Method for providing matching and introduction services to proximate mobile users and service providers

• US 6,819,919 B1
• Filed: 10/18/2000
• Issued: 11/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Telcontar
• Inventors: Tanaka, Hirohisa A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trost, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ferguson, Keith
• Application Number:
  US09/691,322
• Time in Patent Office: 1,490 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.1, 455/456.2, 455/456.3, 455/456.6, 455/457, 455/404.1, 455/404.2, 455/414.1, 455/412.1, 455/403, 455/427, 455/435.1, 455/422.1, 455/550.1, 455/552.1, 455/426.1, 455/426.2, 455/414.2, 455/414.3, 455/414.4, 455/433, 455/517, 342/357.12, 342/357.06, 342/357.08, 342/357.1
• US Class Current: 455/414.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 2001/085 Partner search devices

Abstract

A system enabling mobile wireless users to obtain information on other proximate users both fixed and wireless. Said information is gathered from a central database that stores user profiles and real-time locations of system users. Mobile users can request information on nearby users by submitting a request from a mobile telephone or similar communications endpoint to the central database. The request is accompanied by the user'"'"'s location, obtained from GPS (Global Positioning System) or other technology, or from user input. The server searches the profile database for nearby users based on requester'"'"'s location, locations of other users of the system and optional parameters specified in the request. Search results are returned to the requester. The system facilitates communication between requester and owner(s) of profiles returned by system.

Claims

1. A method for providing matching and introduction services to users of communications equipment comprising the steps of:

storing at least two user profiles in a database;

storing the real-time geographic position of a plurality of users in said database;

a first user submits a first search request to a first server using a first wireless communications device;

said server performs a first search of said database by;

initially sorting said user profiles based on geographic proximity to said first user;

further sorting the remaining said user profiles that contain at least one search word specified by said first user; and

selecting remaining user profiles that contain access control features that have been disabled;

said server returns search results to said first user; and

facilitating communication between said first user and other users whose user

profiles have been selected by said first user.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein said user profiles are created and stored using said wireless communications device.

3. The method of claim 1 or 2 wherein said user profiles are created and stored in said database via a World Wide Web connection.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said first user'"'"'s current geographic position is determined by GPS technology integral to said wireless communications device.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said first user'"'"'s current geographic position is determined by triangulation of radio waves emitted by said wireless communication device.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said first user'"'"'s current geographic position is determined by Received Signal Strength Indication of the transmitted signal from said wireless communications device by at least one receiving station remote from said communications device.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said first user'"'"'s current geographic position is determined by said first user entering said position data via manual interface with said wireless communications device.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said wireless communication device automatically determines and then transmits said first user'"'"'s current geographic position as part of said search request.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said search is performed a plurality of times in response to said user defining the periodicity and persistence of said search of said database.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said first user is automatically notified if an additional user becomes proximate to said first user wherein said additional user meets criterion established in said search of said database.

11. A method for providing matching and introduction services to mobile users of wireless communications equipment comprising the steps of:

creating and storing at least two user profiles in a database;

storing the real-time geographic position of a plurality of uses in said database;

a first user submits a first search request to a first server using a first mobile wireless communications device;

said first users current geographic position is transmitted to said database with said search request;

a first search of said database is performed by said server using parameters provided by said first user and includes;

updating said database with said first user'"'"'s current geographic position;

initially sorting said user profiles based on geographic proximity to said first user;

further sorting the remaining said user profiles that contain at least one search word specified by said first user;

selecting any remaining user profiles that contain access control features that have been disabled;

said server returns search results to said first user; and

facilitating communication between said first user and other users whose user profiles have been selected by said first user.

12. The method according to claim 11 wherein said use profiles are created and stored using said wireless communications device.

13. The method of claim 11 or 12 wherein said user profiles are created and stored in said database via a World Wide Web connection.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein said first user'"'"'s current geographic position is determined by GPS technology integral to said wireless communications device.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein said first user'"'"'s current geographic position is determined by triangulation of radio waves emitted by said wireless communication device.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein said first user'"'"'s current geographic position is determined by Received Signal Strength Indication of the transmitted signal from said wireless communications device by at least one receiving station remote from said communications device.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein said first user'"'"'s current geographic position is determined by said first user entering said position data via manual interface with said wireless communications device.

18. The method of claim 11 wherein said wireless communication device automatically determines and then transmits said first user'"'"'s current geographic position as part of said search request.

19. The method of claim 11 wherein said search is performed a plurality of times in response to said user defining the periodicity and persistence of said search of said database.

20. The method of claim 11 wherein said first user is automatically notified if an additional user becomes proximate to said first user wherein said additional user meets criterion established in said search of said database.

21. The method of claim 11 wherein said search of said database further includes the steps of syntax parsing and authenticating said first user'"'"'s search request.

22. A computer program product for providing matching and introduction services to users of communications equipment, the computer program product including a computer-readable medium having computer program code for performing the operations of:

storing at least two user profiles in a database;

storing real-time geographic positions of a plurality of users in the database;

receiving from a first user a first search request, the request transmitted using a first wireless communications device;

performing a first search of the database by;

initially sorting the user profiles based on geographic proximity to the first user;

further sorting the remaining user profiles that contain at least one search word specified by the first user; and

selecting remaining user profiles that contain access control features that have been disabled;

returning search results to the first user; and

facilitating communication between the first user and other users whose user profiles have been selected by the first user.

23. The computer program product of claim 22 wherein the user profiles are created and stored using the wireless communications device.

24. The computer program product of claim 22 wherein the user profiles are created and stored in the database via a World Wide Web connection.

25. The computer program product of claim 22 wherein the first user'"'"'s current geographic position is determined by GPS technology integral to said wireless communications device.

26. The computer program product of claim 22 wherein the first user'"'"'s current geographic position is determined by triangulation of radio waves emitted by said wireless communication device.

27. The computer program product of claim 22 wherein the first user'"'"'s current geographic position is determined by Received Signal Strength Indication of the transmitted signal from said wireless communications device by at least one receiving station remote from said communications device.

28. The computer program product of claim 22 wherein the first user'"'"'s current geographic position is determined by said first user entering said position data via manual interface with said wireless communications device.

29. The computer program product of claim 22 wherein the wireless communication device automatically determines and then transmits the first user'"'"'s current geographic position as part of said search request.

30. The computer program product of claim 22 wherein the search is performed a plurality of times in response to the user defining the periodicity and persistence of the search of said database.

31. The computer program product of claim 22 wherein the first user is automatically notified if an additional user becomes proximate to the first user wherein the additional user meets criterion established in the search of the database.