PATENT ABSTRACT
A system for commercial promotion has a first computerized appliance enabled for data reception on a close-proximity wireless local area network (LAN) having a limited effective range, and for providing received data in a human-understandable form to a user of the first appliance, and a second computerized appliance enabled for data transmission on the close-proximity wireless LAN and having access to a data repository storing promotional material. The first and the second computerized appliances establish a connection on the wireless LAN by virtue of proximity within the limited effective range, the second appliance transmits promotional material to the first appliance in response to the connection, and the first appliance renders the promotional material in human-understandable form for the user in response to receiving the promotional material.

PATENT DESCRIPTION
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention is in the field of network communications including Internet communications and pertains more particularly to methods for optimizing the networking experience for users by enabling priority profile matching as a predecessor to networking sessions, and in some embodiments enabling close proximity ad and or coupon serving.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Capability for person-to-person communication has been enhanced greatly through recent development in wireless telephony and Internet technology. Anyone with a suitable wireless digital personal appliance or Internet appliance such as a personal computer with a standard Internet connection may access and communicate with other such equipped persons for the purpose of pleasure, business, or shared activities. There has also been great acceptance of technology for person-to-person communication with the purpose of making initial contact in an anonymous manner so as to provide two parties with a method of determining a desire (or lack) to further communicate semi-anonymously until the two parties decide to, or not to, meet face-to-face.  
         [0003]     One problem that is encountered by an individual practicing this manner of communication is a lack of being able to immediately communicate with potentially desirable parties, and in many cases a lack of specific information as to the locality of a person to whom they might wish to communicate. Many prior-art services currently provide communication paths, such as Internet or newsprint personal advertisements, for example. These services provide a capability to respond but that capability is dependent on some time lapse between the time of placing the advertisement and receipt of responses to the advertisements. In these methods there is a considerable time lapse between the receipt of the response and initiating a reply to the initial interest.  
         [0004]     In addition to the above, the profile information in such prior-art services is often sketchy and location information may indicate only a city or general geographic location. Time response using Internet paths is dependent on the person placing the advertisement to access the responses to their advertisement and reply. This may be accomplished in a matter of minutes or days depending on personal interests and habits. Time response in newsprint scenarios will take days or weeks depending on the time of placing the advertisement, publication timeframes, and reader search and response.  
         [0005]     Another issue placing limitations on prior-art applications of personal communication services is the process in which the replies to personal advertisements are made. In the Internet application described above, one needs a PC or sophisticated digital appliance to search the personals services and reply usually via Internet to an interesting party. In the newsprint application, a responder most often has to reply to a cited telephone number or in some cases, send a letter to designated address. A significant limitation of current and prior-art services is the lack of availability of immediate and specific location information of the two parties utilizing a personal communications service.  
         [0006]     A short-range radio technology system, known to the inventors as Bluetooth™, provides a capability for communications among digital devices using local wireless/cellular networks and the Internet and provides simplified data synchronization between such Net devices and computers.  
         [0007]     Bluetooth™ firmware installed on a wireless device continually broadcasts and searches within a defined radius for other devices having Bluetooth™ technology capability. When such devices are “in range” they may communicate with one other. It has occurred to the inventors that this technology may be exploited and modified to provide meeting services based on profiling. Any other form of immediate proximity enabled wireless technologies may also be used.  
         [0008]     What is clearly needed is an Internet-enhanced networking system applicable to wireless technology that enables users to quickly locate interested parties based on priority profiling wherein profile matching and acceptance is a predecessor for communication and possibly meeting. Such a system greatly would greatly enhance any networking situation wherein it is desired to have knowledge of the participants before initiating non-anonymous communication.  
         [0009]     Also in another aspect, the same sort of systems needed to meet the needs described above might be used to provide a proximity-based ad or coupon service, wherein wirelessly transmitting ad servers, in some cases a part of specific business locations, may advertise to, and provide discounts and coupons, for example, to persons having enabled digital communication devices, such as cellular telephones PDAs or other devices.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]     In an embodiment of the invention a system for commercial promotion is provided, comprising a first computerized appliance enabled for data reception on a close-proximity wireless local area network (LAN) having a limited effective range, and for providing received data in a human-understandable form to a user of the first appliance, and a second computerized appliance enabled for data transmission on the close-proximity wireless LAN and having access to a data repository storing promotional material. The first and the second computerized appliances establish a connection on the wireless LAN by virtue of proximity within the limited effective range, the second appliance transmits promotional material to the first appliance in response to the connection, and the first appliance renders the promotional material in human-understandable form for the user in response to receiving the promotional material.  
         [0011]     In one embodiment the first and the second computerized appliances are one of a cellular telephone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), or a pager device, each enabled for the wireless LAN connection and activity. Also in an embodiment the provision of received data in human-understandable form is through audio output, and in an alternative embodiment the provision of received data in human-understandable form is through display on a digital display of the first appliance.  
         [0012]     In one embodiment the user of the first appliance is a potential consumer, the second appliance is at a business premise, and the promotional material advertises or otherwise promotes a product or service of the business. The promotional material may include a discount for purchase of the product or service, or a coupon redeemable by the business for a product or service. The coupon may be date and time stamped and may bear an authorization mechanism retrievable at the business for verification.  
         [0013]     In one embodiment the second appliance is Internet-capable, and retrieves promotional material from a service provider remote from the business and having an Internet-connected server. The service provider may have a profile for the user of the first appliance as a subscriber, and the second appliance may connect with the first appliance only if the user of the first appliance is a subscriber.  
         [0014]     In some embodiments the second appliance is Internet-capable, and retrieves promotional material from a service provider remote from the business and having an Internet-connected server, and the service provider also provides a service for subscribers to trade with the coupons. In some embodiments the service provider also does accounting and billing for trades in coupons.  
         [0015]     In yet another embodiment the user of the first appliance is a potential consumer, the second appliance is carried by a vendor person with a product or service to vend, and the promotional material advertises or otherwise promotes the product or service of the vendor person.  
         [0016]     In another aspect of the present invention a method for commercial promotion is provided, comprising steps of (a) establishing a connection on a wireless local area network (LAN) having a limited effective range between a first computerized appliance enabled for data reception on the LAN and a second computerized appliance enabled for data transmission on the LAN, the connection in response to the two appliances coming within the effective range; (b) transmitting promotional material from the second appliance to the first appliance in response to the connection; and (c) rendering the promotional material in human-understandable form by the first appliance for a user of the first appliance.  
         [0017]     In one embodiment of the method the first and the second computerized appliances are one of a cellular telephone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), or a pager device, each enabled for the wireless LAN connection and activity. In some cases provision of received data in human-understandable form is through audio output, and in some other cases the provision of received data in human-understandable form is through display on a digital display of the first appliance.  
         [0018]     In another embodiment the user of the first appliance is a potential consumer, the second appliance is at a business premise, and the promotional material advertises or otherwise promotes a product or service of the business. The promotional material may include a discount for purchase of the product or service, and may include a coupon redeemable by the business for a product or service. The coupon may be date and time stamped and may bear an authorization mechanism retrievable at the business for verification.  
         [0019]     In some embodiments the second appliance is Internet-capable, and retrieves promotional material from a service provider remote from the business and having an Internet-connected server. Also in some embodiments the service provider has a profile for the user of the first appliance as a subscriber, and the second appliance connects with the first appliance only if the user of the first appliance is a subscriber. In still other embodiments the second appliance is Internet-capable, and retrieves promotional material from a service provider remote from the business and having an Internet-connected server, and the service provider also provides a service for subscribers to trade with the coupons. The service provider may also do accounting and billing for trades in coupons.  
         [0020]     In still other embodiments the user of the first appliance is a potential consumer, the second appliance is carried by a vendor person with a product or service to vend, and the promotional material advertises or otherwise promotes the product or service of the vendor person.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES  
       [0021]      FIG. 1  is an architectural overview of a communication network wherein priority profile exchange is practiced as a predecessor to networking sessions according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0022]      FIG. 2  is a flow chart illustrating logical steps of home PC to home PC communication using priority profile matching, according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0023]      FIG. 3  is a flow chart illustrating logical steps of voice box to cell phone communication using priority profile matching according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0024]      FIG. 4  is a flow chart illustrating logical steps of a trade show promotion using priority profile matching according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0025]      FIG. 5  is an architecture diagram for an advertising server system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0026]     According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a unique system is provided and adapted to provide services to users who have a capability of using a wireless LAN to communicate directly via Net devices or to users having Internet access capability through wireless or cellular networks and devices. Such a system provides a location-sensitive prioritized profile-matching service for users with a method for accessing that information via handheld and personal digital appliances through a telephony interface direct to established databases. The methods and apparatus of the present invention are described in enabling detail below.  
         [0027]      FIG. 1  is an architectural overview of a communications network  9  wherein priority profile exchange is practiced as a predecessor to networking sessions according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0028]     Communications network  9  comprises a wireless local-area-network (LAN)  40 , a wireless data network  47 , a cellular network  35 , a data-packet-network (Internet)  25 , and exemplary users  1  and  2  connected by PC/Internet connection to an Internet backbone  23 . LAN  40  is enabled, in this embodiment, by a technology known as Bluetooth™, which provides a communication protocol as well as firmware for local device communication.  
         [0029]     Communications network  9  represents a variety of architectures for practicing the present invention according to a plurality of embodiments. Therefore, it is the intent of the inventor to first describe all of the represented devices and communication connections, and then to describe applicable paths and scenarios for practicing the present invention.  
         [0030]     LAN  40 , as described above, is existent according to Bluetooth™ technology in that communication exists only when there are more than one device activated within an acceptable vicinity (range) of each other. It may be assumed in this example, that LAN  40  is not fixed in any way, and that it becomes applicable whenever activated devices are within range of one another.  
         [0031]     There are a variety of exemplary wireless communications devices illustrated within LAN  40 . These are a handheld computer  43 , a Web-enabled phone  33 , and a wireless device  42 , termed a “meeter” device, by the inventor. Meeter device  42  is a proprietary device especially adapted for practicing the present invention within the scope of a wireless LAN created using Bluetooth™ technology. In this embodiment, handheld device  43  and Web-enabled phone  33  are also adapted with Bluetooth™ technology.  
         [0032]     Wireless devices  33  and  43  are standard devices having Internet-connection capability through respective network gateways. For example, palm device  43  may access Internet  25 , also represented by backbone  23 , via an Internet-service-provider (ISP)  49  illustrated within intermediary wireless network  47 , and an associated network gateway (NG)  51  also illustrated within network  47 . NG  51  is connected to backbone  23  by an Internet access line  37  enabling Internet connectivity and communication capability to device  43 . Similarly, Web-enabled phone  33 , which in this embodiment is a cellular telephone, accesses Internet  25  (backbone  23 ) through an illustrated communications tower, a connected ISP  37 , and a network gateway (NG)  39  all illustrated within cellular network  35 . NG  39  is connected to backbone  23  by an Internet access line  41  enabling Internet connectivity and communication capabilities to phone  33 .  
         [0033]     In this embodiment, meeter device  42 , roughly the size of a credit card in a preferred embodiment does not have Internet-access capabilities. Rather, device  42  may only communicate in limited fashion with other devices within limited radio range. As previously described above, LAN  40  represents wireless coverage over somewhat localized areas such as 10 to 100 meters in rough diameter. Therefore, devices  33 ,  42 , and  45  may directly communicate, using radio signals, with one another only within an operable communication range defined within a cell area as described above.  
         [0034]     Internet  25  represents a preferred data-packet-network for practicing the present invention according to variant embodiments. Internet backbone  23  represents all of the lines, equipment, and connection points making up Internet  25  as a whole. Therefore, there are no geographic limitations to the practicing the present invention. As LAN  40  represents just one local area created by virtue of active devices within range of one another, it will be appreciated that a great many such LANs may exist simultaneously, and may be distributed over a large region wherever two or more communication-capable devices come within range of one another.  
         [0035]     Exemplary users  1  and  2  represent users operating from home premises using Internet backbone  23  as a conduit. Users  1  and  2  are identically equipped in this example. User  1  has a PC  11  for accessing the Internet through backbone  23  and standard Internet access capabilities as known in the art. The most common of these is dial-up/modem access achieved through an ISP. There are other possibilities as well. User  1  has a voice box (VB)  13  connected to PC  11  and a telephone  15  connected to VB  13 . This configuration allows voice communication over an Internet connection utilizing a standard telephone. Such configurations are known in the art and available to the inventor. User  1  also has a wireless LAN card (WLC)  10  installed on PC  11 . WLC  10  is a Bluetooth™ card in this example and adapts PC  11  as a Bluetooth™ communication device. User  2  is adapted identically as user  1  by way of a PC  17  connected to backbone  23 , a VB  19  connected to PC  17 , a telephone  21  connected to VB  19 , and a WLC  16  installed on PC  17  enabling PC  17  as a Bluetooth™ device.  
         [0036]     A service provider  27  is provided within Internet  25  and represents a central-control station for managing and propagating user profiles according to various embodiments of the present invention. Service provider  27  comprises a file server  29  and a connected data repository  31 . File server  29  is adapted as a user-interfacing server for users operating any Internet-capable device including PCs  11  and  17 , device  43  within LAN  40 , and device  33  within LAN  40 . Data repository  31  is adapted to store user profiles and other data about users such as device identification, subscriber information, account information and so on. Profile data included in repository  31  facilitates embodiments of the present invention, which comprises networking based on prioritized profile matching and exchange.  
         [0037]     Software (not shown) provided to reside in server  29  and within repository  31  functions to match stored “real” profiles against “request” profiles and propagates selected profiles or notice thereof to participating and requesting devices using a networking protocol. The two separate types of profiles, real and request profiles, are created by users practicing the present invention. The inventor terms the profiles “self” (real) profiles and “meet” (request) profiles.  
         [0038]     Various embodiments of the present invention are enabled in this example by various communication paths illustrated herein. Therefore users having varying intents may practice the invention using variant communications paths and obtain results accordingly. An important goal of the present invention is to provide users with an ability to “see” pertinent profiles (real) attributed to any other users before initiating committed contact in a way that enables quick contact and fulfills a variety of user interests.  
         [0039]     For example, assume that LAN  40  exists by virtue of a plurality of users congregating at a popular nightclub while practicing the present invention. In this consideration, logical user intent would be to meet other users having desirable qualities purposeful of social interaction. Although not required, assume that the plurality of users all have devices identical to device  42 . Device  42  is, in this scenario, a credit-card sized communication device enabled with Bluetooth™ technology as previously described. Device  42  can be similar in operation to a paging device and has at least a display screen, a limited key-pad, and a capability of receiving and sending messages from and to other like devices. In some embodiments device  42  may also be enhanced with limited range voice transmission and receiving capability.  
         [0040]     In this simple example, Internet  25  and other illustrated networks and paths and equipment do not come in to play. Each device  42  has a relatively powerful microprocessor that enables users to configure and store real and request profiles, and enables each device to match received (real) profiles with profiles (request) already stored. Each user, before arriving at the particular nightclub, has configured at least one real profile and one request profile into his or her device  42 . When users activate their devices at the nightclub, LAN  40  comes into existence as devices begin communicating with each other in the sharing and matching of profile information. For example, when one user comes into range of another, each device will send a real profile to the other device. These profiles are received by each participating device and matched against request profiles (what users are looking for) stored on each device. If a match, or in some embodiments, a partial match occurs, the device making the match beeps, vibrates, or alerts the user in some other fashion. The matching profile is displayed on the device with an option to contact the device that sent the matching profile. Contact may be similar to a page, or may be enhanced with voice communication capability in some embodiments.  
         [0041]     In one embodiment of the present invention, a range of only 10 meters (about 32 feet) allows an optimum chance for user-identification of the owner of a device that sent a matching profile. When the range is 100 meters, there may be many more profiles being traded and matched lending necessity to device identification and paging capability. If a device is paged because of a matching profile, the owner of the device can see the real profile of the user operating the paging device. If desired, the owner may answer the page and identify him or herself. If the owner does not like the profile, then he or she need not answer. In one embodiment as described above device  42  is further enhanced with short-range voice capabilities allowing consenting users to speak with each other.  
         [0042]     The above-described situation represents a simple embodiment wherein only users within range of each other may exchange profile information. It will be appreciated that this technology may be practiced in any location or dynamically, with users moving about.  
         [0043]     In another example, consider that users are now operating hand-held devices such as hand-held device  43 , and/or cellular phones such as phone  33 . In this situation LAN  40  is enhanced with accessibility to the Internet network. A new dynamic comes into play in that users may now share profiles with each other and, in some cases, depending on device capability, receive and send profile information from and to server  29  at provider  27 . Still further, Internet enhancement enables remote users to browse locations and associated profiles in order to determine which locations are good meeting places according to their request profiles.  
         [0044]     To illustrate the Internet enhancement using the exemplary architecture and communication paths laid out in communications network  9 , consider that users operating within LAN  40  at a nightclub are uploading their real profiles to server  29 , which recognizes the nightclub as a local and popular club for singles. Devices  43  and  33  in this example may accomplish uploading of profile information.  
         [0045]     Device  43  may upload profile information through ISP  49 , NG  51 , access line  37 , backbone  23  into server  29 . Server  29  temporarily stores the profile information from device  43  in database  31 . Similarly, device  33  (cell phone) may upload profile information through cell tower and connected ISP  37 , NG  39 , access line  41 , backbone  23  into server  29  whereupon the information is also stored in repository  31 . Now, the profiles of the owners of devices  43  and  33  are available on-line to browsing members. Assume now that Users  1  and  2  have logged on to Internet  25  by accessing backbone  23  and are engaged in browsing of server  29 . Users  1  and  2  may be looking for a popular spot locally where there is a good chance to meet someone in which they might be interested. User  2  may browse uploaded profiles of those users currently patronizing nightclub (LAN  40 ).  
         [0046]     If interested, user  2  may download real profiles for matching with his or her request profile stored locally on PC  17 . In another embodiment, user  2  may upload a request profile to server  29  and have it matched with real profiles stored in repository  31 . In either case, if there are matches, user  2  may decide to travel to the popular nightclub with a Bluetooth™ enabled device similar to any of those illustrated within LAN  40 . Alternatively, user  2  may select to send a notice and real profile to the owner of a device whose profile matched the request profile of user  2 . In this case, remote communication may be established between user  2  and a user operating either device  43  or device  33  within LAN  40 . User  1  has the same capability as described with respect to user  2 . It is important to note herein that all real identification information such as names, phone numbers and the like are not provided during initial exchange in order to protect anonymity and privacy of users.  
         [0047]     In another embodiment, one or more users may act as Internet hosts for other users if their devices have the required capabilities. In this situation, hand-held device  43 , for example, is capable of storing many downloaded profiles as illustrated by a database (DB)  45  installed therein. Device  43  may share profiles locally, receive profiles from the Internet, and match them with other profiles of other users. It is important to note that service provider  27  may interface with any user operating Internet-capable devices through server  29  in order to the receive profile information described above and, perhaps, location information comprising the name and the location of the nightclub. Server  29  stores this information in repository  31  tagged to the sending user identification.  
         [0048]     In the above-described example wherein LAN  40  exists at a popular nightclub, for example, real (self) and request (meet) profiles reflect personal data such as appearance, interests, hobbies, income, marital status, and may include temporary information such as purpose for attending the nightclub. A request profile would essentially carry the same type of information. A request profile reflects a user&#39;s desired attributes in someone with whom they might consider socializing. In a nightclub, this information would tend to gravitate around dating and social interaction. For sports, people may meet for sailing, tennis, soccer, golf etc. or for someone to play games like bridge, pool, etc. In other situations, profiles may reflect business capabilities, items for sale, items wanted, or essentially any other information. It is important to note herein that service provider  27  may provide, through server  29 , generic profile templates (electronic forms) for population and submission. In one embodiment, a user may create his or her own profiles having categories not already provided in a template.  
         [0049]     Along with configuring and uploading profile information to server  29 , a user may also signify a time period wherein the profiles may be considered active. For example, “activate this profile set from 6 pm to 11 pm tonight”. As users arrive and begin to mingle at the particular location, such as a nightclub, an Internet host connected to server  29  begins communicating profile matches to users by beeping or buzzing the user&#39;s devices when a desirable match occurs within the vicinity of the host. This assumes, of course, that matching of profiles occurs at network level within server  29 , or within the Internet host.  
         [0050]     Meeter protocol (software) is integrated with Bluetooth™ firmware in order to enhance the former technology with the instructional capabilities for receiving and propagating profiles, matching profiles, and applying flexible “threshold” criteria set by users for defining and accepting a match. Using the protocol along with embedded LAN attributes of each device, up-linking to a central Web site and profile matching and propagation is enhanced with the one-touch data-sync capability offered by the wireless LAN synchronization protocol. In indicating a match, comparison need not be exact, and comparisons may be done in a manner to report, with an alert, a partial match, and in some cases the degree of a match, such as 70%, also the match degree of the other person may be provided.  
         [0051]      FIG. 2  is an exemplary flow diagram representing home PC to home PC communication. At step  53 , user  1  logs into the main Web-site, which in this case is service provider  27  of  FIG. 1 . At step  57 , user  1  enters a profile of “self” and “meet” into a match server (server  29 ). At step  59 , user  1  enters a start time and an end time to be called.  
         [0052]     In a parallel effort, before, during or after user  1 &#39;s action exemplified in steps  53 - 59 , user  2  logs into the main Web-site at step  65 . Once logged in and authenticated, user  2  enters a “self” and “meet” profile at step  67 .  
         [0053]     It is noted herein that users  1  and  2  are analogous to users  1  and  2  of  FIG. 1  having VB capability and IP capabilities through respective PCs  11  and  17 . At step  69  user  2 , still logged into the main Web-site as described at step  65 , observes available profiles of pre-selected individuals. The available profiles are priority-matched profiles of those persons within his location. Matching is accomplished by software capabilities established in server  29  of  FIG. 1 . The pre-selection also provides the location of pre-selected individuals and that the real profile of user  1  is the best (highest priority) match for the request profile information entered by user  2  at step  67 .  
         [0054]     At step  71 , user  2  clicks on user  1 &#39;s status and finds that user  1  is presently logged in to the service. At step  73 , user  2  clicks the interactive indication and sends a message to user  1 , the message to invite user  1  to meet in a chat room. The message technology used may be instant messaging, voice-mail, or other forms. It is important to note that the message is anonymous in that it does not reveal the sender ID or the receiver ID. At step  61 , user  1  proactively receives the message indicating user  2  has left a message, or may receive a direct phone call. At step  75 , user  1  accesses the message left by user  2  and reviews the real profile information of user  2 , which is sent with the message. User  1  likes the information provided in user  2 &#39;s profile and clicks the interactive indication to send a message to user  2  accepting the proposed meeting in a chat room. Concluding the initiation activity, user  1  and  2  meet and converse in a chat room at step  77 . It is noted herein that all messaging between user  1  and  2  up until the point of final acceptance of user  1  to meet in a chat room is brokered by the service. Once in a chat room, which may be a private chat room, user  1  and  2  are left to their own devices. In other embodiments chat capability may be provided as a part of service provider  27 .  
         [0055]     This exemplary process represents just one of many possible interaction scenarios that may exist between Internet-connected PCs practicing networking according to priority profile matching. It will be apparent to one with skill in the art that the exact steps including communication mediums may be different without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Such differences may be decided, for example IP phone instead of interactive chat, or dictated, for example one user cannot use a selected communication medium but can use another.  
         [0056]     Also, matching profiles at step  69  is not limited to those profiles of people within any given location which may be local to a browsing user. Selecting those profiles within a given location only enhances the possibility of a physical meeting, which may or may not take place as the result of chat interaction.  
         [0057]      FIG. 3  is an exemplary flow diagram representing voice box to cell phone communication. In this embodiment cell phone user  1  logs into the service as ‘available with a cell phone’ at step  79 . In one embodiment of this mode, user  1  may be at one of a plurality of “known” establishments and is seeking interested parties that may be browsing the Web locally. User  1  enters a start time and end time to be called at step  81 . It is noted herein that user  1  has entered or activated her selected profiles at the time of log-in at step  79 .  
         [0058]     In a parallel effort, user  2  logs into the service at step  87 . User  2  also enters or activates selected profiles for matching. User  2  observes priority-matched profiles of individuals within the immediate or nearby locations and determines that user  1  best matches the request profile information activated by user  2 . The profile matching is accomplished in the same manner as described in  FIG. 2 . User  2  then clicks on user  1 &#39;s status and finds that person is presently logged in as ‘available with a cell phone’ at step  91 . It may also be known to user  2  the location of user  1 .  
         [0059]     At step  93  user  2  clicks the interactive profile indication of user  1  and initiates a communication using a Voice Box (VB) analogous to VB  19  of  FIG. 1 . This action culminates in a voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) call placed to the cell phone of user  1  at step  94 . User  1  receives a call on the target cell phone at step  85  and a voice recording is played announcing user  2 &#39;s request. During the recording, the profile of user  2  is made available either through the recording, or displayed on the screen of the target phone. User  1 , in this example, likes the profile of user  2  and elects to take the call in the same step  85 . It is noted herein that all of the normal caller ID is not available through the VB service. In this way, the call from user  2  is made anonymously to user  1 . Conversely, user  1  is anonymous to user  2  during the call request. Once user  1  elects to take the call, they may begin normal communication at step  95  and are left to their own devices. An implementation of this approach would allow a user to log in from home and register as just available, awaiting a call from a match.  
         [0060]     This embodiment is similar to the one described in  FIG. 2  except that one user is mobile and presumed to be located at a certain establishment. This is, however, not required in order to practice the present invention. A user, for example, in transit from one physical location to another may activate a “destination profile” any time before arrival. It is also noted herein that Bluetooth™ technology is not specifically required to practice the embodiments described in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . However, the technology enables the profile synchronization to proceed in a more efficient manner. Short-wave radio technology is not used unless profiles are exchanged locally.  
         [0061]      FIG. 4  is an exemplary flow diagram representing a trade show promotion wherein priority-profile matching is practiced according to an embodiment of the present invention. At step  97  a trade show administrator accesses the service (provider  27 ) of  FIG. 1  prior to the date of the planned show and registers show “profile” information comprising exhibit information and contact information for represented booths exhibiting at the show. This information represents real profiles and is stored at the service in a data repository analogous to repository  31  of  FIG. 1 . Entering of information may be accomplished via a PC set-up at the show or from any remote location. In this case, general show information may include show themes, organizations to be represented, location and time/date parameters, and so on. Individual booth profiles may include items to be exhibited, services available, and cell phone numbers of exhibitors working the booths at pre-selected times. In one embodiment, one cell phone is made available at each booth.  
         [0062]     At step  99 , booth attendant A logs into the service at the beginning of the trade show. The profile information of the booth is already known by the service. In a parallel effort, a trade-show seeker/browser logs into the service with a Web-enabled cell phone at step  101  and browses for registered shows in the vicinity. At step  103 , the trade-show browser locates an announcement of a relevant show in his area and reviews content of show information. In the same step, the trade-show seeker selects items of interest. This selection culminates a request profile entered by the trade-show seeker.  
         [0063]     At step  105  the trade-show seeker arrives at the scheduled show and logs into the service. The service matches the items of interest (user profile) pre-entered at step  103  with the profile information of all of the participating booths. Profiles are delivered to the trade-show browser who is now at the location of the show at step  107 . It is indicated in step  107  that the profile of booth A is the highest-ranking profile that matches the request profile configured at step  103 . The trade-show seeker receives the profile information from Booth A on his or her cell phone including booth contact information and may call or visit the indicated booth at step  109 . It is noted herein that booth profiles may also be stored locally (at each booth) on respective Bluetooth™ capable devices and they may be sent to the trade-show seeker when he or she comes into range of each booth. In this case, the seeker&#39;s device may match the “real” booth profile against a “request” profile held locally on the seeker&#39;s device. If a booth profile significantly matches (according to threshold) the seeker&#39;s request profile, his or her device may beep or vibrate, or provide some other alert, indicating a match or a partial match. In the just-described case, a meeter device, cell phone, or hand-held device analogous to devices  33 - 43  of  FIG. 1  may be used.  
         [0064]     In yet another aspect of the present invention advertising services are provided for businesses and individuals, based in one embodiment on proximity of two communication devices having close-range wireless communication, as described in considerable detail above. In another embodiment the service is based on an ad server located at a business establishment, typically a small business, such as a cleaners or a fast-food outlet. In this case the ad server is enabled to communicate with communication devices by a close-range wireless method and protocol, just as in the communication between two devices as described above.  
         [0065]      FIG. 5  is an architecture diagram similar to  FIG. 1  to aid in description of the ad server aspects of the present invention. In this embodiment there are consumers and advertisers. User  1  in the diagram of  FIG. 5  shows a PC station  11  as might be used by a consumer person who subscribes to services in an embodiment of the present invention. The consumer subscriber may use PC  11  to subscribe to services provided by Service Provider  27 , and to configure a profile for use by service provider  27 . In one embodiment the subscriber may select and designate a preference for ads from certain types of businesses or for certain kinds of products and services, and may also establish active times of day and so forth when he or she wishes the service to be active.  
         [0066]     In this embodiment services are proved by Internet-connected server  29  having access to data store  31 . It is not required that the subscribing consumer configure through a station such as PC  11 ; the consumer may also use any Internet-capable appliance, such as, but not limited to, devices  33 ,  42 , and  45  to configure and edit a profile.  
         [0067]     An advertiser represented by station  17  as User  2  also becomes and advertising subscriber, and configures his or her services on server  29  in much the same way as the consumer. The advertiser, however, configures certain advertisements and in some cases coupons, to be transmitted to consumers. Like the consumer, the advertised may also configure through any Internet-capable appliance.  
         [0068]     As a specific example, consider a consumer who has become a subscriber to the service, and has configured his profile for only advertisements from fast-food businesses, limited strictly to In_and-Out Burger™ and MacDonalds™. Now consider that a MacDonalds restaurant has subscribed to the service as well, and configured for ads presenting a limited-time offer to subscribing consumers that come within the close-range wireless LAN area at the MacDonalds restaurant.  
         [0069]     The premises equipment at the restaurant may be a PC connected to the Internet, as shown in  FIG. 5 , or any sort of communication device enabled to detect the local LAN when a consumer subscriber enters the local area. If a PC as shown, then there needs to be a wireless LAN card (WLC)  16  connected to the PC, for participation on the wireless LAN. The premises equipment may also be a cellular telephone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), or any of several other Internet-capable appliances.  
         [0070]     Now suppose User  1 , carrying a Palm device (a PDA) enabled for the Internet and also for participation on the wireless LAN comes into range of the enabled MacDonalds restaurant. The wireless LAN is activated by virtue of proximity of the two enabled devices, and the active device at the MacDonalds restaurant informs server  29  of the proximity. The service provider immediately checks the consumer profile to be sure it is active, and no consumer restriction may be abridged, and then serves whatever ad and/or coupon that has been configured by the MacDonalds restaurant to the consumer in close proximity.  
         [0071]     In many cases the device carried by the consumer will be capable of alerting the consumer, such as by a buzz or an audible signal. The ad may be a message, such as “MacDonalds close. Big Mac and Biggy fries 79 cents for the next ten minutes.  
         [0072]     To avoid counterfeiting, the ad may be authenticated in some manner. For example, the ad may be provided with a displayable code unique to that MacDonalds, that will display on the consumer&#39;s device. As another example, the device in use at the MacDonalds will “know” that the particular consumer is or is not still in range of the wireless LAN when the consumer presents the ad at the counter to get the bargain offered in the ad.  
         [0073]     In some cases the advertiser may serve coupons with or instead of the advertisement. In this particular case the MacDonalds may transmit to the consumer a coupon good for 50 cents off on any purchase for the next three days. The value of the coupon is not limited to discounts and the like. A car dealer may give away, once per year, a new car, based on almost any formula the dealer desires to implement.  
         [0074]     It may also be necessary that coupons be able to be authenticated. In this case the mechanism might be code accompanying the coupon. The coupon may be date and time stamped, and may carry in addition a special, unique code that will have to be matched for redemption. The codes might be randomly changed, but be tracked in the server&#39;s database as to date and time, for matching with requests for redemption. There are many possibilities.  
         [0075]     The embodiments of the advertiser/consumer system described just above are Internet-enabled, with ads originating at an Internet server. In another embodiment the ads and the coupons and the like to be transmitted to consumers may be locally-stored in a data repository at, for example PC  17 , without Internet cooperation. The premises equipment in this case may be a black box at the advertiser&#39;s location, with wireless LAN enablement, and ads and coupons may be server to enabled consumers passing by, just as described above. The local data and software can be provided as a PC application, for example, and may be together with an interactive interface (a GUI for example) whereby a responsible person at the advertiser&#39;s location may interact with the system to enable different ads and coupons at different times.  
         [0076]     In some embodiments of the invention, discounts and coupons may be traded with other subscribers, or bought and sold. Discounts and coupons may be treated as real property by the consumers, as long as they are honored by the advertisers. A consumer, for example, may be fortunate to get a special coupon, good at a particular MacDonalds, for a twenty-percent discount for the next month. That consumer, however, may be planning to be away for the next month, rendering the property useless to him. The lucky consumer may access server  29  and offer this property for sale to other consumers, who may regularly browse for bargains. The service may provide, along with subscriber profiles, for subscriber accounts to allow the buying and selling, or renting and leasing, of the properties represented by authenticated coupons (in the broad sense). A subscribing consumer&#39;s account may be credited and debited over an agreed time period, and settle-up accomplished on some pre-arranged schedule as well.  
         [0077]     It will be apparent to one with skill in the art that the present invention may be practiced utilizing a variety of devices and communications paths exemplified in the example architecture of  FIG. 1  without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example in a simplest embodiment “meeter” devices are used for short-range profile exchange and matching without benefit of Internet capabilities or host computers. In more advanced embodiments Internet held profiles may be accessed through Internet-capable and Bluetooth™ enabled devices, host computers, Bluetooth™ modems or network bridges and so on.  
         [0078]     It will also be apparent to one with skill in the art that the method of the present invention may be tailored according to a number of service criteria such as for social networking, sports, hobbies, commerce, business networking, convention or trade show activity or other conceivable scenarios without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The rules governing profile matching and profile storage including where profiles are matched are dictated somewhat by the intent of a specific service variation. In some cases real contact information is desired to be publicized and in some cases it is not.  
         [0079]     It will further be apparent to one with skill in the art, that instant messages, following established Bluetooth wireless protocol or any other wireless protocol and standard instant message protocol, can be propagated back and forth between utilizing members and activity providers without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.  
         [0080]     The method and apparatus of the present invention may be practiced by private individuals operating on the Internet, private individuals creating local Bluetooth Wireless LANs, businesses operating on a compatible LAN connected to the Internet, and so on. This includes the use of cell phones. There are many customizable situations. The present invention, as taught herein and above, should be afforded the broadest of scope. The spirit and scope of the present invention is limited only by the claims that follow.