GeoNexus Proximity Detector Network

Abstract

A GeoNexus proximity network provides quick determination of proximity of a large group of associated mobile devices (e.g., ‘friends’, all devices associated with those who ‘like’ a given posting, etc.) To respond to a given proximity request, a list of identities is obtained for the group of associated mobile devices for which proximity is to be determined. A bucket index is determined of a place to which proximity is to be determined for each of the plurality of associated mobile devices. A target geonexus node associated with the determined bucket index is queried, which in turn queries geonexus nodes adjacent thereto, to quickly determine which of the group of mobile devices are proximate, without the need to individually query for location of each mobile device in the group.

1 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A method of maintaining inferred location of a plurality of associated mobile devices, comprising:
 logging, by a physical GeoNexus server, current presence of a given mobile device within a primary region bucket associated with a primary geographic region;   logging, by said physical GeoNexus server, current presence of said given mobile device within a secondary region bucket associated with a secondary geographic region within said primary geographic region, said primary geographic region being larger than, and enclosing, said secondary geographic region;   logging, by said physical GeoNexus server, current presence of said given mobile device within a tertiary region bucket associated with a tertiary geographic region within said secondary geographic region, said tertiary geographic region being larger than, and enclosing, said tertiary geographic region; and   logging, by said physical GeoNexus server, current presence of said given mobile device within a quaternary region bucket associated with a quaternary geographic region within said tertiary geographic region, said quaternary geographic region being larger than, and enclosing, said tertiary geographic region.   
     
     
         16 . A method of providing proximity of a plurality of associated mobile devices, comprising:
 receiving, at a physical GeoNexus proximity server, a proximity request relating to proximity of plurality of associated mobile devices to a requesting mobile device;   identifying a sub-plurality of said associated mobile devices that are logged within a regional geographic bucket including said requesting mobile device; and   providing an identity of said sub-plurality of said associated mobile devices in response to said proximity request.   
     
     
         17 . The method of providing proximity of a plurality of associated mobile devices according to  claim 16 , wherein:
 said plurality of associated mobile devices comprise those predesignated as being within a group of trusted mobile devices.   
     
     
         18 . The method of providing proximity of a plurality of associated mobile devices according to  claim 16 , wherein:
 said plurality of associated mobile devices comprise those as having associated with a given social media posting.   
     
     
         19 . The method of providing proximity of a plurality of associated mobile devices according to  claim 16 , wherein:
 said plurality of associated mobile devices comprise those as being within a given predesignated grouping of mobile devices within a social media application.   
     
     
         20 . The method of determining proximity of a plurality of associated mobile devices according to  claim 15 , wherein:
 said plurality of associated mobile devices for which said proximity is determined pursuant to said proximity request is at least 1000 mobile devices.   
     
     
         21 . The method of determining proximity of a plurality of associated mobile devices according to  claim 15 , wherein:
 said plurality of associated mobile devices for which said proximity is determined pursuant to said proximity request is at least 10,000 mobile devices.   
     
     
         22 . A method of providing proximity of a plurality of associated mobile devices, comprising:
 receiving, at a physical GeoNexus proximity server, a proximity request relating to proximity of plurality of associated mobile devices to a requesting mobile device;   identifying a sub-plurality of said associated mobile devices that are logged within a sub-regional, secondary geographic bucket including said requesting mobile device, said sub-regional, secondary geographic bucket being associated with a secondary geographic region within a larger, encompassing primary geographic region, said requesting mobile device being both within said sub-regional, secondary geographic bucket and within said primary geographic region at a same time; and   providing an identity of said sub-plurality of said associated mobile devices in response to said proximity request.   
     
     
         23 . The method of providing proximity of a plurality of associated mobile devices according to  claim 22 , wherein:
 said plurality of associated mobile devices comprise those predesignated as being within a group of trusted mobile devices.   
     
     
         24 . The method of providing proximity of a plurality of associated mobile devices according to  claim 22 , wherein:
 said plurality of associated mobile devices comprise those as having associated with a given social media posting.   
     
     
         25 . The method of providing proximity of a plurality of associated mobile devices according to  claim 22 , wherein:
 said plurality of associated mobile devices comprise those as being within a given predesignated grouping of mobile devices within a social media application.   
     
     
         26 . The method of determining proximity of a plurality of associated mobile devices according to  claim 22 , wherein:
 said plurality of associated mobile devices for which said proximity is determined pursuant to said proximity request is at least 1000 mobile devices.   
     
     
         27 . The method of determining proximity of a plurality of associated mobile devices according to  claim 22 , wherein:
 said plurality of associated mobile devices for which said proximity is determined pursuant to said proximity request is at least 10,000 mobile devices.