Method and system for connecting mobile users based on degree of separation
US6539232B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 8, 2001 |
| Grant date | Mar 25, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 8, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04W76/10
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
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.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.