Abstract:
A method and apparatus for creating and managing proximity based instant temporary social networks with group communication is provided. With the press of a single button, an instant social network is established with users within a specific proximity based on latitude and longitude location and audio fingerprint detection as determined by the users mobile device. Once the group has formed, group communications are offered as a means to facilitate keeping the group together while achieving a goal, such as a group destination.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    This invention provides a software solution for the real-time proximity based formation of an instant temporary social network on mobile devices. 
         [0002]    The present invention is in the technical field of mobile devices, or, more specifically, methods and systems for group formation, communication and tracking. 
         [0003]    Trying to get a group of people of any size anywhere is hard and often a very frustrating endeavor that often results in a bad or stressful experience. Typically, the first near impossible step is picking someplace to go. The second is keeping track of everyone while trying to get there. Inevitably, people are lost along the way, either through miscommunication, loss of interest, or change in plans. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    Considered broadly, the present invention is a set of computational and programmatic electronic methods to allow the formation of an instant temporary social network for the purposes of solving the problem of how to get a group of people somewhere to do something without having to create an account or even belong to an external site such. The invention allows each user to track each other while in the networked group, while providing group communication such as chat and push-to-talk. 
         [0005]    Other principal features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the following drawings, the detailed description, and the appended claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    Example embodiments will hereafter be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals denote like elements. The drawings depict example embodiments in accordance with the disclosure and are, therefore, not to be considered limiting of its scope. 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  is a high level diagram of the present invention in accordance with an example embodiment. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  depicts a flow diagram illustrating the one-button proximity based system of forming an instant social network of mobile users on a mobile device using a wireless network. 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  depicts a functional block diagram for the server side system of the one button formation of a temporary instant social network. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0010]    Referring now to the invention in more detail, in  FIG. 1 , a high level diagram of the invention is shown in accordance with an example embodiment. The invention includes a group management and communication system for mobile device with Global Positioning System and wireless networking technologies  102 , which is composed of a plurality of mobile user  101  who wish to form a temporary social network  100 . The invention includes mobile application system  200 , a data processing system  400 , and a network  103 . Network  103  may include one or more networks of the same or different types. Network  103  can be any type of wireless public or private network including a cellular network, a local area network, a wide area network such as the Internet, etc. Network  103  further may be comprised of sub-networks and consist of any number of devices. 
         [0011]    The data processing system  400  includes a server computing device  401  and a HTTP or socket connection. Server computing device  401  may be a computer of any form factor. The data processing system accepts HTTP or socket connections from any plurality of mobile device  102 . Mobile device may include any device supporting GPS  104  and wireless networking not limited to those devices running iOS, Android, WebOS, or Windows. 
         [0012]    In more detail, still referring to the invention of  FIG. 2 , example operations associated with instant social network application  200 . Additional, fewer, or different operations may be performed depending on the embodiment. The order of presentation of the operations of  FIG. 2  is not intended to be limiting. In addition, although some of the operational flows are presented in sequence, the various operations may be performed in various repetitions, concurrently, and/or in other orders than those that are illustrated. 
         [0013]    In instant social network application  200 , in an operation the user launches the mobile application  201  on their mobile device. In an operation  202 , the network is tested to be available. 
         [0014]    In an operation  203 , if network is not available, network status is shown. Otherwise, in an operation  204 , the application displays the one-button screen. In an operation  205 , if button is pressed, a join request with the latitude and longitude as reported by the mobile devices location sensor comprised with of GPS and/or wireless, and an audio fingerprint recorded from the onboard microphone is transmitted to the server. 
         [0015]    In an operation  401 , the server compares all join requests at the same time by location as reported by each instant social networking application  200  and ambient audio fingerprint. If join requests are within proximity of each other and the audio fingerprint matches, an instant social network is formed. 
         [0016]    In an operation  402 , as a plurality of nearby mobile device  200  submit join requests where each are within a proximity as determined by GPS and/or wifi location and a match of ambient fingerprints, each mobile device is added to the instant group. 
         [0017]    In an operation  210 , if button is still being pressed while instant social network is forming, mobile application  200  accepts the response and user is joined to the group. If the button is released prior to acknowledgement from the server, the mobile application reverts back to operation  204  displaying a single button. 
         [0018]    In further detail, still referring to the invention of  FIG. 3 , example operations associated with data processing system  400 . Additional, fewer, or different operations may be performed depending on the embodiment. The order of presentation of the operations of  FIG. 3  is not intended to be limiting. In addition, although some of the operational flows are presented in sequence, the various operations may be performed in various repetitions, concurrently, and/or in other orders than those that are illustrated. 
         [0019]    In data processing system  400 , in an operation a user requests to form an instant temporary social network. 
         [0020]    In an operation  411 , data processing system  400  accepts network requests via either an HTTP or socket connection from mobile application  200 . Based on the latitude and longitude proximity of the device, data processing system  400  first determines if there are any existing social networks in the process of forming within the proximity. If none are present, a new group is created ready to accept other join requests in the same proximity matching the same audio fingerprint as identified by operation  412 . 
         [0021]    In operation  413 , if multiple groups overlap in the same proximity, data processing system  400  evaluates the ambient audio fingerprint to further identify the locality of each mobile device. Otherwise as specified by operation  414 , if no groups are available either existing or by failure of ambient audio fingerprint comparison, data processing  400  creates a group with mobile application  200  as the first member ready for other sessions to join. 
         [0022]    In operation  415 , if multiple groups&#39; overlap in the same proximity and ambient audio fingerprint matches with a group, data processing  400  joins mobile application  200  to group as identified in operation  416 . Otherwise, if ambient audio fingerprints do not match, a new group is created ready to accept other join requests in the same proximity matching the same audio fingerprint as identified by operation  412 . 
         [0023]    The word “example” is used herein to mean serving as an example, instance, or illustration. Any aspect or design described herein as “example” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other aspects or designs. Further, for the purposes of this disclosure and unless otherwise specified, “a” or “an” means “one or more”. Still further, the use of “and” or “or” is intended to include “and/or” unless specifically indicated otherwise. The example embodiments may be implemented as a method, apparatus, or article of manufacture using standard programming and/or engineering techniques to produce software, firmware, hardware, or any combination thereof to control a computer to implement the disclosed embodiments. 
         [0024]    While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should therefore not be limited by the above described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention.