Location-based discovery of network members by personal attributes for alternate channel communication

• US 9,264,875 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2014
• Issued: 02/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wireless Discovery LLC
• Original Assignee: Wireless Discovery LLC
• Inventors: Alharayeri, Ramzi
• Primary Examiner(s): Brandt, Christopher M
• Assistant Examiner(s): GENACK, MATTHEW W
• Application Number:
  US14/570,779
• Publication Number:
  US 20150099550A1
• Time in Patent Office: 428 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.2, 455/412.2, 455/414.1, 455/426.1, 455/432.3, 455/434, 455/456.3
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 allow communication between a plurality of members of a social network for any of connecting through said social network and 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 operatively connected to any of a mobile telecommunications provider network and an internet connection to access said computing device;

the computing device in communication with said first user and said second user through said first mobile communications device and said second mobile communications device, wherein said computing device connects said first mobile communications device and said second mobile communications device to the internet using any of the mobile telecommunications provider network and a Wi-Fi connection;

the computing device configured to provide access to stored user profile information relating to said first user and said second user, respectively, wherein said stored user profile information comprises any of a picture, name, and location of a respective user;

the computing device configured to receive an inquiry from said first user about members in said social network who are close by in proximity to a current location of said first user to permit connection through said social network and for exchanging contact information between the users;

the computing device configured to return said inquiry by providing a user profile information of said members, wherein said user profile information comprises attributes comprising any of a picture, name, and location of a respective member, and wherein said computer device reports to said first user said attributes of all members who are close by in proximity to said current location of said first user;

the computing device configured to receive information identifying locations of the first user and cross reference with any of a location of said second mobile communications device, and locations of multiple users that are close by in proximity to said current location of said first user;

the computing device configured to receive a unique device hardware identifier from each mobile communication device from each linked member in said social network to associate and link to a respective member profile to authenticate said respective member as a linked member;

the computing device configured to determine proximity of the locations of the first and second mobile communication devices and other communication devices of other users to one another and to send to the second mobile communications device an invitation to connect to said first user or accept personal attribute information, or share personal attribute information with, the first user;

the computing device configured to provide services between users for personal communication, the personal communication comprising services including one or more of SMS, E-mail, chat/instant messaging, multimedia, voice, or video; and

the computing device configured to provide personal attributes comprising any of a picture, name, and location of members in a vicinity of one another to permit connections and exchange of contact information between said members,

wherein the first and second users are members of a same social network, and the computing device is operable to disclose social network attributes including a picture, name, and location of first and second users in the vicinity or within a particular distance from one another for the purpose of connecting members.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the computing device is operable to provide any of the first and second user with social network attributes including pictures, names, location, and location proximity of all users in the social network in the vicinity or close by in proximity to any of the first and second user.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the computing device is configured to receive an inquiry from the first user about other members of said social network who are close by in proximity to the first user.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the computing device is configured to report to the first user social network attributes including pictures, names, and locations of all members of the social network who are close by in proximity to the first user.

5. The system of claim 4, 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 any of connect with through said social network and exchange social attributes.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the computing device is configured to send to the first user social attributes such as a picture, name, and location of one or more of the selected additional users.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the computing device is configured to obtain the permission of the selected additional users prior to said sending contact information or personal attributes or connecting members through said social network when user permission is required.

8. 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.

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. A method comprising:

providing, via a computing device, accessible through any of an internet connection and 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;

receiving, via the computing device, a unique device hardware identifier from all communications devices from all users linked in a social network to associate with profiles and authenticate when users sign in to a user account;

sending, via the computing device, to the second mobile communications device, an invitation to accept any of an invitation to connect and 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 the computing device 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, and

wherein the first and second users are members of a same social network, and the computing device is operable to disclose social network attributes such as a picture, name, and a location of first and second users in the vicinity or within a particular distance from one another for the purpose of connecting members.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the computing device is operable to provide the first and/or second user with social network attributes such as a picture, name, and location of all users in the social network in the vicinity or close by the first and/or second user.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the computing device is configured to receive an inquiry from the first user regarding other users in the social network in proximity to a location of the first user.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the computing device is configured to report to the first user social network attributes including a picture, name, and location of all members of the social network who are close by in proximity to the first user, and wherein the computing device is configured to provide personal attributes comprising any of a picture, name, and location of members in a vicinity of one another to permit connections and exchange of contact information between said members.

14. The method of claim 13, 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 any of exchange social attributes and connect with.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the computing device is configured to send to the first user social attributes of one or more of the selected additional users.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the computing device is configured to obtain permission of the selected additional users prior to said sending.

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

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

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the computing device reports a location of users by determining a proximity of said users to other users based on original location information entered during an initial registration process.

20. 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, via a computing device, accessible through any of an interne connection and 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;

receiving, via the computing device, a unique device hardware identifier from all communications devices from all users linked in a social network to associate with profiles and authenticate when users sign in to a user account;

sending, via the computing device, to the second mobile communications device, an invitation to accept any of an invitation to connect and 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 the computing device 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, and

wherein the first and second users are members of a same social network, and the computing device is operable to disclose social network attributes such as a picture, name, and a location of first and second users in the vicinity or within a particular distance from one another for the purpose of connecting members.