AU9706101A - A mobile phone anonymous networking system - Google Patents

Description

P/00/0 11 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention title: A mobile phone anonymous networking system The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: alcml 1055040 A MOBILE PHONE ANONYMOUS NETWORKING SYSTEM Field of the invention The invention relates to a mobile phone anonymous networking system which permits matching of registered user profiles based upon predetermined characteristics and notification of a match to users via a mobile phone network.

Background of the invention Currently, people wishing to meet each other for differing purposes such as dating, business, sport, travel, etc, would do so via chat rooms on the internet. Alternatively, these persons may register via dating agencies on the internet.

This involves a person physically locating a PC and registering on a dating website. When registering, the person is required to enter personal details/preferences of the person.

These websites provide a service of matching the profiles of registered persons and notification of the "matched" persons via email. However, this entails the person logging on to a PC to check for any 'matches'. This does not allow for instant message notification. Nor does this system permit the person the freedom to move about as access to a PC is required.

Accordingly, investigations have been carried out into network applications based upon a mobile phone network for developing instant message notification associated with 20 matching services of the above type.

Summary of the invention It is an object of the invention to provide a networking system that is improved over existing systems, or at least to provide an alternative to existing systems.

Accordingly, in one embodiment of the invention, a networking system is provided for matching registered personal profiles of users of a mobile phone network, wherein registered personal profiles are based upon user information provided by the users, comprising: receiving and storing in a host computer a registered personal profile of a user of a mobile phone network; comparing the registered profile with stored registered profiles of other users; identifying as a match, any matching profile based upon predetermined criteria; and transmitting a message in response to a match, directly or indirectly to the mobile phone network of the matched user(s), the message including a notification of certain non identity specific information of each other matched user. For the purposes of this specification the term "non identity specific information of each alcml 1055040 other matched user" means information which does not permit a user's true identity to be ascertained.

Preferably, the predetermined criteria for matching may be based upon establishing a match of common or associated interests of the users and/or geographic proximity of them.

Preferably, the system may include the additional steps of establishing a profile on a remote computer and transmitting the user profile from the remote computer to the host computer. In this arrangement, the remote computer could be a content supplier or other external server. The user would log into the website supported by the remote computer and carry out registration.

Alternatively the additional step may be establishing a profile on the host computer by the user directly accessing a website supported by the host computer for that purpose.

Typically, registration by a user could include the user making a selection from a predetermined range of categories. For example, these categories may include interests, 0000 15 geographical location, physical appearance, available times etc. Registration will also ooo include user specific information such as the user's name but it may also be possible to permit the user to create a separate alias for the purpose of display to a matched user.

Preferably, the user's registered profle may be altered subsequent to its establishment by user input using a computer or WAP/SMS technology.

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In one possible arrangement, this input and even the initial registration of the user may be implemented via WAP/SMS technology. As such the mobile phone may be used for some or all the inputting functions.

S"Preferably, the system may also include the additional steps of: receiving the message from the host computer in the mobile phone network; and 25 transmitting the message to a mobile phone number assigned to the matched user notifying them of the match.

Typically, the message may be displayed on the mobile phone of the user as a text message and/or stored as an associated voice mail. The message or associated technology may also include other options to select additional actions for the user. Typically, these options could include calling the matched user(s), asking questions about the matched user(s) etc. In all cases, unless the user agrees otherwise the additional options will not disclose true information about the identity of the matched user(s). Alternatively or additionally, the message may simply provide a call option rather than a menu option which permits the user to be directly connected to a match.

Accordingly, in another embodiment of the invention, a networking system is provided for matching registered personal profiles of users of a mobile phone network, which registered personal profiles are based upon a user selection, comprising: a host computer including: authentication means to selectively permit access to the host computer by at least one user and/or remote computer; (ii) a memory to receive, store and/or alter a registered personal profile of a user of a mobile phone network which has been transmitted from the user and/or the remote computer(s) and/or stored on the host computer; (iii) a matching application to compare the registered profile with the stored registered profiles of users and to identify any matching profile based upon predetermined criteria; and transmission means to transmit a message in response to a match, to the mobile phone network of the matched user(s), the message including a notification of certain non identity specific information of each other matched user.

Preferably the system also includes a mobile phone network including, *o9o 15 a computer to receive the message from the host computer; and o.(ii) transmission means to transmit the message to a mobile phone number 99 9 assigned to the matched user notifying the matched user of the match.

"•"The mobile phone anonymous networking system according to the invention is a lifestyle product, aimed at networking like people with like interests and/or based on their mobile phone proximity. It will be appreciated that the term "mobile phone" covers a wide range 99• 9 "of personal communication devices in addition to conventional phones that currently exist.

This service "introduces" individuals whose profiles match in a nominated field, be it social, business, sport, travel, music, etc. Initially, matched users can communicate in an 99'9 25 anonymous manner and if they choose they can exchange details or arrange a meeting.

As indicated earlier, the message may include additional information including a call number of the matched user to allow a direct contact to take place. In this arrangement, the call number will not be the actual telephone number of the matched user. Rather the call number connecting the matched users is routed in a way that the number displayed will be a '1900' number to ensure anonymity.

Typically, the anonymous matching of users will be by a WAP/SMS application (thus protecting identity) within the database of subscribers based on their mobile proximity and profiles.

The invention is also adapted to permit a venue for value added services, such as push advertising to the mobile phone. For example, while chatting to your new match on the mobile, the local caf6 around the comrner sends an invitation to come and meet over a coffee.

Description of a preferred embodiment The invention will now be further illustrated with reference to the diagram in figure 1.

This diagram is merely illustrative and provided by way of example.

For added clarity the following terms and abbreviations are provided: Content Provider

ACS

HTTP

SMS

URL

WAP

WAP Gateway

WML

15 XML An organisation that provides the host computer with information andinteracts with the host computer to retrieve information.

Anonymous Contact Service. The service that connects two or more parties anonymously.

HyperText Transfer Protocol Short Message Service Uniform Resource Locator Wireless Application Protocol communicates with the WAP device Wireless Markup Language Extensible Markup Language 0 0 0.

As can be seen from Figure 1, a user subscriber of a mobile phone network(s) 1 which is offering the matching system, accesses a PC designated as WWW User 2. The user enters the website of the content provider on External Server 3. The user will be likely to be required to pay a fee for subscription to the service. In this website, the user may enter data which is relevant to the user's profile into a web interface provided by the content provider on the External Server 3.

External Server The External Server will require a web interface to participate in this system. This will include a user profile configuration; and an application profile that is specific to the content provider.

User Profile interface The User profile interface will allow the user to: Login using their phone number and password; and Configure their user and personal profile.

The following information is requested: Private Information Name, Gender, age, etc Phone number Visible Information A description of themselves which will be the first thing displayed to others in the message sent to a matched user User nickname Application Profile Interface The application profile is designed to include information about the user which does not permit identification of the user. Namely this personal profile will typically include fields to capture information about the user, such as: a Personal interests and hobbies for others to match on a Discussion topics the user is interested in What type/category of person the user would like to talk to 0 Availability schedule (eg "Only contact me between these times...") Matching The step of matching the newly registered profile with stored previously registered profiles may be conducted on the External Server 3. In this arrangement, any match is transmitted to the host computer 4. However, in an alternative arrangement the External Server 3 will have no matching capability and the matching step will take place in the host computer 4. The step of matching is described in more detail later.

S

15 Host Computer Once the user has entered this information at the website of External Server 3, this information needs to transmitted to the host computer 4. This information will either be .oe..i S"information of a match (if the External Server 3 has that capability) or the registration *o information (if the External Server 3 has no matching capability). This transmission is preferably in XML via HTTP Transport.

To use the XML interface, the External Server 3 needs to send information about a S°registered user to the host computer's XML interface. The XML interface expects the information to come from a HTTP POST session. Upon receiving this information, the XML interface attempts to process the information and then passes the information to the host computer's ACS The External Server 3 using the interface is expected to keep the HTTP session alive after in-formation is posted. This allows the XML interface to send acknowledgement or error information to External Server 3 and thus to the content provider.

When the host computer 4 receives information from External Server 3, it attempts to process the information and forwards the information to the server providing ACS 5. If both tasks are completed without an error, the host computer XML interface sends an acknowledgement to the External Server 3.

However, if the attempt to process the information and forward the information to the server providing ACS 5 is unsuccessful, the host computer 4 returns an error (in the form of an XML document) to the External Server 3.

MOBILE Interface The host computer 4 will typically have the ability to interface with matched users on either of two bases. The interfaces can be categorised into two groups, Web and Mobile

(SMS/WAP).

The Mobile Interface will typically allow the user to: Be notified about a match, based on profile or positioning information 0 Receive information about a match as one or more SMS messages (split) Request more information about a match Initiate an anonymous call to the matched person The interface may also be extended to provide additional mobile functionality such as advertising.

Matching As indicated previously, the External Server 3 or host computer 4 will carry out a matching operation having regard to an incoming user profile information and the profiles already stored in the External Server 3 or host computer 4.

A preferred "match" can be selected by "automatch" where the user 1 does not exhaustively define their match but rather relies on a computer match. The computer match uses key words or looks at common interests to determine the automatch.

An advertiser is also able to submit a file or externally configure a category within the 20 matching module to attract a particular audience. The External Server 3 or host computer 4 is able to block this activity or control it in order to levy advertising revenues.

Proximity matching There are 3 potential proximity elements and dynamics.

S MPS based proximity management GPS based proximity management S CAMEL based proximity management Proximity matching considerations should be based on national and international dimensions.

In addition there are 2 proximity-matching modes.

0 Active mode S Manual mode MPS basedproximity management Under MPS based proximity management users will request a proximity match. This is a manual mode offering. A mobile position of the calling party may be established using CLI as input and go to connected mobile positioning systems. This will incur a cost allocatable to the user's account. If there is no MPS connected, the system offers the users a self-position option. This may be achieved through pull down menus in which the user is able to identify their location ie. "I am in Melbourne Australia" Once location has been provided, the location of the user is held in a file in host computer 4 or External Server 3 (as the case may be) and time marked. As other end user locations are stored identification of parties in the geographic proximity with category and profile match are established. When a profile and proximity match is found, the host computer 4 or External Server 3 refers that information to the mobile network 1.

GPS basedproximity management This is similar to the MPS option except that host computer 4 or External Server 3 makes its positioning request of the mobile phone device 5 or alternatively the user self positions via the phones in built GPS. This is a manual mode offering.

CAMEL basedproximity management Under CAMEL based proximity matching, an user may be both active and manual mode.

•Under manual mode the plot is as for MPS and GPS.

•ooo Under active mode, users that move into a cell (for example a CBD) are advised to the host computer 4 or External Server 3 which then places them in the file. Other manual mode and active mode matches can then be made.

The mobile phone anonymous networking system according to the invention enables networking of like people with like interests based on their mobile phone proximity and other criteria such as social, business, sport, travel, music, etc. Initially, they can communicate in an anonymous manner and if they choose they can exchange details or arrange a meeting.

The word 'comprising' or forms of the word 'comprising' as used in this description do not limit the invention claimed to exclude any variants or additions.

Claims (4)

1. A networking system for matching registered personal profiles of users of a mobile phone network, wherein registered personal profiles are based upon user information provided by the users, comprising: receiving and storing in a host computer a registered personal profile of a user of a mobile phone network; comparing the registered profile with stored registered profiles of other users; identifying as a match, any matching profile based upon predetermined criteria; and transmitting a message in response to a match, directly or indirectly to the mobile phone network of the matched user(s), the message including a o •notification of certain non identity specific information of each other matched o o **user. ooo• 15

2. A networking system for matching registered personal profiles of users of a mobile phone network, which registered personal profiles are based upon a user selection, comprising: a host computer including: •go• authentication means to selectively permit access to the host 20 computer by at least one user and/or remote computer; .o (ii) a memory to receive, store and/or alter a registered personal profile S°of a user of a mobile phone network which has been transmitted from the user and/or the remote computer(s) and/or stored on the host computer; (iii) a matching application to compare the registered profile with the stored registered profiles of users and to identify any matching profile based upon predetermined criteria; and transmission means to transmit a message in response to a match, to the mobile phone network of the matched user(s), the message including a notification of certain non identity specific information of each other matched user.

3. A system according to claim 2 further comprising: a mobile phone network including, a computer to receive the message from the host computer; and 9 (ii) transmission means to transmit the message to a mobile phone number assigned to the matched user notifying the matched user of the match.

4. A mobile phone networking system substantially as herein described with respect to the accompanying drawing. TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON 4 December, 2001 a o ooo*