Mobile communications matching system

• US 8,600,361 B2
• Filed: 05/17/2011
• Issued: 12/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Fraccaroli, Federico
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Tuan A
• Application Number:
  US13/109,612
• Publication Number:
  US 20110217992A1
• Time in Patent Office: 931 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 processing of and/or processing (1) data and/or (2) information and/or (3) at least one signal, the (1) data and/or (2) information and/or (3) at least one signal based, at least in part, on the following:

at least one determination of a geographical location of at least a first mobile unit;

at least one determination of whether the geographical location of the at least first mobile unit is accessible by at least a second mobile unit, wherein the at least one determination of whether the geographical location of the first mobile unit is accessible by the at least second mobile is based at least in part on the distance between the first mobile unit and the second mobile unit; and

at least one determination to provide the geographical location of the at least first mobile unit to the at least second mobile unit based at least in part on the determining of whether the geographical location of the at least first mobile unit is accessible by the at least second mobile unit.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the (1) data and/or (2) information and/or (3) at least one signal are further based, at least in part, on at least one determination to facilitate potential communication between the at least first mobile unit and the at least second mobile unit based at least in part on the geographical location of the at least first mobile unit.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one determination of whether the geographical location of the first mobile unit is accessible by the at least second mobile includes processing information stored in a profile associated with the first mobile unit.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the (1) data and/or (2) information and/or (3) at least one signal are further based, at least in part, on the at least one determination of a geographical location of the second mobile unit.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the (1) data and/or (2) information and/or (3) at least one signal are further based, at least in part, on at least one determination to facilitate potential communication between the at least mobile unit and the at least second mobile unit based at least in part on the geographical location of the at least first mobile unit and the geographical location of the second mobile unit.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the (1) data and/or (2) information and/or (3) at least one signal are further based, at least in part, on at least one determination to provide the geographical location of the at least second mobile unit to the at least first mobile unit based at least in part on the determining of whether the geographical location of the second mobile unit is accessible.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one determination of the geographical location of the at least first mobile unit is performed when the first mobile unit changes geographical location, or when the first mobile unit enters a new cell providing wireless communication service for the first mobile unit.

8. 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 a geographical location of at least a first mobile unit,

facilitate a determining of whether the geographical location of the first mobile unit is accessible by at least a second mobile unit, wherein the facilitation of the at least one determination of whether the geographical location of the first mobile unit is accessible by the at least second mobile is based at least in part on the distance between the first mobile unit and the second mobile unit, and

facilitate a providing of the geographical location of the at least first mobile unit to the at least second mobile unit based at least in part on the determining of whether the geographical location of the at least first mobile unit is accessible.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the apparatus is further caused to facilitate potential communication between the at least first mobile unit and the at least second mobile unit based at least in part on the geographical location of the at least first mobile unit.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the determining of whether the geographical location of the first mobile unit is accessible by the at least second mobile includes processing information stored in a profile associated with the first mobile unit.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the apparatus is further caused to facilitate a determining of a geographical location of the at least second mobile unit.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the apparatus is further caused to facilitate potential communication between the at least first mobile unit and the at least second mobile unit based at least in part on the geographical location of the at least first mobile unit and the geographical location of the second mobile unit.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the apparatus is further caused to facilitate a providing of the geographical location of the at least second mobile unit to the at least first mobile unit based at least in part on the determining of whether the geographical location of the second mobile unit is accessible.

14. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the determining of the geographical location of the at least first mobile unit is performed when the first mobile unit changes geographical location, or when the first mobile unit enters a new cell providing wireless communication service for the first mobile unit.

15. A server apparatus having a processor and software stored therein within a memory that, when executed by the server, cause the server apparatus to perform:

facilitating a determining of a geographical location of at least a first mobile unit;

facilitating a determining of whether the geographical location of the first mobile unit is accessible by at least a second mobile unit, wherein the facilitation of the at least one determination of whether the geographical location of the first mobile unit is accessible by the at least second mobile is based at least in part on the distance between the first mobile unit and the second mobile unit; and

facilitating a providing of the geographical location of the at least first mobile unit to the at least second mobile unit based at least in part on the determining of whether the geographical location of the at least first mobile unit is accessible.

16. The server apparatus of claim 15, wherein the apparatus is further caused to facilitate potential communication between the at least first mobile unit and the at least second mobile unit based at least in part on the geographical location of the at least first mobile unit.

17. The server apparatus of claim 15, wherein the determining of whether the geographical location of the first mobile unit is accessible by the at least second mobile includes processing information stored in a profile associated with the first mobile unit.

18. The server apparatus of claim 15, wherein the apparatus is further caused to facilitate a determining of a geographical location of the at least second mobile unit.

19. The server apparatus of claim 18, wherein the apparatus is further caused to facilitate potential communication between the at least first mobile unit and the at least second mobile unit based at least in part on the geographical location of the first mobile unit and the geographical location of the second mobile unit.

20. The server apparatus of claim 15, wherein the determining of the geographical location of the at least first mobile unit is performed when the first mobile unit changes geographical location, or when the first mobile unit enters a new cell providing wireless communication service for the first mobile unit.