Abstract:
A system for enhancing interpersonal communication is disclosed. The system includes one or more personal computer devices capable of broadcasting and receiving select messages based on overlapping user interests. The device shares identity credentials with other devices to ensure credibility of the information being broadcast and maintains user interests in a portable secure database on the device.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention generally relates to communication systems, and more particularly to communication between interpersonal communication devices. 
     2. Brief Description of the Related Art 
     Today, a wide variety of network technologies are available to communicate information. For example, Bluetooth technology is an industrial specification for wireless personal area networks (PANs). Bluetooth technology provides personal devices, such as mobile phones, laptops, PCs, printers, digital cameras, and video game consoles, a way to connect and exchange information over an unlicensed short-range radio frequency. The devices typically do not have to be in line of sight of each other to exchange information as long as the transmission signals are strong enough. 
     WiFi is another network technology that enables personal devices, such as a PC, game console, cell phone, MP3 player or PDA, to connect to the Internet when the devices are within range of a wireless network connected to the Internet. The area covered by one or more interconnected access points is known as a hotspot. The range covered by hotspots can be as small as a single room with wireless-opaque walls or as much as many square miles covered by overlapping access points. 
     Although these technologies are utilized in personal devices, the devices and technology are rarely used to interact with other personal device users in a meaningful or useful way. For example, areas of common interest among personal device users are not commonly communicated electronically to one another. Accordingly, there exists a need to facilitate and enhance communication between personal communication device users. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A system for enhancing interpersonal communication is disclosed. The system includes one or more personal computer devices capable of broadcasting and receiving select messages based on overlapping user interests. The device shares identity credentials with other devices to ensure credibility of the information being broadcast and maintains user interests in a portable secure database on the device. 
     Various aspects of the system relate to broadcasting common user interests and verifying the credibility of information transmitted. For example, according to one aspect, a system for information exchange between interested parties includes a wireless communication network with a defined broadcast area, at least two computer devices operatively coupled to the network, the two computer devices identifying a common interest which is communicable between the two devices, and a verifier that provides electronic authentication certifying the common interest. 
     In one preferred embodiment, the wireless communication network is selected from the group consisting essentially of a 802.11-compliant network, Bluetooth network, cellular digital packet data (CDPD) network, high speed circuit switched data (HSCSD) network, packet data cellular (PDC-P) network, general packet radio service (GPRS) network, 1x radio transmission technology (1xRTT) network, IrDA network, multichannel multipoint distribution service (MMDS) network, local multipoint distribution service (LMDS) network, and worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX) network). 
     Preferably, at least one of the two computer devices is selected from the group consisting essentially of a personal computer, handheld computer, mobile phone, personal digital assistant, media center/player, music recorder/player, and/or any other like computing device. 
     In one preferred embodiment, the common interest is communicable over the network using an encrypted messaging protocol. In one preferred embodiment, the encrypted messaging protocol includes digital media. 
     Preferably, one or more computer devices include a graphical user interface for identifying the common interest. In one preferred embodiment, the one or more client devices associate the common interest with a class of user to receive the common interest. Preferably, the common interest is certified using digital certificates. 
     In one preferred embodiment, the one or more computer devices filter network messages for common interests using keywords. Preferably, the verifier is accessible to the two client devices through a wireless access point router. 
     In another aspect, a method for exchanging information between interested parties includes providing a wireless communication network within a defined broadcast area, providing at least two computer devices operatively coupled to the network, the two computer devices identifying a common interest which is communicable between the two devices, and providing electronic authentication certifying the common interest. 
     In one preferred embodiment, identifying the common interest includes selecting the common interest from a plurality of keywords, and associating a class-of-user with one of the plurality of keywords. 
     In one preferred embodiment, the method includes broadcasting the common interest over the network using a message protocol. Preferably, the messaging protocol uses encryption techniques. 
     In another preferred embodiment, the method includes providing a graphical user interface to one of the two computer devices for identifying the common interest. In yet another preferred embodiment, the method further includes transmitting digital media between the two computer devices. 
     Several benefits can be derived from the present invention. First, the system facilitates personal contact with people in a local vicinity having shared interests. The system can enable an initial interaction with people who are physically collocated with a same region but are unaware of each other. 
     Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed as an illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a wireless network system according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram of a client device according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is an example graphical user interface for establishing a profile. 
         FIG. 4  is a flow chart of a method for communicating information between client devices. 
     
    
    
     Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a system  10  for inter-personal communication is disclosed. The system is designed to enhance communication between users in a defined broadcast area. As used herein, the phrase “defined broadcast area” relates to an area circumscribed by the limits of a broadcasting system in which equipment provided with unique identification and verification features are able to wirelessly communicate with each other. 
     For example, in one preferred embodiment, the system  10  can identify users with common interests in a defined broadcast area by sending and receiving messages wirelessly between devices. In another preferred embodiment, the system can provide a list of persons or entities sharing common interests in a defined broadcast area having common interests. Interests can include, but are not limited to hobbies, sports, weather, family, products, media—films, books, magazines, etc., holidays, hometown, jobs and careers, fashion and trends, celebrity news, etc. 
     In one preferred embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the system  10  includes a wireless network  12 , at least two client devices  14 A,  14 B operatively coupled to the wireless network  12  through a wireless access point router  16  that attaches the wireless network  12  to a wide area network  18 , such as the Internet, and a verifier  20  that provides electronic authentication services certifying bona fide use of the client devices  14 . 
     The wireless network  12  can include an 802.11-compliant network, Bluetooth network, cellular digital packet data (CDPD) network, high speed circuit switched data (HSCSD) network, packet data cellular (PDC-P) network, general packet radio service (GPRS) network, 1x radio transmission technology (1xRTT) network, IrDA network, multichannel multipoint distribution service (MMDS) network, local multipoint distribution service (LMDS) network, worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX) network, and/or any other network that communicates using a wireless protocol. 
     The client devices  14 A,  14 B shown in  FIG. 1  refer to any type of personal computer device, including but not limited to personal computers, such as laptop computers, handheld computers, mobile phones, personal digital assistants, media centers/players, music recorders/players, and/or any other computing device. Although only two client devices are shown in  FIG. 1 , the present invention is not limited to two client devices and can include a multitude of varied client devices that are capable of communicating using a wireless protocol. 
     For example, referring now to  FIG. 2 , in one preferred embodiment, the client device  14 A is a mobile phone that includes a central processor unit (CPU)  22 , random access memory (RAM)  24 , an input-output control module  26 , and non-volatile memory  28 , all of which are interconnected via a bus line  29  and controlled by the CPU  22 . As shown in the  FIG. 2  example, the non-volatile memory  28  of the device  14 A preferably is configured to include a communication module  30  and a database  32  that operate to send and receive messages over the network  12 . 
     The client device  14 A preferably includes a display screen  36  that can be used to display and identify areas of common interest among users, data entry keys  34  for defining areas of interest to the user, and an enter key  38  for storing user specified interests and for transmitting information to users. Preferably, the display screen  36 , data entry keys  34 , and enter key  38  operate under the control of the input-output module  26 . 
     The database  32  provides storage for one or more data items representative of a user&#39;s identity and interests. In one preferred embodiment, referring to  FIG. 1 , the database  32  is a relational database that includes strong cryptography to secure user identity information, such as name, address, age, credit card information, banking information, and interest information, as described previously. In another preferred embodiment, the database  32  is a directory server, such as a Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) server, that can provide storage for user identity and interest information remotely off the device. In other embodiments, the database  32  is a configured area in memory of the device that can store the user identity and interest information. 
     The control module  30  of the present invention provides select communication between client devices  14 A,  14 B of the network  12  and allows the user to establish a user profile including information for sharing with other client devices. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , an example graphical user interface  40  provided by the control module  30  is shown. In one preferred embodiment, the control module  30  displays the user interface  40  on the screen  36  of the client device  14 A with personal information  42 , such as name and contact information, and prompts the user to select user interests/keywords  44  for transmission to other device users. In another preferred embodiment, the control module  30  displays the graphical user interface on a Personal Computer (PC) attached to the client device  14 A. 
     In one preferred embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the graphical user interface  40  of the present invention includes a personal information area  42 , an interest list  44  with interest entry area  52 , a class-of-user list  46  and class-of-user entry area  58 , and an association list  60 . 
     The interest list  44  provides a listing of selectable predefined interests/keywords that are user selectable and available for transmission to other device users. In one preferred embodiment, interests/keywords can include, but are not limited to hobbies, sports, weather, family, products, media—films, books, magazines, etc., holidays, hometown, jobs and careers, fashion and trends, etc. and are identified by keywords. In the event an interest/keyword is not included in the interest list  44 , interest entry area  52  provides a data entry area for entering an interest/keyword which, upon selection of add button  54 , is stored by the control module  30  to the database  32 . 
     Once an interest is selected, in one preferred embodiment, the control module  30  then prompts the user to select a class-of-user to transmit the interest/keyword to. For example, as shown in the  FIG. 3  example, in one preferred embodiment, the class-of-user can include employers, merchants, public, recruiters, hobbyists, sports fans, and the like. Similar to the interest entry area  52 , in the event a particular class-of-user is not provided in the class-of-user list  46 , the class-of-user entry area  58  provides a data entry area for entering a new class-of-user which, upon selection of add button  56  by the user, is stored by the control module  30  to the database  32 . 
     Once the user selects an interest/keyword and class-of-user, the user can select an associate button  48  which causes the control module  30  to associate the selected user interest/keyword with the selected class-of-user and display the association in the association list  60 . Likewise, the user can select an interest/keyword and class-of-user association from the association list  60  and select a disassociate button  50  which disassociates the interest/keyword class-of-user pair and removes the same from the association list  60 . Upon selection of the save-profile button  62 , the control module  30  stores the associations displayed in the association list  60  to a user profile (not shown) to the database  32 . Each user profile can include a plurality of associations between user interests/keywords and classes of users. 
     Personal user information, such as name, address, as well as account information (not shown), can also be entered and stored by the control module  30  in the user profile using personal information area  42  upon selection of save-profile button  62 . Upon a user selecting exit button  64 , the control module  30  terminates display of the graphical user interface  40 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a method executed by the control module  30  to communicate information between client devices  14 A,  14 B is disclosed. As shown in  FIG. 4 , in one preferred embodiment, the communication module  30  first seeks to establish a connection  70  to the network  12  by establishing a bidirectional communication link with the wireless router  16 . Preferably, the router  16  requires a key, as known in the art, (e.g. WEP key, etc.) to authenticate the client device before the router  16  grants network  12  access to the client device. 
     For example, in one preferred embodiment, the control module  30  of the device seeking access to the network  12  requests a certificate from the verifier  20 , which is a trusted third party that establishes the identity of device users. Next, the verifier  20  establishes the user&#39;s identity using techniques known in the art. The verifier  20  then issues a certificate that contains the network&#39;s public key and signs it with the verifier&#39;s private key  72 . The control module  30  then provides the certificate to the router  16  which, upon verification of the certificate, grants network access to the client device. 
     In one preferred embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the verifier  20  is accessible to the client device through the WAN  18  which is accessible through the router  16 . In another preferred embodiment, certificates have been previously downloaded from the verifier  20  and are stored in the client database  32 . The control module  30  provides these stored certificates to the router  16  for verification prior to being granted access to the network  12 . Preferably, if no mechanism exists on the network  12  to identify or authenticate the client device attempting to establish network access, the router  16  denies access. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , once the control module  30  establishes network connectivity, the control module  30  broadcasts messages containing interest/keyword class-of-user associations  74  on the network  12 . The interest/keyword class-of-user associations can reveal different types of information to different types of people. For example, interest/keyword class-of-user associations can relate to items being sought, items being sold, job opportunities, etc. In one preferred embodiment, the control module  30  broadcasts the interest/keyword class-of-user associations on the network  12  at preset time intervals. In another preferred embodiment, messages containing interest/keyword class-of-user associations are broadcast by the user on an as requested basis. 
     Preferably, as shown in  FIG. 4 , once the control module  30  broadcasts the interest/keyword class-of-user associations, the client device awaits message notification from other client devices that are broadcasting similar class-of-user associations  76 . In one preferred embodiment, the control module  30  adapts the client device to listen passively on the network  12  for similar messages by filtering network messages based on interest/keyword class-of-user associations. In another preferred embodiment, the control module  30  adapts the client device to actively search the network  12  for broadcast messages that contain similar interest/keyword class-of-user associations defined for the user. 
     Once a message is received from another client device broadcasting similar interest/keyword class-of-user associations, in one preferred embodiment, the control module  30  retrieves  78  and verifies the validity of the received interest/keyword class-of-user association  78  using the verifier  72  (i.e., using certificates). If the message containing the interest/keyword class-of-user association is not credentialed  80 , the control module  30  awaits additional message notifications  76 . 
     If the message containing the interest/keyword class-of-user association is credentialed  80 , the control module  30  stores the message received in a log file  82 , which can be made accessible to the user in real-time or off-line for subsequent follow-up, and prompts the user of the client device to indicate whether additional communication with the message sender should be initiated  84 . 
     For example, in one preferred embodiment, the control module  30  prompts the client device user via a pop-up window on the screen  36  to indicate whether additional communication with the sender of the message is desired. The pop-up window can include information retrieved from the message including digital media, such as a photograph of the message sender, a location of the message sender, as well as other descriptive sender information. The client device user may respond and indicate his/her willingness or non-willingness to further the communication with the sender. 
     If the client device user does not wish to further the communication with the sender, the control module  30  prompts the client device user to indicate whether he/she wishes to be disconnected from the network  88 . If the client device user does not wish to be disconnected from the network, the control module  30  awaits additional messages notifications  76 . Otherwise, if the client device user wishes to be disconnected from the network, the control module  30  terminates the network connection  90 . 
     If the client device user wishes further communications with the message sender, in one preferred embodiment, the control module  30  establishes a Transport Layer Security (TLS) session between the message sending device and the client device over the wireless network  12 . Preferably, the TLS protocol provides a mechanism for (1) the generation and exchange of information which is used to ensure the identity of the sending and receiving devices, and (2) the secure exchange of security information (in one embodiment, cryptographic keys such as WEP/WPA keys, passphrase, etc.) between the two devices. Of course, it will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that other protocols can be used for the exchange of information between devices. 
     A number of embodiments of the invention have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, dedicated servers or virtual servers, collectively remote servers, may provide remote desktops and be organized or contained in various ways, and reside on multiple computers. Also, the steps described above may be modified in various ways or performed in a different order than described above, where appropriate. Accordingly, alternative embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.