Method and system for using a situational network

• US 9,143,535 B1
• Filed: 09/13/2012
• Issued: 09/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SitNet LLC
• Original Assignee: Resource Consortium Limited
• Inventors: Cona, Thomas, Igoe, Patrick T., Kravets, Leonid, Ehrlacher, Edward A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Philip B
• Application Number:
  US13/612,964
• Time in Patent Office: 1,104 Days
• Field of Search: 709/219, 709223-224
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3415 Dynamic re-routing, e.g. recalculating the route when the user deviates from calculated route or after detecting real-time traffic data or accidents
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3461 Preferred or disfavoured areas, e.g. dangerous zones, toll or emission zones, intersections, manoeuvre types, segments such as motorways, toll roads, ferries
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096716 where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096741 where the source of the transmitted information selects which information to transmit to each vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096791 where the origin of the information is another vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/205 Indicating the location of the monitored vehicles as destination, e.g. accidents, stolen, rental
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/024 Guidance services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/50 for emergency connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A method of creating a projection of a situational network includes creating, by an event node server, an event node in a multi-dimensional personal information network, where the event node corresponds to a situation. A projection of nodes of the situational network is formed using geographic locations of a plurality of devices corresponding to nodes in the multi-dimensional personal information network. An invitation is transmitted to establish a link with the event node server to the devices corresponding to each node in the projection. A response is received from at least one of the devices accepting the invitation to establish a link with the event node server. A link with each device accepting the invitation is established.

Claims

1. A method of communicating using a situational network, the method comprising:

establishing, by a first device corresponding to a first individual, connections via the situational network with a plurality of other devices;

receiving, by the first device from at least one of the other devices, positional coordinates for the at least one other device, the at least one other device corresponding to at least one other individual;

determining by the first device which of the at least one other devices are within a pre-determined proximity of the first device; and

identifying the at least one other individual corresponding to the at least one other device that is within the pre-determined proximity and that is included in a social network of the first individual.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

automatically sending, by the first device, an invitation for a personal meeting to the identified at least one other individual that has been pre-selected by the first individual prior to joining the situational network.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a notification via the first device to the first individual of the identified at least one other individual that is connected to the situational network and is within a pre-determined proximity of the first individual.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

establishing by the first device a direct connection with the at least one other device corresponding to the identified at least one other individual; and

exchanging information between the first individual and the at least one other individual via the direct connection.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

facilitating a personal meeting between the first individual and the at least one other individual using the direct connection between the first device and the least one other device.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

terminating the direct connection with the at least one other device if the at least one other device is no longer within the pre-determined proximity of the first device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the situational network is associated with an event being concurrently attended by the first individual and the at least one other individual.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first individual and the at least one other individual have no personal knowledge of each other prior to their inclusion in the situational network.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first individual and the at least one other individual are separated by an order of two or greater dimensions within the social network.

10. A method of communicating using a situational network, the method comprising:

receiving, by a first device corresponding to a first individual, from at least one other device corresponding to at least one other individual, positional coordinates for the at least one other device;

determining by the first device that the at least one other device is within a pre-determined proximity of the first device;

notifying the first individual via the first device of the at least one other individual that is within the pre-determined proximity;

receiving from the first individual a selection of at least one other individual with which to establish a connection; and

establishing by the first device a direct connection with the at least one other device corresponding to the selected at least one other individual.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

exchanging information between the first individual and the at least one other individual via the direct connection.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

broadcasting by the first device a set of positional coordinates corresponding to a location of the first individual prior to receiving the positional coordinates from the at least one other device.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

facilitating a personal meeting between the first individual and the at least one other individual using the direct connection between the first device and the least one other device.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

terminating the direct connection with the at least one other device if the at least one other is no longer within the pre-determined proximity of the first device.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the situational network is implemented as a result of the direct connection between the at least one other mobile device and the first device.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the first individual and the at least one other individual have no personal knowledge of each other prior to their respective devices establishing the direct connection.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the first individual and the at least one other individual are separated by an order of one or greater dimensions within a common social network.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein the positional coordinates are obtained using global navigation satellite system data.

19. A situational network comprising:

a first device, corresponding to a first individual; and

at least one other device, corresponding to at least one other individual, the at least one other device configured to transmit positional coordinates, connect to the first device, and exchange information with the first device via a direct connection,

wherein the first device is configured to receive from the at least one other device the positional coordinates for the at least one other device, determine that the at least one other device is within a pre-determined proximity, notify the first individual of the at least one other individual that is within the pre-determined proximity, receive from the first individual a selection of at least one other individual to connect with, and establish the direct connection with the at least one other device corresponding to the selected at least one other individual.