Systems, apparatus, and methods for programmatically associating nearby users

• US 9,241,360 B2
• Filed: 11/22/2013
• Issued: 01/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Loopd Inc. (MPAV Lower Mid Co LLC d/b/a Stova)
• Original Assignee: Allen Houng, Brian Mullin Friedman, Sambhav Galada
• Inventors: Friedman, Brian Mullin, Houng, Allen, Galada, Sambhav
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, NHAN T
• Application Number:
  US14/088,315
• Publication Number:
  US 20150147968A1
• Time in Patent Office: 788 Days
• Field of Search: 455/414.1, 455418-420, 455/422.1, 455/435.1, 455/435.2, 455/456.1, 455/456.6, 455/41.2, 455/575.1, 455/575.6
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• 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

Abstract

Systems, apparatus, methods, and non-transitory media for programmatically associating nearby users are discussed herein. Some embodiments may include user-wearable gesture exchange device including a motion sensor and circuitry. The motion sensor may be configured to generate motion data values indicating motion of the gesture exchange device. The circuitry may be configured to monitor motion data values generated by the motion sensor for detection of a gesture exchange signature, such as a handshake, being performed by the user. In some embodiments, the gesture exchange device may be configured to establish a wireless communication connection with a second gesture exchange device for exchange of user data, such as in response to detecting user performance of the gesture exchange signature and/or determining that the second gesture exchange device is within a predetermined proximity.

Claims

1. A gesture exchange device for transmitting user contact information, comprising:

a motion sensor worn by a user that is configured to generate motion data values indicative of a particular type of motion of the gesture exchange device; and

circuitry configured to;

receive one or more motion data values from the motion sensor;

determine a live gesture exchange signature of the user based on the one or more motion data values received from the motion sensor;

determine whether the live gesture exchange signature matches a predetermined gesture exchange signature for the user; and

in response to determining that the live gesture exchange signature matches the predetermined gesture exchange signature for the user, wirelessly send contact information associated with the user.

2. The gesture exchange device of claim 1, wherein the circuitry is further configured to:

establish a wireless communication connection with a second gesture exchange device in response to determining that the live gesture exchange signature matches the predetermined gesture exchange signature; and

wirelessly send the contact information associated with the user to the second gesture exchange device.

3. The gesture exchange device of claim 1, wherein the circuitry is configured to:

establish a wireless communication connection with a second gesture exchange device via a wireless personal area network (PAN); and

wirelessly send the contact information associated with the user to the second gesture exchange device via the wireless PAN.

4. The gesture exchange device of claim 1, wherein the circuitry is configured to:

establish a wireless communication connection with a second gesture exchange device using a Bluetooth communication protocol; and

wirelessly send the contact information associated with the user to the second gesture exchange device using the Bluetooth communication protocol.

5. The gesture exchange device of claim 1, wherein the circuitry is further configured to, subsequent to determining that the live gesture exchange signature matches the predetermined gesture exchange signature, wirelessly receive contact information associated with a second user from a second gesture exchange device.

6. The gesture exchange device of claim 1, wherein the motion sensor is configured to generate orientation data indicative of orientation of the gesture exchange device, and wherein the motion data values generated from the motion sensor comprise the orientation data.

7. The gesture exchange device of claim 1, wherein the circuitry is further configured to:

receive a sequence of motion data values over time from the motion sensor;

obtain the predetermined gesture exchange signature based at least in part on the sequence of motion data values over time;

store the predetermined gesture exchange signature in a memory; and

access the predetermined gesture exchange signature from the memory.

8. The gesture exchange device of claim 1, wherein the circuitry is configured to compare a sequence of live motion data values associated with the live gesture exchange signature with a sequence of historical motion data values associated with the predetermined gesture exchange signature to determine whether the live gesture exchange signature matches the predetermined gesture exchange signature.

9. The gesture exchange device of claim 1, wherein the contact information includes a code generated by a central system.

10. The gesture exchange device of claim 1, wherein the circuitry is further configured to:

determine whether a second gesture exchange device is within a gesture exchange distance of the gesture exchange device; and

in response to determining that the second gesture exchange device is within the gesture exchange distance of the gesture exchange device, establish a wireless communication connection with the second gesture exchange device.

11. The gesture exchange device of claim 10, wherein the circuitry configured is configured to determine whether the second gesture exchange device is within the gesture exchange distance of the gesture exchange device based at least in part on received signal strength of a wireless communication connection.

12. The gesture exchange device of claim 10 further comprising a proximity sensor and wherein the circuitry configured to determine whether the second gesture exchange device is within the gesture exchange distance of the gesture exchange device includes the circuitry being configured to:

receive one or more proximity data values from the proximity sensor; and

determine whether the second exchange device is within the gesture exchange range of the gesture exchange device based at least in part on the one or more proximity data values.

13. A machine-implemented method for transmitting user contact information, comprising:

receiving one or more motion data values from a motion sensor, wherein the motion sensor is worn by a user and configured to generate motion data values indicative of a particular type of motion of the gesture exchange device;

determining, by circuitry, a live gesture exchange signature of the user based on the one or more motion data values received from the motion sensor;

determining, by the circuitry, whether the live gesture exchange signature matches a predetermined gesture exchange signature for the user; and

in response to determining that the live gesture exchange signature matches the predetermined gesture exchange signature for the user, wirelessly sending contact information associated with the user.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

establishing a wireless communication connection with a second gesture exchange device in response to determining that the live gesture exchange signature matches the predetermined gesture exchange signature; and

wirelessly sending the contact information associated with the user to the second gesture exchange device.

15. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

establishing a wireless communication connection with a second gesture exchange device via a wireless personal area network (PAN); and

wirelessly sending the contact information associated with the user to the second gesture exchange device via the wireless PAN.

16. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

establishing a wireless communication connection with a second gesture exchange device using a Bluetooth communication protocol; and

wirelessly sending the contact information associated with the user to the second gesture exchange device using the Bluetooth communication protocol.

17. The method of claim 13 further comprising, subsequent to determining that the live gesture exchange signature matches the predetermined gesture exchange signature, wirelessly receiving contact information associated with a second user from a second gesture exchange device.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein receiving the one or more motion data values from the motion sensor includes receiving orientation data indicating orientation of the gesture exchange device.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

receiving a sequence of motion data values over time from the motion sensor;

obtaining the predetermined gesture exchange signature based at least in part on the sequence of motion data values over time;

storing the predetermined gesture exchange signature in a memory; and

accessing the predetermined gesture exchange signature from the memory.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein determining whether the live gesture exchange signature matches the predetermined gesture exchange signature includes comparing a sequence of live motion data values associated with the live gesture exchange signature with a sequence of historical motion data values associated with the predetermined gesture exchange signature.

21. The method of claim 13, wherein the contact information includes a code generated by a central system.

22. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

determining whether a second gesture exchange device is within a gesture exchange distance of the gesture exchange device; and

in response to determining that the second gesture exchange device is within the gesture exchange distance of the gesture exchange device, establishing the wireless communication connection with the second gesture exchange device.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein determining whether the second gesture exchange device is within the gesture exchange distance of the gesture exchange device includes determining whether the second gesture exchange device is within the gesture exchange distance of the gesture exchange device based at least in part on received signal strength of a wireless communication connection.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein determining whether the second gesture exchange device is within the gesture exchange distance of the gesture exchange device includes:

receiving one or more proximity data values from a proximity sensor; and

determining whether the second exchange device is within the gesture exchange range of the gesture exchange device based at least in part on the one or more proximity data values.

25. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable storage medium and computer program instructions stored therein, the computer program instructions comprising program instructions for:

receiving one or more motion data values from a motion sensor, wherein the motion sensor is worn by a user and configured to generate motion data values indicative of a particular type of motion of the gesture exchange device,

determining, by circuitry, a live gesture exchange signature of the user based on the one or more motion data values received from the motion sensor;

determining, by the circuitry, whether the live gesture exchange signature matches a predetermined gesture exchange signature for the user; and

in response to determining that the live gesture exchange signature matches the predetermined gesture exchange signature for the user;

establishing a wireless communication connection with a second gesture exchange device when the second exchange device is within a communicable range of the gesture exchange device; and

wirelessly sending contact information associated with the user to the second gesture exchange device.