WO2010127892A2

WO2010127892A2 - Establish relation

Info

Publication number: WO2010127892A2
Application number: PCT/EP2010/053241
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tommy Jonsson; Dennis Korkchi
Original assignee: BLOO AB
Current assignee: BLOO AB
Priority date: 2009-05-05
Filing date: 2010-03-15
Publication date: 2010-11-11
Anticipated expiration: 2011-11-05
Also published as: WO2010127892A3

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and a system to establish a geographical relation between participating devices (p1, p2). A server (1) is holding a first list (111) representing participating devices, At least one searching device (s1, s2, s3) is performing a search for MAC-addresses belonging to other devices (d1, d2, d3, d4) within the reach of the searching device (s1, s2, 23), the searching device <s1, s2, s3) is sending a search result (r1 r2, r3) containing the MAC-addresses belonging to found devices to the server (1), and the server includes the searching device (s1, s2, s3) as a found device in the received search result r1', r2', r3'). The server (1) is forming a group (g1) of found devices comprising the search result (r1', r2', r3') received from each searching device (s1, s2, s3) and any previously received search result (r4'} where a match of MAC- address is found between at least one found device in respective search result, and the server (1) considers participating devices (p1, p2, p3, pn) to be geographically related to each other if the MAC-address of respective participating device is found in the same group (g1) of found devices.

Description

geographical relation between participating devices. The present invention also relates to a server, a device and a computer program product according to the snverro

It is previously known to connect and match people with mutual interests or matching features over different means of communication through technology based networking. It is known to use a central or local searching device which is adapted to recognise a participating device and to provide means for communication between the recognised participating device and any other previously recognised participating devices.

Patent publication US 2005/0038876 describes a system where people using portable devices can set up a per-to~peer network as the portable devices recognise other participating portable devices to set up communication sessions through the created peer-to-peer network. The range of finding and identifying another participating device is extended from one participating device to ail participating devices within the same peer-to-peer network so that two participating devices out of range from each other still can find each other if they both are within the same peer-to-peer network. it is known to use different ways of positioning a mobile device, such as using GPS, GSM cellular phone triangulatϊon and Wifi positioning. But all of these methods have their disadvantages.

GPS positioning can be relatively slow, although A-GPS helps decrease the query time. However, GPS requires visual contact with satellites, which means that it has limited use for indoor operation. GPS also consumes quite a lot of battery capacity. Moreover, only a few percent of all mobile phones devices worldwide today have a built-in GPS module.

GSM cellular phone triaπgulation can be applied to all mobile phones, and it only consume insignificant amount of battery capacity. However, telecom operators normally take out a fee for triangulating a mobile device, but more importantly, triaπgulation does not give good enough geographical accuracy. The accuracy varies greatly in different geographical areas, and can be as bad as several kilometres, Not all telecom operator support triangulation.

Wifi positioning is free of charge, but it can only be applied to mobile phones that have a Wits module, leaving the great majority of mobile devices out oi the scope. It is also dependent on public databases that keep information about the geographic location of Wsfϊ routers all around the world. These databases are not complete and must regularly be updated as Wifi routers are substituted and moved, The accuracy of Wifi positioning is also questionable. For scenarios where geographical closeness is required rather than geographical position, none of the above methods are very wet! suited, especially when a broad mobile device handset support is wanted.

It is aiso known to use Media Access Control (MAC) addresses of a device, or of the network communications part of a device, to uniquely identify the device in communication appiications.

Taking the field the invention and the background art into consideration it is a problem to establish a geographical relation between participating devices, o users of participating devices, without having to depend on GPS positioning, GSI cellular phone triangulation or Wifr positioning and still be able to support the

It is a problem to identity a participating device if the participating device is outside the range of any other participating device or out of range from any searching device.

It is a problem to find means for identifying any communications device, regardless of if the device is a mobile phone, a laptop computer, a stationary computer or any other means for communication, and regardless of how the device communicates with other devices. it is a problem to establish groups of found devices that are not limited to the devices being geographically close to each other, but where it is possible to set up a group of geographically distributed devices, but where these devices have some other mutual position, for instance al! being in the subway system but not necessarily on the same train, all being in a supermarket, but not necessarily the same supermarket, or all sitting in a bar, but not necessarily the same bar

It is also a problem not only to establish the geographical relation between devices, but also to establish a geographical relation in time between devices.

It is a problem to connect a user to a participating device, and to relate a

It is also a problem to relate participating devices to each other belonging to user with a common interest or other shared characteristic,

It is a problem to offer a possible connection between users of participating devices without revealing the true identity of respective user, or even the identity of the respective participating devices, and thus preserving the personal integrity or anonymity of the users of participating devices.

It is also a problem to set up and enable a communication between users of participating devices without revealing the trui even the identity of the respective participating devices.

With the purpose of solving one or more of the above indicated problems, and from the standpoint of the above indicated field of invention, the present invention teaches that a geographical relation between participating devices can be established by going through the steps of:

- at least one searching device performing a search for MAC-addresses belonging to other devices within the reach of the searching device,

- the at least one searching device sending a search result containing the MAC-addresses belonging to found devices to a server,

- said server including the searching device as a found device in the

- said server forming a group of found devices comprising the search result received from each searching device and any previously received search result where a match of MAC-address is found between at least one found device in respective search result, and

- the server considering participating devices to be related to each other if the MAC-address of respective participating device is found In the same group of which first list represents participating The first list comprises the identity of the user device and the fviAG-address of respective participating device, where the identity characteristics of the user, such as a user ID, a I address. The present invention teaches that the searching device can be a

devices can provide a search result representing found devices in the vicinity of the specific location.

discoverable to searching devices through a search for MAC-addresses, and which can be included as a found device in a search result.

In the case of using stationary or even mobile searching devices to get a constant knowledge of what devices that are found in the vicinity of the search device it is proposed that the server is holding a second list, which second list represents searching devices and/or passive devices and comprising at feast the MAC-address of respective searching device.

It is also proposed that a predefined set of searching devices and/or passive devices are all being a part of the group of found devices if any one

and/or passive devices is a found device in the group of found devices. In this way a distributed set of searching devices can form a set of devices belonging to the same group of found devices if any one of the devices in the set is found. w*^{th the} purpose of providing not only a geographical relation between found devices but also a relation in time, it is proposed that the server adds a time- stamp to MAC-addresses in received search results indicating when the search result was received, that the server stores incoming search results with time- stamps in a third list, and considers devices to be geographically related to each other if respective time-stamp of matched MAC-addresses indicates that the search results for these devices where received within a predefined time limit.

It is also possible that the searching device adds a time-stamp indicating when respective found device was found, and includes the time-stamps in the result sent to the server, where the server considers devices to be geographically related to each other if respective time-stamp of matched IVtAG-addresses indicates that the devices where found within a predefined time limit.

It is Important that different searching devices and the server have the same apprehension of time, so if the searching device adds the time-stamp, then is proposed that the searching device synchronises its apprehension of time with the server, which synchronisation can be done according to a specific synchronisation schedule or whenever the searching device communicates with

The present invention proposes a set up procedure for participating devices, where the server stores a profile for the user of respective participating device in the first list, the user profile including an identity of the user, and the MAC-address of the participating device.

It is also possible to allow the user profile to comprise user features such as gender, age or civi! status, used credit card company, brand of car, football fan

also possible that the user profile comprises a picture of the user.

It is proposed that a requesting participating device, that is a belonging to a user that wants to establish a geographical relation to another participating device and its user, sends a request to the server regarding a The server makes a lookup to find out if any other participating device can be considered to be geographically related to the requesting participating device, if one or several other participating devices can be considered to be geographically related to the requesting participating device, the server responds to the requesting participating device with at least part of the profile of respective user of the one or several other participating devices.

Sn order to provide a possibility to establish geographical relations between users with similar interests or other mutual characteristics it is proposed that the includes specific features belonging to a user ing participating of the profiles of user:

It is also possible that the user profile of the user of the requesting participating device includes a specific feature of the user and that the server only with at least part of the profile of users devices matching the specific feature specified in the user profile of the user of

It Is proposed that where the user of the requesting participating device wishes a contact with the user of the other participating device, the requesting participating device sends a message intended for the other device to the server, and the server forwards the message to the other device together with at least part of the user profile related to the requesting participating device.

When the other participating device receives a message from the server concerning communication with a requesting participating device, it is proposed that the other participating device receives the message form the server, and, if the user of the other participating device so wishes, the other participating device sends a responding message intended for the requesting participating device to

participating device. It is thus proposed that requesting participating device and the other participating device can with each other via the server, the server acting as a proxy, without rβvealin Ie identity of either

re

With the purpose of allowing a user to be available for contacts according to the present invention or not it is proposed that a visibility indicator in the first list shows if a participating device wishes to be visible to requesting participating devices or not.

A participating device can also choose to block another participating device, and thereby making the blocking participating device invisible to the blocked participating device while still being visible to other participating devices by means of a blocking indicator in a fourth list, which blocking indicator specifies both the blocked participating device and the blocking participating device.

The communication can be made by means of text messages, multimedia

search for MAC-addresses through any interface available to the searching device, such as the search for a Bluetooth MAC-ad dress, a Wifi MAC-address, a Zigbee MAC-address, or an Ethernet IVIAC-address. It is proposed respective searching device or participating device communicates with the server in any way available to respective device, where the message is transformed to the Internet Protocol (IP) standard before reaching the server regardless of which means of communication that is used, and that any message from the server to any participating device is transformed from IP to whatever means of communication receiving device is using, where most mobile devices wiH communicate over some kind of radio network, such as EDGE, GPRS, 3G or LTE.

It is proposed that participating devices can be mobile devices or stationary devices.

The advantages of a method, system, a server, a device or any computer program product according to the present invention are that determination of geographic closeness between devices, and in special cases also positioning of devices is possible without having to rely on GPS positioning, GSM cellular triangυiation or Wlfi positioning. The present invention can use any means of communication to identify a device, in the process of identifying devices that are close to each other, the Invention is not limited to it finding devices that communicate according to the same protocol.

The present invention provides a possibility to establish communication between users that are related in position and also in some mutual interest or other specified feature, while stall maintaining the personal integrity of the users.

Br

A method, a system, a server, a device and a computer program product according to the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic and simplified illustration of a method and system according to the present invention,

Figure 2 is a schematic and simplified illustration of a fsrst list representing participating devices,

Figure 3 is a schematic and simplified illustration of searching devices grouped into sets of searching devices, Figure 4 is a schematic and simplified illustration of a third fist representing search results including time stamps for when

Figure 5 is a schematic and simplified illustration of how communication is set up between a requesting participating device and

The present invention will now be described with ing a method to establish a geographical relation between

A server 1 is holding a first list 111 , this first list representing participating devices p1 , p2, p3, .... pn, the first list 111 being illustrated in figure 2. These devices can be any device through which a user can communicate with other users, such as a mobile telephone, a mobile computer or even a stationary computer^, These participating devices all have some means of communication and they also have unique MAC-addresses MACpI ₁ MACp2, MACpS₁ .... MACpπ. The present invention also teaches that there are searching devices s1 , s2, s3 that searches for any device within the reach X1 , X2, X3 of its means of communication where it is possible to scan and read the MAC-ad dress of devices

MAC-addresses are known to be a unique identification of a hardware device in a network environment and it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to any specific MAC~address, and that any kind of unique hardware identification in the form o a MAC-adress can be used regardless of if it is a Bluetooth MAC-address a, Will MAC-address (!EEE 802.11), an Ethernet MAG-address (IEEE 802,3), a or a Zigbee MAC-address (IEEE 802,15.4), or any other MAC^~address. In the practica! implementation of the use of MAC-addresses they are not always unique, but in combination with further parameters, such as country code, they are always unique and for the purpose of this invention the MAC-address shall be interpreted as a Mac-address alone or a Mac-address in combination with any further parameter. The method comprises the following steps:

At least one searching device s1 is performing a search for MAC- addresses belonging to other devices d1 , d2, d3 within the reach of the searching device s1. The at least one searching device s1 is sending a search result r1 containing the MAC-acfdressea MACdI , MAGd2, MACd3 belonging to found devices d1 , d2, d3 to the server 1 ,

The server 1 is including the searching device s1 as a found device in received search result r1\ The server 1 may receive results r1 , r2, r3 from several different searching devices s1 , s2, s3, and each searching device s1 , s2, s3 will be included in respective search result ιT, r2', r3^! by the server 1.

The server 1 is forming a group g1 of found devices comprising the search result received from each searching device s1 , s2_R s3 and any previously received search result r4' where a match of MAC-address is found between at least one found device in respective search result. In the figure it can be seen that IvIACdI in ιT is the same as MACsS in r3\ since the found device d1 also is the searching device s3. In the same way it can be seen that MACd2 in r1' is the same as MACs2 in r2^!, since the found device d2 also is the searching device s2_,

The server also have a result r4' from a previously received search result from a searching device s4 with searching reach X4. Here it can be seen that MACdS in r4' is the same as MACdS in r3^!.

This means that since matches of IVIAC-addresses could be found between the results r1^!, r2\ r3' and τ4' the server is forming the group g1 comprising a!! of these search results, that is MACdI ₁ MACd2, MACdS, MACd4, MACdS, MACsi and MACs4. AIi of these are thus grouped together as found devices even though for instance found device d3 and searching device s4 are out of range from each other when it comes to recognise or find each other through searches for MAC-addresses. In the exampie shown in figure 1 the found device d3 is the participating device p1 and the searching device s4 is the participating device p3. It is also possible to use so called passive devices d , which device is only available to be found by any searching device, but which passive device is not itself acting as a searching device, In figure 1 found device d5 is a passive device d which can be found by searching devices and thus bridge the results from different searching devices, Groups of found devices g are stored in the memory unit 11.

If is also possible to use a time condition showing how close in time the different found devices were found, which condition can be used to decide if found devices can be grouped together. Such time condition will be described in more

The present invention also comprises the step of the server 1 considering participating devices to be geographically related to each other if the MAOaddress of respective participating device is found in the same group of found devices, q that since the MAC-addrβssβs of particit

Figure 2 illustrates that the first list 111 comprises the identity ID1 , !D2, ID3, ,„,, IDn of the user of respective participating device p1 , p2, p3, ..., pn and the MAC-address !WfACpI ₁ MACp2, MACpS₁ ,.., IWlACprs of respective participating device, where the identity is something that uniquely identifies the user, such as a User ID, a mobile phone number or an e-mail address. It should be understood that the first list may include several different means for identification for one user, such as both the e-mail address and a User iD for the same user. As can be seen in figure 1 the searching device s4 can be a participating device p3_s meaning that whenever a user with a participating device would like to check for any other participating devices, the participating device belonging to the user can act as a searching device and start a search for other participating devices, which in the exemplifying embodiment shown in figure 1 shows that the participating device p3 found the participating device p1 by acting as a searching device s4, it is thus possible that participating devices find each other and can establish a communication with each other without the use of any device that is only a searching device, such as s1 in figure 1. If searching device s2 and found device d4 were both participating devices in figure 1 then search result r2 from searching device s2 would be enough for these two participating devices be considered geographicaliy related by the server 1.

The searching device and the passive device can be a stationary device on a specific location. This is useful in restaurants, clubs, stores, subway trains and subway stations or any other place where it can be interesting to have a good, fast and updated knowledge of nearby participating devices. A stationary searching device or passive device can also provide an exact geographical location for participating devices without the use of GPS positioning, GSM cellular tπangulation or Wifϊ positioning.

It is proposed that the server 1 is holding a second list 112, which second ϋst represents searching devices s1', s2', s3\ s4\ .... sm¹ and possible passive devices Cl ₁ c2, ..., ck and comprises at least the MAC-address MACsI', MACs2\

searching device s1\ s2", s3\ s4', ,.., sm' and passive device c1 , c2, .... ck, Figure 3 shows that it is proposed to establish a predefined set of searching devices or passive devices, where the figure shows a first set A1 comprising the searching devices si¹, s2' and s3^f and passive device c2, and a second set A2 comprising the searching devices s4' and srn' and passive device ck. It is proposed that all searching devices and passive devices belonging to the same set of searching devices and passive devices are considered as being a part of the group of found devices if any one searching device or passive device of the predefined set of searching devices and passive devices is a found device. The area within which found devices are considered to be geographically related to

Figure 3 also shows that the second predefined set of searching devices and passive devices A2 shows that this makes it possible to form groups of found devices that are considered to be geographically related to each other even if they are not geographically close to each other, since the searching device s4' is geographically far away from the searching device sm¹ and a found device d1', found by the searching device s4' is in the same group of found devices as the found device ά2\ found by the searching device sm'.

a subway system are grouped together as one set of searching devices, then all participating devices that are found by any searching device on any train can be considered geographically related to each other even if they are geographically far away from each other on different trains in different parts of the subway system.

Another example of a set of devices can be searching devices or passive devices positioned in coffee houses of a certain chain, say Starbucks^®, around the world where found devices in any Starbucks^® coffee house would be considered as geographically related to each other by the server 1 ,

In order to establish not only if two found participating devices are geographicaϋy related to each other through their position, it is also required that they are found within a certain time from each other to establish if they are geographically related to each other. Figure 4 shows an example of a third list 113 where the server stores received results r1^!, r2\ r3\ r4^! and thereto belonging found devices with respective MAC-addresses. The present invention teaches that the server 1 is adding a time-stamp t5, f6, t7 to MAC-addresses in received search results r2\ r3\ r4' indicating when the search result was received. The incoming search results are stored with time-stamps in the third list 113, and the server 1 is grouping found devices together in the same group, that is considering devices to be geographically related to each other, if respective time-stamp of matched MAC- addresses indicates that the search results for these devices where received within a predefined time limit dt, where the time limit dt is the difference in time

Figure 4 also shows that it is possible that the searching device s1 is adding a time-stamp t1\ t2\ t3' indicating when respective found device d1 , d2, d3 was found, and including the time-stamps In the result r1 sent to the server 1. This means that different found devices presented within the same search result r1 may have been found by the search device at different points in time, and thus have mutually different time-stamps t1\ t2\ t3' even though they are presented in the same search result r1. It is possible that the server will set the time stamp t4 on the search device s1 in the search result r1', where this time stamp 14 would represent when the result r1 was received by the server 1.

The server 1 is stiS! considering devices to be geographically related to each other if respective time-stamp of matched MAC-addresses indicates that the devices where found within a predefined time limit, regardless of if the time-stamp was added by the server 1 or by the searching device s2. The time limit dt can be set to different values for different implementations of the present invention. If two participating devices are found on the same ship on a one week cruise, then they can be considered geographically related to each other even if they are found within a time limit dt of several days. In the same way the time limit dt for a dance club might be 1 hour and the time limit dt for a subway station may be 3 minutes.

It is important to understand that the server can form several groups of found devices depending on if they are found within the same time limit dt or not and store these groups g in the memory unit 11. it is thus possible that the server holds groups g representing different geographical relations between found devices, it is also possible that different groups are representing different time stamps and thereto belonging time difference dt for one and the same geographical relation, or that found devices are considered as belonging to a group and is allowed to remain in that group depending on if the device is recognised again as a found device in the group again as time goes by, so that

belonging to the group are found again , new devices are found or old devices are no longer found. Again, time limits for how frequently a device must be found to remain in a group is set and decided depending on the implementation of the

The fatter embodiment where the searching device s2 adds the time stamp is advantageous if the searching device s1 is in a condition where it sometimes Is hard to establish communication with the server 1 , such as if the searching device s1 is a mobile device. In this case the searching device cai different devices d1 _« d2, d3, add a time-stamp indicating when the devices d1 , d2_s d3 were found, and send the search result r1 to the server at a later moment in time when communication with the server 1 can be established.

If the searching device s1 sets the time-stamps it is important that the searching device s1 is synchronising its apprehension of time with the server 1 , which can be done according to a schedule or whenever the searching device s1 communicates with the server 1 for any purpose.

devices, where the server 1 stores a profife for the user of respective participating device p1 , p2, p3, ..,, pn in the first list 111 according to figure 2, the user profile including an identity ID1 , ID2, ID3, ... IDn of the user, and the fviAC-address of the

The user profile may also comprise user features f 1 , f2, f3, ..., fn, f 1, f2, f3, .... fn, f 1 , f'2, f'3, ..., f'n, such as gender, age, civil status, used credit card company, brand of car, football fan dub, religious denomination, interests, and

Figure 5 illustrates that when a user wants to see if any other users are nearby, or if a geographical relation can be established with any other participating device, the user can activate his/her participating device p1 to function as a requesting participating device rp1 sending a request 51 to the server 1 regarding a lookup. The server 1 is then making a lookup 52 to find out if any other

requesting participating device rp1 , and, if one or several other participating devices p2 can be considered to be geographically related to the requesting participating device rp1 , the server is responding 53 to the requesting participatinc device rp1 with at least part of the profile of respective user of the one or several

With "at least part of the profile" is meant that the information regarding the user of the participating device can be limited to include only a part of the user profile depending on the implementation of the present invention.

The user of the requesting participating device rp1 may control the request 51 so that the request is including specific features f1, f 1 , f "1 belonging to the user profile of the user of the requesting participating device rp1 , and the server is then responding only with at least part of the profiles of users of participating devices matching the specific feature f2, f2, f '2. This means that the user of the requesting profile can iimit the request to only one feature f 1 , for instance which football dub the user belongs to, and the response 53 will only present participating devices belonging to user belonging to the same football club. ft ^s also possible to set the server 1 so that it is responding to the request only with at least part of the profile of users of participating devices matching a specific feature specified in the user profile of the user of the requesting participating device, meaning that the user can have a predefined setting in the server specifying what feature from his/her user profile the server should use to match with other user profiles.

These predefined settings can be for instance that a user wants the feature marital status "single" to be matched when a search for other devices is

a search for other devices is made during lunch time on a working day. If the user of the requesting participating device rp1 wishes a contact with

for the other participating device p2 to the server 1 , and the server 1 is the message 55 to the other s participating device p2 together with at iart of the user profile related to the requesting participating device rpl

The other participating device p2 receives the message 55 form the server 1, and, if the user of the other participate g device p2 so wishes, the other

io requesting participating device rp1 to the server 1 , and the server 1 forwards the responding message 56 to the requesting participating device rp1 , whereby the requesting participating device rp1 and the other participating device p2 communicates 56 with each other via the server 1 , the server acting as a proxy, without revealing any traceable identity of either participating device to the other

I5 participating device.

It is proposed that a participating device can indicate if it wishes to be visible to requesting participating devices or not by means of a visibility indicator v in the first list 111 , as indicated in figure 2.

Figure 8 shows a fourth list 114 comprising a blocking indicator b through 0 which it is possible that a participating device can chose to block another participating device, and thereby making the blocking participating device invisible to the blocked participating device while still being visible to other participating devices, which blocking indicator specifies both the blocked participating device and the blocking participating device. Figure 6 illustrates schematically that 5 blocking indie

by participating device p5. The fourth list can be stored in the memory unit 11 , thus being available to the server 1 ,

The invention is not limited to different forms of communication; rather any form of communication that can be managed by respective participating device can be used, such as text messages, multimedia messages, or voice messages.

The searching device can perform the search for MAC-addresses through any interface available to the searching device, such as a Bluetooth MAC-address, a Wifi IvlAC-addnsss, a Zigbee MAC-address, or an Ethernet MAC-address. Respective searching device or participating device communicates with the server in any way available to respective device, where the message is transformed to the Internet Protocol (IP) standard before reaching the server regardless of which means of communication that is used, and any message from the server to any participating device is transformed from IP to whatever means of communication receiving device is using, where most mobile devices will communicate over some kind of radio network, such as EDGE, GPRS, 3G or LTE.

The participating device is usually a mobite device carried around by the user; however, it is also possible that the participating device is a stationary

different functions. The participating device p1 , p3 in figure 1 can thus be a requesting device and a searching device. In figure 1 there is also a searching device S1 which is just that; a searching device with the purpose of being positioned in a place to enlarge and bridge the searching area of other devices nearby. Such searching device can be both stationary and mobile, such as a stationary computer in a shopping centre or a mobile device carried by personnel in the shopping centre. A passive device d can be either a stationary device, such as a Bluetooth chip positioned stationary at the entrance into a building, or a mobile device, such as a device carried by a person in that building. A participating device can also take the role of a passive device in an implementation of the present invention where the user of this participating device chooses to deactivate the function as a participating device but maintain the function of passive device in order to provide this service to other nearby searching devices. In the same way, any device, mobile or stationary, which is discoverable to other devices through a search for MAC-addresses, for instance by having Bluetooth activated, is acting as a passive device without knowing it.

We will now describe an inventive system A adapted to establish a geographical relation between participating devices p1 , p2, p3, which system A comprises a server 1 , which comprises a memory unit 11 adapted to hold a first list 111 , said first list 111 being adapted to represent participating devices p1 , p2, p3, ..., pn.

The system A also comprises at least one searching device s1 , s2, s3, s4 adapted to perform a search for MAC-addresses belonging to other devices d1 , d2, d3, d4₃ c!5 within the reach X1 , X2, X3, X4 of the respective searching device s1 , s2, s3, s4. A found device can be a passive device d adapted to only be available to be found by any nearby searching device s3, s4.

The at least one searching device s1 , s2, s3 is adapted to send a search result M ₁ 2, r3 containing the MAC-addresses MACdI , mACd2, JVJACd3, MACd4, MACdS belonging to found devices d1 , d2, d3, d4, d5 to the server 1 , the server is adapted to include the searching device s1 , s2, s3 as a found device in the received search result M¹, r2', r3^!, and the server is adapted to form a group g1 of found devices comprising the search result M¹,

r3^! received from each searching device s1 , s2, s3 and any previously received search result r4^! where a

MACs4 is found between at least one found device in respective search result.

The server 1 is adapted to consider participating devices p1 , p2, p3, .... pn from the first list 111 to be geographically related to each other if the MAC-address of respective participating device is found in the same group g1 of found devices, As shown in figure 2, it is proposed that the first list 111 is adapted to

device p1 , p2, p3, .... pn and the MAC-address MACpI _s MACp2, MACpS, .... MACpn of respective participating device p1 , p2, p3, .... pn,

It is possible that the searching device s1 is a stationary searching device or that it is a participating device p1 acting as a searching device s3. it is proposed that the system may comprise one or several passive devices, adapted to be discoverable to searching devices through a search for MAC-addresses, and to be included as a found device in a search result if found.

The searching device s1 or a passive device c1 may aiso be a stationary device on a specific location.

The memory unit 11 is adapted to hold a second list 112, which second list is adapted to represent searching devices s1 , s2, s3, ,.., sm and possible passive devices d , c2, .... ck, and to comprise at least the MAC-address of respective searching device and passive device. Figure 3 illustrates that the server 1 is adapted to consider a predefined set A1 of searching devices st, s2', s3^! and passive device c2 as being a part of the group of found devices If any one searching device si¹, s2', s3^! or passive device c1 of the predefined set A1 of searching devices and passive devices is a found device. Figure 4 illustrates that the server 1 is adapted to add a time-stamp 14, tδ, t^β, t7 to MAC-addresses in received search results r2\ r3', r4' indicating when the search result was received. The memory unit 11 is adapted to store incoming search results a\ r3^!, r4" with time-stamps in a third list 113, and the server 1 is

5 adapted to consider the found devices to be geographically related to each other if respective time-stamp of the matched MAC-addresses indicates that the search results where received within a predefined time limit.

It is aiso possible that the searching device s1 is adapted to add a time- stamp t1\ Ϊ2\ t3^! indicating when respective found device d1 , d2, d3 was found,

⁾ and to include the time-stamps in the result ii sent to the server 1.

The server 1 is adapted to consider devices to be geographically related to each other if respective time-stamp of matched MAC-addresses indicates that the devices where found within a predefined time limit, regardless of if the time-stamp was added by the server 1 or by the searching device s1.

^J If the searching device s1 is adapted to add the time stamp t1 ', t2\ t3' it is important that the searching device s1 is adapted to synchronise its apprehension of time with the server 1.

The server 1 can be adapted to perform a set up procedure for participating devices p1 , p2, p3 pn, where the server 1 is adapted to store a profile for the user of respective participating device p1 , p2, p3, .... pn in the first list 111 in the memory unit 11 , as indicated by figure 2, and where the user profile is adapted to include the identity ID1 , ID2, ID3, .... IDn of the user, and the MAC- address MACpI , MAGP2, MACp3, .... MACpn of the respective participating

The user profile may also be adapted to comprise user features f, f , f ' such as gender, age or civil status, used credit card company, brand of car, football fan club, religious denomination, interests and other characteristics or affiliations.

Figure 5 shows that a requesting participating device rp1 is adapted to send a request 51 to the server 1 regarding a lookup, that the server 1 , on receipt on such request 51 , is adapted to make a lookup 52 to find out if any other participating device can be considered to be geographically related to the requesting participating device rp1 , and that, if one or several other participating devices p2 can be considered to be geographically related to the requesting participating device rp1 , the server 1 is adapted to respond 53 to the requesting /ice rp1 wi

ticipating devsce rpi may be adapted to me ig to a user profile of the user of the requesting participating device rp1 in the request 51 , and the server 1 may then be adapted to respond part of the profiles f2 of users of participating devices p2

The server 1 may also be adapted to respond 53 to the request 51 only with at least part of the profile f 2 of users of participating devices pZ matching a specific feature f 1 specified in the user profile of the user of the requesting

The requesting participating device rpi may be adapted to send a je 54 intended for the other device p2 to the server 1 if the user of the requesting participating device rp1 wishes a contact with the user of the other participating device p2, and the server 1 is adapted to forward 55 the message the other device p2 together with at ieast part of the user profile related to the

The other participating device p2 is adapted to receive the message 55 form the server 1 , and the other participating device p2 is adapted to send a responding message 56, if the user of the other participating device p2 so wishes, intended for the requesting participating device rp1 to the server 1 , which server 1 Is adapted to forward the responding message 58 to the requesting participating device ιp1 , whereby the requesting participating device rp1 and the other participating device p2 are adapted to communicate with each other via the server 1 , the server 1 being adapted to act as a proxy, without revealing any traceabte identity of either participating device to the other participating device,

Figure 2 illustrates that the server can be adapted to allow a participating device to indicate if it wishes to be visible to requesting participating devices or not by means of a visibility indicator v in the first list 111 , figure 2 schematically illustrating that the user of participating devices p1 and p3 wishes to be visible to other participating devices.

Figure 6 shows that the memory unit 11 can be adapted to hold a fourth list 114» and that the server can be adapted to allow a participating device to block another participating device, whereby the btocking participating device will be invisible to the blocked participating device while still being visible to other participating devices through the fourth list 114 comprising a blocking indicator b, which blocking indicator b specifies both the blocked participating device and the blocking participating device. Figure 6 il[ustrates schematically that blocking indicator b indicates that participating device p1 is blocked by participating device

adapted to communicate 58 via the server by means of text messages, multimedia

The searching device is adapted to perform the search for MAC- addresses through any interface available to the searching device, such as a Bluetooth MAC-address, a Wifi MAC-address, a Zigbee MAC-address, or an Ethernet MAC-address.

The searching device and participating device is adapted to communicate with the server in any way available to respective device, where the message is transformed to the Internet Protocol (IP) standard before reaching the server regardless of which means of communication that is used, and any message from the server to any participating device is transformed from IP to whatever means of communication receiving device is using, where most mobile devices are adapted to communicate over some kind of radio network, such as EDGE₁ GPRS, 3G or LTE.

It is proposed that the participating device is a stationary device or a mobiie device. It shall also be understood that one and the same device can be adapted to have different functions. The participating device p1 , p3 in figure 1 can thus be a adapted to function as requesting device and a searching device, in figure 1 there is aiso a searching device S1 which is adapted to be Just that; a searching device with the purpose of being positioned in a place to eniarge and bridge the searching area of other devices nearby. Both a stationary and mobiie device can be adapted to function as such searching device, such as a stationary computer in a shopping centre or a mobiie device carried by personnel in the shopping centre. Both a stationary device, such as a Biuetooth chip positioned stationary at the entrance into a building, or a mobile device, such as a device carried by a person in that building, can be adapted to function as a passive device d . A participating device can also be adapted to take the role of a passive device in an implementation of the present invention where the user of this participating device chooses to deactivate the function as a participating device but maintain the function of passive device in order to provide this service to the system and other nearby searching devices. In the same way, the system is adapted to use any device, mobile or stationary, which is discoverable to searching devices through a search for MAC-addressβs, for instance by having Bluetooth activated, to function as a passive device without the device knowing it, The present Invention also relates to a server adapted to function as a server 1 in an inventive system A as described above.

The present invention aiso relates to a device adapted to function as a searching device s1 in an inventive system A as described above.

The present invention also relates to a device adapted to function as a participating device p1 in an inventive system as described above.

The present invention aiso relates to a computer program product B1 comprising computer program code Br, which when executed, enables a computer to perform the steps of a participating device P1 according the inventive

The present invention aiso relates to a computer program product B2 comprising computer program code B2^P, which when executed, enables a computer to perform the steps of a searching device S1 according the inventive

The present invention aiso relates to a computer program product BΞ comprising computer program code B3⁽, which when executed, enables a computer to perform the steps of a server according to the inventive method

It will be understood that the invention is not restricted to the aforede- scribed and iilustrated exemplifying embodiments thereof and that modifications can be made within the scope of the inventive concept as iϋustrated in the accompanying Claims.

Claims

1. A method to establish a geographical relation between participating devices, characterised in, a server holding a first list, said first list representing participating devices, at least one searching device performing a search for MA< addresses belonging to other devices within the reach of said searching device, said at least one searching device sending a search result containing the MAC-

searching device as a found device in said received search result, said server forming a group of found devices comprising the search result received from each searching device and any previously received search result where a match of MAOaddress is found between at least one found device in respective search result, and said server considering participating devices to be geographically related to each other if the MAC-address of respective participating device is found in the same group of found devices.

2. A method according to claim 1 , characterised in, said first list comprising the identity of the user of respective participating device and the MAC-address of

3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in, said searching device being a participating device.

4. A method according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in, said searching device being a stationary device on a specific location.

5. A method according to any preceding claim, characterised in, that a passive device is a device which is discoverable to searching devices through ε search for MAC-addresses, and can be included as a found device in a search

It.

6. A method according to any preceding claim, characterised in, said server holding a second list, said second list representing searching devices and/or passive devices and comprising at least the MAC-address of respective searching device and/or passive device.

7. A method according to c!

devices if any one searching device and/or passive device of said predefined set of searching devices and/or passive devices is a found device.

8. A method according to any preceding claim, characterised In, said server !0 adding a time-stamp to MAC-addresses in received search results indicating when said search resuit was received, storing incoming search results with time-stamps in a third list, and considering devices to be geographically related to each other if respective time-stamp of said matched MAC-addresses indicates that the search resuits for these devices where received within a predefined time limit.

15

9. A method according to any preceding claim, characterised in, said searching device adding a time-stamp indicating when respective found device was found, and including said time-stamps in said result sent to said server, and said server considering devices to be geographically related to each other if 0 respective time-stamp of said matched MAC-addresses indicates that the devices where found within a predefined time limit.

10. A method according to claim 9, characterised in, said searching device synchronising its apprehension of time with said server, 5

11. A method according to any preceding claim, characterised in, a set up procedure for participating devices, where said server stores a profile for the user of respective participating device in said first list, said user profile including an Identity of said user, and the MAC-address of said participating device. 0

12. A method according to claim 11 , characterised in, a requesting participating device sending a request to said server regarding a lookup, said server making a lookup to find out if any other participating device can be considered to be geographically related to said requesting participating device, and, if one or several other participating devices can be considered to be geographically related to said requesting participating device, said server responding to said requesting participating device with at least part of the profile of respective user of said one or several other participating devices,

13. A method according to claim 12, characterised in, said request including specific features belonging to a user profile of the user of said requesting participating device, and said server responding only with at least part of the profiles of users of participating devices matching said specific feature,

14. A method according to claim 12, characterised in, said server responding to said request only with at least part of the profile of users of participating devices jre specified in the user profile of the user of said ticspaϋng device.

15. A method according to any one of claims 12 to 14, characterised in, where the user of said requesting participating device wishes a contact with the user of said other participating device, said requesting participating device sending a message intended for said other participating device to said server, and said server forwarding said message to said other participating device together with at least part of the user profile related to said requesting participating device.

18, A method according to claim 15, characterised in, said other participating device receiving said message form said server, and, if the user of said other participating device so wishes, said other participating device sending a responding message intended for said requesting participating device to said server, and said server forwarding said responding message to said requesting participating device, whereby said requesting participating device and said other participating device communicates with each other via said server, said server acting as a proxy, without revealing any traceable identity of either participating icipating device.

17. A method according to claim 16, characterised in, said communication being made by means of text messages, multimedia messages, or voice

18. A method according to any preceding claim, characterised in, that said

available to said searching device, such as a Bluetooth MAC-address, a Wifi MAC- address, a Zigbee MAC-address, or an Ethernet MAC-address.

19, A method according to any preceding claim, characterised in, said ;ipatinc

20. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 17, characterised in, said participating device being a stationary device.

eiatic participating devices, characterised in, that said system comprises a server, which comprises a memory unit, that said memory unit is adapted to hold a first list, said first list being adapted to represent participating devices, that said system comprises at least one searching device adapted to perform a search for MAC- addresses belonging to other devices within the reach of said searching device, that said at least one searching device is adapted to send a search result containing the MAC~addresses belonging to found devices to said server, that said server is adapted to include the searching device as a found device in said received search result, that said server is adapted to form a group of found devices comprising the search result received from each searching device and any previously received search result where a match of MAC-address is found between at least one found device in respective search result, and that said server Is adapted to consider participating devices from said first iist to be geographically related to each other if the MAC-address of respective participate in the sar

22. A system according to claim 21 , characterised in, that said first list is adapted to comprise the identity of the user of respective participating device the MAC~address of respective participating device.

23. A m 21 or 22, searching device is a ice.

system according to claim 21 or 22. characterised in, that said

em according to any one of claims 21 to 24, characterised in, is a device which is adapted to be discoverable to searching gh a search for MAC-addresses, and to be included as a found

28. A system according t one of claims 21 to 25, characterised in, that said memory unit is adapted second iist, said second list being adapted passive devices and to comprise at least

27. A system accord in sad fπ, server is adapted t« predefined set of searching devices and/or passive devices as being a part of if any one searching device and/or passive iing devices ar

28. A system according to any one of claims 21 to 27, characterised! in, that said server is adapted to add a time-stamp to MAC-addresses in received search results indicating when said search result was received, that said memory unit is adapted to store incoming search results with time-stamps in a third list, and that said server is adapted to consider said found devices to be geographically n

that the search results where received within a predefined time limit.

29. A system according to any one of claims 21 to 28, characterised in, that said searching device is adapted to add a time-stamp indicating when respective found device was found, and to include said time-stamps in said result sent to sak server, and that said server is adapted to consider said found devices to be geographically related to each other if respective time-stamp of said matched MAC-addresses indicates that the devices where found within a predefined time

30. A system according to claim 29, characterised in, that said searching device is adapted to synchronise its apprehension of time with said server.

31. A system according to anyone of claims 21 to 30, characterised In, that said server is adapted to perform a set up procedure for participating devices, that said server is adapted to store a profile for the user of respective participating device in said first list in said memory unit, and that said user profite is adapted to include the identity of said user, and the MAC-address of said participating device.

32. A system according to claim 31 , characterised In₁ that a requesting participating device is adapted to send a request to said server regarding a I that said server, on receipt on such request, is adapted to make a lookup to find

to said requesting participating device, and that, if one or several other participating devices can be considered to be geographically related to said requesting participating device, said server is adapted to respond to said requesting participating device with at least part of the profite of respective user of

33. A system according to claim 32, characterised in, that said requesting participating device is adapted to include specific features belonging to a user profile of the user of said requesting participating device in said request, and that said server is adapted to respond only with at least part of the profiles of users of

34. A system according to claim 32, characterised In₁ that said server as adapted to respond to said request only with at least part of the profile of users of ling a specific feature specified in the user profile of the :ipating device.

35. A system according to any one of claims 32 to 34, characterised! In, that said requesting participating device is adapted to send a message intended for said other device to said server if the user of said requesting participating device wishes a contact with the user of said other participating device, and that said server is adapted to forward said message to said other device together with at ieast part of the user profile related to said requesting participating device.

36. A system according to claim 35, characterised in, that said other participating device is adapted to receive said message form said server, that said other participating device is adapted to send a responding message intended for said requesting participating device to said server, and that said server is adapted to forward said responding message to said requesting participating device, whereby said requesting participating device and said other participating device are adapted to communicate with each other via said server, said server being adapted to act as a proxy, without reveaiing any traceable identity of either >atiπg device to the other participating

37^, A system according to claim 38, characterised in, said requesting participating device and said other device are adapted to communi< server by means of text messages, multimedia messages, or voice

38. A system according to any one of claims 21 to 37, characterised in, that said searching device is adapted to perform said search for MAC-addresses through any interface available to said searching device, such as a Bluetooth MAC-address, a VVIfi MAC-address, a Zϊgbee MAC-address, or an Ethernet MAC-

39. A system according to any one of claims 21 to 38, characterised in, that

40. A system according to any one of claims 21 to 38, characterised in, that

41. A server adapted to function as a server according to any one of claims 21

42^, A device adapted to function as a searching device according to any one of claims 21 to 40.

43. A device ads ing to any claims 21 to 4

program code, which when executed, enables a computer to perform the steps of a participating device according to any one of claims 1 to 20.

45. A computer program product, characterised in, comprising computer program code, which when executed, enables a computer to perform the steps of a searching device according to any one of claims 1 to 20.

48^, A computer program product, characterised in, comprising computer program code, which when executed, enables a computer to perform the steps of a server according to any one of claims 1 to 20.