Patent US6539232B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6539232B2
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Method and system for connecting mobile users based on degree of separation
Assignee: Google LLC
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Filing: 2001-06-08
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Granted: 2003-03-25
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Expires: 2021-06-08
Abstract
Abstract A method and system for selectively connecting proximately located telecommunications units are disclosed. The method and system may be used in a location aware telecommunications system that can determine the location of a telecommunications unit (TU) being used within the system. A first TU may be connected to a second TU when the first and second TUs are within a predetermined distance of each other and when a first user associated with the first TU may be connected to a second user associated with the second TU on a graph representing individual relationships, such as an acquaintance graph or genealogical tree. The connection may further be based on whether the first and second users have a less than a maximum threshold degree of separation within the relationship graph.
Inventors
- 👤 Geoffrey R. Hendrey
- 👤 Hirohisa A. Tanaka
- 👤 Philip J. Koopman, Jr.
- 👤 Joseph D. King
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 15:56
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04W; H04W4/00; H04W4/20; H04W4/23; H04W4/02; G; G08; G08B; G08B1/00; G08B1/08; G08B2001/085; H04M; H04M1/00; H04M1/72; H04M1/724; H04M1/72448; H04M1/72457; H04W76/00; H04W76/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 39
Claim 1
Independent Claim
88 words
A method for initiating a telecommunications connection, comprising the step of connecting a first telecommunications unit (TU) to a second TU when predetermined criteria is met, wherein the predetermined criteria comprises the first and second TUs being within a predetermined distance of each other, and a first user associated with the first TU being connected to a second user associated with the second TU in a graph representing relationships among users, wherein the predetermined distance is responsive to a degree of separation of the first and second users.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
88 words
A method for initiating a telecommunications connection, comprising the step of connecting a first telecommunications unit (TU) to a second TU when predetermined criteria is met, wherein the predetermined criteria comprises the first and second TUs being within a predetermined distance of each other, and a first user associated with the first TU being connected to a second user associated with the second TU in a graph representing relationships among users, wherein the predetermined distance is responsive to a degree of separation of the first and second users.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined criteria further comprises the first user being connected to the second user with a minimum degree of strength, wherein the strength is calculated based on a number of paths in the graph between the first user and the second user.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the first user associated with the second user is determined by a degree of separation that is weighted responsive to a number of independent paths from the first user to the second user in the graph.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of suppressing the connection when at least one of the first and second users has elected to be unavailable for connections based on graph relationships.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the connecting step is automatically initiated when the predetermined criteria are met.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the connecting step is performed responsive to a request by the first user, and wherein the second user is selected based on a degree of separation between the first and second users and a measure of distance between the first and second TUs.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
115 words
A computer readable medium for storing computer readable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause a computing device to perform a set of steps for initiating a telecommunications connection, the set of steps comprising the step of connecting a first telecommunications unit (TU) to a second TU when predetermined criteria are met, wherein the predetermined criteria comprises the first and second TUs being within a predetermined distance of each other, and a first user associated with the first TU being connected to a second user associated with the second TU in a graph representing relationships among users, wherein the predetermined distance is responsive to a degree of separation of the first and second users.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
115 words
A computer readable medium for storing computer readable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause a computing device to perform a set of steps for initiating a telecommunications connection, the set of steps comprising the step of connecting a first telecommunications unit (TU) to a second TU when predetermined criteria are met, wherein the predetermined criteria comprises the first and second TUs being within a predetermined distance of each other, and a first user associated with the first TU being connected to a second user associated with the second TU in a graph representing relationships among users, wherein the predetermined distance is responsive to a degree of separation of the first and second users.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
51 words
The computer readable medium of claim 7 , wherein the predetermined criteria further comprises the first user being connected to the second user with a minimum degree of strength, wherein the strength is calculated based on a number of paths in the graph between the first user and the second user.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
45 words
The computer readable medium of claim 7 , wherein the first user associated with the second user is determined by a degree of separation that is weighted responsive to a number of independent paths from the first user to the second user in the graph.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
The computer readable medium of claim 7 , wherein the set of steps further comprise the step of suppressing the connection when at least one of the first and second users has elected to be unavailable for connections based on graph relationships.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The computer readable medium of claim 7 , wherein the connecting step is automatically initiated when the predetermined criteria are met.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
52 words
The computer readable medium of claim 7 , wherein the connecting step is performed responsive to a request by the first user, and wherein the second user is selected based on a degree of separation between the first and second users and a measure of distance between the first and second TUs.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
114 words
A system for initiating a telecommunications connection, comprising: a processor; memory for storing computer readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the system to perform a set of steps, the set comprising the step of connecting a first telecommunications unit (TU) to a second TU when predetermined criteria are met, wherein the predetermined criteria comprises the first and second TUs being within a predetermined distance of each other, and a first user associated with the first TU being connected to a second user associated with the second TU in a graph representing relationships among users, wherein the predetermined distance is responsive to a degree of separation of the first and second users.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
114 words
A system for initiating a telecommunications connection, comprising: a processor; memory for storing computer readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the system to perform a set of steps, the set comprising the step of connecting a first telecommunications unit (TU) to a second TU when predetermined criteria are met, wherein the predetermined criteria comprises the first and second TUs being within a predetermined distance of each other, and a first user associated with the first TU being connected to a second user associated with the second TU in a graph representing relationships among users, wherein the predetermined distance is responsive to a degree of separation of the first and second users.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
49 words
The system of claim 13 , wherein the predetermined criteria further comprises the first user being connected to the second user with a minimum degree of strength, wherein the strength is calculated based on a number of paths in the graph between the first user and the second user.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
43 words
The system of claim 13 , wherein the first user associated with the second user is determined by a degree of separation that is weighted responsive to a number of independent paths from the first user to the second user in the graph.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
40 words
The system of claim 13 , wherein the set of steps further comprises the step of suppressing the connection when at least one of the first and second users has elected to be unavailable for connections based on graph relationships.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 13 , wherein the connecting step is automatically initiated when the predetermined criteria are met.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
50 words
The system of claim 13 , wherein the connecting step is performed responsive to a request by the first user, and wherein the second user is selected based on a degree of separation between the first and second users and a measure of distance between the first and second TUs.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
100 words
A method of transmitting data to at least one of a plurality of telecommunication units (TUs), comprising: determining a distance between a first TU and a second TU; determining a degree of separation between a first user associated with the first TU and a second user associated with the second TU; and responsive to determinations that the first TU and the second TU are within a predetermined distance of each other and the first user and the second user are a predetermined degree of separation from each other; transmitting data to at least one of the first and second TUs.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
100 words
A method of transmitting data to at least one of a plurality of telecommunication units (TUs), comprising: determining a distance between a first TU and a second TU; determining a degree of separation between a first user associated with the first TU and a second user associated with the second TU; and responsive to determinations that the first TU and the second TU are within a predetermined distance of each other and the first user and the second user are a predetermined degree of separation from each other; transmitting data to at least one of the first and second TUs.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 19 , wherein at least one TU is a mobile telecommunications unit.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 19 , wherein the degree of separation is determined from genealogical information.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 19 , wherein the degree of separation is determined from acquaintance information.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 19 , wherein each user is associated with attribute information, and wherein the transmitting of data is responsive to an additional determination that the first user and the second user have compatible attribute information.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
127 words
A computer readable medium for storing computer readable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause a computing device to perform a set of steps for transmitting data to at least one of a plurality of telecommunication units (TUs), the set of steps comprising: determining a distance between a first TU and a second TU; determining a degree of separation between a first user associated with the first TU and a second user associated with the second TU; and responsive to determinations that the first TU and the second TU are within a predetermined distance of each other and the first user and the second user are a predetermined degree of separation from each other; transmitting data to at least one of the first and second TUs.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
127 words
A computer readable medium for storing computer readable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause a computing device to perform a set of steps for transmitting data to at least one of a plurality of telecommunication units (TUs), the set of steps comprising: determining a distance between a first TU and a second TU; determining a degree of separation between a first user associated with the first TU and a second user associated with the second TU; and responsive to determinations that the first TU and the second TU are within a predetermined distance of each other and the first user and the second user are a predetermined degree of separation from each other; transmitting data to at least one of the first and second TUs.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
18 words
The computer readable medium of claim 24 , wherein at least one TU is a mobile telecommunications unit.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
18 words
The computer readable medium of claim 24 , wherein the degree of separation is determined from genealogical information.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
18 words
The computer readable medium of claim 24 , wherein the degree of separation is determined from acquaintance information.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
40 words
The computer readable medium of claim 24 , wherein each user is associated with attribute information, and wherein the transmitting of data is responsive to an additional determination that the first user and the second user have compatible attribute information.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
116 words
A system for transmitting data to at least one of a plurality of telecommunication units (TUs), comprising: a processor; memory for storing computer readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the system to perform a set of steps, the set comprising: determining a distance between a first TU and a second TU; determining a degree of separation between the first TU and the second TU; and responsive to determinations that the first TU and the second TU are within a predetermined distance of each other and the first user and the second user are a predetermined degree of separation from each other; transmitting data to at least one of the first and second TUs.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
116 words
A system for transmitting data to at least one of a plurality of telecommunication units (TUs), comprising: a processor; memory for storing computer readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the system to perform a set of steps, the set comprising: determining a distance between a first TU and a second TU; determining a degree of separation between the first TU and the second TU; and responsive to determinations that the first TU and the second TU are within a predetermined distance of each other and the first user and the second user are a predetermined degree of separation from each other; transmitting data to at least one of the first and second TUs.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 29 , wherein at least one TU is a mobile telecommunications unit.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 29 , wherein the degree of separation is determined from genealogical information.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 29 , wherein the degree of separation is determined from acquaintance information.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
38 words
The system of claim 29 , wherein each user is associated with attribute information, and wherein the transmitting of data is responsive to an additional determination that the first user and the second user have compatible attribute information.
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-03-24 | 2006-09-23 | 2007-03-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-03-24 | 2010-09-23 | 2011-03-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-03-24 | 2014-09-23 | 2015-03-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |