BE1016843A7 - PROXIMITY CONNECTING SOLUTION ASSISTED BY WIRELESS NOMADO NETWORK TECHNOLOGY. - Google Patents

Abstract

The object of the invention makes it possible to create a service aimed at bringing together, via a portable device, people in a close environment on the basis of a center of common interest in the broad sense and without these same people being know beforehand. The portable creates a nomadic wireless network around it, and can thus contact another portable having the desired profile located in the nomadic wireless network. Communication is established between the two laptops, following a dedicated protocol, allowing holders to make contact if they wish. The profiles are loaded in advance on the laptops from a website. Behind the profile of each user is a protected secret code with a limited lifetime.

Description

CONNECTING SOLUTION OF PROXIMITY ASSISTED BY THE MOMADE WIRELESS NETWORK TECHNOLOGY.

Description 1. Object The object of the invention makes it possible to create a service aiming to connect via a portable device persons in a close environment on the basis of a common center of interest in the broad sense and this without these same people know each other beforehand.

The invention consists of the following elements; • A portable device that is an RF transmitter / receiver (portable terminal) o The Moving Wireless Network (MWN) • A communication protocol between two portable terminals (Common Invitation Protocol - CIP) • A profile o A personal presentation code (PPC) ) o A search object code (SOC) o Contact details for future contact (LCI) • The creation and management of profiles o A code acquisition mechanism o Code protection

Encryption

Count down • A scoring system (Personal Score - PS) 2. The principle of the invention

The principle of the invention is summarized as follows;

A portable device broadcast in its environment (from a few meters to a few tens of meters - see principle of adjustable range) on a common radio frequency used by all other portable terminals, one or more personal presentation code (s). In alternation (time division) with the broadcasting of his or her personal presentation code (s), the portable terminal scans the radio frequency and reacts when it recognizes one of the codes sought.

As long as the second portable terminal (marked by the first) receives the message from the first, a communication according to a protocol described below will be established between the two portable terminals to prevent the holders thereof, as far as Cross-searches correspond to the close presence of a person corresponding to the research.

These two people - physically close to each other - will recognize each other by looking around her. The protocol provides that people can also decide to simply exchange their contact information without meeting. For example for a contact later.

The PPC and SOC codes are downloaded to the handheld from a website.

These (sold) codes are crypted and have a limited life span.

For some areas of application, a personal scoring system will establish a priority between people in relation to the triggering of portable terminals. This principle, which is optional for the exploitation of the invention, makes it possible to discard users who have "abused" the service.

3. Descriptions

The descriptions below explain the principles developing the concept without being a "fixed" transcription of the implementation of this invention.

Indeed, on the one hand certain elements are optional and on the other hand certain elements can be added or modified in practice.

at. Description of the portable device

The description below is limited to the essential organs of the portable terminal. Options are obviously possible according to the field of application. This is the minimum configuration.

It is a small RF transmitter / receiver that works on a common frequency for both transmission and reception. All portable terminals operate on the same frequency. Each portable terminal is part of what we call the "moving wireless network".

It alternates between transmission and reception during a cycle (transmission reception reception reception

The transmission time is relatively short compared to the listening time to maximize the probability of mutual detection. The duration of the cycle is established according to the probable speed of displacement (or on the basis of the speed possibly measured with an integrated GPS receiver, in a more elaborate version for application domains which require it).

This portable terminal can be declined in different formats.

The transmission power, therefore the range, can be set manually by the user (for example depending on where it is located - in a dense crowd or not ...), or be related to nature / context of the object sought. In which case, a power setpoint can be included in the code itself.

The portable terminal is equipped with a communication interface to a PC (or other internet connection equipment) in order to download information (PPC, SOC, PS). This interface can be of different types (USB port, l / R, Bluethoot, ...).

The portable terminal is equipped with an encryption and decryption module because the codes transmitted on the air interface are coded and this in order to proliferate "unofficial" codes. That is to say, that would not come from the website dedicated to services.

The portable terminal has a clock used to count the period of validity of the codes (principle described in the "code management").

The portable terminal will be provided with a signaling device to support the implemented functionalities, ie an LCD screen, LED's and / or a buzzer and / or buzzer

The handheld is equipped with an "accepted" command and a "send coordinates" command.

b. Description of the protocol

The portable terminal "a" transmits its PPC once per cycle. The PPC contains the following information; the profile of "a" (see description below), his personal score (PS), and his nickname (Nickname). So that another portable terminal "b", remote reception, can react if the PPC received from the portable terminal "a" corresponds to what "b" search, that is to say his SOC.

Then the portable terminal "a" goes into scanning mode for the rest of the cycle. If the portable terminal "a" detects the presence of another portable terminal "b" (preamble phase), it will compare the profile "b" (defined in the PPCb) with its own SOC.

PPCb = SOCa

This means that there is a potential meeting, and the portable terminal "a" will memorize the complete PPCb, that is to say all the information relating to "b", including its pseudo, which will identify a source unique if more than one "b" profile is present at the same time in the "a" receiving area. The portable terminal "a" goes from a P2MP (Broadcast) communication mode to a P2P mode, trying to get in touch with a portable terminal "b".

From this moment, the portable terminal "a" will insert in its frame the pseudo "b", so that all other portable terminals ignore the message of "a", and only the portable terminal "b" will "listen" "a", as long as it is and remains in the detection zone of course. Before starting this "individual" communication with "b", the portable terminal "a" will compare its personal score (PS) with that of "b" (which is included in the PPCb).

There are three possible outcomes; PSa = PSb, or PSa> PSb, or PSa <PSb.

The logic is that the person with a higher score has the opportunity to decide whether to continue the procedure or not - based on the value of the score displayed on the handheld - before the mobile terminal of the person with a lower score be warned by his portable terminal. So the portable terminal with the lowest score will wait for a confirmation from the other (with a higher score) before reporting the presence of the other to its holder. And the highest score portable terminal will wait for action from its holder before sending a "reaction" authorization to the other (the lowest score). This mechanism may be desirable in some fields of application.

If PSa = PSb:

The portable terminal "a" triggers a timer that sets a duration to try to establish the "meeting". After this period, if the procedure could not be completed, the portable terminal "a" will return to the mode "alteremating broadcat & scanning" ie P2MP.

Then, the portable terminal "a" warns (by sound, or light, or vibration) by displaying the PPCb.

portable terminal "a" then communicates in P2P to portable terminal B, inserting in its emission the pseudo "b" which will be recognized as the only recipient of the message of "a". The other portable terminals possibly present in the MWN will ignore the message coming from "a" because it includes a pseudo which is not theirs.

After making itself known by the portable terminal "b", the portable terminal "a" listens to the frequency to receive a message of "b". If "b" receives "a", the latter will also receive the message of "b" having recognized it.

In which case, the portable terminal "a" is the only one who listens to the portable terminal "b" since the latter includes the pseudo "a" in his show.

The portable terminal "a" will, during all the counting of the timer, to alternate between on the one hand the waiting of a instruction of the user "a" (accepted or sending coordinates towards "b"), and of On the other hand, waiting for the receipt of a message from "b" (accepted or sent coordinates to "a"). As long as the user "a" has not made a decision and the timer is not at the end of the race, the portable terminal "a" continues to issue its message to "b" to confirm that there is still radio contact, and secondly to listen to the frequency first to check that "b" is within range, and especially to receive from "b" either a meeting acceptance or its coordinates (those of "b").

If the countdown reaches zero (= time-out) before the decision of "a" or / and "b", the portable terminal "a" returns to the initial mode of alternation of broadcasting in P2MP and scanning to establish a new contact . It is therefore considered that this potential meeting could not be done. Either because the users (or one of them) did not want to follow through, either one of the handhelds got too far away and the call was interrupted too early.

Before returning to P2MP initial mode, the temporary memory is erased.

If the user "a" confirms that he accepts the meeting by pressing a command button, during the cycle transmission period, the latter sends a message "accepted" in P2P to the portable terminal "b".

If the user "a" gives the command to send his coordinates, by pressing a command button (sending coordinates), during the transmission period of the cycle, the portable terminal "a" sends a message with the coordinates programmed by the user in his portable terminal, in P2P to the portable terminal "b".

If the portable terminal "a" receives "accepted" from the portable terminal "b", it alarms the user "a" via a sound, a light or a vibrator, and displays the pseudo "b".

In the case where "a" has also confirmed, users "a" and "b" now know that they both want to meet, they just have to look around to identify themselves (cross look or other distinctive sign).

If the portable terminal "a" receives the coordinates of "b", these will be saved in a long term memory for later consultation in order to make a subsequent contact.

If PSa <PSb:

The logic is that in this case, the portable terminal "a" starts transmitting P2P to "b", but the user "a" does not know it yet because its portable terminal remains "silent". It will be notified by its portable terminal only when the user "b" has sent either an "accepted" or its coordinates. Then, the portable terminal "a" will wait for a statement from its user (action on a button) to send an "accepted" or its coordinates to "b".

For the rest, the logic is similar to the case where PSa = PSb.

The logic diagram of operation describes it.

If PSa> PSb:

In this case, the portable terminal "a" is the only one of the two that warns its user indicating in addition to the code "b", also the score of "b", and waits for an action on the part of the user. A P2P communication is done, but the portable terminal "b" does not warn the user. He will only do this when "a" has sent him an "accepted" or his contact information. If this is the case, the portable terminal "b" will ask a reaction to its user so that it confirms "accepted" or decides to send its coordinates to "a".

For the rest, the logic is similar to the case where PSa = PSb.

The logic diagram of operation describes it.

vs. Profile description

The profile is downloaded by the user into the portable terminal during the initialization phase. The user can modify his profile whenever he wants.

The profile contains the following information: • PPC, which itself contains: • The code that corresponds to what the person wants to "offer" • The scor (see description below) • The pseudonym • SOC which is a corresponding code to the desired object, this same code will actually be in the CPP of the person you wish to meet.

• The coordinates stored in the portable terminal to send possibly to a contact established with another portable terminal. These details can be a telephone number, an e-mail address, a WWW site, a postal address, a known place, etc.

This profile description is the minimum configuration, however, options should be considered according to the needs of the scope.

d. Description of profile management

To create your profile, you must connect to a website dedicated to this service here patented. This connection is quite conventional, via a PC or via a GSM or any type of PDA. The user must first open a user account (last name, first name, address, etc ....), he will then create a nickname and he will be assigned a personal password. Once the account is open, it will have to select the codes (the one that defines the offer, and the one that defines the request) from a list of proposed codes, or it can itself create codes. Created codes can be resold by the user to other users. The proposed codes are possibly paying, and the code creation can also be paid. The sale of codes is one of the sources of revenue for the service here patented.

When the user has finished defining his profile, after verifying a possible financial transaction (purchase of code), he orders the download of his profile to the portable terminal that is connected to the device (PC, GSM, PDA or other connection device to the website).

The user can at any time return to the website to modify one or more parameters of his profile. The codes have a limited life, ie when a code is downloaded to the handheld, or activated a first time, a countdown begins. This countdown can be of different forms, or a certain time counted in several possible ways (absolute time countdown, time counting in portable terminal use "on", count in time of emission, counting in number of times that the code is issued, etc.

The goal is to sell codes regularly to generate revenue.

Given the economic value of the codes, they must be protected in order to keep the exclusivity of the sale. To do this, the portable terminals are equipped with an encrytion and decryption module, so that the codes sent on the air interface are not "understandable". Only portable terminals, having the algorithm and the decryption key will be able to interpret the meaning. The key is in the portable terminal and is protected against reading. This key is sent when the profile is uploaded.

e. Description of scoring system

The scoring system consists of assigning each user a score. This score is determined based on feedback left by other users who had experience with the user. These feedbacks are introduced via the website on the basis of the nickname.

This measure is intended to "exclude" users who do not behave correctly with respect to the possibilities offered by the service. Indeed, the score is used in the logic of contacting to let the person with the highest score decide whether or not to warn the lowest score. This allows someone to refuse contact with a "bad" score even before this "bad" score was even aware of the proximity of the person or object sought.

It is even possible to close a user account if the score passes a certain threshold. This mechanism allows to remove people who do not have an acceptable conduct. Scoring can be done in many ways depending on the area of application. (Extreme severity is needed in the area of sex dating).

4. Typical use example

A student on a university campus wants to buy a used bike for his daily trips to campus. He is therefore the owner of a portable terminal and goes to the website on which he has a user account. After being recognized as a user of the service, he defines his search profile by selecting as a desired object code "sells used bike" and as a personal presentation code (PPC) "I buy a bike. 'opportunity ". The student also chooses a lifetime of the code (for example: 1 week, 2 weeks, 1 month, ...)

Once he has confirmed his selection, and if he has validated his payment, he is invited to accept the download of his research profile which will be stored on his mobile terminal. Now the portable terminal is initialized, ready to start looking for a person who sells a used bike, and this for a period defined by the lifetime selected during the creation of the profile.

When traveling on campus, he will take good care to turn on his mobile terminal. The latter broadcasting his profile in the immediate environment. Thus the student moves with his mobile wireless network (MWN). Suddenly moving his handheld indicates the proximity of the desired code by displaying the personal score of the person who issued it. This displayed score is for example 25% indicating to the student the indication that his potential interlocutor is not reliable enough to concretize the meeting (25% being a result of mostly negative feedbacks left by other users of the service by report to the holder of the portable terminal encountered). The student therefore decides not to follow up on this linking procedure (quote: better to miss a good deal, rather than to make a bad one).

The student will prefer to wait for another meeting with another user with the same code but this time in the hope of finding a more engaging score. In these conditions considered favorable, the student will manually activate the sending of the message "accepted". As long as the meeting is also accepted by the other user, the two users will recognize each other by a crossing of view given their close physical proximity (only a few meters).

In the hypothesis that the student does not find the sought object before the end of life of the code, it will have to return on the Internet site to download a new code.

This is just one of many possible uses that always revolve around connecting people in a close environment with reciprocal characteristics. Everyone can imagine many applications (eg games, entertainment, business, promotion, relationship, ...).

Efficiency will depend on the concentration of users around a common theme. For example: selling a car in a car show, selling antique furniture in an antique fair, looking for couples in a campus, ...

Claims (1)

Claims a. the principle of encounter linked to the proximity of the "applicants" b. the minimum configuration of the portable terminal c. the logic of the protocol d. the minimum configuration of a profile e. the principle of creating and managing profiles f. the protection of the codes, in that the principle of validity limit and the principle of encryption on the air interface. boy Wut. the principle of scoring allowing to exclude, either by the users themselves by refusing the low scores, or by the administrator of the site compared to the crossing of a threshold. h. All of the above elements that constitutes the basic service here patented.