Information exchange apparatus, method and managing system applied thereto

• US 9,154,573 B2
• Filed: 01/27/2010
• Issued: 10/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Li-Ho Yao
• Original Assignee: Chih-Ang Yao
• Inventors: Yao, Li-Ho
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, MINH CHAU
• Application Number:
  US12/694,469
• Publication Number:
  US 20100199358A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,078 Days
• Field of Search: 709/201, 709/218, 709/227
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

An information exchange apparatus has a processing unit, a wireless communication unit, a storage unit, a mainframe connection port and an identification module. The wireless communication unit has a transmitter and a receiver connected to the processing unit. The storage unit is connected to the processing unit and stores a device identification (ID) code, user information and data exchange records. The mainframe connection port is connected to the processing unit for connecting to an electronic device. The identification module is connected to the processing unit, has a secure memory and stores an identification procedure. The secure memory stores the device ID code and an identification key. The identification module allows the processing unit to access data in the storage unit and exchange data in the storage unit with other information exchange apparatus when the processing unit passes the identification procedure.

Claims

1. An information exchange apparatus for online dating comprising:

a processing unit;

a wireless communication unit having

a transmitter connected to the processing unit to transmit data to a peering information exchange apparatus; and

a receiver connected to the processing unit to receive data from the peering information exchange apparatus;

a storage unit connected to the processing unit and storing

a device identification (ID) code;

user information; and

data exchange records, with each data exchange record comprising exchanged content, time and a device ID code of the peering information exchange apparatus; and

a mainframe connection port connected to the processing unit to connect the processing unit to an external electronic device, wherein the processing unit uploads and downloads data to and from the external electronic device and the external electronic device sets configuration data of the processing unit;

wherein the processing unit directly exchanges the device ID code and the user information of the storage unit with that of the peering information exchange apparatus to identify the peering information exchange apparatus after finding out the peering information exchange apparatus to engage a date.

2. The information exchange apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the information exchange apparatus performs an e-commerce transaction through the Internet.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 further comprising

a first interface connected to the processing unit;

and

an identification module connected to the processing unit, storing an identification procedure and having a secure memory storing the device ID code and an identification key for the identification procedure, with the identification module allowing the processing unit to access data in the storage unit and exchange data in the storage unit with other information exchange apparatus when the processing unit executes and passes the identification procedure, and with the identification module further having a second interface connecting between the secure memory and the first interface to connect the processing unit and the secure memory.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein

the identification procedure is implemented by a challenge-response authentication comprising multiple challenges and responses,

the processing unit and the identification module mutually present the challenges and respond valid responses to corresponding challenges, and

the processing unit is permitted to access the secure memory when both the processing unit and the identification module pass authentication with each other.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the identification module is a SmartCard.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5 further comprising a main-machine interface (MMI), wherein the MMI is connected to the processing unit and comprises

a flat panel display showing the exchanged content and the configuration data;

and

multiple buttons allowing a user to operate the MMI.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the MMI further comprises an indication light, wherein the indication light provides event notifications.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the MMI further comprises a speaker, wherein the speaker provides event notifications.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the MMI further comprises a vibrator, wherein the vibrator provides event notifications.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4 further comprising a man-machine interface (MMI), wherein the MMI is connected to the processing unit and comprises

a flat panel display showing the exchanged content and the configuration data;

and

multiple buttons allowing a user to operate the MMI.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the MMI further comprises an indication light, wherein the indication light provides event notifications.

12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the MMI further comprises a speaker, wherein the speaker provides event notifications.

13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the MMI further comprises a vibrator, wherein the vibrator provides event notifications.

14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first and the second interfaces are implemented to conform to a protocol selected from Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter (UART), I²C and Serial Peripheral Interface Bus (SPI).

15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 14 further comprising a man-machine interface (MMI), wherein the MMI is connected to the processing unit and comprises

a flat panel display showing the exchanged content and the configuration data;

and

multiple buttons allowing a user to operate the MMI.

16. The apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein the MMI further comprises an indication light, wherein the indication light provides event notifications.

17. The apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the MMI further comprises a speaker, wherein the speaker provides event notifications.

18. The apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein the MMI further comprises a vibrator, wherein the vibrator provides event notifications.

19. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3 further comprising a man-machine interface (MMI), wherein the MMI is connected to the processing unit and comprises

a flat panel display showing the exchanged content and the configuration data;

and

multiple buttons allowing a user to operate the MMI.

20. The apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein the MMI further comprises an indication light, wherein the indication light provides event notifications.

21. The apparatus as claimed in. claim 20, wherein the MMI further comprises a speaker, wherein the speaker provides event notifications.

22. The apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein the MMI further comprises a vibrator, wherein the vibrator provides event notifications.

23. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the storage unit comprises

an irremovable memory storing the device ID code;

and

a removable memory.

24. The apparatus as claimed in claim 23 further comprising a main-machine interface (MMI), MMI is connected to the processing unit and comprises

a flat panel display showing the exchanged content and the configuration data;

and

multiple buttons allowing a user to operate the MMI.

25. The apparatus as claimed in claim 24, wherein the MMI further comprises an indication light, wherein the indication light provides event notifications.

26. The apparatus as claimed in claim 25, wherein the MMI further comprises a speaker, wherein the speaker provides event notifications.

27. The apparatus as claimed in claim 26, wherein the MMI further comprises a vibrator, wherein the vibrator provides event notifications.

28. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wireless communication unit is implemented with a protocol selected from Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) 802.15.4, ZigBee, BlueTooth, IEEE802.11 (Wi-Fi), Wireless Universal Serial Bus (USB), Wibree and radio frequency (RF).

29. The apparatus as claimed in claim 28 further comprising a man-machine interface (MMI), wherein the MMI is connected to the processing unit and comprises

a flat panel display showing the exchanged content and the configuration data;

and

multiple buttons allowing a user to operate the MMI.

30. The apparatus as claimed in claim 29, wherein the MMI further comprises an indication light, wherein the indication light provides event notifications.

31. The apparatus as claimed in claim 30, wherein the MMI further comprises a speaker, wherein the speaker provides event notifications.

32. The apparatus as claimed in claim 31, wherein the MMI further comprises a vibrator, wherein the vibrator provides event notifications.

33. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a man-machine interface (MMI), wherein the MMI is connected to the processing unit and comprises

a flat panel display showing the exchanged content and the configuration data;

and

multiple buttons allowing a user t operate the MMI.

34. The apparatus as claimed in claim 33, wherein the MMI further comprises an indication light, wherein the indication light provides event notifications.

35. The apparatus as claimed in claim 34, wherein the MMI further comprises a speaker, wherein the speaker provides event notifications.

36. The apparatus as claimed in claim 35, wherein the MMI further comprises a vibrator, wherein the vibrator provides event notifications.

37. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further having

a real-time positioning capability allowing the processing unit to obtain location coordinates of the processing unit and of the peering information exchange apparatus;

and

a wireless network capability allowing the processing unit to connect to the Internet.

38. The apparatus as claimed in claim 37, wherein the processing unit periodically obtains the location coordinates by the positioning capability, periodically sends the location coordinates and data in the storage unit to the Internet and receives exchanged information from other information exchange apparatus by using the wireless network capability.

39. An information exchange method applied to an information exchange apparatus operating in either a standalone mode or a connection mode, wherein

the information exchange apparatus comprising:

a processing unit;

a wireless communication unit having a transmitter connected to the processing unit to transmit data to a peering information exchange apparatus; and

a receiver connected to the processing unit to receive data from the peering information exchange apparatus;

a storage unit connected to the processing unit and storing a device identification (ID) code;

user information; and

data exchange records, with each data exchange record comprising exchanged content, time and a device ID code of a target the peering information exchange apparatus; and

a mainframe connection port connected to the processing unit to connect the processing unit to an external electronic device, wherein the processing unit uploads and downloads data to and from the external electronic device and the external electronic device sets configuration data of the processing unit;

wherein the processing unit directly exchanges the device ID code and the user information of the storage unit with that of the peering information exchange apparatus to identify the peering information exchange apparatus after finding out the peering information exchange apparatus to engage a date;

the standalone mode is operated when the processing unit of the information exchange apparatus does not connect to the external electronic device with the processing unit executing a broadcast and listen process to find the peering information exchange apparatus nearby and exchanges data with the peering information exchange apparatus; and

the connection mode is operated when the processing unit connects to the external electronic device to allow the external electronic device to access the processing unit.

40. The method as claimed in claim 39, wherein the broadcast and listen process comprises:

operating the wireless communication unit as a transmitter;

wirelessly broadcasting message packets;

operating the wireless communication unit as a receiver;

listening to a response from the peering information exchange apparatus nearby;

executing an information exchange process when receiving a response; and

repeating the foregoing.

41. The method as claimed in claim 40, wherein after listening to the response from the peering information exchange apparatus nearby, the method further comprises:

operating the wireless communication unit as a transmitter again;

wirelessly broadcasting the message packets;

listening to a response from the peering information exchange apparatus nearby; and

executing the information exchange process when receiving a response.

42. The method as claimed in claim 41 further comprising switching off the wireless communication unit for a while before returning to operating the wireless communication unit as the transmitter.

43. The method as claimed in claim 42, wherein in listening to the response from the peering information exchange apparatus nearby, a first duration for listening to the response from an information exchange apparatus nearby is randomly from 0.1 to 0.5 seconds.

44. The method as claimed in claim 43, wherein the processing unit continues to determine whether the processing unit is connected to the external electronic device and changes from the standalone mode to the connection mode when the processing unit connects to the external electronic device.

45. The method as claimed in claim 42, wherein the information exchange process comprises:

exchanging the user information between the information exchange apparatus and the peering information exchange apparatus, wherein the information exchange apparatus broadcasting message packets is an initial terminal and the peering information exchange apparatus is a feedback terminal;

receiving a feedback message packet output from the feedback terminal to the initial terminal;

sending an acknowledge message packet from the initial terminal to the feedback terminal, wherein when the initial terminal confirms receiving the feedback messages, the initial terminal accomplishes the information exchange process, stores a new data exchange record and returns to the broadcast and listen process;

determining whether receiving the acknowledge message packet by the feedback terminal; and

accomplishing the information exchange process when either the feedback terminal receives the acknowledge message packet from the initial terminal or a duration is passed after determining whether receiving the acknowledge message packet by the feedback terminal.

46. The method as claimed in claim 41, wherein in listening to the response from the peering information exchange apparatus nearby, a first duration for listening to the response from an information exchange apparatus nearby is randomly from 0.1 to 0.5 seconds.

47. The method as claimed in claim 46, wherein the processing unit continues to determine whether the processing unit is connected to the external electronic device and changes from the standalone mode to the connection mode when the processing unit connects to the external electronic device.

48. The method as claimed in claim 41, wherein the information exchange process comprises:

exchanging the user information between the information exchange apparatus and the peering information exchange apparatus, wherein the information exchange apparatus broadcasting message packets is an initial terminal and the peering information exchange apparatus is a feedback terminal;

receiving a feedback message packet output from the feedback terminal to the initial terminal;

sending an acknowledge message packet from the initial terminal to the feedback terminal, wherein when the initial terminal confirms receiving the feedback messages, the initial terminal accomplishes the information exchange process, stores a new data exchange record and returns to the broadcast and listen process;

determining whether receiving the acknowledge message packet by the feedback terminal; and

accomplishing the information exchange process when either the feedback terminal receives the acknowledge message packet from the initial terminal or a duration is passed after determining whether receiving the acknowledge message packet by the feedback terminal.

49. The method as claimed in claim 40, wherein in listening to the response from peering information exchange apparatus nearby, a first duration for listening to the response from an information exchange apparatus nearby is randomly from 0.1 to 0.5 seconds.

50. The method as claimed in claim 49, wherein the processing unit continues to determine whether the processing unit is connected to the external electronic device and changes from the standalone mode to the connection mode when the processing unit connects to the external electronic device.

51. The method as claimed in claim 40, wherein the information exchange process comprises:

exchanging the user information between the information exchange apparatus and the peering information exchange apparatus, wherein the information exchange apparatus broadcasting message packets is an initial terminal and the peering information exchange apparatus is a feedback terminal;

receiving a feedback message packet output from the feedback terminal by the initial terminal;

sending an acknowledge message packet from the initial terminal to the feedback terminal, wherein when the initial terminal confirms receiving the feedback messages, the initial terminal accomplishes the information exchange process, stores a new data exchange record and returns to the broadcast and listen process;

determining whether receiving the acknowledge message packet by the feedback terminal; and

accomplishing the information exchange process when either the feedback terminal receives the acknowledge message packet from the initial terminal or a duration is passed after determining whether receiving the acknowledge message packet by the feedback terminal.

52. The method as claimed in claim 39, wherein when the processing unit first connects to the external electronic device, the processing unit executes an activation process to write a member account and the user information to the processing unit and set the configuration data.

53. The method as claimed in claim 52, wherein when the processing unit connects to the external electronic device again, the processing unit executes:

uploading the data exchange records to the external electronic device and keeping a record of the uploaded data exchange records; and

downloading the data exchange records to the storage unit and keeping a record of the downloaded data exchange records.

54. A managing system allowing connections from at least one information exchange apparatus comprising:

the at least one information exchange apparatus comprising;

a processing unit;

a wireless communication unit having a transmitter connected to the processing unit to transmit data to a peering information exchange apparatus; and

a receiver connected to the processing unit to receive data from the peering information exchange apparatus;

a storage unit connected to the processing unit and storing a device identification (ID) code;

user information; and

data exchange records, with each data exchange record comprising exchanged content, time and a device ID code of a target the peering information exchange apparatus; and

a mainframe connection port connected to the processing unit to connect the processing unit to an external electronic device, wherein the processing unit uploads and downloads data to and from the external electronic device and the external electronic device sets configuration data of the processing unit;

wherein the processing unit directly exchanges the device ID code and the user information of the storage unit with that of the peering information exchange apparatus to identify the peering information exchange apparatus after finding out the peering information exchange apparatus to engage a date;

a database storing basic information of the at least one information exchange apparatus, the data exchange records in the at least one information exchange apparatus, owner information and information of the relationship between the owners and the at least one information exchange apparatus;

a website connected to the database, receiving the basic information and the data exchange records uploaded from the at least one information exchange apparatus and allowing the at least one information exchange apparatus to download data from the website; and

a data analysis module connected to the database and the website to analyze the information in the database and the data exchange records and obtain analysis results comprising a frequency, date and time of exchanging data with the peering information exchange apparatus.

55. The managing system as claimed in claim 54, wherein the website receives the exchanged content and the data exchange records from the at least one information exchange apparatus, providing new information from other information exchange apparatus to the at least one information exchange apparatus and changing configuration data in the at least one information exchange apparatus.

56. The managing system as claimed in claim 55, wherein the data analysis module obtains analysis results comprising duration of exchanging data with the peering information exchange apparatus, connections between the at least one information exchange apparatus, the most probable location and time for meeting the peering information exchange apparatus or matching level between users of different information exchange apparatuses.

57. The managing system as claimed in claim 56, wherein

the basic information of the at least one information exchange apparatus comprises the device ID code, firmware version, software version and service records;

and

the owner information comprises name, gender, age and address of an owner of the at least one information exchange apparatus.

58. The managing system as claimed in claim 57 further

receiving location coordinates from the at least one information exchange apparatus through the Internet;

calculating a distance between two information exchange apparatuses from the location coordinates and data in the storage unit of each information exchange apparatus;

considering that the two information exchange apparatuses meet when the two information exchange apparatuses are close to each other; and

exchanging the data in the storage units of the two information exchange apparatuses if they meet.