System and method for maintaining associations within a social network for a user

• US 9,374,398 B2
• Filed: 05/06/2013
• Issued: 06/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Concert Technology Corporation
• Original Assignee: Domingo Enterprises, LLC (Concert Technology Corporation)
• Inventors: Hoffman, Michael T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Philip B
• Application Number:
  US13/887,456
• Publication Number:
  US 20130246531A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,142 Days
• Field of Search: 709/204, 709/224
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/54 Presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

A system and method for maintaining associations within a social network for a user are provided. A device proximate a user device is identified. It is determined whether the identified device is associated with an entity having a pre-established association with a user of the user device within the social network. The user is associated with the entity within the social network if the identified device is not associated with an entity having a pre-established association with the user. The user-entity association is maintained within the social network based upon whether the entity and the user device remain proximate.

Claims

1. A method for maintaining associations within a social network for a user comprising:

identifying a device proximate to a user device;

determining whether the identified device is associated with an entity having a pre-established association with a user of the user device within the social network;

if the identified device is not associated with an entity having a pre-established association with the user;

comparing at least one attribute of the user and at least one attribute of the entity to provide a correlation score;

determining that the user-entity association is to be established if the correlation score is greater than a first threshold; and

establishing the user-entity association within the social network if a determination is made to establish the user-entity association within the social network; and

maintaining the user-entity association within the social network based upon whether the entity and the user device remain proximate.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein maintaining the user-entity association within the social network based upon whether the entity and the user device remain proximate comprises:

determining that the entity and the user device are no longer proximate;

waiting at least an amount of time defined by a proximity exit delay;

after waiting the at least an amount of time defined by the proximity exit delay, determining whether the entity and the user device are still no longer proximate; and

removing the user-entity association within the social network if the entity and the user device are still no longer proximate.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein maintaining the user-entity association within the social network based upon whether the entity and the user device remain proximate comprises removing the user-entity association within the social network if the entity and the user device are no longer proximate.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising re-establishing the user-entity association within the social network when the entity and the user device are proximate again.

5. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

determining when the entity and the user device are again proximate;

determining whether a re-establish wait period has expired since removing the user-entity association within the social network; and

if the re-establish wait period has expired, re-establishing the user-entity association within the social network.

6. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

determining when the entity and the user device are again proximate;

determining whether a re-establish wait period has expired since removing the user-entity association within the social network; and

if the re-establish wait period has expired;

determining whether to establish the user-entity association within the social network as a function of a comparison of at least one attribute of the user and at least one attribute of the entity; and

re-establishing the user-entity association within the social network if a determination is made to establish the user-entity association within the social network.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein maintaining the user-entity association within the social network comprises:

determining that the entity and the user device are no longer proximate;

notifying the user such that the user is enabled to choose whether to remove the user-entity association;

if the first user chooses to remove the user-entity association, removing the user-entity association; and

if the first user chooses not to remove the user-entity association, making the user-entity association persistent.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising, if the correlation score is less than the first threshold:

determining whether the correlation score is greater than a second threshold; and

if the correlation score is greater than the second threshold;

notifying the user of the entity such that the user is enabled to choose whether to establish the user-entity association; and

establishing the user-entity association if the user chooses to establish the user-entity association.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the entity is one of a business establishment and a user of an electronic device.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the user-entity association within the social network is the user being a follower of the business.

11. A system comprising:

a communication interface communicatively coupling the system to devices via a communication network; and

a control system associated with the communication interface and adapted to;

identify a device proximate a user device;

determine whether the identified device is associated with an entity having a pre-established association with a user of the user device within the social network;

if the identified device is not associated with an entity having a pre-established association with the user;

compare the at least one attribute of the user and the at least one attribute of the entity to provide a correlation score;

determine that the user-entity association is to be established if the correlation score is greater than a first threshold; and

establish the user-entity association within the social network if a determination is made to establish the user-entity association within the social network; and

maintain the user-entity association within the social network based upon whether the entity and the user device remain proximate.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the control system is adapted to:

determine that the entity and the user device are no longer proximate;

wait at least an amount of time defined by a proximity exit delay;

after waiting the at least an amount of time defined by the proximity exit delay, determine whether the entity and the user device are still no longer proximate; and

remove the user-entity association within the social network if the entity and the user device are still no longer proximate.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the control system is adapted to remove the user-entity association within the social network if the entity and the user device are no longer proximate.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the control system is adapted to re-establish the user-entity association within the social network when the entity and the user device are proximate again.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein the control system is adapted to:

determine when the entity and the user device are again proximate;

determine whether a re-establish wait period has expired since removing the user-entity association within the social network; and

if the re-establish wait period has expired, re-establish the user-entity association within the social network.

16. The system of claim 13 wherein the control system is adapted to:

determine when the entity and the user device are again proximate;

determine whether a re-establish wait period has expired since removing the user-entity association within the social network; and

if the re-establish wait period has expired;

determine whether to establish the user-entity association within the social network as a function of a comparison of at least one attribute of the user and at least one attribute of the entity; and

re-establish the user-entity association within the social network if a determination is made to establish the user-entity association within the social network.

17. The system of claim 11 wherein the control system is adapted to:

determine that the entity and the user device are no longer proximate;

notify the user such that the user is enabled to choose whether to remove the user-entity association;

if the first user chooses to remove the user-entity association, remove the user-entity association; and

if the first user chooses not to remove the user-entity association, make the user-entity association persistent.

18. The system of claim 11 wherein the control system is adapted to, if the correlation score is less than the first threshold:

determine whether the correlation score is greater than a second threshold; and

if the correlation score is greater than the second threshold;

notify the user of the entity such that the user is enabled to choose whether to establish the user-entity association; and

establish the user-entity association if the user chooses to establish the user-entity association.

19. The system of claim 11 wherein the entity is one of a business establishment and a user of an electronic device.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the user-entity association within the social network is the user being a follower of the business.

21. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising software with instructions for:

identifying a device proximate a user device;

determining whether the identified device is associated with an entity having a pre-established association with a user of the user device within the social network;

if the identified device is not associated with an entity having a pre-established association with the user;

comparing at least one attribute of the user and at least one attribute of the entity to provide a correlation score;

determining that the user-entity association is to be established if the correlation score is greater than a first threshold; and

establishing the user-entity association within the social network if a determination is made to establish the user-entity association within the social network; and

maintaining the user-entity association within the social network based upon whether the entity and the user device remain proximate.