WO2009057145A2

WO2009057145A2 - Method and system mobile social networking

Info

Publication number: WO2009057145A2
Application number: PCT/IN2008/000730
Authority: WO
Inventors: Rajendra Kumar Khare; Vikas Minda; Abhijit Das
Original assignee: Rajendra Kumar Khare; Vikas Minda; Abhijit Das
Priority date: 2007-11-04
Filing date: 2008-11-04
Publication date: 2009-05-07
Also published as: WO2009057145A3

Abstract

A system, method and a computer progam for having a mobile social networking provision implemented on a mobile handheld device, the method comprising the steps of determining local position of a mobile communication device; determining application enablement of said mobile communication device; establishing network connection using smart IB's; utilizing said local position of a mobile communication device to determine physical proximity with other mobile communication devices in the mobile social network; determining local position of other mobile communication devices in the mobile social network; generating alerts as per the local position of the mobile communication devices.

Description

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MOBILE SOCIAL NETWORKING

Cross reference to related application:

This application is related to Indian Provisional Patent Application No.2512 /CHE/2007 filed on November 4, 2007. The entire contents of which are incorporated herein by this reference. The applicant hereby claims the benefit of this earlier pending provisional application

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method and system for implementing a technology for mobile social networking and instant connections, updates among different users while on move. More particularly, the present invention relates to a new technology for mobile social networking and a tool for the same having a Social networking provision implemented on a mobile handheld device. In general, the present invention relates to mobile communications having provisions for mobile social networking.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Online social networking is the present trend of the day. These social networking media provides users to interact with other users sharing information on every aspect of life. Online social network media provides users the freedom to interact with their friends, relatives, communities of interest and brings the world within their reaches.

The development of such online social networks touch countless aspects of our everyday lives, providing instant access to people sharing similar interests having similar mindsets, and enabling the user to form a personal rapport with more people in more ways than ever before and providing users the relevant information within the social network. An online social network typically comprises a user's set of direct and/or indirect personal relationships, including real and virtual privileges and permissions that users may associate with these users available on the network. Direct personal relationships usually include relationships with people the user can communicate with directly, including members, friends, colleagues, co-workers, and other people with which the user has had some form of direct contact, such as contact in person, by telephone, by e-mail, by instant message, by letter, or the like. These direct personal relationships are sometimes referred to as first-degree relationships. First-degree relationships can have varying degrees of closeness, trust, and other characteristics.

Indirect personal relationships typically include relationships through first-degree relationships to people with whom a person has not had some form of direct or limited direct contact, for example, a friend of a friend represents an indirect personal relationship. A more extended, indirect relationship might be a friend of a friend of a friend. These indirect relationships are sometimes characterized by a degree of separation between the people. For instance, a friend of a friend can be characterized as two degrees of separation or a second- degree relationship. Similarly, a friend of a friend of a friend can be characterized as three degrees of separation or a third-degree relationship.

However, these online social networking media are prone to offer various disadvantages and have several limitations. The use of this technology is very restricted since it requires the user to have an internet connection and a computer whenever he needs to be in touch with his friends, relatives or other users. Thus, it is neither convenient nor is it available whenever and wherever a user want to be in touch with other people in such social networks.

Accordingly, the development of such social networks has eventually given rise to a necessity to develop such networks on a mobile device having mobility to share and access information as per the instant wish of the user to be in contact/touch with other people of such social networks.

The novel and inventive features believed characteristics of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, as well as preferred modes of use, further objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRWINGS:

Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the present invention are described with reference of the accompanying drawings, like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout the various figures unless otherwise specified and wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a system diagram of an environment in which the present invention may be practiced according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of a mobile device that may be included in a system implementing the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a network device that may be included in a system implementing the present invention according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a logical flow diagram showing a method for managing social networking information, including vitality information for social networking members according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates a logical flow diagram showing a method for enabling a mobile virtual hang-out space using a live contact, at least in part, on vitality information according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates a logical flow diagram showing the method of implementation of technology for mobile social networking.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION:

A method and system for implementing a technology for mobile social networking and instant connections, updates among different users while on move are provided. In the following description for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be evident, however, to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details.

Throughout the specification and claims, the following term take the meaning explicitly associated herein, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The phrase "according to an embodiment" as used herein does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, though it may. Thus, as described below, various embodiments of the present invention may be readily combined, without departing from the scope of the spirit of the invention.

Further, as used herein, the expressions "social network" and "social community" refer to a concept that an individual's personal network of friends, family colleagues, co-workers, and the subsequent connections within those networks, can be utilized to find more relevant connections for a variety of activities, including, but not limited to dating, job-networking, service referrals, content sharing, like-minded individuals, activity partners, or the like.

The expression "vitality" as used herein refers to online and/or online activities of a member of a social network. Thus, vitality information is directed towards capturing these aspects of a social community, through various communications between members, and their activities, states, and/or moods of various members, or the like. Vitality information may include, but is not limited to a location of the mobile device, weather information where the member is located, an event, information from the mobile user's calendar or even a friend's calendar, information from the mobile user's task list, past behaviour of the mobile user and/or another member of the social network, the mobile user's preferences, a mood of a social network member, a mood of the mobile user, photographs, video files, audio files, internet links, information from a blog, an Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feed, Instant Messages (IMs), blog entries, e-mails, or the like, and even information about physical (e.g. geographical) proximity of the mobile user's social contacts, what the mobile user is doing at the moment in the real world, or the like. Vitality information however, is not limited to these examples, and other information that may describe the lively, open, or animated aspects of a social network may also be employed.

Moreover, the expression "social networking information" includes vitality information. However, social networking information refers to both dynamic as well as less dynamic characteristics of a social network. Social networking information includes profile information about a member, including, but not limited to the member's identity, contact information, the member's preferences, degrees of separation between the member and another member and another member, a membership in an activity, group, or the like. Social networking information further may include various information about communications between the members in the social network, including, but not limited to emails, SMS messages, IM messages, Multimedia Message (MMS) message, alerts, audio messages, phone calls, either received or sent by the member, or the like.

As used herein, "live" or a "live^* view" refers to providing of real-time or approximately realtime data. It is recognized that due to a variety of reasons, transfer of data over a network may be delayed by some varying amount of time. The delay may vary based on conditions of the network, configurations of the network, configurations of the network, configuration of the sending and/or receiving device, or the like. Thus, live or a live view range between realtime data transfers to some varying amount of time delay. Briefly stated the present invention is directed towards enabling integrated live views of activities of a mobile user's contacts to provide the mobile user with information in a social networking context. The integrated live views may be provided by employing social networking vitality information to generate a live contact list.

The mobile communication devices being handy and convenient tool is potentially one of the best and most suitable interactive mediums for interactive communication between different users. Providing chat and social networking over short radio communication network namely with Bluetooth technology on a mobile communication device is fast and in expensive. Such a short radio communication network also does not have a lot of traffic.

The method and system for implementing a technology for mobile social networking also allow alerts and tracking as set per the user's requirement and preferences. Groups and clusters may be selected as per the user needs to which the alerts are provided or about whom the tracking is performed.

The required application can be downloaded on to the mobile handheld electronic device on alerting. The user may watch ads or desired content while the application is being downloaded.

The social networking can hence be extended into the mobile phone. Messaging or scrapping can be done through the mobile phone and displayed onto the website as well as the intended person's mobile phone. Presence detection and movement tracking for the registered person may also be performed via this mobile social networking tool.

For example, if the person originally in Delhi, moves to Bangalore and interacts with the display screen of the novel system at the airport, he is detected as changing zones. The information that the registered person has travelled is transmitted to select a group as configured by the user.

Similarly, if the registered user visits a shopping mall and interacts with the novel display there, the system sends an alert to the selected group informing them that the user is in the mall. Also, the friends who are also detected as present in the mall are displayed onto the novel screen for the user.

The present embodiments represent the best ways known to the applicant of putting the invention into practice. But they are not the only ways in which this can be achieved. They are illustrated, and they will now be described, by way of examples only.

As shown, system 100 FIG. 1 includes local area networks ("LANs")Λvide area networks ("WANs") - (network) 105, wireless network 110, Vitality Aggregation Service (VAS) 106, Smart IB(an intelligent box capable of sending , receiving and interpreting means),mobile devices (client devices) 102-104, client device 101, and information services 107.

One embodiment of mobile devices 102-104 is described in more detail below in conjunction with FIG. 2. Generally, however, mobile devices 102-104 may include virtually any portable computing device capable of receiving and sending a message over a network, such as network 105, wireless network 110, or the like. Mobile devices 102-104 may include virtually any portable computing device capable of connecting to another computing device and receiving information. Such devices include portable devices such as, cellular telephones, smart phones, display pagers, radio frequency (RF) devices, infrared (IR) devices, Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), handheld computers, laptop computers, wearable computers, tablet computers, integrated devices combining one or more of the preceding devices, and the like. As such, mobile devices 102-104 typically range widely in terms of capabilities and features. For example, a cell phone may have a numeric keypad and a few lines of monochrome LCD display on which only text may be displayed. In another example, a web- enabled mobile device may have a touch sensitive screen, a stylus, and several lines of color LCD display in which both text and graphics may be displayed.

A web-enabled mobile device may include a browser application that is configured to receive and to send web pages, web-based messages, and the like. The browser application may be configured to receive and display graphics, text, multimedia, and the like, employing virtually any web based language, including a wireless application protocol messages (WAP), and the like. In one embodiment, the browser application is enabled to employ Handheld Device Markup Language (HDML), Wireless Markup Language (WML), WMLScript, JavaScript, Standard Generalized Markup Language (SMGL), Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML), extensible Markup Language (XML), and the like, to display and send a message.

Mobile devices 102-104 also may include at least one other client application that is configured to receive content from another computing device. The client application may include a capability- to provide and receive textual content, graphical content, audio content, and the like. The client application may further provide information that identifies itself, including a type, capability, name, and the like. In one embodiment, mobile devices 102-104 may uniquely identify themselves through any of a variety of mechanisms, including a phone number, Mobile Identification Number (MIN), an electronic serial number (ESN), or other mobile device identifier. The information may also include a content format that the mobile device is enabled to employ. Such information may be provided in a message, or the like, sent to VAS 106, client device 101, or other computing devices.

Mobile devices 102-104 may also be configured to communicate a message, such as through Short Message Service (SMS), Multimedia Message Service (MMS), Instant Messaging (IM), internet relay chart (IRC), Mardam-Bey's IRC (mIRC), Jabber, and the like, between another computing device, such as VAS 106, client device 101, or the like. However, the present invention is not limited to these message protocols, and virtually any other message protocol may be employed.

Mobile devices 102-104 may be further configured to include a client application that enables the end-user to log into an end-user account that may be managed by another computing device, such as VAS 106. Such end-user account, for example, may be configured to enable the end-user to receive emails, send/receive IM messages, SMS messages, access selected web pages, participate in a social networking activity, or the like. However, participation in various social networking activity, or the like. However, participation in various social networking activities may also be performed without logging into the end-user account.

Mobile devices 102-104 may also communicate with non-mobile client devices, such as client device 101, or the like. In one embodiment, such communications may include participation in social networking activities, including sharing of photographs, participating in determining how to spend time with other members, sending/receiving of messages, providing information based on physical proximity between members, or similar virtual hang-out activities.

Client device 101 may include virtually any computing device capable of communicating over a network to send and receive information, including social networking information, or the like. The set of such devices may include devices that typically connect using a wired a wireless communications medium such as personal computers, multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics, network PCs, or the like.

Wireless network 110 is configured to couple mobile device 102-104 and its components with network 105. Wireless network 110 may include any of a variety of wireless subnetworks that may further overlay stand-alone ad-hoc networks, and the like, to provide an infrastructure-oriented connection for mobile devices 102-104. Such sub-networks may include mesh networks, Wireless LAN (WLAN) networks, cellular networks, and the like.

Wireless network 110 may further include an autonomous system of terminals, gateways, routers, and the like connected by wireless radio links, and the like. These connectors may be configured to move freely and randomly and organize themselves arbitrarily, such that the topology of wireless network 110 may change rapidly.

Wireless network 110 may further employ a plurality of access technologies including 2^nd (2G), 3^rd (3G) generation radio access for cellular systems, WLAN, Wireless Router (WR) mesh, and the like. Access technologies such as 2G, 3G, and the future access networks may enable wide area coverage for mobile devices, such as mobile devices 102-104 with various degrees of mobility. For example, wireless network 110 may enable a radio connection through a radio network access such as Global System fro Mobile communication (GSM), General Packet Radio Services (GPRS), Enhanced Data GSM Environment (EDGE), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), and the like. In essence, wireless network 110 may include virtually any wireless communication mechanism by which information may travel between mobile devices 102-104 and another computing device, network, and the like.

Network 105 is configured to couple VAS 106 and its components with other computing devices, including, mobile devices 102-104, client device 101, and through wireless network 110 to mobile devices 102-104. Network 105 is enabled to employ any form of computer readable media for communicating information from one electronic device to another. Also, network 105 can include the Internet in addition to local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), direct communications, such as through a universal serial bus (USB) port, other forms of computer readable media, or any combination thereof. On an interconnected set of LANs, including those based on differing architectures and protocols, a router acts as a link between LANs, enabling messages to be sent from one to another. Also, communication links within LANs typically include twisted wire pair of coaxial cable, while communication links between networks may utilize analog telephone lines, full or fractional dedicated digital lines including Tl, T2, T3 and T4, Integrated Services Digital Networks (ISDNs), Digital Subscriber Lines (DSLs), wireless links known to those skilled in the art. Furthermore, remote computers and other related electronic devices could be remotely connected to either LANs or WANs via a modern and temporary telephone link. In essence, network 105 includes any communication method by which information may travel between VAS 106, client device 101, and other computing device.

One embodiment of VAS 106 is described in more detail below in conjunction with FIG. 3. Briefly, however, VAS 106 may include any computing device capable of connecting to network 105 to enable aggregation and management of social networking information, including vitality information. VAS 106 may receive from various participants in a social network, information including information associated with activities, moods, events, messages, vitality information, communications, or the like. VAS 106 may also receive social networking information from a variety of other sources including, for example, information services 107. VAS 106 may store at least some of the received information for use by one or more social networking members. VAS 106 may store at least some of the received information for use by one or more social networking members. VAS 106 may also aggregate a portion of the received social networking information and enable one or more social networking members to receive and/or use at least a portion of the aggregated information. Devices that may operate as VAS 106 include personal computers desktop computers, multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics, network PCs, servers, and the like.

FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of mobile device 200 that may be included in a system implementing the invention. Mobile device 200 may include many more or less components than these shown in FIG. 2. However, the components shown are sufficient to disclose an illustrative embodiment for practicing the present invention. Mobile embodiment for practicing the present invention. Mobile device 200 may represent, for example, mobile devices 102-104 of FIG. 1.

As shown in the figure, mobile device 200 includes a processing unit (CPU) 222 in communication with a mass memory 230 via a bus 224. Mobile device 200 also includes a power supply 226, one or more network interfaces 250, an audio interface 252, a display 254, a keypad 256, an illuminator 258, an input/output interface 260, a haptic interface 262, and an optional global positioning systems (GPS) receiver 264. Power supply 226 provides power to mobile device 200. A rechargeable or non-rechargeable battery may be used to provide the power. The power may also be provided by an external power source, such as an AC adapter or a powered docking cradle that supplements and/or recharges a battery.

Network interface 250 includes circuitry for coupling mobile device 200 to one or more networks, and is constructed for use with one or more communication protocols and technologies.

Audio interface 252 is arranged to produce and receive audio signals such as the sound of a human voice. For example, audio interface 252 may be coupled to a speaker and microphone to enable telecommunication with others and/or generate an audio acknowledgement for some action. Display 254 may be a liquid crystal display (LCD), gas plasma, light emitting diode (LED), or any other type of display used with a computing device. Display 254 may also include a touch sensitive screen arranged to receive input from an object such as a stylus or a digit from a human hand. Keypad 256 may comprise any input device arranged to receive input from user. Data storage 244 may also be employed to store social networking information including vitality information, or the like.

Applications 242 may include computer executable instructions which, when executed by mobile device 200, transmit, receive, and/or otherwise process messages (e.g, SMS, MMS, IM, email, and/or other messages), audio, video, and enable telecommunication with another user of another client device. Applications 242 may further include live view manager (LVM)

245.

FIG. 3 illustrates one embodiment of a network device, according to one embodiment of the invention. Network device 300 may include many more components than those shown. The components shown, however, are sufficient to disclose an illustrative embodiment for practicing the invention. Network device 300 may represent, for example, VAS 106 of FIG. 1.

Network device 300 includes processing unit 312, video display adapter 314, and a mass memory, all in communication with each other via bus 322. The mass memory generally includes RAM 316, ROM 332, and one or more permanent mass storage devices, such as hard disk drive 328, tape drive, optical drives, such as hard disk drive 328, tape drive, optical drive, and/or floppy disk drive. The mass memory stores operating system 320 for controlling the operation of network device 300. Any general purpose operating system may be employed. Basic input/output system ("BIOS") 318 is also provided for controlling the low- level operation of network device 300. As illustrated in FIG. 3, network device 300 also can communicate with the Internet, or some other communications network, via network interface unit 310, which is constructed for use with various communication protocols including the TCP/IP protocol. Network interface unit 310 is sometimes known as a transceiver, transceiving devices, or network interface card (NIC).

The mass memory also stores program code and data. One or more applications 350 are loaded into mass memory and run on operating system 320. Vitality Data Manager (VDM) 354 may also be included as an application program within applications 350. VDM 354 is configured to receive from a variety of sources information that may be associated with social networking activities of various social networking members. Such information may include but is not limited to various communications, including emails, SMS messages, IM messages, audio messages, VOIP messages, RSS feeds, membership information, calendar events, photo streams, photographs, blog updates, web pages, mood information, behaviours of social network members, or the like, VDM354 may aggregate or otherwise combine at least some of the received information to generate aggregate vitality information such as a mood of a group, organization, or the like, group events, albums, aggregate music selections, tags, or the like. VDM 354 may store at least some of the received and/or aggregated information in Vitality Data Store (VDS) 352, which may be implemented as a database, a folder, program, or the like. VDM 354 may also distribute at least some of the received and/or aggregated information to one or more social networking members, such as mobile devices 102-104 and/or client device 101 of FIG. 1 or the like. VDM 354 may employ a process substantially similar to that described below in conjunction with FIG. 4.

FIG. 4 illustrates a logical flow diagram generally showing one embodiment of a process for managing social networking information, including vitality information for social networking members. Process 400 of FIG. 4 may be implemented within VAS 106 of FIG. 1.

Process 400 begins, after a start block, at block 402 where social networking information, including vitality information is received from a variety of sources. In one embodiment, the social networking information may be received from a plurality of mobile devices, RSS services, IM services, email services, VOIP services, audio services, web services, graphics services, or the like. For example, a social networking member may provide a mood avatar, photograph, or information from a blog. In another example, a web service, or other service may provide photographs, audio files, or the like. In one embodiment, information may be received, absent a solicitation for the information. In another embodiment, a request for information may be sent to various services, mobile devices, client devices, or the like. The received information may include various vitality information including, but not limited to mood information, location information, IM or other communication status, information indicating a change in a blog status, or any or the other vitality information described above. Processing then flows to block 404 where sharing rules are received. In one embodiment, a sending device may also employ sharing rules to determine whether to send particular vitality information. For example, a mobile user, or the like, may elect not to communicate their physical location. Therefore, such information might not be received for some social networking members. In another embodiment, sharing rules may be received prior to or even coincident with some portion of social networking information. For example, in one embodiment, a photo sharing service may send a selection of photographs, or the like, with sharing rules that indicate whether a social networking member may receive or otherwise access one or more of the photographs. Such sharing rules therefore, indicate which social networking member(s) may receive or otherwise access which portion of social networking information. Thus, sharing rules include various criteria, events, triggers, permissions, or the like.

Process 400 then flows to block 406 where based in part on the sharing rules, at least some of the received social networking information, including at least some of the vitality information may be aggregated, or otherwise combined. For example, where a predefined group of social networking members provide a mood identifier that indicates a similar mood, an aggregated mood might be generated for the group. As another example, where several social networking members have provided an opinion on a blog, a restaurant, an event, or the like, an aggregated opinion may be generated. Clearly, the invention, however, is not limited to these examples, and a variety of other received social networking information may be aggregated, without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.

Process then flows to block 408, where at least some of the received social networking information, including vitality information, and aggregated information may be stored. Storage of such information enables distribution at some other time, additional aggregation, and/or other analysis to be performed, or the like. However, storage of social networking information may be, in at least one embodiment optional.

Flowing next to decision block 410, a determination is made whether to distribute at least a portion of the social networking information. Distribution may be performed based on a variety of criteria, including but not limited to, sending the information as soon as it is received, sending at least some of the information based on an event, time, or the like. For example, in one embodiment, some of the information may be distributed based on an event, or the like. In any event, if distribution of social networking information is to occur, processing flows to block 412; otherwise, processing flows to decision block 414.

At block 412, the social networking information, including at least some aggregation information, is distributed to at least one mobile device, based on the received sharing rules. Processing then flows to decision block 414.

At decision block 414, a determination is made whether there is more social networking information to manage. If there is more social networking information to manage more social networking information to manage, processing branches back to block 402; otherwise, processing returns to a calling process to perform other actions.

FIG. 5 illustrates a logical flow diagram generally showing one embodiment of a process for enabling a mobile device to employ a virtual hang-out space using integrated live views of a social network member's activities based, at least in part, on vitality information. Process 500 of FIG. 5 may be implemented, for example, within one of mobile devices 102-104 of FIG. 1. Process 500 begins, after a start block, at block 502, where the mobile device receives various social networking information based in part on various sharing rules. In one embodiment, some of the information may be received in real-time, including such as IM messages, audio communications, or the like.

Processing flows next to block 504 where the mobile device employs the social networking information to generate, and/or update an integrated live contact list. The integrated live contact list may be generated based on a default configuration, and/or based, at least in part, on any user customization of the display. Thus, while an integrated live contact list may display a list of contacts within the mobile user's contact list, it may display the list based on a variety of criteria. For example, the mobile user may elect to have the integrated live contact list be ordered based on whether the contact is currently in an active IM session, whether the contact is within a predetermined physical proximity to the mobile user, or the like. In one embodiment, the integrated live contact list may be organized based on some other grouping, including whether the contact is a family member, a friend, a worker, a member of a predefined activity, or the like. Process 500 flows next to decision block 506, where a determination is made whether to modify or otherwise generate another integrated live view of contact information. If a modification or generation of another integrated live view is to be performed, processing flows to block 512; otherwise, processing continues to block 508.

At block 512, the mobile user may provide to the mobile device various criteria for organizing another integrated live view, including those suggested above. However, the invention is not limited to these examples, and any of a variety of other criteria may be employed to organize or otherwise create a unique integrated live view of contacts that may be personalized to a mobile user. For example, the mobile user may elect to organize the contact list based on the contact's current mood, blog activity, or the like. In any event, processing flows next to block 514, where the received criteria are employed to generate another integrated live view. In one embodiment, the generated integrated live view may be in addition to the integrated live contact list employed at block 504. In one embodiment, the generated integrated live view may replace the integrated live contact list employed at block 504, such that only a single integrated live view is available to the mobile user. In any event, processing loops back to block 502 to continue the process.

At block 508, however, the integrated live views displayed to the mobile user may be employed to enable the mobile user to perform a variety of communication activities. By integrating various social networking activities into the live view, the mobile user is provided with a more personal and useful perspective of their social network.

Processing flows next to decision block 510, where a determination is made whether the mobile user is to terminate their mobile networking experience. If so, processing returns to a calling block to perform other actions; otherwise, processing loops back to block.

FIG. 6 illustrates a logical flow diagram showing the method of implementation of technology for mobile social networking. As shown in FIG. 6, a mobile use may employ an integrated live contact list to address immediate question regarding a status of a social networking member (block 602). Using one embodiment of the invention, the mobile user may quickly locate status of the social networking member. The mobile user in block 603 may wish to find out whether the located social networking member possesses the enabling application. If the enabling application is not available with the located social networking member, the mobile user in block 603 sends a request at block 604 to such mobile device giving instructions to download the application. The required application downloaded on to the mobile handheld electronic device on alerting. The user, through the novel concept of this invention, may watch ads or desired content while the application is being downloaded.

If the enabling application is available with the located social networking member, the system at block 605 enables connection using iSlΩcirt 113 S with such member of the social networking. In any event, the mobile user may, in block 603, determine an answer to a question about the status of the social networking member based on the content of the live contact list, or selection therein.

Thereafter, the system utilizes the identified local position to determine local position to determine physical proximity with other users at block 606. Subsequently, an alert situation is created on the basis of the mobile device situation.

It will be understood that blocks of the flowchart illustration support combinations of means for performing the specified actions, combinations of steps for performing the specified actions and program instruction means for performing the specified actions. It will also be understood that each block of the flowchart illustration, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-based systems which perform the specified actions or steps, or combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions.

Thus, a method and system for implementing a technology for mobile social networking and instant connections, updates among different users while on move. Although, the invention has been described with reference to specific examples, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in many forms without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the invention. Preferred embodiments of this invention have been described herein, including the best mode known to the inventor for carrying out the invention. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.

Claims

WE CLAIM:

1. A method for having a mobile social networking provision implemented on a mobile handheld device, the method comprising the steps of: determining local position of a mobile communication device; determining application enablement of said mobile communication device; establishing network connection using smart IB's; utilizing said local position of a mobile communication device to determine physical proximity with other mobile communication devices in the mobile social network; determining local position of other mobile communication devices in the mobile social network; generating alerts as per the local position of the mobile communication devices.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein application enablement includes the step of sending a request to mobile communication device to download said application, if said application non-existed in said mobile communication device.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein application download includes display of ads or desired content while the said application being downloaded.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein determination of local position of a mobile communication device includes presence detection and movement tracking for the registered user having said application within one or more mobile social networks.

5 . A system for having a mobile social networking provision implemented on a mobile handheld device, the system comprisirig: positioning means to determine local position of a mobile communication device; application enabling means to determining application enablement of said mobile communication device; connecting means to connect and establishing network connection using smart IB's; proximity means to determine physical proximity with other mobile communication devices in the mobile social network; determining means to determine local position of other mobile communication devices in the mobile social network; generating means to generate alerts as per the local position of the mobile communication devices.

6. The system as claimed in claim 5, wherein application enabling means comprise means to send a request to mobile communication device to download said application, if said application non-existed in said mobile communication device.

7. The system as claimed in claim 5, wherein determining means to determine the local position of a mobile communication device comprise means to means to detect presence , means to detect movements for the registered user having said application within one or more mobile social networks

8.. A computer program product comprising: a computer useable medium having computer readable program code means embodied therein, the computer readable program code means in the computer program product comprising: computer readable program code means for determining local position of a mobile communication device; computer readable program code means for determining application enablement of said mobile communication device; computer readable program code means for establishing network connection using smart IB's; computer readable program code means for utilizing said local position of a mobile communication device to determine physical proximity with other mobile communication devices in the mobile social network; computer readable program code means for determining local position of other mobile communication devices in the mobile social network; computer readable program code means for generating alerts as per the local position of the mobile communication devices.

9. The method substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and/or as shown in the accompanying drawings.

10. The system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and/or as shown in the accompanying drawings.