GB2438453A

GB2438453A - Proximity based mobile chat

Info

Publication number: GB2438453A
Application number: GB0610389A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Carter
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-05-25
Filing date: 2006-05-25
Publication date: 2007-11-28
Also published as: GB0610389D0

Abstract

Mobile phone/pda/computer application for proximity based online conversation using text/voice/image (chat*). No base station signal is required and all communication is peer-to-peer, so no chat server is required. Users are anonymous and are identified only by a photo and a registered pseudonym. All users of the application within close proximity can be seen unless explicitly blocked. No information other than this is shared between users and users can only be seen when within range of other users. If one of the users goes out of range during a conversation then either user can send a single message via a centralised server. If the recepient responds communication can continue via this server, which ensures continued privacy if required. Otherwise all information concerning the remote peer is removed from the device and no further commuication is possible unless they come within range. * Chat refers to computer applications that allow users to communicate using a network protocol and centralised server to route data.

Description

Proximity Based Mobile Chat

DESCRIPTION

The invention relates to a peer-to-peer mobile application that allows anonymous users with-in the same proximity to converse without having to share private information.

Most chat based applications require a server, a network and an explicit list of contacts in or- der to function. However this application uses the devices radio frequency technology to al-low peer-to-peer communication with a dynamic list of contacts based on proximity, and without requiring a phone signal. Thus it can be used where no signal is available such as in an underground mass transport system or enclosed space. This allows people to communicate in a non-invasive way with persons that they would not normally initiate conversation, whilst preserving anonymity.

The invention is an application that can be run from any mobile device or computer and can communicate with all other devices running the same application. The application exploits built in peer-to-peer radio frequency technology to allow localised anonymous communica-tion. The nature of the peer-to-peer communication protocol, means that communication can only be initiated with users in close proximity, once users pass out of range of the protocol then they can no longer be referenced and no information is cached.

The invention does however allow for server based messaging to encourage further conversa-tion once users pass out of range. This would require users to register their pseudonyms and would also incur some kind of network costs. Anonymity is maintained through the use of the pseudonyms and users can also chose to block all further communication with a specific user.

Only one pseudonym can be registered for a phone to ensure that users cannot bypass the blocking feature by having multiple pseudonyms. Psuedonyms cannot be copied or entered manually.

Figure 1.0 shows the principal interface of the application running on a typical mobile device such as a portable telephone.

(1) shows that no phone signal is required to operate.

(2) shows the status of the owner of the phone. It displays the photo and pseudonym that will be communicated to all other users in the proximity.

(3) The users online status is also displayed so that they can easily see if they are visible within the peer-to-peer network and available to others for conversation. The status* can be available', busy' or invisbie'.

Proximity Based Mobile Chat (4) Below the users own profile, is a scrolling list of all other online users within proximity.

This list is available regardless of the users own status in (3).

(5). Each entry shows the remote users photo, pseudonym and their status (available or busy).

Note if the users has specified invisible or quit the application then their entry is not displayed.

(6) The user can select any profile if they are available' and request communication via the chat button (8). Otherwise if the user is busy they can choose to send a message via a central-ised server using the options menu (7) and selecting send message**.

fig 1.3 shows a remote user requesting communication. The device updates to show the re-mote user photo and pseudonym. In addition another clue may be given such as a ringing tone or vibration (if configured). If ignore' is chosen then no communication is initiated and no message is sent back. Thus the initiator is unaware whether they were explicity ignored or perhaps the user to whom they want to communicate is unaware of the request. Their only re-course of the initiator is to send a message via the centralised server. If however the accept button is clicked then the conversation is initiated.

fig 2.0 shows the interface once communication between two users is initiated.

The users own profile information is replaced by that of the remote user (1) and the list of re-mote users is replaced by a scrolling list of the exchanged messages (4).

Sent (2) and received (3) messages are stylised differently to clearly indicate to whom the message belongs. New messages are entered via the keypad and displayed in the input box (5). The text is sent to the remote user by selecting the send button (7).

The status of the remote user now indicates what they are doing i.e. writing to you by enter-ing text into the input box (5) or waiting for a response.

The options button (6) allows the user to stop the chat, add the pseudonym to a list of favour- ites, block the remote user from seeing them regardless of status or to send a server mes-sage.The favourites list only allows messages to be sent via the server. Blocking ensures both proximity and server based messages are refused. z

Proximity Based Mobile Chat If communication is lost because one of the users moves out of range of the peer-to-peer net-work then the initiator is presented with the possibility of sending a server based message in order to facilitate future conversation.

NOTE: The above example uses text communication, however the invention could include other communication mechanisms such as audio/image or video.

* available' allows other users to request peer-to-peer comunication. busy' allows other users to see your profile but only to send server based messages. invisble' allows the user to see other users in the proximity and to initiate communication, but does not allow other users to see them.

**sending messages requires users to register via centralised server and will incur network costs. In addition the message is not sent in real time and may be delayed as a phone signal will be required.

Claims

Proximity Based Mobile Chat

CLAIMS

1. Uses peer-to-peer radio frequency technology to allow person to person communica-tion where no antenna based RF signal is presen,via a computing device.

2. The network of available persons is limited via proximity and online status, and in ad-dition no private information is shared or cached between devices.

3. The peer-to-peer chat does not require a centralised server or fixed contact list in or- der to function. All peers are equal and can either be initiators or recepients of com-munication from others.

4. Users can choose to continue further communication via a centralised server whilst still ensuring anonymity when out of range of peer-to-peer network.

5. The application can run on a wide range of different phone/pda or mobile devices and all underyling RF and server technology is rendered invisible to end users.