WO2007044356A2

WO2007044356A2 - Device and method for locating persons with similar interests at a social gathering

Info

Publication number: WO2007044356A2
Application number: PCT/US2006/038687
Authority: WO
Inventors: J. Kent Pepper
Original assignee: Pepper J Kent
Priority date: 2005-10-04
Filing date: 2006-10-03
Publication date: 2007-04-19
Also published as: WO2007044356A3

Abstract

The subject invention is to assist people in a social gathering, such as at a bar, a dance or networking mixer, where people desire to locate persons of similar interests. The invention affords the user the opportunity to select and conveniently encode their interests into a small personal electronic device. The device then uses a transceiver to broadcast their selections over a very localized physical area, e.g. 10 - 20 feet. The computer system contained in the personal device uses a method to determine if a match is received and then to either discard the signal and examine the next signal in the event of no match, or trigger a signal indicating a match. Persons possessing similarly encoded devices can then locate one another using the match indicator.

Description

38687

TITLE

Device and Method for Locating Persons with Similar Interests at a Social Gathering

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS N/A

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH N/A

SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM N/A

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention.

The subject invention is to assist people in a social gathering, such as at a bar, a dance or networking mixer, where people desire to locate persons of similar interests.

Prior Art

There have been several attempts in the prior art to assist individuals at a social gathering to meet other persons of similar interests.

U.S. Patent 4,173,016, registered October 30, 1979 to Carlisle Dickson, disclosed an Interpersonal-Introduction Signaling System, using a device that could be dial-selected to any one of several different interest characteristics representing interests that might be shared by the persons at the particular social gathering. In the disclosed application, it was a dance with the selections being different types of dancing to find compatible dance-partners. The disclosed invention involved transmitting a signal, which when received, triggers an indicator for the receiving person to then transmit a response. The transmitting and receiving parties then seek each other out based on the strength of the sending and receiving signals. However, once the paired transmission is received, the system blocks out other such transmissions. As a result, only the first match on a single characteristic is ultimately detected until the device is manually reset..

U.S. Patent 4,961,575, registered October 9, 1990 to Stephen Perry, disclosed a wristband mounted device for playing a hide and seek game. The "hiders" carry a version of the device that emits an output signal which can be detected and measured by the "seeker". Based on the strength of the signal, the seeker then searches for the hider devices. Any of the hiders will suffice for the seeker to find, and the first one found ends the game. Ultimately, the receiving device is designed to locate any of the transmitting devices, not to provide a means of distinguishing between them.

U.S. Patent 5,086,394, registered February 4, 1992 to Shmuel Shapira, disclosed an Introduction System for Locating Compatible Persons, using a combination of a local control unit device with data input and paging capabilities along with individual personal devices capable of receiving pages from the local control unit and responding over a telephone linkage set up by the local control unit. This invention has the local control unit doing the comparison of personal interests and when a match of interests is found, the local control unit then sets up limited telephone contact between the matched parties.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 depicts people at a social gathering, wearing the device at a visible place on their clothes

Figure 2 shows a blow-up of the physical components of the device Figure 3 shows the flowchart for the method used by the device to determine if a match is available, and if so, the triggering of the light indicator of such Figure 4 is a block diagram of the electrical components contained in the device Figure 5 is a block diagram of the electrical component that is the computer sub-system Figure 6 depicts the electrical circuit diagram with the components used by the device

DETAILED DESCRIPTION PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The invention is intended to correct the deficiencies of the prior art through use of the latest microprocessor and transmission/reception technology. '

The invention affords the user the opportunity to select and conveniently encode their interests into a small personal electronic device, where the settings are predefined for the event. The device then broadcasts their selections using radio frequency transmission to a very localized physical area, e.g. 10 — 20 feet. When a person possessing a similarly encoded device detects this transmission, the like-minded persons can then locate one another using a visual signal.

The computer system 200 programming to implement the logical decision process/flowchart for the method used by the device to determine if a match is received is as follows: the user defined inputs 150, here the DIP switches 151 - 156 are manually set by the user of the device to their desired selection criteria, with the switch Sl 151 being a reverse-logic switch, i.e. it is considered a match when the switch Sl 151 setting of the received device and the user's device switch Sl 151 setting are unequal. This is used to make the preliminary threshold match, such as if user defined inputs 150 switch Sl 151 is set to ON for a male, and the person is seeking a female, then the reverse setting, or OFF, from the received 305 device signal switch Sl 151 setting would be a match.

Thus, if a user defined input 150 switch Sl 151 setting, is received 305 and the received 305 signal switch Sl 151 is not equal to the setting of the user's device switch Sl 151. setting, the received 305 signal is discarded and a new signal is both transmitted 310 and received 305. The other switches S2 - S6 152 - 156, are considered in turn, with the same logic for each user defined input 150. Thus, the next switch in turn is checked, proceeding from 152 through 156. If the respective switch settings between received 305 and the user's present device are not equal, then the signal is discarded and the logic starts over with a new received 305 signal. If the switch Sl 151 is found to be not equal to the received signal switch Sl 151, and switches S2 — S6 152 - 156 are found to be equal (matched) then the external match indicator 140 is triggered to the ON position, which will typically be a flashing LED 140.

The major subsystems of the electrical components contained in the device include a power supply 110 sub-system that may consist of a battery or similar portable power source and associated electronics. The power supply 110 supports the other systems 200, 130, 140, and 150 with the necessary power for proper operation. The computer system 200 processes data from the user defined inputs 150 as well as data from the bi-directional communication system 130. The computer system 200 also controls the operation of the external match indicator 140.

The bi-directional communication system 130 may consist of, for example, an optical, RF, magnetic induction, Bluetooth, WiFi and / or acoustic link that can provide full duplex communication between other instances of the invention. The bi- directional communication system 130 can transmit 310 data from the computer system 200 to other devices, as well as receive 305 the user inputs 150 from other devices. The external match indicator 140 may be an optical, acoustic, and/or mechanical indicator, signaling to the user that a successful match has been made. The user defined input 150 may consist of mechanical switches, pushbuttons, and/or other types of user input devices. The data from these inputs are used by the computer system 200 to signal over the bi-directional communication system 130 and for logic comparison.

The user's device incorporates a typical computer system 200 that serves as a part of the invention. The computer system 200 includes any number of N (numeric) processors 210 that are coupled to storage devices including read only memory (ROM) 230, random access memory (RAM) 240, and/or external secondary storage 250. The N processor(s) 210 may be of various types including microcontrollers and microprocessors such as programmable devices including complex programmable logic devices (CPLD's) and field programmable gate arrays (FPGA's) and nonprogrammable devices such as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). As is well know in the art, primary storage 230 acts to transfer instructions uni- directionally to the N processor(s) 210 and primary storage 240 is typically used to transfer data and instructions in a bi-directional manner. A mass storage device 250 may also be coupled bi-directionally to the N processor(s) 210 and may provide additional data storage. The N processor(s) 210 may also be connected to input / output devices 220 to send and receive data. Finally, the N processor(s) 210 may be connected to an external network 260 for unidirectional or bi-directional communications.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

100 top device cover is the top portion of the physical enclosure for the device and can be in various shapes, e.g. circular-shaped, heart-shaped.

105 bottom device cover is the bottom portion of the physical enclosure for the device and can be in various shapes, e.g. circular-shaped, heart-shaped.

110 power supply sub-system may consist of a battery or similar portable power source and associated electronics. It supplies the other sub-systems with the required power for proper operation.

130 bi-directional communication system may consist of, for example, an optical,

RF, magnetic induction, Bluetooth, WiFi and / or acoustic link that can provide full duplex communication between other instances of the invention. The communication system can transmit data from the computer system to other devices, as well as receive the user inputs from other devices.

132 bi-directional signal both transmitted and received by the bi-directional communication system in each user device and incorporating the user-defined input switch settings as received from a neighboring user's device

140 external match indicator may be an optical, acoustic, and / or mechanical indicator, signaling to the user that a successful match has been made, e.g. a Light

Emitting Diode (LED), (D2)

150 user defined inputs may consist of mechanical switches, pushbuttons, and / or other types of user input devices 151 switch Sl as set by the user, either ON or OFF, to indicate a desired compatibility preference, but for reverse-logic use, i.e. a selection is made when the received signal is different, i.e. not equal to the user switch setting for the user device switch S 1

152 switch S2 as set by the user, either ON or OFF, to indicate a desired compatibility preference for matching with the received device setting for switch 2

153 switch S3 as set by the user, either ON or OFF, to indicate a desired compatibility preference for matching with the received device setting for switch 3

154 switch S4 as set by the user, either ON or OFF, to indicate a desired compatibility preference for matching with the received device setting for switch 4

155 switch S5 as set by the user, either ON or OFF, to indicate a desired compatibility preference for matching with the received device setting for switch 5

156 switch S6 as set by the user, either ON or OFF, to indicate a desired compatibility preference for matching with the received device setting for switch 6 200 computer system programmed to process the method of selecting a matching input signal and including any number of numeric (N) processors. It processes data from the user defined inputs as well as data from the bi-directional communication system. It also controls the operation of the external match indicator. The block diagram for the computer system is depicted in Figure 5, and the computer system is shown as the embedded micro-controller, on Figure 6

210 N processor(s) may be of various types including microcontrollers and microprocessors such as programmable devices including complex programmable logic devices (CPLD's) and field programmable gate arrays (FPGA's) and nonprogrammable devices such as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). 220 input / output devices subsystem sends and receives data, which is then shared with the N Processor(s)

230 read only memory (ROM) storage devices for sharing data or programs with the N Processor(s), typically in unidirectional fashion

240 primary storage in the present state of the art, is random access memory (RAM), typically used to transfer data and instructions in a bi-directional manner to the N Processor(s)

250 secondary storage is a mass storage device that can be coupled bi-directionally to the N Processor(s) and may also provide additional data storage 260 network connectivity to incorporate the N Processor(s) with either unidirectional or bi-directional network protocols

300 circuit board is the board containing the wiring to connect the various components and subsystems of the invention all onto a single solid state circuit board 305 receiver (RX ), infrared detector portion of the 130 Bi-directional communication system

310 transmitter (TX), the infrared detector portion of the 130 Bi-directional communication system 315 NPN transistor (Ql) 325 crystal timer (Yl) 340 resistor (R1-R5) 350 capacitor (Cl - C7) 360 discard received signal a logical step in the method where the device then decides the received signal is not a match, discards the signal and begins comparing the next received signal

FIGURES

Figure 1 depicts people at a social gathering, wearing the device at a visible place on their clothes. Each individual sets the user defined inputs 150 by setting the switches Sl - S6 151 - 156. Then the user turns on the device and circulates, looking for an external match indicator 140, typically a flashing light. The bi-directional signal 132 is depicted radiating 360 degrees from each individual at the event.

Figure 2 shows a blow-up of the physical components of the device. These include top device cover 100 and bottom device cover 105, the circuit board 300, the power supply 110, the external match indicator 140, the bi-directional computer system 130, and the user defined inputs 150.

Figure 3 depicts the computer system 200 programming to implement the logical decision process/flowchart for the method used by the device to determine if a match is received. The embedded microcontroller 200 is the computer on the circuit board (Figure 6) implementing this logic. The DIP switches Sl - S6 151 - 156 are manually set by the user of the device to their desired selection criteria, with the first switch 151 being a reverse-logic switch, i.e. it is considered a match when the 151 setting of the received device and the user's device first switch 151 setting are unequal. Thus, if the first switch 151 of the received 305 signal switch is equal to the setting of the user's device first switch 151 setting, the received 305 signal is discarded and a new signal is both transmitted 310 and received 305. On the other hand, if the 151 setting of the received device and the user's device first switch 151 setting are unequal, then remaining switches, 152 - 156, are considered in turn, with the same logic for each switch, i.e. if the respective numbered switch on the received 305 device is equal to the user's device same numbered switch setting, then the next switch in turn is checked, proceeding from 152 through 156. If the respective switch settings between received 305 and user's are not equal, then the signal is discarded 360 and the logic starts over looking for a match. If switches 152 - 156 are found to be equal (matched) then the external match indicator 140 is triggered to the ON position, which will typically be a flashing LED.

Figure 4 depicts the major subsystems of the electrical components contained in the device. The power supply 110 sub-system may consist of a battery or similar portable power source and associated electronics. The power supply 110 supports the other systems 200, 130, 140, and 150 with the necessary power for proper operation. The computer system 200 processes data from the user defined inputs 150 as well as data from the bi-directional communication system 130. In this embodiment, there are six switch settings 151 - 156 for inputs to the method of selection. The computer system 200 also controls the operation of the external match indicator 140. The bidirectional communication system 130 may consist of, for example, an optical, RF, magnetic induction, Bluetooth, WiFi and / or acoustic link that can provide full duplex communication between other instances of the invention. The bi-directional communication system 130 can transmit data from the computer system 200 to other devices, as well as receive the user inputs from other devices. The external match indicator 140 may be an optical, acoustic, and/or mechanical indicator, signaling to the user that a successful match had been made. The user defined inputs 150 may consist of mechanical switches, pushbuttons, and/or other types of user input devices. The data from these inputs are used by the computer system 200 to signal over the bidirectional communication system 130 and for logic comparison (see Figure 3).

Figure 5 illustrates a computer system 200 that serves as a part of the invention. The computer system 200 includes N (numeric) processors 210 that are coupled to storage devices including read only memory (ROM) 230, random access memory (RAM) 240, and/or external secondary storage 250. The primary storage 230 acts to transfer instructions uni-directionally to the N processor(s) 210 and primary storage 240 is used to transfer data and instructions in a bi-directional manner. A secondary storage device 250 is coupled bi-directionally to the N processor(s) 210 for additional data storage. The N processor(s) 210 are connected to input/output devices 220 to send and receive data. The N processor(s) 210 may be connected to an external network 260 for unidirectional or bi-directional communications.

Figure 6 is the electrical circuit diagram showing the use of the electrical components by the device. The power supply 110 is probably a 3 volt battery. The computer system 200 is an embedded microcontroller, and its various connections. The user defined inputs 150 are the switches 151 - 156 that are all connected to the computer system 200. The receiver 305 portion of the bi-directional communication system 130 is connected to the computer system 200, along with the transmitter 310. When a match is detected by the computer system 200, it is signaled to the transmitter 310 of the received 305 signal by the external match indicator 140 with a flashing light emitting diode.

Claims

I CLAIM:

1. An introduction system for local participating users, comprising: a personal device for each user, said personal device having a top cover, a bottom cover, and having a power supply, a programmable computer system, user defined inputs, a bi-directional communication system and an external match indicator; said power supply including means to power said personal device; said user defined inputs including means for user switch settings indicating the desired characteristics of a local compatible person who is using another said personal device; said bi-directional communication system including signal transmission means incorporating the user defined input switch settings for the transmitting personal device and signal receiving means for discerning the user defined switch settings transmitted by other said local participating users; said external match indicator having means to announce that the user defined input switch settings for the user's personal device is matched to the received signal from another local personal device; and said programmable computer system having programmable means to compare for equal and non-equal settings for each of the user defined input switch settings of the user's personal device in turn with the user defined input switch settings contained in the received signal from a local personal device having transmitted said user defined input switch settings of the transmitting personal device.

2. An introduction system as in claim 1, wherein said power supply consists of a 3 volt battery.

3. An introduction system as in claim 1, wherein said user defined inputs include means for a plurality of user switch settings.

4. An introduction system as in claim 1, wherein said external match indicator includes a visible signal.

5. An introduction system as in claim 1, wherein said external match indicator includes an audible signal.

6. An introduction system as in claim 1, wherein said external match indicator includes an mechanical signal.

7. An introduction system as in claim 1, wherein said personal device top cover has a plurality of shapes each with a matching shaped bottom cover.

8. A method for locating users of an introduction system, including the steps of: providing a personal device for each participating person at a pre-selected site where users tend to gather, said personal device including user defined input means, a transceiver capable of both transmitting and receiving signals, and programmed computer means; inputting the user defined inputs into the user's personal device by setting switches each of which has an agreed-upon criteria for compatibility between the persons at the gathering place, with the first such switch setting indicating a threshold compatibility criteria for which the user wants an unequal match, and in which the user wants all switches after the first such switch to be an equal match with the other user's personal device switch settings; transmitting a signal containing the user defined switch settings for the user's personal device; receiving a signal containing the user defined switch settings from another user's personal device; transmitting a signal; programmed computer means for setting a match condition based on the comparison of the user's personal device user defined switch settings with the received signal from another personal device at said gathering when the first switch in the received signal is not equal to the user's personal device first such switch setting, and then, taking each subsequent switch setting from the received personal device signal in turn and matching it with the respective switch setting in the user's personal device, when all of the subsequent switch settings are equal; programmed computer means for triggering an external match indicator when said match condition is found, and initiating a standby state; programmed computer means for discarding said received signal from another personal device when said match condition is not found, and starting the method steps again, beginning with transmitting a signal.

11. A method for locating users of an introduction system as in claim 8 wherein said programmed computer means for setting a match condition based on the comparison of the user's personal device user defined switch settings with the received signal from another personal device at said gathering when any designated single switch in the received signal is not equal to the user's personal device such switch setting.

12. A method for locating users of an introduction system as in claim 8 wherein said programmed computer means for setting a match condition based on the comparison of the user's personal device user defined switch settings with the received signal from another personal device at said gathering when any designated plurality of switches in the received signal are not equal to the user's personal device such switch settings.