LOCATION-BASED DISCOVERY OF NETWORK MEMBERS BY PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES FOR ALTERNATE CHANNEL COMMUNICATION

• US 20150099550A1
• Filed: 12/15/2014
• Published: 04/09/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wireless Discovery LLC
• Original Assignee: Ximoxi, Inc.
• Inventors: ALHARAYERI, Ramzi
• Granted Patent: US 9,264,875 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.3
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/52 for supporting social networking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4594 Address books, i.e. directories containing contact information about correspondents telephone directories in user terminals H04M1/27453
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for supporting real-time applications in data packet communication real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM] H04L51/04; selective video distribution H04N21/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/56 Provisioning of proxy services store-and-forward switching systems in data switching networks H04L12/54
• 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 4/21 for social networking applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/00 Connection management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

User mobile devices are equipped to discover each other through an ad hoc network, based on their location and proximity or based on mobile network reporting to one another. Locations may be reported through global positioning methods and cross-referenced by other users. Following discovery and consent, the mobile devices are connected to one another via various means, other than the ad hoc network, and utilize functions provided by services such as SMS, E-mail, chat/instant messaging, multimedia, or video. The users may be members of a common social network, and can thereby exchange social network attributes.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a computing device configured to communicate for exchanging personal information between a first user and a second user, the first user using a respective first mobile communications device and the second user using a respective second mobile communications device each connected to a mobile telecommunications provider network;

the computing device in communication with the mobile telecommunications provider network, and configured to provide access to stored user profile information about the first user and the second user, respectively, including personal attribute information and a mobile communications device address;

the computing device configured to receive information identifying locations of the first and second mobile communications devices;

the computing device configured to determine proximity of the locations of the first and second mobile communications devices to one another and to send to the second mobile communications device an invitation to accept personal attribute information from, or share personal attribute information with, the first user, upon receipt of permission from the second user to receive personal attribute information about, or share personal attribute information with, the first user; and

the computing device configured to connect the first user and the second user through a provider network for personal communication between the first user and the second user, the personal communication comprising one or more of SMS, E-mail, chat/instant messaging, multimedia, voice, or video; and

wherein the computing device is configured to locate information about the second user from a social network file of the second user, and transmit this information to the first mobile communications device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second users are members of a social network, and the computing device is operable to disclose social network attributes of first and second users in the vicinity or within a particular distance from one another for the purpose of connecting members.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the computing device is operable to provide the first and/or second user with social network attributes of all users in the social network in the vicinity or close by the first and/or second user.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the computing device is configured to receive an inquiry from the first user regarding the location of other users in the social network in proximity to the first user.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the computing device is configured to report to the first user social network attributes of all members of the social network who are in proximity to the first user.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the computing device is configured to receive from the first user a selection of one or more additional users with whom the first user wishes to exchange social attributes.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the computing device is configured to send to the first user social attributes of one or more of the selected additional users.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the computing device is configured to obtain the permission of the selected additional users prior to said sending.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the computing device is configured to update the profile information to indicate that the first and second users are connected.

10. The system of claim 2, wherein the computing device is configured to update the profile information to indicate that the first and second users are connected.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the computing device is configured to conduct updating scans of user positions to assess proximity of users to one another.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the updating scans are based on user location information reported to the computing device.

13. A method comprising:

providing, via a computing device, accessible through a mobile telecommunications provider network, access to stored user profile information about a first user using a respective first mobile communications device and a second user, using a respective second mobile communications device;

receiving, via the computing device, indications of the locations of the first and second mobile communications devices;

sending, via the computing device, to the second mobile communications device, an invitation to accept personal attribute information from, or share personal attribute information with, the first user, upon receipt of permission from the second user to receive personal attribute information about, or share personal attribute information with, the first user; and

connecting, via the computing device, the first user and the second user through a provider network for personal communication between first user and the second user, the personal communication comprising one or more SMS, E-mail, chat/instant messaging, multimedia, voice or video;

wherein the computing device is configured to locate information about the second user from a social network file of the second user, and transmit this information to the first mobile communications device.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the first and second users are members of a social network, and the computing device is operable to disclose social network attributes of first and second users in the vicinity or within a particular distance from one another for the purpose of connecting members.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the computing device is operable to provide the first and/or second user with social network attributes of all users in the social network in the vicinity or close by the first and/or second user.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the computing device is configured to receive an inquiry from the first user regarding the location of other users in the social network in proximity to the first user.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the computing device is configured to report to the first user social network attributes of all members of the social network who are in proximity to the first user.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the computing device is configured to receive from the first user a selection of one or more additional users with whom the first user wishes to exchange social attributes.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the computing device is configured to send to the first user social attributes of one or more of the selected additional users.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the computing device is configured to obtain the permission of the selected additional users prior to said sending.

21. The method of claim 13, wherein the computing device is configured to update the profile information to indicate that the first and second users are connected.

22. The method of claim 14, wherein the computing device is configured to update the profile information to indicate that the first and second users are connected.

23. The method of claim 13, wherein the computing device is configured to conduct updating scans of user positions to assess proximity of users to one another.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the updating scans are based on user location information reported to the computing device.

25. A non-transitory machine readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform a method, the method comprising:

providing through a mobile telecommunications provider network, access to stored user profile information about a first user using a respective first mobile communications device and a second user, using a respective second mobile communications device;

receiving indications of the locations of the first and second mobile communications devices;

determining proximity of the locations of the first and second mobile communications devices to one another and to send to the second mobile communications device an invitation to accept personal attribute information from, or share personal attribute information with, the first user, upon receipt of permission from the second user to receive personal attribute information about, or share personal attribute information with, the first user; and

connecting the first user and the second user through a provider network for personal communication between first user and the second user, the personal communication comprising one or more SMS, E-mail, chat/instant messaging, multimedia, voice, or video,

locating information about the second user from a social network file of the second user, including a name and image of the second user, and transmitting this information to the first mobile communications device.