plurality of portable user devices based on the proximity-based ad hoc network and to transfer user data received from the first portable user device to the second portable user device responsive to at least the determination that the first portable user device is spatially and temporally proximate to the second portable user device; wherein the data sharing manager is configured to determine that the first portable user device is spatially and temporally proximate to the second portable user device by determining that the first portable user device is spatially and temporally proximate to a third portable user device in the plurality of portable user devices based on the proximity-based ad hoc network and by determining that the third portable user device is spatially and temporally proximate to the second portable user device based on the proximity-based ad hoc network. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A computer program product comprising a computer-readable storage medium having computer program logic recorded thereon for enabling a processing unit to transfer data between users, the computer program logic comprising:
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first means for enabling the processing unit to receive sensor data from each of a plurality of portable user devices; second means for enabling the processing unit to construct a proximity-based ad hoc network among the plurality of portable user devices based on the received sensor data, wherein the received sensor data includes data indicating when certain portable user devices have sensed other portable user devices; third means for enabling the processing unit to determine that a first portable user device in the plurality of portable user devices is spatially and temporally proximate to a second portable user device in the plurality of portable user devices based on the proximity-based ad hoc network; and fourth means for enabling the processing unit to transfer user data received from the first portable user device to the second portable user device responsive to at least determining that the first portable user device is spatially and temporally proximate to the second portable user device; wherein the third means comprises means for enabling the processing unit to determine that the first portable user device is spatially and temporally proximate to a third portable user device in the plurality of portable user devices based on the proximity-based ad hoc network; and means for enabling the processing unit to determine that the third portable user device is spatially and temporally proximate to the second portable user device based on the proximity-based ad hoc network. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification