Mobile communications matching system

• US 7,280,822 B2
• Filed: 04/14/2003
• Issued: 10/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Fraccaroli, Federico
• Primary Examiner(s): Anderson; Matthew D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, TUAN A
• Application Number:
  US10/412,689
• Publication Number:
  US 20040002348A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,639 Days
• Field of Search: 4554141- 4, 4554561- 6, 455457-460, 4554351- 3, 455436-439, 455/445, 455517-519
• US Class Current: 455/414.3
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 2001/085 Partner search devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/222 using geographical location information, e.g. messages transmitted or received in proximity of a certain spot or area
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/52 for supporting social networking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/14 with services dependent on location where the service is an information service H04M2242/15; services independent of location H04M3/42229
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 Determination of the location of a subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42008 Systems for anonymous communication between parties, e.g. by use of disposal contact identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42068 where the identifier is used to access a profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4211 where the identifier is used to access a profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/00 Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data

Abstract

A wireless communications network comprises a server in a central location storing matching profiles for a plurality of users of the network. The matching profile for each user is stored in the server through the user'"'"'s mobile unit or a secure page on the Internet. Each matching profile is corresponded with a respective mobile unit using the same identification information (ID) of the respective mobile unit utilized for carrying out phone calls. The server has a customizable variable matching algorithm and probes the matching profiles corresponding to the respective mobile units in a cell or group of cells for a match every time a new mobile unit subscribes into the cell or group of cells. When there is a match of matching profiles, the two persons are put in contact or advised of each other through a phone call or other communications method.

Claims

1. A mobile device operable within a wireless communications network, the mobile device comprising:

a communications device adapted to receive wireless communication indications of a match that occurred within the wireless communications network between a profile, stored in said wireless network and associated with a first user of said mobile device, and another profile, stored in said wireless network and associated with a second user of another mobile device,

wherein said match is based on similarities between said profiles and on a relative location of said mobile device and said another mobile device, said similarities including a matched field of the profiles identifying the first user and the second user as persons attending an event, and wherein said match is based on sequentially expanding a matching area until said match occurs, up to a threshold distance from said relative location of said mobile device.

2. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the similarity between profiles comprises one of an alphanumerical code and a password agreed upon by said first user and said second user.

3. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein a degree of similarity threshold for an occurrence of the match between said profiles can be adjusted by said first user.

4. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the similarities between profiles includes interests of users.

5. The mobile device of claim 4, wherein the match indicates similar interests of the first user of the mobile device and the second user of the another mobile device.

6. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the similarities between profiles includes characteristics of users.

7. The mobile device of claim 6, wherein the match indicates similar characteristics of the first user of the mobile device and the second user of the another mobile device.

8. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the profile contains information indicating whether or not the first user wishes to participate in a method for initiating contact with other users of mobile devices within the network.

9. The mobile device of claim 8, wherein the first user of the mobile device may change the profile indicating whether or not the first user wishes to participate in the method for initiating contact with other users of mobile devices within the network.

10. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication indications include information to initiate contact with the second user, and after receiving the wireless communication indications, the first user has the option to initiate contact using the information, store said information or delete said information.

11. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein, in the event of a match, the mobile device automatically triggers a phone call between the first user and the second user.

12. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the profile is created and stored in the network through the mobile device.

13. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein said mobile device comprises a cellular phone or a wireless Personal Communications System (PCS).

14. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein said wireless communication indications include at least information to permit said mobile device to contact the another mobile device associated with the second user via said wireless communications network.

15. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein said profile includes activation data and location data with respect to said users'"'"' respective current geographical location.

16. The mobile device of claim 15, wherein said activation data comprises a request to be linked to one or more other active users who fulfill a requirement defined in said request, and whom are currently located in a same relative geographical location defined in said request.

17. The mobile device according to claim 1, wherein said relative location includes a location area surrounding the event.

18. A mobile device operable within a wireless communications network, the mobile device adapted to receive a wireless communication indication of a match between a profile associated with the mobile device and another profile associated with another mobile device, the match being based on similar features of said profile and said another profile and on a relative location of said mobile device and said another mobile device, said relative location including a distance between said mobile device and said another mobile device and wherein the match is based on sequentially expanding a matching area until the match occurs, up to a threshold distance from the relative location of the mobile device.

19. The mobile device of claim 18, wherein the similar features between profiles comprises one of an alphanumerical code and a password agreed upon by a first user of the mobile device and a second user of the another mobile device.

20. The mobile device of claim 18, wherein a degree of similarity threshold for an occurrence of the match between said profiles can be adjusted by a first user of the mobile device.

21. The mobile device of claim 18, wherein the similar features of the profiles includes interests of users.

22. The mobile device of claim 21, wherein the match indicates similar interests of a first user of the mobile device and a second user of the another mobile device.

23. The mobile device of claim 18, wherein the similar features of profiles includes characteristics of users.

24. The mobile device of claim 23, wherein the match indicates similar characteristics of a first user of the mobile device and a second user of the another mobile device.

25. The mobile device of claim 18, wherein the profile associated with the mobile device contains information indicating whether or not a user of the mobile device wishes to participate in a method for initiating contact with other users of mobile devices within the network.

26. The mobile device of claim 25, wherein a user of the mobile device may change the profile indicating whether or not the user wishes to participate in the method for initiating contact with other users of mobile devices within the network.

27. The mobile device of claim 18, wherein the wireless communication indication includes information to initiate contact with said another mobile device, and after receiving the wireless communication indication a user of the mobile device has the option to initiate contact using the information, store said information or delete said information.

28. The mobile device of claim 18, wherein, in the event of a match, the mobile device automatically triggers a phone call between the mobile device and the another mobile device.

29. The mobile device of claim 18, wherein the profile is created and stored in the network through the mobile device.

30. The mobile device of claim 18, wherein said mobile device comprises a cellular phone or a wireless Personal Communications System (PCS).

31. The mobile device of claim 18, wherein said wireless communication indication includes at least information to permit said mobile device to contact the another mobile device via said wireless communications network.

32. The mobile device of claim 18, wherein said profile includes activation data and location data with respect to said users'"'"' respective current geographical location.

33. The mobile device of claim 32, wherein said activation data comprises a request to be linked to one or more other active users who fulfill a requirement defined in said request, and whom are currently located in a same relative geographical location defined in said request.

34. The mobile device according to claim 18, wherein the matching area expands up to an area less than the threshold distance.