System and method for maintaining associations within a social network for a user
First Claim
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;
associating the user 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;
determining that the entity and the user device are no longer proximate;
waiting an amount of time if the entity and the user device are no longer proximate;
after waiting the amount of time, 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.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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 if a determination is made that the user is to be associated with the entity. The user-entity association is maintained within the social network based upon whether the entity and the user device remain proximate.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for maintaining associations within a social network for a user comprising:
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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; associating the user 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; determining that the entity and the user device are no longer proximate; waiting an amount of time if the entity and the user device are no longer proximate; after waiting the amount of time, 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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A system comprising:
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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 to 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; associate the user 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; determine that the entity and the user device are no longer proximate; wait an amount of time if the entity and the user device are no longer proximate; after waiting the amount of time, 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. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising software with instructions for:
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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; associating the user 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; determining that the entity and the user device are no longer proximate; waiting an amount of time if the entity and the user device are no longer proximate; after waiting the amount of time, 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.
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Specification