Systems and methods for establishing communications between mobile device users

• US 9,294,428 B2
• Filed: 01/17/2013
• Issued: 03/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panther Innovations LLC
• Original Assignee: KinectUs LLC
• Inventors: Nordstrom, Christopher Andrew, Roy Choudhury, Romit
• Primary Examiner(s): DINH, KHANH Q
• Application Number:
  US13/744,367
• Publication Number:
  US 20130185368A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,160 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206, 709/220, 709/227
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/583 using metadata automatically derived from the content
• 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 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/30 Security of mobile devices; Security of mobile applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/63 Location-dependent; Proximity-dependent
• 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 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/21 for social networking applications

Abstract

Provided are systems and methods for establishing a communication between mobile device users that register with a collaboration system. The collaboration system determines a match between profile data of the first registered mobile device and profile data of the second registered mobile device. Displayed at the first registered mobile device is a first list of user identifications, which includes an identification of a user of the second registered mobile device and an identification of a user of at least one other mobile device. Displayed at the second registered mobile device is a second list of user identifications. The second list includes an identification of a user of the first registered mobile device and an identification of at least one other mobile device user.

Claims

1. A method for establishing a communication between mobile devices, comprising:

registering a plurality of mobile devices with a collaboration system, each mobile device including profile data;

determining, by the collaboration system, a match between profile data of a first registered mobile device and profile data of a second registered mobile device;

displaying at the first registered mobile device in response to the match a first list of user identifications, the first list including an identification of a user of the second registered mobile device;

displaying at the second registered mobile device in response to the match a second list of user identifications, the second list including an identification of a user of the first registered mobile device;

providing at the first registered mobile device an option for the user of the first registered mobile device to select or not to select the identification of the second registered mobile device user from the first list;

providing at the second registered mobile device an option for the user of the second registered mobile device to select or not to select the identification of the first registered mobile device user from the second list;

selecting the identification of the second registered mobile device user from the first list;

selecting the identification of the first registered mobile device user from the second list;

generating a notification at the first registered mobile device of at least one of a location or an element of the profile data of the second registered mobile device; and

generating a notification at the second registered mobile device of at least one of a location, or an element of the profile data of the first registered mobile device, wherein the profile data of the first registered mobile device or the second registered mobile device includes at least one of a location, an attribute, a status, personal information, a social relationship between the first and second registered mobile device users, a common interest, current or historical location data, previously or currently selected user identifications, or a scanning preference or search criteria.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

establishing a direct communication between the first registered mobile device and the second registered mobile device in response to selecting the identification of the second registered mobile device user from the first list and selecting the identification of the first registered mobile device user from the second list.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising displaying a communication window at least at one of the first and second registered mobile devices in response to establishing a direct communication.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying at least one of a marketing message, an advertisement, a coupon related to a business establishment, a location-based special, or a non-location based special.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the profile data of at least one of the first registered mobile device and the second registered mobile device is displayed in tiers, wherein in a first tier, a first amount of information related to the profile data is displayed, and in a second tier performed subsequently after at least one of the first and second registered mobile device users grant additional rights, a second amount of information greater than the first amount of information is displayed.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein two or more registered mobile devices of the plurality of mobile devices are organized into a group, and wherein the method further comprises:

receiving, by each of the two or more registered mobile devices, a notification of information related to at least one other of the two or more registered mobile devices, each of the two or more registered mobile devices related to at least one group;

selecting, by a user of each of the two or more registered mobile devices, an identification of the at least one other of the two or more registered mobile devices; and

establishing a direct communication between registered mobile devices of the two or more registered mobile devices identified as being part of a common group of the at least one group.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the search criteria includes a predetermined search radii about a current location of at least one of the first registered mobile device and the second registered mobile device.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

determining the match between the profile data of the first registered mobile device and the profile data of the second registered mobile device in response to each of the first and second registered mobile devices having a current location that is within the predetermined search radii.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting by the user of the first registered mobile device none, any, or all of the identifications of the first list, and selecting by the user of the second registered mobile device none, any, or all of the identifications of the second list.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein when the user of the first registered mobile device selects none of the identifications of the first list or selects an identification other than the identification of the second registered mobile device user, anonymity of the first registered mobile device is preserved, and the location or an additional profile element of the first registered mobile device is not revealed to the user of the second registered mobile device.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein when the user of the second registered mobile device selects none of the identifications of the second list or selects an identification other than the identification of the first registered mobile device user, anonymity of the second registered mobile device is preserved, and the location or an additional profile element of the second registered mobile device is not revealed to the user of the first registered mobile device.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein anonymity of the user of the first registered mobile device is preserved if the user of the first registered mobile device selects the user of the second registered mobile device and the user of the second registered mobile device does not select the user of the first registered mobile device.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein anonymity of the user of the second registered mobile device is preserved if the user of the second registered mobile device selects the user of the first registered mobile device and the user of the first registered mobile device does not select the user of the second registered mobile device.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the first or second list of user identifications is generated according to a probability that a displayed identification is of a user likely to be at the same vicinity as the user of the first or second registered mobile device or according to a probability that the user of the first or second registered mobile device is likely to believe that the displayed identification is of a user at the same vicinity.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising controlling, by a search sensitivity meter of the collaboration system, at least one of a number, a frequency, and a volume of lists displayed at a registered mobile device in response to a plurality of matches between the registered mobile device and other registered mobile devices.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first list and the second list includes an identification related to at least one of a random selection of users, an identification related to a user who does not share a status or represent a profile match, an identification other than the identifications of the first and second registered mobile device users, an identification related to a fictitious mobile device user generated by the collaboration system, or a combination thereof.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

limiting a number of selectable user identifications of at least one of the first list of user identifications and the second list of user identifications to be less than a number of displayed user identifications of the at least one of the first and second lists.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first list or the second list includes one and only one user identification.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first list or the second list includes a plurality of user identifications.

20. A method for establishing a communication between mobile devices, comprising:

registering a plurality of mobile devices with a collaboration system, each mobile device including profile data;

processing, by the collaboration system, the profile data of each registered mobile device;

selecting a user status by each of a user of a first registered mobile device and a user of a second registered mobile device;

determining, by the collaboration system, that the users of the first and second registered mobile devices, respectively, selected a same user status;

determining by the collaboration system, that the users of the first and second registered mobile devices, respectively, are within a predetermined geographic area with respect to each other;

displaying by the collaboration system at the first registered mobile device a first list of user identifications, the first list including an identification of the user of the second registered mobile device;

displaying by the collaboration system at the second registered mobile device a second list of user identifications, the second list including an identification of the user of the first registered mobile device;

providing at the first registered mobile device an option for the user of the first registered mobile device to select or not to select the identification of the second registered mobile device user from the first list;

providing at the second registered mobile device an option for the user of the second registered mobile device to select or not to select the identification of the first registered mobile device user from the second list;

selecting the identification of the second registered mobile device user from the first list;

selecting the identification of the first registered mobile device user from the second list;

generating a notification at the first registered mobile device of at least one of a location or an element of the profile data of the second registered mobile device; and

generating a notification at the second registered mobile device of at least one of a location, or an element of the profile data of the first registered mobile device, wherein the profile data of the first registered mobile device or the second registered mobile device includes at least one of a location, an attribute, a status, personal information, a social relationship between the first and second registered mobile device users, a common interest, current or historical location data, previously or currently selected user identifications, or a scanning preference or search criteria.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

establishing a direct communication between the first registered mobile device and the second registered mobile device in response to selecting the identification of the second registered mobile device user from the first list and selecting the identification of the first registered mobile device user from the second list.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising displaying a communication window at least at one of the first and second registered mobile devices in response to establishing a direct communication.

23. The method of claim 20, further comprising displaying at least one of a marketing message, an advertisement, a coupon related to a business establishment, a location-based special, or a non-location based special.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein profile data of at least one of the first registered mobile device and the second registered mobile device is displayed in tiers, wherein in a first tier, a first amount of information related to the profile data is displayed, and in a second tier performed subsequently after at least one of the first and second registered mobile device users grant additional rights, a second amount of information greater than the first amount of information is displayed.

25. The method of claim 20, further comprising selecting by the user of the first registered mobile device none, any, or all of the identifications of the first list, and selecting by the user of the second registered mobile device none, any, or all of the identifications of the second list.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein when the user of the first registered mobile device selects none of the identifications of the first list or selects an identification other than the identification of the second registered mobile device user, anonymity of the first registered mobile device is preserved, and the location or an additional profile element of the first registered mobile device is not revealed to the user of the second registered mobile device.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein when the user of the second registered mobile device selects none of the identifications of the second list or selects an identification other than the identification of the first registered mobile device user, anonymity of the second registered mobile device is preserved, and the location or an additional profile element of the second registered mobile device is not revealed to the user of the first registered mobile device.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein anonymity of the user of the first registered mobile device is preserved if the user of the first registered mobile device selects the user of the second registered mobile device and the user of the second registered mobile device does not select the user of the first registered mobile device.

29. The method of claim 25, wherein anonymity of the user of the second registered mobile device is preserved if the user of the second registered mobile device selects the user of the first registered mobile device and the user of the first registered mobile device does not select the user of the second registered mobile device.

30. The method of claim 20, wherein the search criteria includes a predetermined search radii about a current location of at least one of the first registered mobile device and the second registered mobile device.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

determining the match between the profile data of the first registered mobile device and the profile data of the second registered mobile device in response to each of the first and second registered mobile devices having a current location that is within the predetermined search radii.

32. The method of claim 20, wherein the first or second list of user identifications is generated according to a probability that a displayed identification is of a user likely to be at the same vicinity as the user of the first or second registered mobile device or according to a probability that the user of the first or second registered mobile device is likely to believe that the displayed identification is of a user at the same vicinity.

33. The method of claim 20, further comprising controlling, by a search sensitivity meter of the collaboration system, at least one of a number, a frequency, and a volume of lists displayed at a registered mobile device in response to a plurality of matches between the registered mobile device and other registered mobile devices.

34. The method of claim 20, wherein two or more registered mobile devices of the plurality of mobile devices are organized into a group, and wherein the method further comprises:

receiving, by each of the two or more registered mobile devices, a notification of information related to at least one other of the two or more registered mobile devices, each of the two or more registered mobile devices related to at least one group;

selecting, by a user of each of the two or more registered mobile devices, an identification of the at least one other of the two or more registered mobile devices; and

establishing a direct communication between registered mobile devices of the two or more registered mobile devices identified as being part of a common group of the at least one group.

35. The method of claim 20, wherein at least one of the first list and the second list includes an identification related to at least one of a random selection of users, an identification related to a user who does not share a status or represent a profile match, an identification other than the identifications of the first and second registered mobile device users, an identification related to a fictitious mobile device user generated by the collaboration system, or a combination thereof.

36. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

limiting a number of selectable user identifications of at least one of the first list of user identifications and the second list of user identifications to be less than a number of displayed user identifications of the at least one of the first and second lists.

37. A method for remote or non-location based matching for providing user privacy or security, comprising:

registering a plurality of mobile devices with a collaboration system, each mobile device including profile data;

determining by the collaboration system, that the users of the first and second registered mobile devices, respectively, share a same user status;

determining, by the collaboration system, a match between profile data of the first registered mobile device and profile data of the second registered mobile device;

displaying at the first registered mobile device in response to the match a first list of user identifications, the first list including an identification of a user of the second registered mobile device;

displaying at the second registered mobile device in response to the match a second list of user identifications, the second list including an identification of a user of the first registered mobile device;

providing at the first registered mobile device an option for the user of the first registered mobile device to select or not select the identification of the second registered mobile device user from the first list;

providing at the second registered mobile device an option for the user of the second registered mobile device to select or not to select the identification of the first registered mobile device user from the second list;

selecting the identification of the second registered mobile device user from the first list;

selecting the identification of the first registered mobile device user from the second list;

generating a notification at the first registered mobile device of at least one of an availability, a location, or an element of the profile data of the second registered mobile device; and

generating a notification at the second registered mobile device of at least one of an availability, a location, a shared status, or an element of the profile data of the first registered mobile device, wherein the profile data of the first registered mobile device or the second registered mobile device includes at least one of a location, an attribute, a status, personal information, a social relationship between the first and second registered mobile device users, a common interest, current or historical location data, previously or currently selected user identifications, or a scanning preference or search criteria.

38. The method of claim 37, further comprising:

establishing a direct communication between the first registered mobile device and the second registered mobile device in response to selecting the identification of the second registered mobile device user from the first list and selecting the identification of the first registered mobile device user from the second list.

39. The method of claim 37, further comprising selecting by the user of the first registered mobile device none, any, or all of the identifications of the first list, and selecting by the user of the second registered mobile device none, any, or all of the identifications of the second list.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein anonymity of the user of the first registered mobile device is preserved if the user of the first registered mobile device selects the user of the second registered mobile device and the user of the second registered mobile device does not select the user of the first registered mobile device.

41. The method of claim 39, wherein anonymity of the user of the second registered mobile device is preserved if the user of the second registered mobile device selects the user of the first registered mobile device and the user of the first registered mobile device does not select the user of the second registered mobile device.

42. The method of claim 37, wherein two or more registered mobile devices of the plurality of mobile devices are organized into a group, and wherein the method further comprises:

receiving, by each of the two or more registered mobile devices, a notification of information related to at least one other of the two or more registered mobile devices, each of the two or more registered mobile devices related to at least one group;

selecting, by a user of each of the two or more registered mobile devices, an identification of the at least one other of the two or more registered mobile devices; and

establishing a direct communication between registered mobile devices of the two or more registered mobile devices identified as being part of a common group of the at least one group.

43. The method of claim 37, wherein at least one of the first list and the second list includes an identification related to at least one of a random selection of users, an identification related to a user who does not share a status or represent a profile match, an identification other than the identifications of the first and second registered mobile device users, an identification related to a fictitious mobile device user generated by the collaboration system, or a combination thereof.

44. The method of claim 37, further comprising:

limiting a number of selectable user identifications of at least one of the first list of user identifications and the second list of user identifications to be less than a number of displayed user identifications of the at least one of the first and second lists.

45. A collaboration system for establishing a communication between a plurality of mobile devices, comprising:

a processor that receives registration data from a plurality of mobile devices;

a processor that determines first and second registered mobile devices have a common profile data element;

a processor that determines a match between the first and second registered mobile device users based on the common profile data element;

a processor that generates and outputs to the first registered mobile device in response to the match a first list of user identifications, the first list including an identification of a user of the second registered mobile device;

a processor that generates and outputs to the second registered mobile device in response to the match a second list of user identifications, the second list including an identification of a user of the first registered mobile device;

a processor that provides an option for the user of the first registered mobile device to select or not to select the identification of the user of the second registered mobile device from the first list;

a processor that provides an option for the user of the second registered mobile device to select or not to select the identification of the user of the first registered mobile device from the second list;

a processor that generates a notification at the first registered mobile device of at least one of a location or an element of the profile data of the second registered mobile device in response to a user of the first registered mobile device selecting the identification of the second registered mobile device user from the first list, and that generates a notification at the second registered mobile device of at least one of a location or an element of the profile data of the first registered mobile device in response to a user of the second registered mobile device selecting the identification of the first registered mobile device user from the second list, wherein the common profile data element includes at least one of a shared same user status, a location at which the first and second registered mobile devices are currently located, an attribute, personal information, a social relationship between the first and second registered mobile device users, a common interest, current or historical location data, previously or currently selected user identifications, a scanning preference or search criteria.