Method and system for providing wireless communication between user equipments

• US 8,406,691 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2008
• Issued: 03/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Damola, Ayodele, Bogestam, Kent
• Primary Examiner(s): Milord, Marceau
• Application Number:
  US13/133,512
• Publication Number:
  US 20110244800A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,560 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.2, 455/414.1, 455/550.1, 455/435.2, 455/456.1, 455/556.2, 455/557
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A method of wireless communication between user equipments includes retrieving user data and a criterion via a software application on a first wireless user equipment having communication interfaces. One of the interfaces is selected based on the criterion. The interface is used to identify wireless user equipments in a proximity of the first user equipment. A total number of user equipments in the proximity of the first user equipment is determined, and, when the number is below a value, another interface is selected. The other interface is used to identify wireless user equipments in the proximity of the first user equipment. A match between the user data of the first user equipment and user data of a second user equipment, causes initiation of wireless communication between the first and the second user equipments by sending to any of the user equipments a message associated with the match.

Claims

1. A method of providing wireless communication between user equipments, the method comprising the steps of:

retrieving user data and a predefined communication criterion via a software application residing on a first wireless user equipment having at least two communication interfaces,

selecting one of the communication interfaces in dependence of the predefined communication criterion,

identifying, by using the selected communication interface, wireless user equipments in a proximity of the first user equipment,

determining a total number of identified user equipments in the proximity of the first user equipment, and, when the number is below a predetermined value, selecting another communication interface of the two communication interfaces and identifying, by using said another communication interface, wireless user equipments in the proximity of the first user equipment,

determining when there is a match between the user data of the first user equipment and user data of a second user equipment of the identified user equipments, and

initiating, when a match is determined, wireless communication between the first and the second user equipment, by sending to any of the user equipments a message associated with the match.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the predefined communication criterion comprises a distance value.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the initiating of the wireless communication is performed when the predefined communication criterion of the first user equipment is fulfilled.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the initiating of the wireless communication is performed when a predefined communication criterion of the second user equipment is fulfilled.

6. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of storing, in the second wireless user equipment, user equipment identification data pertaining to the first user equipment.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the communication interface comprises a server for wireless communication.

8. A method according to claim 7, further comprising the step of sending, from the first user equipment to the server, information pertaining to a location of the first user equipment.

9. A method according to claim 7, further comprising the step of collecting, by the server, information pertaining to a location of a respective wireless user equipment of a plurality of wireless user equipments.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein the first user equipment comprises

an application abstraction layer for the software application,

a communication abstraction layer for the communication interfaces, and

an intermediate abstraction layer arranged between the application abstraction layer and the communication layer.

3. A method according to claim, wherein the selecting of one of the communication interfaces comprises selecting the interface in dependence of a type of the software application residing on the first user equipment.

11. A system for providing wireless communication between user equipments, the system being configured to:

retrieve user data and a predefined communication criterion via a software application residing on a first wireless user equipment having at least two communication interfaces,

select one of the communication interfaces in dependence of the predefined communication criterion,

identify, by using the selected communication interface, wireless user equipments in a proximity of the first user equipment,

determine a total number of identified user equipments in the proximity of the first user equipment, and, when the number is below a predetermined value, select another communication interface of the two communication interfaces and identify, by using said another communication interface, wireless user equipments in the proximity of the first user equipment,

determine when there is a match between the user data of the first user equipment and user data of a second user equipment of the identified user equipments, and

initiate, when a match is determined, wireless communication between the first and the second user equipment, by sending to any of the user equipments a message associated with the match.

12. A user equipment for wireless communication, configured to:

retrieve user data and a predefined communication criterion via a software application residing on the user equipment which comprises at least two communication interfaces,

select one of the communication interfaces in dependence of the predefined communication criterion,

initiate, by using the selected communication interface, identification of wireless user equipments in a proximity of the user equipment,

determine a total number of identified user equipments in the proximity, and, when the number is below a predetermined value, select another communication interface of the two communication interfaces and identify, by using said another communication interface, wireless user equipments in the proximity,

receive, when there is a match between the user data of the user equipment and user data of a responding user equipment of the identified user equipments, a reply from the responding user equipment, and

send to the responding user equipment, when the reply is received, a message associated with the match.

13. A computer readable medium having stored thereon a computer program having software instructions which when run on the computer cause the computer to perform the steps of:

retrieving user data and a predefined communication criterion via a software application residing on a first user equipment which comprises at least two communication interfaces,

selecting one of the communication interfaces in dependence of the predefined communication criterion,

initiating, by using the selected communication interface, identification of wireless user equipments in a proximity of the first user equipment,

determining (109) a total number of identified user equipments in the proximity of the first user equipment, and, when the number is below a predetermined value, selecting another communication interface of the two communication interfaces and identifying, by using said another communication interface, wireless user equipments in the proximity of the first user equipment,

receiving, when there is a match between the user data of the user equipment and user data of a responding user equipment of the identified user equipments, a reply from the responding user equipment, and

sending, when the reply is received, to the responding user equipment a message associated with the match.