Patent ID: 7310676

Claim:
Apparatus for identifying and introducing mobile device users to one another, wherein a given mobile device user has been registered by submitting given profile data, comprising: at least one processor; code executable on the processor (a) for receiving a message from a first mobile device user that the first mobile device user desires to be introduced at least one other mobile device user; (b) for initiating a request to identify a current location of the first mobile device user, (c) for receiving data identifying the location of the first mobile device user; (d) for determining, based on the given profile data, whether a second mobile device user is within intellectual proximity to the first mobile device user, wherein intellectual proximity is determined at least in part by relative management stratum of the first and second mobile device users, wherein management stratum is afforded a first weight when each of the first and second mobile device users expresses a specific business networking intent objective, and a second weight, less than the first weight, when each of the first and second mobile device users expresses a non-specific business networking intent objective, (e) when the first and second mobile device users are in intellectual proximity, for issuing a mutual collaboration opportunity message to each the first and second mobile device users to determine whether the first and second mobile device users desire to be introduced to one another, the mutual collaboration opportunity message masking personally identifying information, and (f) upon the first and second mobile device users agreeing to be introduced, for establishing a direct private messaging session between the first and second mobile device users.