US6542749B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and system for connecting proximately located mobile users based on compatible attributes
Assignee: Google LLC
•
Filing: 2001-06-08
•
Granted: 2003-04-01
•
Expires: 2021-06-08
Abstract
Abstract A method and system for 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 user may be connected to one or more other users when they have compatible attributes and when they are located within a predetermined distance of each other. The connection may be established between TUs of two or more users, based on attribute and distance information maintained by a server computer, upon the request of an initiating user's TU.
Inventors
- 👤 Hirohisa A. Tanaka
- 👤 Geoffrey R. Hendrey
- 👤 Philip J. Koopman, Jr.
- 👤 Joseph D. King
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 02:36
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04W; H04W76/00; H04W76/40; H04W4/00; H04W4/02; H04W4/029; G; G08; G08B; G08B1/00; G08B1/08; G08B2001/085; H04M; H04M1/00; H04M1/72; H04M1/724; H04M1/72448; H04M1/72457; H04W4/06; H04W4/08; H04W8/00; H04W8/18
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 46
Claim 1
Independent Claim
170 words
A method for connecting telecommunications units, comprising the step of connecting a first telecommunications unit (TU) with a second TU, wherein the second TU is selected based at least in part on the physical distance between the first TU and the second TU, and at least in part on a compatibility of attribute information associated with users of the first and second TUs, the selecting of the second TU, comprising: creating a list of users having attribute information that possibly matches attribute information of a first user of the first TU; sorting the list in order of increasing physical distance between TUs associated with the list of users and the first TU; searching the list for a second user having a match score at least equal to a predetermined minimum threshold, wherein the predetermined minimum threshold increases as the distance between the first TU and at least one TU associated with the list of users increases; and selecting a TU associated with the second user to be the second TU.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
170 words
A method for connecting telecommunications units, comprising the step of connecting a first telecommunications unit (TU) with a second TU, wherein the second TU is selected based at least in part on the physical distance between the first TU and the second TU, and at least in part on a compatibility of attribute information associated with users of the first and second TUs, the selecting of the second TU, comprising: creating a list of users having attribute information that possibly matches attribute information of a first user of the first TU; sorting the list in order of increasing physical distance between TUs associated with the list of users and the first TU; searching the list for a second user having a match score at least equal to a predetermined minimum threshold, wherein the predetermined minimum threshold increases as the distance between the first TU and at least one TU associated with the list of users increases; and selecting a TU associated with the second user to be the second TU.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein personal identifying information of each user is hidden from each other user.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the second TU must be in a first predetermined mode in order to be selected as a match for the first TU.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one TU is a mobile telecommunications unit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
194 words
A computer readable medium for storing computer readable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause a computing device to perform a method for connecting telecommunications units, wherein the method comprises the step of connecting a first telecommunications unit (TU) with a second TU, wherein the second TU is selected based at least in part on the physical distance between the first TU and the second TU, and at least in part on a compatibility of attribute information associated with users of the first and second TUs, the selecting of the second TU, comprising: creating a list of users having attribute information that possibly matches attribute information of a first user of the first TU; sorting the list in order of increasing physical distance between TUs associated with the list of users and the first TU; searching the list for a second user having a match score at least equal to a predetermined minimum threshold, wherein the predetermined minimum threshold increases as the distance between the first TU and at least one TU associated with the list of users increases; and selecting a TU associated with the second user to be the second TU.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
194 words
A computer readable medium for storing computer readable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause a computing device to perform a method for connecting telecommunications units, wherein the method comprises the step of connecting a first telecommunications unit (TU) with a second TU, wherein the second TU is selected based at least in part on the physical distance between the first TU and the second TU, and at least in part on a compatibility of attribute information associated with users of the first and second TUs, the selecting of the second TU, comprising: creating a list of users having attribute information that possibly matches attribute information of a first user of the first TU; sorting the list in order of increasing physical distance between TUs associated with the list of users and the first TU; searching the list for a second user having a match score at least equal to a predetermined minimum threshold, wherein the predetermined minimum threshold increases as the distance between the first TU and at least one TU associated with the list of users increases; and selecting a TU associated with the second user to be the second TU.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The computer readable medium of claim 5 , wherein personal identifying information of each user is hidden from each other user.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
The computer readable medium of claim 5 , wherein the second TU must be in a first predetermined mode in order to be selected as a match for the first TU.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The computer readable medium of claim 5 , wherein at least one TU is a mobile telecommunications unit.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
199 words
A system for connecting telecommunications units, comprising: a processor; memory for storing computer readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the system to perform the step of connecting a first telecommunications unit (TU) with a second TU, wherein the second TU is selected based at least in part on the physical distance between the first TU and the second TU, and at least in part on a compatibility of personal attributes associated with users of the first and second TUs, the selecting of the second TU, comprising of: creating a list of users having attribute information that possibly matches attribute information of a first user of the first TU; sorting the list in a predetermined order, wherein the list is sorted in order of increasing physical distance between TUs associated with the list of users and the first TU; searching the list for a second user having a match score at least equal to a predetermined minimum threshold, wherein the predetermined minimum threshold increases as the distance between the first TU and at least one TU associated with the list of users increases; and selecting a TU associated with the second user to be the second TU.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
199 words
A system for connecting telecommunications units, comprising: a processor; memory for storing computer readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the system to perform the step of connecting a first telecommunications unit (TU) with a second TU, wherein the second TU is selected based at least in part on the physical distance between the first TU and the second TU, and at least in part on a compatibility of personal attributes associated with users of the first and second TUs, the selecting of the second TU, comprising of: creating a list of users having attribute information that possibly matches attribute information of a first user of the first TU; sorting the list in a predetermined order, wherein the list is sorted in order of increasing physical distance between TUs associated with the list of users and the first TU; searching the list for a second user having a match score at least equal to a predetermined minimum threshold, wherein the predetermined minimum threshold increases as the distance between the first TU and at least one TU associated with the list of users increases; and selecting a TU associated with the second user to be the second TU.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 9 , wherein personal identifying information of each user is hidden from each other user.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 9 , wherein the second TU must be in a first predetermined mode in order to be selected as a match for the first TU.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 9 , wherein at least one TU is a mobile telecommunications unit.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
123 words
A method of transmitting data to at least one of a plurality of telecommunication units (TUs) based on attribute information associated with users of the TUs, comprising: comparing attribute information associated with a first user with attribute information associated with other users to determine match scores, wherein each match score is based upon the number of different compatible attributes; identifying a set of users having a match score equal to or exceeding a predetermined minimum threshold; selecting from the identified set of users a second user having an associated TU that is within a predetermined range of the first user's TU; and responsive to the selection of the second user, transmitting data to at least one of the first and second user's TUs.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
123 words
A method of transmitting data to at least one of a plurality of telecommunication units (TUs) based on attribute information associated with users of the TUs, comprising: comparing attribute information associated with a first user with attribute information associated with other users to determine match scores, wherein each match score is based upon the number of different compatible attributes; identifying a set of users having a match score equal to or exceeding a predetermined minimum threshold; selecting from the identified set of users a second user having an associated TU that is within a predetermined range of the first user's TU; and responsive to the selection of the second user, transmitting data to at least one of the first and second user's TUs.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 13 , wherein personal identifying information of each user is hidden from each other user.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 13 , wherein the second user's TU must be in a first predetermined mode in order to be selected as a match.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
152 words
A computer readable medium in a system for transmitting data to at least one of a plurality of telecommunication units (TUs) based on attribute information associated with users of the TUs, the computer readable medium having instructions contained thereon, which, when executed by a processor in the system, cause the system to perform the operations of: comparing attribute information associated with a first user with attribute information associated with other users to determine match scores, wherein each match score is based upon a number of different compatible attributes; identifying a set of users having a match score equal to or exceeding a predetermined minimum threshold; selecting from the identified set of users a second user having an associated TU that is within a predetermined range of the first user's TU; and responsive to the selection of the second user, transmitting data to at least one of the first and second user's TUs.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
152 words
A computer readable medium in a system for transmitting data to at least one of a plurality of telecommunication units (TUs) based on attribute information associated with users of the TUs, the computer readable medium having instructions contained thereon, which, when executed by a processor in the system, cause the system to perform the operations of: comparing attribute information associated with a first user with attribute information associated with other users to determine match scores, wherein each match score is based upon a number of different compatible attributes; identifying a set of users having a match score equal to or exceeding a predetermined minimum threshold; selecting from the identified set of users a second user having an associated TU that is within a predetermined range of the first user's TU; and responsive to the selection of the second user, transmitting data to at least one of the first and second user's TUs.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
The computer readable medium of claim 16 , wherein personal identifying information of each user is hidden from each other user.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
28 words
The computer readable medium of claim 16 , wherein the second user's TU must be in a first predetermined mode in order to be selected as a match.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
143 words
A system for transmitting data to at least one of a plurality of telecommunication units (TUs) based on attribute information associated with users of the TUs, comprising: a processor; memory for storing instructions, which, when executed by the processor, cause the system to perform the operations of: comparing attribute information associated with a first user with attribute information associated with other users to determine match scores, wherein each match score is based upon the number of different compatible attributes; identifying a set of users having a match score equal to or exceeding a predetermined minimum threshold; selecting from the identified set of users a second user having an associated TU that is within a predetermined range of the first user's TU; and responsive to the selection of the second user, transmitting data to at least one of the first and second user's TUs.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
143 words
A system for transmitting data to at least one of a plurality of telecommunication units (TUs) based on attribute information associated with users of the TUs, comprising: a processor; memory for storing instructions, which, when executed by the processor, cause the system to perform the operations of: comparing attribute information associated with a first user with attribute information associated with other users to determine match scores, wherein each match score is based upon the number of different compatible attributes; identifying a set of users having a match score equal to or exceeding a predetermined minimum threshold; selecting from the identified set of users a second user having an associated TU that is within a predetermined range of the first user's TU; and responsive to the selection of the second user, transmitting data to at least one of the first and second user's TUs.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 19 , wherein personal identifying information of each user is hidden from each other user.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 19 , wherein the second user's TU must be in a first predetermined mode in order to be selected as a match.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
111 words
A method of transmitting data to at least one of a plurality of telecommunication units (TUs) based on attribute information associated with users of the TUs, comprising: determining a distance between a first TU and a second TU; determining compatibility between a first user associated with the first TU and a second user associated with the second TU based on attribute information, wherein the steps of determining distance and compatibility occur substantially simultaneously; and responsive to the distance being within a predetermined range and a determination that attribute information associated with the first and second users are compatible, transmitting data to at least one of the first and second user's TUs.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
111 words
A method of transmitting data to at least one of a plurality of telecommunication units (TUs) based on attribute information associated with users of the TUs, comprising: determining a distance between a first TU and a second TU; determining compatibility between a first user associated with the first TU and a second user associated with the second TU based on attribute information, wherein the steps of determining distance and compatibility occur substantially simultaneously; and responsive to the distance being within a predetermined range and a determination that attribute information associated with the first and second users are compatible, transmitting data to at least one of the first and second user's TUs.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 22 , wherein a multi-dimensional search algorithm is used to determine distance and compatibility.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
140 words
A computer readable medium in a system for transmitting data to at least one of a plurality of telecommunication units (TUs) based on attribute information associated with users of the TUs, the computer readable medium having instructions contained thereon, which, when executed by a processor in the system, cause the system to perform the operations of: determining a distance between a first TU and a second TU; determining compatibility between a first user associated with the first TU and a second user associated with the second TU based on attribute information, wherein the steps of determining distance and compatibility occur substantially simultaneously; and responsive to the distance being within a predetermined range and a determination that attribute information associated with the first and second users are compatible, transmitting data to at least one of the first and second user's TUs.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
140 words
A computer readable medium in a system for transmitting data to at least one of a plurality of telecommunication units (TUs) based on attribute information associated with users of the TUs, the computer readable medium having instructions contained thereon, which, when executed by a processor in the system, cause the system to perform the operations of: determining a distance between a first TU and a second TU; determining compatibility between a first user associated with the first TU and a second user associated with the second TU based on attribute information, wherein the steps of determining distance and compatibility occur substantially simultaneously; and responsive to the distance being within a predetermined range and a determination that attribute information associated with the first and second users are compatible, transmitting data to at least one of the first and second user's TUs.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
20 words
The computer readable medium of claim 24 , wherein a multi-dimensional search algorithm is used to determine distance and compatibility.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
131 words
A system for transmitting data to at least one of a plurality of telecommunication units (TUs) based on attribute information associated with users of the TUs, comprising: a processor; memory for storing instructions, which, when executed by the processor, cause the system to perform the operations of: determining a distance between a first TU and a second TU; determining compatibility between a first user associated with the first TU and a second user associated with the second TU based on attribute information, wherein the steps of determining distance and compatibility occur substantially simultaneously; and responsive to the distance being within a predetermined range and a determination that attribute information associated with the first and second users are compatible, transmitting data to at least one of the first and second user's TUs.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
131 words
A system for transmitting data to at least one of a plurality of telecommunication units (TUs) based on attribute information associated with users of the TUs, comprising: a processor; memory for storing instructions, which, when executed by the processor, cause the system to perform the operations of: determining a distance between a first TU and a second TU; determining compatibility between a first user associated with the first TU and a second user associated with the second TU based on attribute information, wherein the steps of determining distance and compatibility occur substantially simultaneously; and responsive to the distance being within a predetermined range and a determination that attribute information associated with the first and second users are compatible, transmitting data to at least one of the first and second user's TUs.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 26 , wherein a multi-dimensional search algorithm is used to determine distance and compatibility.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
109 words
A method of transmitting data to at least one of a plurality of telecommunication units (TUs) based on attribute information associated with users of the TUs, comprising: determining a distance between a first TU and a second TU; determining compatibility between a first user associated with the first TU and a second user associated with the second TU based on attribute information, wherein the distance is determined before compatibility is determined; and responsive to the distance being within a predetermined range and a determination that attribute information associated with the first and second users are compatible, transmitting data to at least one of the first and second user's TUs.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
109 words
A method of transmitting data to at least one of a plurality of telecommunication units (TUs) based on attribute information associated with users of the TUs, comprising: determining a distance between a first TU and a second TU; determining compatibility between a first user associated with the first TU and a second user associated with the second TU based on attribute information, wherein the distance is determined before compatibility is determined; and responsive to the distance being within a predetermined range and a determination that attribute information associated with the first and second users are compatible, transmitting data to at least one of the first and second user's TUs.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
138 words
A computer readable medium in a system for transmitting data to at least one of a plurality of telecommunication units (TUs) based on attribute information associated with users of the TUs, the computer readable medium having instructions contained thereon, which, when executed by a processor in the system, cause the system to perform the operations of: determining a distance between a first TU and a second TU; determining compatibility between a first user associated with the first TU and a second user associated with the second TU based on attribute information, wherein the distance is determined before compatibility is determined; and responsive to the distance being within a predetermined range and a determination that attribute information associated with the first and second users are compatible, transmitting data to at least one of the first and second users TUs.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
138 words
A computer readable medium in a system for transmitting data to at least one of a plurality of telecommunication units (TUs) based on attribute information associated with users of the TUs, the computer readable medium having instructions contained thereon, which, when executed by a processor in the system, cause the system to perform the operations of: determining a distance between a first TU and a second TU; determining compatibility between a first user associated with the first TU and a second user associated with the second TU based on attribute information, wherein the distance is determined before compatibility is determined; and responsive to the distance being within a predetermined range and a determination that attribute information associated with the first and second users are compatible, transmitting data to at least one of the first and second users TUs.
Claim 41
Independent Claim
129 words
A system for transmitting data to at least one of a plurality of telecommunication units (TUs) based on attribute information associated with users of the TUs, comprising: a processor; memory for storing instructions, which, when executed by the processor, cause the system to perform the operations of: determining a distance between a first TU and a second TU; determining compatibility between a first user associated with the first TU and a second user associated with the second TU based on attribute information, wherein the distance is determined before compatibility is determined; and responsive to the distance being within a predetermined range and a determination that attribute information associated with the first and second users are compatible, transmitting data to at least one of the first and second user's TUs.
Claim 42
Independent Claim
129 words
A system for transmitting data to at least one of a plurality of telecommunication units (TUs) based on attribute information associated with users of the TUs, comprising: a processor; memory for storing instructions, which, when executed by the processor, cause the system to perform the operations of: determining a distance between a first TU and a second TU; determining compatibility between a first user associated with the first TU and a second user associated with the second TU based on attribute information, wherein the distance is determined before compatibility is determined; and responsive to the distance being within a predetermined range and a determination that attribute information associated with the first and second users are compatible, transmitting data to at least one of the first and second user's TUs.
Claim 43
Independent Claim
101 words
A method of generating data associated with a plurality of telecommunication units (TUs), comprising: determining if a first TU was within a first predetermined distance from a geographic location at a reference time; determining if the TU was within a second predetermined distance of a second TU at the reference time; and responsive to the determination that the first TU was within the first predetermined distance from the geographic location at the reference time and within the second predetermined distance of the second TU at the reference time, generating data associated with at least one of the first and second TUs.
Claim 44
Independent Claim
101 words
A method of generating data associated with a plurality of telecommunication units (TUs), comprising: determining if a first TU was within a first predetermined distance from a geographic location at a reference time; determining if the TU was within a second predetermined distance of a second TU at the reference time; and responsive to the determination that the first TU was within the first predetermined distance from the geographic location at the reference time and within the second predetermined distance of the second TU at the reference time, generating data associated with at least one of the first and second TUs.
Claim 45
Independent Claim
60 words
A method of notifying a first telecommunication unit (TU) of a future location of a second TU, comprising: determining a first location of the second TU at a first time; determining a second location of the second TU at a second time based on the first location and the first time; and notifying the second TU of the first location.
Claim 46
Independent Claim
60 words
A method of notifying a first telecommunication unit (TU) of a future location of a second TU, comprising: determining a first location of the second TU at a first time; determining a second location of the second TU at a second time based on the first location and the first time; and notifying the second TU of the first location.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5043736B1
Cited
US5043736A
Cited
US5761648A
Cited
US6047327A
Cited
US5774802A
Cited
WO1997041654A1
Cited
US5963864A
Cited
US6018699A
Cited
US5953400A
Cited
US5873040A
Cited
US5884272A
Cited
US5852775A
Cited
US6061561A
Cited
US5974393A
Cited
US6055434A
Cited
US6060995A
Cited
US6052122A
Cited
US6061681A
Cited
WO1999005597A1
Cited
US6067356A
Cited
WO1999033199A1
Cited
US6119014A
Cited
US5982281A
Cited
US6073138A
Cited
WO1999066757A1
Cited
US6067045A
Cited
WO2000022860A1
Cited
US6292672B1
Cited
US6208866B1
Cited
US20010027111A1
Cited
US6377793B1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-03-31 | 2006-09-30 | 2007-04-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-03-31 | 2010-09-30 | 2011-04-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-03-31 | 2014-09-30 | 2015-04-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |