GeoNexus Proximity Detector Network

• US 20140080513A1
• Filed: 11/20/2013
• Published: 03/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Original Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Inventors: Pitt, Lance Douglas
• Granted Patent: US 9,167,553 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/74 Systems using reradiation of radio waves, e.g. secondary radar systems; Analogous systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0009 Transmission of position information to remote stations involving assistance data G01S5/0236
• 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 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/003 locating network equipment

Abstract

A GeoNexus proximity network provides quick determination of proximity of a large group of associated mobile devices (e.g., ‘friends’, all devices associated with those who ‘like’ a given posting, etc.) To respond to a given proximity request, a list of identities is obtained for the group of associated mobile devices for which proximity is to be determined. A bucket index is determined of a place to which proximity is to be determined for each of the plurality of associated mobile devices. A target geonexus node associated with the determined bucket index is queried, which in turn queries geonexus nodes adjacent thereto, to quickly determine which of the group of mobile devices are proximate, without the need to individually query for location of each mobile device in the group.

Claims

1. A method of determining proximity of a plurality of associated mobile devices, comprising:

receiving a proximity request relating to a plurality of associated mobile devices;

obtaining a list of identities of said plurality of associated mobile devices for which proximity is to be determined;

determining a bucket index of a place to which proximity is to be determined for each of said plurality of associated mobile devices;

querying a target geonexus node server associated with said determined bucket index requesting which of said plurality of associated mobile devices are currently located within an area of responsibility of said target geonexus node server;

initating a query to each geonexus node server responsible for an area adjacent to said target geonexus node server, requesting which of said plurality of associated mobile devices are currently located within the respective adjacent area of responsibility; and

responding to said proximity request with a proximity determination for each of said plurality of associated mobile devices.

2. The method of determining proximity of a plurality of associated mobile devices according to claim 1, wherein:

said target geonexus node server initiates said query to each geonexus node server adjacent thereto.

3. The method of determining proximity of a plurality of associated mobile devices according to claim 1, wherein:

said plurality of associated mobile devices comprise those predesignated as being within a trusted circle of a social application.

4. The method of determining proximity of a plurality of associated mobile devices according to claim 1, wherein:

said plurality of associated mobile devices comprise those predesignated as having ‘

liked’

a given social media posting.

5. The method of determining proximity of a plurality of associated mobile devices according to claim 1, wherein:

said plurality of associated mobile devices comprise those predesignated as being within a given ‘

friends’

grouping of a social media application.

6. The method of determining proximity of a plurality of associated mobile devices according to claim 1, wherein:

said plurality of associated mobile devices for which said proximity is determined pursuant to said proximity request is at least 1000.

7. The method of determining proximity of a plurality of associated mobile devices according to claim 1, wherein:

said plurality of associated mobile devices for which said proximity is determined pursuant to said proximity request is at least 10,000.

8. Apparatus for determining proximity of a plurality of associated mobile devices, comprising:

means for receiving a proximity request relating to a plurality of associated mobile devices;

means for obtaining a list of identities of said plurality of associated mobile devices for which proximity is to be determined;

means for determining a bucket index of a place to which proximity is to be determined for each of said plurality of associated mobile devices;

means for querying a target geonexus node server associated with said determined bucket index requesting which of said plurality of associated mobile devices are currently located within an area of responsibility of said target geonexus node server;

means for initating a query to each geonexus node server responsible for an area adjacent to said target geonexus node server, requesting which of said plurality of associated mobile devices are currently located within the respective adjacent area of responsibility; and

means for responding to said proximity request with a proximity determination for each of said plurality of associated mobile devices.

9. The apparatus for determining proximity of a plurality of associated mobile devices according to claim 8, wherein:

said target geonexus node server initiates said query to each geonexus node adjacent thereto.

10. The apparatus for determining proximity of a plurality of associated mobile devices according to claim 8, wherein:

said plurality of associated mobile devices comprise those predesignated as being within a trusted circle of a social application.

11. The apparatus for determining proximity of a plurality of associated mobile devices according to claim 8, wherein:

said plurality of associated mobile devices comprise those predesignated as having ‘

liked’

a given social media posting.

12. The apparatus for determining proximity of a plurality of associated mobile devices according to claim 8, wherein:

said plurality of associated mobile devices comprise those predesignated as being within a given ‘

friends’

grouping of a social media application.

13. The apparatus for determining proximity of a plurality of associated mobile devices according to claim 8, wherein:

said plurality of associated mobile devices for which said proximity is determined pursuant to said proximity request is at least 1000.

14. The apparatus for determining proximity of a plurality of associated mobile devices according to claim 8, wherein:

said plurality of associated mobile devices for which said proximity is determined pursuant to said proximity request is at least 10,000.