Proximity Based Social Networking

Abstract

A system and method for proximity based social networking is disclosed between mobile computing devices each having a short range communication (SRC) device using near field magnetic induction. The SRC devices can include at least two antennas to provide magnetic induction diversity. The method comprises defining a proximity boundary with dimensions defined by a communication range of the SRC devices. A proximity signal is communicated in the proximity boundary between the SRC devices. Information can be exchanged between the mobile computing devices based on the settings of a social networking filter module.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for proximity based social networking, comprising:
 defining a proximity boundary with dimensions defined by a communication range of one of a first Short Range Communication (SRC) device and a second SRC device, wherein each of the first and second SRC devices are configured to communicate using near field magnetic induction (NFMI), and the first SRC device is configured to be coupled to a first mobile computing device and the second SRC device is configured to be coupled to a second mobile computing device;   communicating a proximity signal in the proximity boundary between the first SRC device and the second SRC device, wherein at least one of the first and second SRC devices includes at least two antennas to provide magnetic induction diversity; and   instructing at least one of the first and second mobile computing devices to perform at least one action when the proximity signal is detected between the first and second SRC devices.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising setting at least one rule regarding desired social networking attributes for a proximity based social networking filter module which is associated with at least one of the first and the second mobile computing devices, the at least one rule identifying the at least one action performed by the at least one of the first and the second mobile computing devices when the proximity signal is detected between the first and second SRC devices. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein performing the at least one action includes sending a profile from a first user of the first mobile computing device coupled to the first SRC to a second user of the second mobile computing device coupled to the second SRC based on the settings of the at least one rule in the proximity based social networking filter modules operating on the at least one of the first and the second mobile computing devices. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one action includes receiving a profile from at least one of a first user and a second user at the at least one of the first and the second mobile computing devices. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the profile of the second user is received at the first mobile computing device via at least one of the first SRC device and a media communication device coupled to the mobile computing device. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the receiving of the profile of the second user at the first mobile computing device comprises receiving a profile communication at the first mobile computing device through at least one of an email, a text message, an instant message, a social networking communication, a wired transmission, and a wireless transmission. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one action includes notifying the first user of the first mobile computing device that the profile of the second user associated with the second SRC device is located within the proximity boundary. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the first user of the first mobile computing device is notified by emitting at least one of a sound and a vibration from the first mobile computing device when the profile communication is received. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the first user of the first mobile computing device is notified by displaying, at least one of image of the second user associated with the second SRC device and an image in the profile of the second user associated with the second SRC device, on the first mobile computing device when the profile communication is received. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the first user of the first mobile computing device is notified by displaying at least one of a video and a multimedia presentation of the profile of the second user associated with the second SRC device on the first mobile computing device when the profile communication is received. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 tracking a location of at least one of the first and the second mobile computing devices based on an interaction between the first SRC device and a second SRC device;   storing a history of the location of at least one of the first and the second mobile computing devices; and   modifying the set rules in the proximity based communication filter module based on the history of the location of the first and the second mobile computing devices.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the first and the second mobile computing devices includes a close proximity communication device. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the close proximity communication device is compliant with a Near Field Communication (NFC) specification. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the setting of the at least one rule for the proximity based communication filter module comprises setting profile categories on which information on profiles attributes related to the profile categories are desired to be received. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the setting of the at least one rule for the proximity based communication filter module comprises:
 learning the profile preferences of the first user; and   adjusting the at least one rule for the proximity based communication filter module based on the learned profile preferences of the first user.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first and the second mobile computing devices are one of a handheld computing device, a smart phone, a multimedia device, a tablet computing device, a laptop computer, and an embedded computing device. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising tracking a location of the first and second mobile computing devices based on an interaction between the first SRC device and the second SRC device. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising storing a history of the location of the first mobile computing device for a specified location. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the communicating of the proximity signal in the proximity boundary between the first SRC device and the second SRC device comprises transmitting the proximity signal from the second SRC device to the first SRC device. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first and the second SRC devices include the ability to communicate with a close proximity communication device.