The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 17, 2009
Filed:
Dec. 22, 2005
Pascal Chesnais, Sudbury, MA (US);
Sean Wheeler, Boston, MA (US);
Steven Pomeroy, Chestnut Hill, MA (US);
Pascal Chesnais, Sudbury, MA (US);
Sean Wheeler, Boston, MA (US);
Steven Pomeroy, Chestnut Hill, MA (US);
Other;
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for gathering, organizing and displaying contact information in a mobile communications network. In one embodiment, a method for operating a mobile communication network includes an information server and a mobile communications device coupled to the service via a wireless connection. The method comprises transmitting a location identifier message including a current location from the mobile communications device to the server via the wireless link. The mobile device also transmits a list of contacts to the server via the wireless link. The contacts are matched with the location using a location database maintained for other mobile communications devices in order to generate a list of proximate users. Alternatively, the contact list can be based upon cognitive or psychographic proximity (versus merely physical proximity). The list of proximate users is transmitted to the mobile communications device, and the list is displayed in an easily perceived fashion based on user preferences.