Method and system for providing a mobile terminal search service

• US 8,369,874 B2
• Filed: 03/10/2009
• Issued: 02/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Seung Won Lee
• Original Assignee: Seung Won Lee
• Inventors: Lee, Seung Won
• Primary Examiner(s): Cai, Wayne
• Assistant Examiner(s): Eisner, Ronald
• Application Number:
  US12/400,896
• Publication Number:
  US 20090233624A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,428 Days
• Field of Search: 4554561-457, 455/404.2, 340/539.13
• US Class Current: 455/456.3
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72427 for supporting games or graphical animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

A method and system for providing a mobile terminal search service includes the steps of (a) requesting, by a first mobile terminal, to search for a second mobile terminal, the first mobile terminal having avatar information stored thereon, and (b) searching for the second mobile terminal within a geographical range corresponding to the avatar information of the first mobile terminal.

Claims

1. A method for providing a mobile terminal search service, comprising the steps of:

(a) requesting, by a first mobile terminal, to search for a second mobile terminal, the first mobile terminal having avatar information stored thereon;

(b) searching for the second mobile terminal within a geographical range corresponding to the avatar information of the first mobile terminal;

(c) requesting, by a third mobile terminal, to search for the second mobile terminal, the third mobile terminal having avatar information stored thereon;

(d) searching for the second mobile terminal within a geographical range corresponding to the avatar information of the third mobile terminal; and

(e) when the second mobile terminal is searched for in common in steps (c) and (d), notifying the first and third mobile terminals of a competition mode based upon one of the avatar information, avatar level or a game between the first and third terminals,

wherein when the avatar information of the first terminal is a first level, the searching for the second mobile terminal occurs within a first geographical range, and wherein when the avatar information of the first terminal is a second level, the searching for the second mobile terminal occurs within a second geographical range, the first geographical range being smaller in size than the second geographical range.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

transmitting avatar information of the second searched-for mobile terminal to the first mobile terminal.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of:

transmitting an indication as to whether the search requested by the first mobile terminal is successful and the avatar information of the first mobile terminal to the second mobile terminal.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) comprises transmitting, by the first mobile terminal, ideal type information and requesting to search for the second mobile terminal matching the ideal type information.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the number of ideal type information fields corresponds to the avatar information.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the avatar information of the first mobile terminal is adjusted through at least one of a game performed on the first mobile terminal and an item purchased online or offline.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

(f) transmitting avatar information of the second mobile terminal to a selected one of the first and third mobile terminals.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) comprises displaying an image in which a figure of the avatar of the first mobile terminal disappears, on a display panel of the first mobile terminal, after requesting to search for the second mobile terminal.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of searching for the second mobile terminal further comprises the step of obtaining the location information of the second mobile terminal using Global Positioning System coordinates.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of searching for the second mobile terminal further comprises the step of obtaining the location information of the second mobile terminal by measuring the strength or weakness of signals from at least three cell towers.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of searching for the second mobile terminal further comprises the step of obtaining the location information of the second mobile terminal through a wireless internet hotspot.

12. A method for providing a mobile terminal search service, comprising the steps of;

(a) transmitting avatar information and ideal type information of a first mobile terminal to request to search for a second mobile terminal matching the ideal type information;

(b) searching for the second mobile terminal having user profile information matching the ideal type information among mobile terminals located within a geographical range corresponding to the avatar information of the first mobile terminal;

(c) requesting, by a third mobile terminal, to search for the second mobile terminal, the third mobile terminal having avatar information stored thereon;

(d) searching for the second mobile terminal within a geographical range corresponding to the avatar information of the third mobile terminal; and

(e) when the second mobile terminal is searched for in common in steps (c) and (d), notifying the first and third mobile terminals of a competition mode,

wherein when the avatar information of the first terminal is a first level, the searching for the second mobile terminal occurs within a first geographical range, and wherein when the avatar information of the first terminal is a second level, the searching for the second mobile terminal occurs within a second geographical range, the first geographical range being smaller in size than the second geographical range.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of:

reading avatar information of the second mobile terminal from a database and transmitting the avatar information to the first mobile terminal.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the avatar information and the user profile information are updated and stored in the database upon at least one of a call request, communication, a message transmission request, a data update request, and step (a).

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of:

transmitting an indication as to whether the second mobile terminal has been searched for and the avatar information of the first mobile terminal to the second mobile terminal.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of:

transmitting location information of the second searched-for mobile terminal to the first mobile terminal.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the number of items constituting the ideal type information is determined depending on the avatar information of the first mobile terminal.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the avatar information of the first mobile terminal is adjusted through at least one of a game performed on the first mobile terminal and an item purchased online or offline.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein step (b) comprises the steps of:

(b1) first searching for a mobile terminal located within the geographical range corresponding to the avatar information; and

(b2) reading user profile information of a user of the first searched-for mobile terminal from a database and further searching for the second mobile terminal matching the ideal type information.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein when a user of the first mobile terminal selects some regions or buildings within the geographical range corresponding to the avatar information,

step (a) comprises transmitting information on the selected regions or buildings, and

step (b) comprises searching for the second mobile terminal located within the selected regions or buildings.

21. The method of claim 12, wherein step (a) comprises displaying an image of an avatar figure of the first mobile terminal disappearing on a display panel of the first mobile terminal, after requesting to search for the second mobile terminal.

22. A mobile terminal search service system comprising:

a first mobile terminal for transmitting avatar information and ideal type information and making a request for a search for a second mobile terminal;

a location register storing location information;

a search server for receiving information on a mobile terminal located within a geographical range corresponding to the avatar information from the location register, and determining whether user profile information of another mobile terminal matches the ideal type information;

a third mobile terminal making a request for a search for the second mobile terminal, the third mobile terminal having avatar information stored thereon, and searching for the second mobile terminal within a geographical range corresponding to the avatar information of the third mobile terminal, and when the second mobile terminal is searched for, notifying the first and third mobile terminals of a competition mode based upon one of avatar information, avatar level, or a game between the first and third terminals,

wherein when the avatar information of the first terminal is a first level, the searching for the second mobile terminal occurs within a first geographical range, and wherein when the avatar information of the first terminal is a second level, the searching for the second mobile terminal occurs within a second geographical range, the first geographical range being smaller in size than the second geographical range.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the search server transmits avatar information of the second mobile terminal having the user profile information matching the ideal type information to the first mobile terminal.

24. The system of claim 23, further comprising a database for storing the avatar information and the user profile information of the first mobile terminal and of the second mobile terminal.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein each mobile terminal transmits the avatar information and the user profile information upon at least one of a call request, communication, a message transmission request, and a mobile terminal search request, and

the search server updates and stores the transmitted avatar information and user profile information in the database.

26. The system of claim 23, wherein the search server further transmits location information of the second mobile terminal to the first mobile terminal.

27. The system of claim 22, wherein the number of items constituting the ideal type information is determined depending on the avatar information.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the avatar information of the first mobile terminal is adjusted through at least one of a game performed on the first mobile terminal and an item purchased online or offline.

29. The system of claim 22, wherein when a user of the first mobile terminal selects some regions or buildings within the geographical range corresponding to the avatar information,

the first mobile terminal further transmits information on the selected regions or buildings, and

the search server searches for the second mobile terminal located within the selected regions or buildings.