Information Exchange Apparatus, Method and Managing System Applied Thereto

• US 20100199358A1
• Filed: 01/27/2010
• Published: 08/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Li-Ho Yao
• Original Assignee: Li-Ho Yao
• Inventors: Yao, Li-Ho
• Granted Patent: US 9,154,573 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/27
• 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 in accordance with the present invention 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 comprising:

a processing unit;

a wireless communication unit having

a transmitter connected to the processing unit to transmit data; and

a receiver connected to the processing unit to receive data;

a storage unit connected to the processing unit and storing

a device identification (ID) code;

user information; and

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

a mainframe connection port connected to the processing unit to connect the information exchange apparatus to an electronic device to upload and download data to and from the electronic device and allow the electronic device to set configuration data of the information exchange apparatus.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 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, and 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, 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.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein

the identification procedure is implemented by a challenge-response authentication that comprises 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.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the identification module is a SmartCard.

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

an irremovable memory storing the device ID code;

and

a removable memory.

6. 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).

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, 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).

8. 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 to operate the information exchange apparatus.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 further comprising a 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 information exchange apparatus.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3 further comprising a 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 information exchange apparatus.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4 further comprising a 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 information exchange apparatus.

12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5 further comprising a 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 information exchange apparatus.

13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6 further comprising a 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 information exchange apparatus.

14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7 further comprising a 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 information exchange apparatus.

15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the MMI further comprises an indication light, wherein the indication light provides event notifications.

16. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the MMI further comprises an indication light, wherein the indication light provides event notifications.

17. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the MMI further comprises an indication light, wherein the indication light provides event notifications.

18. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the MMI further comprises an indication light, wherein the indication light provides event notifications.

19. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the MMI further comprises an indication light, wherein the indication light provides event notifications.

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

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

22. The apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein the MMI further comprises a speaker, wherein the speaker provides event notifications.

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

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

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

26. The apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein the MMI further comprises a speaker, wherein the speaker provides event notifications.

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

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

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

30. The apparatus as claimed in claim 23, wherein the MMI further comprises a vibrator, wherein the vibrator provides event notifications.

31. The apparatus as claimed in claim 24, wherein the MMI further comprises a vibrator, wherein the vibrator provides event notifications.

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

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

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

35. The apparatus as claimed in claim 28, wherein the MMI further comprises a vibrator, wherein the vibrator provides event notifications.

36. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further having

a positioning capability allowing the information exchange apparatus to obtain location coordinates thereof;

and

a wireless network capability allowing the information exchange apparatus to connecting to the Internet.

37. The apparatus as claimed in claim 36, wherein the information exchange apparatus 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.

38. A managing system allowing connections from at least one information exchange apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprising:

a database storing basic information of the information exchange apparatuses, the data exchange records in the information exchange apparatuses, owner information and the information of the relationship between the owners and the information exchange apparatuses;

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

a data analysis module connected to the database and the website to analyze the information in the database and the data exchange records.

39. The managing system as claimed in claim 38, wherein the website is capable of receiving the exchanged content and the data exchange records from the connected information exchange apparatus, providing new information from other information exchange apparatus to the connected information exchange apparatus and changing configuration data in the connected information exchange apparatus.

40. The managing system as claimed in claim 39, wherein the data analysis module obtains analysis results comprising a frequency, date, time and duration of exchanging data with a target information exchange apparatus, connections between the information exchange apparatuses, the most probable location and time for meeting a target information exchange apparatus and matching level between users of different information exchange apparatuses.

41. The managing system as claimed in claim 40, wherein

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

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

42. The managing system as claimed in claim 41 further

receiving location coordinates from the 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 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 information exchange apparatuses if they meet.

43. An information exchange method applied to an information exchange apparatus as claimed in claim 1 being capable of operating in either a standalone mode or a connection mode, wherein

the standalone mode is operated when the information exchange apparatus does not connect to an electronic device so the information exchange apparatus executes a broadcast and listen process to find out a target information exchange apparatus nearby and exchanges data with the target information exchange apparatus;

and

the connection mode is operated when the information exchange apparatus connects to the electronic device to allow the electronic device to access the information exchange apparatus.

44. The method as claimed in claim 43, wherein the broadcast and listen process comprises steps of

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 a target member card nearby;

executing an information exchange process when receiving a response; and

repeating the foregoing steps.

45. The method as claimed in claim 44, wherein after listening to a response from a target member card nearby, the method further comprises steps of

operating the wireless communication unit as a transmitter again;

wirelessly broadcasting the message packets;

listening to a response from the member card nearby; and

executing the information exchange process when receiving a response.

46. The method as claimed in claim 45 further comprising a step of switching off the wireless communication unit for a while before returning to the step of operating the wireless communication unit as a transmitter.

47. The method as claimed in claim 44, wherein in the step of listening to a response from a target member card nearby, a first duration for listing to the response from an information exchange apparatus nearby is randomly between 0.1 to 0.5 seconds.

48. The method as claimed in claim 45, wherein in the step of listening to a response from a target member card nearby, a first duration for listing to the response from an information exchange apparatus nearby is randomly between 0.1 to 0.5 seconds.

49. The method as claimed in claim 46, wherein in the step of listening to a response from a target member card nearby, a first duration for listing to the response from an information exchange apparatus nearby is randomly between 0.1 to 0.5 seconds.

50. The method as claimed in claim 47, wherein the information exchange apparatus continues to determine whether it is connected to the electronic device and changes from the standalone mode to the connection mode when the information exchange apparatus connects to the electronic device.

51. The method as claimed in claim 48, wherein the information exchange apparatus continues to determine whether it is connected to the electronic device and changes from the standalone mode to the connection mode when the information exchange apparatus connects to the electronic device.

52. The method as claimed in claim 49, wherein the information exchange apparatus continues to determine whether it is connected to the electronic device and changes from the standalone mode to the connection mode when the information exchange apparatus connects to the electronic device.

53. The method as claimed in claim 44, wherein the information exchange process comprises steps of

exchange the user information, wherein the information exchange apparatus broadcasting message packets is an initial terminal and the target 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 the step of determining whether receiving the acknowledge message packet by the feedback terminal.

54. The method as claimed in claim 45, wherein the information exchange process comprises steps of

exchange the user information, wherein the information exchange apparatus broadcasting message packets is an initial terminal and the target 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 the step of determining whether receiving the acknowledge message packet by the feedback terminal.

55. The method as claimed in claim 46, wherein the information exchange process comprises steps of

exchange the user information, wherein the information exchange apparatus broadcasting message packets is an initial terminal and the target 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 the step of determining whether receiving the acknowledge message packet by the feedback terminal.

56. The method as claimed in claim 43, wherein when the information exchange apparatus first connects to the electronic device, the information exchange apparatus executes an activation process to write a member account and the user information to the information exchange apparatus and set the configuration data.

57. The method as claimed in claim 56, wherein when the information exchange apparatus connects to the electronic device again, the information exchange apparatus executes steps of

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

and

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