IT202100030302A1 - APPARATUS AND METHOD OF ASSISTANCE WITH INTERPERSONAL TRANSACTIONS - Google Patents

Description

Description of the patent for Industrial Invention with title:

" APPARATUS AND METHOD OF ASSISTANCE TO INTERPERSONAL TRANSACTIONS?

Invention Sector

The invention concerns a system to assist the carrying out of activities of interpersonal transaction in the presence and in particular a method and an apparatus of interpersonal communication designed to allow people even unknown to each other, but who are nearby, to anonymously exchange predefined objects of interest, if a user of the system requests the object and another user of the system is in possession of that object.

State of art

At present, applications for personal mobile communication devices, typically smartphones and tablets, are known which allow users who share the application to get in touch and exchange information.

Among these, are there known applications that make use of the geolocation functions of the devices or the bluetooth? with the aim of defining a physical perimeter of proximity to users.

For example, there are known applications designed to verify and notify if two users are in spatial and temporal coincidence for the purpose of implementing health containment measures (contact tracing).

Are they others? known applications dedicated to facilitating personal meetings between users with common interests within a geographical area, based on geolocation (GPS) and the exchange of information with a central database (dating apps).

Purpose of the invention

With the present invention it is intended to propose a method and system of interpersonal communication that allows interpersonal contact between users who are in a common proximity perimeter to be established anonymously and without central coordination (serverless). and who are both interested in carrying out a specific transaction in person, for example an exchange of an object of interest, of a material or immaterial nature, offered by a user and received by the other user.

Summary of the invention

For these purposes yes? received by creating a system and a method according to at least one of the attached claims.

A first advantage consists in the fact that the possibility? to conclude the interpersonal transaction is carried out in a reliable, anonymous manner and based exclusively on availability? of the asset in a restricted geographical area which allows to shorten the time between the verification of the possibility to conclude the transaction and meet in person for the actual carrying out of the transaction.

A second advantage of the invention consists in the fact that the execution of the transaction does not require coordination via a centralized server, thus avoiding any collection of sensitive user data, which is necessary. recording, and allowing a considerable simplification of the creation and maintenance of the system, the infrastructure necessary for operation being limited to the devices owned by the users themselves.

List of drawings

These and further advantages will be better understood by any person skilled in the art from the following description and the attached drawings, given as a non-limiting example, in which:

- fig.1 schematically shows a flow of messages between devices that implement a method according to the invention;

- fig.2 schematically shows the architecture of a system according to the invention. Detailed description

With reference to the attached drawings? described is an example of implementation of the invention by means of a computer apparatus comprising a plurality? of personal mobile communication devices T_i each having its own public identifying name and also each equipped with a WL wireless communication interface, for example a Bluetooth interface? or Bluetooth Low Energy? active within a Z proximity area? to the device and a unit? CPi electronics associated with the WL wireless communication interface.

By way of example, T_i devices may consist of smartphones or tablets or other portable communication devices.

According to the invention in all the devices of the apparatus? stored the same computer program or APP application executable from the unit? electronic, and which when executed modifies the public name of the device on which it is? installed by generating a temporary unique identification code which is then used to implement a validation phase of the good of common interest object of the transaction between the users of a calling device A and a receiving device B, and of an agreed meeting place.

In particular, the validation of the good of interest and the meeting place occurs through the exchange between the WL communication interfaces of the calling and receiving devices of a succession of character strings containing at least the identification codes of the good of interest and the meeting place agreed and the temporary unique identification code of the calling device that sent the request for the good of interest, for example an object or a service.

Advantageously, the apparatus and the method implemented through the APP program allow in a reliable and easy-to-execute manner to make more facilitate the conclusion of anonymous interpersonal transactions between users who are in the proximity area Z, delimited for example by the scope of the communication interface adopted and assist users to determine in a few steps guided by the device whether there is an asset (i. an object or service) of common interest for the transaction and a nearby meeting place? of both to conclude the transaction in person.

In the example of operation schematized in the attached figures, the method is implemented via the same APP application loaded in mobile devices equipped with Bluetooth function? and an Int_i touch screen graphic interface, which carries out, even simultaneously, two functions which will be described below: a request function and a reception function.

Request function

Step 1: Request

In the smallest configuration? general, APP allows you to request an object or good of interest from a list of objects and, in the functionality? of foreground, displays on the device's touch screen a number of buttons equal to the number of objects that can be requested. This ? the mode? activated to user A, (calling user) to request an object/good of interest.

When user A presses one of the buttons, APP performs one of the following functions: - Possibility? 1: Use of bluetooth interface? standard

APP changes the public name of the device on which ? installed in a predefined unique character string that will contain? the unique identification code DEV-ID-A of the device preferably consisting of a unique hash derived from the MAC address of the device and the time of the request.

Advantageously, the public name of the device is ? a property? what can? be detected by other devices without the need? of interaction by the user thanks to the mutual recognition process known as "pairing".

There are as many strings as there are objects that can be requested.

As an example, the maximum length of this character string ? fixed in 248 characters, sufficient to uniquely encode the request.

In the example described, this string (REQ_A string) is divided into three parts: the first part (REQ) identifies that the application is in mode? ?request? and ? immutable; the second (OBJ_ID) uniquely identifies the requested object; the third part (DEV_ID_A) is randomly generated and uniquely but temporarily identifies the requesting device for the duration of the request. Advantageously, this last code allows the management of more? requests simultaneously by several? devices.

- Possibility? 2: Use of the BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) standard?

Bluetooth Low Energy allows devices to send a sequence of bytes that can be detected by nearby devices without the need? pairing, implementing a well-known process called ?beacon? with which low-power Bluetooth BLE devices transmit their identifier to nearby devices.

In the method described, the available technology therefore allows smartphones, tablets and other devices to perform actions in proximity, with a procedure similar to the one described above (possibility 1), but using the different standard.

However, it is specified that not all devices in the system may be enabled for this standard.

Step 2: Receive confirmation

Once step 1 has been performed, APP remains waiting for confirmation from user B (receiving user). In this step, APP will be able to Continuously monitor the surrounding Bluetooth space for confirmatory Bluetooth names or BLE beacons, depending on the technology implemented.

In response to the confirmation instruction given by user B, for example through a specific OK button displayed on the touch screen, the receiving device in use by user B sends an ACK string containing an immutable identification code (REQACK) associated with the status in mode ? confirmation of the receiving device and the unique identification code of the calling device DEV_ID_A, generated as described in step 1, so that DEV_ID_A performs the function of identifying the specific request rather than the device, i.e. ensuring that device B signals that it is responding to the specification request from device A, and not to that of another device.

Step 3: definition of the meeting

This step? similar to step 1, except that APP displays on the calling device, instead of the predefined objects, predefined meeting points that the user can? select from a list of places displayed on the device's touch screen.

Preferably, the identification string REQ2 emitted by the calling user's device after choosing the meeting place contains three parts: an immutable identification code MEETREQ of the device status in mode ?meeting?, a predefined meeting place identifier PLACE_ID and the unique device identifier DEV_ID_A.

In the event that user A's APP no longer detects the confirmation identifier of step 2 without receiving the confirmation of step 4 (described below), APP returns to the mode? request described by step 1.

Step 4: Confirm the meeting

This step? similar to step 2, in which device B emits a string (ACK2 string), made up of two parts (immutable MEETACK identifier and device A identifier, DEV_ID_A) following instruction and authorization from user B, for example through a specific button displayed by the touch screen.

Step 5: meeting

Having received the confirmation string ACK2 from user B, user A's APP changes the color of the display to a random color and sends a MEET string composed of: meeting identifier, color code, device identifier.

User A goes to the meeting point and shows the display of his device to be identified by user B.

If device A no longer detects? the confirmation identifier of step 4, it returns to normal mode. request (step 1).

Step 6: Finish the transaction

Once the two users have physically met, user A presses a BACK button on his APP and the device's previous Bluetooth settings are restored.

Functionality? of reception

This functionality? ? implemented by the same APP for the functionality? from the user side B.

When not? activate the functionality? request, APP monitors bluetooth space in the background.

When a REQ_A request string is detected by the receiving user B's device, APP displays a notification on the user B's display (note: at this point "user B" is any user within the Bluetooth range who has APP installed, i.e. multiple people receive the notification).

The notification shows the type of item/good requested. If user B owns the item and decides to proceed with the transaction, he opens the notification and presses the "OK" confirmation button.

At this point device B sends the ACK string defined in step 2 of the functionality? request and wait for the definition of the meeting.

Preferably user B can? cancel the transaction at any time, in which case the previous bluetooth settings are restored.

What if device B no longer detects? the request string n? the confirmation string from device A, APP returns to mode? background and device settings are reset.

Once the REQ2 string defining the meeting has been received, user B must confirm again, device B emits the ACK2 string defined in step 4 of the functionality. previous and waits for the color code defined in step 5.

Finally, once the color code is received, the corresponding color is displayed on user B's screen, which can be done. go to the meeting point and complete the transaction.

The invention? has been described with reference to a preferred form of implementation, but it is understood that equivalent modifications may be made without however departing from the scope of protection granted to this industrial patent.

Claims (10)

1. Apparatus for assistance in interpersonal transactions of goods of interest, including a plurality? of personal mobile communication devices (T_i) each having its own public identifying name and also each equipped with: a wireless communication interface (WL) active within a proximity area (Z) to the device, a unit? electronics (CPi) operationally associated with said wireless intercommunication interface (WL); a computer program (APP) stored in a device memory and executable by said unit? electronics, in which said program (APP) when executed by the unit? electronic (CPi) of a calling device (A) changes the public name into a temporary unique identification code of the device on which it is? installed (DEV_ID_A) and also implements a validation phase of the asset of common interest and of the meeting place agreed between the users of the calling device (A) and at least one receiving device (B) through exchange via the communication interfaces (WL) of the devices of a succession of character strings containing the identification codes of the asset of interest (OBJ-ID) and of the agreed meeting place (PLACE-ID) and the temporary unique identification code of the calling device (DEV_ID_A). 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which in said validation phase the program (APP) is executed to activate the sending of a string of characters: from the unit electronics of the calling device (A) in response to the user's selection of an asset of interest from a list of selectable assets, from the unit? electronics of the receiving device (B) in response to the receipt of a request string (REQA) and a corresponding availability confirmation instruction? of the good by the receiving device, from the unit electronics of the calling device (A) in response to the selection of a meeting place from a list of selectable places by the user of the calling device, from the unit electronics of the receiving device (B) in response to the receipt of a string (REQ2) indicating the meeting place and a consequent confirmation instruction of the selected meeting place by the user of the receiving device, from the unit electronics of the calling device (A) in response to the receipt of a meeting confirmation string (ACK2) received from the receiving user, from the unit electronics of the receiving device (B) in response to the receipt of a string (MEET_A) to carry out the meeting. 3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein when performed in response to the selection by the calling user of said good of interest from said list of selectable goods: activates through said intercommunication interface (WL) the sending of said predefined unique request string (REQ_A) for the selected good of interest, including an immutable identification code of the request status of the calling device (REQ), a unique identification code of the good of interest selected (OBJ_ID) and the unique identification code of the calling device (DEV_ID_A), when executed in response to the receipt of a request string (REQ_A) and an availability confirmation statement? of the good by the receiving device: activates through said intercommunication interface (WL) the sending from the receiving device of a confirmation string (ACQA) including an immutable identifier of the confirmation status of the receiving device (REQACK) and the unique identifier of the calling device (DEV_ID_A), when performed in response to the calling device user's selection of a meeting location activates through said intercommunication interface (WL) the sending of a string (REQ2) indicating the meeting place, including an immutable code identifying the meeting status of the device (MEETREQ), an identification code of the selected meeting place (PLACE -ID) and the unique identification code of the calling device (DEV_ID_A), when executed in response to the receipt of said string (REQ2) indicating the meeting place by the receiving device and to a confirmation instruction of the selected meeting place by the user of the receiving device: activates through said interface (WL) the sending from the receiving device of said meeting confirmation string (ACK2) including an immutable identification code associated with the status in mode meeting of the receiving device (MEETACK) and the unique identification code of the calling device (DEV_ID_A), when executed in response to the reception by the calling device of the meeting confirmation string (ACK2) received from the receiving user: changes the screen color of the calling device to a random color, activates via the interface (WL) the sending from the calling device of a meeting progress string (MEET_A) including the meeting identification code (MEET), a modified random color code (COLOR_ID) and the device identification code calling (DEV_ID_A), when executed in response to the reception by the receiving device of the string (MEET_A) for carrying out the meeting: activates the sending of the confirmation string (ACK2) via the interface (WL) and changes the screen color of the receiving device to the modified random color, so that the users of the calling and receiving device can show each other the display screen meeting in person at the selected meeting location and completing the transaction. 4. Apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, wherein said program (APP) when executed in response to the selection by the calling user of said good of interest from said list of selectable goods also activates a continuous state of waiting for a confirmation of availability? of good, 5. Apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, wherein said program (APP) when executed in the absence of a selection by the calling user of a good of interest from said list of selectable goods activates a continuous state of waiting for reception of a request for an asset of interest. 6. Apparatus according to one of the previous claims, wherein each device (Ti)? equipped with a graphical touch screen interface (Int_i) operationally associated with the unit? electronic configured to display a list of goods of interest and/or a list of meeting places selectable by contact by the respective user (Ui). 7. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said program (APP) is configured to display on the interface (Int_i) a number of buttons equal to the number of goods of interest that can be selected, so that the user can select said good of interest by pressing a corresponding button. 8. Apparatus according to claim 6 or 7, wherein said program (APP) is? configured to display on the interface (Int_i) a number of buttons equal to the number of meeting places that can be selected, so that the user can select said agreed meeting place by pressing a corresponding button. 9. Apparatus according to one of the previous claims, wherein said wireless intercommunication interface (WL) is? based on bluetooth technology? standard or bluetooth low energy?. 10. Method to assist in the conclusion of interpersonal transactions of goods of interest to a plurality? of users (Ui) of a corresponding plurality? of personal mobile communication devices (T_i) each having its own public identifying name and also each equipped with: an active wireless communication interface (WL) within a proximity area (Z)? to the device, a unit? electronics (CPi) operationally associated with said wireless intercommunication interface (WL); same computer program (APP) stored in a device memory and executable from said unit? electronics, where said program (APP) when executed changes the public name of the device on which ? installed in a temporary unique identifier (DEV_ID_A), e implements a validation phase of the asset of common interest and of the meeting place agreed between the users of a calling device (A) and at least one receiving device (B), through exchange between the intercommunication interfaces (WL) of the calling device ( A) and of the receiving device (B) of a succession of character strings containing the identification codes of the good of interest (OBJ-ID) and of the agreed meeting place (PLACE-ID) and the temporary unique identification code of the calling device ( DEV_ID_A).